DETROIT (AP) The Houston Astros are making these games pretty enjoyable for their starting pitchers. Carlos Correa started another Houston onslaught with a three-run homer in the first inning, and the Astros routed the Detroit Tigers 11-4 on Tuesday night, extending their winning streak to seven games. Wade Miley won his third straight start. This was the fourth time this season Houston has scored at least 10 runs in a game he pitched. ''It's like I'm a fan,'' Miley said. ''It's like they should charge us a ticket price to sit where we sit and get to watch this.'' The Astros, who have won 10 of 11, scored in each of the first six innings against a depleted Detroit pitching staff. George Springer hit an inside-the-park homer in the fifth, and Aledmys Diaz went deep in the third for Houston. Miley (4-2) allowed four runs in six innings for the Astros. Houston led 7-0 after its half of the third. Ronny Rodriguez homered for Detroit, but the Tigers are up against it this week. Not only are they facing the team with baseball's best record, but they also have a rotation beset by injuries. Tyson Ross and Jordan Zimmermann are on the injured list, and Michael Fulmer and Matt Moore are out for the season. So Ryan Carpenter (0-2) took the mound for his second start of the season and allowed seven earned runs in four innings. After Correa's homer opened the scoring, Michael Brantley added a two-run single in the second. Diaz's solo shot made it 7-0. Springer circled the bases in the fifth when his drive bounced off the wall and past center fielder JaCoby Jones. It was the first inside-the-park home run of his career, and Houston led 9-2. ''You can hit one to dead center field here and maybe have a chance to do a lot of funny things,'' Astros manager AJ Hinch said. ''Pretty exciting play. We don't get to see it a lot, obviously, in our ballpark, but it's fun when it happens for us.'' The Astros have scored 45 runs in their last four games. They outscored Detroit 19-5 in the first two games of this series. ''If you watched the last two games, it is pretty obvious that's a really good team,'' Tigers outfielder Nicholas Castellanos said. ''That's the goal. We want to get ourselves to that spot, and these two days have shown we have a long way to go.'' SNAPPED Miley had allowed three earned runs or fewer in 24 straight starts, but Rodriguez's two-run homer in the sixth ended that streak. Miley's streak included all 16 of his starts last season and his first eight of 2019. He allowed seven hits and two walks Tuesday, with five strikeouts. ''All in all, it was pretty good,'' Hinch said. ''It wasn't his best, but it was certainly good enough, with the run support we had.'' TRAINER'S ROOM Astros: OF Jake Marisnick got the night off after being hit around the elbow by a pitch Monday night . Hinch said Marisnick would play Wednesday. UP NEXT Astros: Former Detroit star Justin Verlander (6-1) takes the mound against his former team as the Astros go for a three-game sweep Wednesday night. Tigers: Manager Ron Gardenhire said LHP Gregory Soto (0-1) would come up from the minors to start Wednesday, with Carpenter headed to Triple-A Toledo. Soto will be on short rest: He made his big league debut Saturday at Minnesota as Detroit's 26th man for a doubleheader. He was optioned to Double-A Erie, but will now come back. --- Follow Noah Trister at www.Twitter.com/noahtrister --- More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports


The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite rallied Tuesday to notch record closing highs as Wall Street cheered stronger-than-expected quarterly profits from some of the largest publicly traded U.S. companies. The broad index closed 0.9% higher at 2,933, topping its previous record close of 2,930. The S&P 500 also ended the day just below its intraday record of 2,940. The Nasdaq closed up 1.3% at 8,120. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, meanwhile, gained 145 points and was 1.1% from an all-time high. Tuesday's moves come less than six months after a sharp decline in late December, which led the S&P 500 to its worst annual performance since 2008. But stocks quickly turned around as the Federal Reserve reversed course on monetary policy while the tone around U.S.-China trade talks improved. "These market levels are justified," said Kevin Barry, a chief investment officer at Captrust Advisors. "The fourth-quarter sell-off actually prevented a recession because policymakers responded extremely quickly. Both President Xi and President Trump cooled off the rhetoric and Fed Chairman Jerome Powell came out and reversed course." Dow members Coca-Cola and United Technologies reported better-than-expected quarterly earnings on Tuesday. Their shares rose 1.7% and 2.5%, respectively. Twitter shares jumped 16.3% on its stronger-than-expected results. The social media company said its monthly active users totaled 330 million, more than a FactSet estimate of 318 million. Defense giant Lockheed Martin also rallied more than 6% after its earnings easily topped expectations. The company reported strong operating margins across all its major businesses, which include aeronautics and missiles. Procter & Gamble also posted stronger-than-forecast earnings, but its stock traded down 2.4%. Texas Instruments, eBay and Stryker are set to release their latest quarterly results after market close. This is one of the busiest week of the corporate earnings season. Once the dust settles, more than 140 S&P 500 companies will have released their calendar first-quarter results. So far, the results have largely topped expectations. More than 78% of the S&P 500 companies that have reported have surpassed analyst expectations, according to FactSet data. "Among the key companies that have reported, most of them have beaten expectations," said Peter Cardillo, a chief market economist at Spartan Capital Securities. "That means we're probably going to escape an earnings recession. That will be key for the market to rally from here." Wall Street also kept an eye on oil prices as they hit their highest level this year amid intensifying concern about global supplies. It comes after the U.S. announced a further clampdown on Iran's oil exports. The world's largest economy said Monday that from May 1, it would eliminate all waivers allowing eight economies to buy Iranian oil without facing U.S. sanctions. CNBC's Sam Meredith contributed to this report.


Sid Miller , the Republican Agricultural Commissioner of Texas   who previously granted amnesty to cupcakes, cakes, pies, and brownies in the state's school system despite efforts from other officials to reduce exploding rates of childhood obesity   is fighting for the right of school districts to install deep fryers. In an editorial submitted to the Houston Chronicle , Miller elaborated his proposal to allow school districts to install deep fryers and sell soda. "I believe each school district   not the state or federal government   should decide what foods are offered to students," Miller wrote. "It's about giving back local control and allowing each school district to make the best decision for their community." If a school district chooses not to implement the proposal, that's fine, says Miller. "That's the beauty here. It's not about French fries; it's about freedom." Not all officials feel, as Miller apparently does, that children should be asked to choose between fried foods or otherwise. "I am actually baffled and sorry that Commissioner Miller did what was not good for kids," said former Agriculture Commissioner Susan Combs, who was responsible for the ban of both the deep fryer and the soda machine from schools. "If you give children bad choices, they will make them." MORE : Pennsylvania McDonald's Bans Teens and Kids From Entering Without a Chaperone


Detroit is set to turn hot this coming week, according to drone-powered weather forecasting service Saildrone . Temperatures will rise even more on Monday, with a high of 90 degrees. Light rainfall is also in store tomorrow. Tomorrow's forecast shows the greatest likelihood of rain at 91 percent, with rain possible through Sunday. Skies will be mostly cloudy today and partly cloudy on Monday. Winds will remain light throughout the week, with the highest speeds today at only 11 mph. This story was created automatically using Saildrone's local weather forecast data, then reviewed by an editor. We also incorporate historic weather data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


Jersey City should be fairly dry this coming week, but there is light rainfall ahead, according to drone-powered weather forecasting service Saildrone . The best chance of rain is predicted on Thursday at 67 percent, with the potential for light rainfall of 0.84 inches. The next few days will also bring warm temperatures, forecast to last through Thursday. Temperatures will reach a high of 89 degrees today. Skies will be cloudy today and partly cloudy tomorrow through Monday. Winds will reach a modest high of 14 mph on Sunday, while today and tomorrow will remain calmer. 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.


PEBBLE BEACH, Calif.   A U.S. Open is normally no place for a perfectionist. The exacting toll of playing a major championship on the year's most difficult golf course against the best players is, by definition, an exercise in diminishing returns. Errors are part and parcel of an imperfect process and it's not about how many mistakes you avoid, it's how you mitigate the damage. It's a particular test that a player like Justin Rose wouldn't appear suited for, at least on paper. The Englishman is a pathological perfectionist. Range sessions with swing coach Sean Foley are legendary and even the slightest flaw is often magnified to distraction. It's a formula that's worked for Rose who has 10 PGA Tour victories, an Olympic gold medal and a major. And not just any major, either. That 2013 victory at the Merion U.S. Open was the kind of triumph that will be retold by future generations. His 4-iron approach into the last green was immediately compared to Ben Hogan's famous 1-iron from a similar spot. It was a grinding par, some would say an imperfect par. That's not exactly Rose's calling card, but at a national championship, sometimes you have to get dirty. It was similar for Rose on Friday at Pebble Beach. A day after matching the lowest U.S. Open round (65) on the seaside links with birdies at his last three holes, he plodded his way to 1-under 70 that was just as impressive given the increasingly difficult conditions. It was a "scrambling" start for Rose with two birdies through his first nine holes and twice as many par saves, and his 1-over closing nine was every bit as impressive. "I was a couple under going to (No.) 8 and felt like there was more birdies out there. But the back nine proved to be a bit more of a struggle. But a good day," Rose said. By U.S. Open standards it was a great day. U.S. Open: Full-field scores | Full coverage Rose, who began his round on No. 10, salvaged par with a 5-footer at the eighth and a deft lag putt from off the green at the ninth. It was the kind of round that doesn't look like much on the scoreboard but will prove to be crucial if the 38-year-old manages to lift his second U.S. Open title on Sunday. For a player like Rose, who demands so much of himself, par is a treasured currency at a U.S. Open. "You know you're going to need to make those sort of key, 5-, 6-, 7-, 8-foot putts for par," said Rose, who led by two when he completed his second round. "They're kind of 50/50 putts. So, when you make them you are keeping up the momentum and then you miss one you really feel like you've lost something. Even though they're 50/50 putts, the psychological gain from making them is like a whole shot." And it wasn't just the par saves that kept Rose moving in the desired direction. Even his bogeys had an air of purpose to them. When he missed the fairway left at the first hole and drew an awful lie he chipped down the fairway, hit a wedge to 7 feet and two-putted for his first dropped shot of the day. Although Rose is known for his ball-striking, on Friday it was his short game that proved to be the needed spark to remain in the hunt. He was 6-for-8 in scrambling in his second round and is 7-for-8 for the week in sand saves. It was the kind of performance that even impressed Jordan Spieth , the game's undisputed short-game magician who was paired with Rose for the first two rounds. "He's chipping and putting beautifully, and not hitting it probably as well as he'd like to, and he's still leading the U.S. Open," Spieth said. "That's scary for Justin Rose. I've made more birdies than him, and he's beating me by six. It just shows you how important it is to really do that solid on and around the greens here." For Rose it was a typical type "A" response to his start. For two days he's outplayed the world's best players but he knows he'll need an "extra gear" if he's going to maintain his advantage. Just as Rose completed his round the marine layer began to break for the first time in three days and the breeze, which has been benign, began to freshen. Pebble Beach isn't going to get any easier. "If the greens get firmer and the wind is a little bit in and off to the right and the perfect shot is the hold 5-iron, but you know it's a premium shot because if it comes off fiery you're way through the lot," Rose explained. "If you hold it up in the breeze and land it soft that's the premium golf shot. And sometimes to win tournaments you need to find that level of your game." For Rose, his quest for perfection is a response to the imperfect U.S. Open universe, not in spite of it. Things are bound to get sideways, it's simply how this championship works, but to win on the game's biggest stage you can never stop searching for perfection.


Curious just how far your dollar goes in New York City? We've rounded up the latest rental listings via rental site Zumper to get a sense of what to expect when it comes to hunting down an apartment in New York City if you're on a budget of $3,000/month. Read on for the listings. (Note: prices and availability are subject to change.) Hoodline offers data-driven analysis of local happenings and trends across cities. Links included in this article may earn Hoodline a commission on clicks and transactions. 65 Washington St., #7F (Dumbo) Here's this studio unit located at 65 Washington St., #7F. It's listed for $3,000/month. Amenities offered in the building include on-site laundry, a fitness center and storage space. In the apartment, there are hardwood floors. Luckily for pet owners, both dogs and cats are permitted. Expect a broker's fee equal to one month's rent. Walk Score indicates that the surrounding area is extremely walkable, is very bikeable and boasts excellent transit options. (See the complete listing here .) 90 Washington St., #5K (Financial District) Here's a studio unit at 90 Washington St., #5K that's also going for $3,000/month. The building offers assigned parking and on-site laundry. Good news for animal lovers: both dogs and cats are welcome here. There isn't a leasing fee associated with this rental. Per Walk Score ratings, this location is extremely walkable, is convenient for biking and has excellent transit. (Take a look at the full listing here .) 77 Lexington Ave., #4E (Kips Bay) Located at 77 Lexington Ave., #4E, here's a one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment that's listed for $3,000/month. In the unit, you can anticipate a dishwasher and ample closet space. Pets are not allowed. Look out for a broker's fee equal to one month's rent. Per Walk Score ratings, this location is a "walker's paradise," is convenient for biking and boasts excellent transit options. (See the complete listing here .) 305 W. 18th St., #1B (Hudson Yards-Chelsea-Flatiron-Union Square) Listed at $3,000/month, this studio condo is located at 305 W. 18th St., #1B. When it comes to building amenities, anticipate on-site laundry and a fitness center. If you've got a pet, you'll be happy to learn that cats and dogs are allowed. Expect a broker's fee equal to one month's rent. According to Walk Score, the area around this address has excellent walkability, is easy to get around on a bicycle and boasts excellent transit options. (See the complete listing here .) 49 Duffield St., #3R (Downtown Brooklyn) Finally, there's this one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment situated at 49 Duffield St., #3R. It's listed for $3,000/month. In the apartment, expect hardwood floors, in-unit laundry, a dishwasher, central air conditioning and generous closet space. For those with furry friends in tow, know that cats and dogs are welcome on this property. There's no leasing fee required for this rental. Walk Score indicates that this location is a "walker's paradise," is easy to get around on a bicycle and has excellent transit. (Take a gander at the complete listing here .) This story was created automatically using local real estate data, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


The chaos of the 2019 offseason will shape the NBA for years to come. Think about how much movement we've seen since the Raptors defeated the Warriors in Game 6 of the NBA Finals. Anthony Davis to the Lakers. Zion Williamson to the Pelicans. Kemba Walker to the Celtics. Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving to the Nets. Jimmy Butler to the Heat. Kawhi Leonard and Paul George to the Clippers. And those are only the big names. Video by FOX Sports NBA FREE AGENCY 2019: Best contracts | Worst contracts With free agency slowing down and no obvious trades on the horizon   cue the tweets from ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski!   let's run through the major transactions completed by every team this offseason and offer a final grade. (We'll stick with alphabetical order and a scale of A to F to keep things simple.) Atlanta Hawks: B+ In: Allen Crabbe, Bruno Fernando, De'Andre Hunter, Damian Jones, Jabari Parker, Chandler Parsons, Cam Reddish, Evan Turner Out: Kent Bazemore, Vince Carter, Dewayne Dedmon, Miles Plumlee, Taurean Prince, Omari Spellman Hawks general manager Travis Schlenk knows exactly what he wants to do. He filled in the gaps around Trae Young, Kevin Huerter and John Collins by drafting forwards in Hunter and Reddish. He also acquired expiring contracts in deals for Crabbe, Parsons and Turner. Atlanta should have great flexibility next summer with that money off the books. Boston Celtics: C- In: Carsen Edwards, Enes Kanter, Kemba Walker, Grant Williams Out: Aron Baynes, Al Horford, Kyrie Irving, Marcus Morris, Terry Rozier Re-signed: Daniel Theis, Brad Wanamaker Once Irving was no longer an option, the Celtics turned their attention toward Walker, the Hornets' all-time leading scorer. That's a nice save, but Boston also lost Horford, arguably its most important player, plus Baynes and Morris. That frontcourt rotation is going to be rough for head coach Brad Stevens. Brooklyn Nets: A In: Wilson Chandler, Nicolas Claxton, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, DeAndre Jordan, David Nwaba, Taurean Prince, Garrett Temple Out: Ed Davis, Jared Dudley, Treveon Graham, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Shabazz Napier, D'Angelo Russell Previously stuck in NBA purgatory with no assets, the Nets completed an incredible turnaround by signing both Durant and Irving. That should open a title window once Durant returns, though his recovery from an Achilles injury will be something to monitor. Sure, Brooklyn overpaid Jordan and watched a few key contributors leave for other teams, but the Nets got their stars. This is a huge win for general manager Sean Marks. Charlotte Hornets: F In: Terry Rozier, PJ Washington Out: Frank Kaminsky, Jeremy Lamb, Tony Parker, Kemba Walker This didn't go well. The Hornets let the franchise's greatest player walk for nothing when they could have traded him before the last two February deadlines if they had no intention of paying him. Lamb, the team's second-leading scorer in 2018-19, took a cheap contract from the Pacers. Charlotte responded to these losses by giving Rozier, a career 38.0 percent shooter, nearly $60 million. You could be looking at the worst team in the league here. Chicago Bulls: B In: Luke Kornet, Tomas Satoransky, Coby White, Thaddeus Young Out: Robin Lopez, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, Wayne Selden Re-signed: Ryan Arcidiacono, Shaquille Harrison So the Bulls did ... fine? Yes, Chicago had a strong offseason. The Bulls drafted White to be their point guard of the future, but they also added stability with Satoransky and Young, guys who will contribute on a consistent basis and be positive figures in the locker room. Cleveland Cavaliers: C In: Darius Garland, Kevin Porter Jr., Dylan Windler Out: Marquese Chriss, David Nwaba, JR Smith, Nik Stauskas The Cavs didn't really have the choice to participate in free agency. They took a chance on Garland with the No. 5 overall pick, and they traded up to select Porter at the end of the first round. Garland could become a star down the road, but his fit with Collin Sexton is questionable. Cleveland is firmly in the middle of a rebuild, so chasing talent isn't a bad strategy. Dallas Mavericks: C+ In: Seth Curry, Boban Marjanovic, Delon Wright Out: Trey Burke, Dirk Nowitzki Re-signed: JJ Barea, Dorian Finney-Smith, Maxi Kleber, Dwight Powell, Kristaps Porzingis Another summer, another free agency period with no stars heading to Dallas. The Mavs did lock up Porzingis, though, and the pairing of Porzingis and Luka Doncic could be one of the league's best guard-forward combos over the next decade   if Porzingis stays healthy. Curry and Wright were nice finds for backcourt depth. (We miss you, Dirk!) Denver Nuggets: B- In: Bol Bol, Jerami Grant Out: Tyler Lydon, Trey Lyles, Isaiah Thomas Grant should slide in perfectly next to Nikola Jokic, but other than that trade, the Nuggets were content to keep their players together. After Denver finished second in the Western Conference at 54-28, it's hard to argue with that approach. Detroit Pistons: C In: Sekou Doumbouya, Tim Frazier, Markieff Morris, Derrick Rose, Tony Snell Out: Wayne Ellington, Jon Leuer, Zaza Pachulia, Glenn Robinson III, Ish Smith The Pistons aren't a contender in the Eastern Conference, and they won't bottom out with Blake Griffin and Andre Drummond on the roster. The veterans Detroit signed should allow the Pistons to capture a playoff berth. That's pretty much this team's ceiling, though. Doumbouya is too much of a project to help immediately. Golden State Warriors: C- In: Alec Burks, Willie Cauley-Stein, Jordan Poole, Glenn Robinson III, D'Angelo Russell Out: Jordan Bell, Quinn Cook, DeMarcus Cousins, Kevin Durant, Andre Iguodala Re-signed: Kevon Looney, Klay Thompson Losing Durant ensured the Warriors were never going to receive a top grade. However, Golden State did re-sign Thompson, the top priority once Durant was off the table, and it brought back Looney on a surprisingly cheap deal. Russell can be used as a trade asset if he doesn't make sense next to Stephen Curry and Thompson. The Warriors are no longer the title favorites, but they didn't completely fail despite Durant's departure. Houston Rockets: C In: Anthony Bennett, Tyson Chandler, Deyonta Davis, Russell Westbrook Out: Nene Hilario, Chris Paul Re-signed: Gerald Green, Danuel House, Austin Rivers Evaluating the Rockets' offseason boils down to evaluating the Paul-for-Westbrook trade. There are several questions about how Westbrook and Harden will work together   covered in detail as part of Sporting News' trade grades   so average seems fair. (It's a cop out, but this is such an odd pairing it's difficult to say what happens until we see it in action.) Indiana Pacers: B- In: Goga Bitadze, Malcolm Brogdon, Justin Holiday, Jeremy Lamb, TJ McConnell, TJ Warren Out: Bojan Bogdanovic, Darren Collison, Tyreke Evans, Cory Joseph, Wesley Matthews, Kyle O'Quinn, Thaddeus Young There are a lot of solid players in that "Out" row, but Indiana did well to steal Brogdon from the Bucks and sign Lamb to a team-friendly deal. The biggest addition, of course, will be a healthy Victor Oladipo. The Pacers remain plucky and will fly under the radar into the postseason once again. Los Angeles Clippers: A In: Paul George, Mo Harkless, Mfiondu Kabengele, Kawhi Leonard Out: Wilson Chandler, Danilo Gallinari, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Garrett Temple Re-signed: Patrick Beverley, JaMychal Green, Rodney McGruder, Ivica Zubac Clippers president Lawrence Frank and general manager Michael Winger mortgaged the future in order to acquire George and Leonard   and it's the right call every day of the week. Los Angeles is now a true contender and arguably the favorite to win the NBA championship next season. The Clips possess star power, depth and versatility across the board. An easy A. Los Angeles Lakers: A- In: Avery Bradley, Quinn Cook, DeMarcus Cousins, Troy Daniels, Anthony Davis, Jared Dudley, Danny Green Out: Lonzo Ball, Isaac Bongo, Reggie Bullock, Josh Hart, Brandon Ingram, Mike Muscala, Mo Wagner Re-signed: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Alex Caruso, JaVale McGee, Rajon Rondo The Lakers put Davis and LeBron James together. That alone is enough for a high mark. Losing the Leonard sweepstakes drops Los Angeles down from a clean A, but overall, the team is much improved and will be a threat to reach the NBA Finals as long as Davis and James avoid significant injuries. Memphis Grizzlies: B+ In: Grayson Allen, Brandon Clarke, Jae Crowder, Solomon Hill, Andre Iguodala, Josh Jackson, Tyus Jones, Ja Morant, Miles Plumlee Out: Avery Bradley, Mike Conley, CJ Miles, Chandler Parsons, Delon Wright Re-signed: Jonas Valanciunas The "Grit and Grind" era of Grizzlies basketball is done   it's time for a fresh start. The duo of Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. will push Memphis up in the League Pass rankings, and Clarke may force draft scouts to ask, "Why didn't that dude go higher?" Expect the Grizz to eventually trade Iguodala. (Free Iggy!) Miami Heat: B+ In: Jimmy Butler, Tyler Herro, Meyers Leonard, KZ Okpala Out: Rodney McGruder, Josh Richardson, Dwyane Wade, Hassan Whiteside The Heat entered free agency with no obvious ways to increase their talent level, so obviously Pat Riley maneuvered his way toward one of the best available players on the market in Butler. Dumping Whiteside's deal should free up minutes for Bam Adebayo and rid Erik Spoelstra of a few headaches throughout the season. And don't sleep on Herro, the rookie who dominated Summer League with his shooting and scoring ability. (We miss you, D-Wade!) Milwaukee Bucks: B- In: Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Robin Lopez, Wesley Matthews Out: Malcolm Brogdon, Nikola Mirotic, Tony Snell Re-signed: George Hill, Brook Lopez, Khris Middleton Brogdon was Milwaukee's second-best player behind Giannis Antetokounmpo during certain playoff games, so that loss is going to sting. Still, the Bucks should be viewed as a legitimate championship contender. With Hill, Lopez and Middleton back in the fold and Leonard out of the East, the Bucks may roll to the top overall seed in consecutive seasons. Minnesota Timberwolves: C In: Jordan Bell, Jarrett Culver, Jake Layman, Shabazz Napier, Noah Vonleh Out: Taj Gibson, Derrick Rose, Dario Saric, Anthony Tolliver The Wolves didn't make any substantial moves. They missed on signing D'Angelo Russell, who ultimately went to the Warriors. He would have been an intriguing fit next to Karl-Anthony Towns. Culver could eventually turn into a great wing, but he is only 20 years old. Everything here falls into the "meh" category. New Orleans Pelicans: A In: Lonzo Ball, Derrick Favors, Josh Hart, Jaxson Hayes, Brandon Ingram, Nicolo Melli, JJ Redick, Zion Williamson Out: Ian Clark, Anthony Davis, Tim Frazier, Solomon Hill, Stanley Johnson, Elfrid Payton, Julius Randle How does a team trading away one of the NBA's top stars earn an A? You let president of basketball operations David Griffin rebuild the franchise. Griffin sauntered past the wreckage of the Lakers-Pelicans negotiations and landed a massive haul of prospects and picks. Williamson was a product of bouncing balls, but the Pels also went out and snagged veterans like Favors and Redick in free agency. Time for a parade, New Orleans. New York Knicks: C- In: RJ Barrett, Reggie Bullock, Wayne Ellington, Taj Gibson, Marcus Morris, Elfrid Payton, Bobby Portis, Julius Randle Out: Mario Hezonja, DeAndre Jordan, Luke Kornet, Emmanuel Mudiay, Lance Thomas, Noah Vonleh Owner James Dolan set the stage for failure after declaring the Knicks would have a "successful offseason" with this class of free agents. Sure thing, buddy! The Porzingis trade looks silly now that the cap space New York gained didn't matter, but none of the short-term contracts the Knicks passed around will destroy their future outlook. And hey, maybe RJ Barrett has a chance to be an All-Star if they don't botch his development. Oklahoma City Thunder: B+ In: Darius Bazley, Danilo Gallinari, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Mike Muscala, Chris Paul Out: Raymond Felton, Paul George, Jerami Grant, Markieff Morris, Russell Westbrook Re-signed: Nerlens Noel It's not fun losing an All-Star forward and franchise icon in the same offseason, but man, general manager Sam Presti may have been handed a blessing in disguise. OKC was stuck in luxury tax hell with no clear exit door. The Thunder now hold 15 first-round picks over the next seven drafts following the George, Grant and Westbrook trades. Plus, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has all the tools to become a top point guard in a few years. This grade could receive a bump depending on what Presti does with Paul. Orlando Magic: D In: Al-Farouq Aminu, Chuma Okeke Out: Timofey Mozgov Re-signed: Khem Birch, Michael Carter-Williams, Amile Jefferson, Terrence Ross, Nikola Vucevic If the mission is to guarantee a bottom-four playoff seed in the East, then sure. But what is the point of retaining all these big men if the Magic want to develop Mo Bamba, Aaron Gordon and Jonathan Isaac? What is the plan at point guard? No one knows when Markelle Fultz will actually play basketball. It's a very confusing situation in Orlando. Philadelphia 76ers: B In: Al Horford, Raul Neto, Kyle O'Quinn, Josh Richardson, Matisse Thybulle Out: Jimmy Butler, Boban Marjanovic, TJ McConnell, Greg Monroe, JJ Redick Re-signed: James Ennis, Tobias Harris, Shake Milton, Mike Scott The Sixers will have a gigantic starting five for the 2019-20 season: Ben Simmons, Richardson, Harris, Horford and Joel Embiid. That should prevent Philly from falling down the East standings, but no Butler and Redick along the perimeter will hurt. When things get tight in the playoffs, which player will control the key possessions? This will be a fascinating group to watch under head coach Brett Brown. Phoenix Suns: F In: Aron Baynes, Ty Jerome, Cameron Johnson, Frank Kaminsky, Ricky Rubio, Dario Saric Out: Troy Daniels, Richaun Holmes, Josh Jackson, De'Anthony Melton, TJ Warren Trading away Warren. Dropping down in the draft to select Johnson, who likely would have been available in the 20s. Trading for Saric, who will be expecting a decent contract as a restricted free agent next summer. Overpaying Rubio. Giving up on Jackson two years after picking him in the top five. Cool, cool. Portland Trail Blazers: C In: Kent Bazemore, Mario Hezonja, Nassir Little, Anthony Tolliver, Hassan Whiteside Out: Al-Farouq Aminu, Seth Curry, Mo Harkless, Enes Kanter, Jake Layman, Meyers Leonard, Evan Turner Re-signed: Rodney Hood The Blazers were part of multiple transactions, but did they improve? Portland could maximize Whiteside's skills under Damian Lillard's leadership, but there's always a chance he complains about playing time or touches in mid-January. Bazemore is a complementary wing next to Lillard and CJ McCollum, though he doesn't provide the same level of defense as Aminu and Harkless. The Blazers are doing a fair amount of hoping with these moves. Sacramento Kings: C In: Trevor Ariza, Dewayne Dedmon, Kyle Guy, Richaun Holmes, Cory Joseph, Tyler Lydon Out: Corey Brewer, Alec Burks, Willie Cauley-Stein, Kosta Koufos Re-signed: Harrison Barnes Ariza and Barnes are a bit overpaid at the forward spots, and letting Cauley-Stein slip away for a cheap contract elsewhere is a curious decision. The Kings didn't go too crazy beyond that, so no glaring problems in Sacramento. Just don't shake up the core of De'Aaron Fox, Buddy Hield and Marvin Bagley III. San Antonio Spurs: C In: DeMarre Carroll, Keldon Johnson, Trey Lyles, Luka Samanic Out: Davis Bertans Re-signed: Rudy Gay Marcus Morris reneged on his original two-year deal with the Spurs to sign a one-year deal with the Knicks. That wasn't ideal considering San Antonio planned to replace Bertans with Morris. The Spurs did manage to sign Carroll, who always felt destined to wear a Spurs uniform, and Lyles once Morris bailed. More important than any outside addition is the status of Dejounte Murray, who underwent ACL surgery prior to the 2018-19 season. Toronto Raptors: D In: Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Stanley Johnson Out: Danny Green, Kawhi Leonard Re-signed: Patrick McCaw The 2019 NBA Finals MVP is gone, so yeah, this stinks for Raptors fans. Toronto did everything right   Leonard just picked the Clippers. This year's team should still be good enough to reach the playoffs, but president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri can see a teardown on the horizon. Utah Jazz: A In: Bojan Bogdanovic, Mike Conley, Ed Davis, Jeff Green, Emmanuel Mudiay Out: Grayson Allen, Jae Crowder, Derrick Favors, Kyle Korver, Ricky Rubio Conley is an upgrade over Rubio and the exact piece the Jazz wanted to place beside Donovan Mitchell. Bogdanovic is terrific blend of size, shooting and defense. Davis is always underrated. Utah didn't grab headlines, but playing against these guys is going to be a pain. The Jazz are built to advance deep into the postseason. Washington Wizards: D In: Davis Bertans, Rui Hachimura, CJ Miles, Admiral Schofield, Ish Smith, Isaiah Thomas, Mo Wagner Out: Trevor Ariza, Jeff Green, Dwight Howard, Jabari Parker, Bobby Portis, Tomas Satoransky Re-signed: Thomas Bryant So, what is the goal in Washington? Guarantee Bradley Beal leads the NBA in minutes and usage percentage? This group doesn't move the needle in any meaningful way. The individual actions aren't terrible, but when putting them all in a pile, this roster is ... oh boy. Related slideshow: 10 best moves of the 2019 NBA offseason (Provided by Yardbarker)


Rare Cars, Parts & Pepsi Bottles You ever hear the story of how Machu Picchu was found? Hiram Bingham was in the Andes Mountains looking for something else, but a guide knew of some ruins nearby. The guide took him there, yet nothing could be seen until he came around a rock outcropping. And there it was, Machu Picchu in all its jungle-covered glory. This yard I photographed in the hills of North Carolina, while not to that level of discovery, had its own historically significant pieces in the ground. I was in North Carolina for the 2014 Hot Rod Power Tour but got there a few days early to allow myself time to photograph barn finds. A mutual friend relayed me a name and number to call about a few cool cars that were sitting nearby. When I called, a woman picked up. I asked for the gentleman who had all the cars. She told me her husband had owned the cars and had died years ago. Apologizing profusely, I explained that I meant no disrespect, as I was just following up on a lead. New Dodge Challenger slideshow and pricing Before I hung up though, I asked if a few of his old cars were still around. She told me that she had one of his old cars still there, a 1968 Road Runner. I was more than welcome to come see the car. Whenever I drive to a location, I usually check out the area using Google Earth. I do this to see where I'm going so I don't get lost, but also to check out the surroundings to see what else is there. The image on my phone showed a large junkyard that was full of cars, but once I got there I was devastated. From the small, one-lane driveway to the house, you could see nothing not a car or truck anywhere. Once I pulled down the road, things started to look up. I could see a Challenger race car just over one hill, a truck on the other. As I came around a hill to the house and barn where the owner's wife was meeting me, then I understood. I felt like Bingham coming around that rock outcropping. There was grain silo on one side of the property and trees on the other, and everything else was in a small depression. But there it all was, row upon row of Mopars hidden in the hills. The owner came out and we went into the barn where her office was. She told me how her husband had collected Mopars for decades. He was well known in the area for what he built and raced. He was good friends with the Pettys. All the Pettys were over there at one point or another. They had collected a bunch of Petty memorabilia through the years, and now it was scattered throughout the property. That collection included probably the largest collection of Richard Petty Pepsi bottles in the world. Case after case of Richard Petty Pepsi. I have not and probably will never see anything like that again. The barn was storage for many individual parts for cars: rearend centersections, carbs, intakes, a wall of wheels. There were 426 Hemi parts scattered about. Around the corner I found what the owner's wife had meant when she said she had one of his cars left. All the other cars outside were just projects or junk. But the vehicle in the side garage was the car he drove and worked on. It had his name painted right above the door, a 1968 Road Runner with a Petty prepped 426 Wedge. Dad comes home with 1969 Camaro instead of used Honda Outside were acres upon acres of Mopar muscle cars, with a smattering of GMs and Fords for spice. The owner's wife decided to stay at the house, but her brother walked the property with me. As we walked around the barn I saw a rusted hulk of a car sitting there. He looked at me and asked, "Do you know what this is?" I looked closely, and I knew I had seen the car before. It was the 1965 Barracuda drag car campaigned by Richard Petty. When NASCAR banned the 426 Hemi, Richard Petty decided to go drag racing. And he did a fairly good job at it. He had this little 1965 Barracuda built with a 426 Hemi and was having a blast. Unfortunately, a piece broke on this car, sending him into the stands and killing a spectator. After that it was pushed into the famous (or infamous) Petty junkyard out behind the house. But as the story goes, when the Pettys went to expand the facility, instead of crushing the car, their friend grabbed it and dumped it behind his barn. A real piece of drag racing and NASCAR history just lying rusting in the weeds behind the barn. While there was a handful of Chevelle SS cars and a Ford or two, the overwhelming majority were Mopars. You could tell that nobody had been out there in a while. Many of the cars were just left in the field. Some were complete or missing just a handful of pieces. It became almost hypnotic, row after row of cool cars. Duster 340 here, Super Bee over there, more GTXs than I've seen in one place. It was an absolute honor to be allowed to walk around freely and document all the vehicles that they had there. After thoroughly walking the yard photographing most of the vehicles in it, I was about to depart when the owner's wife asked if I wanted to see the Hemi in the barn. She had mentioned it earlier, but did not go beyond saying that there was one around. As we opened that last barn the strong scent of dead something blasted out. But there really was a real 426 Hemi tucked away on the side of the barn. Who would have thought that hidden in the hills of North Carolina would be a yard full of Mopars, nearly untouched by time? This is what remains of Richard Petty's 43 Jr. drag-racing Barracuda. One of the only Chevrolet products on the property is this 1967 Chevelle SS396 crushed by a tree. Chevrolet Camaro slideshow and 360 degree panorama An original 1971 Plymouth Duster 340 sits nose up. Nice 1968 Barracuda convertible sitting in the yard. Real 1971 Plymouth 'Cuda sits with its own front end in the trunk! Video: Carpenter builds wooden street car One of many 1972-'74 Dodge Challengers littering the area. A real 1970 Dodge Super Bee, a 383 Magnum car with "stinger" hood still attached. The remains of a 1970 Dodge Coronet R/T sitting among other Mopars. Ultra-rare Cobra Jet Ranchero finally sells after being parked for decades While most of the cars were outside, the barn was used for parts storage. Here's a pile of aluminum intakes and centersections out of 8-3/4 rearends. This is the Road Runner the owner was working on when he passed away. Among the Petty parts in the barn was this original NASCAR Hemi intake. Motorcyclist run down in road rage incident over cell phone A wall of Richard Petty Pepsi bottles and this was just one of the walls. The owner meant what she said: This is the Hemi in the barn.


There's always plenty to do in Phoenix, but finding fun on the cheap can be another story. If you're on the hunt for events and activities to mix up your routine, we've got four solid options to enjoy for the low, low price of zero dollars, from a community discussion on cobots to a discussion about affordable homeownership. Hoodline offers data-driven analysis of local happenings and trends across cities. Links included in this article may earn Hoodline a commission on clicks and transactions. Dialogue Session to Improve Community-Police Relations From the event description: Faith community leaders, law enforcement and others engage in a community dialogue toward solutions. We will discuss the issues with community-police relations since the beginning of Chief Willams' tenure to the present. When: Tuesday, July 30, 6-8 p.m. Where: First Institutional Baptist Church, 1141 E. Jefferson St. Admission: Free Click here for more details, and to get your tickets The Future of Phoenix Convention Center South Building From the event description: The City of Phoenix, Arizona, is seeking community input and would like to discuss and collect feedback about the future of the Phoenix Convention Center South Building and site. The forum will include remarks by Mayor Kate Gallego and a presentation by Community and Economic Development Director Christine Mackay and Phoenix Convention Center Director John Chan. Light refreshments will be served. When: Thursday, Aug. 1, 2-3:30 p.m. Where: Downtown Phoenix, 1 E. Washington St., Suite 230 Admission: Free Click here for more details, and to get your tickets Grand Opening of Ketamine Treatment Centers of America From the event description: Learn how ketamine infusion treats chronic pain, depression and PTSD. Ketamine Treatment Centers of America provides ketamine infusions for the treatment of treatment resistant depression, post traumatic stress and chronic pain. When: Thursday, Aug. 1, 6-9 p.m. Where: 3201 W Peoria Ave, 3201 W. Peoria Ave. Admission: Free Click here for more details, and to get your tickets Turning the Corner: Options for Affordable Homeownership From the event description: LISC Phoenix invites you to the next Turning the Corner meeting to learn about how options for affordable homeownership can address displacement and gentrification. When: Friday, Aug. 2, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Where: Vitalyst Health Foundation (or by phone), 2929 N. Central Ave., #1550 Admission: Free (Attend Online or by Phone) Click here for more details, and to get your tickets This story was created automatically using local event data, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


As a gunman opened fire inside a Virginia Beach municipal office on Friday, these people stepped up to help save the lives of others. An intern rushed down the hallways shouting "gun, gun, gun" to warn others, a military serviceman helped transport the injured with his surfboard, a police detective was injured during a shootout with the suspect and over 100 first responders arrived at the chaotic scene. Here are their stories. A quick thinking intern When the first shots rang out on the second floor of Building 2 Friday afternoon, a 21-year-old intern, Jack Jones, ran down the hallway shouting "gun, gun, gun" and "everybody get out." Officials in Virginia Beach are heralding the quick thinking of the public works intern for potentially saving lives during the shooting Friday. Jones' heroic story was relayed to CNN by his grandfather, Louis Jones, a councilman and former mayor of Virginia Beach. "The shooter came to the office where he was sitting, looked in at him, and apparently he wasn't a target," Louis Jones said. The shooter continued walking down the hall, towards an area where supervisors sat, when Jack Jones heard the first shot ring out. "Jack got up and looked out the hallway because he heard the noise, and then he saw the fellow with a gun at the time he fired the second shot in the office, and so [Jack] started going down the hall yelling, 'gun, gun, gun,' and 'everybody get out,'" his grandfather said. Louis Jones said he had heard from the city manager that several workers in Building 2 credit Jack Jones' actions with saving their lives. Extraordinary efforts of a good Samaritan In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, one good Samaritan, a military serviceman, who was inside the complex of city buildings Friday afternoon, jumped into action to help transport the injured. The man, who has not been identified, offered his services   as well as those of his truck and a surfboard he had in the back, according to Virginia Beach Police spokeswoman Linda Kuehn. First responders had pulled a patient from the building but had no way to get them to treatment since ambulances weren't able to reach that area yet. "He jumped up, offered that surfboard and got that patient out," she said. The patient was loaded onto the surfboard, onto the truck and driven to get treatment, Kuehn said. Officials Monday described the extraordinary efforts of the man and said he was plain-clothed when he first arrived but later put on some parts of his military garb that he had in his truck. Police detective injured during shootout The first arriving officers were on the scene within minutes of the first 911 call and are credited to stopping the gunman, who died after a long gunfight with officers. Four officers, two detectives and two canine handlers, arrived at the municipal building and the sound of gunfire led them to the shooter. The officers and the shooter engaged in a "long-term" and "large" gun battle, with the "multiple, multiple" rounds fired by the gunman, according to Virginia Beach Police Chief James Cervera. One officer, a detective, who worked felony crimes out of the police headquarters, was injured but survived a gunshot because he was wearing a protective vest that was stronger than normal. "The detective obviously would not be wearing one in his day to day routine, because it just wouldn't be conducive to what he's doing, so him realizing the violent nature of this and that it could potentially lead to what it did, fortunately put on the heavier duty body armor," Brian Luciano, a Virginia Beach master police officer and the president of the Virginia Beach Police Benevolent Association told CNN in an interview. The vest that the detective wore, known as a plate carrier, is similar to a flak jacket and is the heavier duty option of the vests available to the force, according to Luciano. The detective, who has not been identified, was released from the hospital the same day. Over 100 first responders Slideshow by USA Today Fifty-nine EMS providers with 22 ambulances responded to the chaotic scene of the shooting, where they set up a triage area and transported six people to multiple hospitals, according to Bruce Nedelka, division chief for the Virginia Beach Department of Emergency Medical Services. "As things were breaking more and more and more we were treating and transporting the few who were survivors," Nedelka said. "Everybody did an extremely excellent job for a situation that is different than anything from what is trained for." Five EMS SWAT medics entered into the building, embedded with police officers responding to the shooting. "They were in there as bullets were flying." Nedelka said. "They are there for those police officers in case they get injured." Nedelka described how a triage area was set up at a distance from the building, where victims were taken to, though there was not extended care done there. In a mass casualty incident like this, he said, standard practice is relaxed. "This is different. This is quick. We have to get them stabilized as best we can while we're transporting. We don't stay at the scene and do a lot of things   much of it is done en route to the hospital because we want to do the greatest good," he said. Nine fire trucks and 54 firefighters also responded Friday, Nedelka said. Virginia Beach's EMS department is unique as it is composed of a number of full-time volunteers in addition to career workers. The volunteers were in their regular day-to-day jobs when the shooting call first came in. "When something like this goes out they know instinctively, let's get in our vehicles, let's leave our job, let's leave our family," Nedelka said. "One person was actually going to pick up his daughter and he called his wife and said 'I have to redirect because this call has come in. I have to serve.'"


Looking to get some fresh air? From a walking tour to boat rentals, there's plenty to do when it comes to travel and outdoor activities coming up in Seattle this week. Read on for a rundown. Hoodline offers data-driven analysis of local happenings and trends across cities. Links included in this article may earn Hoodline a commission on clicks and transactions. 'Beneath the Streets' subterranean tour From the event description: Journey beneath the streets of Seattle to uncover the city's hidden history. During this intimate 60-minute walking tour, you'll explore subterranean passageways and five city blocks of 1890s architecture, while getting a dose of "only in Seattle" stories from your friendly and knowledgeable tour guide. When: Friday, July 5, 9:30 a.m. Where: Pioneer Square, 102 Cherry St. Price: $10 Click here for more details, and to get your tickets Score 15% off a canal tour From the deal description: For $10, receive a coupon that will get you 15% off a canal tour valued at $275 or more. Join us on this ninety-minute tour of Seattle's romantic and historic freshwater shoreline. Where: 7356 40th Ave. SW, Gatewood Price: $10 (For coupon only) Click here for more details, and to nab this deal Get 44% off distillery tour and tasting From the deal description: Vodka and Italian-inspired limoncello are the signature spirits that come out of this distillery. Enjoy a tasting and tour for two with treats and a cocktail booklet. Where: Letterpress Distilling, 85 S. Atlantic St., Suite 110 Price: $27 (44% discount off regular price) Click here for more details, and to take advantage of this deal Up to 20% off boat rental at Seattle Donut Boat From the deal description: A group can sit comfortably in an electric donut boat and embark on a two-hour, self-guided trip on Lake Union, enjoying the views. The boat accommodates up to six people. When: Saturday, July 6 and Sunday, July 7 Where: Seattle Donut Boat Co. 1001 Fairview Ave. North, Lake Union Price: $159 (20% discount off regular price) Click here for more details, and to score this deal Parking in Seattle can be tough, especially during popular events. To find free or cheap parking and to book parking in advance, see this map of Seattle parking from SpotAngels. And to get there by public transportation, check King County Metro or Sound Transit for nearby options. This story was created automatically using local event data, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


A friendly emu bonded with cyclists in the Parklands Conservation Area in Queensland.


The ruins of an ancient city, the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright, and an icy volcanic landscape are officially part of our collective world heritage. For the past 43 years, representatives of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) have met to evaluate which natural and cultural wonders around the globe merit World Heritage status. Icons including the Galápagos Islands , Macchu Picchu , and the Great Barrier Reef are inscribed on the list. Some sites are endangered by threats such as overtourism and climate change. (Take a look back at the 2018 inscriptions. ) This year's meeting of the World Heritage Committee, held in the walled city of Baku, Azerbaijan, added 29 new cultural and natural properties to the list the largest number of new added sites since 2001 bringing the total to 1,121. Each site meets at least one of 10 cultural and natural criteria , meaning that they are considered to be a biodiversity hot spot, a masterpiece of creative genius, or a traditional human settlement, among other qualities. Azerbaijan had much to celebrate at the meeting; the historic center of Sheki with the Khan's Palace was inscribed this year, making it the Eurasian nation's third World Heritage site. Discover the ancient Silk Road city of Baku , another UNESCO-listed site, in these beautiful pictures. From one of the world's oldest and largest aquaculture systems to the ancient tombs of Japan , here are 29 new World Heritage properties and what makes them worth the trip: Meghan Miner Murray is a contributing researcher for National Geographic Traveler, a freelance writer, and a scuba guide based on Hawaii Island. Follow her on Instagram .


The town of Brookline, Massachusetts, is set to become the first municipality in the U.S. to provide free menstrual tampons and pads in all public restrooms. According to the Brookline Tab , residents voted to approve the measure in a historic first on Thursday. Under the new bylaw, menstrual hygiene products will reportedly be placed in both women's restrooms and men's restrooms to accommodate those who identify as female and those who do not. The measure reportedly came as the result of efforts made by group of students from Brookline High School. The students first began to bring attention to the issue after publishing a column on the stigma surrounding periods in their school paper last year, WBUR reports . The law is reportedly set to take effect next year. It reportedly cost $7,300 to cover expenses for dispensary machines and the products this year. The report came a month after lawmaker in Georgia set aside funds in the state's budget for the first time ever to provide low-income women and girls with free menstrual hygiene products.


A man was shot and killed late Sunday at a gas station in Orlando, police said. Officials with the Orlando Police Department said officers were called just after 11:30 p.m. to a 7-Eleven at the intersection of Kirkman and Vineland roads. Police found a man suffering from a gunshot wound at the scene. The man was pronounced dead at a hospital. The name of the man killed has not been released. Investigators said the shooting is an isolated incident and they are working to identify the people involved. Police are asking anyone with information on the shooting to call Crimeline at 800-423-TIPS. READ MORE: Orlando police investigating deadly shooting CHECK OUT WESH: Stay in the know with the latest Orlando news, weather and sports. Get the top stories and all the scores from the team at WESH.


When the 100-foot-tall tree in Roosevelt Hawkins front yard fell Wednesday night, there was no mistaking something was wrong. "We heard it, and the house was shaking," Hawkins said. But this was a day Hawkins knew was coming and warned the city. "I have called the city forestry department for two-and-a-half years trying to get these trees taken care of out here," Hawkins said. "And we called again last month, Nothing. They only said, 'We got you on the list.'" When we tell Hawkins he's likely at the top of the list now, he only says "I hope so" with a chuckle. The tree landed with the bulk of its weight on Hawkins' home, but branches affected the structures on either side too. Now his neighbor, Barbara Harris, worries she might be next as a large tree leans towards her home. "These trees are too big to be in the neighborhood," Harris said. "They are too big and too old." Harris said she reported the trees in front of her home as recently as three months ago since branches keep breaking off. "One was so big, it came down, boom!" Harris said. "I thought it had cracked the concrete." Harris said she was hopeful when someone spray-painted a red "X" on the front of one of the trees, but it was never removed. Now she hopes the city will take out all of the tallest trees on the city property in front of her home. "I hate to see my neighbor's house ruined like that," Harris said. "I really do, but cut it down. Because it's going to fall. It's going to fall eventually." "I wish they had taken me seriously," Hawkins adds. "But I feel good right now. Nobody got hurt. You can rebuild a house." Contact reporter Sara Machi on Facebook and Twitter . More local news: RELATED: How to beat the heat from the people who work in it RELATED: Veterans with PTSD receive support dogs RELATED: Evening storms cause more than 20,000 outages, dangerous heat to return after storms RELATED: Steakburger history as once closed Steak 'n Shake reopens


RALEIGH, N.C. - When Wendy Johnson applied for a promotion at the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, she was passed over for the job. She talked to a female co-worker who had also been passed over, and who said she heard that the bosses wanted a man for the job. So Johnson sued the state, claiming gender discrimination. Complicating the case are two issues. On one hand, the man who was ultimately hired for the job was rated as the most qualified applicant. He was the only one of the seven candidates who scored above-average in an interview test. On the other hand, state officials do indeed appear to have hired him in part because he is a man. They said at the time - before the lawsuit ever began - that it actually should be seen as a diversity hire: The office he was applying to join had an all-female staff. The man is not named in the lawsuit, which simply calls him John Doe. The DPS manager in charge of interviewing candidates, Lou Ann Avery, wrote in an email that she was recommending the man who was ultimately hired. She said he was the most qualified, and also that his gender was a plus. A different manager, Lisa Murray, then approved the request using the exact same language as in Avery's email. The position in question was a human resources assistant manager job in the state prison system's Western Foothills Regional Employment Office, located between Hickory and Morganton. "On February 22, 2017 we interviewed a total of 7 applicants," Avery wrote in the email, according to the Court of Appeals ruling. "Three applicants scored Average, three scored Below Average, Mr. (Doe) was the only Above Average score. Promoting Mr. (Doe) to the WFREO will also add diversity to an all female staff. I am recommending $42,159 salary for Mr. (Doe), a 10% increase from his current salary." For a while, it appeared that the state's argument would win - that officials had not committed gender discrimination. Johnson lost her original challenge, at the state's Office of Administrative Hearings. But she appealed the decision, and on Tuesday the North Carolina Court of Appeals ruled that the administrative law judge in the original case mishandled it. "It strains credulity to argue that Avery's statement (regarding the man's gender), made on an official employment document listing the 'JUSTIFICATION' for hire, does not bear directly on the contested employment action - which candidate to hire," the judges wrote in their ruling. So they sent Johnson's case back down to the administrative hearings office for a new hearing. The judges did rule against Johnson in one regard, saying she didn't have any grounds to claim that she was discriminated against for being a veteran. But on the question of whether being a woman cost her this promotion, the judges believed she may have a point. Their ruling said U.S. courts generally recognize different types of evidence and arguments about discrimination cases, including what they believe to be the case here, they wrote, "where an employment decision is the result of both legitimate and discriminatory motives." That type of case was explored by the U.S. Supreme Court in a landmark 1989 case, Price Waterhouse v. Hopkins. The North Carolina Court of Appeals ruling said the state also has its own legal framework and procedures for how to handle these cases. They found that the administrative law judge who handled Johnson's complaint did not follow that framework, so his ruling in favor of the state was flawed. Using the correct procedures, they said, there's a chance that Johnson might prove she was the victim of discrimination, and not simply a less-qualified candidate. But the judges said that "it is beyond our role as an appellate court" to look at the evidence themselves and make a decision, so they sent the case back to the Office of Administrative Hearings "to apply the correct framework, reweigh the evidence accordingly, and issue a new final decision." The decision was unanimous. Judge Hunter Murphy, a Republican, wrote the opinion and was joined by fellow judges Chris Dillon, a Republican, and John Arrowood, a Democrat. Visit The News & Observer (Raleigh, N.C.) at www.newsobserver.com


Yes, free-agent tackle Donald Penn is visiting Washington. No, it doesn't look like a signing is imminent. And, no, Penn's visit isn't a knee-jerk reaction to left tackle Trent Williams ' holdout. Speaking with reporters on Friday, coach Jay Gruden confirmed that Penn is in town, and that Penn will work out. "He came in last night, I think," Gruden said, adding that he hadn't met with Penn. "We'll probably just get a little brief workout just to see where he's at. . . . We'll have workouts throughout the course of the season with guys and keep them on a 'hot list' just in case something happens." Gruden downplayed the notion that Washington has rushed to evaluate Penn because Williams has extended his offseason boycott of the franchise into training camp. "It's not so much because of Trent, with Geron [Christian], we're keeping [him] out a bit as well, so we're short tackles now," Gruden said. "So we need another tackle. You know, the young tackles out there, really, there aren't very many of them out there, so you might have to go the veteran route   [we] talked to a few guys. There's a few other guys we might talk to here in the future, just for the depth-wise. Right now, we're at 12 offensive linemen that are practicing and that's way too short right now into training camp." This dynamic also makes Washington a team to watch when it comes to the roster churning that will happen throughout August, as well as the cuts from 90 to 53 that will happen on Labor Day weekend. Of course, a mending of the fences with Williams would go a long way toward addressing the issue.


Our top photos from the last 24 hours. Fireworks explode over the Brig "Rossiya" (Russia) as it floats on the Neva River during the Scarlet Sails festivities marking school graduation in Saint Petersburg, Russia. REUTERS/Anton Vaganov Aerialist Nik Wallenda walks the highwire with his sister Lijana over Times Square in New York. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz Cardi B performs at the BET Awards. REUTERS/Mike Blake Supporters attend a rally of Ekrem Imamoglu, mayoral candidate of the main opposition Republican People's Party, in Beylikduzu district, in Istanbul, Turkey. REUTERS/Kemal Aslan Seated in front of a portrait, White House senior adviser Jared Kushner is interviewed by Reuters at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, his shirt soaked after members of the crowd squirted him with water guns, joins supporters of Toronto's LGBTQ community as they march in one of North America's largest Pride parades, in Toronto. REUTERS/Chris Helgren Teddy Bonnet poses prior to the competition during the French 2019 Beards Championship in Paris. REUTERS/Philippe Wojazer A participant lies on a giant Transgender Pride Flag during the Equality March, organized by the LGBT community in Kiev, Ukraine. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich France's Griedge Mbock Bathy in action against Brazil during the Women's World Cup in France. REUTERS/Yves Herman Boris Johnson, a leadership candidate for Britain's Conservative Party, drinks water as he attends a hustings event in Birmingham, Britain. REUTERS/Hannah McKay Environmental activists block the railways as they protest against the climate change near Garzweiler open cast brown coal mine near Rommerskirchen, Germany. REUTERS/Thilo Schmuelgen Marks from thrown eggs and anti-extradition graffiti is seen on the walls of the Hong Kong Police headquarters in Hong Kong. REUTERS/Ann Wang North Korean leader Kim Jong Un reads a letter from U.S. President Donald Trump, in Pyongyang, North Korea. KCNA via REUTERS A young girl from Nicaragua reacts as a member of Mexico's National Guard looks at papers after detaining her, her mother and another woman, while trying to cross illegally the border between the U.S. and Mexico, in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. REUTERS/Jose Luis Gonzalez Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu looks on during a military helicopter flight above the Jordan Valley during the visit of US National Security Advisor John Bolton in the West Bank. Abir Sultan/Pool via REUTERS A supporter of Lieutenant General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, deputy head of the military council and head of paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), attaches a Sudanese national flag to the head of his camel during a meeting in Aprag village, Sudan. REUTERS/Umit Bektas SailGP Team Great Britain skippered by Dylan Fletcher capsizes ahead of race one of day one of competition in the SailGP global sailboat racing series in New York harbor, New York. REUTERS/Mike Segar Democratic candidate for president, former Vice President Joe Biden, tells the audience to vote as he leaves the stage after participating in We Decide: 2020 Election Membership Forum, an event put on by Planned Parenthood in the University of South Carolina's Alumni Center in Columbia, South Carolina. REUTERS/Leah Millis France's BMX team put on a show at Place de la Concorde, which has been turned into a giant Olympic park ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics, in Paris. REUTERS/Philippe Wojazer A Haitian migrant bathes in a park in Tapachula, Mexico. REUTERS/Andres Martinez Casares President Donald Trump speaks to the media as he departs for Camp David from the White House in Washington. REUTERS/Carlos Barria Switzerland's Roger Federer celebrates winning the final against Belgium's David Goffin with the trophy at the Halle Open in Halle, Germany. REUTERS/Leon Kuegeler A model presents a creation by designer Olivier Rousteing as part of his Spring/Summer 2020 collection show for fashion house Balmain during Men's Fashion Week in Paris. REUTERS/ Charles Platiau An Antony Gormley statue with an underwear on it stands in the Water of Leith Stockbridge, Edinburgh, Scotland. REUTERS/Russell Cheyne Singer Mick Jagger performs during the kick-off show of the Rolling Stones' 'No Filter' tour at Soldier Field in Chicago. REUTERS/Daniel Acker A eneral view of the entertainment during the opening ceremony of the 2019 European Games in Minsk, Belarus. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko


The Houston Texans will be without the services of one of their second-year edge defenders in 2019. According to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle, outside linebacker Duke Ejiofor tore his Achilles during workouts recently and will miss the entire season. Texans linebacker Duke Ejiofor, placed on injured reserve today, tore his Achilles during workouts recently. He will miss the entire season. - Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) May 10, 2019 The Texans announced Friday they have placed Ejiofor on injured reserve. The former 2018 sixth-round draft pick from Wake Forest had a promising rookie season and was set for a potential breakout season. With outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus entering the final year of his contract and defensive end Christian Covington departed for the Dallas Cowboys, Ejiofor was surely on track for more game time this season. In 2018 Ejiofor, who played high school football at nearby Alief Taylor, recorded 1.0 sack, two quarterback hits, and two defended passes in 12 games. However, with his latest injury, Ejiofor will have to wait until 2020 to prove his capabilities. As a result, the fifth-round rookie and fellow Houston-area native, Charles Omenihu, will likely see more game time than was initially planned. The 2018 Big 12 Defensive Lineman recorded 9.5 sacks in his final year as a Longhorn. Now, Omenihu will take a far bigger role backing up Mercilus, Jadeveon Clowney, and replacing Ejiofor. MORE: The full story from the guy who got Danica Patrick a drink at the Bucks-Celtics game NBA Free Agency 2019: The top players 3 Raiders players who could have breakout seasons in 2019 Richard Sherman: 'The secondary wasn't the issue last year' Rumor: LeBron made a visit to Kawhi Leonard during Raptors-Sixers series


Brooklyn sent Shabazz Napier and Treveon Graham to the Golden State Warriors in the D'Angelo Russell sign-and-trade that the teams worked out. The trade made in the wake of good friends Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant deciding to play together in Brooklyn. Now Napier and Graham are on the move again, this time to Minnesota, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. Golden State is moving Shabazz Napier, Treveon Graham and cash onto Minnesota, league sources tell ESPN. Napier and Graham are part of the D'Angelo Russell sign-and-trade.   Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2019 How much cash is not known, but the Warriors are essentially paying the Timberwolves to take these guys on. Those guys may not stay in Minnesota, this could be about saving money for the Timberwolves. The $1.8M Shabazz Napier and $1.6M Treveon Graham contract becomes guaranteed if they are not waived by July 10. https://t.co/vdsfVTyzm2   Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) July 1, 2019 Don't be surprised if the Warriors and Timberwolves get together and make another trade in the next year. The Warriors are going to see how Russell fits with Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson , but if it goes as most observers expect   which is to say poorly   then the Warriors likely trade Russell for players they do want. Russell and Karl-Anthony Towns have talked about teaming up in Minnesota. Not saying it's happening, just saying it's something to watch. Speaking of that sign-and-trade with the Nets, the Warriors also are sending a future first-round pick to Brooklyn. Deal will include Golden State sending a protecting future first-round pick to Brooklyn, league sources tell ESPN. https://t.co/BndEZPRblo   Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2019 We'll have to see what the protections are on that pick, but the Warriors expect their picks to be in the 20s for years to come.


In search of a new favorite Mediterranean spot? Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top Mediterranean spots around Worcester, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of the best spots to fulfill your urges. 1. Bahnan's Bakery Topping the list is Bahnan's Bakery , located at 344 Pleasant St., is another top choice, with Yelpers giving the halal, Mediterranean and Lebanese spot 4.5 stars out of 71 reviews. 2. Spoodles Deli Next up is Spoodles Deli , a deli and Greek spot, is another go-to, with four stars out of 43 Yelp reviews. Head over to 358 Main St. to see for yourself. 3. Taste of Mediterranean Check out Taste of Mediterranean , which has earned four stars out of 18 reviews on Yelp. You can find the Mediterranean spot at 20 Franklin St. 4. Ted's Pizza House Last but not least, there's Ted's Pizza House , a local favorite with four stars out of 19 reviews. Stop by 346 Greenwood St. to hit up the pizza and Greek spot, which offers sandwiches and more, next time you're looking to satisfy your cravings. 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.


BOSTON (AP) Red Sox manager Alex Cora went to reliever Brandon Workman in the eighth inning and knew what his options were for his beleaguered bullpen when things got tight in the ninth. ''It's either him or him,'' said Cora after Workman threw 45 pitches and got out of a jam each inning as Boston held on for a 5-4 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays Wednesday night. ''He's been outstanding all season,'' Cora said of the right-hander, who has a 1.84 ERA. ''He's been one of the top relievers in the league, too. I think he should have been (at the All-Star Game).'' Rafael Devers hit a solo homer and drove in four runs, Eduardo Rodriguez pitched effectively into the seventh inning and the Red Sox sent Toronto's Aaron Sanchez to his 13th straight loss. Workman struck out Justin Smoak and Freddy Galvis with two on to end the eighth and got the final three outs despite giving up a run in the ninth for his fifth save, striking out Randal Grichuk swinging with two on to end it. Boston's pen has struggled most of the season, blowing 18 save opportunities. Devers also had a two-run double and RBI single, Brock Holt added a run-scoring hit - one of his three singles - for the Red Sox, who had dropped three of four since a five-game winning streak. Teoscar Hernandez hit two solo homers over the Green Monster and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. had one for the Blue Jays, who have lost seven of 10. Rodriguez (11-4) held the Blue Jays to two runs on three hits, striking out four and walking three over 6 1/3 innings. It's the seventh time in 10 starts he's allowed two or fewer runs - and the fourth straight. ''For me, I just try to go out there and get innings,'' Rodriguez said. ''I try to get as deep as I can in the game.'' Once dominant, right-hander Sanchez (3-14) had his miserable season continue. He gave up four runs and eight hits in five innings and his ERA rose to 6.26; while he remained winless in his last 15 starts. ''He has been pitching better,'' Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo said. ''I know four runs doesn't sound that great, but he kept us in the game. In a place like this, I thought he did a good job.'' Devers homered into the first row of Monster seats, breaking a 1-1 tie in the third after Hernandez had homered deep into the seats above the left-field wall in the top of the inning. In the fourth, Devers doubled into the right-center gap to make it 5-1 after Christian Vazquez and Mookie Betts singled, but Hernandez hit his second of the game the next inning. Devers added his run-scoring single in the eighth. ''He might be a batting champion one of these years, for sure. I'm making that call,'' Montoyo said of Devers. The start was delayed 33 minutes by rain. NEW ADDITION The Blue Jays announced before the game that they acquired RHP Wilmer Font from the Mets for cash considerations. Montoyo said he plans to use him as an opener after he gets his work visa and joins the team. ESCAPED Reliever Matt Barnes entered with runners on first and second with one out in the seventh. After walking Hernandez, he struck out pinch hitter Danny Jansen and Eric Sogard - both swinging. CARBON COPY Both center fielders - Boston's Jackie Bradley Jr. and Hernandez - played caroms of the wall and made long throws to nail a runner trying to get a double. Bradley got Smoak and Hernandez cut down Vazquez. TRAINER'S ROOM Blue Jays: Closer Ken Giles, who suffered nerve inflammation in his right elbow during a massage at the All-Star break, worked the eighth after feeling good following a bullpen session Tuesday. . LHP Ryan Borucki (elbow discomfort) had a rehab start with Triple-A Buffalo Tuesday. ''I heard he pitched good and he feels good,'' Montoyo said. Red Sox: RHP Nathan Eovaldi (surgery recovery, loose body right elbow) is set to go on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Pawtucket Thursday after pitching in a simulated game against Sam Travis and Mitch Moreland before thunderstorms moved into the area. . Manager Alex Cora said Moreland (strained right quadriceps) is expected to go on a rehab assignment Friday. UP NEXT Blue Jays: LHP Thomas Pannone (2-3, 6.18 ERA), a native of Cranston, R.I., is expected to be recalled from Buffalo and start Thursday afternoon's series finale, but his fight from Buffalo was canceled and the club is still trying to get him in for the game. Red Sox: LHP Chris Sale (3-9, 4.27) looks to turnaround his rough season. He's allowed five runs in three straight starts for the first time in his career. --- More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports


Haas boss Gunther Steiner says he does not understand the fuss made over Kevin Magnussen's defensive driving in the Hungarian Grand Prix after it earned the Dane a warning from race control. Magnussen was robust in holding off Daniel Ricciardo as they battled it out for 13th, but the way he sometimes moved across the track in the braking zones led his Renault rival to complain over the radio. Read Also: Ricciardo: FIA warning "not enough" for Magnussen in Hungary With race control having been alerted about what was going on, it duly informed Haas to warn them that what its driver was doing could not continue   and a short message was passed on Magnussen. While Ricciardo thinks Magnussen deserved more than just a warning for his behaviour, Steiner says he did not see that much wrong with what his driver did. "Race control said he has to stop to move under braking, and that was it," said. Steiner. "And because there is another driver who does it all the time and gets away with it, that was our answer! "I think we had a good battle going on for 13th and 14th, otherwise the TV was pretty boring." While Haas notified Magnussen of the warning from race control, it did not issue any orders or advice itself on what to do   even though that opened the door to potential trouble if there were repeat incidents. "We decided to risk even penalty or getting to the stewards, because I think in the end we are here to race, and I don't think it was dangerous or anything," added Steiner. "The battle was about nothing anyway, so at least it was a good show. And I think they had a good fight. "For sure, Ricciardo is not happy about it, but I don't think Kevin did anything, you know, exaggerated. It's like he was trying to keep his position, so I think everybody enjoyed it." F1 race director Michael Masi said that the issue the FIA had with Magnussen's behaviour was there were a number of moves that were questionable. "There was a warning for the team about the consistency of it," said Masi. "It was not that it was a one off, but it was the repeat part of it." Masi said the FIA had acted as a response to a call from drivers to stamp out instances of moving under braking. Asked about what was and was not allowed, Masi said: "There is a one movement allowed generally to protect your line, but the movement under braking is something that the drivers, from Bahrain, when we had our meeting with them all, it was something that they wanted   particularly if it was constant - us to crack down on."


SAN JUAN, July 31 (Reuters) - Embattled Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rosselló will nominate the island's former representative in the U.S. Congress Pedro Pierluisi as his new secretary of state and next in line to succeed him when he steps down, he said on Wednesday. Rosselló said last week he would resign on Friday in the face of 12 days of mass street protests and public outrage over the release of profane chat messages and federal corruption charges against two former administration officials. "After much analysis and taking into consideration the best interests of our people, I have selected Atty. Pedro Pierluisi Urrutia to fill the secretary of state vacancy," Rosselló said on Twitter. "To address this matter, I will be convening a special session (of the Legislative Assembly) for tomorrow." Pierluisi, a corporate lawyer who works for Washington law firm O'Neill & Borges, would be eligible to succeed Rosselló only if Puerto Rican lawmakers approve his nomination in the Thursday session. Puerto Ricans want a leader to steer them out of crisis and economic recession after Rosselló's term was marked by back-to-back 2017 hurricanes that killed around 3,000 people just months after the U.S. territory filed for bankruptcy. Replacing the first-term governor became complicated after the official in line for the top government post, Secretary of Justice Wanda Vázquez, said she did not want the position. (Reporting by Luis Valentin Ortiz, writing by Scott Malone; Editing by Steve Orlofsky)


For the second consecutive week, Goodyear rubber will get another high-speed workout in Sunday's FireKeepers Casino 400 NASCAR Cup race and Saturday's LTi Printing 250 Xfinity race at the 2-mile Michigan International Speedway. Meanwhile, the Gander Outdoors Truck Series will visit another high-speed track, the 1.5-mile Texas Motor Speedway, in Friday night's SpeedyCash.com 400. Here's how this weekend's tire notes shapes up at both tracks: According to this week's Goodyear media release about racing at Michigan, "Recent Monster Energy NASCAR Cup races at Charlotte Motor Speedway and Kansas Speedway   where passes for the lead and passing in general were up   have the NASCAR world excited about what we might see at Michigan International Speedway this weekend. With this current Cup rules package, corner speeds will be up at Michigan and tight racing throughout the field should be the order of the day. The track is still relatively smooth since it was resurfaced in 2012 so Goodyear's tire set-up at Michigan is now aligned with what is run at another recent repave in Texas Motor Speedway." Added Goodyear director of racing Greg Stucker, " With Michigan being a relatively recent repave, combined with the 2019 Cup rules package and drivers expected to be on the throttle all the way through the corners, we always have to be cognizant of tire heat. We combat that with the tread compounds we bring to tracks with smooth surfaces, as well as the gage or thickness of that tread that allows the tire to dissipate heat. Overall, this weekend could be a good show for the fans if it is anything like some other recent events where corner speeds have been up and there has been a lot of tight racing and passing." Here's the Cup and Xfinity tire info for Michigan: Tire: Goodyear Eagle Speedway Radials for both Cup and Xfinity. Set limits: Cup: Three sets for practice, one set for qualifying and seven sets for the race; Xfinity: six sets for the event Tire Codes: Left-side   D-4798; Right-side   D-4796 Tire Circumference: Left-side   2,227 mm (87.68 in.); Right-side   2,251 mm (88.62 in.) Minimum Recommended Inflation: Left Front   22 psi; Left Rear   22 psi; Right Front   54 psi; Right Rear   50 psi Notes for Cup and Xfinity : Teams in both the Cup and Xfinity Series will run the same tire set-up at Michigan this weekend. This is the same combination of left- and right-side tires that these teams ran at Texas in March. Cup and Xfinity teams ran this same right-side tire code at Michigan in 2018. This is a different left-side than what was run on this track last year, featuring a construction change to align with other speedways. Air pressure in those inner liners should be 12-25 psi greater than that of the outer tire. Here's the Trucks tire info for Texas : Tire: Goodyear Eagle Speedway Radials Set limits: Truck: Six sets for the event Tire Codes: Left-side   D-4798; Right-side   D-4796 Tire Circumference: Left-side   2,227 mm (87.68 in.); Right-side   2,251 mm (88.62 in.) Minimum Recommended Inflation: Left Front   24 psi; Left Rear   22 psi; Right Front   52 psi; Right Rear   50 psi Notes for Trucks: This is the same combination of left- and right-side tires that Gander Outdoors Trucks teams ran at Texas in March. Truck teams will run this same right-side tire code at Kansas next week and this complete tire set-up at Kentucky in July. As on all NASCAR ovals greater than one mile in length, teams are required to run liners in all four tire positions at Texas. Air pressure in those inner liners should be 12-25 psi greater than that of the outer tire. Follow @JerryBonkowski


Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg said Tuesday she hopes to remain on the court "as long as" the late former Justice John Paul Stevens, who was laid to rest this week. Less than two weeks ago, shortly before 99-year-old Stevens's death on July 16, Ginsburg told him that "my dream is that I will stay at the court as long as he did," she said during her eulogy for her former colleague. "And his immediate response was, 'Stay longer!' " Ginsburg, 86, has sat on the court's nine-member bench for 26 years, serving nearly two decades alongside Stevens, who served on the nation's highest court for more than 34 years before retiring at 90 years old in 2010. Stevens, who died in Florida after suffering a stroke, remains the second-oldest and third longest-serving Supreme Court justice in U.S. history. Ginsburg has struggled with cancer bouts over the past two decades, undergoing surgery in 1999 for colorectal cancer, a procedure for pancreatic cancer in 2009 and another surgery for lung cancer in 2018. "There was a senator, I think it was after my pancreatic cancer, who announced, with great glee, that I was going to be dead within six months," she told NPR on Tuesday . "That senator, whose name I have forgotten, is now himself dead, and I am very much alive." She added: "The work is really what saved me, because I had to concentrate on reading the briefs, doing a draft of an opinion, and I knew it had to get done. So I had to get past whatever my aches and pains were just to do the job."


Any good parent wants their kids to stay out of trouble, do well in school, and go on to do awesome things as adults. And while there isn't a set recipe for raising successful children, psychology research has pointed to a handful of factors that predict success. Unsurprisingly, much of it comes down to the parents. Here's what parents of successful kids have in common: 1. They teach their kids social skills Researchers from Pennsylvania State University and Duke University tracked more than 700 children from across the US between kindergarten and age 25 and found a significant correlation between their social skills as kindergartners and their success as adults two decades later. The 20-year study showed that socially competent children who could cooperate with their peers without prompting, be helpful to others, understand their feelings, and resolve problems on their own, were far more likely to earn a college degree and have a full-time job by age 25 than those with limited social skills. Those with limited social skills also had a higher chance of getting arrested, binge drinking, and applying for public housing. "This study shows that helping children develop social and emotional skills is one of the most important things we can do to prepare them for a healthy future," said Kristin Schubert, program director at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, which funded the research, in a release. "From an early age, these skills can determine whether a child goes to college or prison, and whether they end up employed or addicted." Follow us on Facebook. 2. They have high expectations Using data from a national survey of 6,600 children born in 2001, University of California, Los Angeles professor Neal Halfon and his colleagues discovered that the expectations parents hold for their kids have a huge effect on attainment. "Parents who saw college in their child's future seemed to manage their child toward that goal irrespective of their income and other assets," he said in a statement. The finding came out in standardized tests: 57% of the kids who did the worst were expected to attend college by their parents, while 96% of the kids who did the best were expected to go to college. This falls in line with another psych finding: the Pygmalion effect, which states "that what one person expects of another can come to serve as a self-fulfilling prophecy." In the case of kids, they live up to their parents' expectations. Follow us on Facebook. 3. The moms work According to research out of Harvard Business School, there are significant benefits for children growing up with mothers who work outside the home. The study found daughters of working mothers went to school longer, were more likely to have a job in a supervisory role, and earned more money   23% more compared to their peers who were raised by stay-at-home mothers. The sons of working mothers also tended to pitch in more on household chores and childcare, the study found   they spent seven and a half more hours a week on childcare and 25 more minutes on housework. "Role modeling is a way of signaling what's appropriate in terms of how you behave, what you do, the activities you engage in, and what you believe," the study's lead author, Harvard Business School professor Kathleen L. McGinn, told Business Insider. "There are very few things, that we know of, that have such a clear effect on gender inequality as being raised by a working mother," she told Working Knowledge. Follow us on Facebook. 4. They have a higher socioeconomic status Tragically, a fifth of American children grow up in poverty, a situation that severely limits their potential. It's getting more extreme. According to Stanford University researcher Sean Reardon, the achievement gap between high and low-income families "is roughly 30% to 40% larger among children born in 2001 than among those born 25 years earlier." As "Drive" author Dan Pink has noted, the higher the income for the parents, the higher the SAT scores for the kids. "Absent comprehensive and expensive interventions, socioeconomic status is what drives much of educational attainment and performance," he wrote. Follow us on Facebook. 5. They've attained higher educational levels A 2014 study lead by University of Michigan psychologist Sandra Tang found that mothers who finished high school or college were more likely to raise kids that did the same. Pulling from a group of over 14,000 children who entered kindergarten in 1998 to 2007, the study found that children born to teen moms (18 years old or younger) were less likely to finish high school or go to college than their counterparts. Aspiration is at least partially responsible. In a 2009 longitudinal study of 856 people in semirural New York, Bowling Green State University psychologist Eric Dubow found that "parents' educational level when the child was 8 years old significantly predicted educational and occupational success for the child 40 years later." Follow us on Facebook. 6. They teach their kids math early on A 2007 meta-analysis of 35,000 preschoolers across the US, Canada, and England found that developing math skills early can turn into a huge advantage. "The paramount importance of early math skills   of beginning school with a knowledge of numbers, number order, and other rudimentary math concepts   is one of the puzzles coming out of the study," co-author and Northwestern University researcher Greg Duncan said in a press release. "Mastery of early math skills predicts not only future math achievement, it also predicts future reading achievement." Follow us on Facebook. 7. They develop a relationship with their kids A 2014 study of 243 people born into poverty found that children who received "sensitive caregiving" in their first three years not only did better in academic tests in childhood, but had healthier relationships and greater academic attainment in their 30s. As reported on PsyBlog, parents who are sensitive caregivers "respond to their child's signals promptly and appropriately" and "provide a secure base" for children to explore the world. "This suggests that investments in early parent-child relationships may result in long-term returns that accumulate across individuals' lives," co-author and University of Minnesota psychologist Lee Raby said in an interview. Follow us on Facebook. 8. They're less stressed According to new research cited by Brigid Schulte at The Washington Post, the number of hours that moms spend with kids between ages 3 and 11 does little to predict the child's behavior, well-being, or achievement. What's more, the "intensive mothering" or "helicopter parenting" approach can backfire. "Mothers' stress, especially when mothers are stressed because of the juggling with work and trying to find time with kids, that may actually be affecting their kids poorly," study co-author and Bowling Green State University sociologist Kei Nomaguchi told the Post. Emotional contagion   or the psychological phenomenon where people "catch" feelings from one another like they would a cold   helps explain why. Research shows that if your friend is happy, that brightness will infect you; if she's sad, that gloominess will transfer as well. So if a parent is exhausted or frustrated, that emotional state could transfer to the kids. Follow us on Facebook. 9. They value effort over avoiding failure Where kids think success comes from also predicts their attainment. Over decades, Stanford University psychologist Carol Dweck has discovered that children (and adults) think about success in one of two ways. Over at the always-fantastic Brain Pickings, Maria Popova says they go a little something like this: A "fixed mindset" assumes that our character, intelligence, and creative ability are static givens which we can't change in any meaningful way, and success is the affirmation of that inherent intelligence, an assessment of how those givens measure up against an equally fixed standard; striving for success and avoiding failure at all costs become a way of maintaining the sense of being smart or skilled. A "growth mindset," on the other hand, thrives on challenge and sees failure not as evidence of un-intelligence but as a heartening springboard for growth and for stretching our existing abilities. At the core is a distinction in the way you assume your will affects your ability, and it has a powerful effect on kids. If kids are told that they aced a test because of their innate intelligence, that creates a "fixed" mindset. If they succeeded because of effort, that teaches a "growth" mindset. Follow us on Facebook.