A senior Consumer Financial Protection Bureau employee whose racially charged blog posts sparked an uproar last year is leaving the agency at the end of the month. Eric Blankenstein, the policy associate director for the Supervision, Enforcement and Fair Lending division of the bureau, is leaving the agency after 18 months for a new job elsewhere, he said in an email to employees on Wednesday. "It has been my privilege to serve the American people here to further the Bureau's mission of protecting consumers," he told colleagues, according to a copy of the email obtained by POLITICO. Blankenstein, a political appointee hired by former CFPB acting director Mick Mulvaney, questioned the legitimacy of hate crimes and whether using the N-word is inherently racist, in old blog posts uncovered by the Washington Post in September. The writings drew the condemnation of Democratic lawmakers, consumer advocates and agency employees, leading Mulvaney to refer the matter to the CFPB's inspector general. After taking over the agency in December, CFPB Director Kathy Kraninger declined to discuss Blankenstein's future at the agency, referring to the ongoing review. The status of the inspector general review is not known. The inspector general's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. When Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), the top Democrat on the Senate Banking Committee, pressed Kraninger to read portions of the blog posts during a hearing in March, she declined, saying "the words here are not words that I would use." Brown responded today to Blankenstein's resignation: "Eric Blankenstein should have been fired for his hateful, reprehensible and disgusting blog posts, and allowing him to resign is a serious moral and managerial failure that sends a signal to consumers that the CFPB will look the other way when it comes to discrimination," he said in a statement. "Director Kraninger should hire someone with a track record of standing up for civil rights, and restore all authorities of the Office of Fair Lending and Equal Opportunity." Blankenstein's resignation was reported earlier by Bloomberg Law . Consumer advocates agreed that his depature was overdue. "What took so long? For over five months, Director Kraninger tolerated the racist views of a top aide that had no business overseeing lending discrimination matters on behalf of America's consumers," Jeremy Funk, a spokesperson for Allied Progress, said in an email. "She should have fired Mr. Blankenstein on her first day."


CLEVELAND -- Large bottle rockets are to blame for causing a fire in Cleveland on Thursday, according to fire officials. Ted and Fran Ganda said they were startled from their sleep around 2 a.m. after hearing what sounded like fireworks. "I opened the window and all I could see were the flames. They were two stories high. It scared me to death," Fran recalled. The fire got so intense that it melted the siding off of the entire back of their home on Liberty Avenue. Their car port, storage unit and garage also burned to the ground. "All of this can be replaced. What can't be replaced is my husband's father's tools, they're gone," she said. Surveillance cameras on their property captured the moment the fire started. Fran has a message for those planning to use fireworks this 4th of July. "Please, please if you want to see fireworks, go where they're being set off by people who know what they're doing. Don't let this happen to someone else. You have no idea how devastating this is. So please don't set them off in your neighborhoods, protect yourself and the people around you," she said. The couple and their dog were not hurt.     ©2019 WJW-TV, Cleveland Visit WJW-TV, Cleveland at www.fox8.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.


The folks at Electronic Arts have released the complete launch ratings for every player in "Madden NFL 20." Below you'll find a look at the top ratings for Chiefs players in this years in this seasons installment of the game. Keep in mind these ratings will be adjusted throughout the year as players and the season progresses. The Chiefs have three players who are the highest-rated at their respective positions. They also have another player who has the fastest player in the game. Can you take a guess about who that might be? Lets take a look: Patrick Mahomes View embedded content In one of the most head-scratching decisions of the latest iteration of Madden, Mahomes is not one of the four players who received a 99 overall rating . He's the NFL MVP and the cover athlete of the game, but he doesn't have a perfect rating. Instead his overall rating is a 97, which is still good for the best rating of any quarterback in the game, including Tom Brady. It's okay to put the pitchforks down on that front folks. Mahomes' two highest individual ratings are for "Throw on the run" and "Throw under pressure." It makes sense, given some of his moments from the 2018 season came when he was forced out of the pocket. These two stats should be the ones that influence his rating in a positive light. Travis Kelce View embedded content The top-rated tight end in the game is none other than Kelce, coming in at 96 overall. No other tight ends come within three points of Kelce, which is surprising given that 49ers TE George Kittle gave Kelce a run for his money last season with subpar QB play. Kelce's highest individual rating is his "Awareness," which is a 99 rating. In the past this rating has had to do with what happens when they're controlled by the CPU and not the player. With 11 players on the field you can only control one at a time. Tyreek Hill View embedded content Hill's launch rating has him as the No. 6 ranked WR in the game, with a 94 overall rating. A year ago he was one of the most dominant players in the Madden because of his speed and that won't change this season. Hill is the only player in the game with 99 "Speed" rating. Hill is also the only player in the game with a 99 "Acceleration" rating. The closest defender in terms of speed is Cowboys CB Anthony Brown, who is only a 79 overall player and has a 95 speed rating. Covering Tyreek Hill is still going to be one of the most difficult things to do in this game. This is going to lead to a lot of professional players choosing the Chiefs as their team for tournament play this year. Mitchell Schwartz View embedded content It's great to see Schwartz recognized as the top right tackle in the game. At 93 overall, no other right tackle has a higher overall rating than Schwartz. In fact, of both left and right tackles, only Tyron Smith, Andrew Whitworth, Trent Williams and David Bahktiari have higher launch ratings than Schwartz. As for his top individual rating, Schwartz has 96 in "Pass block power." It makes sense as he's been exceptional as a pass protector during his time with the Chiefs. Chris Jones View embedded content Jones is the highest-rated Chiefs defender coming in at 89 overall. After leading the Chiefs in sacks just a season ago, I think Jones is well-deserving of the top rating. What is interesting to me is that Jones' top individual rating is "Awareness," which comes in at 95. This should make it easier, when you're playing defense, to use one of the edge rushers or the other defensive tackle. You can find the complete ratings for all Chiefs players in "Madden 20" here . The latest installment of Madden releases in stores on August 2. MORE: Michael Bisping's cageside reaction to Urijah Faber's stunning KO was too good Trysten Hill may be crowning point on Cowboys star-studded defense 'Madden NFL 20' ratings: See where the Steelers players are rated Roundup: Monica Lewinsky Fire Tweet, Richard Seymour in the Money at World Series of Poker, Robert Kraft New Girlfriend Comparing T.J. Hockenson to the proper 1st round tight end


Video by ABC News HONG KONG   Hundreds of thousands of people filled the sweltering streets of Hong Kong on Sunday in an immense protest against a government plan to allow extraditions to mainland China that culminated after midnight in clashes with the police. The mass demonstration was one of the largest in the city's history and a stunning display of rising fear and anger over the erosion of the civil liberties that have long set this former British colony apart from the rest of the country. Organizers said they counted more than one million on the streets, or nearly one in seven Hong Kong residents. The protest recalled the pro-democracy Umbrella Movement five years ago, which paralyzed several of the city's main commercial districts but failed to persuade the government to make any concessions. Since then, China's ruling Communist Party has been gradually exerting more influence over Hong Kong. Sign Up For the Morning Briefing Newsletter The local authorities have rejected demands for free elections and ousted opposition lawmakers, and critics say Beijing's supporters are chipping away at the independence of the territory's courts and news media. The pressure on Hong Kong reflects a broader tightening of controls across China under President Xi Jinping, the party's general secretary. The crowd of protesters, which stretched more than a mile, represented a dramatic rebuke of the Communist leadership and a potential political crisis for Beijing and Carrie Lam, the leader it selected to govern Hong Kong. "I think this law will take away our freedoms if it is implemented," said Peter Lam, a 16-year-old high school student, referring to the extradition law that Ms. Lam is trying to push through with Beijing's support. "We will not have the right to express ourselves. So we must stand up and express ourselves today." The police estimated there were 240,000 protesters at the peak of the demonstration, but organizers said it was the biggest rally since more than one million residents gathered in 1989 in support of the student-led democracy movement that was crushed in Tiananmen Square. The crowd that poured through the canyons of downtown skyscrapers was so vast that many people said they had been stuck in subway stations waiting to join the protest, and some trains skipped stations because of overcrowding. The immediate focus of the protest was a proposal to allow extradition to mainland China, which critics are worried the authorities will use to send dissidents, activists and others in Hong Kong, including foreign visitors, to face trial in mainland courts, which are controlled by the party. Experts said the immense turnout was unlikely to sway Hong Kong officials, who confirmed that a second legislative reading of the bill would proceed as scheduled on Wednesday. But the turnout also exposed the depth of broader frustration with Beijing's growing encroachment on the autonomy it promised Hong Kong when it resumed sovereignty over the territory in 1997. In recent years, mainland Chinese police officers have been allowed to operate in a section of a new train station linking Hong Kong to China's high-speed - rail network . A draft law that punishes disrespect for the Chinese national anthem has raised concerns about free speech in a place where soccer fans have been known to boo when the song is played . And many bookstores have stopped selling publications critical of the leadership in Beijing. For most of the day, Sunday's demonstration was peaceful. But tempers began to flare near the offices of the central government as the protesters, whose march had slowed to a standstill on some streets, urged the police to free up more lanes. At about 1 a.m., long after most protesters had left, riot police with helmets and shields moved in to remove a few hundred who were trying to occupy an area in front of the legislature. Some protesters pushed metal barriers and tossed bottles and sticks at the police, shouting, "Communist dogs!" The police charged, firing pepper spray, striking people with batons and pushing the protesters away from the government complex. I'm standing on Luard Road with a few dozen protesters chased over here by police. Strains of a Wanchai bar band playing a cover of Blitzkrieg Bop drift through the air.   Austin Ramzy (@austinramzy) June 9, 2019 Some demonstrators then temporarily blocked part of Gloucester Road, a major thoroughfare that was occupied during the Umbrella Movement. The clashes continued into early Monday morning, with both protesters and police injured. Despite the size of the protests, the government was unlikely to be swayed, said Ivan Choy, a senior lecturer in the department of government and public administration at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. "The major problem is that Xi Jinping holds power in China, and he is a strongman," Mr. Choy said, referring to China's top leader. "He will back up Carrie Lam's decision to push forward." "Most people know this reality," he continued, "but they have come out to show the world that this legislation is not the will of the Hong Kong public." The protesters had set off from Victoria Park in the afternoon, with temperatures in the mid-80s and scattered rains providing little relief from the humidity. Many wore white as a symbol of justice and also mourning in Chinese culture, and held signs saying, "No China Extradition" and "No Evil Law." They directed much of their ire toward Ms. Lam, shouting slogans for her to resign and booing as they passed a large screen displaying footage of her at a news conference. At public events elsewhere in the city, Ms. Lam declined to answer questions about the protests. But the huge public outcry puts her in a difficult spot ahead of a vote on the bill expected later this month. Late Sunday, the government, responding to the protests, said the bill would prevent Hong Kong from becoming a haven for fugitives. While pledging to "continue to engage, listen and allay concerns," the statement indicated the government was pushing ahead with the bill. The proposed legislation would allow suspects in some criminal cases to be turned over to jurisdictions with which Hong Kong has no formal extradition agreement. The immediate goal is to enable the government to send a Hong Kong man to Taiwan, where he is accused of having killed his girlfriend . But the legislation would also allow extraditions to mainland China for the first time, with few avenues for appeal. The legislation excludes political crimes, and the Hong Kong government has promised to monitor cases for human rights concerns. But many fear that the Chinese authorities could use charges such as bribery to target people who have angered mainland officials. The Communist Party had promised a "high degree of autonomy" before Britain returned the territory to Chinese sovereignty in 1997, but many feel that the city's freedoms are steadily being worn down under Beijing's rule. Hong Kong's courts are far more transparent and independent than those in the mainland. Worries about Beijing's reach have been made worse by the disappearance of people from Hong Kong into mainland custody, including a Chinese billionaire and men associated with a company that published books unflattering to mainland political leaders . "Their judicial system is not good," George Wan, 31, a freelance tour guide and writer at the protest, said of mainland China. He said the Hong Kong government was rushing the legislation through without properly consulting the public. "We want to use our footsteps to tell the government we want more time," Mr. Wan said as he waved a folding fan painted with characters that read "Oppose sending to China." Young people and families were prominent in the crowd, with parents bouncing toddlers on their hips and leading young children by the hand. One child clutched a sign saying, "Protect my future." [ Read: The outcry over the extradition proposal is Hong Kong's biggest in years . ] The protest also drew people who normally stay on the sidelines. Lee Kin-long, 46, said he and his wife felt they needed to attend. "This law is dangerous, and not just for activists," he said. "We are not activists. Even as regular citizens, we can't stand to see China eroding away our freedom." Opposition to the legislation has been building for weeks, including a scuffle among lawmakers and an April demonstration that was the city's biggest in five years. Worries about the proposal have inspired hundreds of petitions from student and alumni associations, religious organizations and trade groups. Business associations have expressed fear that the measure would harm Hong Kong's reputation as a commercial center. Press freedom groups have objected too, citing the frequent jailing of journalists in the Chinese mainland. Foreign governments including the United States , Britain and Canada have also expressed concerns. In Washington, the State Department noted that it had documented "rights violations and abuses carried out by China's legal system, as well as general deterioration of respect for the rule of law." "Continued erosion of the 'One country, two systems' frameworks puts at risk Hong Kong's established special status in international affairs," the department said in a statement. An official Chinese newspaper, the China Daily, defended the extradition measure in an editorial and accused "foreign forces are seizing the opportunity to advance their own strategy to hurt China by trying to create havoc in Hong Kong." Lawyers in Hong Kong responded to the legislation on Thursday by dressing in black for a silent protest march . A high court judge who signed a petition organized by University of Hong Kong alumni was reprimanded by the city's chief justice . The last time residents of Hong Kong turned out in such large numbers over a single issue was in 2003, when half a million marchers expressed their opposition to proposed national security legislation prohibiting sedition, subversion and treason against the Chinese government. That legislation, known as Article 23, was shelved after so many people mobilized against it, arguing that it threatened civil liberties enshrined in Hong Kong's version of a constitution. Polling by the University of Hong Kong has indicated that opposition to the extradition plan is even higher. But pro-democracy lawmakers have said that unless the government backs down, the measure is likely to pass in the local legislature, where pro-Beijing lawmakers hold 43 of 70 seats. Only half the seats are elected by popular vote. Gillian Wong and Katherine Li contributed reporting from Hong Kong, and Edward Wong from Washington.


Federal drug agents raided the office of a Stoughton psychiatrist Wednesday as part of an investigation into his prescription writing practices. Sources tell 5 Investigates that the U.S. Drug Enforcement Enforcement Administration is looking into Dr. Lee Altman's prescription practices, possible over-prescribing and the way he does business. Dr. Altman is a psychiatrist who has been licensed to practice in Massachusetts since 1995. He's never been disciplined by the state medical board. According to records obtained by 5 Investigates, he's only had two complaints filed against him since 2008. In a 2015 complaint, the mother of one of his patients called him "unethical" and said he gave her son multiple prescriptions and accused him of making money from people struggling with addiction and helping to "send them to their graves." In a response to that complaint, Dr. Altman told the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine that her allegations could not be farther from the truth and said the woman's son was showing signs that he was abusing his medications. The state medical board told 5 Investigates on Wednesday that it had currently taken no action against Dr. Altman's license. Altman declined to comment. READ MORE: Authorities search psychiatrist's office as part of prescription probe CHECK OUT WCVB: Get the latest Boston news, weather and sports online, anytime. Stay in the know with Boston's news leader   WCVB.


DALLAS   Heavy rain in West Texas on Thursday led to flooding that floated several travel trailers and a double-wide mobile home away from an RV park. Upton County Sheriff Dan Brown said nobody was in the trailers during the flooding in Rankin, 60 miles south of Odessa. The occupants safely evacuated. A hailstorm with the same slow-moving system blanketed parts of El Paso on Wednesday. The rain is excepted to increase in intensity Friday and Saturday as Hurricane Patricia in the eastern Pacific Ocean makes landfall Friday near Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, and moves north toward Texas. Odessa Emergency Management said crews there on Thursday conducted about 30 swift-water rescues from stranded vehicles and flooded structures. Forecasters say 3.7 inches of rain soaked Odessa, flooding more than a dozen homes. Midland recorded at least 2.2 inches of rain. A hailstorm with the same system blanketed parts of El Paso on Wednesday. The National Weather Service says Thursday's rain occurred along a stalled cold front. Heavy rain was forecast for parts of Texas from Dallas-Fort Worth south to Austin and San Antonio Friday morning through Saturday morning, with up to 4 to 8 inches expected and isolated pockets of up to a foot of rain.


Sen. Mitch McConnell is scheduled to meet with 9/11 first responders this week to discuss the renewal of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Act, following a public feud with comedian Jon Stewart. McConnell's office has not confirmed the meeting, but a Ground Zero recovery worker and longtime activist, John Feal, confirmed the meeting to ABC News. Feal added that he requested the meeting, which will be held Tuesday. "I don't think he would have just openly invited me," he told ABC News. (MORE: Stewart fires back at McConnell for calling him 'bent out of shape' over 9/11 first responders) Earlier this month, Stewart made an emotional appeal to Congress to make the victim compensation fund permanent. With first responders and their advocates behind him, Stewart ripped Congress for failing to fully fund the program. "They responded in five seconds, they did their jobs. With courage grace, tenacity, humility. Eighteen years later, do yours!" he shouted . The September 11th Victim Compensation Fund, which Stewart and others have battled to protect for years, is set to run out of money in December 2020. "These cuts are real," Feal said Monday. "Tomorrow will be my 270th trip to Washington in 15 years. I've got a chip on my shoulder. I'm seeing people get sick, friends die. Their families are going to be left in financial ruin." (MORE: House Judiciary Committee moves 9/11 compensation bill to the House) Stewart has called out McConnell on several occasions for his inaction in the past regarding the bill. Stewart promised in his testimony before Congress that he and other advocates won't allow a "certain someone" in the Senate to use the program as a "political football" in spending negotiations, referring to McConnell. (MORE: An angry Jon Stewart demands Congress compensate 9/11 responders) McConnell retaliated on "Fox and Friends" saying he didn't know why Stewart was "bent out of shape," and denied that he was moving slowly on the issue. He also said the extension would pass when it came up for renewal. Stewart fired back on the "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," arguing that he was "not bent out of shape." He said he was upset that heroes were getting sick or dying and desperately needed Congress' help. "These are the first heroes and veterans and victims of the great trillions of dollars War on Terror. And they are currently dying, suffering and in terrible need," he said. "You know you would think that would be enough for Congress to pay attention, but apparently, it's not." ABC News' Aaron Katersky contributed to this report.


NBA free agency began just a few days ago, yet so many signings occurred over a short period of time. Most notably for the Boston Celtics, the team lost All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving to the Brooklyn Nets as he decided to join forces with Kevin Durant in the Big Apple. Losing an elite player like Irving is tough to stomach, though Boston has made two great signings that will certainly keep the C's as a contender in the Eastern Conference. Former Charlotte Hornets star guard Kemba Walker and talented center Enes Kanter have both agreed to bring their talents to the TD Garden. Walker is an excellent replacement for Irving and Kanter will provide two skill that the Celtics could certainly use in interior scoring and offensive rebounding. After a somber mood was cast over the organization following their elimination from last season's playoffs and Irving's fall from grace, Boston has had a very solid offseason thus far. In order to try and make it a great one, they should pursue center DeMarcus Cousins. The Celtics no longer have any remaining cap space needed to offer Cousins anything more than the veteran's minimum (and without a subsequent move, they don't have a roster spot open either). However, this may not be hurting Boston's chance of acquiring the former all-star big man. According to ESPN basketball insider Adrian Wojnarowski, there does not seem to be much of a market for Cousins . Wojnarowski believes that no franchise is looking to offer Boogie even the mid-level exception, which was the deal that he received from the Golden State Warriors last summer. The C's are in a prime position to land Cousins, considering the lack of interest from other teams. The issue is that reports have said that Boston is currently not interested. Mark Murphy of the Boston Herald reported that the Celtics are not pursuing a deal with Cousins because they "don't want the potential drama." Much has been made of the continued availability of DeMarcus Cousins. According to source, Celtics are not interested. Don't want the potential drama. - Mark Murphy (@Murf56) July 2, 2019 Cousins certainly has had maturity issues at times over the course of his successful career but it should not ultimately deter Boston from obtaining his services. While his attitude can be criticized, his superb talent cannot be denied. Since tearing his Achilles last January, Cousins has not been able to return to his former All-NBA level of play - his speed and athleticism having taken a hit - but he's still highly skilled and productive. In 30 games as a Warrior during the 2018-19 season, Cousins averaged 16.3 points, 8.3 rebounds and 3.6 assists in just 25.7 minutes per contest. Again, Boogie seemed to have lost a bit of athleticism that he once had a few seasons prior, but Cousins remains an elite scorer and passer for a player of his size. That said, he can help to replace some of what now-Philadelphia 76ers big man Al Horford was able to do for the Celtics on the offensive end. Boston can run plays for Cousins in which he can be a facilitator, particularly in the half-court. He has a unique ability to thread the needle in order to find cutters for open baskets, something that Warriors head coach Steve Kerr and Golden State used to their advantage last year. On numerous occasions, Warriors superstars Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson benefited from the passing ability of Cousins, getting easy looks at the basket thanks to the fact that they are both excellent at moving without the ball. Further like Horford, Cousins can help to spread the floor as a big who can shoot from the perimeter. He admittedly struggled to shoot the ball from beyond the arc this past season as he converted on just 27.4 percent of his three-point attempts. That being said, the prior two seasons he shot 35.4 percent and 37.5 percent from deep which makes it safe to say that one should expect him to improve upon last season's number. Once he gets back into a rhythm of consistently playing NBA basketball, Cousins will be a reliable perimeter threat. The Celtics need a center who can create for himself and others on the offensive end, and Cousins is by far the best player left on the market who can fill this role. He obviously possesses all-star level talent and at the veteran's minimum, there is minimal risk in signing him. MORE: What Kawhi Leonard is doing with his decision should be applauded News: Cowboys who could be traded, triple-threat WRs, Eric Berry talk These are the top scorers in Vegas Summer League history The Steelers got their new Brett Keisel with Isaiah Buggs Roundup: Donald Trump's Plane Thoughts; Colin Cowherd is Unflappable; Classic Mets Stuff


Jordan Anderson placed 13th in the Gander RV 150 at Pocono Raceway Saturday. Ross Chastain took the checkered flag in the race, with Tyler Ankrum taking second, and Harrison Burton placing third. Christian Eckes brought home fourth place, followed by Brett Moffitt in the No. 5 spot. Chastain came away victorious in Stage 1, and Burton won Stage 2. Each driver earned 10 bonus points for their efforts. Anderson earned 26 points over the weekend, increasing his total to 248 on the year. He ranks No. 13 in the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series standings. Anderson did not earn any playoff points Saturday and remains on the hunt for his first playoff points of the season. The sixth-year driver qualified in 12th position at 168.618 mph. Anderson has yet to secure his first NASCAR win, but has placed in the top 10 in two races. There were 32 cars in the field and the race endured four cautions and 12 caution laps. Prior to the checkered flag, there were three lead changes. With Chastain driving his Silverado to victory for Al Niece, Chevrolet added 40 points. Overall, Toyota ranks No. 1 with 527 points, followed by Chevrolet in the No. 2 spot with 506. Ford sits at No. 3 with 471 points on the season. Jordan Anderson Driver Page | Get Jordan Anderson Gear | Race Center ]]>


NEW YORK   Former Arizona Wildcats assistant coach Book Richardson has been sentenced to three months in prison and two years of probation for his role in the college basketball bribery scandal. Richardson, the first coach sentenced to jail time, has a surrender date of July 18. He must also forfeit $20,000 he accepted in payments. "I do believe this is a serious crime," U.S. District Court Judge Edgardo Ramos said in making his ruling. "It went beyond violating NCAA rules. … It wasn't a one-off. It wasn't a one-and-only thing. It took place over several months. At one point it was Mr. Richardson who initiated (payment of) a bribe." Ramos said the UA was a victim, as the school indicated in a pre-sentencing victim impact statement. "I do believe that the University of Arizona was victimized by the crime," Ramos said. "It caused several athletes to decommit from the university" and it led to "an additional (NCAA) investigation that may have some implications for the university." Outside the courthouse, Richardson   wearing a dark suit and flanked by his wife   said his actions were a mistake. Breaking : Book Richardson sentenced to 3 months in prison and 2 years of supervised probation   Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) June 6, 2019 "I want to apologize to the University of Arizona, President (Robert C.) Robbins for everything that's happened," Richardson said. "Just knowing who I am and it was a mistake that happened because it was a mistake; it wasn't a conduct that's natural and normal. And I think my former players, I think my family will attest to that. And again any student-athlete that I hurt, any student-athlete I put in a bad way, I apologize sincerely. And I'm always going to be their coach, I'm always going to be their uncle and to some of them I'll be their dad. And unfortunately this happened and hopefully we can build something positive from it." In January, Richardson accepted a plea agreement in which he pleaded guilty to a federal funds bribery charge while four other charges were dismissed. The circumstances for his charge carried a sentencing range of 18-24 months, while a probation officer had recommended three months. Are you a sports fan? Stay in the know. Subscribe to azcentral.com today . Richardson's attorney, Craig Mordock, had argued for a probation-only sentence, which is what former USC coach Tony Bland received in his sentencing on Wednesday. However, Richardson admitted accepting $20,000   nearly $14,000 more than Bland, and prosecutors argued that he acted to steer UA players toward aspiring agent Christian Dawkins by setting up a meeting with the cousin of then-Wildcats standout Rawle Alkins. Asked if it was fair that coaches were going to prison, Richardson said: "I can't really answer that. I can only attest for what I did and that's it." Secretly recorded wiretaps featuring Richardson were played in the recently concluded federal trial against Dawkins and co-conspirator Munish Sood. In one, Richardson asked for more money so he can pay a recruit's parent. In another, he promises to deliver Alkins and others to Dawkins for representation. In one wiretap, Richardson told Dawkins that UA coach Sean Miller "bought" former UA star Deandre Ayton for $10,000 a month. Richardson was asked Thursday if Miller knew whether players were being paid. "You gotta ask him that," Richardson said. "He's not on trial, I was on trial." Prosecutors said Richardson abused his role as a coach and mentor by agreeing to steer his players to Dawkins' company without their knowledge. "The student-athletes did not know Mr. Richardson was taking money for that purpose," prosecutors Noah Solowiejczyk said. "He was taking secret bribes. … His job was to look out for them. He was doing the opposite." This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Former Arizona basketball coach Book Richardson sentenced to prison


HCA Houston Healthcare, which serves about a million patients a year, donated $3.5 million to the University of Houston College of Nursing to support programs at their soon-to-open facility in Katy and its current location in Sugar Land. The majority of the grant   about $2 million   will go toward increasing the number of adjunct or full-time faculty members at HCA-affiliated facilities. UH officials said $1 million will fund a healthcare simulation center at the Katy campus. It will provide hands on clinical training and research using interactive modules to support the needs of nursing and healthcare professionals. The remaining funds   about $500,000, will go for a HCA Houston Healthcare endowed chair in undergraduate studies. It will fund the Bachelor of Science in Nursing director and expand instruction and research in the field. "Impacting the health and wellness of our city is a top priority," said UH President Rena Khator. "This partnership will provide our future healthcare professionals the tools they need to succeed." With almost 7,000 registered nurses employed by HCA Houston Healthcare, it is one of the largest employers in the greater Houston area. The company initiated a program to pay the tuition for its eligible nurses to pursue advanced degrees at the UH College of Nursing. "This partnership is a continuation of HCA Houston Healthcare's focus on nurses and nursing excellence, which has resulted in a positive impact on clinical outcomes, patient experience, efficiency of care and nurse management," said Tony Villarreal, chief executive officer of HCA Houston Healthcare. Their company, he said, is looking toward a long-term collaboration with the University of Houston to develop qualified healthcare professionals and access to top-quality care. HCA Houston Healthcare's network includes 14 hospitals, nine freestanding emergency centers and nine outpatient surgery centers, among other medical facilities. "We are grateful for the trust and support HCA Houston Healthcare has placed in our program," said Kathryn Tart, founding dean of the UH Nursing College. "It is an indication of the quality education, quality student and quality healthcare employees that emerges from our college and their partnership will future ensure the quality preparation and success of the next generation of nurses. The UH College of Nursing in Katy will open for students in the Fall. Up to 30 students will study there at the start for the traditional BSN degree, officials said. "Our college produces highly educated professionals who educate and fearlessly advocate for patients and communities," Tart said. "They will devote their careers to promoting the health and well-being of our society at home and across the globe." Pending final accreditation, HCA Houston Healthcare has partnered with the UH College of Medicine to bring in an initial group of 103 first-year resident positions as early as 2019. The number will grow to 389 resident positions by 2025, officials said. "HCA Houston Healthcare recognizes the value of investing in the long-term success of our students and in providing quality healthcare in the Houston area," Khator said. mike.glenn@chron.com


Tigers are icons of beauty, power, and the importance of conservation. Learn five surprising facts about these striped felines, including how large the cats can be, an adaptation some developed for swimming, and how much wild tiger populations have declined.


Former Lions safety Glover Quin announced his retirement early Monday morning. At the age of 33, Quin has decided to move on to other endeavors. "Playing professional sports was always a dream of mine. Football was the route I chose and God blessed me to be able to persevere through all the hardships and play 10 years in the NFL," Quin wrote in a text message to ESPN's Michael Rothstein . "I'm so thankful for the opportunity I had to play in the NFL with such great players and two great organizations. "Football was never who I was as a person. It was always what I had done. I wanted to use football as a stepping stone into the rest of my life and not let football be my life. I always only wanted to play 10 years. Said if I was able to walk off the field after the last game in Year 10, it would be really hard for me to walk back on. I'm young, I'm healthy and I got a lot of life to live. So I'm walking away from the game of football." The Lions released safety Glover Quin in February, but his run with Detroit could have ended much sooner. Quin actually asked the team to release him in the previous offseason, shortly after the team hired Matt Patricia. However, the Lions obviously declined, and kept Quin for the 2018 campaign before cutting ties. Quin started in all 16 of the Lions' games in 2018, but saw some of his playing time eaten into by rookie Tracy Walker down the stretch. Although his performance dipped near the end, he left the game with a 148-game starting streak, the highest of any active safety in the NFL up until his retirement. The New Mexico product enjoyed the best season of his career in 2014 when he earned a Pro Bowl nod and registered seven interceptions. Over his decade in the NFL with the Texans and Lions, Quin recorded 24 interceptions and 740 tackles in total.


The Sharks have gone all out to keep Erik Karlsson in San Jose. The team on Monday announced it has re-signed the veteran to an eight-year contract. OFFICIAL: #SJSharks re-sign @ErikKarlsson65 to an eight-year contract! : https://t.co/6CBIaJD2b0 pic.twitter.com/QtokLKxrTV   San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) June 17, 2019 Terms weren't disclosed, though TSN reported the deal is worth more than $11 million per season. Further to @TSNBobMcKenzie 's report on Erik Karlsson, I'm told the deal is indeed done: 8 years max deal, north of $11 million per season... the Sharks with a huge move in keeping the superstar D from hitting the market.   Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) June 17, 2019 "We are extremely pleased that Erik and his wife Melinda have committed to the San Jose Sharks and that they have done so prior to July 1," general manager Doug Wilson said in a release. "Players with Erik's elite level of talent are rare and when they become available, it's important to be aggressive in pursuing them. "He is a difference maker who consistently makes the players around him better. We are pleased that he has been proactive in addressing his injury from last season and are looking forward to him being part of our organization for a long time to come." The Sharks went into negotiations with the upper hand over other teams as they were the only club able to offer Karlsson such a deal, and other teams had to wait until July 1 before speaking with Karlsson and his representatives. Karlsson, who turned 29 in May, logged three goals and 42 assists in 53 regular-season games in his first year with the Sharks as he dealt with numerous injuries. He added an additional two goals and 14 assists in 19 playoff games but missed the Western Conference finals. Now San Jose will shift its focus to re-signing captain Joe Pavelski and veteran Joe Thornton, though Karlsson's monster contract may make those moves more difficult to maneuver. MORE : Ducks hire Dallas Eakins as new head coach | Capitals sign Carl Hagelin to 4-year extension Pavelski, who'll be 35 on July 11, scored 38 goals last season, just three fewer than his career high of 41. Thornton, who turns 40 on July 2, is likely to come back on a one-year deal if he does return. He has long said he wants to finish his career in San Jose, but his future is very contingent upon what the Sharks give other free agents.


A night at Cannes didn't go according to script for actress Elle Fanning. The star revealed she fainted during an event at the French film festival ― and seemed to blame it on her dress fitting a little too snuggly. "Oops, had a fainting spell tonight in my 1950's Prada prom dress but it's all good!!" she captioned an Instagram photo, along with the hashtags #dresstootight and #timeofthemonth." The incident occurred at the Chopard Trophée Dinner Party on Monday, according to E! News, and apparently happened so fast that many people didn't even realize she had passed out. "Most people in the room didn't even notice until after there was a brief pause, during which word quickly spread through the venue about what happened," a source told the entertainment outlet. The insider said Fanning had recovered before leaving the event. Fanning, 21, has appeared in films such as "Maleficient," "Teen Spirit" and "Super 8." In Pictures: 2019 Cannes Film Festival: Best red carpet looks [Microsoft GES] MSN UK are Empowering Happiness for mental health awareness month. Find out more about our campaign and the charities working to stop people falling into crisis here .


Video by KVUE-TV Austin A public library in Texas will be partially closed this weekend in anticipation of demonstrations by political groups over a children's story hour run by a drag queen that is planned at the branch. The library in Leander, a city of 56,000 about 30 miles north of Austin, is providing space for Saturday's drag queen story time event, which will be hosted by a local church. But the rest of the facility will be closed. Subscribe to the Post Most newsletter: Today's most popular stories on The Washington Post Drag queen story hours have made libraries the latest front in the United States' wrenching national dispute over gender roles and sexuality. In Leander, city officials first canceled the story hour, which was to be hosted by the library, in late May before a progressive and LGBT-friendly church in the area, Open Cathedral, stepped in to host it. The church will hold the event in a conference room it booked at the library. "A lot of people are upset we canceled, and a lot of people are upset we had it planned," Priscilla Donovan, the library's director, told reporters at the time. "But it's starting to tip more toward people who are disappointed we canceled it." Now rumors are flying about whether right-wing groups, including those that lean toward the extreme, will be greeted by anti-fascist protesters in front of the library as people in drag read stories to children inside. At least one group, MassResistance, a self-described "pro-family" organization that the Southern Poverty Law Center characterizes as an anti-LGBT hate group, has targeted drag queen story hours around the country. Its chapter in Texas has organized a protest Saturday, when the event is supposed to be held, according to its Facebook page. Christian groups and media companies have spotlighted the event as well. And at least one liberal group, ATX Resistance Action, has organized a counterprotest to support the event. Ryan Hart, 38, the minister and founder of Open Cathedral, said in a telephone interview that the church was surprised by the reaction to the event. "We thought this would be 10 kids and three moms," he said. But 2,000 people flooded the website to express interest in the event, which is RSVP only, he said. He expects about 150 people to attend. "It's about a community that's looking to say out loud that we love our kids," Hart said of the positive response. "It's about a community that has more diversity than politicians realize. And it's about a world that's changing and people who want to be more loving than people saying, 'Be quiet and sit down.' . . . We're honored to be called into the middle of that." The organization Drag Queen Story Hour started in late 2015 in San Francisco just as the country's reinvigorated right wing was coming into form. But it has found many fans with chapters in areas outside traditionally liberal cities; it now has outposts in places like Milwaukee; New Orleans; Charlotte; Mobile, Ala.; and San Marcos, Tex. Its founders have described it as a reaction to the harsh political landscape of the past few years, in which painful debates about issues like identity, sexuality and race have animated the country's politics. "I think it is partly a reaction to the political landscape of the U.S. right now and a need for more queer programming for children," co-founder Jonathan Hamilt told the BBC about the organization's popularity in more conservative areas. And it has inspired dozens of other libraries and groups across the country to host their own events, as Travor Bach reported for The Washington Post. Related slideshow: Drag Queen Storytime at the Louisville Free Public Library (Louisville Courier-Journal) In recent months, the events have sparked opposition in places like Simpsonville, S.C. ; Binghamton, N.Y. ; Spokane, Wash .; Huntington Woods, Mich.; and Houston, where organizers canceled the long-running event after a lawsuit, the disclosure that one of the former readers was a registered sex offender and the arrest of a protester who was carrying a licensed gun and refused to leave the event. The debate about the story hours has also entered the op-ed pages, including a polemic written by New York Post op-ed editor Sohrab Ahmari for the religious journal First Things and a rebuttal from New York Times columnist Michelle Goldberg. "There are times where the rights of religious believers and those of a pluralistic society conflict: when, for example, conservative Christian bakers are asked to make wedding cakes for gay couples, or some ultra-Orthodox Jewish parents are ordered, against their own convictions, to vaccinate their kids," Goldberg wrote . "The existence of Drag Queen Story Hour is not one of those times. Conservatives are not being subjugated because they can't stop other people from holding a public event that offends them. It's telling that some of them think they are." In Leander, the event drew harsh words from the city's mayor, Troy Hill, who castigated the library's staff for choosing "to wade into social issues water without approval from City Staff." "Since then it has led to the predictable outrage and divisiveness that is the reason to avoid these issues," he told television station KVUE . Mike Neu, a spokesman for the city of Leander, said officials expected that many of the demonstrators Saturday would be coming from outside the city or even the state. "We don't know if it will be one group or several groups," he said. The library's closure was reported by the Austin American-Statesman . Open Cathedral is a member of the United Church of Christ, which has a history of activism on issues such as abolition, women's rights and LGBT rights, Hart said. One Christian news organization called it an "apostate Texas 'Church.'" Hart said he didn't think it was a coincidence that the culture war had found its way to the staid and respectful world of libraries. "I realized that revolutions always start with books and libraries," he said. "People feel so deeply isolated in our society   that's true of a lot of groups, whether it's straight white men, people of color or immigrants. And I believe that people want to be included no matter what, and that's what we're trying to do with the kids of this community." Read more: 'Scarface is dead': The Geto Boys rapper says he's focused on running for Houston City Council A mother was breast-feeding her child at a public pool. Then the police came. Passenger opens airplane's emergency exit, mistaking it for bathroom


The number of reported crime incidents in San Antonio saw an overall decrease last week for the second week in a row, according to data from SpotCrime , which collects data from police agencies and validated sources. The number of reported incidents fell to 8,937 for the week of July 15, down from 9,154 the week before. The specific offenses that decreased the most were theft and vandalism. The number of reported thefts fell to 1,772 incidents last week, down from 1,823 the week before. The number of vandalism reports dropped from 292 to 275. The number of reported thefts has continued to fall for the last four weeks, while the number of reported vandalism incidents has been decreasing for the last two weeks. While somewhat smaller categories, there was also a notable percentage decrease in the number of robbery reports, down from 113 incidents per week to 97, and in reports of shootings, down from 135 to 131 incidents. Among the few types of offenses that saw an uptick last week, reports of assault rose from 893 to 926, and reports of burglary rose from 467 to 488. There were 5,248 reports of "other" crimes last week, a decrease of 183 from the previous week. SpotCrime's broad "other" category includes a variety of offenses like fraud, trespassing, public disturbance and traffic violations. Of those incidents, 221 involved arrests, such as for drug possession, down from 240 reported arrests the week before. Looking at crime patterns in different areas of the city, Downtown, Prospect Hill and Highland Hills continued to have the most reported incidents last week. Riverside saw the largest drop in the number of criminal incidents. The number of crime reports in Cable-Westwood also fell, after increasing the week before, and the number of reported incidents in Los Angeles Heights-Keystone is down considerably as well. Regarding when most crimes are committed, Friday, Thursday and Tuesday had the most reported crimes last week. The largest decrease from the previous week occurred on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, while the number of reporteincidents on Tuesday and Wednesday went up. Comparing times of day, early afternoon, late night and evening saw the most crime last week. Want a longer-term view of crime in San Antonio? Here's our latest monthly crime report . To report a crime in progress or life-threatening emergency, call 911. To report a non-urgent crime or complaint, contact your local police department. Head to SpotCrime to get free local crime alerts in your area. This story was created automatically using local crime data, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about our data sources and local crime methodology. Got thoughts about what we're doing? Go here to share your feedback.


Curious just how far your dollar goes in M Streets? According to Walk Score, this Dallas neighborhood requires a car for most errands, is fairly bikeable and has good transit options. Data from rental site Zumper shows that the median rent for a one-bedroom in M Streets is currently hovering around $1,175. So, what might you expect to find if you're on a budget of $2,200/month? Read on for a roundup of the latest rental listings, via Zumper and Apartment Guide . (Note: Prices and availability are subject to change.) Hoodline offers data-driven analysis of local happenings and trends across cities. Links included in this article may earn Hoodline a commission on clicks and transactions. 4670 Amesbury Drive Listed at $2,105/month, this two-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment is located at 4670 Amesbury Drive. The listing promises a dishwasher and hardwood flooring in the apartment. The building features secured entry and garage parking. For those with furry friends in tow, know that cats and dogs are welcome on this property. The rental doesn't require a leasing fee. (See the complete listing here .) 4001 Ross Ave. Here's a 1,112-square-foot two-bedroom, two-bathroom unit at 4001 Ross Ave. that's going for $2,140/month. Expect to see a walk-in closet, hardwood flooring and a dishwasher in the unit. For those with furry friends in tow, know that cats and dogs are permitted on this property. (See the full listing here .) 5201 Amesbury Drive Finally, check out this 1,159-square-foot two-bedroom, two-bathroom unit that's located at 5201 Amesbury Drive. It's listed for $2,161/month. The residence offers air conditioning, a balcony and a dishwasher. Good news for dog lovers: Rover is permitted on the property. (Take a look at the complete listing here .) This story was created automatically using local real estate data from Zumper and Apartment Guide , then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


After more than eight years of widespread violence spanning two Mexican presidential administrations, the country's drug war has led to the consolidation of just two remaining major cartels and the splintering and degradation of the country's other drug trafficking organizations, Fox News Latino reports citing Mexico's Attorney General's Office. Throughout the drug war, which began in December of 2006 when the recently elected Mexican president Filipe Calderon deployed federal troops to Michoacan to fight the state's once-powerful drug cartel , Mexico has pursued a "kingpin strategy" of targeting the gangs' high-level leadership. This approach has produced a series of major arrests. But it's also led to the violent fragmentation of cartels that were once relatively unified and stable. Now, Mexico has a swarm of smaller regional drug traffickers, with just two big cartels left. Only the Sinaloa Cartel and the recently established Jalisco New Generation Drug Cartel (CJNG) are still "operating and functioning" within Mexico according to an interview with Tomas Zeron, the director of the Criminal Investigation Agency in Mexico's Attorney General's Office, in the Mexican newspaper Proceso that was translated by Fox. The other cartels throughout the country have splintered into smaller competing gangs or have been swallowed up by the Sinaloa and the CJNG. The Sinaloa Cartel is the single largest and most powerful drug trafficking organization in the Western hemisphere. It's flourished during the drug war due to its non-hierarchical organization structure   the cartel is more like a confederacy of groups that are connected through blood, marriage, and regional relationships. Decisions are ultimately made through board-of-directors-type mechanisms and not by a single leader. This operational flexibility has allowed the Sinaloa to continue to thrive despite several setbacks including the arrest of Chapo Guzman, the group's central architect. The CJNG, meanwhile, splintered away from the Sinaloa in 2010. It's experienced a meteoric rise ever since. According to Insight Crime, the CJNG rose to power since 2010 thanks to a convergence of factors. The group's origins within the Sinaloa offered them business connections and practical knowledge of Mexico's illicit drug market. And the relative stability of Jalisco state enabled the group to expand and consolidate without having to engage in costly turf battles to establish initial control. The relative weakness of cartels in neighboring states also allowed the CJNG to expand outwards without much resistance. The CJNG has proven willing to directly attack the Mexican military and police, sometimes in broad daylight. In April, the group killed 15 elite police officers in an ambush outside of the western city of Guadalajara in one of the drug war's deadliest single incidents for the Mexican government. The kingpin strategy has led to a number of highly touted arrests which have decapitated the other Mexican cartels. But this strategy has largely led to an increase in unrest and violence throughout Mexico. At least 60,000 people are estimated to have been killed between 2006 and 2012 as a result of the drug war as cartels, vigilante groups, and the Mexican army and police have battled one another. The overwhelming majority of these deaths haven't been adequately investigated by the Mexican authorities, contributing to an atmosphere of lawlessness in many parts of the country. The UN Human Rights Council estimates that only 1-2% of homicides committed between 2006 and 2012 were investigated to conviction. Approximately 70% 0f these crimes were in some way drug related. This violence is closely linked to the overall breakdown of order throughout Mexico and the proliferation of smaller gangs out of the ruins of much larger former cartels. The new gangs have started to compete with each other for turf, while the Sinaloa and the CJNG have tried to take advantage of the larger chaos to spread and solidify their hold on profitable stretches of territory. "These are cells that are trying to seek power for survival, and that's why right now we are seeing the homicides among them," Zeron told Proceso. NOW WATCH: Why Putin is the most powerful man in the world


CHICAGO - The Crystal Lake woman charged with murder in the death of her 5-year-old son has given birth to a daughter, and the newborn has been placed into the custody of the state's child welfare agency, sources said. The girl was born to JoAnn Cunningham on May 31. At a hearing Monday in McHenry County juvenile court, Cunningham agreed to allow the girl to be kept in the custody of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, sources said. It was not revealed where the girl was living. DCFS, through a spokesman, said it "will not be sharing information related" to the case, citing privacy reasons. Cunningham's son Andrew "AJ" Freund was beaten to death in April, and found wrapped in plastic and buried in a field near Woodstock, authorities said. Cunningham and AJ's father, Andrew Freund, are charged with murder and are being held in the McHenry County jail on $5 million bail. At Monday's hearing, Judge Christopher Harmon ordered that Andrew Freund and another man submit to testing to determine the paternity of the baby girl, sources said. All parties are due back in court to learn the results of the paternity testing July 8. In April, a judge ordered that Freund submit to a paternity test to help determine the paternity of AJ's younger brother - Cunningham's 4-year-old son. A hearing on that matter is set for June 24. The younger brother is also in the custody of DCFS. The other man who was ordered Monday to take a paternity test was present in juvenile court with his attorney, sources said. He had been in custody at the McHenry County jail since December until late May after being arrested and charged for allegedly attacking a security guard and two nurses at a hospital, according to court records. He pleaded guilty May 22. He was given two years of probation and released on time served. On Tuesday, the man was back in jail after failing a drug test, jail officials confirmed. A charging document in December lists his address as the same home on Dole Avenue in Crystal Lake where AJ Freund lived with his parents, who were not married. Authorities alleged that on April 18 Andrew Freund made a false 911 call reporting AJ missing. A massive search for the boy was conducted until about a week later when his body was found. ___ (Amanda Marrazzo is a special correspondent.) Visit the Chicago Tribune at www.chicagotribune.com


Chicago Bears safety Eddie Jackson enjoyed a meteoric rise to league stardom in 2018 thanks to an All-Pro season that included 51 tackles, six interceptions and three defensive touchdowns. He was one of the biggest reasons why the Bears' defense ranked as one of the best in the NFL, and even though there's a new defensive coordinator in Chicago in 2019, Jackson said the atmosphere in Halas Hall reminds him of his days at Alabama. "It's just like Bama," Jackson said Wednesday via the Chicago Sun-Times . "I told him [HaHa Clinton-Dix], this defense is just like Bama." Clinton-Dix, who's spent time with the Packers and Redskins before signing with the Bears this offseason, said he was shocked by the culture in Chicago's locker room. "All these guys are so close to one another. We spend so much time with each other outside this facility. That's amazing. You don't find too many guys that can hang out together outside of this and create a bond. . . . I was in for a shock, man. They're special here." Bears fans are certainly hoping for a special season from their defense in 2019, and with Jackson, Khalil Mack, Roquan Smith, Akiem Hicks, Kyle Fuller and, maybe, Clinton-Dix, there's no reason to expect anything less. View embedded content MORE: 'Jeopardy' fans ripped James Holzhauer for how he said Dr. Dre's name but here's why he did it How the Bulls can help the Lakers facilitate an Anthony Davis trade NBA Free Agency 2019: The top players How to Watch and Stream AEW Double Or Nothing Kevin Durant's contributions are stamped indelibly into Warriors' culture


Video provided by TODAY Adding to the rising numbers of people who have either fallen ill or died while visiting Dominican Republic hotels and resorts, a group of Oklahoma-based Jimmy Buffett fans allegedly grew violently sick while visiting the Dominican Republic's Hotel Riu Palace Macao on an April group trip to Punta Cana. Dana Flowers, a member of the Central Oklahoma Parrothead Association (who also serves as the group's travel agent), tells PEOPLE that 47 of the 114 people on the the trip got sick, with many unable to leave their rooms. He said some are still not feeling "normal" two months later. "We went [to Hotel Riu Palace Macao] for the week   some longer, some shorter," he tells PEOPLE. "We were enjoying the beach and the pool, and about 3 or 4 days into the trip we started hearing about people getting sick. They were getting diarrhea, vomiting, dizziness, headaches." Flowers says the group initially chalked the mystery ailment up to food poisoning, but their symptoms began to worsen. Flowers, who was among those affected by the illness, claims he lost 14 pounds over the course of 19 days. "It was some of the worst sick I've ever been, and I don't normally ever get sick," he says. Flowers claims that everyone who grew ill in his group either swam in one specific pool or drank at the swim-up bar. When members of the group sought treatment from the on-site doctor, Flowers claims, "Most of them got an IV, then were prescribed a medicine for parasites. [They] didn't do any testing, they just automatically gave them medicine for parasites." He says after returning home from the trip, two members of his group tested positive for salmonella. In a statement to PEOPLE, Hotel Riu Palace Macao says, "We are aware that three guests staying last April at this hotel and coming from the same group … were attended by a possible case of gastroenteritis in our doctor's office. These events occurred after an external activity of this group outside the hotel, so we can not determine the exact origin of the stomach upset. … No more similar cases were registered by other guests during the indicated date above." PEOPLE reached out to a representative for Jimmy Buffett as well as the fan club for comment, but have not heard back. The U.S. State Department has confirmed that at least six American tourists have died while vacationing in the Dominican Republic since the summer of 2018. Some of them passed away in what appear to be bizarre   and similar   circumstances. PEOPLE confirms that both the FBI and the CDC are investigating these strange deaths, but the agencies are not yet releasing further details. In addition to the six confirmed by the State Department, Staten Island resident Leyla Cox was found dead in her room last Monday from an apparent heart attack. She had just celebrated her 53rd birthday. On May 30, 2019, engaged couple Nathaniel Edward Holmes, 63, and Cynthia Ann Day, 49, were found dead in their hotel room at the Grand Bahia Principe La Romana resort, according to a statement released by the hotel. Holmes and Day, of Maryland, were found by resort staff after they missed their scheduled checkout time that day, per the statement. Their bodies did not show signs of violence, USA Today reported. The Dominican Republic National Police announced that an autopsy found the couple had respiratory failure and pulmonary edema. Day also reportedly suffered cerebral edema. Pennsylvania native Yvette Monique Sport , 51, had just arrived at the Bahia Príncipe resort in Punta Cana when she died in June 2018. Though her death was initially ruled a heart attack, with the news that several American tourists have died at the Bahía Príncipe in Punta Cana, Sport's cause of death is being investigated again. David Harrison, 45, was celebrating his wedding anniversary with his wife and 12-year-old son when he died of a heart attack at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Punta Cana in July of 2018. On May 25 of this year, Pennsylvania psychotherapist Miranda Schaup-Werner, 41, collapsed shortly after mixing a drink from the minibar in the Luxury Bahia Principe Bouganville in La Romana, where she was celebrating her ninth wedding anniversary with husband Daniel Werner. According to autopsy results released by the Attorney General of the Dominican Republic, she died of a heart attack that caused respiratory failure and fluid accumulation in her lungs. In April 2019, Robert Bell Wallace, 67, died while staying at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino resort in Punta Cana. His niece, Chloe Arnold, told Fox News that he became ill after having a drink from his hotel room's minibar. He was in the country to attend his stepson's wedding. According to Univision, Robin Bernstein, the ambassador of the United States to the Dominican Republic, recently said that these high-profile incidents should not be considered anything more than isolated cases. "We have 2.7 million Americans who come to the country and the statistics is that this is a very … unique event," Bernstein said. "They come to visit the beautiful beaches and enjoy the great culture. Unfortunately sometimes those things happen to people."


Two siblings from the famed Flying Wallendas safely crossed Times Square on a high wire strung between two skyscrapers 25 stories above the pavement. Nik and Lijana Wallenda walked from opposite ends of a 1,300-foot wire on Sunday. (June 24)


11 Stocks to Buy That Prove Boring Is Beautiful 11 stocks that prove boring is beautiful Stocks aren't all that different than cars, in some ways. Sure, the Ferrari is a lot of fun to drive, and you look cool sitting behind the wheel. But it's also going to cost you a fortune, and high-performance cars spend a lot of time at the mechanic's shop. Now, compare that to a Honda Civic. You never really notice a Honda Civic on the road. It's utterly forgettable. But it's also just about indestructible, requires virtually no attention from you, and it quietly and efficiently does its job. Consider that mentality when you're tracking down stocks to buy. A highflying growth pick can be a lot of fun to own. You look smart owning it, and it's fun to talk about at parties. But when the market's mood swings the other way, you're often left with some nasty losses and a bruised ego. Meanwhile, that dividend-paying value stock in your portfolio might not be particularly interesting. But over the long haul, it's a lot less likely to give you problems. Like that Honda Civic, it will quietly do its job with no stress and no drama. "Some of our most profitable trades over the years have been some of our most boring," explains Chase Robertson, principal of Houston-based RIA Robertson Wealth Management. "We've done well for our clients by mostly avoiding the trendy sectors and focusing instead on value and income." Click through the slideshow to see 11 boring but beautiful dividend stocks to buy now. They might not be much to look at, but they're likely to get the job done over the long term. And when you need them most   in retirement   they'll be less likely to break down on you. SEE ALSO: 50 Top Stocks That Billionaires Love Crown Castle International Market value: $54.1 billion Dividend yield: 3.5% You could invent the next viral iPhone app and make millions. But let s face it: That s not likely. You also could make millions investing in the stock of a company that makes the next viral iPhone app. But again, not likely. By the time you know about the app, chances are good the stock has already made its run. Rather than play the guessing game of who will make the next killer phone or the next killer app, why not invest in the trend that makes phones and apps so lucrative? We all know that mobile data usage is only likely to increase in the years ahead. Buying cell towers gives you a piece of that action, and Crown Castle International (CCI, $130.16) is one of the largest independent owners of cell towers and other telecom infrastructure. This real estate investment trust (REIT) owns, operates and leases more than 40,000 towers and around 70,000 miles of fiber optic cable. Is it exciting? Absolutely not. But it s one of those businesses that provides critical infrastructure for the modern economy, and it does so largely behind the scenes. Crown Castle, as a REIT, is required to pay out at least 90% of its taxable profits out as dividends to shareholders. So like many REITs, it outyields the market (1.9%) with a respectable 3.5%. Moreover, CCI has improved its dividend every year since 2014; over the past five years, that payout has grown a cumulative 221%. AT&T Market value: $250.9 billion Dividend yield: 5.9% Staying on the telecom theme, AT&T (T, $34.34) has been a boring play for many years now. Even its seemingly transformative recent buyout of Time Warner (which owns HBO, Cinemax, TBS and TNT) was a drawn-out affair that got bogged down in court battles. It seems almost silly now, but in the late 1990s and early 2000s, AT&T was a bubble stock. Investors couldn t get enough of everything related to telecommunications, and AT&T delivered the goods. But when the bubble burst, AT&T crashed hard. Today, nearly 20 years after the peak of the internet mania, T shares still are more than 40% below their old highs. Of course, 20 years later, AT&T is a very different company. Its mobile and home internet businesses are mature, and its paid TV business is actually shrinking , albeit slowly. AT&T is essentially a utility stock. But T belongs on any short list of boring stocks to buy now given its current pricing. AT&T took a tumble in 2018 that brought it to its most attractive prices in recent memory. The stock has recovered somewhat, but not completely, and still offers a value at less than 10 times analysts  expectations for future profits, and a fat dividend yield of 5.9%. Are you going to get monster growth from AT&T? Of course not. But modest capital appreciation and high levels of income should deliver a very respectable total return. SEE ALSO: The Berkshire Hathaway Portfolio: All 48 Buffett Stocks Altria Group Market value: $94.1 billion Dividend yield: 6.4%  Beautiful  and  tobacco  are two words you rarely see in the same sentence. Big Tobacco is an ugly business, and there s really no reason to pretend otherwise. Tobacco stocks , however, are the prototypical boring stock that you can still slot into your portfolio. They re not trendy or glitzy. They re about as far from cutting edge as you can get. And they re essentially forbidden by law to advertise. They just quietly gush cash flow and pay it out to their shareholders as dividends. This brings me to Altria Group (MO, $50.31). Altria markets the Marlboro and other cigarette brands in the United States. It also sells Copenhagen and other brands of chewing tobacco, as well as vaping products under the Juul brand, among other businesses. Altria became grossly overvalued a few years ago as the global hunt for yield pushed investors toward dividend stocks. But the stock has been sliding for the past two years and is now very attractively priced for the first time in ages. Its forward P/E of roughly 11 is downright reasonable. And a dividend yield well north of 6.4% is difficult to turn down. While its core businesses are boring, Altria has some things in the works that could pay off in spades. Altria is dabbling in the marijuana space via its investment in Cronos Group (CRON). If the race toward legalization picks up speed, Altria certainly would have the infrastructure in place for large-scale production. So, Altria fits right in with other boring dividend stocks to buy … but it does have a potentially interesting future. CVS Health Market value: $73.1 billion Dividend yield: 3.6% The neighborhood pharmacy is hardly a scintillating stock story. It s essentially a convenience store and a place for a mostly older clientele to pick up their medication. And in a world in which Amazon.com ( AMZN ) is quickly replacing neighborhood stores, the local pharmacy might seem simultaneously boring and risky. All of that might be true. But CVS Health (CVS, $56.26) is more than just a pharmacy. It s quietly evolving into a one-stop-shop for basic healthcare. The chain has been operating walk-in MinuteClinics for years, offering basic treatment, physicals and even vaccinations. And more recently, its HealthHUB concept is expanding CVS s reach into healthcare, providing patients with full primary-care services, dietitians and even weight-loss programs. Under this new format, more than 20% of the store s square footage is dedicated to health services as opposed to retail sales. And the company even went so far as to acquire health insurer Aetna back in 2018   although, while the deal already closed, a U.S. district judge has yet to sign off on it. Rather than compete with the likes of Amazon, CVS is choosing to play an entirely different game. CVS is dirt-cheap, trading at less than eight times expected earnings and below 0.4 times sales. And its dividend yield, while at 3.5% isn t exceedingly generous, is as high as it has been since the 1990s. Wall Street isn t particularly fond of CVS right now, as tech and social media are en vogue and retail is very much out of fashion. But CVS is quietly trying to make itself  Amazon-proof,  and patient investors are getting paid to wait for Wall Street to appreciate that. SEE ALSO: 33 Ways to Get Higher Yields (Up to 12%!) Macquarie Infrastructure Market value: $3.6 billion Dividend yield: 9.6% Macquarie Infrastructure (MIC, $41.69) is the quintessential  NIMBY  stock. NIMBY, of course, stands for  not in my backyard.  And when you see what Macquarie has in its investment portfolio, you ll no doubt agree. Macquarie s International-Matex Tank Terminals (IMTT) division handles and stores bulk liquids such as petroleum, chemicals and vegetable oil. IMTT leases more than 48 million barrels' worth of storage capacity. This clearly is something you don t want next to your house. But it s the sort of boring-yet-critical service that underpins the economy. Macquarie also has an Atlantic Aviation division that provides aircraft fueling services, plane de-icing, hangar rental and other aviation services. (No one wants to live next to an airport.) And finally, the company s third major division is MIC Hawaii, which runs a regulated gas utility and a liquefied petroleum gas terminal in Hawaii. MIC s stock took a 40% beating in a single day in 2018 after the company reduced its dividend, and the stock price has been depressed ever since. Management did a poor job of telegraphing the dividend cut, undermining investor confidence. But in the words of Warren Buffett, the secret to success in this business is to be  greedy when others are fearful.  Investors are afraid of Macquarie after its dividend cut, and it shows in the stock s pricing. MIC trades for just 1.2 times book value and yields close to 10%. Enterprise Products Partners LP Market value: $65.0 billion Distribution yield: 5.9%* On the theme of basic infrastructure, few companies are less exciting than a midstream pipeline operator. They don t really do anything. Once a pipeline is built, there s not much to be done other than basic maintenance. The pipeline moves oil and gas products from point A to point B. The operator collects a fee. Simple. But sometimes the best businesses are the simplest. And among pipeline operators, few can compete with Enterprise Products Partners LP (EPD, $29.70). Enterprise Products is one of the very best operators in the midstream space, and with more than 49,000 miles of pipelines, it s also one of the biggest. Enterprise Products also owns 260 million barrels of liquids storage capacity and 14 billion cubic feet of natural gas storage capacity. Unlike many of its peers, Enterprise has always been conservatively managed, preferring to grow slowly and steadily. This enabled the company to survive the turmoil in the energy markets over the past five years with its distributions intact. Its more aggressive and more heavily indebted peers weren t so lucky. At current prices, Enterprise Products yields just shy of 6%, and the company has raised its distribution at a little more than 5% per year over the past decade. This isn t a glamorous stock. But it s consistent. * Distribution yields are calculated by annualizing the most recent distribution and dividing by the share price. Distributions are similar to dividends but are treated as tax-deferred returns of capital and require different paperwork come tax time. 3M Market value: $101.7 billion Dividend yield: 3.3% It s hard to find too many companies more boring than 3M (MMM, $176.76). It makes Scotch tape and Post-it Notes, for crying out loud. Of course, 3M does quite a bit more than tape and sticky notes. They make everything from the reflective films that cover traffic signs to insulation for airplanes. But all of their products have a couple things in common. To start, they perform their functions mostly behind the scenes. Secondly, they are products that tend to get used up and get replaced. And finally, demand tends to be pretty inelastic. When you need them, you need them. These are exactly the kinds of qualities you want to see when seeking out boring dividend stocks to buy. MMM s stock movement has been a little too exciting of late, however. Revenues and earnings growth have been sluggish in recent years, causing shares to lose almost a third of their value from their old 2018 highs. The flip side is, MMM now trades at a reasonable 17 times next year s earnings, and its 3%-plus yield is at highs not seen in a decade. SEE ALSO: 25 Stocks Every Retiree Should Own Iron Mountain Market value: $8.6 billion Dividend yield: 8.2% If you ve ever worked in a corporate office, you re probably familiar with Iron Mountain (IRM, $29.91). This REIT s locked shredder containers are a fixture in practically every office building in America and in a fair amount of the rest of the world. Iron Mountain is the global leader in secure document storage and destruction. The company serves more than 230,000 organizations globally and operates more than 1,400 facilities across approximately 50 countries. Iron Mountain s business seemed unassailable until electronic document storage went mainstream. But that doesn t mean the company is at risk of obsolescence any time soon. Its legacy storage business continues to throw off a lot of cash flow, and Iron Mountain has been busily diversifying into data centers and into faster-growing emerging markets. Meanwhile, Iron Mountain is among the highest-yielding of these boring stocks to buy, throwing off more than 8% annually. The REIT has raised its dividend every year since 2010 and expects more payout growth to come. There is nothing interesting or exciting about document storage or shredding. But it s a stable business, and Iron Mountain is the undisputed market leader. Realty Income Market value: $22.2 billion Dividend yield: 3.9% REITs are generally a sleepy corner of the market. But among these real estate owners, Realty Income (O, $70.18) is a particularly unexciting player. Realty Income owns a vast portfolio of more than 5,800 retail properties spread across 49 states and Puerto Rico. But it doesn t own flashy trophy properties. You won t see many Fifth Avenue retail shops in Realty Income s portfolio. You re a lot more likely to find the local auto supply store or pharmacy. In fact, CVS Health Corporation, which was mentioned earlier, is one of its larger tenants. Other large tenants include Walgreens (WBA), 7-Eleven, Dollar General (DG) and LA Fitness. While nothing in this world appears to be 100% Amazon-proof, Realty Income s tenants come awfully close. Over its life, Realty Income has been a dividend-compounding machine. It has delivered 588 consecutive monthly dividends and grown the payout at a 4.6% annualized rate since its 1994 IPO. Realty Income s history of income growth is difficult to top   it has raised its dividend for 87 consecutive quarters and counting. You probably won t get rich buying Realty Income stock. But you ll collect around 4% in current yield, paid monthly, and that dividend should grow at around 4% to 5% per year. That s not a windfall, but it s better than what you can get in the bond market unless you re willing to take a lot more risk. SEE ALSO: A Dozen Great REITs for Income AND Diversification VEREIT Market value: $9.0 billion Dividend yield: 6.0% Along the same lines, VEREIT (VER, $9.24) is another boring but beautiful REIT. Like Realty Income, VEREIT is a retail landlord. And also like Realty Income, its leases are mostly  triple net,  which means tenants are responsible for all taxes, insurance and maintenance costs. VEREIT s job is simply to keep cashing the rent checks. VEREIT has a portfolio of around 4,000 properties containing a total of 94.7 million square feet, and it shares many tenants   including CVS, Walgreens, Dollar General and LA Fitness   with Realty Income. VEREIT is a little riskier than Realty Income, however. Its largest tenant, at 5.4% of the total portfolio, is Red Lobster. The REIT s once-higher concentration in the struggling restaurant chain weighed on it considerably, but it has been reducing its exposure. Moreover, VEREIT s top 10 tenants collectively account for only 27% of its total portfolio, and it s otherwise very well-diversified geographically. However, because of its slightly higher risk profile, VEREIT   at a 6% yield   is priced to deliver stronger returns. Sure, we re unlikely to see large dividend increases in the immediate future until the company works through some lingering legal issues stemming from an accounting snafu by the previous management team. But that s OK. A 6% yield is attractive in a world in which the 10-year Treasury barely yields 2%. Albemarle Market value: $7.7 billion Dividend yield: 2.0% Elon Musk's Tesla Motors (TSLA) makes beautiful cars that are technological wonders. Unfortunately, the company has never met a deadline it couldn't break, and it hemorrhages cash. Tesla has yet to deliver a full year of profitability. Musk's vision of a world of self-driving, zero-emission electric vehicles is a noble one, and we should sincerely hope that it comes to pass. But it's questionable whether Tesla still will be around to reap the rewards. Most would-be gold miners that moved to California for the gold rush of the 1840s failed to strike it rich. It was the entrepreneurs selling pickaxes and other goods and services to the miners that really prospered. Along the same lines, if you're looking to bet on the long-term success of electric vehicles, don't buy a loss-making automaker. Instead, buy the one element that every electric vehicle needs for its battery: lithium. Albemarle (ALB, $73.09) is one of the world's largest lithium producers, and company projections show global lithium demand growing at a compound annual growth rate of 21% between 2018 and 2025. Lithium was a major growth story a few years ago due in no small part to the buzz surrounding Tesla. But a short-term supply glut caused the price of lithium producers to collapse. Albemarle today trades for barely half its old 2017 highs. This short-term weakness looks like a buying opportunity. Demand for lithium should only increase as every major automaker steps up to compete with Tesla, and today you can buy the stock at 2016 prices. Charles Sizemore was long CVS, EPD, IRM, MIC, MO, O, T and VER as of this writing. SEE ALSO: The 25 Best Low-Fee Mutual Funds to Buy Now


From Tuscany to Singapore, get lost in these writers' worlds. In the tradition of Jack Kerouac's On the Road and other classics, a good travel book can instantly transport you to another place. Whether it be a novel, such as Crazy Rich Asians , which introduces us to the wealthiest enclaves of Singapore, or a memoir, such as Under the Tuscan Sun , where we feel like we're sipping chianti in the Italian countryside right alongside the author, these books may also inspire you to get on the road yourself. Here are some of the best travel books to lose yourself in, including some recommended by our own editors. Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain Harper Perennial $12.79 Shop Now "I recommend Kitchen Confidential by the late and great Anthony Bourdain. Although most people consider this to be a book about the restaurant industry (and it's true that there's plenty of that), I found it to be much more about traveling, wandering, evolving and connecting through food. In the book, Bourdain takes us to a whole bunch of different places through food   we're shooting oysters with him in France when he's a young kid, we're on the line with him tasting sauces at Les Halles in New York, we slurp noodles with him in Tokyo. There is a lot of traveling   by moving from restaurant to restaurant, city to city, job to job   in this book, which ultimately teaches us to grow and evolve." -Danielle St. Pierre, Senior Food & Drink Editor More: Can You Guess What the Most Popular Book Was the Year You Were Born? The Dharma Bums by Jack Kerouac Penguin Books $13.37 Shop Now "Here's a hot take: Kerouac's On the Road gets all the love and devotion, but Dharma Bums is a much better work of literature. Both books are written in ways that mirror their contents. On the Road is a rambling, yard-threading story of a young person as they travel and yearn for more, without really leading to a conclusion. But Dharma Bums is more of an existential crisis put to prose. It's more contemplative, less meandering. It consists of Kerouac's semi-autobiographical travels and hikes through the west (think the Sierras and mountains of Washington), and his trouble marrying his two personas; how does one give equal weight to their appreciation of the outdoors, of a more meditative way of life and their boozing, jazz-club loving, city-slicking selves? So while you travel with the protagonist, Ray Smith, to the top of Desolation Peak, you also take a trip inward and, when you close the book a final time, will feel like you went on the same journey of self-discovery Kerouac took while writing." -Scott Simone, Managing Editor Outline by Rachel Cusk Farrar Straus Giroux $18.39 Shop Now The first book in Rachel Cusk's "Outline trilogy" is my personal favorite of the three. Outline takes place in Athens, Greece, and follows a British novelist named Faye as she teaches a week-long summer writing course abroad. I serendipitously took this book with me to Greece two summers ago, and it felt eerily like I was living the book in real time. The narrative is incredibly unique because it is purely observational - the narrator has absolutely no internal commentary. It is a story told in 10 lengthy conversations that Faye has with strangers, students, and friends. There's an off-kilter feeling, and a sadness and slight displacement to it, because the narrator is in an unfamiliar place, far from her children and everyone she knows, and yet, we don't hear her express her loneliness firsthand. This cerebral travel book may not be everyone's idea of a beach read, but I absolutely adored it and devoured the whole thing before leaving Greece. - Melanie Yates, Senior Home Decor Editor Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan Anchor Books $10.37 SHOP NOW If you saw the movie based on Kevin Kwan's smash novel Crazy Rich Asians , which chronicles the lives of insanely rich Chinese families living in Singapore, you no doubt were mesmerized by some of the backdrops and suddenly inspired to go to Singapore yourself. Iconic attractions like the Marina Bay Sands hotel/retail complex and Gardens by the Bay's futuristic manmade Supertrees are piquing peoples' interest in this Southeast Asian nation. Want to follow in the characters' footsteps? Check out this fun guide . Travels with Charley: In Search of America by John Steinbeck Penguin Books $12.00 Shop Now Who better to take you across the good ol' US of A than one of America's greatest writers? Oh, and his poodle. Travels with Charley is part travelogue, part novel. Steinbeck did indeed set out, in 1960, to get to know America again. He did, in fact, his poodle in tow, travel from New York to California, and back again. But, in true novelist form, he embellishes and makes up meetings he had within the story. Still, in his stories about country roads and bear encounters in Yellowstone, you'll get a reflective snapshot of America, along with its racial hostility mixed with an unexpected kindness and longing within the people he meets. What makes it one of my favorite travel books, though, is the sense of wanderlust it instills. Just take the lines: " I saw in their eyes something I was to see over and over in every part of the nation - a burning desire to go, to move, to get under way, anyplace, away from any Here. They spoke quietly of how they wanted to go someday, to move about, free and unanchored, not toward something but away from something. I saw this look and heard this yearning everywhere in every state I visited." -Scott Simone, Managing Editor Impressions of Paris by Cat Seto HARPER DESIGN $10.99 Shop Now The author, Cat Seto, actually handed me this book when we briefly met at the ICFF trade show a few years ago. As I turned through the first few pages of Impressions of Paris on the train ride home, I realized it was not only a beautifully composed love letter to the city of Paris, but also a close study of its colors, patterns, moods, and designs, from an artist's perspective. It offers an intimate tour through Parisian side streets, while stopping at cafes, patisseries, gardens, and shops, and taking in all of the city's sights and passerby along the way, rendered in Seto's dreamy watercolor style. I still have yet to make my way to the City of Lights, but I will definitely be using this visual guide as a reference, when I finally do. - Melanie Yates, Senior Home Decor Editor Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert RIVERHEAD BOOKS $10.39 SHOP NOW Eat, Pray, Love , the best-selling memoir and travelogue by Elizabeth Gilbert, was nothing short of a phenomenon when it came out in 2006. After going through a painful divorce, Gilbert embarks on a journey of self-discovery to Italy, India, and Indonesia, where she indulges in pasta in Rome, visits an ashram near Mumbai, and falls in love on the lush island of Bali , known for its terraced rice paddies . Uncorked by Paul Shore $14.12 Shop Now Paul Shore's funny and engaging 2017 memoir Uncorked tells of his adventures spending a year in Provence. During his time in the small and picturesque village of Saint-Paul-de-Vence, he learns to play the French game of pétanque , discovers the etiquette of the cheese plate, drinks lots of Pastis, navigates cigarette smoke, and falls for the works of surrealist artist Marc Chagall , who once lived here. Wild by Cheryl Strayed Random House $12.52 Shop Now Wild chronicles Cheryl Strayed's solo 1,100-mile hike of the Pacific Crest Trail in a bid to pull her life together after several chaotic years that included the loss of her mother, divorce, and drug use. Starting in the Mojave Desert and traveling north through California, Oregon, and Washington, the book brings to life the rugged beauty and loneliness of the trail. If you're thinking of tackling the trail yourself, read REI's helpful piece on how to budget for the trip. Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes Broadway Books $9.85 SHOP NOW Everyone has dreamed of quitting their jobs and moving to Italy, but Frances Mayes actually did it. In her beloved memoir, Under the Tuscan Sun , she writes about her move to Tuscany, where she buys and restores a villa, as well as the local characters she meets along the way. Her descriptions of the countryside and the cuisine will no doubt reignite those fleeing-to- Florence fantasies. The Motorcycle Diaries by Ernesto "Che" Guevara Ocean Press $11.55 SHOP NOW Before Marxist revolutionary Che Guevara hooked up with Fidel Castro to overthrow Cuba's government in 1959, he was a medical student from a well-to-do family in Argentina. When he was 23, he and a friend embarked on an 8-month motorcycle trip across South America, and many of the injustices he encountered on his travels informed his world view. The memoir, based on his travel diaries, was published in 1993. What I Was Doing While You Were Breeding by Kristin Newman Newman, Kristin $13.37 SHOP NOW Kristin Newman, who's written for That '70s Show and How I Met Your Mother , tells it like it is in her super funny and thought-provoking memoir. While many of her friends were getting married and having kids, she took off for a few weeks each year to see the world. Her far-flung adventures have taken her to places like Amsterdam , Paris , New Zealand, and Israel. Whether you're single or hitched, with kids or without, you'll enjoy this read. A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson Anchor $7.19 SHOP NOW Immerse yourself in nature by reading A Walk in the Woods , Bill Bryson's travelogue about his attempt to walk the 2,100-mile Appalachian Trail. The famous trail, stretching from Georgia to Maine, features glorious scenery, ranging from mountains and meadows, to forests and lakes. Read about his adventures on the trail and the hikers - and even a few bears - he encounters.


Police say five adults were hospitalized following a shooting that took place near the 900 block of Desoto Avenue in St. Paul. The shooting took place around 10:30 p.m., Friday night. One woman and three of the adult men were initially sent to Regions Hospital, all having suffered gunshot wounds. The one woman and two of the men are now in stable condition. The fourth man was in critical condition. A fifth man later showed up at St. John's Hospital with an apparent gunshot wound that was non-life-threatening. This is an ongoing investigation.


Video by GeoBeats WASHINGTON, June 28 (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives Ethics Committee said on Friday it will investigate Republican lawmaker Matt Gaetz after allegations he tried to threaten and influence the congressional testimony of President Donald Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen. Gaetz came under scrutiny earlier this year for a Twitter post that critics said was meant to intimidate Cohen the night before his public testimony on Capitol Hill. The tweet suggested that compromising information about Cohen's private life might soon be released. "Hey @MichaelCohen212 - Do your wife & father-in-law know about your girlfriends? Maybe tonight would be a good time for that chat," Gaetz tweeted on Feb. 26. "I wonder if she'll remain faithful when you're in prison. She's about to learn a lot." The Ethics Committee said it received a complaint in March from a member of Congress about Gaetz, a second-term Republican from Florida's Panhandle who is closely allied with Trump. An investigative subcommittee was established to review the allegations after Gaetz declined an interview request, the committee said in a statement Friday. "If members of Congress want to spend their time psychoanalyzing my tweets, it's certainly their prerogative. I won't be joining them in the endeavor," Gaetz said in an emailed statement. The Florida Bar said shortly after Gaetz's Twitter post that it had opened an investigation into the comments. That investigation is now before a grievance committee, spokeswoman Francine Walker said Friday. Cohen, the president's one-time "fixer" who turned against his former boss, began serving a three-year federal prison sentence in May after pleading guilty to tax evasion, bank fraud, lying to Congress and campaign finance violations. (Reporting by Doina Chiacu; Editing by Tom Brown)