The Rock Chalkboard

The time KU's Nick Collison played basketball with Barack Obama
Collison relived his experience shooting around with President Barack Obama on the latest episode of the Jayhawker Podcast, hosted by Voice of the Jayhawks Brian Hanni. As he recalled, the experience began in the summer of 2012, leading up to the election in which Obama would earn his second term. The event was a basketball clinic on the campaign trail, and several NBA players participated.

Big Ten scraps nonconference football games for 2020 | KUsports.com
The Big Ten Conference announced Thursday it will not play nonconference games in football and several other sports this fall, the most dramatic move yet by a power conference because of the coronavirus pandemic.

What options might KU football have if nonconference games are eliminated from the 2020 schedule? | Tale of the Tait | KUsports.com
In the interest of taking advantage of geography, KU would replace those games with a second matchup against Kansas State, Iowa State and Oklahoma State, the three Big 12 schools located closest to Lawrence.

Bits o Chalk

UFC 'troubled' by Mike Perry's bar altercation, says fighter will seek counseling
The UFC says it is "troubled" by the actions of fighter Mike Perry, who was involved in a physical altercation at a bar this week that was caught on video in which he also yelled racial slurs.

Zion Williamson's stepfather took $400K payment, court filing alleges
Zion Williamson's stepfather solicited and accepted a $400,000 payment from a marketing agent in October 2018 prior to Williamson's only season with the Duke Blue Devils, according to a court motion and sworn affidavit filed by his former marketing representative's attorneys in federal court on Thursday.

Brooklyn Nets sign veteran Michael Beasley as substitute player
After officially signing with the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday afternoon, Michael Beasley has made his way to Orlando, Florida, where he began the league-mandated quarantine.

Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie's documentary film company finishes 'The Meaning of Hitler'
Lurie is an executive producer for the film. The threat of white supremacy is a topic that has been important to him for some time, and this is an example of his commitment to addressing social issues.

Eraser Dust

Trump Keeps Annual Financial Disclosures Out Of View — For Now : NPR
On a day when legal battles over President Trump's tax records and other financial information are at center stage, another key piece of the president's financial picture remains out of view. Trump has received a second extension to file his annual financial disclosure, which originally was due on May 15.

Who Is Keisha Lance Bottoms? Atlanta Mayor On Biden VP List : NPR
Former adviser Johnson said Bottoms' relatability, drawn from her range of life experiences, is the key to her success. "I think she's just a Black woman who understands what it feels like to be middle class but also poor in Atlanta."

The Time Has Come To Talk About 'Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping'
This is a pattern with Lonely Island movies, sadly. They’re all terrific and they all bomb at the box office. Hot Rod is a perfect American story that no one saw. MacGruber is a work of unhinged genius that no one saw. Popstar opened in eighth place (eighth!), behind such cinematic classics as The Angry Birds Movie (in its third week) and That Ninja Turtle Movie With Megan Fox. It’s infuriating, is what it is. Popstar is so good.

Man charged with removing Kalispell 10 Commandments monument appears in court
A Columbia Falls man who is charged in connection with removing the 10 Commandments monument outside of the Flathead County Courthouse was arraigned in Flathead County District Court on Thursday morning.

Second Stimulus Check Update: Here’s Everything We Know Right Now
Who would qualify? Senator McConnell has suggested those earning less than $40,000 would qualify, which is lower than the $75,000 in the Heroes Act

Daily Inter Lake
The Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park will open to motorized vehicles from the west entrance to Logan Pass and as far as Rising Sun on Monday, July 13, pending any last-minute changes due to weather, the park said late Thursday in a press release.

Police Funding, First and Second Amendments Discussed Again at Kalispell City Council - Flathead Beacon
The reason I’m here is because of misinformation,” DeVries said. “Love Lives Here never said anything about defunding the police. We never started a petition.” DeVries was specifically referring to the Facebook group, “Flathead 411,” which a number of people at the meeting criticized over the content spread by its users.

Trump says he'll wear mask during upcoming trip to Walter Reed | TheHill
President Trump on Thursday said he'll wear a mask during an upcoming trip to Walter Reed hospital to meet with staff and injured soldiers, which would mark a rare instance he has done so publicly.