John Frazier and Ron McReynolds, food vendors at the Gilroy Garlic Festival, were packing up their tent just after 5:30 p.m. Sunday when McReynolds spotted a man in the bed of a nearby truck wearing an olive-color military vest and a hat and holding what appeared to be an assault rifle. McReynolds thought the man might have been a police officer  until he started firing at the crowd. McReynolds ran back into his tent to tell his coworkers to duck. "I said, 'You're joking,'" Frazier recalled. "Simultaneously, as he says he's serious, I look out the window and see a man in the back of a white pickup truck using the top of the cab to rest his rifle on." Frazier and McReynolds, both of Sacramento, barricaded two coworkers under a table in their tent and then crawled out the back to help victims. Two tents down, they discovered a husband and wife who had been shot, both in the legs. "Kids were in the tent screaming. It was just chaotic," McReynolds said. "We tried to tend to their wounds until the police came." Police said a gunman, identified Monday as 19-year-old Santino William Legan, cut through a fence to get into the popular event just after 5:30 p.m. before opening fire with a rifle, killing three people   including a 6-year-old San Jose boy   and wounding at least 12 others, some critically, before being shot dead by Gilroy police. After the country's latest mass shooting, witnesses described moments of terror, chaos and confusion, as the shots rang out while people listened to music on a stage, ate dinner and milled around. Videos from the scene show people running for their lives, while not knowing which way to go to find safety. A bloodied, motionless victim is seen in the bed of a pickup truck, while a woman weeps in the passenger seat. A band's performance is interrupted by gunfire and then, within moments, by screams. The first 911 calls from the festival came in at 5:41 p.m. Witnesses reported the shooter was a man in his 20s wearing a camouflage uniform and hat with a long rifle with removable ammunition magazines. Witnesses reported a second suspect, and a search continued Monday for that person, though police could not say what the person's role was, if any. Also unknown was a motive for the violence. Gilroy Police Chief Scot Smithee said the gunman and perhaps a companion accessed the festival through a creek and cut through a perimeter fence "with some sort of tool" to avoid metal detectors at the entrance. The barrage of shots that rang out in the final hour of the three-day festival sent attendees diving to the ground, crawling under tables. Felton Amos and his family had just finished eating dinner in a food tent when he heard what he initially thought were firecrackers   pops that lasted for what seemed like nearly a minute. "Everybody just ran, panicked," said the 60-year-old father from Rio Vista. "It sounded like more than one gun, like they were having a shootout." Amos pushed his family to the ground, then noticed a woman nearby, frozen in fear. "I got up and snatched her back down," he said. "My mind was saying, 'I'm going to get hit,' but it didn't matter." Michael Paz, 72, a hat vendor at the event who said he was about 80 feet away from the shooter, echoed many other guests, saying, "It was quite shocking and I'm fortunate to be alive. "He came ready to shoot because he was wearing a protective vest," Paz said of the killer. "He was shooting left; he was shooting right without any particular aim." Paz said everyone immediately dropped to the ground as law officers converged on the gunman and opened fire. Candice Marquez, 51, a honey vendor at the festival, said she was just 10 feet from the shooter and saw him replace a magazine of ammunition. "He was super quiet, he was reloading, and we ran," she said. Mark Mendoza, 16, who said his cousin had been shot in the leg, recalled that he was near a children's play area when a man near him opened fire. The gunman wore a "sheriff-type outfit" and was armed with what appeared to be a semiautomatic rifle, the teenager said. He said he watched as the shooter pointed the gun at a food vendor area and began firing. "A couple bullets hit the ground, I just ran," Mendoza said. "I looked back, and a couple shots went by me." One of the bullets struck his cousin, whom he did not identify, in the leg. The family split up, some scrambling into a wooded area and through a fence. A bystander helped some of the children climb through. Mendoza's cousin was able to run away. Herman Solis of Hollister (San Benito County), who was attending the festival with his girlfriend, said he dropped to the ground when he heard gunfire. "You could hear the bullets whizzing by," he said. "It was unreal. We ran and ducked for cover. It was chaos. At first I thought it was fireworks. Then I realized it wasn't." Solis and his girlfriend ran from the festival, took shelter in a nearby convenience store, and watched ambulances and police cars whiz past, heading for the festival grounds. In the aftermath, a police officer told dispatch that he saw a Ford pickup driving off, probably to a hospital, while someone gave CPR to the victim in the bed of the truck. At about 5:53 p.m., dispatch logs show, the first report was made of a possible shooter down in the northeast section of park. Elena Diaz said she had to flee while working her booth, selling toe rings by the music stage. She heard two pops, "like fireworks" and then rapid gunfire. She and her customers huddled behind a table. "It was so scary," she said. "It was like a scary movie." Briana Wilson, 20, said she had been volunteering in an olive oil booth when she heard the shots. A man pushed her to the ground, she said, telling her to "hide or run." Wilson said she heard about half a dozen shots that sounded to her like corn popping in a microwave oven. She ran. People running alongside her were calling out for their loved ones, she said. After running for what seemed like 2 miles, she and her friends found a man watering his lawn. He let them take refuge inside his house. Chronicle staff writers Gwendolyn Wu, Matthias Gafni and Steve Rubenstein contributed to this report. Ashley McBride and Lizzie Johnson are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: ashley.mcbride@sfchronicle.com , ljohnson@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ashleynmcb @lizziejohnsonnn


The chatter is intensifying that Falcons receiver Julio Jones already has a new deal, and that he's only days away from having it officially signed and announced. As one league source explained in the aftermath of our item from earlier in the day regarding the rule that requires the Falcons and Jones to wait a full calendar year since his last contract adjustment, it's unlikely that the Falcons would have committed long-term funds to defensive tackle Grady Jarrett and linebacker Deion Jones without knowing precisely how much cash and cap space would be devoted to Julio Jones on his next contract. That makes plenty of sense. And it also would help explain the apparent patience of Julio, who reported for camp without getting the contract that he has said he was promised by owner Arthur Blank. So look for the news to emerge on or after July 26 that Julio Jones has a contract that will reward him financially, and that will extend his tenure with the team well beyond 2019.


The Chargers signed half their draft class to contracts Saturday morning, announcing via Twitter : 4-130: Drue Tranquill , LB (Notre Dame) 5-166: Easton Stick, QB (North Dakota State) 6-200: Emeke Egbule , LB (Houston) 7-242: Cortez Broughton , DT (Cincinnati) Tranquill has the best shot of establishing a role with the Chargers in 2019. While Los Angeles did add free-agent linebacker Thomas Davis , the team is only carrying 11 linebackers at the moment (not including undrafted rookies). Tranquill played some safety in college, and defensive coordinator Gus Bradley will surely look for creative ways to capitalize on the rookie's versatility. The Notre Dame product finished the 2018 season with 86 tackles and 3.5 sacks. Egbule should also have a chance to rise up the linebacker depth chart. At the very least, the sixth-rounder out of Houston should contribute on special teams, and his speed will put him in position for plenty of tackles. Egbule wrapped up his collegiate career with 69 tackles and two sacks. Stick is another intriguing prospect, but mostly because of his position. QBs Philip Rivers and Tyrod Taylor will start the season atop the Chargers' depth chart, but Stick will have an opportunity to compete with Cardale Jones for the third spot. Last season, Stick completed a career-high 62.3 percent of his passes for 2,752 yards, 28 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. He also added another 677 rushing yards. Following Saturday's moves, the Chargers still have three unsigned draft picks: First-round defensive tackle Jerry Tillery , second-round safety Nasir Adderley and third-round offensive tackle Trey Pipkins.


At least one person is dead after a multi-vehicle crash involving at least 20 cadets at a training site near West Point Thursday morning.


Single 20-something Karleen Dee discusses the sunny side of singledom in her funny and insightful book, 101 Reasons Why It's Great to Be Single. Here's an excerpt from her book highlighting the top 10 reasons you should embrace your single status. Society has somehow created the perception that singleness is bad; that being a single female means there is something wrong with you. Family and friends always have someone in mind that "you would love", or have suggestions on where you should be going to meet a new guy, and every second commercial is a dating site insisting they have the right formula to meet the man of your dreams. Even magazine articles written for the single woman target this relationship status in the most patronizing way possible. "Oh, you're single. Well we must then assume that you are also sad and lonely. Have no fear, here are 5 tips to make you feel better!" Well, I'm here to tell you (or perhaps simply remind you), that the negative connotation of singleness is BS. We learn faster, discover ourselves more deeply and are overall happier and more content with life when we are single than when we are in a relationship with another human being. Here are the top 10 reasons why it's great to be single: 1. Wilderness Adventure You don't have to shave . . . anything! Grow out that pit stubble, let your legs sprout like prickly cacti, or embrace a full muff. Awkward, yes, but you don't care because you're single and you do what you want. Okay so that may be excessive, but you get the point - if the stubble grows out for a couple days, no one's complaining 2. Extra Garlic! Love garlic? Onions? I sure do. If I'm in a relationship though I have to take into account that the other person may not be too keen on dragon breath. So, I don't eat these things because I know that the smell and taste will linger in a very unpleasant manner. When you're single you can eat all the onions and garlic you want and never have to worry about your stanky breath - unless you want friends . . . then you may want to be cautious of social situations as well. 3. Excessive Indulgence There is no sneaking in the door with your tub of quality cookie dough ice cream and feeling the cringe of resentment when your significant other asks to share. The tub is just too small for two spoons! When you're single you can inhale that whole thing, then sit on the couch and feel fat with no one to judge you. Unzip those jeans and dig in sister! 4. Your Very Own Bed Space The bed is all yours, do with it what you will. Sprawl out, starfish, or just thrash about randomly because you can (which does actually feel amazing. Seriously, go do it now). What else? Oh yes, no worries about being throat punched in the midst of your enjoyment of ample dream space. True story - a boyfriend actually punched me in the night while he was sleeping. Apparently he was in a big wrestling match and forgot to inform me that I was fighting against him. According to him though, he won the fight and felt amazing. You better have. 5. Bonus Invites If anyone ever has one extra ticket anywhere they always invite you. You are the token single lady there to save the day! Husband out of town and your friend won tickets to a local play? Sister's boyfriend broke it off before she could tell him about the hockey tickets she bought him? You are happy to take that seat! Heck . . . you may even buy the beer. Just kidding, get the guy in line to buy it for you. After all, you are a sexy single minx. 6. Save Your Holiday Skrillz No need to buy expensive gifts on holidays. Seriously, between Valentine's Day, his birthday, Christmas, our anniversary, and those other random holidays I swear he invented like his pet gecko's first hibernation cycle, how was I supposed to keep coming up with gift ideas!? Until they choose to bundle all the holidays together in a one-time money saver package I am much more content being single, thank you. 7. Foreign Shniggits What is a shniggit you say!? A shniggit is a small fleck of something, anything. Those moustache trimmings he leaves in the sink? Shniggits. Those clumps of shaving cream on the bathroom counter? Shniggits. Those pieces of nothing that the vacuum seems to leave behind on purpose to taunt you? Those are shniggits too! When you're single the only shniggits you need to worry about are your own. Somehow they are much less gross when they are yours. 8. Clean and Lean Sure, after a breakup you'll probably be chowing down on junk food for breakfast lunch and dinner . . . but after the pain subsides and you realize you can actually live just fine without someone at your side you'll regain your ground and get back to your normal. One of your normals is not matching the eating habits of your significant other. Let's face it, couples bring each other down in terms of eating habits. We get comfortable, we indulge and we let ourselves go. When you're single, you make conscious decisions of what you're eating. 9. Finding Your Zen No matter how similar you are to someone you will always have your differences, and that means fighting. Fighting is exhausting - you both advocate that your view is right, and then feelings escalate and the energy turns tense and negative. Eventually you probably work through it but the whole process is excessive and tiring. 10. No Dealing With Boys' Night After a while in a relationship you really just want to get away from the other person for a while. What better excuse than "sorry, you possess the incorrect genitalia for this evening." I never minded when my ex would go out for boys' night. It meant I could have a nice relaxing evening at home by myself, maybe run a bubble bath and read a magazine. What irked me was when boys' night was at our place and he failed to remember to tell me until that morning. "Oh by the way hun, the guys will be coming by for poker later, hope that's okay." Oh, yeah, no problem, my vagina and I will just be hiding in the bedroom. Karleen Dee is a freelance writer and the author of 101 Reasons Why It's Great to Be Single, which is currently available via all major online retailers.


Interested in adopting a pet   or just looking at some delightful doggies? There are heaps of great dogs up for adoption at animal shelters in and around Arlington. Animal shelters and pet rescue groups work hard to care for unhoused pets and connect them to loving homes. Hoodline used data from Petfinder to power this roundup of dogs currently available for adoption. (Details like pet availability, training, vaccinations and other features are based on data provided by Petfinder and may be subject to change; contact the shelter for the latest information.) Baloo, Neapolitan mastiff Baloo is a handsome male Neapolitan mastiff dog in the care of Mastiffs and More Rescue TX . Baloo loves other dogs, but is looking for cat-free forever home. Have no fear: He is already house-trained, has all of his shots and is neutered. Read more about Baloo on Petfinder . Sheba, Presa Canario Sheba is a winsome female Presa Canario dog in the care of Mastiffs and More Rescue TX . Sheba gets along great with other dogs. However, her ideal forever home would be a cat-free environment. No need to worry: Sheba is already spayed, house-trained and vaccinated. Read more about how to adopt Sheba on Petfinder . Gus, rottweiler Gus is a cheeky male rottweiler dog currently residing at Southern States Rescued Rottweilers . Gus is a true family dog, and older children will love him. But, he'd prefer to be placed in a cat-free home, and ideally one free of other dogs, too. Fear not: He is already house-trained, crate-trained, vaccinated and neutered. Here's what Gus has to say for himself: Hi everyone, my name is Gus! I am looking for my forever home. I love to take long walks and snuggle on the couch or bed with my person. I am also a big talker. I do love kids, especially if they are a little older so they can play with me, because I am a pretty big boy and don't realize my own size and strength. Read more about Gus on Petfinder . Libby, mastiff mix Libby is a playful female mastiff mix being cared for at Mastiffs and More Rescue TX . Libby plays well with older kids and other large dogs, but might be a bit too rambunctious to live in a home with very small dogs or young children. Rest assured: She's already spayed, house-trained and vaccinated. A few words from Libby's current caretaker: Libby is a beautiful, loving and sweet two-year-old girl who would love to find her forever family to spend the upcoming holidays with. She is a smart, well-natured pup and eager to please, so continued training would be an excellent way for her to bond with her new family. Libby loves all people and thrives off of attention and affection! Read more about how to adopt Libby on Petfinder . Bailey, Dogue de Bordeaux Bailey is an endearing female Dogue de Bordeaux dog in the care of Mastiffs and More Rescue TX . Bailey wants to be your one and only   she'll need a home free of other dogs, cats and children. Her vaccinations are already up to date. Plus, she's spayed and house-trained. Bailey's current caretakers say: Big girls need love too! Bailey is such a sweet and gentle girl. She loves car rides, playing fetch and cuddling on the sofa. She's a solid 110-pound girl who deserves to be a pampered princess. Read more about how to adopt Bailey on Petfinder . Rossi, rottweiler mix Rossi is a winsome male rottweiler mix staying at Southern States Rescued Rottweilers . Rossi's ideal forever home would be a cat-free environment. He has mastered his house-training etiquette, his vaccinations are up to date and he is neutered. Notes from Rossi's caretakers: Rossi is a delightful male and a total love with people. He beams when you praise him. He loves balls, and will roll and toss them all over the house. Rossi wants to please and do things. Read more about Rossi on Petfinder . Duke, mastiff Duke is a majestic male mastiff dog currently housed at Mastiffs and More Rescue TX . Mastiffs and More Rescue TX wants to place Duke in a home without young children and cats. He's already vaccinated, neutered and house-trained. Duke's current caretakers say: Duke is a purebred English mastiff around two years old, who is looking for a forever home. He is a pretty laid-back kinda guy and is oh-so-handsome! Duke is a sweet, loving and loyal dog. Read more about how to adopt Duke on Petfinder . This story was created automatically using local animal shelter data, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


Albert Haynesworth retired after the 2011 season. He has had a couple of serious medical issues since. The two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle announced on social media this week that he needs a kidney transplant and is seeking a donor. "Well, this is hard for me to say, but my doctors said I should reach out to my family, friends and fans," Haynesworth wrote on Instagram, via Jim Wyatt of the Titans' website. "Some of you may know I've been battling kidney disease for a few years now. The time has come family, friends and fans. I'm in dire need of a kidney. Mine have finally failed me on July 7, 2019. It's hard to believe from being a professional athlete to only eight seasons in retirement that my body has taken another major blow. First with the brain aneurysm three seasons out of the NFL to now my kidneys failing me. But the bright side of the latest ordeal is I can ask . . . someone to generously donate a kidney." Haynesworth is pictured in his hospital bed at Williamson Medical Center in Franklin, Tennessee. Haynesworth, now 38, played 10 seasons after the Titans made him the 15th overall choice in 2002. He spent seven seasons in Tennessee, two in Washington and played six games with the Patriots in 2011 and seven with the Bucs to finish that season and his career.


Is Apple killing iTunes? That's the biggest question ahead of Apple's annual developer conference in San Jose, California, on Monday. Last week, Bloomberg reported the company is phasing out iTunes in favor of three new desktop apps, called Music, TV and Podcasts -- similar to how these services are already divided on iPhones and iPads. At its Worldwide Developer Conference , Apple will show off its next-generation mobile software iOS 13, which is expected to get a dark mode, improved Siri capabilites and an undo gesture, as well as a possible update to the Mac Pro. But the move to phase out iTunes wouldn't come as a total surprise as the company has been pushing users toward its Apple Music subscription service. After all, Apple can charge a monthly fee to boost revenue rather than wait for a customer to buy a few songs. ITunes formally launched in 2001 but its music store, launched two years later, changed the way we buy songs and albums. The format came at a time the music business struggled with online piracy and file-sharing sites. With a relatively intuitive user interface, a simple billing tool and an on-demand catalogue, iTunes far better experience than any other platform at the time. ITunes' strategy has been closely aligned with Apple's devices business, but the rise of subscription content and services is a clear shift away from the iTunes model, said Jack Kent, analyst of IHS Markit. "For Apple's own business, it marks the strategic shift away from a central hardware focus to a business in which subscription content and services are increasingly important for margin and revenues," said Kent, referencing the iPhone's sluggish sales . IHS Markit's research found subscription services accounted for more than 80% of online music and video revenues in 2018, compared with less than 10% in 2008, in North America and Western Europe. Over the years, critics argued standalone apps -- like the ones already on iPhones and iPads -- could offer a smarter approach. Now that Apple has now acquired 56 million paying customers, perhaps the time is ripe for such a change. "Apple had to put the pieces in place to make it all happen," said Ramon Llamas of IDC Research. "If you look at consumer behavior in which users are willing to pay a regular fee for unlimited content -- and that's what they can get from other services such as Spotify, Pandora and Netflix -- Apple is smartly aligning itself against those competitors with its own approach." If Apple does phase out the iTunes app, it doesn't mean CEO Tim Cook is going to start remotely deleting years of downloaded and purchased songs and movies. The company will probably roll out next steps to manage and access downloaded content in other ways, such as via Apple Music. "Building a bridge is always important in order to not alienate its current user base, but I'd argue that it has already taken that step considering the Apple Music numbers," Llamas said. "Clearly, it needs to direct people in that direction and show a clear cut-off date so that users are prepared."


DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM)   CBS 11 has confirmed Wesley Mathews, who was sentenced to life in prison on June 26 in the death of his 3-year-old daughter, Sherin Mathews, is appealing the verdict and his attorney also filed a motion for a new trial. Before the trial, Mathews, 39, of Richardson, pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of injury to a child by omission in the death of his adopted daughter. Wesley Mathews and Sherin Mathews The original report from Mathews claimed the child disappeared, which triggered an Amber Alert. Her body was eventually found inside a culvert near their Richardson home. As Mathews' story changed, he ultimately stated that she died after choking on milk. "I tried to gently shake Sherin so she would be out of that spell but nothing was working and in a matter   pretty soon her head started going different directions and her head came to a still," Mathews said. "I truly am sorry. I don't have words to express how sorry I am to these fine officers, these fine people who were full of love and concern for my baby Sherin and they devoted a lot of time and effort and I could have easily stopped that." During his time on the witness stand, Mathews also addressed questions about why he didn't immediately tell his wife, Sini, or police about what happened. He was also frequently asked about the lies he told authorities during the investigation.


PITTSBURGH (AP) Keston Hiura found that less thinking resulted in more hitting and an end to his struggles at the plate. Hiura hit two home runs for the first time in the big league career and drove in three runs Wednesday night, powering the Milwaukee Brewers to an 8-3 win and three-game sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates. ''At times where you may have a couple bad games in a row, or a few bad games in a row ... you kind of overanalyze a little bit,'' said Hiura, who had just three hits in his first 21 at-bats in August. ''At the end of the day, it's right in front of you. Just keep it simple.'' Hiura hit a two-run homer with two out in the first inning for an early 2-0 lead. He sent a fastball from Trevor Williams 388 feet over the wall in right-center. His second home run, the 13th of his rookie season, was a solo shot that made the score 6-1 in the fifth. He also had a double in the third inning. The Brewers moved past the St. Louis Cardinals and into second place in the NL Central, three games behind the division-leading Chicago Cubs. Milwaukee entered the series having lost six of seven. ''That's the baseball season, man,'' Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. ''I'm proud of our guys. There's not going to be quit. There's not going to be feeling sorry for ourselves. ... You look at the standings and it tells you you're right in it.'' The Pirates fell to 4-21 since the All-Star break. ''I'm sure there's some guys in there that are questioning some of the things that are going on as far as why they are not getting the results they want,'' Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. ''Overall, we talk about collective effort. We talk about collective fight. ... They just want results. So, we need to play better.'' Junior Guerra (5-3) picked up a second win in as many nights. He allowed one hit and one walk in two innings in relief of Drew Pomeranz, who gave up one run in three innings. Pomeranz was pressed into duty after Zach Davies was placed on the 10-day injured list with back spasms Monday. Williams (4-5) allowed six runs on eight hits in five innings after shutting out Milwaukee in 19 straight innings. The Brewers had not scored off Williams since scoring one run on three hits in a 1-0 win on Sept. 19, 2017. ''The guys that hurt me tonight were guys they didn't have last year,'' Williams said. ''It was too many mistakes over the wide part of the plate tonight. I just need to do a better job executing better there.'' Jacob Stallings got Pittsburgh on the board with a solo homer, his third of the season, in the third inning. Bryan Reynolds and Starling Marte had RBI singles in the seventh to cut it to 8-3. YELICH SITS AGAIN Brewers OF Christian Yelich rested for a second straight day to manage a nagging back injury. He said the issue came after he felt something in his back during Monday's game, where he hit his 38th and 39th homers this season. Yelich considers himself day to day, but manager Craig Counsell said he hopes to have the reigning NL MVP back Friday. TRAINER'S ROOM Brewers: OF Lorenzo Cain pinch-hit for Guerra in the sixth inning after sustaining a bruised left knee by fouling a ball off himself on Tuesday. He singled past first base, scoring two to put Milwaukee up 8-1, before staying in to play center field. Pirates: 1B Josh Bell is expected to return to the lineup Friday after being kept out for a second straight day Wednesday. UP NEXT Brewers: LHP Gio Gonzalez (2-1, 3.35) will go for his fourth win in his past five starts when he goes against Texas on Friday. His three-game winning streak ended his last time out, on Aug. 3, when he gave up one run on five hits in 4 1/3 innings of a 4-1 loss to the Cubs. Pirates: RHP Chris Archer (3-8, 5.35) will look for his first win in more than two months when he takes the mound against St. Louis on Friday. He last won on June 6, allowing one run on six hits in six innings against Atlanta. Archer is 0-3 in 10 starts since. --- More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/MLB and www.twitter.com/AP-Sports


After a 2018 campaign featuring All-Pro nod, a 99 overall rating in Madden 20, and a third Pro-Bowl appearance, Houston Texans wideout DeAndre Hopkins is widely thought of a part of the upper echelon of NFL wide receivers. The receiver dubbed Nuk cemented that legacy in 2018, and Pro Football Focus reaffirms it. With a full season with Deshaun Watson, DeAndre Hopkins posted a career-best 115.2 passer rating when targeted in 2018! pic.twitter.com/VelFpyADih - PFF (@PFF) July 11, 2019 PFF recently tweeted a telling statistic on Hopkins' 2018 season. In his second season catching passes from Deshaun Watson, Hopkins had a 115.2 passer rating when targeted, as he caught 115 passes (70.6% catch rate) for 1,572 yards and 11 touchdowns. Hopkins shattered his previous passer rating when targeted record from 2017 - the year in which he led the league in touchdowns. In 2017, he had 96 receptions (55.2% catch rate) for 1,387 yards and 13 touchdowns. That 18.1 point bump up in passer rating from 2017-18 stems from an increased catch rate (zero drops in 2018) and quarterback play as interceptions are factored into the statistic. As indicated via PFF, Hopkins has had an 80-plus passer rating in each season of his career but one; the year in which Brock Osweiler was his quarterback. In that very season, Osweiler proved two things (1) he's the only signal-caller that can fail to get one of the league's best the ball (78/954/4 Hopkins stat line in 2016) and (2) - subsequently - wasn't going to be the face of the Texans much longer. Luckily, for both Hopkins and the franchise, he wasn't. In one of the best moves of his tenure as Texans general manager, Rick Smith swiftly moved on from the 6-7 quarterback in favor of a National Championship winner hailing from Clemson. The rest was history. MORE: The sports world was in awe of the epic Djokovic-Federer Wimbledon final Report: Broncos ready to draft Devin Bush before trade with the Steelers News: Indefinite suspensions rule day for Cowboys, 18-game seasons Three Potential Landing Spots for Chris Paul James Harden's frustration with Chris Paul forced the Russell Westbrook trade


It can be challenging to find a bargain when in the market for a new apartment. So what does the low-end pricing on a rental in Shadyside look like these days   and what might you get for the price? According to Walk Score, the neighborhood is quite walkable, is quite bikeable and is a haven for transit riders. It also features median rents for a one bedroom that hover around $1,095, compared to ann $899 one-bedroom median for Pittsburgh as a whole. A look at local listings for studios and one-bedroom apartments in Shadyside via rental sites Zumper and Apartment Guide offers an overview of what budget-minded apartment seekers can expect to find in this Pittsburgh neighborhood. 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. 4720 Centre Ave. Listed at $740/month, this studio apartment, located at 4720 Centre Ave., is 4.5 percent less than the $775/month median rent for a studio in Shadyside. The building features an elevator. You'll also find a mix of hardwood floors and carpeting and air conditioning in the unit. Neither cats nor dogs are allowed. The rental doesn't require a leasing fee. (See the complete listing here .) 6333 Walnut St. Here's a studio apartment at 6333 Walnut St., which is going for $760/month. You can expect to find air conditioning and in-unit laundry in the residence. Pet owners, inquire elsewhere: this spot doesn't allow cats or dogs. The rental doesn't require a leasing fee. (See the full listing here .) 6202 Walnut St. Then there's this apartment with one bedroom and one bathroom at 6202 Walnut St., listed at $820/month. You can expect central heating, a dishwasher and hardwood flooring in the apartment. Pet owners, inquire elsewhere: this spot doesn't allow cats or dogs. The rental doesn't require a leasing fee. (See the listing here .) 348 S. Highland Ave. This one-bedroom, one-bathroom living space, situated at 348 S. Highland Ave., is listed for $890/month. In the unit, expect in-unit laundry. Pets are not welcome. Amenities offered in the building include assigned parking. There's no leasing fee required for this rental. (See the listing here .) 5527 Ellsworth Ave. And here's a one-bedroom, one-bathroom rental at 5527 Ellsworth Ave., which is going for $935/month. The building offers assigned parking. Also expect to find air conditioning and in-unit laundry in the unit. Pet owners, inquire elsewhere: this spot doesn't allow cats or dogs. There's no leasing fee required for this rental. (Check out the listing here .) This story was created automatically using local real estate data, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


Iran on Monday dismissed as old news a US announcement it is sending a naval strike group to the Middle East in order to deliver the Islamic republic a message, Tasnim news agency reported. US National Security Advisor John Bolton said on Sunday that the United States was deploying the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group and a bomber task force as a "clear and unmistakeable message" that it will retaliate against any attack on its interests or its allies' by Iran. "Bolton's statement is a clumsy use of an out-of-date event for psychological warfare," Iran's supreme national security council spokesman Keyvan Khosravi said, quoted by Tasnim. According to the spokesman, Iranian armed forces had observed the carrier entering the Mediterranean Sea 21 days ago. Bolton "lacks military and security understanding and his remarks are mostly meant to draw attention to himself," Khosravi added. The USS Abraham Lincoln has previously been deployed to the Gulf, including during the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq. The US statement did not specifically state why the deployment was taking place now. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the United States had seen "escalatory actions" from Iranians and that the country would be held "accountable for attacks on American interests". Pompeo did not elaborate on the "escalatory actions" he was referring to. The deployment comes amid heightened tensions as Washington pushes forward with its campaign of "maximum pressure" against Tehran partly through punishing economic sanctions. The United States unilaterally withdrew from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal with world powers a year ago and instead aimed at curbing the regional role of Iran, an arch-rival of US allies Saudi Arabia and Israel. In April, the US also declared Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards a "foreign terrorist organisation".


Oregon has moved a step closer to having permanent daylight saving time after local lawmakers backed the proposal which is picking up bi-partisan momentum around the country. The legislature in Salem voted in favor of the bill 37-20 which will go to state governor Kate Brown who has indicated she would sign it. It then needs agreement by California and Washington states, as well as congressional approval, to come into effect. If approved, there would be year-round daylight saving time across the state except for Malheur County in the east, which would remain on Mountain Time. The bill was sponsored by Rep. Bill Post who told lawmakers during a debate: "It's what the people of Oregon want. It's what we've heard over and over," the Statesman Journal reported. Daylight saving time starts from the second Sunday in March and goes until the first Sunday in November. Permanent daylight saving would give an extra hour of light in winter, which supporters say would save energy usage and increase economic activity. A study in 2008 showed that the changing of clocks costs the U.S. $1.7 billion in potential revenue, Komo News reported. Under federal law, states can shift into standard time permanently but a move to permanent summer time requires backing from Congress. More than 30 states are looking at whether to continue changing the clocks twice a year. Florida was the first state to vote for the switch. Washington's governor signed a bill approving permanent daylight saving time and the California Legislature is also looking at the change. However opponents say that even with lighter evenings, sunrise in some parts of the state would not be until 8.30am. During a debate, Rep. Jack Zika, R-Redmond said: "Don't make my kids walk to school in the dark, Don't let Oregonians walk to schools in the dark," according to OPB. This concern was echoed by Rep. Werner Reschke, R-Klamath Falls who said: "It's winter that concerns me. Shifting the daylight hours to be later in the day and away from the morning when children are going to school, which   if this bill passes   will be in the dark," Oregon Live reported. Florida Sen. Marco Rubio introduced legislation to make daylight saving time permanent and President Donald Trump has also backed the move, tweeting in March that "Making Daylight Saving Time permanent is O.K. with me!" Daylight Saving Time was first introduced in 1918 to conserve fuel needed to produce electric power. Unpopular initially, it was scrapped in 1919. However during World War Two, President Franklin Roosevelt instituted year-round daylight saving, known as "War Time," between 1942 and 1945. After the war, there was no federal law regarding daylight saving and so states were free to choose whether or not to change the clocks, according to webexhibits.org. Related Articles National Napping Day Monday Might Help You Adjust to Daylight Saving Time, How Long's The Ideal Nap? Daylight Savings: How to Adjust to Losing 1 Hour of Sleep as We Spring Forward This Weekend When Does the Time Change? Daylight Saving Time Starts March 10 But Many States Want It Year Round Sign up to our newsletter and get Newsweek stories delivered to your e-mail


Given the conflicting quotes attributed to Packers CEO Mark Murphy on Friday, I opted to pretend to be an actual reporter and do some actual reporting. Short story shorter, I got Murphy on the phone to clarify his thoughts on a potentially expanded regular season. Murphy said that he remains opposed to 18 games, a position he has taken on multiple occasions in the past. He acknowledges, however, that 17 games could work as an obvious compromise between 16 and 18. Murphy supports 17 regular-season games primarily as a way to continue to grow the game internationally, ensuring that every team would have, every year, eight true home games, eight true road games, and one neutral-site game, with most of those 16 neutral-site games played in other countries. However, Murphy was adamant that the preseason would have to drop to three games, and maybe to only two (despite the loss of revenue that would come from reducing the total number of preseason and regular-season games from 20 to 19). We interpreted Murphy as being in favor of 18 games based on this quote attributed to him by Darren Rovell of TheActionNetwork.com, in an earlier one-on-one conversation with Murphy: "Maybe another way to do this is to add one neutral site game and one international one for every team, so we can use this to grow the game." Murphy said that he said (or at least meant to say) "or" not "and," and that he supports 17 games (with a reduced preseason), not 18 games. Murphy had opposed expansion of the regular season in the past due to player health and safety, and I specifically asked him whether he believes that advances in player health and safety justify increased regular-season exposure. He said that, even though the "numbers are down" from 2018 as to injuries like concussions, the numbers could go up in any given year, and he acknowledged based on his own experience as a player that there's a "wear and tear" component that builds throughout a football season. Extending the season only adds to that. Murphy also didn't rule out during our conversation the possibility of 17 regular-season games and two byes, which would nudge the Super Bowl to President's Day weekend, something the league quietly has coveted for years. There's a concern, however, that the networks wouldn't want each team to have two byes. (The NFL had one season with two byes, in 1993. Then, the league had only 28 teams, four fewer than the current composition of the standings.) As to the idea of an 18-game season with a maximum player participation of 16, Murphy made it clear that he's not in favor of that approach, primarily because he believes that fans would not like it. He agreed with my assessment of such an approach as "gimmicky," and he expressed concern for fans who, for example, have always wanted to see Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers play not getting to see him play because those fans have the misfortune of holding tickets to one of the two games in which Rodgers won't play. Personally, I like the 17-game regular season, for many reasons. I don't like 8-8 records; 9-8 or 8-9 would clearly make a team a loser or a winner for the year. (And, yes, I realize that someone could end up 8-8-1.) I also like the idea of 16 neutral-site games, especially since it could mean a game at Ann Arbor or a game at Notre Dame or a game at Happy Valley or a game at Ohio Stadium or a game at some other large, iconic venue, which of course could be wired for real-time video communication with the league office.


MONTREAL (AP) Bruce Arena made his coaching debut with New England and Ignacio Piatti returned after missing 10 games for Montreal in a 0-0 draw on Saturday. The Impact's star midfielder had been sidelined because of leg injuries. Evan Bush made four saves for the Impact (6-5-3), who have one win in their last four games. Arena, a five-time MLS Cup champion and former U.S. national coach, was hired Tuesday as the Revolution's coach and sports director. He succeeded Brad Friedel, who was fired as coach last week, and Michael Burns, the general manager who was dismissed Monday. Goalkeeper Matt Turner had one save for the Revolution (3-8-3) in New England's second shutout of the season. Montreal went 4-4-2 in Piatti's absence. He couldn't make the difference on Saturday, with both teams squandering chances to score. The Impact were shown four yellow cards, all in a 10-minute span in the second half.


"Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away, now it looks as though they're here to stay" Across the continent, 2,800 miles from Azerbaijan , the crushing reality that has finally set in following Arsenal's Europa League loss is that all of the Gunners' woes and deficiencies are still plain to see - regardless of whether they had been played on the hallowed turf of Highbury or the heat-stroked pitches of Baku. If only it were still Highbury, a stadium that still fills Gunners' supporters with fond memories of title wins, those glorious Champions League nights, and players who knew what it meant to wear the badge with pride. Forget it. pic.twitter.com/EzWMUFRYQl   Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) May 29, 2019 Last night was a shower of spineless performances, clueless leadership, shambolic defending and characteristic failure. Disgraceful, utterly disgraceful. And still, few should be taken aback at what we saw on Wednesday night. It's come to be the norm. A foregone conclusion. Ever since Ivan Gazidis signalled the move to the Emirates as the 'catalyst for change', to compete with the Bayern Munich 's of this world - Arsenal has been on a steady decline with a now finalised conclusion. Yes, continued top-four finishes were nothing to baulk at. Fans will reminisce of those years as the 'successful ones'. As brutal as it sounds, getting thumped 10-2 on aggregate by the side the club they were supposed to be going toe-to-toe with may very well be as good as it will get. Fans weren't happy, though. Damn right, too. Those European results surpassed embarrassing, a blemish on a rich history that can't be erased. Now, only dreams will put the north London faithful back among the continent's heavyweights. Unai Emery led a team to within touching distance of the top-four. They crumbled. Beat Crystal Palace at home. Bottled. Beat Brighton at home. Bottled. The easiest route you could wish for to get the fabled Champions League spot. Bottled. Alas, another opportunity remains. A Europa League final beckons. Take on a Chelsea side missing their best defender, their most creative midfielder and a striker deemed not good enough to don the red and white anymore. Bottled. The sheer magnitude of the capitulation on Wednesday was nauseating. Even the most cynical Arsenal fans couldn't have seen that coming. An opportunity to lift a European trophy for the first time in 25 years. A chance to set the course of the ship back towards the holy land of the Champions League after two years lost at sea. Fans flocked to Azerbaijan in their thousands, breaking apart their piggy banks to scrounge for the mere morsels they had left to afford the travel. Now those dismantled piggy banks resemble the club itself, scattered pieces with no coordination or leader, with nothing but loose change to put it back together. Everyone is getting stronger and Arsenal are getting weaker. No sugar coating, no overly pessimistic viewpoint, no jumping-the-gun reaction to losing a major final. That is exactly what is happening. Full Time: Chelsea 4-1 Arsenal Chelsea are your Europa League Champions after an appalling second half collapse by the gunners! #CHEARS pic.twitter.com/BwSpcQ3OMM   90min (@90min_Football) May 29, 2019 The owner of the club is a man so wealthy he was able to invest $1.6bn into his beloved LA Rams. A man who has the audacity to cower behind his designer sunglasses and send his son to pick up the pieces of his failed ownership. A man willing to contribute a staggering £0 into the club he has complete control over. Yes, £0. Look it up. His name shall not be uttered. Gazidis jumped ship, head of recruitment Sven Mislintat went overboard, and he didn't even turn back to wave it goodbye. In a way, Arsene Wenger may very well have seen it coming, taking refuge on a lifeboat sailing far, far away. Therefore, it leaves Unai Emery to steer the club to safety. The oars have snapped, the sail has ripped, his team can't tell starboard from port - and he has £40m to fix it. Granted, last night's result still lingers. Yes, those wounds won't heal for some time. But this has been a recurring theme for a number of seasons. One person can not shoulder all the blame. Some will say this is the final nail on the coffin. Arsenal are staring into the abyss at the end of the plank with their ankles tied. However, that 4-1 defeat was merely the cremation of an already cindered club. Looking upon this season as a whole, there were moments for optimism. A 22-game unbeaten run on the surface lit fires in Arsenal bellies that a comeback was on. This club was on the verge of recapturing the glory days of old, the wind caught the sails and the upper echelons of the Premier League were on the horizon. Paper. Over. Cracks. A fresh face in the dugout was supposed to ignite a club that had been petering on the boundaries of revitalisation after stagnating under a once formidable coach. Well, L e Professeur should have turned the lights off on his way out. 4 - Arsenal are the first team to concede four goals in a Europa League/UEFA Cup final since Middlesbrough lost 4-0 to Sevilla in the 2006 UEFA Cup final. Collapse.   OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 29, 2019 And still one flickering spotlight remained in the form of the biggest stage available to the club, a Europa League final. The opportunity wasn't seized, it was shunned in the way the players needed one of the most ridiculed and lambasted members of the squad to get them to thank the away support at the Olympic Stadium. For once, thank you Granit Xhaka. So here we are. Mediocrity from back to front, inadequacy from the top down and a pitiful transfer budget on hand to muster any meaningful resemblance of a revival. A 'catalyst for change' it was indeed. That 'change' has instead become a cataclysmic descent into Thursday night trips to Belarus where the recovery time from incoming domestic failings puts an added drain on an already empty side. Europa League football beckons once again. Just where Arsenal belong.


Read on for the most recent top news you may have missed in Atlanta. Beagles discover 'one of the most damaging' snail species in luggage at Atlanta airport A pair of beagles discovered two giant African snails in the luggage of a passenger arriving at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International airport, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Read the full story on KTLA 5 Morning News . Atlanta City Council to consider banning smoking at Hartsfield-Jackson The council legislation would ban all smoking at the airport, city facilities and specified public places. Read the full story on 11ALIVE . Officials seek body of Atlanta man drowned in Lake Lanier Officials continued searching for the body of a missing Atlanta man they say jumped into Lake Lanier to help a friend who was having trouble swimming. Read the full story on MySanAntonio . 6-year-old rescued after near drowning at Atlanta hotel Police say a 6-year-old girl inhaled water while playing at the pool. Read the full story on 11ALIVE . Brawl at suburban Atlanta sports bar kills Georgia man A Georgia man is dead after a brawl at a suburban Atlanta sports bar. Read the full story on Houston Chronicle . This story was created automatically using data about news stories on social media from CrowdTangle , then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


The NL Central-leading Cubs are suddenly in an unfavorable position behind the plate, where they'll go without injured star Willson Contreras for about a month . With the trade deadline having passed and short-lived Cubs reserve Martin Maldonado now a member of the Astros, Chicago is lacking avenues to bolster its depth at catcher. The Angels are set to release veteran Jonathan Lucroy , however, and the Cubs have shown interest in the two-time All-Star, Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times reports. Although Lucroy has gone through a rough couple years since his halcyon days with the Brewers and Rangers, the Cubs aren't in position to be choosy at his spot. Victor Caratini , who has taken over for Contreras, has performed well this season and may have what it takes to hold the position down for the next few weeks. But the Cubs are without a remotely established backup for Caratini, who has only the untested Taylor Davis behind him on the Cubs' 40- and 25-man rosters. Davis, 29, has picked up a meager 36 plate appearances at the major-league level since he debuted in 2017; and he hasn't provided much offense in the minors over the past couple seasons. While Davis might not be the answer behind Caratini, the same could apply to Lucroy. With Lucroy now 33 years old, his once-excellent hitting and formerly pristine pitch-framing skills have experienced severe drop-offs of late. After Lucroy struggled mightily with the Athletics in 2018, he joined the Angels over the winter on a $3.35 million guarantee in free agency. However, the Angels cut the cord on Lucroy after his 268 trips to the plate and a gruesome injury from which he has since recovered. Although Lucroy's 2019 offensive numbers (.242/.310/.371   good for an 84 wRC+) are respectable for a catcher, he has declined into one of the game's worst defenders behind the plate . The catcher-needy Cubs could nonetheless take a low-risk flier on Lucroy while hoping he'll be a better backup than Davis.


Missed the the most recent top news in Boston? Read on for everything you need to know. Lightning strike on sailboat caught on camera This video was taken at the Columbia Yacht Club in South Boston, where a 40-foot sailboat was struck. No one was injured. Read the full story on WCVB Channel 5 Boston . Police collect suspected nitrous oxide containers outside Fenway Park People inhaling nitrous oxide "in an effort to achieve a high" before a concert at Fenway Park on Friday left 67 canisters of the gas outside the premises, police said. Read the full story on 7News - WHDH Boston . 69-year-old woman pulled from water in Hull The woman is in critical condition after being rescued Sunday afternoon by an off-duty firefighter who performed CPR. Read the full story on Boston 25 News . Boston leaders react to recent gun violence in city Nine people have been shot in Boston neighborhoods since Thursday. Read the full story on WCVB . Chelsea reflects broad changes in U.S. immigration Chelsea (population, 40,000) is a microcosm of broader changes sweeping the United States, as the number of Central American immigrants increases and the number of Mexican immigrants decreases. Read the full story on The Detroit News . This story was created automatically using data about news stories on social media from CrowdTangle , then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


After a productive three weeks of organized team activities, the Jacksonville Jaguars now have just three more practices before they get to go on break before training camp. However, before we get to that point, they must make it through their three-day mandatory minicamp, which will be much of the same except the addition of walkthrough practices. With the full roster expected to show, here are four things to watch during the three days in which the Jags will take the field for mandatory minicamp: Will DE Yannick Ngakoue choose to attend? Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports Coach Doug Marrone told the media that he's been in contact with all of the players who were absent from OTAs and expects them to be at minicamp. However, it's still not out of the realm of possibilities that defensive end Yannick Ngakoue could miss out in efforts to get a new contract. In the early stages of OTAs, the young defensive end told the media that he wouldn't miss any days because he wanted to be a leader for the team, however, he seemingly had a change of heart and one can't blame him with upwards of $60 million guaranteed on the line. Personally, I think Ngakoue will show up, but ultimately we'll have to wait and see. If he does, the question then will be whether he takes the field on a limited basis or not. Can the offense continue where it left off? Mandatory Credit: Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports Nick Foles and his receivers particularly got off to a hot start, and it would be great to see them continue where they left off. He especially had a strong connection with Chris Conley, DJ Chark and Keelan Cole, all of whom fans questioned coming into the preseason process. Rookie tight end Josh Oliver and veteran Geoff Swaim were also solid during OTAs, which is encouraging because John DeFilippo's offense is big on utilizing the position. Additionally, Foles is a big fan of utilizing the position, too, so it will be very important for him to continue building his chemistry with the two because he's going to need both to have decent regular seasons. Will the secondary improve with Jalen Ramsey back after somewhat struggling during OTAs? Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports The secondary was often victimized by Foles and his receivers in OTAs, and one would think that defensive coordinator Todd Wash would want to get that cleaned up before training camp. Most of that was due to A.J. Bouye being sidelined, leaving the Jags' young cast of defensive backs to prove themselves. Some reportedly stepped to the plate like Ronnie Harrison and Quenton Meeks, while others like Tre Herndon and Jarrod Wilson somewhat struggled. Luckily, the secondary will be getting their best player back in cornerback Jalen Ramsey, which should be a huge help. It's possible Bouye will be re-taking the field with his partner in crime, too, which should give Foles some snaps against a quality group. With Ramsey not having the year he probably wanted in 2018, he's going to likely come back with a chip on his shoulder, which would be good for Foles as it would allow him to challenge one of the best corners in football, if not the best. Will LB Quincy Williams continue to impress? JACKSONVILLE, FL - NOVEMBER 18: A Jacksonville Jaguars helmet is seen at TIAA Bank Field on November 18, 2018 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) Oliver wasn't the only rookie selection who impressed in OTAs as linebacker Quincy Williams showed promise, too. Those in attendance frequently mentioned that he was around the ball often, which - for the time being -makes the Jags' front office look like geniuses for a selection many questioned. Williams' performance in minicamp and eventually in training camp will be worth monitoring heading forward because he's fighting for Telvin Smith's spot as the team's starting weak-side linebacker. That said, he'll need to continue to show his agility and coverage abilities in minicamp, then prove he can shed blocks as a smaller defender when the pads go on. Listen to the latest from the Jags Wire team by checking out the Jags Den Podcast. Subscribe on Apple's iTunes podcasts or Stitcher Radio . Listen MORE: Watch as jury convicts former NFL player Kellen Winslow Jr. of raping homeless woman How Kevin Durant's Achilles injury alters Kyrie Irving's free agency Players on both teams were upset with Raptors fans for cheering Kevin Durant's injury Kevin Durant Has a $31.5 Million Player Option; Will Warriors Offer Him Supermax Contract? News: Do Cowboys have best group of QBs across the entire league?


A trove of what appear to be internal NRA documents were anonymously posted online over the weekend, raising more questions about longtime CEO Wayne LaPierre's leadership amid mounting allegations of financial mismanagement within the powerful gun lobby. The leaked documents, the authenticity of which ABC News has not been able to verify, included letters that appear to show former NRA president Lt. Col. Oliver North raised serious concerns with the organization's audit committee about $24 million in legal fees paid to the firm of outside counsel William Brewer over the last year. North was recently ousted as president amid a dispute with LaPierre. Those fees   estimated in one letter to cost the organization nearly $100,000 per day   "are draining NRA cash at mindboggling speed," wrote North and NRA Vice President Richard Childress on April 18 as they urged the committee to authorize an independent review. "Invoices of this size for 12 months of work appear to be excessive and pose an existential threat to the financial stability of the NRA," the letter reads. "This is a fiscal emergency." (MORE: Democratic congressman asks IRS commissioner to investigate the NRA) In a pair of statements provided to ABC News by a spokesperson for Brewer, two NRA officials did not dispute the authenticity of the documents but dismissed the allegations contained within them. "This is stale news   being recycled by those with personal agendas," said Carolyn Meadows, the group's new president. "In any event, the entire board is fully aware of these issues. We have full confidence in Wayne LaPierre and the work he's doing in support of the NRA and its members. It is troubling and a bit pathetic that some people would resort to leaking information to advance their agendas. This has no bearing on the board's support of Wayne   and the work the NRA does to protect America's constitutional freedoms." "The memo on the Brewer firm's legal fees is inaccurate   it reflects a misinformed view of the firm, its billings, and its advocacy for the NRA," said Charles Cotton, chairman of the NRA's audit committee. "The board supports the work the firm is doing, the results achieved, and the value of its services. Importantly, this relationship has been reviewed, vetted and approved." Multiple attempts to reach North have been unsuccessful. These latest revelations have arrived during a period of rising internal tensions at the organization, as media scrutiny of the NRA and its finances has prompted action by law enforcement and lawmakers. In April, the NRA sued its longtime ad agency Ackerman McQueen, the contractor behind NRATV, raising questions about the ad firm's relationship with North. Days later, The New Yorker published an investigation by Mike Spies of the nonprofit journalism outlet The Trace that claimed "memos created by a senior N.R.A. employee describe a workplace distinguished by secrecy, self-dealing, and greed, whose leaders have encouraged disastrous business ventures and questionable partnerships, and have marginalized those who object." Later that same month, The New York Times reported that in a letter sent to NRA board members, LaPierre accused North of extorting him, threatening to release damaging information about the NRA unless LaPierre resigned. Ultimately, however, it was North who would step down as president, losing the apparent power struggle. Since then, new details about questionable spending practices within the organization have continued to emerge. The unverified documents posted online include letters to LaPierre from Ackerman McQueen's chief financial officer William Winkler seeking more information about $274,965.03 in wardrobe expenses made at Zegna in Beverly Hills and $267,460.53 of other personal expenses   primarily travel to the Bahamas, Palm Beach, New York, Los Angeles, Reno, Budapest and Italy. The latter total also includes $13,804.84 for an apartment in Fairfax, Virginia that, according to the letter, LaPierre "required we rent" and "billed to the NRA" for a young woman who, according to LinkedIn, was then an intern at the organization. She is still, according to LinkedIn, employed by the NRA. A spokesperson for Ackerman McQueen did not respond to multiple requests for comment. In response to numerous reports of financial improprieties within the organization, the New York attorney general has launched an investigation , three Democratic Senators are probing LaPierre, North and Ackmerman McQueen for more information, and Democratic Rep. Brad Schneider called on the Internal Revenue Service to "review whether the recent allegations against the NRA warrant reconsideration of the organization's tax-exempt status." "It's incredibly disturbing," Schneider said in a hearing last week, "to see these allegations and to think that NRA executives are possibly misappropriating their donors contributions and abusing their nonprofit status for personal gain." ABC News' Matthew Mosk and Kaitlyn Folmer contributed to this report.


Curious just how far your dollar goes in Cambridge? We've rounded up the latest rental offerings via rental sites Zumper and Apartment Guide to get a sense of what to expect when it comes to scoring a place in Cambridge if you're on a budget of $3,300/month. Read on for the listings. (Note: Prices and availability are subject to change.) Hoodline offers data-driven analysis of local happenings and trends across cities. Links included in this article may earn Hoodline a commission on clicks and transactions. One Leighton Street (East Cambridge) Here's an 805-square-foot one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment at One Leighton Street that's going for $3,263/month. In the apartment, expect to find hardwood flooring. The building boasts a swimming pool, an elevator and secured entry. Pet lovers are in luck: Cats and dogs are welcome. According to Walk Score, this location is friendly for those on foot, is very bikeable and boasts excellent transit options. (Check out the complete listing here .) 234 Sidney St. (Cambridgeport) Next, check out this one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment that's located at 234 Sidney St. It's listed for $3,217/month. The building has a fitness center and a resident lounge. The unit also comes with air conditioning, a dishwasher, a walk-in closet and hardwood flooring. Cats and dogs are not welcome. Walk Score indicates that the area around this address is very walkable, is a "biker's paradise" and is a haven for transit riders. (Take a look at the complete listing here .) 205 Walden St. (Peabody) Listed at $3,225/month, this 963-square-foot two-bedroom, one-bathroom abode is located at 205 Walden St. The building includes a fitness center. The unit also comes with a dishwasher, a walk-in closet and hardwood flooring. If you've got a pet, you'll be happy to learn that cats and dogs are allowed. Future tenants needn't worry about a leasing fee. Walk Score indicates that the surrounding area is very walkable, is convenient for biking and offers many nearby public transportation options. (Take a look at the complete listing here .) 129 Franklin St. (Cambridgeport) Next, there's this one-bedroom, one-bathroom unit situated at 129 Franklin St. It's listed for $3,230/month for its 1,132 square feet. The residence has high ceilings, a walk-in closet and a dishwasher. Amenities offered in the building include on-site laundry and assigned parking. Cats and dogs are not allowed. The rental doesn't require a leasing fee. Per Walk Score ratings, the surrounding area is extremely walkable, is a "biker's paradise" and is a haven for transit riders. (Check out the complete listing here .) Working with a tight budget? Here are the cheapest rentals recently listed in Cambridge . 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.


A swim instructor has been arrested after a 3-year-old student nearly drowned while she was teaching a class in Maitland last summer, according to a criminal complaint. Jessica Kretz was arrested by Maitland police and charged with child neglect for an incident that happened in July of 2018. Kretz was teaching a swim class with another instructor while two students who were known to not be able to swim were sitting on the pool steps, the complaint said. The closest instructor, Kretz, had her back turned to the kids and didn't notice when one of them slipped underwater while trying to grab a toy, according to the complaint. The complaint said the boy was underwater for two minutes before she noticed, swam over and pulled him out unconscious. He was revived with CPR. Maitland police in October recommended charges be filed against Kretz. The incident happened at Park Maitland School and the boy's family has filed a lawsuit against the school. READ MORE: Swim instructor arrested after student nearly drowns at Maitland school CHECK OUT WESH: Stay in the know with the latest Orlando news, weather and sports. Get the top stories and all the scores from the team at WESH.


The Ravens for years have let edge rushers test the market, with several of those processes ending in the franchise recouping mid-round compensatory picks after contract-year standouts departed. They did not deviate from this formula this offseason. But as a result of both Terrell Suggs and Za'Darius Smith leaving this year, the team is thinner than usual at this premier position. As for Smith, the Ravens were never in the mix to bring him back, Jeff Zreibec of The Athletic notes ( subscription required ). Smith signed with the Packers on a four-year, $66.5M contract; the former part-time Ravens starter is now the NFL's third-highest-paid 3-4 outside linebacker. Ravens GM Eric DeCosta seemed to predict Smith's exit in January , noting how the market escalates for this type of young talent, and Zreibec notes the Ravens did not want to compete with that cost. Smith registered 8.5 sacks and 25 quarterback hits last season and followed previous Baltimore walk-year standouts like Paul Kruger and Pernell McPhee in signing big deals elsewhere. McPhee is now back in Baltimore, with he, Shane Ray , third-round pick Jaylon Ferguson and returning starter Matt Judon comprising the Ravens' edge-rushing contingent. Judon has yet to say if he and the Ravens have discussed an extension. In terms of young edge defenders potentially set for next year's market, Judon (15 sacks over the past two seasons) joins Yannick Ngakoue , Bud Dupree and Dante Fowler among those in contract years.


A Tennessee man was charged this week after police say an 8-year-old boy mistook his handgun for a toy and accidentally shot his mother at a college baseball game Tuesday. Charles McFarland Jr., 76, was charged with reckless endangerment of a deadly weapon after police say a young boy gained access to his "unsecured weapon" and critically injured his mother, Millington Police announced Wednesday. Police received a 911 call at around 6:25 p.m. due to reports there were shots fired at the U.S.A Baseball Stadium in Millington. BOY, 8, FINDS GUN AND ACCIDENTALLY SHOOTS MOM AT COLLEGE BASEBALL GAME Once on the scene they discovered an 8-year-old boy had shot his mother using a handgun he found inside a vintage World War II jeep. The vehicle had been on display at the Stadium as a part of Veterans Appreciation Day. The woman, who has not been identified by authorities, was taken to the Regional One Hospital where she was last said to be in critical condition. According to police, the boy believed the gun was a toy. He picked it up and fired a single round, which struck his mother. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The firearm was eventually traced back to McFarland Jr. who was charged without bond. The mother and son had been attending the annual Babe Howard Baseball Classic where the University of Memphis Tigers were playing the University of Tennessee at Martin. There were around 2,000 people in attendance. Fox News' Danielle Wallace contributed to this report.


After being named the permanent general manager in Washington, Tommy Sheppard is in the process of filling out the Wizards' front office. He is hiring Johnny Rogers away from the Clippers, league sources tell ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski and Zach Lowe ( Twitter link ). According to ESPN's report, Rogers will be named the Wizards' VP of pro personnel, which will be a new position in the club's front office. He was the Clippers' director of pro player personnel. A handful of Clippers executives have drawn interest from rival NBA teams this summer, though the club managed to hang on to most of its front office talent. General manager Michael Winger and assistant GM Trent Redden opted to remain in Los Angeles after receiving consideration for jobs with other clubs. However, the Clippers won't be able to retain Rogers, who previously worked for the Thunder as well. In Washington, he'll reunite for a second time with former OKC head coach Scott Brooks   as Chase Hughes of NBC Sports Washington tweets , Rogers and Brooks played together in college at UC Irvine.


We all know we should meditate; from mitigating chronic pain to easing the physical symptoms of anxiety , meditation has long been touted as a panacea for the people. In fact, meditation is the fastest-growing health trend in the U.S. , and with new apps and retreats being introduced every day, it doesn't look like it's slowing down anytime soon. May is National Meditation Month , and it's easy to see why. In addition to helping with stress , studies have shown that meditation can help improve immune function , promote increased longevity , and reduce blood pressure , says Dr. Will Cole, functional medicine expert and author of Ketotarian . "Meditation actually has a variety of benefits for your health beyond just reduced stress, which is still important, due to the fact that stress can both trigger and perpetuate health problems," Cole said. Okay, so meditation is kind of like eating your leafy greens. We get it. Here's the real question, though: What if you absolutely hate meditating? What if every time you sit down on your yoga mat, you sweat and twitch while thinking about your massive pile of dirty laundry? Is it even worth your time? Or should you just skip it all together and go wash your laundry instead? Here's the secret: Meditation is difficult for everyone, according to Dr. Subhadra Evans, a researcher and lecturer at Deakin University in Australia. "The mind is by nature incredibly restless," Evans said. "By sitting with the breath, or whatever anchor we are using in meditation, we learn to allow those feelings to be present, and to pass. This eventually brings a sense of peace." Just like learning any new skill, meditation takes time and practice. In other words, don't dive into a weeklong silent retreat the first time meditation even crosses your mind. Instead, start with just a few minutes a day, said Dr. Megan Jones Bell, Chief Science Officer at Headspace . "We liken the brain to a muscle: It's similar to when you've been lifting weights," Bell said. "You may have sore muscles and use a foam roller to dig into your muscles for relief. While it's uncomfortable, it's helping the muscles heal and get stronger." Plus, if you're extra resistant to meditation, you may need to do it even more; let's face it, the Dalai Lama probably doesn't struggle with road rage. In fact, those who are most resistant to meditation may benefit the most from practicing it, said Dr. Kristina Hallett, a board certified specialist in clinical psychology and a Fellow of the American Academy of Clinical Psychology. "When someone is constantly under external stress, their nervous system stays on 'high alert' and this increases the likelihood of feeling agitated and feelings of restlessness and anxiety," Hallett said. "Meditation is like having a drink of water on a hot summer day, as it allows the brain to start to 'cool down' and return to equilibrium." At the end of the day, maybe learning how to sit with discomfort is the whole point of meditation. Still, that can sound pretty unappealing, especially if you're feeling uneasy to begin with. So, how can you incorporate meditation into your life without it feeling like a root canal? We talked to five every day women who shared their top tips on mastering meditation, especially if you actually kind of hate it. Make sure you have a variety of tools in your toolkit "To be clear, I'm not a person who enjoys meditating! I don't look forward to it, I don't even like setting aside time to meditate. However, I've noticed that with habitual meditation, I'm a different person   I'm calmer, I can handle stress better, I'm perhaps kinder and more aware of others. I do transcendental meditation two times a day for 20 minutes, morning and afternoon. For quicker calming techniques I use breath work, and I carry some lavender oil   my favorite scent   to help me chill out."  Monk, 29 Find a practice that fits your mood "I've come to find a meditation practice that works for me and my depression and anxiety, but it took a long time to get there. I've realized I do much better with a moving meditation, and yoga is best for me to do that. I can also get there with a walk, but not quite as well as yoga. I've used apps before and they help me sleep when traveling, but that's about it. I also realized in a mindfulness class that I absolutely cannot 'relax' or 'let go' when a guided meditation is led by a man's voice."  Ali, 37 Remember that it all starts with breathing "Take four breaths in the morning when you wake up and at night before sleeping. With those breaths, try to breathe in slowly over a count of four, hold your breath gently for four counts, breathe out over a count of four, and hold your breath out over four counts. I find that a simple breathing exercise can help clear the mind in just a few moments. If you enjoy the way it feels, take a few minutes during the day to repeat the same breathing exercise. The next time you mindlessly go to pick up your phone, gently close your eyes (if you're somewhere safe to do so), and try to focus on the sensations of your surroundings from the sounds, to smells, to the way the light touches your eyelids."  Zoë, 28 Meditate on the go "Even if I just meditate for a few minutes every day I'm able to manage my anxiety and stress better. Start with one- or two-minute meditations for a couple weeks every day to more easily integrate it into your routine. Set an alarm and do it at the same time every day. Take five minutes in a conference room, the bathroom or outside and do a quick meditation to refresh and clear your head."  Sarah, 22 Take the time to make meditation a habit "For me, meditation is like exercise. I don't see the point in doing something unless I see the results, but the crappy thing is, it's called a practice for a reason. You gotta practice, even through the bad days, if you wanna see results. I started going to a Vedic meditation class because I felt unfulfilled with the apps. With the apps, it just didn't fit me, and no one wants to walk around in shoes that don't fit. I'd happily go barefoot than wear a pair of heels, but Vedic meditation is my comfortable pair of Vans."  Chloe, 28 Related video: Meditation for career and life by Janice Marturano (provided by CNBC)


Which Cowboys player should be at the top of the list when it comes to receiving a contract extension? It wasn't that long ago that the Dallas Cowboys thought they had a new version of the "triplets" when Tony Romo , DeMarco Murray , and Dez Bryant had phenomenal seasons back in 2014. Sadly it was never meant to be. Romo only played in five more games over the course of the next two seasons before calling it quits. The then 27-year-old Murray left for Philadelphia and only lasted three more seasons before also retiring. And Bryant never again reached 70 catches or 850 yards despite just coming off of three straight 88+ catch/1,250+ yard seasons. In a matter of just three short years - none of them were playing football anymore and the next generation triplets had vanished. Well, well, well - how the turn tables . In a blink of an eye, the Cowboys magically have a new set of triplets that fans are excited about. Dak Prescott , Ezekiel Elliott , and Amari Cooper all have a nice résumé of accomplishments, despite not being in the league very long. Prescott doesn't throw many interceptions and has demonstrated he's one of the best quarterbacks in the league when the game is on the line. Elliott is a punishing running back who has the most yards per game than anyone that's played in the league over the last 53 years. And Cooper is a route-running specialist who's had over 1,000 yards receiving in three of his first four seasons in the league. All of them are multiple Pro Bowlers and all of them are young. And it should be just a matter of time before all three of them will be one of the highest paid players at their respective positions, making them the highest-paid triplets in the National Football League. Highest-paid QB/RB/WR triplets by avg annual value: ATL (Ryan/Freeman/Jones) $52.5M GB (Rodgers/J. Williams/Adams) $48.7M PHI (Wentz/Sanders/Jeffery) $46.3M MIN (Cousins/Cook/Thielen) $45.6M SEA (Wilson/Penny/Lockett) $45.3M OAK (Carr/Richard/Brown) $44.8M Source: @NFLResearch   Gil Brandt (@Gil_Brandt) June 26, 2019 There's been a lot of debate about which of these players are the most important to the Cowboys with all kinds of ideas being thrown out regarding who should and shouldn't be paid. While nothing is set in stone, it's hard seeing the Cowboys organization letting any of these players get away. Let's lay things out on the table... The team moved on from Tony Romo in favor of Dak Prescott to be their new franchise quarterback - they're keeping Prescott. The team invested a fourth overall pick in Ezekiel Elliot in the 2016 NFL Draft and all he's done is lead the league in rushing in two of the last three seasons - they're keeping Zeke. The team traded a first-round draft pick to acquire Amari Cooper and he immediately jump-started the offense, helping the team win seven of their final nine games last season - they're keeping Amari. While the team may have every intention of handing out a nice chunk of cash to these guys, which one of these players are their top priority? The case for Dak Prescott If the Cowboys already know that Prescott is their quarterback of the future, what are they waiting for when it comes to extending him? The team has taken some pretty big steps to help make things easier for him this season. They now have a new offensive coordinator in Kellen Moore that is supposed to spark the offense. Jon Kitna is now the quarterbacks coach, and his presence should help Prescott improve his mechanics. And they even have new weapons such as Randall Cobb , Tony Pollard, and even the return of Jason Witten. The table is set for Prescott to have a big year, and if things go according to plan, his stock price is just going to rise. But what if things don't go according to plan? Are the Cowboys waiting to see this thing out? They certainly have the option to do that. They can pay him his $2 million salary this year and if push came to shove, they could franchise tag him for 2020. That buys them plenty of time to thoroughly evaluate him to make sure he's worth the $100+ million investment. However, the longer they wait, the more expensive Prescott becomes. Keep in mind that there are a handful of franchise quarterbacks from recent drafts that are going to be setting the market even higher. Prescott may seem expensive now, but he could look like a bargain a few years from now . The case for Ezekiel Elliott When it comes to worrying about extending their star players, Elliott's contract typically takes a back seat. He currently has put over $24 million in his pocket. That's not bad. The team also exercised his fifth-year option that will pay him another $9 million in 2020, so it's not like he's been getting chump-change. The Cowboys essentially don't have to worry about a new deal for Elliott until the offseason of 2021, so they have plenty of time to figure this out. There's a good chance they won't wait that long though. When it comes to Elliott, he's everything they want in a running back. He's a physical bruiser, he's got excellent vision, and he's very dangerous when he gets in space. Elliott can catch passes, pass protect, and he'll milk every last inch out of his rushing attempts. He's a complete running back. One reason for pause with Elliott is whether or not his off-the-field issues are going to present any moments where he becomes unavailable to the team. They already were without him for six games in 2017, and trouble does have a tendency of following him around at times. Elliott needs to exercise more discipline and not put himself into vulnerable situations. While the team can afford to wait with Elliott, they may not want to wait too long. Alvin Kamara is entering the third year of his rookie deal and since he's a second-round pick, there will be no fifth-year option for him. The Saints may choose to extend him after the 2019 season, and with Mark Ingram no longer in the mix, it could be a huge season for Kamara. Elliott's only 23 years old. Sure, he's got a lot of mileage already, but he's a long ways from running out of gas. Todd Gurley got a four-year extension at this time in his career. A similar deal with Zeke would lock him up for the next six years, giving the team an easy-out if he starts to wear down by age 27. The case for Amari Cooper When the Cowboys decided to surrender their first-round draft pick to acquire Cooper from the Raiders , many saw that as a panic move due to the fact that Dallas severely underestimated the talent of their receiving corps. It's hard to blame people for thinking that. After all, precious Day 1 draft capital is a lot to give up, especially for a team that is so good at finding star talent early in the draft. The organization felt good about the trade because they loved what they saw in Cooper. His route-running ability has been heavily hyped and for good reason. He gets in and out of breaks quickly and is a smooth accelerator with really impressive top speed. Cooper is a quiet guy, but don't let his soft demeanor fool you. He is in it to win it. We can sit here and tell you that he's paid his dues and there's nothing else to see for the team to feel good about extending him. In fact, his time playing with the Cowboys produced very positive results and if he keeps at it like we all expect - it's just going to drive up his price. New Orleans Saints receiver, Michael Thomas , is in the last year of his rookie deal and is looking to break the bank with a lucrative extension. The longer the Cowboys wait on Cooper, the more it's going to cost him.


Decades after the nuclear bomb tests of the Cold War, traces of radioactive carbon have been found in the deepest parts of the ocean. Crustaceans found in the deepest trenches of the Pacific Ocean showed high levels of radioactive carbon in their muscle tissues, according to a study published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters in April. The "bomb carbon" found its way into their molecules from nuclear tests performed in the 1950s and '60s -- and it's been found miles down into the ocean where these creatures live. The results show how quickly human pollution can enter the ocean's food chain and reach the deep ocean, according to the study's authors. It's a disturbing discovery that shows how the actions of humans can harm the planet. "We didn't expect such high levels of carbon-14 (radioactive carbon)," co-author Weidong Sun, a professor of marine geology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Qingdao, China, told CNN. "That means the ocean has been polluted by human activities." How did the radioactive carbon get in the ocean? During the nuclear tests of the Cold War era, the radioactive carbon in the atmosphere doubled. The neutrons released in the bombs reacted with the nitrogen in the air, creating a radioactive carbon, or carbon-14. When the nuclear tests stopped, the levels of radioactive carbon went down. But it was already too late. The "bomb carbon" fell from the atmosphere to the surface of the ocean. Marine animals have been eating things in the ocean over decades and scientists have seen increased levels of carbon-14 since the bomb tests. Researchers from China and the United States used the "bomb carbon" to trace organic material in organisms that live in deepest parts of the ocean. They studied crustaceans that live in hadal trenches, which are found 6,000 to 11,000 meters ( 20,000 to 36,000 feet) below the ocean's surface. The crustaceans studied came from three trenches in the West Pacific Ocean. The conditions in these trenches are harsh -- the creatures that live there must adapt to extreme cold, high pressure and a lack of light and nutrients. The crustaceans scavenge and rely on dead organisms that fall to the ocean floor for food. When researchers carbon-dated the crustaceans, they found the levels of carbon-14 in their muscle tissues were a lot higher than the levels of carbon found naturally in the deep ocean. Carbon-14 is found in almost all living things and is used to date the relative age of organisms in a process called carbon dating. The carbon reached the bottom faster than expected Normally, it'd take about 1,000 years for the ocean to circulate the bomb carbon into the deep sea. But, the ocean food chain carried the radioactive carbon faster than researchers expected. "Although the oceanic circulation takes hundreds of years to bring water containing bomb [carbon] to the deepest trench, the food chain achieves this much faster," lead author Ning Wang, a geochemist at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Guangzhou, China, said in a statement . Researchers found that the crustaceans in these trenches live four times longer and grow larger than other crustaceans found in shallower waters. They also have a low tissue turnover rate. These deep-sea creatures lived to be more than 10 years old and grew to 3.6 inches long. Crustaceans in shallow water only live less than two years and grow to about 0.8 inches. The creatures have been able to get so big and live so long as a side effect of living in such harsh conditions deep within the ocean, researchers said. Living for so long, the amount of radioactive carbon had time to accumulate in the crustaceans' bodies, according to the study. "It's mainly an indication that we have major influence in the deepest part of the ocean," Sun said. "I think we need to be careful that any human activity affects the whole Earth."


HGTV fans are paying close attention to the employee walkout of home goods retailer Wayfair that took place Wednesday at the company's Boston headquarters. Wayfair employees learned last week that the company planned to fulfill a $200,000 order for bedroom furniture made by government contractor, BCFS, that's responsible for managing facilities that detain migrant children at the southern border of the United States. A group of employees subsequently wrote a letter to company leaders protesting the decision that more than 500 workers signed. They asked that the company stop doing business with BCFS and create a code of ethics that aligns with employee values. When Wayfair executives disagreed, the employees planned the walkout. CNN correspondent Cristina Alesci reported Wednesday that the company would soon announce plans to donate its profits from the sale, but the walkout went on as scheduled. Online, fans of Flip or Flop , House Hunters and other HGTV favorites called for the network to dump Wayfair, too. They demanded that they keep its ads off the airwaves and end its collaborations with the brand, which its teamed with for sweepstakes and design projects. Viewers pleaded with HGTV to "please stop doing business with this company." If not, some viewers said, they would stop watching. I love you @hgtv but please stop the @Wayfair ads. They are profiting from children in cages. #DoTheRightThing #BoycottWayfair   My hood is RE*SISTER*HOOD (@YResister) June 26, 2019 @hgtv do you still support @Wayfair ? After their CEO supports the detention of innocent children? #WayfairWalkout   Elizabeth Ellis (@Elizabethdawn15) June 26, 2019 Say goodbye to this customer #Wayfair @hgtv are you planning on continuing your collaboration with @Wayfair #WayfairWalkout   Jennee (@Just_Jenn_ee) June 26, 2019 Hey @Wayfair why are you selling items to for-profit internment camps? Despicable. And @hgtv why are you still advertising for Wayfair when they're doing this?   NFL (@FLNicolie) June 26, 2019 @hgtv take @Wayfair adds off or I'm done watching you.   Vanessa (@_Vanessa_Chacon) June 26, 2019 They told the network, "you are better than this" and referred to any profits made from a relationship with Wayfair as "#bloodmoney." @Wayfair you've lost another customer here. Ill take my business else. @hgtv you are better than this. Please stop doing business with this company. "Wayfair employees plan a walkout in response to the company furnishing border facilities" https://t.co/2Yh5x2RLrd   Omar Lugo (@1BubbaGump) June 25, 2019 Hey @hgtv please don't continue accepting #bloodmoney from @wayfair . #NoConcentrationCamps   Dina (@SocProfDina) June 25, 2019 @hgtv haven't heard anything...... are ya with wayfair or are ya with children in cages.... https://t.co/hHDiOdNewx   The whale prince's girlfriend (@Kim60784471) June 26, 2019 In a statement, HGTV told Yahoo Entertainment, "We don't attempt to influence or comment on our sponsors' business decisions." Read more on Yahoo Entertainment: YouTube star Etika confirmed dead at 29, days after reported missing Jada Pinkett Smith says she's been in a non-sexual throuple with Will Smith's ex-wife for years James Gandolfini's son Michael remembers his dad on anniversary of his death: 'Six years is too long' Want daily pop culture news delivered to your inbox? Sign up here for Yahoo Entertainment & Lifestyle's newsletter.


Mercedes boss Toto Wolff suggests there is an "agenda" behind ongoing rumours that he is being lined up to replace Chase Carey as a future Formula 1 chief. Wolff's success at Mercedes has made him one the candidates singled out as a potential replacement to run F1 in the future. Formula E chief Alejandro Agag, Lamborghini CEO Stefano Domenicali and Red Bull boss Christian Horner have all also been linked at various times over recent months. The speculation surrounding Wolff has prompted concern from rivals that he could have conflicting loyalties when it comes to fighting for teams amid discussions over the new rules coming in to force for 2021. Read Also: Hamilton says he's "conflicted" about prior comments on Wolff But Wolff has moved to play down talk of the Liberty link, and he suggests that ongoing stories are being pushed because of other motivations. "I wonder who put my name out there?" said Wolff, speaking exclusively to Motorsport.com. "Maybe there is an agenda about putting my name out to actually trigger scepticism. But interestingly, none of that is happening and I haven't applied for a job. "I am in a really happy place at Mercedes. I enjoy my role representing one of the best brands in the world and, having been given the autonomy to run the team in the best interest for Mercedes, as a partner of Mercedes, I really enjoy the relationships within the team, and the relationship with my Daimler friends. "Fundamentally I am a lap time person. I like the competition. So whatever is being put out there by somebody is not coming from me, and it is not reflecting the situation." While Wolff is playing down the links to Liberty, he does admit that the sport has a great opportunity to become bigger and better over the next few years if it has has the right man at its helm. "The sport is a super exciting property," he said, when asked if he would be interested in the Liberty role in the longer term. "It is one of the big global sports properties and I think we have a real chance to make it the biggest spectacle in the world if we continue to develop what F1 stands for. "We need to embrace our current audiences and fans, and potential audiences that we haven't tapped yet, plus embrace new technology. "I hope very much that, as a Mercedes team principal and Mercedes shareholder, we and all the other teams can benefit from the growth of F1."