Day: April 20, 2026
Nike apologizes and removes Boston ad that joked about tolerance
Nike promised it would “do better” after apparently getting complaints over a new ad in Boston.
The ad was part of a marketing campaign centered on the Boston Marathon, an elite annual race that took place on Monday. The simple text ad apparently sparked enough controversy with Nike that the company pulled the graphic almost immediately after putting it up.
‘We’ll use this moment to do better and continue showing up for all runners.’
The ad was featured in the window of Nike’s Newbury Street store in Boston, reportedly just a few hundred feet from the marathon’s finish line. It featured black text on a dark red background that read, “Runners Welcome. Walkers Tolerated.”
The ad was up for only about a day, according to multiple outlets like Marathon Handbook, which said it was put up on April 16 but was taken down by the following morning.
Nike was quick to apologize for the joke, saying, “We want more people to feel welcome in running — no matter their pace, experience, or the distance.”
“During race week in Boston, we put up a series of signs to encourage runners,” the company continued, according to Runner’s World. “One of them missed the mark. We took it down, and we’ll use this moment to do better and continue showing up for all runners.”
RELATED: Nike ditches wokeness in family-friendly golf ad: ‘More of this, please!’
– YouTube
Nike also released a statement to Boston.com that claimed, “We listen to the voice of the athlete.”
The media team also attached an image that appeared to be a replacement ad for the same store. The image reads, “Boston will always remind you, movement is what matters.”
Counternarratives have since emerged stating that Nike’s original messaging was not out of place given the elite level of competition at the Boston Marathon.
Jennifer Sey, a U.S. national champion in gymnastics and frequent Nike critic, said that when it comes to advertising, Nike has “one swing and a miss after another. For at least 5 years.”
“Nike can’t get anything right at the moment,” Sey wrote on X. She then called company leadership out-of-touch “egomaniacs.”
“It’s always been a douchey culture,” she added.
“This is the Boston Marathon. … Obviously, they’re going to encourage them to run,” said runner and YouTuber Rob Tolo.
“Why are we getting offended by that, bro? This is for the elite of the elite,” he added. “This is Boston, bro. I’d love to qualify for that one day.”
Commentator Jake Heyen said he disagreed with the backlash too and that Nike’s objective was to celebrate ambition and performance.
“The messaging of this ad should not be controversial, and honestly, I would respect Nike much more if they brought the sign back today with even more hardcore messaging,” he said.
Nike stock dropped by a couple of dollars per share amid the controversy on Thursday but had recovered by Friday morning.
However, shares have fallen by more than 27% in 2026, averaging out to a 17% drop since April 2025. Value peaked at nearly $80 per share last August before plummeting to just over $46 per share at the time of this writing.
The company’s all-time high was around $170 per share in 2021. Nike is currently back down to 2015 numbers.
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Deadly mass shooting erupts after ‘planned fight’ near middle school in North Carolina, police say
A “planned fight between two young” individuals on Monday led to a mass shooting where at least two people were killed, say North Carolina police.
Winston-Salem police said on social media that the fight began at about 9:52 a.m. at Leinbach Park, which is only about 400 yards away from Jefferson Middle School on Sally Kirk Rd.
‘Several individuals — both victims and suspects — have been identified and located.’
While police were on their way to the park to respond to the fight, a shooting broke out.
Police said several people shot at each other, and later the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation confirmed that at least two people had died in the incident.
“Several individuals — both victims and suspects — have been identified and located. Due to the number of people involved, efforts are ongoing to account for everyone. At this time, some of those involved in the incident are juveniles,” said police.
The shooting led to lockdowns at several schools.
WGHP-TV reported a massive police presence in the area, with many businesses and streets closed down as the investigation continues.
Police called for the community not to use personal drones in the area to avoid interfering with police drones searching for other possible suspects and victims.
RELATED: VIDEO: Heroic high school principal saves the day, stops shooter in his tracks
Although police said schools were returning to their normal schedule, some parents showed up to pick up their children.
This is a developing story.
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SCOTUS agrees to hear arguments in Colorado religious freedom case
The Supreme Court has agreed to weigh in on whether religious institutions must set aside their core beliefs in order to participate in a state-funded program.
The St. Mary Catholic Parish v. Roy case, broadly speaking, is a challenge to the Archdiocese of Denver’s requirement that families and staff support Catholic beliefs. The state takes issue with this requirement when considering whether to allow Catholic schools in the archdiocese to participate in the Universal Preschool Program.
‘Colorado promised free preschool for all, then slammed the door on families who chose a religious education for their children. After three losses in religious freedom cases at the Supreme Court, Colorado should know better.’
The archdiocese requires staff and families to sign statements to “affirm that they will support the teachings of the Catholic Church” and that “all Catholic school families must understand and display a positive and supportive attitude toward the Catholic Church,” according to Fox News.
Colorado officials, however, argue that these requirements are not inclusive of all children.
RELATED: Why the Supreme Court nuked Colorado’s ‘Must Stay Gay’ law (and what to expect next)
Helen H. Richardson/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post/Getty Images
“All participating providers — whether religious or secular — must ensure that children have equal opportunity to enroll in and receive preschool services regardless of those children’s (or their families’) religious affiliation, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, lack of housing, income level, or disability,” the state said.
The state’s universal preschool program covers all types of schools and offers 15 hours of free preschool each week in the year before the child enters kindergarten.
Nicholas Reaves, senior counsel at Becket and attorney for the families and preschools, told Blaze News, “Colorado promised free preschool for all, then slammed the door on families who chose a religious education for their children. After three losses in religious freedom cases at the Supreme Court, Colorado should know better. The Supreme Court has repeatedly held that states cannot exclude families from government benefits because of their faith. We’re confident the Court will say the same thing here and put a stop to Colorado’s no-Catholics-need-apply rules.”
Families in the case remain hopeful that the Supreme Court will side with their appeal.
“All we want is the freedom to choose the best preschool for our kids without being punished for our faith,” Dan and Lisa Sheley, Catholic parents of seven and Becket clients in the case, said in a statement provided to Blaze News. “Colorado promised families a universal preschool program, then cut out families like ours because we chose a Catholic education. We pray the Supreme Court will remind Colorado that universal means everyone.”
“Colorado is punishing young religious families. In a state that loudly preaches inclusion, it’s shocking to see Colorado go out of its way to exclude families like mine,” Erika Navarrete Nagle, a Catholic mother of three whose children attend St. Mary’s, told Blaze News. “I hope the Supreme Court will make it clear that no family should be targeted for what they believe.”
The Supreme Court will hear arguments for this case in the fall.
Editor’s note: The author attended St. Mary Catholic Parish and School.
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Tim Walz launches new super PAC by pretending to be JD Vance
Failed vice presidential candidate Tim Walz tried and failed to take a swipe at Vice President JD Vance during his announcement of a new political super PAC on Monday.
The Minnesota governor said the Small Town PAC is intended to boost the campaigns of Democrats in rural areas of the country.
‘If Democrats want to win in more places, we’ve got to start showing up in more places.’
“Republicans like JD Vance like to portray their small-town neighbors as petty, resentful, and small-minded. I disagree. I think the problem facing small towns are Republicans like JD Vance,” said Walz to Politico.
Vance was propelled into politics after the success of his memoir titled “Hillbilly Elegy,” which documented his travails among poor, white communities in Kentucky and Ohio. He memorably paid homage to his mother and “mamaw” during his speech at the Republican National Convention in 2024.
Walz had given up his hopes of re-election as governor after being accused of helping cover up the massive fraud committed by some members of the Somali community in Minnesota. He has denied the allegations.
“We’re going to show up in small towns, organize in places too many people have given up on, and build power with the folks who call these places home,” said Walz on social media Monday. “If Democrats want to win in more places, we’ve got to start showing up in more places.”
He told Politico that he was going use the super PAC to seek “some teachers, some nurses, some laborers, vets, and young people in small towns across the country who can represent their communities better than Silicon Valley can.”
RELATED: Tim Walz says Democrats need to be ‘meaner’ and ‘bully the s**t out of’ Trump
Walz was ridiculed by many in January after he warned that Minnesota was “at war” with the federal government after President Donald Trump ordered a surge of federal troops to enforce immigration law.
“I’ve issued a warning order to prepare the Minnesota National Guard,” Walz added. “We have soldiers in training and prepared to be deployed if necessary. I remind you, a warning order is a heads-up for folks.”
That federal operation was ended after two anti-ICE protesters were killed during incidents with federal troops, and local leaders reached an agreement with the Trump administration to pull out the troops.
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5 wounded, including 3 students, in shooting near University of Iowa; police release photos of persons of interest
Five people were wounded, including three students, in a shooting near the University of Iowa early Sunday morning — and Iowa City Police have released photos showing persons of interest.
Police said they responded at 1:46 a.m. to a report of a large fight in the 100 Block of East College Street — and that arriving officers heard gunfire.
Police said no arrests have been made, but there is no known ongoing threat associated with the incident; the department is continuing to investigate.
Police said in a separate post that the scene of the shooting was in downtown Iowa City.
Police said they have identified five victims in the shooting: One is in critical condition, and the other four victims are in stable condition.
NBC News said video circulating on social media appears to show a confrontation before the shooting that seemed to involve a large group of people. The news network added that several people could be seen punching and kicking others while bystanders urged them to stop.
NBC News added that it’s unclear when the gunfire commenced, but additional video on social media shows a large crowd fleeing.
RELATED: Male, 31, fatally shoots 8 children execution style; 7 were his own kids: Report
Police said no arrests have been made, but there is no known ongoing threat associated with the incident; the department is continuing to investigate.
Police also posted photos on its Facebook page showing persons of interest associated with the shooting as part of the department’s ongoing investigation.
RELATED: Masked men open fire after storming into Chick-fil-A; 1 dead, 6 injured; manhunt under way
Persons of interest. Image source: Iowa City Police, composite
Police said those with information about the individuals in the photos are asked to contact Detective Cade Burma at cburma@iowa-city.org or 319-356-5275.
Police added that the persons of interest have been numbered to assist in the sharing of information.
In addition, those with video also can contact Detective Burma, police said, adding that tips can also be submitted anonymously through Iowa City Crime Stoppers, which is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information about this incident that leads to an arrest.
Crime Stoppers tips can be submitted via the P3 Tips app online at iccrimestoppers.org or by phone at 319-358-TIPS (8477), police said, adding that all tips and calls are held in strict confidence and anonymity is guaranteed. Individuals providing information are not required to reveal their identity to collect a reward, police also said, noting that a CASE #2026003915 also was provided.
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Musician D4vd charged with murder of 14-year-old girl in Los Angeles
David Burke, a 21?year?old musician known professionally as D4vd, has been charged with the murder of 14?year?old Celeste Rivas, Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman said on Monday.
Filipina caregiver’s name inscribed on Tel Aviv’s memorial for war, terrorism victims
The name of the Filipina caregiver Mary Ann de Vera, who was killed in a missile attack on February 28, 2026 in Israel, is immoratlized in a memorial in Tel Aviv, the Philippine Embassy in Israel announced.
LTFRB summons driver, operator of modern jeepney that hit concrete post
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Monday said it imposed a 30-day suspension on the operations of a modern jeepney that was involved in a recent road crash in Cubao, Quezon City.
British royals mark what would have been late queen’s 100th birthday
King Charles visited an exhibition dedicated to his late mother’s fashion on Monday, the first in a number of events which the British royals will attend to mark what would have been the late Queen Elizabeth’s 100th birthday on Tuesday.
