The voters in two of the world's largest democracies have spoken -- and their message is clear. Elections in India and the European Union in recent days have resulted in gains for politicians with strident nationalist messages. In some EU countries the out-of-touch elites are savaged. The middle ground is crumbling. In India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi easily secured a second term , shrugging off a challenge from the Congress Party, which attempted to paint him as a threat to India's secular pluralism, as voters responded to Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) doubling-down on Hindu nationalism and anti-Muslim rhetoric. Across parts of the European Union, some populist, euroskeptic and anti-immigrant parties benefited at the expense of the establishment over the weekend. In the UK -- where most voters never expected to be taking part in these elections -- the Brexit Party, led by arch EU critic Nigel Farage, swept the board. A similar result was seen in France and Italy, where Marine Le Pen's Rassemblement National (RN) and Matteo Salvini's League came out on top. Those results come hot on the heels of an Australian election in which voters contradicted months of polling and chose to retain the right-wing government of Scott Morrison , an evangelical Christian climate change denier. Across the world there has been a consistent shift to the political right, as voters abandon the center-left and centrist parties, which once held power in many democracies, after years of austerity and economic downturn. In Europe, the turn to the right -- with Britain perhaps being the best example -- has been fueled by a desire to recapture past glories. Pro-Brexit lawmakers often talk of their project as if they are revitalizing the British Empire, exaggerating not only the role Britain plays today, but the one it would likely have as a small country detached from the wider EU bloc. In India, Modi's continued success has not been about yesterday's successes, but tomorrow's. Indians see themselves on the verge of becoming the next superpower, with Modi and his stridently nationalist BJP the best people to lead them there. What these movements share, however, is an antipathy and even hatred for "the other" -- more often than not a poor, religious minority. There has been concern about the spread of violent Hindu nationalism since Modi came to power, while European countries have seen increased visibility for anti-Muslim and pro-Nazi groups , as well as mass protests against immigrants . Rise of 'populism' Much of the focus around the European elections, in particular, has been on the rise of so-called populism across the continent. Political scientist Cas Mudde has defined populism as a "thin-centered ideology that considers society to be ultimately separated into two homogenous and antagonistic groups: 'the pure people' and 'the corrupt elite.'" In general discourse, however, this often involves the suggestion that wildly disparate parties -- Jeremy Corbyn's Labour in the UK, say, with Salvini's far-right League -- are somehow connected by similar policies, which upon inspection often boil down to: appealing to broad swaths of people in a way that media elites disapprove of. As Anton Jager, an expert in political history at the University of Cambridge, wrote last year : "Historians and journalists have been quibbling over the exact meaning of the term populism -- and who should and shouldn't qualify as one -- for at least 60 years." "Despite its ambiguous connotations, the word populism has always been more acceptable than labels like racist or extreme right," Jager added, meaning it can be easier for media concerned about the appearance of objectivity than equivalent terms which appear to carry with them value judgments. The general shift towards "populist" parties -- right-wing, anti-immigrant and anti-elite -- has been under way for several years. Time Magazine shortlisted " The Populists " as its person of the year for 2016. The grouping, which included Farage and Le Pen, eventually lost out to US President Donald Trump. While the trend has often been portrayed as the rise of the right, more often than not it is caused by a collapse in support for center-left parties, many of which were the traditional parties of government in their respective countries. "The rise of the populist right has coincided with a catastrophe for the center-left," William Galston, a governance expert at the center-right Brookings Institute, wrote last year . He pointed to the decline of France's Socialists, Labour in the Netherlands, Italy's Democratic Party and the Czech Social Democrats. "Even in Scandinavia, long a bulwark of social democracy, the once-dominant center-left parties are in decline, and nationalist parties with nativist tendencies are growing," Galston noted. "Under pressure, center-right parties have felt compelled to adjust by shifting toward populist policies and rhetoric." Modi's success in India has been largely at the expense of The Indian National Congress, the center-left party which governed the country for most of its post-independence history. Congress leader and political scion Rahul Gandhi failed to make any gains against the BJP juggernaut, even losing his own race. Irreversible trend? In seeking to capture an imagined greatness, Indian and European voters are reacting to societies struggling with economic disparity, inequality and issues of secularism. The risk for many in marginalized and minority communities however is that in doing so, voters double down on exclusionary, majoritarian politics that leads to societies that are more hostile and less open. Nor do these democratic giants exist within a bubble. The influence of their newly returned governments could have a major effect on the trend of global politics, and on reaching international consensus on issues with global ramifications such as climate change. Parties which traditionally pushed back against that trend have failed in recent years to make much headway. There are many reasons for this -- austerity policies, poor economic performance, foreign policy catastrophes -- what remains to be seen is whether they can reinvent and recover in time to stop their countries swinging further towards the populist right.


Former Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson may not be playing anymore but he still makes headlines anytime he shows up at any kind of football event. Johnson was at the Falcons' practice facility in Flowery Branch on the last day of minicamp and was spotted talking with head coach Dan Quinn and Falcons owner Arthur Blank, as well as wide receivers coach Raheem Morris and offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter. Calvin Johnson is here for the Falcons last day of minicamp talking to owner Arthur Blank and head coach Dan Quinn pic.twitter.com/hn4WGRIikX - Kelsey Conway (@FalconsKelsey) June 13, 2019 Calvin Johnson talking to #Falcons OC Dirk Koetter and WRs coach Raheem Morris. Get all the ideas. pic.twitter.com/VmgU87uBxv - Justin Felder (@Justin_FOX5) June 13, 2019 Johnson played his college football at Georgia Tech. Since his retirement, Julio Jones has taken the title of the league's top receiver. No. 11 also got some one-on-one time with Megatron today. G R E A T N E S S Megatron and The Jet on the same field. pic.twitter.com/822S8qbkMg - Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) June 13, 2019 Johnson finished his 135-game career with 731 catches, 11,619 receiving yards and 83 touchdowns. It will take Jones a while to catch up with his touchdown total (he has 51 so far), but he's already posted 698 catches and 10,731 receiving yards in 24 fewer games. MORE: Drake's reaction to Kevin Durant's injury is now an NBA Twitter meme David Bakhtiari excited to see more from Packers rookie Rashan Gary NBA trade rumor rankings: Rockets on the move? Michael Roberts trade completes Lions' much-needed overhaul at TE Projecting Expected Recovery Time for Kevin Durant Based Off Past Achilles Injuries in NBA


Maybe the Jets think the third time will be the charm. As the Jets begin the search for their next General Manager, one of their candidates is familiar to the organization, even if he has no ties to coach Adam Gase. Via Brian Costello of the New York Post , Vikings assistant G.M. George Paton   who they've asked to talk to   has turned them down twice. Paton declined to be interviewed by the Jets in both 2013 (when they hired John Idzik) and 2015 (Mike Maccagnan). He's turned down other chances to interview with other teams during his 12 years with the Vikings. It's unclear if he'll interview this time. The Jets have also asked to speak with Seahawks co-director of player personnel Scott Fitterer, Eagles vice president of player personnel Joe Douglas, and Bears assistant director of player personnel Champ Kelly. Douglas is close with Gase, and Kelly worked with him in Denver, which could be an important factor as they try to pair a personnel man with the coach who seems to have won a power struggle with Maccagnan whether he thinks so or not . Gase insists that the decision on Maccagnan's replacement will be made by CEO and chairman Christopher Johnson .


Household appliances help keep your life running smoothly. When they break down unexpectedly, routines and budgets get thrown off. That's why it's so important to budget for appliance maintenance, repair, and replacement. To help you plan, the household appliance repair experts at Puls have just released a report on appliance repair costs and reliability across the United States. Here's a look at their major findings along with a few tips on which brands last longest. Freezer (average repair cost: $348) Freezer and refrigerator repairs typically peak in July, when the weather is hot and these appliances are working overtime to keep food cool. Fridges and freezers are also the most costly appliances to repair, so if you have an older model, it's a good idea to keep between $500 and 1,000 on hand during those warmer months, just in case. Range hood (average repair cost: $264) The Puls Report notes that appliance repair costs vary by region. The East Coast leads the country in high prices, with the West Coast not too far behind. Repairs are slightly less expensive in the Midwest and South. Cooktop (average repair cost: $260) A cooktop can be expected to last between 10 and 15 years, though it will typically incur some maintenance and repair costs during its lifespan. Because a cooktop gets a lot of use, it's important to shop for quality and reliability. Puls surveyed its network of more than 4,000 technicians across the country regarding the reliability, ease of use, and overall value of different appliance brands. For cooktops, the survey gave GE the highest ranking. Refrigerator (average repair cost: $242) Like your freezer, your refrigerator is a big-ticket repair. For refrigerators, the most common repair issue is insufficient cooling, followed by the ice maker not working, leaking, and noise. According to Puls's technicians, Whirlpool leads the pack when it comes to refrigerator reliability. Oven (average repair cost: $226) The oven is one of the most commonly owned appliances in the United States there's an oven in almost 90 percent of homes. An oven can last between 10 and 15 years, but when it does break down the most frequently cited reasons are that it won't turn on, doesn't heat properly, or smells bad. Budget a solid $500 for potential repairs, as costs can exceed the $226 average. Washing Machine (average repair cost: $221) Common washing machine problems include not draining properly, leaking, issues with the drum, no power to the appliance, and odor (often caused by moisture and mold/mildew buildup). Even though repairs average around $220, be prepared for a price tag between $300 and $400 to get the machine fixed. Dryer (average repair cost: $209) According to the Puls Report , the most common problem with dryers is that they don't heat properly . Technicians also report being called in to deal with drum issues, no power to the appliance, or a burning smell. Budget at least $400 for repairs. If you opt to replace instead, check out Whirlpool, which Puls technicians ranked number one for reliability. Dishwasher (average repair cost: $204) Common dishwasher issues include not draining, leaking, noise, and odor. To keep repair costs down, it's important to factor in reliability when you purchase a dishwasher, or any large appliance, for that matter. Reliability shouldn't reflect just the likelihood that an appliance will need repair, but also the ease and cost of the typical repair. According to the Puls survey, Bosch produces the most reliable dishwasher, followed by Whirlpool and KitchenAid. Microwave (average repair cost: $195) They may be small, but microwaves pack a punch when they need to be fixed, with repairs averaging nearly $200. Buying a high-quality, well-reviewed microwave is a good way to avoid costly repairs or an unexpected replacement.


Thousands of people marched through the streets of New York for the city's first Disability Pride Parade Sunday. People in wheelchairs and with guide dogs and parents carrying their disabled children marched during a hot day through the center of Manhattan after Mayor Bill de Blasio kicked off the event. The event, subtitled "Inclusion, Awareness, Visibility" saw people carrying signs asking for better access to public transport and housing. "Disabled and proud," said a sign carried by a woman in a wheelchair. A man carried another sign reading: "Just because I can't speak doesn't mean I don't have a lot to say." Other signs demanded police stop killing disabled people, an issue recently in the spotlight in the country after police arrests ended in disabled peoples' deaths. De Blasio said July was "disability pride month" in honor of the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. The march organized by the city is scheduled to be an annual event.


Much has been made about Redskins players missing mandatory OTA's this offseason. According to ESPN's Field Yates, the following players have had their 2019 salaries reduced. By skipping the off-season workout program/not meeting the contractually mandated minimum of 90%, 6 Redskins players had their 2019 salaries reduced by: Josh Norman: $200k Landon Collins: $175k Trent Williams: $150k Paul Richardson: $150k Quinton Dunbar: $100k Vernon Davis: $50k   Field Yates (@FieldYates) July 17, 2019 This should come as music to many fan's ears, as people have been clamoring for players like Trent Williams and Josh Norman to be heavily fined for their absence. The former, who is holding out for a new contract, drew the ire of the fanbase as people watched Ereck Flowers get dismantled this offseason while working with the first team at left tackle, while the latter was recently seen hurdling bulls in Pamplona. Not much to see here, just Josh Norman casually jumping over a bull @LacesOutShow pic.twitter.com/Xak1iIVPGw   Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) July 11, 2019 Maybe this will teach these players a lesson...or not!


Sluggerrr took the stand again Tuesday. At one point Byron Shores, who portrayed the Kansas City Royals' mascot for 14 years, held up a foil-wrapped hot dog and identified it as similar to the dog he threw during a 2009 Royals game as part of a between-innings promotion. That dog, according to baseball fan and plaintiff John Coomer, hit him in in the left eye, resulting in a detached retina, a later cataract procedure and a likely lifetime of monitoring possible glaucoma. "It was never my intention to drill somebody," Shores said of his toss, which was part of the Royals' Hot Dog Launch. It wasn't Shores' first time testifying. Coomer filed a negligence suit against the Royals in 2010, but the next year a Jackson County jury found him to be at fault. In 2013, the Missouri Court of Appeals reversed that verdict. The Royals then appealed to the Missouri Supreme Court, which a year ago sided with Coomer. The court ruled that the trial judge made an error by instructing jurors to decide whether the risk of injury from the hot dog toss was "an inherent risk" of watching a Royals game. That was a question that the judge should have decided, according to the court. The jury instead should have been asked to decide whether Shores - portraying Sluggerrr - injured Coomer by hitting him with a hot dog and whether that constituted negligence. The court sent the case back to Jackson County. Coomer on Tuesday described the moment the dog hit. "I grabbed my face and bent over. I was stunned," he said. Two mornings later, his vision had changed. "I looked around at my dashboard and windshield and the sensation was of looking through a screen door," he said. Coomer said he and his father were looking at the stadium scoreboard and weren't expecting the hot dog to come their way. On Tuesday, Shores demonstrated for the jury his various tosses: the overhand, the underhand, the "grenade" throw. "I would throw hot dogs behind my back, but not with any velocity," Shores said. "It is reasonable for people to expect you not to drill them?" asked lawyer Bob Tormohlen, representing Coomer. "That's reasonable, yes, sir," Shores said. Scott Hofer, representing the Royals, asked whether nearly all major league baseball teams employed a mascot. "I don't think the Yankees do," said Shores, drawing a brief chuckle from the jury. Testimony was expected to continue Wednesday. To reach Brian Burnes, call 816-234-4120 or send email to bburnes@kcstar.com.


FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) The New England Revolution are turning to one of the most decorated coaches in Major League Soccer to help revive a season and a franchise. Bruce Arena, a five-time MLS Cup winner and former U.S. national coach, was hired Tuesday as the Revolution's coach and sports director. He succeeds Brad Friedel, who was fired as coach last week, and Michael Burns, the general manager who was dismissed Monday. New England is 3-8-2 and is last in the Eastern Conference. ''Boston is a great sports town with a history of championship teams,'' Arena said in a statement. ''And I am looking forward to working with the staff and players to make the Revolution a club that our supporters can be proud of and that can be part of the tradition of success in New England.'' The 67-year-old Arena, the eighth coach in club history, will be introduced at a news conference Thursday. ''Bruce is one of the most successful coaches in American soccer history, and we feel his commitment to excellence, track record of winning championships in Major League Soccer, as well as his success at the international level, makes him the best person to bring the Revolution back to MLS Cup contention,'' team owner Robert Kraft said in a statement. The Revolution have never won an MLS Cup but have been to the finals five times. The last was in 2014 when they lost to the L.A. Galaxy team coached by Arena. Revolution President Brian Bilello said Arena shares the club's vision. ''We believe that now is the time for a change in leadership and there is no one better suited to usher in a new era of success in New England,'' Bilello said in a statement. Arena brings a wealth of both domestic and international coaching experience to the job. He has coached 14 seasons in Major League Soccer, with a record of 202-121-89 with the New York Red Bulls, D.C. United and L.A. Galaxy. He won titles with D.C. United in 1996 and 1997 and with the Galaxy in 2011, 2012 and 2014. He has had two stints as U.S. national coach and holds the record for victories with 81. Arena also won five NCAA Division I championships over 18 seasons at Virginia. --- More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/tag/apf-Soccer and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports


To the displeasure of some of Reddit's most obscure groups and users such as those on racist and misogynist message boards the popular site's new chief executive still wants to crack down on its less-than-savory elements. Co-founder Steve Huffman announced the site's updated approach to offensive content in a Reddit post on Thursday. The new CEO said the site is considering a new set of restrictions, such as banning "anything that harasses, bullies or abuses." The site will also consider banning content that incites violence toward a person or group of people and anything illegal (e.g., copyrighted material). Visitors to Reddit must also "opt in" to view adult content or anything that violates "a common sense of decency," Huffman wrote. Last month, about 200,000 users signed a petition to oust former Reddit chief executive Ellen Pao after she pushed for a cleanup of the site's most offensive content. Pao resigned last week, opening the door for the return of Huffman, who co-founded Reddit about 10 years ago. Reddit already features ads, but ridding the site of its offensive forums may bring it more toward the mainstream and more monetization. Huffman says these changes aren't made for business purposes. He told users on the site's Ask Me Anything forum earlier this week that Reddit already has a lot of cash and that monetization isn't a short-term concern.


A 23-year-old inmate at San Quentin State Prison was arrested Friday for allegedly killing his girlfriend in Half Moon Bay last year, authorities said. San Mateo County investigators identified Tristan Cecil, who had been serving a three-year sentence for drug sales, as the suspect in the slaying of 18-year-old Kimberly Quiroz after a 15-month investigation. On Feb. 22, 2018, deputies responded to reports of a shooting at a home on the 200 block of Poplar Street in Half Moon Bay. They found Quiroz suffering from a gunshot wound and she was taken to a hospital by helicopter, officials said. She died from her injuries on March 3, 2018. On Friday, Cecil was transported from San Quentin State Prison to the San Mateo County Jail, where was booked on suspicion of murder. He is being held on $11 million bail, according to jail records. Cecil's next court date is Tuesday. Anyone with information about the investigation is asked to call detective Nick Boragno at 650-363-4064. Ashley McBride is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: ashley.mcbride@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Ashleynmcb


Antonio Conte celebrates his 49th birthday today, which is as good as reason as any to take a look at some of the manager's greatest ever achievements. While Conte will look forward as he focuses his attention on Inter this season, here is a look back at his six best managerial moments. Bari Promotion After a successful playing career, Antonio Conte announced himself to the world with a superb first full season at Serie B side Bari. The charismatic Italian implemented an efficient but effective style of play, as the club won the title and earned promotion back to Serie A in 2009. This was the Italian's first major honour as a manager, and was a real breakthrough for Conte in the management world, as bigger clubs began take notice of his credentials. Invincible Following on from his success at Bari, Conte became a candidate for every top job in Italy. He eventually landed the Juventus job in 2011 - a club he made 295 appearances for as a player, winning five Serie A titles in his time. Conte's first season in charge would be the surprising start of a golden era for Juventus. After two consecutive seventh place finishes, La Vecchia Signora under the guidance of Conte would go on an astonishing unbeaten run to win the Scudetto. This first Serie A title since 2006 would ring in a historic run of domestic success for Juve. Record Breaker In 2014, Antonio Conte, after winning two consecutive league titles, led Juventus to their third in as many year in the most impressive fashion to date. Conte's Juve would win the title in record breaking fashion, with the most points (102) and most wins (33) in Serie A history. Leading Gli Azzurri After his third and final title win at Juve, Antonio Conte shockingly left the club to pursue a new challenge. He decided to brave the harsh and unforgiving world of international football, leading Italy into Euro 2016. Although Conte did not deliver silverware, the tournament was a huge success for Conte's less-than-vintage Azzurri team, as his astute defensive organisation received world-wide praise. He managed to drag a lacklustre Italy all the way to a quarter final penalty shootout, where they would lose to Germany. The standout performance of the tournament was the clinic his side put on against the immensely talented Belgium, whom Italy comfortably beat in the group stages 2-0. Mastering the Premier League Arguably Antonio Conte's most impressive managerial feat to date came in his first season in charge of Chelsea, where he would shockingly win the Premier League title at the first time of asking. Conte took to management in England like a duck to water. He set a new club record of 11 consecutive league wins in December 2016 and became the first manager in history to win three consecutive Premier League Manager of the Month Awards.  FA Cup Glory Despite the uncertainty surrounding Conte's future during the following season, he still managed to deliver a trophy for the Blues in his second season in charge. A narrow 1-0 victory over Manchester United handed Chelsea an eighth FA Cup title. This was a proud moment for Conte as it was his first ever cup competition win as a manager.


The man the FBI called the country's most prolific serial killer has admitted to two murders here in Cincinnati from decades ago. Samuel Little was indicted for both of those killings Friday. The one victim whose identity is known lived along the 1600 block of Walnut Street at the time she went missing. Her family knew she had been strangled. But until now, they did not know by whom. Authorities say Little confessed about 10 days ago. The killings are two of his possible 93 nationwide. They said he strangled Annie Lee Stewart, also known as Anna Stewart, here in the city Oct. 11, 1981. He then drove to Grove City to dump her body in some woods because it was raining in Cincinnati at the time. Investigators have not identified the second local victim. But, they hope his drawings of her and their own sketch based on his description of her might jog someone's memory. "We've got interns down at the coroner's office going through files trying to see if they can locate potential victims of him that match the description," stated Prosecutor Joe Deters. Little's killing spree stretched from California to Ohio to the East Coast to Florida. The time range is believed to be from around 1970 to 2005. He was arrested in 2012 at a homeless shelter in Louisville, tied to various killings and convicted two years later. About a year ago, he started confessing to scores of other murders. Authorities said Little would crisscross the country, staying true to a certain method of killing. Chief Assistant Prosecutor Mark Piepmeier explained it this way. "To him, strangulation was sex, and he said, 'How could you tell a man not to have intercourse with a woman? Well, that's like telling me not to strangle people.'" Piepmeier and Detective Kelly Best interviewed Little in a California cell, describing him as talkative, friendly and forthcoming about his urge for a certain type of neck and victims who wouldn't be missed, as he put it. "Street people, prostitutes, figuring it's not a, a young mom with kids. It's not somebody that's leaving work. It's somebody that's walking the streets 'cause he figured he could do it, he could dump 'em and no one would miss 'em for days. I mean, he knew what he was doing, and he was very good at it," said Piepmeier. According to investigators, Little did not rape his victims. He would knock them out with a punch, then choke them to death. Best described how Little would commit his crime, dump the body and get on the highway right away. Investigators don't know much about the unidentified woman but believe her body may have been placed on a hillside near a Kool cigarette billboard. Little described her as a slender female with very dark skin and very short hair wearing glasses and a wig. He recalled a street entrance to her apartment that opened to a staircase to a second floor and that she lived with a "heavy female Hispanic." On one of the sketches he did of her, Little wrote, "1984 or '74." Authorities said the murder likely took place sometime between 1980 and 1999. Little is in ill health at the California prison where he is serving time. It's expected he'll plead guilty to both Cincinnati murders via Skype in early August. Deters has informed the family of Annie Stewart, who was a 33-year-old mother of three at the time of her killing. "You know the old saying, 'Only the good die young'?" Deters asked with special emphasis at the news conference announcing Little's indictments. "This piece of garbage is 79 today." READ MORE: 'He is evil': Serial killer indicted for murders of two women in Cincinnati-area CHECK OUT WLKY: Live. Local. Late-Breaking. Get the top Louisville news, weather and sports from the team at WLKY   online, anytime.


In a move that can only be described as Chris Long like, the Game of Thrones critic and Eagles defensive end announced his retirement via Twitter. Cheers. Been a hell of a journey. Eleven years and I can honestly say I put my soul into every minute of it. Highs and lows. I've seen them both and I appreciate the perspective. Gratitude and love to those who lifted me up. pic.twitter.com/Ap8zi73Ifl - Chris Long (@JOEL9ONE) May 19, 2019 The 34-year-old Long spent two seasons with the Eagles after winning a Super Bowl with the New England Patriots. During his two seasons in Philadelphia, Long registered 51.0 tackles and 11.5 sacks en route to helping the Eagles beat the Patriots in Super Bowl LII. Long spent eight years with the St. Louis Rams after being selected him No. 2 overall in the 2008 NFL draft MORE: Deontay Wilder vs Dominic Breazeale: How to Watch, TV Channel, Start Time, Card, Live Stream Video: Bodexpress Jockey Falls Off Horse At Beginning of Preakness NBA Free Agency 2019: The top players Teams are 'a great deal more wary' about signing Kyrie Irving Why the Buccaneers could easily start 3-0 in 2019


POWAY, Calif.   The FBI said it got tips about a social media post threatening violence against Jews just minutes before a gunman killed a worshipper and wounded three others at a Southern California synagogue   an attack that makes him "part of the history of evil that has been perpetrated on Jewish people for centuries," the suspect's family said Monday. The tips to an FBI website and hotline included a link to the anonymous post but did not offer specific information about its author or the location of the threat. The bureau said employees immediately tried to determine who wrote it, but the shooting occurred before they could establish his identity. John T. Earnest, 19, was charged with murder and attempted murder in Saturday's attack as well as arson in connection with a nearby mosque fire last month. He was expected in court Tuesday. His parents said their son and five siblings were raised in a family that "rejected hate and taught that love must be the motive for everything we do." They said they were shocked and mystified. "Our son's actions were informed by people we do not know, and ideas we do not hold," the family said in its first public comments. Photo gallery by photo services They said they were cooperating with investigators to help "uncover many details of the path that he took to this evil and despicable act." They do not plan to provide their son with legal representation, according to their attorney, Earll Potts. A public defender will likely be appointed. Earnest burst into the Chabad of Poway synagogue Saturday on the last day of Passover, a major Jewish holiday that celebrates freedom, and opened fire with an assault-style rifle on the crowd of about 100. Lori Kaye, a founding member of the congregation, was killed. Rabbi Yishoel Goldstein was shot in the hand, while Noya Dahan, 8, and her uncle Almog Peretz suffered shrapnel wounds. Kaye, 60, was remembered for her kindness Monday at a memorial service at the packed synagogue in Poway, a well-to-do suburb north of San Diego. Earnest fled when the gun jammed, calling 911 to report the shooting and surrendering a short time later, authorities said. He was a star scholar, athlete and pianist whose embrace of white supremacy and anti-Semitism has dumbfounded the people closest to him. Earnest made the dean's list both semesters last year as a nursing student at California State University, San Marcos. In high school, he had stellar grades and swam on the varsity team. His father, John A. Earnest, is a popular physics teacher at the public high school he attended in San Diego. Owen Cruise, 20, saw the younger Earnest every day during senior year at Mt. Carmel High School, when they were in calculus and physics together. They were also members of the school's amateur radio club. Earnest was a nationally recognized pianist who brought audiences to their feet when he played at talent shows, Cruise said. He did a rendition of "Pirates of the Caribbean" and played Chopin and Beethoven. "Crowds would be cheering his name," Cruise said Monday. "Everybody loved him." Earnest showed no signs of harboring dark thoughts or racist views, Cruise said, adding that he had friends who were Jewish and black. "He was very close to his dad," Cruise said. "He always hung out in his classroom, came to see him at lunch. He always seemed like a nice guy. ... He didn't seem like the type of person who would go off the deep end." His father worked at the school for 31 years and volunteered to help students with exams and homework, said Cruise, who praises his former teacher for having a big impact on his life. On the morning of the shooting, the elder Earnest was hosting a study hour for the Advanced Placement exam and brought cookies, Cruise said. Cruise, now a sophomore at the University of California, San Diego, said Earnest lived at home and saw his parents every day. "They only raised him to be the best man he could be," Cruise said. A tipster told The Associated Press that he called the FBI tip line at 11:15 a.m. Saturday because the post linked to a manifesto that said the author was responsible for the mosque arson in Escondido. He says he found online that had the mosque attack had happened and feared the new threat was real. The online manifesto, written by a person identifying himself as John Earnest, was an anti-Jewish screed that praised the suspects accused of carrying out attacks on mosques in New Zealand that killed 50 people last month and at Pittsburgh's Tree of Life synagogue that killed 11 on Oct. 27. The tipster, who refused to provide his name because of security concerns, said the call with the FBI lasted four or five minutes and the shooting happened soon afterward. He described the FBI as quick and professional and said he doesn't know what the bureau could have done. The shooting happened around 11:30 a.m. Earnest's gun jammed and an off-duty Border Patrol agent fired at him as he fled, missing him but striking the getaway vehicle, authorities said. Oscar Stewart, an Army combat veteran, rushed the suspect just before the agent opened fire, authorities said. "This is an evil person whose religion is hate," Stewart, 51, told KGTV in San Diego. ___ Associated Press writers Michael Balsamo in Washington, R.J. Rico in Atlanta and Amy Taxin in Poway contributed to this report.


Roscoe the dog may have nine lives. The canine is one of many animals American Humane's rescue team has pulled from the dangerous floods in Muskogee area of Oklahoma . The Washington D.C.-based team   complete with a veterinarian, trained floodwater responders, medical supplies and a 50-ft. boat   was dispatched to the state at the request of the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry. American Humane's team has been assisting with search-and-rescue missions for companion and farm animals since they arrived in the state several days ago. Roscoe came on to their radar after the dog's owners, forced to evacuate before they could pick up Roscoe, reached out to the organization for help. "American Humane, Code 3 Associates and firefighters with the Webbers Falls Fire Department launched boats on a rescue mission into the swirling soup of contaminated floodwaters. The location where Roscoe had been left in a fenced yard was now under 10 to 12 feet of water. More than two days had passed since the flooding began and we were not sure if he would have been able to survive the ordeal," American Humane Rescue veterinarian Lesa Staubus, DVM said of the Roscoe's rescue in Webbers Falls, Oklahoma. RELATED: Small Oklahoma Town 'Blocked Off From Civilization' Due to Dangerous Floodwaters: We're 'Trapped' Thankfully, as the team moved closer to Roscoe's home, they spotted the dog's head and front paws "clinging for life in the branches of a tree." Dr. Saubus said she could see "fear and exhaustion" in Roscoe's eyes as they ended his horrible ordeal by pulling him from the muddy water and onto American Humane's boat. RELATED: Determined Dog Lover and a Group of Good Samaritans Rescue 21 Dogs from Harvey Flood Waters in One Boat "With careful teamwork we were able to safely get Roscoe into our boat and into a transport kennel. As he was transported out of the flood area he promptly collapsed into a deep sleep. His poor body was exhausted. We are happy to report that the following morning, after he had had food and rest, he seemed much more settled, although no doubt still traumatized," she added. Roscoe will be cared for by one of American Humane's shelter partners until his family is back in a home and able to care for him again.


NEW YORK   The NBA's All-Star show has arrived on Brrr-oadway. After years of performing only in warm-weather cities in the South and West, the midseason spectacle has come back to the bitterly cold Big Apple, where the most popular person at the player hotel Friday may not have been LeBron James or Stephen Curry, but the one handing out complimentary hot chocolates in the lobby. Players love being in New York and can't wait for the curtain to rise at Madison Square Garden on Sunday night, but the bright lights in the big city aren't doing anything to help the teeth-chattering chilly temperatures down below. "New York is cold as hell, man. But it's nice, it's cool," Miami's Dwyane Wade said. "I feel like the All-Star had to be in New York one of these years. Since I've been in the league, 12 years now, it hasn't been in New York and it's mind-boggling that it hasn't, but I think it's cool that it's finally here. There's just a different vibe in New York than anywhere else." Wade is injured and can't play Sunday, but the guys who will say it will be a special night because it will be on one of their favorite stages. "It's going to be the best All-Star Game for me, to be able to be in the Garden," James said. "I love my fans back in Cleveland. I loved my fans when I was in Miami. But if I could have 82 regular-season games in the Garden, you know I would, because it's the mecca of basketball. You get a great feeling when you walk in there because there is so much history. It's going to be fun." The game hasn't been in New York since 1998, Michael Jordan's last with the Chicago Bulls and the first of many for Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan. The NBA's preference has been places where it's warm in February, and cities such as Houston and New Orleans have hosted it multiple times in recent years. But when the Garden underwent a three-year renovation and Barclays Center in Brooklyn was built, both with $1 billion price tags, the league decided the venues would share the weekend. The Rising Stars challenge and All-Star Saturday night went to the home of the Nets, with the game set for the Knicks' home court. Players arrived to find painfully cold temperatures in the teens, feeling much lower with the wind, and snow possible on Sunday, when the forecast was for a low near zero degrees. Sacramento's DeMarcus Cousins, who usually spends All-Star weekend back home in Alabama, was still wearing his winter hat when he conducted his media day interviews in a hotel ballroom. The Knicks' Carmelo Anthony wasn't worried about showing players around the city because "nobody wants to be in this cold anyway." "You talk about people that's in other cold climates that's complaining that they're cold," he added. That would include Wade, who grew up in Chicago and played in Milwaukee at Marquette, making him somewhat of an expert on frozen tundras. "It's cold, but Milwaukee is COLD," he said. "I think Milwaukee is colder than Chicago. Seriously, when I was in Milwaukee, there was a couple of days I thought about not playing basketball ever again. I didn't want to walk to class it was so cold. I was like, I don't know if this life is for me. But this is cold, but it ain't got nothing on Milwaukee cold." Still, Wade said, he would play outdoors as a kid because he loved the game, just as kids were doing outside a community center where James, Curry and Commissioner Adam Silver appeared at an NBA Cares clinic, one of the 100 the league conducted Friday around the city's five brrr-oughs. Silver had said earlier this week the weather was always the biggest All-Star concern for the league. "I'm very happy so far that while it's a little colder than I would have liked, most importantly we don't have a lot of snow, and the latest I've heard is that the airports are clear and people are able to get around easy in the city," he said after the event. The game will be a vintage New York show, featuring performances by the Rockettes and some Broadway musical actors. Anthony is battling a knee injury that could end his season after the All-Star break, but he's continued playing to take part in a weekend he says New Yorkers will never forget. "This is one of the cities that I think most guys look forward to coming to," added Portland's LaMarcus Aldridge. "It's a fun city. There's always a lot going on. It's the fashion capital. I think guys love coming here." ___ Follow Brian Mahoney on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Briancmahoney


Oklahoma City Thunder forward Patrick Patterson has reportedly exercised his player option for the 2019-20 season, according to Sham Charania of The Athletic . The nine-year veteran had until June 29 to opt into his $5,711,200 option for next season and most expected him to do so since it appeared unlikely he would receive that as a free agent this summer. Thunder general manager Sam Presti hinted during his press conference at the end of the season that Patterson would be back with the team. With Patterson opting into his contract, the Thunder now have nine players signed to guaranteed contracts for the 2019-20 season. Oklahoma City Thunder forward Patrick Patterson has exercised his $5.7M player option for the 2019-20 season, league sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium . - Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 11, 2019 Despite falling out of the rotation late in the season, Patterson said during his exit interview that he enjoyed his time with the Thunder and was happy with his standing within the organization: I feel confident with the team as of right now. I feel happy here. I enjoy my teammates. I enjoy the city. A great program, a great organization here. So, as of right now, I feel [I'm] in a positive situation and in a great place. While the addition of Markieff Morris certainly cut into his playing time, Patterson handled it like a true professional. He understood the move and made peace with it for the betterment of the team. Presti applauded Patterson for how he has handled his role change since joining the Thunder and was curious to see how he could play given a larger role moving forward. Patterson averaged 3.6 points in 63 games this season. MORE: Aaron Rodgers discusses his 'Game of Thrones' cameo, and it's not what fans all thought it was NBA Free Agency 2019: The top players Video confirms reports of Chris Paul's attempt to sabotage Steph Curry Future heir or temporary face? Assessing the unknowns of Patriots QB Jarrett Stidham Ex-GM: Giants got it right with Daniel Jones at No. 6


PARKLAND, Fla.   More than a year after the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School that left 17 dead and 17 injured, Florida lawmakers approved a controversial school safety bill to allow teachers to be armed on campus. Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis is expected to sign it into law. But school districts in the state, even some that embraced the armed "guardian" program, which started last year and armed school staff members, have not embraced the law -- so it's unclear how many will implement it once it passes. "…The type of teacher that's willing to sacrifice themselves to protect the child in their care deserves the option of a firearm when they put themselves between that child with a gun," said Eric Friday, legal counsel for Florida Carry. "We've got a lot of teachers who already understand firearms. We have teachers that are former military former police officers themselves. There is no reason those people especially shouldn't be allowed to carry." But so far school districts have balked at the bill. The bill is an expansion of the Coach Aaron Feis Guardian program, a one-year-old initiative named after the Parkland high school's assistant football coach killed in the Valentine's Day massacre. The program allowed some school staff, but not classroom teachers, to receive weapons training to carry a concealed weapon on school campuses if their school board and local sheriffs agree. The new bill expands the program to allow school teachers to be armed in the classroom. If passed, it will still be up to individual school boards to vote on whether to implement the change. GET THE FOX NEWS APP Teachers who volunteer and are chosen by school superintendents would undergo psychological evaluations, background checks, drug screenings and at least 144 hours of police-style training. About 25 of Florida's 67 school districts, including Broward County, where Parkland is located, are taking part in the "guardian" program. But school boards for some of the state's largest counties, including Broward, say they draw the line on arming teachers. "It's very risky and dangerous," said Erin Wiley, a spokeswoman for Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. "For the school to think that kids won't know which teachers have the guns or where they are stored or which teachers are wearing the guns, that's just foolish," Wiley said. "Kids are curious, kids will find things out and when they do accidents are bound to happen." Stephanie Baxter-Jenkins, executive director of the Hillsborough County Classroom Teachers Association, agrees. She said the responsibility put on teachers goes too far. "Can you imagine somebody you taught potentially coming on the campus and you...protecting other children and shooting a child you once taught? We're not thinking about all the mental issues that go into that," she said. "We also have kids that come from places where school is the only safe space that they have…so turning that into a different scenario -- we don't think is healthy for kids mentally." According to The National Conference of State Legislatures, Florida is among at least nine states allowing armed school staff. Baxter-Jenkins added that if the state wants to throw an extra burden on its teachers, it should increase salaries and benefits for the educators, too. HOW CAN THE U.S. DO A BETTER JOB OF KEEPING KIDS SAFE AT SCHOOL Republicans and Second Amendment advocates in favor of the bill cited the 458-page report of recommendations released in January by the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission, which investigated a wave of errors revealed in the wake of the shooting, including disregarded tips, lax school security policies and a delay in action by the Broward County Sheriff's Office during the shooting. The commission recommended arming teachers and called for increasing spending on security in schools. "A year after lawmakers passed sweeping gun control in a knee-jerk reaction to Parkland, I'm glad they are finally stepping up to defend our children. The only way to end these tragedies is to end the so-called 'gun free' zones that are magnets for criminals," said D.J. Parten, executive director of Florida Gun Rights. "In fact, 98 percent of mass shootings occur in gun free zones…this bill is a step in the right direction." In a statement to Fox News, Florida's Department of Education said, "The department's top priority is ensuring the safety and welfare of Florida's students…We support the bill and hope it makes its way to Governor DeSantis." In addition to arming teachers, the follow-up bill would also create new guidelines on reporting school safety incidents, assessing students' mental health and establishing standardized "threat assessment" tools for schools to keep records of students they feel may pose a "behavioral threat" to themselves or others. Teachers unions, which are against guns in the classroom, said that if the governor signs the bill into law they will sue.


Metro bus operators might refuse to drive extra shuttle routes that are part of the transit agency's largest-ever rail shutdown, union officials said Wednesday. The drama comes just two workdays into the summer-long closure of six Blue and Yellow line stations in Virginia. Free shuttle buses are now bridging the gap for thousands of rush-hour commuters. The head of Metro's largest union of employees says bus operators from other regions such as Northwest D.C. are being conscripted into driving shutdown bus service without any prior training on the routes. "It's a serious safety issue going on out there right now," said ATU Local 689 President Raymond Jackson. Union leaders stressed that so-called 'strategic operators' being moved from one route to another takes the original bus offline, creating a region-wide issue. "Now you have the riding public standing at bus stations where no bus is coming," said Jackson. Metro has not commented directly on this issue but did say that there were issues with a small number of shutdown shuttle bus drivers, some of them being contractors. "The authority's biggest problem is you're not listening to the people who do the work," said Jackson, adding that his requests to be a part of shutdown planning meetings were not returned. "If you're not going to look out for the safety of the riding public, then the union is going to have to," said Jackson. "If that means we have to stand down from this work then that's what we're going to do." Sign up for the Get Up DC newsletter : Your forecast. Your commute. Your news.


DETROIT (AP) Lucas Giolito didn't have his best stuff against the Detroit Tigers on Monday night. His manager loved the way he responded. Giolito allowed three runs on eight hits and two walks in six innings, good enough to help the Chicago White Sox beat the Tigers 7-4. ''That's a really good sign for a young pitcher,'' White Sox manager Rick Renteria said. ''He had to go out there, make adjustments to what he was throwing and still find a way to get outs. He had to work through a lot of traffic on the bases, but he gave us six innings and a chance to win.'' The victory was the first for Giolito (12-5) since June 30. The All-Star went 0-3 with a 5.65 ERA in five July starts. ''Obviously, our win-loss records aren't always a perfect representation of how we've pitched, but you still like your games to end with a team win and a personal win,'' Giolito said. ''My slider was inconsistent and my fastball was all over the place, but I was able to do a lot with my changeup.'' All nine starters for the White Sox had at least one hit and seven either scored or drove in a run. Chicago has won three of four after a 2-8 homestand. ''We are finally putting some good at-bats together after a lot of struggling,'' Renteria said. ''Today it was everyone in the lineup doing something, which is exactly what we need to see.'' JaCoby Jones homered and tripled for Detroit, which has lost 10 of 12 and gone 10-34 since June 1. The Tigers are last in the majors with 3.59 runs per game while the White Sox (4.12) are 28th. ''I thought we competed against the kid pretty good,'' Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire said. ''He's got great stuff with his cutter and a really, really good changeup. He pitched well, but we battled him.'' Tigers starter Spencer Turnbull, returning from the injured list after a back injury, allowed two runs on two hits, two walks and a hit batter in three innings. He struck out seven. ''There were some positives, but I was too inefficient with my pitch count,'' he said. The White Sox loaded the bases in the first on two walks and a hit batter. Turnbull struck out Eloy Jimenez, but Matt Skole blooped a two-run double. The Tigers made it 2-1 with three two-out singles in the second, with Jake Rogers driving home Travis Demeritte. Rogers and Demeritte each made their major league debuts during Detroit's 2-8 road trip and were playing at Comerica Park for the first time. ''I got fooled on the pitch, but I stayed with it and found some green grass in the outfield,'' Rogers said. ''Give Travis credit - he got a good jump and was able to score.'' Jones led off the third with his 11th homer, tying the game. Yolmer Sanchez made it 3-2 with an RBI groundout off Gregory Soto (0-5) in the fourth and Ryan Goins hit a bloop single later in the inning to drive in the fourth run. The Tigers had runners on the corners in the fifth, but Miguel Cabrera grounded into his 14th double play. Brandon Dixon tripled and scored on Harold Castro's RBI groundout in the sixth, but the White Sox scored three times in the eighth to go up 7-3. The Tigers added a run in the ninth off White Sox closer Alex Colome, who pitched with a four-run lead and a doubleheader on Tuesday. ''He was the most rested guy out there - we've had to run our relievers out there a lot lately,'' Renteria said. ''Can we still use him twice tomorrow? We'll cross that bridge when we get to it.'' TRAINER'S ROOM White Sox: Kelvin Herrera (oblique) remains on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Charlotte. Herrera made his first appearance on Friday, allowing four runs, including two homers, in his only inning of work. Tigers: Detroit placed Jordan Zimmermann on the 10-day injured list with cervical spasms and called up reliever Eduardo Jimenez. Zimmermann, who has struggled with injuries throughout his four seasons in Detroit, is expected to miss at least two starts. . 3B Jeimer Candelario missed the game with a thumb injury and will be evaluated on Tuesday morning. UP NEXT The teams continue a four-game series with a day-night doubleheader on Tuesday. Detroit's Daniel Norris (3-8, 4.67) faces Dylan Cease (1-4, 6.43) in the first game, with the White Sox expected to bring up Hector Santiago (1-0. 6.75) to face Drew VerHagen (1-2, 11.66) in the nightcap. --- More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports


Capitol Hill is very walkable, is relatively bikeable and has good transit options, according to Walk Score's rating system . So what does the low-end pricing on a rental in Capitol Hill look like these days   and what might you get for your money? We took a look at local listings for studios and one-bedroom apartments in Capitol Hill via rental sites Zumper and Apartment Guide to find out what price-conscious apartment seekers can expect to find in this Washington neighborhood. Read on for the cheapest listings available right now. (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. 1011 16th St. NE Listed at $1,200/month, this one-bedroom, one-bathroom space, located at 1011 16th St. NE, is 38.5% less than the $1,950/month median rent for a one-bedroom in Capitol Hill. Inside, you'll find hardwood floors. The building features additional storage space. Cats and dogs are not allowed. Expect a $35.00 application fee. (See the complete listing here .) 1247 F St. NE This one-bedroom, one-bathroom dwelling, situated at 1247 F St. NE, is listed for $1,395/month. In the unit, expect to find a ceiling fan and hardwood flooring. There's no leasing fee required for this rental. (See the complete listing here .) 1007 Constitution Ave. NE Here's a one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment at 1007 Constitution Ave. NE, which, at 500 square feet, is going for $1,475/month. In the unit, you're promised both air conditioning and central heating, a fireplace, a dishwasher and hardwood flooring. Cats and dogs are not allowed. (See the full listing here .) 132 N. Carolina Ave. SE Then there's this 1,160-square-foot townhouse at 132 N. Carolina Ave. SE, listed at $1,500/month. The unit includes air conditioning. Both cats and dogs are allowed. There isn't a leasing fee associated with this rental. (See the listing here .) 1364 Constitution Ave. NE This one-bedroom, one-bathroom residence, situated at 1364 Constitution Ave. NE, is listed for $1,595/month for its 600 square feet. You can expect to see hardwood flooring, in-unit laundry, granite countertops and stainless steel appliances in the unit. If you've got a pet, you'll be happy to learn that cats and dogs are allowed. Look out for a $50 application fee. (See the 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.


A brokerage account can be a good way to diversify and start investing, even with smaller amounts of money. What Is a brokerage account? Simply, it's a way to purchase stocks, mutual funds and other investments in one place. These accounts are offered by brokerage firms and there are typically no fees involved to open one. There may, however, be a minimum amount required to start investing. With many brokerage accounts, investors need at least $2,000 to start building a portfolio. Joseph Polakovic, president of Castle West Financial in San Diego, says the key variable for investing with that amount of money is choosing the right brokerage account. When starting with a $2,000 investment or another small amount, consistency trumps everything else. "The starting amount isn't as necessary as the discipline it takes to keep it in the account, even if the account is experiencing some volatility," Polakovic says. For new investors, there are a few things to keep in mind about how to open a brokerage account and invest their first $2,000. Consider goals and needs. Watch the costs. Start with broad diversification. Aim for tax efficiency. Just start. Consider Goals and Needs Fintech companies offer more options to open a brokerage account than ever but younger investors should think carefully before committing their investment dollars. Choosing a brokerage that integrates traditional investing platforms with financial planning software can help investors target their portfolios to their goals, says Jesse Brown, financial advisor at Signature Estate & Investment Advisors in Houston. He says investors should consider whether a brokerage makes certified financial planners or other investment professionals available to answer questions as a portfolio evolves and grows. It's also important to keep investing targets in view to ensure that a brokerage account is suited to achieving those goals. "If you're looking to build retirement wealth, then it may be best to use a tax-advantaged account," Polakovic says. "However, if this account is going to be used to buy a home, pay for a large expense or be used sometime before age 59.5, then a regular brokerage account would be the best option." Watch the Costs Being clear about investing objectives is also important from a cost perspective. "When you're asking yourself what type of investor you're looking to be with it, you need to consider how frequently you think you'll be trading or changing investments as these changes will usually equate to some type of fee," says Jordan Sowhangar, Philadelphia-based certified financial planner and wealth advisor at Girard, a division of Univest Investments. Many brokerage accounts charge a trading fee or commission to buy and sell investments such as stocks and funds. Some may also charge an inactivity fee or annual maintenance fee for accounts. It's important to evaluate each fee and compare these costs against the account's features and investment selection to assess whether a specific brokerage option is a good fit. Additionally, pay attention to the fees associated with underlying investments. With mutual funds, index funds or exchange-traded funds, experts say the key number to focus on is the expense ratio. This figure represents the annual cost of owning a fund, expressed as a percentage of assets. Generally, an expense ratio of 0.75% or lower is optimal for managing costs. If an investor allocates $10,000 annually in a fund with a 0.75% expense ratio that means $75 would go toward those fees. Again, this is why choosing the right brokerage to open an investment account matters. Vanguard, for instance, offers some of the least expensive fund options, with an average expense ratio of 0.1%. The lower the expense ratio, the better for holding on to returns in a taxable account. Start with Broad Diversification Choosing the right funds to include a brokerage account can help with managing costs while offering investors exposure to a good mix of asset classes. Rebecca Novin-Cannon, president of Novin Cannon Financial Group in Montville, New Jersey, favors low-cost, broad-based asset allocation in the form of ETFs. She says this can be a good way to decrease volatility and increase returns. "Depending on your tolerance for risk, you should hold a diverse array of ETFs," Novin-Cannon says. That includes large-, mid- and small-cap funds, growth and value funds, bond funds, domestic funds and funds focused on international and emerging markets. Brown also suggests broad-based index ETFs. "Since this investment is already diversified between the companies in the index, it takes the stress out of having to build your own portfolio with several different investments," he says. "Once your investments begin to grow over time, then you can additional investments to offer the most diversification." A single fund may be sufficient for meeting diversification needs in the early stages. "When you are first starting out with a limited dollar amount as a new investor it generally makes the most sense to take a 'less is more' approach," Sowhangar says. Aim for Tax Efficiency In a brokerage account, investment growth is subject to capital gains tax at the time an investment is sold. The short-term capital gains tax rate applies to investments held for less than one year; the more favorable long-term capital gains rate applies to investments held a year or more. Understanding the basics of taxation for brokerage accounts is important for ensuring that funds held in the account are as tax efficient as possible. Experts say that ETFs, which typically have less turnover of underlying assets, can meet this need. Investors may consider splitting their $2,000 initial buy-in between a tax-advantaged and a taxable account if they don't have both yet. "We don't know if taxes will go up or down in the future, so dividing the tax burden evenly by paying some taxes now and some later is a practical strategy," says Casey A. Marx, founder and CEO of Crown Haven Wealth Advisors in Carmel, Indiana. Marx says putting $1,000 into a Roth IRA and the other $1,000 into an after-tax-brokerage account can be a starting point for managing tax liability. Just Start The last guideline for opening a brokerage account may be the most important. "There is so much information out there about investments and investment strategies, it can be paralyzing to first-time investors," Marx says. "However, how much money you have to invest shouldn't stop you from starting a portfolio. There are plenty of investment options that allow you to invest as much or as little as you want." Delaying can cost investors portfolio growth over the long term. "Money needs to time to accumulate, accelerate and ultimately take off," Novin-Cannon says. "We each have only one compound interest curve during our lifetimes and the longer we wait to hop on our curve and start saving, the less take off we experience at the top end." Copyright 2019 U.S. News & World Report


CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico -- For the two dozen migrant children living inside a small church on the outskirts of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, most days go like this: Breakfast at 8 a.m., dinner at 6 p.m., and hours of nothing in between. There is no school, and except for a handful of worn Bibles, there are no books. Dangers abound in the surrounding hills, so most haven't left the razor-wire-ringed compound in weeks or even months. "I feel imprisoned," said 16-year-old Alison Mendoza. She left Nicaragua with her parents and two younger sisters in March after her father received death threats for demonstrating against President Daniel Ortega, whose government has jailed and killed thousands of dissenters. The family has been waiting here in Juarez for nearly two months for their chance to request political asylum in the United States. A Trump administration policy allows only a handful of asylum seekers to pass through ports of entry at the U.S. border each day. Mendoza and her sisters, 6-year-old Sol and 11-year-old Michele, are among the thousands of migrant children languishing along the border as a result of changing migration trends and White House policies that seek to deter asylum seekers. They left friends and relatives behind and endured the trials of the migrant trail only to end up stuck in camps, cheap hotels and shelters such as Buen Pastor, which is now home to children and their families from as far away as Ghana and Congo. Pawns in an adult's dispute, their future is entirely uncertain. Two recent Trump administration mandates are almost certain to result in even larger numbers of migrant children being stranded here. One calls for asylum seekers to wait in Mexico while their cases are adjudicated. Roughly 3,000 migrant children and their families have been returned to Juarez under that program since April, according to Chihuahua state officials. Another new mandate announced this week calls for asylum to be denied to migrants who did not apply for protection in at least one country they passed through while trying to reach the United States. Slideshow by photo services The rules mean that there is a very strong likelihood that if the Mendozas finally do cross the border to plead their case, they will be sent right back to Juarez. "What will we do?" said Donald Mendoza, 37, who left behind a good job at a Managua university that would have allowed him to pay for all three girls' college educations. The Mexican government has committed to providing schooling to migrants who are returned from the U.S., but Mendoza doesn't want to raise his girls in notoriously dangerous Juarez, where 10 people were slain on Sunday alone. "This is not the life I planned for my children," he said. Buen Pastor opened its doors about 20 years ago to migrants -- back then almost always single men -- who passed through Juarez before seeking to sneak across the border. "They would come, rest for a night or two, and then cross," said Pastor Juan Fierro Garcia. But over the last two years, entire families began trudging up the dirt road that leads to the church. Many had heard that U.S. authorities were releasing migrants as long as they requested asylum and were traveling with children. "We didn't know much about the situation, just that families were passing," said Joseph Venegas, 26, who left Honduras last month with his wife and their two sons. Related video: New Report Says Homestead Facility For Children Should Be Closed (CBS Miami) After crossing into the U.S. illegally last week, and turning themselves in to border authorities, Venegas and his family were held for two days and then released back into Juarez with an order to appear at an asylum hearing in October. A Mexican official told them how to get to Buen Pastor. Ten-year-old Jose sobbed on the way there. "I want to go back to Honduras," he wailed. "We had bad luck," his father explained. "The law is the law and we have to respect it." "We are doing all of this for you," Venegas added. Venegas said the family decided to leave because a teacher's strike meant Jose hadn't been able to go to school for months. But now, as he watched Jose sit morosely in one corner of the shelter and his wife nurse their coughing 4-month old baby on a nearby bench, he wondered whether leaving had been in the best interest of his kids. "What kind of childhood is this?" he asked. The experience is a little easier on the younger children, many of whom don't understand exactly what is happening, and who run around the shelter in a tight pack. The youngsters from Africa speak only a small amount of Spanish, but they still manage to make friends. The lack of toys means the children entertain themselves around a big table, beating it like a drum until their parents complain or turning it into a fort under which they hide and whisper. There are several small buildings clustered around the compound -- a men's dormitory, a women's dormitory and the church sanctuary where families camp out each night on mattresses squeezed between the pews. The crowded conditions and a constant stream of visitors -- NGO workers, pro bono lawyers, and journalists all asking the same tired questions -- means there is zero privacy. Young women groom themselves and change clothes under the cover of blankets. A psychologist from the state comes once a week. On a recent morning, she gathered the children around a big round table and led them in breathing exercises. She asked them to go one by one, saying their names and where they were from. "I'm Natalia from Honduras," one girl said. "I'm Akasia from Congo," said another. A thin child from Guatemala declined to speak, burying her head in her arms. "She is sad," the 7-year-old boy next to her explained. "It's OK," the psychologist said. "It's okay to be sad." ___ (c)2019 Los Angeles Times Visit the Los Angeles Times at www.latimes.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.


Just do it. A raucous chant echoed through the Stade de Lyon following the USWNT's World Cup win that made a bigger statement that just celebrating the win. EQUAL PAY #USWNT pic.twitter.com/hQMGz6q54H   Mina Park (@minapark) July 7, 2019 Soccer fans who traveled to France for the final showed their support for a simple ideal: Paying men and women equally. It came following the USWNT's fourth World Cup win and the world took notice of the chant. Twitter interest in #EqualPay skyrocketed following the win. On Thursday an article by The Guardian revealed just how big a gap there is between the USWNT and the USMNT. The women preparing to play the Netherlands in the World Cup Final had earned $90,000 each in bonuses for their play. Had men reached the same level of the World Cup the team would have been awarded $550,000. This disparity had been discussed throughout the cup, but following the win more and more people began talking about the disparity. At this point we shouldn't even be asking for #EqualPay for the #USWMNT - we should demand they be paid at least twice as much https://t.co/VXITg24UB3   Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) July 7, 2019 Incredibly inspiring World Cup by our @USWNT so fun to watch !!!! #FIFAWomensWorldCup #legacy #leadersonandoffthepitch #EqualPay   Aaron Rodgers (@AaronRodgers12) July 7, 2019 Congrats Team USA #WorldCup2019 Champions! The Women's National Team showed us their greatness - now show them the money. #fairpay   Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) July 7, 2019 The predictable retort here is something about how the USMNT generates more money and therefore they "deserve" to be paid more, however an article from the Wall Street Journal in June showed that the USWNT generated more revenue than the men's team. We are lucky enough to have the best team in the world, and when the dust settles likely one of the best sports teams of all time. Pay them their friggin' money.


President Donald Trump 's Fourth of July celebration will feature $750,000 of donated fireworks from an Ohio retailer who has lobbied the White House against expanded tariffs on Chinese imports. And last week, the same day the donation was announced , the company -- Phantom Fireworks of Youngstown, Ohio -- got what it wanted: Trump decided to hold off on his threatened $300 billion in tariffs on Chinese goods, which include fireworks. "This is another example of how private companies attempt use their money to influence the government by stroking the president's ego," said Jordan Libowitz with Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a nonpartisan watchdog group. (MORE:Trump defends cost of July 4th 'Salute to America' event) Company executives said the donation had been in the works for months and that the gift was not politically motivated . The Interior Department, which is overseeing the event, declined to comment on its policy for vetting and accepting donations. "While the donation of fireworks for D.C.'s Independence Day gala is generous and supported by many, it raises ethical concerns," said Scott Amey, general counsel of Project on Government Oversight, a nonpartisan, independent watchdog group. "The fireworks companies have reportedly lobbied against tariffs, and they could be using the Trump administration's celebration to better their business opportunities. We have witnessed a blurring of the line between government and business with this administration and things don't seem to be improving." Phantom Fireworks CEO Bruce Zoldan told ABC News Live last month that he met face-to-face with Trump in May during an Oval Office meeting with business leaders to discuss the impact of tariffs, but he said that the group did not explicitly discuss fireworks. "They were all sympathetic to what I was saying, but holding on to the fact that China needed to be punished for what they felt were predatory issues and unfair trade. And they said hopefully a deal will be made," Zoldan said. (MORE: Politics and patriotism mix at Trump's 4th of July event) China is the world's largest producer of consumer and commercial pyrotechnics, and nearly all fireworks sold in the U.S. are imported from China. Hundreds of American fireworks retailers, including Phantom, which is America's largest, have been pressing the administration not to impose a 25% import tax as part of the ongoing trade war. "It would be pretty devastating," Bill Weimer, vice president of Phantom Fireworks told ABC News of the threatened tariff. "The problem is there's no alternative source for us to get the fireworks. We have to stay with China." On Tuesday, after returning from Asia and stepping back from an escalating tariff fight, Trump hailed Phantom Fireworks in a tweet to his 61 million followers. "Thanks to "Phantom Fireworks" and "Fireworks by Grucci" for their generosity in donating the biggest fireworks show Washington D.C. has ever seen," Trump tweeted . "CEO's Bruce Zoldan and Phil Grucci are helping to make this the greatest 4th of July celebration in our Nations history!" Trump's praise of the companies also appeared to skirt federal ethics guidelines, which prohibit any executive branch employee from using his position to promote a business, product or person. The White House declined to comment about the potential conflict of interest. (MORE: National park improvement funds to be used for Trump July 4th event: Report) In an interview with ABC News, Grucci said he was providing pro bono services for the event, designing, producing and engineering the fireworks display as a "goodwill gesture." "It's a gift to the American people," Grucci said. The family has produced fireworks displays for eight presidential inaugurations and the nation's millennium celebration in 2000. "To politicize something like this and our involvement is a disappointment to me," Grucci said. "This performance is different. It's bigger and wider and better than anything before. It's something we all can be proud of." The Interior Department, which is overseeing the display, called Phantom's contribution to the Fourth of July festivities an "extraordinary donation for a phenomenal fireworks display." House Democrats chided the administration for accepting the gift at a time when some federal agencies were turning away donations for migrants at the border, citing a law that places limits on what agencies can receive without congressional permission. "It's ironic that President Trump is willing to spend millions of taxpayer dollars and accept donations of fireworks for his partisan Fourth of July celebration while his Administration is turning away donations of diapers and toothpaste for immigrant children separated from their families and held in inhumane detention centers at the border," House Oversight Committee Chairman Elijah Cummings told ABC News. Some ethics watchdogs also said that the fireworks donation could be construed as an in-kind political contribution to Trump's reelection campaign. Even though the event has been billed as an official White House function, critics say it has the appearance of a patriotic photo op with political overtones. "Such large, in-kind donations to an event touted by President Trump could be used to help curry favor with him and the administration," said Sheila Krumholz, executive director of the Center for Responsive Politics. "His tweets confirm that they are greatly appreciated and, because they're not going directly to his campaign or another political committee, they can bypass contribution limits." ABC News' Katherine Faulders contributed to this report.


HOMER GLEN, Ill.   Wearing a black shirt with "Fight for your happiness" on the front and "Sick not weak" on the back, Daniel Carcillo eats an apple as his wife makes a cappuccino nearby and their oldest daughter scampers around the kitchen. This is the family he always wanted, just not the life he expected. Carcillo is hurting inside and out after seven documented concussions in the National Hockey League and what he believes could be literally hundreds of traumatic brain injuries. Once his wife Ela, son Austin, daughters Laila and Scarlett and dog Bubba left the house, Carcillo explained where his head is at. It has been nearly a year since his last round of neurological treatment and right now the bad days outnumber the good. Darkness has returned. This is a bad day. "I'm going to choose when I'm going to go," Carcillo said. "I'll make that decision of how much pain I'm going to put my loved ones through that are around me." He is just 34, hung up his skates in 2015 and wants to be known as Daniel Carcillo who used to play hockey, not Daniel Carcillo the hockey player. He spends his days now trying to manage the damage the sport did to him while also crusading against the concussions crisis that has hit the NHL over the past decade-plus. The league has taken steps to address the topic, but it has not faded from view by any means as the Stanley Cup Final opens Monday. The league last fall settled a lawsuit for $18.9 million with more than 300 retired players after winning a key victory against class-action status. It included $22,000 for each player and provisions for testing but no acknowledgement of liability for the players' claims the NHL failed to protect them from head injuries or warn them of the risks involved with playing. Commissioner Gary Bettman has consistently denied there is a conclusive link between repeated blows to the head and the degenerative brain disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Carcillo calls the concussions issue an epidemic, though even the players' union and attorneys involved in lawsuits against the league cannot or will not provide an estimate of just how many former players might be suffering the same problems as Carcillo   the kind of problems loved ones of players like Todd Ewen and Wade Belak noticed before their suicides. Various studies have tried to determine how many concussions there are in any given season in the NHL. There's little doubt to retired players that the total among 700-plus players over nearly 1,300 regular-season games, whatever it may be, is too much. "It's definitely a problem that players are suffering from," said Reed Larson, who played 936 NHL games and was among the first to sue the NHL over head injuries. "It's a real threat." ___ Carcillo isn't fine and he knows it. He doesn't remember any of his first five concussions but can't seem to escape the anxiety, depression, lack of impulse control and suicidal thoughts that creep in. He feels better in the immediate aftermath of functional neurology therapy with Dr. Matt Antonucci, but that only helps Carcillo get back to his "new normal." It also costs $10,000 each time. "My greatest fear moving forward is that I will contract some sort of neurodegenerative disease like early-onset dementia, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, CTE," Carcillo said. "And then my wife and my two daughters and my son will have to watch me deteriorate and die." Carcillo spends his days now speaking out about the dangers of brain injuries in hockey and other sports. He frequently takes to social media, hoping to use the platform for the greater good. But time is running out for the journeyman forward who played most recently for the Chicago Blackhawks. Carcillo doesn't have a full-time job and estimates he has two years until he goes bankrupt. He considers selling his two Stanley Cup rings to pay for treatment and support his family. "I won't let him," Ela says from across the kitchen. Memorabilia from his career all sits in the basement of their recently renovated home in the Chicago suburbs   framed jerseys still in bubble wrap sit next to countless pictures in a dimly lit room, all of which used to be in Carcillo's grandfather's house. Carcillo sometimes gets angry talking about his situation, how he feels like generations of players were lied to about what was happening to their brains. He has come a long way since his darkest days. But last year, Ela, while pregnant, took their two other kids to her parent's place in Florida to get away. "I was like: 'I need to get out of here. It's not healthy. I'm pregnant. It's just not fair to me,'" Ela said. "I went and it was probably the best decision I ever made just for the sake of him figuring his stuff out." Carcillo wants his day in court with the Blackhawks and the NHL, to chart a path for the rest of his life and to save others. It is also a battle just to save himself after those 429 NHL games over nine seasons. "I keep up with my treatment," Carcillo said. "I describe it as when you're losing your quality of life. Good days and bad days are normal, all good days aren't normal and all bad days aren't normal but you just have to weigh it. I've been in really, really bad places, like on the edge of killing myself. I just kind of weigh it against that   not waiting until I get to that place." ___ Dennis Maruk is fine for now. Three decades removed from a 922-game NHL career, he is 63 and knows all about his counterparts who died between 60 and 65   if not younger. "Everything's going good," Maruk said. "I worry about myself in the future. What am I going to be like in two years down the road?" Maruk, who joined the concussion lawsuit, hears about former players developing dementia and wonders about the day when his brain might desert him. All the hits to the head absorbed from hockey were worth it then. Now? He doesn't know. "I have grandkids and I'm concerned about that and me losing my mind," Maruk said. "I'm not a very good sleeper and I think a lot has to do with being concussed." Chris Nowinski, a former college football player and pro wrestler who is now CEO of the Concussion Legacy Foundation , is 40 and worries about his own future. When he talks to retired hockey players, he hears a wide range of things   from no concern at all to some who fear the worst. "If they come at me and they don't have any current symptoms, I invite them to get involved with research just in case they develop something or do it on behalf of their former teammates," Nowinski said. "And if they are symptomatic, I tell them that the symptoms they have may be treatable and to not think about worst-case scenario and instead focus on getting treatment for the symptoms you have so you can live a better life." ___ Eric Lindros is fine most days. The jarring Scott Stevens shoulder-to-head hit on Lindros in Game 7 of the 2000 Eastern Conference final that was applauded and legal at the time is cringe-worthy now. It came two years after Lindros took another devastating hit from Darius Kasparaitis. Lindros was concussed at least five times during a dominant but injury-shortened career that landed him a spot in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Now a 46-year-old husband and father, he isn't sure what the benchmark should be for how he should be feeling. He is his own baseline. "I'd like to think I'm pretty normal," Lindros said. "I think so. We all have our moments. We all have our moments with a few things. Overall I feel pretty good." Lindros could easily be the poster boy for concussions in the NHL given his experience as a star whose career was cut short. He was aware of the lawsuit and "didn't reciprocate communication" when contacted about joining. He advocated for and contributed to the 2016 passing of a concussion safety law in Ontario designed to protect amateur athletes and educate coaches about the dangers of head injuries. Lindros doesn't want the threat of concussions to deter kids   even his own   from playing hockey. Still, he ponders an uncertain future. "You'd be a fool not to," he said. "After getting to know unfortunately as much as I do about CTE, we'd be foolish not to think about it from time to time. Certainly not something you want to dwell on." Glenn Healy has no choice but to dwell on the subject sometimes. As executive director of the 3,800-member NHL Alumni Association, he fields countless calls from retired players' family members and for so long could only say, "I'm sorry." "It's from the wives, it's from the kids saying, 'I want dad back, so how do we get dad back?'" Healy said. "We're trying to find some answers." The alumni association recently launched a research project with NEEKA Health Canada and Canopy Growth Corp. that will test 100 former players on the potential benefits of cannabinoids as treatment for post-concussion neurological diseases. Healy just wants to give guys "some help and hope." ___ T.J. Oshie said he is fine and tries not to think about it. After his fifth documented concussion and his longest absence from the game yet, the Washington Capitals winger said he doesn't put much thought into the subject. "While you're in it here, when it happens, you just want to get back on the ice," Oshie said. "You just want to play. You want to be back in your normal routine, and you want to feel normal." Oshie is 32, a Stanley Cup champion and two seasons into a $46 million, eight-year contract that sets his family up for life. But he also has a father who six years ago was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. On the ice last June, moments after winning the Stanley Cup, Oshie said to a huge audience: "My dad, he doesn't remember a lot of stuff these days." Carcillo said his own family history should force him to get checked for a gene associated with Alzheimer's and thinks Oshie should get looked at, too. Oshie isn't reckless by any means and has embraced an abundance of caution. He doesn't necessarily think his concussions have gotten progressively worse as they've piled up, still confident his second from going head first into the net in 2014 was the most severe and still battling with himself about sitting out. "It's kind of a tug of war with, 'Do I want to get back and play or do I want to be 100 percent?'" Oshie said. "Here they do a really good job of kind of taking that out of your hands, the trainers and doctors." Carcillo calls the pressure to rush back from head injuries "toxic masculinity" and something he had as a player. Bettman said eliminating the culture of "playing through" it has been at the forefront of the NHL's approach to reduce concussions, along with rule changes to legislate against head contact. "(We wanted) to educate the players and everybody associated with the game on the nature of concussions to the extent we understood it so that it was OK to say, 'I don't feel well,'" Bettman said. "It was OK for one player to say to a trainer, 'You better look at him.' It was OK for an official to say, 'He's got to go in for an evaluation.'" ___ Belak. Ewen. Steve Montador, Rick Rypien, Bob Probert, Jeff Parker, Derek Boogaard. All are dead. Many of them were enforcers tasked with delivering and taking punches for teammates and all took many blows to the head. Montador, Ewen, Probert, Parker and Boogaard were posthumously diagnosed with CTE. Montador's 2015 death hit Carcillo hard because he saw his close friend struggle for so long even after seeking help. Christmas, New Year's and the months of January and February are still a struggle. On the eighth anniversary of Boogaard's death, his mother put a note in their local paper written to him and signed by the entire family. "Donating your brain has helped in so many ways, as painful as it was for us," Joanne Boogaard wrote. "NHL still has a lot of work to do at acknowledging and accepting responsibility for players who have passed and those who are out there with CTE and don't even know it. You did help in getting more awareness out there." That is Carcillo's mission now. He can't change the punch to the head that gave him his seventh concussion but wants to document every step of his journey so that if he can't save himself, maybe he can save others. "It's been pretty, pretty miserable: a lot of searching, a lot of treatment and a lot of money spent, a lot of friends lost," he said. "I need to get it figured out, or else I don't think I'll be here that long. If I continue to feel this way, it doesn't bode well for my future." ___ Follow AP Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno on Twitter at https://twitter.com/SWhyno ___ More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports Related slideshow: Best of the 2019 NHL playoffs (Provided by imagn)


Chris Herndon will spend the first four games on the sidelines. The second-year tight end has been suspended for violating the NFL's policy and program on substances of abuse. The 23-year-old will serve the suspension without pay at the beginning of the 2019 season. Herndon will be eligible to return on Monday, Oct. 7 after the Jets square off against the Philadelphia Eagles. The tight end can participate in all offseason activities including the pre-season. Herndon was already facing possible league discipline under the NFL's Personal Conduct Policy after he pled guilty to a DWI in January after being arrested last June. In his rookie season, Herndon went for 39 receptions and 502 total yards hauling in four touchdowns, tied for the lead among all rookie tight ends. Herndon has quickly become a favorite target of quarterback Sam Darnold. The Jets will face the Bills, Browns, Patriots and Eagles without Herndon at the start of the new campaign. Related slideshow: Top picks of 2019 NFL Draft (provided by imagn)


Looking to give to a cause this weekend? From a family-friendly volunteering opportunity to an event celebrating African culture, there's plenty to do when it comes to good causes coming up in Dallas 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. Trinity River Volunteer Day: June Cleanup and Seedball Workshop by Trinity Park Conservancy From the event description: Join us for a fun, family-friendly volunteer trash clean-up and seedball-making day in Harold Simmons Park! Meet us at the Trinity Overlook Park at Commerce Street and Beckley Avenue. The Great Seed Bomb will be leading the Seedball Workshop where you can get your hands dirty and make native grass and wildflower seedballs that will be dispersed in different areas along the Trinity River Corridor. Sowing seedballs helps to reinforce habitats vital to the migration of monarchs, improves the well-being of bees and adds beauty to our green spaces. When: Saturday, June 29, 9-11 a.m. Where: Trinity Overlook Park, 110 W. Commerce St. Admission: Free Click here for more details, and to get your tickets Sundress and Big Hat Brunch: Dallas Edition, 10th Anniversary at The Highland Dallas From the event description: The Sundress and Big Hat Brunch is a celebration of friendships, fashion, fun and fundraising. It's more than just another brunch; it's a movement! So, we invite you to grab your b.f.f.s, mother, daughters, sisters, aunties and nanas too, and let's create memories. We have been gathering for the last decade to celebrate life-long connections while making new ones, and we have no plans to stop anytime soon! When: Saturday, June 29, 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Where: The Highland Dallas, Curio Collection by Hilton, 5300 E. Mockingbird Lane Admission: $75 (general admission); $85 (reserved seating) Click here for more details, and to get your tickets Celebrate Africa For The Cause Gala at Lovers Lane United Methodist Church From the event description: Celebrate Africa For The Cause Gala is a celebration of the African culture. Its proceeds benefit Foundation Together United to Serve Corp (TOUS) non-profit. TOUS' mission is to raise a generation of servant leaders in Africa through Christ-centered leadership programs. Please join us for an evening of African fashion, food, music, dance, drums, comedy, silent auction, panelists and more on Saturday, June 29 at Lovers Lane United Methodist Church. Come celebrate Africa for a good cause; to empower students in Africa. When: Saturday, June 29, 6-9 p.m. Where: Lovers Lane United Methodist Church, 9200 Inwood Road Admission: $17.50 (children 6-12 years old); $35 (general admission); $60 (VIP) 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.


BLAINE, Minn.   Ricky Elliott is the hardest-working caddie in golf these days. No one else even comes close. You'd think that goes with the territory when working for the No. 1 player in the world. And, sure, Elliott, one of the game's best caddies and a fine golfer in his own right, is a dedicated and earnest worker for four-time major winner Brooks Koepka. But as the 148th Open Championship nears, Elliott seems to be working for most of professional golf. Elliott is a native of Portrush, Northern Ireland. His parents' house is about a quarter-mile from Royal Portrush, which is hosting the Open for the first time since 1951. No one would blame Elliott for declaring, "It's my island," as David O'Hara did while portraying the Irish fighter named Stephen in the film, "Braveheart." If anyone has a question, needs a place to stay or is looking for a little insight on Royal Portrush, they go looking for Elliott, 42, who grew up playing the famed links course. "Yeah, it's been kind of an interesting time," Elliott said at TPC Twin Cities, where Koepka is competing in the inaugural 3M Open. "Almost nobody has been there, so there are a lot of questions, a lot of guys looking for houses and such, where to eat. Non-stop really." He doesn't mind the added attention. But being the current rock star, if you will, of the caddie fraternity makes things hectic. Case in point, he was talking to one of his caddie peers for a few minutes after Koepka shot an opening four-under 67. He turned around and there was a reporter seeking a few comments. Then Charley Hoffman tapped him on the shoulder. Hoffman is planning to arrive in Portrush next Saturday, so he asked Elliott to set him up with a local caddie for a few days until his regular caddie arrived. Elliott dutifully took Hoffman's number. He'll take care of it. RELATED: John Daly, upset his request to use cart at Open Championship was denied, plans to play Royal Portrush anyway Elliott, who began as a caddie at Portrush and played in the same junior program with Graeme McDowell, is staying with his parents during championship week in the house where he grew up, meaning his own flat not much farther away is available for guests. Among those occupying his vacant home is instructor Pete Cowen. "Mum is all worried. She was asking me what do we do about getting them breakfast," Elliott said with a laugh. "I said, 'Mum, relax, they can go buy their own cereal.'" Asked about Elliott's widening responsibilities these many weeks, Koepka figured that the less he knew the better. "I don't pay attention," he said. "Yeah, I guess [he's busy]. I guess trying to figure out a housing situation, so that's really about it, a bunch of the caddies. I'm sure he's got enough on his plate with all of his friends back home." Even with all his experience at Portrush, Elliott will have his own scouting chores when he gets back. A setup for the Open Championship will be unlike anything he has seen before. There are two new holes and several new tees. And then there's the adjustment of thinking for Koepka, the reigning two-time PGA champion. "I have the local knowledge, which helps, but Brooks hits the ball a little differently than I do," Elliott said with a grin. "His lines will be a lot different. It will be fun to see how he plays it." Elliott's lowest score at Royal Portrush, where he estimates he has played more than 1,000 rounds in his life, is an eight-under 64. The course will play par 71 for the championship. He figures that's a good target score for the boss. His own target score is 50. That's how many tickets he needs for family and friends who want to attend the championship, which is sold out. "Fortunately, I was a caddie on the United States Ryder Cup team," he said with a smile. "I'm hitting them all up for their extras. I'm doing a lot of negotiating. I'm going to have a lot of clubs to polish once this is all over." Check out Golf Digest Schools for the best in video golf instruction WATCH: GOLF DIGEST VIDEOS