Associated Press

The House has passed a broad package of sanctions targeting Russian officials and key pillars of its economy as lawmakers look to deprive President Vladimir Putin of the financial resources needed to wage the war against Ukraine. The bill is named after the late Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who spent more than a year working on it.

The bill represents the most ambitious effort to support Ukraine since President Donald Trump returned to the White House.

The Southeastern Conference is no longer expected to vote on whether to expel LSU from the league on Thursday. That's according to a person familiar with the situation who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the SEC has not released a public statement about canceling the planned vote.

Leaders of the Southeastern Conference plan to meet Thursday to discuss possibly kicking LSU out of the conference. This follows a feud over whether players with NFL experience should return to college rosters.

LSU coach Lane Kiffin’s chances of fielding former NFL players improved Thursday night when a Louisiana judge issued a preliminary injunction against the NCAA in a high-profile eligibility case.

The Southeastern Conference has filed a federal lawsuit against LSU, accusing the school of recruiting professional athletes against league rules. The lawsuit seeks to prevent LSU from violating the SEC’s rights by associating with conduct contrary to the conference’s mission.

A courtroom a couple miles from LSU’s Tiger Stadium has become the focus of college football heading into the opening weekend of play for most teams. Several dozen athletes await a ruling Thursday that could clear the way for them to compete this fall — even if they already turned pro.

The finalists for the GOP nomination are Graham’s sister, Darline Graham, who was appointed to serve out the remainder of her brother’s current term, and U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman, a five-term congressman who ran for governor earlier in the year. Darline Graham placed first in the Aug. 11 special primary but fell short of the vote majority needed to avoid Tuesday’s runoff. She received about 33% of the vote, compared to about 25% for Norman.

U.S. health officials say a food-poisoning outbreak linked to alfalfa sprouts has sickened people in 15 states. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says 55 cases have been documented, including four hospitalizations.

Sen. Darline Graham, running in South Carolina's runoff election, stumbled over a foreign policy question during a debate Tuesday night. When asked about Taiwan and the South China Sea, she admitted, “national security is not my thing.”