Monday, April 13, 2026, Pranav Daryanani

Theme:  NEWS FLASH!

Here's big news:  This appears to be Pranav Daryanani's first published crossword puzzle.  If so, congratulations!  It's perfect for Monday, fast and fun but with some fresh fill.  I didn't see the theme until the big reveal:

54-Across. "This just in!," or what 20-, 33-, and 40-Across are doing?: BREAKING NEWS.  Oh, I get it!  In the theme entries, the word NEWS is broken so that NE occurs at the beginning of the answer, and WS occurs at the end.  Here are the theme entries:

20-Across. "Bridgerton" and "Stranger Things," for two: NETFLIX SHOWS.

33-Across. Cushions for napping on long flights: NECK PILLOWS.

40-Across. Statutes that attempt to ensure a carbon-neutral future: NET-ZERO LAWS.

Yours truly enjoys this sort of theme.  It's not just about BREAKING a word, but revealing it in a way that is a clever play on words ... literally, BREAKING "NEWS."  Hats off to Pranav.

Let's see what else our NEW constructor has in store for us.

Across:

1. Mischief-makers: IMPS.  An imp is a small evil spirit, or a mischievous child.

5. Cauliflower unit: HEAD.  I like to buy cauliflower HEADs of different colors at the local farmers market, cut them up, rub them with olive oil and black pepper, and roast them in the oven on high heat until fork tender.  Delicious as a side dish, or as the basis for cauliflower tacos.

9. "I __ Feeling": Black Eyed Peas hit: GOTTA.  "I Gotta Feeling" is a song by the Black Eyed Peas from their fifth studio album The E.N.D. (2009).  Bet you'll recognize the refrain.

14. Biblical ark maker: NOAH.

15. Ivy that was the first U.S. school to issue a Ph.D.: YALE.  The eight members of the Ivy League are Brown University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Dartmouth College, Harvard University, University of Pennsylvania, Princeton University, and Yale University.

16. Barcelona bills: EUROS.  Barcelona is in Spain, which is part of the European Union, and uses banknotes or "bills" in Euros, in these denominations:  €5, €10, €20, €50, €100, €200, and €500.  Single Euros exist only as coins.

17. Killer whale: ORCA.

18. "Journeys" that involve emotional manipulation: GUILT TRIPS.  Cute clue!

20. [Theme clue]

22. Shoe front: TOE.

23. Watch display: TIME.

24. Letters between names: AKA.  Also Known As.  On Thursdays, we sometimes hear about a smart lady called RightBrain AKA Mrs. RustyBrain.

27. Vegas venue: CASINO.  Have you seen any shows in Las Vegas?

30. Sparks happiness in: ELATES.

32. Groovy: FAB.

33. [Theme clue]

36. Historic chapters: ERAS.

38. Sombrero, e.g.: HAT.

39. Sticky strip: TAPE.

40. [Theme clue]

45. "Park it!": SIT.

46. Split: CLEAVE.  Cleave is a great verb, with two opposing meanings:

      1.   to adhere firmly and closely or loyally and unwaveringly -- as in "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh." (Genesis 2:24)

      2.  to divide by or as if by a cutting blow : split ; to separate into distinct parts and especially into groups having divergent views.

      Keep CLEAVE in mind for clues like "cling together"!

47. Military gesture: SALUTE.

49. Overhead trains: ELS.  Elevated trains, often called "Els" or "L trains," are rapid transit systems with tracks built above street level on elevated structures.  DH and I were fascinated to see these in Chicago.

Chicago "L train"

50. Shade trees with oval leaves: ELMS.  Oval leaves?  Sure, I guess -- compared to maple leaves.  Anyway, crossword "shade trees" are usually ELMS.

53. Dipping bread: SOP.  This reviewer is familiar with the verb (to dip in liquid), but -- breaking news! -- has just learned the noun, a piece of food dipped in a liquid.

54. [Theme clue]

59. Magic or ventriloquism performance, say: VARIETY ACT.  A variety act is a short, specialized performance -- such as juggling, magic, comedy, ventriloquism, or acrobatics -- featured within a larger, mixed-entertainment show. 

62. Misses the mark: ERRS.

63. Radiates: EMITS.

64. Tiny unit of matter: ATOM.

65. Marvel-ous mutants?: X-MEN.  The X-Men are a superhero team in comic books published by Marvel Comics.

X-Men

66. Land near 41-Down: TIBET.  "Land" as in "country."

67. State bird of Hawaii: NENE.

It was nice of this Nene on the Big Island to come close for a portrait.

68. Sun-kissed shades: TANS.

Down:

1. Aware of, as a secret: IN ON.

2. "Encore!": MORE.  Literally, "again" in French.  Audiences in English speaking countries yell "Encore!" to mean "More!"  French audiences shout "Bis!" (meaning "twice" or "repeat") or "Une autre!" (another one).

3. Treaty: PACT.

4. Mine passages: SHAFTS.

5. Personal cleanliness: HYGIENE.  Easier to say than to spell!  Hi, Jinx!

6. Waters, in French: EAUX.  Literally, "waters" in French.  The singular is "eau."

7. Sought-after party guests: A-LIST.

8. New __, India: DELHI.  Delhi is a metropolitan region encompassing Old Delhi and surrounding areas. New Delhi is a specific, modern district within Delhi that serves as the capital of India.

9. Message on a hospital bouquet: GET WELL.

This can be a mood booster!

10. For us: OURS.

11. Prefix with -ceratops: TRI.  Triceratops means "three-horned face."

12. Tee or polo: TOP.  TOP meaning "shirt."

13. Braying animal: ASS.

19. Marisa of "Spider-Man: No Way Home": TOMEI.

Marisa Tomei played Aunt May

21. Pork cut: LOIN.

24. Words for raising spirits?: A TOAST.

25. Collectible doll with the same name as a Japanese mayonnaise brand: KEWPIE.  This reviewer never heard of Kewpie mayo (sounds delish, actually), but knows Kewpie dolls.  Our youngest grandchild looks just like a Kewpie doll, but his millenial parents don't know what that is.

Kewpie mayo and Kewpie doll

26. Thing of value: ASSET.

27. "The Office" star Steve: CARELL.  Steve Carell starred as Michael Scott in NBC's mockumentary comedy The Office for seven seasons, 2005–2011, and 2013.  Great show.  

Steve Carell in The Office

28. Wanes: ABATES.

29. Spanish eight: OCHO.

31. PC key near Z: ALT.  I'm glad they don't ask me about Mac keyboards.

32. Backyard border: FENCE.

34. Actor Penn: KAL.  Kalpen Modi, known professionally as Kal Penn, is an American actor, author, and former White House staff member in the Barack Obama administration.  He is known for his portrayals of Kumar Patel in the Harold & Kumar film series, Lawrence Kutner on the television program House, White House staffer Seth Wright on Designated Survivor, and Kevin, a psychologist and boyfriend to Robin in How I Met Your Mother.

Kal Penn

35. School support gps.: PTAs.  Parent Teacher Associations.

37. Kendrick Lamar's "All the Stars" collaborator: SZA.  "All the Stars" is a song by rapper Kendrick Lamar and singer SZA, released in 2018 as the lead single to the soundtrack album of the film Black Panther.  I'm not up to date with pop music, so this was NEWS to me.

41. Only mountain taller than K2: EVEREST.  Mount Everest is the tallest mountain on earth in terms of altitude, 29,032 feet above sea level.  K2, also known as Mount Godwin-Austen, at 28,251 feet above sea level, is the second tallest.  K2 is considered more difficult and dangerous to climb.

42. Rent out again: RELET.

43. "Someone else did this!": WASN'T ME.

44. Tedious assignment: SLOG.

48. First in line: UP NEXT.

51. Like Chichén Itzá: MAYAN.

Very cool pre-Columbian site in Yucatán State, Mexico.

52. Use an ice rink or a roller rink: SKATE.

54. Chomp: BITE.

55. Cultural legend: ICON.

56. Humorist Bombeck: ERMA.  Erma Bombeck (1927-1996) wrote a syndicated newspaper humor column from 1965 to 1996, describing Ameican suburban home life .  It was pretty great, and very popular.  She suffered from kidney disease most of her life, requiring daily dialysis, and disclosed it only three years before her death.

Erma Bombeck

57. Small songbird: WREN.

58. Govt.-issued IDs: SSNs.

59. Doc who might implant a microchip: VET.  Doc is short for doctor; VET is short for veterinarian.

60. Mate, in Marseille: AMI.  French for "friend."

61. Tease playfully: RIB.

Here's the grid:

Solvers,

Were you on the FENCE about this puzzle?  Was it a struggle akin to climbing EVEREST?

Or was it the sort of grid that ELATES you, with a VARIETY of fill that allowed you to SKATE to the finish?

Let us IN ON your thoughts in the comments!

-- NaomiZ

Sunday April 12, 2026 Darryl Gonzalez

 Theme: "MAJOR CHANGE" - Each academic degree is reinterpreted as a different kind in a fitting field. 

22. Degree in promoting mani-pedis?: DIGITAL MARKETING.

37. Degree in restoring historic factories?: PLANT CONSERVATION.

55. Degree in flytrap innovations?: WEB DEVELOPMENT.

81. Degree in pudding skin consistency?: FILM PRODUCTION.

94. Degree in preaching?: MASS COMMUNICATION.

116. Degree in building polite society?: CIVIL ENGINEERING.

Perfect title. All the key words shift meanings, key to this type of theme. Six long entries totally 94 theme squares, right in my sweet spot for a 21x21 grid. 

This grid also has chunky stacks along the left/right edges, with plenty of solid 6's and 7's.

Across:

1. Combine: MERGE.

6. Gym amenity: SAUNA.

11. Primate that can be lesser or great: APE. We're great, of course. 

14. Tags on social media: ATS.

17. Salchow cousins: AXELS. Salchow jump is named after its inventor, Ulrich Salchow,

18. Like this answer: ACROSS.

20. Young boy: LAD.

21. Blueberrylike fruit: SLOE.

25. Luau interlude: HULA.

26. Vivacity: ELAN.

27. Northern Scotland native: GAEL. Gaelic is their language. 

28. Beverage suffix: ADE.

29. Biology blueprints: GENOMES.

31. Muscle at the end of the clavicle: DELTOID. Strengthened by dumbbell lateral raises.

33. Blueprints: PLANS.

35. Building unit: CONDO.

36. Poetic tribute: ODE.

42. Accessory coordinated with a pocket hankie: TIE.

43. Remove from office: OUST.

44. Neighborhood: AREA.

45. Pick up with a fork: STAB.

48. "That girl?": HER.

49. Dish that helps expand cultural horizons?: PETRI. Lab dish. 

51. Paths on a flight tracker: ARCS.

60. Cloud of cosmic dust: NEBULA.

62. Goof: ERR.

63. ATM code: PIN.

64. In a strange way: WEIRDLY.

66. Bhutan neighbor: TIBET.

67. Sicilian snack whose name means "little oranges": ARANCINI. Deep fried rice balls.

70. "How could you?" sound: TSK.

71. Without fail: EACH TIME.

73. Mutton busting venue: RODEO. Mutton busting is a learning moment for me. Kids ride sheep in this event.

74. Fashion designer with the fragrance Dolly Girl: ANNA SUI.

77. N.Y. tech sch.: RPI. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Hi there Agnes!

78. "Four Quartets" monogram: TSE.

79. Starbucks size: TRENTA.

84. "Odyssey" peak: OSSA. And 114. Sicilian peak: ETNA.

85. Breezy songs: LILTS.

87. __ in igloo: I AS.

88. Trip stops: INNS.

89. "Insecure" star Rae: ISSA.

90. Deceptive "Frozen" prince: HANS.

92. Coffee maker unit: CUP.

101. Letters before a stage name: AKA.

104. Aristocratic: ELITE.

105. Award quartets, for short: EGOTS.

106. Perched: ROOSTED.

108. Some small suits: SPEEDOS. Most guys wear jammers. Want to see me flying?

111. UPS wt. units: LBS.

112. Cute "Star Wars" character: EWOK.

115. Grotto: CAVE.

120. Hit a hole-in-one on: ACED.

121. "Gotcha!": HAH.

122. Cry for more: ENCORE.

123. Be in sync: AGREE.

124. __ Vegas: LAS.

125. Meditation sounds: OMS.

126. Gave a prescription: DOSED.

127. Parts of fish sticks?: REELS. Not the fried ones.

Down:

1. Muddled through: MADE DO.

2. Like Romeo at the start of Act V: EXILED.  From Verona. "The Butterfly Lovers" is often called China's Romeo and Juliet. 

3. Tell amusing tales to: REGALE.

4. Twinkle: GLINT.

5. D.C. hrs.: EST.

6. Nestea shelfmate: SALADA.

7. Top: ACME.

8. Range that starts near the Kara Sea: URAL.

9. "That's neither here __ there": NOR.

10. Demand much (of): ASK A LOT.

11. "The Greatest" subject: ALI.

12. Hockey commentator Darren: PANG. Don't know him, the lead color commentator for the Chicago Blackhawks.

13. Advantage: EDGE.

14. Reunion invitees: ALUMNI.

15. Maumee River city: TOLEDO.

16. Use spices: SEASON. Look how much red pepper flakes in this Biang Biang noodles.

19. Rental category: SEDAN.

21. "Rats!": SHOOT.

23. Adaptable: AGILE.

24. Cards with the most pips: TENS.

30. Org. whose NIL rules changed in 2021: NCAA. NIL stands for Name, Image, Likeness.

32. Polish letters: OPI.

33. Windows boxes?: PCS. Plural Windows.

34. "Sleepless in __": Nora Ephron movie: SEATTLE.

38. Christmas tune: NOEL.

39. "Presumed Innocent" writer: TUROW.

40. Telugu-language movie originally named for the initials of its creators: RRR. Featuring the Oscar-winning song "Naatu Naatu."

41. Line in blue cheese: VEIN.

42. "Not sure yet" letters: TBD.

45. Avow: SWEAR TO.

46. Little brats: TERRORS.

47. Wears down: ABRADES.

48. Reddish-brown dye: HENNA.

49. Start paying attention: PERK UP.

50. Conclude: END.

51. Somewhat: A BIT.

52. "Sure, go ahead and gloat": RUB IT IN.

53. Tigers of South Carolina: CLEMSON. The Clemson Tigers. 

54. Glossy fabrics: SATEENS.

56. Magic Kingdom neighbor: EPCOT.

57. Seven, on a sundial: VII.

58. Poppy parts: PETALS.

59. Bette's "Divine" stage name: MISS M.

61. Guiding principle: ETHIC.

65. Gridiron gains: YARDS.

68. "99 Luftballons" group: NENA.

69. Stir up, as passions: INFLAME.

72. Apple core, for short: CPU.

75. Complaint hardly worth mentioning: NIT.

76. Russian fashion model Shayk: IRINA. She shares a daughter with Bradley Cooper.

80. "Plus ... ": ALSO.

82. Brewery oven: OAST.

83. Bit of advice: TIP.

86. Belief system: ISM.

89. Matcha option: ICED. I only drink it hot.  

90. Click a paper airplane icon, say: HIT SEND.

91. Aug. runners, often: ACS.

92. "Twistin' the Night Away" singer: COOKE (Sam)

93. "One card left!": UNO.

94. Tequila kin: MESCAL.

95. Andean camelid: ALPACA.

96. Strainers: SIEVES.

97. Majestic mount: STEED.

98. Wrinkly fruit: UGLI.

99. Aristocratic: NOBLE.

100. Flattened, in a way: IRONED.

101. Invite information: ATTIRE. I was baptized on Easter Vigil. Guess who showed up and sat through the full 3-hour service?

102. Pet hotel: KENNEL.

103. Well-known sayings: ADAGES.

107. Sturdy fabric: SERGE.

109. __ Rios, Jamaica: OCHO. Eight Rivers. Many scenes from "Dr. No" were filmed there.

110. Thailand, once: SIAM.

112. Boardroom battlers: EGOS.

113. Hidden mic: WIRE.

117. Blockbuster format: VHS.

118. Sgt., e.g.: NCO.

119. Piercing spot, perhaps: EAR.

C.C.

 

Saturday, April 11, 2026, Samuel A. Donaldson & Doug Peterson

Saturday Themeless by Doug Peterson and Samuel A. Donaldson

 

These two veteran constructors provided a lovely solving experience.

Sam Donaldson

Doug Peterson

Across:
1. Orange belts found in some flutes: MIMOSAS - It's fun to break through the clever cluing and get off to a good start. 

8. Occur to: DAWN ON - I was so pleased the the first two long grid-spanning fills below did DAWN ON me quickly

14. Song usually accompanied by pantomime: I'M A LITTLE TEAPOT short and stout..

17. "We'll cross that bridge when we get there": LET'S PLAY IT BY EAR.

18. Holds down the couch: LAZES.

19. Some fans of The Cure: GOTHS - Not familiar with any of their tunes

20. Pi follower: RHO.

21. Part of: IN ON.

22. Country named for Africa's second-highest peak: KENYA - Mt. KENYA is about 200 miles north of Africa's highest peak.

23. One-quarter of UTEP: PASO.

24. Some CGI creatures: ETS.

25. Animated sort: TOON.

26. Step on stage: TOE TAP 😀

28. "Your Friend & Jeweler" company: SHANE ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 

29. Ones in line: HEIRS 😀

30. Biles with five eponymous gymnastics skills: SIMONE.

32. Constant figure in quantum theory?: PLANCK - This physics guy knows both of these scientists

34. Ties: LACES - None for me any more.

35. "That really grinds my __": GEARS 😀

36. Egg foo young, e.g.: OMELET.

38. Davis canine: ODIE - Garfield's pal and foil

39. Dennings of "WandaVision": KAT ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

42. Fling: CAST.

43. Picked one: OPTED.

45. Robe part: SASH.

46. Durham sch.: UNH - A little misdirection as more well-known Duke University is in Durham, N.C.

47. Portions (out): DOLES.

48. Folk legend Griffith: NANCI - ¯\_(ツ)_/¯  This folk music lover is not familiar with her work

49. Yellowstone's less predictable attraction: STEAMBOAT GEYSER.

52. Black aces and black eights: THE DEAD MAN'S HAND - The poker hand that is said to be what Wild Bill Hickock was holding when Jack McCall shot him in Deadwood, S.D. in 1876.

53. Locking horns: AT ODDS - A common state in D.C.

54. Plucky Renaissance faire performers?: LUTISTS.

Down:

1. "Doctor Who" actress Gibson: MILLIE - ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 

2. Rephrasing words: I MEANT.

3. Seder servings: MATZOS.

4. Elizabeth of "WandaVision": OLSEN ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Another cast member of a show I was not aware of

5. Nurses: SIPS.

6. City with more than 70 sts. named Peachtree: ATL -  These variations include Peachtree Circle, Peachtree Lane, Peachtree Battle Avenue, and Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, among others, causing significant navigation challenges for visitors and locals alike in ATLANTA

7. Initial phase: STAGE ONE - The fuel in STAGE ONE of the Apollo Moon Rockets got the astronauts about 40 miles above Earth.

8. Temple dedicatee, often: DEITY.

9. To boot: AT THAT - "The meal wasn't very good and was pretty expensive AT THAT"

10. Fly catchers: WEBS 😀

11. Silly response to "Is that your horse?": NAY. 😀

12. Like many Bolshoi performances: OPERATIC - Bolshoi is Russian for big or grand.

13. Seafaring retreat for couples?: NOAH'S ARK 😀 - Two by two...

15. "Poker Face" star Natasha: LYONNE ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 

16. Scouting units: TROOPS.

22. Zen paradox: KOAN - KOH ahn. A paradoxical anecdote or riddle, used in Zen Buddhism to demonstrate the inadequacy of logical reasoning and to provoke enlightenment. You're welcome.

23. Ends used for shaping: PEENS.

25. The ones over there: THOSE.

27. Midway alternative: O'HARE.

28. Extract metal using heat: SMELT.

30. "Sex and the City" role: SAMANTHA - ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ The lady in red

31. Arctic mass: ICE SHEET.

32. Setting for worship?: PEDESTAL - Works in our house even though this is not our Lily in the picture! 😊

33. Like bricks and eggs: LAID 😀 - I've done the first and have collected the latter

34. Plague pest: LOCUST.

35. Cry from the stands: GO TEAM.

37. "Well, boo-hoo!": TOO BAD.

39. "Dust in the Wind" band: KANSAS - A song that where I might tell others in the car, "Please quiet down, I love his song!"

40. Uphill climb: ASCENT - 62% of deaths on Everest occur on the ASCENT and 38% on the descent. 

41. Helping for the hungry: THIRDS - Hey, if it's for tater tots...

44. Moves with effort: PLODS.

45. Wave, maybe: SAY HI.

47. Contacted on the 'gram: D-MED - Some FaceBook posts might ask to be D-MED (Direct MessagED) to discuss more privately. 

48. Location of a small kite: NEST.

50. Fuss of Shakespearean proportions?: ADO.

51. Shaggy grazer: GNU.