WASHINGTON   The United States is weighing options to limit Russia and Cuba from meddling in Venezuela, perceived as a stumbling block in the pursuit of a solution to the political crisis in the country, a senior State Department official told the Miami Herald. "It's a main focus for the Department of State to get the Russians and the Cubans out of Venezuela," the official said on condition of anonymity to speak candidly about U.S. policy. Venezuela is facing a dramatic humanitarian crisis and a political standoff between leader Nicolas Maduro and Juan Guaido, the head of the opposition-led National Assembly who is now recognized by the United States and more than 50 countries as the legitimate interim president. Guaido's call for a military and popular uprising against Maduro failed on April 30, after high-ranking members of the government and the military, who were negotiating a transition government, abandoned the plan and backed Maduro. The European Union and the Lima Group   comprising Canada and 12 Latin American countries   are pushing hard for talks between the opposition and the Maduro government. Members of both sides are now in Norway to explore a dialogue, and Canada is trying to get Cuba at the table. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the United States was "working with the Cubans" to find a solution to the crisis. The United States is focused on exerting pressure on the island's government to reassess its support for Maduro, the official suggested. The State Department official said the administration will continue making the case to its allies of the need to put pressure on Cuba, which is believed to be providing security and counterintelligence support to Maduro. Cuba's economy heavily relies on subsidized Venezuelan oil, through an agreement struck by Fidel Castro and Hugo Chavez when they were leaders. "U.S. unilateral pressure will not be sufficient, but we are working very closely with our allies," the official said about Cuba. "We need to focus much more on Cuba's sponsorship of the Maduro regime," the official said. "We see Cuban military officers in Sebin (Venezuelan intelligence police), in the presidential guard, and we know they're having a direct role in the intimidation of the players that were directly involved in these conversations" leading to the failed uprising. "It's very challenging to decide to flip sides if you know you're under Cuban surveillance." The Trump administration has already imposed more sanctions on Cuba. It tightened restrictions on travel and remittances to slash financial resources going to the Cuban military, and imposed sanctions on companies and vessels involved in carrying Venezuelan oil to the island. In a historic policy reversal, the United States also allowed Title III of the Helms-Burton Act to go into effect. The controversial provision enables U.S. citizens to seek compensation in federal courts for properties confiscated by the Cuban government six decades ago, which could have a chilling effect on foreign investment in the country. When Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reached out on behalf of the Lima Group, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel made clear his government would support political talks only if Maduro was included. Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland traveled to Cuba on Thursday to follow up on the negotiations. "Canada, together with its partners in the Lima Group, hopes to find ways to work with Cuba to address the worsening political, economic and humanitarian crisis in Venezuela," Freeland said on Twitter. "Had a frank discussion about this with my colleague Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla in Havana today." The United States has other policy options that it hasn't used, including putting Cuba back in the list of countries that sponsor terrorism. Sanctions alone might not be enough incentive for the communist government to break its partnership with Maduro, especially since Guaido vowed to cut oil supplies. "This is where the Latin American countries come into play," the official added. "The Brazilians, the Colombians, if they start taking action against Cuba, they start insinuating their relationships with Cuba will deteriorate by their continued presence (in Venezuela) then I think that changes the calculus for Cuba." Changes in perceptions of Cuba's role and intentions in Venezuela have already been noticeable, and even countries with friendly relationships with Cuba, like Canada and some European countries, have already voiced criticisms of the Cuban government, the State Department official said. Russia's support of Maduro has also proved crucial in keeping him in power. During the failed uprising last month, Pompeo had said the Venezuelan leader was ready to leave on a plane to Havana but "the Russians indicated he should stay." Russia had signaled its strong support for Maduro's regime by sending 100 more personnel to Venezuela in March. And so far, the Russian government has not suggested a change in position. A meeting between Pompeo and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov this week showed the disagreements between the two governments again. "We want every country that's interfering in Venezuela to cease doing that," Pompeo said in a joint press conference. Lavrov replied with a jab of his own: "The threats that we hear against Maduro government, threats that come from the mouths of official representatives of the U.S. administration and from Mr. Guaido, who always mentions his right to invite military intervention from outside   this has nothing in common with democracy." "We are looking at additional pressure options there," the State Department official said, referring to sanctions on Russia. "It's something that is a major concern for us," the official said. "We designated the Venezuela defense sector. That means those groups that are associated with the Venezuelan military, whether they're Cuban, Venezuelan or Russian are now possible to be designated themselves, so we look at that as a potential avenue to implement more actions against the Russians." Recently, Pompeo also shared his concerns with the role of Russian companies in Venezuela, especially Rosfnet. Pompeo accused the Russian state oil company of violating recent U.S. sanctions on Venezuela. He said the company was still buying oil from Venezuelan PDVSA, a claim Rosfnet denied. The Russian company is a major partner of PDVSA, which stills owes Rosfnet more than $2 billion in loans.     ©2019 Miami Herald Visit Miami Herald at www.miamiherald.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.


Manchester United have confirmed that striker Marcus Rashford has signed a new four-year contract, keeping him at Old Trafford until the summer of 2023. The England international was one of United's standout performers following Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's arrival, but had been linked with a move to the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona after failing to agree on fresh terms. Manchester is my home. United is my team. Proud to have signed a new contract at the club ⚽📝 #MUFC pic.twitter.com/3Xr5OInDhl   Marcus Rashford (@MarcusRashford) July 1, 2019  However, those rumours will now be put to bed, as United confirmed the news of Rashford 's new contract on their official website . They revealed that Rashford has committed the next four years of his career to the Red Devils, whilst the club also have the option to extend that deal by a further year if they wish. On his new contract, Rashford said: "Manchester United has been everything in my life since I arrived here at the age of seven. This club has shaped me, both as a player and as a person, so it is such a privilege every time I get the opportunity to wear the shirt. "I want to thank Ole and his staff for everything they have done for me; they are the perfect group of coaches to learn from as I continue my development and look to push on to the next level . "I will be giving everything I have to help get this club back to where it belongs and deliver the success that our fans deserve." Solskjaer also added: "Marcus is one of the most talented English players of his generation. He is an outstanding player; blessed with natural pace and energy. "Marcus is a shining example of the talent that our Academy produces and his upbringing means that he truly understands what it means to play for Manchester United. "Despite being only 21 years old, Marcus already has great experience. He has a fantastic future ahead of him with the club and I am delighted that he has signed a new contract."


JERUSALEM   Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis plans to hold what state officials are describing as a ceremonial Cabinet meeting at the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem Wednesday morning despite a legal challenge from a First Amendment group and several news organizations Opponents argue that the meeting violates Florida's Sunshine Law, which requires state Cabinet meetings to be open to the public. The 8:30 a.m. (Eastern) meeting will be televised on The Florida Channel. "Holding a meeting of the Florida Cabinet in the embassy in Jerusalem, that is going to be a real neat thing," DeSantis said at a networking event in Israel. The governor and the independently elected Cabinet jointly oversee several state agencies. The meeting was organized as part of a trade mission DeSantis is leading with a delegation of nearly 100 business leaders, lawmakers, state university officials and others. The fact that the meeting is considered "ceremonial" doesn't matter, according to First Amendment Foundation President Barbara Petersen. "The fact that they're even saying, 'Oh, it's only ceremonial, therefore we don't have to open it to the public' shows to me a basic misunderstanding of the Sunshine Law," Petersen said. "This has nothing to do with the trade mission. This has everything to do with our Cabinet holding a meeting in a foreign county. And I don't care if they were holding the meeting in Montana, I'd have the same concern." The court challenge seeks an order to stop the meeting. If a judge doesn't act on time, then it seeks to have the meeting declared a violation of state law and to void any actions taken during the gathering. The members of the Florida Cabinet are Attorney General Ashley Moody, Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis and Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried. The meeting agenda lists the following items: Invocation Pledge of Allegiance Resolution: Israeli-Florida relationship, Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida cabinet Presentation: Victims of terror Presentation: Water quality Presentation: Emergency management Closing: Gov. Ron DeSantis In Tallahassee, Floridians can listen to the meeting live on the lower level of the capitol complex. The Associated Press contributed to this report.


When you hear the words "glamorous" or "state of the art," Chicago's Midway Airport doesn't exactly come to mind. In fact, it ranked dead last on our 2019 report of the Best and Worst Airports in the US   yes, even worse than LaGuardia. Often overshadowed by its much larger and better-known cousin, Chicago O'Hare (ORD), Midway (MDW) has a reputation for being no-frills, cheap and basically the bus depot of American airports. But is the actual airport experience really that terrible? We needed to find out for ourselves, so I bought a flight to Chicago … just to hang out at Midway. I arrived on a Southwest flight from LGA around 11:30am on a Tuesday. Midway is a focus airport for Southwest, meaning that it's not exactly a hub for the airline but a very important one in terms of operations. In fact, Southwest is pretty much the only airline that flies into and out of Midway, with the exception of a handful of Delta flights, a Porter flight, an Ultimate Air Shuttle and Volaris. In other words, United and American Airlines loyalists are going to have to look elsewhere. As soon as I walked off the jet bridge, I was greeted by a gate full of passengers waiting to board their own flight. I immediately went to buy a bottle of water at the closest "restaurant" I could find, but after waiting for a few minutes, went to the one next door. A common theme of my "stay" at Midway was excruciatingly slow service. One $4 water later, and I was on my way. Since it was too early to grab lunch, I decided to walk around the terminal for a bit. There's only one terminal at Midway, and there are three different concourses: A, B and C. You can walk through the entire airport in about 15 minutes. I was already in Concourse B, so I decided to explore that out first. There aren't any lounges here except for a USO lounge, for members of the military and their families only, and the restaurants   including a Pork Chop BBQ, Gold Coast Dogs, Woodgrain Pizza and food court   were bland and boring. You can just imagine how packed the gates were. The entire airport felt something like a Southwest fan convention. As I was walking through, I could hear several gate agents announce delays. I spoke with Kylie Click, a passenger on a Southwest flight from Midway to Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT). Her flight had been delayed 45 minutes, but she said she still preferred flying out of Midway because, in her words, "O'Hare is crazy." The bathrooms were relatively clean but were in definite need of renovation. When I went to dry my hands under the machine, it sounded like someone was screaming. I started making my way toward the food court, which connected all the concourses. There was a relatively normal-looking restaurant decorated with Van Gogh and other modern-art prints. Interesting design choice. The food court was right past security, and I won't lie to you: It was dreary. Options included Mexican food, pizza, Greek, sushi and a Chicago hot dog joint. I'm not really into hot dogs, but when in Rome (er, Chicago), right? Plus, this place had the longest line, so I figured they were doing something at least somewhat right. I waited in line for about 15 minutes at Gold Coast Dogs and ordered the Char Dog Combo   a Chicago-style hot dog with fries and a fountain drink   for $9.99. The person in front of me ordered chicken tenders, and they said it was going to be another 10-minute wait. This is by far not my typical meal of choice, but now I get to say I ate an airport hot dog and lived to tell the tale. It was edible, but I only had a few bites since I was saving my appetite for, you know … real Chicago food. If you were looking for something lighter, there was your typical airport convenience store right across from the food court. After my culinary journey, if you can call it that, I went to check out Concourse A. I passed some promotional banners talking about the airport's future renovation project , which will include a concessions redevelopment program, and both a security checkpoint and garage expansion. Toni Gibson, an employee at one of the airport's Sweet Indulgences locations, said she was optimistic about the renovation. She told me that she'd been working at Midway for more than two years and that the "renovation will really help" improve how passengers perceive the airport. Concourse A, in my experience, was the nicest part of the airport. It was noticeably cleaner and more modern-looking than what I'd seen so far. Still, there was little in the way of public seating. But they even had an … FAO Schwarz toy store? That's not something you see in an airport every day. No self-respecting New Yorker would ever eat at an Einstein Bros. Bagels, but they had one, if you were so inclined. There was even some overlap with restaurants in the main food court, including a sushi place. The overall vibe at the mini food court felt a lot more like a lounge than any other area in the terminal. The food choices were marginally better here. They also had a Neapolitan pizza place, although it would probably haven't looked right to anyone actually from Naples. But after touring this concourse, I can confidently say that every traveler should hang out in this section of the airport, no matter what gate you're flying out of. It's not great, but it's the best you're going to get. Concourse C was far and away the most depressing part of the airport I saw   if not the most depressing part of any airport I've ever seen. Imagine having a long delay, and this   a dark, gray, diversion-less seating area   is where you have to wait. Just imagine . The one saving grace of this concourse was the yoga room, but more on that later. Leaving the airport to head into the city was another fun adventure. There was ongoing construction, but despute that mitigating factor, the place was still grim. Toto, we're not in Changi anymore. As to be expected, pickup was a mess. There were plenty of signs for Lyft but none for Uber, so I wasn't sure if I were even in the right place. My driver later informed me that Uber has been falling behind at Midway and not listening to drivers' suggestions on how to improve the customer experience   so if you're traveling catching a ride here, Lyft is the way to go . When my Uber did arrive, I got in the car, and an airport employee began very rudely yelling at the driver. There were no signs that said pull up to the front, so she pulled over where she saw me. The staffer told her, though, that if she did that again, she would give her a fine. It was a really uncomfortable situation but could have been avoided if they just had signs that told the drivers where to go. When I arrived the next day for my flight back to LaGuardia, my boarding pass was missing my TSA PreCheck number. We were really just getting off to a great start here. I waited in line at the check-in counter for an agent to add it. Another thing I discovered was that Midway doesn't have CLEAR , which is a huge con   especially if you're a frequent flyer. True to form, my flight was delayed over two hours, even though the weather in both Chicago and New York seemed great. Midway is notorious for delays. Once I was past security, I decided to kill time in the aforementioned yoga room. It's a small little room that anyone could access. They even played calming music, and it was great for getting in a good stretch in before a flight. Or, if you're me, it was a great place to lie down for an hour because you're tired and your flight home was delayed for two hours and there was nowhere else to go. Desperate times, people. (Photo by Samantha Rosen/The Points Guy)The yoga room was quiet and never had more than three people in it. My guess is that people don't really know about it or are intimidated by the fact that it's for "yoga." Don't worry, you can do shavasana like I did and call it a day. Waiting at the gate was a nightmare, and virtually every seat was taken. You might think, after all this, that passenger sentiment toward Midway is pretty bleak. In fact, the opposite seemed true. I spoke with a Allison Grubbs, a passenger also on her way to LaGuardia, who said Midway was her preferred airport. Jamie Ovist, another passenger waiting for his flight, said he "would rather fly here than O'Hare or Milwaukee." Virtually everyone I spoke with here felt the same: It's a lot less hectic than other airports in the area. Truth be told, I had the same impression. There's no prevailing sense of urgency or maze after maze of terminals. Midway is more like an old, rundown strip mall than an airport. Overall Impression Southwest is beloved by frequent and not-so-frequent flyers for its low costs, friendly service and lack of confusing policies. Midway was something of an extension of the Southwest ethos: It's bare-bones and nothing fancy. You won't find any lounges or sense of classism that plagues so much of air travel. What you will find, though, is a small, relatively calm airport that you are going to pray you don't get stuck in because of a delay. Oh, and terrible food options   you'll definitely want to bring your own food here. And whatever you do, beware of the hand dryers. All photos by the author. Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. RELATED VIDEO: The best and worst US airports (Provided by: Buzz60


Editor's note: The opinions in this article are the author's, as published by our content partner, and do not necessarily represent the views of MSN or Microsoft. Were they anything other than agenda-driven egotists, one might feel sorry for John Bolton and Stephen Miller. After years of looking into the corridors of power at the White House from the outside, they hitched their stars to an unlikely candidate, who would defy conventional wisdom to win the presidency and welcome them into the West Wing and the rarified air of the Oval Office. And a few days ago, both came agonizingly close to having that president implement their warped agendas, only to be thwarted by that president himself! One can only imagine what Bolton's and Miller's conversation was like at the bar in the Trump International Hotel in Washington after their boss, after having seemingly given the green light to what they had sought for years, changed his mind at the last minute. To his credit, President Trump, despite incessant urging and pressure   someone would say egging on   decided not to use the awesome force of the United States Government against an avowed and potentially dangerous foe, nor against people living here illegally. At least for now. The president's reasoning for both 11th hour reversals was sound: bombing Iran, and potentially killing more than 100 Iranians to retaliate for what have might be an accidental downing of an unarmed drone, was disproportionate. And rounding up and deporting families before giving a Congress an opportunity to find a more humane solution, was not fair, especially to the children whose lives would be turned upside down. What Trump seemed to rely on in these cases was instinct. It may be his most potent political weapon. It was grossly underestimated in 2016, and will be an important factor in 2020. Even after hearing all the high falutin and potentially base-pleasing arguments in favor of bombing Iran and rounding up illegal immigrants, something told him to hold off. He just seemed to sense that it was not what he should do right now. Trump had the wisdom and courage to step back from the brink of irresponsibility to give things a little more time. Down the road, of course, actions may need to be taken. But by pushing the "pause" button on what could have been disastrous for our country and the world, the president impressively listened to his "better angels" and showed himself to be a leader not easily taken down a primrose path by men who have spent their careers advocating for dramatic things. Some have questioned the decision-making process which brought the president close to taking actions he ultimately decided against. Does that really matter? At the end of the day, the president made the right decisions. How he got there is a footnote. Putting our troops in harm's way should always be an agonizing decision for a president, as should uprooting families who have lived here for many years. He deserves praise, not criticism, for his reluctance. There are pretty straightforward explanations for both cases. Detractors have bemoaned that he inquired about potential casualties in Iran only at the last second. How do they know that? It's perfectly possible that the president knew of potential casualties from the beginning and was increasingly bothered by it. He could have sought confirmation shortly before the mission was to begin, and decided against going forward because he just did not think it was right. What's wrong with that? And how can anyone fault him for delaying action against illegal immigrants in response to appeals from Congressional Democrats? Isn't working with Democrats what he is supposed to do? Imagine the outcry if he had ignored their requests to find a compromise. For now, thankfully, the president has spared us the divisive and dangerous implementation of the goals of two of his most senior aides. Therein lies what may be the most worrisome aspect of all of this. Bolton is well known for advocating military action against Iran, and Miller is equally well known for being anti-immigrant. They are entitled to their views, of course, but they have sworn an oath to the Constitution and thereby to the American people, and need to think about what is best for the country. They did not serve the president or nation well by bringing him and us so close to the dual trauma of costly and controversial international and domestic battles. Mark Weinberg is a communications consultant, speechwriter and the author of " Movie Nights with the Reagans " (Simon & Schuster). He served as special assistant to the president and assistant press secretary, and later as director of public affairs, in Ronald Reagan's White House . The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not reflect the official position of The Daily Caller.


Admit it: Your motivation skyrockets whenever you're challenged. Throwback to that time your roommate dared you to eat an entire pint of ice cream in one sitting-and you crushed it. (No? Just me?) Well, get ready for a challenge that will make you feel a hell of a lot better afterward. Women's Health teamed up with NASM-certified fitness trainer Bree Branker to create the Women's Health Summer Workout Challenge , a 4-week plan designed to get you some serious results. You'll build muscle, sweat buckets, and work your way to a stronger body. Don't stress if you've never even picked up a dumbbell. "The moves are quite foundational, so this is great for all levels," says Branker. "To make it more advanced, simply add heavier weight and complete extra reps! Join our Facebook group for daily motivation, progress checks, and more! Every week of the challenge, you'll do four workouts: Lower-Body, Upper-Body, Full-Body, and Abs. You also have the option to do a cross-training workout one day, and take two rest days. As you go through the challenge, reference this calendar to keep track of which workouts to tackle day-to-day: You can find links to each workout routine below: Monday : Upper-Body Workout Tuesday: Lower-Body Workout Wednesday: Rest Thursday: Abs Workout Friday: Full-Body Workout Saturday: Cross-Training Sunday: Rest Bree's Tip: Yoga and Pilates are great for cross-training days. The bodyweight moves help you get even stronger, and all that stretching will help you perform better during other workouts. Each week, you'll focus on a new mini-goal. Week one , master your form. "These moves work wonders for lean, toned muscle mass if they're done properly," says Branker. Not to mention, proper form means optimal results and less risk of injury. During week two , try increasing the number of reps you crank out per set. So if you did 10 reps in 40 seconds the first go-round, aim for 15, and so on. For week three , Branker suggests upping your weights, especially if you're working on building more muscle mass-just make sure your form is solid before doing so. "If you're compensating to keep the weight, drop it," she says. "It's all about dialing in and listening to your body." Then, in week four , challenge yourself to do another round (or two) of the circuit. How do you know it's time to level-up? "Take note of how long you feel breathless after a workout," says Branker. "If your heart rate returns to normal so quickly that you've clearly got more in the tank, use it!" As far as motivation goes, Branker suggests rewarding yourself for reaching each milestone in your fitness goals (think: completing one week of the challenge; squeezing in an extra round during abs day). "It can be reservations at your favorite restaurant, that new pair of shoes you've been eyeing, whatever! But I love treating myself!" Speaking of treating yourself…be sure to actually take advantage of those rest days. "Make plans to chill," says Branker. "Maybe it's a movie, a dinner, or show. Deliberately put yourself in a situation where you aren't active." And, most importantly, "Have fun! If it's not fun, you won't want to do it," says Bree. "Find a workout buddy , a great playlist, a cute fitness outfit -and make the time you spend on this challenge time you look forward to." Video: Is crawling the new fitness craze? (The Doctors)


Editor's note: The opinions in this article are the author's, as published by our content partner, and do not necessarily represent the views of MSN or Microsoft. Many are angry and wondering why government officials have been unable to solve the homelessness crisis in Los Angeles. LA spent nearly $620 million in tax dollars last year to address the issue, and yet the number of homeless people increased by 16%, reaching nearly 60,000 people. As a Los Angeles resident, I am among those who wonder what the mayor's office is doing. When I lived downtown it was virtually impossible to walk a full block in any direction without seeing a homeless person. In Silver Lake where I live now, there are tent cities. On my drive to work I see people living underneath the highway overpasses. It's no longer Skid Row here. The skid is everywhere. But you know what else is everywhere? Churches   and therein lies the rub. Earlier this spring, results from the 2018 General Social Survey revealed something that many found rather shocking. For the first time in the survey's nearly 50-year history, the No. 1 religion Americans identified as being was none, edging Catholic and Evangelical. Now, I'm sure some religious conservatives would read this and ask, "well, who did the survey?" The answer is Ryan Burge, a political scientist at Eastern Illinois University and a Baptist pastor. Next would likely be the finger pointing as to why Americans are losing religion   the rise of secularism, acceptance of abortion, the gays, and so on. To that I would simply point my finger at the other national story that has unfolded within the week. It was about an interview conducted by journalist Lisa Guerrero with famed Christian televangelist : and prosperity gospel adherent   Kenneth Copeland. When asked about what he paid for his private plane, Copeland replied "that's none of your business." He also said the private plane he purchased from producer Tyler Perry was "so cheap for me I couldn't help but buy it." I'm not against buying the finer things in life, but I'm uncomfortable with Copeland positioning himself as some sort of helpless victim as he acquires those things. Especially since we all know he's doing it tax free. There's not a city I've lived in that didn't have people you learn to unsee. Sometimes I give directly to someone who asks. Sometimes I buy a meal. But most times I force myself not to care enough to stop because to stop is to admit there's something I can do. Instead, I ask myself, "where are my tax dollars going and what are our politicians doing with it?" I pay taxes so that the people I voted for can handle it. Then I'm reminded that homelessness, like most socioeconomic issues, is complicated. There isn't a single answer because there isn't a single reason why someone is living on the streets. They're not all drug addicts. They're not all lazy. They all didn't choose to be without a home. Brokenness comes in many forms   like mental illness, a disenfranchised veteran, a transgender woman fleeing a violent environment. These are not random hypotheses, these are the stories I have been told when I do stop and ask them about themselves in an effort to try to help. For example, in Chicago, there was a homeless man I would occasionally buy food for because medical bills forced him out of his home. And yeah, some are drug addicts... but that doesn't mean they are not worthy of compassion. Worthy of being treated like a human being. All of which brings me back to the decline of religious identity. While it is fair to wonder what our elected officials are doing with our tax dollars to solve the issue, I do wonder what our religious figures are doing with their tax-exempt status regarding the issue. There are several mega churches within Los Angeles County alone with weekly attendance well over 5,000, which begs the question: How is it possible that 60,000 are living in the streets, while so many self-identified Christian Evangelicals are worshipping in buildings large enough to house that many parishioners? When you watch the video of a man like Copeland justifying his lavish lifestyle juxtaposed against the story of rampant homelessness, it becomes a bit easier to understand why so many Americans have decided not to be a part of organized religion. Perhaps instead of looking outward for reasons why people's hearts have moved away from the church, maybe the church should spend time looking inward. This week, the issue of homelessness is about what's going on in Los Angeles, but isn't it a problem all around the country? There also isn't a major urban hub without a church resting on prime real estate, collecting thousands in non-taxed donations and tithes each week. The government needs to be a better steward of our taxes. I can stop to help more as well. But I would argue that the self-proclaimed body of Christ has leaders who could use a serious tune-up as well.


The New England Patriots signed receiver Julian Edelman to a two-year contract extension worth up to $18 million with $12 million guaranteed. Edelman, 33, was on the final year of a two-year, $11 million contract extension from 2017. WR Julian Edelman has signed a two-year extension with the Patriots (through 2021), as first reported by @MikeGarafolo . The extension includes an $8 million signing bonus and $12 million guaranteed, per a source. - Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) May 21, 2019 Some details on Julian Edelman's extension which now has him locked up through 2021. It's a two-year, $18M extension with $12M guaranteed. Base salary will now be $1M this year, Added years will be $3,3M in 20 and $2,8M in 21. pic.twitter.com/IqI4q0eKnO - Tom E. Curran (@tomecurran) May 21, 2019 What it means for Edelman His career earnings may still pale in comparison to someone who has been as consistently productive as Edelman has been during his career. Admittedly, he's missed a lot of games with injuries and, in 2018, a suspension. But in 10 seasons, he will have made just $26.5 million, which is what some receivers, like Allen Robinson, T.Y. Hilton and Alshon Jeffery, will make in two seasons. That's, in part, because Edelman entered the NFL as a developmental prospect, who was converting from quarterback to receiver. But since then, he's helped the Patriots win three Super Bowls, including Super Bowl LIII when he was the game's MVP. Edelman absolutely deserved this new deal, and probably deserved something even larger, considering his past successes with four seasons of 800 yards or more and a handful of postseason receiving records. He's the type of player that Bill Belichick likes to build his team around: clutch, unselfish, hard-working and a relentless competitor. But because of all that, Edelman has also likely settled for discounts to stay with New England and win championships with Tom Brady. The Patriots are surely hoping they can get Edelman playing through 2021, when he'll be 35 years old. MORE: This photo of the other contestants in James Holzhauer's latest 'Jeopardy' win sums up his run Roundup: Stranger Things Returning July 4th; Blues Make Stanley Cup Final; U.S. Intercepts Russian Bombers Off Coast of Alaska Aaron Rodgers excited about new Packers RG Billy Turner Stephen Carlson: What the Browns are getting in their new WR VIDEO: Louisiana coach goes viral with 'Daddy Ball' speech on toughness


The Cowboys want to sign receiver Amari Cooper to a long-term deal, but the negotiations apparently are going nowhere. That's possibly because Cooper is curious about where another receiver's effort to get a long-term deal ends up. Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram contends that the Cowboys believe Cooper is waiting to see what Julio Jones gets from the Falcons before finalizing a deal in Dallas. And that makes plenty of sense. Jones could become the highest-paid receiver in the league, and that would definitely impact the Cooper negotiations. Indeed, the Cowboys may be trying to base Cooper's deal on the $13.924 million that he's due to make this year and the franchise tag (at least $17 million) in 2020, which works out to $31 million or so over the all-important first two years, an average of $15.5 million annually. If Jones gets more than $18 million per year in new money on his extension in Atlanta, Cooper may aim higher than the formula generated by his first-round option year and the franchise tag. Cooper also has other leverage when it comes to maximizing his compensation. The Cowboys traded a first-round pick to get him, and they publicly (and repeatedly) have declared that he's their 2019 first-round pick. Even if those comments came with tongue partially planted in cheek, the Cowboys surely didn't surrender a first-round selection for roughly 1.5 seasons with Cooper. Then there's the fact that Cooper performed very well during his time with the Cowboys, energizing the passing game and actually making the first-round pick they gave up to get him seem to be too light. From Cooper's perspective, what's the rush? He has a fully-guaranteed salary of $13.924 million in 2019, and at a minimum he'll either become a free agent or receive the franchise tag in 2020. As long as he's willing to carry the risk of injury and/or ineffectiveness for one more season, Cooper holds most of the cards.


Chicago will see a return of last week's light rainfall this coming week, according to drone-powered weather forecasting service Saildrone . Sunday should see the most rain, with a forecast accumulation of 0.60 inches. Also look for winds today and tomorrow. Winds are expected to rise as high as 21 mph today, but will get calmer beginning on Thursday. Temperatures will be cool today, then turn to warmer weather from Wednesday to Saturday, with a high of 81 degrees on Friday. Skies will be cloudy on Thursday. This story was created automatically using Saildrone's local weather forecast data, then reviewed by an editor. We also incorporate historic weather data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


A rare underwater video shows a crab enjoying a "fish egg buffet."


In a move that mirrors soon-to-be Boston Celtics point guard Kemba Walker's first order of business when free agency begins on June 30 , star point guard Kyrie Irving will meet with the Brooklyn Nets in New York - where he appears to have spent the bulk of his offseason - on Sunday. Per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, both sides are motivated to move quickly toward reaching a four-year, $141 million contract that will have Irving play out the remainder of his prime on Wednesday. Free agent Kyrie Irving is meeting with the Brooklyn Nets in New York on Sunday and both sides are motivated to move quickly toward reaching a 4-year, $141M deal, league sources tell ESPN. - Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 29, 2019 Irving's decision to join Nets has been long in the making but it was also, to extent, forced upon him with the Celtics putting their focus on Walker. Brooklyn, for as much as they dream to to pair Irving and Kevin Durant, may also be having their hand forced with guard D'Angelo Russell prepared to leave the Nets - and targeting specific teams- if Irving comes aboard. Still, Irving does provide Brooklyn with a talent upgrade from the streaky DLo and the Nets - his hometown team - have long been reported as the favorites to sign Irving. MORE: How to Watch AEW Fyter Fest NBA free agency roundup: The latest updates around the league Report: Los Angeles Lakers emerge as 'frontrunners' for Kawhi NBA Free Agency 2019: The top players Aaron Rodgers, Brett Favre golf together at Baha Mar Showdown


The Bills have re-hired Brian Gaine as a Senior Personnel Advisor, who formerly worked in the team's front office in 2017. ESPN's Field Yates reported the Bills' decision to bring Gaine back into the fold. Gaine previously left Buffalo to become the Houston Texans general manager but was fired in a surprise move this offseason. The Bills are hiring former Texans GM Brian Gaine as a Senior Personnel Advisor, where he'll assist on both pro and college scouting. Gaine previously worked for the Bills during the 2017 season. Another quality move for Buffalo this offseason. - Field Yates (@FieldYates) July 23, 2019 Following his firing from the Texans, a complaint surrounding Gaine surfaced which stated he "targeted" African American employees in a series of firings during his time in Houston. The Houston Chronicle later interviewed Texans staffers who defended Gaine against the allegations. Yates' report also indicates that Gaine, who was fired after only 18 months on the job, will work "based in Houston," and not in Buffalo. During his first tenure with the Bills, Gaine held the title of Vice President of Player Personnel. After Gaine left in 2018, the Bills hired Dan Morgan to replace Gaine in their player personnel department. MORE: The 21 dumbest ideas in NFL history The Twins pulled off a beautiful triple play against the Yankees and fans loved it Stephen A. Smith Is Hearing a Potential Uncle Dennis-Kawhi Leonard Bombshell Could Drop NBA trade rumor rankings: What's up with CP3? Tim Duncan is returning to the NBA, Warriors coach Steve Kerr is here for the jokes


Craving burgers? Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top burger spots in Boston, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of the best spots to meet your needs. 1. Drink South Boston's Drink , located at 348 Congress St., is a top choice, with Yelpers giving the lounge and New American spot, which offers burgers and more, four stars out of 1,517 reviews. Drink serves burgers, cocktails and more in an upscale, speakeasy-style setting. 2. Tasty Burger Tasty Burger , a spot to score burgers, hot dogs and fast food in Kenmore, is another high-traffic go-to, with four stars out of 1,081 Yelp reviews. Head over to 1301 Boylston St. (between Yawkey Way and Ipswich Street) to see for yourself. Neighboring Fenway Park, Tasty Burger became known for serving the official burger of the Boston Red Sox in 2014, according to the business' website . Try the Rise 'N Shine Burger with fried egg, bacon, cheese and ketchup. 3. Boston Burger - Boston Over in Fenway, check out Boston Burger - Boston , which has earned four stars out of 907 reviews on Yelp. You can find the New American spot, which offers burgers and more, at 1100 Boylston St. (between Hemenway Street and Massachusetts Avenue). Choose between a variety of burgers including The Big Papi Burger with smoked bacon, griddled hot dog, fried egg, guacamole, pickled red onions, lettuce, tomato and Papi sauce. This story was created automatically using local business data, then reviewed and augmented by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


A regular Saturday morning outing with friends got a lot more interesting this weekend for a Woodberry man -- it ended with an eight-foot snake being wrapped around the shoulders of a friend.


Throughout history, many inventions have captured the attention of the world. The Science Museum of Minnesota will be highlighting some of these featuring the works of Leonardo Da Vinci and other famous inventors at their new summer exhibit. But, not all inventors come from far off places. The Minnovation showcase will open along with the exhibit, featuring 26 inventions that happened right here in Minnesota. According to Science Museum director of strategic partnerships Jon Severson, Minnesota has been a longtime leader in technical research and development, which he hopes will continue in the future. "The workforce in Minnesota has a need for more STEM-based employees," Severson said. "We hope to inspire the next generation of workers." The Minnovation showcase is located directly outside the main exhibit and will continue to be updated in the future. Here are 10 of the successful innovations featured in the exhibit: POST-IT NOTES First conceived in 1974, the Post-it note was invented by Art Fry, a scientist for the Maplewood-based manufacturing company 3M. While participating in his church choir, Fry came up with the idea of sticky and removable paper as a bookmark. In 1968, fellow 3M employee Spencer Silver had developed such an adhesive by accident. With both ideas, sticky notes were created, leading to a new way to communicate. AUTOMATIC THERMOSTAT Albert Butz developed an automatic damper flapper that controlled the temperature given off by coal furnaces. His company, now Honeywell International, continued to improve on his design, creating the first round thermostat in the 1960s. Today's "smart thermostat" derived from Butz's invention. NERF BALL St. Paul native Reyn Guyer, the inventor of Twister, came out with the NERF ball in 1969. During testing of an interactive board game, Guyer and his team ended up throwing around polyurethane foam, a material they used to make the world's first indoor ball. SPAM SPAM was invented by Hormel Food Corp., an Austin, Minn. company. First coined during the Great Depression, SPAM was created as a way to use wasted parts of the pig and provide an inexpensive meal option. SPAM took over during World War II as a cost-efficient and practical source of food for soldiers. MECHANICAL TRUCK REFRIGERATION Frederick Jones patented over 60 inventions, but he is best known for the truck refrigeration device he invented in 1935. This device revolutionized the transportation industry, allowing for perishable foods to be carried farther distances. The invention led to the start-up of Thermo King, a Minnesota manufacturing company for transport temperature control systems. CORTISONE Mayo Clinic staff members Edward Kendall, a biochemist, and Philip Hench, a rheumatologist, developed Cortisone, a drug that lowers inflammation and aids in pain relief. It provided an effective treatment for rheumatoid arthritis, a crippling disease that previously had no form of relief. The two scientists received the 1950 Nobel Prize for Medicine for their contribution. ENHANCED SPECULAR REFLECTOR 3M came out with a non-metallic mirror film used in everything from tablets to televisions. The innovative film reflects 98 percent of background light, creating a brighter, crisper image. A team of scientists collaborated to create the Enhanced Specular Reflector. LIGHT CURING DENTAL ADHESIVES AND RESTORATIVES 3M also developed new tooth-colored fillings, an innovation that rocked the dental world. Along with getting rid of the tinsel-teeth effect of metal fillings, the new fillings are quicker to cure while still showing up in dental X-Rays. SHORT-SEASON SEEDS Early Bear Island, Ojibwe, and Dakota peoples innovated the growth of short-season crops in the harsh climate of Minnesota. They were able to grow soybeans and corn, only a few examples of plants that thrived in the cold climate. COLOGUARD Mayo Clinic's Dr. David Ahlquist and Wisconsin-based Exact Sciences came up with "Cologuard," a test that uses DNA technology to detect for colorectal cancer. This less invasive test can be done at home and has proved to be as effective as a traditional colonoscopy. IF YOU GO WHAT: An exhibit of inventions, featuring Da Vinci, the best inventors of humankind, and those in Minnesota opens Saturday, June 8. WHERE: Science Museum of Minnesota, 120 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul COST: Admission included in exhibit gallery admission ($19.95 for adults, $14.95 for kids 4-12 and seniors.) WEBSITE: smm.org/inventing-genius Related Articles Review: Let the SPCO send you into summer with memorable Mozart Netflix billboards celebrate Pride, miniseries by featuring members of Twin Cities' LGBTQ community The art of community: Melvin and Rose Smith celebrate Rondo in Weisman exhibit Off-stage drama: Volunteer mutiny sparks new Woodbury theater group Grand Old Day goes on anyway


Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, opening May 31 in Disneyland and August 29 in Walt Disney World, is Disney's most ambitious project ever. A Disney Imagineer Gave Us a Sneak Peek of What to Expect at Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, opening May 31 in Disneyland and August 29 in Walt Disney World , is Disney's most ambitious project ever. The new 14-acre land is set in Black Spire Outpost, a trading post on Batuu, a new planet in the Star Wars universe. POPSUGAR got to peek behind the construction walls at Disney's Hollywood Studios in Orlando to get an exclusive look at Galaxy's Edge - with a Walt Disney Imagineer. The first thing we noticed: to say the land is immersive is an understatement. The entire space feels like it's been lifted out of a Star Wars film and placed right in the middle of Orlando. The Force is definitely strong with Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge . Click through to see what else we learned on our tour with Walt Disney Imagineering! What You Need to Know About Batuu When guests step into Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge they'll be fully immersed in their own Star Wars story. Scott Mallwitz, executive creative director for Walt Disney Imagineering explained that Batuu is meant to be a "place of discovery, and a living planet of traders, smugglers, and adventurers." So from dining to attractions, every detail of Galaxy's Edge is meant to be as authentic as possible to the Star Wars world you see on screen. The Differences Between Walt Disney World and Disneyland While the offerings of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge are exactly the same at Walt Disney World and Disneyland, there is one huge difference. At Walt Disney World, there are only two entry points to Galaxy's Edge, one from Toy Story Land and one from Grand Avenue. At Disneyland, families can enter from three entry points: one in Fantasyland, one in Frontierland, and one in Critter Country. Depending on what you want to do can help determine which entrance you and your family should us - especially if little legs are tired. For example, at Walt Disney World where we did our tour, the Toy Story Land entrance is closet to the marketplace and Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run than the Grand Avenue entrance. Making a Lightsaber at Savi's Workshop One of the highlights for families is going to be at Savi's Workshop, where guests can create a custom lightsaber. Savi's Workshop is located in the marketplace, which Mallwitz warns will be a hustling and bustling space. Our suggestion: If this is something your family is interested in, make Savi's Workshop your first stop inside Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. The space is small and the experience only allows for 14 guests at a time. Where to Find Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance When you enter Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge from Grand Avenue at Walt Disney World you'll be transported to an ancient forest where Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is located. Even though the attraction isn't opening until later this year, Mallwitz told us that it's the most technically advanced attraction Walt Disney Imagineering has ever created. More to Know About Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run Even though we couldn't see Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run on our brief tour of Batuu, we did learn more about it! Mallwitz said, "The attraction is fully interactive and the choices you make will have direct consequences." This makes us even more excited to fly the Millennium Falcon with our family and friends. What to Know About the Interactive Droids One of the more interesting parts of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge is the Droid Depot, were guests can create and buy their own customized droid . These droids will have the capability of fully interacting with the land as well as other droids in the land. Kids too tapped out to make their own? There will be pre-made droids for sale as well. Download the Play Disney Parks App for More Before entering Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge at Walt Disney World or Disneyland , you're going to want to download the Play Disney Parks App. Mallwitz revealed that the app will be a way for guests to go even deeper into the stories of Batuu. Use Mobile Order to Get Your Food When it's time to eat families are going to want to head to Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo fuel up before continuing to explore Black Spire Outpost. All of the food served is meant to look like it came from the Star Wars universe ! One of the best parts about Galaxy's Edge is that three of the restaurants will utilize Disney's mobile order service. The restaurants included for mobile order are Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo, Ronto Roasters, and the Milk Stand. Check Out Holocrons for More of the Star Wars Story At Walt Disney World, holocrons (ancient repositories of wisdom that Jedi and Sith used to record their teachings) are going to tell more of the Star Wars story. Guests who attended Star Wars Celebration were able to record themselves sharing what Star Wars meant to them. These recordings will be available through the holocrons. How to Plan Your Galaxy's Edge Tour When guests enter Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge they are sure to be overwhelmed with the sheer size and beauty of the land. POPSUGAR asked Mallwitz how a family visiting for the first time should tour Galaxy's Edge. He said: "The thing to do is just to be present because the land itself really acts as an attraction. There's so many ways to engage and interact with the land itself. It's less about rushing to an attraction as it is just being part of the Star Wars galaxy and living your own Star Wars adventure."


USC's streak of never playing a team from outside of college football's top level will end during the 2021 season. The Trojans announced a few future non-conference games on Friday and the announcement included a game against FCS opponent UC Davis on Sept. 4 of that season. Per a school release, USC said it was because it couldn't find an FBS opponent to come to Los Angeles and play that weekend. The addition of UC Davis fills out USC's schedule for that season. In addition to nine Pac-12 games the Trojans already had a game against BYU and the annual rivalry game against Notre Dame on the docket. [Join or create a 2019 Yahoo College Fantasy Football league for free today] While not scheduling an FCS opponent can certainly be seen as a noble endeavor, USC shouldn't get much, if any, scorn for the decision to schedule UC Davis. SEC teams schedule FCS opponents on a regular basis   every team in the conference has a game against an FCS opponent in 2019   and the Big Ten even recently relaxed its rules against FCS games. After outright banning member schools from scheduling FCS teams, the conference allows schools to schedule an FCS opponent in years that four of the school's nine conference games are at home. And besides, FCS teams need revenue too. While games between Power Five schools and FCS opponents are typically blowouts   with a few exceptions, of course   they provide an important source of revenue for the lower-tier schools in the form of the guaranteed payout for playing the game. USC's game against UC Davis also leaves just two FBS teams that haven't played an FCS opponent. And they're both rivals of the Trojans, as Notre Dame's sports information director points out. List of FBS schools to never play an FCS school is down to two... @NDFootball UCLA https://t.co/qedUmgLaoD   Michael Bertsch (@NDsidBertschy) July 12, 2019 - - - - - - - Nick Bromberg is a writer for Yahoo Sports. More from Yahoo Sports: OBJ challenges top QBs with jaw-dropping throw Strip club event at Trump golf club canceled 'Robot umpires' debut in baseball league Chargers star wants new deal, makes sudden threat Related slideshow: Ranking the 10 best college football mascots (provided by For The Win)


Seven-year-old chocolate labrador Barkley got a special treat for his birthday at the dog daycare center he attends, Lucky Puppy in Maybee, Michigan. Center owner Brenda Langley held a pool party for the lucky dog and his friends. She captured this video of the dogs enjoying the party on June 25. It looks like they had a whale of a time splashing around, swimming and leaping in to the water. Credit: Lucky Puppy via Storyful


In an age when plane passengers are shamed almost daily on social media for inappropriate behavior , it takes a lot to shock fellow fliers. So kudos to this unidentified man, who has managed to repulse millions of people by using his bare feet to operate his inflight entertainment screen while sitting in a bulkhead seat. A video of the questionable act has racked up more than 9 million views on Twitter and attracted 5,000-plus comments since it was posted this week by a friend of the passenger who reportedly shot the footage. Responding to concerns over the man's ability to use his hands, with some Twitter users pointing out that he could be disabled, the poster wrote that her friend confirmed she "saw him walk on and off the plane, carrying his own bag. He just likes to watch TV with his bare feet." My friend who doesn't have twitter sent this from her flight. It belongs on Twitter. pic.twitter.com/qG6d54V5Dd   Alafair Burke (@alafairburke) July 15, 2019 Bare feet are a common source of disgust among plane passengers, whether they're being placed on fellow fliers' arm rests or the wall of the bulkhead seats. Some passengers even make shoeless trips to the lavatory. But this is the first time we've seen someone use their little piggies to operate an inflight entertainment system. Suddenly, Naomi Campbell's pre-flight ritual doesn't seem so over-the-top. This week, the supermodel posted details of her flying habits on her YouTube channel, "Being Naomi." Dressed for comfort in silk pajamas, she proceeds to rifle through her jam-packed Louis Vuitton travel bag and pull out a pair of disposable gloves along with Dettol anti-bacterial wipes. "Clean anything that you could possibly touch," she says, before wiping down every inch of her seat, seat belt, tray table, TV screen, remote control and window. Even the overhead controls get a thorough clean. "This is what I do on every plane I get on. I do not care what people think of me. It's my health and it makes me feel better." With the image of that man's feet on the TV screen burned in our heads for eternity, we might just follow Campbell's lead.


Information via New Haven Police Department NEW HAVEN, CT  The New Haven Police Department Major Crimes Unit is currently investigating a shooting incident involving an individual on a motorcycle. This incident occurred on July 13th, 2019, at approximately 7:07 pm on Blatchley Avenue and Peck Street. The victim was a 31-year-old man who suffered a gunshot wound to the chest and was hospitalized in stable condition. The victim has since been discharged from the hospital. The individual operating the motorcycle above is of interest to the New Haven Police Department. If you have seen this motorcycle or its occupant, have any information about the motorcycle or occupant, or have any information regarding this incident please contact Det. Ryan Macuirzynski or Sgt. R. Turney of the Investigative Services Unit at 203-946-6304 or the Tip Line phone number provided at the bottom of the page. You can remain anonymous. Thank you. New Haven Police Investigative Services Unit 203-946-6304 Anonymous Tips Phone : 1-866-888-TIPS (8477) or 203-946-6296 Text-A-Tip : Text "NHPD + your message" to 74637 (CRIMES) Email : ecic@newhavenct.gov


Max Muncy connected on a curveball that hung in the strike zone and immediately dropped his bat as he watched the ball travel into the Great American Ball Park seats in right-center field. Muncy's blast made it back-to-back homers in the third inning against Cincinnati Reds starter Anthony DeSclafani as the Los Angeles Dodgers , the highest-scoring offense in the National League, collectively showed their power in Friday's series opener. DeSclafani surrendered three homers in four innings, matching a single-game career high. BOX SCORE: DODGERS 6, REDS 0 "It was pretty embarrassing, to say the least for myself," DeSclafani said. The Reds had enough trouble trying to create offense against Dodgers starter Rich Hill, let alone keep up with the Dodgers' offense in a 6-0 loss in front of 27,456 fans. They were limited to three hits and shutout for the seventh time this season. DeSclafani said he "wasn't fooling anybody." He struggled to locate his off-speed pitches and Dodgers hitters lined into a few outs. Joc Pederson homered three pitches before Muncy. Pederson hit an opposite-field, solo homer to open the third inning in the first row of seats in left field. Pederson, who fought back from a 0-2 count into a full count, drove a high fastball on the outside corner. "It just seemed like I got lucky pretty much the whole night with line drives smoked right at guys," said DeSclafani, who has surrendered 10 homers in 45 innings. "I guess you're going to have those nights, but it's just pretty frustrating in general, especially when you're just trying to get better. It's like a punch in the face." Feature: The Show before The Show: José Iglesias wows Cincinnati Reds teammates in pregame routine Notebook: Cincinnati Reds add lefty Cody Reed to the bullpen before Los Angeles Dodgers series Top games in Reds history: No. 45   June 18, 1947   Ewell Blackwell's no-hitter Facing a left-handed heavy lineup, DeSclafani gave up a leadoff double to Cody Bellinger in the second inning. The next pitch was a hanging curveball to Corey Seager, who crushed it over the right-field wall for a two-run homer. Lefties were 5-for-12 against DeSclafani with two doubles and three home runs. DeSclafani allowed six hits and four runs in four innings. "It's definitely a really good, powerful lineup to say the least, but I'm up in the big leagues and I should have some way to get them out," said DeSclafani, who has allowed 11 earned runs in his last three starts. "It's a get-it-done league. It's not a try league. I just have to get it done and I didn't get it done." Hill, the 39-year-old lefty, stifled the Reds with movement on his 90-mph fastball and a steady dose of curveballs. During the Reds' first trip through the lineup, Hill struck out six and didn't allow a ball to leave the infield. "That fastball looked like it was 93, 94 (mph) because he's really got movement and his left hand comes from the side," Eugenio Suárez said. "He's kind of a sneaky guy." Votto and Suárez were the only batters to reach base against Hill, hitting back-to-back singles in the fourth inning. Hill struck out 10 and walked none, just the second time he's reached a double-digit strikeout total since the 2017 season. After the pair of singles, the Reds didn't have another runner in scoring position for the remainder of the night. "He knows how to pitch," Reds manager David Bell said of Hill. "He uses the top of the strike zone. It's the ol' sneaky fastball. It has really good life." Bellinger, who leads the Majors with a .404 batting average, opened the eighth inning with a solo home run off Zach Duke, his 16th homer of the season. In the sixth inning, Bellinger reached on a strikeout-plus-wild pitch and scored on a single from Kiké Hernández. The Reds have scored six runs in four games against the Dodgers this season, losing three of their first four games against them. SPORTS FAN? Subscribe today to get unlimited access to all of The Enquirer and Cincinnati.com 's coverage of the teams you love. TAKE THE GAMES WITH YOU: Download the Cincinnati.com app at the Apple App Store or Google Play for Android users. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Home runs hurt Anthony DeSclafani, Cincinnati Reds in loss to Dodgers Related slideshow: 2019 MLB season (provided by imagn)


Former Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles may not be a starter at the moment with the Los Angeles Rams, but that hasn't stopped him from having BOAT-like moments on the field. In fact, according to his new passing game coordinator, Shane Waldron, he's been quite impressive while serving as the No. 2 behind Jared Goff and has picked up the offense well "[It] can't go understated how well I think Blake has picked up this system," Waldron said after the Rams' practice with the Chargers this weekend . "He's been in a few different systems and he's come in and done nothing but be that perfect backup quarterback in the situation that he's in right now. Great for Jared, but not just great for Jared, but on the field executing at a high level and he's one of those new guys where you say, man, you walk in the door and there's a system that's been in place for a couple years and he's been able to pick it up right away and execute it." Waldron is right about Bortles' ability to pick up various schemes as he had to learn three while in Jacksonville under coordinators Jedd Fisch, Greg Olson and Nate Hackett. That said, his ability to learn on the fly has seemingly helped him in his transition while in Los Angeles. Blake Bortles bootleg completion. This one's for you, Jags Twitter. pic.twitter.com/FYmjnM5yKs - Daniel Popper (@danielrpopper) August 1, 2019 Another big reason Bortles appears to be having success is his mobility, which is very valuable in Sean McVay's scheme. For that reason, he'll certainly be interesting to watch this preseason as the process could be a big part of his pending free-agent ticket in 2020. The BOAT's first preseason game of 2019 will take place this Saturday against the Oakland Raiders. It will be aired locally live, but the replay will air Sunday at 12 a.m. on NFL Network. MORE: Antonio Brown's foot issues look absolutely gruesome 2020 aggregate mock draft 1.0: Here are the top NBA prospects to know How Andre Iguodala could still be attainable for Houston Matt LaFleur on Packers FB Danny Vitale: 'He's been awesome' Texans could have eyes set on Chargers RB Melvin Gordon


Atletico Madrid will pursue a deal for outcast Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Adrien Rabiot if they are unable to keep hold of Rodri this summer. The 24-year-old has been cast adrift in the French capital after months of speculation linking him with a move away from Le Parc des Princes, with Rabiot falling out of favour with manager Thomas Tuchel after publicly declaring his intention to leave. Despite being linked with some of Europe's biggest clubs, a move away has failed to materialise for Rabiot. He could, though, be handed a lifeline by Atletico with Sport claiming that Los Rojiblancos are eyeing him as a potential replacement for holding midfielder Rodri, who has been strongly linked with a move to Pep Guardiola's Manchester City . Rodri has become a key part of Atletico's squad this season, having featured 34 times in La Liga as well as making eight Champions League appearances. Unsurprisingly, club chiefs, as well as manager Diego Simeone, have already expressed their desire to keep hold of their rising star, but acknowledge that a move to City may appeal. In any case, Atletico will be powerless to stop Rodri leaving if City meet the €70m release clause written into his contract; something that won't be an issue for the Premier League champions, given their financial firepower. With that in mind, the report claims that Atletico have already started the process of convincing Rabiot that the Wanda Metropolitano is the ideal location for his next career move. Should he decide to accept the offer, Rabiot will move to the Spanish capital as a free agent because his contract with PSG expires this summer. That said, a deal may be complicated by alleged interest from the likes of Manchester United and Juventus , both of whom could make late bids to snap him up if they fail to bring in other targets.


Here's the most recent top news you may have missed in Chicago. 15-year-old stabbed multiple times by man she met at Chicago McDonald's A 15-year-old girl is recovering after being stabbed multiple times in Chicago's Morgan Park neighborhood. Read the full story on ABC11 WTVD . Chicago shop taunts Texans with Whataburger T-shirt: 'Chicago's Most Famous Texas Hamburger Chain' Texans are still furious that the family owners of Whataburger have sold the iconic fast food chain to a Chicago-based investment firm. Now, a new T-shirt being sold in the Windy City is rubbing it in. Read the full story on FOX 26 Houston . Video of Jussie Smollett with rope around his neck released by Chicago police The Chicago Police Department released new surveillance footage and files in regards to the Jussie Smollett hoax case on Monday, including one that shows the "Empire" actor with ropes strung around his neck, which he says were put on by the attackers. Read the full story on Variety . Chicago's Jewish community split over Ocasio-Cortez's comparison of border detention to 'concentration camps' After Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez calls border detention facilities "concentration camps," Chicago area rabbis and Holocaust experts debate the accuracy of the label. Read the full story on Chicago Tribune . This story was created automatically using data about news stories on social media from CrowdTangle , then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


Multiple Isle of Man TT winner Michael Dunlop will return to the Isle of Man's Southern 100 races in a fortnight's time, despite suffering a "serious" injury in a Rally Donegal crash that will mean he misses this weekend's Pikes Peak Hillclimb in the USA. A statement released by his own MD Racing team revealed he had suffered "serious injuries" in the accident, and has been forced to pull out of the famous Pikes Peak Hillclimb this weekend as a result. The extent of his injuries are still unknown, but a statement from Southern 100 organisers revealed Dunlop had been in contact to confirm his first appearance at the event since 2017. Dunlop will race his Tyco-run S1000RR BMW Superbike and his own MD Racing-backed Honda CBR600 in the Supersport class in his bid to add to his three solo titles at the event. More on Michael Dunlop: Injured winner Dunlop opens up about Isle of Man TT struggles Isle of Man TT: Michael Dunlop wins Lightweight thriller Michael Dunlop pays emotional tribute to late brother William The S100 statement read: "The three-time Southern 100 Solo Champion in 2011, 2012 & 2016 contacted race secretary George Peach to confirm his arrival on the Sunday prior to the practices starting on the Monday evening [July 8], also confirming that he has his BMW Superbike and Honda Supersport machines being set up for the races on the 4.25-mile Colas Billown Course. "Having withdrawn from the Pikes Peak event after sustaining an injury in the recent Donegal Rally, Michael said he wants to rest and get back to full fitness with the aim of wresting back the coveted Solo Championship title from current double winner Dean Harrison." Dunlop made his racing return in May's North West 200 event in Northern Ireland, having been absent since last year's TT following the death of his brother William at the Skerries 100 last July. He came into the NW200 already carrying injury, after hurting his wrist in a crash during a test in Kirkistown. Scoring a podium in the first Superstock race at the NW200, Dunlop scored his 19 th TT victory this month with a win in the Lightweight class aboard the Paton. Reigning double S100 solo champion Harrison comes into this year's races off the back of his first big bike win at the TT, after guiding his Silicone Engineering Kawasaki to victory in the Senior finale.


Craving bubble tea? Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the best affordable hot spots in Irvine, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of the best spots to venture when such cravings strike. 1. Bambu Topping the list is Bambu . Located at 14775 Jeffrey Road, Suite B, in El Camino Real, the spot is the highest-rated cheap bubble tea spot in Irvine, boasting 4.5 stars out of 994 reviews on Yelp. Its offerings also include juices and smoothies. 2. Lollicup Next up is the Business District's Lollicup , at 2700 Alton Parkway, Suite 119. With four stars out of 1,239 reviews on Yelp, the spot to score coffee and tea and bubble tea has proven to be a local favorite for those looking for a low-priced option. Flavors include strawberry mint mojito and matcha milk tea. 3. Ha Long Vietnamese Cuisine West Park's Ha Long Vietnamese Cuisine , located at 3850 Barranca Parkway, Suite D, is another top choice, with Yelpers giving the affordable Vietnamese spot, which offers noodles and bubble tea, four stars out of 777 reviews. This family-owned restaurant also offers breakfast, lunch and dinner. 4. Snow Monster Snow Monster , a spot to score desserts, ice cream and bubble tea in University Town Center, is another cheap go-to, with four stars out of 695 Yelp reviews. The eco-friendly shop uses reusable glass jars and reusable glass and metal straws. Head over to 4255 Campus Drive, Suite A124, to see for yourself. 5. Sunmerry Bakery Finally, over in El Camino Real, check out Sunmerry Bakery , which has earned four stars out of 491 reviews on Yelp. Dig in at the bakery, which offers bubble tea, along with coffee, tea and more, by heading over to 14805 Jeffrey Road, Suite E. This story was created automatically using local business data, then reviewed and augmented by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


Life insurance rates are determined by a variety of factors that represent your risk to the insurer, including your age, health status, driving record, your hobbies or avocations (like climbing or diving), and your lifestyle habits (like smoking or drug use). But your occupation can also be a factor if your job involves risky activities or is in a controversial industry, like marijuana. Which jobs can affect life insurance rates? Each life insurance company has its own underwriting guidelines, including its own occupational ratings. Jobs with a high degree of risk will almost always result in extra fees, but the amount of those fees will depend on the insurer. An advisor from an independent insurance broker can help you choose the company who will be most favorable to your profile. It's also possible you could be assigned a table rating, which would increase your premiums a certain percentage over the standard rating. Common jobs that require additional fees or table ratings include: Aviation jobs Building and construction jobs (particularly bridge, structural iron workers, tower workers, and roofers) Electric power line construction workers Municipal and volunteer firefighters Fishing industry workers Law enforcement workers Bartenders Lumber industry workers Mining and quarrying workers If you work in any of these industries, or have another job that involves physical risk, your life insurance advisor may ask you questions about your work, including your activities, tasks, working environment, and more. Marijuana industry jobs & life insurance Currently in the U.S., it is not possible to purchase life insurance from any of the major life insurance companies if your occupation is in the marijuana industry   even if the business is legal in your state. This is because marijuana is still federally illegal at the federal level, and because of that, processing money from businesses in that industry requires separate accounts and reporting and is still very fraught for many businesses, including insurance companies. The insurance industry has traditionally been very conservative and slow to change, so it's possible and likely that as the marijuana industry grows, insurers will follow suit and offer workers policies. In the meantime, you may be able to find a smaller company who can offer you a policy if you're in the marijuana industry. Read more about life insurance for marijuana users . How your job can affect your life insurance rates To get the best rates (often called preferred best) or second best rates (often called preferred), your job cannot have any hazardous duties. Each carrier has its own definition of "hazardous", but generally, it means anything associated with an increased risk of injury or death: diving, mining, firefighting, high-rise construction. If your job does include hazardous duties, you can be quoted standard rates, but depending on your job and the life insurance company, you could be charged extra flat fees   for example, $2.50 to $7.50 per $1,000 of insurance coverage per year. That means if you're purchasing a $500,000 policy, having a hazardous job with a $2.50 flat rate could mean paying an extra $1,250 per year for life insurance   an extra $104 per month. Learn more about how much life insurance costs at different ages here. How jobs can affect life insurance riders There are a number of additional coverages you can add on to your life insurance policy through riders. Some riders that require additional underwriting. One of these types of riders   the disability income rider   is generally unavailable to people with high-risk jobs. A disability income rider added onto a life insurance policy pays a monthly benefit if you become disabled and cannot work, and life insurance companies don't offer it to people who have a high likelihood of becoming disabled and being unable to work. Each company has their own list of occupations that cannot purchase this coverage, and many occupations, including most self-employed jobs, are only considered on a case-by-case basis. Consider a separate long-term disability plan for this type of income protection, which offers more robust coverage and is often cheaper than adding a disability income rider, and is available to a wider variety of occupations. Want to know more about disability insurance? This guide outlines the basics about disability insurance . How to save on life insurance if you have a high-risk occupation There are a few things you can do to ensure that you are getting the best possible rates: 1. Work with an independent broker. If you have a high-risk job, the best thing you can do to ensure you're getting the most affordable premiums is to work with an independent broker. When you work with an independent broker, advisors who are familiar with the underwriting guidelines of many insurance companies will be able to recommend the carrier who can give you the best rates. 2. Reapply or ask for reconsideration. Once you have your policy, you may be able to get lower rates if your job duties change through a process called reconsideration. You'll need to have your policy for at least a year, and each insurer treats reconsideration differently. You can also reapply for new quotes if your job changes. Read more about the process of reconsideration and reapplication . 3. Pay your premiums annually . By paying your premiums annually instead of monthly, you can save between 2% and 8% on your premiums, depending on your insurance company. This article originally appeared on Policygenius and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.


Denver Broncos star outside linebacker Von Miller held his annual Pass Rush Summit in Las Vegas on Saturday. Now, this isn't just some teaching seminar where a player like Miller gets up and preaches to a crowd of players. This event is one where many of the NFL's premier pass rushers can link up and learn from one another. Each year, Miller invites NFL legends to take part. This year was no different, with DeMarcus Ware and Doug Flutie joining in. Having Flutie there was particularly interesting because players got to hear a quarterback's perspective on pass rushing. This year's event was held at UNLV, and with breaks in OTAs for many teams, there were a ton of players in attendance, including a couple of Kansas City Chiefs. Whoooooole lotta talent in one photo. pic.twitter.com/htV8y5EaMf - Denver Broncos (@Broncos) June 1, 2019 Considering the Chiefs have a bunch of new faces on the defensive side of the ball, you may not recognize anyone from this photo. But that's Alex Okafor and Frank Clark in attendance in the pursuit of gaining pass-rush knowledge from their peers. Clark seemed to be very thankful for the opportunity to learn from some of those he considers the best in the world. @VonMiller Pass Rush Summit. Thank you for inviting me out brotha! I'm extremely thankful to have shared the room with the best pass rushers in the world. pic.twitter.com/VTPkE5w1Zx - Frank Clark (@TheRealFrankC_) June 2, 2019 Other attendees included Saints defensive ends Cameron Jordan and Marcus Davenport; Rams defensive lineman Aaron Donald; former Falcons defensive end Chuck Smith; 49ers defensive lineman Arik Armstead; Jaguars defensive end Calais Campbell; and Broncos outside linebacker Bradley Chubb. MORE: Boxing fans, including Conor McGregor, react to Anthony Joshua's stunning loss to Andy Ruiz Jr. Report: Suns, Bulls offering lottery picks for Lonzo Ball Kyle Shanahan on the cutting edge with 'positionless' offense Should the Celtics look to trade for Eric Gordon? Uncertainty with Ben Watson should push Patriots to trade for Kyle Rudolph


The Heat have expressed interest in negotiating a trade for Russell Westbrook , who views the possibility of playing Miami appealing, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reports. A report earlier on Monday indicated that the Thunder are receptive to trade inquiries for Westbrook in the aftermath of the blockbuster deal that sent Paul George to the Clippers. The Heat made a bold move in free agency by gaining a commitment from Jimmy Butler and engineering a sign-and-trade for the swingman. A Westbrook/Butler pairing could make Miami an instant contender in the wide-open Eastern Conference, though contractually it would have long-term implications. Westbrook, 30, has four years and $170M remaining on his contract, including a $47M player option in the final year. Moving Westbrook's contract for future salary-cap relief might be the best Oklahoma City can do at this point. Miami has already traded away its 2021 and 2023 first-rounders, which the Thunder own, and numerous second-rounders. Westbrook will make $38.5M next season but Miami has a handful of players making between $19.2M and $12M   Goran Dragic , James Johnson , Justise Winslow , Dion Waiters and Kelly Olynyk   for salary-matching purposes. Miami also has to make sure it doesn't add more salary to its current cap. The Heat are just $986K below the threshold of the $138.9M luxury tax apron, according to ESPN's Bobby Marks. Thus, Miami cannot take back more or equal salaries in a potential Westbrook trade because that would hamstring its ability to fill out the roster ( Twitter link ). Westbrook and agent Thad Foucher met with Thunder general manager Sam Presti over the weekend and both sides came away eager to find a resolution, according to Wojnarowski. Westbrook doesn't want to be part of rebuild and that's where OKC finds itself after George's trade request to join forces with Kawhi Leonard .


Parakeets gather on wires in front of Sekhar's house on September 23, 2015 in Chennai, India. A BIG-HEARTED bird lover has been feeding thousands of wild parakeets twice a day for 10 years - from the comfort of his own home. Among the hustle and bustle of Chennai in southern India, 62-year-old Sekar - known as 'India's Birdman' - rises at 4am to prepare the feed for his feathered friends. The enthusiast ornithologist, who works as a camera technician, prepares thick rows of rice on planks of wood on his roof terrace. Up to 4,000 parakeets a day then brighten up the sprawling streets of Chennai in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, as they flock to Sekar's home. Videographer / Director: Aravind Kumar Producer: Malayanil, Nick Johnson Editor: Sonia Estal


Updated at 12:30 p.m. with more information about weekend ferry travel. Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start to summer , and for many, it's a perfect chance to get away for a long weekend. But with so many people skipping town, traffic is certain to back up on popular routes. The Washington State Department of Transportation recommends travelers plan head. To help, they have provided some graphs showing peak travel times on popular routes for weekend travelers. As you might expect, generally traffic was expected to be heaviest Friday afternoon or Saturday mid-morning when leaving the Seattle area and on Sunday night or Monday afternoon when returning to the Seattle area. RELATED: Those 4-hour delays on U.S. 101? Delayed until after Labor Day Longer-than-typical wait times were also forecast at ferry docks and Canadian border crossings. WSDOT expects nearly half a million passengers to use state ferries between Thursday, May 23 and Tuesday, May 28. Driving ferry passengers will experience the longest wait times. WSDOT recommends walking onto a ferry if possible, or changing travel times to early in the morning or late at night if passengers must drive. Longest ferry wait times are expected at the terminals for the Edmonds/Kingston and Mukilteo/Clinton terminals. Sea-Tac International Airport also anticipates high traffic throughout the weekend, especially on Thursday and Friday. Travelers should try to arrive two hours ahead of their domestic flights, or three hours ahead of their international flights, Sea-Tac recommended on its website . MEMORIAL DAY FORECAST: Here's when to go outside To get an idea of the best times to leave on the most traveled days, click through the slideshow above. More information is also available on WSDOT's Memorial Day website . Or, if you still need plans for the long weekend, we've got some ideas .


Porsche has revealed a revised 911 RSR that will race next season in the GTE Pro class of the FIA World Endurance Championship, as well as in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in 2020. The Weissach marque took the covers off the new machine, based on the 991.2 version of the road-going 911, at the Goodwood Festival of Speed on Saturday. It replaces the 911 RSR that was introduced in 2017, and will make its race debut in the opening round of the 2019/20 WEC season at Silverstone on September 1 after an extensive test programme that commenced last August. Porsche GT motorsport boss Pascal Zurlinden said that "95 percent of the car is new" in relation to its predecessor, which sealed the 2018/19 WEC manufacturers' title as well as victory in the Le Mans 24 Hours last year. Porsche 911 RSR 2019 Porsche Motorsport Porsche 911 RSR 2019 Porsche Motorsport Porsche 911 RSR 2019 Porsche Motorsport Porsche 911 RSR 2019 Porsche Motorsport Porsche 911 RSR 2019 Porsche Motorsport Porsche 911 RSR 2019 Porsche Motorsport Porsche 911 RSR 2019 Porsche Motorsport Porsche 911 RSR 2019 Porsche Motorsport Porsche 911 RSR 2019 Porsche Motorsport Porsche 911 RSR 2019 Porsche Motorsport Porsche 911 RSR 2019 Porsche Motorsport Porsche 911 RSR 2019 Porsche Motorsport Porsche 911 RSR 2019 Porsche Motorsport Porsche 911 RSR 2019 Porsche Motorsport Porsche 911 RSR 2019 Porsche Motorsport Porsche 911 RSR 2019 Porsche Motorsport Zurlinden added: "We have made significant progress in the development of our car for the next three-year homologation period, especially in the complex areas of driveability, efficiency, durability and serviceability. "The only components that we've kept unchanged from the predecessor are the headlights, brake system, clutch, driver's seat and parts of the suspension." Kevin Estre and Michael Christensen will defend their WEC title next season in the #92 911 RSR, while Gianmaria Bruni and Richard Lietz will once again team up in the sister #91 machine. Both driver pairings will be pitted against two crews apiece from Ferrari and Aston Martin in a slimmed down GTE Pro battle following the withdrawal of Ford and BMW from the class. Porsche's CORE autosport-operated IMSA squad, which currently leads the GT Le Mans class standings, will give the new car its US debut in next January's Rolex 24 at Daytona. The existing car will race on in the WEC during the 2019/20 campaign in the GTE Am class before the new version is made available to customers the following season. #New911RSR - First time on the Goodwood Hill climb course: The brand-new #911RSR which celebrated its world premiere today at the renowned global motoring festival in West Sussex, Great Britain. @fosgoodwood #PorscheFoS pic.twitter.com/xcVVbNWBPp   Porsche Motorsport (@PorscheRaces) July 6, 2019


DeMarcus Lawrence is a talented player, but the Cowboys pass rusher isn't a quarterback and the contracts for signal callers are a little different at the top of the food chain. The Cowboys and the star defensive end to terms on a five-year, $105 million extension with $65 million in guarantees. It's a lot of money but seems small after the Philadelphia Eagles broke the bank for Carson Wentz, s igning the star passer to a record four-year deal worth $128 million over four years, with a max value of $144 million. There is $107 million-plus guaranteed in the deal. The guarantees may have caused Lawrence some discomfort, cause he fired this salvo on Twitter moments after Wentz' deal was announced. The richer they get, the better it feels when we humble they a**. - DeMarcus Lawrence (@TankLawrence) June 7, 2019 Lane Johnson isn't going to be happy when he sees this and for Wentz part, Lawrence has 0 sacks in 9 career games against the Eagles. Lawrence could have been talking about all the rich quarterbacks in the league with Russell Wilson, Matt Ryan and Drew Brees all on his schedule. MORE: Most bizarre and incredible catches by fishermen in past decade Cowboys News: Michael Gallup leg injury dampens final OTA session Eagles players react to Carson Wentz signing a massive contract extension Punishment falls swift and hard for Warriors minority owner Mark Stevens Giants' Nate Solder won't commit to training camp return


When former cornerback Aaron Colvin elected to part ways with the Jacksonville Jaguars and sign with the Houston Texans, many fans expressed their frustrations with the front office. Most of those same fans also didn't like the contract the Jags gave D.J. Hayden to replace him not too soon after as his three-year $19 million deal guaranteeing $9.45 million was simply viewed as too much for a nickel corner. However, the young corner balled out and was a playmaker for the Jags' defense. Now, a year later, Bleacher Report's Christopher Knox seems to believe the deal was actually a bargain as Hayden, who ranked as the No. 25 cornerback per Pro Football Focus, is set to make $15 million over the course of 2019-20. Two Years Remaining on a Three-Year, $19 Million Deal It's easy to view cornerback Jalen Ramsey as the face of the Jacksonville Jaguars defense. He's outspoken, he's brash and he's damn talented. However, fellow Jaguars cornerback D.J. Hayden has quietly become a defensive key himself. Hayden was ranked 25th overall among cornerbacks in 2018 by Pro Football Focus, three spots higher than Ramsey. While Ramsey is set to earn $21 million over the next two seasons-which is still a bargain-Hayden is due to earn roughly $15 million. Ramsey is a full-time starter, of course, while Hayden is more of a depth/rotational player-he made six starts in 2018. He's thrived in that role with the Jaguars, though, and he has proved to be one of the best values of any 2018 acquisition. While we know that Hayden isn't a better cornerback than Jalen Ramsey, Knox's comparison is definitely an interesting one. Additionally, Hayden missed six games, so heading forward the Jags will probably be getting more bang for their bargain. When looking at the Jags' outlook on defense, I could see Hayden improving upon his 46 tackle 2018 campaign if he stays healthy being that the Jags upgraded their pass rush with the addition of first-round pick Josh Allen. That should help the secondary especially and allow them to be the aggressive unit we saw in 2017. MORE: 10 crazy Russell Westbrook trades, according to Trade Machine Five potential Russell Westbrook trade destinations Three Potential Trade Destinations for Russell Westbrook Mesmerizing speed could force Jon'Vea Johnson to Cowboys roster Derek Carr's contract proving to be a value for the Oakland Raiders


Best Photos of UFC 240 MMA: UFC 240-Holloway vs Edgar Max Holloway (red gloves) defeats Frankie Edgar (blue gloves) during UFC 240 at Rogers Place. MMA: UFC 240-Holloway vs Edgar Max Holloway (red gloves) and Frankie Edgar (blue gloves) during UFC 240 at Rogers Place. MMA: UFC 240-Holloway vs Edgar Max Holloway (red gloves) and Frankie Edgar (blue gloves) during UFC 240 at Rogers Place. MMA: UFC 240-Holloway vs Edgar Max Holloway (red gloves) and Frankie Edgar (blue gloves) during UFC 240 at Rogers Place. MMA: UFC 240-Cyborg vs Spencer Cris Cyborg (red gloves) and Felicia Spencer (blue gloves) during UFC 240 at Rogers Place. MMA: UFC 240-Cyborg vs Spencer Cris Cyborg (red gloves) and Felicia Spencer (blue gloves) during UFC 240 at Rogers Place. MMA: UFC 240-Neal vs Price Geoff Neal (red gloves) and Niko Price (blue gloves) during UFC 240 at Rogers Place. MMA: UFC 240-Aubin Mercier vs Tsarukyan Arman Tsarukyan (blue gloves) and Olivier Aubin-Mercier (red gloves) during UFC 240 at Rogers Place. MMA: UFC 240-Barriault vs Jotko Krzysztof Jotko (blue gloves) and Marc-Andre Barriault (red gloves) during UFC 240 at Rogers Place. MMA: UFC 240-Barriault vs Jotko Krzysztof Jotko (blue gloves) and Marc-Andre Barriault (red gloves) during UFC 240 at Rogers Place. MMA: UFC 240-Davis vs Araujo Viviane Araujo (blue gloves) and Alexis Davis (red gloves) hug after their fight during UFC 240 at Rogers Place. MMA: UFC 240-Davis vs Araujo Viviane Araujo (blue gloves) and Alexis Davis (red gloves) during UFC 240 at Rogers Place. MMA: UFC 240-Dawodu vs Horie Hakeem Dawodu (red gloves) and Yoshinori Horie (blue gloves) during UFC 240 at Rogers Place. MMA: UFC 240-Dawodu vs Horie Hakeem Dawodu (red gloves) and Yoshinori Horie (blue gloves) during UFC 240 at Rogers Place. MMA: UFC 240-Tucker vs Choi Gavin Tucker (red gloves) and Seungwoo Choi (blue gloves) during UFC 240 at Rogers Place. MMA: UFC 240-Pantoja vs Figueiredo Deiveson Figueriredo (blue gloves) and Alexandre Pantoja (red gloves) during UFC 240 at Rogers Place. MMA: UFC 240-Pantoja vs Figueiredo Deiveson Figueriredo (blue gloves) and Alexandre Pantoja (red gloves) during UFC 240 at Rogers Place. MMA: UFC 240-Robertson vs Frota Gillian Robertson (red gloves) and Sarah Frota (blue gloves) during UFC 240 at Rogers Place. MMA: UFC 240-Robertson vs Frota Gillian Robertson (red gloves) and Sarah Frota (blue gloves) during UFC 240 at Rogers Place. MMA: UFC 240-Koch vs Stewart Erik Koch (red gloves) and Kyle Stewart (blue gloves) during UFC 240 at Rogers Place. MMA: UFC 240-Koch vs Stewart Erik Koch (red gloves) and Kyle Stewart (blue gloves) during UFC 240 at Rogers Place.