There’s still a noticeable zip to the ball when quarterback J.J. McCarthy really lets it rip.

That much was clear on Tuesday morning at TCO Performance Center as McCarthy uncorked a pass to receiver Jordan Addison near the sideline. There was some juice to it. You could almost hear it spinning through the air as it traveled from Point A to Point B.

That marked the first time McCarthy has thrown a ball publicly since last summer when he dazzled during an exhibition game against the Las Vegas Raiders. The hype generated from that impressive performance at U.S. Bank Stadium was overshadowed by the fact that McCarthy had unknowingly suffered a torn meniscus that forced him to miss the entire 2024 season.

How’s he feeling now that he’s been cleared to be back on the field with his teammates?

“Overall, I feel 110 percent because I feel better than when I got hurt,” McCarthy said. “Just really excited to be out here with the guys again.”

Never mind that the the Vikings likely won’t name McCarthy the starter anytime soon; he’s not running from the expectations that come with being the future face of the franchise. Asked if he thinks he’s ready to start, the No. 10 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft replied, “I know I’m ready to start.”

His confidence was unmistakable as he talked about the pressure that comes with the position. This isn’t somebody that appears to be afraid of stepping into the spotlight. Not when he has succeeded at every step of his career.

“Personally, I think, the more pressure, the better for me,” McCarthy said. “That’s something I’ve always thrived off of.”

Whether it was starring at IMG Academy in high school or leading Michigan to a national championship in college, McCarthy has always proven that he’s capable of rising to the occasion on the biggest stage.

“I feel like that’s where I feel most comfortable, when the lights are the brightest,” he said.

It hasn’t been an easy road to this point for McCarthy while navigating the trials and tribulations that come with a lengthy recovery process. Though he talked at length about how grateful he was for the opportunity to learn the ropes from afar, McCarthy said it was hard for him not actually being able to put the pads on and compete.

The limited activity also contributed to him losing nearly 30 pounds, which became a talking point late last season when he was shown on the sideline during the television broadcasts of some games.

“I’m somebody that needs to work out in order to put on weight,” McCarthy said. “I’m back up to 215 pounds, exactly where I want to be. It’s amazing how fast it kind of peaks and valleys.”

Now that he’s back to full strength, McCarthy is focused on continuing to develop ahead of organized team activities and mandatory minicamp next month.

“The energy he brings to the building is infectious,” right tackle Brian O’Neill said. “You can tell he wants it really bad.”

That mentality has helped McCarthy endear himself to his teammates as he grows into a leadership role.

“We’re all behind him,” edge rusher Jonathan Greenard said. “We’re all standing 10 toes with J.J.”

The good news for McCarthy is he won’t have the weight of the world on his shoulders; he’ll have head coach Kevin O’Connell — a former NFL quarterback — helping him navigate everything, as well as teammates on both sides of the ball that are going to make it easier on him.

“We don’t need him to come in and be the Patrick Mahomes of the team,” safety Josh Metellus said. “We have a veteran team for a reason, to welcome in a guy like that, so he can just focus on his day-to-day process.”

As for the competition that also includes presumed backup quarterback Sam Howell, reserve quarterback Brett Rypien and undrafted free agent Max Brosmer, McCarthy said he knows everything will work out for him as long as he continues to strive to be the best version of himself every time he steps on the field.

“Just be me,” McCarthy said. “Just be consistent, be dependable, be reliable, be a true pro, and the rest will take care of itself.”

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By MICHELLE L. PRICE and FARNOUSH AMIRI, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration has told Congress that it intends to designate Haitian gangs as foreign terrorist organizations, according to people familiar with the notification.

The State Department had similarly labeled eight Latin American crime organizations as it ratcheted up pressure on cartels operating in the U.S. and anyone assisting them, and the new move indicates that the administration plans to put similar pressure on gangs from Haiti. The designation carries with it sanctions and penalties for anyone providing “material support” for the group.

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It comes after a series of steps against the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, which was designated a foreign terror organization and then dubbed an invading force under an 18th-century wartime law to justify the deportation of Venezuelan migrants to a notorious El Salvador prison under President Donald Trump’s sweeping immigration crackdown.

According to the notification sent to congressional committees on April 23, the Trump administration said it intends to designate the Haitian gangs Viv Ansamm and Gran Grif as foreign terrorist organizations, according to two people familiar with the message, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss details that have not yet been made public.

A third person confirmed the foreign relations committees in the House and Senate received the notification. The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The designation follows a Trump administration move in February to nix protections that shielded half a million Haitians from deportation.

Amiri reported from the United Nations. Danica Coto contributed to this story from San Juan, Puerto Rico.

“A stable and safe home can bend the arc of their lives, empowering them to secure steady employment and earn money and save. These 800 homes represent 800 opportunities to break the cycles of poverty.”

A rendering of The Eliza in Inwood, which the author says can be a model for housing projects open to foster youth. (Photo courtesy of The Children’s Village)

Every year, hundreds of young people in New York age out of the foster care system with nowhere to go. After experiencing the trauma of family separation, navigating the complexities of the system, and never getting the family the system promised them, they now face a daunting housing market with few resources and little support.

The numbers are alarming. Nearly one-third of the 429 young people who aged out of foster care in New York City in 2022 remained in this expensive, impersonal system past age 21 simply because they had no housing option. Nationally, up to 46 percent of former foster youth experience homelessness before the age of 26. 

This isn’t just a housing shortage; it’s a policy failure. New York’s elected officials, housing developers, mission-driven investors, and social service providers must act now. Without stable housing, these young people face insurmountable barriers to education and employment, trapping them in cycles of intergenerational poverty.

The Children’s Village, in partnership with youth advocates and affordable housing developers, created a blueprint to end this cycle. The report, “Housing Justice for Young People Aging Out of Foster Care in New York City,” offers a five-year plan to create 800 new homes for youth exiting foster care—enough to effectively eliminate the foster care-to-homelessness pipeline in our city. The report was coauthored by The Center for Fair Futures, HR&A Advisers, and Good River Partners.

The report is powerful because it was shaped by those who grew up in foster care. These youth leaders who struggled to find housing after leaving foster care established a housing justice standard that guided our approach. They didn’t just identify the problem—they helped design the solution. 

They reminded us that the vast majority—85 percent—of affordable housing continues to be built in our most burdened and racially segregated communities. And they urged us to break away this history of segregation by giving them the opportunity to experience the safety and joys of integration.  

At The Children’s Village, we value their perspective. We know that living in a beautiful home that is affordable and located in a desirable neighborhood, that I would choose to live in, is a game changer. The research is clear—where you live and where your children go to school is the most powerful predictor of second generation success in the United States. Yes, it is location, location and location! 

We tested this hypothesis of integration by building housing in integrated, desirable neighborhoods, and the results are overwhelming. Everyone does better when we learn to live together. This is true of all our housing developments, including our most recent success, The Eliza, a 14-story development in the racially integrated community of Inwood, that is available to all, including youth exiting foster care. It illustrates what is possible when we turn policy into progress, when nonprofits, investors and government agencies collaborate and fight to realize the promise of integration. 

Yet, The Eliza also highlights the limitations of our current approach: it is difficult to do, it takes too long, and we are not building enough of these desirable homes. This report calls for innovative funding and policy changes to incentivize projects similar to The Eliza and a Home for Harlem Dowling to secure 800 new units for youth exiting foster care. 

To construct these beautiful, integrated, desirable homes, we recommend blending private investment with mission-driven capital through a Fair Futures Housing Fund. This fund would mitigate risks and offset revenue limitations for investors, offering returns of 4-6 percent. This will accelerate the construction of new homes these young people urgently need.

We would also propose policies to leverage existing housing located in desirable communities, including the expanded use of master rental subsidy agreements (MRSAs). These arrangements allow nonprofits to work with landlords to “bank” apartments for voucher-holders, including young people aging out of care. 

Additionally, we recommend loosening restrictions on city housing vouchers, making them transferable to nearby states, and creating a centralized hub with the city’s Administration for Children’s Services for young people to access housing assistance.

By constructing new affordable housing, leveraging existing housing, and simplifying the housing search, we can end the foster care-to-homelessness pipeline and provide just, quality housing in desirable neighborhoods for youth exiting the foster care system. A stable and safe home can bend the arc of their lives, empowering them to secure steady employment and earn money and save. These 800 homes represent 800 opportunities to break the cycles of poverty. 

The solution is within our reach. To our elected officials, housing developers, investors, and fellow service providers: the blueprint is here. We can act now to end this intergenerational crisis.

Jeremy Kohomban is the president and CEO of The Children’s Village.

The post Opinion: How 800 Homes in Desirable Communities Could Disrupt a System-to -Homelessness Pipeline appeared first on City Limits.