Stephens off to 1st U.S. Open final

NEW YORK — Sloane Stephens has reached her first Grand Slam final, edging Venus Williams 6-1, 0-6, 7-5 in the first of two all-American semifinals.

Stephens became just the fourth unseeded player to reach the U.S. Open women’s final in the Open era, which began in 1968, and the first since Roberta Vinci in 2015.

The third set was tense tennis after two lopsided ones, with Stephens continuously running down balls to win long rallies.

She will face either No. 15 Madison Keys or No. 20 CoCo Vandeweghe.

Williams was trying for her third major final of the year and her first at the U.S. Open since 2002.

Goodell booed loudly by Pats’ fans

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — It didn’t take long for the booing to begin when Roger Goodell set foot on the Gillette Stadium field Thursday night.

Maybe five or six seconds.

Goodell was on the sideline chatting with Chiefs owner Clark Hunt about an hour before Kansas City and New England kicked off the 2017 regular season. When they were shown on the videoboard, the crescendo of boos grew louder and louder.

Goodell simply went on with his conversation with Hunt.

Bengals extend Burfect for 3 years

CINCINNATI — The Bengals signed linebacker Vontaze Burfict to a three-year contract extension Thursday as he began his latest NFL suspension for egregious conduct on the field.

Burfict’s contract was up at the end of this season. The new deal runs through the 2020 season.

Burfict is the Bengals’ top defensive player. He’s also been its most suspended player over the last two seasons, twice punished by the NFL for his on-field conduct. His hit to Antonio Brown’s head helped the Steelers rally for an 18-16 playoff win during the 2015 season and drew a three-game suspension to start last season.

His latest suspension came for leveling Kansas City Chiefs fullback Anthony Sherman during the second preseason game.

North Butler 3-D shoot on Sunday

The North Butler County Hunting and Fishing Club will hold a 3-D archery shoot Sunday.

Sign-ups will take place from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.