The Trump administration is considering a virtual shutdown of refugee admissions next year   cutting the number to nearly zero   according to three people familiar with the plan. During a key meeting of security officials on refugee admissions last week, a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services representative who is closely aligned with White House immigration adviser Stephen Miller suggested setting a cap at zero, the people said. Homeland Security Department officials at the meeting later floated making the level anywhere from 3,000 to 10,000, according to one of the people. The proposal for a near-shutdown of the refugee program is alarming officials at the Department of Defense, who don't want to see a halt in admissions of Iraqis who risked their lives assisting U.S. forces in that country. The possible move comes after the Trump administration cut refugee admissions by a third this year, to 30,000. If the administration shuts down refugee admissions, it would give President Donald Trump a powerful talking point as he makes immigration restrictions a centerpiece of his reelection campaign. At the same time, it would strand thousands of people already far along in the process and damage the ability of resettlement agencies to process refugees in future years, according to advocates tracking the issue. "In the long-term, it would mean that the capacity and the ability of the United States to resettle refugees would be completely decimated," said Jen Smyers, a director with Church World Service, one of the nine U.S. resettlement agencies. The State Department declined to discuss the possible cap. The departments of Homeland Security, Justice, Defense and the National Security Council, which had representatives at the meeting, did not respond to requests for comment. The meeting of roughly 20 officials last week, which took place in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, represents a preliminary step in the annual process of setting the admissions cap, according to those with knowledge of it. USCIS official John Zadrozny and the State Department's Andrew Veprek   both known as Miller allies   argued in the meeting that the refugee cap should be low because of ongoing security concerns and the ability of the U.S. to offer humanitarian protections through the asylum process, according to an attendee. While the two programs similarly protect people facing persecution, refugees apply for protection from overseas, while asylum seekers apply once they've arrived at the border or entered the U.S. on a legal visa. Proponents of the refugee program contend it offers the U.S. diplomatic and military leverage internationally beyond its humanitarian aims. But even as Trump officials weigh dramatically cutting refugee admissions, the administration also has sought to greatly reduce the availability of asylum. A sweeping regulation issued this week would block migrants who pass through another country en route to the U.S. from seeking asylum. The measure   already the subject of two lawsuits   could choke off the majority of asylum claims. The Miller allies asserted at the meeting that the refugee determination didn't matter because it was a ceiling, not a floor, and the administration still retained the discretion to admit fewer people, according to one of the people with knowledge of it. The various agencies will submit their recommendations by Aug. 1, the person told POLITICO. The presence of Zadrozny and Veprek in the refugee cap negotiations speaks to the influence of Miller over the Trump administration's immigration agenda. Both are viewed as proxies for the president's hard-line adviser. Zadrozny worked for the White House Domestic Policy Council before moving to the State Department last year. He joined USCIS after Trump tapped former Virginia attorney general and immigration hawk Ken Cuccinelli to become acting director. Veprek is a foreign service officer who moved last year to a high-level role State Department's Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration. Even as some within the administration have sought to shut down the refugee program, the Defense Department has emerged as an advocate. Former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis pushed behind the scenes last year for the administration to keep the refugee ceiling at 45,000, according to a previously undisclosed letter obtained by POLITICO. "Over the last 17 years of war, numerous Iraqi nationals have risked their own lives and their families' lives by aligning with our diplomats and warfighters providing essential mission support. We owe them support for their commitment," he wrote in a missive to White House national security adviser John Bolton. Mattis added that abdicating the commitment to Iraqis who worked with U.S. military   many as translators and interpreters   could threaten U.S. interests. Trump, following the State Department's recommendation, ultimately opted to drop refugee levels to 30,000, down from 45,000 the year before, but not to the very low levels that some refugee backers feared. Whether acting Defense Secretary Mark Esper will defend the program remains unclear. Nearly 9,000 refugees are currently approved to travel to the U.S., according to a recent State Department report reviewed by POLITICO. In addition, more than 29,000 refugees have completed USCIS interviews, a major step in the process. Among the Iraqi applicants that remain a concern for the Defense Department, only 140 have entered so far this year. More than 100,000 remain in the queue, according to an analysis provide by refugee groups. Refugee backers argue the number of people currently along in the process undercuts the argument that the U.S. can't handle 30,000 or more refugees next year. In addition, they worry that the doomsday scenario   taking numbers down to zero   could debilitate the resettlement program for years to come. The refugee admissions process typically takes years and officials in the past have developed multiyear strategies that would be disrupted by a wholesale stoppage, according to Barbara Strack, a former head of the USCIS refugee affairs division who retired in 2018. "Half or more of the applicants who were admitted in a given fiscal year would have had their USCIS interview in the preceding year," she said of planning during her tenure. "We were really building a pipeline for [who] was going to be admitted in the following fiscal year." Refugees have not historically posed a significant terror or national security threat, according to an analysis earlier this year by the libertarian Cato Institute. Furthermore, the Trump administration could always choose to accept refugees from different parts of the world. "Even if you're really hesitant about certain types of conflict-torn areas, I still think there are other areas that are not of concern," said David Inserra, a policy analyst with the conservative Heritage Foundation. "There are enough refugees out there in the world that I think you could find more folks that you're not particularly worried about." The Trump administration doesn't need to make the refugee determination until next month and there remains time for outside groups to lobby the administration. The administration also must consult with members of related congressional committees regarding the determination, although that requirement has been mostly brushed aside under Trump. Regardless, refugee supporters worry about the direction of the talks. "We don't get the final number until September, and things can change," said one pro-refugee advocate following the issue. "But the conversation being where it is now is alarming."


The Women's World Cup field has been trimmed by eight. A rather straightforward group stage has been completed with minimal surprise. Favorites like France, USA, England and Germany all coasted to first-place group finishes, and no team viewed as a contender prior to the competition has bowed out. Given the safety net of four of six third-place finishers going through, that was always likely to be the case. The biggest surprise of all may be Italy, which topped a group featuring Brazil and Australia via tiebreaker, with all three level on six points but as the 15th-ranked team in the world in a deeper field than ever, perhaps the perception of Le Azzurre should have been a little stronger entering the tournament. An underdog-less group stage means a powerhouse-laden knockout field, and that's what the competition has been left with for the next four rounds that feature some tantalizing prospects on both sides of the bracket. The knockout road to the #FIFAWWC 🏆is SET Who ya got? pic.twitter.com/Luocuc2Ucn   Planet Fútbol (@si_soccer) June 20, 2019 Here's how the remaining teams stack up: 1. USA (3-0-0, +18 goal differential, vs. Spain in last 16) The Americans had an admittedly easy group, but they took care of business in the toughest of the three matches by beating longtime nemisis Sweden (even if the Swedes were at less than full strength ). The road ahead appears to be brutal . First up it's Spain, a team that frustrated the U.S. in a winter friendly, only to have Christen Press's one moment of magic be the difference in a 1-0 win. Beyond that, the road could very well be the three teams that immediately follow in these rankings and FIFA's world table. If the U.S. is to repeat as champion, it will have certainly earned its crown. 2. France (3-0-0, +6 GD, vs. Brazil in last 16) The host nation blew away South Korea to open the competition, but the two matches that followed revealed a squad that perhaps isn't as dynamic and prolific as it appears on paper or just one that hasn't fully hit its stride yet as it grows into the tournament. France benefited heavily from VAR against both Norway and Nigeria, though, and it's only going to be able to rely on technology for so long. Brazil represents a tricky opponent in the round of 16, and if Les Bleues are too consumed with a potential showdown against the USA in the quarterfinals, they could be caught looking ahead and picked off by Marta & Co. 3. England (3-0-0, +4 GD, vs. Cameroon in last 16) England completed a professional job in beating Scotland, Argentina and Japan to coast to the knockout stage with maximum points. The Lionesses don't match the explosive capabilities of the USA or France, but that was never going to be their game. In their last 14 games, they haven't exceeded three goals once. What they can do, though, is control a game, play a disciplined style and get results. Its path Cameroon, followed by either Norway or Australia is certainly a manageable one to return to the semifinal stage that it reached in 2015, and there's reason to believe England can improve on its bronze-winning performance from four years ago. 4. Germany (3-0-0, +6 GD, vs. Nigeria in last 16) Marozsan Watch is officially on. Germany also took maximum points in the group stage despite not having star playmaker Dzsenifer Marozsan for games against Spain and South Africa with a broken toe. She had been ruled out for the opening stage , but the door was left open for a return in the knockout rounds. If she does make her way back, then a run to the title is certainly within reach. In the meantime, Germany is one of two teams yet to concede a goal (the USA is the other) and has a favorable last-16 match against Nigeria for which it can probably get away with resting Marozsan and not expediting her return before necessary. 5. Netherlands (3-0-0, +4 GD, vs. Japan in last 16) There's plenty of talk about the USA and France's attack, but the Dutch's is right up there, with Vivanne Miedema, Lieke Martens and Shanice van de Sanden leading the line. That hasn't necessarily translated into goals, but it certainly has translated into chances, and there's no side in the field that will spook the 2017 European champions. Drawing Japan for the last 16 makes for a challenge, but the Asian power hasn't shown the same quality we've become accustomed to seeing over the last eight years, while the Dutch are very clearly on the rise. 6. Norway (2-1-0, +3 GD, vs. Australia in last 16) Norway showed well during the group stage and played France tightly, ultimately succumbing to defeat over a VAR decision to award a penalty. A last-16 matchup with Australia is a tough draw, but the Ada Hegerberg-less side should have no concerns about being able to score on the Matildas. Whether it can stop Sam Kerr is another story entirely. But if there's a dark-horse of sorts historically speaking, few are as accomplished as Norway who could make a run from a loaded side of the bracket, it's this one. 7. Italy (2-1-0, +5 GD, vs. China in last 16) Le Azzurre not only won a difficult group, it winds up with a pretty winnable last-16 game against China, too. It won't be easy, as China can suffocate the energy out of a game. Italy's all-around numbers were skewed by a 5-0 thrashing of Jamaica, but it's shown it belongs on this stage, and a run to the quarterfinals would exceed anyone's pre-tournament expectations. 8. Australia (2-1-0, +3 GD, vs. Norway in last 16) The win over Jamaica juiced Australia's and Kerr's group stats in a big way, but there was never any doubt about its ability to score goals. Whether it can keep them out against top competition is a different question, and it's the one that will ultimately determine whether this side can avoid another early knockout elimination and make a run to the semifinals and beyond. 9. Spain (1-1-1, +1 GD, vs. USA in last 16) Spain's problem is the opposite of Australia's. It has little problem controlling the ball and defending well. It has plenty of problems translating its play into goals. Of its three goals in the group stage, all of them came in the opener against South Africa, and two came via penalty kick. Spain was shut out by Germany and then China in a loss and draw, respectively, and it's playing a dicey game if its approach is to defend its way to a knockout run especially with the prolific, in-form USA on deck. Spain can take solace from limiting the U.S. in a 1-0 defeat in January, but the Americans are simply in a different place right now. 10. Brazil (2-1-0, +3 GD, vs. France in last 16) Brazil entered the Women's World Cup on a nine-match losing streak, and Marta offered some unflattering comments for the squad before its trip to France. Naturally, that resulted in Brazil beating Jamaica and Italy and being in position to beat Australia before collapsing and blowing a 2-0 lead. Marta, who became the all-time leading goalscorer in the history of any senior World Cup, men's or women's, still doesn't appear to be her prolific self, and a showdown vs. France sure figures to be the end of the road. That's the price of a third-place group finish. 11. Canada (2-1-0, +2 GD, vs. Sweden in last 16) Like with Spain, the big question surrounding Canada is whether it can score enough. Christine Sinclair got her first of the competition against the Netherlands in the group finale to pull within two of Abby Wambach's all-time international record, but that the 36-year-old remains one of Canada's chief attacking threats at this stage in her career says plenty about the depth of the attack. After winning best young player honors on home soil in 2015, Kadeisha Buchanan has been immense in the back, and the Canadians certainly have what it takes to tame Sweden. Asking to do the same of potentially Germany in the quarterfinals, however, is a bit much. 12. Sweden (2-1-0, +4 GD, vs. Canada in last 16) It's unclear what to expect from Sweden. Like the USA, it's first two matches were hard to use as a litmus test given the sizable gap in quality. Then, Sweden heavily rotated its squad against the U.S., giving the impression it didn't really care to go all out to win the group when a more favorable route, at least on paper, came with a second-place finish. After everything, we still haven't seen Sweden's best. The 2016 Olympic silver medalist is capable of playing with anybody, but would it really be a shock if it bowed out vs. Canada? Hardly. 13. Japan (1-1-1, -1 GD, vs. Netherlands in last 16) Finalists in 2011 and 2015, Japan has been wildly underwhelming in France. There's been little to suggest a third straight run to the final is in the cards, especially with a daunting last-16 matchup vs. the Netherlands. Japan scored just twice in the group stage both goals coming in a win over Scotland and is lacking the game-changing qualities that made it one of the world's best. 14. China (1-1-1, 0 GD, vs. Italy in last 16) When it plays, China definitely typically have the best team in the field, but it is also certainly going to make its opponents work for everything they get. A physical side that only conceded once in the group stage, China won't be an easy out and could perhaps parlay its frustrating style into an upset of Italy and a place in the quarterfinals. We've yet to see the best of PSG star Wang Shuang. Perhaps she can be the difference in a low-scoring defensive struggle. 15. Nigeria (1-2-0, -2 GD, vs. Germany in last 16) Hard-done by a VAR-aided penalty retake that gave France the ammo necessary to win their group finale, Nigeria wound up as one of the top four third-place finishers in excruciating circumstances. First, it was boosted by Argentina's VAR-aided penalty retake that kept Scotland out of the equation and sent things to the final day. Then, watching as Chile, which needed a win by three goals or more to take Nigeria's place among the top third-place sides, hit a late penalty kick off the crossbar and only beat Thailand 2-0, the Super Falcons were cleared for celebration . Germany will most likely spell the end for the African side, but what a thrilling journey it's been. 16. Cameroon (1-2-0, -2 GD, vs. England in last 16) This spot in the last 16 wound up going to the Indomitable Lionesses after a wild last couple of days in the group stage. Cameroon ultimately punched its ticket at the death of its group finale , beating New Zealand on Ajara Nchout's last-gasp heroics. You'd expect England to be a bit more disciplined in defense than New Zealand, but Cameroon will surely have a nothing-to-lose vibe after reaching the last 16 in such thrilling conditions. Related Slideshow: Best of the 2019 Women's World Cup (Provided by imagn)


PITTSBURGH, PA - Uber Comfort has launched in dozens of cities, including Pittsburgh, with a pitch of offering riders more legroom, higher-quality drivers and even silent trips. Those interested in chatting with drivers can indicate they're "happy to chat," and those seeking a quiet ride can request "quiet preferred." The default setting is no preference. An Uber spokesperson told TechCrunch that reaction to the "quiet ride" service has been generally positive among drivers and riders. The service is meant to limit conversation rather than mandate outright silence. "Riders appreciate the consistency and control they have over the type of their travel; business travelers in particular have shared how rider preferences have helped them be more productive en route to the airport, important meetings, or other work-related destinations," the spokesperson said. "Drivers have shared how these new rider preferences have helped take the guesswork out of riders' expectations, and helped them provide the best service possible." The service, which costs up to 40 percent more than UberX, also allows riders to request custom temperature settings. Uber Comfort drivers must maintain a rating of 4.85 or higher to qualify for the service, the ride-hailing giant said in a news release. The service comes after Uber went public earlier this year. Patch national staffer Dan Hampton contributed to this report.


Here's how we line-up this afternoon 1⃣ Raya 2⃣ Clarke 3⃣ Dalsgaard 4⃣ Jeanvier 5⃣ Jansson 6⃣ Pinnock 7⃣ Canos 8⃣ Dasilva 9⃣ Norgaard 🔟 Marcondes 1⃣1⃣ Zamburek #BREBOU | #BrentfordFC pic.twitter.com/2kPzXCm4I5   Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) July 27, 2019  The #afcb line up for this afternoon's friendly with Brentford... 📝 - Solanke up top - Travers in goal - Butcher, Kilkenny start #BREBOU pic.twitter.com/sZUqKFuzCz   AFC Bournemouth (@afcbournemouth) July 27, 2019


NEW HAVEN, CT   A Bridgeport man was sentenced Monday to five years in prison for trafficking heroin and cocaine, according to a statement from John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut. He will also serve four years' supervised release. This case is the result of a joint investigation headed by the DEA New Haven Task Force, FBI and New Haven Police Department into a New Haven-based drug trafficking organization that acquired and distributed heroin and cocaine. According to Durham's statement, between December 2017 and March 2018, Cruz was intercepted on a court-authorized wiretap obtaining heroin and cocaine from another member of the conspiracy which he then distributed to his own customers. He pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute heroin and cocaine in March. During the investigation, law enforcement officers seized more than 500 grams of heroin, more than 300 grams of fentanyl, more than one kilogram of cocaine, three firearms, over $90,000 in cash, vehicles, jewelry and precious metals, according to the statement.


At an April meeting of the Antelope Valley Union High School District's board, trustee Jill McGrady questioned why the board had hired a $400-an-hour attorney despite having an in-house lawyer and a contract with an outside firm. Why hadn't this new attorney provided a bill for two months of work? McGrady asked. Was he meeting privately with individual members of the board? The discussion took an unexpected turn when board President Robert Davis accused McGrady of raising questions only because the attorney is black. "I'm not going to participate in this racial game of, 'Let's move the goal post for the black man,'" said Davis   who, like McGrady, is white. The audience exploded into jeers. "Racial!" one woman yelled. "How is this racial?" For months, this high desert district of 22,000 students has been roiled by political infighting and protests   all with an undercurrent of race. Residents have denounced the trustees for going on a spending spree even as they denied pay raises to school principals and other employees. Accusations of misusing public funds, providing contracts to friends and a duplication of services have led to a recall effort against trustees Davis, Victoria Ruffin and Amanda Parrell. Among the board actions that have come under scrutiny: a $48,500 security consulting job given to a former colleague of Davis; an open-ended contract for a Ruffin acquaintance to create websites to reflect each trustee's "personal brand or style"; and the hiring of the attorney, John W. Harris, who appeared to fall asleep during his first meeting, according to several people who were present. (Harris could not be reached for comment.) Meetings have become must-see theater, with overflow crowds filling the lobby. "They just get buck wild across the board," Ruffin, the board's vice president, said of recent meetings. Since April, debates about contracts have been inextricable from debates about racism. A number of teachers said they fear that the trustees threatened with recall are using sweeping, exploitative rhetoric about race to divert attention from controversial decisions. Davis and Ruffin said the recall effort is the result of people being uncomfortable with their attempts to expose problems. "When we're doing the hard work in social justice and we're doing the hard work of being equity warriors, it does mean that people get an opportunity to look at your ways and your practices," Ruffin said. "I can understand why that would be something that is scary." Parrell did not respond to requests for comment. Few dispute that the Antelope Valley has wrestled with serious problems, many stemming from long-term social and racial inequities. The region has experienced dramatic demographic change over the last three decades, and now is 48% Latino and 15% black. The high school district, which has an 87% nonwhite student body, held its first by-district board election in November after being threatened with a lawsuit alleging racial bias in its at-large voting system, district officials said. Ruffin, who was elected at the time along with Parrell, is the first black woman to serve on the board. The director of special education for an Oxnard school district, she has spent years building a brand as a motivational speaker, activist and author of a memoir. "If something happens to me, it's because I'm fighting the good fight," she said of her school board work. At a special meeting in April, Ruffin, Davis and Parrell voted to launch a wide-ranging, independent investigation into alleged discrimination in the district's hiring practices and the suspension and expulsion of nonwhite students. Black students, who made up 18% of the district's student body during the 2017-18 school year, accounted for 38% of suspensions, according to state data. High suspension rates for black students are a statewide issue. Critics said the investigation could expose the district to financially devastating litigation. "In today's political climate, accusations of racism should be taken very seriously, not tossed out recklessly with no substantiating evidence or even a complaint, as is happening here," Dan Shy, president of the Antelope Valley Teachers Assn., told the board. Supt. David Vierra told The Times that the district has had three race-related complaints from parents since August 2017. In two cases, which were settled, the complaints were over a student's grade; a third is under review. Davis recently asked to call off the investigation. Criticism of the board began to mount after a Jan. 24 meeting, when the trustees approved several deals   including a $75,000 contract with Valencia-based Full Circle Consulting Systems Inc. to conduct training aimed at improving students' relationships with teachers and others. Multiple teachers said the pilot program   called Students, Teachers, Officers, Parents   was wasteful because the district already paid for another, nationally recognized program with a similar mission, called Capturing Kids' Hearts. Glenda Potts, a teacher at Desert Winds High School, an alternative school in Lancaster, said STOP instructors made teachers do yoga breathing exercises and build towers out of marshmallows and raw spaghetti noodles as a team-building activity. "There was nothing for us to take back to our students," Potts said. Rose Stanley, another Desert Winds teacher, told the board that instructors appeared to have spent no time in local classrooms. "Don't be spending money on this," she said. "We need the money for our students and for our programs." Two Full Circle representatives could not be reached for comment. The board also approved a contract for D'Vacor Entertainment Group, a Bay Area event-marketing company, to create websites for each trustee   despite having a contract with Coffee House Industries, a Palmdale-based digital marketing agency that builds its websites. Ruffin said the individual sites would let trustees better communicate with constituents. Rose Lyles, the managing partner for D'Vacor, told the board that each of the five websites would cost $4,000 to $5,000 upfront, then about $1,000 apiece each month for maintenance. Lyles had consulted on Ruffin's election campaign, and the two previously were board members for the Diverse Communities in Action Movement, an organization that aimed to create events such as marches and forums. Ruffin also was listed online as a team member in California Black Expo Magazine, which Lyles runs. Ruffin told The Times she knew nothing about the magazine. A page from its spring 2018 edition that listed Ruffin's name was taken offline shortly after The Times asked about it. Lyles, who withdrew her contract with the district in April, declined to comment. The board in January also approved the $400-an-hour contract for Harris, who has since charged the district at least $28,397.50, according to invoices obtained by The Times. It's unclear exactly why the board hired another attorney. The school board majority authorized Harris to review the contract of in-house attorney Bridget Cook, who had represented the district for 21 years. On May 9, the board fired Cook in closed session with little explanation. The board also authorized Harris to review the contract of Vierra, the longtime superintendent. Davis has been openly disdainful of Vierra, saying he fostered a culture of nepotism because several of his family members had worked for the district, including a brother who once worked as an assistant superintendent. Vierra said he always has received positive evaluations but could not talk about closed-session discussions about his contract. Much of the opposition to the board's majority bloc has come from teachers. Davis recently called two special meetings that some alleged were timed to decrease attendance. One was at 10:30 a.m. on a school day. Dozens of teachers used sick days to attend. In an interview later, Davis scoffed at their presence. "I love all those teachers being there," he said, "but all those teachers had to have subs today. So what did that cost the district?" Last spring, the Antelope Valley Teachers Assn. called on Davis, a retired corrections officer who has been a trustee since 2015, to resign, saying he was using a recent school shooting for political gain. On May 11, 2018, a 15-year-old boy was wounded in a shooting at Highland High School in Palmdale. Davis took out an ad in the Antelope Valley Press, writing that when he went to see the boy in the hospital he found "cold empty corridors, no one, and nobody," suggesting he was the only district official to visit. He echoed the claims in social media posts that a district spokeswoman denounced as false. At a board meeting days after the shooting, Davis accused the then-school board president of not taking safety seriously and said anyone who supported him "will carry the same blood on their hands." Asked about teachers' criticism of that speech, Davis said, "Absolutely it was politically motivated." "They don't control me," he said of the teachers union. "No one controls me." Ruffin beat the former board president, who also is black, in the November election. Davis became president the next month. In December, Davis spoke with Bruce Frank, a retired corrections officer who had worked with him at California State Prison in Lancaster, about possibly assessing the school district's security, Frank told The Times. That month, the Internal Revenue Service placed a $117,539 lien on Frank's property, according to Kern County records. Frank did not respond to questions about the lien. Frank said the call with Davis led him to start a security consulting company, K12 Secure. It was registered as a business with Kern County on Feb. 5, county records show. On Feb. 14, the board approved a $48,500 contract proposal making the school district K12 Secure's first client. The district already has a $1.7-million contract with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, with a deputy assigned to most campuses. Frank said that he had done security assessments for prisons for at least 20 years and that the work with the district is "not my first security audit." As in the case of Harris, Davis at the April 11 board meeting accused McGrady, a retired teacher, of questioning the contracts with Frank, D'Vacor and Full Circle because the vendors were black   eliciting boos from the audience. At the same meeting, Ruffin suggested that school staff have low expectations for black students and push them to apply to junior colleges instead of four-year universities. She referenced black male students at Knight High School in Palmdale with 4.4 grade-point averages who played varsity basketball and went to community college. "A lot of these kids end up being pimped for their skills," said Ruffin, whose daughter recently graduated from the school. "They're wonderful athletes, and they can run and run and run, but they don't land in colleges." Amos Wellington, a black teacher and coach at Eastside High School in Lancaster, said he thinks the trustees are trivializing a very serious issue by wielding claims of racism for political means. "I am hypersensitive to the term 'pimp' and the term 'racism' because they affect me directly," he said. "I've taught and coached girls since 1994, and I will protect my male students and my female students if it costs me my life." In an interview, Ruffin said she was not talking about all coaches, just some at Knight High. Ruffin said she was unapologetic. "If you're good enough to run and play basketball, if you're good enough to be eligible during the season but you're failing after the season … where was the vested interest in their academics?" she said. "Were you just seeing them as a mule to play a sport for you? Or do you really see them as a human being?" Times staff writer Ryan Menezes contributed to this report.


LAS VEGAS - Security ensured there was no serious incident between UFC lightweight champ Khabib Nurmagomedov and Nate Diaz in the crowd during Saturday's UFC 239 event. Both Nurmagomedov (27-0 MMA, 11-0 UFC) and Diaz (19-11 MMA, 14-9 UFC) are in Las Vegas for International Fight Week. UFC 239 is the cornerstone event, and abundance of athletes are in attendance at T-Mobile Arena, including the two notables. Although it seems liked nothing serious occurred, there was certainly a confrontation of sorts between Nurmagomedov and Diaz, and a portion of it was caught on film. Check it out (via Twitter ): Video of the Khabib Nurmagomedov - Nate Diaz run in at #UFC 239 via @BTrumps pic.twitter.com/vgQG3oQeKv - Mike Allardyce (@mikedyce) July 7, 2019 ESPN's Brett Okamoto delivered some follow-up reporting on the situation. He said nothing got physical between the two sides, who downplayed what happened (via Twitter ): Doesn't sound like there's much (if anything) to the Nate, Khabib (!!) stuff. Ali Abdelaziz, Khabib's manager, tells me Nate walked by, directed some words towards the camp and security removed him quickly. Member of Nate's team also indicated there was not much to it. - Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) July 7, 2019 This isn't the first time Nurmagomedov and Diaz have crossed paths outside the cage at an MMA event. They got into a near-brawl at a WSOF (now PFL) event in August 2015, which was far more serious. Nurmagomedov is no stranger to incidents at T-Mobile Arena, having been involved in a post-fight brawl after his victory over Conor McGregor at UFC 229 in October, for which both he and McGregor were suspended and fined. For complete coverage of UFC 239 , check out the UFC Results . MORE: Lakers land consolation prizes after missing out on Kawhi Leonard Could Serge Ibaka be a post-Kawhi exit trade target for Boston? 3 reasons why the the NFL will never have an NBA-like offseason NBA Free Agency 2019: The top players Russell Westbrook Chased Away Another Star Teammate


These common home improvement projects deliver the lowest return on your investment. Be careful with major makeovers Smaller projects pay back better, according to Remodeling Magazine s 2019 Cost vs. Value Report . For example, replacing your front door at a cost of about $1,800 can yield an average return of 74.9% when you sell the home. Major makeovers recoup considerably less. The report looks at national average costs for 22 projects, including how well they recoup value at resale. Some are  upscale  jobs; others are  midrange  in cost. None totally recover their cost. Money is just one way to measure an outcome, of course. Many upgrades pay off in satisfaction and enjoyment. Click ahead to see, from bad to worst, projects that are particularly poor choices for payback, based on Remodeling Magazine s report. 10. Universal design bathroom remodel (midrange) Average cost: $33,374 Return on investment: 62.5% U niversal design makes buildings safe and accessible for everyone, regardless of age, size or physical ability. Remodeling Magazine s universal design bathroom remodel upgrades a bathroom to make it accessible for a wheelchair. The job includes installing a vanity with easy-grasp handles. This midrange remodel runs, on average, about $33,374 and returns roughly $20,868 of the cost at resale. While the payback isn t great, such changes may be necessary for retirees or for someone physically disabled. In those cases, benefits can far outweigh the cost. It's not the usual blah, blah, blah. Click here to sign up for our free newsletter. 9. Major kitchen remodel (midrange) Average cost: $66,196 Return on investment: 62.1% This project   updating a 200-square-foot kitchen with semi-custom wood cabinets, a small island, laminate countertops, a stainless steel sink, custom lighting and a fresh coat of paint will set you back $66,196, on average. Included are new appliances, lighting and resilient flooring. You d recover roughly $41,133 of the project s cost when selling the home, Remodeling Magazine estimates. Related: 36 Home Upgrades That Cost Less Than $100 A smart alternative: Spend just $22,507 instead, on a minor kitchen remodel using midrange products . The project includes Shaker-style wood cabinet panels and drawer fronts, new hardware, a new paint job and an energy-efficient oven and refrigerator. Average return on investment: 80.5%. 8. Metal roofing replacement (midrange) Average cost: $38,600 Return on investment: 60.9% Every homeowner knows how expensive a new roof can be. According to the Cost vs. Value report, replacing a roof with 3,000 square feet of pre-finished metal roofing costs $38,600, on average. The price includes an ice-barrier membrane, gable trim and vented ridge flashing. Using asphalt shingles pays back slightly better, at 62.8% of cost. 7. Bathroom addition (midrange) Average cost: $47,427 Return on investment: 60.6% If you have a one-bathroom household, you may imagine that a second bath   for example, this midrange bathroom addition   would boost the overall value of the home. And it does, but not by as much as you d perhaps imagine. Adding to a home s footprint generally is expensive. This 6-by-8-foot addition, built over a crawl space, includes such amenities as a cultured-stone vanity, fiberglass tub-shower with a tile surround, low-profile toilet and a ceramic tile floor. It costs nearly $50,000 and adds an estimated $28,726 to the home s resale value, the Cost vs. Value Report says. 6. Bathroom remodel (upscale) Average cost: $64,743 Return on investment: 60.2% Maybe you ve considered giving one of your bathrooms a facelift. This upscale bathroom remodel expands a 35-square-foot bathroom to 100 square feet without enlarging the home s footprint. The shower has ceramic tile walls, body spray fixtures, a frameless glass enclosure and a recessed shower caddy. The project includes a freestanding soaker tub with high-end faucets, a double vanity with stone countertop and mirrored medicine cabinets. The toilet is housed in its own compartment. As luxurious as that sounds, the next homeowner may not be willing to pay top dollar for your design choices. Remodeling Magazine estimates a return of just $38,952. 5. Major kitchen remodel (upscale) Average cost: $131,510 Return on investment: 59.7% Dreaming of designer faucets, stone countertops and an Italian ceramic backsplash? You ll have all that with this upscale major kitchen remodel . It also includes a water filtration system, built-in refrigerator, commercial-grade cooktop, under-cabinet lights and wood-look floor tile. But, you will be spending nearly as much on a single room as plenty of people spend on a single-family house. 4. Master suite addition (midrange) Average cost: $130,986 Return on investment: 59.4% For a little less than that upscale kitchen remodel, you could add a brand new, 24-by-16-foot master bedroom suite to your home s footprint. It pays back slightly less at sale than that upscale kitchen remodel, though. The master suite has walk-in closets, a freestanding soaker tub, a separate ceramic tile shower and a double-sink vanity. Also included in the plan: tile on the bathroom floor, bedroom carpeting and basic lighting. 3. Bathroom addition (upscale) Average cost: $87,704 Return on investment: 58.1% An upscale bathroom addition is a dream project for many homeowners. This project adds a new 100-square-foot en-suite bath to a master bedroom. With it are all the amenities of an upscale bathroom remodel (No. 6), but the price tag is $20,000 more, which includes the cost of adding to the home s footprint. The return on your $87,704 investment: $51,000, on average. 2. Backyard patio (midrange) Average cost: $56,906 Return on investment: 55.2% If your home is a popular gathering place, building an outdoor sitting area seems like a reasonable expense. Fit for entertaining, a midrange backyard patio includes a 20-by-20-foot flagstone patio and glass entry door into the home. On the patio, an outdoor kitchen has a gas grill, storage, sink and mini-refrigerator. A cedar pergola, gas fire pit and four all-weather deck chairs complete the project. It's all fun and games until you put the house up for sale. Don't expect to get back more than $31,430 of the $56,906 you spent on your beefed-up backyard. 1. Master suite addition (upscale) Average cost: $271,470 Return on investment: 50.4% The worst home renovation project for your money also is the most expensive. This upscale master suite addition costs more than double the midrange master suite we described. Why so much? For one thing, adding square footage typically is an expensive proposition, and this project adds a 32-by-20-foot master bedroom, lounge area and large, adjacent master bath to the home s footprint. Also, the details are deluxe. The sleeping space has custom bookcases and built-in storage, a high-end gas fireplace with a stone hearth and custom mantel. The dedicated walk-in closet and dressing area has mirrors and linen storage. A dream bathroom has a dual shower with stone floor and walls and in-floor heating and a 5-foot-long hospitality center with bar sink, under-counter fridge, custom cabinets, a microwave and stone countertop. The estimated return upon resale: $136,820   about half of what you d have put into it. It's not the usual blah, blah, blah. Click here to sign up for our free newsletter.


Former Indianapolis Colts tight end Erik Swoope will be signing a one-year deal with the Oakland Raiders. After spending the majority of his career with the Colts, Swoope will be joining his second team since being waived during the 2018 regular season. He also spent a few days with the New Orleans Saints before being released. Raiders signed free-agent tight end Erik Swoope tonight to a one year deal, per source. - Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 22, 2019 A former basketball player at Miami (FL), Swoope was a project for the Colts that had some high upside. He missed the entire 2017 season with a knee injury and got lost in the mix during the 2018 season with the arrival of Eric Ebron and the emergence of Mo Alie-Cox. Swoope did have a solid start to the 2018 season when he recorded three touchdown receptions in the team's first seven games. In 24 career games, Swoope has 23 catches for 384 yards and four touchdowns. MORE: Jim and Pam from 'The Office' square off in the Stanley Cup Final Packers rookie Darnell Savage impresses with intelligence early at OTAs Jon Gruden 'excited' to see Raiders DT Eddie Vanderdoes this offseason Under the offseason spotlight, Freddie Kitchens has shone Roundup: Stranger Things Returning July 4th; Blues Make Stanley Cup Final; U.S. Intercepts Russian Bombers Off Coast of Alaska


The great white, the bull shark and the tiger shark are called the "Big Three" for a reason.


Mitchell Trubisky and Jim McMahon are the Bears' most recent Pro Bowl quarterbacks. McMahon made his only Pro Bowl in 1985. Trubisky made his first in 2018. The two met for the first time Friday and visited for a while, the Chicago Tribune reported. They then shared the stage during the Bears100 Celebration. McMahon, 59, gave Trubisky a headband and a pair of sunglasses, two trademarks of McMahon back in his playing days. "Now you're ready to go , kid," McMahon said, via the newspaper. McMahon played for the Bears for seven years, went 46-15 and won a Super Bowl. He remains the toast of the town. "This town has always been a Bear town, and it's always going to be a Bear town," McMahon said. "I think this is a hard-working town, and these fans appreciate hard-working players. And they know who plays hard and who doesn't. If you play hard for Chicago, they'll love you. And if you play hard and win, they'll love you forever." McMahon offered Trubisky advice on how to handle the position, the criticism and the fans. "I think the two things in Chicago are that you just have to play with a lot of confidence, and then you have to have thick skin," Trubisky said. "You just have to continue to give it your all, improve your game and put your heart into this and into practices. Love the fans, wins games and they'll love you back."


A 69-year-old grandmother who was arrested at Disney for having CBD oil in her purse plans to file a lawsuit against the theme park and the Orange County Sheriff's Office. Hester Burkhalter, of North Carolina, was arrested April 15 for having oil that was labeled "Select CBD" in her purse. Burkhalter said the oil she had did not contain THC and said she was made to feel like a criminal. The lawsuit will allege Burkhalter endured "illegal detention, false arrest and a violation of her civil rights when she tried to enter Disney World with her family carrying a small bottle of CBD oil in her purse recommended by her doctor for chronic arthritis pain." Burkhalter is represented by civil rights and personal injury lawyer Ben Crump and co-counsel Michele Rayner. Crump was the attorney for Trayvon Martin's family. READ MORE: Grandmother to file lawsuit over CBD arrest at Disney CHECK OUT WESH: Stay in the know with the latest Orlando news, weather and sports. Get the top stories and all the scores from the team at WESH.


California education officials have agreed on a sweeping new framework for sex education in the classroom, sparking intense debate about whether some of the proposal's teacher material is too graphic and explicit. The guidance is meant for students in kindergarten through 12th grade, and though not a mandate, is intended to provide teachers with information to use in a sex education curriculum. The updated Health Education Curriculum Framework includes the suggested use of gender-neutral and LGBTQ-inclusive language, material on consent and sex-trafficking and the continued teaching of HIV prevention, which was enacted into law under the California Healthy Youth Act in 2016. The framework also includes guidance on nutrition and physical activity, tobacco and alcohol and skin care. "There's a lot of social and emotional learning embedded throughout," said Stephanie Gregson, director of the Curriculum Frameworks and Instructional Resources Division at the California Department of Education. But it's the portion on sex education that has stirred some controversy. The guidance has prompted protest among parents, conservative groups and teachers   most notably around some of the books that were suggested as resources, including "S.E.X.: The All-You-Need-to-Know Sexuality Guide to Get You Through Your Teens and Twenties," which includes descriptions of anal sex and bondage; and "Changing You," which includes cartoon illustrations of female and male genitalia. Both books were recommended for removal. "It's important to know the board is not trying to ban books. We're not saying that the books are bad," State Board of Education member Feliza I. Ortiz-Licon said. "But the removal will help avoid the misunderstanding that California is mandating the use of these books." Though the framework differentiates lessons for transitional kindergarten through third grade, fourth through sixth grade, seventh and eighth grade, and ninth through 12th grade, concerns over children's ability to handle some material at the youngest ages have persisted. A Change.org petition in the Fremont School District has gained more than 8,000 signatures, with concerns over children's ability to handle such material at younger ages. "The content in the new sex education curriculum is NOT age appropriate," petitioner Alice Lu wrote. But the California State School Board of Education believes that the provision of this type of information will benefit students in the long run. "Life has become exponentially more complex in the last few decades," Linda Darling-Hammond, president of the State Board of Education and of the Learning Policy Institute, said in a statement. "The Health Curriculum Framework   developed by educators for educators   gives district administrators and educators the guidance and resources they need to develop curriculum and instruction that can help students adopt healthy behaviors that support their physical and mental well-being and navigate through the sometimes complicated situations that will come their way." Roughly 200 protesters showed up outside the state Capitol on Wednesday, some with their children in tow, holding signs that read "No to Explicit Sex Ed" and "Too Much Too Soon." "It's just scary what they are going to be teaching. It's pornography," Anaheim Hills resident Patricia Reyes told CBS News . "If this continues, I'm not sending them to school." When it comes to the framework's inclusion of transgender language, several opponents have raised concerns over whether children need that information at early ages. Gregson said the framework offers tools to teachers so they know how to appropriately address every student, and ensure that each individual feels valued. "It's not about gender identity. It's about acceptance of people for who they are," she said. "Kindergarten is the foundational grade level to create understanding with all of our students and create an environment that's bullying-free." Rick Oculto, the director of education at Our Family Coalition, said his organization pushed for LGBTQ inclusion to ensure that information regarding sexual health applies to all students, especially when it comes to historically marginalized youths. "What we really wanted was that families have age-appropriate, medically accurate information to make their own choices for their health," he said. Every district has autonomy over its curriculum and what they use from the recommended guidance. Parents also have the right to opt out of sex education lessons for their children under the California Healthy Youth Act, though that does not include the exclusion of language teachers may adopt from the health education framework. Last year in Oceanside , school officials shelved the program for the district's youngest students after parents complained the material was too graphic and undermined their religious values. Since the 1970s, sex education has been widely supported in schools. According to the Guttmacher Institute , 24 states   including California   and the District of Columbia mandate sex education in classrooms. California also requires that sex and HIV education be "age appropriate." colleen.shalby@latimes.com @cshalby


May 13--Five clergy abuse survivors, including three brothers abused by former St. Paul parish priest Curtis Wehmeyer, plan to sue the Vatican to release the names and files of all clergy who have sexually abused children. The charges against Wehmeyer, who sexually abused the boys in his trailer parked at Church of the Blessed Sacrament, led to unprecedented criminal charges filed against the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis for failure to protect children. It also led to the resignation of former archbishop John Nienstedt, who was sharply criticized for failing to take disciplinary action against a priest with a previous history of sexual misconduct. The brothers in this high profile case will speak publicly for the first time at a news conference Tuesday in the office of St. Paul attorney Jeff Anderson, who already has several lawsuits pending against the Vatican. The brothers are expected to demand greater sanctions against Nienstedt, who resigned in good standing. Anderson announced plans to file the lawsuit and the Tuesday news conference in a news release Monday. The lawsuit, to be filed Tuesday, asks that the Vatican release the names of more than 3,000 priests who have sexually abused children, as well as evidence and documentation. It is one of several lawsuits that abuse survivors represented by Anderson have filed against the Vatican. At the news conference, Anderson said he will provide details of the lawsuit and introduce the plaintiffs. They include the brothers, who have not yet been named, as well as Twin Cities abuse survivor Jim Keenan and survivor Manuel Vega of California. The lawsuit comes on the heels of an announcement by Pope Francis that the Catholic Church now would require that clergy report any sexual abuse to their superiors. The new rules have been criticized by victims of child sex abuse, who say that any incidents need to be reported to law enforcement, not to church officials. Wehmeyer plead guilty to criminal sexual misconduct in connection with the abuse of two of the boys, as well as possessing child pornography. He was sentenced to five years in prison and has been removed from the priesthood. Jean Hopfensperger • 612-673-4511 ___ (c)2019 the Star Tribune (Minneapolis) Visit the Star Tribune (Minneapolis) at www.startribune.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.


Kansas City Chiefs rookie safety Juan Thornhill is getting a lot of outside attention these days. He's had national media members highlight him as a player to watch moving forward. Some even believe that he can unseat veteran free safety Daniel Sorensen to become the starter in Kansas City. It's not all hype either, Thornhill has by and large looked the part at Chiefs training camp. He's got his hands on the football for multiple interceptions and he's done a great job in coverage both as a deep safety and in man coverage. Recently, Touchdown Wire highlighted several rookie players to watch during the 2019 preseason . Thornhill was one of those players that they'll be paying close attention to. Take a look at what Doug Farrar had to say about Thornhill below: "OK, we're cheating with the first two players on this list. Thornhill was the second-to-last pick in the second round, but he's worth mentioning. By all accounts, he's been tearing it up in training camp after missing June minicamp with a calf injury, and his production and athletic profile indicate a player who could do a lot to turn around Kansas City's defense. Thornhill had 13 interceptions in three seasons as a starter at Virginia, and in 2018, he allowed just three touchdowns to six interceptions, and an opponent passer rating of 43.8. If he's able to take this training camp performance into the preseason and regular season, Thornhill and free-agent acquisition Tyrann Mathieu will go a long way toward repairing the issues in Kansas City's pass defense last season - a team deficit that may have cost the franchise a trip to the Super Bowl." Thornhill is certainly worth watching, especially in a league that often uses sub packages on defense. More and more often, teams are looking to get athletic safeties who can cover on the field. We could see Thornhill on the field often in the Chiefs' big nickel packages, even if he doesn't unseat Sorensen and become starter. Could Thornhill potentially be the missing piece in the secondary to get this team to a Super Bowl? I think it's too early to say that, we don't want to go giving Thornhill a big head. He does have some lofty aspirations for himself, and his rookie teammate Mecole Hardman, during the 2019 season. Check it out: DROY and OROY let's go get it bro @MecoleHardman4 pic.twitter.com/whmpaKfbTq - The_Juan_And_Only (@Juan_Thornhill) August 6, 2019 It's good to see these two players competing and making each other better. It's clear that they're both buying in, which is all part of the picture when coming into the league as a rookie. It'll go a long way toward ensuring Thornhill's future success with the Chiefs. MORE: The Marlins' Isan Diaz hit his first MLB home run during his parents' live TV interview Browns release their initial preseason depth chart Raiders release first depth chart of 2019 season Cowboys News: Gregory hasn't filed for reinstatement, Gathers axed Ryan Anderson cleaned up his off-field prep to get serious for 2019


LOUDON, N.H.   John Elway, Peyton Manning … Kurt Busch? NASCAR's most-recent winner and preeminent Denver Broncos fan is well-versed in the fine art of riding off into the sunset after seeing both Broncos quarterbacks famously win their second and final Super Bowls in their last season slinging the pigskin. Busch, 40, is racing on a one-year deal with Chip Ganassi Racing. The 2004 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion sits seventh in points standings coming off a thriller of a victory at Kentucky Speedway. With a handful of weeks left before the NASCAR Playoffs, he appears to be Chevrolet's best bet for a title in 2019. Though he has been just a hair below the elite class of the field this season   such as Joe Gibbs Racing's studs and the pair of former champs at Team Penske   the very nature of NASCAR's playoff system allows the realistic possibility Busch could grit his way into racing for a title for the first time under this format at Homestead-Miami Speedway this fall. And then it comes down to just three drivers separating him from eternal stock-car glory … and potentially joining his gridiron heroes among the few-and-far-between to win and walk off for good. "It's always hard to play 'what if'; I don't want to put too much ahead of it and it would be the ultimate scenario, right?," Busch said Friday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, site of Sunday's Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 (3 p.m. ET, NBCSN, PRN, Sirius XM NASCAR Radio). " … I've got a lot of boxes checked off. Even last year, to get my first-ever superspeedway pole at Talladega (Superspeedway), last October; not a lot of guys would put much emphasis in that category, but it's like all right. Now I have a pole on short tracks, road courses, intermediates, and finally a superspeedway pole." Through a career that spans nearly two full decades, most of those boxes are checked, re-checked and checked again once more for good measure. RELATED: New Hampshire weekend schedule But what if that moment comes … and the urge is still gnawing at him to get behind the wheel in 2020? Are there really any boxes left to check that might bring the 31-time Cup Series winner back to competition next year? "Good question. Another championship ultimately. More playoff wins. And again, the last few years I haven't led a lot of laps and I want to lead some more laps and be up front," Busch said. "I have yet to win the Southern 500 and yet to win at Indianapolis (Speedway). Those are the top two. And if I can find a third for my trifecta, I want to win at Watkins Glen (International) really bad. " … And so, what would bring me back is if like Monster Energy, Global Poker, GearWrench, and everybody is putting together their advertising campaign and how they want to push to sell more product, that's where it would hit home for me here. And then I would react to what we want to do together to make sure everybody is feeling the benefits. Selling more stuff, having more fun at the track, and ultimately for me, I would then be approaching 42, 43-years old. There's a lot of young talent out there and it would be that chance to maybe pick the guy or the girl who is going to come up and drive after I'm done racing." All this is to say that despite any actual contract papers having being signed, it certainly appears Busch will be back in the Chip Ganassi Racing garage next season   whether as a driver or in a more advisory-based role. "It doesn't matter if I'm driving in 2020 and beyond," Busch said. "It would be what I'd want to do to help a program or to give my knowledge and to be part of a team and to make things work here for 2019 and continue to improve whether I'm driving or I'm not, to help all of Ganassi. It's just a matter of if I'm driving or I'm not. I'm still going to do my job to make sure we are progressing and pushing toward the future on what I believe is important and what they want to do to apply it and what they believe is important and what I have to listen to. "You're asking me all these fun questions when everything is on a high, when everything is great and we're coming out of Victory Lane and having fun scavenging rides home and just living at the top level. We'll see how things all piece together. I don't have all the full answers, but things are all pointing in the right direction to be teamed-up together (with CGR) and to continue to race and to win races and to run at a championship … But if I'm able to make a run at the championship (this year), that could change things as well, and that wouldn't happen until the week of Thanksgiving." If Busch does follow in the footsteps of Elway and Manning, however, and retire on the spot at Homestead with trophy in hand, only question will remain   whether or not he'll go to Disney World, less than four hours north of Miami. ]]>


While the number of Boston Celtics invited to play for Team USA's 2019 FIBA World Cup roster might be seen as a sign of how low NBA players from the United States are prioritizing representing their country in international play, Celtics point guard Kemba Walker doesn't see it that way. Instead, he sees it as a fortuitous opportunity for he and his teammates to showcase their talent on a global stage ( per ESPN ): "It's our chance to get on the big stage and showcase our talent. A chance for us to do something new. It'll be a new-look team. Everybody is kind of doubting us, but I think we're hungry," It's often been mentioned but the national team now has a heavy Celtics presence after backcourt neighbor Marcus Smart and wings Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown were invited to replace a number of high-profile exits from Team USA's roster over the last month. With NBA luminaries, from Los Angeles Lakers' big man Anthony Davis and Houston Rockets guard James Harden, to unestablished talent like the New York Knicks' Julius Randle choosing to not represent the United States in recent weeks, a narrative began emerging that so many defections meant the team is somehow inferior and vulnerable. At least compared to recent outings. Team USA head coach Gregg Popovich took issue with this characterization, however: "I've said that we're going to be fine and by that what I really meant is that we're blessed with a lot of depth in USA Basketball … All of the players here want to be here, there's no question about it. … These are not 'C' players. … There's some really good talent and it's going to be difficult getting to a 12-man roster when you really think about it." Popovich, while known for being one of the league's least chatty coaches when it comes to his primary role as head coach of the San Antonio Spurs, was relatively effusive when discussing Team USA, noting he was happy with what he saw taking shape in early practice: "Every day is important to these players and I would say today's effort was terrific. We had a great first day of practice. Certain individuals did an outstanding job. Overall, it was terrific." For Boston, the honor of playing for their country is far from the only goal; after such a disappointing lack of chemistry sank their last season, players know they need to reset team culture to something more consistently resembling Celtics basketball. Said Smart, the Celtics' longest-tenured player, of how important it was to build such relationships in an interview with NBC Sports' Chris Forsberg , the Oklahoma product replied, "It's huge; contenders, or championship teams, they have a special [something] to them where you look [and are] like, 'them guys, you know, they've been together for a while, or 'those guys really know how to play well with one another, and that's all we're just trying to do." And it seems the Texas native is pleased with what he's seeing so far from his teammates : "It feels good, to build our camaraderie right now before the season even starts. So when the season starts we have a hint of what everyone wants to do and a feel for everybody." These are, of course, bonds which might have been formed throughout the typical course of offseason training and camp come September. But, with the winningest teams of both NBA and international play finding themselves in weaker positions than anticipated by star players with other priorities, also provides more run with a higher degree of competition than might be seen in an NBA training camp in the short-term. As Team USA finishes with scrimmage work, three Celtics on one side (Kemba, Tatum, Smart) and Jaylen running with other. Scrimmage glimpse … pic.twitter.com/ApZheTchwx - Chris Forsberg (@ChrisForsberg_) August 5, 2019 While Boston's four players may not all make the final, 12-man roster headed to China to compete, even the time spent training together could be a huge boost to a much-needed shift in team culture. And if the Celts manage to land three or even four players to the final roster, the on-court results could serve as a surprisingly compelling preview to Boston's season to come as well. MORE: Quick hits, observations from Packers' second joint practice with Texans NBA fans shouldn't be furious Kobe Bryant was named third team All-Decade Report: NCAA adopting a 'Rich Paul rule' for potential NBA draftees to maintain eligibility Observations from Lions training camp, Day 11, Hockenson and Amendola shine Jared Cook sends the Saints defense reeling in play of the day


The days before the first weekend in August always find George Rodriguez a little anxious, a bit stressed, and with some butterflies floating around in his stomach. What's wrong? Not a thing, really. It's just the impending annual arrival of one of the great passions of his life aka it's Sweep The Streets time again. The 12th annual playground hoops tourney/community festival - the pride and joy of childhood friends Rodriguez, Robert Cleapor and Angel Cruz since they brought it to life a dozen years ago - returns to Southeast Playground on Saturday and Sunday with 16 teams, the annual slam dunk contest, food, vendors and sponsors, and a hoops-crazy crowd of supporters who love their summertime playground ball in Lebanon. MORE: Reich, Jean Francois lead team to Sweep The Streets title MORE: Elco ends Cedar Crest's Sweep The Streets title reign Action begins at 11 a.m. Saturday, and when it does Rodriguez will finally be able to relax. Sort of. "I told my wife earlier it's like getting ready for my wedding every year," Rodriguez said Wednesday evening. "I gotta make sure all the "I's" are dotted and "T's" are crossed. You don't want to forget anything. Even though we've been doing it for 12 years now, we gotta make sure everything's tight. This year we're on the ball. We've got everything locked and loaded." It all begins, of course, with the players and the teams. Once again there will be a strong local presence in the tourney, including Lebanon grad Blayde Reich of the Washington Generals and Northern Lebanon and LVC alum Sam Light, and Rodriguez says as a whole this year's teams will be younger and more exciting than in the past. What should be an entertaining championship game will take place at roughly 3 p.m. on Sunday. "Teams are a lot younger and a lot faster," he said. "There's gonna be some great, great competition. I expect it to be one of the highest competitive years. It's gonna be some good, gritty, competitive street ball. We're excited. There's a lot going on, and it looks like we'll have some great weather." Among the other things going on will be the slam dunk contest at 1:15, which will be judged by the new local podcast Live From The 717. In addition two awards will be handed out - a Community Hero award given to a dedicated supporter of Sweep The Streets, and an MVP award given to a devoted fan of the event. Representatives from the Lebanon Police Department will also be there to throw up the ball for the opening tip. "Every year we try to add something a little bit different, a little bit better," Rodriguez said. "We thought it was time to start recognizing people that help us out a lot. We're ready to go. "It's like anything else in life - you always want to be bigger and better than you were the previous time. Every year we learn something new and give or take away every year what worked and what didn't." Over the years, much more has worked than hasn't, so expect another memorable edition of Sweep The Streets this weekend. "We're ready to roll, baby," Rodriguez said. "We're expecting more spectators, better competition and we feel good about it. It kinda came up on us fast this year, but as always we pulled through. We appreciate our supporters, our sponsors, our players and all the community that helps us. We couldn't do it without them." This article originally appeared on Lebanon Daily News: Annual rite of summer in Lebanon - Sweep The Streets - set to go


SAN FRANCISCO   Facebook says it is under antitrust investigation by the Federal Trade Commission. The company made the announcement just hours after the agency slapped it with a record $5 billion fine and new oversight on its privacy practices. Facebook said Wednesday that it was informed of the FTC's antitrust investigation in June. On Tuesday, the Department of Justice also announced a broad antitrust probe of technology companies. Though that agency didn't name any companies, broad antitrust concerns have long swirled around Apple, Amazon, Facebook and Google. Facebook also faces various probes in Canada and Europe as regulators seek to crack down on the growing power of these U.S. technology companies. Following on Facebook's public disclosure, the FTC confirmed the antitrust probe, but would not give details such as how long the probe has been underway. Facebook's business, so far, seems unharmed. On Wednesday, the company reported stronger-than-expected revenue but lower earnings for the second quarter. The results were boosted by higher advertising revenue and an ever-growing user base, though net income declined due to one-time expenses   mainly the FTC fine. Facebook said it earned $2.6 billion, or 91 cents per share, in the April-June period. That's down 49% from $5.1 billion, or $1.74 per share, in the same period a year earlier. Adjusted earnings were $1.99 per share. Analysts, on average, were expecting adjusted earnings of $2.11 per share, according to a poll by FactSet. Facebook booked $2 billion in one-time expenses to pay for the remainder of the FTC fine after setting aside $3 billion in the first quarter. The $5 billion fine, announced Wednesday morning, stems from the FTC's investigation into Facebook's privacy violations following the Cambridge Analytica scandal. Revenue rose 28% to $16.9 billion from $13.2 billion. Analysts were expecting $16.5 billion. Facebook had 2.41 billion monthly active users as of June 30, an increase of 8% from a year earlier.


After allowing nose tackle Domata Peko to walk during free agency, the Denver Broncos selected versatile Ohio State defensive tackle/defensive end Dre'Mont Jones in the third round of this year's NFL draft. Jones isn't a true nose tackle but he's been practicing lining up in front of offensive tackles, inside offensive tackles and even right over the center - the position of a traditional nose tackle. The Broncos will likely move Jones around on game days and he will be asked to help generate an interior pass rush. He's up to the task. "I'm very confident in my ability to pass rush," Jones said on May 11. "I think I can make an early impact. I do what I do at a high level, and hopefully I can just continue to get better because the vets haven't come in yet. I haven't gotten the feel yet to really rush against an NFL pro yet. Once I get that down, I think I'll be alright." Jones had a breakout year with the Buckeyes as a junior in 2018, totaling 43 tackles, 8.5 sacks, one interception and one forced fumble. Denver won't expect that kind of production right away from Jones but it's a sign of the kind of numbers the defensive lineman can produce. Jones might just manage to win a starting job sooner than later. MORE: What Steph Curry and his brother Seth said in their free-throw trash talking moment Now is not the time for the Steelers to trade for CB Patrick Peterson Five potential Jimmy Butler landing spots in free agency Roundup: RIP Grumpy Cat; Ruby Rose as Batwoman; Mets to Have Seinfeld Night Report: Browns rookie RB LJ Scott decides to quit NFL after just 2 days


RUTHERFORD, N.J.   A plan to fly the rainbow pride flag next month at Rutherford's Borough Hall has stirred up controversy in the New Jersey town. An online petition was launched and flyers have been posted calling for the municipal government to cancel its planned raising of the flag. Sponsored by Rutherford Pride, the flag-raising ceremony at Borough Hall is scheduled for June 1, the first day of Gay Pride Month. The flag is a symbol of LGBTQ   lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer   pride. This is first time the flag will be raised at the municipal building. "I know this incident today may have brought up various feelings for people within our community and group," said Rob Lyons of the group Rutherford Pride in a Facebook post. "Ultimately, these posters have had the reverse effect, and is amplifying the support that our LGBTQ+ residents of Rutherford have from allies within our town." Lyons did not respond to invitations to comment North Jersey towns such as Glen Rock, Westwood and Rochelle Park have flown the rainbow flag, not always without controversy. In 2017, Ridgewood opted to fly the flag in a municipal park, after Village Attorney Matthew Rogers said that while there was nothing prohibiting Ridgewood from flying the flag at Village Hall, it could set a bad precedent, forcing the village to fly flags of other types. In Rutherford, the online petition, created by Rutherford United, opposes the flag's inclusion at Borough Hall, saying it will "foster division." "Will the council now allow any group to repaint a crosswalk or fly a flag? Why is one group given preference over another?" the petition reads. "Rutherford is made of many different groups and it is wrong to favor one special interest group over another or over the entire town." Mayor asks: Does a pride flag set a precedent? While there was an informal council discussion on the topic, Rutherford has no plans to paint crosswalks for Pride Month, said Mayor Joe DeSalvo. (Last year, the Essex County community of Maplewood marked the month by painting rainbow crosswalks.) Created two weeks ago, the Rutherford United petition had 14 signatures as of Friday. DeSalvo said the borough has not been formally presented with a petition opposing the flag-raising. The council voted unanimously on April 8 to raise the pride flag at Borough Hall. "Flags have meaning, especially when flags are flown by the government," said resident Chris Moore, addressing the council in April. "The pride flag represents positions on sexual morality, behavior and identity. These are sensitive and decisive topics in our time." Moore's comments were linked to on the Rutherford United petition. He told the council flying the flag could send a "bullying message" for institutions with different views. "Will a pro- or anti-abortion flag be permitted to fly? Will a pro or anti-euthanasia flag be flown? Will a marijuana leaf flag be flown? Will a traditional family values flag or marriage flag receive equal time?" asked Moore. "We all desire to live in peace with our neighbors." DeSalvo recalled he had raised concerns in the past over flag-raising, including a discussion over the Ireland flag. "My concern is with setting a precedent. If anybody comes to us, we need to raise that flag too because we've raised others," said DeSalvo. Legal experts have said towns can fly flags sending any message they want to send, but it's a different matter when the process is opened up to members of the public. Last fall, a Westwood anti-abortion activist asked officials to fly a "Respect Life" flag at Borough Hall, as the borough had flown the rainbow flag. The decision was postponed to give the borough time to re-examine policies. Flyers advertising the petition went up around Rutherford overnight Tuesday into Wednesday. 'I couldn't believe what I was reading' Resident Tricia Rizzuto Perrotti said she saw a flyer on a utility pole at Addison and Lincoln avenues while walking her daughter to school that morning. "It stopped me in my tracks. I couldn't believe what I was reading. Awful and not representative of our residents," she said. The Republican mayor and council candidates changed their ticket's name to Rutherford Strong so not to be associated with the petition. "Those that insist on tying us to these hateful fliers are ignoring the fact that they are only furthering the divide the messenger wishes to create," a joint statement by Marc Marsi, Ryan Weist and Kristina Gagliardi-Wilson read. "Although we have firm differences in policy, we can agree that there is no place in Rutherford for this kind of hate." A spokesperson for advocacy group Garden State Equality, Jon Oliveira, said Friday that "raising the Pride flag is a message to all LGBTQ people   especially our youth   that they are welcomed and have a place in our communities no matter who they are or who they love. "The flag at its core represents compassion, diversity, and inclusion. I think it speaks volumes about the values of the few community members who find that to be a divisive message." As of Friday, no one had logged complaints about the flyers to the Rutherford Police Department, said Chief John Russo. A few that were posted on public property were taken down by officers, as the borough has an ordinance against the posting of bills. This article originally appeared on North Jersey Record: Petition calls for New Jersey town to cancel LGBTQ pride flag raising


Birmingham resident Alicia Chandler was upset when she heard that anti-Semitic flyers were appearing in her hometown as well as in Royal Oak. Most disturbing, she said, was that one was found at the entrance to Clover Hill Cemetery, a traditionally Jewish cemetery where many Holocaust survivors are buried. Chandler, the interim executive director for the Jewish Community Relations Council/AJC (American Jewish Committee), is the granddaughter of a Holocaust survivor. "It is incredibly disturbing and scary to see these sentiments on the rise in our country and also to be appearing in our hometown where parts of the Jewish community live," Chandler said. "We do feel targeted," [Stay on top of the news in southeast Oakland County: Subscribe to our email newsletter here.] The flyers are attributed to the Atomwaffen Division (AWD), a national neo-Nazi network that has been labeled as a terrorist hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center. The messages on the flyers, found in two locations in Birmingham and one in Royal Oak, are disturbing. More: African-American man becomes president of neo-Nazi group in Detroit More: With antisemitism on the rise, criticism of Israel fuels political charges of hate Three different flyers were found, all with distinct, vivid messages taking aim directly at Jewish people. One flyer uses a derogatory term for Jews in a headline that references the 6 million victims of Nazi genocide during World War II, then denies the Holocaust ever happened, but said it should have. "When Holocaust denials are being placed on the gates of a cemetery where Holocaust survivors are buried there's a sadness to that," Chandler said. "There's also a danger to what we feel that these sentiments are on the rise in this country." Chandler noted that the flyers " ... appear to deny the Holocaust while simultaneously saying it would be a good idea to kill 6 million Jews." Kim Raznik, executive director of Clover Hill Cemetery on 14 Mile in Birmingham, said the flyer was found by their superintendent, Richard Straitz, on July 4. Raznik said they immediately filed a police report. "We take these things seriously and we reported to the officials," Raznik said. "I think it's a concerning topic for the entire nation." Scott Grewe, patrol commander with the Birmingham Police Department, said two flyers were found in Birmingham's Poppleton Park. The residents who found them took them down and turned them in to police. The poster found at the cemetery "was stuck with duct tape underneath the Jewish Star of David on a cement column near the front gate," he said. Grewe said his department reached out to the Michigan Intelligence Operation Center, a branch of the state police, and learned that MIOC is aware of the group, "but they are not aware of any planned activity or specific event that we need to be concerned with at this specific time." In Royal Oak, a flyer was found on a light pole near 14 Mile and Hampton, near the Birmingham border, according to Royal Oak Police Lt. Keith Spencer. "Right now, we will continue to monitor the area and any further incidents," Spencer said. "At this time we haven't found that there is an imminent threat to violence." More: Anti-Semitic flyers appear outside Ferndale church According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, a nonprofit that monitors and exposes hate groups and their activities, Atomwaffen Division "is organized as a series of terror cells that work toward civilizational collapse." Their members, the website www.splcenter.org says, "can be fairly described as accelerationists, believe that violence, depravity and degeneracy are the only sure way to establish order in their dystopian and apocalyptic vision of the world." On the website RationalWiki, Brandon Clint Russell is listed as AWD's founder. Last September, anti-Semitic flyers featuring crude caricatures of Jews were discovered outside the First United Methodist Church in Ferndale and reported to police. The black-and-white flyers were taped to three entrances of the church and expressed support for the controversial far-right websites The Daily Stormer and Infowars.com. Contact Susan Selasky at 313-222-6872 or sselasky@freepress.com. Follow @SusanMariecooks on Twitter. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Anti-Semitic flyers posted in Birmingham by neo-Nazi hate group


The New York Giants have had issues at safety - particularly, at free safety - in recent years, so in an effort to combat that, general manager Dave Gettleman went out and signed veteran Antoine Bethea, who turned 35 on Saturday. But don't let Bethea's age fool you - he's still running around and playing like a 25-year-old. Just ask sophomore defensive tackle B.J. Hill. "Ahh man, he's been in the league for a little minute. I'm going to say he's like 32? 33? 34? wait no 5? Yeah he's still young though. He's still got it in him," Hill told reporters on Saturday before being told Bethea turned 35. "That's awesome, he's still got it too. I can see it out there on the field." Given Bethea's familiarity with James Bettcher's defensive system, he's stepped right in, almost flawlessly, and it's showed early in training camp. Bethea has been all over the field, but perhaps more importantly than that, he's taken on a key leadership role away from the field, mentoring young players like Jabrill Peppers, Sean Chandler and Julian Love. If Bethea can continue to turn back the clock while helping to develop young talent, his benefit to the Giants will be felt long after he steps away from the game. And as Hill tells it, that may be a bit further off than many might think. MORE: LeBron James jumps into Bronny's layup line for a ridiculous dunk Gregg Williams blowing away Adam Gase with Jets training camp defense Behind the scenes with new-look Nets: 'We got stars without mortgaging everything'' Injury report following second day of Chiefs training camp Instant observations from day 4 of Patriots training camp


There's one neighborhood in Hawaii, above all the other magical places, that never fails to impress. The seven-mile slice of paradise known famously as Oahu's North Shore is Hawaii's never-never land -- a place where locals and travelers alike seem to be chasing one of two things: waves or bliss. And most of the time, catching waves equals bliss. Beyond offering the power and beauty of Pipeline -- one of the most perfectly symmetrical surf breaks in the world -- Oahu's North Shore is where the results of a rainy day get transformed into a water park, a tide pool turns into an insane slip-n-slide, and where you can lie on golden beaches while watching a pod of humpback whales play offshore. That's why Eric Sterman, a drone photographer who was born and raised on the North Shore, created videos like the one below: to capture the essence of life in this fabled never-ever land. "The North Shore brings an adventure and something worth capturing," Sterman told The Huffington Post. "The lifestyle [here] is very much how it looks [in my videos]. It's the perfect balance of laid back, active and fun." "It's the dream place to live," he added. Let Sterman fly you over Oahu's North Shore in the video below. We won't blame you if you book your tickets immediately after.


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. North Korea's latest threat  to resume missile tests if the United States and South Korea proceed with long-scheduled joint military exercises in the coming weeks confirms that Kim Jong-un's real goals, in his diplomacy with President Donald Trump, are to drive a wedge between Washington and Seoul and foment anxiety among America's allies in the region. Kim may also be testing how far he can go in dominating his relationship with Trump whether he can manipulate Trump into valuing their putative friendship (and the president's desperate desire for a triumphant peace treaty) over the health of long-standing U.S. alliances (which Trump has never valued much to begin with). But Kim is playing a dangerous game. To every objection about the North Koreans' recalcitrance their continued production of missiles and nuclear material, refusal to itemize their nuclear holdings or even to define "de-nuclearization," and refusal to negotiate about much of anything Trump has always countered that the important thing is that they've stopped testing. In one sense, Trump is right. The North Koreans have conducted enough missile and nuclear tests up through 2017 to deter an attack by its adversaries, but not enough to count on success in launching a first strike. If the big worry is that Kim might launch a nuclear-tipped missile at South Korea, Japan, or the West Coast of the United States, he has a long way to go and arguably, may never get there without more tests. (The U.S. military tests an intercontinental ballistic missiles 20 times before declaring it "operational.") However, if Kim does go ahead and resume testing even just one missile or one nuclear device, Trump's assurances and his self-proclaimed reputation as a shrewd deal-maker and possible peacemaker go down the drain. If he then infers that Kim has been taking him for a ride (as some of his critics and advisers have contended), Trump might feel a massive cringe of embarrassment and betrayal, and we all might be thrown back into the "fire and fury" standoff of 2017. On the other hand, if Trump succumbs to Kim's threat and cancels the upcoming military exercise, he might fear being seen as weak and start suspecting Kim's motives, with the onset of deadly cringes not far behind. Or he could simply give in, shrugging off U.S. allies in the Pacific and thus strengthening not only North Korea but also China and perhaps pushing Japan into building its own nuclear arsenal, which it is technologically capable of doing. At the first Trump-Kim summit, in Singapore in June 2018, Trump canceled that year's autumn military exercises with South Korea in exchange for no tangible concessions from North Korea. U.S., South Korean, and Japanese military officers were alarmed, but many wrote it off as a possibly fruitful "confidence-building measure." However, some officers say calling off this autumn's exercise, which would mean going two years without joint training drills, could start eroding military readiness and competence. And it could make Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, as well as other U.S. allies, nervous about Washington's security commitments, broadly speaking. This is Kim's intent, and everybody except possibly Trump knows it. In any case, even if Trump weren't so gaga over Kim and blind (or possibly indifferent) to his dark side, he would be facing a genuine dilemma. On the one hand, North Korea's nuclear and missile moratorium which Kim has been observing since he and South Korean President Moon Jae-in signed a declaration in April 2018 is an unequivocally good thing. If he and Trump were to agree on a freeze as a first step toward gradual step-by-step progression of North Korean arms reductions and U.S. economic aid, that too would be a good thing. But if the freeze were to come at the cost of severely weakening of U.S. alliances, that would pose its own sets of risks unnecessary ones, at that. Kim is playing a shrewd game of balancing the large powers around him and playing them off one another. Since the dismal ending of his second summit with Trump, in Hanoi this past February, he has struck or renewed relationships with China and Russia, deepened ties with Moon (who greatly values them), and watched with some glee as South Korea and Japan have moved closer toward a trade war with each other. (The last is a development that the Trump administration has only recently noticed. ) At this point, Trump doesn't even have a game, other than trusting his great friendship with Kim, which is (finally) coming to seem a bit of a ruse. Faced with such dilemmas, most presidents assemble the National Security Council, consult with allies, devise a negotiating strategy, and monitor its unfolding closely. Trump's NSC is dysfunctional, dominated by national security adviser John Bolton, who Trump has only just begun to realize wants tension and war; he has lousy relations with the allies; and the negotiations with North Korea are stalled (because Trump has no strategy and because Kim believes he can get more from one-on-one summits with Trump). North Korea and for that matter, most of the world is pursuing its national security interests in ways that are, in some cases, in conflict with our own. The United States is stuck in a holding pattern, with our pilot unaware of where he's going, convinced the skies are sunny, and dismissive of the storm clouds ahead.


Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette has emerged as a potential transfer target for Barcelona this summer, while Atletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann remains on the Catalan side's shortlist. It's no secret that Barça are searching for a new striker, with the club currently without any quality cover for Luis Suarez, who at 32, is only likely to have a few seasons left at the highest level. Griezmann almost joined Barcelona last summer, before infamously rejecting their advances in a video titled 'The Decision'. But while the Frenchman remains a target for the reigning La Liga champions, Mundo Deportivo report that compatriot Lacazette is now also being monitored, with the striker valued at between €65m-€70m. The 27-year-old has been in impressive form for the Gunners this season, with his brace in the 3-1 win over Valencia in the club's Europa League semi-final first-leg taking his tally in all competitions to 18 in all competitions. Quel joueur Lacazette    Antoine Griezmann (@AntoGriezmann) May 2, 2019 Lacazette also boasts an impressive nine assists this season, while his movement and willingness to drop into deeper positions seemingly appealing to Barcelona, as they look to strengthen in the final third. According to the aforementioned report, La Blaugrana could attempt to sweeten the deal by offering one of centre-back Samuel Umtiti or central midfielder Andre Gomes, which are positions the Premier League side are keen to strengthen in themselves. 磊 Arsenal star Alexandre Lacazette = Player of the Week!  #UEL | #POTW | @hankookreifen pic.twitter.com/B23eGZMXAd   UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) May 3, 2019 Unai Emery and Arsenal will of course be desperate to keep hold of Lacazette, who has forged a strong partnership with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for the north London club, yet the advances of Barcelona could be too good to refuse.


Manchester United appear to be stepping up their interest in Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinković-Savić after the player's agent arrived in London this week, but the club are still £18m away from matching the player's asking price this summer. The key decision-makers at Old Trafford have been keeping an eye on Milinković-Savić's future for a number of years and now it's expected that he could finally make the switch as Paul Pogba angles for a move to Real Madrid. There's been very little progress over Pogba's future recently, but Manchester United still appear to be closing in on a deal for Milinković-Savić as Corriere dello Sport (via The Daily Mail ) reports his agent is in London. But Mateja Kežman, a former Chelsea striker turned agent, still hasn't travelled up to the north-west as Manchester United still haven't made an official bid for the Serbia international this summer. Ole Gunnar Solkjaer's side have so far been willing to offer £72m to sign Milinković-Savić ahead of the new season. And while Lazio's president Claudio Lotito has already conceded that keeping hold of the midfielder could prove to be difficult this summer, United's current valuation still falls short for the Biancocelesti, who want £90m (€100m) before agreeing to a deal. Milinkovic-Savic rumours are very interesting. IF United sign him it's a bit odd how we've scouted Bruno all season then go back to a Jose target who's had an off season. Almost feels like Ed is making the decisions. Not saying he's a bad player. He's decent. Just odd move   Mark Goldbridge (@markgoldbridge) July 25, 2019 Lazio have already spent over £30m and could have signed Milinković-Savić's long-term successor in either Bruno Jordão or Sofian Kiyine - the latter has been immediately loaned back out - but they'll still need to find a replacement if the midfielder leaves this summer. United, meanwhile, appear are waiting over the futures of Pogba and Romelu Lukaku before they spend any more serious money this summer. Despite links with Real Madrid throughout the summer transfer window, Pogba looks increasingly likely to stay at the club unless the Spanish giants can offload enough first-team players to finance the move. Belgium international Lukaku, however, is all-but ready to join Italian outfit Inter where he'll have the chance to work under former Chelsea manager Antonio Conte. But the Nerazzurri are struggling to find a suitor for Mauro Icardi , who would need to leave San Siro before any move for Lukaku at Manchester United's current asking price can be completed.


The in-season free agent market looks to be on the verge of picking up in Major League Baseball. According to Ken Rosenthal and Josh Tolentino of The Athletic , the Tampa Bay Rays and New York Yankees are both still interested in left-handed starter Dallas Keuchel. Keuchel, along with closer Craig Kimbrel, is expected to sign sometime after midnight ET on June 2, at which point neither player will have draft pick compensation attached to them any longer. The Rays may see Kimbrel as being a more important addition than Keuchel but are still interested in both. The Yankees are looking at Keuchel in light of their glut of injuries but only have just under $20 million to spend on him and any potential future moves if they want to remain below the luxury-tax threshold. The Yankees have been consistently linked to Keuchel , and it makes sense given their remarkably high injury total. It seems that the saga, either way, will be over in about a week or so. Related slideshow: 2019 MLB season (provided by imagn)