Video by The Washington Post If you think FaceApp's terms and conditions are scary, you might want to check out Facebook's, or any other social networking website for that matter. It's undeniable that FaceApp is having a moment right now . It's the reason why everyone on your timeline seems to have aged 60 years over-night as fans use the hashtag #faceappchallenge to share their transformations online. But as people in the U.S. use the selfie-editing tool to make themselves appear older and crinklier, controversy has been sparked over how the Russian startup handles user privacy. Top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer has called for the FBI and the Federal Trade Commission to investigate whether the app poses "national security and privacy risks for millions of U.S. citizens," and the Democratic National Committee urges 2020 campaigns not to use FaceApp "developed by Russians." Wait, is that video real? The race against deepfakes and dangers of manipulated recordings #FaceAppChallenge: Everybody's posting pictures of what they'll look like when they're old   here's how All this comes as people on social media seem to be alarmed that the app is harvesting metadata from their smartphones. FaceApp told CNBC it doesn't sell or share any user data with third parties and user data is not transferred to Russia. It also said that only a selected photo is uploaded by the app   a response to claims that it gains access to your entire photo library   and the company says it will remove data from servers at users' requests. Facebook While photo privacy is always a valid concern, what FaceApp can do with your pictures isn't very different from what Facebook's Terms of Service allows. When you use Facebook you are giving the social media permission to "use your name and profile picture and information about actions you have taken on Facebook next to or in connection with ads, offers, and other sponsored content." Oh, and Facebook isn't going to pay you for it. Lest we forget, Facebook's past is riddled with privacy controversy , and the social networking giant has way more information about its users than a selfie or two. So updating your status on Facebook to express your concerns about FaceApp is the digital equivalent to jumping in the ocean and complaining about getting wet. FaceApp FaceApp's Terms of Use, which were last updated in August of 2017, says that "You grant FaceApp a perpetual, irrevocable, nonexclusive, royalty-free, worldwide, fully-paid, transferable sub-licensable license to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate, create derivative works from, distribute, publicly perform and display your User Content." In other words, you and the company share ownership of what you upload and FaceApp owes you nothing. One easy-to-forget element in the privacy debate is that even if you opt to not use the service, someone you know (or a total stranger) could enhance photos of you on FaceApp, giving your photos over to the foreign developer without you even knowing. SnapChat You're fully justified in worrying about FaceApp's ability to send your photos to a remote server in Russia, but remember other apps like SnapChat also send your pix to remote servers before they are automatically deleted. FaceApp says it uploads user's photos to Google Cloud and Amazon Web Services servers, according to TechCrunch , However, FaceApp didn't immediately respond to USA TODAY's request for comment. Instagram Like FaceApp, Instagram collects metadata such as the location of a photo or the date the file was created. The photo-sharing app also has access to your camera. According to its Data Policy , Instagram uses this information to "provide, personalize and improve" its products. Follow Dalvin Brown on Twitter: @Dalvin_Brown. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: FaceApp's privacy concerns: How the app compares to Facebook, Instagram and SnapChat terms


Lewis Hamilton claimed a record-breaking sixth British Grand Prix victory on Sunday, but how close would the contest have been without the impact of a safety car? The 2019 edition of the British Grand Prix will go down as one of it's feistiest of all time, and it served up one of this season's most entertaining battles for a race lead, picking up from where an engrossing Austrian Grand Prix left off. With Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas taking pole position ahead of team-mate by the finest of margins on Saturday, fans were left hoping for an equally-close contest on race day. got the ideal start and fended off Hamilton for the opening stages of the race, a stint which included an accomplished re-pass on the inside of Copse corner. However, with Bottas pitting first to go onto another set of medium tyres, he was committed to a two-stop strategy. Hamilton extended his stint and stayed out for a few laps longer, which meant a pit stop in normal conditions would've put him back behind Bottas, albeit with fresher tyres. A safety car intervention changed the complexion of the race, and gave Hamilton a 'cheap' pit stop to keep the lead of the race. This was to be Hamilton's one-and-only pit stop of the event, whereas Bottas had to pit again for a different compound. The original aim was for both drivers to pit twice, but the extension of Hamilton's first stint enabled a one-stopper . From there, he was in prime position to control the pace and take his seventh win of the season, and the 80th of his career. Speaking after the race, Bottas admitted that he thought a one-stop strategy was out of the question , with the Finn seemingly remorseful about not being able to hedge his bets with a middle stint on the hard tyres. Read Also: Mercedes wary of 'unconscious favouritism' via split strategies Hamilton says he chose not to block Bottas in early duel Do you believe that Bottas was unlucky not to walk away from Silverstone without the victory? Or do you think Hamilton would had had the pace to take the win, regardless of safety car intervention? Before leaving your opinions, have a listen to the Autosport Podcast below as Scott Mitchell, Jake Boxall-Legge and Edd Straw debate the Mercedes battle, the thrilling contest for the final podium position and more:


The Dallas Cowboys enter the 2019 NFL season with one of the most loaded rosters in the league. It's a team built to win now, leaving no excuses for head coach Jason Garrett if they fail to advance further in the playoffs than ever before in his tenure. There is talented youth, there is veteran leadership, and more importantly there are potential all-time greats. Dallas has 25 current members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but there could be many more on the current roster. Recently, Sporting News took a look at every potential Hall of Famer on every roster in the league. The Cowboys find themselves second on this list in terms of sheer numbers with 8, though there's an argument to be made for a few others who could be included. The Philadelphia Eagles lead all teams with 9 potential guys. Here's a look at Vinnie Iyer's odds for the current generation to earn a gold jacket and a permanent place in Canton. Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports Jason Witten - Tight End "Jason Witten (100 percent): His un-retirement just delays the inevitable as an icon of the modern position." Witten is an 11 time Pro-Bowler and a two-time First-Team All-Pro. A model of consistency and durability throughout his career Witten has missed only one game, due to a broken jaw he suffered his rookie season against the New York Giants. He has the second most receptions for a tight end in NFL history, landing him fourth on the all-time list. Witten holds league records including: most receptions in a single game by a tight end with 18 and most consecutive games played and started by a tight end. He is the all time Cowboys leader in games played, receptions and receiving yards. The former Walter Payton Man of the Year is a shoo-in for the Hall of Fame. AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez Tyron Smith - Left Tackle "Tyron Smith (80 percent): A couple more seasons as a rock, and he's a lock." An 80 percent chance of Smith making the Hall of Fame almost seems low at this point of his career. The 28-year-old tackle just wrapped up his sixth straight Pro-Bowl season to go along with his two First-Team All-Pro selections. Smith is a freak of nature, a man so big he had to use a knee brace for an elbow injury. Tyron is an incredibly deft run and pass blocker who has been capable of being left alone on an island nearly his entire career. Despite missing three games apiece the last three seasons, it's tough to imagine anything derailing his Hall of Fame trajectory. AP Photo/Ron Jenkins Zack Martin - Right Guard "Zack Martin (80 percent): What Smith does on the edge, he does on the inside." Martin shares the same odds of his offensive line mate Tyron Smith of heading to Canton one day. In five years, he has missed less games (two) than he has First-Team All-Pro selections (three). He has made the Pro Bowl in every season of his career so far. He has been widely regarded as one of the best guards in the league since he was drafted in the first-round by the Dallas Cowboys in 2014 and has been making life miserable for opposing defensive linemen ever since. Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports Travis Frederick - Center "Travis Frederick (79 percent): He's a notch below the other two because of the health concern." Frederick was widely panned when Dallas reached for him at the tail-end of the first round in the 2013 draft. Since then he has made the Pro-Bowl four times and was an First-Team All-Pro in 2016. He has been the general in the middle of the Cowboys line, ensuring everyone is on the same page and an integral part of the Cowboys largely dominant rushing attack. Despite missing last season due to Guillain-Barre syndrome, he is expected to return to his rightful spot as the best center in the league this season. AP Photo/Ron Jenkins Ezekiel Elliott - Running Back "Ezekiel Elliott (50 percent): Save for his suspension, he has been consistent and productive over three seasons. Should that continue, he is in line to join to Emmitt Smith and Tony Dorsett." Running backs don't matter, they say. Just don't tell that to the Cowboys who have used Elliott in a way that would have beaten down mere mortals in a hurry. He has led the league in rushing two out of his three NFL seasons and had he not been suspended for six games in 2017, likely would have done so again. There are two players in NFL history to have more rushing yards per game than Elliott has in his first three seasons, Eric Dickerson and Earl Campbell, and both of them own gold jackets. James Lang-USA TODAY Sports Demarcus Lawrence - Left End "Demarcus Lawrence (20 percent): The ceiling is there, but the production has to be, too, especially now that he's getting paid like a top edge rusher." Despite a slow start due to both injuries and suspension early in his career, the Cowboys most feared pass rusher will enters the upcoming season at the age of 27 and as the highest-paid player in franchise history. He rushes the passer and sets the edge in the run game as well as anyone in the league, but lacks the eye-popping sack numbers that would likely be required for him to make the Hall of Fame. For now. AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth Leighton Vander Esch - Middle Linebacker "Leighton Vander Esch (15 percent): He has time, youth and health on his side. Sean Lee doesn't." Vander Esch burst onto the scene his rookie season making the Pro Bowl after racking up 140 tackles and two interceptions, one of six players to ever do so in their first season in the league. He has the speed, awareness, and strength to do it all in the middle of the field and seems to have no ceiling on what he can do in the league. Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports Dak Prescott - Quarterback "Dak Prescott (10 percent): He needs to show more of his OROY and late 2018 form over several more seasons." In his rookie campaign, Prescott lit the league on fire and delivered nothing less than the best rookie season from the quarterback position the league has ever seen. He has had his rough patches throughout his career, most notably the three-game stretch in 2017 played without Tyron Smith and Ezekiel Elliott, but when the game is on the line is when Prescott plays his best football. His passing numbers at this point of his career lack the volume that will likely be required to make the Hall of Fame, but it is early in his career and there's plenty of time to change the perception. Continue for the snubs… Other Considerations Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports Jaylon Smith - Linebacker Smith wasn't listed by Iver, but his combination of run support, pass rush and coverage ability could lead to a pretty historic career. He may not ever be completely back from his knee injury, but in 2018 he proved this version is certainly good enough to be one of the best in the league. If he hasn't yet reached his ceiling, then maybe he could end up in Canton one day. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports Amari Cooper - Wide Receiver Cooper is a long shot based on his production through his first four years, but his youth could lead to a very long and fulfilled career if there's a step up in volume sent his way. He's never been on the level of targets of guys such as DeAndre Hopkins and Julio Jones, but if he sees the 130 or more that he received in his first two years in Oakland and combines it with his 2018 catch percentage of 70% than there may be something special brewing. MORE: Freddie Freeman was mic'd up during his at-bat against Justin Verlander and it was pure gold PM Roundup: Alison Brie; Shaun Livingston Waived by Warriors; Megan Rapinoe Accepts Invitation From Congress Former Steeler DeAngelo Williams throws shade at WR Ryan Switzer DK Metcalf has heard your concerns about his route-running Chiefs don't select anyone in 2019 NFL supplemental draft


A rather sizable and experienced player who will likely be a key figure in Syracuse's offensive line this coming season is officially a part of the Orange's roster. Back in late March, it was reported that Ryan Alexander would be transferring to Syracuse from South Alabama . Exactly three months later, the Orange has confirmed the offensive tackle's addition to the football program. NEWS: Grad transfer Ryan Alexander ( @RyElCabra ) is officially 🍊! Alexander led South Alabama with 46 🥞 blocks last season. Welcome to the family, Ryan! MORE ⤵ https://t.co/kkoj37pizH pic.twitter.com/cwviLLGnnZ   Syracuse Football (@CuseFootball) June 25, 2019 As a graduate transfer, Alexander will be eligible to play immediately for the Orange in 2019. This coming season will be the New York native's final year of eligibility. Alexander started 27 of the 33 games in which he played for the Jaguars. Of those, 23 came at right tackle the past two seasons. Following the 2018 regular season, Alexander earned honorable mention All-Sun Belt Conference honors.


Charles Barkley began his Hall of Fame career with the Philadelphia 76ers, and he has never been afraid to criticize his former team just as much as   if not more than   any other team he provides analysis on. That goes for superstars Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, too. Barkley said during an appearance on ESPN's "Get Up" Tuesday morning that he believes the Sixers can win the Eastern Conference next season, but he said Embiid has to "get his fat butt in shape" and Simmons has to work on his jump shot for that to happen. "Joel Embiid has got to get his fat butt in shape and Ben Simmons got to work on his game."  Charles Barkley has some advice for the Sixers if they want to be the favorites in the East pic.twitter.com/biF8LfuRtr   Get Up (@GetUpESPN) July 16, 2019 Barkley said the most valuable advice he ever received in his career came from Moses Malone, who told him he is "fat and lazy." Barkley says that inspired him to lose 50 pounds when he first got to Philadelphia. He believes someone with the 76ers needs to step up and give a similar message to Embiid. It will probably be more difficult for Simmons to improve his shooting than it is for Embiid to improve his conditioning, but Barkley has a point with both. Staying in shape is critical for Embiid if he wants to remain healthy, though he has not been that receptive to Barkley's advice in the past. Simmons could be an MVP candidate if he learned how to shoot, though that is a tough thing to do at this stage in a player's career.


Did your favorite eatery make the list? Growing their footprints Americans have no shortage of options for dining out. From fast food to full-service meals -- and everything in between -- away-from-home eating in the U.S. is the definition of a mature, highly competitive market . And yet some companies are finding ways to grow their restaurant footprints despite those industry challenges. Click ahead for a look at a few of these food chains that are aggressively launching new locations today. 1. Domino's Pizza It already has stores in just about every neighborhood in the country, but Domino s (DPZ) is still finding room to expand its sales base. In fact, the company just closed out its fastest expansion year since 1988 by adding 258 locations this past year. Domino s delivery focus allows it to keep store sizes small, which makes for efficient growth. It also helps that the chain has been winning market share for over a decade. Meanwhile, Domino s is finding that adding stores within the delivery zone of an existing location tends to boost overall sales over the long term by keeping competitors out. All these trends point to a long runway of growth for the pizza delivery leader. ALSO READ: 3 Top Restaurant Stocks to Buy in May 2. Dave & Buster's Dave & Buster s (PLAY) is aiming for a second straight year of record store openings in 2019, with 16 locations slated to launch by late December. The chain, which combines entertainment and food, hopes to eventually double its store base to over 250 locations over time. That growth outlook was challenged last year when Dave & Buster s reported shrinking sales at its existing locations. However, sales trends have improved lately thanks to a slimmed-down food menu and new exclusive virtual reality arcade games. CEO Brian Jenkins and his team think that they ve found a major opportunity to stand out from the crowd with these VR titles, so investors can expect to see many more such products roll out over the next year. 3. Shake Shack The better burger specialist Shake Shack (SHAK) counted just 84 locations at the end of 2015, and today that total is over 200. Investors are salivating over the potential for many more shacks dotting the landscape over the next few years, but recently the bigger story has been a resurgence of growth at its existing stores. Shake Shack just posted a return to healthy customer traffic gains after struggling for over a year. Its earnings profile is weakening as the chain moves into areas outside of its traditional New York focus. These geographies don t have such high traffic volumes, after all. But the business can still widen its footprint, so long as it keeps wowing customers with in-demand fast food. 4. Dunkin' Brands Dunkin  Brands added 278 new locations in the U.S. last year to make it one of the fastest-growing chains in the country. The donut and coffee specialist is aiming to launch between 200 and 250 stores in each of the next three years, too. Most of that growth will come in areas outside of Dunkin s traditional strong-hold in the Northeastern U.S., meaning it will go up against much better-established rivals like McDonald s (MCD) and Starbucks (SBUX). But the chain believes its bulked-up breakfast menu, and its recent addition of premium coffee drinks, will help it find its own place among those restaurant titans. 5. Wingstop Wingstop (WING) added just under 100 locations to its restaurant base last year and crossed the 1,100 unit mark. The Texas-based wing specialist, which focuses on takeout orders, has been hitting new highs as it continues to impress investors with fast growth and rising profitability. It hasn t hurt that chicken wing costs are near multi-year lows these days. Wingstop has plenty of competition, though, including by better-capitalized rivals like McDonald s. Yet winning in the home delivery channel could allow the chain to eventually reach 2,500 locations around the country to represent a 135% increase from today s base. ALSO READ: Is It Too Early to Invest in Food Delivery Companies? 6. Jack in the Box Shareholders in San Diego-based Jack in the Box (JACK) haven t been impressed with the chain s recent performance. Sluggish sales growth and high debt payments don t make for a strong earnings profile, after all. Still, the chain recently notched its second straight quarter of improving sales trends thanks to robust demand for its value food bundles. It currently operates over 2,200 locations across 21 states but aims to add between 25 and 30 new restaurants to the footprint in 2019. Faster growth than that won t be likely until Jack in the Box demonstrates that it can win market share in a competitive industry. 7. Texas Roadhouse Higher customer traffic helped the chain boost sales by 10% last year, but Texas Roadhouse (TXRH) executives believe they ve got a long runway for growth beyond the current $2.4 billion annual revenue haul. That s why the chain is planning to add between 25 and 30 new full-service dining locations in 2019, with roughly four of that total coming from its Bubba s franchise. Profitability is falling lately due to soaring labor costs, and so investors will be watching that trend for signs of stabilization this year. Customer traffic remains healthy , though, and that suggests the earnings pinch might be short-lived. 8. Burger King Burger King, which is owned by the conglomerate Restaurant Brands International (QSR), is still in growth mode despite having nearly 8,000 locations across the country. The company believes the burger segment of the fast-food industry will grow at about a 5% annual rate between now and 2023, and those gains should support many more locations. They launched 100 new Burger King restaurants in the U.S. last year, compared to 70 in the prior year, and have plans for even faster growth in 2019. The international opportunity is far larger, with places like China, Russia, and Brazil each seeing over 100 new store launches each year. 9. Popeyes Restaurants that specialize in chicken products are enjoying faster growth right now, in part because that industry niche isn't as crowded as the burger and pizza segments. That helps explain why you might be seeing more Popeyes stores around lately. The chain added 135 locations to its store base last year. Restaurant Brands International revealed in a recent presentation to investors that consumers view inconvenient locations as the main roadblock to higher sales. That's why they're planning to accelerate new Popeyes store openings again in 2019 after having sped up in each of the last three fiscal years. 10. Starbucks "Disciplined growth" is what Starbucks' management is promising investors these days, given that the chain already operates nearly 9,000 locations in the country. That number increased by 400 in just the past full fiscal year, though, and there's every reason to expect the coffee titan to continue its aggressive expansion pace. Starbucks won't be targeting dense metropolitan areas as much as it has in the past, choosing instead to lean on drive-thru and delivery capabilities to allow for cheaper launches in less densely-populated areas. The key to success here is a constantly shifting lineup of products that wows caffeine fans. ALSO READ: Starbucks Has a Sweet New Competitor 11. Del Taco With nearly 600 locations, concentrated on the West Coast, Del Taco (TACO) qualifies as the second-largest Mexican fast-food restaurant, behind Taco Bell. Investors aren t yet confident that the chain has what it takes to eventually challenge the market leader though, especially given that management is projecting just modest sales and profit growth this year. Still, Del Taco is methodically adding to its sales base and is on track to add about 25 locations in 2019. As these new stores demonstrate healthy returns, the company will accrue more cash that management can direct towards expanding beyond their current West Coast focus. Growth equals success? Robust store growth is just one metric investors can use to judge the health of a restaurant concept. But, together with trends like rising customer traffic and improving profitability, an expanding sales base can be a strong clue that you've found a restaurant stock that has what it takes to thrive in a brutally competitive industry. Demitrios Kalogeropoulos owns shares of McDonald's and Starbucks. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Starbucks and Texas Roadhouse. The Motley Fool has the following options: short October 2019 $82 calls on Restaurant Brands International. The Motley Fool recommends Dave & Buster's Entertainment. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy .


A viral video last week showed a woman shouting, cursing, and assaulting her seatmate - presumably her romantic partner - on an American Airlines flight from Miami. The plane was still at the gate, so the violent passenger was removed safely. But what happens in a scenario where the person won't leave willingly? Or if the plane was already in the air? Business Insider spoke with flight attendants to find out how they would handle a domestic incident like this aboard a flight. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories . An American Airlines passenger was thrown off a flight last week after berating her travel companion and smashing a laptop on him while the plane was still at the departure gate, according to a viral video of the incident. The video shows the woman and a man, who appear to be in a romantic relationship. The woman screams at him, accusing him of looking at other women and shouting various profanities and racial slurs. Eventually the man - who is in the window seat - moves past the woman and begins making his way down the aisle. She chases him, pushing him and hitting him on the head with a laptop. Throughout the video , flight attendants plead with the woman to calm down and stop shouting. Eventually, one of them asks the woman to take her bag and move to the front of the plane, presumably to get off, while the woman refuses. They ask the man to move instead, which is when his travel companion chased him down the aisle. The woman tried to get back to her seat after that, and the flight attendant blocks her. The woman ends up pushing past, grabbing her bag, and leaving the plane willingly, though a pilot comes out of the cockpit to tell her that she's going to be arrested by police. Ultimately, the entire video was less than two minutes long, and the fact that the plane was still at the gate made it easy to remove the passenger - if she hadn't left willingly, or she continued assaulting her partner or others, the flight crew also could have requested police or other assistance. But what happens when the plane has already left the gate, or is in the air, far away from the closest airport? Business Insider spoke with several flight attendants who explained how they're prepared to deal with incidents like this, including domestic violence, both on the ground and in the air (Business Insider is not publishing their names, as they spoke without permission from their employers). "Every airport has a customer service representative who is specifically trained to deal with sensitive issues and removing passengers," an American Airlines flight attendant who had seen the video told Business Insider. "If we were still at the gate with the door open, I'd immediately notify the captain and gate agents that we were likely going to need a passenger removed." In a case as severe as the one in the video, even if the situation deescalated before the person was removed, the flight crew would still likely request the passenger be taken off the plane. "The way she was yelling, cursing, hitting, and threatening, there's basically no way it could be resolved to the point where she could be allowed to get back on the plane," the flight attendant said. "We have levels of threats, and she was already at a level 2 by hitting people." Ultimately, putting an end to the situation is relatively straightforward on the ground, but once a plane is in the air, things get a lot more complicated. "If a situation like that occurred in the air, we'd usually try to separate the parties involved," another flight attendant, who is based in Chicago, said. "Reseat them and try to calm them down, and ask for assistance from other passengers if it would be helpful." The main key is to deescalate the situation, whether that can be accomplished by separating the passengers, simply speaking with them, or informing them of what may need to happen if the situation can't be resolved - like landing at the nearest airport or being arrested once on the ground. "We might even issue a passenger-disturbance report, which outlines potential repercussions," the American Airlines flight attendant said. As a last resort, if the situation becomes physical and can't be deescalated, the flight crew may have to restrain the person. US flight attendants usually have access to some kind of restraint, such as "flex-cuffs" that can be used in that scenario. "We're trained to handle situations if the person needs to be restrained," the Chicago-based flight attendant said. "If we had to cuff or subdue a violent passenger, we'd probably ask other passengers to volunteer to help us," the American Airlines flight attendant said. "We do take self-defense training, too." When the plane lands, either at its original destination or, if the situation calls for it, at a closer airport, the instigator will most likely be arrested and charged. Federal law prohibits interfering with, intimidating, or ignoring instructions from a flight crew. The pilots will call ahead for assistance, and police will meet the plane when it lands, according to the flight attendant from Chicago. "Pilots are notified of any situation on the aircraft," he said. "So that the company can arrange any assistance on the ground." RELATED VIDEO: A flight attendant reveals how intoxicated you have to be before they restrain you on an airplane


Botswana has lifted a ban on elephant hunting that has been in place since 2014. The government said the growing conflict between humans and animals, and the destruction of crops, lead to the ban being lifted, BBC News reports. Botswana is home to the world's largest population of elephants   with some 130,000 roaming the country, according to BBC News. Critics of the ban believe it was causing problems to small farmers and to others who benefited from hunting before the ban was imposed. Botswana's President Mokgweetsi Masisi created a committee to review the ban last June. That committee recommended the country allow hunting again, BBC News reports. "The number and high levels of human-elephant conflict and the consequent impact on livelihoods was increasing," the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism said in a statement. "Predators appear to have increased and were causing a lot of damage as they kill livestock in large numbers," the statement continued. The statement ensured that the "re-instatement of hunting is done in an orderly and ethical manner." One long-time wildlife conservationist in Africa told CBS News on Thursday that there may be more domestic politics behind the Botswana government's decision than anything else. Dropping the ban could shore-up Masisi's popularity in rural areas, as many farmers view the elephants as pests. Masisi has made reversed many laws passed by the previous administration, which banned elephant hunting. Research shows that elephants' range of travel is expanding due in part to climate change, BBC News reports. They can be very destructive when they roam onto farmland and into villages, and can destroy crops and even kill people. The latest survey of wildlife shows what residents of Botswana's rural areas suspected to be true   the number of elephants is increasing. Lifting the ban could damage the country's international reputation for conservation, BBC News note, and tourism revenues, which are the second largest source of foreign income for the country, could suffer. Hunting "integral part" of conservation? Meanwhile, Dr. Timothy Wittig, a conservation scientist with the Basel Institute on Governance, told CBS News on Thursday that legal, well-managed hunting is not necessarily as harmful to the protection of vulnerable species as some people might think. "Effective wildlife conservation is a mix of hard protection of wildlife and habitat, as well as science-based sustainable use of nature," Wittig told CBS News on Thursday. "Many consider hunting, if done legally and within a science-based framework of sustainable use, to be an integral part of the latter." Wittig noted that the "human-wildlife conflict" cited by Botswana's government on Thursday is in fact "an important driver of involvement in poaching and wildlife trafficking. People living close to wildlife must feel they have a stake in protecting it." "Organized criminal networks often prey on people in communities with unresolved human-wildlife conflict, offering them easy money to get involved in poaching or wildlife trafficking," Wittig said. There are about 415,000 elephants in Africa, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The population took a hit, due mainly to poaching for ivory. While international campaigns to ban ivory sales have helped curb illegal poaching, there is disagreement over how to prevent destructive elephant populations from encroaching on humans.


Jonathan Allen wouldn't disagree the Washington Redskins have some pieces. But he would disagree that it means much. Allen offered up a sobering reality during OTAs recently, pointing out that the past few seasons the Redskins have looked good on paper before failing to produce on the field. "I've felt that way the last three years, but we haven't done it," Allen said, via Peter Hailey of NBCSportsWashington.com. "You can have all the pieces you want, but if you're not consistent and everybody doesn't do their job, it doesn't matter. We have a bunch of pieces, but pieces don't win games." A serious case of the injury bug hasn't helped the Redskins lately. But the outlook isn't wrong regardless: Washington has been the subject of offseason optimism plenty lately, only for things to fall apart. This doesn't change the fact Allen's defense figures to be good again next year in large part because of his group in the trenches. Some newish faces will have to help at linebacker and edge rusher though, so Allen is right to caution a measured approach to the offseason. MORE: NBA fans had so many memes for Steph Curry's exchange with Drake Four potential Clint Capela trade destinations Giants get a chuckle: Odell Beckham already in hot water in Cleveland Could Raiders rookie DE Maxx Crosby start over Arden Key in 2019? Hogan on leaving Pats: 'They moved on'


Arsenal have been offered assurances from the Azerbaijan FA that there will be 'no issue' regarding the safety and security of Henrikh Mkhitaryan at the Europa League final. The Gunners playmaker is widely expected to be omitted from Unai Emery's travelling squad to to face Chelsea due to concerns over the player's safety in Baku, given the ongoing diplomatic tensions between Azerbaijan and Mkhitaryan's home nation Armenia. Eleven days until the Europa League final and what have UEFA done about helping fans get to the game? Or the Henrikh Mkhitaryan situation? They've sent a letter. Maybe it could be used as a paper aeroplane.   John Cross (@johncrossmirror) May 18, 2019 A long-standing conflict over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region continues to strain relations between the two nations, and as such Arsenal are yet to make a final decision over Mkhitaryan's involvement in the showpiece event. However, Elkhan Mammadov, the general secretary of the Azerbaijan FA, told the Telegraph : "Our government authorities provided guarantees to UEFA for Mkhi to come to Baku, so there is no issue of security and safety. "Even before Arsenal qualified for the final, we received a request from UEFA to provide the guarantees, our state authorities provided all the necessary security arrangements for Mkhitaryan to travel to Baku. "All the safety and security is already guaranteed." It is suggested, however, that the assurances from the Azerbaijan FA are unlikely to have a significant influence on Arsenal's decision on whether or not to include Mkhitaryan in their squad. The Gunners were provided with similar guarantees ahead of their previous trip to Baku earlier in the season to face Qarabag FK during the Europa League group stage, and still opted against Mkhitaryan travelling with the squad on that occasion. Out of the 6000 tickets offered to each club for the Europa League final, Arsenal have sold 3000 while Chelsea have only sold 600. Just a reminder that Baku is a host city for Euro 2020. More evidence that the powers that be having zero respect for the fans. pic.twitter.com/RJ3vqEMPu7   Footy Accumulators (@FootyAccums) May 18, 2019 Concerns over the Gunners' ability to include one of their key men in their squad for such a crucial match is one of many controversial issues which have overshadowed the build up to the Europa League final. Both Arsenal and Chelsea have also been left concerned over the number of fans that will be able to attend the match, due to the high expenses and logistical difficulties involved in travelling to Baku. The London clubs are both struggling to sell out their miserly 6,000 allocation of tickets per club, and Mammadov added on the situation: "The majority [of supporters] are trying to find a ticket where they come on matchday and leave the next morning, so they can save on hotels and accommodation which is understandable.  @UnaiEmery_  #UELfinal pic.twitter.com/rrmqWrbqkl   Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) 18 May 2019 "This is what fans all over the world used to do when it's in a neighbouring country or of a close geographical vicinity. In our case I would suggest the fans come early and enjoy the city of Baku."


LAS VEGAS - When the day comes for Jon Jones to retire, he will leave the sport with a laundry list of accolades. He's a surefire UFC Hall of Famer, a multi-time UFC titleholder and perhaps the greatest MMA fighter of all-time. One career label that won't be attached to him (at least for now), however, is that of an undefeated fighter. Jones (24-1 MMA, 18-1 UFC), who puts his light heavyweight belt on the line against Thiago Santos (21-5 MMA, 13-5 UFC) in Saturday's UFC 239 headliner, currently has just a singular blemish in the loss column on his record. The lone defeat came in infamously controversial fashion, when Jones was disqualified for illegal 12-6 elbows against Matt Hamill at The Ultimate Fighter 10 Finale in December 2009. The nature of the DQ has been discussed for years, with points ranging from Steve Mazzagatti's questionable refereeing in the fight to the validity of the rule that led to Jones' loss. Last week, UFC president Dana White stated in an interview on ESPN Radio's "The Sedano Show" that the UFC is exploring the possibility of reversing the result via the Nevada State Athletic Commission. "It was the weakest commission ever in the history of Nevada, and the referee that reffed that fight shouldn't have even been in there, and he disqualified Jon, which shouldn't have happened, either," White said. "So hopefully we can get that overturned." Jones expressed his thoughts on the situation during Thursday's UFC 239 media day and the pluses and minuses of what it would mean for his sole loss to be overturned. "Look at the history books, man," Jones said. "It doesn't lie. If you look at my record, those numbers don't lie. Honestly, I do see the good in it. I think it'd be great for the organization to market an undefeated champion." If Jones' record were to become flawless, he said he believes it would add a level of added pressure to win that doesn't currently exist. "Personally, it takes a lot of stress off me to not be this undefeated champion," Jones said. "But I do see the good in it. Floyd Mayweather. Boxing has Floyd Mayweather. He means a lot to the sport of boxing. I see how my legacy means a lot to the sport, and if Dana wants me to be undefeated, I don't think too many people would argue with him." Time will tell whether the NSAC will agree to overturn the Hamill vs. Jones result, but "Bones" currently has more important things to do deal with, such as his defense against Santos at T-Mobile Arena. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+/UFC Fight Pass. To hear more from Jones, check out the video above. For more on UFC 239 , check out the UFC schedule . MORE: Kevin Durant calls 'BS' on Stephen A. Smith's explosive claims on First Take Kawhi Leonard Joining the Lakers According to Stephen A. Smith's Sources The Steelers got their new Brett Keisel with Isaiah Buggs WATCH: Lonzo Ball returns to court for first time since ankle injury Elfrid Payton: 'I feel we embody what New York basketball was about back in the day'


Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) heavyweight titleholder, Daniel Cormier, was a decorated amateur wrestler prior to entering the sport of mixed martial arts (MMA), with accolades that stretched from the collegiate level to the Summer Olympics. So why is "DC" getting inducted into George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame? Because the George Tragos Award recognizes wrestlers who move on to excel in MMA, and you probably can't do much better than Cormier, who also held gold in the light heavyweight class and is considered by UFC President Dana White to be the greatest fighter of all time . "You know you're getting old when you start making your way into Hall of Fames," Cormier wrote on Twitter . "What an honor to be getting inducted into the Tragos/Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame. I'm truly honored to receive this award." Cormier isn't the first UFC fighter to receive the honor. Bellator MMA headliner Chael Sonnen, who rose to fame inside the Octagon against the likes of Anderson Silva and Jon Jones, among others, was inducted in 2016. Welterweight Ben Askren joined the Hall just last year. We don't yet know how the story ends for Cormier. He's expected to rematch Stipe Miocic at UFC 241 in August , then may or may not have one fight left in his storied MMA career before calling it quits. I guess that all depends on the less strong, less powerful Jon Jones.


ASHEVILLE   A lot can change in a year. In the case of a group of residents in East Asheville, that could mean a different trajectory for their neighborhood on Moffitt Road bordering the Swannanoa River. That's part of the sell of Riverbend Forest, a future 24-lot housing community with seven acres of green space currently under development by Asheville-based RBF Development LLC. The proposal comes after more than a year of debate about the land following plans by a past developer to build 10 apartment buildings and seven duplex buildings   214 units in all   on the site before being shot down by a Buncombe County planning board . Under new guidance, the project is being steered by Robert L. Sulaski of Sulaski & Co., who said he worked closely with nearby Eastmoor and Botany Woods neighbors and others to design a "responsible" project to maintain the same quality of life for area residents. "They all came together and said, 'Let's find someone, a group of people, that will develop this thing responsibly and respect the river,'" Sulaski said. "(They said), 'Let's kind of do this thing locally and do it the right way.'" MORE: ► Developer sues Buncombe County over denial of East Asheville apartment complex ► Development battle brews over 214-unit East Asheville apartment proposal ► County judge rules against proposed 214-unit East Asheville apartment project And many of those neighbors were clear what the wrong way was. The former plan for The Residences at Riverpark by developer Michael Posey of South Carolina-based RAB Builders LLC called for development of 31.4 acres of land for the project. It came before the county's semi-judicial Board of Adjustment in April 2018, where many neighbors argued the proposal was too large, would generate too much traffic and generally was not compatible with the surrounding area. The board voted 5-2 against Posey's plan, triggering a series of appeals   now at the North Carolina Court of Appeals, which has not yet ruled   as well as a federal lawsuit alleging the county failed to follow its own zoning guidelines in the rejection. (The county disputes that claim and last month filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit .) But in the time the project was working its way through the legal system, the land was sold to Scott Paly of Mountain Commercial Property Co. Paly, a neighbor to the site, then sold the land in March to Sulaski through RBF Development , county property filings show. It was heard by the county's Planning Board in March, which reviewed its compliance with development guidelines and conditionally approved the project, county planner Gillian Phillips said. In total, Riverbend's 24 lots   of which, four are reserved with the rest becoming available in July   will range up to an acre each with homes between 2,400 and 3,500 square feet. They are expected to start at $675,000 and range up to about $1 million. Construction is slated to begin by October, said Sulaski, whose company had a hand in the Biltmore Lake housing community in Candler and The Ramble in Biltmore Forest. Other features of the new site include: A homeowners association to maintain the "mountain modern" look and feel of the neighborhood. Annual fees are expected to be about $1,000 for property owners. Kayak launches and storage space along the Swannanoa River. Community amenities such as a pavilion, fire pit, walking trails and a community garden. Access to the city's water and sewage systems and Spectrum Fiber internet service. He noted that neighbors essentially made two requests of project developers: clean up the Swannanoa River and install dark sky friendly lighting. He intends to fulfill both, and then some. "Their legitimate concern was that we want to be able to protect the experience along that river," he said. "The river should be dark at night, for habitat and for quality of life. Their opposition wasn't to development necessarily as much as it was keeping a sensitivity to what the river needs to be and that is a quiet evening." Tad Dixon, owner of DixonPacifica Real Estate in Asheville who is working with Sulaski on the project, said the neighborhood proposal keeps with trends he's seen in much of Buncombe County. Those listing prices are higher than the average of about $448,300 in the county, data provided by Carolina Multiple Listing Services Inc. shows Want to stay informed about news from around Asheville? Do that, plus support local journalists, by subscribing to the Asheville Citizen Times. Click here to sign up for a digital subscription. "We're getting a lot of clients coming to us and they want new construction," Dixon said. "They want to have close proximity to outdoor recreation or they want a neighborhood that has a recreation component to it. "This is perfect because it's got all three." Sulaski said his team has been mindful of criticism of county residents, both with the former RAB project and others that come before local planning boards about traffic and the pace of community development. And while there's not likely an end in sight, he said there's opportunity to find common ground with residents. "It's going to get developed so why not do it with people in the community with a hand in where it could go?" he said. "Otherwise, what happens?" This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Once slated for apartments, East Asheville site will be 24-lot neighborhood


Defenseman Tim Heed is an impending unrestricted free agent that has received little media attention so far, and it sounds like he won't be getting much more outside of his current market. The Athletic's Kevin Kurz reports that Heed is expected to re-sign with the San Jose Sharks rather than test the market. Initially looking like the odd man out on San Jose's blue line, the team has since traded Justin Braun and opted not to extend a qualifying offer to Joakim Ryan , opening up space for Heed's return. The Sharks already have $66.7M committed to just 15 players next season, with new contracts in store for RFA's Timo Meier , Kevin Labanc , and Dylan Gambrell and decisions to make on UFA's Joe Pavelski , Joe Thornton , and more. Heed would be an affordable addition who is already familiar with the team and can act as a capable bottom-pair defender. Kurz points out that the right-shot Heed would be an ideal replacement in old spot. After playing in a career-high 37 games last year, Heed has likely earned the trust of the San Jose staff to at least begin the year as a starter while a number of promising blue line prospects continue to develop. The Arizona Coyotes have announced several changes to their front office, the most notable of which is poaching Scott Walker from the division rival Vancouver Canucks. Walker, a former OHL coach, spent the past four years as the Canucks' Director of Player Development, but has now been hired by Arizona as Special Assistant to the General Manager. Internally, three other executives have been promoted: Jake Goldberg has been named Assistant to the General Manager; Phil McRae has been named the Director of North American Amateur Scouting; and Bryan Stewart has been named the Coyotes' Director of Pro Scouting. The 'Yotes' AHL affiliate, the Tuscon Roadrunners, have re-signed forward Matteo Gennaro to a one-year contract. Gennaro, a former Winnipeg Jets prospect, just wrapped up his first pro season with Tuscon. The 22-year-old center was a force in his junior days in the WHL, but got off to a slow start to the next stage of his career with just 12 points in 58 games. However, Gennaro has always been considered a raw prospect and should continue to grow and round out at the pro level. The Roadrunners hope Gennaro can get closer to the 80-point seasons he put up at the end of his junior career, but they'll settle for steady improvement in his sophomore season.


Moody's posted new forecasts for oil prices in 2016 that are much lower than its earlier projections. Moody's is slow off the mark compared to most forecasters, but its new outlook mirrors most. The rating agency researchers wrote in its oil price forecast : Moody's has lowered its price assumption in 2016 for Brent crude oil, the international benchmark, to $43 from $53 per barrel and for West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude, the North American benchmark, to $40 from $48 per barrel. The rating agency expects both prices to rise $5 per barrel in 2017 and 2018, according to the report "Oil and Natural Gas Industry -- Global: Threat of Prolonged Oversupply Drives Prices Lower." With oil prices below Moody's forecast level, its prediction may be too high. Moody's expects that U.S. oil production could drop some. But it will be more than offset by oil supply from other regions: "OPEC oil producers continue to produce without restraint as they compete for market share, exacerbating the currently saturated markets," says Terry Marshall, a Moody's Senior Vice President. "Russia has also greatly increased production, and the possibility that sanctions will be lifted on Iran in 2016 could flood the market with even more supply." The battle to reach the bottom of oil prices continues to be driven by Saudi Arabia, which is believed to have among the lowest costs of production in the world. Its reasons for not cutting production are viewed as its effort to cripple other substantial suppliers, which include U.S. frackers. The strategy has worked, at least among small American producers, as low prices overwhelm their financial resources. But the disruption of the U.S. fracking industry has not had an effect so far. Neither will rising demand: Moody's forecasts that global oil demand will rise by roughly 1.3 million barrels per day in 2016, an increase from its previous assumptions as oil consumption picks up in countries such as the US, China, India and Russia. With a slumping economy in China, Moody's may be off the mark. The world's largest oil importer may be as big a factor as the Saudis.


The Knicks have signed swingman Reggie Bullock to a reworked contract. According to ESPN , the two-year deal is worth $8.2 million. The second year is a team option. Bullock had reportedly agreed to a two-year, $21 million contract with the Knicks when free agency opened earlier this month, but a medical issue forced the two sides to agree to new terms. It's not clear what the medical issue is, but it was significant enough to cost Bullock nearly $13 million. The Knicks used some of those savings to add former Celtics forward Marcus Morris to a one-year, $15 million deal last week, whose signing was also announced by the Knicks on Tuesday. "With Reggie and Marcus we are adding two more versatile, hard-nosed and accomplished players to an already improved roster," genearl manager Scott Perry said in a news release. "We value both players' perimeter shooting ability and their strong presence on the court and in the locker room. We're excited to have them in New York and are confident they will excel playing for this team under Coach (David) Fizdale." Bullock, 28, was a first-round pick by the Los Angeles Clippers in 2013. The 6-foot-7 205-pounder split the 2018-19 season between the Detroit Pistons and Los Angeles Lakers, averaging 11.3 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game.


Newcastle forward Ayoze Perez is on the verge of leaving St James' Park, with a surprise move to Leicester near to completion. The 25-year-old was in sensational form towards the back end of last season, striking up a formidable partnership with Venezuelan forward Salomon Rondon to help fire the Magpies to a safe mid-table finish. Ayoze Perez is heading to Leicester City - told Newcastle last summer he wouldn't sign a new deal and wanted out, whether Rafa Benitez stayed or not - now a deal to the King Power is almost done. Interesting move by Brendan Rodgers.   Graeme Bailey (@GraemeBailey) July 2, 2019 His future has been called into question in recent months, though, with reports over the past week suggesting he is unhappy with the Magpies lack of progress - as well as their unwillingness to commit to manager Rafa Benitez, who has now departed the club to join Chinese Super League outfit Dalian Yifang. A return to Spain had previously been mooted for Perez, with Valencia and Real Sociedad both touted as potential destinations if he were to leave Tyneside. But it is Brendan Rodgers' Leicester who have jumped to the head of the queue, and a surprise move will now be completed in the coming days. Perez's representatives have already been at King Power Stadium to thrash out personal terms, and a fee of £30m will see the Foxes pick up their second signing of the summer following James Justin's arrival from Luton. His arrival at the club will provide fresh impetus and competition for Jamie Vardy up front, with Kelechi Iheanacho and Islam Slimani the only other options currently at Rodgers' disposal. Former Manchester City striker Iheanacho has endured a nightmare spell at the club after arriving for £25m, while Slimani has been farmed out on loan over the past year as Leicester desperately seek a permanent sale. In Perez, they will pick up a striker who has five years of experience in English football - four of those spent in the Premier League . He netted 12 goals top flight last season, his best return to date, scoring his first hat-trick for the club in April during the 3-1 win over Southampton.


Cuba's constitution guarantees its people access to its beaches, but many locals are unable to enjoy the island's pristine white sands and crystal clear blue waters. While foreign tourists flock to such paradisiacal Havana sites as Varadero, which was this year named the second most-beautiful beach in the world by American travel website TripAdvisor, Cubans are typically found elsewhere. "Not many tourists come here," said 43-year-old Rey Gonzalez, who was enjoying a day at Guanabo, a beach east of the capital. Guanabo's sand isn't as white and the water not quite as clear as Varadero's, but that mattered little to Gonzalez, who was there with his family. "For me, all the beaches are the same: sand, the sea ... you don't see the difference when you're swimming," said Gonzalez. Sitting on a stretch of beach where numerous stray beer cans were visible, 34-year-old Lazaro Palomino added: "We like the beach, whether it's clean or dirty." Even so, Palomino recognizes that Varadero is on a different level. "All Cubans would love to go. I went once and I came back in shock" at its beauty, Palomino said with a chuckle. - Beach politics - Like everything else in communist Cuba, beaches are a political issue. "In Cuba, there are only Cuban beaches, which are part of the nation's heritage," insists Jose Luis Perello, a tourism expert. He quotes article 23 of the constitution, which asserts that the country's 271 beaches are "socialist property belonging to everyone." It's been that way since the communist revolution led by Fidel Castro in 1959. Before that, the coast was covered by private beaches reserved for members -- who were mostly whites. Even the former dictator Fulgencio Batista, who reigned twice, first from 1940 to 1944 then from 1955 to 1959, was unable to get a membership card because he was mixed race. But while the revolution established universal beach access, the shoreline remains a place viewed with suspicion. "It was linked to the illegal exodus" of people trying to flee the island's communist rulers "and was the entry point to the country of little groups with certain interests," Perello said, alluding to the failed United States-backed Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961. Despite the official party line, dissidents like the late writer Reinaldo Arenas complained that they couldn't go to certain beaches that were reserved for members of trade unions. Likewise, for many years, Cubans were banned from hotels, and today they're still not allowed to board boats. - Much-needed cash - Another reason Cubans are kept off their island's beaches is tourism. Last year's 4.75 million visitors brought in $3.3 billion -- money the Cuban government sorely needs as it struggles under crippling United States sanctions. At least one hotel in Varadero advertises an exclusive beach, and locals say over-zealous security guards kick them off hotel beaches. The law prohibits such practices, but Perello acknowledged that, "undoubtedly, the hotels represent a business that's trying to put pressure on" the government. For locals, just getting to the beach can often be a challenge. Most don't own a car, and can't afford the bus fare to take them to the shore. Laura Yanis, 21, has been to Varadero only once in her life. "It's very beautiful, the water is very blue, the sand is amazing," she said. "But it's really very far for me and I don't have any transport." Sitting on the tiny Bacuranao beach, around 30 kilometers from Havana, she insists that "all Cubans really do have access to all beaches, they're not private or reserved for certain people." "That's important because it's us, the people, who are taking the country forward," she added. Caridad Vidangel, 48, managed to get to Bacuranao but only after taking a bus and then a horse-drawn carriage. "If we could, we'd go somewhere else," she said of the beach, the closest one to her home. "I've never been to Varadero. I'd like to ... but it's impossible."


Despite being swept out of the first round of the postseason in 2018, the Trail Blazers ran back virtually the same roster for the 2018/19 season, and the team's confidence in its core players paid dividends. With a more favorable playoff draw in 2019, Portland won two series, earning a spot in the Western Conference Finals for the first time in nearly 20 years. The club's success led to renewed faith in its core, including head coach Terry Stotts and president of basketball operations Neil Olshey, who both signed contract extensions. Here's where things currently stand for the Trail Blazers financially, as we continue our Offseason Salary Cap Digest series for 2019: Guaranteed Salary Damian Lillard ($29,802,321) CJ McCollum ($27,556,959) Evan Turner ($18,606,556) Jusuf Nurkic ($12,000,000) Maurice Harkless ($11,511,234) Meyers Leonard ($11,286,515) Zach Collins ($4,240,200) Andrew Nicholson ($2,844,430)   Waived via stretch provision Skal Labissiere ($2,338,847) Anfernee Simons ($2,149,560) Anderson Varejao ($1,913,345)   Waived via stretch provision Gary Trent Jr. ($1,416,852) Festus Ezeli ($333,333)   Waived via stretch provision Total: $126,000,152 Player Options None Team Options None Non-Guaranteed Salary None Restricted Free Agents Jake Layman ($1,931,189 qualifying offer / $1,931,189 cap hold): Bird rights Total: $1,931,189 Unrestricted Free Agents / Other Cap Holds Al-Farouq Aminu ($13,218,500): Bird rights Rodney Hood ($4,167,466): Non-Bird rights Seth Curry ($3,354,000): Non-Bird rights No. 25 overall pick ($2,103,000) Enes Kanter ($1,618,486): Non-Bird rights Total: $24,461,452 Projected Salary Cap: $109,000,000 Projected Tax Line: $132,000,000 Offseason Cap Outlook Realistic cap room projection: $0 With $126M already committed to 10 players for 2019/20, the Trail Blazers project to be back in the tax next season unless they can cut costs a little or fill out their roster extremely cheaply. Their odds of creating cap room are extremely slim. Cap Exceptions Available Taxpayer mid-level exception: $5,711,000 1 Footnotes This is a projected value . If the Trail Blazers were to reduce salary and stay out of tax territory, they could instead have access to the full mid-level exception ( $9,246,000 ) and the bi-annual exception ( $3,619,000 ). Note: Minimum-salary and rookie-scale cap holds are estimates based on salary cap projections and could increase or decrease depending on where the cap lands. Salary information from Basketball Insiders and RealGM was used in the creation of this post.


Kyle Larson's success at the famed Sonoma Raceway is to some extent, a microcosm of his season. He's won the pole position for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at the track for the past two years, but hasn't been there at the finish to take home the big trophy. Similarly, the popular young driver has been good on the season   he won the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series All-Star race last month   but he's still looking for his first points-paying victory. This could well be the track and the weekend that changes all that. RELATED: Full schedule for Sonoma | Larson tops final practice The Sonoma Raceway road course is essentially a home race track for the Elk Grove, California native. He fondly recalls coming to races as a fan when he was a young boy, even dressing in his racing hero Jeff Gordon's kid-size fire suit. And the feel-good has continued as an adult. The day before his 2014 rookie series debut at the track, Larson won the pole and led every lap to claim the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West victory. He'd love to replicate the good vibes and past performance in Sunday's Toyota/Save Mart 350 (3 p.m. ET on FS1, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). And judging by his work in Friday's opening two practice sessions, he's a good bet. Larson led final practice in his No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet. "We don't ever come here and set up to get a pole," Larson told reporters Friday afternoon. "We come here to try and win the race and have the set-up capable of winning the race. So it just happens to work out where I've been good for short-run kind of stuff here my whole career. "It seems like it's kind of the same thing again this weekend. So, I don't know. We've tried all sorts of different stuff so maybe it's just my fault why I'm only good at qualifying." In an unusual twist of fate, the fact Larson has only five previous Monster Energy Series starts at Sonoma may well work into his favor this weekend. The Sonoma track will feature a new look for the first time since 1997. And the change in course   extending it from 1.99-miles to 2.52-miles and adding the famous carousel turn   has garnered plenty of headlines and strong opinions. No one entered this weekend has ever run this longer track version in a Cup race. RELATED: What drivers are saying about the carousel after practice It certainly didn't slow Larson down in the opening practice sessions. In fact, he even told reporters the new section of the course may well be his favorite part. "It's just a few extra corners so it's not a big deal I guess to any of us out there," Larson said. "So yeah, we ran a good lap in our mock run today in practice, so I feel like I have a good shot at another pole tomorrow {Saturday). I would like to be better in race trim, but if we can get another pole it would be pretty cool." Larson is ranked 15th in the series driver standings   inside the top-16 cutoff to ultimately make the Playoffs   but with only an eight-point cushion over 17th place Ryan Newman. Larson is 14 points behind 14th place William Byron. This weekend may well be a turning point for Larson. His season's highs   such as earning his first All-Star Race victory   have been extraordinary, but his disappointments have been equally as resounding. Larson led a race best 143 laps at Atlanta, for example, but finished 12th. And the perennial Playoff contender has as many DNFs as he does top-10s (four). His best effort of 2019 is third place at Dover in May. His last top 10 came a week after that   an eighth place run in Kansas. Larson has never started worse than fifth in five Sonoma races, but has never finished better than 12th (2016). He's hoping a new look for the track may translate into a new look for him after the race: sipping local wine in Victory Lane. "I guess [it's] not too frustrating with how our cars are running because I feel like our cars have been pretty good," Larson said when asked about his season. "But as far as just bad luck or mistakes and things like that, that's what's been frustrating. But having a decently fast race car helps relieve some of that frustration. "Kurt [Busch] has been running really good. I run pretty good most of the race and then kind of something seems to happen towards to the end. We've just got to clean up some things still and hopefully we can make the Playoffs and be hitting on all eight cylinders at the right time." ]]>


Investigators on the Maleah Davis case have seized Derion Vence's cellphone records. This comes after a warrant was issued to his cellphone provider for his phone records during April 30 and May 15. Homicide investigators said they have reason to believe the call history stored in Vence's phone could reveal who he communicated with after the last time Maleah was seen on camera , which was April 30. "…if the missing phone is being used subsequent to defendant's claim that it was left in his Nissan, the call history data could lead investigators to the person using the phone, and would provide information regarding from whom calls are being received." Vence told investigators he lost his phone on May 3 when he was confronted and assaulted by two Hispanic men on the way to the Bush airport to pick up Maleah's mom, Brittany Bowens. He claims the attack happened near Highway 59 and Greens Road and Maleah and his 2-year-old son were with him. Vence said he lost conscious during the confrontation and when he woke up, he and the two children were in the men's pickup truck. He claimed during the confrontation his phone was in his 2011 Nissan Altima and that's the last time he saw it. A day later, Vence said woke up somewhere off Highway 59 in the Sugar Land area with his 2-year-old son. There was no sign of Maleah. For days, police searched for Vence's missing car hoping to find evidence that would lead them to Maleah's whereabouts. The Altima was found on May 9 in Missouri City . When police looked through the car they did not find Maleah or Vence's cellphone. Detectives were able to get surveillance video from the porch of an apartment next to Vence's apartment and they learned on May 3, Vence did leave his apartment with his 2-year-old son, but Malelah was never with them. Vence remains charged with tampering with evidence related to a human corpse in connection to Maleah Davis' death. He remains in the Harris County Jail. He has been ordered to undergo a mental heath assessment , according to court records. A medical examiner has not released a cause of death.


Second-round pick Jawaan Taylor has signed his rookie deal with the Jaguars, a source tells PFT . The team announced three signings of their draft class earlier Thursday, with third-round choice Josh Oliver, sixth-round choice Gardner Minshew and seventh-round pick Dontavius Russell agreeing to terms. Taylor's signing leaves three of the team's draft picks unsigned. Taylor, a Florida offensive tackle, was expected to go higher. He blamed "false medical reports" for his fall. Taylor will compete with Will Richardson and Cedric Ogbuehi for the right tackle job.


[What you need to know to start the day: Get New York Today in your inbox .] The cache of documents surfaced in 2018 when the F.B.I. searched the home of a senior member of the cultlike group Nxivm. Photographs from the search showed agents had found a clear plastic box with a red lid in the basement of a home belonging to Nancy Salzman, Nxivm's co-founder, who was known as "Prefect." Inside, agents said, were folders of financial reports labeled with names of journalists, judges, cult experts and others, including Senator Chuck Schumer; the then state attorney general, Eliot Spitzer; and the State Senate majority leader, Joseph L. Bruno. Sign Up For the Morning Briefing Newsletter Most, if not all, of the financial material was inaccurate, an F.B.I. agent, Michael Weniger, said. But Nxivm members appeared to be making a genuine effort to gather information on the targets. "The vast majority of the individuals that had folders inside the box were individuals that had some type of criticism of Nxivm and or the defendant," he testified on Thursday in the racketeering and sex trafficking case of the group's leader, Keith Raniere. Mr. Weniger finished testifying on Friday, closing the prosecution's case six weeks after it began on May 7. Afterward, the defense declined to present witnesses, and in the only instance during the trial in which he has spoken publicly, Mr. Raniere confirmed to the judge in a soft voice that he would not be taking the stand. Summations are scheduled for Monday. Over the course of the trial in Federal District Court in Brooklyn, six former Nxivm members offered wrenching and sometimes lurid accounts of manipulation and sexual abuse. But Mr. Weniger appeared to serve as an expert of sorts, someone who could draw from broad knowledge of Nxivm and introduce documents involving members who were not called to the stand. Mr. Raniere, 58, co-founded Nxivm (pronounced nex-ee-um) in the 1990s as a self-help organization based near Albany. He is now on trial on charges of racketeering conspiracy, identity theft, extortion, forced labor, money laundering, wire fraud and sex trafficking. Although he presented himself as a humanitarian, prosecutors have said Mr. Raniere, known as "Vanguard," exploited his followers, particularly women. Some were branded with his initials and assigned to have sex with him. Much of Mr. Weniger's testimony emphasized the conspiratorial nature of Nxivm and the lengths to which its members would go to monitor those whom they perceived as hostile. Earlier in the trial, a witness identified only as Daniela said Nxivm tried to obtain personal information and banking records of people on a "list of enemies" who members believed wanted to destroy the group. She added that she hacked into the computer accounts of several people at the behest of Mr. Raniere and a Nxivm member named Kristin Keeffe. As part of that effort, Daniela said, she obtained years of emails from the account of the liquor magnate Edgar M. Bronfman Sr., whose daughter, Clare Bronfman, was a senior member of Nxivm. Among those whose names appeared on folders in Ms. Salzman's basement were journalists with The Albany Times Union, which had run investigative stories about Nxivm, and four federal judges who had presided over cases involving the group. Also included was information about the political operative Roger Stone, who Mr. Weniger said had worked for Nxivm; Rick Ross, a cult expert the group had sued; Kristin Snyder, a Nxivm student who was presumed to have died in Alaska; and Mr. Bronfman. Mr. Weniger said that Ms. Bronfman appeared to have paid an investigations company in Montreal "upward of $400,000." Email messages introduced as evidence showed that her payments to the company, Canaprobe Group, were for financial reports. Ms. Keeffe forwarded some of that material to Emiliano Salinas, a Nxivm member whose father, Carlos Salinas de Gortari, had been president of Mexico, the messages also showed. Mr. Salinas then sent it to a man at a private equity fund. And that man sent the information to a private investigator in New York who attempted to verify it, Mr. Weniger said. In some email exchanges, Mr. Raniere "specifically discusses with Kristin Keeffe the relationship Nxivm had with Canaprobe," Mr. Weniger testified. Mr. Weniger acknowledged that it appeared that Canaprobe had given the Nxivm members bogus information and that Ms. Bronfman had eventually sued the company. One of Mr. Raniere's lawyers, Marc Agnifilo, suggested to Mr. Weniger that Ms. Keeffe may have been carrying out investigations on her own. He also portrayed her as paranoid, pointing to an instance in which she was suspicious of a black pickup truck in her neighborhood and an occasion when she theorized that house painters might be conducting undercover surveillance of her home. But Mr. Weniger testified that Ms. Keeffe was not the only member of Nxivm to exhibit paranoia. At one point, Mr. Weniger said, Nxivm sent investigators to Key West, Fla., and, apparently, Palm Springs, Calif., to look for Ms. Snyder, the former Nxivm student. In 2003 Ms. Snyder left an "intensive" Nxivm course in a hotel in Anchorage and wrote a note saying she had been "brainwashed," The Times Union reported. She was then believed to have intentionally capsized a kayak in the icy waters of Resurrection Bay. Mr. Raniere believed word of her death was a conspiracy to create "negative publicity," according to Daniela's testimony. And Mr. Weniger said there was a belief among Nxivm members that Ms. Snyder "was still alive and that she was moving from place to place." The animosity toward Mr. Bronfman, who was the chief executive of the Seagram Company, appeared to be driven by the fact that he was quoted in a story in Forbes magazine in 2003 as saying of Nxivm: "I think it's a cult." He expanded on that opinion in an email to Ms. Bronfman, writing in an apparent reference to Ms. Snyder and Ms. Salzman "a young woman died in Alaska and some people blame Nancy's diagnosis," then criticizing the long hours that Nxivm courses typically lasted. "Having the session go from 8:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. is extreme and it's what cults do to gain dominance over their victims," he wrote. "A group led by two people who call themselves Vanguard and Prefect certainly sounds like a cult."


According to rental site Zumper , median rents for a one-bedroom in Orlando are hovering around $1,093. But how does the low-end pricing on an Orlando rental look these days   and what might you get for your money? We took a look at local listings for studios and one-bedroom apartments from Zumper and Apartment Guide to find out what price-conscious apartment seekers can expect to find. Take a look at the cheapest listings available right now, 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. 4901 Bottlebrush Lane Here's a one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment at 4901 Bottlebrush Lane in Rosemont, which, at 619 square feet, is also going for $875/month. Building amenities include a fitness center and a swimming pool. The apartment also comes with a balcony and in-unit laundry. For those with furry friends in tow, know that cats and dogs are welcome on this property. According to Walk Score, the area around this address is car-dependent, isn't particularly bikeable and has a few nearby public transportation options. (See the full listing here .) 1001 Shoreview Drive Then there's this 500-square-foot studio at 1001 Shoreview Drive, listed at $890/month. The studio comes with hardwood floors and in-unit laundry. For those with furry friends in tow, know that cats and dogs are allowed on this property. The building offers on-site laundry. Walk Score indicates that the surrounding area is moderately walkable and is quite bikeable. (See the listing here .) 4618 Middlebrook Road Next up is this 390-square-foot studio apartment, located at 4618 Middlebrook Road in Florida Center North and listed for $899/month. The building offers a fitness center and a swimming pool. In the unit, anticipate hardwood floors and a walk-in closet. If you've got a pet, you'll be happy to learn that cats and dogs are permitted. According to Walk Score, the area around this address is car-dependent, has minimal bike infrastructure and has a few nearby public transportation options. (Here's the listing .) 5953 Curry Ford Road Over at 5953 Curry Ford Road in Engelwood Park, there's this 550-square-foot studio apartment, going for $909/month. The building offers a fitness center and a swimming pool. In the unit, you'll find hardwood flooring and both central heating and air conditioning. When it comes to pets, both meows and barks are permitted. Expect a $300 pet fee. According to Walk Score, the area around this address is moderately walkable, is quite bikeable and has some transit options. (View the listing here .) 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.


The Houston Texans announced Wednesday that they will hold five open training camp practices during training camp. Read this guide to know everything necessary to attend camp like a pro. 1. Where do the practices take place? Methodist Training Center right across the street from NRG Stadium on Kirby Drive. 2. What time are the practices? The Aug. 1, 3, and 10 practices will start at 9:10 a.m. Parking lots open at 5:00 a.m. and gates opening at 8:15 a.m. The times for the Aug. 14-15 practices, which are joint sessions with the Detroit Lions, are not yet available. All practice times are subject to change. 3. Are tickets necessary to attend? Yes, but fans must register in a drawing to win the tickets. Registry for the five open practices can be found here . Fans who win tickets will be notified by email on July 26 and will be given two tickets per person, per practice. 4. Where is the parking? Parking will be available starting at 5:00 a.m. each day in the Green lot off Lantern Point Drive south of the Methodist Training Center. 5. Is there reserved seating? All of the seating is limited bleacher seating and is first come, first served. There are no reserved seats. Fans are encouraged to wear proper attire, headwear, stay hydrated, and use sunscreen. 6. Will the NFL Clear Bag Policy be in effect? Yes, it will. More information on the NFL Clear Bag Policy can be found here . 7. Can you bring food and drinks to practice? The only beverage permitted is water. No food is allowed at practices. 8. Can you bring a camera to take pictures? Yes, fans are permitted to take photographs and shoot video. 9. Is practice ever canceled? It is subject to cancellation, but what could happen more than likely is practice is moved indoors to the practice bubble due to inclement weather. Fans should check the team's official Twitter page the day of the practice to see if it has been canceled. 10. Will players sign autographs? Not only will Texans players be available to sign autographs, but so will Texans Ambassadors, Texans Cheerleaders, and even TORO. There will also be a Fan Zone behind the bleachers with kids getting the chance to take part in TORO's Kids Club Zone. MORE: See the dramatic final hand of 2019 WSOP Main Event that won Hossein Ensan $10 million Baker Mayfield swings and misses with attempted rip of Giants fans News: Cowboys' $100 million men underpaid, and more dangerous in 2019 LeBron James Boasts About '300 Mil Later' After Rich Paul Klutch Sale to UTA The top 100 players in the NFL today


If poke are what you're after, look no further than this new business. Called Fuji Poke , the fresh addition is located at 2121 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., Suite 8. Fuji Poke's menu features build-your-own bowls with your choice of three proteins plus mix-ins, ranging from edamame, jalapeños and cream cheese to mango and mixed seaweed. Top if off with a sweet sauce like Ponzu or something spicier like Wasabi mayonnaise. If you're craving bubble tea, it offers flavors like white chocolate mocha, green tea matcha, strawberry and many more. Fuji Poke has proven popular thus far, with a five-star rating out of four reviews on Yelp. Rebecca S., who was among the first Yelpers to review the new spot on May 16, wrote, "I stopped in for lunch today and built my own bowl with the spicy salmon and spicy tuna. There's so many sauce varieties!" Yelper Christopher S. wrote , "This is the best poke I've ever had. I built my own bowl and it was fantastic. The spicy salmon mix was great and the raw scallops were delicious." Interested? Stop by to welcome the new business to the neighborhood. Fuji Poke is open from 11 a.m. 9 p.m. daily. 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.


An unnamed suspect shot and killed a 32-year-old man Friday night in Spring during an argument over a car crash, Harris County Sheriff's Office investigators said. Authorities are searching for a black male who fled the Chevron gas station near Cypress Station Drive and Cypress Trace Road in a gray Ford F-150 with a gray truck bed cover and several running boards. The suspect was described as slightly taller than 6 feet with a medium build, last seen wearing red shorts and a black T-shirt. HPD INVESTIGATIONS: Man shot to death in parking lot in southeast Houston Harris County sheriff's Sgt. Greg Pinkins said the suspect and an unnamed driver were involved in a highway crash several miles from the gas station at about 8 p.m. The driver asked his friend to help him at the gas station. After the driver's friend arrived, the suspect pulled up onto the scene and an argument ensued, Pinkins said. The suspect shot the victim several times before fleeing the scene, he said. Investigators have a tentative identification of the victim, but they are waiting to release his name pending a medical examiner's report, Pinkins said. Two witnesses were located at the scene, and investigators are reviewing surveillance video, Pinkins said. STAY INFORMED: Text CHRON to 77453 to receive breaking news alerts by text message | Sign up for breaking news alerts delivered to your email here.


Road crews have reopened northbound lanes on I-35W between Dale Earnhardt and Farm to Market 1171. All lanes were previously shutdown Thursday after an 18-wheeler caught on fire, officials reported. The cause of the accident is under investigation. This is a developing story. Check back for new information. Download our free WFAA app to stay up-to-date on all news stories in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.


Unlike some other teams across the league, the Kansas City Chiefs have yet to report for their training camp. Everyone will be in St. Joseph, Missouri for training camp a week from today, on Friday, August 26. With a week to go, some players got a little antsy and wanted to get a head start on the festivities. According to Patrick Mahomes' instagram story , he gathered with his top receivers and threw the ball around today. His video shows a very tired looking group of receivers including Tyreek Hill, Demarcus Robinson, Sammy Watkins, Gehrig Dieter and rookie WR Mecole Hardman. It seems like they ran some routes for Mahomes on this hot summer day in Kansas City. The video that he captured seems to have come after the workout before everyone departed. Doesn't look like Patrick Mahomes is waiting around till camp per his Instagram. #Chiefs pic.twitter.com/pxqSJ9r3M7 - Nick Jacobs (@Jacobs71) July 19, 2019 One of the other people in attendance is former Chiefs video guru Billy Quach, who is currently a freelance director, videographer and photographer. He's been following some Chiefs players around this offseason and documenting the work they've put in. He's captured offseason work from Chris Jones, Tyreek Hill and more. Here are a few snapshots that he shared from today. Just some kids playing catch on a nice summer day pic.twitter.com/WsQuaAL5vo - Billy Quach (@billyquachfilms) July 19, 2019 . @Demarcus PRIMED FOR A SEASON ⚡ pic.twitter.com/GRxdChvU4q - Billy Quach (@billyquachfilms) July 19, 2019 QB1 @PatrickMahomes pic.twitter.com/4KtWZw80bW - Billy Quach (@billyquachfilms) July 19, 2019 Quach will be posting some video of the workouts later today, which we'll share with you, because he's incredibly talented. It's always nice to see players motivated and working together when it isn't required of them. Anything extra that they put into this offseason could potentially be that little something that pushes this group over the top in 2019. MORE: Is Tacko Fall an NBA player? Here is the case for why... and why not Dan Le Batard delivers impassioned rebuke of racist 'send her back' chant despite ESPN rules Dan Le Batard Rips Trump and 'Send Her Back' Chants What made Bills hiring of Ken Dorsey a crucial hiring Ranking the Packers' position groups from weakest to strongest Related slideshow: Top picks of 2019 NFL Draft (provided by imagn)


NEW YORK   After the champagne, the Red Sox have never been much good at curing the hangover. That's not exclusive to them. No Major League team has repeated as champion since the 2000 Yankees, who won their third straight and fourth in five years. The Red Sox have had three opportunities since the ghosts were exorcised in 2004 to win back-to-back titles. But the headache from the previous October's celebration always has a tendency to linger, and no elixir so far has prevented the 2019 Red Sox from being affected either. They entered Saturday night's game against the first-place Yankees (37-19) with an 8½-game deficit in the American League East, the Tampa Bay Rays between them in the standings, and in danger of dipping back to .500 with a loss. While watching them struggle to recapture their magic of a season ago, it's illustrative to remember how their other World Series championship defenses have played out, if only to acknowledge that we should have known this would be tough. 2005: The Red Sox actually finished with 95 wins, three fewer than in 2004, while tying the Yankees atop the AL East. But New York won the division title based on a superior head-to-head record. The Red Sox settled for the wild card, their title defense ending in a three-game wipeout at the hands of the White Sox, one of the more unheralded champions this century. General manager Theo Epstein, believing even championship rosters require alterations to counter complacency, made notable changes after the '04 catharsis   Pedro Martinez, Derek Lowe, Orlando Cabrera and Dave Roberts were among the departures. The additions weren't quite as successful, unless you're some weirdo who enjoyed Edgar Renteria complaining about the Fenway infield and Matt Clement starting Game 1 of the playoffs. 2008: Another 95-win follow-up season, and another wild card. The Sox finished two games back of the Rays in the AL East, the longtime division doormat improving by 31 wins over their '07 last-place finish. Terry Francona once said the '08 team might have been the best he had during his eight years in Boston, even with the trade deadline blockbuster that sent Manny Ramirez to Hollywood and brought in Jason Bay. But those upstart Rays got 'em in the end, with rookie buzz-saw David Price finishing off the Sox in Game 7 of the ALCS. 2014: Save for 'Caddyshack 2,' sequels don't get lousier than this. John Farrell's squad followed up its unexpected and inspirational championship run in '13 by becoming just the second champion to go from first to worst in their division, following the '98 everything-must-go Marlins. En route to a 71-91 finish, which left them 25 games behind the Orioles, they had a fire sale of their own, sending away Andrew Miller, John Lackey, and homegrown ace Jon Lester at the trade deadline. It was the biggest debacle of this era that didn't involve Bobby Valentine. So here were are with the first act of the '19 Red Sox season complete, 57 games down and 105 to go entering Saturday. There's still plenty of time left in the show to discover where the plot will take us. But right now, it feels quite a bit like '05 and '08, and perhaps just a little worse. If the season ended Sunday, the Red Sox would have a slight edge on the Rangers and Indians for the second wild card. That's not the worst-case scenario by any measure   if anything, it's mildly encouraging that they're in the playoff picture given the 11-17 start. But it's not near where they expected to be, either, and they have regressed lately, losing 9 of their last 16. Sure, the Red Sox had some built-in room for falloff after winning a franchise-record 108 games last season. But they haven't slipped slightly. They've been surpassed by the loaded Astros and resilient Yankees, while the Twins (an AL-best 39 wins) are the story of the season. Even the wild-card leading Rays are their superior so far. Obviously this will not be a '14 scenario for the Red Sox, but if they continue to play with a hazy malaise the next six or seven weeks, they will have some interesting decisions to make at the July 31 trading deadline. They need to tell us once and for all who they are, and fairly soon. Mookie Betts sounded frustrated after Friday's 4-1 loss. "(The) inconsistency has been tough,'' he said. "You can't really play this game and be good if you're inconsistent. We're aware of that, but we have a long way to go to fix it." Chris Sale, who dropped to 1-7, offered a mix of optimism and defiance. "We can make those [8½ games] up in a few weeks," Sale said. "We can flip that coin and be right back on top." Cora has kept an upbeat and even tone through the peaks and valleys. He's still quick to smile. But he has to know that there must be indications that the coin, so to speak, will flip soon. "Are we saving it for the right time? I don't know," Cora said after Friday's loss. "Get rolling and win 17 of the next 19." The 2018 Red Sox were masters of the extended hot streak. They began the season 17-2. They went 39-10 from June 21-Aug. 18. They were 11-3 in the playoffs, losing just a single game in each series. They were the greatest juggernaut, beginning to end, in franchise history. A third of the way through the follow-up season, the roster looks similar, but the results do not. They're talented. They're the defending champions. And they're the picture of mediocrity. The standings don't lie. If the Red Sox don't find their lost mojo the next few weeks, we'll stop looking to last season for hope, and we might just have to start thinking about the next one. Chad Finn can be reached at finn@globe.com . Follow him on Twitter @GlobeChadFinn . Related slideshow: 2019 MLB season (Provided by imagn)


Mesa is forecast to turn hot over the next few days, according to drone-powered weather forecasting service Saildrone . Temperatures will reach a high of 110 degrees on Monday. The immediate forecast also has mostly cloudy skies in store for today. Skies will partially clear on Wednesday. Winds will remain fairly calm over the course of the week, with the highest speeds on Sunday at only 11 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.


While on his Adidas promotional tour in China, James Harden ran into a bit of trouble with the law. According to Unus Alladin of the South China Morning Post , the Houston Rockets All-Star was reported stopped the middle of the road for a traffic violation on Saturday afternoon. In photos and videos that have gone viral, the Houston Rockets shooting guard is seen riding a battery-powered scooter with his friends and then being stopped by a policeman, who pulls him over for breaking local road regulations. He was apparently travelling from Shangri-La Hotel to Cao Yang Road, a 4.4km trip at around 3pm on Saturday afternoon. It is not known whether he was given a traffic citation or whether police in Shanghai had any idea who Harden was. Harden was riding a rented scooter helmet-less probably to beat Shanghai's notorious traffic. Harden took to Chinese social media Weibo to apologize, as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram are banned on the mainland. "China, thank you for your hospitality. I would like to apologise for violating traffic rules during my scooter ride today," he wrote on Weibo . "Not a good example obviously but I was just trying to enjoy the city as much as possible. Thank you for your understanding and I'll make sure to abide by the rules next time here." Harden was stopped by traffic police since rode a battery car against regulation in shanghai @00rocketgirl @RocketsNationCP @DreamShakeSBN pic.twitter.com/FqLQmkm2WU - 火星迷 (@wangliangzi) June 29, 2019 Harden in China @YuFu_tencent pic.twitter.com/TFnC3qe8us - Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) June 29, 2019 Last year's NBA MVP has been having a blast throughout China, appearing last week in Peking Opera costumes at a meeting with Beijing fans. Pictures and videos from the event have gone viral. Harden has been on promotional tours in China before, and the Rockets played preseason games in China three years ago. There is Klay, there is China Klay. Here you go, China Harden. pic.twitter.com/xXe8038YRZ - Renjun Bao (@renjunsd) June 22, 2019 Lots of great photos from James Harden's current trip to China, including him trying to double dutch and running a bunch of kids with fake beards through drills. https://t.co/MTruyEN0f1 pic.twitter.com/3KXHpwDnAY - Matt Young (@Chron_MattYoung) June 24, 2019 . @JHarden13 x @adidasHoops take on China and by the looks of it, these kids are already starting to look like Harden on the court (: https://t.co/laJvY7hBSd ) pic.twitter.com/Xahc3G7GvL - The Boardroom (@boardroom) June 24, 2019 MORE: Curry will join Myers in New York to make free agency pitch to Kevin Durant NBA Free Agency 2019: The top players NBA free agency roundup: The latest updates around the league Giants' Darius Slayton already considered a Draft-day steal? Excessive Blood in Ring Causes MMA Fight to Be Abandoned


Aurora will see a return of last week's light rainfall this coming week, according to drone-powered weather forecasting service Saildrone . Monday's forecast shows the greatest chance of rain at 80 percent, with rain likely through Tuesday. Also look for winds this coming week. Winds are forecast to rise up to 21 miles per hour on Sunday, while today will be quieter with a top speed of just 13 mph. Temperatures will be mild today and tomorrow, then make way for warmer weather on Sunday with a high of 73 degrees. Skies will be partly cloudy today and mostly cloudy on Saturday and Sunday. 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.


SAN FRANCISCO (KPIX)   A celebrated vocal group from Oakwood University in Alabama came to San Francisco to perform at the Third Baptist Church Sunday. Despite being involved in a horrendous, fiery crash Saturday morning, their concert will be held as planned. RELATED : Tour Bus Full Of College Students Destroyed In Fiery, Fatal Hwy 101 Crash Just before 1 a.m. Saturday, a bus carrying the Oakwood University Aeolians collided with an SUV and burst into flames on Highway 101 in South San Francisco. The choir had just landed at San Francisco International Airport and was on the way to a Union Square hotel at the time of the accident. Cars trying to swerve around a stalled car in the center divide triggered the accident. As cars scattered across the road, a Lincoln Navigator plowed into the back of the bus, killing the driver in the SUV. Dr. Jason Max Ferdinand, the director of the choir said, "That's when it really started to blaze. We want to keep that family in prayer." All 18 students and 2 staff members were able to get off the bus before it was engulfed in flames. Dr. Ferdinand added that everyone was, "Shaken up, very much so but thankful we lost things and not lives." Members of the Aeolians were able to heal by using their voices. Hours after the crash, they were singing again at the Philadelphian Seventh Day Adventist church in San Francisco. Reverend Amos Brown of the Third Baptist Church invited the choir back to San Francisco for a concert. While members of the choir are still dealing with rattled nerves, they will continue to perform. Rev. Brown says the choir is determined to keep singing. "That represents strength. They know how to triumph over tragedy and they are able to make beauty from ashes." The members of the choir lost all of their personal belongings in the fire but the Bay Area was quick to help. The San Francisco Police Officers Association was one of the first to step up with a generous donation, providing items such as clothing to the choir. Oakwood University is a historically black Seventh-day Adventist college in Huntsville, Alabama. The Aeolians have performed at the White House and the Kennedy Center.