Matt Stewart traces the growing line of men who say they were sexually abused by their trusted Boy Scout leaders back nearly two decades and finds himself. "Here we are 20 years later," he said. "And the story just keeps getting bigger and bigger." More: New lawsuit: Nearly 800 accuse Boy Scouts of failing to protect them from sex abuse In 2003, Stewart and his brother Tom filed a lawsuit that broke new ground in the effort   still ongoing today   to unearth the scope of abuse in scouting. The case, filed against the Boy Scouts of America and the former scoutmaster they say molested them as children in the 1970s and 1980s in Tacoma, Washington, forced the Boy Scouts to turn over secret files on volunteers it had deemed ineligible. The records   some of which later were released to the public by court order, becoming known as the "Perversion Files"   revealed that the organization had removed thousands of leaders for abusing children over the course of more than five decades. The brothers' former attorney, Timothy Kosnoff, on Monday filed a new lawsuit that says hundreds of former scouts have come forward in recent months with new accounts of sexual abuse. As these new claims of abuse come to light, USA Today wanted to talk with Stewart, a man whose own story of abuse, and decision to share it publicly, laid the groundwork for those now taking the same step. Stewart, who is 54 and lives in California, continues to talk openly about the abuse he says he suffered weekly for more than a decade   in the car on the way to Monday-night scout meetings, on camping trips, in the basement of his own home under the guise of working on merit badges. He believes the latest round of men to publicly name their accusers will only encourage more. "This number is going to explode," he said. Tricia L. Nadolny: One of your goals with your lawsuit was to gain access to the Boy Scouts files. Did you have any idea then how much bigger the problem would end up becoming? Matt Stewart: Oh, absolutely not. I was the first Scout to approach Tim Kosnoff about the years that I had been abused in scouting. Tim had recently read a book by author Patrick Boyle, which you can still, I believe, get online, entitled Scout's Honor: Sexual Abuse in America's Most Trusted Institution. … The first thing that Tim had me do is he had me read Patrick Boyle's book. I realized that what had happened to me has happened to literally thousands of men. I realized that I was in this much bigger, macro picture of the Boy Scouts and their negligence. TN: Was it comforting to know you were not alone, or more painful to understand the scale? MS: It made me angry that what had happened to me could have possibly been prevented. What happened to my brother could have been prevented. … It was comforting in the fact that I was not alone. Abuse victims blame themselves. And so I realized that this was not me. This is the organization. And so as Tim dug further and we dug further and as he filed a national lawsuit against them for negligence at the organizational level, we realized that we were onto something earth changing, life changing. We could potentially get ahold -- which we did -- of all of the confidential files and then use these files in order to create change in the organization. But then also to help other scouts come forward. Which we know that they're coming forward in droves. TN: Why do you think it's taken so many until now to come forward? MS: Some people never want to come forward. Some people have buried this chapter of their life deep with inside of them. Some people don't want to relive the victimization. They don't want to go up against big brother in a court of law like I did. They don't want the physical and the mental challenge that it takes in order to work with attorneys and share your experiences. TN: You were encouraged to tell your story after reading about child abuse in the Catholic Church. Do you think the #MeToo movement has become a similar catalyst for victims now? MS: Oh, definitely. The #MeToo movement is in part responsible for the ability to hear this story. This story fell on deaf ears. It fell on deaf ears for a long, long, long, long time. … Now [former Scouts] do have the voice and the platform that they didn't have before. It's like all the victims that came forward against Bill Cosby, all of the victims that have come forward with R. Kelly, or all of the victims that are now coming forward with Jeffrey Epstein. TN: Did the Boy Scouts ever reach out to you individually to investigate your case or to try to make amends with you over what had happened? MS: No, they never reached out. What they did is they reached out to their lawyers. They had like seven, I lost count, seven or eight full time attorneys trying to make me go away. They interviewed people from my past. They pulled employment records, all my employment records. They talked to friends of mine to try to find dirt on me. … No, they never reached out to me. They just added more attorneys. TN: What would you like to see them do now, in response to these new cases, to show they are serious about addressing this problem? MS: There's no rehabbing the Boy Scouts. … I have to believe that Congress, one of their top duties is to protect the children of America because the youth is our future. So what I would like to see Congress do is pull the charter from the Boy Scouts of America. Most people don't know this, it's a congressionally chartered organization. … I would like to see Congress get angry at the fact that for 100 years the Boy Scouts of America have been protecting pedophiles by not reporting it to the police and have been housing pedophiles within their organization and creating thousands of victims and scores more coming forward. TN: As more victims come forward, what do you think is next? MS: All victims who had been victimized by the Boy Scouts of America need to come forward. And there's a website that they can go to. It's www.abusedinscouting.com. Those people need to step forward and get healing. TN: What does healing look like to you? MS: Healing looks like the ability, like with the #MeToo movement, to tell your story. It's giving them a platform in order to share their experience. Because when you can share things, then you can process things. And if you can process things, then you can have maybe somewhat of a normal life. This conversation has been edited for clarity and space. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'There's no rehabbing the Boy Scouts.' Former scout speaks out about latest lawsuit


Toyota's Ott Tanak has taken command of the WRC's inaugural Rally Chile, extending his lead over Citroen's Sebastien Ogier after dominating Friday afternoon's two long stages. Tanak ended the opening day 22.4 seconds clear of second-placed Ogier, as well as 29.5s clear of points leader Thierry Neuville of Hyundai, extending his advantage from 6s at the start of the loop. On the afternoon opening stage   the second El Puma run of the day   Tanak was 11.2s quicker than Ogier and 17.6s quicker than Neuville. Then on SS5   the second Espigado run   Tanak made another advance, extending his lead by a further 5.8s over Ogier and by 7.6s over Neuville. Then on the evening's short 1.4-mile street superspecial stage in Concepcion that closed the day, Tanak ceded a little time, 2.3s to Neuville and 0.7s to Ogier. Neuville slipped to fourth place overall behind Tanak's Toyota teammate Jari-Matti Latvala over the course of the afternoon, the pair ending the day in that order. Third-placed Latvala is 28.8s off Tanak and just 0.7s clear of Neuville. It might have been even better for Latvala as he was on course to be quickest of all on SS5 but stalled at a junction near the end of the stage. Neuville said he was disadvantaged on the long stages by 'cleaning the surface' as first on the road and continued to express annoyance with the notional time given for his red-flagged SS2 run during the morning . Toyota's Kris Meeke ended the day in fifth place overall, 46.5s off Tanak, while Hyundai's Sebastien Loeb was next, leapfrogging M-Sport's Elfyn Evans in the order by setting the second-best time on both of the afternoon loop's long stages. Loeb then topped the superspecial too. Nine-time champion Loeb ended the day 2.2s shy of Meeke and 12.7s ahead of Evans. Andreas Mikkelsen is eighth for Hyundai, 2m08.1s off the pace, having hit a rock on the first stage of the day and he later admitted that he was not driving at 100 percent. He also admitted he nearly rolled on SS5, in a brief two-wheel moment. M-Sport's Teemu Suninen is ninth overall, while Citroen's Esapekka Lappi continued in 10th place, and ended Friday 10.2s off Suninen overall as well as 2m18.3s off the lead.


The Timberwolves are trying to move up the draft board and have discussed a deal with the Pelicans involving the No. 4 pick, tweets Marc Stein of The New York Times. Stein doesn't specify the target of such a move, but Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic presumes it's Vanderbilt's Darius Garland . Jeff Teague is entering the final year of his contract and Derrick Rose is a free agent, so the Wolves may be looking for a fresh option at point guard. New president of basketball operations Gersson Rosas came from a star-chasing atmosphere in Houston and hopes to make a splash before his first draft in Minnesota. "There are really good pieces on our roster. There's a strong core," Rosas said. "But at the same time, you win in this league with high-end players. We're fortunate that we have a high-end player (in Karl-Anthony Towns ). We have the potential for other players on our roster to be high-end players. That's going to be part of our philosophy and part of our development and player wellness. But we are going to be very aggressive in looking at any and all opportunities to add talent to this base." The Wolves would have to pay a high price to move up seven slots, and Pelicans executive David Griffin has said he wants a young veteran with star potential in return. Krawczynski suggests a package including the No. 11 pick and either Josh Okogie or Robert Covington , but acknowledges the Hawks and Celtics could easily beat those offers. "A high-end talent that is available we're always gonna be looking at," Rosas said. "We're always gonna be making calls; whether it's the trade route, high picks in the draft, or even as we prepare for free agency as well."


TEANECK, NJ   The public school district spends more per pupil than most other districts in New Jersey, new information released by the state Department of Education shows. Teaneck ranked No. 48 on a list of how much taxpayers spend to send each child to a public school. Teaneck spends $20,778 per pupil. By comparison, Mahwah ranks at No. 145. It spends $17,872 per pupil. Ramsey ranks No. 154. It spends $17,716. Alpine ranks No. 3 at $30,213 per pupil and Saddle River No. 5 at $29,335. Fairview was the lowest ranked district at No. 643. It spends $10,581 per pupil. The statewide average for school spending per-pupil in 2017-2018 was $15,720, a 5 percent increase over two years. While per-pupil costs are increasing, the disparity in costs between each school district is quite big. Asbury Park pays nearly $60,000 per student in its district, while Edison pays a little more than $12,000. Per-pupil costs include: Transportation, special revenues, pension and benefits paid by the state, facilities (including debt service), equipment, total food services, judgments against the school district and tuition/costs for students sent out of district (except payments to charter schools), according to state officials. For the complete list of New Jersey's 650 school districts and how much they spend per pupil, click here . Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com


Terminally ill Australians can for the first time apply to end their own life, after new laws went into effect in the state of Victoria Wednesday. The country's second most populous region made voluntary euthanasia legal under closely specified circumstances, a first for the country. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews -- who supported the bill after his father's death from cancer in 2016 -- said the laws were about giving patients a "dignified option at the end of their life". "We've taken a compassionate approach," Andrews told commercial broadcaster Channel Nine, adding that he hoped it would bring people the dignity of a "good death." Assisted suicide is illegal in most countries and in Australia until Victoria state introduced laws to legalise the practice in 2017. The scheme will be accessible only to terminally ill adult patients with fewer than six months to live -- or one year left to live for sufferers of conditions such as motor neurone disease and multiple sclerosis. Multiple restrictions will be put in place, including residency requirements and assessments from multiple doctors, meaning around 12 people are expected to use the law this year. Andrews said that up to 150 might use the law each year after that. An independent review board and a coroner will track and monitor all deaths. Other states in Australia have debated assisted dying in the past, but the proposals have always been defeated. But experts said other states will now be watching closely to see how the law is implemented and whether they should follow suit. "Although over forty attempts to change the law in Australia have failed in the past, more recent reform efforts appear to be getting closer to laws changing," Ben White from Queensland University of Technology's Australian Centre for Health Law Research said. "Western Australia, Queensland and South Australia (states) all have inquiries considering change." The law has been criticised for being both too permissive and too stringent. Prominent Australian euthanasia activist Philip Nitschke told Melbourne's The Age that the safeguards were "too strict and onerous" and could result in "challenges to the law pressing to broaden access". The Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne said in a statement that the law was a "new, and deeply troubling chapter of health care in Victoria". "Pope Francis has encouraged ordinary Catholics everywhere to resist euthanasia and to protect the old, the young and the vulnerable from being cast aside in a 'throw-away culture'," the Archbishop of Melbourne Peter Comensoli and three other Victoria bishops said.


Thieves broke into the City Union Mission 's frozen food warehouse Thursday, taking hundreds of dollars' worth of food and ruined food worth thousands of dollars. "About $50,000 worth of frozen food that had to go straight to this dumpster," said Jon Capp, City Union Mission's chief operating officer. The thieves broke three locks to get inside the building near Eighth Street and Highland Avenue. "They stole about $300 to $500 worth of food but ruined (food worth ) many thousands of dollars," Capp said. "So, once this is open, the temperature rises pretty quick. You know, we can't take any chances with food." Now, City Union Mission must restock. "The irony is that we give food away to people who need food so it's difficult to have them damage food or take potential food from other people," Capp said. READ MORE: Thieves ruin $50,000 worth of food at City Union Mission's frozen food warehouse CHECK OUT KMBC: Get the latest Kansas City news, sports and weather from KMBC. With the best local coverage and the top Missouri news stories, you can stay in the know.


Looking to add a new companion to the family? There are dozens of cuddly canines up for adoption at animal shelters in and around Boston, so you won't have to look far to find the perfect fit. Hoodline used data from Petfinder to power this roundup of dogs available for adoption near you. Read on to meet some friendly, furry locals. (Details like pet availability, training, vaccinations and other features are based on data provided by Petfinder and may be subject to change; contact the shelter for the latest information.) Peeka, German shepherd mix Peeka is a female German shepherd mix being kept at Last Hope K9 Rescue . Peeka wants all your attention: She will need a home free of other dogs and cats. She is sweet with small children. She is spayed and vaccinated. She's mastered her house-training etiquette. From Peeka's current caretaker: Peeka is a sweet, affectionate, well behaved and low maintenance girl. She's a classic Shepard: loyal, bonds closely with family & friends, is quick to learn new things and is soulfully attentive. She is medium energy who is very chill and adjusts to your mood. Read more about how to adopt Peeka on Petfinder . Big Pupi Blackie, Labrador retriever mix Big Pupi Blackie is a lovable male Labrador retriever mix currently housed at Last Hope K9 Rescue . Big Pupi Blackie will get along great with other dogs. He has mastered his house-training etiquette. His vaccinations are up to date, and he is neutered. Notes from Big Pupi Blackie's caretakers: Big Pupi is an all-around good boy. He is crate-trained and house-trained, and keeps himself entertained when in the house or out in the yard. He loves playing with other dogs, and shares toys well. Apply to adopt Big Pupi Blackie today at Petfinder . Fiesta, hound mix Fiesta is a female hound mix staying at Last Hope K9 Rescue . Fiesta is the life of the party   she's happy to keep company with other dogs, cats and children. Fiesta is spayed, and she has all her shots. She's already house-trained. Fiesta's current caretakers say: Read more about Fiesta on Petfinder . Bauer, pit bull terrier mix Bauer is a male pit bull terrier mix staying at Last Hope K9 Rescue . Bauer loves other dogs. He is looking for cat-free family. Bauer is looking for a home without small children. Have no fear: He's already house-trained. Bauer is neutered, and he has all his shots. Here's what Bauer's friends at Last Hope K9 Rescue think of him: Bauer is a very sweet golden brindle boy with beautiful inquisitive eyes. He's about one year old, enjoys exploring new places and things, and has a serious case of FOMO. If something is going on, he wants to be involved. He has an abundance of energy and loves playing with toys, other dogs and following around his human companion. Read more about how to adopt Bauer on Petfinder . Patrice, boxer mix Patrice is a female boxer mix being kept at Last Hope K9 Rescue . Patrice will get along great with other dogs. She's already house-trained. She's already vaccinated and spayed. From Patrice's current caretaker: Patrice (who goes by "Attie") is such a special girl! She loves people and other animals. She's very affectionate. She just goes with the flow and enjoys life. After her first heart worm treatment our vet said she stood out as "one of the sweetest dogs... just appreciative". Attie is a pleaser, just wanting to make "her person" happy. Apply to adopt Patrice today at Petfinder . This story was created automatically using local animal shelter data, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


If Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is any sort of barometer for how fans should feel about their team, then an understated optimism, particularly on defense, might be the appropriate tenor. With just a handful of days away from players reporting to training camp, Rodgers expanded on the team's offseason acquisitions and the defense's identity as it matures in its second year with defensive coordinator Mike Pettine. "I like what our GM did, bringing those guys in," Rodgers told Chris Simms of NBC Sports . "We've brought in some really good leadership with Adrian Amos, safety. And we drafted a young kid (Darnell Savage) who's really talented." The shoutout to Savage is particularly noteworthy in that it's his second endorsement from prominent Packers. From his official Instagram account, Davante Adams a month ago wrote "That boy gonna be special" in reference to Darnell Savage. Rodgers, however, didn't just stop with Amos and Savage. In fact, he sounded most excited about Za'Darius Smith and Preston Smith, the outside linebacker additions who, in Rodgers' estimation, should increase the talent and leadership in the locker room. "I think the coolest thing is the two outside linebackers," Rodgers said. "Just watching them kind of fit in, Za'Darius (Smith) and Preston (Smith). And they're hungry. They're young kids. They haven't won anything yet. As an old guy, you love to see that. As much as you love the veterans, it's good to have a new energy." The offseason acquisitions are likely to get most of the headlines, but this is also the second season with Mike Pettine serving as defensive coordinator, the time in which players graduate from rudimentary understanding of the scheme to a more "graduate" level, as Pettine likes to call it. "It's great, you know," Rodgers said. "We're in our second year with Mike Pettine and there's just a different feel. I think Blake (Martinez) is stepping into his role as middle linebacker and owning it." MORE: Tiger Woods grimaced after his opening tee shot and golf fans started panicking Ranking the Packers' position groups from weakest to strongest News: Cowboys' $100 million men underpaid, and more dangerous in 2019 Roundup: Hustlers Trailer, El Chapo Getting Supermax Prison, Dan Patrick on Ben Simmons The top 100 players in the NFL today


If the Los Angeles Rams weren't your favorite football team already, this is probably the best reason to start rooting for them. The team now has a sponsored service dog with what in all likelihood is the best name ever. The dog's name is...and we hope you're sitting down for this... Cooper Pup. Rams have sponsored a service dog. The name is Cooper Pup. pic.twitter.com/hUIGDZq5oP   Gary Klein (@LATimesklein) May 28, 2019 It's perfect! Wide reciever Cooper Kupp, who finished last year with 566 receiving yards and a career-high six touchdown receptions despite missing half of the season due to injury, has to be pleased with this. Kupp is fan favorite for the Rams and it's more than likely that that trend will extend to the dog as well. Whomever the creative genius was that came up with that iconic name deserves plenty of recognition. I would die for Cooper Pup https://t.co/zpHuzjt9XS   Conor O'Carroll (@conorpocarroll) May 28, 2019 The fans are also already pretty supportive of the new service dog. Maybe Cooper Pup could become a kind of secondary mascot for the Rams for 2019. Needless to say, though, the Rams deserve plenty of kudos for sponsoring such a good boy for the upcoming season.


Sports fans are known for taking things far too seriously, but the boorish behavior of unknown Houston Rockets fans after the team's postseason elimination in May without question crosses the line into unacceptable criminal conduct. In a recent piece about the Rockets' offseason plans, The Athletic's Kelly Iko mentions how Clint Capela's vehicle was allegedly vandalized by fans after the Rockets bowed out of the postseason by losing in six games to the Golden State Warriors in the teams' Western Conference semifinal series. The backstory surrounding Capela ahead of the series involves how he expressed an eagerness to face the Warriors. The 25-year-old center failed to rise to the occasion in some respects. Averaging 8.8 points and 10.0 rebounds   below his season statistical output   Capela shot 53.5% from the field and was a negative plus-minus for the series. Evidently irate, embittered and arguably unhinged Rockets fans apparently took their frustration out on Capela by trashing his Range Rover. "But the fans were even harder on him, calling for his head in trade talks and deeming his contract as a waste of money. His Range Rover was vandalized in the days following Game 6, according to two people close to Capela with knowledge of the situation. The windows were broken, the side panels ripped apart and the outside of the vehicle keyed and scratched." Capela, who is indeed the subject of trade talks already this offseason, is in the midst of a five-year, $90 million deal signed in the summer of 2018. While Rockets fans have reason to gripe that his productivity has not matched his salary, to take things so far as to vandalize his vehicle is beyond the pale and reprehensible. Related slideshow: 2019 NBA offseason moves (Provided by imagn)


How does finding $150K sound? Boxes of Pinecones and Toys Finding pinecones in the attic usually signals a big problem with your roof but in the case of Reddit user R12356, it meant something different. When they went about insulating their attic, the contractor discovered an additional portion of the attic that was sealed off. After opening it up, they discovered 15 boxes of pinecones. It's presumed the pinecones were collected for crafting projects, like one of these incredible pinecone craft ideas. In another part of the home, behind a piece of drywall coming off the wall, there laid vintage toys from the '50s. Maybe some of these vintage toys were found in that room. Bible With Some History A new homeowner in Berkshire, United Kingdom discovered a bible from the 18th century in their attic. But that wasn't the only surprise. In the back of the bible, the early owners hand wrote their history. The village church dates back to the 12th century and kept records of people so the homeowners were able to track down the descendants of the bible owners and give them the bible. The bible find is priceless but these attic finds turned into serious cash . Former Funeral Parlor Finds No, there wasn't anything creepy found in a home that was a funeral parlor 100 years ago but the new owners did find an additional room after a pipe broke, according to Reddit user KnittyViki. The homeowners found hundreds of old bottles, odd equipments, chemicals, perfumed salts, stained glass windows from the original building, along with the business books from the funeral parlor. The owners eventually turned over most of the items to an antique shop owner. Got antiques at home? You could be sitting on a wad of cash if you have any of these antiques. Straight Cash Reddit user Grahamtg21 reports that after moving into their new house, they found around $14,000 behind the toilet. Apparently the previous owner did not believe in banks. Finding money behind a toilet is pretty crazy but some of these toilets are beyond insane. Antique Piano It turns out you can almost always find a piano on Craigslist, but finding a $10,000 piano in your new home is a little bit of a different story. Redditor Crispy Apple Pie found an antique piano in their new home, a early 20th century house, that could have fetched around $10,000 if it were in better condition. Instead they were left with a rare piano in their new home. 1934 World Fair Ticket Inside an old cigarette box, a Reddit user discovered a ticket to the 1934 World Fair in Chicago, along with a number of old stamps. Pretty neat to see a keepsake hold up that long. It could be added to a list of 50 tremendous hiding places. A Nuclear Fallout Shelter In 2013, a California couple closing the deal on a new home found an unexpected feature: a nuclear fallout shelter left perfectly intact from the 1960s. The shelter was (and still is) accessible via a 15-foot rusted ladder and included all the necessities from coffee grounds and argyle sweaters to books and sleeping pills, writes the Daily Mail . Hey, you never know what you're going to need in an emergency. Check out these 10 creepy things home inspectors have found in homes. A Diamond Ring Thirteen years ago, one Canadian woman was devastated when she lost her wedding ring while weeding her garden. But in 2015, the ring resurfaced on a carrot. "The carrot had grown straight through the ring, enabling it to be plucked out after many years hiding in the soil," wrote the BBC . Even crazier? This has happened before. "In 2011, a Swedish woman found her wedding ring [on a carrot] 16 years after she lost it," writes the BBC. $10 Million in Gold Coins While walking their dog on their property in the Sierra Nevada, one couple saw a rusty can sticking out of the dirt. Instead of continuing on with their walk, they decided to check it out. Lo and behold, the can was filled with gold coins. They kept digging and found other, similar cans, also filled with gold coins. The bounty totaled more than $10 million. "It was a very surreal moment," said the man in an interview . "It was very hard to believe at first." We bet. An Amusing Marble Collection "I was doing yard work one day and came across a little glass marble. It was cool, so I put it in my pocket," writes one Reddit user. "A little while later, in a different section of the yard, I found another marble. Picked that one up too. Then it got to where I was finding them all over the place in various sections of the front and backyard. I was putting in a new fence in the back and dug down about a foot and then was a freaking marble. They're everywhere. I think I have about 30 of them. I don't know what the deal is with them, but it still amuses me when I find them. This has been going on for about five years." These are the wildest things drive-through workers have seen. Stolen Church Bells In 2013, a man from the Czech Republic was installing new pipes in his backyard when he discovered large church bells that were hundreds of years old. It turns out, the bells had been stolen from a local church nearly 11 years earlier. Authorities guess the thief intended to hide the bells and go back for them, but for whatever reason, never did. A Bundle of "Cursed" Money Not all these backyard treasure-finders are lucky. In 2013, an Illinois man was picking broccoli in his garden when he found $150,000 in a nylon bag. He brought the money to the police, who told him he could keep the cash if no one came forward for it. In time, his neighbor did come forward but she didn't want the money, writes HuffPost . Instead, the woman insisted the loot was "cursed." The man was able to take half of it (the other half went to the woman's daughter). But unfortunately, a week before retrieving his money, the man died. Check out our favorite secret hiding place projects that you can DIY. A Graveyard If you've read enough about New Orleans, you know they have a few interesting ways of dealing with their dead. Which is why one Louisiana man was probably not too surprised when he went to dig a hole for his swimming pool and instead found an 18th-century graveyard. There were a total of 13 caskets of human remains, but the owner wasn't spooked. "It's all part of the New Orleans culture," he told the Daily Mail . "I think they [neighboring residents] might even like it." World War II Bombs How this for an explosive find? In 2017, a California neighborhood was evacuated from their home for 15 hours while the authorities discovered a cache of World War II-era explosives in one family's backyard, writes Fox News . Many of the weapons were duds, but some were active. Officers said the home had previously been owned by a woman and her son who was in the military, but not much else is known about how the explosives got in the yard. A Cannon Ball "When digging a fish pond in my urban backyard, I dug up a cannon ball," wrote one Reddit user . "After researching the area I discovered that my house is on top of a defensive line from the Battle of New Orleans. [This is a] War of 1812 cannon ball." Don't miss these 10 crazy home inspector photos. Top Secret Documents and Explosives A Reddit user reported that they found CIA ID badges, cryptography business cards and other CIA-related materials from inside a broken lock of their home. The find triggered a more thorough search of them home and later the resident found a WWII explosive round under the floorboards. It was as if the home could barely hold a secret. These 31 homes on the other hand tell a different story about hiding secrets. Speakeasy and Other Secrets A Reddit user lived in a home as a kid that once housed a general store, along with a hidden hooch room. The general store was in the basement and the hooch room was located beneath the basement stairs. There was a pulley system set up so that if someone entered the general store, the hooch room couldn't be seen during Prohibition. The poster also found old leather breastplates, helmets and a horse harness in the garage, all of which were used as part of the first volunteer fire department in the area. Later, they also found Civil War-era bayonets, a flag and an old atlas. Check out these 10 incredible hidden rooms to get an idea of how cool a secret hideout can be. Wedding Ring Retrieval When a Reddit user moved into their new home, they received an unusual request from the real estate agent. The previous owner had misplaced a wedding ring. A search turned up nothing but a few years later after cleaning the top of the kitchen cabinets, the ring appeared. The new owners tracked down the previous owners and returned the ring. If you ever loose a wedding ring down the drain, fret not and make sure you check this place before calling a plumber . Revolver in a Closet It's strange enough to find a gun in your new home like one Reddit user wrote but even stranger is finding out the gun's history. The Reddit user who found the gun turned it over to the police, who ran the serial number. Police said the gun was stolen in a home burglary in 1973. The Reddit user discovered the gun in 1998. That's a little shocking but it's nothing like these 200 shocking things found in people's homes. Doll Heads Finding a lone doll in an attic will send anyone's hair on end but finding an attic full of doll heads is downright spooky. But that's what one Reddit user found in their new home. They opted to leave them there, following the old adage of letting sleeping dogs lie. The house likely wasn't haunted but these 20 houses are said to be. Voodoo Doll Dilemma When a Reddit user attempted to investigate a smell coming from their attic they got more than they bargained for. As they climbed the ladder to the attic they were greeted by a 6 or 7-foot stuffed doll. They called it the biggest voodoo doll ever and tried moving it around. But the stuffing made it too heavy to move and it was covered in dust. Bombshell Waiting to Drop A Reddit user got a bombshell of a shock when they found an unexploded WWII parachute bomb. They called in the bomb squad, who collected it and detonated it on a range later. Make sure you're aware of the things in your home that could explode. Soldier's Pocket Bible A Reddit user long ago discovered a gold-leafed Bible believed to have belonged to a soldier from around 1864. The poster found the Bible back in 1976 on a beam on an open wall of a garage as a kid and has kept the Bible since then. The Bible has an inscription from the soldier's sister. Imagine the splendor and historic items you might find in any of the royal residences . Weeding for Wedding Bands A Redditor went about work in their garden when they discovered a gold wedding band while using a rotary hoe. The homeowner contacted the real estate agent about the find and learned an incredible story. The ring belonged to the previous owner's late husband, who had died five years earlier. It turned out that he'd lost the ring on the first day they moved into the house 45 years ago. If you ever lose something small around the house, try this incredible hack to retrieve it. Weapons Cache You never know what you'll find in an old house and you can imagine the surprise of finding more than 100 weapons and thousands of rounds of ammo inside walls, cupboards and behind boards that a Redditor's relative experienced when they moved into a late 19th century or early 18th century home. First Edition Frankenstein When a Redditor's sibling purchased the home of a childhood neighbor and began some rehab work, they soon discovered a first edition copy of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein , autographed by the author. They had the book appraised by an antique book dealer who authenticated it. The neighbors traveled extensively and it's believed they picked up the book on a trip to Europe. When they returned, they hid the book instead of locking it up in a safe deposit box at a bank. The previous owners grew up during the Depression and likely didn't trust banks. Keep your home safe with these security tips. Celebrity Commode A Reddit poster reported that a former tenant of one of their properties worked as a plumber and one of his jobs was replacing the toilet of Van Morrison. The plumber kept the old toilet and left it in his dwelling when he moved. Some of these toilet lids are as flamboyant as some celebrities. Bazooka Wood Crates and Parking Lot Dividers A Reddit user who moved into home formerly owned by a NASA engineer from the 1960s found a couple of interesting items used for different purposes. Old Bazooka ammo wood crates were used as hardware shelving in the garage and old concrete pieces that framed his bushes in the front yard were actually old NASA parking lot dividers. There's no doubt we like to repurpose items like these 80 things terrific for repurposing but grabbing items from your employer isn't advised. Great Googly Moogly This find didn't come inside a house but instead a purchase of a piece of furniture. A Reddit user bought a bedroom furniture set and when they started filling the drawers of the table with items, they noticed a heck of a lot of eyes staring back at her. Not only were the eyes staring but they weren't moving. The bottom of the drawer was lined with googly eyes glued on the wood. Rock-Solid Walls A Reddit user posted a story about a family friend who bought a house in Germany. The house appeared fine until he tried to drill holes in the wall. Each time he tried drilling his drill bits got destroyed. Later he used an industrial drill and bits to drill holes but then he decided to knock out one of the walls to build a larger living room and office. As he removed the plaster, the name "Maria" appeared. After continuing to peel the plaster he figured out the name appeared on a gravestone. He guessed that the entire house was made of gravestones scavenged after the war. Walled-Off Leftovers Some unusual things often get revealed behind walls in homes but this one is beyond bizarre. A homeowner on Reddit revealed that when they had their plumbing redone, plumbers found a half-eaten hot dog in one of the bedroom walls. Perhaps the hot dog wasn't cooked to the desired temperature of the consumer. Add these 15 must-have grilling tools so you don't wind up with unhappy eaters and half-eaten hot dogs in your walls. Sleeping Tigers It's hard to believe that someone would leave behind taxidermied animals but one Reddit user posted that they found four, life-sized taxidermied tigers on the top floor of their place. If you've got taxidermy pieces in your home, make sure you've got these tips in mind. Trash-Talking Civil War Soldiers New homeowners in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia got a surprise of historical significance when they started removing old wallpaper in their house. Behind the wallpaper were messages from Confederate soldiers and Union soldiers. The first line read, "Rebels, if you can hear, we will whip you for sure." The Confederates responded with: "If you do, it will be the first time, you impotent scoundrels," which was signed, "A Rebel who has given you a many sound thrashings." The Union soldiers came back with: "You are cowards, nothing but a thief, the robbers of millions of women and children, you good for nothing skunk." The homeowners have left the graffiti as is, just placing plexiglass over it to preserve it.


WELLINGTON (Reuters) - Air New Zealand said on Monday it was ending a longstanding ban on staff having visible tattoos after facing criticism that the policy discriminated against Māori employees. Some New Zealanders with indigenous Māori heritage wear tattoos on their face or arms that represent their genealogy and are culturally sacred. But uniform rules at the national carrier restrict them from applying for roles such as flight attendant. Many culture and rights advocates said the policy was discriminatory and noted that Air New Zealand draws on the Māori language in its marketing campaigns and uses a fern-like symbol known as a 'koru' in its logo and on the tail of its planes. Air New Zealand chief executive Christopher Luxon said the policy was being dropped and non-offensive tattoos would be allowed. "In conversations we've had with customers and our own people domestically and overseas in the past five months, it's clear that there is growing acceptance of tattoos in New Zealand, particularly as a means of cultural and individual expression," Luxon said in an emailed statement. Tania Te Whenua, head of Te Whenua Law and Consulting which provides Māori cultural advice to organizations, said New Zealand companies, particularly those that profit from using Māori culture in international marketing campaigns, should respect the cultural rights of their staff. "That's a shortcoming of the embracing of Māori culture and other cultures by organizations only so far as it's profit-making ... that makes it particularly egregious for Māori," she told Reuters. The tattoos, known as 'Tā Moko' are a deeply sacred expression of cultural identity, Te Whenua added. "When there are policies which seek to extinguish the visual representation of that practice it's quite hard-hitting," she said. (Reporting by Charlotte Greenfield; editing by Darren Schuettler)


Curious just how far your dollar goes in Stockton? We've rounded up the latest places for rent via rental sites Zumper and Apartment Guide to get a sense of what to expect when it comes to finding affordable apartments in Stockton if you've got up to $1,900/month earmarked for your rent. Take a look at the listings, below. (Note: Prices and availability are subject to change.) 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. 1827 Hammertown Drive (Weber Ranch) Listed at $1,850/month, this 2,076-square-foot three-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bathroom abode is located at 1827 Hammertown Drive. The residence offers a dishwasher, in-unit laundry and central heating. The building offers garage parking and secured entry. Animals are not allowed. The listing specifies a $2775 security deposit. (See the complete listing here .) 4030 E. Morada Lane (La Morada) Next, there's this two-bedroom, two-bathroom residence located at 4030 E. Morada Lane. It's listed for $1,880/month for its 1,054 square feet. Building amenities include a swimming pool and assigned parking. In the residence, expect to find a fireplace and a walk-in closet. For those with furry friends in tow, this property is pet-friendly. The rental doesn't require a leasing fee. (Check out the complete listing here .) 10604 Siskiyou Lane (Spanos Park East) Here's a 1,377-square-foot three-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bathroom unit at 10604 Siskiyou Lane that's going for $1,895/month. In the unit, expect to find central heating and air conditioning and carpeted floors. When it comes to building amenities, anticipate garage parking and outdoor space. Pets are not permitted. There isn't a leasing fee associated with this rental. (See the full listing here .) This story was created automatically using local real estate data from Zumper and Apartment Guide , then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


Raptors forward Pascal Siakam earned the league's Most Improved Player award. The announcement was made at the annual NBA awards show on Monday. Nets guard D'Angelo Russell and Kings guard De'Aaron Fox were the other finalists. Siakam emerged as a major component for Toronto in his third season, as he averaged 16.9 PPG, 6.9 RPG and 3.1 APG for the champions. He posted averages of 7.3/4.5/2.0 in the same categories while mainly coming off the bench in 2017/18. He also became a 3-point threat, connecting on 36.9% of his long-range tries compared to 22% in his second NBA season. Siakam was also Hoops Rumors' choice for the award.


The Los Angeles Kings announced they have signed defenseman Tobias Bjornfot to a three-year, entry-level contract. He was one of the Kings' two first-round picks in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, acquired in the Jake Muzzin trade from the Toronto Maple Leafs. Bjornfot was selected with the 22nd pick in the draft behind center Alex Turcotte (fifth overall). The Swedish blueliner spent the year with Djurgardens J20 of the SuperElit league in Sweden where he played 39 games, scoring 11 goals and 22 points. He also debuted in the SHL as he made seven appearances there, going scoreless. Bjornfot also helped Sweden to a bronze medal at the U18 World Junior Championships. The 18-year-old is considered to be an excellent skater with a great two-way game, who has the ability to run a power play and has a heavy slapshot, but prefers a slapshot that he uses most often in games. While he isn't overly tall at 6-foot, he does have some bulk as he already weighs in at 205 pounds and is capable of taking hits.


NFL players who participated in a 40-yard dash tournament last weekend are still waiting to get paid. Vikings receiver Jeff Badet 's agent, Will Sarubbi, told Sports Business Daily that Badet still hasn't received the $25,000 he was promised. "The contract was explicitly clear," Sarubbi said. "Jeff was an independent contractor who was promised $25,000 upon arrival, before the event on June 29. That has not been paid as of 5 p.m. today. It does not look likely it will be, based on the correspondence we have had." Players were given checks on the night of the event but were told not to cash them until today. Sean Lindsey, a lawyer representing one of the players, told Sports Business Daily that the players were later told not to cash the checks and instead to provide bank account numbers to receive payment in the form of wire transfers. But that didn't happen either. "As to whether the money's there or not, I don't know," Lindsey said. "I hope it is. The one thing I despise the most in this industry is individuals trying to take advantage of professional athletes. I don't know if that's what's going on here. I hope not. But these guys need to get paid." 40 Yards of Gold co-Founder Charles Stewart said "Every participant will be paid" but did not say when, or explain why they haven't been paid yet. 49ers wide receiver Marquise Goodwin won the event and was supposed to receive $1 million.


The next recession, whenever it arrives, could be deepened by corporate America's debt-riddled balance sheet. Encouraged by insanely low interest rates, U.S. businesses have taken on record amounts of debt that funded hiring, acquisitions and generous rewards to shareholders . That borrowing doesn't seem to matter much now because the economy is strong , and companies are minting more than enough money to pay down debt. But the next recession will expose corporate America's debt problem, revealing that many businesses binged on too much debt. Those companies will need to rapidly deleverage by slashing jobs, shutting facilities and selling assets. Some will even go out of business. "The problem with high debt is it limits corporate America's ability to maintain spending in a growth shock," said Troy Gayeski, co-chief investment officer at SkyBridge Capital. That may make the next recession worse than it otherwise would be. "A highly leveraged business sector could amplify any economic downturn as companies are forced to lay off workers and cut back on investments," Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell warned in a speech on Monday night. Those laid-off workers would then cut their own spending, creating a cascading effect through the rest of the economy. And investors that enabled the business borrowing will retrench, making it harder for other companies to get financing. "The pain that investors are going to feel will be quite enormous," said Gayeski. Debt levels should give everyone 'pause' By some measures, corporate America has never borrowed as much as today. The ratio of nonfinancial corporate debt to GDP is the highest since records began in 1947, according to the Office of Financial Research , a Treasury Department bureau created after the 2008 financial crisis. Of course, the rise in business debt makes a lot of sense given how cheap it is to borrow. By keeping interest rates near zero for many years, the Fed was encouraging borrowing as a way to stimulate growth. "To be fair to corporate America, when the Fed is handing out free money, you probably want to take advantage of it," Gayeski said. But now the Fed is urging companies to exercise caution. "Business debt has clearly reached a level that should give businesses and investors reason to pause and reflect," Powell said. With the stock market near record highs and U.S. GDP growth accelerating during the first quarter to 3.2%, many companies are unlikely to heed that warning just yet. Record corporate profits, juiced in part by business tax cuts, give corporate America more than enough firepower to pay down debt. Just 1.7% of high-yield bonds defaulted during the past year, according to Fitch Ratings. Kraft Heinz, Tesla and GE However, there are some cracks emerging. Nearly $10 billion of high yield bonds have already defaulted during the second quarter, according to Fitch. That doubles the total amount of defaults from the first quarter and led Fitch to increase its default forecast for 2019. And some major companies have come under fire for their excessive borrowing. Kraft Heinz, which is sitting on nearly $30 billion of long-term debt, has seen its stock price plunge 26% so far this year due to its deteriorating business . The Warren Buffett-backed food giant is racing to fix its bloated balance sheet by slashing its dividend and selling off brands. Debt is a key ingredient in the problems facing Tesla as well. Shares of Tesla have plummeted nearly 40% this year as investors fear rising competition and trouble in China will spark a cash crunch at Elon Musk's electric car maker. General Electric's own debt woes have forced the iconic conglomerate to slash its dividend to a penny , cut jobs and dismantle its empire. The next subprime? Probably not SkyBridge Capital is betting against corporate debt, as a hedge against the next recession. The firm's biggest short positions are linked to junk bonds. "Whatever the cause may be, the acute point of pain will be in corporate credit," said SkyBridge's Gayeski, predicting "explosive upside" for the bets in a recession. The good news is that, unlike the subprime crisis, this business debt is unlikely to be the cause of the next meltdown. "The parallels to the mortgage boom that led to the Global Financial Crisis are not fully convincing," Powell said. He noted that the increases in business borrowing are not "outsized" and haven't been fueled by a "dramatic asset bubble." Powell also pointed out that the financial system today "appears strong enough to handle" business-sector losses. Banks have been forced to bulk up on capital to prevent a repeat of 2008. And there are signs that growth in business debt has moderated over the past year. That's likely a reflection of rising concern about how much longer the economic expansion can last. Investors have pressured companies to clean up their balance sheets   even in the notoriously undisciplined oil industry. Still, Powell warned corporate America against taking on even more leverage. "Another sharp increase in debt, unless supported by strong fundamentals, could increase vulnerabilities appreciably," he said.


Julio Jones is expected to sign a revised contract soon that should make him the highest-paid receiver in the NFL. Here are eight reasons why he deserves it. 1. He is underpaid Since the last time Jones signed an extension, the market at wide receiver has been reset several times. Heading into the 2019 season, Jones ranks just 12th in average yearly salary at his position . Jones deserves a significant raise because there are not 11 better wide receivers than him. For that matter, there are not 10, there are not nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two or one. When you're the very best in the entire world at your job, you demand top dollar. Odell Beckham's new deal with the Browns pays him $18 million per year. Jones will get at least that much, possibly as much as $20 million per year - and he will be worth every penny. 2. Jones is still peaking Antonio Brown can have his gaudy usage numbers. Beckham can have his Met Galas. DeAndre Hopkins can have his 99 overall Madden rating. Nuk is close, but we all know Jones is playing the position at another level and he doesn't look close to slowing down. Even though Jones has been in the league since 2011 and has played 119 games between the regular season and the playoffs, he's still every bit as dynamic as he was when he first came into the NFL. Jones led the league in receiving yards last year and has led it in yards per route run four years in a row . 3. Julio is as clutch as they come The excellence Jones displays on the field isn't just any ordinary excellence, either. Much like some of the greatest competitors who have ever lived (Tom Brady and Michael Jordan come to mind), Jones saves his best work for the big stage. Last year, Jones got the highest WR grade from PFF in the fourth quarter of one-score games, earning him the title of the most-clutch receiver in the NFL. Julio pushes himself even higher in the playoffs. In eight career postseason games, Jones has averaged 7.6 catches, 104 receiving yards and .75 touchdowns with a 75.3 percent catch rate. 4. Among elite WRs, Jones is the best pure football player Hopkins, Brown and OBJ all have their own special attributes. Hopkins is great at making contested catches, Brown is a brilliant route runner and Beckham's athleticism is otherworldly. Julio is the best pure football player among them, though. Last season, Jones broke up a pass that would have otherwise easily been picked off by Cowboys safety Jeff Heath. On a dime, Jones converted to safety and attacked Heath's catch point in mid-air. The play he made on the ball could have made Earl Thomas proud and it's the kind of play only Jones is going to make. 5. Jones plays his position better than anyone on offense Not only does Jones play wide receiver better than any other wide receiver in the sport, one can argue Jones excels at his position better than any other offensive player. Yes, that means Jones plays wide receiver better than Aaron Rodgers plays quarterback. He plays wide receiver better than Tyron Smith plays left tackle. He plays wide receiver better than Saquon Barkley plays running back. If we open it up to defense, only defensive tackle Aaron Donald and outside linebacker Khalil Mack arguably play their own positions as well or better than Jones plays his. 6. Jones' best football may still be ahead of him In February, Jones turned 30 years old. That's a significant number because it's usually the age when most NFL players begin to decline - if they haven't already started. That's not the case for Jones, who looks like one of the rare exceptions to the rule. It's unlikely anyone is going to play as long as Jerry Rice, but Julio's conditioning, size and athleticism should enable him to perform at a high level for at least another five years, barring a major injury. As of yet, Jones hasn't eclipsed 2,000 yards or scored more than 10 touchdowns in a single season. Given the opportunity, Jones' best work may still be yet to come. 7. Paying him sends the right message In addition to being an awesome athlete, competitor and football player in general, Jones is also a remarkable teammate who represents the best of what the Falcons look for in their players. He's never gotten into any remote level of trouble off the field, he never embarrasses the organization and he routinely sacrifices himself for the good of the team. Paying Jones sends the right message for future Falcons: Do things right and play well and you'll be rewarded. 8. The Falcons will help themselves Sometimes doing the right thing is also the financially prudent thing to do, as well. By extending Jones, the Falcons can backload his cap hits and create more space for the 2019 season. That will be especially critical if they fail to reach an agreement with defensive tackle Grady Jarrett by Monday's 4 p.m. ET franchise tag deadline. Jones' current deal will cost the team a $13.466 million cap hit this year. By extending his contract, Atlanta can save $6.936 million this year, according to Over the Cap . MORE: Michael Bisping's cageside reaction to Urijah Faber's stunning KO was too good Trysten Hill may be crowning point on Cowboys star-studded defense 'Madden NFL 20' ratings for Eagles players released Three Potential Landing Spots for Chris Paul Pelicans News: Lonzo Ball says he's never seen an athlete like Zion Williamson


It's the grandaddy of modern music festivals and it's still going strong. Book your trip to Chicago from Aug. 1-4 for this year's Lollapalooza . Headline acts include The Strokes, Childish Gambino and Ariana Grande, but more than 170 acts from all over the world will play the festival's eight stages. Offstage, look for plenty of food and drinks, merch and kid-friendly offerings, along with space for visual arts. The festival plays out in Grant Park, nestled in the Windy City's Loop overlooking Lake Michigan and convenient to the city's vast cultural and culinary offerings. Whether you're ready to book your trip now or just curious about the options, take a look at these forthcoming flights between Washington and Chicago, which we pulled from travel site Skyscanner . We've also included popular hotels, restaurants and attractions in Chicago to highlight the city's best for visitors headed there soon. (Prices and availability are current as of publication and subject to change.) Hoodline offers data-driven analysis of local happenings and trends across cities. Links included in the articles may earn Hoodline a commission on clicks and transactions. Flight deals to Chicago Currently, the cheapest flights between Washington and Chicago are if you leave on Aug. 1 and return from Illinois on Aug. 7. Spirit Airlines currently has round-trip tickets for $173. If you fly out of Washington on Aug. 1 and return from Chicago on Aug. 6, Spirit Airlines currently has $174 round-trip tickets. Top Chicago accommodations To plan your stay, here are some of Chicago's top-rated hotels, which we selected from Skyscanner's listings based on price and customer satisfaction. The Palmer House, a Hilton Hotel (17 E. Monroe St.) If you're looking for an inexpensive place to stay, consider The Palmer House, a Hilton Hotel . The hotel has a 4.5-star rating on Skyscanner, and rooms are currently available for $92. The hotel is a lively destination within walking distance of the best attractions the city of Chicago has to offer, like Millennium Park, Grant Park, Lake Michigan, the Art Institute of Chicago, the theater district and the Magnificent Mile. The James Chicago (55 E. Ontario St.) There's also the 4.9-star rated The James Chicago , which has rooms for $116/night. The 297-room luxury boutique hotel, which received recognition on Travel + Leisure magazine's World's Best Awards, is close to the Magnificent Mile, Millennium Park and museums. The Drake, a Hilton Hotel (140 E. Walton Place) A third option is The Drake, a Hilton Hotel . With a 4.5-star rating on Skyscanner, this hotel is one of the most luxurious in the city. Rooms are currently listed for $109/night. Nearby attractions include Navy Pier, Oakton Street Beach and Millennium Park. Featured Chicago restaurants If you're looking to snag a bite at one of Chicago's many quality eateries, here are a few popular culinary destinations from Skyscanner's listings that will help keep you satiated. Giordano's (730 N. Rush St.) If you're looking for a local favorite, head to Giordano's , which has a current average of 4.3 stars out of 113 reviews on Skyscanner. Visitor Ulani wrote, "Minestrone soup was chock-full of veggies and tasty. Pizza, as always, was crisp on the crust and ooeey-gooey inside." The Signature Room at the 95th (875 N. Michigan Ave.) Another popular dining destination is The Signature Room at the 95th , with 4.5 stars from 65 reviews. The Signature Room at the 95th, atop the John Hancock Center, offers diners a 360-degree skyline view, with floor-to-ceiling windows. There's a lunch buffet Monday through Saturday and dinner nightly with seafood, steaks and chops. "I love this place for the food and the awesome views of Chicago," wrote reviewer geminitraveller. "The classy and cozy ambience is perfect for a romantic date." The Purple Pig (500 N. Michigan Ave.) Also worth considering is The Purple Pig . A collaboration among four top chefs, The Purple Pig specializes in "cheese, swine and wine." "This place is perfect for brunch," wrote Maggie. "Every dish was delicious!" Ema (74 W. Illinois St.) Finally, there's Ema . If you're into dipping and snacking, Ema is the place for you, because the menu is concentrated on spreads, dips and snacks with a Mediterranean/Californian flair. Spicy hummus or an avocado and green pea spread are highlights, or try pan-roasted romanesco cauliflower with yogurt and honey. Reviewer Julie wrote, "I suggest their roasted potatoes and rosemary, beef kebab and the shredded romaine lettuce salad. We finished the meal with fresh hot tea." What to see and do in Chicago Chicago is also full of sites to visit and explore. Here are some popular attractions to round out your trip, again from Skyscanner's listings. Millennium Park (201 E. Randolph St.) First up is Millennium Park . It is the most famous section of Grant Park, and is home to most of the park's highlight attractions, namely the Cloud Gate sculpture, nicknamed The Bean. The park is one of the largest green roofs in the world, as it was built on top of parking garages and a railroad yard. "Love, love, love Millennium Park in all seasons," wrote visitor Marcia. "My child enjoys going there for movies, dancing events, really every reason a child could have a blast." The Art Institute of Chicago (111 S. Michigan Ave.) Next, there's The Art Institute of Chicago , an art museum in Chicago's Grant Park. It is most famous for its Impressionist and Post-Impressionist collections. Some of the more notable works include Monet's "Haystacks," Toulouse-Lautrec's "Moulin Rouge" and Edward Hopper's "Nighthawks." Visitor Ulani wrote, "Kids can take part in free workshops, draw, build, read, create a unique journey map for a self-guided museum tour. Tweens and older may enjoy the lounge where you can leave questions for the museum or pick a conversation starter to engage with your group." Willis Tower (233 S. Wacker Drive) Finally, spend some time at Willis Tower . The skyscraper, formerly known as the Sears Tower (a name which is still commonly used), is actually nine square buildings bundled together; an engineering strategy to help the 110-story structure resist Chicago's infamously high winds. When its construction was finished in 1974, it was the world's tallest building at 1,451 feet. Visitor Yvonne wrote, "We waited in line to step out onto the glass floor, which was pretty cool. Great views of the city and on a clear day you can see out across Lake Michigan." This story was created automatically using flight, hotel, and local attractions data, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


During Sunday's game between the Washington Wizards and the Sacramento Kings, Paul Pierce made an adorable little girl cry. Prior to the first half ending, Omri Casspi was preparing to attack the rim, when, Paul Pierce decided to shove him towards the baseline.


Oakland In search of a new favorite kickboxing spot? Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top kickboxing spots around Oakland, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of the best spots to venture next time you're in the market for kickboxing. 1. Young's Martial Arts Topping the list is Young's Martial Arts . Located at 5705 Telegraph Ave. (between 57th and Racine streets) in Fairview Park, the karate, kickboxing and Brazilian jiu-jitsu spot is the highest-rated kickboxing spot in Oakland, boasting 4.5 stars out of 28 reviews on Yelp. 2. Norcal KBX Next up is Norcal KBX , situated at 1922 Webster St. (between 19th and 20th streets). With five stars out of 13 reviews on Yelp, the kickboxing and personal training spot has proven to be a local favorite. 3. Oakland Karate & Kickboxing Golden Gate's Oakland Karate & Kickboxing , located at 1177 65th St. (between San Pablo Avenue), is another top choice, with Yelpers giving the kickboxing spot 4.5 stars out of 10 reviews. 4. 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu Oakland 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu Oakland , Brazilian jiu-jitsu, kickboxing and self-defense class spot in Chinatown, is another much-loved go-to, with five stars out of 29 Yelp reviews. Head over to 301 Eighth St. (between Webster and Harrison streets) to see for yourself. Better dentistry does exist Not all dentists in San Francisco provide you with the same experience, which is why we make your life easier by rewarding you with a $50 gift card for visiting one of the top rated dentists in your area on Opencare. Don't believe us? Opencare is also proud to offer a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee™, so if your new dentist doesn't live up to the hype, we'll also reimburse you up to $100 to cover your appointment costs! Click here to book an appointment and claim your $50 reward → 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.


Liverpool are looking to steal a march in the race for Sporting CP star Bruno Fernandes, and reports from Portugal suggest that they have submitted a £40m offer to try beat Manchester City and Manchester United to his signature. The Portugal international has dominated headlines for months, with every top side across Europe thought to be keen on a summer deal. City and United have been touted as likely destinations, although Liverpool have established themselves as an option in recent weeks. The latest update on this situation comes from Correio da Manha , who state that Liverpool are the first - and only - side to lodge a bid with Sporting, thought to be around the £40m mark. Sporting are thought to be keen to sell Fernandes, but only if they receive a high enough offer, and they have contacted numerous Premier League sides, such as City and United , to try and spark a bidding war for the 24-year-old. There is no suggestion as to whether Liverpool's offer would be accepted, but previous reports have stated that a fee of around £50m would be enough to convince Sporting to part ways with their star midfielder. Bruno Fernandes was one of only two players to register double figures for goals and assists in Liga NOS this term and with a WhoScored rating of 7.83, the @Sporting_CP midfielder is our player of the season  For more player stats -- https://t.co/h663fJACk0 pic.twitter.com/XStYHHf8OV   WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) May 20, 2019 He recently fuelled talk of a move to Anfield by speaking of his admiration for Liverpool, insisting that the Reds' play style would suit him better than that of Pep Guardiola's City. The Citizens are still expected to involve themselves in proceedings, as are United, but Jurgen Klopp is eager to finalise a deal as soon as possible, in the hope of avoiding going head-to-head with his Premier League rivals. Last season, Fernandes racked up 32 goals and 18 assists in 53 appearances, establishing himself as one of Europe's most exciting midfielders. It is a position which Klopp has looked to strengthen in the past, and it appears he is determined to add some creativity in the heart of midfield.


Josh Jones might have returned to Green Bay for mandatory minicamp this week, but there are more than enough signs to suggest a breakup is coming between the disgruntled defensive back and the Packers. Jones skipped voluntary OTAs, reportedly in an effort to leverage his way out of Green Bay via trade or release, which never happened. Despite reporting for minicamp, Jones didn't practice Tuesday or Wednesday while dealing with what's being described as a hamstring issue. He apparently suffered the injury while working out with his trainer in Florida. His return this week did nothing to help clear up his future with the Packers. If anything, it made a future move look more likely. GM Brian Gutekunst called Jones a "very talented player" but left the door wide open for an eventual trade or release, emphasizing that he'll put the team's desires over the player's. "Right now we're working through that," Gutekunst said, suggesting a trade is still very much on the table. Jones spoke to reporters after practice Tuesday and was nothing if not defensive about the entire situation, defending his decision to skip OTAs as the byproduct of wanting to spend more time with his family and work out with his own trainer. If Jones was happy to be back in Green Bay, he did a terrific job of hiding it. The threat of escalating fines ensured Jones would be present for minicamp, but he stood on the sidelines in sneakers and did nothing football-related either day of camp. Either he's really hurt, or the Packers had no interest in him being on the practice field. Jones committed to reporting to the start of training camp, which opens late next month, but it's going to be obvious fairly quickly if the situation is tenable or not. Coaches and players will know if Jones wants to be there or feels wanted there, and Gutekunst - who has preached over and over about the value of chemistry and cohesiveness inside the locker room - probably wouldn't wait long to act if there's any sign of trouble during camp. Jones already publicly complained about his playing time last season. It's hard to envision Jones, now locked in as a backup at safety, being a happy camper come late July. Neither Jones nor the Packers sounded 100 percent committed to sticking together, even if Pettine and coach Matt LaFleur both voiced appreciation for Jones' versatility and talent. Then again, Jones shot down the idea that he's a linebacker, a position he's played at times during his first two seasons. And it's tough to see a path to a starting job at safety, where Adrian Amos and Darnell Savage has been the starters since Day 1 of OTAs. There's no reason for the Packers to make a decision on Jones now, when league-wide interest is likely low and the player has zero leverage. The first half of the equation could change once teams start to get a feel for their rosters in training camp. It's possible Jones could come to camp and prove his worth as a backup safety and subpackage contributor, but minicamp provided a glimpse at what appears to be the start of a summer breakup between player and team. MORE: Most bizarre and incredible catches by fishermen in past decade NBA trade rumor rankings: Rockets on the move? Aaron Rodgers raves about Packers WR Jake Kumerow: 'I'm a big fan of him' A Party Like It's 1969: The Remarkable Resilience of Live Sports on Broadcast TV Colts' Rock Ya-Sin starting to get the hang of life in NFL


Analytics has exploded in recent years, and it has changed the way athletes and managers look at sports. Growth is projected to continue as teams rely more on statistics to enhance their chances of winning. Stacker scoured multiple resources, including MIT Sloan, Forbes, and NFL to show 15 ways analytics has altered the sports landscape. 15 ways analytics has changed sports Analytics has become a major part of the modern sports landscape; whether in emphasizing commonly held beliefs like the importance of sleep in athlete performance or promoting counterintuitive ideas like the benefits of ceding control, analytics provides valuable insight into sports. Bill James is widely credited as the founder of advanced statistics in baseball, and his sabermetrics concept started gaining more attention with the release of the movie "Moneyball" in 2011. Since then, a number of small-market teams have employed some form of James' original strategy, which emphasizes on-base percentage above all else. The NBA's use of analytics has produced a complete change in the way basketball is played, rendering the mid-range jump shot almost obsolete in favor of the 3-point shot. Players sitting out games has become commonplace, but the expected results of reducing injury and increasing performance come playoff time aren't necessarily proven. Football is also becoming increasingly reliant on sports analytics, with the NFL doing everything from evaluating talent to tracking players' energy levels during games through data analytics, a method that was overlooked by many just a few years ago. Viewers of the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, saw firsthand how analytics helped produce a sweeping change in curling after the Swedish women's team captured gold using a system that requires teams to give up control of the hammer in the final end. However, Formula One may use more statistical analysis than any other sport, with teams compiling around three terabytes of data during any given race. The field of sports analytics field is expected to grow to $4.5 billion in revenue by 2024 at an astounding compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 43.5%, according to ResearchandMarkets.com. With that in mind, Stacker scoured multiple resources including MIT Sloan, Forbes, and NFL to show how analytics has altered the sports landscape. Read on to discover 15 ways analytics has changed sports. You may also like: Famous baseball players from every state NBA: Rise of 3-pointers The use of the 3-point shot has risen dramatically in recent years, with NBA teams attempting 32 shots from behind the arc per game during the 2018-19 season, up from 29 the previous season. The 3-point shot has essentially supplanted the mid-range jump shot due to statistical analysis, which reveals a team has better odds of winning by shooting more 3-pointers and fewer 2-pointers. The NBA has seen less defined roles for players, with centers and power forwards shooting from beyond the arc, something almost unfathomable 20 years earlier. Attitude toward the trend has been mixed, with some coaches such as San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich going on the record to say it takes a lot of the strategy and excitement out of the game. NBA: Stars resting for more games NBA teams are resting players more often than ever before. However, the expected result of fresher players and fewer injuries come playoff time is unclear. The Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine found no correlation between increased regular-season rest and playoff performance or injury risk. Despite the study results, the trend continues. It has led the league to reduce the number of back-to-back games over the course of the season, and teams are fined for resting players too often or for nationally televised games. The San Antonio Spurs started the trend in 2012 when the team rested three all-stars for a road game on national television in November, with center Tim Duncan being listed as  DNP-Old  in the box score. Curling: Sweden wins women's gold medal Analytics in curling has been slowly adopted by teams due to the counterintuitive nature of the statistics: Giving up control of the final shot is actually better. Gerry Geurts and Kevin Palmer are both considered the foremost authorities on curling analytics. They currently advise 20 teams, including the gold-medal winning Swedish women's team and the United States' men's gold medal winners from the 2018 Olympic Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea. Sweden's victory was solidified in the fourth and fifth ends, stealing a point in each despite not having the final throw. Before turning to analytics in 2016, the Swedish women's curling team, led by Anna Hasselborg, were ranked 22nd in the world. All sports: Importance of sleep Sleep has been referred to many times as the greatest legal advantage in sports, leading teams and institutes to analyze and monitor their players' patterns. Studies show a strong correlation between sleep and injury reduction as well as increased performance. A spokesperson for Whoop, a fitness analytics company, said that getting less than six hours of sleep correlates with a 30% reduction in time to physical exhaustion. MLB: Moneyball The unlikely run to the 2002 MLB playoffs by the Oakland A's inspired a movie starring Brad Pitt and a revolution in the construction of teams. Using statistical analysis, general manager Billy Beane constructed a low-cost roster centered around on-base percentage and slugging percentage as the driving factors, first introduced by Bill James in 1977. That statistic, OPS (on-base plus slugging) has become a common statistic and has led to the emergence of other sabermetric variables. Though some question its effectiveness, many teams employ similar analyses to their front offices today. MLB: Batters taking more pitches Analytics suggests that expected on-base percentage rises slightly with each potential pitch a batter sees from an opposing pitcher. This has led to an 11-pitch per game increase over the last 20 years, as well as a marked increase in the number of pitchers used, which produces slower games, something MLB is actively trying to combat by instituting pitch clocks. Talent plays a definite role in the efficiency of taking pitches as a good hitter sees more pitches and is more likely to get one to hit well. MLB: Less stolen bases Stolen bases have declined sharply in recent years, with the 2,474 swipes in 2018 representing the lowest total since 1973. The reasons vary, from reducing injuries to the surge in home run totals, meaning teams are less willing to 'give up' outs on the bases that could mean potential runs. The use of replay has also played a role, with cameras revealing when a player's hand or foot leaves a base down to the millisecond. MLB: Shifting field positions The shift has become a staple of baseball over the past decade, with over 17% of plate appearances resulting in a shift in 2018. There were nearly 28,000 more shifts in 2018 than just five years earlier, according to Sports Info Solutions. While it has been shown to reduce opponents' batting average, it has also helped contribute to an increase in walks and home runs. The league has considered banning the shift in an effort to increase base hits. MLB: Out-getting From traditional relievers starting games to the emergence of one-batter specialists, the emergence of out-getting has produced dramatic changes in baseball. The basic tenet is that hitters adapt to pitchers more quickly than pitchers adapt to hitters. The result has seen starters pitching shorter into games, as batting average increases with each appearance against a particular pitcher. Counter arguments include slower pace to the game, and usage is typically among teams with less than stellar starting pitching. Formula One: Sensors sending real-time data Teams have employed the use of real-time sensors to measure everything from downforce to transmission response times, producing nearly three terabytes of information in a given race. A focus on analytics has helped driver Lewis Hamilton and the Mercedes team, which uses over 300 sensors during testing sessions before races, win the past two Formula One championships. Analytics plays as big a role in F1 as almost any other sport, with results determining how a car is built and driven. NHL: Defensive pairings Pairing a left-handed and right-handed defenseman together on the ice has become common practice in the NHL. However, the results are unclear. While having a defenseman playing to his strong side undoubtedly has its advantages, the lack of player-tracking analytics makes its actual effectiveness unknown. The focus on handedness may actually hinder teams that may overlook better players with the wrong dominant hand. NFL: Drafting running backs More teams are turning to quantity over quality when using running backs, driving down the value of the running back in drafts. In 1983, 20% of first-round selections were running backs compared to just 5% over the past five years. Just one running back, Josh Jacobs, was selected in the first round in 2019. Analytics shows that passing plays are significantly more efficient than rushing plays, and high-profile running backs are not significantly more effective than average running backs. NFL: Trading down in the draft A paper published in 2005 claimed that top picks are overrated, and stockpiling picks is a more effective strategy for success. While the analytics of trading down has been slow to take hold across the NFL, the success of the New England Patriots and head coach Bill Belichick in doing so in recent years has begun to facilitate a shift in philosophy. Belichick has traded down 31 times since joining the Patriots in 2000. Other teams like the Cleveland Browns and Tennessee Titans have employed similar strategies in recent years. NFL: In-game player tracking The rise of in-game player tracking has revolutionized the way teams monitor and manage their talent as well as the way in which players are evaluated leading up to the NFL Draft. It can track everything from a player's energy level to how much separation a wide receiver is getting from a defensive back on a given route, allowing coaches to adjust their strategy in real time. Most NFL teams employ an analytics department to analyze and decipher collected data before presenting it to a coach for implementation. Tennis: Short rallies determine games Rally length is one of the biggest predictors of success in tennis. While long, drawn-out rallies provide the most excitement for fans, 68% of points are scored in the first four shots, putting a premium on the serve and return game. The discovery has caused coaches and players to turn away from previously more accepted factors like unforced errors or first-serve percentage as the primary drivers to victory.


So many Democrats are running for president that the chair of the National Governors Association, the mayor of America's largest city and the senior senator from Colorado may not even qualify for the first debate   even though it allows for 20 candidates. With Montana Gov. Steve Bullock having announced his candidacy Tuesday and New York Mayor Bill de Blasio expected to follow soon, the Democratic field will swell to 23, enough for two football teams, with one left over to play referee. Some Democratic leaders worry privately that this army of candidates makes it harder for the party to coalesce around a single standard-bearer, and deliver a clear message, in time to mount the strongest possible campaign against a president they urgently want to defeat. And for the candidates, the landscape makes it increasingly difficult to strategize, stand out and make their case. Subscribe to the Post Most newsletter: Today's most popular stories on The Washington Post Fourteen of the candidates polled below 2 percent in the last CNN national poll, and for undecided primary voters, the blizzard of "historic" campaign announcements and "sweeping" policy rollouts has been dizzying. For the campaigns themselves, the emotions range from to fury to desperation to resignation. "It's a traffic jam in Iowa and New Hampshire," said Craig Hughes, a senior adviser to Sen. Michael F. Bennet (Colo.), "especially for those running who currently serve in Congress, putting weekend travel at a premium." An historically large field was expected, given President Trump's perceived vulnerability and the churn within the Democratic Party. But few believed it would be quite this sprawling, and the candidates are being forced to retool their strategies in response. The usual plan of most campaigns   to connect directly with voters in Iowa coffee shops, New Hampshire diners and the like   has come under pressure as candidates face the reality of overwhelmed and saturated electorates who are far from making a final choice. "Competition for attention and oxygen is more intensive than anyone could have imagined," said a top adviser to one of the campaigns, who like others spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the struggle. "You don't have a situation like Trump with the Republicans in 2015, where one candidate is getting all of the attention. You have a lot of candidates who command attention." That Republican field, at 17, was seen as enormously unwieldy, making debates cumbersome and ballots confusing. The Democratic field will have at least a half-dozen more than that, and could grow further. The current candidates are experimenting with different tactics. Former Texas congressman Beto O'Rourke, who boasts of holding the most campaign events in the most places, is doing national television interviews after initially resisting them. Sen. Kamala D. Harris (Calif.) is upping her attacks on Trump, switching from a less direct approach. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (Mass.) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) have been taking shots at former vice president Joe Biden, who leads in early polls, partly to get headlines. And everyone from former housing secretary Julián Castro to Sen. Cory Booker (N.J.) is banking on policy announcements to get attention. Slideshow by Business Insider "He's comfortable where he is now and he anticipates being in a peak position in the fall when it matters," said Jennifer Fiore, a senior adviser to Castro's campaign. Yet the field retains a shapeless, unpredictable feel, its contours shifting and its dynamics fluid. One sought-after prize   a breakout moment, such as a poignant exchange with a voter, that can go viral and rake in donations and attention   has so far been elusive. The struggle is prompting many campaigns to complain that they're being treated unfairly and not getting the spotlight they deserve. Supporters of Sen. Kirstin Gillibrand (N.Y.) note that she has drawn more attention for her morning workout than for her ability to break into conversational Mandarin Chinese on the campaign trail, even as South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg received weeks of accolades for his bursts of Spanish, French, Norwegian and American Sign Language. Other campaigns have found themselves arguing with news organizations that are not able to send reporters to all the campaign events for more than 20 candidates in the early primary states of Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina. "When you look at the polls and look at the coverage of candidates like Gillibrand and Castro, there is clear favoritism going on, because the level of coverage given to them is not indicative of their public support," said one person working on the campaign of former Maryland congressman John Delaney, who has one of the most extensive early-state operations. Several of the 11 campaign operatives contacted spoke privately with dismay about their negotiations with CNN, as they push to get more than one town hall or a better booking time. Some also complain about Fox News's decision to shut out candidates who aren't polling well from its own hour-long sessions with candidates. And several described the debate qualification rules set by the Democratic National Committee as "ridiculous," "arbitrary" or "bizarre." The first debate is scheduled for June 26 and 27, and some of the lesser-known candidates hope it will provide a breakout moment for them, even as the number of candidates onstage makes that harder. To qualify for the Democratic debate, a candidate must show at least 1 percent support in multiple public polls or attract 65,000 unique donors from at least 20 states. That offers no built-in advantage for party seniority or electoral accomplishment, but it does provide a penalty for joining the campaign late. Bullock, for example, is not certain to make the debate stage despite his leadership of the National Governors Association. The same is true for de Blasio and Bennet, who temporarily left the campaign trail to recover from prostate cancer surgery, which he says was successful. The challenge for Marianne Williamson, who writes and lectures on spiritual topics and has already reached the 65,000-donor threshold, has been to persuade public pollsters on the approved party list to put her as an option in their surveys. "What is hard is name recognition at this point, because name recognition runs the polling part of the DNC rules," said Patricia Ewing, an adviser to Williamson. "It's been an active effort to actually be mentioned in the polls." The candidates must submit evidence by June 13 that they've met the criteria for the first debate. The event will be held on two consecutive nights, each featuring a randomized collection of 10 candidates. A similar debate will be held about a month later, with a July 17 deadline to qualify. Bullock said Tuesday it was worth completing the Montana legislative session before announcing his candidacy   "I signed my last bill yesterday"   even if he now has less than a month to meet the target for the first debate. "As long as you'll put SteveBullock.com in all of your stories, I'll hit the donor numbers for sure," Bullock told reporters. "I've got about a month to do that. I hope to do it. But either way, I'm going to be out talking to folks about what we've been able to do here." He will continue campaigning if he misses the cut, he said. "I sure hope I make the debate stage; I think everybody does," Bullock said. "I think that, candidly, the debate stage would be lacking a bit if they didn't have somebody that actually got reelected in a state where Donald Trump won. It would be lacking if it didn't have someone who bridged the divides in a majority-Republican legislature to get things done." The third debate comes in September, and the campaigns expect the requirements to rise at that point, in terms of both polling and donations. That could begin culling the herd. Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez has not said whether he plans to cut the debates to one night and 10 candidates before the Iowa caucuses in February, but one limitation may be whether networks are willing to devote two consecutive nights in prime time to the events. The first two debates have been awarded to MSNBC and CNN, cable networks that are more willing to scramble their prime-time lineups, but the party later may want to broaden its reach by partnering with broadcast networks. Meanwhile, the candidates have little option but to continue the daily grind of the campaign, hoping that at some point the crowd thins and that they are left standing, having raised enough money to keep going and registered enough in the polls to keep getting covered. "It is impossible to be able to predict what the world of February 2020 will look like in May of 2019," said Ari Rabin-Havt, chief of staff to the Sanders campaign. "Candidates should be doing the things they have to do to run winning campaigns   putting out ideas, getting themselves media, raising money and building field programs." Lisa Gardinier, a librarian at the University of Iowa, was in the audience when Biden held a rally there recently. He was the sixth candidate she'd seen in person, she said, after Booker, Harris, Buttigieg, Castro and Warren. Looking toward next year's Iowa caucuses, she hoped for diversity in the party's leadership. "When it comes time to caucus, I can see that there are so many good candidates of color that I can't really see myself backing a white candidate right now," she said. "There are so many good options that I'm going to go for one of those first." But in this field, that means she'll have at least six candidates to choose from. David Weigel, Dan Balz, Jenna Johnson and Chelsea Janes contributed to this report.


SOFIA, Bulgaria   Pope Francis is visiting Bulgaria, the European Union's poorest country and one that taken a hard line against migrants, a stance that conflicts with the pontiff's view that reaching out to vulnerable people is a moral imperative. On a two-day trip that began Sunday, Francis plans to tour a refugee center and dive into the Vatican's complicated relations with the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. He will then have daylong stop Tuesday in neighboring North Macedonia, the first by a pope. Francis will meet with Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, whose center-right, pro-Brussels coalition government includes three nationalist, anti-migrant parties. The government has called for the closure of EU borders to migrants and sealed off its own frontier to Turkey with a barbed-wire fence. The Argentine pope has made the plight of migrants and refugees a hallmark of his papacy, urging governments to build bridges, not walls, and to do what they can to welcome and integrate refugees fleeing wars and poverty. His visit falls just three weeks before European Parliament elections across the EU's 28 nations in which nationalist, anti-migrant parties are expected to make a solid showing. On Monday, Francis will visit a refugee center in a former school on the outskirts of Sofia, the capital. Radostina Belcheva of the Council of Refugee Women in Bulgaria said Francis' visit will show solidarity with those in need. "But really, their whole acceptance is a matter for each of us and for our society," Belcheva told The Associated Press. Bulgaria's tough stance on refugees has been a deterrent: while some 20,000 people applied for asylum in Bulgaria in 2015, that number dwindled to 2,500 last year, according to the state refugee agency. Francis also will meet with the leader of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Neofit, during a visit Sunday to the headquarters of the Holy Synod, the church's governing body. The conservative Bulgarian church doesn't participate in official Catholic-Orthodox dialogue and even snubbed a pan-Orthodox council in Crete in 2016. The Holy Synod has made clear that it will not take part in any joint services or prayers with the pope, although a children's choir is expected to sing for him. On Monday, Francis is also expected to minister to Bulgaria's tiny Catholic community, which represents just under 1 percent of the population of some 7 million. Despite the small numbers of Catholics, Bulgarians are particularly fond of one of the 20th century Catholic Church's most important figures, Pope John XXIII. The former Angelo Roncalli was the Vatican envoy to Bulgaria from 1925-1934 and is known affectionately as the "Bulgarian pope." Bulgaria, which joined the EU in 2007, is the bloc's poorest country, with the lowest average monthly salary   575 euros ($645)   and the smallest average monthly pension of 190 euros ($213). The World Bank has warned that Bulgaria needs to grow 4% a year over the next 25 years to catch up with the rest of the EU. One of the main reasons it hasn't is widespread corruption and graft, which are draining the economy and keeping foreign investments away. Bulgaria is also the world's fastest shrinking nation, according to the U.N., with its current population of 7 million expected to dwindle to 5.4 million by 2050 and to 3.9 million by the end of the century. Bulgaria has the EU's highest mortality rate and one of the bloc's lowest birth rates. That, combined with tens of thousands of workers leaving the country annually, poses serious problems for funding the country's pension system. ___ Valentina Petrova contributed from Sofia.