PARIS   Three days after the United States women's national team put a record World Cup hurting on Thailand with a 13-0, tournament-opening offensive explosion, fans across the globe are still passionately debating whether or not the U.S. players went overboard in overly celebrating a few of the late goals. Here in France, the American players have a sense of the scale of the controversy. But for the most part, they've avoided it by staying bunkered in at their hotel on the banks of the Seine river, blissfully immune to the ongoing internet fallout, and not at all by accident. "I've been off social media, and that's one reason why," said U.S. forward Mallory Pugh, who netted the Americans 12th tally on Tuesday in Reim, said of the hubbub. "I'm glad I have been." At 21 years old, Pugh is the second-youngest member of the USA's 23-woman roster. For most people her age, staying connected to the outside world via an electronic device is as natural as putting on socks in the morning. That probably goes for the rest of the U.S. team, too. It's no secret that discourse on the internet isn't always heathy, especially for people in the public eye. So in the months leading up to this World Cup, with the potential for distraction from the singular objective of repeating as champions a legitimate concern, some of the squads newer players have taken the same approach as Pugh by actively and deliberately insulating themselves from any communication that might take up valuable mental real estate at a time when total focus is required. It hasn't been an easy process. "I've actually been deleting social media every camp since about last year," said 24-year-old midfielder Rose Lavelle who, like Pugh, is competing in her first World Cup this summer. "I kind of knew if I didn't maybe start slowly trying to wean off it, it could be something that maybe negatively affected me during this tournament." The self-imposed media blackout hasn't been limited to just to Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram and the like. Players are also refraining from reading traditional news stories and watching video reports, according to midfielder Samatha Mewis. "I don't really think we as a team are super involved in watching and reading a lot of media about ourselves, to be honest," said Mewis. "It can be really consuming if you're caught up in it, and I think that like Rose, a lot of us have just tried to spend less time on social media or looking at media in general." Observing the embargo while not cutting off communication entirely can be a delicate balance. After her two-goal performance in her debut on her sport's grandest stage, Mewis wanted to respond to some of her well-wishers. "At times there are so many positive things, and you want to interact with people," she said. Perhaps not surprisingly, veteran forward Carli Lloyd, at 36 is the most senior U.S. player, seems to have found that sweet spot better than anyone. On Thursday, she had an online exchange with Thailand keeper after Sukanya Chor Charoenying took to social media to thank Lloyd for her encouraging words following the blowout, "I'm not sitting there all day long searching through Twitter, but the Tweet [from] the Thailand goalkeeper, I'm kinda happy I saw that," Lloyd said. "If I didn't see that, and I was blacked out and not on Twitter, it would've gone unnoticed." All you can do is give it your best each and every day. Keep fighting and never give up!! Still 2 more games to play. 😊 https://t.co/pFW4wEK8Nb   Carli Lloyd (@CarliLloyd) June 13, 2019 Lloyd can probably afford to stay connected more than her more impressionable teammates. This is her fourth World Cup. At this stage of her sterling career, she's not as likely to be fazed by negative chatter anyway. "It's a little bit different this time around," Lloyd said. "I'm a lot older. I don't really care what people think." Related slideshow: Scenes from the Women's World Cup (Provided by imagn)


With wedding season upon us, make sure you know these rules. Wedding Etiquette: How Much To Give (and Spend) Although weddings have evolved over the years and people are choosing less traditional ways to tie the knot (glamping, anyone?), there are still certain financial rules of etiquette that apply to both the couple having the wedding and guests attending the wedding. To avoid any money faux pas before, during or after the nuptials, GOBankingRates is answering all your questions about how much to give and spend when it comes to weddings and their surrounding events. What To Know If You're Getting Married If you're planning a wedding, you want to ensure it's one guests are looking forward to attending   and not one that will drain their wallets. GOBankingRates answered some of the trickiest financial wedding etiquette questions so you know exactly what you can   and can't   expect of your guests. How Should I Divide the Guest List If Only One Family Is Paying? No matter who is paying   whether it's one family, both families, the couple or some combination of those parties   it's traditional that the guest list be divided evenly into thirds: One third is guests of one of the spouse's parents, one third is guests of the other spouse's parents and one third is guests of the couple. If the parents who aren't paying want to invite more than their allotted third, they should chip in for the payment. Alternatively, the couple could cut down their own guest list to make up for the extra guests. Do I Have To Pay For All My Guests To Have a Plus-One? Typically, all guests who are in a committed relationship   whether they are married, engaged or seriously dating   should be able to bring a date to the wedding. This rule applies even if you have yet to meet the guest's partner. Don't feel obligated to give single guests a plus-one, but do be consistent   if you let one friend bring their fling of the month, you should extend that courtesy to other guests as well. What If It's a Destination Wedding? This is the exception to the rule. Single guests might not want to travel alone, and they might be wary of attending an entire extended event if they're not close with any of the other guests. The polite thing to do is to keep the guest list small enough that you can provide all guests with the option to bring a plus-one. Not everyone will opt to do so, but the choice should be theirs. Who Usually Pays For the Bridal Shower? The bridal shower is typically paid for by the hostess(es). This can be the bride's mother, mother-in-law, the bridesmaids or other friends or family members. Should I Give a Gift to the Bridal Shower Hostess(es)? In this case, a thank you note will suffice, but you can also choose to give the hostess or hostesses a small gift, like tickets to an upcoming event or a thoughtful gift set. Who Usually Pays For the Rehearsal Dinner? Traditionally, the groom's family hosts and pays for the rehearsal dinner. However, some families choose to split the cost. In other cases, the bride and groom host the event themselves. Read: 13 Real People Share Why It Was Totally Worth Splurging On Their Wedding Can I Register For Gifts Even If It's Not My First Marriage? Whether it's your second, third or 10th wedding, you can still have a gift registry. Your friends and family will likely want to celebrate your happy occasion with a gift, and having a registry will give them guidance on what to buy. If you don't feel right about asking for gifts, you could register for a honeymoon registry or other fund. Or, you can simply request that guests not bring gifts if you truly don't feel comfortable receiving any. Is It Tacky To Put My Registry Info on My Invitation? Yes   this can make it look like you're soliciting gifts. Instead, include a link to your wedding website and link to your registries there. Should I Pay For Postage on the RSVP Notes? Yes, it is common courtesy to include a stamped envelope or postcard for your guests to submit their RSVPs with. If the Venue Is a Hotel, Am I Expected To Pay For Guests' Accommodations? Whether your venue has accommodations on-site or not, you are not expected to pay for your guests' stays during your wedding weekend. If the venue is a hotel, guests can book directly through the staff. If it's a glamping retreat and you're paying for tents in advance, figure out a payment system through the venue or event manager so that you're not the one in charge of collecting payments. Although it's not necessary, you can choose to cover accommodation costs for close friends and family or subsidize room costs for guests, but you're in no way obligated to do so. How Much Should I Spend on Gifts for the Wedding Party? Your bridesmaids and groomsmen have likely spent a pretty penny on your big day, from paying to attend all the festivities leading up to it to dropping money on dresses and tux rentals to make your wedding picture-perfect. A good price point for gifts for your wedding party is $75 to $150 per person. Is It OK To Have a Cash Bar? Although alcohol can be a major expense, it's best to avoid having a cash bar if at all possible within your budget. Cut down on alcohol costs in other ways, such as having only signature cocktails made from a couple of select liquors, plus wine and beer. You can also serve liquor during cocktail hour, and then serve wine and beer only during the reception, or stick to just wine and beer the whole time. You might also be able to bring in your own alcohol, depending on the venue. How Much Should I Tip the Wedding Vendors? If you have a contract with a vendor, you're not expected to tip them, though you can give them cash or another small token of appreciation if you wish. The staff that you don't have a contract with, such as musicians or servers, should get a tip. You should also plan to pay for any vendors' meals during the event. What To Know If You're a Wedding Guest When you're invited to a wedding, costs can really add up, especially if you are a member of the wedding party. With multiple events, travel and gift expenses, the cost to attend can be daunting. Here's what you should expect to spend on and where you can save. Am I Expected To Bring a Gift to an Engagement Party? Not every couple has an engagement party, and those who do shouldn't expect to receive a gift. If you want to bring something small and celebratory, like a nice bottle of champagne or a pair of champagne flutes, go right ahead. But if you expect to spend a lot on future wedding festivities, it's OK to pass on buying a gift for this one. Can I Say No To Being a Bridesmaid If I Think I Won't Be Able To Afford It? Different brides expect different levels of financial commitments from their bridesmaids. Typically, all brides will expect you to cover the cost of your dress   plus alterations   though some brides might cover or offset some of this cost. The same goes for hair and makeup for the big day   some brides will cover this, while others will expect you to pay for your own. And different brides will expect different levels of contributions for other events, such as the bridal shower and bachelorette party. Before deciding whether or not to accept the responsibility of being a bridesmaid   financial and otherwise   have a frank conversation about how much the bride expects her bridal party to pay for. If it sounds like it will be too much, it's OK to be honest and tell her you can't afford it. However, once you accept, it's too late to have this conversation   it's impolite to back out once you've committed. Am I Expected To Bring a Gift to the Bridal Shower? As the name suggests, the bridal shower is a time for guests to "shower" the bride with gifts   so yes, you should definitely bring one. You can buy something off the registry or give something more personal if you wish. How Much Should I Spend on a Wedding Gift? There's no hard-and-fast wedding gift etiquette when it comes to dollar amounts. Give a gift based on your personal budget and how close you are to the couple. However, you should plan to spend at least $50. If you're in the wedding party and have already spent a lot on the wedding, it's OK to spend less   just make it meaningful. A framed picture of the couple or a book of romantic poems are both thoughtful gifts that won't bust your budget. Do I Have To Give a Gift If It's a Destination Wedding? You might not want to hear this but… yes. However, the couple should be understanding that you've already spent a lot of money to be at the wedding, so if you can only afford to give a small gift, that's completely acceptable. Can I Give Money as a Gift Instead of Buying Something Off the Registry? Yes. New couples can almost always use cash, whether they're saving up to buy a home, furnishing a new home, planning a honeymoon or saving for another big life event. You can give money through a honey-fund or other registry if they have one, or with a check. If I'm Giving a Check as a Gift, Whom Should I Write It Out To? Unless you know for sure that the couple has a joint bank account, write the check to either the bride or the groom to make it easier for them to deposit or cash it. There's no strict rule for which person should get the check, so do whatever you feel comfortable with.


PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico (AP)   Record-breaking Hurricane Patricia pushed rapidly inland over mountainous western Mexico early Saturday, weakening to tropical storm force while dumping torrential rains that authorities warned could cause deadly floods and mudslides. Patricia, which peaked as the strongest hurricane on record in the Western Hemisphere, made landfall Friday on a sparsely populated stretch of Mexico's Pacific coast as a Category 5 storm, avoiding direct hits on the resort city of Puerto Vallarta and major port city of Manzanillo. There were reports of some flooding and landslides, but no word of fatalities or major damage as the storm pushed across inland mountains while bypassing the metropolis of Guadalajara overnight. Residents of the coast where Patricia came ashore last night described an enraged sea that crashed into hotels, scooping beach away from their foundations, and howling winds that toppled trees and telephone posts. "The waves were coming into the hotel," said Domingo Hernandez, a watchman at the Hotel Barra de Navidad in the resort village of the same name in Jalisco state. "All the streets here in town are full of downed trees all over the place," said Hernandez, who described Patricia as the strongest storm he's seen in a quarter century of living on the coast. "You have to make your way around all the downed telephone poles, the power lines, the trees." Mexico's Secretary of Tourism, Enrique de la Madrid, said major tourist resorts like Puerto Vallarta had had "extraordinary luck" in avoiding damage from the once immensely powerful storm. "There are some mountains that served as a barrier, and that at the end of the day is what prevented the winds from having to come through here," he said of Vallarta. President Enrique Pena Nieto issued a taped address late Friday, noting that while initial reports indicate damage has been less than those expected, "We cannot yet let our guard down." Patricia weakened to tropical storm force by dawn Saturday with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (80 kph) and was expected to dissipate over Mexico's inland mountains, becoming a tropical storm later in the day. Its center was about 35 miles (55 kilometers) northeast of Zacatecas. It was moving toward the north-northeast at 21 mph (33 kph). Tourist Brandie Galle of Grants Pass, Oregon, said she had been sheltered with other guests in a ballroom with boarded-up windows at the Hard Rock Hotel in Puerto Vallarta. When the city was not feeling any major effects from the storm two hours after landfall, workers let them out to eat at a hotel restaurant. "They said it looked like the storm had hit below us," she said. "Everyone is starting to perk up a little bit but still kind of on edge waiting to see what's going to happen with the storm." Galle said some guests desperate to leave had earlier paid $400 for taxis to drive them the 120 miles (200 kilometers) to the inland city of Guadalajara. The airports in Puerto Vallarta, Manzanillo and Tepic were closed Friday, but officials announced an air bridge Saturday to ferry stranded travelers out of areas hit by the storm. Residents and tourists had hunkered down in shelters and homes along a coastal stretch dotted with sleepy fishing villages and gleaming resorts. In Puerto Vallarta, residents had reinforced homes with sandbags and shop windows with boards and tape, and hotels rolled up beachfront restaurants. The Sokols, a family of five from suburban Detroit, were supposed to fly out of Puerto Vallarta on Friday but ended up for hours in a shelter at a university after their flight was canceled. By night they were back where they began: at their hotel, and no worse for wear. "It's amazing it went from the worst in history to just some heavy rain," Susanna Sokol said, noting that at least the hurricane gave her daughter a birthday to remember. "It was pretty stressful for a while," Tom Sokol said. "I felt guilty for taking my kids here." Patricia formed suddenly Tuesday as a tropical storm and quickly strengthened to a hurricane. Within 30 hours it had zoomed to a Category 5 storm, catching many off guard with its rapid growth. By Friday it was the most powerful recorded hurricane to hit the hemisphere, with a central pressure of 880 millibars and maximum sustained winds of 200 mph (325 kph), according to the National Hurricane Center. Patricia's power while still out at sea was comparable to that of Typhoon Haiyan, which left more than 7,300 dead or missing in the Philippines two years ago, according to the U.N.'s World Meteorological Organization. More than 4 million people were displaced by Haiyan and over 1 million houses were destroyed or damaged in 44 provinces in the central Visayas region, a large cluster of islands. One of the worst Pacific hurricanes to ever hit Mexico slammed into the same region, in Colima state, in October 1959, killing at least 1,500 people, according to Mexico's National Center for Disaster Prevention. U.S. State Department spokesman Mark Toner said tens of thousands of American citizens were believed to be vacationing or living in areas likely to be affected by the storm. Patricia also threatens Texas with forecasters saying that even after the storm breaks, up its tropical moisture will likely feed heavy rains already soaking the state. The U.S. National Weather Service said a flash flood watch would be in effect through Sunday morning for Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin and San Antonio. A coastal flood warning was in effect through Friday night in Corpus Christi. Galveston was under a coastal flood advisory until Saturday night. ___ AP Science Writer Seth Borenstein in Washington contributed to this report.


Turns out, even a daily jog in the park won't cancel out the ill effects of sitting for hours on end. As a preventive cardiologist, Dr. Erin Michos knows the importance of exercise. As a marathon runner, she practices what she preaches. So imagine her surprise when Dr. Michos realized she is a victim of "sitting disease," a revelation she had after donning an activity tracker . "I run an hour a day, but I was shocked to see how few steps I took in the other 23 hours," she says. Having a step-tracking device opened Dr. Michos' eyes and helped motivate her to move more during the day. "Now I'm accountable." Dr. Michos and fellow Johns Hopkins cardiologist and runner Dr. Roberta Florido outline strategies to combat sitting disease, a modern-day malady that fuels the risk of heart disease and other ailments even among those who exercise regularly. What is "Sitting" Disease? You hit the treadmill regularly. You go the gym five times a week. You get enough exercise, right? Not necessarily. Turns out, even a daily jog in the park won't cancel out the ill effects of sitting for hours on end. The notion that being sedentary over prolonged periods is unhealthy is neither new nor surprising. What is new   and quite disillusioning to those who work out regularly   is that daily exercise is by itself not enough to make up for all those hours sitting at a desk. Indeed, mounting evidence suggests that those who spend hours with little movement are at higher risk for developing blood clots, diabetes , cardiovascular disease and a constellation of other maladies fueled by insufficient physical activity. But How Can I Be Sedentary if I Exercise Every Day? The word sedentary comes from the Latin "sedere," which means "to sit." Sitting may be the most prevalent form of sedentary behavior, but it is by no means the only one. Any prolonged activity that requires you to use very little energy is a form of sedentary behavior. Exercise physiologists use a number called MET to capture how much energy one uses during specific activities. MET, which stands for metabolic equivalent of task, is the basic unit of energy use. One MET refers to our resting metabolic rate, or baseline. Moderate walking equals 3 to 4 METs, while running equals about 8 METs. Sedentary activities generally expend no more than 1.5 METs. Current guidelines from the American Heart Association call for 150 minutes of moderate physical activity per week, or about 30 minutes of exercise five times a week. But these guidelines fail to address energy expenditure during the rest of the day. Assuming the average adults spends 16 hours a day awake, 30 minutes of exercise a day constitute a paltry 3 percent spent actively. An exercise routine that adds up to 150 minutes a week translates to 2 percent of active time. It should come as no surprise that the 97 percent of time most adults spend in a low-activity state affect their physical well-being. The Dangers of Sedentary Life There is growing evidence linking sedentary behavior with poor health. Absence of muscle contraction during long, uninterrupted stretches of inactivity can unlock a cascade of negative biochemical reactions. Research shows that the bodies of sedentary people are not as good at breaking down blood sugar and cholesterol, chief culprits in diabetes , heart attacks and strokes. People who spend more time sitting have higher levels of blood sugar and disease-fueling fats called triglycerides, as well as lower levels of heart-protective HDL cholesterol, or "good" cholesterol. Sitting for too long has also been shown to increase the amount of calcium and fatty buildup inside the heart's arteries   a leading cause of heart attacks and strokes. A 2003 study of more than 50,000 women followed over six years found that each two-hour increase in daily TV viewing led to a 23 percent jump in obesity. For every two additional hours a day that women spent sitting at work, their obesity risk jumped by 5 percent. Sedentary behavior also increased the risk of Type 2 diabetes by 14 percent. Another disturbing finding: A newly published review of 47 studies reveals that regardless of exercise, people who spend more time inactive had notably higher risk not only for diabetes and heart disease but also for cancer. They were also more likely to die prematurely! And although more physically active people fared better overall, they were far from immune to the negative effects of sedentary behavior. But wait! There is some good news. Before you give up on exercise thinking "Why even bother!" consider this: Adding two minutes of light activity to every hour you spend sitting can lower your risk of dying by one-third, according to a 2015 study in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. Simple Ways to Infuse More Activity into Your Day Count your steps. Monitoring how many steps you take can be a great motivator to get up and move. You don't need a fancy activity tracker with a gazillion functions. A simple pedometer will do. Aim for at least 5,000 steps daily, although 10,000 or more is ideal. Sit less, move often. Here's the really good news   you don't have to replace sitting with more vigorous exercise. Research shows that light to moderate activity, such as a leisurely stroll, gardening or housework, boosts the value of your health "capital." Don't give up on exercise . While getting at least 30 minutes of vigorous activity five times a week is still vital for your health, your needn't get obsessed with it. Light activity counts too so long as you do it often during the day, every day. The 20-8-2 rule. Some experts recommend that for every 20 minutes of sitting at home or at work, you should stand for eight minutes and move for two minutes. Get pinged into moving. Set your watch or alarm to remind you to stand up, stretch and take a short walk for a few minutes every hour. If that's impossible, consider adding a 15-minute walk to your morning, lunch break and evening. Work moving . Hold "walking meetings" with a colleague instead of sitting in someone's office. Find excuses to take more steps . Walk over to a colleague's desk instead of sending an email. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Park in the back of parking lot and walk farther. Stroll to the mailbox if you normally stop while in the car. Go on evening walks around your neighborhood with your pet and your loved ones   they need to move too! Copyright 2015 U.S. News & World Report


Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane has insisted that he didn't disrespect Gareth Bale when he recently confirmed the club is in the process of selling the four-time Champions League winner, adding that Bale didn't play in the Bayern Munich friendly because he 'didn't want to'. Bale's omission from the game in Houston had prompted questions about his future, with Zidane declaring : "Bale did not play because he is very close to leaving. We hope he leaves soon, it would be best for everyone. We are working on his transfer to a new team." The player's agent, Jonathan Barnett, was furious, labelling the Frenchman a 'disgrace'. But as Real now prepare to face Arsenal in a second pre-season friendly, Zidane has insisted that he meant no offence or disrespect towards Bale, even stating that the player himself chose not to play against Bayern because his departure from the club is so close. "That's the problem. At times my Spanish is a bit confusing," Zidane said, via RealMadrid.com . "I'm going to try and be very clear. Firstly, I haven't shown a lack of respect towards anyone and particularly not towards a player. I've always said the same thing: the players are the most important ones in all of this. Whenever there's a player involved, I'll always back them. "Secondly, what I said the other day is that the club was working on his exit. "Thirdly, Gareth didn't come on because he didn't want to. He said that the club was working on his exit and that's why he didn't come on." Zidane confirmed that Bale will continue to train as normal for as long as he is part of the squad, adding that his presence is not a problem, nor does it make anyone uncomfortable. "The club is doing what it has to and that's all there is to it. Bale is currently part of the squad and I respect that. That's the most important thing for me," the boss said. 🎂💙 Happy birthday to @GarethBale11 , who turns 30 today! #HalaMadrid pic.twitter.com/D2ux4omvks   Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) July 16, 2019 "No, [his presence does not make me uncomfortable]. I have to respect the players. He's with us, he'll train and do exactly the same as the rest. I'll be counting on him in everything we do." With clubs in Europe either not interested or unable to afford him, Bale has been heavily linked with a move to the Chinese Super League. Jiangsu Suning and Beijing Guoan are the clubs in question, with the latter perhaps the favourite after offering a tremendously lucrative deal .


The Washington Redskins shocked onlookers during the 2019 NFL draft by trading up and selecting Montez Sweat in the first round. Washington's trade partner was the Indianapolis Colts and general manager Chris Ballard, who were more than happy to take on a second-round pick in order to move down. Ballard took over an NBC Sports column recently and explained how it went down: Ya-Sin was one of the players we considered taking as our No. 26 pick in the first round before we got a call from the Redskins. We felt like Washington's 2019 second-round pick and the extra second-round selection in the 2020 draft was a very good offer and would be worth the trade back with the players we still had on the board. What also helped was that our No. 34 pick, acquired from the Jets the previous year, was only eight picks away. In other words, the Colts might have liked Sweat - but they liked the idea of another top-50 pick quite a bit more. And it turns out Temple cornerback Rock Ya-Sin was one of 10 or 12 blue-chip guys the Colts wanted from their board - they got him at No. 34 anyway. The Redskins came out of this affair happy too. They already had Dwayne Haskins earlier in the round and added a blue-chip guy of their own with Sweat, who some had tabbed as a top-10 talent at one point. This is simply a bit of interesting insight, though it should be fun to look back in a few years and see how both teams emerged. MORE: Freddie Freeman was mic'd up during his at-bat against Justin Verlander and it was pure gold Three Potential Trade Destinations for Russell Westbrook Full audio recording of Tyreek Hill, fiancée Crystal Espinal released Former Steeler DeAngelo Williams throws shade at WR Ryan Switzer Mesmerizing speed could force Jon'Vea Johnson onto Cowboys roster


Start your day off right with some pictures of cuddly kittens! There are dozens of kittens up for adoption right here in San Antonio. Hoodline partnered with Petfinder , an online adoption site that lists "more than 315,000 adoptable pets from nearly 14,000 animal shelters and rescue groups" to bring you this roundup of kittens near you. (Details like pet availability, training, vaccinations and other features are based on data provided by Petfinder and may be subject to change; contact the shelter for the latest information.) Maricela, ragdoll and domestic mix Maricela is a female ragdoll and domestic kitten currently residing at San Antonio Feral Cat Coalition . Maricela loves to socialize, and she gets along well with other cats. She's mastered her house-training etiquette. She's already vaccinated. Apply to adopt Maricela today at Petfinder . Gabriela, ragdoll and domestic longhair mix Gabriela is a female ragdoll and domestic longhair kitten being cared for at San Antonio Feral Cat Coalition . Good news: She is already house-trained. Gabriela is vaccinated. Gabriela is a special needs pet, so please inquire about her specific care requirements. Apply to adopt Gabriela today at Petfinder . Creamsicle, domestic shorthair Creamsicle is an adorable female domestic shorthair kitten staying at SNIPSA Inc. Creamsicle plays well with others, and she gets along well with children, dogs or cats. She's vaccinated. She is already house-trained. From Creamsicle's current caretaker: What better way to beat the heat this summer than with Creamsicle by your side? This gorgeous girl is aptly named with her white coat mixed with sherbet orange. Topping it off with those bright blue eyes, Creamsicle grabs everyone's attention. And she is just as sweet as her coat is soft. Creamsicle spends her days curled up on the couch or sunbathing in the window. She is well-socialized with other cats and dogs too and is always gentle with the humans. Read more about Creamsicle on Petfinder . Swiper, tuxedo mix Swiper is a winsome female tuxedo kitten currently housed at Mystery Dog Rescue . Swiper will get along great with children, cats or dogs. She has all of her shots. No need to worry: She is already house-trained. Here's what Swiper's friends at Mystery Dog Rescue think of her: Swiper is a frisky adorable little girl. She does well with other cats and is good with dogs. She loves climbing her cat tree and playing with toys. She is a kitten and still developing her personality. Swiper is adventurous and can be loving when she's not playing. Apply to adopt Swiper today at Petfinder . Boots, tuxedo mix Boots is a female tuxedo kitten being cared for at Mystery Dog Rescue . Boots is a social butterfly   she's happy to keep company with children, cats or dogs. Fear not: She is already house-trained. She has all her shots. From Boots' current caretaker: Boots is a frisky adorable little girl. She does well with other cats and is good with dogs. She loves climbing her cat tree and playing with toys. She is a kitten and still developing her personality. Boots is adventurous and can be loving when she's not playing! Apply to adopt Boots today at Petfinder . This story was created automatically using local animal shelter data, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


White Sox outfielder Nicky Delmonico will miss the remainder of the 2019 season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times tweets . Delmonico, 26, looked to be a terrific bargain find for the White Sox in 2017. The former Orioles and Brewers prospect made his big league debut with the South Siders that season and impressed with a .262/.373/.482 batting line, nine homers and four doubles in a 43-game audition down the stretch (166 plate appearances). That strong showing put him on the team's Opening Day roster in 2018, but Delmonico's bat has eroded over the past year-plus. In 386 trips to the plate since that rookie campaign, Delmonico has mustered a timid .213/.290/.357 slash. And while he walked at a 14 percent clip with just an 18.7 percent strikeout rate as a rookie, those rates have gone in the wrong direction since that time (8.0 percent walk rate; 27.2 percent strikeout rate). Delmonico hit well in 17 Triple-A contests this year, but he'll now sit out the remainder of the year. He's on the 40-man roster but on the minor league injured list; if the Sox need Delmonico's roster spot, they could bring him up to the big leagues and place him on the Major League 60-day injured list or release him and attempt to re-sign him to a minor league pact.


With four wins apiece, which Joe Gibbs Racing driver is having the better season, Kyle Busch or Martin Truex Jr. ? Nate Ryan: The points, playoff points and top 10 tallies point to Busch, but Truex gets this nod because he is improving as the season unfolds while making a largely seamless transition to Joe Gibbs Racing. Busch's No. 18 Toyota has been more consistently excellent, but Truex's No. 19 team seems slightly more playoff ready. Dustin Long: It's easy to get the sense that Martin Truex Jr. and crew chief Cole Pearn are figuring things out, but I'll take Kyle Busch for having the better season at this point. Busch has led more laps, had more top-three finishes, more top-five finishes and more top-10 finishes than Truex. Daniel McFadin: Truex has won four of the last eight races, but he struggles in the races following his wins. Meanwhile Kyle Busch has been incredibly consistent through 16 races, failing to finish outside the top 10 just once at Kansas. We're still waiting to see Busch find his kryptonite. Jerry Bonkowski: Busch is having a statistically better season than Truex and has been at or near the top of the points for much of the season, but they're equal where it counts the most. What's more, they play off each other so well, you'd never know they're first-year teammates. Do stages need to be re-evaluated for road-course races, particularly Sonoma? Nate Ryan: Yes. There has been only one "natural" caution over the past 246 miles of Cup racing at Sonoma Raceway. It seems as if having two scheduled yellows in a race that emphasizes strategy might be adversely disrupting the driver behavior and rhythm of an event in which action can be dependent on the randomness of cautions (and this could apply to any race that features green-flag pit stops without losing a lap). While the Sophie's Choice of going for the win vs. amassing points adds an interesting wrinkle , it also seems too preordained and rote, eliminating some of the tactical genius and unexpected twists that make road-course racing fun. Dustin Long: I'm not convinced this needs to be done. I do like seeing which teams will toss aside potential stage points for the chance to go for the win and pit shortly before a stage break. If nothing else, stage breaks do provide two restarts and restarts are often some of the most exciting moments in a race. You really want to eliminate two restarts a race? Daniel McFadin: I think so. With NASCAR keeping in place that caution laps during stage breaks count towards the lap count, Stage 2 at Sonoma had only 15 competitive laps under green compared to the first stage's 20. I'd add five laps to the second stage there and have the final stage be 45 laps. It's still significantly longer than the first two stages. Jerry Bonkowski: Yes. Personally, I feel stages don't work well in road course races, especially at a place like Sonoma, which saw a half-mile larger track this year for the first time in more than 20 years (due to adding the Carousel). Road course races should be a constant, moving episode and not interrupted by stages. And if it proves fans like the racing more without stages, it may be something to look at when the major changes come around in 2021. With the first Cup race of the year on a road course behind us, what's one road course you'd like added to the Cup schedule? Nate Ryan: Road America already has proved worthy of the Xfinity Series and also provides a NASCAR-IndyCar doubleheader opportunity. If the category were expanded to street races, Toronto already hosts stock cars with NASCAR's Canadian series. Dustin Long: Road America. Daniel McFadin: Laguna Seca, baby! It was my favorite road course as a kid and I'd love to see a Cup car navigating its variety of turns, especially the Corkscrew. Would three California Cup races, with two on road courses be healthy for the sport? Probably not. But I still want to see it. Jerry Bonkowski: Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, or Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. I'd be happy with either   actually I'd be the happiest if both were on the schedule. What has been the best story in NASCAR this season? Nate Ryan: Ross Chastain , and if there's justice in the near future, his story should continue to unfold on a bigger stage than a third-tier series. Dustin Long: The development and domination of the Big 3 in the Xfinity Series   Christopher Bell , Tyler Reddick and Cole Custer   and the questions of where they'll race next season. Daniel McFadin: Without a doubt Ross Chastain and Niece Motorsports. With its Gateway win, the small team will more than likely compete in the Truck Series playoffs. They could deliver a second consecutive Truck Series title from an underfunded team as the giants of the series   Kyle Busch Motorsports, GMS Racing and ThorSport Racing   struggle to find victory lane with their full-time drivers. If you're a fan of old school motorsports stories, there's one playing out with this team. Jerry Bonkowski: It's a close call, but I am going to go with Tyler Reddick having a slight edge over Kyle Busch in best overall story of 2019.


NEW YORK (AP) With a beleaguered bullpen having so much trouble closing games for the New York Mets lately, second baseman Jeff McNeil took it upon himself to save this one. McNeil made a perfect throw from right field to home plate for the final out, and the Mets held off the St. Louis Cardinals 8-7 on Saturday night after starter Noah Syndergaard exited with a strained right hamstring. ''That was just a whirlwind of emotions,'' rookie slugger Pete Alonso said. Alonso smashed a mammoth three-run homer off the facing of the third deck in a five-run first inning against Michael Wacha (4-3). J.D. Davis homered and had four hits, finishing a triple short of the cycle. And this time, New York's relievers finally held on - barely - after blowing late leads in the first two games of the series. ''Third time's a charm and there was never a doubt,'' manager Mickey Callaway said, chuckling. ''A win's a win and it was a great play by Jeff. Heads-up play to get it in and get it home. Great throw.'' Seth Lugo struck out three in the eighth, fanning Matt Carpenter with the bases loaded to end the inning. Scuffling closer Edwin Diaz gave up a two-out RBI single to Yadier Molina in the ninth, and Kolten Wong lofted a pop fly toward the right field line. McNeil sprinted a long way in pursuit and converged with outfielder Michael Conforto, yet neither could make the catch. Conforto tumbled to the turf, but McNeil stayed on his feet and quickly grabbed the ball as it trickled away. He zipped a one-hop throw right to catcher Wilson Ramos that easily nailed Jack Flaherty, the Cardinals pitcher who was pinch-running for the slow-footed Molina. ''Mike goes in there sliding, I go in there leaping. I think once the ball hit the ground, I knew they were going to send him,'' McNeil said. ''Pick it up and I kind of got lucky; I was behind the ball, so I got some oomph on the throw.'' Flaherty looked back at the ball while running and stumbled coming around third. ''You see Flaherty chugging the bases and I thought he was going to score,'' Wacha said. ''The guy made a heck of a throw from right field - right on the money. So I mean, you've just got to tip your cap at some point and go get `em tomorrow. But it was a crazy ending, that's for sure.'' A fired-up McNeil pumped his right arm and the Mets celebrated after a narrow escape. Diaz got his 15th save in 18 attempts. ''It was pretty nerve-wracking,'' Davis said. Added Callaway: ''It's not easy for us right now. But tonight is a step in the right direction, no matter how it happened. We held the lead and hopefully we can build off of that.'' Dexter Fowler homered early and had three RBIs for the Cardinals, who stole six bases - their most in 20 years. Mets nemesis Paul DeJong added three hits and a sacrifice fly. Syndergaard (5-4) reached for his right hamstring after throwing a pitch in the seventh. Callaway and an athletic trainer came out to check on the right-hander, who walked off the field with a bit of a limp. ''It was on that one pitch,'' Callaway said, adding Syndergaard will be re-evaluated Sunday morning. ''That deep in the game, if he feels anything, you get him out with a five-run lead.'' Robert Gsellman entered with the Mets leading 8-3. St. Louis scored three times before the inning ended on a line-drive double play. Syndergaard threw 102 pitches and was unavailable for comment after the game. He was charged with five runs, four earned, and six hits in six-plus innings. New York has won 14 of 19 at Citi Field. POWER BALL New York has homered in 19 straight home games, extending a team record, and 13 in a row overall - the club's longest streak since going 13 consecutive games over two seasons from October 2012 to April 2013. Alonso said about a week ago, chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon was needling him before batting practice about reaching the third deck of the left field stands with a home run. ''He's like, `Yeah, I saw Yoenis Cespedes go up there. I've seen Albert Pujols go up there. But I haven't seen you go up there,''' Alonso said. ''There it is, Jeff.'' TRAINER'S ROOM Cardinals: Paul Goldschmidt was rested before drawing a pinch-hit walk in the eighth. He remained in the game at first base. ... Molina was shaken up after getting hit on his glove hand by a foul ball in the sixth. Mets: 2B Robinson Cano (left quadriceps) rejoined the team and is eligible to come off the injured list Sunday. He went 4 for 10 with three doubles in three rehab games at Triple-A Syracuse. ... LHP Justin Wilson struck out two in a scoreless inning during a rehab appearance at Class A Brooklyn after making two with Syracuse. He has been sidelined since May 7 with a sore left elbow. ... OF Brandon Nimmo (neck) was returning to New York to be examined and treated after he was scratched from a scheduled rehab appearance with Syracuse with neck stiffness Friday night. ... Gsellman returned to the mound after saying he had a stiff back following his scoreless inning Friday night. OUCH! Plate umpire Brian O'Nora left in the third inning, a few pitches after getting hit in the groin by a foul ball. First base ump Chad Whitson moved behind the plate, and the game resumed with a three-man crew. UP NEXT Cardinals RHP Dakota Hudson (5-3, 3.47 ERA) starts the series finale Sunday against LHP Jason Vargas (3-3, 3.68). --- More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports


When the magnitude 7.1 earthquake ruptured the earth in the Mojave Desert, it packed the energy of 45 nuclear bombs of the type that fell on Hiroshima. But a variety of factors lessened the potency and impact of what was the most powerful Southern California earthquake in nearly two decades. The massive temblor, it's important to note, ruptured on a fault whose northwest-southeast direction pushed the worst shaking away from populated areas. The area Ridgecrest sits in is riddled with faults   in the Eastern California Shear Zone   that have produced some of the state's biggest quakes in the modern record, like the magnitude 7.5 Owens Valley earthquake of 1872 and the magnitude 7.3 Landers earthquake in 1992. But this particular fault packed its biggest punch either toward the Sequoia National Forest to the northwest or largely uninhabited expanses of the Mojave Desert. The most populated area that got the worst shaking was Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, which was right on top of the fault rupture and saw damage to its elementary school. Northern Los Angeles County would have experienced more shaking had the quake occurred on a fault with a different tilt. For example, a rupture on the nearby Garlock fault, one of California's faster-moving faults that runs on a northeast-southwest alignment, would be capable of directing heavier shaking to areas like Bakersfield and Ventura County. "If this earthquake had been on the Garlock fault, then, yeah, Bakersfield, the cities in the Mojave Desert, would have been impacted more strongly, and L.A. would have felt stronger shaking," Caltech seismologist Egill Hauksson said. "You generate energy, it piles up and it heads toward the west and south." Direction matters There's a direction to earthquakes that becomes especially pronounced when they are large   say, a magnitude 6.5 or greater. An earthquake will begin at a particular point under the Earth's surface, then move along a fault. In the case of the July 5 earthquake, 30 miles of the fault moved   with the earthquake moving in two directions at a speed of perhaps 1½ to 2 miles per second about 10 miles northwest of the epicenter and 20 miles to the southeast. You feel worse shaking if you're in the direction of the path of the earthquake, much like hearing the high pitch of a fire engine racing toward you. "If the earthquake is coming at you, your ground motions are going to be stronger … the [shaking] waves are all packed together quite closely," said U.S. Geological Survey seismologist Elizabeth Cochran. But if the quake is not headed in your direction, the shaking waves spread out, "and you don't get them all hitting you at once," Cochran said. The worst shaking intensities recorded in the July 5 quake were violent   level 9 on the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale , capable of causing buildings to collapse   but they occurred in a relatively small area outside of towns. Relatively speaking, Ridgecrest and Trona got a glancing blow, receiving very strong (level 7) shaking and strong (level 6) shaking, respectively. Direction has mattered in other historic California earthquakes. The great 1906 earthquake for instance had an epicenter just west of San Francisco. It then ruptured in two directions   to the northwest and southeast. The worst shaking all occurred along the 300-mile rupture length. As a result, Eureka, more than 200 miles northwest of San Francisco, felt stronger shaking than Sacramento, just 75 miles northeast but nowhere near the path of the San Andreas fault. Direction will be a key factor in the level of damage in future big quakes in California, such as something on the scale of the epic magnitude 7.8 temblor that hit the southern San Andreas fault in 1857. A quake heading from Monterey County toward Southern California would lessen the destruction in Los Angeles by sending a lot of shaking energy into the sparsely populated Mojave Desert, Hauksson said. But an earthquake that comes from near the Mexican border, around the Salton Sea through Palm Springs into San Bernardino, would be much worse for L.A. In that direction , shaking waves would go from the Coachella Valley into the San Bernardino Basin, which traps seismic energy and will reverberate as it sends that intense shaking west, through the San Gabriel Valley and into the Los Angeles Basin, Hauksson said. A less 'sharp' earthquake There are other ways that Southern California caught a break with the July 5 quake. It was also less sharp than the 1994 Northridge earthquake despite being many times larger. The difference is like "if you hit the gas pedal versus if you hit it lightly," Hauksson said. Both approaches will still get you to, say, 60 mph   like earthquakes of the same magnitude   but how quickly they move can determine how bad the shaking can be. The Northridge quake was like a driver flooring the accelerator pedal of a sports car. The Searles Valley quake, by contrast, felt relatively more like a driver easing onto a freeway on-ramp. "The ground motions are slightly under average for an earthquake of this size," said USGS research geophysicist Morgan Page. A skinny fault The Searles Valley quake was also on a vertical fault that most Californians are familiar with   something that might look like a curtain dividing two blocks of earth vertically underneath our feet. There's only so much surface area closest to the vertical fault line. "There are few people who can be on top of a line," Hauksson said. The Northridge quake, by contrast, occurred on a dreaded horizontal fault   mostly parallel to the Earth's surface, rather than perpendicular. "And that leads to a wider area of shaking," Hauksson said. "If you put a slanting surface at depth, you can put a lot of people on that"   all directly on top of the fault that's moving. What matters most is how close you are to the fault, Cochran said. In the Northridge quake, "you have a lot of [ground surface] area that's closest to that fault." The threat of Mojave Desert faults Earthquake faults in the Mojave Desert are something that concerns seismologists, despite their lower profile compared with the better-known San Andreas, San Jacinto and Hayward faults. The Garlock fault runs along the northern boundary of the Mojave Desert, and USGS simulations have shown it could produce earthquakes up to magnitude 7.7. A worst-case scenario would be a magnitude 7.7 earthquake that begins on the eastern end of the Garlock fault in eastern San Bernardino County and unlocks the fault to the southwest, bringing severe shaking to towns such as California City and Tehachapi; Edwards Air Force Base and Lancaster would see very strong shaking. Even Santa Clarita and the San Fernando Valley would see strong shaking, with much of the L.A. Basin and the San Gabriel Valley seeing moderate shaking   worse than what L.A. encountered last week. California is seismically active because it sits on the boundary of two giant tectonic plates, the Pacific and North American. Earthquakes happen as the southwestern side of California slides up northwestward toward Alaska, compared to its northeastern half. Though much of that motion results in earthquakes along the San Andreas fault, the seismic stresses are also relieved on other fault strands, including those in the Eastern California Shear Zone. For all the dodged bullets, many in the quake zone are still suffering, with major damage to some homes, businesses and roads. Karen Byrd, 39, said Trona was still reeling hard from the quake   most restaurants were still closed, as is the Family Dollar market and post office. But water and electricity are back up, and though her home had been filled with debris   from broken glass jars to porcelain dolls to a priceless dish set   the family can at least continue living there. "Thank the Lord we don't have major structural damage," she said.


Four out of about fifty self-driving cars have been in accidents recently, but in all four crashes, another driver was reportedly at fault. CNBC's Phil LeBeau has the details.


Former Saints tight end Ben Watson , who previously said he would retire, will meet with the Patriots on Thursday, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter ). Watson isn't putting all of his eggs into the Patriots' basket, either   he's also considering the Chiefs, Bills and 49ers, according to Schefter. Watson is a free agent following the expiration of his one-year, $2M Saints contract. He played four of the past six seasons with the Saints, who since replaced him with pricey free agent Jared Cook . Watson played the 2017 season with the Ravens, missing all of 2016 due to injury, and spent the first three years of this decade in Cleveland. Unfortunately, his 2018 season ended a bit early when he missed the NFC championship Game due to appendicitis. He caught 35 passes for 400 yards and two touchdowns during the regular season. Now, he could return to where it all began. Watson spent the first six years of his career with the Patriots after entering the league as the final first-round pick in the 2004 draft. After Rob Gronkowski 's retirement, the Pats could certainly use the help, even if Watson doesn't offer the same upside as the party animal.


Here is the 2018-19 PGA Tour golf schedule and list of winners, as they become available: Dates Tournament Location Winner Oct. 4-7 Safeway Open Silverado Resort & Spa, Napa, Calif. Kevin Tway Oct. 11-14 CIMB Classic TPC Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Marc Leishman Oct. 18-21 CJ Cup @ Nine Bridges Nine Bridges, Jeju Island, Korea Brooks Koepka Oct. 25-28 WGC-HSBC Champions Sheshan International GC, Shanghai Xander Schauffele Oct. 25-28 Sanderson Farms Championship CC of Jackson, Jackson, Miss. Cameron Champ Nov. 1-4 Shriners Hospital Open TPC Summerlin Bryson DeChambeau Nov. 8-11 Mayakoba Golf Classic El Camaleon GC, Playa del Carmen, Mexico Matt Kuchar Nov. 15-18 RSM Classic Sea Island Resort, St. Simons Island, Ga. Charles Howell III BREAK Jan. 3-6 Sentry Tournament of Champions Kapalua Resort, Kapalua, Hawaii Xander Schauffele Jan. 10-13 Sony Open Waialae CC, Honolulu Matt Kuchar Jan. 17-20 Desert Classic PGA West and La Quinta CC, La Quinta, Calif. Adam Long Jan. 24-27 Farmers Insurance Open Torrey Pines GC, La Jolla, Calif. Justin Rose Jan 31-Feb. 3 Waste Management Phoenix Open TPC Scottsdale, Scottsdale, Ariz. Rickie Fowler Feb. 7-10 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am Pebble Beach, Spyglass Hill and Monterey Peninsula, Pebble Beach, Calif. Phil Mickelson Feb. 14-17 Genesis Open Riviera CC, Pacific Palisades, Calif. J.B. Holmes Feb. 21-24 WGC-Mexico Championship Club de Golf Chapultepec, Mexico City Dustin Johnson Feb. 21-24 Puerto Rico Open Coco Beach CC, Rio Grande, Puerto Rico Martin Trainer Feb. 28-March 3 Honda Classic PGA National Resort & Spa, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. Keith Mitchell March 7-10 Arnold Palmer Invitational Bay Hill Club & Lodge, Orlando Francesco Molinari March 14-17 Players Championship TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. Rory McIlroy March 21-24 Valspar Championship Innisbrook Resort, Palm Harbor, Fla. Paul Casey March 28-31 WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play Austin CC, Austin, Texas Kevin Kisner March 28-31 Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship Punta Cana, D.R. Graeme McDowell April 4-7 Valero Texas Open TPC San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas Corey Conners April 11-14 Masters Tournament Augusta National GC, Augusta, Ga. Tiger Woods April 18-21 RBC Heritage Harbour Town Golf Links, Hilton Head Island, S.C. C.T. Pan April 25-28 Zurich Classic TPC Louisiana, Avondale, La. Jon Rahm/Ryan Palmer May 2-5 Wells Fargo Championship Quail Hollow Club, Charlotte, N.C. Max Homa May 9-12 AT&T Byron Nelson Trinity Forest GC, Dallas Sung Kang May 16-19 PGA Championship Bethpage State Park, Farmingdale, N.Y. Brooks Koepka May 23-26 Charles Schwab Challenge Colonial CC, Fort Worth, Texas Kevin Na May 30-June 2 The Memorial Tournament Muirfield Village GC, Dublin, Ohio Patrick Cantlay June 6-9 RBC Canadian Open Hamilton CC, Hamilton, Ontario Rory McIlroy June 13-16 U.S. Open Pebble Beach Golf Links, Pebble Beach, Calif. Gary Woodland June 20-23 Travelers Championship TPC River Highlands, Cromwell, Conn Chez Reavie June 27-30 Rocket Mortgage Classic Detroit Golf Club, Detroit, Mich. Nate Lashley July 4-7 3M Open TPC Twin Cities, Blaine, Minn. Matthew Wolff July 11-14 John Deere Classic TPC Deere Run, Silvis, Ill. Dylan Frittelli July 18-21 The Open Royal Portrush GC, Portrush, Northern Ireland Shane Lowry July 18-21 Barbasol Championship Keene Trace GC, Nicholasville, Ky. Jim Herman July 25-28 WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational TPC Southwind, Memphis, Tenn. TBD July 25-28 Reno-Tahoe Tournament Montreux CC, Reno, Nev. TBD Aug. 1-4 Wyndham Championship Sedgefield CC, Greensboro, N.C. TBD FEDEXCUP PLAYOFFS Aug. 8-11 The Northern Trust Liberty National GC, Jersey City, N.J. TBD Aug. 15-18 BMW Championship Medinah CC, Medinah, Ill. TBD Aug. 22-25 Tour Championship East Lake GC, Atlanta, Ga. TBD Dec. 12-15 Presidents Cup Royal Melbourne Golf Club TBD https://compass.pressekompass.net/compasses/golfweek/should-pga-tour-players-be-suspended-for MORE: Francisco Lindor's one-handed HR should be evidence of MLB's juiced baseballs Lakers' Quinn Cook Q&A: 'It feels like this team has been together a while' Phil Simms: 'Multiple' teams were set to take Daniel Jones before No. 17 Specialization or multisport participation? Here's what the data says Should Bears trade for Ravens K Justin Tucker?


Video by CBS Baltimore MANCHESTER, N.H.   Gov. Larry Hogan is stepping up preparations for a 2020 White House bid as he moves slowly toward challenging President Trump in the Republican primary. Maryland's chief executive has been holding regular meetings with his political team to pore over data and mull how a campaign against Trump might unfold. Hogan also is using previously scheduled travel to more than a dozen states, including an invitation to Utah to attend Sen. Mitt Romney's annual summit with top Republican insiders, to meet with political operatives, donors, and business leaders. Hogan, 62, has insisted he is not interested in launching a kamikaze mission against Trump, who is popular with Republican voters and has won over some previously skeptical party bigwigs. But the governor confirmed Tuesday that his position on 2020 has shifted. Initially just intrigued, Hogan has since moved from politely entertaining the small but vocal band of Never Trump Republicans pleading with him to run, to a more active and strategic exploration. Hogan survived a battle with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. After being diagnosed in 2015, he underwent chemotherapy and declared himself cancer-free in late 2016. "I am taking it more seriously and doing more things," Hogan told the Washington Examiner in an interview as he made the rounds here for events and meetings that usually signify a presidential run. "We're having discussions." Hogan was reelected overwhelmingly in the midterm elections, becoming the second Republican governor in history to win a second term in deep-blue Maryland. That feat, in the midst of a rebuke of Trump that cost the GOP control of the House of Representatives and one Senate seat, each, in Arizona and Nevada, inspired opponents of the president inside the Republican Party to recruit Hogan to take him on. The governor's initial response? Prop open his office door, welcome the flattery, and listen as supporters made the case. Hogan emphasized in a February interview with the Washington Examiner that that was the extent of his involvement, saying he would not be a sacrificial lamb for Trump haters looking to hobble the president heading into the general election against the Democrats. Indeed, Hogan said then that Trump was too strong with Republican voters to justify a primary challenge. Hogan is now more bullish on a potential 2020 bid, despite the final report from special counsel Robert Mueller letting Trump off the hook on obstruction of justice and conspiring with Russia. The governor did not hesitate to hammer the president during his swing through New Hampshire, a key early primary state. He even outlined his view of a potential primary campaign while mockingly comparing Trump to North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un. "To change the rules and to insist 100% loyalty to the 'dear leader' didn't sound very much like the Republican Party that I grew up in," Hogan said during his trip to St. Anselm College to headline "Politics & Eggs," a top event for presidential candidates. Hogan was referring to a resolution supporting Trump's reelection that was approved by the Republican National Committee in January. "Here in New Hampshire, for example, they like to be independent, they like to look at the candidates and kick the tires and meet people one-on-one. I'm pretty good at retail politics. That's how I won my state with no money," Hogan said during a subsequent news conference with reporters, prior to heading to the New Hampshire Union Leader newspaper for an editorial board interview and meeting with the publisher. "There are, I think, 23 states that have open primaries of one sort or another, so independents and Democrats can cross over and vote," he said. Never Trump Republicans looking for a primary challenger have usually pegged the beginning of summer, two months away, as the latest a contender could enter the race and still threaten. But Hogan said he doesn't feel pressure to decide that soon, explaining his view that an upstart, shoestring campaign might benefit from making a late, splashy entrance. His confidence is rooted in the president's anemic standing nationally, with an approval rating generally in the low 40s. In that regard, he cited the filing deadline for the New Hampshire primary, Nov. 15, as a likely drop-dead date. The question is whether political atmospherics change, creating legitimate opportunities to dethrone Trump. Tom Rath, a veteran GOP operative here aligned with former Ohio Gov. John Kasich   himself considering a bid   is no Trump fan. But he conceded most rank-and-file Republicans back the president, especially with a booming New Hampshire economy at full employment. Any hope a Republican insurgent has to use New Hampshire as a springboard against Trump would rely heavily on independents, who can participate in primaries. But with a competitive and crowded Democratic field that could attract many of those voters, that high wire strategy could prove more of a long shot than usual. "Self-styled Republicans are, at the moment, pretty much in lockstep," Rath said.


Philadelphia will see a return of last week's light rainfall in the coming days, according to the seven-day forecast from drone-powered weather service Saildrone . Today's forecast shows the greatest possibility of rain at 97 percent, with expected rainfall of 0.35 inches. The coming days will also see warm temperatures, due to persist through Tuesday. The weather will bring a high temperature of 88 degrees on Thursday, Friday and Monday. Skies will partially clear on Sunday, remaining partly cloudy through Tuesday. Winds will stay calm throughout the week, with just a light breeze of 7 mph on Saturday. This story was created automatically using Saildrone's local weather forecast data, then reviewed by an editor. We also incorporate historic weather data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


Iran's top leader struck a belligerent tone Tuesday in an escalating confrontation with the West, promising further Iranian violations of the fraying nuclear agreement and retaliation for what he called the piracy of an Iranian tanker by "the vicious British." The defiance expressed by the top leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, contrasted with what seemed like a less confrontational stance taken at the White House. President Trump told reporters that "we're not looking for regime change" in Iran and that Iranian leaders had communicated a desire for negotiations with the United States despite their hostile remarks in public. "They'd like to talk, and we'll see what happens," Mr. Trump said. Mike Pompeo, Mr. Trump's secretary of state, asserted that Iran was willing to negotiate over its missile program, an area of Western concern that was not covered in the 2015 nuclear agreement. Sign Up For the Morning Briefing Newsletter Just a few weeks ago the Trump administration, which abandoned the nuclear agreement last year, was on the verge of ordering a military strike on Iran over its downing of an American surveillance drone. There was no immediate comment from Iran to the remarks from Mr. Trump and Mr. Pompeo. The administration's comments came as Iran's foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, was visiting the United States, under a highly restrictive American visa that basically limited his travel to the United Nations in New York. The speech to clerics by Mr. Khamenei, broadcast on Iran state television and excerpted on his English-language Twitter account , appeared to signal his intention to ignore diplomacy for the moment and stoke tensions with the West over the embattled nuclear accord. Mr. Khamenei spoke as unconfirmed news reports suggested Iran's Revolutionary Guards may have seized a United Arab Emirates tanker in the Persian Gulf, possibly in retaliation for Britain's impounding of an Iranian tanker near Gibraltar this month. The ayatollah's speech came a day after European foreign ministers sought to allay a confrontation with Iran over its recent transgressions of the agreement's limits on nuclear fuel, which were Iran's response to the American imposition of harsh sanctions. The European ministers said they did not consider Iran's violations serious enough yet to warrant a response and reiterated their desire to preserve the agreement, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. Defying the Trump administration's pressure for tougher action, the European ministers instead exhorted Iran to abide by the agreement's terms. But Mr. Khamenei seemed to reject their gesture out of hand. "Iran will continue the process of cutting down on its #JCPOA commitments," he said in his speech. The 2015 agreement promised Iran an end to economic isolation and punitive sanctions in return for its verifiable commitment to never seek atomic weapons. Mr. Khamenei, known for his deep hostility toward the United States and its Western allies, had reluctantly backed the agreement with the big powers, which included the United States, Britain, France and Germany. But he turned sharply against the agreement after President Trump repudiated it in May 2018 and reimposed onerous sanctions. European efforts to salvage the deal have foundered, and Mr. Khamenei has increasingly blamed the European participants for failing to provide Iran the economic relief that was promised. "Western governments' major vice is their arrogance," the ayatollah said in another Twitter excerpt from his speech. "If the country opposing them is a weak one, their arrogance works; but if it's a country that knows & stands against them, they will be defeated. Regarding our ties with Europeans, what makes problems persist is their arrogance." Mr. Khamenei reserved particular hostility for Britain despite that country's attempt to defuse a separate dispute over the Iranian tanker, which British forces impounded on suspicion that it was transporting oil to Syria in defiance of European sanctions on that country. On Saturday, Britain's foreign minister, Jeremy Hunt, offered to release the tanker if Iran guaranteed its cargo would not be taken to Syria, suggesting the possibility that diplomacy would offer a way out of the dispute. But Mr. Khamenei suggested otherwise. "The vicious British government committed piracy and attacked our ship," Mr. Khamenei said . "They commit crimes and legalize it. The Islamic Republic and the believing members of the establishment will not leave such vicious acts without a response." Michael Crowley contributed reporting.


Michigan native Erik Jones ended up fastest in Saturday's final Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice session. Jones, who is still looking for his first win of the 2019 season, topped the final 50-minute practice with an average lap speed of 189.843 mph. Alex Bowman was second (188.763 mph) and Kevin Harvick was third 9188.640 mph). Austin Dillon and Daniel Suarez completed the top-five. Rounding out the top-10 speeds were Clint Bowyer, Martin Truex Jr., Ryan Blaney, Jimmie Johnson and Kyle Larson. Jones also had the fastest average lap speed (188.146 mph) among all the drivers who ran at least 10 consecutive laps. Bowyer, Harvick, Bowman and Larson rounded out the top-five in that category. With about 16 minutes remaining in the session, Suarez tagged the wall exiting the Turn 2 wall after suffering a flat left-rear tire to bring out a caution. What a save! 😳 @Daniel_SuarezG comes away with only slight damage following this incident in final practice! pic.twitter.com/otZS6sslHd   NASCAR (@NASCAR) August 10, 2019 Suarez's No. 41 Ford sustained some damage to the right-rear quarter panel but the team hoped to repair it so he would not need to move to a backup car. "My car was free but when I got loose between (Turns) 1 and 2, I could tell it was something more," Suarez. "Hopefully, we get a little bit of a break and we can fix it." Three drivers   Michael McDowell, Austin Theriault and Spencer Boyd   had to sit out the final 15 minutes of practice because they were late out of the garage Friday for inspection. Read Also: Kevin Harvick tops Saturday's first Cup practice at Michigan Cla#Driver ManufacturerLapsTimeGapIntervalMph 1 20 Erik Jones Toyota 37 37.926 189.843 2 88 Alex Bowman Chevrolet 33 38.143 0.217 0.217 188.763 3 4 Kevin Harvick Ford 32 38.168 0.242 0.025 188.640 4 3 Austin Dillon Chevrolet 28 38.199 0.273 0.031 188.487 5 41 Daniel Suarez Ford 27 38.218 0.292 0.019 188.393 6 14 Clint Bowyer Ford 35 38.218 0.292 0.000 188.393 7 19 Martin Truex Jr. Toyota 46 38.219 0.293 0.001 188.388 8 12 Ryan Blaney Ford 29 38.225 0.299 0.006 188.358 9 48 Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet 31 38.249 0.323 0.024 188.240 10 42 Kyle Larson Chevrolet 39 38.261 0.335 0.012 188.181 11 6 Ryan Newman Ford 37 38.267 0.341 0.006 188.152 12 8 Daniel Hemric Chevrolet 37 38.279 0.353 0.012 188.093 13 2 Brad Keselowski Ford 44 38.282 0.356 0.003 188.078 14 11 Denny Hamlin Toyota 36 38.306 0.380 0.024 187.960 15 24 William Byron Chevrolet 38 38.316 0.390 0.010 187.911 16 1 Kurt Busch Chevrolet 41 38.326 0.400 0.010 187.862 17 13 Ty Dillon Chevrolet 34 38.332 0.406 0.006 187.833 18 21 Paul Menard Ford 32 38.355 0.429 0.023 187.720 19 37 Chris Buescher Chevrolet 34 38.389 0.463 0.034 187.554 20 17 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Ford 30 38.425 0.499 0.036 187.378 21 10 Aric Almirola Ford 26 38.440 0.514 0.015 187.305 22 95 Matt DiBenedetto Toyota 22 38.446 0.520 0.006 187.276 23 18 Kyle Busch Toyota 37 38.465 0.539 0.019 187.183 24 9 Chase Elliott Chevrolet 27 38.466 0.540 0.001 187.178 25 43 Darrell Wallace Jr. Chevrolet 40 38.564 0.638 0.098 186.703 26 22 Joey Logano Ford 30 38.575 0.649 0.011 186.649 27 47 Ryan Preece Chevrolet 29 38.603 0.677 0.028 186.514 28 34 Michael McDowell Ford 21 38.718 0.792 0.115 185.960 29 38 David Ragan Ford 30 38.745 0.819 0.027 185.830 30 36 Matt Tifft Ford 20 38.848 0.922 0.103 185.338 31 00 Landon Cassill Chevrolet 24 39.096 1.170 0.248 184.162 32 32 Corey Lajoie Ford 23 39.140 1.214 0.044 183.955 33 52 Austin Theriault Ford 16 39.560 1.634 0.420 182.002


A Neapolitan pizzeria from Townhouse owner Jeremy Sasson is on tap to take over the former Will Leather Goods building, Crain's reports . The Oregon-based, high-end leather retailer Will Leather Goods closed Tuesday after four years in Cass Corridor. Sasson's restaurant group Heirloom Hospitality has been creeping into the Detroit market from Birmingham since 2015 with the opening of Townhouse Detroit . The group has since gone on to open high-end steakhouse Prime + Proper in Capitol Park and a seasonal food truck called Clementina . This spring, Heirloom opened a Cash Only , an obnoxious invitation-only cocktail bar above Prime + Proper. The Neapolitan pizzeria marks Sasson's first foray into Cass Corridor where it will face competition from spots like Jolly Pumpkin and Motor City Brewing Works . Sasson has hired Myles McVay , the opening chef at Otus Supply in Ferndale, to lead the kitchen. The as-of-yet-unnamed pizza restaurant will feature a full bar. When it opened at the site of Tomboy Market in 2015, Will Leather Goods housed a coffee shop . However, in the past several years the store has been a revolving door for operators testing out the space. At one point Frita Batidos was briefly rumored to be in talks to open in the building. Red Hook Coffee popped up briefly in the cafe space in 2017 and last fall Flint's Tenacity Brewing used the property as a testing ground for its forthcoming coffee roaster-taproom spinoff in Virginia Park. Stay tuned for more updates as the pizzeria project moves forward. • Jeremy Sasson Pizza Concept to Replace Will Leather Goods in Midtown [Crain's] • All Coming Attractions Coverage [ED]


Curious just how far your dollar goes in Chicago? We've rounded up the latest rental offerings via rental sites Zumper and Apartment Guide to get a sense of what to expect when it comes to locating a rental in Chicago if you don't want to spend more than $1,800/month on rent. Read on for the listings. (Note: prices and availability are subject to change.) Hoodline offers data-driven analysis of local happenings and trends across cities. Links included in this article may earn Hoodline a commission on clicks and transactions. 1120 N. LaSalle St. (Near North) Listed at $1,701/month, this 750-square-foot one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment is located at 1120 N. LaSalle St. The unit boasts hardwood flooring. The building offers garage parking and on-site laundry. Pet owners, take heed: cats are permitted. Walk Score indicates that the area around this address is suitable for walking and biking, and is a haven for transit riders. (See the complete listing here .) 1700 N. North Park Ave. (Old Town Triangle) Next, there's this studio apartment located at 1700 N. North Park Ave. It's listed for $1,702/month for its 473 square feet. You can expect to find a walk-in closet, in-unit laundry and hardwood flooring in the residence. Pet owners, take heed: cats and dogs are welcome. There isn't a leasing fee associated with this rental. Walk Score indicates that this location is a "walker's paradise," is easy to get around on a bicycle and has excellent transit options. (Check out the complete listing here .) 175 N. Harbor Drive, #310 (New Eastside) Check out this studio apartment that's located at 175 N. Harbor Drive. It's listed for $1,705/month. The apartment boasts high ceilings. Animals are not permitted. There's no leasing fee required for this rental. According to Walk Score's assessment, the area around this address is moderately suitable for walking and biking, and is a haven for transit riders. (Take a look at the complete listing here .) 1606 E. Hyde Park Blvd. (Kenwood) Located at 1606 E. Hyde Park Blvd., here's an 850-square-foot two-bedroom, one-bathroom spot that's listed for $1,707/month. Per Walk Score ratings, the area around this address is convenient for walking, is easy to get around on a bicycle and offers good transit options. (See the complete listing here .) 3450 N. Lake Shore Drive (Lake View East) Finally, listed at $1,709/month, this 850-square-foot one-bedroom, one-bathroom unit is located at 3450 N. Lake Shore Drive. The building features on-site laundry, a fitness center and a swimming pool. Also, expect to find a walk-in closet, a dishwasher and carpeted floors in the unit. Cats are permitted. According to Walk Score, the surrounding area is suitable for walking and biking, and boasts excellent transit options. (Check out the complete listing here .) Working with a tight budget? Here are the cheapest rentals recently listed in Chicago . This story was created automatically using local real estate data from Zumper and Apartment Guide , then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


Let's dispense with the weed jokes on the onset… Last month, the York County Economic Alliance hosted our Economics Club breakfast series on the Economics of the Cannabis Industry. We welcomed two leaders   GTI (Green Thumb Industries), the operator of RISE Medical Marijuana (MMJ) growth and dispensary facilities; and Groff North America, part of the Wyndridge Farm Family, who has stepped into the industrial hemp and CBD industries. It's evident the cannabis industry is growing, thriving, and impacting the economy in ways we have only just begun to comprehend. 2018 was Pennsylvania's first year in the MMJ program, and GTI alone experienced transactions totaling $132 million. By comparison, neighboring Maryland generated just under $100 million in their first year. Industry leaders equate this to the forethought and inclusion of PTSD and chronic pain as qualifying conditions for MMJ patients in PA. The projections after quarter one of 2019 are approximately $175 million. With this volume of profit comes job growth. Between the 10 states with legalized recreational use of marijuana, and 34 green lit for medicinal use, the cannabis industry job market employs 211,000 directly nationwide. They experienced a 44% increase in 2018, making it the fastest growing job sector in the country right now. In Pennsylvania, only 90 people were employed in the sector at the beginning of 2018, and that has increased to 3,878   if you're doing the math, that's a 4,208% increase. (Yes, 420 is in that percent…) And that is just medical marijuana. Pennsylvania has also issued 350+ growing permits for the cultivation of industrial hemp. In 2019, an estimated 5-10K acres of hemp will be farmed in just Pennsylvania. Groff North America is building Hemplex, right here in Red Lion, to become an industrial hemp research park   the first in the United States. With the purchase of the HempTrain ™ equipment, they're able to process the whole plant, producing materials for health and wellness, textiles, automotive, agriculture, construction, logistics, and additional industries. It's essentially the cotton gin, for hemp. The economic impact here is uncapped. For example, the CBD industry, hemp derived, is projected to be a $16 billion market by 2025. Groff North America has also answered this call, opening Farmacy Partners physician-owned retail store providing hemp and CBD healthcare products. The direct benefits, as we know, are the jobs and tax revenue generated, but indirectly, marketing agencies, banking systems, fulfillment centers, web developers and retail shops will feel this economic boom as well from the new market on the scene. One of the most notable impacts will be to the farming industry, which experienced a $9 billion net decline in 2018, with the lack of a cash crop. Now, the hemp industry is breathing new life into the crop cycle. Hemp for fiber allows traditional farmers using large scale agricultural equipment to earn strong profits from a rotational crop. Vegetable and tobacco style farmers also have the opportunity to farm hemp for CBD and other cannabinoid extracts. Regardless of your personal opinion, we can't ignore the incredible and vast impact this industry is having in our Country, our Commonwealth, and our County. We're proud these industries are leading the charge while calling York County home. It's truly high times in YoCo. Kevin Schreiber is president and CEO of the York County Economic Alliance. This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: York County is poised to profit in the cannabis industry


Kevin Durant isn't sure when he'll return from his calf injury but he is sure that the Warriors are better with him in the lineup. Durant addressed those topics while meeting the media, including ESPN's Nick Friedell , on Friday. Durant noted that while he's showing steady improvement, the right calf strain he suffered in Game 5 against the Rockets in the conference semifinals still needs time to heal. Durant has not been cleared for on-court work. He's doubtful to play in Game 1 of the Finals on Thursday. "I'm just taking it a second at a time," Durant said. "Every rep we do in the weight room, I just try to focus on that rep and not try to think too far down the line. 'Cause I don't really know too much about this injury. I'm leaving it the hands of the team doctors. I trust the direction they're trying to put me in." Durant initially feared he tore his Achilles, the same injury teammate DeMarcus Cousins suffered last season with the Pelicans. "I pushed off to run down court and I felt somebody trip me up," Durant said, according to an NBA.com post . "First thing that came to mind, 'Boogie (Cousins) said, Kobe (Bryant) said…' that it felt like somebody kicked them (after they tore Achilles tendons). So the first thing in my mind was to slow down and process what happened. Then I started walking, and I could put weight on it, and it wasn't as bad as I thought." The Warriors have won all five playoff games with Durant out of action, prompting many observers to say the team is better off without the impending free agent and more fun to watch. Durant has heard the talk and says it's not factual. "I felt like my teammates and the organization know exactly what I've done here off and on the court to become a part of this culture, stamp my flag in this culture and this organization. … I know what I bring to the team, but I also know a lot of people on the outside don't like to see us together, and I get it," he said. Warriors owner Joe Lacob has repeatedly said he'll do whatever it takes to keep the core group together this offseason, including Durant. Forward Andre Iguodala (calf), who missed Game 4 against Portland, and Cousins (quad), who has been since the opening round, are closer to returning. Both participated in a full team scrimmage on Friday without restrictions on contact or playing time.


As dusk sets on the Fourth of July, bursts of light, movement, and color bedazzle America's skies. Fireworks thousands of which launch from municipal festivals and backyards each Independence Day are, for some citizens of the United States, quintessential emblems of nationalism. But what makes these illuminations so patriotic? And how do the very first fireworks compare to the ones we launch today? Well, the first fireworks were not American at all. Chinese roots Around 200 BC millennia before Europeans landed in North America people in Liyuan, China, created firecrackers by tossing bamboo stalks into pits of fire. Some say the resulting noise was intended to ward off evil spirits. Then, fast forward to 600 AD, Chinese alchemists took the practice a step further by devising a gun-powder remedy from substances like charcoal, sulfur, and potassium, which they stuffed inside the bamboo shoots and lit with a torch. This was later used as weaponry in the form of missiles. As more cultures experimented with gunpowder, fireworks soared over borders and seas. European countries like Italy and Great Britain produced fireworks in the Middle Ages albeit without bamboo on holidays and occasions like royal weddings, coronations, and birthdays. And, a year after the United States of America declared independence on July 4, 1776, accounts from both John Adams and the Virginia Gazette say the former colonists launched fireworks to celebrate. ( Read Nat Geo's guide to photographing fireworks. ) Family affairs The vibrant, aerial displays that impress crowds today were derived in the 1830s, when the Italians combined metals with explosives to develop colored fireworks. Around this time, family businesses such as Fireworks by Grucci and Zambelli Fireworks , now two of the United States' largest and oldest firework companies, made modest names for themselves in Bari and Caserta, Italy, respectively. ( See 25 dazzling photos of fireworks from around the world. ) These Italian firework families participated in activities like single-shell competitions rocketing one firework into the sky and selecting a winner based on factors like design, sound, size, and color says Phil Grucci, chief executive of Fireworks by Grucci. By arranging the elements in different orders within the shell casing, the Italians also created recognizable shapes and drawings in the sky. "Like," Grucci adds, " an American flag ." And then, starting in the late 1800s, aerial fireworks migrated to the United States through the same passage as more than 12 million others  Ellis Island. "My second great grandfather and my second great uncle came through Ellis Island with a shoe box full of formulas and a dream," Grucci says, "not even a dollar, but a dream." George Zambelli, Sr. faithfully stowed his "pyrotechnic dream" in a similar way. He bound Zambelli's firework formula inside a small black notebook, which stays locked in the family safe to this day, says George Zambelli, Jr., chairman of Zambelli Fireworks. Both businesses remain family-run and have performed at multiple presidential inaugurations and fourth-of-July celebrations. Fireworks go high-tech But while boxes and booklets still govern the foundation of the Italian displays, modern designs and technologies are taking fireworks to new heights literally. "The generation that I grew up in, the fifth generation, saw the industry and the art form and the display, and the technique go from lighting something with a flare, like you'd see on the side of the road, to lighting fireworks with electronics with a push of a button," Grucci says. He now sets off fireworks from laptop computers. ( Why you can't write messages with fireworks yet. ) "The more outlandish, out of the box, exciting ideas that come along, the technology has got to be able to support that," Grucci adds. "You're always allowing the design to drive the technology, not the other way around." On January 1, 2018, Grucci and his team fired the world's largest firework off the Burj Khalifa building in Dubai. The firework weighed 2,397 pounds and reached an apex of almost 4,000 feet. Risks of the fun Firework shows in other countries can be larger and more elaborate than in the United States, Grucci says. Back in the states, however, consumer firework sales have been sky-rocketing since 2000, says Julie Heckman, the executive director of the American Pyrotechnics Association . Massachusetts is the only state that prohibits the sale of consumer fireworks  "And I don't think John Adams would be very happy," Heckman says. But complying with government regulations and new tariffs poses challenges to family firework businesses across all states, many of which have stopped manufacturing or putting on shows all together, Heckman says. Most of the regulations relate to environmental protection or health hazards from unsafe use. Zambelli, who works as an ophthalmologist by day, is well aware of the physical dangers of fireworks. He has treated a few firework injuries in his time he advises consumers to wear goggles and to set off shells one at a time but, ironically, expects the number would be higher had he not been in the firework industry. "I'm not on call over the Fourth of July," Zambelli says. Because on the week of the Fourth, all hands are on deck. Designers are sketching new displays and scoring shows to match musical arrangements, drivers are loading trucks and hauling shells to different launch sites across the country, managers are coordinating schedules with partners and state police, and technicians are fine tuning their systems for the dusk launch. "It's a labor of love," Zambelli says. "I had my two-year-old grandson at a major display in the Pittsburgh area a couple weeks ago, and you should have seen him light up at the spectacular fireworks display. He puts his hands up in the air and boom, boom, boom, boom. It's definitely in the blood." "When you're born in this family, you're introduced to the art form when you're an infant; when you're in the fetal state," Grucci says. "You live, eat, hear, and speak nothing but fireworks." Zambelli Fireworks will display 800 shows across the United States the week of the Fourth. Fireworks by Grucci will perform at the 2019 "Salute to America" festival at the Lincoln Memorial along with Phantom Fireworks .


Editor's note: The opinions in this article are the author's, as published by our content partner, and do not necessarily represent the views of MSN or Microsoft. You'd think that it would be an easy call for Facebook to remove and block videos that are indisputably altered to fool the public. You would be wrong. The British news site the Guardian reported Friday that Facebook had refused to remove a doctored video of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaking at an event in Washington on Wednesday; the audio had been manipulated to give the false impression that she was mentally impaired. The Washington Post reported Thursday that copies of the video had been spreading on social media, including placement on Facebook's conservative Politics WatchDog page, where it racked up 2.5 million views. As it turns out, even in its supposed efforts to eradicate fake news, Facebook isn't willing to remove false content from its site. Here's the company's policy on the issue: "We want to help people stay informed without stifling productive public discourse. There is also a fine line between false news and satire or opinion. For these reasons, we don't remove false news from Facebook but instead, significantly reduce its distribution by showing it lower in the News Feed." In other words, Facebook is happy to continue to provide its podium and microphone to false and misleading posts. But if someone complains, the company may turn down the volume. That's outrageous. Pelosi haters may think it's funny to make her speech seem slurred and subtly suggest that her age (at 79, she's seven years older than President Trump) is getting the better of her. But it's easy to imagine the same stunt being pulled on Trump, who is far less articulate than Pelosi to start with   or on any other important figure in a public debate. Facebook may be particularly reluctant to be seen as censoring the video in light of the heaping helping of denunciations from Trump and others on the right about giant tech companies' alleged anti-conservative bias. Trump sounded that note again Friday morning on Twitter, tweeting to his 60.5 million followers with no apparent irony about the "very popular Conservative Voices" that Twitter has silenced: But the stakes here are enormous. House Democrats are fighting battles these days with Trump and congressional Republicans on multiple fronts, both in terms of legislation and oversight, and Pelosi is the Democrats' most visible leader. More to the point, she's actually a leader, unlike the Democratic freshmen who've gotten so much attention in the media. By making her a target, Trump's supporters are trying to discredit House Democrats generally, in the same way that they've tried for years to turn her into a hyperliberal caricature in the hope of electing more congressional Republicans. (Given that Pelosi is widely seen as the most powerful brake on the House Democrats' zeal to impeach Trump, it doesn't make a lot of sense for Trump supporters to undermine her publicly. Unless, of course, they think it would help Trump's reelection chances if he were impeached. Hmm.) Anyway, Facebook can't continue to pretend that its only responsibility is not to promote fake news. Whether it likes it or not, it has to remove demonstrably false content from its platform. Whether it's bogus videos of elected officials or fake cancer cures, the effect on the body politic is the same.     ©2019 Los Angeles Times Visit the Los Angeles Times at www.latimes.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.


The Bills are hoping for more out of Trent Murphy this season. In 2018, Buffalo had 36 sacks as a team, tied for 26th best in the NFL. Murphy, 28, was supposed to improve things there but the proof is in the numbers, the Bills still rank among the NFL's worst. Murphy came to the Bills last season via free agency off of an ACL injury with the Redskins. Now a full year removed from that injury, the Bills hope to see more. According to Buffalo defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier, things are different for Murphy this year and the Bills could finally see what they paid for in the defender. "It's night and day when you see his movement in the drills and the fact that he's able to practice every day, which he wasn't able to do a season ago about this time," Frazier said on Tuesday. "We're going to get more of the guy we saw when we signed him in free agency." Prior to joining the Bills, Murphy sat out the 2017 season with a knee injury. In 2016, he had nine sacks which landed him with Buffalo. Earlier this offseason, Murphy said he's put his struggles of last season with the Bills, where he only had four sacks, behind him. "I think last season is closed and in the books for the most part," Murphy said during voluntary offseason practices. MORE: Jayson Tatum and others defend LeBron James for celebrating at Bronny's AAU game Za'Darius Smith, Preston Smith have 'been as advertised' for Packers Day 3 Cowboys Camp: Prescott's deep ball, passing zones impressive Roundup: Kelly McGillis and Top Gun; Fortnite Season 10; Michelle Obama's Advice; DNA Repaired by Lung Cell Raiders RT Trent Brown is Oakland's new 'baby face' Assassin


RICHMOND, Va. (AP)   A federal appeals court has ordered the dismissal of a lawsuit accusing President Donald Trump of illegally profiting off the presidency through his luxury Washington hotel, handing Trump a significant legal victory on Wednesday. A three-judge panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously overturned the ruling of a federal judge in Maryland who said the lawsuit could move forward. The state of Maryland and the District of Columbia sued in 2017, claiming Trump has violated the emoluments clause of the Constitution by accepting profits through foreign and domestic officials who stay at his luxury Washington hotel. The provision prohibits federal officials from accepting benefits from foreign or state governments without congressional approval. The 4th Circuit found the two jurisdictions lack standing to pursue their claims against the president, and granted a petition for a rare writ of mandamus, directing U.S. District Court Judge Peter Messitte to dismiss the lawsuit. Trump heralded the decision in a tweet, saying, "Word just out that I won a big part of the Deep State and Democrat induced Witch Hunt." Trump tweeted that he doesn't make money but loses "a fortune" by serving as president. Trump's personal attorney, Jay Sekulow, called the decision "a complete victory." "The decision states that there was no legal standing to bring this lawsuit in the first place," Sekulow said a statement. "This latest effort at Presidential harassment has been dismissed with prejudice." During oral arguments before the panel in March, lawyers for Maryland and the District said Trump's status as president is a driving factor for foreign and domestic government officials to stay at his hotel. Just blocks from the White House, the iconic Old Post Office quickly became a hot spot for lobbyists and foreign officials after it reopened in October 2016 as the Trump International Hotel. A public relations firm working for Saudi Arabia spent nearly $270,000 on food and rooms. The Philippine and Kuwaiti embassies have also had parties there. Maryland and the District claim they have suffered harm because more people would stay at hotels in their jurisdictions if they weren't eager to curry favor with the president by staying at his hotel. Trump's legal team argued that Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh and District of Columbia Attorney General Karl Racine   both Democrats   lack authority to sue the president in his official capacity. Trump's lawyers also argued that the emoluments clause only bars compensation made in connection with services provided in his official capacity or in "an employment-type relationship" with a foreign or domestic government. The 4th Circuit's decision to hear the unusual mid-case appeal put the lawsuit on hold before deadlines to respond to subpoenas issued in December seeking tax returns, receipts and other records from more than 30 entities, including 13 Trump businesses and the federal agency that oversees the lease for Trump's hotel. It appears likely the panel's ruling will not be the end of the case. Racine has said that if the panel ruled against Maryland and the District, the legal team would seriously consider asking for a rehearing before the full 4th Circuit. He also said it wouldn't surprise him if the case ended up in the U.S. Supreme Court. A spokeswoman for Frosh's office didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. Racine's office said a statement would be forthcoming. All three judges on the panel were nominated by Republican presidents: Paul Niemeyer, by George H.W. Bush; Dennis Shedd, by George W. Bush, and Judge A. Marvin Quattlebaum, by Trump. A similar case brought by nearly 200 congressional Democrats in the District of Columbia's federal court also deals with the idea that Trump is using the presidency for his personal profit, but that case is uniquely different in that the Congress is specifically mentioned in the emoluments clause itself. On Monday, the Justice Department petitioned for a writ of mandamus in the D.C. appeals court and asked for a stay on the 37 subpoenas issued in that case. ___ Associated Press writers Tami Abdollah in Washington and Sarah Rankin in Richmond, Virginia, contributed to this report.