WNBA star Brittney Griner, who spent 10 months detained in Russia, mentioned she is “head over heels” after the discharge of Individuals Evan Gershkovich and Paul Whelan, who had been free of Russia in a prisoner swap, in keeping with The Related Press.

The video is from a earlier report.

“Nice day. It is an ideal day. It is an ideal day,” Griner mentioned from Paris, the place she is competing in ladies’s basketball for Staff USA on the Olympics, the AP reported. “We’ll speak extra about it later. However head over heels glad for the households proper now. Any day that Individuals come house, that is a win. That is a win.”

In February 2022, whereas returning to Russia to play basketball in the course of the WNBA’s offseason, Griner was detained at Russia’s Sheremetyevo Worldwide Airport after she was accused of getting vape cartridges containing hashish oil, which is unlawful within the nation. The State Division mentioned she was wrongfully detained.

MORE | ‘Nobody ought to be left behind’: Brittney Griner displays on freedom from Russia in ’20/20′ particular

In July 2022, Griner pleaded responsible to drug costs, saying that the vape cartridges containing hashish oil had been in her baggage unintentionally. She testified that she had “no intention” of breaking Russian legislation and packed the cartridges accidentally.

The WNBA star was launched in December 2022 after U.S. officers agreed to swap her for convicted Russian arms vendor Viktor Bout.

Griner instructed “Good Morning America” co-anchor Robin Roberts earlier this 12 months she anticipated to additionally see Whelan there when she was boarding the airplane to go away Russia.

“After I walked on and I did not see him, I used to be like, ‘OK, perhaps I am early. Possibly he is subsequent. Possibly they will convey him subsequent,'” she mentioned of Whelan. “And once they closed the door, I used to be like … are you critically not gonna let this man come house proper now?”

MORE | Brittney Griner displays on second she was detained in Russia in unique ’20/20′ particular

“If it was left as much as me in that commerce, I might have went and acquired Paul and introduced him house,” Griner mentioned.

After her launch, Griner grew to become an advocate for Individuals wrongfully detained overseas.

Whelan, a former U.S. Marine, was arrested in 2018 and accused of espionage. Each the Biden and Trump administrations denied the allegation towards Whelan. He was convicted on the fees in 2020 and sentenced to 16 years in jail.

Gershkovich, a Wall Avenue Journal reporter, was arrested by Russian authorities in 2023 for espionage, a cost he and U.S. officers flatly deny, with President Joe Biden saying he was focused for being a journalist and an American. After an unusually hasty trial that performed out behind closed doorways, Gershkovich was discovered responsible and sentenced to 16 years in a high-security penal colony.

Two others unjustly imprisoned in Russia, Alsu Kurmasheva and Vladimir Kara-Murza, had been additionally launched in Thursday’s swap, Biden mentioned.

To report there may be little new about “Batman: Caped Crusader” is borderline irrelevant. The character is almost 100 years previous. His story has been advised time and time once more, usually with the identical foundational items: Bruce Wayne, a billionaire playboy by day, dons a bat-themed disguise by night time, when he patrols Gotham Metropolis’s streets for diabolical villains and numerous ne’er-do-wells. All that is finished within the title of his dad and mom, who — as you might have heard a couple of times — had been murdered in entrance of their adolescent son.

Over the many years, the artists who’ve advised and retold Batman’s story make sure tweaks and revisions based mostly on their very own pursuits. Some lean into the devices, obsessing over his seemingly limitless utility belt or filling up the Bat-garage with new Bat-cars, Bat-planes, and Bat-bikes. Others hone in on the world-building, portray Gotham in brilliant carnival colours stuffed with equally iridescent wackos or stripping it all the way down to a monochrome shadow the place dangerous guys emerge from each darkened nook. Much more broadly, there are goofy Batmen, kiddie Batmen, lewd Batmen, and Batmen who’re oh so severe.

The character has confirmed to be as elastic as Clayface’s oozing structure, and whereas seeing a very completely different tackle the Bat-verse could be fairly a little bit of enjoyable, that’s not what “Batman: Caped Crusader” has in thoughts. Developed by Bruce Timm, the co-creator of “Batman: The Animated Collection,” the brand new sequence capabilities as a pseudo-reboot of the commemorated ’90s hit. Followers will acknowledge the Fleischer Studios-inspired animation and Artwork Deco structure, the stable colours and sparse streets, the looming cityscapes and timeless interval setting. However they’ll additionally be aware the lacking colours from Batman’s costume — the absent yellow backdrop to his bat image, a stable black cape sans the blue lining, and a muted yellow belt that’s extra Dijon than traditional mustard — simply as they’re certain to identify his prolonged ears, broader shoulders, and bunchy gloves.

These little touches are normal for any new Batman (revealing every new Bat-suit carries almost as a lot anticipation as asserting who’s carrying it), however they’re additionally illustrative of what’s modified inside a present that may usually really feel like an echo of “BTAS.” Transitioning from previous to current is supposed to be simple, but not with out changes. This Batman is that Batman (and plenty of different Batmen of the previous), however he’s additionally tweaked simply sufficient to serve this particular story — an old-fashioned noir constructed on progressive concepts; a throwback to the previous with a thoughts for the long run; a nostalgic return to at least one “Animated Collection” with out the rose-colored glasses that doom so many reboots to redundant mediocrity.

The second Bat-project from government producer Matt Reeves (after the 2022 movie “The Batman,” and earlier than this fall’s “The Penguin”) options acquainted dangerous guys (together with a gender-flipped Penguin, voiced by Minnie Driver) and compulsory origin tales. Harley Quinn (who bought her begin in “BTAS” and will get a splendidly recent narrative right here), Catwoman, and most notably Two-Face get their very own episodes, and a closing tease for subsequent season’s featured nemesis is painfully predictable. However these anticipated reprisals show compelling sufficient, if not downright sprightly, after seeing how “Caped Crusader” incorporates so many homages to traditional Bat-stories. Set in an unspecified interval paying homage to the Nineteen Thirties and ’40s, the sequence hearkens again to every little thing from Batman’s run-ins with Robin Hood to the “Biff! Bam! Pow!” antics of Adam West. One episode sees Batman taking part in vampire-hunter. One other finds him going cowl to cowl with an precise ghost.

However the sequence’ isn’t solely in dialog with its pulp period and “BTAS.” Harvey Dent’s transition to Two-Face is well-trodden territory — sufficient that Harvey himself says he may “throw up simply listening to myself” whereas recapping his oft-depicted heel flip — besides for the way the brand new framework barely contrasts Christopher Nolan’s “The Darkish Knight.” There, Harvey was a logo of hope whose crushing fall needed to be hidden, so his message might be preserved. Right here, his white knight’s armor is sullied earlier than his face is scarred, and the way that matches this model of Gotham Metropolis makes for a becoming rallying cry all its personal.

Nonetheless, the core power of “Caped Crusader” stems from its top-to-bottom dedication to noir. Past the fashion, which is hanging and comforting in equal measure, the sequence is swarming with corruption. The mob runs town. The cops work with the mob. The politicians play each side, and everybody else doesn’t know the place to show. Costumed vigilantes (that means Batman and his flamboyant enemies) are framed as last-ditch reactions to a world that’s past saving by conventional means. When random residents communicate up, they’re speaking about closed-down factories that go away locals hungry or poor neighborhoods deserted (and even attacked) by the police. Previous Gothamites see Batman as a menace as a result of the institution describes him as such. Younger Gothamites see Batman as an inspiration: “Bout time somebody gave these cops a lickin’,” a twenty-something says on the night information.

Even Batman isn’t immune from swirling evils. In a quiet arc that pays off loudly, Bruce treats Alfred, his lifelong caretaker and surrogate guardian, like employed assist. (“I used to be raised to deal with the employees like folks,” Lucius Fox says. “You may wish to give it a strive someday, Bruce.”) He’s blinded by his quest on the expense of these round him, and his stubbornness results in issues time and time once more. In maybe one of the best episode of the season, Bruce is sentenced to court-mandated remedy. He punches a man who makes a snide remark about his late mom, and his ensuing periods are how “Caped Crusader” unpacks Bruce’s well-known transformation into Batman. This time, it’s not a tragedy that he’s turning into grand redemption; it’s repressed ache that he’s inflicting on others — consciously and unconsciously.

The sequence might stand to take a couple of of those concepts additional, along with taking place extra authentic avenues all its personal, however “Batman: Caped Crusader” feels primed to just do that after an excellent first season. It’s entertaining, self-aware, and durable. It’s fantastically drawn, tightly written, and well-acted. (Diedrich Bader, Christina Ricci, and Jamie Chung are all wonderful of their respective roles, whereas Hamish Linkalter is de facto flexing his vary in 2024 — taking part in each Batman and Abraham Lincoln earlier than showing within the hotly anticipated adaptation of “The Nickel Boys” this fall.) It pays homage to what got here earlier than with out feeling inhibited by the previous, and its progressive mentality serves its style simply in addition to its story.

A lot of this might be stated about earlier variations of Batman, however that doesn’t take something away from “Caped Crusader.” Informal followers ought to be joyful, die-hards will discover lots to savor, and a brand new era could also be about to find a Bat-series to name their very own.

Grade: B+

“Batman: Caped Crusader” premieres Thursday, August 1 on Amazon Prime Video. All 10 episodes of the primary season will probably be launched directly. The sequence has already been renewed for Season 2.

Now that is the Batman I bear in mind.

There’s been no scarcity of Batmen over the previous three many years, from Michael Keaton to Christian Bale to Ben Affleck (“Batfleck”) to Robert Pattinson, and from big-budget film franchises to TV reveals set in and round Gotham Metropolis, spinoffs, villains, sidekicks and all the things in between. Within the age of Hollywood remakes and mental property grabs, Batman is king.

So maybe it was solely a matter of time till we received one thing like Amazon’s “Batman: Caped Crusader” (now streaming, ★★★ out of 4), an animated, noir tackle the enduring superhero within the vein of the beloved “Batman: The Animated Collection” and produced by J.J. Abrams and Matt Reeves (director of Pattinson’s bat-outing). This Batman lives in a Gotham Metropolis that resembles Thirties Los Angeles, has a gender-swapped Penguin inflicting hassle for him (voiced by Minnie Driver) and places the “darkish” squarely again in Darkish Knight. However we’re not speaking Zack Snyder darkish, with lighting so dangerous you may’t see something, however as a substitute a moody, melancholy and even emotional tone. Sure, this cartoon Batman is perhaps probably the most delicate, nuanced model of the hero you are more likely to see.

The setup of the collection (initially developed for HBO however offloaded to its streaming competitor in an obvious cost-saving transfer) is fairly easy. There’s crime and Gotham and there is a man dressed as an enormous bat making an attempt to cease it, this time carrying a extra basic, model of the costume, yellow utility belt and all. As voiced by Hamish Linklater (“Midnight Mass”), this Batman is gravelly and gruff, like so lots of his predecessors, and the unmasked Bruce Wayne is slick and smooth-talking. He is a easy man of means and a robust need to battle crime.

Helped by his butler Alfred Pennyworth (Jason Watkins) and lawyer Barbara Gordon (Krystal Pleasure Brown), Batman goes after villains large and small, with a number of season-long storylines and villains to maintain you coming again for extra. Driver’s Penguin sings and dances, an absolute delight; a pre-villainous Harley Quinn, voiced by Jamie Chung, presents psychological recommendation; and a smarmy Harvey Dent (Diedrich Bader) oozes with corruption. The ambiance of previous Hollywood permeates the entire collection, and never simply within the episode a couple of lacking film star. The battle between good and evil has an interesting simplicity, even in a city as full of grey areas as Gotham.

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Linklater has a strong, predictable efficiency because the voice of Batman, however the actual abilities within the collection are the weekly visitor stars. Because the credit roll on every installment you get to take pleasure in a recreation of “which very well-known individual simply did the voice of a Batman villain?” My private favourite was Christina Ricci as Selina Kyle/Catwoman, a big-screen casting I might relish if the position weren’t at present taken by Zoe Kravitz.

Probably the most pleasant factor about “Caped” is simply how pleasant and straightforward it’s to look at. It embraces its noir tone with out changing into so miserable as to be painful to take a seat by. The little vigilantisms-of-the-week are tightly edited and fascinating, with Bruce and generally his counterparts on the Gotham PD working circumstances to a satisfying finish. Easter eggs abound for tremendous followers, in addition to loads of explication for the extra informal DC Comics viewer.

Do we’d like one other Batman? After all, not. Loads of variations of the comedian e-book character have saved and can save Gotham (whats up, “The Batman Half II” arriving in 2026). Colin Farrell has a present in regards to the Penguin coming to HBO. We’re very probably all Batman-ed out as a tradition. However “Caped” is not so showy or loud that it could actually’t slot in amongst all these big-budget, big-screen Batman tales. It discovered a distinct segment in its setting and runs with it in probably the most entertaining manner potential. If you would like a low-key model of the character that feels rather less overblown, that is the Batman for you.

If you would like one thing bombastic, your watch for a big-screen model is not very lengthy.

Gordon Hayward has retired from the NBA after 14 seasons, he introduced on social media Thursday.

“At present, I’m formally retiring from the sport of basketball,” Hayward wrote. “It has been an unbelievable experience and I am so grateful to everybody who helped me obtain greater than I ever imagined.”

A flexible ahead, Hayward — the ninth general decide within the 2010 NBA draft by the Utah Jazz — was an All-Star in 2017 with Utah earlier than signing with the Boston Celtics as a free agent that summer time. Hayward suffered a ugly leg harm in his first recreation for Boston, an harm that value him that season and noticed him want one other one to spherical again into type.

Final season, Hayward averaged 9.8 factors, 3.5 rebounds and three.1 assists in 51 video games with the Charlotte Hornets and Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder. He was traded to Oklahoma Metropolis midseason as a part of a deal the Thunder hoped would assist them within the playoffs. Hayward, nevertheless, did not rating some extent in seven playoff video games.

Hayward, 34, finishes his NBA profession having averaged 15.2 factors, 4.4 rebounds and three.5 assists per recreation.

Hayward entered the NBA after a prolific faculty profession at Butler during which he led the Bulldogs to the 2010 championship recreation towards Duke. He tried a half-court, buzzer-beating shot that might have given Butler the title however as a substitute rimmed out.

Saying “there are too many individuals” to thank, Hayward thanked his dad and mom and household, his agent Mark Bartelstein, coaches, teammates, trainers, docs and mates for supporting him “by numerous years and cities, serving to me exceed my very own expectations.”

“To all my followers: thanks for supporting me by the ups and downs,” he wrote. “I will at all times cherish the letters of encouragement and the moments we have shared around the globe. You impressed me to at all times dream massive and enhance on a regular basis — and for the younger gamers up subsequent, I problem you to do the identical!

“As I transfer to spend extra time with my household as a father and husband, I look ahead to new adventures and challenges, taking with me the teachings I’ve realized on the courtroom that may information me throughout my subsequent chapters, each in enterprise and in life.

“I am unable to watch for what’s subsequent!”

ESPN’s Tim Bontemps and The Related Press contributed to this report.

BASKETBALL

Gordon Hayward, who practically gave Butler a nationwide title over Duke with a half-court shot that simply missed on the ultimate play of the 2010 NCAA males’s basketball championship recreation, retired from the NBA after 14 seasons on Thursday.

Hayward performed for Utah, Boston, Charlotte and Oklahoma Metropolis, and was an All-Star in 2017. He averaged 15.2 factors in 835 profession regular-season video games.

GOLF

U.S. SENIOR WOMEN’S OPEN: JoAnne Carner shot her age with a 14-over 85 within the first spherical in Pittsburgh.

A member of the World Golf Corridor of Fame, Carner gained the U.S. Ladies’s Open in 1971 and 1976.

Kaori Yamamoto of Japan was the chief after a 4-under 67.

BASEBALL

MAJOR LEAGUES: Los Angeles Angels star Mike Trout wants a second surgical procedure for a torn meniscus in his left knee, ending one other injury-marred marketing campaign for the three-time MVP.

Trout stated in a social media put up that an MRI revealed the brand new meniscus tear. He beforehand had surgical procedure on Might 3 to restore the meniscus and had been working towards a return earlier than his rehab was shut down on Tuesday.

Trout hit .220 with 10 homers and 14 RBI in 29 video games this season.

• The World Sequence may lengthen into November for a fourth straight 12 months, however would possibly begin three days early if the League Championship Sequence each finish by Oct. 19.

Main League Baseball stated the beginning of the World Sequence would transfer from Oct. 25 to Oct. 22 if each sequence finish by Oct. 19, when each leagues are scheduled to be via Recreation 5. That might remove the potential for an prolonged layoff resembling in 2022, when Houston and Philadelphia had 4 days off earlier than the World Sequence.

All 4 best-of-three Wild Card Sequence are scheduled for Oct. 1-3.

• The Baltimore Orioles designated outfielder Cristian Pache for task, lower than every week after buying him in a commerce from Philadelphia.

The Orioles additionally activated outfielder Eloy Jiménez, left-hander Trevor Rogers and outfielder Austin Slater after acquiring them in trades, and recalled infielder Livan Soto from Triple-A Norfolk. Baltimore put All-Star infielder Jordan Westburg on the 10-day injured record and optioned outfielder Heston Kjerstad and left-hander Keegan Akin to Norfolk.

TENNIS

CANADIAN OPEN: Carlos Alcaraz pulled out of the U.S. Open tuneup in Montreal after reaching the Paris Olympics semifinals, becoming a member of Novak Djokovic in sitting out the Canadian occasion.

COLLEGES

FOOTBALL: Georgia opened apply Thursday with out huge receiver Rara Thomas, who has been dismissed from the staff following his arrest on fees of cruelty to kids and battery.

Coach Kirby Good stated earlier than Thursday’s apply he met with Thomas on Tuesday and knowledgeable the junior of the choice.

Thomas was arrested early Friday on felony fees of cruelty to kids and misdemeanor battery fees. Georgia introduced later Friday that Thomas was indefinitely suspended.

• Former Michigan State head coach Mel Tucker is suing the college and college leaders, alleging that they wrongfully fired him final 12 months and violated his constitutional rights after he was accused of sexual harassment.

The federal lawsuit filed Wednesday in Michigan accuses faculty officers of endeavor an “improper, sham investigation” of allegations that Tucker sexually harassed and exploited rape survivor and activist Brenda Tracy.

On the time of his firing, Tucker was within the third 12 months of a $95 million, 10-year contract.

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CHICAGO (WLS) — Lollapalooza is again!

The four-day music competition kicked off in Grant Park Thursday.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click on right here to look at

Headliners embody SZA, Megan Thee Stallion, Blink 182, and the Killers.

RELATED: Lollapalooza 2024: Lineup, tickets, aftershows and every little thing else you could know

“In 2022, I began coming right here due to J-hope and TXT, and from there I simply saved coming,” Lollapalooza-goer Nadeja Knox mentioned. “So I am very excited for this 12 months to see Stray Youngsters.”

The competition is anticipated to attract greater than an estimated 100,000 followers to Grant Park every day.

Ok-pop artists are among the many greater than 170 different acts booked on the occasion’s eight phases.

RELATED: Full listing of road closures for Lollapalooza 2024

“I really like music,” Lollapalooza fan Max Cantu mentioned. “Music is my ardour. It is my life, and I am right here to see Chappell Roan. I need to be right here as she’s blowing up. I need to be there to say, ‘I used to be there.’ I need the expertise.”

Chappell Roan drew huge crowds Thursday night, decked out in a whole lot of pink.

Kesha was additionally on the schedule.

Thursday was Ashton Sullivan’s first time on the music competition.

“I am excited, but in addition actually nervous. However my important cause for coming is for Ok-pop Stray Youngsters; they’re my favourite group,” Sullivan mentioned.

Excited competition goers like Leila Shaffey arrived earlier than daybreak to ensure she and her buddies had been first in line to get place in entrance of middle stage.

“Trigger truthfully for a Ok-pop stand, all people will get right here like 1,000,000 years early. So, we’re like, we do not understand how it should be, however we’d as nicely get right here early,” Shaffey mentioned.

The present runs by means of Sunday evening.

For greater than 30 years, Lollapalooza has known as Chicago house.

Since then, the distinctive lakefront music expertise has not solely develop into the nation’s longest working music competition, but in addition certainly one of its largest and most iconic.

“I am excited to see what it is all about and what folks like a lot about it,” Ella Haas mentioned.

Malcolm Fletcher mentioned he got here all the best way from Fayetteville, North Carolina, after his sister attended final 12 months.

“I am right here for all of it: rain, shine, no matter,” he mentioned.

And, if you happen to’re heading downtown for Lollapalooza, metropolis officers are urging folks to make use of public transportation.

Metra is including trains to accommodate live performance goers.

The CTA mentioned prospects can depend on the Purple and Blue Strains. Yellow Line service may even be prolonged till 1 a.m. every evening.

Varied bus routes will join Metra trains at Union Station and Ogilvie with Grant Park.

Smith, who picked up her second Video games medal after clinching gold within the 100m breaststroke, confirmed her retirement following the competitors.

“I believe I am a really lucky athlete. I believe lots of people dream and hope to get what I’ve however, for me, it was by no means concerning the medals,” she stated. “It is all the time simply making an attempt to problem myself, push myself, and that race was precisely that. It’s pushing and that combat and that competitiveness.

“That was an incredible race, so to finish it off with a silver, however with a combat. That’s one of the best ways to finish it.”

Smith completed sharing that she hasn’t given up on the Olympic spirit. “You will most likely see me on the subsequent Olympics, however on the workers,” she stated. “I’d love to simply expertise that as a spectator.”

Schouten is barely the second swimmer from The Netherlands to make an Olympic ultimate within the 200m breaststroke. She was rewarded together with her first Olympic medal.

Schouten was nonetheless in shock as she spoke to reporters following the competitors, saying, “It feels a bit unreal. I do not actually know the best way to clarify it. I’m completely satisfied and I’m actually shocked. I do not assume it has actually kicked in as but. I really feel just a little bizarre, I can not look ahead to the ceremony, after which I believe all the pieces will kick in. I’ll see my dad and mom and coach, after which it can begin to really feel actual. I’m like, did this actually occur or is it a dream?”

This additionally marks the ultimate particular person occasion for three-time Workforce USA Olympian Lilly King, who completed in eighth and had beforehand introduced that she will not be making an Olympic bid for LA 2028.