‘moving on to the big boy’

The U.S. naval blockade and a sweeping sanctions drive have crippled Iran's economy, sending inflation to 90% and halting oil loadings since late August, according to a new Treasury Department report obtained by Axios. The report lands as President Donald Trump weighs...

Popular and controversial women's basketball player Sophie Cunningham opened up about why her Christian faith is pivotal to her life.

On Thursday's episode of his "This Past Weekend" podcast, comedian Theo Von asked the Indiana Fever player to talk about her religious beliefs.

'There's nothing that you can or can't do that's gonna separate you from God's love and grace and forgiveness.'

"Let's talk about your faith. You got baptized as an adult, right?" Von asked.

"I'm gonna bring you to church with me," she responded.

Cunningham said she doesn't have a home church because of her lifestyle but said she is very connected to her faith.

"I was raised Catholic, but now I'm just like more Christian. I can never say this word — nondenominational? Just said it," she joked.

"I love Jesus, and I've actually listened to you a little bit that you're starting to kind of maybe get into it or intrigued by it a little bit," she added.

"Oh, yeah," Von responded.

"Or maybe that was just you not actually. I don't know, but it's OK. But all I'm saying is, I rely a lot on my faith because of what I do for a living. You get a lot of hate; you get a lot of praise. And I think that just morally in my head, everything, it just keeps me stable, and it keeps me to be who I am," she added.

"I don't care what people's opinions are about me because I'm not living for their praise," Cunningham said.

Von said that he really liked having a prayer connection with God but admitted that he felt bad when he neglected that connection.

"I feel you. ... There's nothing — I'm just gonna say this, and this is for the people listening too, but there's nothing that you can or can't do that's gonna separate you from God's love and grace and forgiveness," she responded.

"That's why Jesus came and died on the cross because He already knew everything you were going to do. So, I mean, that's up to you now to kind of educate yourself and read the Bible," Cunningham added.

"But you're already forgiven," she added.

"I understand that. ... I just feel more of personal connection when I'm prayed up," he said.

"Yeah!" she responded.

"My buddy say, 'Stay prayed up.' My buddy, he say that all the time. 'Stay prayed up.' It's almost like if you talk to somebody every now and then, then you don't have to catch up with them," he added.

"Well, that's a thousand percent what it is," she replied.

"That's what I'm saying," he added.

Von reiterated that sometimes he gets busy and neglects his prayer life.

"That's natural. That's what it is to be human. You just gotta prioritize the good," she replied.

Cunningham went on to praise the people who were "bold and courageous" about speaking out publicly about their faith. She said she believes there is a revival under way.

RELATED: Black WNBA player blames 'white privilege' after getting ejected for flagrant foul on Sophie Cunningham

Cunningham also told Von he should bring on experts to talk more about the interaction between science and faith.

"Yeah. We want to have the pope on, but he won't. I don't even know if he has a phone," Von responded.

"I mean, someone has a phone around there," she responded. "They're not the Amish. And even the Amish have phones."

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Federal immigration authorities arrested more than 180 illegal immigrants during a five-day enforcement operation in northwestern Alabama, including an 18th Street gang member who had been deported seven times, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

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Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, is voicing concern about the midterm elections, warning that Republicans could lose every statewide race in Texas.

A former Minnesota high school special-education teacher who was accused of booking hotel rooms to have sex with a student has learned her fate, and she doesn't have to return to jail.

Ann Margaret Bacon, 27, pleaded guilty in September to third-degree criminal sexual conduct involving a prohibited occupational relationship.

'Please be assured that the trust and safety of our students remain our utmost priority.'

On Monday in Ramsey County District Court, the former teacher was sentenced to 180 days, according to the Pioneer Press. But Bacon will be permitted to serve her sentence on electronic home monitoring.

Judge Thomas Gilligan Jr. also sentenced Bacon to two years of supervised probation, and she will receive two days of credit for time already served in custody.

In August 2022, Bacon was hired as a special-education teacher at Tartan High School in Oakdale, according to the school district.

The Pioneer Press reported in February 2024 that a criminal complaint stated that a witness and her friend in July 2023 sounded the alarm about a possible teacher-student relationship of concern "because they did not feel the situation was appropriate."

Another witness told police that the alleged male victim, who was 18 years old at the time, had been "acting secretively" and spending time with Bacon, according to the complaint.

The Pioneer Press said "Witness B" told police about sexually explicit messages and photos of Bacon and "Victim 1 on Victim 1's phone." There also were photos of them in a hotel room, the paper said.

The victim told authorities that he first had sex with Bacon in her car near his house in July 2023, according to the complaint.

The criminal complaint also said police obtained records showing Bacon rented hotel rooms on four different occasions for one night each time.

RELATED: VIDEO: Married teacher shows cops where in classroom she allegedly had sex with student — offered to leave husband for him

Witnesses allegedly informed investigators that Bacon purchased alcohol for minors, according to the New York Post.

The criminal complaint noted that she received a $40 Venmo payment that was labeled as "liqq" but that Bacon "claimed she didn't remember who it was from or what it was for."

The Pioneer Press also reported that Bacon resigned from her teaching position on Feb. 8, 2024 — the same day police interviewed her regarding accusations that she had an inappropriate relationship with a student.

Tartan Principal Bethany DeCent notified families and school staff in February 2024, "Please be assured that the trust and safety of our students remain our utmost priority. We are cooperating fully with law enforcement's investigation and will continue to do so throughout the process."

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