The White House is rushing to appoint as many judges as possible before 2020 to give President Donald Trump yet another talking point he can rally on as he stumps for re-election. Trump's team believes that stacking the judicial system with conservative judges galvanizes the base, demonstrates his ability to follow through on a 2016 campaign promise and will help win over crucial 2020 states like Colorado, Florida and North Carolina. And Trump himself is convinced that judicial appointments are central to both his legacy and policy agenda, as he has pushed for young judges who can serve for decades, according to former administration aides, close White House adviser s and those familiar with the administration's judicial plans. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has done everything he can to help quicken the pace, changing procedural rules to limit debate time and lower the voting threshold Supreme Court justices must clear to get approved. In just the last six weeks, the Senate will have confirmed 15 judges, aided by a recent debate-limiting tweak. "Obviously that's going to be one of the most lasting legacies of the Trump administration and the next 25 to 30 years," said Republican Sen. John Cornyn, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. "I think it'll remain a priority especially when our Democratic colleagues don't seem too interested in legislating, particularly in the House." "President Trump totally gets it from the standpoint that is a transactional item needed to win support from the base," said one close White House adviser. Already the Senate has confirmed more than 100 of the president's nominees to the federal bench, including two Supreme Court Justices and 40 circuit court judges. Outside conservative groups and donors want the pace to move as quickly as possible. It's a troubling situation to left-leaning strategists who say the Trump administration and Senate leadership has broken tradition with both their selection of judges and the process of confirming them. "I am not sure how they can speed it up anymore," said Daniel Goldberg, legal director at the left-leaning Alliance for Justice. "Mitch McConnell has already eroded almost every rule and norm to expedite Trump's far-right judges with as little transparency and vetting as possible." In addition to youth, Trump and his team look for potential judges who have Ivy League credentials or clerkships with high-profile judges or justices, according to a former administration official. The president also often talks about the importance of judges "not being weak," said one individual familiar with the White House's judicial selection process. While Trump himself is not personally involved in the selection of judges for the lower courts, he was heavily invested in the administration's Supreme Court picks, according to former administration officials and individuals familiar with the White House process. Trump personally interviewed and chose both Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh. "The passing of Justice Scalia sharpened his mind and caused him to think more systematically about the role of the courts and the importance of those issues to conservatives," said the individual familiar with the White House's process. "He saw the way people reacted to the issue and saw it as an important way of building a strong political coalition." Kavanaugh's confirmation process, while fraught because of the sexual assault allegation, showed the White House how the conservative base rallies around judicial picks. The fight brought together deep-pocketed groups including the Federalist Society, the Koch-backed Americans for Prosperity, Judicial Crisis Network, Concerned Women for America and Susan B. Anthony List, among others. "Americans have grown tired of a federal government that doesn't listen to their concerns, and a judiciary which has too frequently ignored the will of the people expressed through their elected representatives," said Tim Murtaugh, director of communications for the Trump campaign. "By appointing judges who interpret   and not make   law, he is giving voice to citizens who were frustrated by judges who imposed their political opinions on the people." In 2016, 56 percent Trump voters listed the issue of Supreme Court appointments as the most important factor in their support for his candidacy while just 41 percent of voters for Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton deemed it the most important issue. By contrast, 49 percent of Democratic voters characterized it as a significant factor but not the deciding one, according to exit polling . The push to speed up nominees has dovetailed with McConnell prioritizing the confirmation of judicial and executive branch nominees. That's sparked criticism from Senate Democrats who say he's turned the Senate into a "legislative graveyard." But with a divided Congress, the odds of getting any major legislation done this session are low. The speed of judicial confirmations has increased since McConnell triggered the "nuclear option," a move that limited debate time on most Trump nominees. The change in debate time applies to lower-level district court judges but does not apply to Supreme Court or circuit court judges, where appeals occur. While senators are spending most of their days confirming judges, aides to McConnell say that that they're not on any specific deadline and are merely trying to get as many judges confirmed as possible by the end of the 116th Congress. Carrie Severino, chief counsel and policy director of the Judicial Crisis Network, a conservative legal group, said that while the rule changes has helped confirmations, Democrats are still trying to slow-walk nominees. "It's a great idea to get it done by January because things do get busy during a presidential year," Severino said. "But even if it were the first year of your presidency, there's a need to move on these positions. We have 150 some vacancies on the federal courts. That's a significant number." The only other recent presidents who confirmed more judges than Trump by this time in the third year of the presidency were Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton, according to a judicial tracker maintained by the Heritage Foundation which tracks judicial nominations and confirmations going back to President Ronald Reagan. So far, the administration has focused much more on circuit court judges than district court ones, since the appeals courts cover larger geographical swathes of the country. "Given how few cases the Supreme Court takes, the appeals court are making a ton of important decisions in which they are the last word," says Rorie Solberg, a professor of political science at Oregon State University whose research focused on judicial politics. Trump's critics say the president's team is tapping a slew of overly partisan nominees who are being crammed through the Senate too quickly. Progressives' complain that the Senate held nomination hearings last October during a congressional recess before the midterm elections, when senators were not in Washington, D.C. Republican leaders also pushed through judges over the objections of senators from the state in which the judge will serve, breaking with long-standing Senate tradition, according to Goldberg. But while it's true that McConnell has altered and tweaked the Senate rules, every action he's taken is above-board, according to Solberg   and available to future leaders. "McConnell is using the tools that haven't been used that way before, but it has always been available. He is just willing to defect from the norms sufficiently because the short-term gain to them is worth the risk," Solberg said. "When the Democrats take over, they will use the same rules and use all of the norms the Republicans broke," she added. "No one is going to be able to recover that."


The Indianapolis Colts are well into their summer break catching a little down time before having to report back to the facility at the end of July for the start of training camp. Even though there was no contract or pads being worn during the offseason workouts, there were still plenty of storylines to keep up with throughout the spring sessions. Here's what we learned about the Colts during the offseason workouts: Matt Kryger/IndyStar The culture being built is a strong one The Colts had a near perfect attendance rate throughout the entirety of the spring. Some players were dealing with injuries and were kept off of the field, but just about everyone showed up. That is a testament to the type of culture the Colts are building in the locker room. Since Chris Ballard took over as general manager in 2017, finding players and coaches that put the team above everything has been the objective. It's clear that objective has been achieved as everyone is preaching about the mentality in the locker room. Not every team that wins has strong chemistry and every team that has an established culture doesn't always win, but it certainly helps that the Colts have everyone on the same page about where the priorities are. AP Photo/Darron Cummings Depth is legit Over the past few seasons, the Colts have lacked in depth. They have had talented players on the roster, sure. But they have lacked the necessary depth to carry them deep into the playoffs. That doesn't appear to be the case now. While the roster still has improvements to make, it is obvious that the depth is much better entering the 2019 season than it has been in recent years. Most would argue that the depth is the best it has been since Andrew Luck arrived in 2012 as the top overall pick. It will be interesting to see how all of the roles fall into place during training camp and the preseason, but the depth the Colts are building is extremely legitimate as they head into 2019. Matt Kryger/IndyStar WR competition will be a big one The Colts have typically had competition at wide receiver simply because the numbers are higher at that position than they are at any other spot during this time of year. However, this year's group is full of talent all over the depth chart. From the WR1 in T.Y. Hilton to the guys fighting for the final spot in the room like Zach Pascal and Daurice Fountain, the Colts are likely going to cut some talented players when the time comes at the beginning of September. Seeing as there wasn't a ton of headway made during the spring, training camp and the preseason games will be fun to watch when the entire room goes to war for the spots on the depth chart. AP Photo/Darron Cummings Run game will continue to be a priority Despite a resurgence of production during the second half of the season in 2018, the Colts wound up finishing 20th in rushing yards per game and 21st in yards per carry. The offense was still strong, but the Colts have made it a point to improve the rushing attack. This is one of the reasons why Chris Strausser and Howard Mudd were hired to take over the offensive line duties following the firing of Dave DeGuglielmo. The Colts have made it clear they want to be a top-five rushing unit for the 2019 season. Doing so will take a ton of pressure off of Andrew Luck to throw the ball 50-60 times per game while also keeping control of the clock. Whether it will happen remains to be seen, but the Colts have made it clear where their priorities lay. AP Photo/Michael Conroy Defense could be looking to use more man coverage It was a well-known development that the Colts were going to be a zone-heavy team with the arrival of new defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, given his history with the Dallas Cowboys. They did that in 2018, but a change could be in order during his second season running the unit. With the influx of talent on the defensive side of the ball, there is plenty of talk that the Colts are thinking about implementing more man coverage in the secondary. With a safety like Malik Hooker having immense range to go along with the press ability and arm length of the current cornerback room, some believe we will see shades of the Legion of Boom defense that dominated for years in Seattle. Eberflus has certainly made it known they are toying with the idea of using more man coverage - if simply to open up the playbook - which is something to watch during the preseason games. AP Photo/Darron Cummings Ben Banogu's primary position still unknown The Colts drafted the TCU defender in the second round during April's big event with the idea that he would compete for the starting SAM linebacker role in the middle of the defense, while also seeing time as a defensive end in pass-rushing situations. However, it isn't clear where the primary role for Banogu will be just yet as he's shown plenty of promise as a speed rusher off the edge during the spring. This has led the Colts to continue the process of trying him out equally at both spots in the front seven hoping to find some clarity. Having that type of versatility will only help Banogu's case for playing time, but where he will be lining up primarily is still a mystery heading into training camp. Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports Mo Alie-Cox in line for a breakout? Among the many storylines that dominated the spring was the domination of the tight end in Alie-Cox, who ran as the defacto TE1 this spring in the absence of Jack Doyle (hip) and Eric Ebron (groin). With the starting duo sidelined with their respective injuries, Alie-Cox shined as one of the best pass catchers of the spring. He showed off improved route running in the passing game, which is the biggest indicator he could be ready to take on a bigger role in the offense. Alie-Cox possesses elite size and athleticism for a tight end, but his game has been extremely raw. He's making tangible progress and could be in line for a bigger role in 2019 if that trend continues throughout the preseason. MORE: NBA fans honored Drake's 'make a meme out of this' request, and the results are hilarious Four Most Overrated NBA Free Agents NBA Free Agency 2019: The top players Report indicates Matthew Stafford played with a broken back in 2018 Javon Wims worked with starters during Bears offseason practices


KOEPKA'S OPENING SALVO Brooks Koepka made his tory on Thursday, as he carded a Bethpage Black record and bogey-free 63 to grab a one-shot lead over New Zealand's Danny Lee in the first round of the PGA Championship. It was the lowest opening round ever carded by a defending PGA champion and made Koepka the first player with multiple 63s in any single major championship (also a second-round 63 in last year's PGA at Bellerive en route to claiming his first Wanamaker Trophy).Koepka is just the third player to post multiple career 63s in major championships, joining Greg Norman and Vijay Singh.Koepka's 63 was the 17th recorded in PGA Championship play. Playing in the featured pairing with reigning Masters Champion Tiger Woods and 2018 Open Championship winner Francesco Molinari, Koepka established his dominance early by chipping in from 40 feet on the first hole (Hole No. 10, as he began on the Back 9). He then added birdies at 14, 18, 1, 3 and 5 before capping things off with a 33'7" birdie putt on his final hole (No. 9). TRACK THE FIELD: Leaderboard | Tee times | Live updates | Tiger on the course DEFENDING CHAMP ON THE OFFENSIVE According to the Elias Sports Bureau, since 1980, Koepka's 63 is the lowest opening round score relative to par (seven-under) by a player beginning his major title defense the next year. Koepka surpassed six under-par scores posted by Jordan Spieth at the 2016 Masters, Tiger Woods at the 2000 PGA Championship and Jose Maria Olazabal at the 1995 Masters. WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN While Koepka's 63 Thursday was historic on many levels, he missed a couple of opportunities to go lower, most notably on Bethpage Black's two par 5s: No. 4 (par) and No. 13 (par). Koepka went 6-under (6 birdies, 2 pars) in last year's PGA Championship, playing Bellerive's two par 5s. ATTACK ON THE BLACK Koepka's 63 moved a number of historical needles today, including that it established a new course record on Bethpage State Park's esteemed Black Course. Koepka's effort today usurped five players who previously shared the course record at 64: Craig Thomas (2007 New York State Open), Lucas Glover (2009 U.S. Open), Mike Weir (2009 U.S. Open), Padraig Harrington (2012 Barclays), amateur Cameron Young (2017 New York State Open). FIRST ROUND NEWS: What it's like to play the PGA Championship as a Club pro FIRST THINGS FIRST Since the PGA Championship's stroke-play era began in 1958, Koepka is the first defending champion to have sole possession of first place after the first round of the following year's PGA Championship. One PGA Champion, however, was able to begin his title defense by earning a share of first place on Thursday of the following year: 1999 PGA Champion Tiger Woods was tied for the lead with Scott Dunlap after the first round of the 2000 PGA Championship. BROOKS TAMES BETHPAGE'S TOUGHEST Three of Brooks Koepka's seven first-round birdies occurred amongst Bethpage Black's most challenging holes: No. 3 (4th toughest), No. 5 (3rd toughest), and No. 10 (2nd toughest). BOGEY-FREE BROOKS Not only was Koepka the only player to sign a bogey-free scorecard, every other player in the field recorded at least two bogey-or-worse scores in the first round except for Dustin Johnson (one: No. 1) and Sungjae Im (one: No. 5). SOLO FIRST-ROUND LEAD Since 1984, only one PGA Champion held the solo first-round lead: Jimmy Walker in 2016 at Baltusrol Golf Club. Hal Sutton went wire-to-wire in 1983 to capture the Wanamaker Trophy at Riviera Country Club. GOOD TIMING FOR LEE Acutely aware of Koepka's imposing 63, Lee nevertheless teed off Thursday at 12:10 p.m. and went about his business. The result was a 64 that included eight birdies and a pair of bogeys. Despite only hitting seven of 14 fairways, Lee's 64 was how low round of the year and the best effort of his career in a major championship. More importantly, it put him within a single shot of Koepka. The 2008 U.S. Amateur Champion, Lee bogeyed the 15th, but buckled up to cap his eye-opening first-round effort with back-to-back birdies on Nos. 17 and 18. He also closed the gap thanks to birdies on three of Bethpage Black's four par 3s. LEE'S IN FAMILIAR TERRITORY Lee is one stroke behind Koepka alone in second place; a familiar first-round position in a major championship for Lee. Following the first round of the 2016 Masters, Lee was in a tie for second place. He finished in a tie for 17th   his best performance in a major. Lee was in third place following the first round of the 2015 PGA Championship at Whistling Straits, but a second-round 77 slid him down the leaderboard en route to a 43rd place finish. FLEETWOOD'S AFOOT With a 67 Thursday, Tommy Fleetwood registered the best opening-round in his five career PGA Championship appearances. It also matched his best first round in a major championship. At the 2017 U.S. Open, Fleetwood's started with a 67 on Thursday en route to a fourth-place finish at Erin Hills. PGA CHAMPIONSHIP BEST FOR FLEETWOOD In what was his 13th competitive round in the PGA Championship, Fleetwood posted his personal best total score and score to par, a 3-under 67. TONY'S TRENDING Tony Finau entered the 2019 PGA Championship with the most top 10 major championship finishes in the field since the 2018 Masters. Finau has recorded four: T-10 (2018 Masters), 5 (2018 U.S. Open), T-9 (2018 Open) and T-5 (2019 Masters). His lone non-top-10 finish came at the 2018 PGA Championship at Bellerive (T-42). A first-round 70 positions Finau in a tie for 17th. Related slideshow: Best of 2019 PGA Championship (provided by imagn)


When night falls, the bombs will blast in air this Independence Day, and any American looking toward the sky will have an opportunity to be mindful of what it means to be a citizen of their country. Or perhaps more specifically, what it means to be a patriot. A Gallup poll from last year found the percentage of Americans who were "extremely proud to be Americans" at an 19-year low. Forty-five percent of Americans identified that way in 2018, down from a high of 70% in 2003, and down 2 points from last year's 47%. Among Republicans, 74% were in that group, and among Democrats, 32%. There are collective movements marching from one another   with divergent views on exactly what foundation America stands on, past, present and future. In the center is perhaps the most-polarizing president in modern history, a dynamite blast to the system that by mere appearance of approval or disdain begs the question: Not only whether I'm considered a patriot, but what does patriotism even mean in 2019? For this day   as tensions at the Mexico border and in the Middle East are hot, the meaning of power is questioned and at this moment, a U.S. Women's World Cup soccer team says it will refuse to visit the White House, even before anything has been won   The Greenville News sought to take a small measurement of the pulse of Americans in downtown Greenville and at Clemson University and Tri-County Technical College We found, not surprisingly, disparate views   but even more so a complexity. Black in America. A veteran and homeless. Reclaimed glory. Political neophyte. State of distress. Waiting it out. A search for a deeper meaning. One of the central tasks in finding an answer is isolating the definition of patriotism. Red, white and blue: Stars and (different) stripes: SC residents on being 'patriotic Americans' Andrew Whitehead, a sociology professor at Clemson who will soon release a book on Christian nationalism, says patriotism and nationalism are seen as related but in fact are distinct concepts. Patriotism is "this idea of love for one's country, for the people of that country," Whitehead says. "Nationalism, though, is slightly different in that it's focused on, 'My country is better than yours.'" LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? Support stories like this by supporting local journalism. Please consider becoming a subscriber. Here's our special offer . Events like the World Cup can heighten feelings of national identity, as do collective tragedies like 9/11. This is where patriotism emerges, but so can nationalism where "we're trying to define ourselves as against other countries or supreme," he says. Some are clear in their definition. Don Wygand, who owns downtown Greenville's Jerky & Vine, says he feels a greater sense of America reclaiming its identity, defined through sacrifice and projection of military strength. At 61, Wygand said he has never experienced the threat of sacrificing his life in war, like his two older brothers and father. Patriotism takes on a different meaning from generation to generation. "I'm just on the cusp of that group that never had to worry about going to war, never have to worry about being drafted or volunteering or anything like that," he says. "It's a little harder for our entire generation to even really fathom what it's like to give up that much, to sign up for that much." Trump 'brought a breath of fresh air' President Donald Trump has "brought a breath of fresh air" by rebuilding the military and projecting a sense of "us first," Wygand says. "That might sound cliché, but what's wrong with that?" he says. On the other side of that spectrum is Mary Duckett, a community activist in Greenville who grew up during the time of segregation. She is more explicit about the challenges the president in particular poses to the country. Duckett says she feels like the country is threatened, particularly with race relations, more so than at any point in her lifetime, regardless of the party in power. "I'm from a segregated era," she says. "In all my life, I have never seen the hatred I see in America today. I feel sad as an American now. I used to look forward to the Fourth of July, because it's independence. Now I feel like we're in a state of captivity. It seems as if the government is against the people, especially the least of those." 'People don't care about veterans' David Millbrooks served in the first Gulf War and spent 18 years of his life in military service. Today, he's staying in a Greenville homeless shelter for veterans and battles post traumatic stress disorder. He says he believes "people don't care about veterans like they should." But, Millbrooks says, he believes every American owes something to their country, whether military service or not. "Nobody asked me to go there," he says of the Persian Gulf. "Everybody's got to do something in the world. That was my job." Caitlyn Bryant, 24, feels like there is a middle ground to fall on   between patriotism defined as military appreciation and respect for those who march and protest for change. The definition of patriotism has evolved over the years from the more-prominent military focus, she says. "In the past, everybody was kind of in that first ideal, not necessarily the second one," Bryant says. "But then again, there's always been those movers and shakers who want to change things. That's how we ended segregation. That's how we got the ability to vote." "Our veterans have done wonderful things and our armies do great things," she says, "but I also am a strong believer in change needs to happen. If anything stays the same for too long, it gets stagnant, and that's never really a good thing." Butch Kirven, chairman of the Greenville County Council, retired as a brigadier general in the U.S. Army. Falling short of identifying anyone or any particular subject by name, Kirven focuses on what he says are current challenges to the U.S. Constitution, which he says should be celebrated on the day of its signing, September 17, as equally as Independence Day, when the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776. "Our Constitution is designed to avoid the perils of extremes, but it is being sorely tested now," Kirven says. " When I see people demonstrating against the national anthem and against the United States flag, I am thankful that they have the right to do that, but at the same time, I know that this nation, like no other, gives all of us the opportunity to make right what is wrong   and that is what we should celebrate." Mary Montgomery works for Clemson and says that, speaking as a black U.S. citizen, she feels like she and other minorities find themselves having to prove they are patriotic. "For some people, they almost don't want to use that to define how they feel about America," she says. "If I say I'm patriotic, does that mean I have to wear the red hat? If I don't say I'm patriotic, does that mean I don't like the police? I think it is your own set of definitions." "When I think of the word patriotism," she says, "what comes to mind to me is really freedom and the struggle to remind everyone that we are all the same. Specifically, as an African American woman, that rings really true because of the battles and the just constant push to remind everyone that we're the same and just as patriotic as anyone else." This article originally appeared on The Greenville News: July 4th: SC residents united by love of US, differ on what it means


As the Ravens lost key players C.J. Mosley, Terrell Suggs, Eric Weddle, and Za'Darius Smith to free agency, a youth movement began . The team traded Joe Flacco to the Denver Broncos as they turned the keys to the team over to second-year quarterback Lamar Jackson. They are going with younger, in-house options to fill the voids left by departed veterans. A key step in getting younger is signing good players to long-term contracts before their contract years. Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta has already employed that strategy, choosing to sign cornerback Tavon Young to a three-year extension a full year before he was set to hit free agency. But Young isn't the only player on the roster deserving of an extension. If Baltimore wishes to stop another mass exodus in the coming years, there are a few more players they should try to lock up early. Let's look at four young Ravens the team could look to extend before the season starts. OLB Matthew Judon Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports After losing a young, promising pass rusher in Za'Darius Smith signing with the Green Bay Packers this offseason, there's a little extra emphasis being put on Judon. Judon has come a long way since entering the league as a sixth-round selection out of Grand Valley State in 2016. Judon has amassed 19 sacks and 40 quarterback hits in his three-year career. As Judon enters the final year of his rookie deal this season, he's looking to follow a similar trajectory as Smith to big money in free agency. But if Baltimore can sign him early, they could get a bit of a discount while Judon gets a little added security. The problem is Judon isn't going to come cheap. Smith signed a four-year, $66 million contract with the Packers, according to Over The Cap , having only 18.5 sacks over four years in Baltimore. With a half sack more in one less season, there's no reason to think Judon will be signed for less money. Then again, locking him up before record-setting deals can get thrown around next offseason could save the Ravens massive amounts of money in the long run. DT Michael Pierce Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images Pierce has been a real diamond in the rough for the Ravens. He was given a chance by the team as an undrafted free agent out of Samford in 2016 and has been a dominant force as a run-stuffing defensive tackle . Pierce has totaled 116 tackles as well as three sacks in his three years in Baltimore. However, his production goes far beyond the stat sheet. He constantly takes on double teams on the inside, opening up gaps in the offensive line and one on one matchups for his teammates. He also has incredible strength, as he uses his brute force to will his way inside and disrupt both running and passing plays. He has 11 total tackles for loss in his career and 83 total defensive stops, according to PFF. The Ravens committed a lot of money to Williams when they signed him to a five-year, $54 million extension in 2017 . Some might say that having two highly-paid defensive tackles isn't necessary and takes away money for other positions. However, Pierce is four years younger than Williams and the two make a fearsome duo inside. Plus, Williams is a likely salary cap casualty after the 2020 season thanks to a $14.42 million cap hit with only $4.92 million in dead money. Having Pierce signed would make that decision significantly easier to make and could save the Ravens some serious money. Baltimore's defense suffers when Pierce isn't on the field. It would suffer even more if he's on a different team. LB Patrick Onwuasor Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports Patrick Onwuasor is another undrafted gem that has earned playing time and delivered when on the field. He stepped up in a big way during the 2018 season to the tune of 59 total tackles and 5.5 sacks, proving to be a great compliment inside to C.J. Mosley. The Ravens felt comfortable in Onwuasor and his ability to take over the defense. They showed that by letting Mosley sign with the New York Jets for a whopping $85 million over five years. Onwuasor is now tasked with filling Mosley's shoes. That's already a tough thing to ask of any player but it's especially difficult considering the greatness that has played inside linebacker in Baltimore. Onwuasor will have to step up and lead the defense this season, which could mean the Ravens will want to wait to see how he fares before looking to re-sign him. But having shown steady improvement over each of the last two years, Onwuasor is a good candidate to be extended early. If Mosley's new contract is any indication, Onwuasor having a good season could easily price Baltimore out. If that's the case, the Ravens will be looking at their third starting inside linebacker in three years - something they don't have a clear plan for as of right now. CB Marlon Humphrey Patrick McDermott-USA TODAY Sports Humphrey is easily the biggest up-and-coming player the Ravens have on their roster . He's already considered to be one of the best cornerbacks in the league and is on his way to truly elite "shutdown cornerback" status this season. While Humphrey has a fifth-year option that could keep him in Baltimore through the 2021 season, I doubt the Ravens are interested in letting him get that far along. Locking Humphrey up to a contract extension now will allow them to play around with the cap hits a little better, perhaps even having a lower cap hit in 2021 than his fifth-year option would be, considering it's set at $13.703 million for 2020 already. Baltimore values cornerbacks even more than the rest of the NFL. They've had really good ones and they've seen enough injuries pop up at the position to consistently stockpile players there. Signing Humphrey early takes some pressure off and gives them a good foundation to build off of in their secondary. MORE: Steph Curry opens up about Kevin Durant's exit, state of Warriors after big changes Chris Paul's Contract Is So Bad The Rockets Gave Up Everything in Thunder Trade News: Major trade target at safety, levels to Cowboys WRs, NFL's best back NBA Depth Charts The Ringer believes Raiders could trade SS Karl Joseph to Cowboys


It is May, but this year don't sell and get out just yet. The "Best Six Months" strategy has become legendary on Wall Street. "Sell in May and go away" means investing in the Dow Jones Industrial Average between Nov. 1 and April 30 and switching into fixed income for the other six months. This has dramatically outperformed owning the Dow Industrials from May 1 to Oct. 31. While the outperformance has not been as strong recently   the Dow has been up between May and November in 5 of the last 6 years   the overall strategy remains one of the greatest mechanical trading models ever devised. An investor putting $10,000 into the S&P 500 between May 1 and Oct. 31, 1950 to the present would have $4,138, an astonishing loss of $5,862. An investor putting $10,000 into the S&P 500 from Nov. 1 to April 20 over the same time period would have a gain of $2,836,350. That is not a typo. We are talking about a gain of $2,836,350, versus a loss of $5,862. "Thus far we have failed to find a similar trading strategy that even comes close over the past six decades," said Jeffrey Hirsch, who runs Stock Trader's Almanac. His father, Yale Hirsch, discovered this "Best Six Months" strategy back in 1986. What could possibly account for this outperformance? First, there are still clear seasonal trends in market trading, particularly around the summer. "It falls during a time when traders and investors prefer the golf course, beach, or pool to the trading floor or computer screen," Hirsch said. "Trading volume can decline throughout the summer and then, in September, there's back-to-school, back-to-work, and end-of-third-quarter portfolio window dressing that has caused stocks to sell off in September, making it the worst month of the year on average." October is also a traditionally a poor month for stocks, which Hirsch partially attributes to the Oct. 31 mutual fund deadline. The Tax Reform Act of 1986 mandated that Oct. 31 was the cut-off date for mutual funds to realize capital gains and losses. Once the fourth quarter comes around, Hirsch says end-of-the-year strategies drive stocks. "Institutions' efforts in the fourth quarter to beef up their numbers can help drive the market higher, as does holiday shopping and an influx of year-end bonus money," he said. "This is followed by the New Year, which can tend to bring a positive 'new-leaf' mentality to forecasts and predictions and the anticipation of strong fourth- and first-quarter earnings and drives the market higher into the second quarter." As he has many times in the past, Hirsch emphasizes that "sell in May" does not necessarily mean May will be down, or that the six-month period will be down. "We are not the 'sell in May' people, we are the 'reposition in May' people,'" he said. "The point is that most of the market's gains occur November through April and that the market tends to drift sideways and is more prone to sell-offs and bears May-October." Hirsch, in fact, is fairly bullish about the short-term prospects for the market. "The market will most likely drift higher on the bullish GDP, earnings backdrop and the dovish Fed," Hirsch said. "Plus it's the preelection year, and that is the best of the four-year cycle up 15.8% for DJIA and 28.8%."


Processed foods have long been linked to shorter life spans and increased cancer cases . Groundbreaking research from the U.S. National Institutes of Health suggests for the first time that the relationship is causal: No matter how nutritious they are, processed foods lead people to eat more and gain weight. Scientists still aren't sure why this is the case, but they think there may be something unique about the way our hormones interact with processed foods . Plus, we typically eat them faster than unprocessed meals, which means the body has less time to stop and register when it's full. Too much sugar, too much salt, and too much fat . We've all been told for years that these are the culprits responsible for so aring obesity rates and expanding waistlines . But new groundbreaking research performed at a state-of-the-art nutrition lab in Maryland reveals the nutritional value of what we eat may not matter nearly as much as how fresh our food is in the first place. Nutrition experts at the National Institutes of Health have some of the first evidence (published Thursday in the journal Cell Metabolism ) that there is something inherently bad about the way our bodies take in processed, ready-to-eat and ready-to-heat foods, and it makes us eat substantially more food every day and get fatter over time than we would if we were eating fresh, home-cooked meals more regularly. "I was surprised that we actually saw a very large effect," lead researcher Kevin Hall from the National Institutes of Health told Business Insider. Researchers turned people into lab rats to better study their eating behaviors For the study, Hall did something unusual: He put human participants into a hyper-controlled laboratory setting, where they ate all their meals in isolation for 28 days under strict medical observation. All the while, scientists measured changes in the participants' insulin sensitivity, appetite, glucose, and a host of other metabolic and physical measurements. Researchers at the Bethesda Metabolic Clinical Research Unit enrolled just 10 men and 10 women into the study, feeding the participants both ultra-processed and fresh diets in two-week increments. Some participants used their lab time to study for board exams, while others simply played video games, Hall said. "People often think of this as a way to kind of take time away from the day-to-day stresses of everyday life, and focus on something, and have all their meals prepared for them," he said. The patients' diets were precisely matched, so that regardless of whether people were offered processed or unprocessed meals, they were given exactly the same amount of protein, fat, carbs, salt, and sugar to eat. Participants were instructed to eat as much food as they liked within allotted 60-minute meal windows. They spent two weeks eating a processed diet, and then switched and did two more weeks eating fresh meals. Something remarkable happened, and it wasn't at all what the researchers expected. People who ate processed foods consumed about 500 more calories a day Participants consumed, on average, 500 more calories a day on the ultra-processed diet, when meals included foods like hot dogs, freezer pancakes, canned chili, and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Processed-food eaters also gained about two pounds in those two weeks. Regardless of the patients' weight or sex, they consumed more carbs and ate more fat on a processed food diet. "It's a very big difference, and it's an important difference," Hall said. "There really is a causal relationship between ultra-processed foods and how many calories people choose to eat." The find goes along with what long-term studies in free-roaming humans at home have suggested: Eating more processed and packaged foods is not good for us. Processed food consumption ups a person's odds of dying and developing all kinds of cancers . The difference between processed and unprocessed meals is subtle on the surface. Both diet groups ate cereals, eggs, beans, and pastas. However, in the unprocessed group, the ingredients were fresher, there were no additives or preservatives in the meals. Whole foods and unrefined ingredients were used (eggs and potatoes were prepared from scratch, for example). If participants eating unprocessed meals ate black beans, they were cooked from dried beans, not popped out of a can like in the ultra-processed meals. The unprocessed breakfasts included yogurt, nuts, and plenty of fresh fruit. Lunch might be a spinach salad tossed with chicken breast, apples, and bulgur topped off with sunflower seeds. This is not to say that everything on the "unprocessed" menu was made from scratch. Quinoa breakfast cereal was on offer, and frozen berries and corn were allowed on the unprocessed meal plans. Scientists still aren't sure why people are tempted to eat more on ultra-processed diet plans, especially because they tend to rate the tastiness of the processed and unprocessed food about the same. But they think there may be something about the way unprocessed, whole foods interact with hormones that helps us suppress our appetites and pay better attention to natural cues that we're full. Another possibility is that we tend to eat processed foods faster, so our bodies don't have time to register when we're full until we've overeaten. "The point is that our paper doesn't answer that question," as Hall said. There is something to be said for the sheer convenience of pre-packaged foods. Hall, a father of chicken nugget-eating toddlers himself, understands the what-to-eat conundrum well. "One has to be cognizant of the fact that people are living their day to day lives," he said. "Ultra-processed food has a lot of advantages in terms of its convenience. It's cheap, it sticks around for a while, you don't have to have all the fresh ingredients on hand, which might spoil. You don't have to have all the equipment to prepare these meals from scratch." Still, he says trying to cut back on processed foods is a good idea, especially if you're trying to manage your weight. That strategy isn't cheap, however. Ultra-processed meals in this study were priced around $106 per week, while the unprocessed options were a costlier $151. Related Video: 'Detox' From Processed Foods (Provided by CNN)


Donald Trump has been lavishly welcomed by the queen, Prince Charles, and his wife Camilla at Buckingham Palace at the start of his controversial state visit to the U.K . Marine One touched down in the gardens of Buckingham Palace a little after noon Monday, having choppered just over a mile from the American Embassy, from where, a half hour previously, the president had shared a common complaint of foreign travelers: the crappy domestic TV. "Just arrived in the United Kingdom. The only problem is that CNN is the primary source of news available from the U.S. After watching it for a short while, I turned it off. All negative & so much Fake News, very bad for U.S. Big ratings drop. Why doesn't owner ATT do something?" As every tourist knows, sitting in your room watching TV and tweeting can be an alluring diversion, but it is no way to make the most of your trip overseas, and it was soon time to get out and meet some locals. And what locals they were: Stepping out of his helicopter in the Buckingham Palace gardens, Trump and Melania were met by Prince Charles, in a significant moment for the heir to the throne. Charles then led the Trumps to a tented reception area on the palace steps, where he was greeted by the queen, who wore green and carried her trademark leather handbag. Her husband, Prince Philip, who has retired from royal duties, was not present. Having safely delivered their cargo to the palace, the presidential choppers vacated the garden to make way for the marching band of the Grenadier Guards, and a guard of honor formed of the Household Cavalry. Turning on the pomp and circumstance, two separate 41-gun salutes, fired in tandem at the Tower of London and at Green Park, resounded around the city. The adult children of the president joined by Jared Kushner, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, and John Bolton, among others watched from the balcony of the music room on the first floor of the palace as their father and the first lady, accompanied by Her Majesty, stood for a stirring rendition of the American national anthem before inspecting the guard of honor. When Trump visited Windsor Castle in 2018 , he was widely criticized for breaching protocol after walking ahead of the queen while inspecting the Guard of Honor. This time, perhaps to forestall such an awkward moment, Charles accompanied Trump on the inspection instead of the queen, and invited him to walk ahead of him, before turning Trump over to the care of the company commander. Charles followed a few paces behind. Trump was seen to exchange a few words with several of the soldiers. Despite the warm weather, there was no reprise of an unfortunate incident over the weekend when troops wearing the traditional bearskin hats practicing for the ceremonial marking of the queen's birthday, the trooping of the color, fainted on Horseguard's Parade. The president and his family were then due to have a private lunch with the queen and Prince Harry ( whose wife, Meghan Markle, he recently called "nasty" on tape and then tried to deny it ) before being taken to see a special exhibition of artworks with historical significance to the U.S. from the queen's collection. Later, Trump was due to visit Westminster Abbey before taking tea with Charles, followed by a banquet at Buckingham Palace this evening, before which Trump is due to make a speech. That's right, a speech. The suspense is killing us. Read more at The Daily Beast.


The afternoon sun hangs blisteringly hot, baking down on the woods and fields of southern Gaston County, and sending the temperature dangerously close to 100 degrees. Yet at a recently-established pollinator habitat adjacent to the beginning of the Seven Oaks Trail, butterflies and bees are undeterred by the baking heat as they flit and buzz from one flower to another. The habitat was established by the Catawba Lands Conservancy with financial support from the Gaston Community Foundation, as was a similar habitat at the beginning of the South Fork River Trail in McAdenville. Both the Seven Oaks Trail and the South Fork Trail are part of the continually-expanding Carolina Thread Trail, which is administered by the Catawba Lands Conservancy. The Seven Oaks site has a more natural, unsculpted appearance, while the South Fork River site looks more like a traditional "garden." Both locations, however, provide habitat for a key ecological component of life on Earth -- pollinators. "Insects form the basis for the whole ecological system," said Sean Bloom, GIS director and biologist for the lands conservancy. "They literally provide the foundation upon which life on this planet rests." Pollinators -- including bees, butterflies, moths, wasps, flies, beetles, ants, bats, and hummingbirds -- are vital to at least 35 percent of global crop production. Protecting, enhancing, or providing habitat is the best way to conserve native pollinators and, at the same time, provide pollen and nectar resources that support local pollinators. At Seven Oaks, the land now devoted to habitat had been covered with fescue grass, "which we had to mow every two weeks," said Bloom. "We thought it best to get away from that and develop something more environmentally friendly." At the South Fork, the habitat area had been home to a stand of bamboo. That plot lent itself to a more conventional "garden" where the flowers have a more organized appearance. "The idea is to have something in bloom from the early spring to the late fall," explained Bloom. "These are all native plants, so they require no watering, no fertilization." Going back to the importance of pollinator habitats, Bloom noted there has been a decline in the common songbird population in recent years, tied to the decline in insects which provide their diet, tied to the decline in native plants. Nowhere is that decline more evident than in the monarch butterfly population which Bloom said has declined by 90 percent in recent decades. Both of the sites have also been designated a part of the North Carolina Butterfly Highway. The Butterfly Highway is a statewide conservation restoration initiative that aims to restore native pollinator habitats to areas impacted by urbanization, land use change, and agriculture across the state. From backyard "pollinator pit stops" to large-scale roadside habitat restoration, the project is creating a network of native flowering plants to support butterflies, bees, birds and other pollen- and nectar-dependent wildlife. Among the native wildflowers planted at both sites are lanceleaf tickseed, evening primrose, butterfly weed, black-eyed susan, purple cone flower, partridge pea, swamp milkweed, joe-pye weed, marsh marigold, blue mistflower, and New England aster. One thing to remember about these habitats, however, is that they have a limited lifespan. "The pollinators become very familiar and very comfortable with them," said Bloom. "But so do the predators of those pollinators. Every three to five years, they will have to be mown down and restarted." Bill Poteat, who remembers a time when monarch butterflies filled the western North Carolina skies in autumn, may be reached at 704-969-1855. ___ (c)2019 Gaston Gazette, Gastonia, N.C. Visit Gaston Gazette, Gastonia, N.C. at www.gastongazette.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.


LONDON   Thousands are marching in Northern Ireland to demand that the region's leaders permit same-sex marriage. The demonstrators in Belfast on Saturday want same-sex couples to be treated the same way in Northern Ireland as they are in the rest of the UK, where same-sex marriage is legal. The issue is a stumbling block to restoring Northern Ireland's Catholic-Protestant power-sharing administration, which has been suspended for more than two years. Northern Ireland's 1.8 million people have been without a functioning administration since the government collapsed in January 2017 over a failed green-energy project. The rift later widened to broader cultural issues separating Northern Ireland's British unionists and Irish nationalists. The socially conservative Democratic Unionist Party, an ally of British Prime Minister Theresa May's government, is opposed to a redefinition of the law.


There didn't seem to be anyone in Madison County, Ohio, who would want to kill 51-year-old Billi Romans, the cheery receptionist at Grove City Christian School who prayed with parents and kids in the hallway if they were having a bad day. She sang in the choir at church and rooted loudly in the stands for her two children at their basketball and baseball games, the Columbus Dispatch would later describe. But then one night in April 2008, an unusual fire killed Billi and both the kids, 12-year-old Caleb and 16-year-old Ami   one that authorities would spend more than a decade investigating. Subscribe to the Post Most newsletter: Today's most popular stories on The Washington Post Billi's husband, Peter Romans, was the only one to escape the blaze. The fire that burned the family's modest one-story home to the ground in rural Ohio was unusual in part because it didn't start in the home. Somehow, it started in the family's Ford Expedition that was parked in the carport next to the house   then rapidly spread to the home. Peter rushed out to try to save his other truck that was parked near the Expedition, he would later say, while Billi and Ami each dialed 911 from inside. Screaming and coughing clouded the call as a dispatcher tried to ask Billi to repeat the name of her street three times. "Lily Chapel and Opossum Run Road," Romans said, and then, to her children: "Get out!" But they couldn't get out. And Peter, as he would later tell investigators, couldn't get back inside to save them. It was too late. So he ran over to a neighbor. By the time firefighters reached Billi and her kids, they were dead. The coroner later listed the cause of death: homicide. It was arson, investigators had found in 2009. Now, more than a decade after the fire, prosecutors say they have finally found the only person in Madison County they believe could have killed Billi and the kids: Peter, the husband, father and lone survivor. On Monday, Peter Romans was arrested on multiple charges of aggravated murder, aggravated arson and murder in the deaths of his wife and children. Prosecutors have not revealed what new evidence has led them to arrest Romans more than 11 years after the fire and a decade after the arson determination. But his attorney, Sam Shamansky, questioned the timing of the indictment. This October, a federal civil trial was supposed to begin in Romans's lawsuit against Ford Motor Company, which he has blamed for the fire from the start. Now, the competing cases thrust two wildly different narratives into two different courts: Was the fire the result of a faulty cruise-control switch, tragically claiming the lives of Romans's entire family? Or did Romans douse the Expedition in accelerant and start the fire himself? "He is most certainly innocent," Shamansky told WSYX. "He didn't commit any crime. He has done nothing but cooperate fully with the authorities." In the aftermath of Billi, Caleb and Ami's deaths, the family's church rallied around Romans, trying to offer him a sense of family after losing his own. "He needs your prayers," the Rev. Mark Fuller told the congregation in 2008, according to WBNS. "You're about the only family he has left." He filed his first lawsuit against Ford in state court less than a year after the fire, claiming the automaker was aware of faulty wiring in the cruise-control switch that could start fires under the hood but did nothing to prevent the problem. (Ford has disputed these claims.) The vehicle had qualified for a recall in 2005 for this problem, according to the suit. But just a few months later in 2009, the State Fire Marshal's Office made its ruling that the fire was arson   and said that investigators had ruled out the possibility that the fire was Ford's fault. The cruise-control switch was found mainly intact, investigators said, and had been burned from the outside in, rather than the inside out. A significant amount of accelerant was found in the vehicle, they found. "That appeared to eliminate, at least in our minds, that the cruise control switch was the start of the fire," one fire investigator told the Dispatch in a short film for a 2011 story. The questions then became, "Who would do this?" state investigator Gregg Costas told the newspaper. He said he simply couldn't find that Billi, the beloved school receptionist and church singer, or her children had any enemies. "To commit an arson to that degree, you gotta be pretty pissed off about something, and I'm just not finding it," he said. But other court records indicate authorities were much more suspicious of Romans behind closed doors. While Romans's 2009 lawsuit was pending in state court, he requested the entire investigative file as part of discovery. The judge said no   because an "uncharged murder suspect" essentially wanted the keys to the castle, the Dispatch reported in an update in 2015. "Peter Romans is the prime suspect in the investigation of the arson homicides of his wife, Billi Romans, and his children," wrote Judge Robert D. Nichols, adding: "The Court has before it the anomalous situation in which an uncharged murder suspect asserts a right to access coroner's records related to and surrounding the deaths of his alleged victims." Romans dropped the case against Ford in 2015 and refiled it the next year in federal court instead. Records include testimony from the Ohio State Fire Marshal investigator Ron Stemen, who concluded the fire that killed Billi, Caleb and Ami was "incendiary in nature" in 2009. He conceded in a 2012 deposition, however, that "the exact origin and cause is not known, and further investigation is needed in this case." He said all investigators were able to determine was that the fire was caused by a human, and they didn't know if it was on purpose or on accident. It's unclear what more investigators have found in the seven years since. On Monday, the neighbor who lived across the street from the Romans family at the time of the fatal fire   and whom Romans ran to for help   said she and her husband had always been suspicious about why Romans was running to them, rather than helping his family. "Most men, if their family was trapped in the house would do anything they could to get in there to help them and would die trying to get them out," she told WSYX. "If he's guilty, I hope he gets his just punishment," she said. Romans remains jailed in the Tri-County Regional Jail on no bond. Romans's attorneys in the civil case against Ford urged the judge to reschedule the civil trial, not sure if he'll even be able to attend in October. "The State of Ohio is seeking the death penalty," his attorneys wrote. "The criminal prosecution of Plaintiff unavoidably impacts this civil case."


In the recently concluded NBA Finals, the Toronto Raptors treated Golden State's supporting cast - after shooting guard Klay Thompson and forward Kevin Durant had left with injuries - with disregard, using a box-and-one defense to stifle guard Stephen Curry and daring the remaining Warriors to make a shot. The strategy worked, and Golden State's front office took notice. General manager Bob Myers focused on selecting players in the 2019 NBA Draft who can score field goals, especially when left open. Aaron Miles, coach of the Santa Cruz Warriors in the G League who will coach Golden State's Summer League team, gave his impressions of Myers' first-round choice: guard Jordan Poole. Here's what he told reporters about Poole from practice, according to The Mercury News ' Mark Medina : Jordan's a very skilled player. He's got a lot of ball skills. He can shoot the basketball well. Jordan has the ability to get to the paint but he can also really shoot the basketball in transition and so forth. Aaron Miles on what he's seen from Jordan Poole on Warriors' summer league team pic.twitter.com/SadydNlnfv - Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) June 28, 2019 With Thompson and Durant out for an extended amount of time and set to hit free agency as well, Poole will have plenty of room to operate as defenses focus on Curry. Miles describes a player with the ability to be multi-dimensional on offense, which is precisely what the Warriors need, whether Thompson and Durant are gone for the season due to their injuries or, perhaps, forever. MORE: Max Kellerman doubles down on Tom Brady take, says QB is a 'game manager' Danny Green: 'This is the time where I need to maximize the dollars on the longest amount of years that I can do' Vegas Sportsbook moves up Lakers title odds due to Kawhi Leonard rumors Francis Ellis Fired from Barstool Sports [UPDATE] Are Giants a legitimate worst-to-first candidate?


The Los Angeles Rams were relatively inactive this offseason, only signing a few free agents to bolster their roster. Things could ramp up in the coming months, though, with several players potentially earning contract extensions. Jared Goff, Marcus Peters and Greg Zuerlein are among the first that come to mind, but some have wondered when Sean McVay will get a raise after completely turning around the franchise. According to Rams COO Kevin Demoff, not yet. Demoff told Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times that the Rams are focused on "making sure the players we need to extend are done." "Becoming a face of the team in Los Angeles and, really, becoming one of the faces of the NFL, is everything you hope when you go into the head coaching process," Demoff said. "Not just to find a great coach but to find an amazing leader and steward for our franchise. "As you go to make sure that your [core] players are here for a long time, obviously the goal is to make sure your coaching staff is here a long time. … Our goal is always to make sure this group can stay together for as long as possible." The same question can be asked about general manager Les Snead, who's done an excellent job turning the Rams into perennial Super Bowl contenders. He could be up for a new contract in the coming years, too, and Demoff sees no reason to believe the duo of McVay and Snead will be broken up. "When you have an outstanding owner and outstanding leadership at the head coach and general manager position, you want continuity, you want to build off that," Demoff said. "There's no reason that shouldn't continue in the foreseeable future." The Rams haven't set a timeline for extending Goff, who will be a free agent after the 2020 season. Demoff said they've had early talks about a timeline in the future, but nothing has been determined as of now. Their discussions have included "no heavy lifting" and it seems they're still in the very early stages. Snead, as McVay has repeatedly, backed Goff as their franchise quarterback and wants him around for the long term. "If a quarterback can prove he can win in this league - win two division championships and get to a Super Bowl - I think it's obvious that at some point he will get a long-term contract from the Rams," Snead said. MORE: What the Lakers' new roster looks like with Anthony Davis An ode to the Golden State Warriors, the team that ruined the game NBA Free Agency 2019: The top players The Celtics should consider drafting Bol Bol Could the Titans trade TE Jonnu Smith to the Patriots?


Jets head coach Adam Gase added the interim General Manager title when Mike Maccagnan was fired last week and the team has signed its first player since making that move. It's a player that Gase once coached in Miami. The Jets announced that they have signed punter Matt Darr to their 90-man roster. Darr was the punter for the Dolphins in 2016, which was Gase's first season as the head coach in Miami. He'd taken over the job by beating out Brandon Fields in a competition in 2015 and was out of the league after being waived in September 2017. He returned to action in five games for the Bills last year. Darr has an average of 45.4 yards per kick over his entire career. He joins Lachlan Edwards as the current punting options for the Jets.


Reports are in that Marc by Marc Jacobs, Marc Jacobs's diffusion line that relaunched to lots of fanfare last year , will be discontinued as a stand-alone label. Marc by Marc will be folded into an expanded Marc Jacobs, to "encompass a range of merchandise and price points" which will "unify all products with a clarity of voice and aesthetic, and ultimately, to expand the product offerings." What this means for Marc by Marc's high-profile design team, Katie Hillier and Luella Bartley, is unclear.


Curious just how far your dollar goes in Philadelphia? We've rounded up the latest places for rent via rental sites Zumper and Apartment Guide to get a sense of what to expect when it comes to scoring apartment rentals in Philadelphia if you're on a budget of $2,800/month. Take a peek at what rentals the city has to offer, below. (Note: Prices and availability are subject to change.) Hoodline offers data-driven analysis of local happenings and trends across cities. Links included in this article may earn Hoodline a commission on clicks and transactions. 1213 Walnut St. (Washington Square) Listed at $2,796/month, this 656-square-foot one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment is located at 1213 Walnut St. The unit offers in-unit laundry, a mix of hardwood floors and carpeting, a walk-in closet and a dishwasher. The building boasts on-site laundry. Cats and dogs are welcome. Per Walk Score ratings, the area around this address is extremely walkable, is convenient for biking and is a haven for transit riders. (Check out the complete listing here .) 1 Franklin Town Blvd. (Logan Square) Next, there's this two-bedroom, two-bathroom spot situated at 1 Franklin Town Blvd. It's listed for $2,677/month for its 1,200 square feet. Expect a dishwasher and in-unit laundry in the residence. Neither cats nor dogs are welcome. Future tenants needn't worry about a leasing fee. According to Walk Score's assessment, the area around this address is extremely walkable, is very bikeable and boasts excellent transit options. (Take a gander at the complete listing here .) 3900 City Ave. (Wynnefield Heights) Next, check out this 1,450-square-foot one-bedroom, one-and-a-half-bathroom apartment that's located at 3900 City Ave. It's listed for $2,715/month. The building boasts secured entry and garage parking. The apartment offers hardwood flooring and in-unit laundry. Pet owners, take heed: Cats and dogs are allowed. According to Walk Score's assessment, this location is moderately walkable, has minimal bike infrastructure and has good transit options. (See the complete listing here .) 1830 Lombard St. (Rittenhouse) Located at 1830 Lombard St., here's a two-bedroom, two-bathroom unit that's listed for $2,715/month. The unit offers in-unit laundry and a dishwasher. The building boasts garage parking. Pet lovers are in luck: Cats and dogs are allowed. Future tenants needn't worry about a leasing fee. According to Walk Score's assessment, this location is extremely walkable, is very bikeable and is a haven for transit riders. (Check out the complete listing here .) 507 S. Eighth St. (Washington Square) Listed at $2,745/month, this two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment is located at 507 S. Eighth St. The building boasts garage parking. In the unit, expect a dishwasher, hardwood flooring, a walk-in closet and in-unit laundry. Pets are not allowed. According to Walk Score's assessment, this location has excellent walkability, is very bikeable and boasts excellent transit options. (Take a look at the complete listing here .) Working with a tight budget? Here are the cheapest rentals recently listed in Philadelphia . This story was created automatically using local real estate data from Zumper and Apartment Guide , then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold will create history if he starts in the Reds' Champions League final against Tottenham on 1 June. If selected, the young full-back will become the first player under the age of 21 to start in consecutive finals of Europe's premier club competition. The Englishman would surpass the record previously set by Italian full back Christian Panucci, who played in Milan 's 4-0 win over Barcelona in 1994, before starting again in the following year's final in the Rossoneri's defeat to Ajax. Panucci was 22 years old at the time, but the Liverpool academy product won't turn 21 until October. The right-back has enjoyed a sensational season, having been a key part in his side's incredible 97 point Premier League total, while also playing in ten of Liverpool's Champions League games this season. For the first time in the @premierleague era, two defenders have provided 10+ assists in a single season...  @trentaa98 : 12  @andrewrobertso5 : 11  pic.twitter.com/DXt4FSx24E   Liverpool FC (@LFC) May 16, 2019 Having created 12 Premier League assists in his 29 appearances this season, his most notable contribution in Europe was his incredibly quick thinking corner against La Liga champions Barca, where Alexander-Arnold feigned walking away, only to catch the defence sleeping to set up Divock Origi, which completed an unforgettable comeback. Having been left out of the 3-0 defeat at the Camp Nou in the first leg in favour of Joe Gomez, the England international will almost certainly start in the final and is considered one of the best young full-backs in the world. gbeng @TrentAA98 this season:  39 Games ⚽ 1 Goal  17 Assists 聾 17 Clean Sheets ✅ Most assists in a season, for a defender, in @PremierLeague history 賂 2nd most assists in 2018/19 @PremierLeague  @ChampionsLeague Finalist  @PFA Team of the Season  Just 20 years old. pic.twitter.com/vcU6fGqOLB   SPORF (@Sporf) May 13, 2019 The Merseyside club will be hoping for better luck in the final this year after falling to 13-time champions Real Madrid in Kiev last May, following two howlers from goalkeeper Loris Karius. The Reds will be aiming for their sixth European Cup, while Spurs will be aiming for victory in their very first Champions League final.


Drive through the city of Paradise Valley, AZ, and you may notice something strange. Or more likely you won't. That's where city officials have been installing cameras in fake cacti. The devices, hidden in towers that take the form of a cactus, form part of a license plate reader (LPR) system being installed around the wealthy Phoenix suburb. The cameras detect and store license plate numbers of passing cars and compare them to a database of stolen or wanted vehicles. If they match a number on the "hit list," police receive a notification. Paradise Valley isn't the only city using LPR systems. Nor is it the only one reported to be hiding them from plain sight, as other municipalities and law-enforcement agencies have been known to hide them in traffic barrels, ladders on top of vans, unmarked police cars or even taxi cabs. Critics and civil liberty activists decry the invasion on citizens' privacy. But officials in Paradise Valley reportedly broke silence on the development only to insist that the system was not yet active, and that its obscurity in faux cacti was more of a convenience and eyesore issue than a deliberate attempt at secrecy.


Darrell Waltrip will wrap up a prolific broadcasting career as NASCAR on FOX closes out its portion of the NASCAR schedule this weekend at Sonoma Raceway and the tributes are starting to come in. Roush Fenway Racing showed off its No. 17 Ford Mustang driven by Ricky Stenhouse Jr. with a special message and paint scheme for DW on Tuesday. Loaded up and ready to roll to @RaceSonoma ! pic.twitter.com/7cb09s3Hud   Roush Fenway Racing (@roushfenway) June 18, 2019 The car is a nod to Waltrip's No. 17 Western Auto/Parts America Darrell Waltrip Motorsports Chevrolet that he ran in the early to mid-1990s. Stenhouse also honored Waltrip in the 2016 Southern 500 at Darlington for its throwback weekend program. Waltrip will wrap up 18 years in the broadcast booth after Sunday's Toyota/Save Mart 350 (3 p.m. ET, FS1, PRN, Sirius XM NASCAR Radio). ]]>


The $3 billion to $5 billion fine Facebook says it expects from the FTC probably won't be enough to change its behavior. Facebook's stock price jumped after it said it expects to incur a fine of up to $5 billion from the Federal Trade Commission. And that's all you really need to know about whether the historically large penalty matters to the company. The Menlo Park, California-based social media giant reported its first-quarter earnings on Wednesday and revealed it had set aside $3 billion during the period related to the FTC's investigation into its handling of user data and potential privacy violations. Facebook expects the matter could wind up costing it between $3 billion and $5 billion. The possibility of a fine wasn't a surprise   the Washington Post reported in February that the FTC and Facebook were negotiating a multibillion-dollar fine. But Facebook's earnings confirmed it. The question now becomes whether the fine, if and when it hits, is just a slap on the wrist. The amount is orders of magnitude larger than the FTC's previous largest fine to date   $22.5 million against Google in 2012 . But for Facebook, while it may be a knock to the bottom line, it's far from the end of the world   even with the $3 billion it set aside in the first quarter, the company still made a profit of $2.4 billion. "Is this going to get their attention? It will get their attention to the extent that they're going to try to be more careful in the future," said Peter Henning, a law professor at Wayne State University and a former federal prosecutor. "But does it really deter violations? I think the answer to that question is no. For some companies, it's viewed as the cost of doing business." To be sure, the FTC could impose other penalties on Facebook beyond a fine, such as requiring it to change its data sharing and privacy practices. But at least for right now, the threat of what would be a blockbuster fine for the FTC doesn't really seem to be that much of a negative for the company. In fact, investors seem to have taken it as a positive: Facebook's stock price climbed after its announcement on Wednesday, adding about $40 billion to its market capitalization. What this FTC-Facebook probe is about in the first place, briefly explained A quick reminder of how we got here: This all goes back to the Cambridge Analytica scandal and whether Facebook's action violated a consent decree it reached with the FTC in 2011. In March 2018, reports revealed that Cambridge Analytica, a data analytics firm that had worked with Donald Trump's presidential campaign, among others, had accessed the personal information of millions of Americans through Facebook. In 2014, the company shared the personal information of tens of millions of people with an outside app developer. That developer then sold that information to Cambridge Analytica. The FTC subsequently announced that it would launch an investigation into Facebook's privacy practices. Specifically, it is looking into whether Facebook violated a 2011 agreement, or consent decree, it reached with the FTC over charges that it had deceived consumers about their privacy. Beyond the consent decree, Kurt Wagner recently noted at Recode that the FTC could be probing other Facebook-related matters as well: Cambridge Analytica is what set off this investigation in March, but the company has had a number of privacy slip-ups since then that the FTC could be looking into. A number of software bugs created privacy concerns for Facebook this summer: One changed the privacy settings for as many as 14 million people without their knowledge; another "unblocked" people that hundreds of thousands of users had blocked, putting users' safety at risk; yet another "vulnerability" exposed to hackers the personal Facebook data of almost 30 million people. When Facebook announced that breach, a company spokesperson said Facebook was "closely coordinating" with the FTC to let them know what happened, so the two sides have been in touch about more than just Cambridge Analytica. In the grand scheme of things, this fine isn't that big of a deal for Facebook "What a start to 2019," Morgan Stanley analyst Brian Nowak said in a note to clients about what he called "another storybook quarter" for Facebook. While $3 billion is a lot of money, including for the FTC, in the grand scheme of things for Facebook, it's not that big a deal. It's money the company will likely make up in a matter of months. Foreshadowing the potential fine is a bit of an unusual move, but it's also a way for Facebook to get out in front of the potential news, set investors' minds at ease, and reclaim some of the narrative around the story. "Wall Street hates uncertainty," Henning said. "Once you give them a dollar figure, they're going to look at it and go, 'Okay.'" This could also be a negotiating tactic on the part of Facebook, noted Ashkan Soltani, a former chief technologist at the FTC. Facebook might be attempting to leverage anchoring bias , the tendency in negotiations to give outsize weight to the first number put forward and set it as the starting point. To be sure, not everyone was happy with the amount Facebook foreshadowed would be coming down. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), a 2020 presidential contender who has called for the breakup of big tech , including Facebook, tweeted that the potential fine was a "slap on the wrist." This is a slap on the wrist a fraction of the profits Facebook makes in a year. Facebook is a repeat offender & fines like this won't stop them from breaking the law & violating our privacy again. It's going to take big, structural change. #BreakUpBigTech https://t.co/yXjj6F8RWR   Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) April 25, 2019 Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI), chair of the House's antitrust subcommittee, echoed Warren's assertion and called on Congress to act. Last month, I said that a fine in the low billions of dollars would amount to a slap on the wrist for Facebook. Tonight, we learned that's how Wall Street sees it too - as a slap on the wrist. If the FTC won't act, Congress has to. https://t.co/rkrS4XfaGY   David Cicilline (@davidcicilline) April 24, 2019 Freedom From Facebook, an offshoot of the Open Markets Institute anti-monopoly think tank , slammed the FTC in a statement. "Their continuous passivity is now positively affecting Facebook's bottom line," the group's co-chair, Sarah Miller, said in a statement. "Congress must consider moving resources from the FTC to state Attorneys General, who are demonstrating a willingness to act and serve the public interest." Matthew Stoller, a fellow at the Open Markets Institute and a vocal part of the left, said he thinks the potential fine is, in essence, a joke. "It's like saying to a bank robber, 'We're going to penalize you by forcing you to give back 15 percent of the money that you stole,'" he said. Fines are often seen as the cost of doing business Blockbuster fines for companies that behave badly isn't new in corporate America   nor is companies shrugging, paying the fine, and moving on. Look no further than the banking industry, which has shelled out billions of dollars over its misdeeds: Bank of America agreed to pay $16.7 billion in a 2014 settlement with the Justice Department related to its activities leading up to the financial crisis. In 2013, JPMorgan agreed to a $13 billion settlement with the Justice Department tied to its sales of securities containing "toxic mortgages." Both of those banks today are doing just fine. As the Information notes, the European Union has also hit tech companies Apple and Google with bigger fines than is expected from the FTC. Soltani told me he doesn't believe a $3 billion to $5 billion fine will do much to influence Facebook's behavior, but other remedies from the FTC could. For example, if the commission puts restrictions on how Facebook collects data and who it shares it with. "The more significant impact for individuals or for Facebook users and the public will be around injunctions and the limits on certain behaviors, not necessarily the fine," he said. In February, the German government ordered Facebook to change its data collection practices, including blocking the site from combining user data it collects through apps such as WhatsApp and Instagram and restricting it from collecting data on third-party websites in order to target users with advertising. The order would imply some big technical changes for Facebook, which has vowed to fight it. It's unclear whether the FTC would ever go that far, but requiring behavioral remedies would likely be more meaningful than asking for a check   however big it might seem.


Kesi is the Denver Zoo's first newborn mandrill in 16 years.


BLOOMFIELD TWP. (WWJ) - A 29-year-old woman is behind bars, accused of harassing and threatening employees at a loan office in Oakland County. The investigation began back on January 3 of this year, when Bloomfield Township Police responded to a call about disturbing and threatening phone calls received at Hebrew Free Loan onTelegraph Rd. near W. Maple Rd. Officers spoke with the manager who reported she received a call from a man inquiring about a loan. When she told him he didn't qualify, the man said it "wasn't fair" and hung up. Shortly after the call, several employees of HFL started to receive disturbing and threatening phone calls from a woman -- later identified as April Marie Bennett -- whom they said used derogatory language to describe their race and ethnicity. During one of the calls, Bennett allegely told a manager that she was going to come the HFL and kill her. That's when the manager called police. For each call received by HFL, police said the caller identification showed the name April Bennett. Following a lengthy investigation, police on June 19 obtained a warrent from the from the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office, and Bennett was arrested in Hastings, Michigan, north of Battle Creek. On June 20, Bennett was arraigned in the 48th District Court on two felony counts of Ethnic Intimidation and four misdemeanor counts of Malicious Use of a Telecommunication Service. Bond was set at $50,000 and Bennett's next court hearing was sxhedueld for July 2.


A 79-year-old man was seriously injured Wednesday when he was struck by a police cruiser, Quincy police said. The crash happened as the Quincy police cruiser was responding to a medical call at 7:21 a.m., police said. "As officers responded, with emergency lights activated, an officer struck a male pedestrian as he crossed Independence Avenue near Goddard Street," police said. The man was taken to Boston Medical Center in critical condition, police said. Police identified the man as Giovanni Angelucci of Braintree. "I've known him for 40, 50 years -- since I've been in the business," said local business owner Robert Marchionne. "He's been a client here, and he used to live in this neighborhood, still frequents the neighborhood -- him and his wife." The officer was taken to a local hospital and has been placed on leave. No additional details were immediately available. The crash is under investigation. "Anyone getting hit by a car is frightening. When you're 79-years-old, it's even more frightening," Marchionne said. READ MORE: Man, 79, struck, seriously injured by cruiser responding to call CHECK OUT WCVB: Get the latest Boston news, weather and sports online, anytime. Stay in the know with Boston's news leader   WCVB.


Start your day off right by looking at some cool kitties! There are dozens of cats up for adoption right here in Pittsburgh. Hoodline partnered with Petfinder , an online adoption site that lists "more than 315,000 adoptable pets from nearly 14,000 animal shelters and rescue groups" to bring you this roundup of cats near you. (Details like pet availability, training, vaccinations and other features are based on data provided by Petfinder and may be subject to change; contact the shelter for the latest information.) Olivia, domestic shorthair Olivia is a three-year-old female domestic shorthair cat currently residing at FosterCat Inc. She is already house-trained, spayed and vaccinated. Read more about how to adopt Olivia on Petfinder . Moxxi, domestic shorthair Moxxi is a lovable female domestic shorthair cat currently housed at Pittsburgh C.A.T. Moxxi loves other cats. She is looking for a dog-free household. Moxxi will do best in a home without small children. She's spayed, and she has all her shots. She's mastered her house-training etiquette. Here's more about Moxxi: Moxxi loves to be petted and receive belly rubs. She is scared of loud noises ad would do best in a quieter home without children or dogs. Apply to adopt Moxxi today at Petfinder . Yara, domestic shorthair Yara is a female domestic shorthair cat in the care of Cats of Crawford County . Yara is eager to make friends   she gets along well with other cats. She's already house-trained, vaccinated and spayed. Here's more about Yara: Yara is a six-month-old kitty, who is quite shy. She loves attention and being petted. Read more about Yara on Petfinder . Meera, domestic shorthair Meera is a winsome female domestic shorthair cat staying at Cats of Crawford County . Meera is happy to keep company with other cats. She's spayed, and she has all her shots. She's already house-trained. Read more about how to adopt Meera on Petfinder . Sybil, domestic shorthair Sybil is an adorable female domestic shorthair cat currently residing at Pittsburgh C.A.T. Sybil wants all your attention: She will need a home free of other cats. She does do well with kids. Have no fear: She is already house-trained. Sybil is already spayed, and she has all her shots. Here's more about Sybil: Sybil is about three or four years old. She's a very affectionate and friendly girl who loves scratches. Read more about how to adopt Sybil on Petfinder . This story was created automatically using local animal shelter data, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


Spending time in Golden Hills? Get to know this Mesa neighborhood by browsing its most popular local businesses, from a tanning business to an eyeglass spot. Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top places to visit in Golden Hills, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of neighborhood businesses. Read on for the results. 1. Sunchain Tanning First up is tanning spot Sunchain Tanning , which offers spray tanning, tanning beds and more, situated at 1155 S. Power Road, Suite 108. With 4.5 stars out of 28 reviews on Yelp, it's proven to be a local favorite. Sunchain Tanning teaches guests how to maximize time in the tanning bed, how to use different oils during a session and more. Visit the business' website here for a complete line of offerings, pricing and more. 2. All-American Eyeglass Repair Eyewear spot All-American Eyeglass Repair is another top choice. Yelpers give the business, located at 801 S. Power Road, Suite 110, 4.5 stars out of 23 reviews. Stop in to get your glasses cleaned, repaired or refurbished, or mail them in to be fixed. Same day repair is also available. 3. Social Ink Social Ink , a tattoo and piercing spot, is another much-loved neighborhood go-to, with 4.5 stars out of 20 Yelp reviews. Head over to 1155 S. Power Road, Suite 119 to see for yourself. Come get inked by artists Haley Lynn, John Jenrous or Tony Gonzalez any day of the week. A wide array of tattoo styles and subjects are offered. Piercing services are also available. 4. Pristine Barbershop Check out Pristine Barbershop , which has earned four stars out of 17 reviews on Yelp. You can find the barber shop at 801 S. Power Road, Suite 109. Come get your hair cut, styled and washed. This story was created automatically using local business data, then reviewed and augmented by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


Contingents of Mexican Marines poured into Sinaloa state as the manhunt intensified Thursday for notorious drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman. A day earlier, six arrests were announced in connection with Guzman's bold escape from a Mexican prison. Air raids were carried out Thursday in the mountainous municipality of Choix, where officials believe Guzman is hiding, Prensa Latina reported. Guzman made international news in July when he disappeared from a prison shower, slipped through a mile-long tunnel and vanished into the night. On Wednesday, Mexican Attorney General Arely Gomez said those arrested included the man accused of masterminding the escape. The suspect, Gomez said, was a member of Guzman's legal team who was a regular visitor at the Altiplano prison, relayed orders and handled payments to others involved in the escape. Other suspects arrested included Guzman's brother-in-law, who is accused of organizing construction of the tunnel and Guzman's transportation once he emerged from it. Gomez declined to reveal the names of the suspects. Gomez said that after fleeing Altiplano, Guzman traveled by land to Queretaro and then flew in a Cessna to his hometown state of Sinaloa in northwest Mexico. The government is offering a reward of $3.8 million for information leading to Guzman's capture. "Today we can confirm that the group responsible for planning, organizing and carrying out the escape from outside the prison has been broken up," Gomez said in a statement. "To be clear, no one is above the law." Earlier this month, Guzman broke his leg and bruised his face after falling down a small cliff while fleeing authorities, officials said. Guzman was able to escape capture with the help of bodyguards, officials said. El Chapo   "Shorty" for his small stature of 5-foot-6   has been an iconic figure in the drug trade for decades. He was first captured in Guatemala in 1993 and was extradited to Mexico. Guzman was serving a 20-year sentence on drug trafficking charges in a different prison when he pulled off an equally intricate escape in 2001. He was recaptured at a Mexican beach resort in February 2014. That apparently did not loosen his grip on the cartel. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration says he was able to communicate with his son and other cartel leaders through lawyers and others who visited him at Altiplano.


One city rakes in $545 million all by itself. Nobody likes getting a ticket, be it a moving or parking violation. It's no secret that such fines generate revenue for state and local municipalities, but you might be surprised to learn just how much revenue cities collect from folks who violate parking ordinances. Beyond that, looking deeper into statistics for select cities in the U.S. reveals that parking tickets aren't as cut-and-dry as one might seem. The information comes from a blog at CarRentals.com , which researched publicly available data from 16 major cities and surveyed more than 1,000 drivers. In short, these 16 cities alone reap more than $1.4 billion in annual revenue just from parking tickets. The study also lists individual revenue for these specific cities, and if you live in Chicago or New York, you have our condolences. The Windy City collects $264 million a year, while New York alone grabs no less than $545 million   more than nearly all other cities on the list combined. Be Careful Where You Park: See Karma In Action As Illegally Parked Ferrari Gets Towed This Is Why You Shouldn't Park In Front Of A Fire Hydrant To be fair, space for parking in large, crowded cities can be at a premium, but here's where another surprise comes in. According to the study, the majority of parking citations come not from expired meters or no parking zones, but from street sweeping fines. Apparently, this is a big issue in San Francisco, where nearly $37 million of the city's $99 million annual parking revenue comes from cars blocking the street sweeper. As such, the study also draws attention to the often complex and confusing rules that surround certain parking areas, such as inconsistent times for free parking, uncommunicated policy changes, the sketchy involvement of private third-party companies, and late fees that can compound to ridiculous proportions. We actually touched on this in a report from January 2019 , where Chicago officials were under the microscope for highly controversial ticketing practices. Ridiculous Overreach Of Authority: HOA Sues Man Over Classic Ford Pickup Parked In Driveway Man Ticketed For 1 Kph Over Speed Limit While Passing Police Car Another surprising parking cost that's sort-of associated with tickets is just how much time people spend looking for a safe place to park. The study finds that, on average, people spend 17 hours a year simply trying to park, which equates to roughly $345 of wasted time and fuel. Of course, that varies greatly depending on the city   New Yorkers spend an average of 107 hours trying to park. That's enough time to build a small house on a reality TV show.