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‘The Last of Us’ Season 2: New characters and episodes explained

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“The Last of Us,” the hit show based on the popular video game series about surviving an apocalypse where a mutated fungus has decimated most of humanity, has returned to HBO for its second season.

The inaugural run showcased the relationship between Ellie (Bella Ramsey) and Joel (Pedro Pascal) as they battled mutant mushroom people.

“If the first season of “The Last of Us” is about survival, the second is fueled by revenge,” Times columnist Mary McNamara writes in her review.

For fans of the game, a major character’s death that shapes the arc of the season and happens in the second episode doesn’t come as a surprise, but is devastating nonetheless.

The second season of “The Last of Us” also dives deeper into the stories of new characters Abby (Kaitlyn Dever), Dina (Isabela Merced) and Jesse (Young Manzino). And did we mention there’s a cult?

Come back for more interviews, analysis, recaps and more from The Times all season long.



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Tom Hanks marks 37 years with Rita Wilson amid daughter’s shocking claims

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Tom Hanks is celebrating his partnership with Rita Wilson. In a new Instagram post, Hanks shared a photo with Wilson, with the two enjoying themselves on the beach and celebrating their 37 years of marriage. The anniversary post follows some shocking claims made by his daughter, E.A. Hanks, whom Hanks shares with his first wife, Samantha Lewes

© @tomhanks
Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson celebrating their anniversary

Hanks shared the photo with Wilson yesterday, showing the two in their bathing suits with a background of a stunning sea and rocky formations. “37 years married. Today! Love you, Mrs. -Mr. THanks,” he captioned the post.

Wilson shared a similar post, showing them surrounded by greenery and bundled up for the cold weather. She wears a black beanie and a brown coat while he wears a brown coat, a green beanie and a red scarf. “Happy 37th anniversary my love!!!” she captioned the post, adding multiple heart emojis of different colors. 

Rita Wilson shared a celebratory post of her own© @ritawilson
Rita Wilson shared a celebratory post of her own

EA Hanks’ complicated memoir

E.A. Hanks, 42, shared her first memoir earlier this year, shedding light on her complicated childhood spent with her mother. Titled “The 10: A Memoir of Family and the Open Road,” E.A. revealed that her childhood was largely determined by the divorce of her parents, which resulted in her living with her mother until she was 14 years old. 

“I am a kid from the First (non-famous) Marriage. My only memories of my parents in the same place at the same time are Colin’s high school graduation, then my high school graduation,” she writes. “I have one picture of me standing between my parents. In it, my mother’s best wig is slightly askew.”

Tom Hanks, Rita Wilson, Theodore and E.A.© FilmMagic
E.A. Hanks is the daughter of Hanks and Samantha Lewes

Her mother moved them to Sacramento, California, where she spent most of her childhood. She revealed that she struggled as her mother’s health deteriorated. 

“The backyard became so full of dog s—t that you couldn’t walk around it, the house stank of smoke,” she wrote. “The fridge was bare or full of expired food more often than not, and my mother spent more and more time in her big four-poster bed, poring over the Bible.” Lewes died in 2002, after battling lung cancer. E.A. was 19 years old. 

Hanks is the father of Colin, 47, E.A., Chet, 34, and Truman Theodore, 29. He shares the latter two with Wilson. 

Tom Hanks and all of his children, including Colin's wife, Samantha Bryant© FilmMagic
Tom Hanks and all of his children, including Colin’s wife, Samantha Bryant



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Is ‘Tracker’ On Tonight? ‘Tracker’ Season 2, Episode 19 Premiere Time, Melissa Roxburgh Return Info, And More

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At long last, the Shaw siblings are reuniting on Tracker! And fans of Melissa Roxburgh won’t want to miss a moment of Dory’s return.

The official synopsis for Tracker Season 2, Episode 19, “Rules of the Game” is as follows: “When Reenie’s (Fiona Rene) client, Leo Sharf (recurring guest star Pej Vahdat), hires Colter to track down his missing assistant before his company launch, the case takes a personal turn and Reenie becomes entangled in a deadly vendetta threatening both of their lives.”

Written by Sharon Lee Watson & Dominique A. Holmes and directed by Nimisha Mukerji, Tracker Season 2, Episode 19 not only sees the return of Vahdat as Leo, but the series welcomes back Roxburgh as Dory Shaw. Woo!!!!

When Decider spoke with Roxburgh back in February, The Hunting Party star said she was “pretty sure” she’d be returning to Tracker at some point and would love to team up with Colter and their brother Russell Shaw (Jensen Ackles) at some point, too.

“I think that’d be so fun, because actually one of my first roles was on Supernatural working with Jensen,” Roxburgh said, referencing her two episodes on the long-running WB series. “So now that some time passed, I think it’d be fun to work together again.”

While it looks as though we may have to wait a bit longer to get the whole Shaw crew together, here’s when fans can watch Colter’s upcoming next adventure and his reunion with Dory.

Is Tracker on tonight, May 4? When does Tracker return with new episodes? Where is Tracker streaming? And how can you watch Tracker live and online? Here’s everything to know about Tracker Season 2, Episode 19 — including two first-look photos.

Is Tracker On Tonight (5/4/25)?

Yes! Tracker is on tonight, Sunday, May 4, 2025.

When Does Tracker Season 2, Episode 19 Air On CBS? Tracker Season 2, Episode 19 Premiere Date:

Tracker Season 2, Episode 19, “Rules of the Game” is set to premiere on Sunday, May 4 on CBS.

Photo: Darko Sikman/CBS

What Time Is Tracker Season 2, Episode 19 On CBS?

Tracker fans know that premiere times have varied over the first two seasons, but if you’re looking to set your alarms for Tracker‘s Season 2, Episode 19 is currently set to air Sunday, May 4 from 8:00 to 9:00 p.m. ET on CBS.

How Many Episodes Are In Tracker Season 2?

Though Tracker Season 1 consisted of 13 episodes, Season 2 will feature 22 episodes. Since 18 episodes have already aired, that means fans still have four new episodes to look forward to before the sophomore season concludes.

Is Tracker Season 2 On Paramount+Tracker Streaming Info:

If you’re looking to rewatch Tracker or catch up on Season 2 episodes, you may be wondering if the series is streaming on Paramount+. The answer is yes! All 18 episodes of Season 2 are currently streaming on Paramount+. And when the series returns, new episodes will be available to stream live on Paramount+ with Showtime and next day for Paramount+ Essential subscribers.

Photo: Sergei Bachlakov/CBS

Photo: Sergei Bachlakov/CBS

Is Tracker Season 2 On Hulu?

If you’re hoping to stream Season 2 episodes of Tracker on Hulu, however, you’re out of luck. While Tracker Season 1 was added to Hulu back in 2024, unfortunately Season 2 episodes won’t be available for next-day streaming on Hulu. The sophomore season will likely be added in the future, but for now, head to Paramount+ or CBS to stream or watch live using one of the other methods listed here.

How To Watch Tracker Season 2 Live On CBS And Online:

Want to watch new episodes of Tracker live when the show returns to CBS? If you have a cable subscription that includes the network, you can watch Tracker live by setting your TV to the proper channel a few minutes before new the episode airs.

You can also use your cable username and password to watch live CBS episodes live on CBS, CBS.com, or by using the CBS app. If your cable package includes a DVR, you can always record live episodes for later viewing, too. Don’t have cable? Don’t worry! There are other live viewing options, including fuboTVSling TVHulu + Live TVDirecTV Stream, or YouTube TV, which offer access to CBS without cable. (Info on free trials below.)

For those wondering, FYI, FuboTV, Hulu + Live TV, and YouTube TV also offer free trials for eligible subscribers, so consider trying them out next time you’re looking for a way to stream Tracker.



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Heralded West Coast Transfer Now Considering Tar Heels

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Four-star transfer prospect Desmond Claude — no relation to 2024-25 Tar Heel reserve forward Ty Claude — is considering the UNC basketball program as his next landing spot, On3’s Joe Tipton reported this week.

ALSO READ: Tar Heels Lose One High-Profile Battle in Transfer Portal

Tipton noted that Claude, a 6-foot-6, 207-pound junior forward who has averaged over 15 points per game in each of his past two seasons, also has eyes on Kansas, Virginia, and reigning national champion Florida. He’s set to visit the Gators on Thursday, the only reported trip in his recruitment since officially entering the portal last week.

Across 33 outings as a Southern Cal junior and full-time starter last season, Claude averaged 15.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists, shooting 48.2 percent from the field, 30.7 percent from three, and 76.4 percent at the charity stripe. Those numbers resemble his stats as a sophomore at Xavier in 2023-24, a breakout campaign after serving a reserve role for the Musketeers as a freshman.

Desmond Claude ranked No. 86 overall on the 247Sports 2022 Composite as a four-star prep at Putnam Science Academy (Conn.). Now, the versatile talent checks in at No. 34 overall and No. 9 among point guards in this year’s transfer portal.

UNC basketball head coach Hubert Davis and his cohorts have constructed a five-deep transfer haul thus far. It ranks No. 16 in the country, per 247Sports.

Stay tuned to North Carolina Tar Heels On SI for more UNC basketball transfer portal news.



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Braves Game Vs Dodgers Game Gets Start Time

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The Atlanta Braves game against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday officially has a start time. According to the Braves X account, first pitch is currently scheduled for 10:15 p.m.

According to the National Weather Service, there is a severe thunderstorm watch until 11 p.m. on Saturday.

It was originally scheduled to start at 7:15 p.m. Due to the inclement weather, batting practice that is normally held before night games was canceled.

According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Justin Toscano, Braves Brian Snitker said the hope is to get a game in on Saturday since Sunday is a night game. Snitker added that he felt it was plausible to have a game start as late as 10 p.m. That proved to be the case.

Snitker is aware of the risk of losing a starting pitcher due to a weather delay, and he doesn’t think the Braves are in the position to lose an arm early in the game. Starting pitchers typically don’t come back out after a pause for weather.

The Dodgers won Friday night’s game, 2-1 to take the series opener. That games also experienced a rain delay of over an hour.

Spencer Schwellenbach is scheduled to start Saturday’s game. Roki Sasaki will be on the mound for the Dodgers.

More From Atlanta Braves On SI



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Miranda Lambert’s New Tattoo Is a Commitment to Her Cowgirl Life

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Miranda Lambert is no stranger to the cowgirl lifestyle or tattoos, and her newest ink addition is a perfect marrying of the two.

The country singer quietly got a new tattoo of a horseshoe on her right forearm, just in front of her “Tumbleweed” tattoo. The lucky iron is a delicate fine line tattoo featuring two diamonds and a heart in the center.

She didn’t make a big deal about her new body art, but fans spotted it in a post for her clothing brand, Idyllwind.

“The denim, hair and turquoise jewelry distracted me from the tattoo,” brinden._t writes. “But I love it!”

“Obsessed with the new tattoo,” marisa.jillian chimes in.

“Okay so can we all just get matching tattoos (and jeans) at this point?!” bea_alexis31 types.

When Did Miranda Lambert Get a New Tattoo?

It’s not clear exactly when Lambert got her new tattoo, but the artist who did her ink shared a photo of her work in March. The nonchalant photo shows a closeup of the tattoo without revealing the “Bluebird” singer’s face.

“Tiny lil horseshoe for @mirandalambert to represent her cutie horses,” Christina writes in the caption while also tagging Lambert in the photo.

According to her profile, the tattoo artist is based in Scottsdale, Ariz., and it’s likely the country hitmaker stopped in for an appointment while she was in town. Lambert filmed the music video for her song “Run” in Gold Canyon, Ariz., earlier this year. Both towns are relatively close to each other.

It seems like the “If I Was a Cowboy” songstress enjoys shopping local when she travels and showcasing their items in her personal life. She rocked a hat from Rancher Hat Bar in Scottsdale in the music video, so it wouldn’t be surprising if she got some local ink, too.

PICTURES: See Inside Miranda Lambert’s Rural Tennessee Estate

Miranda Lambert paid $3.4 million in 2016 for her rural estate an hour south of Nashville, which comprises 400 acres of lush green farmland. The property includes rolling hills, rustic living spaces and an enormous horse barn, as well as three residences, a lake with a boathouse and a six-bay garage. There are 75 acres of fenced-in pastureland, as well as lighted walking trails that wind through the woods leading to a pavilion, with seating for 60 for private concerts.

Gallery Credit: Sterling Whitaker





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Kerry Condon and Jerry Bruckheimer on making “most authentic racing movie ever”

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After months spent following the Formula 1 circus around the world, the new F1 movie is coming to theatres this summer. When it finally hits the big screen, producer Jerry Bruckheimer and actor Kerry Condon say moviegoers will be treated to the “most authentic racing movie ever made.” 

The film, which stars Brad Pitt and Damson Idris as racers for the APX GP F1 team, was produced by Bruckheimer and features Condon as race director for the fictitious team. In order to get as close to F1 as possible, the production integrated itself with the paddock and Condon even met with F1 insiders to prepare for her role.

“I spoke to strategists Ruth Buscombe and Bernie Collins, and they kind of helped me baby step it,” she told Motorsport.com during the Miami Grand Prix weekend.  

“Because ultimately there’s so much to learn. I mean, I couldn’t, unless I went to college, I couldn’t really learn everything, and so they helped me.

“So, if we’d have seen in the wind tunnel, they explained what the wind tunnel was, and I read a book, Adrian Newey wrote a book, How to build a car, which I quite enjoyed actually.”

 

Buscombe and Collins weren’t the only F1 experts to offer their assistance to the production crew, as seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton was also brought on as a producer for the new film.

In this role, he advised the production team on different aspects of the racing and the way it could be captured on film. This extended to race weekends, where Bruckheimer says he was “always available” to the team. 

“His advice was so particular,” Bruckheimer explained. “As an example, he was talking about one of the racetracks and he watched the race that we shot and he said when you’re going to Turn 4, you’re not in second gear, you’re in third gear.  

“So, we had to change the sound, so it sounded like he was in 3rd gear. I mean, it’s that precise how authentic this movie is. “

This approach to Formula 1 makes the new film the “most authentic racing movie ever made,” Bruckheimer added.

Filming alongside F1

 

Of course, this open approach to filming over an F1 weekend did come with its challenges, and while most of the problems crewed faced could be controlled and navigated with the help of F1 and the teams, there was one extra factor that they had no control over: the fans.  

Each sequence shot on a race weekend was in front of thousands of F1 fans, who were all clamouring to get a sneak peek at what the hotly-anticipated new movie would entail, and this opened the production up to all kinds of spoilers. 

“There’s always a challenge, because you have thousands of people that are around,” Bruckheimer added.  

“But even if you’ve seen little bits, you can’t predict how it’s gonna happen.”

Photos from Miami GP – Sprint

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Florida State University Athletics

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – In a top-five matchup in Tallahassee, No. 5 Florida State hosts No. 3 Clemson from May 2-4 at Dick Howser Stadium.
 
The ACC series begins on Friday, May 2, at 6 p.m. ET. Saturday’s contest will air live on ACC Network, with first pitch moved to 6 p.m. for the national TV broadcast. The series finale on Sunday will now begin at 2 p.m. ET.
 
Tickets are available for Sunday’s game at Seminoles.com/Tickets or by calling the FSU ticket office at 850-644-1830. Friday and Saturday are sold out, but fans can purchase tickets on SeatGeek. Limited tickets for FSU students remain available, and admission is free with their FSU I.D. at the Haggard Plaza right field gate.
 
Friday will feature a rally towel giveaway for the first 500 fans and Saturday is a beach towel giveaway, presented by Truist, for the first 1,000 fans. There is a hand fan giveaway on Sunday while supplies last. Each Saturday at Howser is Military Saturday. At every Sunday regular-season home game in 2025, Kids Club members and youth wearing their little league jerseys will be admitted free, and kids 12 and under will be allowed to run the bases postgame.
 
Saturday night’s game will be broadcast live on the ACC Network and Friday and Sunday’s games are on ACC Network Extra, accessible through your television provider or a subscription to ESPN+. Fans can listen to every game via the Seminole Sports Network on WFLA 100.7 FM and around the world on the FSU Gameday App and Seminoles.com. Live stats can be found at FSU.Statbroadcast.com (Friday | Saturday | Sunday). Direct links to watch, listen and follow along can be found on the schedule page at Seminoles.com/Baseball. News, notes and behind-the-scenes updates all weekend also are available by following and connecting with the team on social media on Twitter/X and Facebook (@FSUBaseball) and Instagram (@NoleBaseball).
 
Friday, May 2 – 6 p.m. ET
Tickets
Watch: ACC Network Extra
Listen: WFLA 100.7 FM | FSU Gameday App | Seminoles.com
Live Stats
FSU Jr. LHP Jamie Arnold (5-1, 2.39 ERA) vs. CU So. RHP Aidan Knaak (6-1, 4.80 ERA)
 
Saturday, May 3 – 6 p.m. ET
Tickets
Watch: ACC Network
Listen: WFLA 100.7 FM | FSU Gameday App | Seminoles.com
Live Stats
FSU r-Jr. LHP Joey Volini (8-1, 2.65 ERA) vs. CU So. RHP Drew Titsworth (4-1, 3.62 ERA)
 
Sunday, May 4 – 2 p.m. ET
Tickets
Watch: ACC Network Extra
Listen: WFLA 100.7 FM | FSU Gameday App | Seminoles.com
Live Stats
FSU So. LHP Wes Mendes (5-2, 4.53 ERA) vs. CU TBD
 
A trio of left-handers will get the ball for the Seminoles this weekend against two sophomore right-handers scheduled for the Tigers. Junior Jamie Arnold (5-1, 2.39 ERA) will face Aidan Knaak (6-1, 4.80 ERA) on Friday, followed by redshirt junior Joey Volini (8-1, 2.65 ERA) against Drew Titsworth (4-1, 3.62 ERA) on Saturday. Sunday’s finale will see sophomore Wes Mendes (5-2, 4.53 ERA) toe the rubber for FSU, while CU’s starter has not been announced.
 
Florida State is 31-9 overall, 20-4 at home, 10-5 on the road and 1-0 at a neutral site. FSU is 12-6 in the ACC and second in the conference with a .667 winning percentage. The Seminoles have lost two in a row, which snapped a six game win streak. The team’s series loss at No. 19 Louisville last weekend was just its second series defeat of the season and first on the road. FSU is 4-3 against top-25 opponents.
 
NATIONALY-RANKED SEMINOLES
The Seminoles are ranked nationally in every major poll this week, including at No. 5 in the D1Baseball top 25. They also are No. 7 in the NCBWA rankings, No. 8 in the Coaches poll, No. 10 according to The Athletic, No. 13 by Perfect Game and No. 19 in the Baseball America top-25. FSU’s RPI is No. 6.
 
NOLES BY THE NUMBERS
FSU has scored 328 runs on 437 hits with a .318 batting average, 73 home runs, 183 walks and 51 stolen bases. The pitching staff owns a 4.58 ERA with 173 earned runs allowed in 339.2 innings with 284 hits, 414 strikeouts and 178 walks.
 
Junior infielder Alex Lodise leads the team with a .440 batting average, 74 hits, 53 RBI, 15 doubles and 135 total bases and is second with 14 home runs. Junior outfielder Max Williams paces the squad with 15 homers and is second with 38 RBI. Junior outfielder Gage Harrelson has 12 stolen bases and is second with a .370 average and 60 hits. On the mound, Volini is 8-1 with a 2.65 ERA, 75 strikeouts and 15 walks in 57.2 innings. Arnold is 5-1 with a 2.39 ERA with 68 strikeouts in 49.0 innings. Among relievers, redshirt senior righty Joe Charles is 1-0 with a 3.86 ERA in 18.2 innings with 22 strikeouts.
 
SERIES HISTORY VS. CLEMSON
Florida State owns an 83-77-1 advantage in the all-time series against Clemson. FSU is 45-23-1 at home, 24-40 on the road and 14-14 at a neutral site. The teams first met in 1958, an 8-5 loss in Gastonia, North Carolina in the NCAA Regional, and the two teams squared off twice more the following year, again at the same event in the same location. The Seminoles’ first win came in 1962 in Tallahassee by a 14-8 margin, and that year also was the first matchup at Clemson. In the tightly-contested series, Florida State owns a nine game win streak from 2001-02, the longest streak by either team, ahead of a six-game run for both clubs. Clemson has won the last five, including all three in South Carolina in 2024. The rivals have met at least three times every year since 1992, with the exception of the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign. The streak includes six games in 1995 and five games played on four occasions.
 
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
Clemson is 36-10 on the season, 25-5 at home, 6-4 on the road and 5-1 at a neutral site. The Tigers are 13-8 in ACC play and in fifth place after a trio of losses at No. 25 NC State last weekend. Against top-25 teams, Clemson is 9-7, which includes wins over then-No. 13 Oklahoma State and No. 12 Arizona to begin the season, along with series wins over No. 11 Wake Forest, at No. 19 Georgia Tech and vs. No. 17 Louisville. CU also downed No. 5 Georgia at home less than two weeks ago.
 
In the national rankings, D1Baseball has Clemson at No. 3. The Tigers are No. 2 in the NCBWA rankings, No. 4 in the Coaches poll, No. 5 according to The Athletic, No. 6 in the Baseball America top-25 and No. 8 via Perfect Game. CU is No. 8 in the RPI.
 
Jarren Purify leads the team with a .311 batting average and is second with 47 hits. Cam Cannarella has a team-best 48 hits and 14 doubles while Colin Priest and Josh Paino both boast 40 RBI. On the mound, Knaak has 76 strikeouts and a 4.80 ERA in 60.0 innings with 11 starts and Reed Garris has a 0.76 ERA in 23.2 innings in relief.
 
UP NEXT: ONE MORE MIDWEEK
FSU plays its final midweek game of the season at home against Jacksonville on Tuesday, May 6. First pitch at Dick Howser Stadium is at 6 p.m. ET. Tickets are available at Seminoles.com/Tickets or by calling the FSU ticket office at 850-644-1830.
 
LAST TIME OUT: RANKED ROAD SERIES LOSS
In a top-20 road series, Florida State suffered its second series loss of the season and first on the road with two losses at No. 19 Louisville. FSU won the opener – just UofL’s fourth home loss in 2025 – before a pair of defeats to conclude the weekend. The win was the Seminoles’ highest-ranked win of the season
 
Five home runs and a dominant start by Arnold led FSU to a 10-2 win on a rainy night in the opener on April 25. The Seminoles scored four runs in the first inning and never looked back. Arnold held the Cardinals to just two runs on six hits in a career-long 7.2 innings. He struck out a season-best 11 and walked one. Junior second baseman Drew Faurot had three hits, three RBI and two runs scored, while junior shortstop Alex Lodise also had three hits with one RBI and three runs. The infield duo each homered and paired together to turn two double plays.
 
FSU saw its six game win streak come to an end with a 9-4 loss on Saturday. The Seminoles scored four runs on six hits with one error. The Cardinals scored nine runs on 10 hits with no errors. Lodise led the team with two hits and three RBI in the defeat. Volini allowed three runs on five hits in 5.0 innings. He struck out four and did not walk a batter. Volini got a no-decision for the first time in 10 starts this season and did not earn a win for just the second time.
 
Florida State lost the series finale 14-2 on Sunday afternoon. Louisville scored five in the first inning before FSU fought back with two in the third to get to within three. However, UofL got both runs back in the sixth and scored seven in the seventh. Florida State scored two runs on six hits with two errors. Louisville scored 14 runs on 11 hits with no errors. Lodise had two hits and two RBI. After he gave up five runs in the first, Mendes retired 10 of the next 11 batters he faced beginning with the final out of the first.
 
A complete recap can be found here: Friday | Saturday | Sunday
 
For more information on Florida State baseball, check Seminoles.com for the latest news and scheduling information, and keep up with the team on social media through Twitter/X and Facebook (@FSUBaseball) & Instagram (@NoleBaseball).
 





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Do Billionaires Still Collect Social Security? The Answer Might Surprise You.

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It’s hard for most of us to imagine what life as a billionaire is like. With that much money, there’s no need to worry about how you’ll pay for a medical procedure or whether you’ll have enough money to afford basic living expenses. For some, their whole life is like a fancy retirement where they can spend their time as they please.

When someone’s that wealthy, they don’t need their Social Security checks in the same way an average retiree would. But the law is pretty clear that they can claim them — under certain conditions.

Image source: Getty Images.

Qualifying for Social Security retirement benefits is easier than you’d think

Becoming eligible for Social Security retirement benefits is actually pretty easy. You only need 40 work credits, where one credit is defined as $1,810 in earnings that you pay Social Security payroll taxes on in 2025. You can earn a maximum of four credits per year, which means it typically takes 10 years of work to get to 40 credits. Anyone who meets that criterion — including billionaires — can claim Social Security retirement benefits at any point after they turn 62.

But that doesn’t mean that billionaires are raking in millions of dollars in annual benefits while Social Security itself steadily depletes its trust funds. There are limits to how large your benefit can be.

In 2025, you only pay Social Security payroll taxes on the first $176,100 you earn. This ceiling was lower in past years. Any money over this amount doesn’t count toward your future benefit because you’re not paying Social Security taxes on it. For most billionaires, $176,100 is a drop in the bucket, which means their maximum benefit is also pretty small compared to the monthly income they’re used to.

The maximum Social Security benefit in 2025 is $5,108 per month. That adds up to about $61,300 per year. For most of us, that would be life-changing money in retirement. But for billionaires, it probably seems like pocket change.

Just because billionaires can collect Social Security doesn’t mean they do

It’s worth noting that not all billionaires who are eligible to collect Social Security do so. For example, President Donald Trump’s tax returns from 2015 to 2020 indicate that he collected no Social Security benefits during that time despite being old enough and having a qualifying work history that would have allowed him to do so. It’s not clear if he currently collects Social Security benefits as his more recent tax returns haven’t been made public.

It’s ultimately a judgment call that each billionaire has to make on their own. Since most don’t publicize their tax returns, it’s not always easy to know which receive checks and which don’t.

Those who decide to claim Social Security benefits may not actually get to keep as much as you’d expect, though, due to Social Security benefit taxes. Single adults with provisional incomes — defined as adjusted gross incomes (AGI) plus nontaxable interest from municipal bonds and half their annual Social Security benefit exceeding $34,000, and married couples with provisional incomes exceeding $44,000, can owe ordinary income taxes on up to 85% of their benefit.

For example, if we have a billionaire earning a $5,108 monthly benefit in 2025 who falls in the 37% income tax bracket, then the IRS would tax 85% of their annual benefit — $52,102 — at 37%, meaning they’d give $19,278 of that money back to the government, leaving them with just over $42,000 to keep.

Some still feel it’s unfair that billionaires pay so little into the program, and some have proposed increasing or eliminating the cap on Social Security payroll taxes to force them to pay more. This could be a change we see in the future. If enacted, it may lead to larger Social Security benefits for billionaires depending on how the government decides to structure the change. For the time being, the current system remains, capping billionaires’ benefits but also requiring them to contribute little to Social Security.



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Barcelona making correct decision to not risk Alejandro Balde against Inter Milan

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According to the latest reporting from Catalan media, Barcelona will face Inter Milan in the second leg of the Champions League semi-finals at San Siro without their two starting full-backs as Jules Kounde is already ruled out with a hamstring injury and Alejandro Balde will not be risked as he’s still not fully recovered from a hamstring issue of his own.

Balde is working as hard as he can to be available as soon as possible and will certainly be gutted to be missing out on such a huge game, and he knows just how important he is to the team and to Barça’s chances of advancing to the European Cup Final. Balde has become one of the best left-backs in the world this season, especially since the start of 2025 when his performances reached a different level that very few players at his position could equal.

But the simple truth is that hamstring injuries are especially tricky, and the risk of a relapse is massive if the recovery isn’t fully complete. If Balde is rushed back against Inter and gets injured again his season will be over, and Barça have way too many big games left in their calendar beyond the trip to San Siro.

Even if the Catalans don’t make the Champions League Final they still have a title-deciding El Clásico next weekend, followed by very difficult La Liga games against Espanyol, Villarreal and a brutal trip to San Mamés to face Athletic Bilbao in the league finale. Depending on what happens against Real Madrid the Blaugrana might very well need to win all those matches to clinch the title, and having Balde in the lineup will certainly improve their chances.

There is also the very realistic possibility of Barça pulling off a massive result in Italy and making it to Munich, and having Balde available for the title match is a must given the Catalans would face either Bukayo Saka’s Arsenal or Ousmane Dembélé (plus Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Bradley Barcola, Achraf Hakimi and Désiré Doué) and PSG, who would offer huge threats on the left side of Barça’s defense.

So with everything that is still to come, the only sensible choice is to make sure Balde is one hundred percent fit again for the rest of Barça’s season. His absence will certainly be felt against Inter, but it would be felt even more in the four (or possibly five) games after.



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