The University of Oklahoma has released a statement in regards to a series of tweets from the accuser of Sooners' sophomore running back Kennedy Brooks' in a Title IX investigation. Statement from the University on the social media post from Mallory Jech, Kennedy Brooks' Title IX accuser: pic.twitter.com/124WHpCZbH - Caleb McCourry (@CalebMac21) August 3, 2019 In the release, the university stated that "Our responsibility under Title IX in a university setting is to ensure a safe learning enviroment free of harrasment and discrimination for our students, to provide requested accomodations, to determine violations of policy, and where the evidence shows threats to safety, to take steps to stop and prevent its recurrence." The release comes as a response to a thread of tweets that Mallory Jech, Kennedy Brooks' Title IX accuser, tweeted out on Friday, Aug. 2. Brooks is accused of threatening his accuser as well as mentally and physically abusing her. Brooks' accuser said she went to the Title IX office on Oklahoma's campus in May of 2019 to report the abuse but that the Title IX office "does nothing for the victim." The university responded to that in its release, stating that the, "Title IX reports and investigations are confidential in order to protect the privacy of both the individual reporter and the respondent involved in the investigation." and that "University policy is to conduct involving student athletes independent of OU Athletics." Head football coach Lincoln Riley was scheduled to meet with media at Noon on Saturday prior to the tweets by the accuser or the release by the the university. During his availability, Riley addressed the situation but defered any commentary on the matter. Lincoln Riley on Mallory Jech's Twitter thread and the university's response: "(Title IX) is the people who handle that and we have to have respect for the process and how it goes on. I would say that it's a topic that we're extremely sensitive to… - Caleb McCourry (@CalebMac21) August 3, 2019 "We take it as serious as we possibly can and leave that to people whose job that is to do that job." - Caleb McCourry (@CalebMac21) August 3, 2019 "We'll let the investigators handle it and they'll tell us what the decision is and we'll take it from there." - Caleb McCourry (@CalebMac21) August 3, 2019 Brooks was suspended during the investigation but was reinstated after the Title IX office sided with him. As for on the field, the Mansfield, Texas, native rushed for 1,056 yards on a 119 carries and accounted for 12 touchdowns on the ground. His ability to stretch defenses makes him and fellow running back Trey Sermon a lethal combo. His potential punishment could make the Sooners thin at running back. No update regarding Brooks' status with the team has been given. This post will be updated if and when more information is released. MORE: This Patrick Mahomes throw from Chiefs practice can't be real Five potential Jeremy Lin landing spots in free agency Saints sign free agent Jacquizz Rodgers, waive Robert Kelley Jacoby Brissett's trade value increasing with first team reps Watch: Packers WR Trevor Davis makes incredible catch at Family Night


The Nationals have agreed to a minor-league deal with corner infielder Dante Bichette Jr. , per an announcement from the High Point Rockers. Bichette had been playing with the indy ball outfit, which sold his contract to the D.C. organization. The 26-year-old Bichette has a familiar name for baseball fans of a certain age. His namesake father was a well-known slugger with the Rockies. The family name is now more notable for another player: Bo Bichette , a top Blue Jays prospect who is Dante Jr.'s brother. Back to the Bichette at issue here, he'll earn a return to the affiliated ranks for the first time since the 2017 campaign. A former first-round draft pick and Yankees prospect, Bichette was cut loose after three-straight tepid showings at the Double-A level. He has performed better thus far in the Atlantic League in 2019, slashing .397/.424/.529 with three home runs in 145 plate appearances. Related slideshow: 2019 MLB season (provided by imagn)


A new flashing pedestrian beacon was installed in Baltimore Monday.


That's a wrap on the QB Countdown. Appreciate you all following along even when the ranks trigger angry reactions. Lots of good discussion #simmsqbranks pic.twitter.com/jr6quFAmGP - Chris Simms (@CSimmsQB) June 28, 2019 Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton is not a popular name heading into the 2019 season. When it comes to leaguewide rankings, Dalton simply hasn't held up in the minds of many nationally coming out of a season where he tapered off before heading to injured reserve. Chris Simms at NBC Sports is the latest to release a quarterback tier list of sorts and Dalton tumbles all the way to 26th. It's a tough pill to swallow for the Dalton fans in the greater Cincinnati area. Some of the names are what is really interesting about the list - Dalton is behind a rookie like Kyler Murray, two sophomores in Sam Darnold and Josh Allen and behind Joe Flacco, a fading veteran Baltimore was more than willing to let go. That said, Dalton could find himself in a Flacco-type position an offseason from now if he doesn't mesh will with new head coach Zac Taylor. Team owner Mike Brown has said they won't extend Dalton this offseason, making next year a prove-it season. If all goes well, Dalton will shoot up lists like this a year from now. If not, he might even out. MORE: Jill Ellis is benching the best midfielder alive for USA - France Danny Green: 'This is the time where I need to maximize the dollars on the longest amount of years that I can do' Kawhi Leonard 'Seriously Considering' Lakers, Per Stephen A. Smith Heading into training camp: Zach Zenner's path to the 53-man roster Are Giants a legitimate worst-to-first candidate?


Video by GeoBeats The New York Times received a number of complaints this weekend over a story about Hope Hicks, President Donald Trump's former Director of Communications, and her decision on whether or not to comply with a congressional subpoena. But it wasn't the story that got some folks upset   it was the photo the paper ran with the article. For the article, published late last week and written by Times journalist Maggie Haberman, the paper opted not to use any of the many available images of Hicks, but rather run an image   taken by a Times staff photographer   of the former White House staffer that, while setting a somber mood, is nonetheless flattering to Hicks. Some critics saw the use of such an image as an example of bias and tried to call out the Times for it. "This is a good example of bias in the @nytimes: a picture of a person who is considering not complying with a subpoena is basically a glam shot, and it's framed as a thoughtful, perfectly equal choice," tweeted journalist Soledad O'Brien early Sunday. O'Brien later took a swipe at Haberman, implying that the Times reporter had deliberately selected a flattering photo to stay in Hicks' good graces. "Imagine having people write about your decision to answer a subpoena as an existential dilemma. The way these journalists treat the potential sources for their next book is... not surprising," she wrote. O'Brien's original tweet was picked up and referred to by Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Sunday afternoon. The first-term Democrat pointed out what she saw as media hypocrisy, referring to the tendency for some outlets to run photographs of police shooting victims that show them in an unflattering light. "Yup. Where's the 'no angel' take now?" asked Ocasio-Cortez. "In the immediate aftermath of shootings, media routinely post menacing photos of people-of-color victims + dredge up any questionable thing they'd ever done. But when Hope Hicks considers not complying w a subpoena, it's glamour shot time." The congresswoman from New York added in a follow-up tweet that she didn't understand why the Times was, in her view, trying to portray Hicks' potential failure to comply with a subpoena as a matter of personal drama. "What gets me is news breaks that this woman is weighing committing a crime before Congress & it's getting framed by the NYT as some Lifetime drama called 'Hope's Choice.' This is a fmr admin official considering participating in a coverup led by the President. Treat her equally," wrote Ocasio-Cortez. Hicks, who stepped down from her position at the White House in March 2018, was subpoenaed by the House Judiciary Committee in April and given a June 4 deadline to turn over documents requested by the committee, including "any personal or work diary journal or other book containing notes, a record or a description of daily events." She is also expected to testify before the committee on June 19. It is not yet known if Hicks will comply with the subpoena or if she will defy the order, much like former White House Counsel Don McGahn who declined to appear before Congress last week. "Our subpoenas are not optional," Said Committee Chair Jerrold Nadler. "This committee will hear Mr McGahn's testimony even if we have to go to court." Failure to comply with a subpoena could result in Hicks being held in contempt. Related Articles Democrats Fight to Get Full Mueller Report, Will Authorize Subpoenas to Obtain Findings, Steve Bannon, Hope Hicks Docs Donald Trump's Former Communications Director Hope Hicks Will Cooperate With House Democratic Probe Into President Sign up to our newsletter and get Newsweek stories delivered to your e-mail


Baltimore police are asking for the public's help in locating a 14-year-old girl who has been missing since May 10. Police said Shamaya Graham was last seen in the 6400 block of Pioneer Drive wearing a grey Reginald F. Lewis school shirt, khaki pants and glasses with a black frame. Shamaya is 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighs approximately 180 pounds. Family and friends are concerned for Shamaya's well-being. Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to call the Baltimore Police Department's Missing Persons Unit as 443-984-7385 or 911. READ MORE: 14-year-old missing since May 10, Baltimore police say CHECK OUT WBAL: Get all the latest Baltimore news, weather and sports. WBAL-TV brings you the best in Maryland news online, anytime.


Christian Yelich seems locked and loaded for next month's Home Run Derby. The Milwaukee Brewers slugger responded to a tweet on Sunday by Barstool Sports' Dan Katz saying that Pete Alonso of the New York Mets had the best shot to beat Yelich in the Derby. Yelich appeared to confirm his participation in the event by saying simply, "Your fate will be decided in a few weeks." Your fate will be decided in a few weeks https://t.co/bBVCFikysT   Christian Yelich (@ChristianYelich) June 23, 2019 The reigning NL MVP has been an absolute fireball at the dish this season, hitting .345 with a league-leading 29 homers and 62 RBI through 72 games. He has yet to compete in the Home Run Derby in his seven MLB seasons. With his violence on baseballs bordering on the historic , Yelich is obviously who the people want to see, but it would come with the inevitable questions of whether the Derby messes up a player's swing in the second half of the season.


The chief of the Transportation Security Administration says travelers should see only a slight increase in checkpoint wait times over the four-day July 4 holiday weekend despite the diversion of about 350 employees including screeners to the U.S.-Mexico border. David Pekoske said Monday that TSA can manage the loss of those screeners if it is only temporary. He said the border deployment has not had a measurable impact on airport wait times so far. "This is a temporary measure. We don't anticipate this would be a long-term measure," Pekoske said of sending screeners to the border. He said TSA can handle the diversion "for the next several months." TSA expects to screen about 12.1 million people between Wednesday and Sunday for the July 4 holiday period. Pekoske told reporters that Sunday will be the busiest day at checkpoints as holiday travelers fly home, but there will be crowds each day in early morning and again in late afternoon and early evening. Employees from TSA and agencies are helping Customs and Border Protection agents by performing non-law enforcement duties in connection with an influx of migrants at the southern border. The Homeland Security Department plans to eventually hire contractors for that work, Pekoske said. TSA says the number of workers   also including federal air marshals   sent to the border may rise to 650 but won't exceed about 1% of the agency's 63,000 employees, 50,000 of whom are airport screeners. Earlier this year, the Trump administration asked Congress for money to hire 700 more screeners. Pekoske said all 700 positions are still needed. TSA, however, is struggling to keep current workers. It loses about one-fifth of its screeners each year. That means more spending to train new hires, and "it's not good for security either," Pekoske said, "because we are constantly bringing in new people and having to train them up, so the experience level at certain airports will get rather young." Pekoske blamed pay rates that are too low to compete for workers in many cities. In response, TSA has offered retention bonuses   some up to 60% of pay, he said. ___ David Koenig can be reached at http://twitter.com/airlinewriter


HARTFORD   Hartford Police are investigating a homicide behind Bulkeley High School at 300 Wethersfield Ave. Authorities say one male victim suffered a fatal gunshot wound and was transported immediately to a local hospital. Police have not yet identified the victim or any additional details to the investigation. Major Crimes Division and Crime Scene Division are on scene. School was not in session at the time of the shooting. A FOX61 crew is en route to the scene. We will update this story as it develops. Incident is now a HOMICIDE investigation. Major Crimes Division and Crime Scene Division on scene. Media staging area at Elliott St/Wethersfield Ave -Lt PC   Hartford Police CT (@HartfordPolice) July 11, 2019 Shooting investigation in rear lot of 300 Wethersfield Avenue. Male victim suffering from at least one gunshot wound. School NOT in session. -LT. PC   Hartford Police CT (@HartfordPolice) July 11, 2019 ___ (c)2019 WTIC-TV, Hartford Visit WTIC-TV, Hartford at www.fox61.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.


COUNTRYSIDE, IL   A Bridgeview man is accused of ripping off an elderly homeowner in a roofing scam. Michael Marks, 32, appeared before Cook County Judge John Mahoney on a felony charge of aggravated home repair fraud. Marks has a similar pending case in Mt. Prospect, prosecutors said. According to the charges, Marks and a co-conspirator approached a 72-year-old man on April 29 at the Hodgkins Walmart and offered to fix his roof. The prosecutor said parties agreed to nailing down shingles and treating the man's roof with a sealant. They went to an ATM, where the elderly homeowner withdrew $400. When they arrived at the man's house in Countryside, the homeowner wrote a check for an additional $2,200. Marks and his pal nailed down shingle and sprayed the roof with soapy water, according to the charges. When Marks demanded an additional $1,000, the homeowner refused, the prosecutor said. Both men left and the homeowner was able to stop payment on the check. Marks, who is not a licensed contractor, was previously arrested in Mt. Prospect on a misdemeanor charge of theft by deception. In that case, court records said, Marks charged $400 to apply $84 worth of sealant and commercial grade gasoline on a homeowner's driveway. "I don't believe this gentleman cashed the check," Marks' attorney said. "There is no indication that he was the moving force." The attorney added that his client could only come up with $100 to bond himself out. "He's a scourge," Mahoney said, setting bail at $100,000. "I didn't hear your comment," the attorney said. "This is a non-violent crime." "He's a scourge to the community," the judge said. "S-C-O-U-R-G-E. It's in the transcript." Marks is due back in court July 15 in Bridgeview.


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. Just about every Democrat agrees that the Donald Trump presidency has been a nightmare, and that the sooner it ends the better. How we get there is less certain. A civil war is brewing within the anti-Trump camp: not just between backers of the surging Bernie Sanders and the Democratic establishment but between those who want to focus on defeating Trump in an electoral contest and those who want to go down the road of impeachment. Following Thursday's publication of the Mueller Report, which revealed connections between the Trump campaign and Russia and potential obstructions of justice, liberal activists renewed demands that Congressional Democrats bring charges against the president. The political lines are not completely clear. Soon after her inauguration, left-wing representative Rashida Tlaib promised her supporters that she'd "impeach this motherf***er." Just days ago, progressive presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren also called for action from Congress. Yet Nancy Pelosi's response has been clear: she won't go down that path. Though Pelosi's reasoning   that it would be partisan and divisive   is questionable, for once the party's millionaire gatekeeper of milquetoast liberalism is on the right side of an issue. I find everything about Trump, from his demeanor to the human costs of his policies, to be reprehensible. But I fear squandering a historic opening to advocate for social reforms in exchange for some political theater. Yes, political theater, and not even good political theater. Impeachment hearings are at their core mind-numbing procedural minutia. We'll hear pundits endlessly dissect conflicting legal definitions of obstruction. We'll talk about Trump and Mueller's motivations. We'll see a lot of Rudy Giuliani on daytime TV. And, of course, we'll talk a lot about Russia. Yet even Warren seems to think that would be a good idea. In a series of tweets on Friday, the senator announced that "a hostile foreign government attacked our 2016 election," and called the president's behavior "disloyal." To the extent that her claims have a political character, it is that of nationalism, not friendly terrain for the Left. The timing also couldn't be worse. There's a new mass politics brewing. The lofty goal of saving the soul of the Republic doesn't resonate with the millions of Americans living paycheck to paycheck. Their political priority is rightly decent jobs, health care, housing rights, and the constraining of corporate interests. Many of these are issues that Elizabeth Warren excels at talking about: why shift the attention to dull Washington hearings? It's hard to see how talk of impeachment, Russia, obstruction, and corruption speaks to the anger and needs of ordinary Americans. Or how such debates wouldn't swallow up the Democratic primary and reroute it away from the ground where candidates like Warren and Bernie Sanders are strongest. And let's not forget about the question of efficacy. The immediate goal is to get Trump out of office. But no one thinks that this can happen given the current composition of Congress. Talk of impeachment, then, is purely rhetorical. But beyond the president himself, our goal must be to defeat Trump ism . Whether we like it or not Trump has a democratic mandate. Of course, given the nature of the electoral college and our representative system, he has been able to rule with only minority support. But Trump is the legitimate president by rules of the game that liberals have largely accepted. The only way to repudiate his right-populism is at the ballot box, decisively showing what polls indicate   that Americans want real, progressive solutions to their problems. Before we go down this impeachment path, we might want to look at what happened in Italy throughout the 2000s. A little smarter, maybe, but Silvio Berlusconi is the closest international comparison that we have for Trump. He was brash, corrupt, racist, and right-wing. But the coalition against him ended up being dominated not by popular forces, but by lawyers and journalists. They defended the institutional values of the Italian republic, expressed disgust at Berlusconi's personal behavior, and tried to oust him through the courts. What they didn't do is compellingly attack him on issues that resonated with voters. In other words, the way to defeat a right-wing political coalition is through left-wing politics, not theater. Presidents should not be immune from prosecution. But it's even more important to make sure that the gross violations, many of them legal, of people's moral rights to housing, health care, employment, and security are ended. That means talking more about the powerful interests opposing policies that would benefit the working class, and less about shadowy foreign menaces, on whom it is all too easy to blame our ills. Bhaskar Sunkara is the founding editor of Jacobin magazine and a Guardian US columnist. He is the author of The Socialist Manifesto: The Case for Radical Politics in an Era of Extreme Inequality


The Arizona Cardinals will not put on full pads until training camp begins. However, three Cardinals rookies were part of a photo shoot with their full Cardinals gear. Quarterback Kyler Murray and receivers Andy Isabella and Hakeem Butler were a part of the NFLPA Rookie Premiere. They suited up for a photoshoot and already have rookie cards you can purchase. Check out the cards and the images from the photo shoot! #BeRedSeeRed flow . So happy to finally get my @AZCardinals gear on at @NFLPA #RookiePremiere . Check out my #PaniniInstant card now! https://t.co/OWrivqiPR9 pic.twitter.com/m4Ja75BuRB - Hakeem Butler (@410Keem) May 19, 2019 Time to #BeRedSeeRed at @NFLPA #RookiePremiere . Feels great to finally get my @AZCardinals gear on and get to work. Go check out my #PaniniInstant card now! https://t.co/bg2DQmH5Tk pic.twitter.com/0zn8fttLxt - Andy Isabella (@AndyIsabella5) May 18, 2019 #BeRedSeeRed all day! Feels good to finally get my @AZCardinals gear on here at @NFLPA #RookiePremiere . Go check out my #PaniniInstant card here: https://t.co/43lRDEKbb3 pic.twitter.com/0PttlX8IFh - Kyler Murray (@K1) May 18, 2019 The only thing wrong with Murray's card is the fact that he doesn't have his dark face shield on his helmet, which he will have when he plays and practices. Real football is still months away but seeing these guys suited up should get you excited for the season. Listen to the latest from Cards Wire's Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio . View embedded content MORE: Clint Bowyer furiously punched Ryan Newman after NASCAR's All-Star Race Did the Raiders steal the best fullback in the 2019 NFL draft? Tracy Walker is set up to be the next Lions' breakout star Jermaine Whitehead getting 1st team reps, could play a role in Wilks' defense NBA Free Agency 2019: The top players


Canton, Ohio added several busts to their collection earlier this month as they inducted a new group of Hall of Famers into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The Miami Dolphins have added a new bust of their own to a totally different kind of collection. The Dolphins announced this morning that they've come to terms and signed former first-round draft pick Robert Nkemdiche. Nkemdiche was cut earlier this summer by the Arizona Cardinals, just three years after the organization used a top-30 pick (29th overall) on the athletic defensive lineman. And while it wasn't necessarily the biggest surprise when Nkemdiche got his pro career off to a slow start, he never materialized in the way the Cardinals had hoped. Instead, it took Nkemdiche two and a half years to find any traction at all. And while his run in 2018 was promising - he had 4.5 sacks and 22 run stuffs in 10 games (6 starts) and 426 snaps - it wasn't enough to keep the Cardinals invested after an ACL tear cost Nkemdiche the end of his 2018 season and put him behind for 2019. Former first-round pick gets a fresh start in Miami. Nkemdiche has logged only 760 total snaps, 22 pressures, and 27 defensive stops (22 in 2018) across three seasons in the NFL. https://t.co/T7CKH0Shpm - PFF (@PFF) August 8, 2019 Nkemdiche comes to the Dolphins as an athletic marvel whose resume is littered with red flags. He entered camp out of shape this summer, which could be understanding considering his rehab - but he's had several brushes with the law too, including an arrest on June 6th of this year after being pulled over with an active traffic warrant against his name. Consider this Nkemdiche's second chance - the Dolphins have willingly handed out several of them in hopes that their team culture and locker room environment can keep players on the straight and narrow while the staff adds to their technique and performance on the field. Nkemdiche will start the preseason on the active Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list - meaning the Dolphins can activate him at any time. MORE: A furious Chris Davis had to be held back from Orioles manager Brandon Hyde Where did Jakobi Meyers come from? 6 quick takeaways from Packers' joint practices with Texans Roundup: Bella Hadid and The Weeknd Appear to Split Again, Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame Class Deadline passes as Elliott loses accrued season, fines reach $500K


To celebrate St. Patrick's Day, here is a simple recipe to use up leftover mashed potato. Try serving with melted cheese or scrambled eggs, perfect for kids and grown ups.


The Boston Bruins saved their season with a dominant 5-1 win over the St. Louis Blues on Sunday night to even the series at 3-3. Which gives us fans the best thing in sports: A Game 7 for the Stanley Cup. How great is that? St. Louis fans probably don't think its that great because the city was ready to explode Sunday night. Fans packed Enterprise Center hoping to hear Gloria as the Blues skated around the rink with the Cup raised above their heads. Approximately 30,000 fans watched outside in the city, ready to party all night long in celebration of the franchise's first-ever championship. Welcome to the Stanley Cup Final, @K_Kuhlman20 ! #NHLBruins pic.twitter.com/1bLGqvIQiW - Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) June 10, 2019 But that didn't happen. Instead yet another Boston team won a huge postseason game that it needed to win and now the Bruins stand a victory away from bringing a third title to Boston since October, with the Red Sox and Patriots wining their respective titles. Now there's a Game 7 back in the City of Champions, which will be historic: First time the Bruins will host a Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final in Boston. First Game 7 of a championship round in Boston since 1984. (Celtics over Lakers) - Adam Pellerin (@adampellerin) June 10, 2019 And the Boston Garden will be rocking, looking to see a Boston team win a 13th title since the February of 2002, which is ridiculous. There's nothing like a Game 7 in the Stanley Cup. These two teams have been battling in the playoffs since mid-April, fighting their way to play for a title and now fighting all the way to the final game of the season that will end with somebody lifting the Cup, which was in St. Louis Sunday night: And with that, the Stanley Cup and the Conn Smythe Trophy are on their way out of St. Louis and off to Boston for Game 7. pic.twitter.com/jh7bE9HvwD - Nicole Yang (@nicolecyang) June 10, 2019 Many members of the Bruins have played in a Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final before as the team beat the Vancouver Canucks on the road back in 2011. Now they'll look to take advantage of their home ice on Wednesday night, a place where they lost to the Blues in Game 5. But we can basically take everything that's happened thus far in the series and throw it out the window, because it's all about what happens in Game 7. It will be an incredibly stressful night for fans of both teams, as a bounce here and there can be the difference in winning and losing. But it's also going to be must-see TV filled with goosebump moments. And we can all thank the Bruins for getting us here. Buckle up, folks. MORE: NHL fans weren't impressed with Mike Milbury's questions for Pam from 'The Office' Brian Gaine's failure in Houston has a lesson for the Lions and Bob Quinn Roundup: Chris Pratt and Katherine Schwarzenegger Get Married, Chicago Poop Vandal, Johnny Manziel Talks XFL WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling impressing staff going into Packers minicamp Sleeping on Patriots WR Demaryius Thomas would be a huge mistake


Public service announcement: If you don't know or trust people you let into your home, don't leave them there alone. It's a lesson Le'Veon Bell learned the hard way last month, when two women allegedly stole over $500,000 worth of jewelry, clothing and other valuables from his Florida home when he left for a workout. Bonkers? Yes. But now we know a little more detail. 'Oh, like a million dollars' TMZ has obtained what they say is audio of Bell's 911 call from May 25. Here's what he told the dispatcher when asked to describe why he called: "Well, I had two girls in my house. And I got up, and I did my normal routine to go to work out. So I left the workout for a couple hours. When I came back, they took my money, they took my watch, my jewelry, a couple more of my things of value out of my house," Bell said. "I don't know where they're at. I tried to call them before I called you guys. I tried to call them and they're not answering me, and they're ignoring me." Bell was asked again what was stolen and he said clothes, shoes and other things in addition to jewelry. The dispatcher asked for the approximate value of the items. "Oh, like a million dollars," he said. The stolen property has since been valued at $520,000. 'They didn't have clothes on' Bell is then asked to describe the women; he says they're both mixed race, though one is darker than the other. He's asked: What was the first woman wearing? "When I left, she was in the bed not wearing clothes ... so I didn't see her," he said. The second woman, what was she wearing? "The same way," he said. "She was in the bed, too. They didn't have clothes on." We probably don't have to spell everything out for you. It's unclear if Bell has gotten any of his things back or if the suspects have been caught. Hollywood, Florida, police told TMZ the investigation is ongoing. More from Yahoo Sports: Zion breaks down next to mom after being selected No. 1 Why the No. 4 pick won't be a Laker but still wore team's hat Minor league team loses on outfielder's mindless flub Shaq's son 'could've died' from heart defect


The mayor of the eastern Pennsylvania city of Reading called off a scheduled ceremony to raise the LGBTQ rainbow flag over City Hall for the first time, calling it a political symbol. Acting Managing Director Osmer Deming said Mayor Wally Scott believes the "pride flag" represents a political movement and flying it is against city policy. Council president Jeffrey Waltman Sr. said he found out just before arriving for the ceremony Monday evening and tried unsuccessfully to change the mayor's mind. The LGBT Center of Greater Reading blasted the decision, saying "what was supposed to be a proud and historical moment" became "blatant, unacceptable discrimination." The Reading Eagle reports that a POW/MIA flag flies below the U.S. flag at City Hall and flags of other countries have been raised there. ___ Information from: Reading Eagle, http://www.readingeagle.com/ READ MORE: Mayor calls off ceremony to raise LGBTQ flag at City Hall CHECK OUT WTAE: Stay in the know with the latest Pittsburgh news, weather and sports. Catch all of the day's top stories and more from the team at WTAE Pittsburgh Action News 4.


With less than a day to go before the 2019 amateur draft, the Orioles seem to still be exploring their options with the first overall pick. Oregon State catcher Adley Rutschman has long been considered the top talent in this year's draft class by scouts and pundits; however, according to MLB.com's Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo , the Orioles are also looking at Cal first baseman Andrew Vaughn and Vanderbilt outfielder J.J. Bleday as "the top two alternatives" if Rutschman doesn't end up being the pick (plus, high schooler Bobby Witt Jr. also might be a possibility). Two scouts on rival teams have told Mayo that the Orioles won't select Rutschman, although Mayo notes this could also be some of the gamesmanship every team deploys to create uncertainty about its selections. Still, Baltimore's front office hasn't given any indication about its plans in Mike Elias' first draft as the team's GM, and the linking of Rutschman to the O's was more based on the backstop's high profile than it was on any reports coming out of Camden Yards. A wealth of factors go into any draft pick, of course, especially one as important and potentially franchise-altering as a 1-1 selection. It's worth remembering that Elias was the Astros' director of amateur scouting when Houston made the then-surprising move to select Carlos Correa with the first overall pick of the 2012 draft. Mark Appel was widely tabbed as the top prospect of the 2012 class; however, since Correa was willing to sign for a lesser bonus than the recommended slot price attached to the first overall pick, Correa ended up being the choice, giving the Astros more space in their draft pool to sign Lance McCullers Jr. for a larger bonus in the supplemental first round (41st overall). We haven't heard much about what Rutschman or some of this year's top prospects are seeking in their first contracts, although if Vaughn or Bleday is willing to sign for less than the first overall pick's recommended $8,415,300 slot price , that certainly be a point in their favor should Elias again look to spread his bonus pool money around on several top prospects. Beyond just finances, of course, the O's could also simply prefer Vaughn, Bleday, Witt or another player to Rutschman for pure baseball reasons. The Astros received some criticism for being cheap when they took Correa over Appel, although time has clearly vindicated Houston's strategy in that draft. If Rutschman isn't the top pick, it could greatly shake up the remainder of the first round. As a matter of due diligence, teams scout virtually all of the top prospects to prepare for just such an unexpected scenario, plus other teams could also be preparing to create outside-the-box situations. Callis and Mayo cite a number of interesting prospects within their piece, including an item on how high school third baseman Brett Baty's stock could be on the rise, potentially to the Rangers (who have the #8 pick) or even the White Sox with the third overall choice. Vaughn, Baty, Bleday and high schooler CJ Abrams have all been mentioned as being on Chicago's radar, although these plans could again change should Rutschman or Witt be available when the White Sox are on the clock.


Doug Pederson is one of the top head coaches in the National Football League and his story is even more unique because he built himself from the ground up. Now a Super Bowl-winning coach, Pederson hasn't allowed himself to succumb to the temptations of power struggles or believing he knows everything. Pederson is one of a handful of NFL coaches that truly have "the pulse of his team," as Brandon Brooks referred to during an appearance on 94WIP Midday. When asked about his head coach, Graham said Pederson is "his own man" and broke down what makes him so special. Brooks: "[Pederson] is a players' coach, really has a pulse of the team. Constantly talking to guys on the team, 'What are you thinking here?'" - SPORTSRADIO 94WIP (@SportsRadioWIP) August 6, 2019 Brooks went on to highlight the return of DeSean Jackson and the different "swag" that this Eagles team is playing with. He also revealed that he won't play in the team's preseason opener. View embedded content MORE: Four potential Carmelo Anthony landing spots in free agency Browns mob touchdown scorer who slept outside a gym during tryouts Studs and duds from Packers' 28-26 win over Texans in preseason opener Studs and duds from Saints preseason opener vs. Vikings News: Cowboys finally return to field, who to keep your eyeballs on


It's one of the best times of the year for sports fans, and that means it's time to make your plans around the NBA Finals, which begin on May 30. As patrons head into Minneapolis bars to watch the NBA Playoffs, average daily revenue at local pubs is $646 on days when games are played, a 4.7% increase compared to an average day, according to an analysis of transactions at 3,500 local bars by Womply , a provider of CRM and marketing software for small businesses . That sales increase is driven by a 7.93% increase in transaction volume and a 0.7% decrease in purchase price. At local restaurants in Minneapolis, average daily revenue is $1,772 during the NBA Playoffs on days when games are played, a 1.75% increase over a typical day, according to an analysis of transactions at 42,000 local eateries by Womply. That sales increase is driven by a 2.25% increase in transaction volume and a 0.36% decrease in purchase price. To help you snag the best stool in town, Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top options for sports bars, using both Yelp data and our own methodology. 1. The 1029 Bar Topping the list is The 1029 Bar . Located at 1029 Marshall St. NE in St Anthony West, the sports bar and traditional American spot is the highest rated business of its kind in Minneapolis, boasting four stars out of 200 reviews on Yelp. 2. Mac's Industrial Sports Bar & Grill Next up is Marcy Holmes's Mac's Industrial Sports Bar & Grill , situated at 312 Central Ave. SE. With four stars out of 156 reviews on Yelp, the sports bar and traditional American joint has proven to be a local favorite. 3. Ray J's American Grill Marcy Holmes's Ray J's American Grill , located at 500 Central Ave. SE, is another top choice, with Yelpers giving the sports bar and New American eatery four stars out of 141 reviews. 4. Manning's Restaurant Over in Southeast Como, check out Manning's Restaurant , which has earned four stars out of 61 reviews on Yelp. You can find the sports bar and traditional American spot at 2200 Como Ave. SE. This story was created automatically using local business data, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


England left-back Alex Greenwood has insisted that the Lionesses are taking nothing for granted as they prepare to face Argentina in their second fixture of the 2019 Women's World Cup after witnessing the Group D minnows hold Japan to a 0-0 draw on Monday. England kicked off their own tournament with a narrow 2-1 win over Scotland and will be aware that a follow up victory against Argentina, a country the Lionesses hammered 6-1 the last time they met on this stage way back in 2007, will secure progress to the knockout rounds. After a good win for the @Lionesses against Scotland, @benhainess sat down with @AlexGreenwood to talk: ⚽ Togetherness in the group ⚽ @lilkeets brilliant goal celebration ⚽ Looking ahead to Argentina #FIFAWWC #Lionesses pic.twitter.com/VuoKrgBlqQ   90min (@90min_Football) June 13, 2019 "We got the win, that's the most important thing - three points on the board, first game," Greenwood told 90min's Ben Haines , initially reflecting on the Scotland clash. "That was a really important win for, I know we weren't 100% with the performance, but for game one, to get three points, was ultimately what he needed to do. I know as we progress through the tournament, our results and performances will come together." When Nikita Parris scored from the spot against Scotland to break the deadlock she raced over to the sidelines and the whole squad celebrated their opening goal of the tournament. For Greenwood, who captains Manchester United at club level, it was a moment that was indicative of the close bond and togetherness that exists within this group of players. "The first goal of the World Cup was always going to be a special moment. It was so nice to celebrate as a group and just proves how close we are. That picture sums up what this group is about," the 25-year-old defender explained. "What you see is what you get, it's so relaxed," she added. "When we mean business, we mean business. We work hard away from the cameras, we work hard , but we need to enjoy it as well and Phil [Neville] makes sure we always have smiles on our faces. We're just one big family and at the moment it's brilliant." As for challenge posed by Argentina in Le Havre on Friday night: "You never underestimate any team at a World Cup, it'd be so stupid to do that. I watched a bit of [Argentina vs Japan]. "Japan are an unbelievable team and Argentina defended so well, I think they deserved their point, but we will prepare properly for Argentina on Friday and be prepared to win." For 90min's preview on England vs Argentina, inc. how to watch and team news, click here.


CHASKA, Minn. - Karrie Webb has watched too many LPGA champions get doused with water on the 18 th green and made sure Hannah Green was drenched in Budweiser at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship. And you'd better believe the LPGA Hall of Famer was right in the middle of the suds-fest, celebrating like she'd just won her eighth major title. "It's the same emotions," said Webb. "You didn't do it yourself but, you know, you supported someone to realize that dream." Webb got choked up just thinking about how this day would change Green's life. How it will reverberate throughout the Australian sports landscape, one that saw French Open champion Ashleigh Barty rise to No. 1 in tennis on the same day. Green becomes the third Australian to win an LPGA major, joining Webb (seven) and Jan Stephenson (three). SCORES : KPMG PGA Women's Championship It was after a young Webb watched her hero, Greg Norman, compete in the 1986 Queensland Open that she came home and told her parents that she wanted to play professionally. She even stayed at Norman's Florida estate as a bonus for being the over girls champion in his junior golf foundation. Webb never forgot the experience, and in 2008 brought the first winner of the Karrie Webb Scholarship to the U.S. Women's Open at Interlachen, about 16 miles down the road from Hazeltine National. In addition to the $10,000 scholarship, it was important to the seven-time major winner that Australia's best got an up-close-and-personal look at what it takes to compete at a major championship. Hannah Green was a two-time scholarship recipient, attending her first professional golf tournament at the 2015 U.S. Women's Open in Lancaster, Pa. She enjoyed it so much that in 2017, she went on her own to stay with Webb at the Women's Open at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, N.J., while competing on the Symetra Tour. That's all yours, @hannahgreengolf . #KPMGWomensPGA #InspireGreatness pic.twitter.com/lyCOssbKNF - KPMGWomensPGA (@KPMGWomensPGA) June 23, 2019 At Hazeltine, Green stayed in a house with Webb, LPGA player Su Oh (another one of Webb's scholarship alums) and recipients Grace Kim and Becky Kay. Stacey Peters (formerly Keating) was the first player to come with Webb to Minnesota back in 2008. She arrived in Minnesota on Wednesday and currently works as the female high-performance developer for Golf Australia. Peters was supposed to prepare the Aussie BBQ players enjoyed on Saturday night, but Webb ended up doing most of the cooking, whipping up Aussie rissole and beef short ribs. It was the perfect way for Green to unwind before stepping into the cauldron on Sunday. "Yes, the (scholarship) money is a great bonus," said Green, "but being able to stay in a house with her, literally, I guess, breathing on her, watching everything she does in a tournament, majors, and watching outside the ropes, it definitely gave me a big insight into what it was like." And now Kim and Kay, who wore spectacularly loud and tacky costumes all week at Hazeltine, got the opportunity to not only stay with an Australian legend, but watch an up-and-coming star dazzle right before their eyes. "Can you come every week?" Green asked her faithful followers gathered in the media room, which included longtime boyfriend Jarryd Felton, a touring pro who happened to be finishing up a three-week stretch with Green on the road. It wasn't just the Aussies who were inspired. A young fan named Lily handed Green a hand-written poem after the seventh hole. Green had signed a ball for Lily at the ANA Inspiration and wanted to return the favor with an encouraging note that read "You can win this." Green tucked the poem in her yardage book so it wouldn't get wet and, when she felt nerves on the back nine, pulled it out for a boost. The tough yet humble player takes every chance she can to give a young girl a high five, a smile or a quick hello. "It only takes a second," said Green, "and it can change someone's life." Webb stood in the back of the interview room listening to Green give her winner's press conference with a big, shiny trophy by her side. Green's wire-to-wire victory couldn't have come at a better time for the growth of women's golf in Australia, she said. That up-and-down from the bunker on the 18 th ? World class. The fact that a crack of thunder shook the house Saturday night and Green didn't even hear it? The perfect way to explain how level she remains under pressure. Webb believes that Green has a mind that was built to win majors. It's not the only way the young protege wants to emulate her hero. "If Karrie ever does give up the scholarship," said Green, "I would love to pick it up and continue to do something like she's doing." And with that, Webb's heart might have burst right out of her chest. https://compass.pressekompass.net/compasses/golfweek/is-being-disqualified-a-too-harsh-a-pena MORE: LaVar Ball offers explanation for his inappropriate remark to ESPN's Molly Qerim NBA Free Agency 2019: The top players D'Angelo Russell open to Lakers return with Magic Johnson gone Dez Bryant tweets in support of LaVar Ball after ESPN ban Roundup: Beth Chapman in Medically Induced Coma, Roseanne and Andrew Dice Clay Touring Together, Poker Hall of Fame Nominees


Jordan Binnington and the Blues bounced back in Game 2, tying their series with the Sharks on Monday. It was mostly a tightly-fought game, with a mixture of expected names ( Logan Couture , Jaden Schwartz ) and unexpected heroes ( Robert Bortuzzo ) coming through. Blues 4, Sharks 2 (Series tied 1-1; Game 3 on Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET on NBCSN; stream here ) . The two teams took turns stunning each other during Game 2. First, Schwartz and Vince Dunn stunned the Sharks with two goals, with one coming in the first period and the other happening in the second. Dunn's goal seemed to awake a sleeping giant, as Logan Couture then stunned the Blues with two goals in two minutes. Bortuzzo's eventually game-winner was maybe the most stunning moment of the night, while Oskar Sundqvist 's 4-2 insurance tally seemed to come out of nowhere (although that pass by Alexander Steen was no accident). Binnington was good enough for the Blues to get another road win during the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs. [ NBC 2019 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFF HUB ] Three Stars 1. Robert Bortuzzo This was one of those "more than meets the eye" performances, as Bortuzzo transformed into an unlikely hero. Bortuzzo's game-winner stands as the number one reason why he snags this spot over players who were more productive during Game 2. He did more than that, though, as Bortuzzo brought attention to a delay of game penalty, landed a thunderous check on Marcus Sorensen , and blocked a Kevin Labanc one-timer that looked like a golden opportunity for San Jose to tie what was at the time a 3-2 game. In just 10:37 of ice time, Bortuzzo scored that goal, enjoyed a +2 rating, generated two SOG, two blocked shots, and totaled five hits. 2. Logan Couture Really, Couture was probably the biggest star of Game 2, though he probably wouldn't argue too hard for that point since his Sharks lost. Couture beat Binnington twice in slightly less than two minutes, first generating a shorthanded goal and then beating Binnington after a fantastic outlet pass from Timo Meier . Couture only took six faceoffs in Game 2, but won five of them, while also firing four SOG and delivering one hit, one blocked shot, and a +1 rating. Couture did his part   and then some   but most of his teammates just couldn't really get much going. 3. Joel Edmundson The only player other than Couture to score two points was a Blues defenseman, and that blueliner was Edmundson, not Bortuzzo. Edmundson collected two assists in Game 2, giving him five assists and six points during 13 playoff games. Edmundson's been heating up in general, really, as he's generated four of his six points (one goal, three assists) in the last four games. The Blues' defensive group combined for two goals and three assists overall in Game 2. Factoids Alex Pietrangelo was also involved in that scoring, generating an assist in Game 2. He now has 12 points overall during these playoffs, tying him for the Blues' franchise record for points by a defenseman during a single playoff run. St. Louis continues to be hearty away from St. Louis. This marks the Blues' sixth road win of the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs, tying a franchise record for road wins during a single postseason. Ryan O'Reilly might want to get spiked shoulder pads and call himself a road warrior, because his point streak in away playoff games is now at seven, setting a new Blues record . Logan Couture is on a tear during this postseason, and he's been a big-game performer for some time. Couture reached 100 career playoff points in 112 postseason games, placing him at fourth place behind Sidney Crosby (123), Patrick Kane (109), and Evgeni Malkin (106) in playoff points since the 2010 postseason. Couture's 100 points include 47 goals, which trails only Alex Ovechkin (50) during that same span . Joe Pavelski isn't far behind, tying Sidney Crosby for third place with 42. Tuesday's game Game 3: Boston Bruins at Carolina Hurricanes (Boston leads series 2-0; airs on NBCSN at 8 p.m. ET ; stream here )   James O'Brien is a writer for Pro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports . Drop him a line at phtblog@nbcsports.com or follow him on Twitter @cyclelikesedins .


The Kansas City Chiefs got their first training camp practice in on Wednesday. It was not open to the public and it was a padless practice. It wasn't exactly a normal practice, considering veteran players don't report until Friday. With more offensive players in the building, the coaching staff even had to pause practice briefly to give the defenders some extra rest, according to the Kansas City Star's Brooke Pryor . This will obviously change when they get a full group of 90 players in the building, but it's something to note for the rest of the week. There were several players throughout the day of practice that caught the attention of the reporters in attendance. Chiefs reporter BJ Kissel described a few plays that stood out to him. Some plays that stood out today at #ChiefsCamp (no pads): - LB Ray-Ray Davison had an INT and a nice pass breakup - WR Cody Thompson had a beautiful over-the-shoulder TD catch from Mahomes in the red zone - TE Blake Bell had a nice TD catch in traffic as well - BJ Kissel (@ChiefsReporter) July 24, 2019 The first play that stood out to Kissel was an interception from second-year LB Ray Davison, coming against Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes. Pryor said Mahomes was a bit disgusted with himself after throwing the pick. Davison is a player that had a few standout moments during OTAs too, so it is nice to see him off to a hot start again. Next up was a play by undrafted free agent WR Cody Thompson. Thompson is a player that Chiefs fans are eager to see and he also seems to be off to a good beginning at training camp. Kissel described a nice over-the-shoulder TD grab that was thrown by Mahomes. He later posted video of the play too. Here's that @cthom1441 catch I mentioned earlier today from #ChiefsCamp . Had a good stretch through rookie minicamp and OTAs, and now he's off to a good start here at training camp. pic.twitter.com/K9QjWhrgQo - BJ Kissel (@ChiefsReporter) July 24, 2019 Kissel's final play was a contested TD pass to veteran TE Blake Bell. He had to go up and get the ball in traffic, and haul it in over defenders. Pryor mentioned a few other plays that stood out to her in her camp report for the Kansas City Star . In general, it appears to have been a good day for tight ends. There was a sliding catch on a deep pass by first-year QB-TE convert John Lovett, who is an early favorite to become a star of training camp. The pass came from third-string QB Chase Litton. Deon Yelder, who is favored for the No. 2 tight end job, returned to practice today after missing portions of OTAs and minicamp with an injury. Pryor said that Yelder also made an impressive contested catch during practice. Undrafted defensive back Herb Miller was another player that caught some attention of those in attendance today. According to Pryor, Miller caught the only other interception on the day, which was deflected off RB Marcus Marshall. Much to the enjoyment of Chiefs Kingdom, Travis Kelce was back at practice today. He caught the first pass of the practice session in both 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 team drills, which was noted by ESPN's Adam Teicher . Not a bad start to training camp for the Chiefs. Hopefully all of these moments can be learning experiences that the players will begin to build off of as the preseason approaches. MORE: Mike Trout's perfect 98.6 MPH throw to home plate had everyone in awe What might Kostas Antetokounmpo bring to the Lakers on offense? Why Mike Daniels should be on every potential playoff team's radar Sean Payton brushes off concerns about Drew Brees' decline 7 interesting plays from Chiefs training camp today


Phoenix will see a return of last week's hot temperatures in the coming days, according to drone-powered weather forecasting service Saildrone . Temperatures will reach a high of 108 degrees today and tomorrow. The immediate forecast also has cloudy skies in store for today. The clouds will part just a bit on Thursday. Winds are forecast to reach a modest high of 13 mph tomorrow, while today will be quieter with a top speed of just 7 mph. This story was created automatically using Saildrone's local weather forecast data, then reviewed by an editor. We also incorporate historic weather data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


NEW CANAAN   Hundreds of tips from around the world and nearly 100 security video submissions have helped guide a massive statewide search for Jennifer Dulos. As the investigation enters a fourth week, authorities continue to focus on a Hartford garbage facility where police say trash was hauled after Fotis Dulos was seen tossing garbage bags the night his estranged wife disappeared . Some of the bags recovered before they were taken to the Materials Innovation and Recycling Authority contained Jennifer Dulos' blood, according to arrest warrants. Fotis Dulos, 51, and his girlfriend, Michelle Troconis, 44, are free on bail after being arraigned this week on charges of tampering with evidence and hindering prosecution . Troconis is due back in court on July 18, while Fotis Dulos is scheduled to return to state Superior Court in Stamford on Aug. 2. Troconis has met at least twice with investigators since she posted bail on June 3. Norm Pattis, the controversial New Haven attorney hired last week to represent Fotis Dulos, claims Troconis has an alibi for May 24 when Jennifer Dulos disappeared . Pattis also claims Troconis passed a polygraph exam that showed she was not involved and does not know where to find Jennifer Dulos. Andrew Bowman, a Westport attorney representing Troconis, has declined to comment about his client's whereabouts that day. According to their arrest warrants, Fotis Dulos and Troconis were seen on video surveillance driving on Albany Avenue in Hartford around the time Jennifer Dulos was reported missing. Fotis Dulos was seen tossing garbage bags into more than 30 trash bins in a four-mile span that were later determined to have his estranged wife's blood on some of them, the warrants said. For the past two weeks, the state police search-and-rescue K-9 unit has been sifting through piles of garbage at the trash-to-energy plant where the materials are shredded before they are burned. The K-9s are specially trained to sniff biological materials such as blood and bodily fluids. On Friday, the state police dive team returned to Avon to search a pond at Fisher Meadow on Old Farms Road . Earlier in the week, investigators searched a nearby pond known for water skiing where Jennifer Dulos claimed in divorce documents her husband pushed their children to "dangerous" limits to compete at a high level. Jennifer Dulos was last seen around 8 a.m. May 24 after dropping her five children off at New Canaan Country School. After missing several doctors appointments in New York, she was reported missing around 7 p.m. that night. Police said they found blood spatter and signs of a "serious physical assault" in the garage of her home on Welles Lane. During Fotis Dulos' arraignment this week, State's Attorney Richard Colangelo said the husband's DNA was found mixed with Jennifer Dulos' blood on a faucet in her kitchen. Fotis Dulos' black Ford Raptor pickup truck was seen in New Canaan the day his wife disappeared , but it was driven by an employee of his real estate development company, the Fore Group . An attorney for the man, who no longer works for Fore Group, said his client has cooperated with police and has been ruled out as a suspect. The man was working on a Sturbridge Hill Road home where neighbors said they heard the loud sounds of metal banging around 5 a.m. the day after Jennifer Dulos went missing. Investigators searched the metal dumpster outside the home last week and executed an emergency search warrant hours later at Fotis Dulos' Jefferson Crossing home in Farmington. Investigators were seen leaving the home that night with two boxes. After being released this week on bail, Fotis Dulos returned to his home on the private road in Farmington where media has remained stationed at the corner. Pattis has argued his client has already been convicted by the way he has been portrayed and his legal team has hired a private investigator to help clear Fotis Dulos' name. "The state has wedded itself to the proposition that he's the killer," Pattis told WPLR's Chaz & AJ . "We are challenging that proposition and we are seeing where the evidence leads in our view."


It's that time of the year again and this time around there are even more restrictions in place for the Fourth of July on the National Mall and surrounding areas. That's because President Donald Trump is planning an event at the Lincoln Memorial in addition to the traditional events that have happened in years prior. For starters, the National Independence Day Parade will step off at 11:45 a.m. on Constitution Avenue NW from 7th Street NW to 17th Street NW. There will be marching bands, military units, floats, drill teams and the whole nine yards, government officials said in a release. Trump's " Salute to America " at the Lincoln Memorial is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. He is expected to "lead a celebration of America's military with music, military demonstrations and flyovers," according to a release. Gates will open at 3:30 p.m. (More on that in a minute) The annual " A Capital Fourth " happens on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol Building at 8 p.m. Then, the fireworks display is slated to begin at 9:07 p.m. This year, the fireworks are being launched from West Potomac Park and behind the Lincoln Memorial. RELATED: TIMELINE: 4th Of July Storms All these events mean elaborate street closures. Below is a map of the designated closures, per officials, plus some of the restrictions for the waterways. To see a full written list, keep scrolling down. RELATED: Looking for a fun fireworks show this July 4? Closures from 4 a.m. to 11 p.m. Theodore Roosevelt Bridge (TR Bridge) Inbound to Constitution Avenue; all traffic will be diverted to the E Street Expressway Independence Avenue, SW from 15th Street to 23rd Street, SW 23rd Street, NW (northbound) from Constitution Avenue to Virginia Avenue, NW; southbound 23rd Street, NW will be allowed to flow and access outbound TR Bridge 22nd Street, NW from C Street to Constitution Avenue, NW 21st Street, NW from C Street to Constitution Avenue, NW 20th Street, NW from C Street to Constitution Avenue, NW 19th Street, NW from Virginia Avenue to Constitution Avenue, NW 18th Street, NW from Virginia Avenue to Constitution Avenue, NW 17th Street, NW from New York Avenue to Constitution Avenue, NW 15th Street, NW from Pennsylvania Avenue to Independence Avenue, SW 14th Street, NW from Pennsylvania to Independence Avenue, SW 12th Street, NW from Pennsylvania to Constitution Avenue, NW 9th Street, NW from Pennsylvania Avenue, NW to Constitution Avenue, NW 7th Street, NW from Pennsylvania Avenue, NW to Independence Avenue, SW 6th Street, NW from Pennsylvania Avenue, NW to Constitution Avenue, NW 4th Street, NW from Pennsylvania Avenue, NW to Independence Avenue, SW 3rd Street, NW from Pennsylvania Avenue, NW to Independence Avenue, SW Henry Bacon Drive, NW from Constitution Avenue to Lincoln Memorial Circle, NW Constitution Avenue from 3rd Street to 23rd Street, NW Arlington Memorial Bridge (to both vehicle and pedestrian traffic) Southbound Rock Creek Parkway will be closed at Virginia Avenue, NW Maine Avenue, SW will be closed at I-395 to all westbound traffic Access to East Potomac Park from I-395 will be by National Park Service permit only The northbound HOV lanes of the 14th Street Bridge will be diverted to eastbound I-395. The northbound main lanes of the 14th Street Bridge will also be diverted to eastbound I-395. Closures from 4 a.m. to 4 p.m. 9th Street Tunnel 12th Street Tunnel The 3rd Street Tunnel will stay open. National Mall Public Entry Access points (open at 10 a.m.) Constitution Avenue and 20th Street, NW Constitution Avenue and 17th Street, NW Madison Drive and 15th Street, NW Westside of 14th Street, north of Independence Avenue, SW Maine Avenue and Raoul Wallenberg Place, SW (i.e. formerly 15th Street) East Basin Drive, just south of the Jefferson Memorial (visitors will not be able to access the National Mall from this checkpoint) East Basin Drive at the Inlet Bridge RELATED: Metro releases hours, operations plan for Fourth of July Metrorail information Metrorail will open at 7 a.m. and close at 11:30 p.m. Trains will operate on a Saturday schedule, every 12 minutes on each line until about 2 p.m. gradually ramping up to near rush-hour service levels thereafter. Scheduled track work on the Blue and Yellow lines continues; free shuttle buses replace trains between Reagan National Airport and Van Dorn Street & Huntington stations. Due to large crowds, bicycles and large coolers are not permitted after 2:00 p.m. Due to changes in this year's festivities, the Arlington Memorial Bridge will be closed to both vehicle and pedestrian traffic. The Memorial Bridge will be cut off completely   even to pedestrians. That means no taking Metro to Arlington National Cemetery and walking to the National Mall to watch fireworks. The National Mall side of Smithsonian station will become "entry only" after 9 p.m. to accommodate returning crowds. The Independence Avenue entrance of Smithsonian station will be available for both entry and exit throughout the entire day. Due to the Foggy Bottom station's proximity to the Lincoln Memorial, it may become "entry only" prior to festivities and "exit only" afterward, WMATA said in a release. Parking : Free at all Metro-operated facilities. Fares : Off-Peak fares will be in effect all day. MetroAccess : Regular service hours. Subscription trips are cancelled. Please ensure all July 4 reservations are booked before 4:30 p.m. on July 3. Customer Service: Open 7 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. by calling 202 637-7000; Lost & Found will be closed. WMATA recommended avoiding the Smithsonian stop if you can, since it often gets overcrowded during large events on the National Mall. They offered the following list of alternative stops and suggested walking from there, and avoiding a transfer from your origin line: Foggy Bottom (Orange, Silver and Blue Lines) Due to this station's proximity to the Lincoln Memorial, it may become "entry only" prior to festivities and "exit only" afterward. Metro Center (Red, Orange, Silver, and Blue Lines) Federal Triangle (Orange, Silver and Blue Lines) Archives (Yellow and Green Lines) Gallery Place (Red, Yellow and Green Lines) Judiciary Square (Red Line) Union Station (Red Line) L'Enfant Plaza (Orange, Silver, Blue, Yellow, and Green Lines) Capitol South (Orange, Silver, and Blue Lines) Federal Center SW (Orange, Silver and Blue Lines) Metrobus information Metrobus will be running on the Saturday schedule. Expect detours around the National Mall. Routes 30N, 30S, 32, 33, 34, 36, 52, 70, 74, 79 and P6 operate along the perimeter of the Mall at various locations. Use the WMATA Trip Planner for specific date and time travel information, as some nearby Metrobus routes operate Monday through Friday only. Watercraft restrictions on the Potomac River South of the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge to the Arlington Memorial Bridge will be a No Anchorage Zone. There will be a designated anchorage zone north of the 14th Street Bridge on the west side of the Potomac River (Virginia shore side); this zone will be just north of the entrance to the Pentagon Lagoon to south of the Arlington Memorial Bridge. There will be a watercraft safety zone north of the 14th Street Bridge on the east side of the Potomac River (Washington, DC side); this zone will be just north of the entrance to the Pentagon Lagoon to south of the Arlington Memorial Bridge. This means no boating, no anchoring. Watercrafts will be allowed to anchor outside of the channel north of the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge and south of the 14th Street Bridge. There may be intermittent travel restrictions between the 14th Street Bridge and the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge between the hours of 8:30 p.m.   10:00 p.m. Anyone who wants more information on boating restrictions should call 202-727-4582. Sign up for the Get Up DC newsletter : Your forecast. Your commute. Your news.


The Wizards will promote interim GM Tommy Sheppard to the position on a permanent basis, Fred Katz of The Athletic tweets . The contract details are still being worked out, but an official announcement could come within the next week, Katz adds. The news is affirmed by the Washington Post's Candace Buckner . The hiring of Sheppard, 50, would end a long and strange journey since the Wizards fired longtime GM Ernie Grunfeld just before the end of the regular season. Sheppard has been in charge since April 2. During the search, the Wizards reportedly made at a run at Raptors top executive Masai Ujiri, although owner Ted Leonsis later denied that he asked permission to speak with Ujiri. Washington also made an offer to Tim Connelly, but the executive chose to remain with the Nuggets as their team president. The Wizards also interviewed Gersson Rosas, who is now running the Timberwolves, along with Danny Ferry and Troy Weaver.


The NFL is a business before anything, and many players from the New England Patriots learn this the hard way. Although relationships are built and loyalty forms with individuals in every organization - the business side will typically outweigh it all. Chris Hogan learned this after his three-year stint with the Patriots. He was released and eventually signed by the Carolina Panthers. He had a Q&A session with fans on Twitter, and one fan asked why he left New England - his answer was simple. It's just Buisness, loved my time in NE, but they moved on and I had to as well - Chris Hogan (@ChrisHogan_15) May 31, 2019 The Patriots moved on and the seven-year veteran had no other choice but to sign with another team and continue his career. Hogan was an excellent role player in the Patriots' offense and he offered a deep threat that they didn't have when he joined the team. He was able to reel in 107 receptions, 1,651 yards and 12 touchdowns in three seasons - with an average of 15.4 yards per catch. Essentially, his role was to create separation and stretch the field, so that the slot receivers and tight ends could terrorize the middle of the field. He did that, but the Patriots brought on some other deep threats in N'Keal Harry and Demaryius Thomas to keep that threat alive. Hogan was a huge reason that the Patriots made it to three Super Bowls and won two of them. His AFC Championship game against the Pittsburgh Steelers was unreal - when he brought in nine receptions for 180 yards and two touchdowns. But, business is business, and Hogan will have a new opportunity to showcase his talent and enjoy his time with the Panthers. MORE: NBA fans had so many memes for Steph Curry's exchange with Drake Giants get a chuckle: Odell Beckham already in hot water in Cleveland Five potential Chris Paul trade destinations Chicago Bears sign OT T.J. Clemmings Roundup: Spelling Bee Ends in 8-Way Tie; Kim Jong Un Executing People Again; Kids Go Nuts for 'Old Town Road'


Graduating from college can be a thrill   until it's time to find a job. Most colleges do little to prepare alumni for navigating the job search or preparing for interviews, and that can mean few (or no) offers. Fortunately, new grads can find look to employment agencies for help. Here are 22 tips on how to use them. Job Search Stress Landing a job after graduating from college can be daunting regardless of your major or how cheap your location might be. College doesn't necessarily prepare students to write a professional resume or present well during an interview. What's more, job hunting can be tedious and discouraging. The good news is employment agencies can often assist with this process, helping recent grads to get their foot in the door. Here are tips from career experts across the country to make the most of an agency's assistance. MSN UK are Empowering Happiness for mental health awareness month. Find out more about our campaign and the charities working to stop people falling into crisis here . Job Experience Isn't Required "Contrary to popular opinion, no experience doesn't mean no chance," says Stu Coleman, partner/senior managing director at talent acquisition firm WinterWyman . Most recent grads have enough internship, club, or project experience to win them a job. "And when they don't, they certainly have the transferable skills from waiting tables or working summer camps to qualify them," he adds. "They just need someone to speak on their behalf   and that is what the agency is for." The Agency Matters Job placement opportunities vary by the employment agency. "Most employment agencies place for full-time jobs, unless it's a temp agency. In that case, a part-time or temporary job may lead to a full-time position, but that depends on how well you do in the job, as well as whether the company has a full-time role to offer," explains Laura Handrick, career and workplace analyst for FitSmallBusiness . What Kinds of Companies Might Use Employment Agencies? Employers in nearly all industries may seek to fill open positions with the help of an employment agency. "Any company that has a need and the budget to use an employment agency will choose this route," says Sonja Rohn-Budreau, life and career success coach and founder of Creative Consulting . "The kinds of companies that use staffing services are non-skilled to skilled labor, manufacturing, industrial, commercial, professional, IT, human resources, accounting, healthcare, nursing, C-level leadership, and government." Ask the Right Questions To help decide whether or not you want to work with a particular employment agency ask a few questions designed to gauge how successful it is at placing candidates. "Ask them if they recently placed anyone and where, as well as how many of those placements converted to full-time positions," suggests Jennifer Steele, an associate professor in the School of Education at American University who works as a career coach for students. Research Using Social Media Another way to find out more about an agency is to read reviews on social media. "Go on Yelp and type in the names of employment agencies in your area and find the reviews," associate professor Jennifer Steele advises. Dig into what other job searchers are saying about a particular agency and their experience working with the agency in question, as well as the quality of jobs secured with the agency's help. Look into Options and Services It's also a good idea to look into an employment agency's staffing options and services offered, as well as what type of agreement you might be required to sign with the agency, suggests career coach Sonja Rohn-Budreau. All of this information should be readily available on the employment agency's website. Narrow Down the Field To narrow down the options (as there are countless employment agencies out there), recent graduates may want to identify agencies based on an area of specialization, ideally finding one focused on jobs in a field related to the graduate's college major or field of work to be pursued, says career coach Sonja Rohn-Budreau. "Then, make a list of the top 10 agencies nationally and locally." Next, develop your resume and cover letter and start applying to each employment agency on the list that focuses on occupations of interest to you or that align with your college major, experience, or career goals. Finally, go the extra mile by calling the agencies as well to inquire about specific positions you may be interested in. Don't Pay the Agency Never pay an employment agency for its assistance. That's the universal verdict from career coaches and employment industry professionals far and wide. "The job seeker should not agree to pay a contingency on finding employment or pay up front. If it's a legitimate situation, the potential employer pays the fees," says Jennifer Steele of American University. Don't Give Away Future Income In addition to not paying for placement, you should never have to give an agency a percentage of your income after being placed in a job. "An employment agency should never take a cut of your pay. Any agency that offers to find you a job for a percentage of pay or for an upfront fee is probably a scam," says career analyst Laura Handrick. Consider Multiple Agencies It's important to take a multi-pronged approach to a job search including filling out job applications on your own, networking, and having an overall job search game plan. That effort could also include signing up with an employment agency in order to make life manageable, says Jennifer Steele of American University. Perhaps sign up with two or more agencies if the first one is not able to find you work. Prepare by Working with a Career Coach Before meeting with that first employment agency, it's a good idea to schedule a few sessions with a career counselor or coach, perhaps at your college or university. Coaches can help with such things as personal branding, job search strategies, social media etiquette, dressing for interview success, and preparing for an interview, says career coach Sonja Rohn-Budreau. Get Your Elevator Pitch Ready A critical item to prepare before meeting with an employment agency is the "elevator pitch, which can answer the favorite interview question "Tell me about yourself," says career coach Sonja Rohn-Budreau. What is an elevator pitch? It's a brief but compelling description about yourself and your experience and career goals. Treat Your Recruiter Like a Hiring Manager Your employment agency recruiter should be treated with professionalism and respect. If the recruiter finds you courteous, responsive, and personable, they're going to call their best clients and demand that they meet with you, says Stu Coleman of WinterWyman. "I can't tell you the number of people who have found amazing jobs with companies that would never have looked at their resume, simply because their recruiter believed in them." Don't Worry Most temp agencies or staffing agencies are unlikely to reject you simply because you're a new graduate, says Jennifer Steele of American University. However, they may give you a pass if "they know your industry or area expertise is not aligned with the companies they work with." Be Professional Just because the employment agency won't be your ultimate employer, that doesn't meet you should act any less professionally or diligently when interacting with the agency. Prepare as if you were about to go on an actual job interview, says career coach Sonja Rohn-Budreau. "Arrive early to every meeting and interview that you're scheduled for with a client. Research the employment agency's website and familiarize yourself with its culture, its services, the types of industries staffed, the jobs, the process of becoming an associate, and review frequently asked questions on its website." Give Your Agency a Range It's fine to let an employment agency know what your desired salary range is. However, when it comes time to interview with a potential employer, let the hiring company start the money conversation, says Jennifer Steele of American University. "You can tell the employment agency there are certain types of jobs you would not accept. But I would let the salary discussion be up to the potential employer. Once you're offered a permanent position, you're in a better space to negotiate." Add Big Agencies to Your List Some of the country's top employment agencies include KellyServices , Randstad , Aerotek , Adecco , and Robert Half . Each of these firms works with a wide variety of employers and companies and many have locations around the world, said career coach Sonja Rohn-Budreau. Know Agencies Are Just One Tool It's important for recent graduates to understand that using an employment agency is just one job search tool and it is not recommended that it be the only one, says Professor Suzanne Rohan Jones , an adjunct professor at Maryville University, who serves as a career coach and counselor. "Job seekers should also network with family, friends, college instructors, fellow alumni, and contacts through LinkedIn in order to expand their job search resources in as many directions as possible," she says. Have Realistic Expectations To help maintain a positive attitude and a level of optimism throughout the search process, even when working with an employment agency, enter the partnership with the agency with a clear understanding about the types of positions available, the likely timeline for finding a position, as well as the assessments that may be required by the employment agency to help guide the placement process, says Suzanne Rohan Jones of Maryville University. Take the Long View Whether you're working with an agency or searching on your own, one of the most important things a recent graduate should do is take the long view, suggests Stu Coleman of WinterWyman. "No one knows where they will be or what they will be doing five years from now," he says. "I don't even know where I will be in five years. But I do know that everything I do now is a building block for my future. Sometimes your first job is just that, your first job. It probably won't be your dream job, mainly because you don't know what that is." Don't Give Up Throughout your search, keep in mind that breaking into the job market for the first time won't be easy, says Jennifer Steele of American University. Still, don't give up. "It's challenging. It feels like you are never going to break through," she says. "Everyone goes through it. It just takes persistence." Be Willing to Pass on Work If an agency does land you a job offer, you don't have to accept it if you don't want it. "The one thing I tell everyone is that no one can make you do something you don't want to," says Stu Coleman of WinterWyman. "If you don't like the job, company, commute, or pay, then you probably shouldn't even take the interview. Yes, you should certainly be open, flexible, and sometimes willing to interview just for the practice, but if you can't honestly see yourself working there, don't waste anyone's time. If your recruiter doesn't respect that, then you probably shouldn't be working with them."


Gallery by photo services Connor Betts, 24, who shot and killed nine people in Dayton, Ohio, before police killed him, was a deeply troubled young man. He had a history of violence against girlfriends and fantasized about murder, keeping a "hit list" of people he wanted to target. High school classmates said that school officials were aware of his behavior years ago, and that as a freshman, he was missing from school for months after police one day took him from a school bus. Subscribe to the Post Most newsletter: Today's most popular stories on The Washington Post Details of his past are still emerging, and school officials did not respond on Tuesday to questions about his disciplinary record during his school years. Federal authorities said they are investigating last weekend's shooting as a potential domestic terrorism case because it is possible "violent ideologies" were behind the attack . Such mass shootings at the hands of disaffected young men   including an attack just hours earlier in El Paso, where a 21-year-old is accused of killing 22 people on Saturday   illustrate the difficulties of tracking people who have made dangerous threats. President Trump and Republican leaders have made "red flags" such as mental illness, violent crimes or domestic attacks a priority for identifying people who should not be allowed to have guns, saying such warnings could prevent attacks better than gun control efforts. Several states have passed laws limiting access to guns when authorities receive warnings. But some young people, including those responsible for or accused of some of the nation's worst mass shootings, have shown clear warning signs and still have fallen through the cracks. For "red flags" to work, someone has to raise them. The FBI examined 63 active shooters who opened fire between 2000 and 2013, and all had displayed some worrisome behaviors beforehand that people around them had noticed, often expressions of a desire to commit violence. But in most cases, people who saw these behaviors responded by talking to the person directly or doing nothing, the study found. For the attackers who were 17 or younger, teachers and students were more likely than family members to notice these behaviors. For the older attackers, spouses or domestic partners were the most likely to spot them. The study concluded that posed a problem: Those most likely to spot dangerous warning signs often feel loyalty to the attacker, refuse to believe they could commit violence or fear what would happen if they reported the issue. And, although the United States has been grappling with school shootings for two decades, threat assessment and mental health counseling in U.S. schools is still uneven. Some of Betts's classmates from Bellbrook High School said they believe his case was not handled well, and they remember feeling as if school officials did not take their concerns about him seriously. Taylor Gould said she and others in the community knew long ago that something was wrong with Betts, and "they all could have done more to intervene." At a sleepover with Betts's sister, Megan   who was among those killed during his rampage   and five other girls in middle school, Gould said, Betts pushed her up against a wall and choked her. He only stopped when the other girls, Megan included, yelled at him. "There were a lot of telltale signs that he was a psychopath, but people didn't pay attention because people in this town care more about sports than mental health," Gould said. Gould said she tried to take her own life when she was a sophomore in high school, and when she returned after a 10-week leave of absence, she felt alone and overwhelmed. "Nobody cares about what it's like when we come back from treatment," she said. "You just have to get through it." She imagines Betts felt a similar way when he returned from his time off school. "I'm sure when he came back to school, all he felt was pressure," Gould said. "Someone should have been monitoring him." Schools and workplaces are increasingly creating systems to identify and address people who pose threats with the clear purpose of raising red flags before a violent act. Gallery by photo services Virginia, Maryland, Florida, Texas and at least 13 other states, so far, have mandated threat assessment programs in schools to identify students who are troubled and have made some threat of violence. But those programs usually end at graduation. Troubled students who have been monitored and counseled as teens are often on their own as adults. "So many kids do get services while they are in high school and then when they leave there may not be a safety net or services available to them," said Dewey Cornell, a forensic clinical psychologist and education professor at the University of Virginia. He said the age of greatest risk "for serious acts of violence is in the late teens and early 20s, after the high school years." Businesses across the country are recognizing the need for threat assessment programs to look out for signs of danger from employees, said Matt Doherty, a former U.S. Secret Service agent who provides workplace training. Doherty said he recently helped a health services company terminate an employee who had shown severe anger-management issues. Officials followed him after he was fired, and he went directly to a store and bought a gun. Doherty said he went to see the man's wife, who said he had recently stopped taking medication. Doherty helped the wife obtain a court order for mental health treatment for her husband and to have his gun temporarily removed. The man was put back on his medication. "It likely would have led to tragic consequences otherwise," Doherty said. But if a person doesn't work for a company that has a threat-assessment program, it can often be left to friends and family to spot problems   and the FBI study found that those people are often the least likely to report them. The result is that the difference between a mass shooting and a peaceful resolution can often come down to chance and luck. Authorities in South Carolina arrested a 16-year-old boy last month for making threats after videos surfaced in which he called himself a "hater of all black men," fired a semiautomatic rifle at objects meant to portray "stinky" black people and said he planned "to shoot up" his Catholic high school. School officials learned of the videos, which had been made in May, from parents who spotted them. Officials expelled the student on July 15 for one video in which he made racist comments. The video threatening to "shoot up" the school was found by another parent on July 17, and school officials called police, who arrested the teen. Principal Robert Loia sent a letter to school families on Aug. 2 alerting them to the situation. On Aug. 4, he sent another letter saying he had not alerted families sooner because "the teen had been arrested and the threat had been neutralized." On Aug. 5, he sent an apology for not alerting them immediately. "This is an example of how schools and law enforcement can work together to quickly address threats and perceived threats to schools and students," said Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott. The same week that the South Carolina teen was arrested, William Patrick Williams, 19, of Lubbock, Tex., called his grandmother from a hotel room and told her he was homicidal and suicidal and was planning to "shoot up" the hotel with his AK-47 rifle then commit "suicide by cop." She talked him out of it and took him to a hospital for psychiatric evaluation; he was later arrested on federal firearm charges. Williams, who spent a year in the military, began acting out in high school, a family member said, noting that "there was a questionable thing he said and some papers and drawings, but not a direct threat." The family member said that in hindsight, the schools could have done more. "They would push kids away and place them in alternative schools," the family member said. "It's a disservice to the child. Kids know they did wrong, but how does that help them? The issues stem from something else, and they need help." In July, when Williams purchased the semiautomatic weapon, he had been on medication and was undergoing treatment for depression. "He was getting help and taking steps to get better   working, living on his own. He was functioning," the family member said. Many, but not all, of the nation's most notorious mass shooters were young men recently out of school, who had exhibited concerning behavior, had few friends and were either unemployed or sporadically employed. Patrick Crusius, 21, the suspect in the El Paso shootings, graduated high school in Plano, Tex., in 2017 and was attending community college while living with his grandparents, where officials believe he wrote a manifesto about "the Hispanic invasion of Texas." Nikolas Cruz, charged with killing 17 people in Parkland, Fla., in 2018, had been expelled from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School the year before, had a long history of problems, and interacted with school counselors, law enforcement and mental health officials. At the time of the shooting, he was 19, living with friends and working at a local store. Adam Lanza, 20, who massacred more than two dozen people, mostly children, in Newtown, Conn., in 2012, had a long history of mental health problems and left high school early. In his final weeks, a state investigation concluded, he spent most of his time secluded in his room communicating online with "a small community of individuals that shared his dark and obsessive interest in mass murder." "Once they graduate or leave school, it doesn't mean the threat has gone away," said Russell Palarea, president of the Association of Threat Assessment Professionals, a key driver of a bill that Congress is considering, known as the Threat Assessment, Prevention, and Safety Act (TAPS), which has bipartisan support. It would create a team of experts to set national guidelines on community-based threat assessment and then provide federal grants for implementation. Palarea said the work that schools have done to improve vigilance needs to be extended into communities, noting that few in the United States have formal programs to track potentially dangerous people. He cited the Jefferson County, Colo., Public Schools Threat Assessment Program, started after the 1999 Columbine High School shooting, as an effective model. That program provides anyone in the community an anonymous method for reporting distressing behavior. "It's all about building a safety net," he said. But efforts to help identify threats can also run into concerns about privacy and civil rights, with the potential for unfair and damaging effects. Florida has faced opposition in its effort to develop a database about students that is intended to prevent school shootings. Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) has pushed for the measure, but 33 civil rights, disabilities, privacy and education advocacy groups have urged him to ditch what they call "a massive surveillance effort." "We are deeply concerned that the program will be used to label students as threats based on data that has no documented link to violent behavior, such as data on disabilities or those seeking mental health care," the letter said. Amanda Nickerson, a professor of school psychology at the University at Buffalo, State University of New York, said teachers must flag students they suspect of being potential threats. Sometimes those troubles are noted in students' academic records, and other times the troubles are serious enough that teachers contact law enforcement. Nickerson said students' academic records do not follow them beyond graduation, and changing that could harm them as they look for jobs and housing. "They absolutely have an obligation to monitor students and issues of concern and investigate them and help to resolve them," Nickerson said. "What's difficult is what happens once they leave the school system." kevin.sullivan@washpost.com valerie.strauss@washpost.com emily.davies@washpost.com Mark Berman, Deanna Paul and Perry Stein contributed to this report.


Florida lawmakers on Wednesday approved a bill that would allow teachers to carry firearms in response to the 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland that left 17 people dead. The House voted 65-47 , with eight abstentions, on Wednesday to allow classroom instructors to be armed as a school safety measure. The Florida Senate voted last week, 22-17 , pass its version of the bill. Last year, in response to the massacre, lawmakers passed a bill that would allow certain school personnel to carry firearms, but not teachers. This bill expands the state's Coach Aaron Feis Guardian Program, which was named after football coach Aaron Feis who shielded students from the Parkland shooting suspect's bullets. The measure that passed Wednesday was largely championed by Republicans, who control both chambers of the legislature, as a deterrent and decried by Democrats as risky and unsafe. GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis, who previously expressed support for the legislation, is likely to sign it into law. A representative for his office did not respond to a request for comment. The bill requires teachers who participate in the program to undergo drug testing and psychological evaluation and to complete 144 total hours of training. The training requirements include 80 hours of commission-certified firearms instruction and eight hours of drilling in active shooter of assailant scenarios, among other conditions. School boards in Broward, Palm Beach and Orange counties have already expressed opposition to allowing their teachers to be armed, according to The South Florida Sun-Sentinel . Parkland is located in Broward County. The legislation also lays out requirements for schools to annually conduct a school security risk assessment, more reporting of school safety episodes and additional guidelines regarding mental health access in schools, among other provisions. "This bill is the ultimate school-hardening law. It allows the good guy to stop the bad," Rep. Chuck Brannan, a Republican, told T he South Florida Sun-Sentinel . "The bad guy will never know when the good guy is going to be there." Rep. Mike Gottlieb, a Democrat, said the legislation is creating a "police state." "Teachers need to teach," he told the paper. "We need to create a more nurturing, loving environment in a school so people don't grow up to become monsters. … We are creating a police state. It is wrong."


Josh Allen has taken Buffalo and NFL jersey sales by storm over the past three months, from March 1 to May 31. According to a release from the NFL Players Association, Allen's No. 17 was the 29th most-sold jersey among players last season. Topping the list was Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, Browns wideout Odell Beckham and Bears edge rusher Khalil Mack, respectively. Among his 2018 draft class, Allen ranks fourth, behind only Jets QB Sam Darnold (4), Browns QB Baker Mayfield (5), and Giants running back Saquon Barkley. MORE: Mike Trout's perfect 98.6 MPH throw to home plate had everyone in awe Packers GM explains reasoning for releasing DL Mike Daniels What might Kostas Antetokounmpo bring to the Lakers on offense? Jalen Rose: Don't Be Surprised if Anthony Davis Winds Up With the Bulls Why Mike Daniels should be on every potential playoff team's radar


The public might be unaware of many of 'em, but there are plenty of low-key companies out there developing advanced technology for all sorts of uses. With the hustle to develop autonomous vehicles , automakers are scooping up these smaller companies left and right to make use of their skills. Ford's latest acquisition is along those lines. Ford announced on Tuesday that it has acquired Quantum Signal. Based in Saline, Michigan since its founding in 1999, this company has focused on developing software and robotics for a wide variety of clients, including some in the military. In a Medium post announcing the acquisition , Ford says it's had its eye on Quantum Signal for some time, even though most of us probably have no idea who they are. As you might expect, Ford intends to leverage Quantum Signal's strengths for future autonomous vehicle development. Specifically, it'll rely on the company's "extensive experience in real-time simulation and algorithm development" for use in Ford's future autonomous commercial service platform. Quantum Signal's work has also involved autonomy in the past, although not specifically geared towards automobiles . Its modeling and simulation platform have seen use in military robotics development, focusing on both autonomy and remote operation. Ford believes these efforts can make for even better AV simulations as it continues to focus on deploying its technology for the public. It's likely that Quantum Signal will work closely with Argo AI, Ford's primary AV subsidiary. And, like Argo, it's likely that Ford will continue to let Quantum Signal operate as a separate entity. With a recently announced $2.6 billion investment from Volkswagen , along with all these other acquisitions, Ford's Argo AI should become quite the formidable entity in autonomous-vehicle development in the coming years. Ford's autonomous cars on the streets of Miami Join us for a ride in Ford's prototype self-driving car This was originally published on Roadshow. Follow MSN Autos on Facebook and Twitter


Philadelphia will continue to face warm weather over the next few days, according to drone-powered weather forecasting service Saildrone . Temperatures will reach a high of 86 degrees tomorrow, then turn cooler on Monday and Tuesday. Also look for light rainfall coming in a few days. Sunday's forecast shows the highest possibility of rain at 71 percent, with expected rainfall of 0.13 inches. Skies will be partly cloudy today and tomorrow. Winds are forecast to reach a modest high of 14 mph on Monday, while today and tomorrow will continue to be calmer. This story was created automatically using Saildrone's local weather forecast data, then reviewed by an editor. We also incorporate historic weather data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.