The days of posturing, pretenses, bluffs, deception and even out-and-out lies are about to end. It's that time of year where every Major League Baseball club's front office must call and turn over their cards. In or out? And if you want to win, just what are you prepared to do? Gone are the days when everyone wanted to win, no one intentionally tanked, and when teams' mantra was World Series or bust? These days? Well, in the words of one veteran executive: "I don't think it's about winning the World Series, anymore. I think most teams are just satisfied to just make the playoffs. They'd rather draw their 2.5 million fans, get their TV ratings, and be a contender every year rather than to go all in to win the World Series.'' Yes, you remember those days, when Brian Sabean and Bruce Bochy led the San Francisco Giants to World Series championships in 2010, 2012 and 2014 and no one really cared that they didn't make the playoffs in those odd-numbered years. MOVING WEEK: Four pivotal MLB matchups to watch this week POWER RANKINGS: Nationals' turnaround has been stunning Now, general managers and executives would prefer hoarding prospects and thumping their chest for being on the cover of Baseball America, rather than trading away a prospect who turns into an All-Star, no matter the instant reward. They're afraid of being Theo Epstein, the Chicago Cubs president who acquired All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman from the New York Yankees to win the 2016 World Series champion, even though it cost them 2019 All-Star infielder Gleyber Torres. "If not now, when?'' said Epstein, the architect of three World Series champions. Boston Red Sox president and GM David Dombrowski once traded future Hall of Famer Randy Johnson in a package for veteran starter Mark Langston during a playoff run in Montreal. Here we are 30 years later, and he hasn't stopped going for the gusto. He never let prospects stand in the way of acquiring Miguel Cabrera, Max Scherzer and David Price in Detroit, or Chris Sale or Craig Kimbrel in Boston. The deft moves to acquire Nathan Eovaldi, Steve Pearce and Ian Kinsler last summer led to the Red Sox's World Series championship. "For me, if you have in your heart you can win a World Series,'' Dombrowski told USA TODAY Sports, "you do everything you can to win it, by whatever means. But there's been a general change in (trade) philosophy over the years. "One big thing is that there is so much scrutiny attached to players that you give up these days. There's so much media coverage that everyone knows these players. Years ago, nobody knew who these prospects were. So there's hesitation to make bigger moves. "It's changed also with the wild card. It used to be as long as you got in, you were fine, because you play a best-of-five wild card. Now, with a one-game wild-card, anything can happen. To me, that's a difference maker.'' Take a look around, and how many legitimate division races are even left with 10 weeks left to play? The Cubs are the lone division leader that doesn't have at least a six-game lead in the NL Central. The Los Angeles Dodgers may clinch the NL West before Labor Day with their 14½-game lead. The National League has 10 teams within five games of a wild-card berth, while the American League has six, but if you're hopelessly out of the division race, are you really going to push your cards all-in for a one-game playoff game against Max Scherzer and the Washington Nationals? Besides, this hardly is a star-studded deadline. Unless something dramatically changes, the only true impact players on the market may be starter Madison Bumgarner and closer Will Smith of the San Francisco Giants. And neither will entice any team to surrender their top prospects like the days of David Price, CC Sabathia or even Andrew Miller. It could be the dullest of dull deadlines if something really crazy happens, like if the Giants keep winning. "It might be tough for the Giants to trade Bumgarner,'' one veteran NL executive said. "They're just 4½ games out. What if they get closer? Their fans will be furious. I'm not sure they can do a deal now without waiting a little longer.'' The Giants will either wait, or hurry up and trade Bumgarner, Smith and relievers Tony Watson and Sam Dyson now, just in case they get any closer in the wild-card race, having won eight of their last 10 games. The Giants' decision to completely unload, which seemed all-but-certain months ago, is among the top questions entering these final two weeks before the lightning round. Here are the top 10 questions posed in an informal survey of a dozen baseball executives and scouts. 1. Who is the most valuable commodity on the trade market? It's a virtual toss-up between Bumgarner and Smith, with no clear-cut consensus. Bumgarner isn't the MadBum of old, going 5-7 with a 3.86 ERA this season, but good luck finding another player on the trade market who has his postseason pedigree. Smith, 30, is the nastiest closer on the market, has been successful in 23 of 24 save opportunities, is a strikeout pitcher, is leftt-handed, and is only earning $4.2 million this year. While Bumgarner, who earns $12 million, could potentially start twice in each postseason series, Smith could pitch every game with the built-in off-days. You make the call. 2. Who are the other top pitchers on the trade market? Matthew Boyd, Detroit Tigers : Boyd could garner the most prospects by any pitcher since he's young, cheap, talented, and under team control for three more years. The Tigers certainly will command a huge return for Boyd, 28, who just became only the fifth pitcher in Tigers' history to strike out 10 or more batters in three consecutive games. Trevor Bauer, Cleveland Indians : The Indians believe his value will be much higher now than this winter when he can earn at least $18 million in his final year before free agency but won't trade him unless they get a controllable starter who can help them now in return. Zack Greinke, Arizona Diamondbacks : The D-backs can publicly downplay it all they want, but they would love to dump the $64 million remaining on his contract after this season, and some of the $31.5 million he's earning in 2019. He has been superb this year, but with his bloated salary, and 15 teams on his no-trade list, any trade will be complicated. It would be much easier for the Diamondbacks to trade lefty Robbie Ray, who's earning $6.05 million and under control through 2020, and has piqued the Yankees' interest. Marcus Stroman, Toronto Blue Jays : The only way he's still on the Jays' roster on Aug. 1 is if he gets hurt. They are desperate to move him, and the Yankees make the most sense. Zack Wheeler, New York Mets : The perfect summer rental as a pending free agent. The Mets have all intentions of keeping Noah Syndergaard, but Wheeler is the perfect trade chip and, responsible for less than half of his $5.975 million, he's affordable to anyone. 3. Who will be the most aggressive teams? The New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox Houston Astros, St. Louis Cardinals and Washington Nationals received the most votes. The common component? They are all built to win now. This is the Yankees' most powerful team in a decade, and if they don't land a starter in Stroman, Wheeler or Ray, they could load up on the bullpen and simply go with a bullpen-by-committee for most of the postseason. The Cubs already spent $42 million on closer Craig Kimbrel, but would love to find an impact bat   ideally a leadoff or power hitter   and another pitcher, but their thin farm system makes it virtually impossible to pull off any blockbusters. The Red Sox are near the highest luxury tax threshold of $246 million after acquiring starter Andrew Cashner from Baltimore, but if they can grab a late-inning reliever who'll get them back to the playoffs, they'll make the move, Dombrowski says, money be damned. The Astros don't plan on shelling out the money it will take to keep Gerrit Cole, who'll be the top free-agent pitcher this winter, so they need to win now, and are seeking a starter and a reliever. The Cardinals are experiencing their longest playoff drought in 20 years, and the heat is starting to mount on the front office. They must come up with a front-line starter, with Bumgarner appearing to be a perfect fit, if they're going to have a chance to catch the Cubs. The Nationals were dead and buried in May, but if they can beef up their bullpen at the deadline, and reach the postseason, they may be the most serious threat to the powerful Dodgers with a vaunted playoff trio of Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg and Patrick Corbin. 4. The Minnesota Twins will probably make the playoffs no matter what. What will they do? They have been one of the most active teams on the trade landscape the past month, inquiring about anyone and everyone, scouts say. They should make the playoffs with or without a major deal, but if they're actually serious about playing deep in October, they'll grab a starter and a reliever. All it took was money when Kimbrel and Dallas Keuchel were on the market, and they passed. Now, it's going to cost them some of their finest prospects if they're going to grab pieces to compete with the Yankees and Astros in October. 5. The Dodgers clearly are the best team in the National League but will they make a move for October? They have an urgency to come up another late-inning reliever to help bridge the gap to closer Kenley Jansen, and it's possible Will Smith winds up pitching to Dodgers catcher Will Smith in October. President Andrew Friedman has acquired infielder Manny Machado and starter Yu Darvish the past two years, and starter Rich Hill and outfielder Josh Reddick in 2016, parting ways with a ton of prospects in the process. They will find their reliever this year but refuse to overpay to make it happen. 6. Who are the best position players on the market? It originally looked like Whit Merrifield of the Kansas City Royals and Jose Abreu of the Chicago White Sox, but each will seemingly staying put this month. The Royals have put such a high price tag on the versatile Merrifield, that they haven't received a single offer. Abreu is a free agent at the season's conclusion, but the White Sox value his leadership highly, and believe they can win next season, so they are trying to sign him to a short-term extension. We're left with perhaps the thinnest trade market for position players in decades, with the likes of Nick Castellanos of the Detroit Tigers; Hunter Renfroe of the San Diego Padres; David Peralta and Adam Jones of the Diamondbacks; Todd Frazier of the New York Mets; Kevin Pillar and Pablo Sandoval of the Giants; Justin Smoak, Freddy Galvis and Eric Sogard of the Toronto Blue Jays, and Corey Dickerson of the Pittsburgh Pirates. 7. Would the Texas Rangers dare trade their ace, Mike Minor, being just three games out of a wild-card berth? Well, publicly, they are telling teams they can't trade Minor as long as they're in the race, but privately, they know his trade value will never be higher. He's in the second year of a three-year, $28 million contract, and has pitched brilliantly for the Rangers, 8-4 with a 2.73 ERA. Yet, considering Minor's history of injuries, they'll strongly consider moving him if they slip any further in the wild-card race by July 31. 8. The San Diego Padres finally are showing signs that they can be a force in the near future and are just three games out of the wild-card race. Would they trade All-Star closer Kirby Yates? Well, let's put it this way   they certainly are listening. They know they wouldn't be in the hunt without his 30 saves, but also realize his trade value will never be higher . He's under control through 2020, and certainly has higher value than Ken Giles of the Toronto Blue Jays, another closer who could be available. 9. The Cincinnati Reds are in last place but still in the NL Central race. Do they start unloading some of their valued pieces? That's a negative. Sure, the shrewd move may be to trade pending free agents Yasiel Puig, Tanner Roark and even possibly Scooter Gennett, and at least listen to offers on closer Raisel Iglesias. Yet, Reds owner Bob Castellini has seen enough rebuilding. He wants to stay in this race as long as possible and finish with at least a .500 record. 10. The Diamondbacks have yet to declare whether they're in or out. What will do they do? They aren't going to go into a full-scale rebuild , but privately, they want to sell. They'd love to trade Greinke and shed his salary. They also are shopping starter Robbie Ray, outfielders David Peralta and Adam Jones, and will listen to offers for relievers Greg Holland, Yoshihisa Hirano, T.J. McFarland and Andrew Chafin. They may be just 1½ games out of the wild-card race, but they are a staggering 14½ games behind the runaway Dodgers in the NL West, and have a horde of scouts starting to follow them. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 10 biggest questions for the MLB trade deadline


Audi has retained Daniel Abt alongside Lucas di Grassi for the 2019/20 ABB FIA Formula E season. Abt and di Grassi have been teammates since the first race of the inaugural FE season in 2014/15 when the team was known as the ABT squad. Audi took over the entry ahead of the 2017/18 season, promoting it to works status, and opted to exercise its option to retain Abt for the current campaign after he scored two victories on his way to fifth in the championship. Abt has not won a race in 2018/19 and recently confirmed he had been talking to other FE teams as he was yet to receive clarification on his Audi drive beyond this season. But ahead of this weekend's season finale in New York, Audi confirmed it will keep Abt alongside factory driver di Grassi for a further season in FE. "With eight title candidates before the final weekend, we're currently seeing the most exciting Formula E season to date and expect the competition to become even fiercer with Mercedes' and Porsche's entries next season," said Audi motorsport boss Dieter Gass. "By confirming our two drivers early on, we also want to send a clear message to our competitors: we will be optimally prepared and are happy to take on the challenge. "Besides meticulous development and testing of the new car, this also includes our clear commitment to our two drivers." Abt added: "We still have big aims for New York, so tackling the last two races and subsequent pre-season preparations with this confirmation and positive thoughts is even sweeter. "I've never felt as comfortable in a team and a series as I have with Audi in Formula E. "I'm proud of the trust that's being placed in me and will do everything to express my thanks with performance." The Audi drivers head to New York in mathematical contention for the 2018/19 drivers' title, although both are some way behind standings leader Jean-Eric Vergne. Di Grassi heads the list of challengers, 32 points behind Vergne, with Abt the last of the drivers in contention, 55 points adrift of the reigning champion.


Comtoyou driver Frederic Vervisch grabbed his and Audi's first WTCR victory of the season in race one at the Slovakia Ring, having started from ninth on the grid. Vervisch benefited from a rapid getaway and emerged from a hectic opening lap in second place, chasing the fast-starting Alfa Romeo Giulietta of Ma Qing Hua. The Belgian kept the pressure on and swept by after a mistake under braking cost Ma the lead on lap four of 11. Vervisch was untroubled for the remainder of the race on his way to sealing Audi's first win of the year by 2.8s, while Ma took his first podium in second. Spots of rain threatened before the race just as it did in Friday qualifying, but it was not enough for drivers to opt for wet tyres as the first 11-lap race got underway. Ma inherited the lead while polesitter Nicky Catsburg slid wide in the slippery conditions in his efforts to sweep around the outside of the Alfa heading through Turn 1. After surrendering the lead, Ma came under attack from Norbert Michelisz in the best of the BRC Racing Hyundais, but the Chinese driver held on for second despite an attempted lunge around the outside from Michelisz in the closing laps of the race. Jean-Karl Vernay (WRT Audi) finished a lonely fourth, having survived a tag in the rear under braking heading into the tight third corner during the opening lap fall-out in tricky conditions. A hectic tussle for fifth place eventually went the way of Augusto Farfus (BRC Hyundai), who charged through the pack methodically from a lowly 19th place on the grid. Another Hyundai finished sixth as reigning champion Gabriele Tarquini fought his way from 13th, disposing of Catsburg, who fell back to seventh having also clipped a tyre stack. Tom Coronel (Comtoyou Cupra) was eighth ahead of Mikel Azcona (PWR Cupra), while Luca Engstler's wildcard Hyundai was 10th ahead of the best of the Cyan Racing Lynk & Co cars of Yvan Muller. Points leader Nestor Girolami failed to finish, after the Munnich Motorsport Honda driver made contact with the second Comtoyou Audi of Niels Langeveld during a frenetic first lap. Report by Dan Mason Race results: Cla#DriverChassisLapsGap 1 22 Frederic Vervisch Audi 11 2 55 Ma Qing Hua Alfa Romeo 11 2.834 3 5 Norbert Michelisz Hyundai 11 3.243 4 69 Jean-Karl Vernay Audi 11 7.503 5 8 Augusto Farfus Hyundai 11 13.949 6 1 Gabriele Tarquini Hyundai 11 14.426 7 88 Nick Catsburg Hyundai 11 20.055 8 50 Tom Coronel CUPRA 11 20.274 9 96 Mikel Azcona CUPRA 11 20.463 10 6 Luca Engstler Hyundai 11 21.657 11 100 Yvan Muller Lynk & Co 11 22.328 12 52 Gordon Shedden Audi 11 22.532 13 12 Rob Huff Volkswagen 11 24.017 14 33 Benjamin Leuchter Volkswagen 11 24.373 15 86 Esteban Guerrieri Honda 11 25.407 16 10 Niels Langeveld Audi 11 26.665 17 18 Tiago Monteiro Honda 11 26.870 18 9 Attila Tassi Honda 11 28.405 19 37 Daniel Haglof CUPRA 11 29.471 20 14 Johan Kristoffersson Volkswagen 11 29.757 21 111 Andy Priaulx Lynk & Co 11 30.061 22 68 Yann Ehrlacher Lynk & Co 11 31.896 23 11 Thed Björk Lynk & Co 11 32.145 21 Aurelien Panis CUPRA 9 2 Laps 25 Mehdi Bennani Volkswagen 9 2 Laps 31 Kevin Ceccon Alfa Romeo 29 Nestor Girolami Honda View full results


Hungry? A new neighborhood vegan spot has you covered. Located downtown at 429 N. Eutaw St., Suite 1N, the new addition is called Refocused Vegan . This restaurant serves a menu of plant-based comfort food, like mac and cheese, cheesesteaks and burgers, as well as salads topped with vegan buffalo chicken and more. Try the Loaded Mac   house mac topped with vegan cheesesteak. There are animal-free desserts, too. Refocused Vegan has already attracted fans thus far, with a 4.5-star rating out of five reviews on Yelp. Jessica N., who was among the first Yelpers to review the new spot on June 1, wrote, "My son and I went to Refocused Vegan and were amazed by the food. The truffle fries were a slice of heaven." And Derek S. wrote , "I had the Impossible burger, which was absolutely delicious and cooked perfectly. The roasted garlic quinoa burger was also really good and not dried out. The mac and cheese is the best in town." Head on over to check it out: Refocused Vegan is open from 5 8 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday, 5 9 p.m. on Friday, 2 9 p.m. on Saturday, and 2 8 p.m. on Sunday. (It's closed on Monday and Tuesday.) Want to keep your finger on the pulse of new businesses in Baltimore? Here's what else opened recently near you . This story was created automatically using local business data, then reviewed and augmented by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


The Nevada gun store owner who says he sold the suspected Gilroy Garlic Festival shooter has spoken out on his official Facebook page. Santino William Legan, who police identified as the Gilroy gunman, purchased an assault rifle in Nevada, where the Bay Area native was living at the time. On Monday, Big Mikes Gun and Ammo in Fallon, Nev. posted on Facebook they were the sellers. "I did not know this individual. He ordered the rifle off my internet page. When I did see him, he was acting happy and showed no reasons for concern," the post reads. "I would never ever sell any firearm to anyone who acted wrong or looks associated with any bad group like white power. Everyone is my brother and sister and I am mourning for the families." The post is signed "Mike." Sources confirmed to the San Francisco Chronicle that Big Mikes Gun and Ammo sold a WASR-10 semiautomatic rifle to Legan. The sale was legal in Nevada, but the weapon is banned in California. You must be 18 or older to purchase a gun in Nevada. Legan was 19. MORE : Gunman posted online minutes before killing 3 at festival Police say Legan circumvented festival security by using a tool to cut through a fence near the parking lot at Christmas Hill Park on Sunday. Once inside, he opened fire at 5:41 p.m., killing three, according to Gilroy Chief of Police Scot Smithee. Police officers, already on the scene to provide support for the food festival, confronted the suspect in less than a minute. Smithee says three officers shot and killed Legan. The three victims were identified as Stephen Romero, 6, Keyla Salazar, 13, and Trevor Irby, 25. "The shooter in CA, I hope you rot in hell," reads a recent Facebook post from Big Mikes Gun and Ammo. "We pray for the victims. My heart hurts for all of them." On Monday, authorities in northern Nevada say they searched an apartment believed to have been used by Legan. Mineral County District Attorney Sean Rowe confirmed the search by the FBI and local sheriff's deputies of one of three homes in a modest stucco single-story building overlooking Walker Lake a few miles north of Hawthorne, Nevada. Mineral County Sheriff Randy Adams called the investigation ongoing and declined in a statement to provide information about what was sought or found. The Associated Press contributed to this report. --- Katie Dowd is an SFGATE Senior Digital Editor. Contact: katie.dowd@sfgate.com | Twitter: @katiedowd


Stockton will see clear weather in the coming days, according to drone-powered weather forecasting service Saildrone . However, skies will become fully overcast on Thursday. The coming days will also see hot temperatures, due to stick around through Thursday. Temperatures will reach a high of 96 degrees on Wednesday, then ease a bit from Friday to Sunday. Winds will remain fairly calm throughout the week, with the highest speeds today at only 12 mph. This story was created automatically using Saildrone's local weather forecast data, then reviewed by an editor. We also incorporate historic weather data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP)   Gov. Tom Wolf has commuted the sentence of the brother of prize-winning author John Edgar Wideman in a 1975 killing, clearing the way for his release. Robert Wideman was sentenced to life without parole in a case that was the subject of his older brother's 1984 acclaimed memoir, "Brothers and Keepers." The book was a finalist for a National Book Critics Circle award. Wideman, now 68, was convicted of second-degree murder after participating in a 1975 robbery that resulted in the shooting death of car salesman Nichola Morena. Even though Wideman did not fire any shots, the felony-murder doctrine treats an accomplice to a felony that causes a death as a killer as well. The gunman was also convicted of second-degree murder, while a third accomplice was convicted of third-degree murder. "He's elated," defense attorney Mark Schwartz said. "It's nice to have this finally accomplished and really humbling." Years after his trial, Wideman learned that Morena's family had settled a malpractice lawsuit against the hospital that treated him. Wideman challenged his conviction on the grounds that the jury never heard evidence that Morena could have survived had he received proper medical care. But he never got a new trial. The state Board of Pardons recommended clemency earlier this year following a hearing that featured testimony from a current judge who prosecuted the case and from the victim's sister. She opposed the clemency request, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Wolf on Monday cited the board's finding that Wideman had used his prison time "productively and largely without incident," had accepted responsibility, and "exhibits great remorse for the victim." Wideman, considered "a low-risk for re-offending," plans to eventually live with family but under state law must live for a year at a Community Corrections Center, often referred to as a halfway house. After that, the governor's office said, he will remain on parole. John Edgar Wideman attended the University of Pennsylvania and was only the second African American ever to be named a Rhodes Scholar. He was the first author to win the PEN-Faulkner Award for Fiction twice, in 1984 for "Sent for You Yesterday" and again in 1991 for his novel "Philadelphia Fire." He was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters in 2016. In "Brothers and Keepers," Wideman ponders how he and his brother took such different paths, one leading to literary celebrity, the other to a life sentence. "However numerous and comforting the similarities, we were different," the author wrote. "The world had seized on the difference, allowed me room to thrive, while he'd been forced into a cage. Why did it work that way? What was the nature of the difference? Why did it haunt me?"


MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO)   The Minnesota Department of Health has unveiled a plan, called "END HIV MN", which has the goal of ending the HIV epidemic in Minnesota. On Wednesday, health officials detailed the new statewide plan at the Minnesota Capitol in St. Paul. END HIV MN was created over several years with extensive input from those living with HIV, communities affected by it, health care and social service providers as well as state and local government. "HIV does not affect all Minnesotans equally," said Claire Wilson, Minnesota Department of Human Services deputy commissioner. "We can't end HIV until we listen to people from the communities most affected about their unique challenges and opportunities. We know having these conversations and engaging with the communities is critical to being effective." The plan proposes a range of strategies that fall under five broad goals:   Prevent new HIV infections.   Reduce HIV-related health disparities and promote health equity.   Increase retention in care for people living with HIV.   Ensure stable housing for people living with or at risk for HIV.   Achieve a coordinated statewide response to HIV. "To support the strategies, the plan calls for tactics such as health care provider education and training, awareness campaigns, community outreach, comprehensive prevention education, building the capacity of community organizations, providing housing support and using telemedicine," the MDH said. Watch the press conference below:


The Rockets came up short in their pursuit of Jimmy Butler during the 2018-19 season when the standout forward was on the trade block, despite reportedly offering a package that featured four first-round picks. With Butler on track to reach free agency this summer, the Rockets are expected to once again aggressively go after the 29-year-old, according to Brian T. Smith of The Houston Chronicle ( Twitter links ), who reports that Butler's name will be atop Houston's offseason wish list. As Smith explains, the Rockets consider Butler an ideal fit on both ends of the court, viewing him as a piece that could push the team over the hump in the Western Conference. Per Smith, Houston's ideal scenario would be to add Butler to its James Harden / Chris Paul pairing, despite rumors of significant discord between the two guards. Smith's report lines up with recent comments made by general manager Daryl Morey, who talked about the possibility of adding a third star to the Rockets' roster this offseason. Although the Rockets would love to add Butler and the Houston native may have interest in joining his hometown team, the club's salary cap situation will make it difficult   especially since Butler has talked about expecting to sign a maximum-salary contract, which would start at about $32.7M. There's no realistic way for the Rockets to create the cap room necessary to sign Butler to anything close to the max, so that's likely not an option. That leaves two other potential pathways   a sign-and-trade or an opt-in-and-trade. A sign-and-trade would require the Sixers to be on board, which means the Rockets would have to send some appealing assets Philadelphia's way, including perhaps shooting guard Eric Gordon . Even then, salary-matching would be difficult and might require a third team. Houston would also be hard-capped in that scenario, significantly limiting the club's flexibility. If Butler were to exercise his $19.84M player option for 2019-20 instead of opting out as planned , it'd create a much cleaner path to a deal. The two teams could then negotiate a straight trade, like the Rockets and Clippers did two years ago when Paul wanted to play in Houston, though as with a sign-and-trade, the Sixers would have to sign off. Additionally, Butler would presumably be reluctant to give up a longer-term, maximum-salary deal this summer unless he has assurances that such a deal would be waiting for him from the Rockets in 2020. That's essentially what happened with Paul in 2017   his payday was delayed until 2018, but there was never any doubt Houston would give it to him. Of course, owner Tilman Fertitta has reportedly complained since day one about the team's long-term investment in CP3, so it's not clear if the club would be willing to make a similar wink-and-nod commitment to Butler. The idea of the Rockets acquiring Butler still looks like a long shot at this point, but Morey has creatively completed deals in the past, and will certainly explore every avenue he can to do so again this time around.


The Columbus Zoo released footage of a 5-week-old polar bear sleeping. The cub weighs 4 pounds and is 16 inches long.


This is the year of the "hot girl summer": A time to go out with your friends, to have fun, to love yourself and enjoy life, no matter who you are or whether you think you are "hot." Though it originated with 24-year-old Megan Thee Stallion, a Houston rapper, it's a concept you don't have to be in your twenties to enjoy. As she said to The Root in an interview, "It's just basically about women   and men   just being unapologetically them, just having a good-a-- time, hyping up your friends, doing you, not giving a damn about what nobody got to say about it. You definitely have to be a person that can be the life of the party, and, y'know, just a bad b---h." But, you say, I don't think of myself that way! That's a problem with an easy solution. How do you think of yourself? Do you love who you are? Do you feel strong and confident in yourself? No? Then you definitely need a Hot Girl Summer more than anyone else. But what can a Hot Girl Summer do for you? First, there's something incredibly liberating in just calling yourself "hot," owning whatever is beautiful about yourself, and asserting your right to have a good time. "Hot girl summer" doesn't come with any size, age, ability or gender limitations; everyone is encouraged to love the skin that they are in. Yes, plenty of people who fall into that stereotypical definition of hot are posting photos on social media of themselves labeled "hot girl summer," as though people who look exactly like them don't post pictures of themselves looking stereotypically hot every single other summer, but they aren't the ones finding real joy in this cultural moment. People of all genders, ages and sizes have embraced the meme to subvert traditional narratives about beauty, class, disability and race. They're using it as a way to show how much they can love themselves even in a world that tells them they don't deserve to be loved. You can have a hot girl summer from your home or from your office, from a bus during your commute to work or from your car stuck in traffic on the way to pick up your kids. It doesn't matter where you are or who you are, you are wonderful and you deserve to have some fun. But what about [insert scary worrisome political news here]? What about it? It's not going to be solved by you never taking a break from thinking about it. In a time in which everything is stressing you out, the best thing you can do is recharge your proverbial batteries and encourage everyone around you to do the same. And let's be clear: Just because you like to have fun does not mean that you're not also an educated, socially engaged person who is politically aware and involved. In order to be effective at fighting oppression, you absolutely need to be your best self. Think of hot girl summer as a way to put on your emotional oxygen mask so that you can help others. Your best chance of being a good person, a good ally, a good friend all lie in being as emotionally healthy as possible. Hot girl summer is a chance to embrace everything about yourself, from the thighs you might think are too thick for shorts (they aren't) to your complete lack of interest in being berated by your overbearing relatives at the family reunion about when you're going to settle down. It's a chance to decide to skip that awkward family function and go to that big music festival that looks so fun. Not a fan of festivals? This is a great time to throw a party with your friends or ask that special someone out. And if you're already in a relationship, this is a perfect time to reinvent dating the person you love. Get dressed in an outfit that you feel good in, tell your partner(s) to do the same and make your own fun. And this bout of confidence-boosting doesn't have to stop when summer is over. Fundamentally, hot girl summer is about rejecting labels   including "hot," "girl" and "summer"   about who you should be or what you should wear and when you should wear it. And, for the young Black people that make up a lot of Megan Thee Stallion's fan base, it's a chance to push back against harmful racist narratives about what they have to wear and do in order to be safe or respected. For them, having a hot girl summer is about rejecting a white-centered beauty aesthetic and pushing back against the respectability politics that can keep them from loving themselves. Being free is always a good idea. Hot girl summer is for everyone. Think of it like a cool drink on a hot day for your emotional and social health. Or think of it like the pool party you keep skipping because you're not sure you want to be around strangers in your bathing suit, and march on over and dive right in.


Another hiker in Hawaii has gone missing, sparking a search that comes days after rescuers found yoga instructor Amanda Eller , who spent more than two weeks lost in the island's Makawao Forest Reserve. Noah Mina, 35, was reported missing on May 20 in the area of Kapilau Ridge Trail, also known as the Saint Anthony Cross, in Wailuku, according to the Maui Police Department . Police and fire personnel are assisting in his search, the department said. Javier Cantellops, one of the rescuers who found Amanda Eller on Friday, said during a news conference over the weekend that he was meeting with Mina's family to put together a search team. "Circumstances are completely different ... but overall it's the next mission," he said at the Saturday press conference. "He's another member of our community." Mina's father, Vincent Mina, said in a Facebook post that Noah has been missing since last Monday when he went for a hike that morning and hope's his son's story ends as Eller's did, with his safe return. Mina is described as 5-foot-8, 180 pounds, with shaven black hair and brown eyes. Eller, 35, was discovered by a helicopter crew on Friday, after going for what was supposed to be a short hike on May 8 . She was reported missing by her boyfriend, Benjamin Konkol, the next day. Authorities said Eller left her SUV, with her wallet and phone inside, at the Maui reserve before going on her trek. Her mother, Julia Eller, said at a news conference on Saturday that her daughter intended to go on a 3-mile hike but became disoriented after stopping to rest. Eller tried to follow her instincts to get back to her car but "was going in the wrong direction," her mother said. Eller told The New York Times that she was injured when she fell from a 20-foot cliff and later lost her shoes in a flash flood. She survived by eating plants, strawberry guavas and moths that landed on her body, she told the outlet. Eller kept herself hydrated by drinking water from the river. Doctors said Eller suffered an orthopedic fracture and burns on her lower extremities. She was released from the hospital on Saturday and is recovering at a family's members house in Maui.


Redskins rookie quarterback Dwayne Haskins showed on Thursday night that he possesses the intangibles to be a dynamic player in the NFL. He also showed that there will be a lot of growing pains along the way. In the Redskins' 30-10 preseason Week 1 loss to the Cleveland Browns, Haskins quarterbacked the team for six series, going 8-for-14 for 114 yards and two interceptions. The performance contained a few throws that make you raise your eyebrows, but more that made you want to cover your eyes. Part of the game is learning how to play it. After the rookie out of Ohio State got done showing that he can make the throws necessary, he also demonstrated that he has the right mindset to succeed in the NFL. ESPN's John Keim noted that Haskins spent the majority of the night standing with veteran players on the sideline, and Haskins said they always had an encouraging message for him. "Just keep playing," Haskins said, according to Keim. "Everyone knows I'm young and got a ways to go, but I'll make a lot of plays. [They said] never to lose my confidence, even though I had a couple bad areas. Everyone was pretty encouraging." His two interceptions came on easily fixable mistakes - an underthrown wheel route to the right sideline that got jumped and returned for a touchdown in the first half, and an overthrown bullet over the top that was brought down by first-round pick Greedy Williams, a cornerback out of LSU. Haskins on the pick-6: "You've got to get over it; you've got to play the next series. It happened. Mad for three seconds and onto the next play." - John Keim (@john_keim) August 9, 2019 A QB who possesses a short memory is likely to have a long career. On Thursday night we saw that Haskins can be an outstanding quarterback if he cleans up a few things and if he has time to fail before he's really expected to succeed. At this point, patience will be the key for Washington and its fans. MORE: Browns mob touchdown scorer who slept outside a gym during tryouts Antonio Brown is Up to His Old Tricks Again in Oakland [UPDATE] Packers WR stock report: Jake Kumerow takes another step toward roster spot D'Angelo Russell Q&A: Warriors' new backcourt is 'like a video game' Matt Nagy can't stop gushing about Bears RB David Montgomery


The Steelers of the 1970s, which won four of four Super Bowls, put nine players and one head coach in the Hall of Fame. The Super Bowl-winning Patriots teams of the 2000s, which one three and appeared in another, will get their first Hall of Famer in two weeks. Former Patriots safety Rodney Harrison, who'll soon join the team's Hall of Fame, has a problem with that. " People don't think we have ballers ," Harrison told Karen Guregian of the Boston Herald , via NBCSportsBoston.com. "I'm like, Ty Law was the greatest defensive back I've ever played with. He's one of the best I've ever seen. Richard Seymour, Willie McGinest, Troy Brown, Kevin Faulk, these dudes were, bad, bad dudes." Law has secured a spot in the 2019 Hall of Fame class. The others, including Harrison, continue to wait. "They weren't just system guys," Harrison said. "It's unfair when people say, 'As long as you had Tom [Brady] and Bill [Belichick],' well, dude, Tom and Bill can't get it done by themselves. It takes a lot of really smart, great players. It's just unfortunate. It's almost a form of discrimination. People don't want to elevate us, or recognize, or acknowledge how great we are, because they're such haters. Everywhere I go, people hate on the Patriots. So we don't get credit. "All I hear is Tom and Bill. But that's such a lazy analysis. They don't see what the team really is, and that's really frustrating because a lot of guys get cheated and don't really get the recognition they deserve." Tom and Bill will surely both get to the Hall of Fame; they could get in separately for what they did prior to 2008, and for what they did after 2008. The real question is whether others who played with them   along with owner Robert Kraft   will get in. Unlike the team of the '70s, the team of the '00s and the '10s may not end up flooding Canton with bronze busts.


Long before President Trump's racist tweets caused an uproar in Washington, the four Democratic congresswomen he was targeting already had a reputation of their own as "the Squad." But how did Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ayanna Pressley, Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar come to get that nickname? "CBS This Morning" co-host Gayle King asked them about it during her exclusive interview with the group. Here's what they said: KING: Do you like being called "the Squad" and where did that come from? I've been looking, nobody can tell me the answer to that. PRESSLEY: I will offer the genesis of this because again it's nothing conspiratorial. Very organic. None of us had met. I mean I had actually, Alex and I had met once before. And we showed up at new member orientation. We were asked to do an interview because we each represent firsts in our own right. So we did this interview and at the end of the interview, they said, "Will you all take a picture?" And we took a picture. KING: It was just the four of you? PRESSLEY: Yes, because we were the four being interviewed as firsts. And at the end of that interview, we took the photo and I'm not sure who said it, but just -- OCASIO-CORTEZ: It was me. AYANNA PRESSLEY: But just within the context of social media culture, said, "Oh let's just do a #SquadGoals or something." RASHIDA TLAIB: It was "Squad Goals." AYANNA PRESSLEY: It was "Squad Goals." And then it morphed into this thing. But I said, I've been saying in the days leading up to this moment, that the reality is that anyone, to your point about it's not just about dismantling, but what we're intentional about building and fostering. Anyone who is committed to the work of building a more equitable and just world is a part of the squad.


BROOKLYN   Patrick Ewing didn't feel like talking about his goal, the one he has been pursuing for more than a decade: NBA head coach. He has talked about it before. He's made no secret of his wishes, then or now. "All I can do is continue to coach, continue to work, be good at my craft, and hopefully, one day, that will help me when and if I get that opportunity," Ewing said last season, his first as associate head coach of the then-Charlotte Bobcats under Steve Clifford. "I enjoy coaching. You know, I feel blessed that something I enjoy doing keeps me involved in the game on a day-to-day basis." It makes the grind easier. He wants his chance. Meanwhile, he loves the process. So this year, he isn't talking about it anymore. He started coaching as an assistant for the Washington Wizards back in 2002. Put another way, he's been a coach for nearly as long as he played with the New York Knicks, an era that lasted from 1985-2000 and seemed to go on forever. But this is Ewing now, standing a few feet away from Bismack Biyombo hours before the game against the Brooklyn Nets, his demeanor a combination of fun and focus. Ewing kept breaking out into that smile those who know him know well but is missing from the scowling portrayal of Ewing that dates back to his playing days. Still, though, Ewing never took his eyes off Biyombo, making sure he followed through on the drill   stop, turn   the shot Ewing so often put in the hoop during his playing days and now has helped a new generation of NBA players master. Still he waits. "He's not at all a self-promoter," Clifford, his boss and one of his best friends, told USA TODAY Sports. Clifford is one of many of Ewing's friends and colleagues who try to compensate by going out of their way to speak on his behalf. "We were together in Houston and in Orlando. And both times, when Jeff called him to come to Houston, and Stan called him to come to Orlando, his big thing was, 'I'll come as long as I'm doing everything everybody else is doing.' A lot of guys don't want all the work. He embraced all the work. But I don't think that story gets out there because he doesn't worry about it." Ewing is relentless at practice. He breaks down video. He does more than just bring out the best in Al Jefferson, one of the NBA's few remaining back-to-the-basket centers. He does the same for Kemba Walker, a point guard who has little more than Big East Conference collegiate heroics in common with Ewing. "He's a great communicator with the players," Clifford said. "He has a ton of knowledge. And he communicates with them in such a way that it isn't just about, say, a jump hook. He establishes relationships where he really coaches them." Nor is Ewing simply trading on his reputation, allowing his résumé   top-50 NBA player, first ballot Hall of Famer   serve as a player's attention-getter. Nor is it clear he could: Biyombo was born in 1992. He was an infant in the Democratic Republic of Congo when Ewing battled Hakeem Olajuwon in the 1994 NBA Finals. But Biyombo smiles when the subject of Ewing comes up. "More than anything, it's just about having a better understanding of the game," Biyombo said of his interaction with Ewing. "And to have a better understanding of your teammates. He's been part of the game for a long time. He understands the game. He has a job for all of us to help us improve. I'm very thankful to have him." Ewing has been a part of two Clifford teams now. Last year, Charlotte improved to 43-39, earning a playoff bid few expected. This season, even battling injuries to key players all season   Biyombo missed a month, Walker was just cleared Wednesday to resume practicing after six weeks   the Hornets again are seventh in the Eastern Conference. That would be the same team that went 21-61 the season before Clifford and Ewing arrived, 7-59 the season before that. It's the type of thing that usually leads to a raiding of the staff by other NBA teams with head coach openings, particularly the top assistant. "Things have to break your way," Clifford said. "The year I got my opportunity, there were a lot of jobs for franchises that were in a building mode, where they were going to hire a first-time head coach rather than the established coach, simply put, let's face it, because of the money. Other years, there aren't as many jobs." Still, Ewing's received two interviews in 13 years. Even if, as Jefferson described it to me, point guards are assumed to know the game, and big men have to prove it, Ewing's done so. Clifford put him in charge of the Hornets' summer league team, and the results were telling. "The first two or three games, we weren't even competitive," Clifford said. "And by the time they got through the week, just because of the way he handled it, coached them, was positive but firm. And by the end, he got them into the tournament play and won a couple of games. And it was all good coaching." Clifford isn't his only supporter. There's a litany of players as well as coaches such as John Thompson, Jeff Van Gundy and Pat Riley, all mystified by Ewing's inability to get a chance. There will be jobs available this offseason, including one with the Orlando Magic, where Ewing finished his playing career. "I don't know what the answer is," Clifford said. "I know he is an excellent coach, and he has more than paid his dues. If you're around him every day, you see it. I lean on him for a lot of things, the tough times. But he'll come to me. ... He helps me in every imaginable way. "He was a committed, serious player. And that's just how he is as a coach." Clifford will be sad to see him go, if Ewing finally gets one of the 30 jobs that exist. But he knows it's time.


Former Broncos and Raiders punter Marquette King will visit the Texans on Tuesday, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter ). King's market has been relatively quiet in recent weeks, but he could find a home once the compensatory pick formula is taken out of the equation . King, one of the most outspoken punters in NFL history, was released by the Raiders in April 2018, with reports indicating that head coach Jon Gruden wasn't a fan of King's personality. The 30-year-old received interest from the Vikings and Giants, but he landed with the Broncos on a three-year deal. Unfortunately, King's Denver run was short-lived. After appearing in four games, King suffered a season-ending abductor injury and was ultimately released. Last month, the Dolphins expressed some interest in signing King . The Bills, according to one report, also showed interest in King, though a separate report put that in question. King's 20 punts traveled an average of 44.1 yards last season, which ranked 22nd in the NFL. However, he managed to place seven punts inside the 20-yard line, placing him just outside of the top 10. If signed, King would replace   or compete with   incumbent punter Trevor Daniel . Last year, Daniel averaged 43.7 yards per boot.


Missed the the most recent top news in Stockton? Read on for everything you need to know. Swim coach sent 13-year-old girl sexually inappropriate texts. USA Swimming gave him a warning Stockton cases raise questions about USA Swimming's commitment to protecting young athletes. Read the full story on The Mercury News . SJ correctional officer pleads guilty to assaulting inmate A county correctional officer has pleaded guilty to one count of assault by a public officer against a defenseless inmate two years ago. Read the full story on Recordnet.com . Lodi-Stockton area ranks low on web education study The Lodi-Stockton metropolitan area is considered one of the least-educated regions in the country, according to a national finance entity. Read the full story on Lodinews . Stockton works to fix water channel air pumps Officials hope to keep algal blooms at bay. Read the full story on KCRA . 'Office' reunion and pro-wrestling smackdown | StocktonCon offers a 'little something for everyone' Whether its for the collector, the kids, the fans, or the thrill-seekers, StocktonCon has a little something for everyone. Read the full story on ABC Sacramento, KXTV . 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.


While the Cleveland Browns don't have a rookie first-round pick because of a trade, the rival Cincinnati Bengals won't have one because of an injury. Offensive lineman Jonah Williams is likely to miss the season with a shoulder injury. The Bengals announced the news today, revealing Williams is having surgery to repair a torn labrum. He never missed a game at Alabama, and the Bengals were confident enough to select the All-American with the No. 11 overall pick. Williams was expected to start right away for Cleveland's in-state rival. It's a big blow for a franchise that has had a terrible run of luck with their recent first-round picks and injuries. Rookie years of #Bengals recent first-rounders: 2015: Ced Ogbuehi limited only 5 games, college ACL 2016: Will Jackson III misses year with torn pec in camp 2017: John Ross plays 17 snaps due to injury, etc 2018: Billy Price misses 6 games (foot) 2019: Jonah Williams torn labrum - Paul Dehner Jr. (@pauldehnerjr) June 25, 2019 MORE: This perfect Shaq impersonation at the NBA Awards show had fans in tears NBA Free Agency 2019: The top players 3 adjustments the Raiders should make on offense in 2019 Raven Greene looks like a top player to watch at Packers training camp Kemba Walker is a Perfect Fit With the Dallas Mavericks


A young girl was reportedly the first to see the loggers coming. It was March 26, 1973, and loggers sent by sporting goods manufacturer the Simon Company were heading for Gopeshwar forest near the tiny village of Reni in Uttarakhand, which was then part of Uttar Pradesh. The girl ran to tell Gaura Devi, a village elder, who summoned dozens of other women to do the only thing they could: place their bodies between the trees and the axes. They hugged the 300 ash trees tightly, telling the loggers that in order to get to the trees they'd have to go through human bodies first. The loggers opted to leave instead. But Devi and the other women remained vigilant. When the lumbermen tried to go to another village to fell trees, the villagers, inspired by what had happened in Reni, did the same: They hugged the trees in a 24-hour vigil designed to keep them safe. This soon became known as the Chipko andolan, or Chipko movement, from the verb meaning "to stick to." It's a movement that would rapidly spread to other parts of India and inspire activism beyond the country, while honoring the world's first-known tree huggers … also from India. In 1730, villagers from the Bishnoi community 480 miles southwest of Reni embraced trees sacred to their faith to save them after the local king ordered they be felled for the construction of a palace. The king's soldiers beheaded more than 300 protesters, but the villagers refused to give in. Ultimately, the king apologized and withdrew his decree. But while the term "tree huggers" has become derogatory slang for those who care more about the environment than practical concerns, the villagers of Reni hugged the trees to preserve their economy. "More than for the environment, which is what this might look like, the women in Reni fought for their own rights," says Gajendra Rautela, the executive secretary of Climate Himalaya, an Uttarakhand-based climate change and sustainable mountain development nonprofit. "When the government hired this company to fell trees, the villagers suddenly felt that they were taking away their main resource. This was a fight to not let the government take away their rights." In his book Gandhi Today: A Report on Mahatma Gandhi's Successors , author Mark Shepard explains that those trees provided the villages with firewood, construction materials and even cattle feed. "But the government restricted huge areas of forest from their use," he writes, "and then auctioned off the trees to lumber companies and industries from the plains   a practice inherited with little change from the British colonialists." That day in 1973, the government had tried to fool the villagers by asking them to gather at another village, Chamoli, to receive compensation for previously cut trees. That meant the village was deserted of its men. When the lumbermen arrived, "it was women who had to do something then," Rautela says. "And they did." The movement soon became more organized, with the formation, in 1964, of the Dasholi Society for Village Self-Rule (DGSS), which later helped to mobilize and expand the Chipko movement and advocate for the rights of villages to use forest resources. DGSS co-founder Chandi Prasad Bhatt, raised in a small village near Reni and deeply inspired by the Gandhian philosophy of self-sufficiency and self-sustenance, famously said: "Let them know we will not allow the felling of a single tree. When their men raise their axes, we will embrace the trees to protect them." "The movement became a precursor for so many movements around the world," explains Sumaira Abdulali, an environmentalist and founder of Awaaz Foundation, a nonprofit that works against sand mining and noise pollution. Members of her group have buried themselves in sand, directly inspired by the Chipko movement. People in Japan in 2009 adopted a Chipko method for protesting the building of a tunnel near Mount Takao, hugging trees that would have been displaced by the 40-foot-wide hole. In 2017, in West Bengal in India, students protested the logging of about 4,000 trees by forming a human chain around them. And in the late 1990s, environmental activist Julia "Butterfly" Hill made headlines by sitting in an old-growth redwood tree for more than two years to prevent it being cut down. But that first protest action in Reni, says Abdulali, was special in part because it was led by women. "Both entities   women and environment   were ignored," she says. "And hugging is an intimate act. Women took the reins in their hands." In 1980, the Chipko movement's influence saw then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi enact a bill that banned the cutting of trees in the Himalayan areas for 15 years. But that wasn't exactly what the villagers had been fighting for. While local, democratically elected governments had allocated the forests previously, says Rautela, the government's announcement meant that forests were taken away from village communities to become federal property. "For four or five hundred years, forests belonged to the local villagers, and they took care of them," she says. "Now those were taken away from them."


Little-known Elizaveta Kulichkova knocked seventh-seed Bojana Jovanovski out in the first round of the WTA Malaysian Open on Monday. Kulichkova, a Russian ranked 171 in the world, beat the Serbian in straight sets 6-3, 6-3. Sixth-seeded Kurumi Nara of Japan also made it to the next stage, beating Switzerland's Stefanie Voegele 6-3, 7-6, in hot and humid conditions in Kuala Lumpur.


John Waltman was a judge, but he acted like a king in his hometown, a southwestern gateway to Bucks County and a working-class suburb rubbing elbows with the city. "This is Lower Southampton," he bragged during a conversation about extorting a local business owner into selling his property. "I know everything there is to know." It was an arrogance born of years of political dominance, steeled by backroom deals and barroom meetings. And it was shattered in 2016, when Waltman and two of his lieutenants, township Public Safety Director Robert Hoopes and Constable Bernard Rafferty, were indicted on federal corruption charges. They were accused of shaking down business owners seeking township contracts and laundering money they believed was from illegal drug sales. The feds also nabbed Lower Southampton's former solicitor, Michael Savona, for lying to the FBI about the way the men ran the township. Savona, admitting his guilt in court, said Waltman's personality, his convincing, manipulative nature, made him go against his better judgment. Prosecutors likened Waltman and his associates to an organized crime family. They abused the power given to them by voters, investigators said, in schemes ranging from fixing a traffic ticket to extorting bribes from vendors. The criminal charges were long in the making: Waltman and the others fell in with a would-be money launderer who was actually an under IRS agent. He offered the three public officials a cut of $400,000 in cash, stuffed in duffel bags, that they laundered through a bogus consulting company. And that was only part of their scheme. The federal indictment against Waltman and his colleagues portrayed the men as being blinded by greed, using their authority to line their pockets, even as they tended to the public's business. Wiretaps captured shockingly open -- even jocular -- conversations about the schemes, with Waltman referring to the township supervisors as his "rubber stamp." The crimes were brazen -- and breathtaking in scope. And in the end, faced with evidence investigators gathered over a year, three of the most powerful men in Lower Southampton admitted their guilt, their fiefdom toppled, their influence spent. The disgraced judge, 61, reported to federal prison Thursday to begin a 6 ½ year sentence that critics say was too lenient. The other two are expected to follow later this summer. At sentencing, Waltman, Hoopes and Rafferty expressed regret to the citizens whose trust they betrayed. None agreed to be interviewed for this story. But once they're assigned their prisoner numbers and locked into their cells, the township will still struggle to mend its battered reputation. Residents are furious, reeling from the betrayal of their town. And they're keeping close watch. Current township officials insist Lower Southampton is moving beyond the scandal, that the old regime is felled. But they recognize that there is rebuilding to do. The president of the township supervisors, Ray Weldie, fumed at the conduct laid out in the court filings. "In one way, I'm angry at the people who took advantage of the residents who live here," he said recently. "They were lulled to sleep and fleeced by people they thought they could trust. "But on the other hand, I'm happy that the opportunity arose for people to come in and fix this," he added. "If this regime was still running things, I couldn't run for dogcatcher." Weldie, a former police officer and a current fifth-grade teacher, jumped into politics after the arrests, running for supervisor in 2017. A lifelong township resident, Weldie wasn't completely surprised by the criminal charges. He knows his history. Fifty years ago, Waltman's father, Elmer, was a Republican kingmaker. His son had high aspirations, rising from a security guard at the Bucks County Mall to constable. He joined the township's Republican committee and later served as its longtime chairman. In 2010, he took over the local district court after his sister, Susan McEwen, resigned in disgrace during a state misconduct investigation. "There were always whispers, rumors of allegations of things going on, none of it was ever substantiated or corroborated in ways I was aware of," Weldie said. "I thought maybe there was some influence-peddling going on. But money laundering? That was a shock." For most of his life, Weldie hated politics. But he said he felt a need to "right the ship." "Before this happened, the township meetings were low-key, and the day-to-day operations were very smooth," he said. "It seemed like everyone had faith and confidence in the people running the township. "It blew up in everyone's face, and I'd like to get it back to that, where everyone trusts the people they've elected," he added. Since the indictments, there's been a shuffling of personnel: A new township manager, a new finance director, a new zoning officer set to begin her work this summer. Even outside the township offices, there's been turnover. The local Republican committee has replaced more than half of its committeemen, according to GOP chairman Nick Bordner, one of the new appointments. "To get over this idea that our entire township is corrupt, the faith in the integrity in the township had to be restored," Weldie said. "And the only way to do that is to put in people the public trusts." It'll be a significant undertaking. During his years of influence, Waltman secured jobs for dozens of people, employees as wide-ranging as public works landscapers to township supervisors. For their part, the three men implicated in these schemes had little to say. Hoopes hung up on a reporter. Rafferty said he had "nothing to add" beyond his comments at his sentencing, when he said Waltman cajoled him into aiding the scheme under threat of losing his job. And Waltman, speaking through his lawyer, Louis Busico, said only that he looks forward to completing his prison sentence. "Everyone has their problems, but this was a festering wound for a long time," said Mike Morris, a former member of the Neshaminy School Board and an early, consistent critic of Waltman's. "It's hard when so many people, so many good people, get involved," he said. "You do a favor for a friend of a friend, and suddenly you're connected to this enterprise. During public meetings, Morris often referred to Waltman as "crooked," and accused him of trying to intimidate him. In an unusual move, a constable interrupted a 2016 school board meeting to serve Morris papers from Waltman's personal attorney, threatening a defamation suit. Four months later, Waltman was indicted. "I've always let my opinion known," Morris said. "And I went from the craziest guy in the world -- 'You don't know what you're talking about,' -- to him being indicted." News of the criminal charges rocked the Bucks County township. Police Chief John "Ted" Krimmel worked quickly after getting that phone call from the FBI in December 2016. "The first words out of my mouth were 'Corruption will not be tolerated by me going forward,'" Krimmel said. "We knew something was up when these guys were here, but we couldn't put our fingers on it. I was suspicious, to say the least." Initially named at lead the department on an interim basis after Hoopes' removal, Krimmel began requiring his officers to wear body cameras, introduced anti-corruption policies and has been working to get the department accredited by the state, a step he hopes will boost residents' confidence. "I don't care what town it is in the county, there are always rumors of political shenanigans," Krimmel said. "But from the beginning, something wasn't right here. My gut told me something was wrong with the situation." Marge McCurdy long held the same suspicions. She sat in sparsely attended township meetings that ballooned into standing-room-only crowds once the criminal investigation came to light. And she watched as fed-up residents threw full pizza boxes and crumpled dollar bills at the supervisors, sarcastically saying the board is known for "taking bribes." If there's an upside to this mess, to having the township she's spent 50 years in be thrust under a microscope, McCurdy said, it's that renewed sense of public interest. "We need a clean slate, completely, from the top down," she said in a recent interview. "And if you can't get new blood in there, we need people to keep a close watch, every meeting, to constantly be there." In November's municipal election, she believes the deeply red township might shift. "I'm a Republican. I'm pro-Trump 2020, the whole nine yards," McCurdy said. "But I can't stand sitting here, looking at a full Republican board, and not knowing who's corrupt and who's not. "The only way for us to hold the board accountable is to get some Democrats on here," she added. "They all will be arguing over each other, but at least there won't be any secrets." ___ (c)2019 The Philadelphia Inquirer Visit The Philadelphia Inquirer at www.inquirer.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.


RIVERSIDE (CBSLA)   Mass was interrupted Sunday at a church in Riverside when a man came rushing in saying he was going to shoot everyone. A woman has just raced in saying "We're all going to die" in Spanish causing even more panic. Predictably, people got scared, authorities said. Officials said the woman ran into the Queen of the Angels church   believing the man was armed. Moments later, witness Michelle Cardona said everyone in the back of the church began sitting and ducking down. At this point a man ran in saying "Everyone down, there's someone in the back with a gun. He's going to kill all of us." As a precaution, police were dispatched to churches and houses of worship in the immediate area. CBS2/KCAL9's Jake Reiner says the suspect was detained near an outdoor swap meet located in the 300 block of Van Buren. No weapon was found on the suspect or his vehicle. The suspect was identified as a Riverside man. No motive was given for the threat. Authorities are mulling several charges including making criminal threats. Despite the fear of some congregants, evening mass went on as planned, around 7 p.m. All was peaceful and calm, but Reiner says Cardona told him she isn't sure she would be coming back next Sunday. Cardona and her family attend the services here ever week. She said while the man was yelling about everyone being killed, she really couldn't make out what he was saying, because he was behind glass doors. But the woman who first cried out told Cardona the man was praying by a fountain of holy water and said, 'God forgive me for what I'm about to do' and he threw a cross on the ground. Cardona called 911 and also ducked down with her little brother and sister. She began recording the strange incident. In the meantime, a priest tried to keep everyone calm continuing with the mass by singing and praying. "I thought that was really beautiful," says Cardona, "that he was still remaining calm." The fact the suspect has been taken into custody also gives her some sense of relief. "At church today, someone said we're not going to die, we're going to be safe. We're in God's arms. No one got hurt, we were all safe so I feel like with that we can still keep going to church."


Actress and talk show host Busy Philipps is asking women who have had abortions to tell their stories as part of a push against anti-abortion legislation being considered and enacted in a number of states. Philipps' effort comes as Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey Wednesday signed a near-total abortion ban . The state is one of a dozen that have passed or attempted to pass stricter abortion legislation this year. Philipps, who recently shared her story about having an abortion at 15, reached out to other women on social media as part of the launch of her #YouKnowMe campaign, saying one in four have had abortions. Sharing stories will help to end the shame often associated with abortion, she wrote. "There is an attack on women happening in this country right now. I won't be silent and I have no shame about my personal choice. I am 1 in 4. #youknowme ❤ I know there is power in sharing our stories. I know it," she wrote in an Instagram post that has attracted nearly 120,000 likes since being posted earlier Wednesday. Philipps, who also advocates donations to organizations fighting "these draconian laws," doesn't cite a source for her statistic. However, a 2017 analysis by the Guttmacher Institute, which focuses on issues relating to reproductive health and rights, cites the same statistic and says 23.7% of women in the U.S. will have an abortion by the age of 45. View this post on Instagram There is an attack on women happening in this country right now. I won't be silent and I have no shame about my personal choice. I am 1 in 4. #youknowme ❤ I know there is power in sharing our stories. I know it. There is also power in following and donating to some of the organizations doing work to try to stop these draconian laws from going into effect: @prochoiceamerica @plannedparenthood @yellowfund @reprorights A post shared by Busy Philipps (@busyphilipps) on May 15, 2019 at 8:03am PDT In a parallel message on Twitter, which has had more than 5,800 retweets and 29,000 likes since Tuesday, Philipps, the host of the E! talk show "Busy Tonight," cited the statistic and included the hashtag: "1 in 4 women have had an abortion. Many people think they don't know someone who has, but #youknowme. So let's do this: if you are also the 1 in 4, let's share it and start to end the shame. Use #youknowme and share your truth." 1 in 4 women have had an abortion. Many people think they don't know someone who has, but #youknowme . So let's do this: if you are also the 1 in 4, let's share it and start to end the shame. Use #youknowme and share your truth.   Busy Philipps (@BusyPhilipps) May 15, 2019 Philipps, 39, tearfully discussed her abortion on the May 7 edition of her series, saying she was motivated by Georgia's "heartbeat bill" restricting abortion. "I can not sit idly by while women's rights are stripped away," she said. Philipps added: "I had an abortion when I was 15 years old and I'm telling you this because I'm genuinely really scared for women and girls all over this country." Many other celebrities, including Lady Gaga, actors Reese Witherspoon and Alyssa Milano and director Ava DuVernay, took to social media to push back against anti-abortion legislation. Gaga offered her prayers and detailed her thoughts : "It is an outrage to ban abortion in Alabama period, and all the more heinous that it excludes those (who) have been raped or are experiencing incest non-consensual or not. So there's a higher penalty for doctors who perform these operations than for most rapists? This is a travesty and I pray for all these women and young girls who will suffer at the hands of this system." #AlabamaAbortionBan #Alabama #AlabamaSenate #NoUterusNoOpinion #PlannedParenthood #ProChoice I love you Alabama prayers to all women and young girls here are my thoughts: pic.twitter.com/LqmVyV8qsA   Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) May 15, 2019 "I'm beyond upset about the passing of new abortion bans in Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, Georgia, and Ohio," Witherspoon tweeted . "This is Unconstitutional and Abhorrent. We can not tolerate this attack on women's fundamental rights." I'm beyond upset about the passing of new abortion bans in Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, Georgia, and Ohio. This is Unconstitutional and Abhorrent. We can not tolerate this attack on women's fundamental rights.   Reese Witherspoon (@ReeseW) May 15, 2019 In one of a number of tweets opposing the legislation, Milano said the efforts in various states are part of a larger Republican war on women. "There have been nearly 30 bans on abortion introduced, passed, or signed into law in statehouses around the country this year alone," she wrote. "This is Trump's anti-choice agenda and part of the GOP's war on women." There have been nearly 30 bans on abortion introduced, passed, or signed into law in statehouses around the country this year alone. This is Trump's anti-choice agenda and part of the GOP's war on women.   Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) May 15, 2019 DuVernay, responding to a news report about the progress of the Alabama legislation, wrote that the current situation cannot be normalized and that it requires action. "Don't move forward after reading this like everything is normal. Don't shake your head at Alabama and then keep going about your day," she wrote. "Realize that this is a warning. It's Alabama and abortion today. It's you and your rights tomorrow. Your silence will not save you. So speak up." Don't move forward after reading this like everything is normal. Don't shake your head at Alabama and then keep going about your day. Realize that this is a warning. It's Alabama and abortion today. It's you and your rights tomorrow. Your silence will not save you. So speak up. https://t.co/kIz78uAU1T   Ava DuVernay (@ava) May 15, 2019 Actress Michelle Rodriguez also posted a series of tweets decrying the legislation in several states, offering her followers information on how to get involved, urging women to move and saying, "Turning back time to the knuckle dragging era of cave men, sad." Turning back time to the knuckle dragging era of cave men, sad. There will be an exodus 🙈RT @NewYorker : So far this year, legislatures in sixteen states, many of them in the South, are considering or have already passed laws restricting abortion rights. https://t.co/9PYwgIqLMv   Michelle Rodriguez (@MRodOfficial) May 15, 2019 "The Good Place" actress Jameela Jamil warned: "Hope the people of Alabama who want the abortion ban are up for donating their money and space to the MEGA influx of kids in need of care, coming your way." Hope the people of Alabama who want the abortion ban are up for donating their money and space to the MEGA influx of kids in need of care, coming your way. Also the poverty in Alabama will SHOOT up. Extra Welfare will be needed. It's going to be chaos. https://t.co/VWHKjoaErr   Jameela Jamil 🌈 (@jameelajamil) May 15, 2019 "Terrifying + insane" is how musician Maggie Rogers described the legislation in one tweet, adding, "all I'm left with is this boiling feeling of helplessness + anger + fear in my chest. how do you celebrate your mother and then seek to control her?" I've been reading about the Alabama abortion ban all morning and trying to articulate how terrifying + insane this all is but all I'm left with is this boiling feeling of helplessness + anger + fear in my chest. how do you celebrate your mother and then seek to control her?   Maggie Rogers (@maggierogers) May 15, 2019 Contributing: Dillon Thompson, Montgomery Advertiser


We all want a great defense, but generally speaking, the Falcons have won with stellar work on the other side of the ball. When the Falcons have a top ten offense in terms of scoring and yardage, they make the playoffs, as they did in 2016, 2012, 2011, 2008, and 1998. The only exceptions to that rule in the last two decades came in 2017 (when they made it with the 15th scoring offense and 8th-best unit in terms of yardage), 2010 (5th, 16th) 2004 (when a good defense helped carried a middle-of-the-pack offense), and 2002 (5th, 14th), and every single one of those teams except 2004 was top ten in at least one category. They also were top ten in 2018 but tragically fell short due to a combination of poor luck, injuries, and unbelievably bad execution when they needed it least. What that suggests is not particularly surprising: The Falcons win when they have great offenses. In contrast, the Falcons had a top ten defense in both scoring and yardage exactly twice in that same run (2017 and that magical, doomed 1998 season). I don't need to tell you that defense has not been this team's calling card, by this imperfect metric or any other, but the team's managed to be relatively successful in recent years by bludgeoning other teams with their offense even so. I'm not saying with certainty that the Falcons looked at their history in the last 20 or so seasons and realized they were best served by having an elite offense they have very real and largely justified high hopes for a healthy version of this defense but it does certainly buttress the idea that the team felt strongly that nothing short of an elite offense was going to help them get back in 2019. The heavy free agent and draft investments on that side of the ball did not come purely out of faith in the likes of Takk McKinley and Isaiah Oliver . The caveat is that we don't know how much better statistically the Falcons are going to get this year they were top ten in 2018, despite their insistent late season farting around but they're certainly hoping to be better against good teams and less susceptible to being pushed around on the line in general.


Wikileaks said Ecuador would turn over to U.S. prosecutors possessions belonging to Julian Assange that remain in the country's London embassy. The organization claims that Ecuadorian officials will permit U.S. prosecutors to "help themselves" to Assange's legal papers, medical records and electronic devices, according to The Guardian . WikiLeaks said that Assange's attorneys will not be present. "On Monday Ecuador will perform a puppet show at the embassy of Ecuador in London for their masters in Washington, just in time to expand their extradition case before the UK deadline on 14 June," WikiLeaks editor-in-chief Kristinn Hrafnsson said, according to the British newspaper. "The Trump administration is inducing its allies to behave like it's the Wild West." Wikileaks' and Assange's defense coordinator, Baltasar Garzón, also called the reported development "extremely worrying." "Ecuador has proceeded with the search and seizure of property, documents, information and other material belonging to the defense of Julian Assange, which Ecuador arbitrarily confiscated, so that these can be handed over to the the agent of political persecution against him, the United States," he said. Ecuador has recently said it was awaiting the completion of an investigation into Assange's items and has also accused Assange of trying to use the embassy for spying, according to the British outlet Sky News . Assange was arrested at the embassy earlier this year and is serving a sentence in London for skipping bail. He had previously been holed up in the building since 2012. He is wanted in the U.S. for allegedly helping former Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning steal classified information. Sweden has also recently r eopened a rape case against him .


Entrepreneurs, beware! Those long hours you're putting in at the office could be killing you. A recent study shows those who spend longer at work are more likely to suffer a stroke. Researchers found a 33 percent increased risk of stroke among individuals working 55 hours or more per week compared to those working a standard 35- to 40-hour week. "In the 35- to 40-hour group, there were fewer than five strokes per 1,000 employees per decade," says Mika Kivimaki, professor of epidemiology at University College London, who conducted the study. Those who worked 55 hours or more experienced six strokes per 1,000 employees per decade. While previous research linked work stress and stroke, Kivimaki's study focused on the length of time the participants spent at work. Not surprising to the researchers, stress was found to be more common in individuals who put in longer hours than those working standard hours. But long working hours were not only associated with higher stress levels, but higher risk of suffering a stroke. Some possible explanations for the correlation are increased releases of fight-or-flight and inflammatory hormones, destabilization of arterial plaque or increased tendency for blood clots. These are all conditions associated with higher stress and physical activity. "An increasing proportion of jobs are nowadays sedentary and it is possible that part of the health effects of working hours relate simply to a higher number of sedentary hours at work," says Kivimaki. So, what's a busy entrepreneur to do? Cutting back on your working hours isn't always possible, especially for entrepreneurs in the startup phase, who often put in 60-plus hours per week. So, for those who can't help but put in long hours, Kivimaki says there are a number of things you can do to help avoid the negative health consequences of working long hours. Think of your heart when you eat. Reduce your daily intake of fat, sodium and alcohol to ensure you keep your blood pressure and blood glucose within normal range. Get adequate physical activity. Set a timer to remind yourself to get up every 20 to 30 minutes. Even if you're typing or talking on the phone, you can still stand. Apps such as BreakTaker can help you ensure you're spending enough time on your feet. A moving station such as a treadmill desk offer the flexibility of working while moving at 1-2 mph, fast enough to get your heart rate up but not fast enough to distract you from your work. Avoid excessive stress. Running a business is stressful, but try deep breathing exercises, take a few minutes every day to meditate or carve out some time in your schedule to do something you enjoy to ensure you don't allow the stress to become too much for your body to bear.


BARCELONA, Spain   The Spanish women's national team is hoping a strong performance at the World Cup will give the sport a boost just at the moment that players are fighting for their rights as professional athletes. Women's soccer has experienced massive growth since the 2015 World Cup, when Spain made its first appearance in the tournament. Almost unimaginable four years earlier, the nation's domestic league now has the backing of a major corporate sponsor in energy company Iberdrola, and a total of 8 million viewers tuned in to watch the women's games during the 2018-19 season. The quantum leap in financing and exposure has led to more fans turning out at stadiums despite competition from the men's game, which features stars like Lionel Messi and Gareth Bale. More than 60,000 people packed Atletico Madrid's Wanda Metropolitano Stadium on March 17 to watch as the home team lost 2-0 to Barcelona in what the league says was a record for the highest attendance at a women's club soccer match. Another 41,000 attended an Atletico game at Athletic Bilbao in January, while the Copa de la Reina final last month between Atletico and Real Sociedad drew 1.6 million TV viewers. "Going out there, hearing the crowd chant your name and seeing the stadium full was incredible, it is something I will never forget," Atletico and Spain midfielder Silvia Meseguer said about that match against Barcelona. But, she added: "That is not the reality. It only happens once in a while and we have to fight so that that becomes normal. The challenge is that each Sunday more and more people come out, and for us to do what is necessary to ensure that conditions (for players) are the same on all the teams in the league and that we all work so that the sport is truly professional." While Atletico can hire top local talent and Barcelona lures in foreign stars like Dutch forward Lieke Martens, FIFA's player of the year in 2017, women in Spain are struggling to get a guaranteed minimum salary for all 16 first-division clubs. Male players in Spain's top division are ensured at least 155,000 euros ($176,000) a season. The numbers being discussed by the players' association and the women's clubs are less than one-fifth of the men's basic wage. Equally as important, the women are demanding maternity leave. Negotiations between the players' association and the clubs have been dragging on for months. The players have even threatened to delay the start of next season if a deal is not reached. "We want all women players to have similar amenities, medical services, facilities, medical insurance ... the basic things that we need. We are not asking for something out of this world," said Meseguer, who took a break from the national team last year to finish her degree in medicine. "I hope my case serves to show others that they can have other pursuits in life. Soccer is short-lived and we have to have somewhere to go," she said. Spain forward Mariona Caldentey helped Barcelona become the first Spanish club to reach the Champions League final this year. But she also remembers how it was playing for a club that doesn't have the budget of a Barcelona. "I have experienced the other side of this with a more modest club, having to travel by bus and not having fitness trainers," Caldentey said. There are other problems facing women's soccer in Spain. The game has been caught in the power struggle between the Spanish football federation, which officially runs the women's competition, and the men's La Liga, which has taken an important advisory role for women's clubs and includes information on the women's league on its website. At the center is a battle over television rights. Pedro Malabia, women's soccer director for la Liga, said a group of clubs with women's teams had reached a TV deal with Mediapro worth 3 million euros per season for three years. The federation, however, says it does not recognize that deal since it, not the club association, is the rights holder. The federation also says Atletico and Barcelona are not among the clubs that want the Mediapro deal. The clubs aligned with the league, meanwhile, initially balked at a new plan for the women's competitions presented by the federation, which now says that all parties are trying to settle their differences. Another missing piece is the richest club in the world. Unlike Atletico and Barcelona, which are investing in their women's teams, powerhouse Real Madrid is still one of the few top European clubs to not have one. But Spain's players are eager to take advantage of the opportunity that the World Cup offers to win over the wider sports audience in soccer-crazed Spain. Spain won all eight of its games in qualifying, led by top scorer Jennifer Hermoso and her seven goals. Spain was scheduled to face South Africa in its World Cup opener Saturday. It will also face Germany, the world's second-ranked team, and China in Group B. "We are the privileged ones, we are going to fight and do all we can so that this keeps growing," Caldentey said. "We want this World Cup to mark a turning point and for people to like women's football. And if they don't, then at least it's because they tuned in." ___ More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/Womenssoccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports


Dustin Johnson was right on the cusp of having a great round Thursday, but he was just a touch off. Despite that, he shot a 1-under 69 to finish in a tie for ninth place at the time his round ended. The No. 1 player in the world was happy with how he played, but he knows he could have scored better. "I hit it really well," he told TNT after his round. "I drove it good, hit a lot of greens, gave myself a lot of opportunities, I felt like I hit a lot of good putts that a few of them could have gone in that didn't. "But I'm very happy with the way I played and the opportunities I gave myself." DJ from loooooong distance. #PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/DIam4ioiso   PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) May 16, 2019 Johnson made two birdies and one bogey in his round. The lone bogey came on the first hole and he kept a clean card from there on out. He said he can definitely play better, but he's happy with being at least in shouting distance of Brooks Koepka, who sits at 7 under after one round. "I drove it very well today so I was very pleased with the driving," Johnson said. "You know, make a few more putts, that's about it, but you can always make more putts. "I like the way I swung the golf club today and I thought I controlled the golf ball very well and you know, it's just a hard golf course, it's hard to get it close to the hole and a lot of these holes it's hard to hit the fairway. "So I just need to do a little bit more of that tomorrow, hit it in the fairway and just give myself more opportunities." MORE : PGA Championship 2019: Surprising Danny Lee shoots splendid 6-under 64 to sit in second place


REIMS, France - France is getting way more rest. Germany has an easier road. England should dodge most of the coming heat wave. If the Americans wanted to whine about their fate at the World Cup, there would be plenty of cause. But bring up any of the things that might make it tougher for the U.S. women to win a fourth title, and it's met with a collective shrug. "It's all about getting the job done," Kelley O'Hara said Saturday. "Whoever we're playing, focus on that. It's only the 90 minutes in front of us that matter. We're doing everything we need to do to be prepared to execute when that whistle blows. "So, yeah, just take it in stride." WINNERS AND LOSERS: USWNT among winners; FIFA a huge loser BIGGEST THREAT: Five teams that could stand in the way of US title hopes The U.S. women knew what was at stake when they played Sweden in the Group F finale. By winning the game and the group, it diverted the Americans from what had been the easiest path at the World Cup to the hardest. The United States and the Netherlands are the only group winners that have to play a second-place team in the round of 16, with the U.S. facing Spain on Monday. Should the Americans beat Spain, it likely would mean a quarterfinal match with France, the host, winner of Group A and fourth-ranked team in the world. And should they win that game, they likely would play England, the Group D winner and No. 3 in the world, in the semifinals. Only after all of that would the U.S. reach the July 7 final in Lyon. "I say bring it on," Ali Krieger said Saturday. "You come here to play the best teams, to be the best. Because if we didn't, people would say, 'Oh, they only played so and so, and they only played so and so and this was an easy route for them.' "No. I want to play every team that is ranked first in this tournament just so that we can lift that trophy and feel that rewarding feeling at the end. To say, `You know what? We are the best.'" But it's not just the teams in the Americans' way. After the leisurely pace of the group stage, with four or five days off between each game, the World Cup now picks up speed. But while Germany got four days off and France five before their round of 16 games, the U.S. women will have only three. Should France and the U.S. meet in the quarterfinals, France, which plays Brazil on Sunday, will have had four days' rest compared with three for the Americans. That is not a small thing given that the United States is the oldest team in the tournament. And a heat wave is about to hit France, with temperatures expected to be around 100 all this week after being in the 60s and 70s the first two weeks of the tournament. But Krieger insisted that won't be a factor, either. "We're fit, and we can play 120 minutes every single game," she said, referring to the 30-minute overtime that occurs in the knockout round if games are tied after regulation. "And every single one of us is able to do that." The quick turnarounds in the knockout rounds were already on coach Jill Ellis' mind in the group stage, when she rested almost her entire starting lineup for the second game, against Chile. She also kept Becky Sauerbrunn (Thailand) and Julie Ertz (Sweden) on the bench and took Alex Morgan (Sweden) out at halftime after they'd picked up minor injuries, not wanting to risk further harm. And with the defense getting very little work in either of the first two games, Ellis used her three substitutes on her forwards and midfielders. "If you want to go far in the tournament, you've got to have legs," Ellis said after the Chile game. "Any time you can rest players, or get players less of a load, knowing there's still a pretty quick turnaround, I don't have any concerns in terms of losing any rhythm or having those players that didn't play prepared and hungry and ready to go." The Americans have said repeatedly that they do not worry about things out of their control, focusing only on themselves and the game that they play. Well, here's their chance to prove it. Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour on Twitter @nrarmour. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Opinion: Opponents aren't only factor working against US women at World Cup Related Slideshow: Best of the 2019 Women's World Cup (Provided by imagn)