UNC Charlotte just announced on their social media pages that one of the victims in the deadly school shooting just had surgery. Rami Alramadhan, 20, was one of the students injured after a former student entered his classroom and opened fire. UNCC said Rami had asked them to let everyone know that he just underwent surgery but is healing and doing great. The school is asking everyone to keep Alramadhan, 19-year-old Drew Pescaro, 20-year-old Sean DeHart and 23-year-old Emily Houpt in your thoughts as they all continue to heal. THE SHOOTING Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police are trying to figure out why a gunman opened fire at UNC Charlotte on Tuesday evening. Two students were killed and four were hurt during the shooting in a classroom in the Kennedy building, police confirmed. Police said the students who died at the scene were identified as 19-year-old Ellis Parlier and 21-year-old Riley Howell.


The Golden State Warriors' franchise has been in flux since early Sunday evening, with Kevin Durant choosing to join the Brooklyn Nets in free agency. Now, the Warriors are reconstructing their roster in the aftermath of Durant's departure. The Warriors reportedly traded Andre Iguodala to the Memphis Grizzlies, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. Golden State will also send Memphis its 2024 protected first-round pick and two other future draft picks. Golden State is trading Andre Iguodala to the Memphis Grizzlies, league source tells ESPN. Warriors are sending a 2024 protected first-round pick in the 2024 (protected 1-4), 2025 (protected 1) and 2026 unprotected. - Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2019 The move to trade Iguodala comes after the Warriors reportedly did a sign-and-trade with the Nets to bring D'Angelo Russell to Golden State, per Wojnarowski. With the sign-and-trade, the Warriors will sign Russell to a 4-year, $117 million deal. Golden State and Brooklyn have agreed on a sign-and-trade, sending D'Angelo Russell to the Warriors on a four-year, $117M maximum contract, league sources tell ESPN. - Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2019 Since Russell came in on a max contract, the Warriors had to shed some of their salary. Iguodala was on the Warriors' books for the 2019-20 season for about $17.1 million. He was set to be an unrestricted free agent next summer. Iguodala was a key piece for the Warriors during their title runs. He won Finals MVP during the 2015 NBA Finals, and his ability to defend some of the league's best players such as LeBron James was significant for the Warriors. Iguodala was arguably Golden State's best defender after Draymond Green. With the Warriors picking up Russell, though, they add an emerging young star. Russell played in his first All-Star game this past season, and he averaged a career-high 21.1 points per game on 43.4% shooting, along with averaging a career-high 7.0 assists a game. MORE: Jimmy Butler's decision to sign with the Miami Heat just got super awkward Andre Iguodala tweets cryptic message after Durant's free agency news is announced NBA Free Agency 2019: The top players It looks like the Patriots won't be doing a Super Bowl champion visit to the White House D'Angelo Russell Heading to Golden State Warriors Via Sign and Trade With Nets


Boeing is planning a more comprehensive software update to its 737 Max planes after the US Federal Aviation Administration uncovered a new issue, according to multiple reports. Boeing is redesigning the flight control system to take the input from two computers during a flight instead of just one, both The Seattle Times and Bloomberg reported. The FAA uncovered a new issue with the planes in June, adding to Boeing's problems following the two fatal crashes by the planes that killed 346 people. One former Boeing engineer said the reported new changes are "a huge deal" and said: "It's absolutely the right thing to do." Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Boeing is reportedly redesigning the flight control system of the 737 Max to deal with a new flaw uncovered by the US Federal Aviation Administration, going beyond the initial software update that it pledged to introduce in the aftermath of the plane's two fatal crashes. The Seattle Times reported on Thursday that Boeing is making a fundamental change to the flight-control software in the Max after the FAA flagged a new issue with the plane in June, which caused the plane to go into a dive. The change will see the plane take the inputs from both of its flight-control computers during a flight instead of just one - the system that according to The Seattle Times has been standard on 737 planes for decades. News of the update comes as the FAA faces fresh scrutiny for how it originally certified the plane, the Seattle Times report said. Bloomberg also reported the redesign. Regulators, The Seattle Times reported, felt that pilots could not act as a safeguard if the plane's systems malfunctioned or caused problems. Boeing previously told pilots that they needed to fulfill this role after the first crash by a 737 Max plane. Peter Lemme, a former flight-controls engineer at Boeing, told The Seattle Times that the new update, which takes the input from the two computers, is "a huge deal." "I'm overjoyed to hear Boeing is doing this," he said. "It's absolutely the right thing to do." Before the new issue was discovered in June, Boeing had pledged a software update to deal with problems in the plane's automated-anti stall software called MCAS. MCAS is believed to be responsible for two fatal crashes involving the plane, in October 2018 and March 2019, which killed a total of 346 people. This update meant that the plane would compare the inputs from two sensors that measure the plane's position in the sky, instead of just one. Boeing had completed that update, though it had not yet been approved by the FAA or regulators in other countries. It is not clear whether the new update entirely replaces this original update, or if Boeing still intends to make this original update to the planes. The plane has been grounded around the world since March and under the scrutiny of the FAA, which needs to certify changes to the plane before it can fly again. People familiar with Boeing's plans told Bloomberg and The Seattle Times that Boeing expects to be able to present its final software updates to the FAA for certification by the end of September, meaning the plane could fly by October. While this is significantly later than Boeing's earlier estimates, it is sooner than some in the industry are now fearing. Many airlines have said they are not scheduling their Max planes to fly until January 2020 after seeing a series of delays to the plane's return.


INDIO (CBSLA)   Arrests at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival were down from previous years with police announcing 99 arrests were made during the festival's opening weekend. According to Indio police, out of the 99 arrested, 90% were arrested for either drug or alcohol-related offenses. The number of arrests has decreased from previous years with 106 arrests reportedly made at the music festival in 2018 and 125 arrests made in 2017. More than 120,000 people were reported to be in attendance during the first weekend of the 3-day long music festival. The drop in the number of arrests was said to coincide with law-enforcement changes at the festival, including the use of drone surveillance.


Nearly a week has passed since Hank Haney tweeted that 23-year-old Jeongeun Lee6's victory in the U.S. Womens Open was vindication of his controversial prediction that a Korean would win. Issues of political correctness and public relations aside, the young champion's name was a reminder that our planet is a big place. The natural question being, who are the other five golfing Jeongeun Lees who forced the now fifth-ranked female golfer in the world to add a numeral? A plight often associated with prisoners, robots and characters in science fiction novels isn't so amusing when it becomes a fact of your existence. As if golf isn't hard enough already. Reporting credit owed to Golf Digest Korea editor-in-chief Eunjeong Sohn (who I call EJ), who tracked down and translated an article written this week by HoJun Sung in the daily newspaper Joon-Ang Ilbo. Sung sought to answer the question of "the other five" players in the relatively short history of the Korean Ladies Professional Golf Association Tour, and here's what he found. The first Jeongeun Lee (above) is 43 years old, retired, and busy raising has an 8-year-old son and a 5-year-old daughter, though still takes time to teach the game to people close to her. She's one year older than Se Ri Pak, who in 1998 won the U.S. Women as a rookie and sparked a generation of young girls in her country to play. The second Jeongeun Lee (above) is 42, and played most of her career on the JLPGA Tour in Japan. Her best finish was second-place in the Japan Tour Mizuno Open. Once her clubs were temporarily lost when they were switched with the bag of other Lee. She now works as a teaching pro at the Pyeongtaek Golf Course in the Gyeonggi Province of South Korea. The third Jeongeun Lee (above) is 34 and played in Japan at the same time as the second. Many episodes of confusion were capped by a particularly frustrating mistake regarding a hotel reservation, and that was when she decided to change her name Jiwoo Lee. Her career highlight is winning the Panasonic Open in Japan. She's now retired and teaches at Gangnam in Seoul. The fourth Jeongeun Lee (above) is 32 and competed on the KLPGA Tour as recently 2015. Now married with a one-year-old daughter, she still occasionally tees it for prize money on screen golf tours. (If you're curious about the high-stakes and burgeoning world of simulator golf tournaments, you can read this February 2019 magazine piece reported on my travels to Korea . This Lee was once contacted to give a lecture, but it turned out event organizers were looking for number five. She's also grown accustomed to receiving erroneous Facebook congratulations for rounds she didn't post. The fifth Jeongeun Lee (above) is 31, has an impressive resume of wins, and placed 34th in the 2019 U.S. Womens Open at Charleston Country Club. She competes mainly on the LPGA Tour. As Bill Fields wrote for espn.com , this Lee "uses the numeral only when playing in South Korea." The eldest Jeongeun Lee, the "original," told reporter Hojun Sung, "There are a lot of people who use the name 'Jeongeun Lee' in Korea. It is true that there are uncomfortable things with the same name. "However, Lee5 and Lee6 are excellent. So I feel better now. I cheer for my younger Lees. " As for us average choppers, consider yourself lucky that you're probably the best golfer named [insert your name here] that you know.


Acura Team Penske's Helio Castroneves led the times in third practice for tomorrow's Mobil 1 Sportscar Grand Prix at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, but Ryan Hardwick shunted the Paul Miller Racing Lamborghini Huracan into the Turn 2 wall. Castroneves lapped the 2.459-mile course in the fastest time seen yet this weekend, 65.632sec, to edge the weekend's pacesetter Colin Braun by 0.152sec and just narrowly miss eclipsing the 135mph barrier. Third fastest was the Watkins Glen-winning #55 Mazda RT24-P of Jonathan Bomarito and Harry Tincknell ahead of Pipo Derani's best effort in the fastest of the Cadillac DPi-V.R's, the #31 Action Express Racing entry. Tristan Nunez was fifth in the second Mazda ahead of the Juan Pablo Montoya/Dane Cameron-driven second Acura. GT Le Mans again looked close with four different marques in the top four   Ryan Briscoe in the #67 Ford leading the Jesse Krohn/John Edwards BMW M8, the #911 Porsche, and the #3 Corvette C7.R. Robbie Foley grabbed top spot in GT Daytona in the Turner Motorsport BMW M6 ahead of Ben Keating in the Riley Motorsports Mercedes AMG GT, but the big news in class was Hardwick's shunt. He was able to step from the car without obvious hurt, but the Paul Miller Racing team faces a thrash to make the field for tomorrow's race. Qualifying begins at 11.30 local (Eastern) time. ClaDriverClassChassisLapsTimeGapInterval 1 Ricky Taylor DPi Acura DPi 33 1'05.632 2 Colin Braun DPi Nissan DPi 32 1'05.784 0.152 0.152 3 Harry Tincknell DPi Mazda DPi 34 1'05.947 0.315 0.163 4 Pipo Derani DPi Cadillac DPi 32 1'06.001 0.369 0.054 5 Tristan Nunez DPi Mazda DPi 27 1'06.148 0.516 0.147 6 Dane Cameron DPi Acura DPi 27 1'06.178 0.546 0.030 7 Jordan Taylor DPi Cadillac DPi 29 1'06.433 0.801 0.255 8 Filipe Albuquerque DPi Cadillac DPi 36 1'06.438 0.806 0.005 9 Tristan Vautier DPi Cadillac DPi 33 1'06.757 1.125 0.319 10 Stephen Simpson DPi Cadillac DPi 34 1'06.989 1.357 0.232 11 Victor Franzoni DPi Cadillac DPi 32 1'07.275 1.643 0.286 12 Cameron Cassels LMP2 ORECA LMP2 28 1'09.472 3.840 2.197 13 Dalton Kellett LMP2 ORECA LMP2 34 1'09.846 4.214 0.374 14 Richard Westbrook GTLM Ford GT 29 1'13.739 8.107 3.893 15 John Edwards GTLM BMW M8 GTE 32 1'13.828 8.196 0.089 16 Nick Tandy GTLM Porsche 911 RSR 32 1'14.038 8.406 0.210 17 Antonio Garcia GTLM Corvette C7.R 29 1'14.062 8.430 0.024 18 Laurens Vanthoor GTLM Porsche 911 RSR 32 1'14.092 8.460 0.030 19 Dirk Muller GTLM Ford GT 29 1'14.469 8.837 0.377 20 Marcel Fassler GTLM Corvette C7.R 32 1'14.644 9.012 0.175 21 Connor de Phillippi GTLM BMW M8 GTE 31 1'14.708 9.076 0.064 22 Robby Foley GTD BMW M6 GT3 28 1'16.229 10.597 1.521 23 Jeroen Bleekemolen GTD Mercedes-AMG GT3 30 1'16.637 11.005 0.408 24 Jack Hawksworth GTD Lexus RC F GT3 31 1'16.710 11.078 0.073 25 Andy Lally GTD Lamborghini Huracan GT3 32 1'16.760 11.128 0.050 26 Lawson Aschenbach GTD Mercedes-AMG 29 1'16.858 11.226 0.098 27 Zacharie Robichon GTD Porsche 911 GT3 R 23 1'16.908 11.276 0.050 28 Toni Vilander GTD Ferrari 488 GT3 29 1'16.908 11.276 0.000 29 Patrick Long GTD Porsche 911 GT3 R 26 1'16.972 11.340 0.064 30 Matt Plumb GTD McLaren 720S GT3 27 1'16.986 11.354 0.014 31 Townsend Bell GTD Lexus RC F GT3 31 1'17.020 11.388 0.034 32 Trent Hindman GTD Acura NSX GT3 30 1'17.024 11.392 0.004 33 Ryan Hardwick GTD Lamborghini Huracan GT3 7 1'17.093 11.461 0.069 34 Ana Beatriz GTD Acura NSX GT3 29 1'17.292 11.660 0.199 View full results


Firefighters at a Chinese airport responded within minutes when the crew of taxiing Boeing 737-800 reported sparks coming from an engine. The firefighters then sprayed foam on the wrong 737-800, dousing a different airline's plane at the airport serving the southeastern Chinese city of Fuzhou. Eight firetrucks arrived to the scene just four minutes after the initial report. The Associated Press says they "quickly turned their attention to the correct plane, but the other one   with passengers aboard   was delayed 10 hours and the entire incident delayed 30 flights, the airport said in a statement." No one was injured, according to media reports. It all started when the crew of a Beijing-bound Air China 737-800 reported problems with one of the plane's engines. When firefighters arrived, the Air China aircraft's engines were switched off. But exhaust fumes were visible from a nearby Fuzhou Airlines 737-800, so the firefighters mistakenly sprayed foam on that plane instead. The airport's control alerted firefighters of the mistake. Fuzhou Airlines tells AP its aircraft ended up covered in fire-retardant white foam and had to undergo a safety check after the incident. It finally took off about 10 hours later The airport apologized for the inconvenience to travelers.


The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and All-Pro defensive tackle Gerald McCoy have finally agreed to part ways. It's been an ongoing saga this offseason as many wondered whether the franchise star, and his $13 million salary, would return in 2019. Now, we finally have our answer. Buccaneers are releasing six-time Pro-Bowl DT Gerald McCoy, who was due to make $13 million this season, as @NFLSTROUD reported. - Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 20, 2019 Back in 2010 NFL Draft, Ndamukong Suh was the second overall pick and Gerald McCoy was the third overall pick. Now, nine-plus years later, both are free agents. - Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 20, 2019 Bucs tried to find a trade partner for DT Gerald McCoy for the past two months, but when they couldn't, the two sides mutually parted ways today, per source. - Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 20, 2019 Former Buccaneers' DT Gerald McCoy wants to sign with a playoff contender, and of course make money. But he wants to win. Spots that would make sense include the Browns, the Patriots, the Chargers, the Jaguars, and the Cowboys amongst others. - Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 20, 2019 It looks as if former Bucs' DT Gerald McCoy already is wanted in Cleveland….. pic.twitter.com/tpZWEPcWuW - Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 21, 2019 If the Browns land McCoy it'd be insane how scary that defense would be. Pair McCoy with Myles Garrett and Denzel Ward? Good luck AFC. As for the Bucs, this move was one we all saw coming ever since McCoy cleared his locker out and was a no-show for all offseason activities. He finishes his career with the Bucs with 54.5 sacks and was a six-time Pro Bowler. MORE: Injury to Reuben Foster could help Chiefs, Redskins strike a deal Kevin Durant fired back on Twitter after Chris Broussard questioned his Warriors titles Magic Johnson confirms rumor that Lakers want to sign Kyrie Irving Should the Eagles inquire about DT Gerald McCoy if he's released by the Bucs? Magic Johnson says Lonzo Ball called LeBron James after Alan Foster incident


For the first time, a parent who pleaded guilty in the college admissions scandal has spoken publicly about his wrongdoing. High-profile attorney Gordon Caplan expressed his remorse outside Boston federal court Tuesday after admitting to a judge that he paid $75,000 to rig his daughter's ACT. "I'm really sorry to my daughter, who I love more than anything in the world, knew nothing about this," Caplan said. "I'm also sorry to all the other kids out there who are in the admissions process." Court papers show the FBI repeatedly caught Caplan on wiretaps discussing the scheme with mastermind Rick Singer. In one conversation, the high-profile Manhattan attorney told Singer: "To be honest I'm not worried about the moral issue here. I'm worried about the   if she's caught doing that, you know, she's finished." Of the 33 parents charged in the college admissions scheme, 19 plan to fight the charges and 14 have agreed to plead guilty. They hope coming clean now will mean a lighter sentence later. Napa Valley winegrower Agustin Huneeus Jr., one of the parents who pleaded guilty, did not speak to reporters as he left court. The vineyard owner pleaded guilty to paying Singer $300,000 to boost his daughter's SAT score and pass her off as a water polo recruit to get her into USC. A source close to the prosecution told CBS News she is one of several children who was sent a letter by prosecutors naming them as possible targets of the investigation. In a written statement, Huneeus apologized "to students who work hard to get into college on their own merit." He added the "plea was an important step in my effort to take responsibility and accept the consequences for acts that I deeply regret." Those planning on fighting the charges include actress Lori Loughlin and her husband Mossimo Giannulli, who are now working on their defense.Criminal defense attorney Vinoo Varghese says one area of interest will be hearing wiretapped conversations in court. "If I'm the representative or the attorney for one of these parents, I again want to check what they have against my sole client and then I want to hear what this person has to say and, look, two people can hear the same thing and come to a different conclusion," Varghese said. Gordon Caplan and Agustin Hunneus will be sentenced this fall. There are still 50 to 75 more cases related to the scandal that the government is working on according to a source close to the prosecution.


President Trump has nominated over 125 judges to the federal courts, solidifying his judicial legacy. When the Senate approved Daniel Bress to the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco last week, the number ticked up to 127, which puts him at a similar pace as previous presidents, except for one thing. GROUP SUES BOSTON FOR BANNING CHRISTIAN FLAG, APPROVING 284 OTHERS Trump is far ahead of recent presidents for appeals court confirmations, which an analyst calls the "big leagues" of the judiciary system. "There's no question that President Trump has been incredibly effective at putting people on the appellate courts   in fact, he's gotten more than twice as many appeals court judges than most of the other presidents," Mark Carl Rom, a Georgetown University government and public policy professor, told Roll Call . CHRISTIAN STUDENT GROUP SUES UNIVERSITY FOR 'EQUAL ACCESS,' ALLEGES RELIGIOUS DISCRIMINATION While Trump has already nominated two Supreme Court justices, Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch, in highly contested political battles, the courts under the highest court are vital and his progress has largely gone under the radar while his picks have been praised for their bent on religious liberty. "The Supreme Court really only hears about one percent of the appeals that are filed in a year, and that means those circuit court of appeals' decisions end up typically being the final word on a case," Lathan Watts, director of legal communications for First Liberty Institute, told Christian Headlines . "So his nominees and then their confirmation to the circuit court of appeals don't always get the same sort of attention that maybe a Supreme Court pick does. But they are extremely important because, in most cases, their opinion ends up being the final opinion." Trump has flipped the Third Circuit Court of Appeals from a Democratic-nominated majority to a Republican-nominated one, and other nominees have strengthened Republican-nominated majorities in the Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Courts of Appeal. The Ninth Circuit, with Bress' nomination, has narrowed its Democratic-nominated majority to 16 compared to 12 Republican-nominated ones. LAWSUIT AGAINST SAN ANTONIO SEEKS HIDDEN RECORDS ON CHICK-FIL-A BAN With the 2020 presidential campaign ramping up, more eyes are turning to the courts. The New York Times reported recently that Democrats have formed a secret list of Supreme Court nominees in stark contrast to Trump's 2016 campaign, when he released his list in an unprecedented move. Carrie Severino of the Judicial Crisis Network told Fox News Democrats want judicial nominees who will "be second guessing everything our elected representatives do in pushing the nation as far to the extreme left as they can. I don't think that's what the average American wants. We want judges who are going to be faithful to the law first, to the Constitution and what it actually says." CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Severino added Trump's nominees will "absolutely" positively impact his chances for re-election.


It isn't atypical for a defense to be ahead of an offense through two weeks of training camp. The fact that's been the case at 49ers training camp is due in part to the general learning curve on either side of the ball. However, head coach Kyle Shanahan noted after Sunday's practice that part of the reason for the defense's performance in camp is the improvement of the defensive line and coverage. "So far, I think the defense has definitely had the better side of that," Shanahan told reporters about the battle between the offense and defense. "I mean, they've been teeing off the front, and they've been much harder to block this year." Camp isn't necessarily an indicator of how an entire season will go, but the 49ers needed their defense to show some kind of improvement early. They have even without DeForest Buckner and Dee Ford working in with any regularity due to injuries. Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh explained after Saturday's practice how the defense is tied together. Each player's movement should dictate another player's movement as if they're on a string. San Francisco failed at this concept last year, but are doing it well early in camp according to Shanahan. "I think they've been very tied together very well in the back end," Shanahan said. "Usually it starts out that way always until you get the pads on, sometimes that evens out. I think the O has had a couple days, but to answer your question, I'd give it to the D for sure." Perhaps the most important part of the pass rush's improvement is how often it helps generate turnovers through the first couple weeks of camp. Shanahan said the players getting after the quarterback have helped contribute to some of the turnovers by the offense. "They're getting to the quarterback a lot faster," he said. "So, guys are having to make decisions quicker and that's what you have to do as a quarterback. You have to, it's real easy when you can sit there without a pass rush and think about it forever and throw it, wait until someone's wide open and if they're not wide open, not throw it. When guys are getting after you, you've got to make quick decisions and sometimes you don't make as good of a decision and sometimes you don't make as accurate of throws, and that's how you get those over throws." The team is banking on this happening in the regular season too. They invested all of their assets up front in hopes of helping their secondary. Their investment in the group of defensive backs was minimal this offseason because they believe their returning cornerbacks and safeties are good enough to compete at a championship level if quarterbacks are under more duress. In theory, more pressure on the quarterback means more premature, errant throws and possible interceptions. Some teams are beginning to invest in better coverage players and building their defense from back to front. The 49ers are gambling and doing the opposite. It's working so far in camp. Now they need that to carry over into the regular season. Their entire defensive turnaround depends on it. MORE: Antonio Brown's foot issues look absolutely gruesome 2020 aggregate mock draft 1.0: Here are the top NBA prospects to know How Andre Iguodala could still be attainable for Houston Texans could have eyes set on Chargers RB Melvin Gordon How to live stream online, listen to Cowboys Blue-White Scrimmage


The regular season doesn't begin for more than a month, but the Browns already have notched a huge win. According to the team, a crowd of 37,686 fans showed up for Saturday's intrasquad scrimmage at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland, zealously supporting a team that hopes to get to the playoffs for the first time in 17 years. "It was not even half-filled and the energy is unreal," quarterback Baker Mayfield told reporters after the scrimmage. "You can feel it. People are excited to have football back here. The excitement is justified so now we have to go and make it right for them." The excitement was noticed by new head coach Freddie Kitchens. "I understand the passion that these fans have, and they demonstrated every opportunity they have to do that," Kitchens told reporters. "This is no different. This is an opportunity for them to come out, show their support and show their excitement. Yeah, there was adrenaline." Ten days into training camp, Kitchens feels good about where the Browns are. "I like this team," Kitchens said. "I like it when a team cares about each other. I like it when a team competes against each other very, very hard, and then they pick each other up and pat each other on the tail and do it again the next play. We are not totally there yet but we are going to get there. I think these guys are committed to getting there. If we get there, we will have a chance, but that only just gives us a chance. That is all it does. I think these guys are going to do that. They are committed to doing that. They have done nothing but work their tail off, done everything we have asked them to do and I expect it to continue. We are going to hold them accountable, but what I want to get to eventually is for them to hold themselves accountable to each other and then we will have something. We are headed in that direction. I am not satisfied, but I am happy up to this point. We are only a week and a half into this thing." Kitchens is right. Energy and excitement are great, but they lead to high expectations. And high expectations quickly can become panic if the team encounters some early-season adversity. That will be the first significant challenge for the Browns   to focus on holding serve at home against the Titans to start the season and then to show up for a Monday night game against the Jets in Week Two looking like a team that is ready to compete at a high level. Even after that, it will be a long road to get to where they want to be. With high expectations, however, a fast start becomes critical, and Kitchens surely realizes that.


It will only be the preseason but it would appear there is some national interest in the Arizona Cardinals. The NFL announced it will air 13 preseason games live on NFL Network . Two of those contests will feature the Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals' preseason debut, which should also be No. 1 overall pick Kyler Murray's preseason debut as well, on Thursday, Aug. 8 will be shown live on NFL Network in the 10 p.m. Eastern slot. Then, in preseason Week 3, the Cardinals' game on the road against the Minnesota Vikings will air live at 4 p.m. Eastern. That third preseason game is traditionally considered the dress rehearsal for the regular season and is the game in which teams' starters typically play the longest. That would mean more Kyler Murray for a national audience. Once the regular season comes, the Cardinals will only have one national broadcast in prime time, a Thursday night game on Halloween night against the San Francisco 49ers. Listen to the latest from Cards Wire's Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio . View embedded content MORE: UFC fighter Ben Askren had an excellent response to getting knocked out in 5 seconds Expected starting lineup for Lakers with LeBron James at point guard Honor thy father: Quinn Cook signed with Lakers for good reason Three Potential Trade Destinations for Russell Westbrook Mesmerizing speed could force Jon'Vea Johnson onto Cowboys roster


Pep Guardiola congratulated second placed Liverpool and declared winning titles has become an addiction after Manchester City were crowned Premier League champions for the second consecutive season on Sunday. The Citizens went into the final day of the season knowing a win against Brighton would be enough to secure the title and, despite suffering an early scare when Glenn Murray put the Seagulls into an early lead, goals from Sergio Aguero, Aymeric Laporte, Riyad Mahrez and Ilkay Gundogan secured a comfortable 4-1 win. It was the culmination of a superb season for City and, speaking after the success, Guardiola insisted his side are far from done winning titles just yet. "We're so, so tired now but, at the same time, winning the title gives you a lot of energy. It's so addictive," he said, as per the Guardian . "We have the FA Cup final in a few days' time and we'll be ready to compete against Watford to win the four titles [including the Community Shield] in one season, but then we'll prepare well and come back stronger." Back 2 Back Premier League Champions!  We reigned and we retained!   #mancity pic.twitter.com/stX3wPtV4P   Manchester City (@ManCity) May 12, 2019 Guardiola also had a word for Liverpool , who finished just a point behind City on 97, and claimed his side wouldn't have been able to reach the same level without the Reds. "That was the most difficult title because of the quality of Liverpool and the rivalry we faced all season," he said. "We made 100 points [last season] and had to make 98 this season to retain it, so it means so much. We have to say congratulations to Liverpool and thanks because they helped us to push and increase our standards." "Liverpool will maintain their levels and the others will be better. Manchester United must come back. Chelsea under Maurizio Sarri will be better. Tottenham are in the Champions League final and Arsenal will be better as well. "We accept the challenge and, next season, we will be back stronger, I promise you."


Arlington will see light rainfall this coming week, according to drone-powered weather forecasting service Saildrone . Saturday's forecast shows the highest likelihood of rain at 72 percent, with expected rainfall of 0.80 inches. Also look for winds this coming week. Winds are forecast to rise as high as 23 mph on Saturday, while today and tomorrow will remain calmer. Temperatures will be warm today and tomorrow, with a high of 80 degrees, and highs remaining above 70 throughout the week. Skies will be mostly cloudy today and partly cloudy Tuesday through Thursday. 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.


IRVING, Texas (AP) -- Another year of increasing revenue in the Big 12 is only part of the reason league leaders believe they are well-positioned for the future. For them, flexibility as a 10-team conference is a pretty close second to money. "Our model has agility," said West Virginia President Gordon Gee, who is completing his two-year terms as president of the Big 12 board of directors. "And I think that right now, I'd much rather be a ballerina than an elephant. I think we are the ballerina of the five top conferences." Commissioner Bob Bowlsby chimed in with a visual of seeing "a character in the paper of me in a tutu." But the man who helped lead the conference out of an era of instability in the extreme understood the point. "I think our model of playing everybody in football and playing a double round-robin in basketball is the best model," Bowlsby said. "I think our one vs. two is the best playoff postseason model. I like our model better than any other one I see out there." Big 12 revenue increased to $38.8 million per school for 2018-19, or a total of $388 million. Bowlsby said he anticipates those numbers reaching the mid-$40 million range per school before the current broadcast rights deal expires in 2024-25. The latest increase of about 6% is the 13th straight year of a bump in Big 12 revenues. Bowlsby said the increase is about 55% over five years. The figures announced Friday as the league wrapped up its spring meetings don't include third-tier broadcast rights, such as what Texas gets through the Longhorn Network. Those totals vary by school. Big 12 revenue still ranks third behind the Big Ten and Southeastern Conference. The Big Ten has reportedly distributed up to $54 million to its longest-standing members, and the SEC reported payouts of $43.7 million per school. The Pac-12 surpassed $30 million for the first time this year at $31.3 million. The Atlantic Coast Conference was reportedly just shy of $30 million. "We don't aspire to third in anything we do," Bowlsby said. "But there are some realities that come from media markets and population density and some of those kinds of things that we don't have a whole lot of control over. What's important is that we're able to generate the revenue that arms our coaches and our student-athletes, our athletic directors, with the tools that it takes to produce championship-caliber teams." Bowlsby said he could "absolutely" see a new long-term media rights deal with the current 10-team Big 12. But he had his usual words of caution about trying to predict what could happen, including whether a new contract could replace the existing one in less than five years. "Inside the business, outside the business, I do not believe there's anybody who can predict what it's going to look like three years from now with any measure of precision that would allow me to put a lot of money on it," Bowlsby said. The looming expiration of TV contracts played a role in the chaotic conference realignments of nearly a decade ago. Among the Power Five leagues, the Big 12 was the closest to extinction. Bowlsby doesn't see the same dynamic in play with all the major conferences having to negotiate new contracts within the next six years. "Most of the changes were due to trying to capture cable markets," Bowlsby said. "I think the migration is away from cable markets and toward digital consumption, streaming consumption. So I think the prime mover is probably less present now and will be less present in the future." And Bowlsby believes the Big 12's mindset will be clear, which again traces back to it being the smallest of the Power Five leagues at the moment. "I think what we have to do is make our league the best we can be and in doing so cause people to want to come and join us, not the other way around," he said. Baylor received a full portion of league revenue for the first time since the Big 12 decided two years ago to withhold some money in the wake of a sexual assault scandal that led to the departures of coach Art Briles, president Ken Starr and athletic director Ian McCaw. Bowlsby said Baylor President Linda Livingstone updated the board on several fronts, including the school's wait to hear from the NCAA over possible sanctions. Briles and the university were accused of mishandling allegations of sexual assault involving numerous football players. "I think President Livingstone has done a tremendous job leading Baylor through a difficult time, and they're clearly making progress," Bowlsby said. "She and her staff and board leadership are to be congratulated there." ___ More AP college football: https://apnews.com/CollegeFootball and http://www.twitter.com/AP_Top25 Related slideshow: Ranking the 10 best college football mascots (provided by For The Win)


Manchester City have today unveiled the kits they will be donning during the 2019/20 campaign, including a stunning away strip under their new Puma sponsorship. With the offseason being a drag for most supporters, a new kit launch always brings a sense of excitement among fans and if the launch wasn't spicy enough as a stand-alone, City even brought Joleon Lescott along to DJ at the unveiling... No, really. About last night   #mancity pic.twitter.com/FXArywhFPi   Manchester City (@ManCity) July 1, 2019 Both new shirts have been made to represent Manchester as a city and to pay tribute to its industrial and cultural heritage, something that is sure to gain the new branding some positive publicity. The home jersey is similar to the traditional sky blue that the Citizens have come to know and love over the years, though a controversial injection of purple has been added which hasn't pleased some. NOW WE'RE REALLY HERE!  @pumafootball ❎ #mancity HOME KIT: https://t.co/ddVRxCTPSK AWAY KIT: https://t.co/x2qjPiGVha pic.twitter.com/gpT1DZUYBt   Manchester City (@ManCity) July 1, 2019 Following City's remarkable year on the field last year at all levels, the club have said that the added colour within the sky blue represents the fact that they will 'push for new honours this season, wearing uniquely designed kits that also feature the Club's 125th anniversary crest'. THIS IS OUR CITY. ⚽ @pumafootball 🔵 #mancity ➡ https://t.co/NfHdQ88W9f pic.twitter.com/JiG6GskWan   Manchester City (@ManCity) July 1, 2019 Despite the home kit dividing opinion among most, the away one certainly hasn't had the same reaction. Anyone else obsessed with this kit? 😍 🔥 ➡ https://t.co/xPd1Uy6KVt 🔵 #mancity pic.twitter.com/agBoowJ2pL   Manchester City (@ManCity) July 1, 2019 A black base shirt is decorated with stunning dashes of colour, an extremely artistic design to match an extremely artistic set of players on the pitch, you might say. As well as also featuring the 125th anniversary crest, the top pays homage to Manchester's "Madchester" years of the 1980s and early 90s, with Puma claiming that the design was directly inspired by the former legendary nightclub 'The Haçienda'. Our #Hacienda away kit is spectacular #ManCity pic.twitter.com/8WCOPCmJhE   Kevin Cummins (@KCMANC) June 30, 2019 An interesting thing to note for fans, however, is that the name and number on the back aren't the traditional white colour, but more of an electric peachy/yellow colour.  Premier League rules state that only white must be worn on the back of the shirt so this won't be allowed during league action though they can choose to wear their unique name and numbers during other competition if they desire.


Training camp begins for the Carolina Panthers on Thursday evening when they hold their first practice. Here are nine questions that need to be answered by the time camp is over. 1. How healthy is Cam Newton's shoulder? At OTAs, Newton unveiled a new throwing motion featuring tighter and more fluid mechanics. In theory, this will put less stress on his twice surgically-repaired shoulder and should also make him a more accurate passer. Now it's time to put those new mechanics to the test in full-speed team drills and see how his arm responds. 2. Is the QB2 job Will Grier's to lose? If things do go south for Newton's throwing shoulder, Carolina has to have a legitimate backup quarterback ready to go. For the first time since they picked Newton at No. 1 overall, the Panthers drafted a quarterback this year, taking West Virginia's Will Grier in the third round. Taylor Heinicke and Kyel Allen will compete with Grier for the right to be Newton's top backup. 3. Is Greg Little ready to start at left tackle? Newton's shoulder of course was re-injured when the Steelers front seven teed off on him during Carolina's excruciating Thursday night loss that effectively killed their season. Part of keeping Cam healthy will require better pass protection, especially at left tackle. That's why the team used a second-round pick on Ole Miss OT Greg Little. It's time to find out if he's ready to start and if they'll need to find a short-term solution if he isn't. Daryl Williams and Taylor Moton are both potential answers if he still needs more time to develop. 4. Who will be Christian McCaffrey's main backup? Another interesting position battle to watch will be who sits behind McCaffrey as the team's primary backup running back. Last year, the spot was filled by C.J. Anderson but they barely used him and eventually released him. This year, rookies Jordan Scarlett (fifth-round pick) and Elijah Holyfield (undrafted) will battle for the spot with Cameron Artis-Payne. 5. Who's the odd man out at wide receiver? Compared to recent seasons, Carolina is much deeper at the wide receiver position. It's so crowded that a couple of quality wideouts are not going to make the cut. The guys who will likely battle for the sixth and last receiver spot on the roster are Rashad Ross, Aldrick Robinson and seventh-round pick Terry Godwin. 6. Will the Panthers play a 3-4 defense or a true hybrid? Head coach Ron Rivera has said all offseason Carolina will play a hybrid defense. The team's personnel moves (especially signing Gerald McCoy) indicate it's going to be more 3-4 than 4-3, though. We probably won't find out what kind of balance to expect until early in the regular season. If most of the practice looks feature McCoy, Kawann Short and Dontari Poe up front, that will be a good indication of where things are headed. 7. Could Donte Jackson play slot corner? The Panthers signed former Buccaneers cornerback Javien Elliott recently, and he's expected to be in the mix for the nickel spot. One possibility that hasn't been mentioned much is second-year corner Donte Jackson playing at nickel. Jackson's athleticism and skill-set makes him better suited to play that role than the team's other corners. Also, the return of Ross Cockrell gives Carolina another sold option to start outside, freeing Jackson up to move elsewhere. 8. Is Rashaan Gaulden ready for his closeup? The other key position battle on defense will take place at free safety. Mike Adams was allowed to walk in free agency, but the team hasn't signed anybody to replace him. That makes second-year DB Rashaan Gaulden the likely favorite to start at the position Week 1. These next few weeks will tell us a lot about what to expect if that happens. 9. Will any undrafted free agents make the team? Finally, this year the Panthers filled out their roster with a lot of veterans, either from the defunct AAF or other NFL teams. They only signed four undrafted free agents: Holyfield joins Utah safety Corrion Ballard, Cal linebacker Jordan Kunaszyk and Nicholls State wide receiver Damion Jeanpierre as the only UDFAs on the team. MORE: Lakers' Quinn Cook Q&A: 'It feels like this team has been together a while' Brooks Koepka explained what's the most frustrating part of J.B. Holmes' slow play Brooks Koepka Calls Out J.B. Holmes Following Disastrous Final Round at The Open Phil Simms: 'Multiple' teams were set to take Daniel Jones before No. 17 What if Saints, Michael Thomas don't reach new contract by deadline?


FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Duke's Virginia Elena Carta entered on top, and now she leaves on top. Three years ago as a freshman, Carta dominated at the NCAA Championship in Eugene, Ore., winning the individual national championship by eight strokes thanks to four consecutive stroke-play rounds in the 60's. As a senior, the native of Udine, Italy, capped off her college career in Hollywood fashion with a team title. In a wild final match at Arkansas' Blessings Golf Club that featured three pairings (including Carta's) in need of playoff holes to decide the winner, the Blue Devils beat Wake Forest in an all-ACC final Wednesday 3-2. FINAL: Duke wins seventh national title PHOTOS: Images from the championship Highlight of the 2019 women's NCAA Championship: @DukeWGOLF senior Virginia Elena Carta pointing out how the women's golf program has 2 more national titles than Coach K and the men's basketball program. - Adam Woodard (@AdamWoodard) May 23, 2019 Carta didn't win her final match against Siyun "Swing" Liu, losing on the second playoff hole, she won't let that diminish what she and her team accomplished this week in Arkansas. "It's been a dream of mine since freshman year to win (the national championship) as a team and obviously to do it my senior year, to close out my college career, it's something very special to me," said Carta. "It's a big win after a dry period but it couldn't get any more special than a win with the whole team knowing that we had each other's back until the very end." Carta finished the stroke play segment T-43 at 11-over par, last compared to her four teammates. She turned it up for match play, finishing the week 2-1, including a 24-hole marathon match in the quarterfinals against Stanford's Ziyi Wang that tied an NCAA-record. "It's a special team and sharing this big thing (holding the national championship trophy) with the team has been so much fun," added Carta, who head coach Dan Brooks sent out first in all three matches. "The memories will never go away." Brooks described Carta as a caring leader and as the glue of the team, but not in the way you may think. "It's not like she gets up in front of the team and gives a speech or anything like that, explained Brooks. "It's just the little interactions and that's the glue that keeps it fun." MORE: Alex Trebek had a classic response to James Holzhauer's 'two dimes' wager New Packers OLB coach raves about rookie Rashan Gary 49ers LB roles change with new defensive front NBA Free Agency 2019: The top players Jon Gruden excited to see Raiders DT Eddie Vanderdoes this offseason


For those who cringe at using a selfie stick  but cringe even more that people might think you're a friendless weirdo there's the "Selfie Arm," a prosthesis that makes it seem as if a loved one is taking your photo. Wait, don't punch your screen just yet. The device is a tongue-in-cheek experiment by artists Aric Snee and Justin Crowe , who wanted to mock today's me-all-me culture. The "Selfie Arm" is a "commentary on the growing selfie stick phenomenon, and the constant, gnawing need for narcissistic internet validation," they write at Designboom : fascinated by the idea of technology and its illusionary 'connectedness' and 'sociableness', snee and crowe created the 'selfie arm'. the sarcastic solution to a quintessential problem nobody wants to look alone while they mindlessly snap pictures of themselves the product conveniently provides you a welcoming arm. and better yet, it doesn't talk or have emotions of any sort. you can even create fake accounts and use its finger to like all your images; its not you its the hand! 'selfie arm' is made of fiberglass, is lightweight and portable, and fortunately only a prototype. Unless Crowe and Snee go out of their minds and start mass-producing these sad, disembodied limbs, folks wanting a "Selfie Arm" are out of luck. Fortunately, you can simulate your own by following this easy hack .


Scott Dixon put his Chip Ganassi Racing-Honda on top by a daunting margin in opening IndyCar practice at Detroit, as Team Penske's Will Power clocked P2 in the fastest of the Chevy machines. Dixon lapped the 2.35-mile course in 1min16.7418sec, an average speed of 110.240mph on his eighth of 13 laps on what was a very 'green' track surface. Power was left 0.3464sec adrift in second place, as he proved the busiest driver of the session, racking up 20 laps   his last being his best. He was just 0.0178sec clear of Andretti Autosport-Honda's Ryan Hunter-Reay who, like Dixon, won a round of the NTT IndyCar Series' only double-header event. Josef Newgarden was fourth in the second Penske. Graham Rahal, the only driver to win both races in the Detroit weekend, back in 2017, was fifth this morning, ahead of Harding Steinbrenner Racing's star rookie Colton Herta. Zach Veach was an impressive seventh ahead of Andretti teammate Alexander Rossi, with Spencer Pigot of Ed Carpenter Racing-Chevy and Takuma Sato in the second Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing-Honda taking ninth and 10th. Patricio O'Ward, put Carlin-Chevy 11th fastest, ahead of Penske's latest Indy 500 winner Simon Pagenaud. The only stoppage was caused by Sebastien Bourdais outbraking himself at Turn 7 and stalling his Dale Coyne Racing with Vasser-Sullivan Honda down the run-off area. Second practice begins at 2.50pm local (Eastern) time, and will see the teams allowed to one set of Firestone's newest street-course alternate compound tires. Practice results: Cla#DriverTeamTimeGap 1 9 Scott Dixon Chip Ganassi Racing 1'16.7418 2 12 Will Power Team Penske 1'17.0882 0.3464 3 28 Ryan Hunter-Reay Andretti Autosport 1'17.1060 0.3642 4 2 Josef Newgarden Team Penske 1'17.1981 0.4563 5 15 Graham Rahal Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing 1'17.2201 0.4783 6 88 Colton Herta Harding Racing 1'17.2252 0.4834 7 26 Zach Veach Andretti Autosport 1'17.4667 0.7249 8 27 Alexander Rossi Andretti Autosport 1'17.5080 0.7662 9 21 Spencer Pigot Ed Carpenter Racing 1'17.6079 0.8661 10 30 Takuma Sato Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing 1'17.6555 0.9137 11 31 Patricio O'Ward Carlin 1'17.6790 0.9372 12 22 Simon Pagenaud Team Penske 1'17.7087 0.9669 13 18 Sébastien Bourdais Dale Coyne Racing 1'17.8645 1.1227 14 98 Marco Andretti Andretti Autosport 1'17.8788 1.1370 15 59 Max Chilton Carlin 1'17.9434 1.2016 16 5 James Hinchcliffe Schmidt Peterson Motorsports 1'18.2704 1.5286 17 14 Tony Kanaan A.J. Foyt Enterprises 1'18.4970 1.7552 18 19 Santino Ferrucci Dale Coyne Racing 1'18.6083 1.8665 19 7 Marcus Ericsson Schmidt Peterson Motorsports 1'18.6412 1.8994 20 20 Ed Jones Ed Carpenter Racing 1'18.6861 1.9443 21 10 Felix Rosenqvist Chip Ganassi Racing 1'18.6868 1.9450 22 4 Matheus Leist A.J. Foyt Enterprises 1'19.1186 2.3768 View full results


We heard earlier today that the Saints were close to getting a deal done with receiver Michael Thomas , but it apparently hasn't been the smoothest process. Saints GM Mickey Loomis has been frustrated with the negotiations, sources told Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports (Twitter link ). "The Saints have offered to make Thomas the highest-paid wideout in the NFL, with a contract that solidly exceeds Odell Beckham Jr. Loomis feels it's a great offer w/ great structure," Robinson writes. Loomis seems to feel like an agreement should've been reached by now, but Thomas' camp is clearly still holding out for something more. Meanwhile, Thomas will continue to stay away from training camp as he awaits his new contract. Saints coach Sean Payton addressed the media after practice today, and said he isn't worried about the fact Thomas isn't at camp (Twitter video link ). Payton seemed confident that he'll be back before too long, saying he's "optimistic it'll get done soon." The most recent reporting suggests the Ohio State product will be getting between $19 million and $20 million annually. Thomas has established himself as one of the league's best receivers the past couple of years, and New Orleans' offense relies on him heavily. Thomas has the most receptions in NFL history for a player through his first three years, and it sounds like it's only a matter of time before the Saints break the bank for him. Here's more from around the NFC: Speaking of players looking to get paid, Ezekiel Elliott is remaining away from the Cowboys as he seeks a new deal. Head coach Jason Garrett had said he expected Elliott to show up on time, but then he didn't. The good news is the two sides are apparently still talking. The Cowboys "held contract discussions with Elliott's agent" on Thursday night, a source told Calvin Watkins of The Dallas Morning News . Unfortunately the conversation didn't lead anywhere, as Watkins reports that "talks remain stale." Elliott is reportedly looking to eclipse the deal Todd Gurley got from the Rams, and it's unclear if the Cowboys are going to meet that asking price. Dallas has a lot on its plate with extensions due for several players, and it'll be interesting to watch how this unfolds. Former first-round pick Robert Nkemdiche doesn't appear to be making a good impression with the Cardinals' new coaching staff. The 29th overall pick in the 2016 draft is coming off an ACL tear, and head coach Kliff Kingsbury said the Ole Miss product showed up to camp out of shape, per Kent Somers of The Arizona Republic (Twitter link ). Somers adds that Nkemdiche "apparently neglected his overall physical condition while rehabbing from ACL." Nkemdiche is already on thin ice, and this certainly isn't going to help his case. We've heard that he's likely to be cut , and he's also facing a likely suspension for a June arrest. He's started only six games in his three years in the league, and is looking like a bust. Mike Daniels signed with the Lions after visiting Detroit and Cleveland, and those were far from the only two teams interested. 13 teams called about the former Packer, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (Twitter link ). Daniels got a $9.1 million deal from the Lions , and Rapsheet reports that four other teams "were willing to do that deal or better," but that Daniels wanted to play for Matt Patricia as well as the opportunity to play against Green Bay twice a year. Daniels is still only 30, and could prove to be a nice addition for Detroit's defense.


These items range from food, water, and warm clothing to emergency survival kits and window breakers. No one wants to be stranded by the side of the road. However, emergencies do happen and we all need to be prepared to handle them. Here are 12 things you should keep in your car at all time in case of disaster. They range from food, water, and warm clothing to emergency survival kits and window breakers. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. No one wants to be stranded by the side of the road. However, emergencies do happen and we all need to be prepared to handle them. As a result, it's imperative that we keep select emergency supplies in our cars at all times. Even though some added weight to your car may negatively fuel economy, the following collection of emergency supplies will surely come in handy if you're ever stuck in a tough spot. Not everyone will need everything on the list, but it surely won't hurt to have them all. Read more : 7 ways to make your car last longer and save you money . The items can generally be broken down into three different categories. The first being survival supplies. Naturally, keep you and your passengers alive should always be the top priority. The second category is comprised of the tools that will help you escape danger, get assistance, or hopefully get you back on the road again. Take a closer look at 12 things you should keep in your car at all time in case of disaster in the gallery above. 1. Bottled water In an emergency, access to clean water is a must. Humans can survive without food much longer than without water. Thus, it's important to keep a at least a few bottles of water in your car at all times. 2. MRE/energy bars It's wise to keep some sort of food or sustenance in your car in case of an emergency. Energy bars or various snacks will suffice, but those worried about emergencies where an immediate evacuation isn't available can opt for a Meal-Read-to-Eat or MRE. They are sealed, prepackaged meals prepared for the military and are designed to remain edible for years. They are even equipped with a flameless ration heater that allows you to heat up the meal without the use of fire. MREs are available at military surplus stores or online. 3. A flashlight with extra batteries. A flashlight with spare batteries is always good to have, especially if you're stranded at night. 4. Warm clothes For those in cold weather climates, keeping some extra warm clothes in your car can be a lifesaver if you're stranded. 5. Window breaker/seatbelt cutter If your car ever winds up in a body of water or in any case where you need to make a speedy exit, an emergency window breaker is good to have. As the name would suggest, the tool is designed to break open a car's window in an emergency. In many cases, the window breaker will also come with a blade that will quickly cut through your seatbelt. 6. First aid kit A first aid kit is handly in an emergency situation. Cleaning up a wound before it gets infected increases your chances of survival. 7. Hand-crank emergency radio When you're stranded, a hand-crank emergency radio will provide you with weather information without the need to turn on your car and waste gasoline. Many of these radios are powered by both a hand-crank and solar panels. They even have USB ports to help charge your phone. 8. Emergency survival kit You can also buy an emergency survival kit. Many of which come complete with a firestarter, mylar thermal blankets, a compass, tactical knife, and even reflective cones. 9. Road cones/flares/reflective triangle If your survival kit doesn't come with a reflective triangle, road cone, or road flares. Buy some. These tools alerts other motorists that you are stranded, reducing the likelihood of additional collisions. 10. Multi-tool or tool kit A multi-tool or even a complete tool kit comes in handy if you need to make quick repairs to your car. 11. Jumper cables or electric jump starter. Always keep a set of jumper cables or even a battery operated electric jump starter in your car. Neither is particularly expensive and can get your back on the road again. 12. Tire pump and sealant In cases where you have a flat tire, have a can of tire sealant like Fix-A-Flat will allow you to patch small holes while an electric air pump will put enough air back into the tire to get your going again.


Home renovation spending is at an all-time high nationwide, and the New York metro area is leading the way. Driving the trend are aging housing stocks, and rising home prices that are providing homeowners incentives to renovate. Remodeling ideas also are readily available via social media, home-renovation blogs and TV shows on channels such as HGTV , making homeowners feel more open to renovate, experts agreed. "In some cases, the idea of knocking down a house and building anew is so daunting for people that they just can't seem to wrap their heads around," explained Michael Murphy , who is in charge of business development at Murphy Brothers Contracting based in Westchester County. "But they surely can get in there and decide whether they do a new kitchen or remodel the master bathroom or blow out at the back of the house and put a family room and a deck." SPLIT MARKET: Where the housing market is hottest, coolest in New York-New Jersey markets LOOK INSIDE: Sandra Lee and Andrew Cuomo house listed for $2 million HGTV CRAZE: Scarsdale house featured on Property Brothers The statistics paint the picture. National spending on home improvements and repairs was $424 billion in 2017, up 10% from 2015 when the spending was $386 billion, according to a recent Harvard University study . Since 2010, spending was up more than 50% when the figure was $277 billion. The New York metro area, which includes Westchester, Rockland and Bergen counties, was the largest remodeling market with over $12 billion in expenditures in 2017, according to the study. The second largest market was the Los Angeles metro area with $8.6 billion in remodeling spending . Capitalizing on the renovation trend, an innovative online service that matches up homeowners with general contractors and monitors the project to completion is expanding into the region. One Bergen County couple utilized one of those operations. "For us, it worked out well," said Chong Lee in Fort Lee, who, along with her husband, Adam Goodman, recently renovated their condominium. The couple used a general contractor they met through Sweeten , the renovation matchmaker. "We felt better to have someone in the middle just in case we have any issues with him   which we didn't. So that worked out well." TIPS FOR HOUSE FLIPPING: Hoping to make money in real estate? Here's how to successfully flip a house Why renovate? In general, move-in ready homes are popular particularly among young families. But savvy shoppers who know the market opt to tackle a fixer-upper when they find the right property, said Rosemary McGinn , associate real estate broker with Century 21 Full Service Realty in Rockland County. "Some buyers may be willing to do the work if the price is right," McGinn said. "Some of the people want to do the work because this way, they can make their house according to what they want." Aging housing stock, which doesn't meet the current family needs and preferences, is partly driving growth of the renovation industry. "The average house is 55 years old," said Jean Brownhill, founder and CEO of Sweeten, which launched its operation in Westchester and Bergen counties in 2017. "Average homeowners are 40 something years old, so houses are much older than the people who buy them." Sweeten expects to have more than 200 projects in Westchester and about 75 in Bergen this year. According to the Harvard University study , about 40 percent of the homes in the nation's 137 million homes are at least 50 years old, while new home construction has been slow to recover since the recession. The steady uptick in housing prices in many markets also helped lift home improvement spending, the study said. Personal spin In Westchester, Sara and Mike Axelbaum, both 36, jumped at the opportunity to purchase a 90-year-old Tudor with the Bronxville zip code last year even though the three-bedroom house required remodeling to meet the growing family's needs. "We actually always wanted to do a big renovation project," said Sara Axelbaum, noting that the couple had done some cosmetic upgrades to their prior residence, a co-op in the Bronx. "We're lifelong HGTV junkies. We've been watching home renovations since the beginning." Customizing their kitchen with things such as dish drawers   instead of shelves   where she can easily store dishes coming out of a dishwasher have been the couple's dream, Sara Axelbaum said. "We really wanted something that we can put our touch on, spin on," she said. "We were really excited when we found a house that has such great bones and a Tudor style that we love and we're able to put together what we wanted." In Bergen County, Lee, 39, and Goodman, 37, opted to gut-renovate a kitchen and two bathrooms after they closed on a deal to purchase a two-bedroom condominium in Fort Lee. Lee, a biologist by trade, said she has always enjoyed browsing home design blogs online. So while waiting for electrical and plumbing updates to be done to the condo, she decided to draw remodeling plans for the kitchen, which was probably last-renovated in the 1980s, and the bathrooms built in the 1960s. Her basic knowledge in Photoshop and Illustrator came in handy. Her design included replacing a floor-to-ceiling built-in pantry, which had served as a divider between the kitchen and the dining area, with a lower cabinet with a quartz countertop. The goal was to open up the kitchen while adding more counter space and storage. Matchmaking Dreaming about a new kitchen or a bathroom with some personal spins is one thing, but making those ideas into reality requires construction professionals. Sweeten's Brownhill , who was trained as an architect, realized challenges facing homeowners when she renovated her own townhouse in Brooklyn about a decade ago. Even though she had worked in the industry, she wasn't able to use her network of general contractors because they specialized in multi-million dollar renovations in Manhattan, she recalled. "So I looked online. I asked my neighbors. It was really challenging to find a general contractor," she said. "In the end, I ended up hiring a wrong general contractor. He was not a good fit for my project." After the stressful, messy renovation experience, she thought to herself: "There's got to be other people who are experiencing this because I'm from the industry. How in the world do people who are not from the industry do a renovation?" Brownhill launched Sweeten in 2011, starting in New York City. With Sweeten, homeowners who wish to renovate their homes can post their project's scope and ideas with the company website. Sweeten then matches those projects with general contractors who the company believes are suitable. General contractors have to go through Sweeten's screening to be part of the company's roster. Sweeten's service is free for homeowners, and general contractors pay sliding scale fees   between 2.5% and 6% depending on the size of the job   to Sweeten. Since its launch in Westchester and Bergen in 2017, the number of users in both counties have been increasing, Sweeten said. And in March, the company started offering its service in Rockland as well as in the entire state of New Jersey. Lee and Goodman were among the first people to use Sweeten in Bergen. "I reached out to contractors in a few different ways. I got recommendations from my Realtor. I checked out websites like Houzz.com , Angies' List ," Lee said. "I also posted my pictures on the website called Sweeten." After interviewing multiple contractors that they identified through different resources, the couple went with Sweeten's recommendation , she said. "They did the background check for our contractor," she said. "They had referrals." Worth the effort The Axelbaums received bids from three general contractors for their renovation project, which included knocking out a wall between kitchen and dining room to create an open-concept kitchen-dining area with a quartz-countertop island and new appliances; transforming a former servant's bedroom into a butler's pantry; updating three bathrooms; and creating a laundry closet. The Westchester couple chose to work with a husband-and-wife, contractor-and-designer team recommended by Sweeten because of the team's portfolio, Sara Axelbaum said. During the six-month, $140,000 renovation, the Axelbaums and their young son Hudson   three-year-old at that time   lived in the same house even though it lacked a working kitchen. "We did a lot of takeout and a lot of microwaving, and it was horrible," Sara Axelbaum recalled. But the result was well-worth the trouble, the couple said, as they recently showed off their updated Tudor. "I would say things you hear about renovations are all true: They go over-budget. They go over time. You pull your hair," said Sara Axelbaum, who has been pregnant with a second child while going through the renovation project. "You have to focus on a long term. You are doing this because you want to live here 30 years. Make it what you want." Lee said she and her husband did try to be very conservative about spending. But still, the project, which was planned for $40,000, ended up costing $55,000 for extras such as higher-grade quartz countertop and better kitchen cabinets than the contractor suggested. "There's always something that's going to cost more," she said. "There's always something unexpected." But the end-result has been satisfying, Lee said. "We are still very, very happy," she said. "It's worth it." Twitter: @AskAkiko Things to know before you renovate Consult with your local building department to find out what type of permits are required for your projects. Make sure to hire licensed contractors. Make sure your contractors have valid insurance. Discuss the project's timeline with your contractor. Once a week or every other week, ask the contractor: "How are we doing on the timeline?" Negotiate the price as well as the payment dues upfront. Be wary of prices that are too good. Source: Michael Murphy with Murphy Brothers Contracting This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: New York metro area renovation craze driven by old houses, home prices


Sadio Mane has had a breakout last couple of years for Liverpool, taking his game to a new level. He finished joint top of the Premier League in scoring with 22 goals and has helped lead Liverpool to the UEFA Champions League final. So it's no surprise then that he's being linked with a move to Real Madrid . Speaking to reporters ahead of this weekend's UEFA Champions League final   set to take place in Madrid   Mane said that while he appreciated being linked with some of the biggest clubs in the world, he was more than happy at Liverpool. The Senegal international inked a new five-year contract with Liverpool earlier this season, taking him through the end of the 2022-2023 season. "This is always part of football so we have to deal with it but for me the most important thing is Liverpool and I'm happy here," Mane said, via the Guardian. "I'm preparing for one of the biggest games for the club and the fans and the players as well, so let's focus on this one first and win it. It's always a pleasure that this kind of team wants you but don't forget Liverpool. We beat big teams." 95   Of all players to have scored 10+ goals in @ChampionsLeague knockout stage matches, Sadio Mané currently has the best minutes per goal ratio in the history of the competition. Pivotal. pic.twitter.com/OuMTgyJVtZ   OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 18, 2019 Mane scored 22 goals in the Premier League, with another four in the Champions League. While Mane didn't score, his tenacity and guile helped Liverpool complete an incredible 3-0 comeback to defeat Barcelona, 4-3 on aggregate in the semifinals. It's helped Mane and Liverpool make the club's second-straight Champions League final. Here are more transfer rumors from across the Premier League: Lukaku to Inter? Romelu Lukaku had a disappointing run to end the 2018-2019 Premier League season (along with most of the Man United squad), and it may be the last time we see him in those colors. According to a report in Italian daily Gazzetta Dello Sport, Lukaku has already traveled to Italy to meet with Inter Milan executives, and is willing to take a pay cut to join the Italian giants. Inter barely made it into the Champions League for next year, giving Lukaku the added benefit of top quality European soccer for next year. In addition, without the blistering pace needed in the Premier League, he may benefit more in the more technical, tactical Serie A. Lukaku's move to Inter all depends on whether Mauro Icardi stays or goes. The mercurial striker is a goal machine, but brings drama with him and has been a lightning rod for criticism this season.


Ryan Collins was on the Green Line Tuesday afternoon when he heard a friendly, familiar voice crackling over the intercom. He decided to share his good fortune. "He's back at it again," the 28-year-old texted a friend. MBTA drivers aren't generally a chatty bunch, at least on the job. But Tim Murphy is a light-rail raconteur, dispensing historical tidbits and witty commentary from North Station to Cleveland Circle and along the Mattapan Line. "My job is pretty straight forward: It's to get you from point A to point B as safely and as efficiently as possible," he told riders as his train pulled into Boylston Street station. At 121 years old, it is the oldest subway station in North America, he informed riders. "If I could teach you a few things, make you smile, brighten your day along the way, that's just an added bonus." Murphy, 40, has built a loyal following over the past two years with his between-stop banter, fun facts, and friendly way, a welcome tonic to the workday grind. As he approaches stops, he thanks his fellow veterans for their service and wishes everyone a pleasant day. On Tuesday, he quoted the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. "Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." "Let us remember to treat each other with dignity, respect, kindness, and love," he added. The subway can be a bleak experience, especially in recent weeks, but Murphy hopes his annotated trips brighten his passengers' days. "Positivity is contagious. That's what I believe," he said. "If I can have an impact on someone's day if they've had a bad day or if I can make their day a little better, that's the best." Sadly for his admirers, Murphy's driving days are at an end. Saturday is Murphy's last day before he is promoted to inspector, a role he's been training for since April. He has been looking forward to the new job, but after six years, he'll miss driving. Before he became a train operator, Murphy worked in security. In 2013, he was checking bags near the Boston Marathon finish line when the first bomb went off. Murphy was not injured, but he was later diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder from the bombings. To keep his mind occupied, Murphy began to study the MBTA's history. "As a way to keep my mind off of it I started learning the history, you know?" he said. "I was always into history." Even after he became a driver, it didn't occur to him to share his knowledge with his passengers. But on the fourth anniversary of the bombings, Murphy's train was stopped near Copley Square. He looked down at his watch: 2:49 p.m. "So I made an announcement. I said, 'Can I have everybody's attention? This is going to be tough for me to say, but four years ago, 30 feet above where we are right now, the first of two bombs went off,'" he recalled. "I said 'I want to thank everybody for continuing to support our city and, from someone who was there, how much it means to us that you continue to do so." Murphy then asked for a moment of silence. Then everyone started clapping. "I didn't expect that to happen," he said. Inspired, Murphy began including historical facts in his trips, like why the lines are named for colors and how Government Center used to be called Scollay Square station, where Charlie in the old song "MTA" is trapped forever on the subway. "Why did Charlie's wife hand him a sandwich instead of just giving him the five cents he needed to get off the train?" Murphy asks passengers. Alayna Pineiro, 24, said she appreciates how Murphy goes the extra mile. "I think that's really special that he's trying to be creative and come up with something to make everyone stay happy," he said. "I think he's a sweetie." Robert Blaydes, 57, who lives in Walpole and works at Boston University, said he learned six new facts in a single ride on Murphy's train. "When I heard the first announcement and little history lesson it kinda perked my ears up," he said. "And then as they continued, it was just the most lovely thing. It's just made the ride so enjoyable." On Twitter, sprinkled among the standard complaints about commuting woes, Murphy is singled out for praise. "Oh my god, the @MBTA makes me insane on a regular basis, but when we get a T operator who has decided to also act as a historical tour guide for the trip, I'm borderline ecstatic," Jenny Mackintosh tweeted in May. "Green Line (C) 3884 is where the party's at right now!" For Murphy, the best part of the job is seeing passengers connect. "Before I really started doing it, I was looking in my mirror inside the car and everybody was on their phones," he said. "I started making the announcements and one of the best parts is ... people will start looking up, start looking around at each other, smiling, putting their phones down. It's awesome. It's an awesome feeling to see them start to interact with each other." On Saturday, Murphy's last ride will be on the Mattapan line, his favorite for its historic trains, beautiful scenery, and appreciative passengers. This week, he's been thanking all his passengers on both lines. "It has been a privilege, folks. This is my last week operating trains," Murphy announced Tuesday. "I'm an inspector after next week. I want to thank you for being the awesome passengers that you have been for the past six years." In the middle of the train, a man smiled to himself, raised his hand over his head, and snapped his fingers in applause. Lauren Fox can be reached at lauren.fox@globe.com . Follow her on Twitter @bylaurenfox .


MINNEAPOLIS (AP) A little time off didn't slow Nelson Cruz. Cruz homered and drove in five runs to help the Minnesota Twins beat the Kansas City Royals 11-9 on Friday night. With the team's prior three games being in Miami, Cruz, the team's designated hitter, was limited to two pinch-hit plate appearances. ''In that situation, I wasn't able to play. You just make sure you're fresh when you get a chance to play,'' he said. And continue to stay hot. In his last eight starts, Cruz has eight home runs among his 15 hits and 18 RBI. ''I don't get caught up in what happened in the past or what's going to happen tomorrow. Focusing on a daily basis,'' he said. Others can rave about his performance. ''There aren't many people in the game that can have those types of at-bats on a fairly consistent basis and put up those runs of games and at-bats where he's just squaring everything up,'' said manager Rocco Baldelli. Cruz, who crushed a pitch into the second deck in left field in the first, broke a 6-6 tie in the seventh inning with a two-run double off the scoreboard in right-center field. The ball hit about 5 feet lower than his RBI double in the fifth, which was a couple feet from clearing the wall. Miguel Sano, Luis Arraez and Jason Castro added RBIs in the inning for an 11-6 lead. Trevor May (4-3) needed one pitch to get the final out of the seventh inning before newly acquired Sam Dyson struggled for the second straight game. Dyson allowed three runs in the eighth before Sergio Romo got the final four outs for his first save with Minnesota. Acquired last Saturday, Romo had 17 saves in 18 attempts for the Marlins. After four straight outs, Richard Lovelady (0-1) allowed Max Kepler and Jorge Polanco to get on base to open the seventh. Kepler, Polanco and Eddie Rosario each had two hits for the Twins, three games up on Cleveland in the AL Central. Hunter Dozier had his first career multi-homer game and Cam Gallagher hit a solo shot for Kansas City, losers of four straight and seven of eight. ''We had some really, really good at-bats, but unfortunately so did they,'' said manager Ned Yost. Down 4-1, Dozier homered leading off a two-run fourth. His solo shot in the fifth inning made it 5-4 Royals and came three batters after Gallagher homered to start the frame. Minnesota starter Martin Perez allowed seven hits and five earned runs in five innings. A balk also allowed a runner to score. Glenn Sparkman allowed six earned runs on six hits in 4 2-3 innings for the Royals. In his last three starts, the right-hander has allowed 18 earned runs in 15 1-3 innings after his first career shutout July 16 against the White Sox. In seven road starts (0-4), Sparkman has a 9.08 ERA. His ERA is 3.00 in six home starts (3-3). MERRIFIELD MOVING UP Whit Merrifield had three hits. The Kansas City right fielder has played 134 straight games without back-to-back hitless efforts, surpassing Ron LeFlore (1978-79) for the second-longest streak in the American League since 1946, according to Sportradar. Ichiro Suzuki holds the record at 180 games from 2008-09. ROSTER MOVE Twins LHP Lewis Thorpe was optioned to Triple-A Rochester after the game. A corresponding move will be announced Saturday. TRAINERS ROOM Twins: CF Byron Buxton was scratched with left shoulder soreness. Buxton crashed into the wall in Thursday's loss in Miami. Listed as day-to-day, he'll be reassessed Saturday. . On the injured list since July 21 with right thumb inflammation, 1B C.J. Cron finished a two-game rehab assignment Friday morning in a Gulf Coast League game. Baldelli expects him to be playing in a Twins game ''pretty soon.'' UP NEXT Minnesota RHP Kyle Gibson (10-4, 4.10), who was 2-0 with a 3.77 ERA in six July starts, is scheduled to face Kansas City LHP Danny Duffy (5-5, 4.42) Saturday. Duffy is 2-0 with a 3.50 ERA in his past three starts, going six innings in each turn. --- More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports


NBA Coaches will have the ability to challenge plays during the 2019-20 season, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic ( Twitter links ). The rule will be implemented on a one-year, trial basis. The league has also made changes to the use of replay. The NBA Replay Center will now be allowed to "trigger instant replay in certain circumstances," per the league's press release. The league experimented with the possibility of challenges during the past two seasons in the G League and during this year's Summer League. Coaches only received one challenge per game and they must have a timeout remaining to use it. While the rule will be similar to the NFL's challenge rule, NBA coaches will send a signal to an official rather than throwing a flag into the playing area. In the G League, coaches "twirl his/her index finger toward the referees," as ESPN's Zach Lowe recently explained. Here's how the new rule is expected to work, according to Lowe: Coaches will get one challenge per game, whether or not it's successful. Called fouls, goaltending, basket interference, and out-of-bounds plays are the only calls that can be challenged. Uncalled fouls can't be challenged. Coaches must have a timeout available to use a challenge, and must use that timeout immediately after the call they want to challenge. If the challenge is successful, the team will get its timeout back. If not, it will be lost. The crew chief for that game's referee crew will make the final call on challenges involving fouls. All other challenges will be decided by the NBA's Replay Center.


Quinnen Williams and the Jets have finally come to an agreement. It took a while, but the Jets announced on Thursday that the they had signed the No. 3 pick in the draft to his first contract, a four-year deal. Williams, who was the last first round pick who remained unsigned, can now report to training camp to start getting ready for his rookie season. We have agreed to terms with Quinnen Williams. -- https://t.co/oRwCoHFfF6 pic.twitter.com/JVwOLWx3uA -- New York Jets (@nyjets) July 25, 2019 The issue between Williams and the Jets was about the signing bonus, according to multiple reports. It's still unclear just where the two sides ended up on that issue, but that was the reason that was apparently the reason why it took so long to get reach an agreement. Williams starred at Alabama before leaving following his redshirt sophomore season. He recorded eight sacks, 19.5 tackles for loss and 71 total tackles in 15 games for the Crimson Tide last year. The 21-year-old has the potential to be a destructive player on the Jets' defensive line.


The runny noses, coughing and headaches flared inside the students' biology classroom at George Washington Middle School in Northern Virginia   subsiding once the children left. Bridget Baron said she watched splotches of mold colonize a wall to the right of her desk until, one day, "they all shriveled up and died." It was a clear sign for the 13-year-old and her classmates at the Alexandria school that something was amiss. They decided to take action, visiting classrooms to collect samples for a do-it-yourself mold-testing kit they ordered from a laboratory in South Carolina, then shipping the samples off to be analyzed. The results, which arrived a week or two later: 15 classrooms tested positive for mold. Spores were found on classroom ceiling tiles, in a main hallway and, eventually, the weight room, according to lab results. Subscribe to the Post Most newsletter: Today's most popular stories on The Washington Post So the group of 12- and 13-year-olds at the school in the Del Ray neighborhood organized into the Standing for Tomorrow team and spent the past school year fighting for healthier classrooms, meeting with top Alexandria City Public Schools leaders, including Superintendent Gregory C. Hutchings Jr. They contacted state Sen. Adam P. Ebbin (D-Alexandria) and called the lawmaker's attention to the severity of the problem inside their school. Ebbin said he is working with the students to address the issue, and introducing legislation in the General Assembly is a possibility. "Students deserve to be learning in a healthy environment, and staff and teachers who are in the same building year after year deserve to be teaching in a safe environment," Ebbin said. "These kids are making sure that this issue is dealt with adequately." Between classes and during community events, the students have circulated a petition proposing a state law and school board policy update they hope will help rid schools of mold. They have distributed papers with a QR code that leads to the Standing for Tomorrow website. "We're just middle school students, and we don't really have that much experience in this, but if we band together and we stick together to advocate for what we believe in, then we can change something," said Chloe Yokitis, 13, the group's communications director. Ben Delnegro, a bespectacled 13-year-old, said school should be a haven. "It seemed weird how a place where we were meant to be safe and we're able to learn had something that could cause serious ailments." Some people with mold sensitivity experience stuffy noses, throat irritation, coughing or wheezing and eye irritation, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. People who are allergic to mold, which grows where there is moisture, may have more serious reactions. The Alexandria school system said it supports the students' activism and noted it has "rigorous" processes in place to ensure mold is treated as quickly as possible once it is discovered in schools. The school system alerts employees and students when it learns about the presence of mold. "We have some aging buildings that are costly to maintain. The excessive rain this year has had a toll on our aging buildings," Alexandria schools spokeswoman Helen Lloyd said. "School systems with aging buildings are constantly balancing the need for improving the physical and educational environment in the schools." The George Washington Middle School students said they were relocated from their science classroom to a multipurpose room in the school library from the end of September to the middle of March so mold could be removed. But the students said mold began to regrow on the classroom walls in early June. Schools in Virginia and throughout the country are bedeviled by old and deteriorating buildings and a chronic lack of funding to renovate or rebuild. The Alexandria students want to be clear: They do not blame the mold growth on the workers who maintain their schools. "We strongly believe that this issue of mold in schools isn't because of the . . . facilities department. It's because of the lack of funding at a city and a state level and also because of the recent increase in rain," Chloe said. Bridget added: "They're doing everything that they can under the circumstances, but as they've been grossly underfunded for the past 20 years or so, there isn't too much they can do." Mary Breslin, the students' science teacher, said her students made her realize she had abdicated her responsibility as a city resident. Her failure to advocate for enough money to maintain school buildings led to a"toxic learning environment" her young son will inherit. "The passion these students have in being scientists and using science to improve their school is remarkable," Breslin said in an email. "This year, I've become their student as I've watched them navigate a pathway of change." The students' findings earned regional science fair accolades, including a first-place finish in the Northern Virginia Regional Science and Engineering Fair, along with praise from school system officials. The middle school students said they distilled important lessons about using science to solve problems and learned to use their voices. "I'm mainly someone who speaks out in front of children. But in front of adults, it's really nerve-racking. I learned public speaking in front of elders," Veronica Holguin, 12, said. "It's opened me up to the possibilities that if I do this, I can do something else and something bigger later in my life." debbie.truong@washpost.com


Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Moussa Sissoko says he would welcome the signing of LOSC Lille's Nicolas Pepe if the north London club were to purchase the coveted winger this summer. Ivory Coast international Pepe has attracted attention from some of Europe's elite clubs, Tottenham included if what Sissoko says is anything to go by. The 23-year-old is fast becoming one of the hottest prospects in world football and his manager has confirmed he will leave soon. The attacker has made 37 appearances in Ligue 1 this season and scored an impressive 22 goals, equal to Premier League Golden Boot winners Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang , Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah , also accumulating 11 assists. It's unsurprising, therefore, that Sissoko would like to see him in a Spurs shirt. In an interview with television station Canal Football Club as quoted by Le10Sport , the Frenchman stated: "I think he has the qualities for England. "He has already demonstrated his full potential with Angers, this year he confirmed with Lille, what he does is really exceptional. "I do not know where he'll go, but I wish him the best in his future club, and if it's in England, why not Tottenham?" However, much to Sissoko's disappointment, there's a high chance he won't be teaming up with the Ivorian, as 10 Sport report that French champions Paris Saint-Germain are also in pursuit. It's believed that PSG would be willing to make an offer for the player, having recently denied any possibility of French wonderkid Kylian Mbappe leaving the club, after he subtly hinted at his potential exit at a recent awards ceremony. It appears that Nicolas Pepe will have the choice of multiple suitors this summer, as he looks almost certain to join a Champions League side, whoever that may be.


Slideshow by photo services CANICO, Portugal, April 18 (Reuters) - Madeira began three days of mourning on Thursday for 29 German tourists who died after their bus veered off a steep road, as Germany's foreign minister and a trauma team flew to the Portuguese island to meet survivors. The bus, carrying 55 tourists and one guide, overturned on Wednesday evening in the coastal town of Canico, its mayor, Filipe Sousa, told reporters. Portugal's public prosecutor's office opened an investigation into the accident, whose cause authorities said they could not yet determine. Local TV channel SIC attributed it to either brake failure or a problem with the accelerator cable. In Berlin, Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said he would fly to Madeira on Thursday with a team of doctors, psychologists and consular officials to meet those affected and thank Portugal for its help. "We have no certainty as yet as to how many Germans were among the victims." he said in a statement, while Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed "sadness and shock" at the scale of the tragedy. Authorities on the island confirmed all 29 people killed were German, of whom the country's best-selling daily, Bild, said were 18 women and 11 men. Many were retirees, the newspaper added. "I have no words to describe what happened. I cannot face the suffering of these people," Sousa told SIC TV. All but one of the 29 victims died at the crash scene and, of the 28 passengers treated for injuries, four remained in a critical condition on Thursday, a spokesman at the hospital in the nearby capital Funchal told a news conference. Images taken by Reuters photographers on Thursday showed the bulk of the wreckage had been removed, leaving some debris still scattered on the ground. Other pictures showed damage to a house next to where the bus came to a halt. The 29 victims were members of a bigger holiday group, of whom other members were traveling on another bus, a regional civil protection spokesman said. Two of the injured were Portuguese and the rest were foreign nationals, the hospital spokesman said. Patients were being treated for head, abdominal and chest injuries. A similar crash on the island in 2005 killed five Italian tourists. Portugal's Foreign minister Augusto Santos Silva will also fly to Madeira on Thursday, and its Prime Minister Antonio Costa sent his "deepest condolences" to victims' family. Merkel said German authorities were in contact with their Portuguese counterparts and stood ready to assist. "I think with sadness and shock of our compatriots and everybody else who was affected by the dreadful bus accident on Madeira," she added in a Twitter statement posted by her spokesman. (Reporting by Catarina Demony in Lisbon, Rafael Marchante and Miguel Pereira in Canico Additional reporting by Thomas Escritt in Berlin; Editing by John Stonestreet)


Cardinals General Manager Steve Keim named Kyler Murray the team's starting quarterback soon after the team used the No. 1 overall pick on the quarterback. Coach Kliff Kingsbury hasn't done the same, apparently wanting Murray to earn the job. Murray is expected to earn the job, though Brett Hundley wants to make it as difficult a decision as possible. Hundley, who backed up Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay and Russell Wilson in Seattle, promises to teach Murray everything he knows. He's not, however, willing to concede the starting job. "The knowledge that I have, I'm able to pass it along to [Murray], especially through this journey of his because the NFL isn't a sprint . It's a long distance marathon," Hundley told TMZ.com in a recent interview, via NFL.com. "For me, my goal has always been to start, no matter what position it's in. I don't play to be second. So I think that's my number one goal, to get that starting job, and at the same time, it's a competition for a reason." Hundley said Murray is an "unbelievable guy" who is "really picking up this offense really well." The Chandler, Arizona, native is comfortable being back home and comfortable in a offense that seems to suit him. "Being able to come home this year and just knowing that I'm in the right kind of offense that I've been waiting for and to put everything together I've learned from my past experiences in Green Bay and Seattle into this offense, I feel like I could really do some damage," Hundley said. Barring an injury to Murray, though, Hundley isn't expected to get a chance to prove he can do some damage.


It's Marcus Mariota's job to lose when it comes to the Tennessee Titans starting quarterback position. But when one considers how often Mariota has been sidelined by injury, the backup position is almost equally important to look at. The Titans signed former Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill to fill that role and serve as an insurance policy for Mariota, who enters a pivotal season on the fifth and final year of his rookie deal. The media got another chance to see him in action - both on the field and on the podium - during Thursday's OTA practice. He says the transition from going from a starter to a backup has come with its own set of difficulties, but it appears he is embracing the situation. "It's definitely tough at times," Tannehill told reporters. "But Marcus is great to work with. The staff here, Marcus, the quarterback room is really great, and when you work with good people - great people - and you're all aligned in this thing together trying to win football games, it definitely helps with that transition. But there are some things that are tough about it, but kinds of goes along with it." Here's a look at Tannehill in action. @ryantannehill1 tape. #Titans pic.twitter.com/bsdfGKzBwh - Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) May 30, 2019 It will certainly be interesting to see how much action - if any - the quarterback sees in the upcoming season. MORE: NBA fans had so many memes for Steph Curry's exchange with Drake Five potential Chris Paul trade destinations Was Ben Roethlisberger right to ask Zach Gentry to change jersey numbers? VIDEO: Drake Appears to Tell Draymond Green the Warriors Are Trash Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti shocked by C.J. Mosley's contract with Jets