Jack Hermansson has completed his journey from dark horse to unquestionable middleweight contender. "The Joker" took control of his own fate on Saturday, stepping in as a late-notice replacement to fight Ronaldo Souza (26-7, 1 NC) in the middleweight main event of UFC Fort Lauderdale at BB&T Center in Sunrise, Florida, and walking out with a unanimous decision (49-46, 48-47, 48-47) victory. There was a lot on the line for both fighters, with Souza hoping that a win over Hermansson would keep him in contention for a long-awaited shot at UFC gold, and Hermansson looking to prove that his recent surge up the rankings is no fluke. Over the course of five rounds, Hermansson emphatically made his point. "I'm very happy, I'm just a little bit tired," Hermansson said post-fight. "I'm very happy to be here and ready to show every single one in the world watching MMA that I am a force to be reckoned with. I am a title contender." Heading into the final round, the action appeared to already be leaning in Hermansson's favor. In round one, Hermansson hurt Souza on the feet and hunted for a choke, testing the Brazilian jiu-jitsu master's grappling defense. @JackTheJokerMMA lands and goes for the submission #UFCFtLauderdale pic.twitter.com/xBOX40izZI   UFC (@ufc) April 28, 2019 Souza turned into the choke and patiently waited for his opening to slip out. Still, Hermansson stayed on him and used a body lock to keep "Jacare" neutralized against the fence. "My coach told me that the fight [was going to be like this]. I was hoping for an early finish," Hermansson later said, with a laugh. "It went all the five rounds, I don't like to go to the decision, that's why you're not seeing me smile that much now. I like to finish fights, but I hope it was impressive anyway and I'm looking forward to finishing the next one." Though a finish eluded him, Hermansson's pressure carried over into round two. Hermansson did an excellent job of mixing up his strikes, then he scored a takedown about a minute in. The rest of the period saw Hermansson put in work from mission control, just maintaining top position and scoring with enough strikes to avoid a standup. Dominant round for @JackTheJokerMMA #UFCFtLauderdale pic.twitter.com/9GnJXqSTDT   UFC (@ufc) April 28, 2019 "Jacare" stuffed a takedown to open up round three and that gave him some positive momentum as he began to find success by pressing forward. He drove punches into Hermansson's midsection and then cracked him with an elbow and a right hand over the top. Body work paying dividends for @JacareMMA #UFCFtLauderdale pic.twitter.com/iBYCkuyMmd   UFC (@ufc) April 28, 2019 A wounded Hermansson went into full-defense mode to recover, though he couldn't avoid another right hand that had him stumbling to close out the round. Hermansson may have just been saving energy in round three, because he picked up the pace again in the fourth and fifth, touching "Jacare" up from long range and staying away from Souza's power. For every hard punch that Souza landed, Hermansson responded with three or four significant strikes of his own. Relentless pace by @JackTheJokerMMA #UFCFtLauderdale pic.twitter.com/OBIDwEDtnR   UFC (@ufc) April 28, 2019 They fought tooth-and-nail to the end, with Hermansson landing a late takedown to finish in top position. That's four straight wins now for Hermansson (20-4), with his previous three being finishes of former World Series of Fighting two-division champion David Branch , submission specialist Gerald Meerschaert , and one-time UFC middleweight title challenger Thales Leites . The 30-year-old Swede is now firmly in the contenders' picture himself and his plan is to capitalize on his elevated ranking with a main event spot in Denmark later this year. "I would like to be back, I heard there was a card in Copenhagen in October," Hermansson said. "I would love to headline that card and give me a top name. What I ask of the UFC is to get the names that get me to that title, I'm obsessed with that title. That's what I want in this sport. After a victory like this, I stepped in saved the show on short notice against one of the toughest guys in the world and I think I need a good reward after that." Souza, 39, has now alternated wins and losses in his last six fights. He defeated former champion Chris Weidman by third-round knockout at UFC 230 last November, but now finds himself having to climb back up the middleweight mountain once again.


Craving Puerto Rican food? Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top Puerto Rican spots around Newark, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of where to venture next time you're on the hunt. 1. The Weekend Spot Restaurant Topping the list is The Weekend Spot Restaurant . Located at 683 Springfield Ave., the soul food, Southern and Puerto Rican spot is the highest-rated Puerto Rican restaurant in Newark, boasting 4.5 stars out of 23 reviews on Yelp. 2. BQN Borinquen Grill Next up is BQN Borinquen Grill , situated at 267 Orange St. With 4.5 stars out of 35 reviews on Yelp, the Puerto Rican spot, which offers salads and sandwiches, has proven to be a local favorite. 3. Taino's Kitchen Taino's Kitchen , located at 849 Mount Prospect Ave., is another top choice, with Yelpers giving the Puerto Rican spot four stars out of 35 reviews. 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.


Looking to get some laughs? When it comes to comedy, there's plenty to keep you busy this week, from NYC Comedy to comedy veteran Teddy Carpenter. 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. NYC Comedy Invades Baltimore From the event description: Jordan Raybould is a rising star on the New York comedy scene, and now he's hitting Joe Squared in Baltimore to share the love. As if that weren't enough reason to make you want to turn off the TV and head out for some real laughs, Raybould's bringing some of his funny New York friends with him. They're people you've seen on Comedy Central, MTV, Netflix and other places. When: Friday, May 24, 7:30 p.m.; doors open at 7 p.m. Where: Joe Squared, 33 W. North Ave. Price: $5 Click here for more details, and to get your tickets Comedian Teddy Carpenter From the event description: Watching comedy veteran Teddy Carpenter perform when he's in the "zone" is no different than watching Michael Jordan dunk or Jimi Hendrix jam. It's the essence of (comic) genius: Every punchline hits, every glance devastates, every twitch and tic sends the crowd roaring louder than ever. One of the legends of HBO's "Def Comedy Jam," Carpenter has gone on to tape four comedy specials for BET. When: Friday, May 24, 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Where: Baltimore Comedy Factory, 5625 O'Donnell St. Price: $13.75 Click here for more details, and to get your tickets Comedian Shuler King From the event description: There probably aren't very many funeral director/embalmer/comedians in the world   in fact, Shuler King might just be the only one. But he's become famous from his hilarious YouTube videos, where he riffs on everything from Donald Trump to phony preachers, racking up thousands of hits and even getting replayed on a UK TV show. When: Sunday, May 26, 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Where: Baltimore Comedy Factory, 5625 O'Donnell St. Price: $14.50 Click here for more details, and to get your tickets This story was created automatically using local event data, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


House Democrats on Wednesday will launch their bid to block the Trump administration from completing 22 arms sales largely benefiting Saudi Arabia, but hurdles in the Senate   and expected veto threats   could undermine what's become a bipartisan effort to prevent the president from completing the deals. Members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee are expected to unveil four resolutions of disapproval Wednesday, each designed to push back on elements of President Trump's plan to conclude the arms deals via an emergency executive order. One resolution aims to block all 22 deals, while the other three specifically address the sale and production of precision-guided munitions to and within Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Subscribe to the Post Most newsletter: Today's most popular stories on The Washington Post Many lawmakers oppose the proposed sales, particularly those that benefit Saudi Arabia, a country to which bipartisan majorities in Congress have sought to restrict arms transfers and military aid over the kingdom's intervention in Yemen's civil war and its leaders' suspected role in the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. But still more lawmakers have bristled at the administration's tactic of claiming a blanket, nonspecific emergency to justify the move, objecting to it as an executive power grab of Congress's traditional right to raise objections to such transactions. The House proposal is a twist on the strategy that Sens. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), one of President Trump's most vocal critics, and Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.), one of his closest allies, spearheaded last week to block the deals using 22 unique resolutions that, under normal circumstances, would be guaranteed floor votes. But while such votes are all but guaranteed in the Democrat-controlled House, in the GOP-led Senate, critics of Trump's arms deals are bracing for a struggle   and preparing alternate options in case their first attempt fails. Menendez is expected to request a vote on the Senate's 22 disapproval measures early next week. But Republicans may challenge him   leaving it to the Senate parliamentarian to act as referee. The parliamentarian determines how the Senate's rules should be applied, and is often called upon to settle procedural disputes between lawmakers. "We'll see how the parliamentarian rules," said Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman James E. Risch (R-Idaho), noting that "I suspect someone will ask" the parliamentarian to determine whether the measures should get a vote. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Tuesday surmised there "would still be a vote triggered," and "presumably it'll be very similar to the resolution of disapproval under a more traditional approach   at least that's what we think the parliamentarian believes." But McConnell pledged to oppose efforts to block Trump's move, "voting against the resolution of disapproval and for sustaining the veto when it comes to that." At present, more than 50 senators are expected to vote for the 22 resolutions to block the president, including four Republicans: Sens. Graham, Todd C. Young (R-Ind.), Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah). While that is enough to pass the resolutions, it is not clear that enough Republicans will join the effort to secure the two-thirds majority it takes to overcome a presidential veto. Should efforts fail to build a veto-proof coalition around that approach, Young and Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) have proposed another, which would give lawmakers the chance to block the arms sales after requesting information on the human rights record of the recipient countries. But that would take several weeks, due to the time allotted for the administration to respond to the human rights query   making it an unlikely option before lawmakers depart Washington for an August recess, according to congressional aides, and subject to the same potential veto as the 22 resolutions. Opponents of the sales also are plotting ways to amend a prohibition on the arms sales into must-pass measures, such as the annual defense authorization bill, or appropriations measures currently working their way through Congress. But Republican leaders are firmly opposed to such an approach, favoring independent legislation. "I'm doing my best to negotiate a bill that can pass both the House and Senate and be signed by the president," Risch said Tuesday. "There are ongoing negotiations among all parties, State Department and all others to try to reach an agreement on this." But thus far, senior State Department officials have been unrepentant about circumventing Congress to complete the sales. "These sales and the associated emergency certification are intended to address the military need of our partners in the face of an urgent regional threat posed by Iran," R. Clarke Cooper, assistant secretary of state for political-military affairs, is expected to tell the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday, according to prepared remarks. "Remaining a reliable security partner to our allies and friends around the world is also in the interest and furtherance of our values." When asked Tuesday whether the administration was wise to force the arms deals through by emergency declaration, acting defense secretary Patrick Shanahan was more tight-lipped. "It's always best to follow the process," he said. karoun.demirjian@washpost.com Emily Davies, Hailey Fuchs and Missy Ryan contributed to this report.


As thousands of people crowded the streets calling for Gov. Ricardo Rosselló to step down, the president of Puerto Rico's House of Representatives created a special committee on Friday to advise him on whether the governor committed impeachable offenses. The committee's formation comes after days of protests, sparked in part by the leaks of offensive private chat messages between the US territory's governor and his inner circle, while the island has battled high poverty rates, crushing government debt and a painful recovery from 2017's devastating Hurricane Maria. The impeachment research committee includes three attorneys who will have 10 days to provide a detailed report to Carlos "Johnny" Méndez, according to a news release from the House leader's spokesman, Raúl Colón. The committee will evaluate the content of leaked messages between Rosselló and Cabinet members and determine if there's proof Rosselló committed a crime, Méndez said. "We are here to order this evaluation, one that will be transparent and responsible," he said. "I thank this group of lawyers for giving a step forward in this historic moment for Puerto Rico. We will thoroughly evaluate the conclusions of this committee so we can proceed." The chaos in Puerto Rico follows the Center for Investigative Journalism's publication of nearly 900 pages of leaked chats from the governor's private Telegram Messenger group in which he and 11 top aides and Cabinet members exchanged profanity-laced, homophobic and misogynistic messages about fellow politicians, members of the media and celebrities. In one, the former chief financial officer appeared to joke about those who died in Maria. While Rosselló has refused to step down, two Cabinet members who participated in the chats resigned July 13. And on Friday, one of his aides -- press secretary Dennise Peréz -- also stepped down. In her resignation letter, Peréz lamented that someone had called her corrupt in front of her son. "While holding my head high and my family close, I thought I could go through anything and continued doing my job professionally, just how I have been for the last 20 years," she said. "Like you are aware, this week, a citizen, without any consideration, called me corrupt and did it in front of my son. This is where I draw the line." The leak came the same week that two former officials from Rosselló's administration were arrested by the FBI as part of a federal corruption investigation. 'You left us to die' Thousands of protesters gathered Friday night in the capital of San Juan calling for Rosselló's resignation. Layzne Alvez told CNN the territory's government had been "left to run wild with our economy, with our money, with all the federal funds the government are sending here." She added that Puerto Ricans weren't a violent people so they did not plan to bring Rosselló down by force. "We are going to stay here no matter what," Alvez said. "We are going to force our local leaders, representatives, senators, whoever we need to, to get him out. We are going to stay here." Protesters have jammed the streets of San Juan over the last several days. Hundreds gathered in front of the Capitol on Wednesday and marched to the governor's mansion, playing tambourines and banging on pots and pans. At times police have fired canisters of tear gas into the crowds. "Unfortunately, there is always corruption in the government," said Pamela Calderón, the owner of a small restaurant on Calle San Jose. "But with the publication of the chats, people in Puerto Rico saw how the corruption affected the response to the hurricane. There's a sense of, 'You left us to die.'" "There are still people without electricity or a roof," she added. "There is a perception of being abandoned by the government, a lack of planning, and the inept way government managed the crisis." The scandal made people snap out of their complacency, a restaurant manager in Old San Juan said. "We usually wait for things to take their course," Jose Ramos said. "But this will not get resolved without pressure." Politicians from both sides of the aisle are calling for Rosselló's resignation. "It's time for the governor to have an orderly transition of government so that this doesn't continue affecting us in DC as it pertains to obtaining federal funds for the island," said Jenniffer González , Puerto Rico's nonvoting representative in the US Congress, known as the resident commissioner. "The disbursement of funds to the island will obviously suffer dramatically if he remains on the position." US Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, a 2020 Democratic presidential candidate, has called on Rosselló to resign, and she traveled to Puerto Rico late this week. She was in Old San Juan on Friday night "to stand with the people of Puerto Rico against corruption," she wrote on Facebook. Hawaii and Puerto Rico "share many of the same experiences and stories," she wrote on Twitter . "I stand with Puerto Ricans demanding change, who have had enough of government corruption, and who deserve a government of, by, and FOR the people. El pueblo unido jamás será vencido. #RickyRenuncia," Gabbard tweeted. US Sen. Rick Scott of Florida, a Republican, also said in a tweet that Rosselló should step down. "I've long advocated for the families of Puerto Rico. I've pledged to be their voice in the Senate. While I've been hesitant to weigh in too heavily on the internal political affairs of the island, it's clear that the current leadership has lost the confidence of the people of PR," Scott tweeted. "The island deserves new leadership." Protesters have been joined by some of Puerto Rico's biggest stars, including reggaeton star Bad Bunny, rapper René Pérez Joglar and singer and actor Ricky Martin, one of the targets of leaked homophobic messages. And similar demonstrations have taken place on the US mainland in cities like Miami and Orlando, Florida. "Hamilton" creator Lin-Manuel Miranda and former New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito attended protests at New York's Union Square. "I'm so numb from politics in America. But the people of Puerto Rico are numb, and they are waking us all up. I'm going to have their backs," Miranda told CNN. Governor not considering resigning Puerto Rico's Justice Department has issued summonses for everyone involved in the private chat group. They will be ordered to appear before Justice Department officials to have their phones inspected, department spokeswoman Mariana Cobian said. Through it all, Rosselló has refused to step down, and on Friday his official Instagram account shared images of the governor at work , as if it were a typical day for his administration. Rosselló "is not considering resignation," Public Affairs Secretary Anthony Maceira said Friday morning. In a statement posted to Twitter, Rosselló said he would continue to work toward regaining the Puerto Rican people's trust. "I recognize the challenge that I have before me because of the recent controversies, but I firmly believe that it is possible to restore confidence and that we will be able, after this painful process, to achieve reconciliation," he said. But the calls for his ouster have yet to die down. "He's still holding onto power, we don't want him any more here," said Alvez, the protester. "He says we voted for him, so that's why he's staying in power, but we don't want you anymore, I don't know how you don't get this. We don't care if some people voted for you, we don't care if the whole island voted for you." González, the island's resident commissioner, said in a letter to the governor that the protests and scandal have painted "a lawless Puerto Rico for the rest of the world." "It is time to give stability to Puerto Rico so that we can continue the reconstruction that was planned before the events of the last weeks and return the credibility of the government of Puerto Rico within the Federal Capital, the financial markets, tourism and the whole world," González wrote. CORRECTION: A previous version of this story incorrectly spelled the name of Jenniffer González, Puerto Rico's resident commissioner in Washington.


The Kansas City Chiefs have signed one more tryout player following their mandatory minicamp. Two tryout players took to social media to announce they had signed before the transactions were made official. In today's NFL transaction report both of those signings were made official, but there was also a third player to sign a deal with the Chiefs. Linebacker D'Juan Hines has signed with the Chiefs after impressing during three days at mandatory minicamp. He was among the six players the Chiefs had brought in to work for the team. After going undrafted and spending time with the Los Angeles Chargers during 2018, Hines didn't make roster cuts for the Chiefs' AFC West rival. He was picked up by the Cleveland Browns, and spent most of the 2018 season with them. There he appeared in 13 games, and was a standout special teams player, but he didn't get much play on defense. He had four total tackles on the season. Hines played college football at the University of Houston, where he was highly productive during his senior season. He totaled 110 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, an interception and three forced fumbles in 2017. At 6 feet 1 and 235 pounds, Hines has intriguing size to play either of the outside linebacker spots. The Chiefs waived former Texas linebacker Gary Johnson recently, so it appears they may have been looking for a different skillset, and perhaps more NFL experience at the position. Given Hines experience on special teams, perhaps that was an area that Johnson was struggling which prompted his exit. With Hines joining the team the 90-man offseason roster is now full as the Chiefs begin their break ahead of training camp. MORE: NBA world reacts to news that Klay Thompson tore his ACL in Game 6 loss This is how the Golden State Warriors head into the offseason 3 players Raiders could trade before start of 2019 season Ranking the 25 Best NBA Free Agents What Tim Duncan told LeBron James after Spurs beat Cavs in 2007 NBA Finals


A roundup of all of Sunday's action in Spain and Italy's top flights… [ MORE: Final Premier League standings of the 2018-19 season ] Atletico Madrid 1-1 Sevilla Captain Diego Godin made the 388th appearance of his nine-year Atleti career on Sunday, marking the final time he'll take the field in the Spanish capital for Los Rojiblancos . Godin was honored by a capacity crowd, all on their feet, after the game. 😊 📢 DIEGOOOO GODÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍN! #GraciasGodín #AúpaAtleti pic.twitter.com/IqrX5D5jzM   Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) May 12, 2019 Koke put second-place Atleti ahead in the 30th minute. Pablo Sarabia drew sixth-place Sevilla level in the 70th. Sarabia keeps @SevillaFC_ENG in the fight for fourth with an equalizer at the Wanda! Watch that match on CONNECT 5: https://t.co/8Vw2z7cxwS Multi-match coverage ongoing on beIN SPORTS 📺 pic.twitter.com/8rQkN1i8mz   beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) May 12, 2019 Real Sociedad 3-1 Real Madrid Real Madrid suffered their 11th league defeat of the season (17 across all competitions, for the first time since 1998-99) after going 1-0 up in the 6th minute, courtesy of Brahim Diaz , and being reduced to 10 men in the 39th (Jesus Vallejo). Mikel Merino (26th minute), Joseba Zaldua (57th) and Ander Barrenetxea (67th) got the goals for eighth-place Sociedad. Elsewhere in La Liga Barcelona 2-0 Getafe Valencia 3-1 Alaves Athletic Bilbao 3-1 Celta Vigo Leganes 0-2 Espanyol Rayo Vallecano 1-2 Real Valladolid Girona 1-2 Levante Real Betis 2-1 Huesca Roma 2-0 Juventus Roma's quest for Champions League qualification got a massive, and somewhat unexpected, boost in the form of a victory over champions-elect Juventus. Claudio Ranieri 's side were three places and four points off fourth place, but now they sit just two place and one point back of Inter Milan with two games left to play. Alessandro Florenzi (79th) and Edin Dzeko (90th+1) did all of Roma's damage late against a full-strength Juve side. Following a disastrous start to the season (just five wins from their first 15 games), Roma have righted the ship and are now unbeaten in their last seven league games and have lost just three of their last 19. Elsewhere in Serie A SPAL 1-2 Torino Torino 3-2 Sassuolo Frosinone 1-3 Udinese Sampdoria 2-1 Empoli Follow @AndyEdMLS


Serena Williams has been defended by Whoopi Goldberg after the American tennis player was accused by Dominic Thiem of having a "bad personality." Goldberg said, "Listen man … don't nobody know who you are" on a recent episode of the US talk show "The View." Renowned men's player Roger Federer said he understood Thiem's frustration after he was kicked out of a recent French Open press conference to make way for Williams, who had lost a match. Goldberg said Federer should know better. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories . Whoopi Goldberg has defended Serena Williams after the American was accused of having a "bad personality" by a male player at the French Open. Williams was thrashed by fellow American Sofia Kenin in the competition's third round on Saturday, and left the Philippe Chatrier court to address the media at a press conference. But the press room was already in use with Dominic Thiem talking to the media following his victory over Pablo Cuevas on the Suzanne-Lenglen court earlier in the day. Williams, L'Equipe reports , did not want to wait. She apparently asked event organizers to put her in another room "now," but her request could not be fulfilled as all rooms were occupied. Williams was reportedly ready to leave the media center entirely but was told Thiem could be evicted to make way for her, something she allegedly said was "rude" but did not stop from happening. Thiem was told to leave the room, something he later complained about to Eurosport Germany , saying Williams had shown a "bad personality." Read more : Serena Williams has a 'bad personality' according to the tennis player who got kicked out of a press conference because of her Renowned men's player Roger Federer seemed to side with Thiem. "I understand Dominic's frustration," he said, according to Eurosport. This is because tennis etiquette dictates that whoever is still in the tournament gets priority with press obligations, so they can then focus on their next match, which might take place the following day. The athlete who has been eliminated from the competition may not have another match for weeks. But Goldberg supported Williams. During a June 3rd episode of the ABC talk show "The View," Goldberg said nobody knows who Thiem is, and Federer should know better. "She wanted to get her press conference over as soon as possible and, y'know … because she did not win. I would feel the same way. So they ended the press conference of men's player Dominic Thiem early to accommodate her, but he wasn't happy apparently and said it shows that Serena has a bad personality. "Listen, man, don't nobody know who you are!" Read more : Dominic Thiem hit a winning tweener so outrageous that his French Open opponent Gael Monfils laughed and applauded "You may be big in the tennis world but this is a big deal that she was out this early. People want to know what's happening, how she doing, and I don't think she wanted to talk to anybody about losing. I don't think that was her plan. Don't blame her. Stop being a bonehead." She later added that Federer "should know better" than to defend Thiem, and not defend Williams. Watch the segment below: Thiem, who has been on-form on clay this season, remains in the French Open and contests a quarterfinal on the Suzanne-Lenglen court Wednesday against Karen Khachanov. Federer plays 11-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal in the semifinal on Friday.


Wolverhampton Wanderers have agreed a fee of €25m plus add-ons with Milan for midfielder Franck Kessie, though the side may struggle to complete a deal before the transfer window closes. Nuno Espirito Santo's men have reportedly offered the Ivory Coast international an annual salary of €2.8m, but the player is demanding they up it to €4m instead. Kessie has spent the last two seasons on loan at San Siro from fellow Italian outfit Atalanta, finally making his move permanent in June for €24m. Milan had already forked out €7m to secure the 22-year-old's services for the 2017/18 and 2018/19 campaigns. However, he is not believed to be a part of new Rossoneri head coach Marco Giampaolo's plans. Italian journalist Alfredo Pedulla announced via Twitter that Wolves had made a bid that meets the Serie A side's valuation of Kessie. Additonally, the latter are keen to offload him given their manager's apparent lack of use for the Ivorian. However, the player's wages are proving a stumbling block as Nuno and the Wanderers hierarchy look to finalise a deal, with the club unable to sign new recruits after 5pm. Kessie was joint-top of the assists charts at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, collecting three as his country reached the quarter finals, where they cruelly lost a penalty shootout to eventual champions Algeria. He has missed a mere five league matches for Milan in the last two years, though that was during the reign of Gennaro Gattuso, who has since vacated the San Siro hot-seat.


Video by Sports Illustrated The NCAA came under immediate fire Tuesday after announcing a new rule requiring that agents advising NBA prospects still in college have a bachelor's degree. On Wednesday it responded with an attempt to have its cake and eat it too. LeBron James blasted the announcement and followed suit on the social media outcry dubbing it the "Rich Paul Rule," accusing the NCAA of targeting the high-profile NBA agent who doesn't hold a college degree. Others, like Yahoo Sports' Dan Wetzel, criticized the NCAA for continuing its efforts to control student-athletes while displaying contempt for college basketball players. NCAA responds to backlash The NCAA took a day to digest the criticism and responded with a statement on Wednesday, sticking to its guns that it knows what's best for NBA prospects   and that involves telling them which agents they can hire. In doing so, it passed the buck on the decision to the Commission on College Basketball, which it credits for the recommendation. NCAA statement on agent certification requirements: pic.twitter.com/MRy7Xg4Y7r   Inside the NCAA (@InsidetheNCAA) August 8, 2019 "Although some can and have been successful without a college degree, as a higher education organization, the NCAA values a college education and continues to emphasize the importance of earning a degree. We were guided by recommendations from the Commission on College Basketball   which spoke with the agent and advisor community   that the NCAA certification process should be more stringent than current processes." There's more to the wordy statement that can be read in whole above. NCAA 'credits' commission with recommendation But the gist is clear. The NCAA wants to defend the decision alongside its oft-mocked status as a "higher education organization" that cares about degrees while deflecting and deferring the decision to the Commission on College Basketball , a group of advisers the NCAA assembled in 2017 as scandal engulfed the sport. Translation: We stand by the decision, but if you don't like it, blame these guys. More from Yahoo Sports: Wetzel: NCAA's new 'Rich Paul' rule is terrible for basketball players AB's feet problem a big deal on Raiders' 'Hard Knocks' Sohi: Sam Hinkie's 'trust the process' fingerprints all over NBA Matthews: Are Mets serious about making playoff push?


26 easy summer appetizers to get your party started, from BA's Best Guacamole to pretzel bites. Nothing kicks off a cookout like some small bites (and, okay, cocktails). Get the party started with these light and summery apps. BA's Best Shrimp Cocktail Shrimp cocktail is all about the shrimp: big, fat, perfectly cooked gorgeous shrimp. We think 16 20 per pound are the perfect size, and that's what this recipe was developed for (the size will be printed on the bag the shrimp are packaged in, or ask your fishmonger). If you end up with a different size, just follow these guidelines: For 26 30, poach 1½ minutes; for 21 25, poach 2 minutes; for 13 15, poach 4 minutes; for 8 12, poach 5 minutes. Proceed as written with the rest of the recipe! See recipe. Dairy-Free Trout Dip The almond purée that is added to the smoked trout will fool you into thinking there's a boatload of dairy in this dip. It gives the dip an outrageously creamy consistency. See recipe. Mortadella Moments This party-ready dish hits all the right notes bready, fatty, pickle-y in a single bite-sized portion, delivering maximum satisfaction with the least amount of friction. See recipe. Turmeric Yogurt Dip Vigorously squeezing the cucumbers to remove as much water as possible helps to concentrate their flavor and creates a thicker dip. See recipe. Grand Aioli Let this recipe be the excuse you need to dip all your farm-fresh foods into garlicky mayonnaise. See recipe. Muhammara This vibrant dip pairs perfectly well with fresh pita bread. In Lebanon, cooks sometimes use a chile paste in their muhammara that can be hard to find in the United States. We've subbed in mild chile flakes, but you could use a chopped fresh red chile instead. See recipe. BA's Best Guacamole It takes a while for the avocado to absorb all the flavors you add to it. So if you ever find yourself wondering if your guac is spicy (or salty, or lime-y) enough, wait a few minutes before you add more so that you don't accidentally overseason it. See recipe. Salted and Spiced Melon The musky-sweet flavor of melon also takes well to red pepper flakes and cracked black pepper. See recipe. Beer Cheese To bring the beer to room temperature faster and make it flat, you can whisk it on the stovetop over low heat or heat in a microwave in short increments, stirring in between. Or, you know, just use the open bottle that you left sitting on the coffee table all night. See recipe. Figs with Bacon and Chile This figs recipe is sweet, salty, sticky, and acidic everything you want in a one-bite appetizer. See recipe. Relish Tray with D.I.Y. Eggs Smoked almonds and black olives are our suggestions for this appetizer, but use any nut or olive that you like. See recipe. Anchovy and Sardine Toasts with Chile Butter This is for all the oily fish lovers out there, and the chile butter will help cut through the richness of the fish. If you can't find Calabrian chiles ( we love these Tutto Calabria ones ), grate any fresh red chile into the butter. The flavor won't be as complex, but you'll keep the heat, which is the perfect counterpoint to the fish. See recipe. Clam Dip Look, if you want to cook, shell, and chop a boatload of clams, we support you. But if what you really want is a delicious clam dip that comes together in less than 15 minutes, this recipe is for you. See recipe. Crispy Sheet-Pan Meatballs with Salsa Verde If the word "meatballs" brings to mind some kind of long, elaborate Sunday cooking project, then this recipe is here to change your mind. No shade to the classic Italian American version, but they just don't need three kinds of meat, a tedious sear and braise, or even tomato sauce to be incredibly delicious. When you stick with one type of meat, give them quick, high-heat roast in the oven, and serve them with an herby salsa verde, few things are as cheap, versatile, and weeknight-friendly as a sheet pan full of meatballs. Think of this recipe as a template, and the possibilities are endless mess around with different spices, types of meat, herbs and other add-ins, and you can easily make these once a week without getting bored. They're great on top of grain bowls, in noodle-y soups, as an appetizer, or on their own alongside a green salad or some simply roasted veggies. And don't sleep on that salsa verde it might just become your new favorite put-on-everything sauce. See recipe. Smoky Eggplant Dip (Eggplant Moutabal) The flavor of this woodsy, earthy dip relies comes from cooking eggplants on a grill or a gas stovetop until the skin blackens and the flesh collapses in on itself. Alternatively, you can broil the eggplants in the oven, turning occasionally, until charred and tender. They might not end up as smoky, but the final dip will still taste great. See recipe. Lemon-Pepper Salami Bites Bright citrus and fresh-ground pepper put a festive spin on two party staples: Cured meat and Marcona almonds. See recipe. Pretzel Bites These pretzel nubbins are crunchy on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside. Instead of using lye, which can be hard to find and work with, we achieved the deep mahogany color by boiling them in a baking soda bath. Make sure you serve them with our Spicy Cheddar Cheese Spread ; we also love this German mustard in a tube . See recipe. Broccoli and Garlic-Ricotta Toasts with Hot Honey Crispy roasted broccoli proves it works just as well as an appetizer as it does a side dish. Use broccoli stems in any recipe that calls for florets; their crunch provides a nice textural contrast. Leave the peels on the garlic cloves so they steam and become creamy inside their skins when roasted. If you don't have ricotta, mix the mashed roasted garlic into mayonnaise instead. See recipe. Classic Chickpea Hummus Za'atar, a Middle Eastern spice blend that usually contains a mix of dried thyme, sumac, and sesame seeds, is available at specialty stores or online . And while it's terrific on hummus, it's also totally optional you can't go wrong with a drizzle of good olive oil and a sprinkling of sesame seeds or just some flaky sea salt. Once you've got the base recipe down, here are four more ways to riff on it . See recipe. Put-It-On-Everything Cashew Sauce This rich, creamy vegan(!) sauce is your new all-purpose condiment. Packed with herbs, it's a no-brainer for a seasonal veggies-and-dip situation, but can easily be dressed up to suit any occasion. Swap the herbs and vinegar for lime juice and zest and you've got a perfect taco-topper. Add some chipotles in adobo to make a spicy, smoky bottom-of-the-plate schmear for roasted veggies. Or spike it with some grated garlic and thin it with lemon juice for a killer dairy-free ranch dressing. See recipe. Marinated Olives and Feta This appetizer is so fast and easy, you can have it on the table within 10 minutes of walking in the door. Save any leftover oil, which has been flavored with the red pepper flakes and garlic, for another use like salad dressing. See recipe. Whipped Gorgonzola Choose a mild and creamy Gorgonzola for this dip. See recipe. Roasted Garlicky Sweet Peppers and Chiles Don't like it hot? Remove the seeds to tone it down, or make this addictive condiment with sweet peppers alone. See recipe. Spicy Lightly Pickled Cucumbers What raw cucumbers lack in cheer, pickled cucumbers make up for in zip, zing, and crunch. The brine can work with any crunchy veg, but we like them best with cucumbers. We guarantee they'll be the sleeper hit of your next party spread. See recipe. Summer Crudités with Bagna Cauda The sauce makes the meal serve it alongside any combo of crunchy peak-season veg you please. See recipe. Chile Chicken Nachos Meet your ideal nacho construction plan. Dividing everything between two baking sheets solves problems and creates party opportunities. You'll get the ideal ratio of ingredients layered on each tray, and if you want, you can put them into the oven at different times so that there's always a hot melty batch for your guests. See recipe.


If you're trying to get ready for the biggest tournament on your playing calendar , mindlessly pounding balls at the range or trying to tear down your swing won't work. You need to be efficient with your time , and if you're like most of us, you don't have a lot of it. We commissioned Golf Digest Best Young Teacher and tour coach Shaun Webb to build a tournament prep practice plan that's robust and schedule-friendly in the real world for handicap players with day jobs and families. Webb runs David Toms' teaching academy in Shreveport, La., and teaches nationally ranked junior players in addition to working with Toms on his game. The full four-hours-per-week plan ( shown below ) adapts some of the practice techniques tour players use to get ready for major season to help you be more efficient with your preparation. The ground rules : Play as much as you can. There is no better prep than getting out on the course. Play the ball down, and putt everything out. Spend 70 percent of your practice time on shots 100 yards and in. Learn the carry distance for each club in your bag. Spend any full-swing practice time working on one or two swing keys that help you hit your predictable shot shape and center-face contact NOT on fixing how your shots curve. With the driver, work on center contact and curving the shot the same way every time. Week 1 : Play nine holes with the ball down and putting out. Putting practice focusing on quality of lag putting. (30 minutes) Situational chipping practice. (30 minutes) Distance wedge practice to specific targets 30 to 100 yards away. (30 minutes) Driver practice focused ONLY on center contact. Use foot spray on the face to measure where you're making contact. (30 minutes) Week 2 : Play nine holes: On approach shots, hit two shots and record your score from the best outcome and the worst one. Putting play: Play 18 holes on the putting green to distant targets, holing out and counting your score (30 minutes) Chipping play: Toss nine balls around the green in various lies and try to get up and down. Record your score (30 minutes) Range work with irons on consistent shot shape: Use alignment rods to tune setup and stance. RELATED: Golf instruction for your big tournament: The trusted secrets of a member-guest juggernaut Week 3 : Play nine holes with the ball down, putting out, and compare score to Week 1. Short putting practice: Make a putting clock of six balls in a three-foot circle around a hole with medium slope. Practice until you can make a complete circuit around the clock without missing (30 minutes) Pitching practice: 20 to 30 yards from fairway grass and rough (30 minutes) Range time through the bag: Full routine on every shot, new club and new target on each shot (30 minutes) RELATED: Four top teachers on how to properly prepare for your next big event (without overpreparing) Week 4 : Play 18 holes with the ball down, putting out on every shot. Pick the single area from that experience that needs tuning (lag putting, chipping, driving) and do 30 minutes of range time working on a single swing key for that issue. RELATED: Golf instruction and strategy: 11 keys to enjoying a member-guest WATCH: GOLF DIGEST VIDEOS See the video. Shane Lowry's Epic Claret Jug Celebration


"We welcome everybody here, we just got to get red on everybody." We have four years to get that done, Coach Reid. pic.twitter.com/NItrinTDqt - Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) May 25, 2019 The 2023 NFL draft may be a long way away, but the announcement that Kansas City will host it is still fresh in everyone's minds. When the Chiefs broke from OTAs on Thursday, several reporters directed questions about landing the 2023 NFL draft bid at Chiefs coaches and players. The general attitude surrounding the announcement seems to be one of excitement. "Yeah, how great is that? I think it's a tribute to Kansas City itself, the fans," coach Andy Reid said. "It'll be wild, it'll be great for all the hotels and restaurants. I think it's a win-win. And we'll welcome everyone here. We just have to get red on everybody." Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes had an opportunity to spend time in Nashville, Tennessee, during the draft last month. He's very excited to see that event come to his new home. People from all over the country will get to experience Kansas City, especially its famous barbecue. "I think it is going to be awesome," Mahomes said. "First off, it is a great opportunity for the city to show off all the tradition and history that we have here. People are going to eat a lot of very good barbecue. They are going to get to see this city and everything that it has to offer. I think it is going to be an amazing experience." Even though Mahomes was in Nashville, the people behind bringing the NFL draft to Kansas City haven't asked for his input. He noted how great of a job the city did handling the parade when the Royals won the World Series in 2015. He has full confidence that they can get it done without his help. Sammy Watkins fully anticipates the Chiefs Kingdom to be out in full force to come and watch the team make their first-round selection. "I think it's exciting for all of the Kansas City people just to bring such a good thing to the city," Watkins said. "Everyone can come here and watch our player get picked. It's definitely a blessing." What do you think, Chiefs Kingdom? Will you watch the 2023 NFL draft from the comfort of your own home, or will you be out and about enjoying the festivities? Let us know your thoughts on Facebook and Twitter . MORE: 'Jeopardy' fans ripped James Holzhauer for how he said Dr. Dre's name but here's why he did it Former NFL great Mark Gastineau has a GoFundMe for the fight of his life How the Bulls can help the Lakers facilitate an Anthony Davis trade Kevin Durant's contributions are stamped indelibly into Warriors' culture Spurs' DeMar DeRozan 'possibly could be on the trade block' to Lakers


WBZ TV's Breana Pitts reports.


After missing the first month of the season recovering from shoulder surgery, Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Gregory Polanco is now headed back to the injured list with renewed issues in surgically repaired shoulder. On Saturday, Pittsburgh placed its young outfielder on the 10-day injured list with posterior left shoulder inflammation. ROSTER MOVE: We have placed outfielder Gregory Polanco on the 10-day injured list (retro to June 19) due to posterior left shoulder inflammation. Outfielder Jason Martin has been recalled from AAA Indy.   Pirates (@Pirates) June 22, 2019 The 27-year-old hasn't played since June 16 and hasn't hit a home run since June 6. Given his struggles in his return from surgery to repair the labrum in his left shoulder, the Pirates opted to give him more time to rehabilitate his shoulder and potentially rediscover his form. Polanco slashed .242/.301/.425 with a .726 OPS and six home runs in 153 at-bats this season. Before injuring his shoulder on a slide in September last season, Polanco was finishing off a career season with a .839 OPS, .340 OBP and 23 home runs. Pittsburgh's outfield is already stable with Melky Cabrera, Corey Dickerson and Starling Marte all providing steady production. However, the Pirates could potentially explore a deal in July to create a spot for Polanco if he is fully healthy. Related slideshow: The 2019 MLB season (Provided by imagn)


Washington will see a return of last week's light rainfall in the coming days, according to the seven-day forecast from drone-powered weather service Saildrone . Wednesday should see the most rain, with a predicted accumulation of 0.37 inches. The coming days will also bring warm temperatures, forecast to persist through Monday. The weather will bring a high temperature of 90 degrees on Thursday,. Skies will partially clear on Friday. Winds will stay fairly calm throughout the week, with the highest speeds on Wednesday at only 9 mph. This story was created automatically using Saildrone's local weather forecast data, then reviewed by an editor. We also incorporate historic weather data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


Everything was supposed to be quiet this week in Dallas. And then, like he does on Sundays, Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott dominated. In this case, he steamrolled the news cycle as everyone with an outlet weighed in on his worth to the team, his pending contract negotiations and potential holdout. In other news, there are lists abound from Madden ratings to top 100's which ruffled feathers. Meanwhile The Cowboys Wire looks at some of the biggest questions facing the team this year. Daily News Roundups Saturday, July 20 5 possible landing spots for former Cowboys WR Dez Bryant The former Cowboys wide receiver is coming off a torn achilles that he suffered after being signed by the New Orleans Saints in November of last year. By all accounts, Bryant is putting in work to make it back on the field this season. Here's a look at five spots for him, though it's likely he'll have to wait for injuries and training camp. Propped Up: Intriguing over-under wagers on Cowboys' Prescott, Elliott, Cooper For the gambling inclined, be sure to check out the recommendations on the yardage over-unders for the Dallas offense's biggest stars. While expectations are sky high, it may be prudent to pump the brakes on the Cowboys most consistent player. Friday, July 19 Tony Romo predicts no Witten dropoff, talks Prescott mechanics Former quarterback and scapegoat Tony Romo dropped by 105.3 The Fan to discuss all things Cowboys. He talked up his best friend Jason Witten and said Kellen Moore could be an improvement due to change being good as it breaks tendencies. Where could change not be good? Prescott's footwork and mechanics. Tyrone Crawford bar fight charges on hold, NFL yet to respond The Cowboys defensive end entered a diversion program in an attempt to get charges dropped stemming from a bar fight in the off-season. A suspension seems unlikely given the actions (or inaction) the league has taken in other recent situations. Thursday, July 18 Any and everyone has weighed in on Ezekiel Elliott's contract, but him The Cowboys get clicks. And in slow news cycle while outlets wait for training camp to begin, Mike Florio from Pro Football Talk stirred the pot which led everyone with a microphone to say something about Ezekiel Elliott and his contract situation. Wednesday, July 17 Cowboys dominate CBS Sports Top 100, but still have a snub The Cowboys lead the way with nine players in the top 100, but if someone's looking for another chip on their shoulder here's a good place to start. Dak Prescott again misses making the list by a mere five spots, but is outclassed by 14 other quarterbacks across the league. 6 NFL RBs who proved second contracts can be worthwhile investments While most running backs are replaceable, not all of them are. KD Drummond fights back against the running backs don't matter club, pointing out six of them in recent memory that didn't make their teams look foolish for paying up. Tuesday, July 16 3 under-the-radar Cowboys who could cash in after 2019 season It's impossible for NFL teams to pay everyone. Ben Grimaldi looks at three players who could demand considerable contracts after this season that may be the odd men out in Dallas. On the bright side, if these predictions bear out, the Cowboys likely performed well in 2019 and could cash in on compensatory picks. Dak Prescott's mechanics among Cowboys 10 biggest questions in 2019 The Cowboys will go as far as Dak Prescott can take them. When he is at his best his footwork is in concert with the rest of his body and he is as accurate as any quarterback in the league. When his footwork breaks down he finds himself in trouble. A look at this and nine other questions facing the Cowboys this year. Bad Boys: Cowboys lose Martin, Lawrence to top-10 picks in 2014 redraft When it comes to drafting, there's no team that's done it better than the Cowboys in recent memory. Their 2014 draft was so great that in a redraft from The Draft Network, their top two picks are off the board in the top 10. The player the Cowboys draft, on the other hand, isn't even planning on playing the 2019 season. Monday, July 15 3 Cowboys among Top 25 overall scores in Madden 20 A look at all the ratings for the next iteration in the Madden series. While the Cowboys did quite well for themselves, which aligns itself with the belief this is a top five roster in the league, there's at least one player incredulous and angry about where they sit. ESPN foresees future Ezekiel Elliott holdout among other predictions In a speculation-fueled look across the NFL, ESPN's Dan Graziano lays out his predictions. One of which, echoed by several throughout the week is that star running back Ezekiel Elliott will not be with the team at training camp as a contract stare-down begins. Sunday, July 14 Trysten Hill may be crowning point on Cowboys star-studded defense The high-motor quick-footed second-round draft pick out of Central Florida may be just what the doctor ordered for the Cowboys defense. Pairing his incredible motor and quickness with defensive coordinator and line coach Rod Marinelli could prove to be devastating for opposing offensive lines. DeMarcus Lawrence pursuing NFL sack record, addresses surgery rehab The best player on the Dallas defense is never satisfied. Despite the surgically repaired labrum that he played with for two years, DeMarcus Lawrence isn't tempering expectations, believing he can set the single-season sack record in 2019. MORE: Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson share rehab photos 5 possible landing spots for former Cowboys WR Dez Bryant Shane Lowry's Wife Wendy Honner is a Nurse Phil Simms: 'Multiple' teams were set to take Daniel Jones before No. 17 Excitement surrounding Derrius Guice returns to the surface


Go ahead, wipe that drool. We'll wait. You may have to pinch yourself, because this purple 'Cuda is the stuff of dreams. GT Motor Cars in Wallingford, Connecticut, is pleased to announce that this beauty is now for sale. There are two full binders of information on the 1970 Plymouth Barracuda you see here. This car was debuted at the Muscle Car & Corvette Nationals in 2018. It has all its original tags, build sheet, motor, and driveline. The icing on the cake may be its breathtaking Plum Crazy exterior paint, which is one of the most sought-after colors on a Chrysler. It's in immaculate condition and is truly an "investment grade" muscle car that will see its value only increase through the years. The car photographs beautifully at every angle thanks to a well-kept exterior and clean black interior. Everything inside the cabin is original, except for the carpets. This fully-documented 1970 Plymouth 'Cuda received a no-expense-spared rotisserie restoration. The entire restoration process was documented and captured in photographs. The previous owners were contacted to recount the vehicle, and the restorers verified exactly what was done to the Plymouth during the process and how they did it. This purple wonder has just 12 miles to the odometer after the restoration! It's powered by a 440 cubic-inch "Six-Pack" Tri-Power V8 engine mated to a 3-speed automatic transmission that delivers 360 horsepower. The options list includes power brakes, dual exhaust with bright tips, bucket seats, painted race mirrors, hood tie-down pins, woodgrain console, AM radio, body belt, and sill moldings, and a Carb Fresh Air "Shaker" package. This vehicle was manufactured at the Hamtramck, Michigan assembly plant, and was produced on production line 1. The actual name for the exterior color is In-Violet Metallic (for Plymouths), as Plum Crazy was strictly for Dodge. Even so, it's an unmistakable color and a head-turner for sure. Read more... Smokin' 1970 Plymouth 'Cuda AAR Could Become Yours Someone Needs To Grab This Famous 1970 Plymouth Cuda AAR


The Colts and cornerback Kenny Moore have agreed to terms on a four-year extension, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter ). The deal will make him the highest paid slot cornerback in NFL history in terms of new money. Exact terms of the deal are not yet known. Before the add-on, Moore had one year remaining on his contract. The Colts also had the option of keeping Moore via the restricted free agency tag beyond 2019, but the new deal will provide the Colts with long-term cost certainty and give security to the former undrafted free agent. The Colts claimed Moore off waivers from the Patriots just prior to the 2017 season. He made the cut as the team's No. 5 cornerback, but proved to be much more valuable than that late in the season when he took over for the injured Rashaan Melvin later in the season. In 2018, Moore won a starting role and truly took off. He graded out as the No. 32-ranked corner in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus, and finished out with three interceptions and 77 tackles. Outside of Darius Leonard , Moore was probably the Colts' most effective defensive playmaker last year. The Colts didn't necessarily have to extend Moore, who was still under club control for two more years, but they had the cap room to get a deal done after a quiet offseason.


Another wave of regime air strikes on Tuesday struck a jihadist bastion in northwest Syria where more than 40 civilians have been killed in several days of heavy bombardment, a war monitor said. Four children were among 10 people killed on Tuesday in government fire on several towns in the Idlib province and neighbouring Aleppo countryside, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. A hospital in the Idlib town of Kafranbel was hit by artillery shells on Tuesday, said David Swanson, a spokesman for the UN humanitarian office. "The facility is reportedly out of service due to severe structural damage," he told AFP. Tuesday's attacks follow two days of intensified regime bombardment on the region that killed a total of 31 civilians on Sunday and Monday, according to the Britain-based Observatory. Rescue volunteers and civilians were seen pulling dust-covered victims from the rubble of destroyed buildings in the wake of those strikes. Idlib and parts of the neighbouring provinces of Aleppo, Hama and Latakia are under the control of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a jihadist group led by Syria's former Al-Qaeda affiliate. The region is supposed to be protected from a massive government offensive by a September buffer zone deal, but the jihadist bastion has come under increasing bombardment by the regime and its ally Russia since late April. The Observatory says over 260 civilians have been killed in the spike in violence since then. More than 200,000 civilians have already been displaced by the upsurge of violence, according to the United Nations. The United Nations has warned an all-out offensive on the region would lead to a humanitarian catastrophe for its nearly three million residents. At least 20 health facilities have been hit by the escalation -- 19 of which remain out of service, the United Nations has said.


Looking to uncover all that Holland has to offer? Get to know this Minneapolis neighborhood by browsing its most popular local businesses, from an Asian restaurant to a coffee joint. Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top places to visit in Holland, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of neighborhood businesses. Read on for the results. 1. Hai Hai Topping the list is Indonesian breakfast and brunch spot HAI HAI . Located at 2121 University Ave. NE, it's the highest-rated business in the neighborhood, boasting four stars out of 422 reviews on Yelp. Start your meal off with some spring rolls, fried wontons or rice cakes as an appetizer before honing on main dishes like the Vietnamese crepe with bean sprouts, onion, lettuce, herbs and nuoc cham with your choice of protein or Hanoi Sticky Rice. Check out the full menu here . 2. El Taco Riendo Next up is Mexican spot El Taco Riendo , situated at 2412 Central Ave. NE With four stars out of 394 reviews on Yelp, it's proven to be a local favorite. This spot's expansive menu includes favorites such as tacos, burritos chimichangas, fajitas, nachos, tostadas, tamales, empanadas, quesadillas, enchiladas and much more. Visit the business's website for a complete list of offerings and for more information. 3. Anelace Coffee Check out Anelace Coffee , which has earned 4.5 stars out of 100 reviews on Yelp. You can find the coffee and tea spot at 2402 Central Ave. NE. Grab your computer just in case you need to do some work and score a caffeinated custom creation coffee or tea at this new internet-friendly cafe. Light pastries are also on offer throughout the morning and early afternoon. 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.


House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Wednesday that she is not considering censuring President Donald Trump for his conduct, arguing that if the House of Representatives were to reprimand him for alleged wrongdoing it would impeach him for those crimes . "I think censure is just a way out," Pelosi said at a Christian Science Monitor breakfast with reporters. "In other words, if the goods are there, you must impeach." Censure is a rare, formal rebuke Congress can take against the President, but a less severe punishment than impeachment, which could lead to his removal should two-thirds of the Senate find him guilty. "Censure is nice but it is not commensurate with the violations of the Constitution should we decide that's the way to go," she added. "That's a day at the beach for the President, or at his golf club or wherever he goes." But Pelosi maintained the House should not open an inquiry to consider impeaching the President "unless you're ready to" do so. The speaker has been clear that she does not want the Democratic-led House to impeach Trump only to see the Republican-led Senate acquit him of the charges. "If you're going to go down this path, you have to make sure that the public has an understanding of why," said Pelosi. The number of House Democrats who support opening an impeachment inquiry continues to grow after special counsel Robert Mueller released his report detailing multiple episodes of potential obstruction of justice into the investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential campaign. A CNN list shows that at least 69 out of a caucus of 235   just under 30%   support it. Pelosi said on Wednesday that impeachment isn't about politics or partisanship but patriotism before asserting that there would in fact be a political cost to opposing it. She said that if the President is impeached, senators considering the charges would understand that "they either honor their oath of office to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States" or "the public will hold them accountable for not holding the President accountable."


(Bloomberg) -- Tens of thousands of demonstrators marched in Brazil's major cities on Wednesday to protest a freeze to the education budget, adding to the headwinds buffeting President Jair Bolsonaro's legislative agenda. Students and sympathizers rallied in Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and elsewhere against a decision to suspend about $420 million -- or nearly one quarter of the education ministry's discretionary spending for federal universities -- from the 2019 budget. Speaking on a trip to Texas, the president described the demonstrators as "imbeciles" and "useful idiots". The first major protests of Bolsonaro's rule follow a sharp decline in his approval ratings, rising opposition in Congress and signs that the economy contracted in the first quarter. Uncertainty over the government's capacity to approve a much-needed overhaul of Brazil's overstretched pension system is roiling financial markets, delaying investment decisions and undermining business confidence. In another setback for the government, on Tuesday Congress voted to summon Education Minister Abraham Weintraub to explain the decision. In combative testimony to lawmakers on Wednesday he defended the freeze, blaming previous governments for failings in the education system and arguing that the country needed to prioritize basic schooling over universities. Disorder and Chocolates The freeze applies to universities' discretionary spending, such as equipment and research projects, rather than compulsory expenditures, such as teachers' salaries and pensions. According to the education ministry, lower-than-expected tax revenues are the reason for the suspension. It's not just the belt-tightening measures that have exacerbated the protests, but also the government's belligerent defense of the decision which helped to attract widespread support for the demonstrations. Weintraub initially said the cuts would apply to three universities that promoted "disorder" in their campuses. The minister subsequently announced a budget freeze for all of them and, in a bid to explain the measure, appeared on a video with Bolsonaro and 100 chocolates, saying they were asking universities to refrain from eating just a few of them. In an emailed note, the education ministry said the freeze is equal to only 3.4% of federal universities' total budget for the year, including non-discretionary spending, and that Weintraub is open to dialogue with institutions to strengthen the country's educational system. Bolsonaro has railed against public universities as bastions of "cultural Marxism". Weintraub is his second education minister since he took office in January. --With assistance from Luiza Ferraz and Murilo Fagundes. To contact the reporter on this story: David Biller in Rio de Janeiro at dbiller1@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Juan Pablo Spinetto at jspinetto@bloomberg.net, Walter Brandimarte, Bruce Douglas For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com ©2019 Bloomberg L.P.


Indians right-hander Carlos Carrasco was somewhat quietly one of the majors' most dominant starters from 2014 to '18. During that 807 2/3-inning, 131-start span, Carrasco recorded a 3.31 ERA/3.03 FIP with 10.18 K/9, 2.03 BB/9, a 48.0 percent ground-ball rate and upward of 20 wins above replacement. That five-year stretch convinced the Indians to keep and extend Carrasco in the offseason, when there were rumblings they could offload starters, signing him to a team-friendly contract . Two months into the season, though, the back-to-back-to-back AL Central champions haven't resembled their previous selves, in part because Carrasco hasn't managed the same results as he did in prior years. The 32-year-old Carrasco has pitched to a 4.98 ERA through 65 innings, averaging just over five frames per start after logging better than six an outing during the previous half-decade. Carrasco's 4.07 FIP is nowhere near as underwhelming as his ERA, but it's still a run higher than he and the Indians are accustomed to. His strikeout and walk rates are phenomenal (10.94 K/9, 1.52 BB/9), and his .353 batting average on balls in play further suggests positive regression in the run prevention department. Aside from those figures, though, there are legitimate reasons for concern regarding Carrasco. It begins with a newfound difficulty keeping the ball out of the air. Carrasco's ground-ball percentage has nosedived to a career-worst 39.2, leading to personal worsts in fly ball rate (38.7) and launch angle against (14.2). Surprise, surprise: Home run troubles have come with those changes. Carrasco's yielding gopher balls on 20 percent of flies, up from 12.7 during his aforementioned five-year stretch of excellence. It's not just homers, though   Carrasco's surrendering more damaging contact in general. He ranks in the bottom 8 percent of the league or worse in exit velocity against (90.9), barrel percentage against (14.1) and hard-hit rate (47.3 percent), according to Statcast , which also assigns Carrasco a below-average expected weighted on-base average against (.329, compared to .280 in 2018). So what's causing Carrasco to falter? His biggest problem seems to be his changeup, a pitch he has relied on between 16 and 18 percent of the time dating back to last season. Batters have posted a .432/.377 xwOBA versus the offering this season after mustering a matching (and weak) .224/.224 against it a year ago. As is typically the case with changeups, Carrasco has primarily used it in an effort to quell opposite-handed hitters. They've caused the most damage against Carrasco, though, having slashed .287/.331/.574 for a .371 wOBA. In essence, the average lefty swinger who has faced Carrasco in 2019 has hit like Trevor Story or Matt Chapman . That wasn't the case last year, when lefties managed a Joe Panik -esque .302 wOBA off Carrasco. It's happening in part because Carrasco isn't locating his change as precisely as he did in 2018, keeping it too close to the middle of the plate (and inside versus lefties). That wasn't true last season. Carrasco has had a similar problem with his curveball, having allowed a ludicrous .908/.719 wOBA/xwOBA when throwing it, though he has only turned to the pitch 2.3 percent of the time (down 5 percent from last year, when it was much more effective ). Cleveland's a 28-28 team with a minus-12 run differential, already facing a nine-and-a-half-game deficit in the division it has owned in recent seasons. Considering the myriad issues the Indians are facing   including the weeks-long absences of injured righties Corey Kluber and Mike Clevinger , not to mention fellow RHP Trevor Bauer 's own decline   a middling version of Carrasco is one of the last things they needed. That's what the Indians have gotten, though, and unless Carrasco returns to form, catching the first-place Twins is going to be an even tougher task.


Attention, Hello Kitty fans: The retail-empire-building feline is heading this way. The Hello Kitty Cafe Truck is scheduled to make a stop at Mayfair, near the mall's Barnes & Noble store, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. June 8. The truck   the food-related venture by Hello Kitty creator Sanrio   has been making the rounds in the United States since 2014, including a stop last year at Mayfair, 2500 N. Mayfair Road, Wauwatosa. The retail phenomenon that is Hello Kitty, which has been around since 1975, has generated more than $80 billion in sales worldwide. The cafe truck sells an assortment of Hello Kitty-related edibles, including macarons, cookies, mini cakes and "bow bottled water." It's also selling Hello Kitty Cafe stuff, including a canvas tote, water bottles and more   including a handful of limited-edition goodies. Contact Chris Foran at (414) 224-2182 or chris.foran@jrn.com. Follow him on Twitter at @cforan12 , Instagram at @chrisforansofcourse or Facebook at www.facebook.com/cforan12 . Our subscribers make this coverage possible. Subscribe to the Journal Sentinel today and get a special offer at jsonline.com/deal. Today's Best from Entertainment: Violent Femmes playing Miller Brewing's free 'Cheers to Milwaukee' concert June 6 7 things you should be doing in Milwaukee this weekend, from 'Star Wars' to art walks 'Nothing is set' in rumored HoneyPie cafe move in Bay View FOLLOW JS ENTERTAINMENT: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: The Hello Kitty Cafe Truck is pulling into Mayfair in June


A year ago, it was all about "Slide Job!" and Kyle Busch 's last-lap battle with Kyle Larson . The Cup Series is back at Chicagoland Speedway for the first time since. Joe Gibbs Racing and Team Penske have combined to win 15 of this season's 16 races. Will their dominance continue? Or will Victory Lane have a new visitor? Here's all the info for today's event: (All times are Eastern) START: Camping World President Brent Moody will give the command to start engines at 2:53 p.m. The green flag is scheduled to wave at 3:02 p.m. PRERACE: Garage opens at 9 a.m. The driver/crew chief meeting is at 1 p.m.. Driver introductions begin at 2:15 p.m. The invocation will be given by Glenn Spoolstra, director Windy City Raceway Ministries, at 2:46 p.m. Jim Cornelison will perform the National Anthem at 2:47 p.m. DISTANCE: The race is 267 laps (400.5 miles) around the 1.5-mile speedway. STAGES: Stage 1 ends on Lap 8 0. Stage 2 ends on Lap 160 . TV/RADIO: NBCSN will broadcast the race at 3 p.m. Coverage begins at 1 p.m. with NASCAR America on NBCSN. Countdown to Green airs at 2:30 p.m. on NBCSN. Motor Racing Network will broadcast the race. M RN's coverage begins at 2 p.m. SiriusXM NASCAR Radio will carry M RN's broadcast, which is also available at mrn .com. FORECAST : wunderground.com calls for mostly cloudy skies with a high of 89 degrees and a 21% chance of scattered thunderstorms for the start of the race. LAST TIME: Kyle Busch beat Kyle Larson in a last-lap duel a year ago. Kevin Harvick was third. TO THE REAR: William Byron (engine), Matt Tifft (failed inspection first time) PROVISIONAL STARTING LINEUP: Click here for starting lineup


PEBBLE BEACH Whatever your side on the "Are golfers athletes?" conversation, there's no debating this video capturing Zach Johnson's poor jumping-jack form doesn't make a strong case for the affirmative. That's right, jumping jacks. In its practice round coverage of the 2019 U.S. Open, Golf Channel cameras caught the two-time major winner breaking out calisthenics off a Pebble Beach green following a missed putt: https://twitter.com/DiggersGolf/status/1138367521634029568 Far be it from us to judge another man's athleticism glasses houses and what not but Johnson looks like an 80-year-old at a pre-sunrise Zumba class at the local Y. And if that's the penalty for a missed putt during a practice round, what's the punishment for what Johnson did at the Masters this year , when he accidentally hit his tee ball during a practice swing at Augusta National's 13th tee? The thought of ZJ breaking out push-ups at Amen Corner just gave Jim Nantz an ulcer. Whatever Johnson's reasoning, it's clear he needs a change of pace at this tournament: in 15 previous appearances at the U.S. Open, the 43-year-old has just one top-10 finish. See the video.


INDEPENDENCE, Mo. -- A dog was found Monday nearly hanging from the side of an I-70 overpass in Independence. Now Max's owner has questions about how the 16-year-old mixed breed ended up like he did. "The way I found him, I just couldn't believe somebody would do that to an animal at all," David Fredman said. Fredman was headed to work north on Sterling under the I-70 overpass when he spotted Max in desperate need of help. "I saw what looked like a dog that was being hung over the side of some sort of power box. The cord was definitely strangling him. His feet were touching the ground, but they were barely touching the ground. He was trying to whip his head left and right but could barely move it," Fredman said. Fredman first called 911, then grabbed his knife. "As soon as I cut him down, he couldn't breathe. He was trying to breathe. I tried get him to walk. He couldn't walk," he said. Fredman took the dog to KC Pet Project, who discovered Max was microchipped and his owner had been looking for him since Monday morning when he somehow disappeared from about a mile away. "Two hours later there was a phone call came in asking if I was missing my dog," Dee Vaughn said. Vaughn said there's no way the 16-year old dog who struggles to walk could have gone that far, that fast on his own. He was horrified when he saw photos of what Max had been through. "Literally you could see the imprint around his neck where they hung him," Vaughn said. But he was also grateful for the man who stopped. He invited him to his home as soon as they both got off work Monday. "Thank you, David, so much. You stopped what you were doing to turn around and save my dog's life," Vaughn told Fredman. The overpass and surrounding area is an area frequented by the homeless. Both men now just wonder if someone put Max in a very bad spot or if it was something sinister. "I don't know if he fell off or somebody tried to hang him. The cameras will show," Vaughn said referring to surveillance cameras from nearby or possibly SCOUT cameras he's been unable to access. "From the way it looks somebody could have definitely been on purpose. They could have strung him up like that. It was really sad," Fredman said. Vaughn said when he called police, about the possible theft of his dog and the manner he was found, he was told to contact animal control.     ©2019 WDAF-TV, Kansas City Visit WDAF-TV, Kansas City at www.fox4kc.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.


TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP)   James Blackman is in the driver's seat in the quarterback competition at Florida State. As the Seminoles' opened preseason practice on Friday, Blackman is the unquestioned leader. He was taking the first-team reps and guiding the Seminoles with a smile and business-like approach of a starting QB. But Florida State's quarterback competition is a wide-open race, with no timetable to end. "Hearing the word compete, it challenges me," Blackman said. And there are many challenges for Blackman to embrace. He was Florida State's starter in 2017, but Blackman acknowledges he's in an open competition with Wisconsin transfer Alex Hornibrook and others. Hornibrook completed 60 percent of his passes and led the Badgers to a 26-6 mark as their starter. Blackman is the early leader to be the starter when Florida State opens the season against Boise State on Aug. 31 in Jacksonville, Florida. But it's not a given. With Blackman and Hornibrook already in the mix, the Seminoles are also awaiting word on whether Louisville transfer Jordan Travis or Western Michigan's Wyatt Rector will be approved for a waiver after they transferred in the offseason. Travis and Rector will practice but for now the quarterback battle remains a two-man competition. "We're going to grade these guys every day on what we ask them to do and see if these guys can take information from the meeting room to the field, and who can run our offense and do it efficiently and do it to where we're not being careless with the football," Florida State coach Willie Taggart said. "A guy's got to take care of the football and run our offense. A guy's got to go out there and get all 11 guys running on the same page and do it consistently enough at a high level. That's what we're looking for." Blackman has challenged himself this offseason. He wants to improve on his accuracy, deep passes and limit turnovers. As a veteran quarterback and leader, he helped organize Florida State's offseason player-only workouts. The redshirt sophomore feels he has a strong grasp of what new offensive coordinator Kendal Briles wants to run. Even though Blackman has had three offensive coordinators and varied schemes in his short career, he said he has an understanding of "what to do and when to do it and how to do it" when it comes to what Briles' high-tempo, spread offense. And he's learning the scheme without a playbook, everyone is. It's a new wrinkle for Florida State in 2019, something Taggart has embraced   and so have the players. "It's a great thing not having a playbook because you have to go and make sure you write up the plays by yourself," Blackman said. "And go study by yourself and make your own playbook. Guys are really putting in the work to learn and understand your job." Hornibrook is also getting a crash course in the Briles' offense. A drop-back passer in three seasons as a starter at Wisconsin, Hornibrook appears to be an unusual fit for what Briles wants. But if Hornibrook can adapt, present himself as an option to run and be accurate, he has a chance to win the job. His first impression of Florida State was one of awe over at the Seminoles' receivers. "I had never seen that much talent in a wide receiver corps before and everybody just seemed hungry," Hornibrook said. "I know we have a lot of weapons out here at receiver and I am excited to get them the ball." But he'll have to beat out Blackman, who has not only improved many aspects of his game since 2017 but is also packed on a few more pounds. His weight gain is noticeable. The 6-foot-5 Blackman played his first game at Florida State as a true freshman in 2017 weighing just 162 pounds. Now he proudly said he's up to 195 pounds. And Blackman is also ready to run, something Briles has done with quarterbacks at Baylor, Florida Atlantic and Houston. While Blackman may look like the typical drop-back quarterback, he is comfortable on the move. Is he more mobile than people think? "You'll see," Blackman said. "Don't blink." Notes: Florida State opened preseason practice without receiver Tamorrion Terry, who had 744 receiving yards and a team-high eight touchdowns in 2018 as a freshman. There is no timetable for Terry's return, but he is expected to play in the Seminoles' opener, Taggart said. ___ More AP college football: https://apnews.com/Collegefootball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25


Arizona State and the University of Texas have scheduled a home-and-home football series that will mark the first time the schools have met in the regular season. Fans will have to wait more than a decade for those showdowns though. The first will be Sept. 11, 2032, at Sun Devil Stadium, with the Sun Devils traveling to Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin the following season, Sept. 10, 2033, at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin. The teams played once in the postseason with Texas defeating ASU 52-34 in the 2007 Holiday Bowl in San Diego. "This agreement with the University of Texas provides ASU with yet another elite series with a Power 5 opponent," ASU Athletic Director Ray Anderson said in a press release. "The addition of Texas complements our future with LSU, Michigan State, Oklahoma State, Mississippi State and BYU. We have been working with the University of Texas on a potential series for a long time and we are very excited to make this announcement." The ASU-Texas series was made possible by ASU agreeing to drop its 2021 football game with Louisiana-Lafayette. Instead, the Sun Devils will play Southern Utah in 2021. Reach the reporter at Michelle.Gardner@Gannett.com or 602 444-4783. Follow her on Twitter @MGardnerSports. Subscribe to azcentral.com today. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona State and Texas football will play a home and home series Related slideshow: Ranking the 10 best college football mascots (provided by For The Win)


Marc Marquez says his MotoGP teammate Jorge Lorenzo's Dutch TT practice crash proves this year's Honda is not the "easiest bike on the grid". Lorenzo lost the front of his RC213V heading through the Turn 7 left-hander of the Ruskenhoek in the closing stages of FP1, and suffered a vertebra fracture which has ruled him out of the next two grands prix. All factory Honda riders have complained about the 2019 bike being harder to ride than its predecessor, with Marquez also admitting the fast corners at Assen are showing "all these problems are there." "Looks like he's struggling and now he gets injured again, and looks like every time he pushes a bit more with the Honda he crashes," Marquez said when asked about Lorenzo's crash. "It's difficult to understand for him. But Honda is trying to help him, but I cannot lose time thinking about these things. "I'm worried for him, but I'm just focused on my way, what's best for the team, for my championship, and that [his crash] shows that we don't have the easiest bike on the grid. But we are on top of the championship, so we need to keep going. "Cal and me we have a very similar comment, and Takaaki [Nakagami] too. Jorge sometimes is in a different way. But we are trying to work, trying to analyse all that problems and try to improve. "It's true in this race track that all these problems are there, especially in the fast corners. But at the moment, even like this we are able to be there and Honda is working very good. "Already they bring some new things to try to understand." Crutchlow has been the most vocal critic of the '19 bike, and says its problems stem from a "combination" of changes made from its predecessor. "I have no idea [what's wrong], I'm not a technician," Crutchlow added. "I know what they've changed, it's visible to see what they've changed. But that doesn't mean it's necessarily just that. "Honestly, it can be a combination of many things. As I also said last year we weren't turning with the bike, we were struggling with the turning. "The reality is it looks like our Honda and last year's Honda is turning, but it's Marc that's turning it. "He was leaning the bike five or six degrees more than [Danilo] Petrucci in Mugello. You could see it blatantly on the TV to go round the same corner on the same line. "We've been upside down with the thing and it feels the same. So that's why I say it's a combination, it's not just one thing. "We have a stronger engine, but we know on the engine braking side it's more difficult. "The physicality of this year's bike is way more than last year, and even last year's bike was more [physical] than other manufacturers. The engine braking seems inconsistent." Additional reporting by Mark Bremer


The Vikings drafted T.J. Clemmings in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL Draft. At the time, many thought the pick was a stretch. It turns out it was. The offensive lineman started 30 games for the Vikings over his first two seasons and was not good. Since then, he's started just two games, both coming in 2017 with the Redskins. Maybe Clemmings, 27, will find some success with his new team. The Chicago Bears announced that they have signed the former Pittsburgh product. We have signed veteran tackle T.J. Clemmings. : https://t.co/JQ6RaKbsPm pic.twitter.com/bt5eGbW5CF - Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) May 31, 2019 MORE: Boxing fans, including Conor McGregor, react to Anthony Joshua's stunning loss to Andy Ruiz Jr. Report: Suns, Bulls offering lottery picks for Lonzo Ball Kyle Shanahan on the cutting edge with 'positionless' offense Uncertainty with Ben Watson should push Patriots to trade for Kyle Rudolph This is how the Dallas Mavericks head into the offseason


WINNERS Status quo   Martin Truex Jr. 's victory in Sunday's Coca-Cola 600 gave Joe Gibbs Racing its eighth win in 13 points races. JGR and Team Penske   the top two teams in the series   went 1-2-3 with Truex (JGR), Joey Logano (Penske) and Kyle Busch (JGR). Hendrick Motorsports   Placed all four cars in the top 10 for the first time since Texas in April 2016. Chase Elliott was fourth, Alex Bowman placed seventh, Jimmie Johnson was eighth and William Byron finished ninth. This was Bowman's fourth consecutive top-10 finish, the longest streak of his career. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.   Scored his first top-five finish of the season. Chris Buescher   Sixth-place finish was his best of the season. Corey LaJoie   Finished 12th. That was his second finish of 12th or better in the past four points races for Go Fas Racing. LOSERS Those who don't like the status quo   Joe Gibbs Racing and Team Penske have won 12 of the first 13 points races of the season. When will someone keep both organizations from victory lane again? Joe Gibbs Racing   The cars of Erik Jones , Martin Truex Jr. and affiliate Matt DiBenedetto had tire issues that sent them into the wall. A Goodyear executive said that officials found that the tires went down as a result of over deflection from low pressures and high loads. The issues came a day after JGR drivers Christopher Bell and Brandon Jones also had tire issues in the Xfinity race. Denny Hamlin   Placed 17th in the Coca-Cola 600. He's finished 16th or worse in each of the last four points races.


A man was making fireworks in a garage when one of them ignited and blew off his hand, according to the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office. A spokesperson for the sheriff's office said it all happened around 9:15 a.m. in the 3900 block of East Point Drive on Saturday. They said the man was making fireworks in a garage of a home when one of them ignited at some point and blew off most of his left hand. He also suffered injuries to his torso. The man was taken to the hospital and is expected to survive. To manufacture fireworks, you must have a permit issued by the state and it is unknown if the man had a permit or not. The state fire marshal is investigating this incident. RELATED STORIES 11 injured in Webster Groves fireworks show mishap Having fun with fireworks? Leave it to the pros


When the Jacksonville Jaguars took linebacker Quincy Williams late in the third-round many draft pundits were unfamiliar with the young defender from Murray State. However, general manager Dave Caldwell and the front office felt very confident in the selection and we've seen why in the summer. After having a good showing in organized and minicamp team activities, Williams is still catching the eyes of many, including those of head coach Doug Marrone. Before heading onto the practice field Tuesday morning, Marrone gave the rookie high praise in terms of his effort and playmaking ability in practice by stating that he may just be the fastest player of training camp. Marrone on @quincywilliams_ : "When the ball is snapped, I think he might be the fastest player on our football field right now." pic.twitter.com/M2v0jmH3Gv - #DUUUVAL (@Jaguars) July 30, 2019 Williams has been seeing some time with the starters, so hearing Marrone praise him in such a way is huge. And while Marrone also stated that Williams has made mistakes as all rookies do, he also added that the former Murray State standout has been great with correcting himself. Head Coach Doug Marrone meets the media before the fifth practice of 2019 training camp. https://t.co/ghzouAPxbl - #DUUUVAL (@Jaguars) July 30, 2019 Williams' impressive start to camp is no doubt what the fans and staff wanted to witness as the team will need someone to take Telvin Smith's spot at the weak-side linebacker position. Training camp should definitely help him to get where he needs to be by Week 1 as offensive coordinator John DeFilippo and Nick Foles seem to be consistently challenging the defense. Additionally, the time the Jags see on the field against the Ravens Week 1 in joint practices should help give a better evaluation on Williams, but clearly the arrow is currently pointing up. MORE: Jayson Tatum and others defend LeBron James for celebrating at Bronny's AAU game Lions training camp: Day 5 participation report, A'Shawn Robinson returns Packers training camp practice roundup: July 30 MLB Trade Rumors: Latest on Noah Syndergaard, Felipe Vazquez, Edwin Diaz and More Tom Brady disobeys Bill Belichick at practice, and suffers the consequences


American Airlines is apologizing to a Houston doctor after the doctor was briefly removed from a flight because of her clothing. According to her Twitter account, Dr. Tisha Rowe was trying to board a Houston-bound American Airlines flight in Kingston, Jamaica the morning of Sunday, June 30th. "So American Airlines just told me I couldn't board the flight without putting a jacket over my assets. My shorts covered everything but apparently was too distracting to enter the plane. I guess that's why they are American Airlines?" In a series of tweets, Rowe, who was travelling with her five-year old son, said her shorts were deemed too distracted. She wrote that "we are policed for being black. Our bodies are over sexualized as women and we must adjust to make everyone around us comfortable. I've seen white women with much shorter shorts board a plane without a blink of an eye. I guess if it's a nice ass vs a @Serena booty it's okay." Rowe wrote that American Airlines asked her to cover up if she wanted to board the plane. Rowe says she had to walk down the aisle, wrapped in a blanket, in order to get to her seat. In a statement, the airline says: "We were concerned about Dr. Rowe's comments, and reached out to her and our team at the Kingston airport to gather more information about what occurred. We apologize to Dr. Rowe and her son for their experience, and have fully refunded their travel. We are proud to serve customers of all backgrounds and are committed to providing a positive, safe travel experience for everyone who flies with us." KHOU 11 reviewed the rules for American Airlines passengers. It asks that passengers, "Dress appropriately; bare feet or offensive clothing aren't allowed." KHOU 11 is hoping to interview Dr. Rowe. Look for the interview TONIGHT AT 10.


MOUNT VERNON, Texas (AP) Art Briles was back at his roots Monday, coaching a high football team in Texas after a season in Italy and more than three years after the two-time Big 12 champion coach was fired by Baylor in the wake of a sexual assault scandal. Briles is now coaching at Mount Vernon, a school just off Interstate 30 in East Texas between Dallas and the Arkansas line. He last coached high school 20 years ago, after winning four state championships in Stephenville, which is located on the other side of Dallas. ''I knew there was a yes out there somewhere because I found a lot of nos. But I was just thankful that the yes was here,'' Briles said. ''Honestly that's why I went to Italy, because it was really the first opportunity that I had. It really didn't matter to me where it was at. It's just if there's a ball that looks funny, I want to be on the field with it.'' While expressing his gratitude about being home in Texas, where all of his coaching career has been except for the time in Italy, the 63-year-old Briles didn't discuss in depth his time at Baylor or departure from the school. Attorneys Darrell Barger and Ernest Cannon said in a written statement handed out before Briles' post-practice availability that he ''understands and appreciates the public's interest in what occurred at Baylor University.'' But they said Briles is a defendant in a civil lawsuit brought against him in July 2018 related to 2014 incidents ''that the plaintiff alleges were physical (non-sexual) assault by her former boyfriend.'' At practice in the Texas heat, Briles was upbeat as he tried to teach his new team - not knowing many of their names - the passing offense he has had such success with through the years. He said the kids ''were unbelievable'' though they certainly weren't ready to play a game. They have some time before the season opener Aug. 30 on the road. Briles was hired by Mount Vernon on a two-year contract in May, after the school's previous coach left for his alma mater. Briles was still in Italy when he was initially contacted about the possibility by a woman from Mount Vernon who once worked with him at Baylor. ''I've been doing this a long time. If this is the last dance, I'm good with it. I was good with Italy being the last dance,'' said Briles, who acknowledged he knew nothing about Mount Vernon before that call. ''Goose egg, I mean, actually zero.'' Before that, Briles hadn't been able to land a job in coaching in the United States since being let go by Baylor, though the coach said Monday that he had ''three or four opportunities'' in late February. Briles didn't elaborate, other than to say they were in Texas. Southern Mississippi coach Jay Hopson wanted to hire Briles as offensive coordinator in February, but the school's athletic director quashed the idea. He was hired as an assistant by Hamilton in the Canadian Football League in 2017, but after public backlash the Tiger-Cats quickly rescinded the move. ''This deal just happened. I had opportunities this spring that I didn't take because I was in Italy, so I kind of just thought I'd go back over in Europe next year. Because it's not a bad deal,'' he said. ''They love football and you play it 10 months out of the year, which I love. And the game is pretty pure. The players play because they love the game.'' Briles was let go at Baylor after an external investigation revealed in May 2016 that the school had for years mishandled numerous sexual assault allegations by students, including some against football players. The Pepper Hamilton firm's investigation found at least 17 women who reported being sexually assaulted by 19 football players. Briles has insisted he did not cover up reports of assaults by players. Baylor, which is still waiting for the outcome of an NCAA investigation into the school's conduct, declined comment Monday night. Along with the statement Barger and Cannon handed out a copy of a May 2017 letter from Baylor's general counsel that the attorneys say is ''a letter of exoneration from wrongdoing in any sexual assault case.'' The attorneys also cited in their statement a 115-page independent investigation by Title IX consultants Margolis-Healy in September 2014 citing no such failings in the football program, but identifying ''problems within Baylor's campus safety leadership.''