These are the headlines you Need2Know:
* **Ohio’s Special Election:**
The election for a House seat in Ohio is still too close to call. The 12th district near Columbus is considered a Republican stronghold, so if the Democrat Danny O'Connor beats Republican Troy Balderson ー or comes really close ー it may signal a shift for the November midterms. Balderson was leading by less than 2,000 votes. For more as this story develops, [click here](https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/live-news/primary-election-2018-08-07-kansas-michigan-missouri-washington-ohio-special-election/).
* **First Muslim Woman in Congress?**
Michigan state representative Rashida Tlaib won the Democratic primary Tuesday, and no Republicans are running in November's midterm election. For more, check out [CNN](https://www.cnn.com/2018/08/08/politics/rashida-tlaib-michigan-13-congressional-district-election/index.html).
* **Elon Musk’s ‘Private’ Venture**
The CEO wants to take Tesla private if his company's stock reaches $420 per share. Musk made the announcement via [Twitter](https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1026872652290379776) during Tuesday’s trading, and some media outlets wondered if his account was hacked. But he was serious: Tesla closed up 11 percent at nearly $380 once trading resumed after a temporary halt. For more on Musk's plans and what investors are saying, [click here](https://www.cnbc.com/2018/08/08/tesla-board-has-met-several-times-to-discuss-musks-desire-go-private.html).
* **New Rule Rattles NFL:**
As they run and tackle their way through the second week of the National Football League's preseason, players and coaches are concerned that the league's new helmet-contact [rule](https://nflcommunications.com/Pages/Fact-Sheet---Use-of-the-Helmet.aspx) is removing a key physical element of the game. The rule, which prohibits players from leading with their helmets to make contact, applies to running backs, offensive and defensive linemen, linebackers, and defensive backs. For more on player the story, read [this](https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/redskins/nfl-helmet-rule-enforcement-unclear-for-players-coaches/2018/08/07/aec19218-9a74-11e8-a8d8-9b4c13286d6b_story.html?utm_term=.77d3f158d4e1).
Cheddar's Jill Wagner gets into the latest.
Subscribe to the Need2Know newsletter [here](https://theneed2know.com).
New York quickly became the sports betting capital in the United States following an electric debut earlier this month. Cheddar News was joined by Chad Kornett, VP of Government Relations for Gaming at Geocomply to dive into the numbers.
Exercise equipment maker Peloton is attempting to run away from a recent bout of controversy. CEO John Foley published an open letter to employees on Thursday after reports that said Peloton was pausing production of its Bike and Tread products, delaying the opening of a new U.S. factory, and considering job cuts. In the letter, Foley wrote that the information in the reports was 'incomplete,' 'out of context,' and not reflective of Peloton's strategy. Peloton's stock responded on Friday, with shares bouncing back after falling nearly 24% in the regular session on Thursday. CFRA Research's Director of Research Ken Leon joined Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
The NCAA has updated its policy on transgender athletes, allowing each sport’s national governing body to make its own decisions for transgender participation. The new rule is in line with recent changes from the U.S. and International Olympic and Paralympic Committees. Joanna Hoffman, communications director of Athlete Ally, joined Cheddar News to discuss the potential impact of the new rule on the transgender community.
The NCAA voted to streamline their constitution at their annual convention on Thursday. Each of the three college divisions can decide how student-athletes can make money from outside sources but still restricts schools from directly paying its players.
With New York recently announcing the legalization of sports betting, even a greater number of bettors are looking forward to the NFL's divisional round. Derek Carty, a fantasy sports and sports betting analyst, talked to Cheddar about betting strategies for the four upcoming playoff games. "I feel like the Chiefs are a little bit overrated by the markets, and so the Bills here really look good to me," Carty said for the Kansas City and Buffalo matchup. He also pointed to the Green Bay Packers to be the likeliest team to win the Super Bowl this year.
Olivia Harlan Dekker and Sean Green break down and provide their top picks for the NFL Divisional Round this weekend, while Frank Schwab dissects NBA futures and gives his take on the ongoing Nets drama.
Sean Green, co-founder of The Sports Gambling Podcast Network, joins Cheddar Bets to break down the best plays across the AFC Divisional Round matchups.
Sponsored by BetMGM
Frank Schwab, sports betting writer for Yahoo! Sports, joins Cheddar Bets to find the best value down the MVP contender list and make sense of how to bet the Nets at home and on the road.
Sponsored by BetMGM
The drama surrounding tennis star Novak Djokovic continues after he was deported from Australia over the weekend due to the nation's COVID-19 vaccine requirements. Djokovic was forced to leave the country on the eve of what was to be his first match in defense of his Australian Open title after three judges ruled in favor of his removal and revealed their reasoning for doing so. Adding to his woes, a law recently passed in France is putting his chances of defending his French Open title in jeopardy. The director of Marist's Center for Sports Communication, Jane McManus, joined Cheddar to discuss the ongoing fallout.
