GUILFORD COUNTY, N.C.   A Guilford County man died after an amoeba entered his body and led to a deadly illness, according to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services. Health officials confirmed that the death was directly related to Naegleria fowleri, also known as the "brain-eating amoeba," which is naturally present in warm freshwater during the summer. Eddie Gray was in the Fantasy Lake water park in Hope Mills with a mission group from Kernersville's Sedge Garden United Methodist Church when the amoeba entered his body, WRAL reports. The Centers for Disease Control say this amoeba enters the system through the nose before going into the brain. Victims then can develop primary amebic meningoencephalitis, as Gray did. The infection starts with severe headache, fever, nausea and vomiting before leading into a stiff neck, seizures and coma, NCDHHS reports. Gray died on Monday, less than two weeks after swimming at Fantasy Lake on July 12. The CDC says the brain disease is rare, but devastating. The state reports that there have been 145 known cases from 1962 to 2018, only five of which were in North Carolina. Infections like these usually only happen when temperatures have been high for a prolonged period of time. Local health officials are working with the water park to provide guidance and education about the presence of Naegleria fowleri and how to take precautions when in natural bodies of fresh water. The state says there is no way to eliminate the amoeba from freshwater lakes, and that the public should take the following precautions: Limit the amount of water going up your nose. Hold your nose shut, use nose clips or keep your head above water when taking part in warm freshwater-related activities. Avoid water-related activities in warm freshwater during periods of high water temperature and low water levels. Avoid digging in or stirring up the sediment while taking part in water-related activities in shallow, warm freshwater areas. "Our sympathies are with the family and loved ones," State Epidemiologist Zack Moore said in a news release. "People should be aware that this organism is present in warm freshwater lakes, rivers and hot springs across North Carolina, so be mindful as you swim or enjoy water sports." Gray was 59 years old when he died on Monday, according to his obituary . "He will be missed by all who knew him, and his greatest joy was his family," his obituary reads. "He spent his spare time kayaking, camping, hunting, fishing, NASCAR, and spending time with his wife as they loved on their grandchildren." The family's attorney provided a statement to WRAL which read, in part, "Mr. Gray's death was tragic and untimely. The family is currently asking for privacy and respect during this difficult time. Otherwise, at this time, the family has no comment." This video accompanied an article on a previous case of Naegleria fowleri in North Carolina.     ©2019 WGHP-TV, Greensboro Visit WGHP-TV, Greensboro at www.myfox8.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.


The $10.9 million runway relocation and expansion project at the Lake Elmo Airport will soon be underway. But the controversy around the plan, which has created years of debate, has not gone away. At least one neighbor opposed to the plan predicts it will end up in court. Officials from the Metropolitan Airports Commission, which owns and operates the airport, say the project is needed to improve safety   for pilots and for nearby residents. A longer runway will be safer, especially during inclement weather, and will enable pilots to fly with heavier loads, airport officials say. The runway's pavement has reached the end of its service life and must be replaced. But some neighbors oppose the plan, saying the small recreational airport doesn't get enough use to justify the price tag. "You could be out here for hours and never see an airplane," said Laura Kaschmitter, who lives across the street from airport property. And there are two other airports within two minutes, notes Dave Schultz, a member of the West Lakeland Township board. Lake Elmo Airport opened in 1951 and is one of 83 intermediate airports located in Minnesota. It's one of the state's busiest, but its 2,850-foot runway is the fifth shortest. WHAT WORK WILL BE DONE Crews this fall are slated to begin work on 30th Street North, which runs south of the airport and is being moved to accommodate a new 3,500-foot runway and runway protection zone. Construction of the new runway, which will be located about 700 feet northeast of the airport's primary one, will begin next year. The existing 2,850-foot runway is being converted into a partial parallel taxiway. The airport's crosswind runway also will be reconstructed and extended   to 2,750 feet from 2,500 feet   and lights will be added for nighttime flying. The entire project is expected to be completed in 2021. When the runway is extended to 3,500 feet, it will still be smaller than the 5,000-foot runways at Holman Field, Flying Cloud Airport in Eden Prairie and the Anoka County-Blaine Airport, according to the airports commission. REMAINING MOSTLY RECREATIONAL The Metropolitan Airports Commission expects the airport, which has no control tower, to continue being used by mostly recreational, training and small-business planes. About 200 aircraft are based at the airport, and that number is expected to remain about the same. The runway's pavement and subsurface, which is original, "needs to be completely redone," said Melissa Scovronski, a spokeswoman for the airports commission. "It has been repaired and repaired and repaired." The Federal Aviation Administration has also been pushing for more enforcement of its runway protection zones   land which lies beyond runways that is supposed to be kept clear of structures, public roads and railroads. Lake Elmo Airport's runway protection zone on the north end of its existing primary runway falls over Manning Avenue, the Union Pacific Railroad and onto about 5 acres of neighboring land. Moving the runway means all of the runway protection zones will be kept on airport property, according to the airports commission. Moving the runway protection and safety zone boundaries north and farther east "reduces the impact in Lake Elmo," said City Administrator Kristina Handt. COMPLAINTS FOCUS ON ROAD, IMPACT Schultz questions why the airport needs to expand when the New Richmond, Wis., Airport and Holman Field, the airport in downtown St. Paul, are within a 20-minute drive. "It doesn't make sense to put money into an airport halfway between these two other airports," he said. He also takes issue with plans for 30th Street North. The airports commission originally proposed realigning the road around the south end of the new runway on airport land but revised those plans so the street could connect back to the existing Neal Avenue intersection. The revised plan calls for a curve in the road, which will be banked, he said. The road, which divides Baytown and West Lakeland townships, is a major east-west corridor in the area, Kaschmitter said. "How many pilots have airplanes of the size that would benefit from a longer runway?" she said. "And there are how many people who drive on 30th? 1,500 to 2,000 a day. Just do the math. Which is more important, the road or the airport?" The road is being designed and engineered to be safe, said Scovronski, who noted that township planners are reviewing the design and providing input on it. Mary Vierling, who lives across the street from airport property, said she expects the matter to end up in court. "They've been good neighbors," she said. "The grandkids love sitting out with a Popsicle and watching the planes come and go. We've enjoyed it. But this is not enjoyable anymore. This has taken all the fun out of it." NOT ALL ARE UPSET Dozens of new houses have been built recently in the city just west of the airport. The Easton Village housing development is in its fifth phase, with 143 platted lots, and "there doesn't seem to be any slowing down," said Lake Elmo's Handt. The Northport housing development is in its second phase with 65 lots platted. "We've had about 100 houses built in the last three years between the Easton and Northport developments," she said. Residents of the new housing developments have not had any issues with the airport as far as Handt knows. "We hear more complaints about the railroad noise," she said. COMING TOGETHER ON ZONING On Tuesday, the Lake Elmo Airport Joint Zoning Board, which consists of representatives from the airports commission, Washington County, Lake Elmo, Oak Park Heights and Baytown and West Lakeland townships, will meet for the first time. The board is charged with developing a zoning ordinance for land uses around the airport. "They want a unified set of zoning ordinances that cover that space above the ground   height structures, where they can be   all around the airport," said Rick Weyrauch, a supervisor from Baytown Township who has been appointed to represent Baytown on the board. Weyrauch said he supports the runway expansion. One added benefit of moving the runway: the expansion of Manning Avenue from a two-lane roadway to a four-lane roadway will be allowed, he said. Weyrauch, who is a pilot, said he moved to Baytown to be close to the airport. "There's an airport there, and it's always been there, and they're going to continue to do more airport stuff there," he said. SOME WARY OF CHANGES' IMPACT But Schultz said he expects affected landowners won't be happy to learn the use of their property may be curtailed by zoning. Related Articles Second arrest made in May Township shooting that prosecutors say is gang-related Lakeland mayor absent, but cheers go up as 2 new council members are seated Charges detail 'horrific' scene in shooting north of Stillwater; second suspect arrested Minnesota 36 reopened both directions after semi fire closes highway several hours Council meeting on Tuesday could determine Lakeland City Hall's direction Schultz pointed to a 2011 Minnesota Supreme Court ruling that upheld a decision that a Rochester couple suffered a substantial loss in property value in 2002 when the Rochester International Airport Joint Zoning Board expanded the airport's safety zone boundaries and reduced the available uses of their property. "The joint zoning board in Rochester had to compensate the landowner," he said. Scovronski said the airports commission wants to work with "communities and try to, to the extent possible, allow for growth of communities that's appropriate to the fact that you have an airport right there." There is no deadline for the zoning board's work, she said. "We can go ahead with construction without zoning in place, but we would much rather the (joint zoning board) do its work ahead of that."


Tiger Woods is back playing in a golf tournament this week, and it's one that he's had a lot of success at. This year's Memorial, an event that Tiger has won five times, is even more special, however, because it's the first time he and Jack Nicklaus, who's the host of the tournament on a course that he built, have seen each other since Tiger won the Masters back in April. Nicklaus spoke that Sunday about how he was worried again about Tiger breaking his record for most major titles in a career. But on Wednesday, the two legendary golfers weren't concerned about records. Instead, it was just nice to catch up and it allowed Nicklaus to shower Tiger with praise: From one legend to another. "I'm really proud of you." - @JackNicklaus to @TigerWoods #LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/WLgV114RaA - PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 29, 2019 Welcome back  @TigerWoods ! Good to have our record 5-time  @MemorialGolf  winner - and  @TheMasters  champion! - back at Muirfield Village Golf Club!  @PGATOUR   @Nationwide   @nationwidekids  pic.twitter.com/lj9USNUTt4 - Jack Nicklaus (@jacknicklaus) May 29, 2019 Nicklaus' wife, Barbara, also told Tiger how Jack skipped fishing to watch his final round of the Masters: Watching @TigerWoods win > Catching bonefish pic.twitter.com/NDu5tgOX9R - PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 29, 2019 Now that is all cool to see. It would also be cool to see Tiger in contention again this weekend in Ohio. MORE: Kyle Busch was so frustrated during Coke 600 that he told Joe Gibbs he quit Report: The Celtics are no longer the favorites to sign Kyrie Irving Four potential Khris Middleton landing spots in free agency Draymond Green to LeBron James' 14-Year-Old Son: "I'm at Your F--king Neck This Summer" Interior pressure will still power Packers' pass rush in 2019 Related slideshow: Tiger Woods' career in pictures (Provided by photo services)


Got a hankering for sushi? Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top sushi spots in Cleveland, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of the best spots to satisfy your cravings. 1. Ginko Restaurant Topping the list is Ginko Restaurant . Located at 2247 Professor Ave. in Tremont, the sushi bar and Japanese spot is the highest-rated sushi spot in Cleveland, boasting 4.5 stars out of 278 reviews on Yelp. 2. Sapporo Sushi Next up is downtown's Sapporo Sushi , situated at 1940 E. Sixth St. With four stars out of 53 reviews on Yelp, the sushi bar, Japanese and Asian fusion spot has proven to be a local favorite. 3. Marble Room Steaks and Raw Bar Downtown's Marble Room Steaks and Raw Bar , located at 623 Euclid Ave., is another top choice, with Yelpers giving the sushi bar, steakhouseand seafood spot four stars out of 242 reviews. 4. Sung's House Sung's House , a sushi bar and Japanese spot located downtown, is another go-to, with four stars out of 81 Yelp reviews. Head over to 1507 Euclid Ave. to see for yourself. This story was created automatically using local business data, then reviewed and augmented by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


Burnley ended their season with a 3-1 defeat to Arsenal at Turf Moor on Sunday, which resulted in them finishing in 15th place - eight places lower than in the previous campaign. Although this sounds like a dramatic decrease in form and could constitute as a failure for Burnley as a club, the truth is that Sean Dyche's men were hit with a reality check after overachieving in 2017/18 and succumbed to the pressures that come with juggling European and domestic football. After a poor first half of the season left them in the relegation zone at Christmas, the squad pulled together and managed to go on an eight-game run without a loss, which saw them climb out of the drop zone and maintain their place in the Premier League for a fourth consecutive campaign. Let's take a look at the Clarets' report card for the 2018/19 season. League Performance On the whole, Burnley fans will be pleased with maintaining their Premier League status, considering their flirtation with relegation at the half way point. Supporters can't be blamed for dreaming of another season challenging for the top six after finishing in seventh place last term. However, considering the quality of the teams above them and the pedigree of talent those sides brought in over the summer, a repeat of this feat was unrealistic. After their torrid start, which including drubbings by Manchester City and Chelsea , they did manage to secure some positive results against the top clubs when their form started to improve. Draws against Manchester United and Chelsea the second time around, and victories over Tottenham and Wolves contributed to their survival in the relegation battle. Cup Performance Although an exit at the hands of Manchester City in the fourth round of the FA Cup drew little complaints from Clarets fans, it was their dismal performance against League One outfit Burton Albion in the third round of the League Cup which left a bitter taste. After securing a pass to the third round thanks to their high league position last season, a tie against a side two tiers below them should have been a comprehensive start to a cup run, however things didn't quite go to plan. Two second-half goals from Burton cancelled out Kevin Long's opener and eliminated Burnley in their first match of the competition. The Clarets also played European football for the first time in 51 years, contesting three qualifying rounds in the Europa League.They failed to reach the group stages after falling at the final hurdle, losing 4-2 on aggregate to Olympiakos during a time when they were struggling domestically. A lack of experience in managing European football with the regular season is something Dyche has openly admitted, seemingly explaining their poor form in 2018. Best Player Ashley Westwood enjoyed his most productive season at Burnley, starting 31 games in the Premier League where he scored two goals and provided seven assists. His consistent form in the centre of midfield didn't go unnoticed by both fans and teammates alike, as he was awarded the Players' and Fans' Player of the Year awards for the 2018/19 season. He was pivotal in propelling his side out of the relegation zone during their unbeaten period at the turn of the year and also managed to score his first goals for the club. Worst Player Joe Hart was recruited in the summer to cover for fellow England goalkeepers Tom Heaton and Nick Pope who were sidelined with injuries, however a once solid defence became extremely leaky with Hart between the sticks. During the first 19 games of the season he conceded 41 goals and only managed to keep four clean sheets throughout the campaign. Although the full blame cannot be placed solely on Hart for Burnley's defensive frailties in 2018, the turn of the new year saw the reinstatement of Heaton which proved to be a deciding factor in Burnley's survival. At a cost of only £3.5m, Hart's poor form won't be too much of a blow to he Clarets and at 31 years of age its tough to see him staying at Turf Moor next season. The Manager Sean Dyche is currently the fourth longest serving manager at one club in the top four tiers of English football, having been in charge at Burnley for over six-and-a-half years. That is a pretty remarkable statistic considering the current managerial ins and outs and is testament to the work Dyche has done at Burnley over the course of this period. It has been somewhat of a roller coaster ride since he took over in 2012. He secured promotion to the Premier League in his maiden season, only to be relegated back to the Championship after one term in the top flight. An immediate bounce back to the Premier League led to an unexpected seventh place finish, their highest since 1974, and has since managed to keep them in the top tier for a fourth consecutive season. Dyche admitted after the last match of the campaign that his side struggled to handle the pressures of European and domestic football but was proud of how his team reacted since Christmas. He can be praised for successfully guiding his side through a relegation scrap, maintaining Burnley's place in the Premier League. Overall Grade After overachieving in 2017/18 it would be unfair to punish Burnley for not putting in a repeat performance this season. A rocky start caused many to tip them for a return to the  Championship , however Dyche and his men pulled together to fight their way to safety and put in big performances against some of the top sides in the Premier League. There are plenty of positives to take forward including the quality shown by multiple English talents. James Tarkowski and Heaton earned returns to the England squad and it will be vital for Burnley to keep a hold on them over the summer. A tough campaign for the Clarets will be used as a learning curve and should give them plenty of room for improvement next season. Overall Grade: C+


Hello fellow DolFans. I'm back with all the fan reactions, tidbits, and Twitters news that filled my newsfeed over the past week as related to our Miami Dolphins . It's off-season and the Draft has come and went, so definitely not as exciting news, but some good things did happen over the past few days. Howard Extension By now, as you already know, the biggest news of the week was the Miami Dolphins extending Xavien Howard 's contract. I was not expecting that little bit of joy on Thursday evening, but you better believe I screamed and jumped up and down (I was at a dinner party and people stared at me oddly but I'm used to it) when I saw the news pop up on Twitter. I'm so damn happy. We've seen too many players we've loved walk away to other teams. Damn proud of you @MiamiDolphins So. Damn. Proud. You did good with @Iamxavienhoward   Kathleen (@kathleen_noa) May 10, 2019 How happy were you all when you heard the news? If you were like me, you've been waiting all off-season for the Dolphins to extend his contract. Howard made it known he wanted to be paid. We, as fans, know and have witnessed too many talented players walk away and flourish with other teams. Many of us are still not over Wake leaving and I'm still sad we lost Ju'Wuan James as well. Those two stung a bit, but I'm dealing with it. However, I would not have been okay nor confident in our "rebuilding" if the Dolphins let Howard slip away. You did good Grier. Thank you! Check out this thread on Twitter if you want to get a good laugh at some of comments from Patriots ' fans about the Howard extension. RT for Gilmore Fav for Howard pic.twitter.com/SzYWBU5MbY   King Brycen (@BrycenNFL) May 10, 2019 I always enjoy seeing Patriot fans a little annoyed by our team. Anyways, I think my buddy Paul Picken summed up my feelings about what Grier is doing with our team. Not overpaying for past their prime vets Keying focus on the draft & talent Investing in their own Building future capital Not bending from his beliefs and evaluations Let's effing go, Grier. It's about time. #Dolphins   Paul L. Picken, Jr (@Phinatic_Pick) May 10, 2019 The future is looking bright for once. Other Signings The Miami Dolphins singed ex- Bills veteran OT Jordan Mills last week. I'm a fan of this as well. He is an experienced player and only cost $3.5 million for a one-year deal. Here's what Flores had so say about the signing as quoted from Omar. "We evaluated what else was out there. We saw Jordan. I know him. I've played against him. Saw an opportunity add a veteran player who has experience. A good move for our team," Brian Flores on Miami signing Jordan Mills.   Omar Kelly (@OmarKelly) May 10, 2019 The Dolphins also signed several other tryout players. Here's a link to some of those if you want to check any of them out. We have signed the following tryout players: center Kirk Barron, cornerback Jamar Summers and running back Mark Walton. The team has waived/injured center Connor Hilland and safety Rob Rolle. Full Release: https://t.co/c3aYwgKGoZ   Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) May 12, 2019 Here's what Barry Jackson had to say about the Mark Walton signing. With today's Mark Walton signing, Dolphins now have two talented Canes who turned pro early after the 2017 season: Walton and Kendrick Norton. And they didn't need to use a draft pick to add either one. Hopefully for all involved, their second NFL stops will work out splendidly.   Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) May 12, 2019 Upcoming Games and Other Twitter Chatter As the 2019 season approaches us, I'm going to be sharing information for upcoming events/games for those fans who may be interested. As many of you know the DolFans NYC Group will be hosting their 10th Anniversary of the MetLife Takeover in New Jersey. It's supposed to be EPIC! That being said, I think I will make the trip this year. There may be a few of us from The Phinsider (Houtz) attending as well, based on my replies from my tweet. Alright, I think I need to attend @DolfansNYC 10th anniversary game for MetLife Takeover. Anyone want to go together? It will only be my second time going to NYC/NJ.   Kathleen (@kathleen_noa) May 10, 2019 Everything you need to know will be posted on their website/Twitter, but I will also update you all as well. I have been once, a few years ago, and it was a blast! If you can attend one away game this season, this one may be one of the best to attend. Speaking of Jets , the other best game to attend will be the home game against the Jets. The Miami Dolphins have hosted an "Away Fan Club Weekend" since 2014 (The Chargers at home 37-0 was the first). Each year, for one home game, typically around October/November, several hundred Dolphins' fans from Dolphins' clubs around the world get invited to attend a home game for a discounted price. Typically there is a group rate for a hotel, an invite to a pre-game party the night before, a group tailgate, discount group seating at game, and a group photo post-game on the field. My local fan club, The Atlanta DolFan Club, and NorCal Fan Club are the two main groups who help host/set up all the events for that weekend. Several people have reached out on Twitter and are planning on joining us for the game. I will be posting information as I receive it on Twitter, but if you plan to attend that home game I encourage you to join us. It's becoming one of my favorite weekends of the year, because it's several hundred fans from all over the world getting together. It's always a great time whether our team wins or loses. Last bit, as far as Jets related. Did you all see this? don't do drugs pic.twitter.com/7gqKx2AipP   josh houtz (@houtz) May 10, 2019 I think someone possibly indulged a bit too much of some edibles. I mean, don't see us doing well this season (rebuilding and all), but the Jets being that good? I got a good laugh out of that too. I want to also wish a Happy Mother's Day to all you amazing mothers out there! I hope you get spoiled with love and pampering today because you deserve it. Until next time DolFans...


It was an action-packed main card during UFC Fight Night. Andre Fili, Gilbert Burns, Leonardo Santos and Erick Silva won by submission, Amanda Nunes won by TKO, and Demian Maia won by decision.


TORONTO (AP)   Danny Jansen and Brandon Drury each hit two-run homers, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. added a solo shot and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Boston Red Sox 6-3 on Wednesday night. All three homers came off Red Sox left-hander Chris Sale (3-8), who lost for the first time in six starts. It's the second time this season Sale has allowed three homers   he also did it in his opening day outing against Seattle on March 28. Sale gave up five runs and a season-high nine hits in 5 2/3 innings. He also allowed five runs in his previous start, June 26 against the White Sox. BOX SCORE: BLUE JAYS 6, RED SOX 3 Sale came in 5-1 with a 1.60 ERA in nine career games in Toronto, but couldn't extend that streak of dominance. Instead, he allowed at least four earned runs for the third time in three meetings with the Blue Jays. He's 0-2 with a 7.96 ERA against Toronto this season, and has allowed 23 hits to Blue Jays batters over 14 2/3 innings. Drury went 3 for 4 and came within a triple of the cycle. He singled in the third and doubled in the eighth. Blue Jays right-hander Jacob Waguespack (1-0) allowed three runs and five hits in five-plus innings for his first career win. Waguespack was pressed into action after Wednesday's original scheduled starter, right-hander Sean Reid-Foley, pitched 3 1/3 innings of no-hit relief in Tuesday's 10-6 loss. Instead, Toronto used right-hander David Phelps to open for Waguespack, who was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo to make his second career appearance. Rafael Devers hit a two-run single off Waguespack in the third, but Gurriel halved the deficit with a two-out homer in the bottom half, his 15th. Christian Vazquez restored the two-run lead with a solo homer in the fourth, his 13th and third in the past three games. Jansen tied it with a second-deck drive in the bottom half, his sixth of the year and fourth in six games. Drury ended Sale's night with a two-out homer in the sixth, his seventh and first since June 5. Waguespack left after Vazquez singled to begin the seventh. Left-hander Tim Mayza followed and struck out Jackie Bradley Jr. before Chavis doubled. Right-hander Daniel Hudson came on to face pinch-hitter Eduardo Nunez, who flied out. Hudson ended the threat by striking out Mookie Betts. Hudson worked the eighth and Ken Giles pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his 13th save in 14 opportunities. Blue Jays shortstop Freddy Galvis went 3 for 3 with a walk and padded the lead with a sacrifice fly off Steven Wright in the eighth. TRAINER'S ROOM Blue Jays: RHP Marcus Stroman (pectoral cramp) may need an extra day of rest before his next start, or possibly a stint on the injured list. Stroman left Saturday's start against Kansas City in the fifth inning. He's listed as Toronto's starter for Thursday's series finale. ... OF Teoscar Hernández (right shoulder) sat for the second straight day. YOU'RE A STAR Red Sox SS Xander Bogaerts was one of three injury-replacements named to the AL All-Star team Wednesday. Bogaerts went 0 for 4 with four strikeouts. ROSTER REPORT Blue Jays: Reid-Foley was optioned to Buffalo to make room for Waguespack. Red Sox: C Óscar Hernández was assigned to Triple-A Pawtucket. UP NEXT Red Sox: Boston had yet to name a starter for Thursday's series finale. Blue Jays: If Stroman can't go Thursday, Toronto could promote LHP Thomas Pannone from Triple-A. Pannone has made 23 appearances for the Blue Jays this season, including two starts. He's 2-3 with a 5.91 ERA. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports Related slideshow: The 2019 MLB season (Provided by imagn)


One person was killed at a rock quarry Monday morning, according to the coroner. Oglethorpe County coroner Howard Sanders said a crane accident was reported about 11:30 a.m. at the Millstone Quarry on Allgood Road. Sanders said the crane fell off the ledge down into the quarry killing one person. He said no one else was injured. The name of the victim has not been released, pending notification of the family. Millstone Quarry is an active stone mine near Lexington. READ MORE: Crane falls at rock quarry, killing one person, coroner says CHECK OUT WYFF: Get the latest Greenville news and weather. For live, local, late-breaking Greenville, SC, news coverage, WYFF is the place to be.


The 49ers solved both of their remaining contract problems Thursday. Wide receiver Deebo Samuel signed his rookie contract according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport shortly after it was reported that No. 2 overall pick Nick Bosa signed his . Last one: The #49ers and WR Deebo Samuel have agreed to terms, source said. He's reporting to camp. - Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 25, 2019 Samuel was the 49ers' second-round pick, No. 36 overall, in the 2019 draft out of the University of South Carolina. He was also the final 2019 draft pick to sign his contract. Rookie contracts are set in terms of length and dollars, but some language in the minutiae of the deal can be altered. Samuel's agency, CAA, generally aims to have that language changed, and have had several players hold out of camp in order to get a deal done. The former Gamecock cut it close with his deal, signing one day before the team reports to training camp in Santa Clara. The expectation is that Samuel will step in and play a key role in the 49ers' offense right away. He's proficient from the slot and outside, and should fill the vacancy left by Pierre Garçon. South Carolina was creative with their use of Samuel during his four years there. He caught 148 passes for 2,076 yards and 16 touchdowns. He also notched 154 yards and seven touchdowns on 25 rushing attempts, and tallied four kickoff return touchdowns on 42 chances. It may take a bit for Samuel to get acclimated to a complicated offense, especially if he's going to play multiple spots. Getting into camp and getting up to speed quickly will be imperative if the receiver is going to make an immediate impact in his first year. He wouldn't have been allowed to practice without signing his contract. The 49ers report to training camp Friday, with their first practice slated for Saturday. MORE: Instant observations from Day 1 of Patriots training camp Mike Trout's perfect 98.6 MPH throw to home plate had everyone in awe Packers training camp practice roundup: July 25 Ranking the NBA's Top 10 Big Threes Chiefs rookie RB Darwin Thompson calls Patrick Mahomes 'a real-life Jug machine'


The Los Angeles Rams' young offensive linemen - and there are a bunch of them - are in a good position with so many veteran leaders on the roster. Andrew Whitworth is one of the best offensive tackles in the league despite being 37 years old, while Rob Havenstein played like an elite right tackle in 2018. Young linemen such as Joseph Noteboom and Brian Allen raved about the help they received from John Sullivan, Rodger Saffold and Whitworth last year, and it appears at least one rookie is receiving similar treatment. According to Vincent Bonsignore, who's been in attendance for Rams OTAs, tweeted Wednesday that Havenstein is taking David Edwards under his wing at right tackle. One other #Rams OTA observation: Rob Havenstein looks to have taken rookie (5th rd) David Edwards - a fellow Wisconsin OT - under his wing. Edwards had a 2nd RD grade in 2018 draft but returned to college for one more year. The size and athletic ability really jumps out in OTAs - Vincent Bonsignore (@VinnyBonsignore) May 29, 2019 Edwards battled through a difficult 2018 season at Wisconsin, fighting a shoulder injury for the duration of the campaign. That undoubtedly impacted his play and caused him to slide in the draft a bit - especially after being given a second-round grade. Havenstein just signed an extension last offseason, but Edwards has a chance to compete at both guard and tackle, at the very least becoming a backup at either spot. Perhaps he'll be in play to replace Whitworth when he retires, too. MORE: Kyle Busch was so frustrated during Coke 600 that he told Joe Gibbs he quit Report: The Celtics are no longer the favorites to sign Kyrie Irving Four potential Khris Middleton landing spots in free agency Draymond Green to LeBron James' 14-Year-Old Son: "I'm at Your F--king Neck This Summer" Interior pressure will still power Packers' pass rush in 2019


Congratulations to longtime Browns standout Joe Thomas for his latest honor. Thomas has been selected for induction into the University of Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame at his alma mater. The former All-Pro left tackle was about as big of a star as an offensive lineman can be during his college days. Wearing No. 72 for Wisconsin, Thomas won the Outland Trophy in 2006 and was a two-time All-American. He also lettered in track and was an All-Big Ten performer in the shot put. All of that led the Browns to select Thomas with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft. His induction into the University of Wisconsin Hall of Fame won't be the last hallowed hall that recognizes Thomas' greatness, either. He's no ordinary Joe. We're excited to announce @joethomas73 as one of our newest #UWHallofFame members for the class of 2019. #Badgers | #OnWisconsin https://t.co/V8R5qr0B2r - Wisconsin Badgers (@UWBadgers) June 25, 2019 MORE: Four potential DeMarcus Cousins landing spots in free agency Mystery of fish caught with wedding ring attached solved Raven Greene looks like a top player to watch at Packers training camp Report: Nets likely to sign Kyrie Irving to 4-year, $141 million deal New York Knicks Rumors: Kevin Durant, Julius Randle, Tobias Harris Still in Play


You can leave your umbrella at home through Saturday, but light rainfall is in the forecast for Chicago later in the week, according to the seven-day forecast from drone-powered weather service Saildrone . Sunday's forecast shows the greatest chance of rain at 87 percent, with rain likely through Monday. The coming days will also see warm temperatures, expected to persist through Thursday. The weather will bring a high temperature of 86 degrees on Sunday. Skies will be partly cloudy today and mostly cloudy tomorrow. Winds will remain fairly calm throughout the week, with the highest speeds on Wednesday at just 10 mph. This story was created automatically using Saildrone's local weather forecast data, then reviewed by an editor. We also incorporate historic weather data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


Rich Energy's shareholders are understood to be attempting to save the company's relationship with the Haas Formula 1 team after the company tweeted on Wednesday that the sponsorship deal had been terminated. Sources have told Motorsport.com that the tweet was either written by or authorised by CEO William Storey without the knowledge of Rich's investors after an apparent difference of opinion. Read Also: Rich announces end of Haas F1 deal via Twitter Haas will run Rich branding at British GP, says Steiner Rich Energy shareholders blame "rogue individual" for Haas tweet The shareholders are keen to protect their investment in the brand, and that includes saving the relationship with Haas. One source told Motorsport.com: "The deal is not terminated and William has no authority to do so. The investors are trying to clear up the PR mess, but it's business as usual." The shareholders listed alongside Storey for Rich Energy UK are Brandsellers Holdings Ltd, Robert Lee, Charlie Simpson, Neville Weston and Lloyd Tunicliffe. It's believed that the same investors are also involved in a separate holding company which is in effect where the power lies. Former Sainsbury's boss Justin King, appointed as advisor to Storey and Rich's board of directors in April, is believed to be involved in sorting out the situation. King's son , an IndyCar and F2 racer, had announced a sponsorship tie-in with Rich back in April. On Thursday, Haas issued a statement quoting team boss Gunther Steiner as saying: "Rich Energy is currently the title partner of Haas F1 Team. I cannot comment further on the contractual relationship between our two parties due to commercial confidentiality." There was no change in the Haas camp at Silverstone on Thursday, with the Rich Energy logos still on display.


Golf writer Kyle Porter recaps how Patrick Cantlay secured the victory at the 2019 Memorial Tournament, presented by Amstel Light.


It's been a chaotic few weeks for Newcastle but, with under two weeks left in the transfer window, the Magpies still have plenty to finalise. The fallout from Rafa Benitez' departure and that Mike Ashley interview continues, Steve Bruce has provided a few comments after the recent friendly defeat to Preston and there are transfer rumours aplenty. Here's a quick roundup of all the recent Newcastle related news and rumours. Benitez Would Have Stayed for Another Year If Not for the Board It's not an easy headline for Newcastle supporters to read, but it doesn't exactly come as much of a surprise. Contrary to previous comments from Mike Ashley , The Daily Mail are reporting that Benitez told friends he didn't choose to join Chinese club Dalian Yifang for the money as he preferred option was always to remain in England - if possible with Newcastle. Ashley instead insisted that Benitez was always set on making the move over to China as the Spanish manager knew that his financial demands were never likely to be met. Something tells me that Benitez' departure is going to remain a talking point for months to come - particularly if Bruce fails to deliver. Bruce Insists There Were Positives in Defeat to Preston Newcastle's pre-season preparations continued on Saturday as they travelled to face Championship side Preston , but they ended up on the wrong end of a 2-1 scoreline as Sam Gallagher scored two second-half penalties to cancel out Jonjo Shelvey's opener. It's far from ideal, but Bruce was content with the outcome of the match, noting that there was plenty to take away - though he didn't specify exactly what. "There were a lot of positives out there considering I changed the team," he said, via the Newcastle Chronicle . "We knew it would be a physical test against Preston. Preston are at least 10 days ahead of us." Let's just hope they are able to sort themselves out before their opening fixture against Arsenal. Bruce Sends Out Warning Regarding Longstaff Sean Longstaff's future remains up in the air as Manchester United continue their pursuit of the young midfielder, but Newcastle have been holding firm so far this summer. That stance isn't set to change before the end of the summer transfer window and Bruce has once again insisted that Longstaff is categorically not for sale - at least from his perspective, that is. "You never want to lose your best young players, and I think we've made it pretty evident that we won't,' Bruce told Sky Sports News . "We're concentrating on Sean now, getting his knee right. It's his 10th or 11th training session since he hurt his knee. "I'll just repeat what the owner said - he's not for sale." Patience the Key for Rest of Transfer Window Newcastle are not finished in the transfer window just yet. Bruce doesn't think so anyway, as he is still insisting that the Magpies could be in line to make a few more additions to their squad, following on from the recent acquisition of Joelinton. Speaking about Newcastle's intentions, Bruce said (via the Chronicle ): "We have only brought one in but we're doing our best. I think, as of this morning, I've been linked with 26 players in a week - there will be more tomorrow! "We're busy working on that (improving the squad). We've still got a couple of weeks and I'm quietly confident that we'll do some business. "We're just going to have to be a bit patient - I know it's difficult - but we're quietly confident that we're edging towards one or two." James McCarthy in Line for £5m Move Speaking of potential arrivals, Newcastle are being heavily linked with an approach for Everton midfielder James McCarthy, who could be available for as little as £5m as he enters the final year of his current deal with the Toffees. The Sun are reporting that Newcastle are prepared to swoop in for the Irishman, who recovered from a long-term knee injury earlier this season. The report suggests that Everton are looking for a potential buyer for McCarthy and the player himself is looking for a fresh start, so there's every chance that this one could go ahead. €11m Deal Agreed for Paris Saint-Germain Youngster Stanley N'Soki From a potential signing to another which is starting to gather some real momentum, it is being reported that Newcastle have now had an €11m bid accepted for Stanley N'Soki. The 20-year-old defender made 15 appearances for PSG in 2018/19, but he failed to truly establish himself for the French champions and is being deemed surplus to requirements going forward. RMC (via GFFN ) are claiming that Newcastle have now come to an agreement to sign N'Soki, having improved their previous offer which sat at €8m, as reported by L'Equipe . Cut-Price Offer Planned for Amiens Defender Emil Krafth Finally, rounding off the transfer rumours is a less inspiring piece of news, but it's news nonetheless. Sort of. According to The Sun , Newcastle are plotting a £1m bid (that's more like Mike) for Amiens defender Emil Krafth, who only recently joined the Ligue 1 outfit following a loan spell during 2018/19. The Chronicle also recently reported that the Magpies sent out scouts to keep tabs on the Swedish right-back during Amiens' recently friendly against Hull.


As fans of cronuts and cake pops can attest, food trends come and go. So how can you tell which tastes are trending at this very moment? We took a data-driven look at the question, using Yelp to discover which restaurants have been most discussed this month. To find out who made the list, we looked at Washington businesses on Yelp by category and counted how many reviews each received. Rather than compare them based on number of reviews alone, we calculated a percentage increase in reviews over the past month, and tracked businesses that consistently increased their volume of reviews to identify statistically significant outliers compared to past performance. Read on to see which spots are extra cool, right now. Dacha-Navy Yard Open since May 8, this beer garden and New American spot is trending compared to other businesses categorized as "American (New)" on Yelp. Citywide, New American spots saw a median 2.3% increase in new reviews over the past month, but Dacha-Navy Yard saw a remarkable 154.5% increase, though in a downward trend from a four-star rating a month ago to three stars today. It's not the only trending outlier in the New American category: Bresca has seen a 5.3% increase in reviews. Located at 79 Potomac Ave. SE (between South Half and South First streets), Dacha-Navy Yard features entrees such as cauliflower steak, lobster linguine, scallops and grits and crown of Muscovy duck. It also offers extensive lists of beers, craft cocktails and wines. Estuary Whether or not you've been hearing buzz about downtown's Estuary , the seafood spot is a hot topic according to Yelp review data. While businesses categorized as "Seafood" on Yelp saw a median 2.3% increase in new reviews over the past month, Estuary bagged a 65.2% increase in new reviews within that time frame, with a slight downward trend from a five-star rating a month ago to its current 4.5 stars. It significantly outperformed the previous month by gaining 1.5 times more reviews than expected based on its past performance. Open at 950 New York Ave. NW (between North 10th and North K streets) since March 22, Estuary is headed by "Top Chef" brothers Bryan and Michael Voltaggio. The restaurant offers Maryland crab roll, striped bass ceviche, Chesapeake Bay oysters and tuna tartare, as well as breakfast and brunch menus. Roaming Rooster Northeast's Roaming Rooster is also making waves. Open since July 2018 at 3176 Bladensburg Road NE (between North Eastern Avenue and North Fort Lincoln Drive), the chicken shop and traditional American spot has seen a 29.4% bump in new reviews over the last month, compared to a median review increase of 1.7% for all businesses tagged "American (Traditional)" on Yelp. Moreover, on a month-to-month basis, Roaming Rooster's review count increased by more than 120%. Roaming Rooster, which also has food trucks, offers free-range, buttermilk fried chicken sandwiches, such as fried chicken breast topped with honey butter and cheddar cheese. Sides include fries, cole slaw and wings. Over the past month, it's maintained a sound 4.5-star rating among Yelpers. Lupo Marino Southwest's Lupo Marino is the city's buzziest Italian spot by the numbers. The restaurant, which offers pizza and more, opened at 40 Pearl St. SW on the D.C. waterfront on May 18. It increased its new review count by 9.3% over the past month, an outlier when compared to the median new review count of 1.7% for the Yelp category "Italian." It outperformed the previous month by gaining five times more reviews than expected based on past performance. It's not the only trending outlier in the Italian category: Downtown's Sfoglina has seen a 15.1% increase in reviews. Lupo Marino, which has a 3.5-star rating on Yelp, offers a Southern Italian menu that includes pasta with wild pork carbonara, cured egg yolk, pickled onion and broccoli rabe, and a signature pizza with porchetta, roasted pepper relish, broccolini and pecorino cheese. Mi Vida Restaurante Also in southwest, Mi Vida Restaurante is currently on the upswing in the Mexican category on Yelp. While businesses categorized as "Mexican" on Yelp saw a median 1.9% increase in new reviews over the past month, this Mexican spot increased its new reviews by 6%   and kept its rating consistent at 3.5 stars. Open for business at 98 District Square SW at the D.C. Wharf since February 2018, the restaurant is headed by James Beard Award nominee chef Roberto Santibañez. The menu offers braised brisket enchiladas, slow-braised and seared baby back ribs and jumbo scallops and shrimp with chorizo and avocado-serrano purée, as well as a brunch menu and a host of tequilas and mezcales. This story was created automatically using local business data, then reviewed and augmented by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


Instagram has kicked a marketing startup off its platform after determining it improperly collected user data. The Facebook-owned social network took the action on Hyp3r after finding the startup scraped public data such as users' physical locations, profile information and photos to serve better targeted ads. Instagram sent a cease-and-desist letter to the San Francisco-based company on Wednesday after learning of the activity from Business Insider , which reported on the data collection earlier. Information collected by Hyp3r included data stored in Instagram Stories, content designed to disappear after 24 hours and not available through the company's API. "Hyp3r's actions were not sanctioned and violate our policies," an Instagram spokesperson said. "As a result, we've removed them from our platform. We've also made a product change that should help prevent other companies from scraping public location pages in this way." Instagram-owner Facebook has been under scrutiny since the revelation last year that consultancy Cambridge Analytica had misused Facebook user data in the run-up to the 2016 US presidential election. Since then, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has testified in front of Congress and the European Parliament to answer questions about Facebook's handling of user data. Hyp3r didn't immediately respond to a request for comment and denied breaking Instagram's rules to Business Insider. "Hyp3r is, and has always been, a company that enables authentic, delightful marketing that is compliant with consumer privacy regulations and social network Terms of Services," Hyp3r CEO Carlos Garcia said in an email. "We do not view any content or information that cannot be accessed publicly by everyone online." A portion of what Hyp3r is scraping comes from Instagram's Location pages, which highlight images from public accounts that have been geo-tagged. This data was formerly visible to anyone, regardless of whether they are logged into an Instagram account. A recently implemented fix cuts off access to this information if a user isn't logged into their Instagram account. This new restriction will apply to all companies.


Texas police found a surprise when they entered a home that allegedly had a "burglary in process."


MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Natasha Howard scored a career-high 33 points, Sami Whitcomb made five of Seattle's 12 3-pointers and the Storm closed the game on a 10-0 run to beat the Minnesota Lynx 90-79 on Wednesday night. Seattle led 78-66 with 6:25 left until Minnesota made 3-pointers on its next three possessions to pull within three. The Lynx got as close as 80-79 , but Seattle answered with 10 straight points, highlighted by Whitcomb's drive and no-look pass to Alysha Clark. Whitcomb had 15 points and eight assists and Clark added 12 points and seven rebounds. Seattle (11-8) has won a season-high three straight games without stars Breanna Stewart, Sue Bird and Jewell Loyd. Seattle opened the game on a 15-4 run as Minnesota made just two of its first eight shots. The Storm led 26-16 after the first quarter and 40-30 at halftime behind 25 combined points from Howard and Whitcomb. Sylvia Fowles had 16 points and seven rebounds for Minnesota (10-8). Danielle Robinson added 14 points, 10 assists and four steals.


New Orleans Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan made an appearance on The Herd with Colin Cowherd , where he laughed off the idea that he has a personal rivalry with Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton - Jordan feels like he has a rivalry with every player in the division. But when asked if every quarterback feels different to sack, Jordan took some time to respect the degree of difficulty that comes with trying to sack Newton. While the 6-foot-4, 287-pound Jordan towers over most passers, the 6-foot-5, 245-pound Newton presents a unique challenge. "I mean yeah of course, when you're facing somebody in our division like (Atlanta Falcons quarterback) Matt Ryan, as soon as you get a hold of him you know he's going down," Jordan said with a smile. "You know, it's not like he can shrug you off. That can't happen. You get a hold of Cam Newton, he can shrug you off, he can outrun you, he can then as he's falling sling a 60-yard accurate ball." Jordan noted that Newton was his favorite passer to bring down because he combines the attributes that make so many other opponents a challenge. "I mean, he's probably the greatest sack you're gonna try and get after just because he's strong as Ben Roethlisberger, he's got accuracy like any other top-tier quarterback, of course he can outrun you more than Russell Wilson can." While he's sacked Ryan more times (14) than any other passer on his resume, Newton is the runner-up (9) in Jordan's personal record book. And for all his talk of the challenge in bringing Newton down to earth, Jordan is the player who has sacked the Panthers centerpiece most. He and journeyman Bruce Irvin (8) are the only pass rushers with more than 6 career sacks against Newton. Jordan also discussed what makes him unique as a defensive asset, compared against other elite pass rushers like Von Miller and Khalil Mack. While those players have always lined up on the far edge of the formation (and often in a two-point stance), Jordan credits his start in the trenches for a more-physically aggressive approach than many blockers anticipate. "I feel like I'm more physical than most edge rushers simply because, when I got drafted, I played the four-technique," Jordan said. "I didn't get drafted to play the edge. I didn't get drafted to play the nine (technique), hold the edge, and keep everything focused inside. I primarily came in my rookie year and I was a four-technique. I was lined up inside of a tackle, I was lined up on a guard, so I came in for all hands. I was there for all-aggression, I was there for all run-stopping ability. "Hands, everything," Jordan continued. "So hand placement, the mentality of attacking a person in terms of 'I'm just holding the edge and keeping my outside nine' or whatever it is, my mentality I feel like is different. I tell guys all the time that 'I'm here for the hands.' I'm here to reset the line of scrimmage, I'm here to dominate my opponent." It's an approach that has worked well for him. Jordan is among the all-time leaders in Saints team history. He ranks fourth-best in sacks (71.5), and first in quarterback hits (143, but recorded only since 2006) and tackles for loss of yards (98, recorded since 1999). Having just celebrated his 30th birthday, he still has many productive years ahead of him. MORE: Poker player argues over dealer chip counting error during crucial all-in hand at WSOP Main Event The Cubs Are Very Mad About Barstool Chicago and Beer Cup Snake Videos News: Cowboys' $100 million men underpaid, and more dangerous in 2019 Colts ranked No. 1 in NFL future power rankings The top 100 players in the NFL today


American workers are finally seeing their wages rise. But how fast depends a lot on where you live. Last year was a good one for the U.S. job market. By December, unemployment was down to 3.9%   the lowest December reading since 2000   and the U.S. had added 2.6 million jobs, marking the first time in almost two decades that a calendar year saw more than 100,000 new jobs added every month. Average hourly wages went up too, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics . On average, non-government employees were making $27.68 at the end of last year, which was up 4% from the previous December. In fact, not a single state saw a decrease for 2018. Workers in the District of Columbia started 2018 as the highest-paid in the nation, with average hourly earnings of $42. During 2018, their wages climbed 7.7%   faster than any U.S. state   to $45. But D.C. wasn't the only area experiencing a big uptick. The U.S. state with the fastest wage growth was Nevada, where hourly wages rose 7.5% to $24.41 from $22.71. Nevada's recent success in employment numbers , including wage growth, were thanks to a job market that has been expanding and diversifying beyond tourism after it was hit particularly hard during the Great Recession. Average wages in Nevada remain below the $26.58 national average, so there is plenty of room to grow. A handful of other states exceeded the 6% wage growth marker too. Wyoming's economy benefited from an increase in visitors to its national parks and a good year for its mining sector. And in Washington, two tech giant tenants, Microsoft and Amazon, helped bring home a 5.7% bump to the GDP   the highest in the country last year. Almost every major industrial sector in Washington added jobs, but not as much as the information services and retail sectors, which have helping the state move up the ranks for years now. But these states were in the minority in terms of how fast they grew. Most states   about three-fourths of them   increased by 3% to 6%, year-over year. North Carolina's growing tech industry, centered around the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill triangle, is helping wages climb. And in West Virginia, where economic growth has been relatively slow for the most part , a rebound in natural gas prices last year made the average hourly wage one of the fastest-growing in the nation. Of course, don't go flocking to these states just yet: A bigger percent change from one state to the next doesn't necessarily translate to a higher take-home income. Wages barely budged in Maryland and Alaska. But average pay in both states was already high, about $30 an hour, placing them in the 81st percentile among U.S. states by the end of 2018. Related video: The most effective ways to ask for a raise (provided by Inc.)


The Indianapolis Colts report back to the facility in a few weeks as training camp is slated to begin on July 25. As that time comes and goes, several players will be fighting for their jobs. Because the roster has to shrink down from 90 to 53 players at the end of the preseason, a large amount of players are considered to be on the roster bubble. However, there are some more prominent names that could go either way. Here are seven Colts that are likely on the roster bubble entering training camp: AP Photo/Darron Cummings CB Nate Hairston The third-year cornerback out of Temple has had a rocky start to his career. He was a big part of Chuck Pagano's defense in 2017 and began the 2018 season in a significant role under Matt Ebeflus. However, he was benched for the second half of the season, which certainly clouded his future this offseason. With the cornerback room being as crowded as it is right now, Hairston needed to have a strong spring to build some momentum. He did that in a big way, emerging as one of the winners this offseason. Still, the former fifth-round pick is on the roster bubble entering training camp and will need another strong showing during the preseason games if he is to secure one of the limited roster spots in the cornerback room. AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall OL Le'Raven Clark A third-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, Clark hasn't developed into the offensive tackle the Colts hoped. He's played a reserve role for the first three seasons of his career and now faces a crucial time. With most of the depth roles on the offensive line up for grabs this summer, Clark's spot on the roster is far from guaranteed. He will be competing with several offensive linemen who have the same goal as him: find some way to make the final cut. Where Clark fits into the plans for the Colts isn't clear. He's never been the most consistent player during his early career and could be facing a potential cut following the preseason games. Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports CB Chris Milton While the aforementioned Hairston has struggled, Milton has been a key piece to the special teams unit. This is why it could be somewhat of a shock that he is listed as a potential cut for the Colts with training camp just a few weeks away. While Milton is an excellent gunner on special teams, he has close to no value on the defensive side of the ball. The Colts understand the value of special teams work but with the arrival of draft picks Rock Ya-Sin and Marvell Tell, the room will get a little crowded. If Tell can prove to be a promising special teams piece during the preseason, Milton's roster spot will certainly be in jeopardy. Matt Kryger/IndyStar WR Zach Pascal Given the way Pascal stepped up during the 2018 season seemingly coming out of nowhere to give the Colts some solid production, it's likely that fans won't be happy to see his name on this list. However, that's the reality we face. The Colts addressed the wide receiver room in a big way by signing Devin Funchess to a one-year deal and selecting Parris Campbell in the second round of the draft. This means Pascal, along with several others, will be on the roster bubble as soon as training camp starts. With the room so crowded with competition, Pascal could be one of the odd men out. However, he could find his way to the practice squad if he does wind up getting cut. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports LB Zaire Franklin Following the overhaul of the linebacker room during the 2019 draft, there will be several players fighting for their roster lives. Among those is second-year linebacker Franklin, who spent most of his rookie season in 2018 on special teams. While Franklin's character, leadership and athleticism are admired by the Colts, there is no denying he will be fighting for his roster spot come training camp. The former Syracuse captain finds himself on the roster bubble following the additions of Bobby Okereke and E.J. Speed during the draft. Franklin's special teams prowess also could help him secure a role but if any of the newcomers prove to be more valuable on the defensive side, he could be cut. Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports TE Ross Travis As much as I love what Travis brings to the table for the Colts as a receiving option, he will be battling for his roster spot yet again. After suffering an ill-timed torn ACL during the fourth quarter of the preseason finale in 2018, Travis will be competing for the TE4 role in the room. While he might be the favorite to win that job, it remains to be seen if the Colts will be keeping four tight ends on the active roster if Jack Doyle and Eric Ebron are truly healthy. Keep in mind, the Colts started the season with only three tight ends in 2018. Travis is a promising threat in the passing game, but he will need to first convince the Colts they need to keep four tight ends on the roster. Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports WR Daurice Fountain The 2018 fifth-round pick didn't have an impact during his rookie season coming out of Nothern Iowa, and he now faces a crucial training camp in just a few weeks. Fountain is certainly on the roster bubble with the new additions to the wide receiver room. Though he is extremely athletic and has been showing off some extra explosion in Year 2, Fountain will be fighting an uphill battle to secure one of the final spots in the wide receiver room when cutdown day arrives in early September. Fountain has some upside to his game-enough to keep him around even if he is cut-but he will have to show he's more than a project if he's to secure a roster spot. MORE: NBA free agency: The latest reports on Kawhi Leonard's situation 'You don't know me like that': Kevin Durant, the Warriors and a toxic locker room Stephen A. Smith: 'Andre Iguodala is planning on joining the Lakers' The NBA Would Be Much Better If Kawhi Leonard Doesn't Go to the Lakers NBA Free Agency 2019: The top players


With all the talk about wellness and the focus on taking care of our mental health, you'd think people would be benefiting. But according to executive coach and psychologist Perpetua Neo, many people can try yoga, meditation, and mindfulness and just feel like they're ticking off another point on the checklist. "So wellbeing starts to stress the s--- out of you," she told INSIDER. She said there are many people who think wellbeing and performance are diametrically opposed, meaning you can only have one or the other. So they work hard, perform, and push themselves so far that they burn out. Even if they do try something to calm themselves, like yoga or a bubble bath, they never truly switch off because they're just going through the motions and itching to get back to their work. This can lead to learned helplessness, Neo said, which is when you believe you have no control over the outcome and accept that you're always going to feel bad and worn out. But if we give ourselves enough time to recharge, she said, we can gain some of that control back. The main problem occurs when people see a reward as an indulgence, said Neo, who added that burning out has become a culturally acceptable way of functioning. "It's like how some people think being in debt is acceptable because everyone is in debt," she said. "But it's not - you just deplete yourself more and more." If done in the right way, being good to ourselves with rewards can be a great motivation tool. It can even be as simple as giving yourself a slice of chocolate cake if you got something done that's been sitting on your list for weeks. "Every time you do that the dopamine will flood your brains and trigger the sense you have to do it again," said Neo. "Your performance increases sustainably, and you also get wellbeing. So that's a win-win solution." Unfortunately, there are also many people who find it very hard to be good to themselves. Cherlyn Chong, for example, works with highly successful women , and she's found they often don't know how to relax. "When high performing women are in a state of calm, they actually don't like it," she told INSIDER. "Like if nothing is being done then the whole world is going to collapse." When things in their life are tranquil, they get nervous because it feels unfamiliar. So they start to internally bully themselves with statements like "you'll always be a failure" and "everyone thinks you're a fraud." Their solution to this is to work harder, but it only makes their eternal screaming louder. Neo worked with two-time Olympian track and field athlete Peter Shmock and together they came up with " The Jedi Way to Performance ," which essentially teaches people to mindfully indulge. Shmock realized that the belief that "hard is good; more is better" was no longer helping him improve as an athlete. He learned that listening to his body did not mean he was lazy, and spending a little time for himself in the present meant he actually bought back more time in the future, through better sleep and higher energy levels. Everyone slacks a bit sometimes, said Neo, and that's okay as long as you're sticking to your discipline overall. The important thing is if you were to look at your performance on a graph, would the trajectory generally be going up? "It's not about giving yourself 130%, because you're going to burn out," she said. "If you're on a diet all the time, without having good food as an indulgence or a reward, you'll also burn out." And you don't have to reach your version of the Holy Grail before you reward yourself. You shouldn't perceive yourself as a failure just because you haven't reached your pinnacle goal. "If we keep doing something and keep following it doggedly, we end up sabotaging ourselves and we feel worse about it," said Neo. "Life is not meant to be completely hard all the time." Related video: These Are The Most Liked Cheat Meals Posts On Instagram (Provided by Buzz60)


Looking for the best martial art options near you? Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top martial art spots around Phoenix, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of the best spots to venture next time you're in the market for martial arts. 1. React Defense Systems Topping the list is REACT Defense Systems . Located at 2620 E. Rose Garden Lane, Suite 3, in Paradise Valley, the gym and martial art spot is the highest rated business of its kind in Phoenix, boasting four stars out of 27 reviews on Yelp. 2. MMA Lab Deer Valley's MMA Lab , located at 2710 W. Bell Road, Suite 1150, is another top choice, with Yelpers giving the martial arts spot 4.5 stars out of 23 reviews. 3. One Love Grappling Arts One Love Grappling Arts , a jiu jitsu training center in Paradise Valley, is another much-loved go-to, with five stars out of 11 Yelp reviews. Head over to 3121 E. Greenway Road, Suite 207 to see for yourself. 4. USA Martial Arts Over in Paradise Valley, check out USA Martial Arts , which has earned 4.5 stars out of 11 reviews on Yelp. You can find the boxing business at 4731 E. Greenway Road, Suite 9. This story was created automatically using local business data, then reviewed and augmented by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


A wealthy Manhattan couple has emerged as significant financiers of the anti-vaccine movement, contributing more than $3 million in recent years to groups that stoke fears about immunizations online and at live events   including two forums this year at the epicenter of measles outbreaks in New York's ultra-Orthodox Jewish community. Hedge fund manager and philanthropist Bernard Selz and his wife, Lisa, have long donated to organizations focused on the arts, culture, education and the environment. But seven years ago, their private foundation embraced a very different cause: groups that question the safety and effectiveness of vaccines. Subscribe to the Post Most newsletter: Today's most popular stories on The Washington Post How the Selzes came to support anti-vaccine ideas is unknown, but their financial impact has been enormous. Their money has gone to a handful of determined individuals who have played an outsize role in spreading doubt and misinformation about vaccines and the diseases they prevent. The groups' false claims linking vaccines to autism and other ailments, while downplaying the risks of measles , have led growing numbers of parents to shun the shots. As a result, health officials have said, the potentially deadly disease has surged to at least 1,044 cases this year, the highest number in nearly three decades . The Selz Foundation provides roughly three-fourths of the funding for the Informed Consent Action Network, a three-year-old charity that describes its mission as promoting drug and vaccine safety and parental choice in vaccine decisions. Lisa Selz serves as the group's president, but its public face and chief executive is Del Bigtree, a former daytime television show producer who draws big crowds to public events. Bigtree has no medical credentials but holds himself out as an expert on vaccine safety and promotes the idea that government officials have colluded with the pharmaceutical industry to cover up grievous harms from the drugs. In recent weeks, Bigtree has headlined forums in ultra-Orthodox Jewish communities in Brooklyn and Rockland County , N.Y., both areas confronting large measles outbreaks. "They should be allowed to have the measles if they want the measles," Bigtree told reporters outside the Brooklyn meeting on June 4. "It's crazy that there's this level of intensity around a trivial childhood illness." Thanks largely to the Selzes' donations, ICAN is now the best-funded among a trio of organizations that have amplified concerns about vaccines. ICAN brought in $1.4 million in revenue in 2017, with just over $1 million supplied by the Selz Foundation, according to tax filings . The Selzes and the groups they support are hardly the only purveyors of anti-vaccine ideas. Environmental attorney Robert F. Kennedy Jr. , a nephew of the late president, runs the Children's Health Defense, a charity that promotes a similar agenda; it brought in $727,000 in 2017, according to tax filings. Barbara Loe Fisher, who says her son was injured by vaccines, runs a Virginia-based nonprofit that fights legislative efforts to tighten vaccine requirements. Her group, the National Vaccine Information Center, brings in about $1 million a year, according to its 2018 tax documents. Though they are separately organized, the three groups reinforce one another's efforts. Kennedy and Bigtree often appear together at public events, while ICAN's website includes a link to Fisher's group. Bigtree's weekly live stream broadcast, which ICAN promotes, frequently features Kennedy. New York City Health Commissioner Oxiris Barbot, who has battled the nation's single worst measles outbreak since October, said she never heard of the Selzes. "But I do know the science and the science is clear   the MMR vaccine prevents measles," she said, using the common acronym for the vaccine that prevents measles, mumps and rubella. "Any suggestion to the contrary is a threat to the health and well-being of New Yorkers." The Selzes did not respond to emails or phone messages. A woman who answered the telephone at the couple's home on Manhattan's Upper East Side declined to identify herself. "There's nothing to say," she said before hanging up. Bernard Selz, 79, has more than 40 years experience in the securities industry and runs Selz Capital, a hedge fund that holds a portfolio valued at more than $500 million, according to recent filings from the Securities and Exchange Commission. Lisa Pagliaro Selz, 68, worked for Manufacturers Hanover Trust and Tiffany and Co. Since 1993, she has helped manage the Selz Foundation "with a focus on humanitarian, educational, geriatric, homeopathic, animal causes and the arts," according to a news release issued by LaGuardia Community College Foundation, where she was a board member from 2011 to 2016. The Selzes' sons   both young adults   declined to comment. Friends and family members reached by The Washington Post said they were unable to shed light on the Selzes' philanthropic choices. "This is a topic we don't discuss," said Marilyn Skony Stamm, a business executive and close friend of Lisa Selz. "We have differing opinions." Stamm declined to elaborate, except to say that she values her friendship with the Selzes, whom she called "an incredibly philanthropic family." Support for a key figure Tax filings for the couple's charitable foundation show they began supporting the movement in 2012, when they gave $200,000 to a legal fund for Andrew Wakefield, one of the most important figures in the anti-vaccine movement. Wakefield, a former gastroenterologist, rose to fame in 1998 after publishing a paper in the Lancet, a respected British medical journal, that linked the MMR vaccine to autism in eight children. An investigation by Britain's General Medical Council, which regulates doctors, found Wakefield guilty of professional misconduct in 2010 and revoked his license. The panel concluded that Wakefield had financial and ethical conflicts of interest, and had acted "dishonestly and irresponsibly." Twelve years after the study's publication, the Lancet retracted it . Wakefield declined to comment for this report. He has repeatedly denied wrongdoing and said he was motivated by children's suffering. "You have probably heard in the newspapers and elsewhere that I am guilty of scientific fraud," Wakefield said via Skype to a forum this spring in Rockland, N.Y. "And I want to reassure you that I have never been involved in scientific fraud. What happened to me is what happens to doctors who threaten the bottom line of the pharmaceutical companies." By 2012, Wakefield had moved to Austin, where supporters began raising money for the Dr. Wakefield Justice Fund, an effort to sue the journalists who had questioned Wakefield's findings. The fund was "established by friends and supporters . . . to respond to false claims made against Dr. Wakefield; expose the corrupting influence of special interest groups behind these allegations and protect Dr. Wakefield's work from both profit- and politically-motivated censorship and retribution," an archived version of the fund's website says. Wakefield's lawsuit was unsuccessful, but the Selz Foundation found other ways to support his work. After he launched two nonprofits in 2014, the Selz Foundation donated $1.6 million to the groups over the next several years, according to tax records. One, the AMC Foundation, was registered as a public charity to fund documentaries about public health issues. The other was a Texas nonprofit corporation. Wakefield used the money to help fund a documentary film called "Vaxxed, " which details his allegations about a government coverup of vaccine dangers. After filming, he and other producers traveled the country in a black "Vaxxed" bus that stopped at churches, libraries and chiropractors' offices to record interviews with parents who believe their children had been injured by vaccines. "Virtually every dollar in this film to date has been donated by a handful of brave parents and philanthropists," the "Vaxxed" website says. In the credits, the film lists the Selz Foundation first among 16 donors who financed the production. The film also introduced a new face to the anti-vax movement: Bigtree. Once a television producer of "The Doctors," a daytime talk show filmed in Hollywood, Bigtree signed on to co-produce the film, which was released in 2016. Tara Smith, an infectious disease expert at Kent State University who has researched the anti-vaccine movement, called the film "an effective piece of propaganda" that uses "heart-wrenching stories of children supposedly harmed by vaccination." For example, one mother featured in the film said her son developed autism after he was inadvertently given a double dose of the MMR vaccine. Filmmakers provided no medical documentation to support the claim, and the mother has said publicly that her son's medical records were stolen from her apartment. The stories in the film "frequently fall apart when scrutinized," Smith said. Bigtree said the film's critics are "spreading misinformation" unless they "have proof that the exact stories of vaccine injury by the parents that appear in 'Vaxxed' are false." Since the publication of Wakefield's Lancet paper, 21 studies have investigated vaccines and autism. None has found evidence of a link. The latest and largest study published this spring involved 657,461 Danish children born between 1999 and 2010. Experts note the first symptoms of autism often appear when children are about 12 months old   the same age they receive their first MMR shot   leading many parents to blame vaccines. Last year, Wakefield dissolved the two nonprofits, according to Texas business filings and Wakefield's co-founder, Polly Tommey. During its brief life, the AMC Foundation doled out grants exclusively to Autism Media Channel LLC, a private company that was also run by Wakefield, Tommey and a third partner, according to tax filings. According to the filings, the grants supported an educational film project. Attorney Marc Owens, a former head of the IRS division responsible for monitoring tax-exempt organizations, said the arrangement is "a very suspicious transaction." "They transferred all of their income, it appears   with the exception of a small amount   to, basically, themselves," Owens said. "It is extremely unusual to see this sort of expenditure from a public charity." In an interview, Tommey defended the transactions. "Everything was cleared legally, and we stuck to our mission," she said. Tommey said she is now focused on the upcoming release of a sequel to "Vaxxed" that will include information about Gardasil, a vaccine that protects against several strains of the human papillomavirus . Wakefield, meanwhile, has launched another public charity to fund educational film projects, according to tax filings. The same year "Vaxxed" was released, Bigtree established the Informed Consent Action Network. The Selz Foundation donated $100,000 that first year   83 percent of the charity's funding, according to tax records. As Bigtree became a leader within the movement, donations from the Selzes grew: In 2017, the foundation boosted its contribution to more than $1 million   74 percent of ICAN's total revenue. Tax filings show the charity spent more than $600,000 that year on legal fees. In 2018, the organization filed Freedom of Information Act lawsuits against federal agencies, including the Food and Drug Administration, the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Health and Human Services. The suits sought to compel the release of data and documents related to vaccine safety. Another quarter of a million dollars went toward salaries for two ICAN officers: Catharine Layton, the group's chief administrative officer, was paid $98,000. And Bigtree, who was previously unpaid by the charity, drew a salary of $146,000. In a written response to questions from The Post, Bigtree said the compensation from ICAN is currently his only salary. He declined to answer questions about his relationship with the Selzes. "Like many charities, we receive funding from multiple sources and we do not discuss our donors or their donations as a matter of policy," he wrote. "None of our donors make decisions on the science we research, or the lawsuits that we file." ICAN also reported travel expenses exceeding $148,000 in 2017. Bigtree frequently travels the country, speaking at wellness conferences and testifying before lawmakers considering vaccine-related legislation. At the height of a measles outbreak in Washington state in February, for example, Bigtree testified in Olympia against a measure intended to make it harder for parents to opt out of measles vaccinations for school-age children. The bill passed and was signed into law in April. In late April, Bigtree spoke in Salem, Ore., at a rally against a bill aimed at getting more children vaccinated against measles and other preventable diseases. A day later, he led a similar protest in Sacramento. In a recent interview, Bigtree said he had discovered "this ability to be able to talk to legislators that I didn't know I had." Bigtree also produces a weekly online talk show broadcast through Facebook and other social media that has brought in new supporters. Among them are New York City real estate executive Stephen Benjamin and his wife, Elizabeth. The couple donated $20,000 to ICAN in 2017 through their Will B Strong Foundation, which is named in honor of their son, a leukemia survivor. In an interview, Benjamin said he felt called to support ICAN's efforts to raise questions about vaccine safety after watching Bigtree's appearances online. "We feel strongly that this issue is not being handled well by the industry or our political leaders," Benjamin said in an email. "Certainly what is happening right now   labeling minority groups and censoring opinion and discussion   is dangerous and un-American." Bigtree's appearances before ultra-Orthodox Jewish audiences in New York this spring, at the heart of the outbreak, have been particularly controversial. Some critics blasted his use of Holocaust imagery, including a yellow star of David he wore on his lapel during a March rally in Austin. Bigtree said he did so to protest Rockland County's attempt this spring to ban unvaccinated children from public places. "They were going to quarantine them during Passover," he said during a Brooklyn forum earlier this month. "They weren't going to be allowed in their own synagogues. I pulled out a yellow star of David . . . and I said, 'I stand with the Orthodox Jewish Community in Rockland County, New York.' " 'No fear of the measles' Most vexing to public health officials are Bigtree's efforts to downplay the seriousness of measles. At one point, Bigtree said he would be "ecstatic" if his two unvaccinated children, ages 5 and 10, got sick. "We haven't had a death in decades from this disease," he said at the Brooklyn forum. Bigtree told The Post that his remarks are backed by "peer-reviewed science or articles by reputable medical authorities." "I can say that virtually every one of our grandparents survived the measles or we wouldn't be here," he said. "They also never spoke of it as being dangerous. … I have no fear of the measles." In fact, the last confirmed U.S. death from measles was four years ago, when a 28-year-old woman died in Washington state . Meanwhile, hundreds of people have died of measles this year in other countries, including Madagascar , Ukraine and the Philippines. Before 1963, when the vaccine was introduced to the United States, 3 million to 4 million Americans were infected each year, with thousands developing complications that led to hospitalization or lifelong disability. Approximately 400 to 500 people died every year. Today, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that one to three children out of 1,000 infected with measles will die from complications. Bigtree, who has appearances booked through the end of the summer, dismisses such projections as government fearmongering to advance the interests of the drug industry. lena.sun@washpost.com amy.brittain@washpost.com Alice Crites and Ben Guarino contributed to this report.


Back in 2018, the Seattle Seahawks used a seventh round pick on little known Florida International University quarterback Alex McGough. It appeared that, for the first time since they selected Russell Wilson in 2012, the Seahawks were planning to grow and develop their own quarterback as a backup - and perhaps eventual successor - to Wilson. Just before the start of the regular season however, the Seahawks traded a 2019 sixth round pick to the Packers for veteran Brett Hundley, pushing McGough to the practice squad and eventually onto the Jaguars roster after the season ended. Such is the life of a young quarterback for the Seahawks. The team seems content filling the backup role with experienced veterans, should they ever be needed. Wilson's reputation as an iron-man has made the backup quarterback position somewhat ceremonial in Seattle, especially now that they are looking at their third different backup in the last three seasons. Most expected Seattle to bring in a rookie to challenge veteran Paxton Lynch for the backup job this season, but a recent report indicated that Seattle is expected to sign veteran Geno Smith . So, Seattle's backup job will likely go to either Lynch or Smith - and not one of the three free agents Seattle brought to rookie minicamp earlier this month. Having a backup quarterback with NFL experience does make sense for a team that is always competing for a playoff spot, as it sends the message that - even without Wilson - the team plans to stay competitive and not pack it in. Of course, Wilson's career won't last forever, and the team will eventually want to have a successor in mind. For now, they seem content finding cast-away veterans who can step in if needed - and they'll worry about finding their future quarterback some other time. MORE: NBA Free Agency 2019: The top players These five photos of Kawhi Leonard watching his buzzer-beater are incredible Video confirms reports of Chris Paul's attempt to sabotage Steph Curry Dak Prescott's accuracy, aggressive quantified ahead of new deal Patriots are penciling in Isaiah Wynn at left tackle


The Houston Texans stuck with the status quo at inside linebacker throughout the offseason, as the group is one of their best units on the team. Entering 2019, Houston should bring in four inside linebackers. Those four make up a depth chart as seen below. (1) Benardrick McKinney (2) Zach Cunningham (3) Dylan Cole (4) Peter Kalambayi The unquestioned leader of the group is Benardrick McKinney. Since being drafted in the second round in 2015, the Mississippi State product has ascended his game from 6-4, 257-pound run-stuffer to team leader and Pro Bowler at inside linebacker. In 2018, McKinney posted his third straight season starting all 16 games and recorded 95-plus total tackles. He finished the year with 105 total tackles, five for a loss, 1.5 sacks, five QB hits, and seven pass deflections. His overall grade of 81.3 and run-defense grade of 89.2 helped him rank as Pro Football Focus' No. 94 player in the NFL in 2018. He also recorded 32 stops to just four missed tackles. McKinney has shown consistent growth as a coverage linebacker throughout his NFL tenure. He's not the liability he once was. As the possessor of the green dot, he calls plays and adjustments for the Texans' defense. Before the 2018 season, the Texans locked up the 26-year-old to a four year, $51 million contract. McKinney is a building block on the Texans' defense, and so is his running mate, Zach Cunningham. Another second-round pick hailing from an SEC school (Vanderbilt), the linebacker plays adjacent to McKinney in the WILL-linebacker role. Meaning, he's used more often for coverage play and sideline-to-sideline tackling. Cunningham's rookie season was a mixed bag; he showed athleticism and excellent run-stuffing abilities, but he struggled in coverage. In his second, he showed marked improvement across the board. Though still not an astute pass defender, Cunningham finished his sophomore season leading the Texans in total tackles with 107, despite missing two games. Cunningham finished his second campaign with three tackles for loss, two QB hits, five pass deflections, two forced fumbles, and a pick-six as well. According to PFF , his 96 defensive run stops ranks as the most from the 2017 NFL Draft class. The hope is that he can continue to improve in pass coverage; considering he's a 6-3, 238-pound linebacker with a 4.67 40-time in the books, he has the tools to do so. Both McKinney and Cunningham do their best work as run-defenders and are showing development in the pass defense category. But, if the Texans need someone to cover a zone, or man-up against a tight end or running back, they have that by way of 2017 undrafted rookie Dylan Cole. An undersized linebacker standing at 6-0, 237-pounds, Cole makes up for his lack of size with electrifying athleticism. He's a spark plug on defense and an excellent special-teamer. He does his best work in coverage (two career interceptions, six pass deflections), as he's often a sub for one of the previously mentioned on obvious passing downs to cover tight ends, slot receivers, and shifty backs. Cole would be a starter on many NFL teams; he's instinctive, athletic, and knows how to cover like nobodies business. But he's a luxury for the Texans. However, he does have his concerns - outside of his frame. He's been placed on injured reserve twice in as many seasons, resulting in ten games missed out of 32. Last on the depth chart is a 2018 sixth-round pick; Peter Kalambayi. Though drafted as an outside linebacker coming out of Stanford, many, including myself, see a better fit as an inside linebacker in the pros. As a rookie, he split time at both positions but mainly played on special teams. During organized team activities, Kalambayi continued to switch between both positions but showed his most promise as an inside linebacker. At the position, he's a lot to handle; as he measures in at a stout 6-3, 254 pounds and has some impressive athleticism to boot. However, with McKinney, Cunningham, and Cole locked into the top-three positions, Kalambayi likely won't get too many snaps as an inside linebacker as a sophomore. He should split time at all linebacker positions as an end of the bench Swiss-army-knife and core special-teamer. MORE: Big Baller Brand's demise looks imminent with sad clearance sale at a local gym ESPN's future power rankings love the Browns with one big exception News: Cowboys' $100 million men underpaid, and more dangerous in 2019 LeBron James Boasts About '300 Mil Later' After Rich Paul Klutch Sale to UTA Baker Mayfield swings and misses with attempted rip of Giants fans


ATLANTA (AP) Lucas Duda and the Kansas City Royals have endured a miserable season. A rare meeting against the Atlanta Braves provided a glimmer of joy. Duda hit a tie-breaking, pinch-hit homer in the eighth inning and the Royals survived a shaky ninth to beat the first-place Braves 5-4 on Tuesday night. Alex Gordon also homered for the Royals and drove in two runs. Both starters - Atlanta's Dallas Keuchel and Kansas City's Danny Duffy - went six strong innings with double-digit strikeouts but didn't factor in the decision. With the game tied at 2, Royals manager Ned Yost needed a pinch-hitter to start the eighth against Anthony Swarzak, who had a sparkling 0.42 ERA since coming to the Braves in May. Yost considered a pair of options. ''We could pinch-hit one of our leadoff guys, try to get on and steal a base,'' Yost said. ''Or we could pinch-hit Duda and take a shot at the home run.'' Duda, hitting just .150, got the call. Boy, did he come through. Duda drove a 2-2 pitch from Swarzak (0-1) over the wall in right-center for a 435-foot homer. It was the fourth pinch-hit homer of Duda's career, the most recent one coming last September, when he played for the Braves. It was Kansas City's first pinch-hit homer of the season. ''We opted to take a shot at the home run, and dadgum if he didn't get it,'' Yost said. "That was cool.'' The Royals added two more runs in the eighth, taking advantage of three walks and a hit batter. Swarzak faced three batters, didn't get anyone out and was charged with all three runs, pushing his Atlanta ERA to 1.68. ''That's the first time since we got him - and we've brought him in some tough situations - that he didn't bring back a zero,'' Braves manager Brian Snitker said. Ian Kennedy gave up three straight singles to start the ninth, including Josh Donaldson's second RBI of the game, but bounced back for his 18th save. Ozzie Albies popped out with the potential tying run at third base, and Austin Riley struck out to end the game. Keuchel allowed just three hits and struck out 12 but left the game trailing 2-1. Duffy was in line to get the win after surrendering one run on five hits with 11 strikeouts, only to have the Braves scratch out a run in the seventh. Freddie Freeman fouled off three straight two-strike, two-out sinkers from side-armer Tim Hill (1-0) before guiding an RBI single up the middle to make it 2-2. ''When you're facing a guy like (Keuchel), you know you've got to be as precise as you can,'' Duffy said. ''You don't have a whole lot of leeway.'' After Keuchel retired the first nine Kansas City hitters - six with strikeouts - Whit Merrifield reached base by dropping a bunt single down the third-base line. He came around to score when Gordon followed with a double down the right-field line - ending Keuchel's streak of 17 straight innings without allowing an earned run to the Royals, going back to April 8, 2017. In the sixth, Gordon sent a 3-2 fastball over the Chop House restaurant in right-field to put the Royals ahead for the first time. Right fielder Nick Markakis barely moved as the 417-foot drive sailed over his head. RARE OPPONENTS The teams met for the first time since 2016, when the Royals were coming off a World Series title and Atlanta was in the midst of a major rebuilding job. The roles are reversed for this series. The Braves have a 5 1/2-game lead in the NL East while Kansas City is saddled with one of the baseball's worst records. HOMECOMING Yost returned to Atlanta, where he coached under Bobby Cox for a dozen seasons and is about 90 miles northeast of his offseason home, a 550-acre farm in Pine Mountain, Georgia. The Royals manager has driven past SunTrust Park on numerous occasions but this was his first time inside the 3-year-old home of the Braves. ''I took the bus over here because I had no idea where to go or how to get in,'' Yost quipped. GETTING ON BASE Ronald Acuna extended his career-best on-base streak to 28 games when he was hit by a pitch in the third. He also walked and reached base on a forceout in the seventh. TRAINER'S ROOM Braves LHP Max Fried threw a bullpen session Tuesday and could be ready to rejoin the rotation by this weekend. Fried (10-4, 4.08 ERA) has been on the DL since July 16 with a blister on his left index finger. If Fried makes it through another bullpen session, he would get the start Sunday at Philadelphia. UP NEXT Braves RHP Julio Teheran (5-6, 3.60) will make his second career start against the Royals when he goes in the finale of the brief two-game series on Wednesday. Kansas City will counter with RHP Brad Keller (6-9, 4.18), a 2013 graduate of Flowery Branch High School in Atlanta's sprawling northern suburbs. --- Follow Paul Newberry on Twitter at www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963 His work can be found at https://apnews.com/search/paulnewberry --- More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports


Video by Radio.com WARNING: GAME OF THRONES SPOILERS AHEAD! Green Bay Packers quarterback and Game of Thrones die-hard Aaron Rodgers teased his cameo leading up to the fifth and penultimate episode of the HBO fantasy series. And when it actually happened, fans thought they spotted him either getting blown to smithereens by dragon fire or lining up as a Targaryen soldier. It would appear everyone was wrong, although I still haven't found the video proof to confirm it. In a post-episode special video, Rodgers revealed he played somone "helping a woman who was injured, sat her down and then, the hell with her, I'm getting out of there." Aaron Rodgers talks about his role in #GameOfThrones . "I was helping a woman, who was injured… then the hell with her I'm getting out of there." pic.twitter.com/DcLFPDUrJH - Lily Zhao (@LilySZhao) May 13, 2019 Rodgers also posted about the cameo on Instagram: Because @bayburmTV and I take our #GameofThrones very seriously, we are pretty sure Aaron Rodgers was neither carrying a bow nor was he on fire. He was in the bell tower scene with Arya. Outfits match. Scenes match. GOOD. NIGHT. #GOT #content pic.twitter.com/E4g48xA3ZY - Lily Zhao (@LilySZhao) May 13, 2019 Hmmmm! Maybe it's time for me to rewatch all the chaos of the scenes at King's Landing, but spotting him is going to be extremely tough with all the countless people running from Dany and her dragon. MORE: These five photos of Kawhi Leonard watching his buzzer-beater are incredible Video confirms reports of Chris Paul's attempt to sabotage Steph Curry NBA Free Agency 2019: The top players Ex-GM: Giants got it right with Daniel Jones at No. 6 Steelers sign FCS phenom QB Devlin Hodges to contract