Looking for family-friendly events to keep the kids busy this week? From music and ballet lessons to paintball packages, there's plenty to do when it comes to opportunities for learning and fun. Read on for a rundown of what to do this week. Hoodline offers data-driven analysis of local happenings and trends across cities. Links included in this article may earn Hoodline a commission on clicks and transactions. Paintball Packages From the Paintball Promos deal description: Paintball Packages include admission to the fields and all necessary rental equipment, but do not include paintballs and air. When: Promotional value expires 180 days after purchase. Where: 7215 Rose Ave. Price: $11 for a paintball rental package for two people (up to $40 value). More options available. Click here for more details, and to score this deal Music Lessons From the Simon Music deal description: Pay $17 for $30 in music lessons at Simon Music. When: Promotional value expires 90 days after purchase. Where: 431 E. Central Blvd. Price: $17 for $30 at Simon Music (43% discount off regular price) Click here for more details, and to nab this deal Equipment Rental at Lakeside Watersport Rentals From the Lakeside Watersport Rentals deal description: Clients can have fun outdoors, enjoying a Zorb session, kayaking or paddleboarding, and walking on water in a special inflatable ball. When: Promotional value expires 90 days after purchase. Where: 4301 N. Orange Blossom Trl, Lake Shore Village Price: 15-minute Premium Zorb Session, $19 (37% discount off regular price). Deluxe Adventure Pack, $39 (48% discount off regular price). Click here for more details, and to score this deal Dance Lessons at Movement Arts Dance Studio From the Movement Arts Dance Studio deal description: Centrally located dance studio in the Orlando area offering children's classes (ages 3-7 years) through the summer combining ballet, jazz, tap and tumbling. Children's weekly summer classes offered on Mondays at 4 p.m. or 5 p.m. from June 8-July 22, 2019. When: Promotional value expires 120 days after purchase. Where: 2594 N. Orange Blossom Trail, Princeton - Silverstar Price: Four dance lessons for one child (3-7 years), $35 (62% discount off regular price). More options available. Click here for more details, and to score this deal This story was created automatically using local event data, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


As Alaska celebrates 60 years as a state, there's been no better time to visit. We're about to kick off the high season for travel to Alaska : Summer is a popular time for vacationers looking for mild temps, plenty of wildlife, and no shortage of outdoor activities to keep all ages entertained. But this year there's even more to look forward to. As 2019 marks the 60th year since Alaska became a state, the destination is upping the ante on adventure offerings for travelers. Sarah Leonard, president and CEO of the Alaska Travel Industry Association, told us she's especially thrilled about the state's new offerings in its anniversary year. "So many of the visitor experiences are about being immersed in nature and our way of life," she says. "There's outdoor adventures like hiking, whale watching, kayaking, bear viewing, and glacier trekking. And our National Parks system has made several updates, like a new bear watching platform in Katmai National Park and Preserve ." All the major airlines fly in and out of Anchorage (United Airlines launches a daily nonstop service from Newark in June and budget airline Allegiant Air debuts a new route from Bellingham, Washington, on May 22; meanwhile, stalwart Alaska Airlines showcased the first of its modernized fleet earlier this year , with upgrades and amenities designed to increase comfort for passengers). It's also worth noting that the Alaska Railroad meanders across more than 500 miles of the most picturesque parts of the state. With the incredible access and awesomely scenic rides that helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft, cruise ships , and seaplanes grant, getting around Alaska has never been easier. Here are eight of our favorite adventures to consider adding to your list this year. Sleep on a Nearly Deserted Island While Fox Island is remote it's in the heart of Resurrection Bay of Kenai Fjords National Park, and just 3.5 miles long, 2 miles wide, and mostly mountains it's not nearly as hard-to-reach as it initially sounds. The best (and prettiest) way to reach it is by catching the train from Anchorage to Seward spring for the Gold Star Service tickets, which include comfy seats in a glass-domed car and access to an upper-level viewing platform. From Seward, it's either a quick or long ferry ride on Pursuit's Kenai Fjords Tours , depending on whether you want to take extra time to explore the fjords and calving glaciers of the park, spotting puffins, sea lions, and breaching whales along the way (we suggest doing the longer trip at least one way). The ferry will take you into Resurrection Bay. Fox Island, immortalized by artist Rockwell Kent in his 1920 book Wilderness: A Journal of Quiet Adventure in Alaska , is now home to Kenai Fjords Wilderness Lodge , with just eight cabins and a cozy main lodge. The island's remoteness quickly becomes one of its main attractions as you unplug your phone (or, if you must, charge it in the station at the main lodge cabins have no outlets), forage for berries with the chef, skip pebbles on the misty shores of Halibut Cove, hike up to the ridge behind the lodge for epic views, or kayak around the bay (see below). Hike the State's First (and Only) Via Ferrata When the Tordrillo Mountain Lodge unveiled its multi-million-dollar renovation in February 2019, they announced the creation of Alaska's first and only via ferrata (Italian for "iron path"). Popular in the Alps, a via ferrata route has climbers connecting harnesses to steel cables that run through iron rods along the mountain trail, with iron rungs or steps providing additional support. Tordrillo's via ferrata is on the edge of the Triumvirate Glacier, a 10-minute helicopter ride away from the lodge. The route is 1,000 feet long, with two suspension bridges spanning multiple ridges. The lodge provides all the required gear, including shoes, harness, lanyard, and helmet. The trail opens June 2019. Sled with the Dogs Live out your inner Iditarod fantasies with an ambitious dog sled run through the Alaskan backcountry. Salmon Berry Tours takes guests to the Talkeetna homestead of Dallas Seavey, a four-time Iditarod Champion, where they'll meet professional mushers and adorable Iditarod champion Alaskan Huskies (puppies included!) before hopping on a two-person sled for an unforgettable run through private, birch tree-lined trails. If a one-day husky-fest isn't enough, consider booking a 10-day dog sled journey through Denali , where aurora sightings and Iditarod checkpoints are just a few of the highlights. Get Close to a Glacier Without a Boat Alaska is full of glaciers ( for now ) and while doing a cruise guarantees lots of glacier sightings, there are other ways to get close to one and even be able to walk on it. One of the most accessible is Exit Glacier , just outside Seward. It's the only part of Kenai Fjords National Park that's accessible by road, and the ranger-led walk is informative and sticks to a paved and fairly easy path. Windsong Lodge in Exit Glacier Valley arranges transportation and tours daily. Closer to Anchorage, Matanuska Glacier (a 2.5-hours' drive) can be seen from the scenic Glenn Highway. To get a little closer to its deep blue holes and sheer ice walls, book a guided trek or ice climbing class with NOVA Alaska . And if you book a stay at the remote and luxurious Sheldon Chalet , you'll get to ride a helicopter from Talkeetna through Denali National Park, before crossing onto the winding Ruth Glacier, giving passengers a birds'-eye-view of the glacier's deeply crevassed ice fields. Try to Snag a Salmon (or Halibut) Getting off the beaten track is an understatement when you find yourself landing via floatplane on Admiralty Island, which is part of the Tongass National Forest. There, you'll find luxury fishing retreat Favorite Bay Lodge , which is known for organizing expeditions where it's almost impossible not to catch one of the five local species of salmon, halibut, or rockfish. Coast Guard-certified local guides, gear, and comfortable boats are provided, and they'll even pack up your (cleaned, filleted, and vacuum-packed) fish to take home with you that is, unless you want the chef to cook it for you right then and there. Ride a Mountain Bike Through Denali Summertime's arrival means (slightly) less snow and more sun, making some parts of Alaska perfect for exploring via bicycle. Pursuit's Denali Backcountry Lodge is located deep inside the massive Denali National Park it's 92 miles from the Denali Visitor's Center and accessible only by one road with restricted access. But once you get there, borrow one of the lodge's mountain bikes for a two-wheeled adventure staff will happily point out the best trails. Be sure to book a post-ride treatment at the on-site Nest Spa & Wellness Center to restore your achy legs upon return. Oh, and bring your bear-spotting binoculars. Kayak Around Kenai Fjords National Park If you book a stay at Fox Island's Kenai Fjords Wilderness Lodge (see above), you'll automatically get a two-hour guided evening kayak around the island. If you're feeling bolder, upgrade to a full-day kayak to spot puffins, eagles, sea lions, seals, and otters as you paddle through the rocky coves of Fox Island. Sunny Cove Sea Kayaking will take care of your guide and gear (but a good raincoat is recommended as it's often misty), and arrange a quick paddle lesson. If you opt for the full day, ask the guide to take you to the massive hidden waterfall where fresh water flows into the sea and river, sea otters clamber on the rocks, and salmon spawn. Heli-ski or Snowboard on Untouched Terrain Skiing in Alaska is sure to be an adventure no matter where you go, but if you're looking to get beyond Girdwood (Alaska's ski resort that's less than an hour's drive from Anchorage), there are multiple options for combining an awesome helicopter ride to a remote, never-been-skied-upon mountain. Tordrillo Mountain Lodge , which is co-owned by 1994 Olympic downhill skiing champion Tommy Moe, knows a thing or ten about skiing in Alaska. With access to 1.2 million acres of Alaskan heli-ski terrain across the Tordrillo Mountains blockbuster views of Mt. McKinley included the lodge has endless skiing options for its guests. Or, head to the Chugach Mountain Range with Valdez Heli-Ski Rides  these peaks receive an average of 700 feet of snowfall per year while average runs are 3,5000 vertical feet.


The 2015 Carolina Panthers came up short in the Super Bowl, but they were still one of the top teams of the last decade, according to a list by Tom Blair at NFL.com . That Panthers team was ranked No. 2 on the list, bested only by the 2013 Seattle Seahawks squad. Here is what Blair said about Carolina's magical run that year: Aside from the sour ending, however, this team put together one of the best regular-season campaigns of the decade. Quarterback Cam Newton won the MVP award by throwing for nearly 4,000 yards and 35 touchdowns against just 10 picks, adding 636 yards and an additional 10 touchdowns on the ground. Carolina got as close as anyone has this decade of running the regular-season table, becoming the first team since the 2009 Colts to start 14-0. Their championship window is not yet closed, but time is running out for the Panthers to capitalize on the Newton-Luke Kuechly era. If they don't win at least one ring, it will likely be considered a letdown. The good news is that Carolina can claim to have had as good of an offseason as any other team in the NFL. They reloaded at all their key positions outside of free safety and should be back in the mix for a playoff spot, even in a heavily competitive NFC South. MORE: 10 crazy Russell Westbrook trades, according to Trade Machine Five potential Russell Westbrook trade destinations Mesmerizing speed could force Jon'Vea Johnson to Cowboys roster WATCH: Jorge Masvidal Knocks Out Ben Askren in Five Seconds Raiders WR Hunter Renfrow impressed coaching staff during OTAs


Aprilia test rider Bradley Smith has been hit with a three-place grid penalty for his next MotoGP appearance for his collision with teammate Aleix Espargaro in the Catalan Grand Prix. Smith was making his third of five scheduled wildcard appearances on the RS-GP in 2019 this weekend in Barcelona, and was following Espargaro at the start when he highside crashed into him at Turn 10. The test rider was out on the spot, while Espargaro trundled back to pitlane before being helped off his bike due to a suspected knee injury. Checks at the circuit revealed no fractures, but he has been taken to hospital in Barcelona for further assessment and was diagnosed with a bone edema in his left knee. For his part in the incident, Smith has been handed a three-place grid drop for his next race, which is set for the Czech Grand Prix in August   though he could be called up to replace Espargaro at Assen should the Spaniard be declared unfit. "I'm sorry about what happened today, even more so because Aleix was involved," said Smith. "Unfortunately, in that braking section the situation was a bit chaotic, as often happens during the first laps. "I hope he will have a quick recovery. Right now, we need to work with our full potential to develop the RS-GP." Tech 3's Miguel Oliveira was following the Aprilias when the accident occurred, and says Smith was "completely out of the normal line" on the way into the corner. . "I was basically mid-track and behind Aleix, and I defended my line to the inside, but at the same time I saw that Bradley was coming completely out of the normal line, very close to the left. "Obviously I knew he was going to hit someone, so I had to avoid all that and I couldn't cut the track because I was really on the outside of Aleix when I brake."


Kansas Speedway is up next for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series for some Saturday night racing (7:30 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, SIriusXM NASCAR Radio). Kansas Speedway is up next for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series for some Saturday night racing (7:30 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). With plenty of action set to hit the track before the series heads home for All-Star Weekend, check out five hot storylines to watch. LET THE WINS RAIN DOWN: Here we are, on the brink of being a third of the way through the entire season -- and nearly half the regular season -- and Kevin Harvick, remarkably, is winless. To put that into perspective, the 2014 Cup Series champ had three wins through the first four weeks of last season and put a bow on his fifth at this race a year ago. Harvick hasn't been bad, of course -- plenty of drivers would be pleased with his five top fives through 11 races -- just not up to the standards he's set for himself. Kansas presents a rock-solid opportunity for him to crack the win column ahead of what should be a nice summer swing for \"Happy.\" THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE KANSAS: Kyle Busch has opened the season with an 11-race top-10-finish streak. There was a time -- not so long ago, in fact -- that if you were a Rowdy fan you'd be saying to yourself, \"Welp, it was nice while it lasted.\" Through his first 14 Kansas races, Busch, unfathomably, had just two top 10s. Something clicked in 2014, however, and he's rattled off eight straight and a win since. You're probably still not totally comfortable the streak -- and his accompanying beard tied to it -- will live on after this weekend, but it would likely take something flukey to scrap the run. SHADES OF '17?: There seemed to be some conversation around Truex's perceived slow start in his tenure with Joe Gibbs Racing, but two wins in the past three races have put that to rest. I'm not sure it was ever really warranted, however -- the 2017 champ owns a very Truex-like 6.55 average finish in non-superspeedway races this year. Riding high off a win at his home track, the veteran looks set to rocket through the late spring/early summer and pile up the trophies. He swept Kansas two years ago, we all know what he's capable of at Charlotte (see: 2016 Coca-Cola 600) and has a combined eight wins at the next five tracks after this weekend. LARSON LINGERING IN PLAYOFF CONTENTION?: The 2019 season has largely been forgettable for Kyle Larson, seeing just three top-10 finishes through 11 races. One of them came last week at Dover (P3), however, and recent history at Kansas suggests a fourth Saturday night is a strong possibility. Larson has several of his best tracks (Pocono, Michigan, Chicago, Loudon) on the docket over the next month-plus. If the Chip Ganassi Racing driver is unable to turn it on for that slew of races, it'll be hard to envision a playoff scenario for the talented sixth-year driver. JUST LIKE THE GOOD OLD DAYS: Richmond last year seemed to mark a turning point for Chase Elliott, with a runner-up finish sparking a run of consistent top 10s that culminated in late-season wins at Watkins Glen, Dover and Kansas. That performance has seemed to carry into 2019, with no truly \"off\" races so far and a trio of top fives with a win sprinkled in over his last six starts. Couple that with Alex Bowman's pair of runner-ups the last two weeks -- and Bowman's two top 10s in the last three Kansas races -- and we could be looking at a summer swing in which Hendrick Motorsports reclaims some of its long-held glory.


Eight years ago, a kicker named Justin Tucker made a 40-yard field goal as time expired to give Texas a 27-25 win over Texas A&M. That was the last gasp of an iconic rivalry -- A&M bolted for the Southeastern Conference in 2012, Texas remained in the Big 12, and the schools have not played each other since. There are so many things about college football that make no sense that I cannot begin to list them all in this space. But the cessation of the longtime Texas-Texas A&M rivalry in 2011 because of logistics and petty jealousies is pretty high on the list. The good news? Last Friday, Texas governor Greg Abbott revealed that he was speaking to leadership of both schools about scheduling a two-game series. The bad news? We don't know if that future will ever arrive. If it does, it will likely be in the distant future because the one non-conference Power Five game that each school plays each season is slotted for nearly a decade. And so a rivalry that has no good reason for not existing is on hold. Eight years on, many of the players in the last Texas-Texas A&M game -- including Tucker -- are NFL veterans; eight years later, Texas coach Mack Brown has retired, taken a TV job, and become a head coach at another university. The world moves on without Texas-Texas A&M , and we are all the poorer for it. These teams are so culturally intertwined that each mentions the other in their respective fight songs. Before the cessation of the rivalry, they had played each other virtually every year since the tail end of the 19th century. Perhaps what's craziest about all this is there is a natural opening here. College football is at yet another turning point as the Playoff Era matures, and those changes make it even more attractive for old rivalries like Texas-Texas A&M to be renewed. As CBS's Dennis Dodd recently reported , the anticipated expansion of the playoff bracket --combined with dwindling attendance at even major Power Five programs -- has led a number of schools to bolster their non-conference schedules. Would they be doing so if the College Football Playoff committee, in choosing its participants, didn't place a premium on strength of schedule? Not a chance, admitted Georgia athletic director Greg McGarity. This is what the playoff was designed to do: Force teams to balance their early-season games against the Kent States of the world with real, live football games, meant to test their program and attract fans like a UMass never could. And that's why Texas and Texas A&M would be foolish to limit themselves to a single non-conference Power Five game per year. Instead, they should focus on strengthening their resumes any way they can to attract a new generation of fans and to qualify for the playoff. There's no reason for great programs to be playing multiple bad schools. And there's no reason for old rivalries, shaken up by the era of conference realignment, to lay dormant. I speak not only of Texas-Texas A&M, but Pitt-Penn State, Oklahoma-Nebraska and a handful of others that are now only played sporadically, if at all. And if these teams can't get over their egos enough to schedule those games themselves -- if even the governor of Texas can't get Texas and Texas A&M to come together again -- then perhaps they should adopt an idea a Power Five athletic department official told me was at least being discussed in college football circles last year. Employ a "master scheduler" who sets things up each fall, the way the NFL does it. Really, this shouldn't be hard, except that college football has a way of making everything far more difficult than it should be.


Want to explore the newest businesses to open in San Antonio? From a laundromat to a burger joint, read on for a rundown of the newest spots to arrive near you. Capo's On Blanco Capo's On Blanco is a spot to score pizza, chicken wings and sub sandwiches that's located at 16350 Blanco Road, Suite 103. Soups, salads, calzones, lasagna, chicken wings and desserts are also on the menu here. "With origins stemming from Buffalo, NY, Capo's Pizzeria strives for providing their customers with the utmost authenticity of a true East Coast pizzeria," reads the business's Facebook page . Shake Shack Stroll past 3003 Broadway St. in Mahncke Park and you'll find Shake Shack , a new spot to score 100% all-natural beef burgers. It's the second Shake Shack to open in San Antonio, and aside from special and classic hamburgers, you'll find hot dogs, chicken sandwiches, ice cream, frozen custard and more on the menu . Alamo Biscuit Co. & Panadería Alamo Biscuit Co. & Panadería is a new breakfast, brunch and lunch spot that's located at 9630 Huebner Road, Suite 103. On the menu , look for biscuit flights and sandwiches, breakfast tacos, an ABC burger, chicken noodle soup and more. "Serving fresh biscuits and pan dulce made in-house daily," reads the business' Facebook page . WaveMAX Laundry Stroll past 2525 Jackson Keller Road and you'll find WaveMAX Laundry , a new full-service laundromat and dry cleaning spot. According to the business' website , the laundromat "features 30 sets of high-efficiency Electrolux washers and dryers," and it guarantees a 24-hour turnaround time for its wash, dry and fold services. This story was created automatically using local business data, then reviewed and augmented by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


Protesters around the country rallied against planned ICE raids this weekend as mayors renewed pledges to block ICE access to local law enforcement resources. The agency plans to sweep 10 cities on Sunday in an effort to detain 2,000 immigrants who have been issued final orders of removal. The raids were originally scheduled for June at President Donald Trump's request; however, the president postponed them shortly before they were set to begin to give Congress time to craft immigration reform legislation. Trump threatened to move forward with the raids if the legislative branch failed to make progress within two weeks . That deadline has now passed, and ICE officials announced last week that the agency would raid cities including Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, and San Francisco beginning Sunday. Because of Tropical Storm Barry , the raids on New Orleans and Houston will reportedly postponed. The Trump administration has maintained that the raids are necessary to enforce immigration law; after first announcing the operation, Trump tweeted the raids would target people who "have run from the law and run from the courts." Saturday, however, protesters in cities across the US argued the raids are a tool the Trump administration hopes to use to intimidate immigrant communities and target families with children who are themselves US citizens. "It's purely psychological," Robert Suro, a public policy professor at USC, told the Los Angeles Times . "This is yet one more example of how the Trump administration is trying to use fear as an instrument of immigration control. It generates a lot of fear and anxiety but not a lot of control. This has nothing to do with actual enforcement." Slideshow by photo services Suro said there are currently 1 million undocumented migrants with deportation orders, which means the 2,000 targeted by ICE amount to just 0.2 percent of those who face deportation. Trump initially hoped to target more undocumented immigrants; in his initial announcement, he promised "ICE will begin the process of removing the millions of illegal aliens who have illicitly found their way into the United States." Logistical and operational constraints as well as the recommendations of senior officials like Acting DHS Secretary Kevin McAleenan (who reportedly told the president a more limited operation targeting 150 families would be wiser) led to a reduced scope. Also complicating matters was the refusal of many local governments to cooperate with ICE agents. Ahead of Sunday's raids, many mayors have once again instructed their police departments not to aid ICE agents operating in their cities. San Francisco Mayor London Breed said, "If you want to come after them, you're going to have to come through us." In Denver, Mayor Michael Hancock said not only had he directed his officers to refrain from assisting ICE, but that he has tasked social service employees with watching over any children left without parents because of the raid. "We're not going to put children in cages or leave them in inhumane conditions," Hancock said. "Our job is to help those families as best as we can." Mayor Keisha Bottoms of Atlanta said, "Our officers don't enforce immigration borders. We've closed our city detention centers to ICE because we don't want to be complicit in family separation," and other mayors, including Chicago's Lori Lightfoot and New York's Bill de Blasio have made similar statements. Citizens of cities affected by the raids also publicly protested the raids. In Denver, around 2,000 protesters gathered for a rally outside a nearby ICE facility on Friday. A large group has gathered in Denver to protest the migrant detention centers. They plan to march from the Peoria RTD station to the ICE detention center in Aurora #9News pic.twitter.com/JRoD188cIo   Jennifer Meckles (@jennifermeckles) July 13, 2019 "We feel every person has the right to dignity," protester Jason Hayman told the Denver Post. "We also feel that immigrants are not being given the dignity that they deserve, like everyone else." Protesters in Chicago were joined by Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton and US Rep. Jesús "Chuy" Garcia, who told the crowd, "It's about damn time we tell this racist president loud and clear: Stop criminalizing desperation." #ChingaLaMigra #AbolishICE #AbolitionNOW #Chicago pic.twitter.com/4X92aOJERZ   Love+Struggle Photos (@sarahdashji) July 13, 2019 Similar protests were also seen in other affected cities, like Los Angeles and New York ; citizens of cities not directly targeted by ICE also protested. In Phoenix, protesters blocked streets and chanted "Free those kids!" while marchers in Philadelphia shouted "Shut down ICE!" as they took to the streets Friday. A sea of people now. @PhillyInquirer pic.twitter.com/XTA6X8OPnM   Jeff Gammage (@JeffGammage) July 12, 2019 ICE facilities in places such as Greenfield, Massachusetts also saw protesters gather outside. Despite these protests and local governments' refusal to coordinate with ICE, the raids are expected to proceed as planned. Although Trump cancelled the original operation hours before it was set to begin, acting head of US Citizenship and Immigration Services Ken Cuccinelli suggested on Wednesday that would be unlikely to happen again   he told reporters the raids were "absolutely going to happen."


DETROIT   The Latest on the Detroit Grand Prix (all times local): 6:25 p.m. Josef Newgarden has won the first of two Detroit Grand Prix races, outlasting the competition Saturday on a rain-slicked road course. The Team Penske driver finished nearly a second in front of Alexander Rossi, who also was the runner-up at the Indianapolis 500, and Takuma Sato. Newgarden, who opened the year with a victory at St. Petersburg, joins Indy 500 champion Simon Pagenaud as the series' two-time winners this season. Newgarden has won 12 IndyCar races since 2015. Pagenaud finished sixth after starting 13th in the 22-car field on Belle Isle. The 70-lap race became a 75-minute timed event after thunderstorms delayed the start by more than an hour. There were five yellow periods due at least in part to conditions, leading to 14 laps under caution and 29 under green. ___ 5:50 p.m. Josef Newgarden led the Detroit Grand Prix midway through the 75-minute race. The Team Penske driver was out front when the yellow flag came out for a third time after Will Power's front left wheel was not secured during a pit stop and came loose. Pole sitter Alexander Rossi led for the first 18 laps of the race before taking his first pit stop. Rossi was second when the race resumed followed by Scott Dixon, who later hit a wall to tire barrier to bring out another yellow flag. The 70-lap race was shortened to a timed event because of a delay of more than an hour and with more storms swirling Saturday around the Motor City. ___ 5:10 p.m. The Detroit Grand Prix has begun, starting under a yellow flag after Zach Veach spun out just before the race was to begin following a weather delay Saturday. Shortly after the race began on the rain-soaked track, the yellow flag came out again because Matheus Leist briefly lost control of his car. The 70-lap race was reduced to a 75-minute timed event. It started after a delay of more than an hour and more than 2 hours after spectators were told to take cover because of a severe thunderstorm warning. ___ 4:50 p.m. The first of two Detroit Grand Prix races has been shortened because of a thunderstorm. Race officials decided to turn the 70-lap race into a 75-minute timed event. Alexander Rossi will have the pole for a single-file start about an hour after the race was scheduled to begin. ___ 3:55 p.m. The start of the Detroit Grand Prix has been delayed. A severe thunderstorm warning led to the track and stands being cleared about 90 minutes before the start of the race. Race officials were unable to provide estimates for a possible start time for the first of two IndyCar races. ___ 2:55 p.m. Thunderstorms may delay the first of two Detroit Grand Prix races. Spectators on Belle Isle were advised to exit the stands and seek shelter about 90 minutes prior to the scheduled start of the race Saturday afternoon. The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm warning that was to end just minutes before the first of two races this weekend in the Motor City was to begin. ___ 2:20 p.m. Alexander Rossi looks like he may be the driver to beat at the Detroit Grand Prix. Rossi started first when he went on to win four of the six races in his career. He earned the pole for of two races scheduled on Belle Isle. Severe weather in the area might push back the mid-afternoon start of the race. Rossi hopes his next run in the Motor City goes better than his last one on the 2.35-mile road course on the banks of the Detroit River. He had the pole in the second of two races last year and led 46 of 63 laps. But locked up his brakes late in the race when under pressure from Ryan Hunter-Reay. Rossi ended up overshooting a turn and puncturing a tire, requiring a pit stop, and finished 12th. The Andretti Autosport driver had a second-place finish at the Indianapolis 500 , coming up just short to Simon Pagenaud of Team Penske. ___ 12:07 p.m. Alexander Rossi won his second pole of the season, leading qualifying for the first of two Detroit Grand Prix races. The Andretti Autosport driver, coming off a second-place finish at the Indianapolis 500, turned the fastest lap Saturday in just more than 1 minute and 14 seconds on the 2.35-mile road course. Josef Newgarden qualified second, followed by Scott Dixon and rookies Felix Rosenqvist and Colton Herta. Indy 500 champion and points leader Simon Pagenaud will start 13th in the 22-car field on Belle Isle. Rossi has taken advantage of the pole to win four of six races, including this year at Long Beach. Rossi earned the pole at the last race in Detroit, but finished 12th after puncturing a tire. ___ More AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/apf-AutoRacing and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports


Hundreds of new jobs are coming to Greenville County. Getronics, which specializes in improving customer business performance by implementing end-to-end information and communication technology solutions, is establishing its Global Service Center in Greenville County. (Video above: The Most Asked Interview Questions And The Right Way To Answer Them) "Our new Global Service Center is a big deal for us because it represents a significant investment in our people, in our customers and in our Greenville community," said Getronics Chairman and Group CEO Nana Baffour. "We are excited because we have been able to greatly expand both our workforce and operations in Greenville. Our new state-of-the-art facilities will support not only our associates, but greatly enhance our ability to support Getronics clients throughout North America and the rest of the world." "For many years Greenville has been both a wonderful community for us, and home to our associates. All of us share the excitement for the commitment being made here that Greenville will continue to be our home and community for years to come." "With nearly 9,000 employees in 23 countries across Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America and North America, Getronics provides business transformation expertise in Managed Workspace, Applications, Industry-specific Software Solutions, Multi-Cloud Management, Unified Communications and Security Services," a news release from the Greenville Area Development Corporation said. "Getronics is a world-class company, and it speaks volumes that they decided to locate this high-tech operation right here in South Carolina. This announcement serves as another testament to South Carolina's strong business climate," added South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster. "Getronics establishing its Global Service Center further proves South Carolina is 'Just right' for business," noted Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt. "We congratulate Getronics and the entire Upstate community on today's announcement." "We are excited about Getronics' decision to locate its Global Service Center and operations in Greenville County. It demonstrates the significant progress made in developing platforms for technological advancement and the growing supply of exceptional talent in the Greenville area," stated Greenville County Council Chairman and Board Member of the Greenville Area Development Corporation H.G. "Butch" Kirven. "We celebrate this very significant expansion by a highly valued member of Greenville County's business community." Getronics also operates its retail software services group in Greenville County at 510 Airport Road, Suite E. The retail software services group will continue operating out of this facility. "Getronics is renowned for connecting possibilities and delighting its customers, and their outstanding service delivery and community commitment is widely recognized," said City of Greenville Mayor Knox White. "We welcome Getronics' new and expanded Global Service Center presence to the City of Greenville with open arms." The new Global Service Center will be located at 650 Executive Center Drive in Greenville, S.C. Interested applicants should visit https://www.getronics.com/careers/ for more information on employment opportunities. READ MORE: 500 new jobs coming to Greenville County CHECK OUT WYFF: Get the latest Greenville news and weather. For live, local, late-breaking Greenville, SC, news coverage, WYFF is the place to be.


Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said Monday he was ready to resign unless the two parties in the governing populist coalition -- the League and the Five Star Movement -- stopped squabbling. "I am asking both these political forces to make a choice and tell me if they still want to honour the government's obligations," he said. If not, "I will simply end my mandate." Relations between the League and M5S soured during the campaign for European parliamentary elections on May 26. "I want a clear, unequivocal and speedy response," Conte said, calling for a "loyal collaboration" from all ministers. Conte is seeking a firm mandate to continue a dialogue with the European Union over Italy's public debt. Italy's far-right Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, who is from the League, said last Tuesday that he expected Brussels to sanction his country for its deteriorating deficit and huge debt by imposing a fine of three billion euros ($3.3 billion). The League and the M5S have sparred over a host of issues and strongman Salvini, deputy prime minister and some already accuse the anti-immigration interior minister of acting as if he were head of government. Salvini has also put out a host of controversial tweets. "At a time when youth unemployment is reaching 50 percent in some regions... someone in Brussels is asking us, under past rules, for a fine of three billion euros," he told RTL radio recently. Fractious allies pledge 'loyalty' Conte said Monday: "If there are political questions to be resolved, one does not send ambiguous signals through the press and use witticisms on social media. "We have been tasked with designing the future of the country which is different from playing to the gallery and collecting 'likes' on social media," he said. Salvini did not even wait for the end of Conte's press conference to declare: "We are ready, we want to go ahead and we can't lose time, the League is ready." But he also evoked the League's historic performance in the European Union elections, as well as its moves to tighten security, stop immigration and put an end to the politics of austerity. Five Star's Luigi Di Maio also responded on Facebook, saying: "We are loyal, we want to get to work immediately... Let's forge ahead with loyalty and coherence, we still have to change a lot of things." The populist-far right coalition in Italy was already in conflict with Brussels late last year over Rome's big-spending 2019 budget, which the commission rejected in a historic first. Both sides finally softened their positions to reach a compromise, but in the commission's latest economic forecasts, published in early May, Italy was the worst economic performer in the eurozone, with zero growth well below other countries and debt at a record level.


The heat sent 18 soldiers at Fort Bragg in North Carolina to the hospital. Jose Colon, 82nd Airborne Division public affairs non-commission officer at Fort Bragg, said paratroopers were rehearsing on Monday for a change of command ceremony taking place on Wednesday. The high for Fort Bragg on Monday was 95 degrees , according to AccuWeather. Around 10 a.m., the soldiers needed medical attention for heat-related injuries and were taken to Womack Army Medical Center, Colon said. "We're talking about 3,000 paratroopers standing in formation and about a dozen that probably weren't very hydrated very well," he said. All of the soldiers have since been released from the hospital, Colon said.     ©2019 The News & Observer (Raleigh, N.C.) Visit The News & Observer (Raleigh, N.C.) at www.newsobserver.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.


BEIJING (AP)   China urged Washington on Friday to "correct" sanctions imposed on Chinese companies accused of helping Iran acquire materials for its nuclear program. U.S. pressure on Iran and its "long-arm jurisdiction" against companies in third countries is the "root cause" of tension with Tehran, a foreign ministry spokesman said. "China has consistently and resolutely opposed the United States imposing unilateral sanctions and so-called long-armed jurisdiction over other countries, including China," said the spokesman, Geng Shuang. "We urge the United States to immediately correct this wrong approach and earnestly respect the legitimate rights and interests of all parties." The U.S. Treasury said Thursday it had imposed sanctions on what it called a network of front companies and agents. It said they are based in Iran, China and Belgium. The Treasury gave no details but said the purchases violated U.N. restrictions on materials that can be used for nuclear programs. Geng said Beijing opposes nuclear proliferation but rejects Washington's unilateral sanctions. "We resolutely oppose any form of proliferation activities, always strictly implement relevant international obligations and stay committed to international cooperation on non-proliferation," Geng said.


WASHINGTON (AP)   Once again, the Miami Marlins brought out the best in Washington Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg. The right-hander struck out 14 in 7 1/3 shutout innings and extended his personal winning streak against Miami to 11 as the Nationals continued their midseason surge with a 3-1 victory on Wednesday. "He was utilizing his fastball both sides of the plate, but his changeup was really good and he threw some good curveballs," manager Dave Martinez said. "When he can throw the ball the way he wants, he is nasty." BOX SCORE: NATIONALS 3, MARLINS 1 Brian Dozier and Matt Adams homered for Washington, which has won seven of its last eight and is 25-10 since May 24. The Nationals improved to 44-41, the first time they've been three games over .500 this season. Strasburg (10-4) allowed two hits and two walks and didn't allow a man past first until the eighth. He is 20-7 with a 2.86 ERA in 34 career starts against the Marlins, and his 11 consecutive wins against them is tied with Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw's dominance of San Diego as the longest active winning streak in the majors against one team. He earned his first three strikeouts on changeups, then effectively mixed pitches throughout the night to baffle Miami's hitters. "I felt like my changeup has kind of gotten away from me," Strasburg said. "I just tried to get back to basics, and it seemed to be much better tonight." Strasburg's gem included the first immaculate inning of his career. Strasburg needed just nine pitches to strike out Garrett Cooper, Neil Walker and Starlin Castro in the fourth. "You didn't see a lot of guys coming back feeling like they had pitches to hit," Miami manager Don Mattingly said. "Guys coming back, when they go check it, basically (said) 'He's hitting corners and basically giving you nothing to hit.' He was really good tonight." Fernando Rodney induced a double-play grounder to escape a bases-loaded jam in the eighth, and Sean Doolittle gave up a run in the ninth but stranded the bases loaded for his 19th save in 22 tries. Miami's Sandy Alcantara (4-8), making his first start since earning an All-Star nod Sunday, matched Strasburg for five innings. But he hung a two-out, 0-2 slider to Dozier, who deposited it over the left field fence for a two-run homer in the sixth. Alcantara allowed two runs in 5 2/3 innings. "I think I had a pretty good game," said Alcantara, who lost to Washington for the second time in a week. "I just missed a spot with my pitch and they hit a homer." Dozier's blast extended Washington's home run streak to 17 consecutive games, the longest in a half-century franchise history that includes the team's time in Montreal. Adams added a solo shot in the eighth. TRAINER'S ROOM Marlins: OF Brian Anderson (elbow contusion) was out of the lineup and struck out as a pinch hitter in the eighth. Mattingly said Anderson, who left Tuesday's game in the second inning, was having trouble throwing. "We're hoping a couple days (helps)," Mattingly said. "There's nothing structurally going on there. It's more him banging that nerve." Nationals: Washington placed RHP Max Scherzer on the paternity list and recalled INF Adrian Sanchez from Double-A Harrisburg. Scherzer, who earlier in the day was named the National League's pitcher of the month for June, is expected to make his scheduled start Saturday. Sanchez is hitting .330 with six homers and 24 RBIs at Harrisburg and is 4 for 17 in 16 games with Washington. UP NEXT Marlins: RHP Elieser Hernandez (1-2, 4.07 ERA), who was 0-1 with a 9.82 ERA in six appearances against Washington in 2018, faces the Nationals for the first time this year as the three-game series concludes. Nationals: RHP Anibal Sanchez (4-6, 3.82), who is 4-0 with a 2.29 ERA in six starts since coming off the injured list in late May, gets the nod for Washington's annual late-morning Independence Day game. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports Related Slideshow: Best of the 2019 MLB season (provided by imagn)


The U.S. Commerce Department announced Monday it had granted a 90-day license for mobile phone companies and internet broadband providers to work with Huawei to keep existing networks online and protect users from security risks. The exemption allows Google to send software updates to Huawei phones which use its Android operating system through to August 19. Alphabet Inc's Google said Tuesday that it plans to work with China's Huawei over the next 90 days, shortly after the U.S. temporarily eased some trade restrictions on the world's second-largest smartphone maker. The move marks a sudden and dramatic turnabout for the U.S. tech conglomerate. On Sunday, Google said it would cut ties with Huawei in order to comply with Washington's decision to put China's telecom giant on the so-called Entity List. On Monday, the U.S. Commerce Department announced it had granted a 90-day license for mobile phone companies and internet broadband providers to work with Huawei to keep existing networks online and protect users from security risks. The exemption allows Google to send software updates to Huawei phones which use its Android operating system through to August 19. "Keeping phones up to date and secure is in everyone's best interests and this temporary license allows us to continue to provide software updates and security patches to existing models for the next 90 days," a Google spokesperson told CNBC in an email on Tuesday. A spokesperson for Huawei declined to comment when contacted by CNBC.  CNBC's Penny Chen contributed to this article.


Kyle Larson was able to win both Stage 1 and 2 at Pocono Raceway Sunday, but wasn't able to close it out with a good result Larson started seventh and due to varying strategies throughout the field, was able to come away with two stage victories. "It felt like our team did a really good job of calling pit strategy the first half of the race for those two Stage wins," said Larson. "I felt like our car was really good, especially in that final Stage. I just didn't have the track position, but I could pass people when I felt like other people couldn't pass. So, I was happy about that." Read Also: Kyle Larson completes sweep of stage wins at Pocono But things soured on the final restart when Larson collided with Clint Bowyer, contacting the outside wall and forcing an unscheduled pit stop. "And then, just that restart, I tried to be really aggressive and fit in that hole. I haven't seen a replay, but am assuming I just wasn't clear and I turned myself in the wall. I hate that I did that, but I felt like that was a good opportunity to fit in that hole and just get the run and maybe get by whoever was in front of me because I feel like I had a really good car at the time. So, I've just got to be smarter." Larson has struggled for results this year with multiple incidents burying him deep in the standings. Things seem to be turning around as of late though with a third-place finish at Dover and another top-ten at Kansas before winning the All-Star Race. Despite finishing 26th at Pocono, two stage wins with 20 bonus points (and two additional playoff points) helps ease the pain of a poor result. "I thought our team did a really good job. I thought our pit stops for the most part were really good and our restarts were really good, except for the last one; which was a good restart, I just got overly aggressive there. Yeah, it was a good day. We had a really fast car. I felt like my speed down the straightaways was really good. I felt like I had good power thanks to Hendrick Engines. I just wish I would have finished out the day good." He later added, "I think if I would have not tried to fit in that hole; I think Clint (Bowyer) finished 5th so I probably would have been around 5th or 6th." Read Also: Kyle Busch earns fourth win of the season at Pocono


Seattle is predicted to experience light rainfall this coming week, according to drone-powered weather forecasting service Saildrone . Friday's forecast shows the highest likelihood of rain at 81 percent, with rain possible through Saturday. Also look for mild temperatures today and tomorrow. Temperatures will turn warmer on Monday, with a high of 76 degrees. Skies will be mostly cloudy today and tomorrow and partly cloudy on Thursday. Winds will continue to be somewhat calm over the course of the week, with the highest speeds tomorrow at only 9 mph. This story was created automatically using Saildrone's local weather forecast data, then reviewed by an editor. We also incorporate historic weather data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


Jon Jones is facing a battery charge stemming from an alleged incident at a strip club in April, but the UFC light heavyweight champion apparently wasn't aware of it until Sunday. According to a report from TV news station KRQE in Albuquerque, N.M., where Jones lives, Jones allegedly had a forceful encounter with a cocktail waitress at TD's Eubank Showclub. In a police report, the woman accuses Jones, 32, of slapping her in her private area, pulling her to his lap to kiss her neck, placing her in "a tight rear-naked choke hold," and picking her up off the ground. When she asked Jones to stop, she alleges he continued touching her until he left the strip club. James Hallinan, a spokesperson for Jones, told KRQE that Jones wasn't aware of the charge until the news station contacted his team. According to online records, letter sent to Jones by Albuquerque police was returned in June, and a bench warrant for his arrest was issued June 12 after he didn't show up to a bond hearing. On Sunday, Jones paid a $300 cash bond for the misdemeanor charge. "Today, the media told Mr. Jones about a false accusation launched against him and that paperwork had been sent to an incorrect address," Hallinan said. "However, after receiving the documents from the press, Mr. Jones immediately went to pay the small fee, and he, and multiple witnesses, stand ready to factually refute the malicious lies being told about him to the public." Jones downplayed the situation on Twitter , claiming he's "definitely not in any trouble." Jones was defiant in another tweet . "I know there's a whole bunch of people hoping for my downfall but there's even more who are proud of me and love seeing me do well," Jones said. "… I love this community. Excited to keep climbing, haters going to be mad when I win in December." I know there's a whole bunch of people hoping for my downfall but there's even more who are proud of me and love seeing me do well. And screw staying inside, I love this community.. excited to keep climbing, haters going to be mad when I win in December https://t.co/dmTH0x2Grv - Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) July 22, 2019 Jones is no stranger to run-ins with the law. In 2012, he avoided jail time on a misdemeanor DWI charge caused by running his Bentley into a utility pole in upstate New York. Jones' next major incident came in April 2015, when he was involved in a hit-and-run that left a pregnant woman with a broken arm and resulted in him being stripped of his UFC title. Although Jones avoided a jail sentence, latter incident resulted in him getting up to 18 months of supervised probation, as well as having to make 72 charity or youth outreach appearances. He would complete the work, but in March 2016 had a highly publicized traffic stop where he engaged in a verbal back-and-forth with an Albuquerque police officer after being accused of drag racing. Jones is coming off a split-decision victory over Thiago Santos to retain his title earlier this month at UFC 239. Jones has said he'd like to fight once more before the year is over, targeting December. MORE: Lakers' Quinn Cook Q&A: 'It feels like this team has been together a while' Brooks Koepka explained what's the most frustrating part of J.B. Holmes' slow play Phil Simms: 'Multiple' teams were set to take Daniel Jones before No. 17 Brooks Koepka Calls Out J.B. Holmes Following Disastrous Final Round at The Open 3 potential options for Cowboys if Ezekiel Elliott holds out


OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) With several key stars sidelined by injuries, the Houston Astros relied on some lesser-known fill-ins who were in the minors just a week ago. Derek Fisher hit a tiebreaking homer to lead off the eighth inning after pinch-runner Myles Straw and defensive replacement Jack Mayfield made key plays in the seventh to help the short-handed Astros rallied for a 3-2 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Friday night. ''They're doing everything they can to make good impressions,'' manager A.J. Hinch said. ''They're really happy to be in the big leagues. There's a lot of talent in this organization. We built that depth. It's coming in handy now.'' The Astros trailed the A's 2-0 heading into the seventh inning on a night they were missing injured stars Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa and George Springer. But Josh Reddick started the comeback with a solo homer and Tony Kemp tied the game with a double. That set the stage for Fisher, who sent a drive out to center field against Lou Trivino (2-2) on the first pitch of the eighth to hand the A's their third straight loss following a 10-game winning streak. ''I knew I hit it hard,'' Fisher said. ''I know Ramon (Laureano) tends to pull some crazy plays out of nowhere. Thankfully the ball didn't find a glove, and even better, it went over the wall.'' Hector Rondon (3-1) pitched out of a jam in the seventh with help from a diving stop at shortstop by Mayfield that held Laureano at third base with the infield drawn in. Roberto Osuna pitched the ninth for his 16th save in 17 chances. Brad Peacock allowed just one run in his previous four starts and pitched around a little bit of trouble in the first two innings. But the A's got to him in the third, ending a stretch of 14 straight scoreless innings. Robbie Grossman hit an opposite-field single away from the shift with one out and Chapman followed with a no-doubt shot to left field on a 0-2 fastball right down middle. The A's didn't manage anything else against Peacock, who allowed two runs and five hits in six innings. Houston then tied it in the seventh against Mike Fiers. Josh Reddick snapped an 0-for-15 rut with a solo homer with one out to make it 2-1 and Fiers was replaced by Lou Trevino after issuing a two-out walk to Tyler White. Kemp then hit a drive to left that Grossman took a bad angle on, sending Straw home on an RBI double that tied the game. ''We're not worried, but these games, we've got to lock down, especially late in the game against a team like that,'' Fiers said. ''We can't give them too much. It's a tight game. If we want to win the division, we have to win these games.'' TRAINER'S ROOM Astros: Correa reported to the ballpark in Houston, but is unable to do any work since cracking rib earlier this week. Correa said he was injured while getting a massage at his home Tuesday. He released a video on the YouTube channel of his fiancee, Daniella Rodriguez, on Friday, detailing how the injury occurred and thanking fans for their support. ... Altuve (left hamstring) took grounders before the game; INF Aledmys Diaz (hamstring) and Springer (hamstring) both ran and took some swings; and RHP Joe Smith (Achilles) threw a 20-pitch live BP session at West Palm Beach. Athletics: OF Khris Davis (left hip) took BP before the game and could be activated as soon as Saturday. ''I think there's a chance,'' manager Bob Melvin said. ''We want to make sure he's not sore tomorrow and feels as good as he did today.'' ROUGH PATCH One game after allowing five runs in the 11th inning of a loss to the Angels, Trivino gave up the late lead to the Astros when he couldn't keep the lead in the seventh. Melvin isn't worried about one of his most trusted relievers. ''Just a couple balls in the middle of the plate,'' he said. ''He's still throwing hard, still getting good movement, just maybe not precise on the location of where he's throwing.'' UP NEXT Justin Verlander (8-2, 2.38 ERA), who is tied for second in the majors in wins, gets the start in the middle game of the series for Houston against Brett Anderson (6-3, 3.86 ERA). -- More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports


The Texans made a major and unexpected change to the organization on Friday. The team announced that they have fired General Manager Brian Gaine. "After a thorough evaluation of our football operations, we have decided to relieve Brian Gaine of his duties as General Manager," Texans chairman and CEO Cal McNair said in a statement. "Brian is a man of high character and we appreciate his contributions to our organization. We will begin an immediate search for a new G.M. In the interim, football operations will be led by senior vice president of football administration Chris Olsen. While the timing may be unusual, this decision was made in the best interest of our organization in our quest to build a championship team for the city of Houston." Gaine was hired in January 2018 when former G.M. Rick Smith took a leave of absence to be with his wife as she battled cancer. The move leaves the Texans and the Jets both in need of a General Manager as their offseason programs come to an end. The Jets have interviewed several candidates who could conceivably also wind up in the mix in Houston. Related slideshow: Top picks of 2019 NFL Draft (provided by imagn)


From a trauma awareness training to a panel discussion regarding the Mueller Report, there's plenty to enjoy in Minneapolis this week. Read on for a rundown of ideas for how to fill your calendar. Hoodline offers data-driven analysis of local happenings and trends across cities. Links included in this article may earn Hoodline a commission on clicks and transactions. STAR-Lite Training: Learning Strategies for Trauma Awareness and Resilience From the event description: STAR-Lite is a single-day research and practice-supported peacebuilding training integrating neuropsychology, trauma healing and resilience, restorative justice, nonviolent conflict transformation and broadly defined spirituality. The training enables people to become trauma-informed, resilience-oriented and restorative justice-focused. STAR-Lite is for individuals who wish to learn the basic STAR concepts and models within a shorter-time frame than the full STAR Training . When: Wednesday, May 29, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Where: Northeast Bank, 77 Broadway St. NE Admission: $35 Click here for more details, and to get your tickets 'The Mueller Report: Perspectives from Former United States Attorneys' From the event description: DFL Lawyers Committee presents "The Mueller Report: Perspectives from Former United States Attorneys." Panelists include Brendan Johnson (District of South Dakota), Nick Klinefeldt (Southern District of Iowa), John Marti (District of Minnesota) and Tim Purdon (District of North Dakota). When: Wednesday, May 29, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Where: Dorsey & Whitney LLP, 50 S. Sixth St., #1500 Admission: Free Click here for more details, and to get your tickets 'A Changing People Who Live in This Place Called Minnesota' From the event description: Join rural and urban Minnesotans in a special UROC Critical Conversation about immigration, migration and the impending "silver tsunami" of retirees set to change the demographic face of our state over the next 50 years. Topics include the shared and unique challenges and opportunities that changing demographics pose to the healthcare, employment, housing and transportation needs of Minnesotans living in urban centers, small towns and rural settings. When: Wednesday, May 29, 5-8 p.m. Where: 2001 Plymouth Ave N Admission: Free Click here for more details, and to get your tickets MN VR and HCI May 2019: Firezone, MR Dev Days From the event description: RJ White is back again to talk more about mobile VR and his most recent Oculus Go release, FireZone, an online VR multiplayer shooter inspired by classic FPS games. He'll talk about the process he went through developing his first multiplayer game, marketing it and using the positive reception from its release. When: Wednesday, May 29, 6:30-9:30 p.m. Where: space150 (2nd Floor), 212 Third Ave. North Admission: Free Click here for more details, and to get your tickets This story was created automatically using local event data, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


Ottmar Hitzfeld is number 18 in 90min's Top 50 Great Managers of All Time series. Follow the rest of the series over the course of the next four weeks. Legendary status in football is achieved through loyalty, professionalism and a clear will to do your upmost to those who look turn to you in times of need. It's a word flung around too often in some facets of the game. However, there are sides who can boast such managers in their ranks, but few rivals clubs can raise their hands and claim that one assertive, diligent German is a legend at mine, and your club. That is exactly the case in regards to Ottmar Hitzfeld, who ventured over that fearsome line only to replicate - or surpass, depending on your allegiance - his success with the side each respective rival now fears most in German football. I am talking, of course, about Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich . Born into a family heritage that brought with it nothing but hatred and evil - his uncle Otto was a notorious Nazi general - the German used this relenting shadow that hung low over his family's past as the backdrop from which to evoke joy and positivity. Ottmar did just that. Forging a career as a striker, Hitzfeld spent much of his 13-year playing career in Switzerland, winning the Swiss Super League on two occasions and claiming a Swiss Cup triumph during a successful stint at FC Basel. Upon retiring from playing in 1983, he quickly assumed a managerial role - a platform where his ambitious and disciplined nature was able to fully flourish. Starting out at FC Zug, it took just one season for FC Aarau to take note of his style and application, snapping him up as their coach where he secured the Swiss Cup just two years into his managerial career. Naturally, bigger opportunities came by and he soon took the reins of fellow major Swiss club Grasshopper Club Zürich. In just three seasons he led the side to four titles, two in the league, when he began alerting the gaze German football. It was just the beginning for Hitzfeld.  Career Honours Swiss Cup (1985, 1989, 1990) Swiss Super League (1989/90, 1990/91) Swiss Super Cup (1989) Bundesliga (1994/95, 1995/96, 1998/99, 1999/00, 2000/01, 2002/03, 2007/09) DFB-Supercup (1995, 1996) DFB-Pokal (1999/00, 2002/03, 2007/08) DFB-Ligapokal (1998, 1999, 2000, 2007) Intercontinental Cup (2001) Champions League (1997, 2001) Hitzfeld was about to embark on a path that would change the face of German football history. Dortmund came calling, and with little hesitation, the German took charge. His six-year spell with Die Borussen was the longest stint the club had seen until Jurgen Klopp took over the hotseat, but it will fondly remembered by the Yellow and Black army for many years to come. A debut campaign saw Hitzfeld guide the club to a second-place finish, their highest in the top-flight for 25 years, and an eight-place increase on the season prior. However, with European football confirmed for the following season, Dortmund were unable to balance all their competitions as smoothly, somewhat expectantly having overachieved in Hitzfeld's first year in charge. Disappointment was to become the overriding sentiment at the culmination of the 1992/93 term, as a heavy 6-1 aggregate UEFA Cup final defeat to Juventus put a serious dampener on an otherwise revolutionary period for Dortmund that saw them finish fourth in the league. As is the character of the man known simply as 'Der General', rallying his troops and marshalling them into battle was second nature to the German, as another UEFA Cup run ended in quarter final defeat and a consecutive fourth-placed Bundesliga finish. What transpired over the course of his time in the North Rhine-Westphalia wasn't without purpose, the team were improving in every facet and the fanbase were in tune to the work Hitzfeld was doing. The signs were there for all to see. Hitzfeld brought in Paulo Sousa, Jurgen Kohler, Andreas Moller and Julio Cesar as the players he would mould into his, at the time, unusual 3-5-2 formation. He was arguably the first modern manager to build a club solely on his own ideas - without altering the philosophy and ethos. 7⃣0⃣ - Happy Birthday, @FCBayern - & @BVB -Legende Ottmar Hitzfeld! pic.twitter.com/luzI5tVhhQ   UEFA.com DE (@UEFAcom_de) January 12, 2019 He had taken Dortmund from mid-table mediocrity into the upper echelons of not only German football, but also on the European stage. Until then the club and its fans had lived for the past 20 years in Bayern and Hamburger SV's shadows, before transforming them into a team blessed with youth, experience and talent. They had free spirit, passion and a combination of pace and guile in their ranks, duly getting their just rewards in the 1994/95 campaign. Hitzfeld's garrison of soldiers secured consecutive Bundesliga titles in 1995 and 1996 against all the odds, firmly placing Dortmund on the footballing map. Unwilling to lay down their weapons having conquered Germany, Europe was next. Imperious on their way to the Champions League final, a fairytale showpiece against former nemesis Juventus stood in their way. A masterstroke to deploy Paul Lambert in a man-marking role on Zinedine Zidane payed dividends and a 3-1 win handed Die Borussen their first, and only, European crown. To Dortmund fans, Hitzfeld was now their legend. Everything I demand of others, I have to exemplify myself: credibility, reliability, honesty. Ottmar Hitzfeld Or was he? With everything already achieved at Dortmund, the recently crowned 'World Coach of the Year' spent one year as the club's sports manager before making the move to rivals Bayern ahead of the 1998/99 season. Yes, 1999 is indeed the year when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer did that thing . Other than their bitter Champions League final defeat that season, Hitzfeld secured the Bundesliga crown with elementary precision, finishing 15 points clear of Bayer Leverkusen. His appointment improved Bayern instantly, and were it not for a DFB Pokal final defeat on penalties (and that Manchester United late show) he could very well have snatched a treble in his first year. Their return to German dominance was no fluke, Hitzfeld was in a league of his own at this point. His every move and decision proved a masterstroke, and it became a matter of not if, but when, Die Roten would lift the Champions League. An #FCBayern legend turns 7⃣0⃣ today!  Happy Birthday, Ottmar #Hitzfeld !  pic.twitter.com/2OacLc5Z1v   FC Bayern English (@FCBayernEN) January 12, 2019 One unfair and unjust criticism of Hitzfeld's reign at Bayern was is implementation of a 5-4-1 formation. Rigid and effective, it failed to wow spectators, but there was good reason for it. It worked, and nobody could stop it. That illustrious Champions League success finally came, in nail-biting fashion, in 2001. A third successive league title acted as the backdrop for what would be his crowning glory with the club, overcoming Valencia on penalties after a tense 1-1 draw. He did not have a galaxy of stars, but constructed an unbreakable unit that supported one another through thick and thin, demonstrating the mental fortitude Der General had instilled into his side. He would eventually leave the club three seasons later with another league title and a staggering total of 14 trophies in his wake. Bundesliga:  DFB-Pokal:  DBP Ligapokal:  UEFA Champions League:  Intercontinental Cup:  Happy 7⃣0⃣th birthday, Ottmar Hitzfeld!  #MiaSanMia pic.twitter.com/mOqQIuW837    FC Bayern US  (@FCBayernUS) January 12, 2019 It comes as no surprise why he was voted by the majority of Bayern supporters as their greatest ever coach, even ahead of demi-god Franz Beckenbauer. His story wasn't finished though, as he returned to Bavaria mid-way through a season in 2007 to replace Felix Magath, and then subsequently won the domestic treble the year after before stepping away from league football altogether. A six-year stint in charge of the Swiss national team followed and, while no silverware resulted, he laid new foundations and changed the face of football in Switzerland, forging a multi-national team united under one flag. To Bayern fans, however, Hitzfeld is their legend.  Team Managed  Years Zug 94 1983-1984 FC Aarau 1984-1988 Grasshopper Club Zürich 1988-1991 Borussia Dortmund 1991-1997 Bayern Munich 1998-2004, 2007-2008 Switzerland 2008-2014 It's a debate that adds to an already heated rivalry between the clubs, but one that acts as a welcome point of debate that brought both clubs immeasurable success. Der General finally laid down his weapons in 2014, but not before cementing his place of one of the finest managers in the history of the game, and one all of Germany, and the world, salutes. Number 50: Marcelo Bielsa - El Loco's Journey From Argentina to Footballing Immortality in Europe Number 49: Vic Buckingham - How an Englishman Discovered Johan Cruyff & Pioneered Total Football Number 48: Claudio Ranieri: A Ridiculed Tinkerman Who Masterminded One of Football's Greatest Ever Achievements Number 47: Bill Nicholson: Mr Tottenham Hotspur, the First Double Winning Manager of the 20th Century Number 46: Sven-Goran Eriksson: The Scudetto Winning Shagger Who Never Solved the Lampard-Gerrard Conundrum Number 45: Sir Alf Ramsey: T he Man Behind the 'Wingless Wonders' & England's Sole World Cup Triumph Number 44: Antonio Conte: An Astute Tactician Whose Perfectionist Philosophy Reinvented the 3-5-2 Wheel Number 43: Kenny Dalglish: The Beacon of Light in Liverpool's Darkest Hour Number 42: Massimiliano Allegri: The Masterful Tactician Who Won Serie A Five Times in a Row Number 41: Sir Bobby Robson: A Footballing Colossus Whose Fighting Spirit Ensured an Immortal Legacy Number 40: Luis Aragones: Spain's Most Important Manager, the Atleti Rock and the Modern Father of Tiki-Taka Number 39: Herbert Chapman: One of Football's Great Innovators & Mastermind Behind the 'W-M' Formation Number 38: Carlos Alberto Parreira: The International Specialist Who Never Shied Away From a Challenge Number 37: Franz Beckenbauer: The German Giant Whose Playing Career Overshadowed His Managerial Genius Number 36: Viktor Maslov: Soviet Pioneer of the 4-4-2 & the Innovator of Pressing Number 35: Rafa Benitez: The Conquerer of La Liga Who Masterminded That Comeback in Istanbul Number 34: Zinedine Zidane: Cataloguing the Frenchman's Transition From Midfield Magician to Managerial Maestro Number 33: Luiz Felipe Scolari: How the Enigmatic 'Big Phil' Succeeded as Much as He Failed on the Big Stage Number 32: Jupp Heynckes: The Legendary Manager Who Masterminded 'the Greatest Bayern Side Ever' Number 31: Vicente del Bosque: The Unluckiest Manager in the World Who Led Spain to Immortality Number 30: Arsene Wenger: A Pioneering Who Became Invincible at Arsenal Number 29: Udo Lattek: The Bundesliga Icon Who Shattered European Records Number 28: Jock Stein: The Man Who Guided Celtic to Historic Heights & Mentored Sir Alex Ferguson Number 27: Vittorio Pozzo: Metodo, Mussolini, Meazza & the Difficult Memory of a Two-Time World Cup Winner Number 26: Jurgen Klopp: The Early Years at Mainz 05 Where He Sealed His 'Greatest Achievement' Number 25: Mario Zagallo: Habitual World Cup Winner & Sculptor of Brazil's Joga Bonito Era Number 24: Bela Guttmann: The Dance Instructor Who Changed Football Forever (and Managed...Just Everyone) Number 23: Valeriy Lobanovskyi: The Scientist Who Dominated Football in the Soviet Union Number 22: Louis van Gaal: The Stubborn Master Who Won 15 Major Trophies at 4 of the World's Greatest Clubs Number 21: Otto Rehhagel: The 'King' Who Turned 150/1 Greek Outsiders into Champions of Europe Number 20: Tele Santana: The 'Joga Bonito' Icon Who Helped Brazil Rediscover Their Love of Football Number 19:  Bill Shankly: The Innovative Motivator Who Rebuilt Liverpool From the Ground Up


"God, that thing is awful," said senior editor Tony Quiroga as he exited the 1993 Nissan Skyline GTS-25 he had just parked along Mulholland Highway above Malibu. "The exhaust just drones, I hate shifting with my left hand, and the petrified tires are terrible. Who would want this thing?" Plenty of us, it seems. At least those of us who are parishioners at the Church of JDM. Even if it means dealing with right-hand drive, owner's manuals written in Japanese, and at least 25 years of wear and tear. That's JDM as in Japanese domestic market: vehicles built for over there that were never sold over here. To get a taste of what we've been missing stateside, we went to TopRank International Vehicle Importers in Cypress, California, a dealer that specializes in JDM vehicles. From TopRank's inventory, we selected the Skyline as well as a 1993 Toyota Mark II Tourer V and a 1992 Mazda Autozam AZ-1 micro sports car. In deference to the trio's age-and particularly that of their tires-we didn't subject them to our usual instrumented tests. And this isn't a comparison test. It is a chance to take three JDM survivors out for a romp, get a feel for the species, and check it for viability. At least from a financial perspective, these aren't far-fetched. TopRank listed both the Skyline and Mark II at $17,995 and the Autozam at $15,995, prices within the realm of possibility for middle-class mortals. Peak JDM idolatry, legal in the form of the R32-generation Nissan Skyline GT-R, starts at about $30,000 for a veteran showing battle scars. Low-mileage cream puffs can push well beyond that. Considering the library of GT-R hagiographies out there, it seemed reasonable to skip Godzilla this time. Any three cars can teach 3000 things. As exemplars of early 1990s JDM culture, the GTS-25, Mark II, and Autozam reveal why that period was brilliant in its own way: styling, engineering, and flat-out looniness. Contributor Scott Oldham dismissed Quiroga's tirade. "That's all stuff you can change," he said. And change it he has. Oldham was once the editor of Sport Compact Car , a magazine that mixed arcane JDM scripture with ads for aftermarket parts from HKS and GReddy. It was the bible of JDM worship. Or maybe it was just car porn. "Swap out the fart can, get new rubber, and that thing is fine," Oldham muttered in his native Jerseyese. "Damn fine." The Skyline GTS-25 is the GT-R's stunt double. Built from the same unibody shell, it lacks its legendary brother's flared shoulders and all-wheel drive and is powered by a single-turbo 2.5-liter inline-six rated, back then, at 178 horsepower. Even now, the Skyline feels more powerful than that. Nissan fitted these cars with optional automatic transmissions, but this one came with a five-speed manual box. With its antiseptic lines and an interior that defines restraint, the Skyline nevertheless attracts attention. Mostly that attention is from parking valets who think it's a GT-R, but that's a sweet bennie because you aren't paying GT-R money. The problem is that, with more than 131,000 miles on the clock, the suspension bushings seem to have turned to dust, the travel in that suspension is nigh on zilch, and the 235/45R-17 Capitol Negotiator tires have yet to achieve détente with any road surface. This thing slides its hind end like a curling stone. Still, minimalist Japanese design peaked about the time this car was built, and we could use it back. In contrast, the rear-drive Mark II is restrained to the point of anonymity. But what it has going for it is Toyota's creamy 1JZ-GTE engine, a 2.5-liter version of the twin-turbo 3.0-liter 2JZ-GTE used in the fourth-generation Supra . A gentlemen's agreement among the Japanese manufacturers capped engine output at 276 horsepower (280 metric horsepower) from 1988 to 2004, at least on paper. It is no secret that most vehicles advertising 276 horsepower, such as the Mark II, actually pack more ponies. While the 1JZ may not be as famous as the 2JZ, it produces an amazonian river of torque. The claimed 268 pound-feet of peak torque comes on so seamlessly, it feels as if the car has been dropped out of a C-130 and is accelerating with the force of gravity. This is Toyota engineering at its finest, an engine that may be more at home in the 21st century than it was in the previous one. The big four-door Mark II is the Cressida that could have been. With less than 27,000 miles showing on its odometer and upholstered in Toyota-spec blue fuzz, this example is a time capsule of mechanical virtue and boring-as-hell design. It's a Triple Lindy into the rabbit hole, a car for a nerd of the nerdiest sort, but that's kind of the point for some people. Left-hand shifting can be disconcerting, but we managed to move both the Skyline and Mark II easily through their changes. The Autozam AZ-1 is not made for America's wide-open spaces. At a mere 129.7 inches long overall, it's more than two feet shorter than a current Mazda Miata . Its 88.0-inch wheelbase is three inches shorter than former NBA center Manute Bol is tall, and larger drivers will need Dr. Pimple Popper to extract them as if they were sebaceous cysts. But the engine is behind the driver and the gullwing doors open skyward. It's a shrunken-head DeLorean DMC-12. Power for the AZ-1 comes from a mid-mounted Suzuki-made turbocharged DOHC inline-three that wheezes out 63 horsepower and, despite the turbo, wants lots of revs to make it go in any meaningful way. But since the AZ-1 weighs just 1600 pounds, it's still ludicrously entertaining. Running at sky-high rpm, banging into the 9000-rpm redline, and feeling the whole car vibrate is like driving a leaf blower. On California's 405 freeway, it looks as much like a Botts' Dot as an actual vehicle. The ride is choppy; there's power nothing; the expansive use of glass for the windshield, doors, and roof panels means the cockpit heats up ferociously; it feels as if the front wheel bearings are stitched to the driver's fingers; and every part of the driver's body presses against some part of the car. It's unlike anything ever sold in the United States that didn't come with a remote control. It's everything modern cars aren't-and that makes it delicious. As noted, this isn't a comparison test, but the dorky AZ-1 does the best job of justifying its importation and the hassle of sustaining an archaic car with a parts network that stretches across the Pacific Ocean. Japan's carmakers were still on the rise when this trio was designed and built, and it showed in their cars. Compared with the crap that American car companies were selling-the Chevrolet Cavalier, Dodge Shadow, and Ford Tempo come immediately to mind-Japanese cars were truly better. But 25 years is a long time. Those of us who grew up worshiping these cars from afar may have that faith shaken upon encountering them up close as adults. At first the Toyota and Nissan seemed interesting, different, and even a little weird, but after we had been around them a few hours, we found them somewhat mundane. After all, in Japan they were ordinary things, driven by ordinary people-the novelty wears off. Despite its tininess, or perhaps because of it, the Autozam AZ-1 captivated us the most. And if you're going to get something that has never been sold over here, why not get something unlike anything that's ever been sold over here? From the June 2019 issue


Toto Wolff says that Mercedes won't change the way it operates its power units in the Canadian Grand Prix despite concerns generated by a failure for Racing Point's Lance Stroll in practice. All six Mercedes-equipped cars had the latest Phase 2 power unit fitted on Friday, and there were no issues until Stroll experienced a spectacular failure at the start of FP3. The Canadian driver went back to his original Phase 1 engine for qualifying and the race . Mercedes won't have a full understanding of the failure until the unit is examined on its return to its Brixworth factory, so it has no choice but to run the remaining Phase 2 engines as planned in the race. More Canadian GP insights : Ricciardo: Beating Red Bull possible after star qualifying Grosjean feels he is in the 'Olympics of bad luck' Canadian GP: Starting grid in pictures "I think it came as a surprise to us," said Wolff. "We have been running those engines on the dynos and still believe that what we have seen on the dyno counts. "You can't turn them down or run them differently because of a failure that is very difficult to judge. So no change from the way we run the engine. "With mature regulations you're not seeing huge gains anymore with the introduction of new engines, making these smaller steps and reliability fixes. "I'm of course not happy for Lance and for Racing Point that missed a complete session with a brand new engine that went bust. We need to understand what it was, which we don't at the moment. Question marks remain over what happened. "Overall I'm happy we introduced a fresh engine, and just take it from then   learn from every mile we are able to run these engines. Learn and optimise them." Wolff stressed that even with the Phase 2 unit Mercedes was losing out to Ferrari on the straights. "They were very good last year already and we knew the straightline speed was something that is going to be very difficult to defend against," he said. "The way you summarise today's session is losing 0.6s on the straights and trying to make it up on the corners but 0.4s is not enough." Wolff also played down suggestions that Lewis Hamilton's FP2 accident   and resultant loss of track time   ultimately cost the reigning champion pole. "I think that every tiny margin matters but equally you can't point at a single event and say this is what cost pole," he said. "Credit to Ferrari, they were extremely competitive today and Sebastian put in an awesome lap and this is why they deserved to be on pole. "We overall weren't good enough for pole and we now need to do the best for the race." Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, talks with pole man Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari, after Qualifying Photo by: Mark Sutton / Sutton Images


The Denver Broncos will be the first team in the NFL to open training camp this year. In fact, their July 17 start date is nearly a full week before every other team. That marks less than 10 days until training camp begins and barring any changes, the team's 90-man roster is set. To get you ready for camp, here is the team's full roster, complete with jersey numbers. This 90-man roster will soon be turned into 53. There will be many interesting position battles and key players to keep an eye on. We will have camp covered from all angles here at Broncos Wire. Quarterback AP Photo/David Zalubowski 5 Joe Flacco 3 Drew Lock 9 Kevin Hogan 4 Bretty Rypien Running back AP Photo/David Zalubowski 30 Phillip Lindsay 28 Royce Freeman 23 Devontae Booker 33 Khalfani Muhammad 48 Devontae Jackson Fullback Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports 32 Andy Janovich 39 George Aston Wide receiver Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports 14 Courtland Sutton 10 Emmanuel Sanders 17 DaeSean Hamilton 11 River Cracraft 81 Tim Patrick 15 Juwann Winfree 13 Aaron Burbridge 12 Brendan Langley 2 Trinity Benson 83 Romell Guerrier 85 Bug Howard 19 Fred Brown 16 Kelvin McKnight Tight end AP Photo/David Zalubowski 87 Noah Fant 82 Jeff Heuerman 84 Troy Fumagalli 80 Jake Butt 89 Austin Fort Offensive line AP Photo/David Zalubowski 72 Garett Bolles 65 Ronald Leary 60 Connor McGovern 66 Dalton Risner 70 Ja'Wuan James 69 Jake Rodgers 79 Chaz Green 77 Sam Jones 68 Elijah Wilkinson 75 Quinn Bailey 73 John Leglue 71 Austin Schlottmann 67 Don Barclay 62 Nathan Jacobson 64 Jake Brendel 63 Ryan Crozier Defensive line Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports 95 Derek Wolfe 96 Shelby Harris 99 Adam Gotsis 92 Zach Kerr 93 Dre'Mont Jones 57 DeMarcus Walker 94 Ahmad Gooden 98 Mike Purcell 90 Billy Winn 78 Deyon Sizer 97 DeShawn Williams Linebacker AP Photo/Jack Dempsey 58 Von Miller 55 Bradley Chubb 47 Josey Jewell 51 Todd Davis 52 Justin Hollins 43 Joe Jones 50 Keishawn Bierria 50 Aaron Wallace 46 Jeff Holland 45 Alexander Johnson 56 Dekoda Watson 59 Malik Reed 53 Joe Dineen, Jr. 54 Josh Watson Cornerback Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports 25 Chris Harris 22 Kareem Jackson 26 Isaac Yiadom 29 Bryce Callahan 41 De'Vante Bausby 27 Horace Richardson 37 Linden Stephens 39 Trey Johnson 49 Alijah Holder Safety Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports 31 Justin Simmons 34 Will Parks 21 Su'a Cravens 36 Trey Marshall 35 Dymonte Thomas 20 Jamal Carter 38 Shamarko Thomas Specialists Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports 6 Colby Wadman 8 Brandon McManus 1 Taylor Bertolet 42 Casey Kreiter MORE: UFC fighter Ben Askren had an excellent response to getting knocked out in 5 seconds Expected starting lineup for Lakers with LeBron James at point guard Three Potential Trade Destinations for Russell Westbrook Honor thy father: Quinn Cook signed with Lakers for good reason Five years later, looking at the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft


As Jalopnik's resident car buying expert and professional car shopper, I get emails. Lots of emails. I've decided to pick a few questions and try to help out. This week we're discussing the ideal down payment for a loan, buying a car from a dealer who doesn't sell that brand, and which car to buy or keep when upgrading to something new. First up, what is the ideal down payment for a car loan? I've got a car buying question. What is the ideal amount for a down payment on a car? 100%, as much as possible, or is there a point of diminishing returns? I'm thinking of getting a new daily driver for $40-60k in the near future, new or CPO. I'm not a member of the "F-you money" class, but I could probably manage a down payment of up to $10k. This is a question that comes up a lot, and it really comes down to a personal financial decision for the buyer. Unlike leasing, where you want to put as little down as possible, when you buy something there is often no such thing as "too much money down." For example, putting $10,000 in should mean you always have equity in the car, but not everybody can do that. Most folks need to examine that down payment figure based on what their monthly payment target is. While you should never negotiate your car based on payment, you should be doing the math to see how much downpayment is necessary to fit that budget. Let's say, for example, you are buying a $40,000 car all inclusive of tax and fees and want to be at $500 per month with a 60-month loan and an estimated interest rate of 4 percent. If we use our handy loan calculator and plug in the payment figures, term and interest, that means your loan balance can't exceed more than $27,150. Which means you need to bring $12,850 to the table in order to get that $40,000 car within your comfortable monthly payment range. However, most folks don't have the cash to put 30 percent down on a car loan, which is why these backward calculators are crucial to establishing what you can afford before you start shopping. Next, is a dealer more likely to cut a deal on a used car if they don't sell that brand? "I had purchased a used 2016 BMW X5 about 6 months ago. There were particular features I was interested in, but the general prices I came across off Autotrader were about $35-45k for a mileage range of 30-50k. I ended up purchasing my vehicle from an Infiniti dealership, obviously through a trade-in by the previous owner. I jumped on the deal after some negotiation since it had all the features I was looking for. The KBB value for private party sale was about $38k. The dealer was selling it for $34k and was willing to give me the sale at $33k (taxes/titles/fees not included). At this time, for similarly spec'd vehicles, the average prices on Autotrader were still $3-4k higher than the Infiniti's dealership's original price. I purchased the vehicle after completing a pre-purchase inspection, did not trade in a vehicle, and did not finance through the dealership (had my own finance in place through a credit union). Barring that all things are generally comparable and appropriate, was the Infiniti dealership willing to sell at a lower price in efforts to simply get a non-Infiniti brand car off their lot? If so, why is that? What advice are you able to share with readers towards considering purchasing a vehicle from a dealership of a different brand from the car itself?" One of the common myths about used car buying that is still around is that a dealer that sells Brand A doesn't want to sell a car from Brand B. That is not really the case. Dealers want to stock and sell desirable cars, regardless of the brand. The likely reason that this Infiniti dealer was able to offer a used BMW at a very competitive price is likely due to the market-based pricing for that particular car, and not really the fact that it was a BMW on an Infiniti lot. As I've mentioned in several other posts, because online listings are competing against each other for leads, it is in the dealer's interest to come out of the gate with a sale price that is aggressive. Therefore they often don't have a lot of wiggle room , as you found out with that $1,000 reduction. Chances are that the Infiniti store likes to move units quickly and prices them accordingly to make quick sales. While this might not mean a lot of profit per unit, it usually means more units sold within a shorter period of time. There really is no unique strategy when buying a car from a dealer that doesn't sell that brand, and you did all the right things here. You looked at comparable cars, got the vehicle inspected, and came to the conclusion that the price you were offered was a good one. Finally, when choosing between two cars to keep or trade, how do you decide? "I'm in sort of a conundrum. I live in Orange County, CA and I commute to an office near LAX every day. I have either use my 2015 Subaru Forester XT or my wife's 2013 Lexus GS350. Both cars are paid off. I am thinking of selling one of the vehicles and getting a Model 3 to get HOV access and to destress using AutoPilot. Any advice on which car to sell because we are looking to keep whichever for the long run plus a Tesla and is it better and more financially sound to just keep the two we have now?" This is an interesting situation because we have two good cars, so determining which one to trade or keep is a challenge. On the one hand, you have a Lexus sedan and you plan on buying a Tesla sedan. Perhaps having a different style of vehicle like the Forester in the driveway would be ideal, especially if you have a need for a crossover with all-wheel-drive depending on the situation. On the other hand, if you are looking at this from a financial perspective, the Forester is likely to command a higher trade/sale value relative to its original purchase price. The XT models are going for some serious money now that Subaru no longer offers a turbo Forester option. Furthermore, a Lexus GS may be more likely to have lower running costs as that car ages due to its reputation for build quality. Remember, sometimes those turbo Subarus get pricey on the maintenance as they age.