In late March, Lyft's co-founder John Zimmer told CNBC   on the Friday morning when the rideshare firm went public and he earned hundreds of millions of dollars   that the company was "ready to be held accountable" for the fact that it had no history of profits. The market did not wait long. After finishing up modestly on its first day of trading, it has been almost all downhill for the company, with shorts piling into the stock and a loss for Lyft investors near-30% below its first-day closing price. Lyft's IPO was the first in a heralded crop of Silicon Valley unicorns expected to test the public markets this year, and on Tuesday it gets to take a crack at another market first: reporting earnings as a public company  or in its case, a big loss   with its first-quarter financials expected after the market close. As Lyft has tanked, the stock market has continued to reach new highs, and other closely watched tech IPOs have fared far better, with Pinterest still well above its first-day trade and Zoom Video soaring. "Let's not sugarcoat it; Lyft's stock has been a head-scratching train wreck since the IPO," said Dan Ives, managing director at Wedbush Securities. "The first quarter coming out of the box for any company is so important after going public, but for this one it is incrementally a key factor, just given Street fears. It is unusual for the bloom to come off rose so quickly, and that is why it is such a prove-me quarter." One thing no one expects is a profit. That may not arrive until earliest 2022, according to early Lyft investor Santosh Rao, partner at Manhattan Ventures. Ives expects a loss per share of $5.60. He has lowered his price target on the stock from $80 to $67, but it has nothing to do with the EPS. Raymond James wrote in an earnings preview: "We expect 2019 to be the peak EBITDA loss year at $1.3 billion, reflecting investments in bikes and scooters and other growth initiatives." Lyft's founders have made it clear that they will continue to invest for the long term, telling CNBC amid the fanfare of the company's first trading day that they would not be doing the right thing if they were focused on the next one or two years. "We are focused on the next three, four, five," Zimmer said. With investors expecting the losses to mount, the focus will be on a limited set of growth metrics: the top-line (revenue), active riders and revenue per rider. "If there is any hint of softness in any metric, in terms of guidance, it could be dark days ahead," Ives said. "The whisper numbers have started to come down, and that is part of why the stock has acted as it had. The shorts have had a field day." Profitability is allowed to continue to be murky, he said, "but if you get a sense that maybe there are some cracks in the armor around growth metrics and the forecast going forward is strong but doesn't meet the whisper expectations with a company that won't be profitable before man lands on Mars, that combination could spell trouble for the stock." Lyft shares closed down 3% on Monday, at $60.57. Raymond James is among the most bullish sell-side firms into earnings, maintaining an $85 target on Lyft shares and expecting the report to generate upside, even though it is not looking for heroic forward-looking numbers. It sees revenue of $745 million in Q1 (+87.5% year-over-year) versus a Wall Street consensus of $740 million, driven by an increase in active riders of 41% year-over-year and revenue per active rider up 34% year-over-year. Raymond James analysts think Q2 revenue will come in below Street expectations of $788 million (it has revenue pegged at $765 million, a 52% year-over-year increase), but it is betting the market won't view that as a disappointment, because the Street consensus has been skewed by several outliers. It also expects Lyft to provide a conservative outlook due to pricing pressures. But even in maintaining its $85 price target, it is expecting investors to be wary. "It may take a quarter or two for investors to be comfortable with market rationalization, but we believe Lyft's multiple will expand when that occurs; a rational market lessens competitive fears and makes lapping 2018's tough comps easier," Raymond James analysts wrote. (The company was able to charge higher prices in Q2 2018.) The focus from investors on growth metrics for a company expected to lose more than $1 billion this year may not be a one-quarter event. "For the next four to six quarters, it will be a maniacal focus purely on the metrics, revenue growth and how it looks relative to expectations," Ives said. "Right now they are in stealth growth mode, investing in the business and increasing riders and bookings and to really give investors more comfort that they are a net-share gainer and have monetization capabilities. ... It comes down to metrics and bookings to drive that." Several of the firms covering Lyft have Q2 revenue estimates that are in a tight range, expecting an increase slightly above 50% from year-ago levels. Raymond James and Cowen anticipate revenue of $765 million; Wedbush is at $767 million. Cowen analysts think the pullback is "overdone" and Lyft's valuation is attractive; it has a price target of $77. "We expect shares to get back on track and view solid earnings and 2Q19 guidance as a key catalyst to reaffirm Lyft's position and remind investors of the massive opportunity [long-term]," its analysts wrote in a note to clients Friday. Cowen analysts advised investors to look for "strong 2Q19 guidance suggesting active rider and rev/rider growth momentum continue into the spring/summer months." It is forecasting active riders of 20.2 million in Q2, which would be a 31% increase from a year ago, and revenue per rider of $37.90, a 16% year-over-year increase. Uber IPO looms Potential headwinds Cowen foresees are margin pressure from Lyft investing heavily in bikes/scooters in the second quarter, and any impact from political issues including congestion pricing tax in New York City and continuing debate around driver wages (rideshare drivers have strikes planned around the country for Wednesday). Ives said if driver strikes continue, minimum-wage laws for drivers becoming more common across the country, or Uber continues to place more pressure on prices, there will be additional headwinds for Lyft. "Lyft has less flexibility than investors first thought, thought even a month ago. When Uber went from 80 cents to 60 cents in LA [right before the Lyft IPO], that was a big shot across the bow. The Uber business model is strong enough and broad enough in terms of 90-million-plus active riders, they can withstand a little more pressure on the model." The first Lyft earnings report comes just a few days before the anticipated IPO of its larger rival, Uber, on Thursday. "The shadow of the Uber IPO and roadshow continue to weigh on shares of Lyft," Ives said. Susquehanna International Group analysts, who maintain a neutral rating on Lyft and a price target of $57, wrote in a Lyft earnings preview that Q1 should be OK since Lyft management would have already set expectations conservatively during the IPO process, but they remain worried about Q2 coming in light compared to Street expectations, and said they remain worried about "industry dynamics. ... The competitive dynamics of being the #2 player in a market where scale is extremely important." The SIG team pointed to options market activity through last Friday that indicated Lyft could swing by as much as 12.5% plus or minus on earnings, but more of the bets were being placed on the upside. "This could be a step in the right direction for the company," Ives said. "If I felt warm and fuzzy, I wouldn't have lowered price targets. But if it's good numbers, better than expectations, we could have significant short covering." Aswath Damodaran, a valuation expert at NYU's Stern School of Business, told CNBC after Lyft's IPO that valuation remains a measure that the growth story can't justify. Lyft's market cap was $17.3 billion at the close on Monday. That is down from a market cap that reached more than $26 billion on its first day, but it is still too high, according to Damodaran. "My estimate, and I am bending every single rule to the breaking point, is I get to about $15 or $16 billion. You've got a business that lost a billion last year, hasn't figured out how to make money yet, the business right now in rideshare is broken across the board, so getting to $15 billion was a stretch for me."


At least one Cup team was surprised by what Kansas Speedway had in store for it Friday during two practice sessions for tonight's race on the 1.5-mile track. With the 550 horsepower and aero ducts package in use this weekend, Kurt Busch said the track is "acting completely different than what we thought." Busch, who was fastest in final practice , said Chip Ganassi Racing's expectations were based on its notes from the last race on a 1.5-mile track, at Texas Motor Speedway in March. "Our group at Ganassi feels this is almost like Vegas and that was from (early) March," Busch said. "We are jumping back two months, but we have also learned so much since March." Busch observed how different the levels of tire wear will be based on where cars are in the field. "This week, the horsepower is down, so it comes back more into drafting," Busch said. "If you are out there in clean air, you hardly have an issue with tire wear. When you are in dirty air and you are back in the pack, you are working twice as hard and your tire wear really increases. The rich get richer or the fast get faster." Joey Logano thinks teams will experience a "mixed bag," similar to Michigan International Speedway. "You may have some guys that think handling is important and some guys think getting the drag out is important," Logano said. "Maybe in the middle is where you want to be. Maybe one way or the other is where you want to be. I think those are the things we will learn here this week. How far one way or the other do you want to be when you come to a race track like Kansas compared to a place like Texas or California, Vegas, Kentucky, you name it." The cooler temperatures expected for Saturday (58 degrees at start time) also have teams anticipating cars will race closer together. "It was surprising how much we were lifting actually in that draft," Logano said of practice. "When you get to a night race it will bring the pack closer together. It used to be the other way around. When we were lifting a lot, we wanted the track temperature to be hot and to rubber up a lot so that it would get really wide and we could move around and do all this stuff. Now you want it cooler so that you are more wide open and that is what brings the cars closer." But, Chase Elliott was quick to caution that the racing won't look like what's seen at Talladega and Daytona with pack racing. "It's still going to have to be (about) where the guy in front of you isn't, to where you have your car in fresh air, which is always important at these places," Elliott said. "Like I said, the corner speeds are still pretty high so we're still not going slow enough to create that kind of racing." Pole winner Kevin Harvick agrees with Elliott. "I don't think it is going to be one big pack," Harvick said. "You will see that for seven, eight or 10 laps on a restart like you did at Texas. You have multiple lanes here. As you run through the night, I think you will see tire strategy. I don't think the tire fall off will be near as bad as in the past. There will still be some there but we haven't seen a lot today and it will be cooler tomorrow night. I think the exact style of race it is hard to tell you because the conditions are going to be different when it is dark."


After ending production in 1996, the legendary Ford Bronco is making a comeback. Ford announced the Bronco's eventual return at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit back in 2017, and we've been waiting patiently ever since. As for when it'll make its debut, we're not 100-percent sure. Ford said it'll arrive by 2020 , though, so there's a very good chance we'll see it debut at some point this year. Pictured above and throughout: speculative renderings of the 2020 Bronco from fan-forum Bronco6G.com . But, there is quite a lot we do know about the Bronco, based on credible rumors and comments from various Ford higher-ups since the announcement of the 4x4's return. We've compiled all that info for you here. This story will be continually updated as new information is learned. The most recent update was published on 7/15/19. It Might Spawn a Pickup Truck Ford already has a mid-size pickup on the market, the Ranger, but it might give the Bronco a bed, too . Automobile magazine reports that this truck will arrive in 2024 as a competitor to the Jeep Gladiator, a pickup based on the Bronco's closest rival, the Wrangler. Ford has made its intent to compete with Jeep quite clear, so it's easy to understand why the Blue Oval would want a Bronco pickup, even if it already has the Ranger in production. This Raptor-Based Test Mule Could Be a Full-Size Bronco Spy photographers managed to capture this strange truck testing recently in Michigan, and we think it's a test mule for the new Bronco . Why? Well, it's too wide to be a Ranger, and Ford doesn't make a single cab F-150 Raptor. Plus, judging by our rough estimates, the dimensions line up. Here's a Camouflaged Test Mule Driving Around Michigan Our spy photographer managed to nab some good shots of a Bronco test mule out in public in Michigan. The bodywork is clearly from a current-generation Ranger pickup, but note how far back the rear wheels are pushed in this mule. Short overhangs are great for off-roading, so it seems like Ford is really trying to make this thing a Jeep rival. This truck is also wearing BF Goodrich All-Terrain T/A tires, which you can get for FX4-package Rangers and on the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon. There Will Reportedly Be a Two-Door The Jeep Wrangler's huge success is directly attributable to the availability of a four-door model, but you can still get a short-wheelbase two-door version. Ford will almost assuredly offer a four-door Bronco, but there's been a question if there'll be a two-door to rival the shorty Wrangler. But, Automotive News now reports that at a recent dealer event in Palm Springs, Ford showed off a two-door Bronco prototype. Dealer sources speaking anonymously to Automotive News said the Bronco had a retro design with round headlights and a square grille with the truck's name stamped across. The Doors and Roof Will Come Off One of the big appeals of the Wrangler are that its doors and roof are removable. The same will be true of the Bronco, which according to Automotive News , will offer a removable hardtop and doors that can be stored in the trunk. Apparently, the mirrors will be mounted to the A-pillars, and not the doors as on a Wrangler. This means you'll still have mirrors when you take the doors off. Patents submitted by Ford in April and published by Bronco6G.com indicate the Bronco could use a roll-out mesh roof or soft top to substitute for the hardtop once it's removed. A mesh piece would allow air to come into the cabin while blocking out sunlight. The patent drawings also suggest the cloth top could deploy behind the vehicle to create a makeshift tent area. Clever. It'll Be Based on the New Ranger When Ford announced the Bronco was making a comeback, it also confirmed that the mid-size Ranger would make a return. The 2019 Ranger arrived last January, and we've already driven it . Back in 2017, Ford global operations president Joe Hinrichs confirmed to Road & Track that the Bronco and the Ranger would share a platform. The Ranger might be new for the US, but it's actually somewhat of an old truck it was released originally for the Asia-Pacific market in 2010 and received a significant update in 2015. For the US, the platform was modified even further still, with a new, fully-boxed frame. Ford already offers an SUV based on the Ranger outside the US the Everest. Back in 2017, former Ford product head Raj Nair said that the Bronco would not just be a rebadged Everest , but instead, its own unique machine. We Expect That It'll Share Its Drivetrain With the Ranger For the US market, the Ranger gets a version of Ford's 2.3-liter EcoBoost inline-four that once found a home in the Focus RS. It makes 270 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque in the Ranger, and it's paired with a 10-speed automatic gearbox. Considering they share a platform, it's reasonable to expect the Bronco and Ranger will share an engine and transmission. Except…. It Might Get a Manual Transmission Jalopnik reported last year that the Bronco might get a seven-speed manual transmission to be paired with Ford's 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6. Presumably, if the Bronco does get this engine, it'll likely be paired with a 10-speed auto, too. In the Edge ST, Ford's 2.7-liter makes 335 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque, while it offers 325 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque in the F-150. A manual might seem like an odd choice for a new SUV, but when you consider that the Bronco is aimed directly at the Jeep Wrangler, it makes sense. Jeep has been incredibly successful in recent years, and Ford wants a piece of the pie . The most important thing Ford needs to mount an attack on Jeep is a competitor to the venerable, and wildly popular Wrangler. That's where the Bronco comes in. It's why unlike Chevy with the new Blazer Ford wants this thing to be a serious off-roader. Using the body-on-frame Ranger platform might make the Bronco a little less refined on road, but much tougher off road. Does Ford's ambition to beat Jeep mean there could be a hardcore Wrangler Rubicon-competitor on its way? We hope so, but we don't know for certain. A Hybrid Version Is a Definite Ford's other big push beyond beating Jeep is to embrace electrification across its lineup. That's why it has a number of all-electric vehicles in the works, and a number of hybrids planned. Explorer and Police Interceptor hybrids are already here, and per Ford's quarter-one 2018 earnings report, a Bronco hybrid is on the way too, alongside electrified versions of the Mustang and F-150. What that hybrid drivetrain will consist of? We're not sure. The Explorer/Police Interceptor Hybrid combines a 3.3-liter V6 with an electric motor housed within a 10-speed automatic transmission. That at least gives us some indication as to what future Ford hybrids, including the Bronco, would look like. It's Getting a Little Brother Ford can't fight Jeep with just one truck. That's why it's working on a rugged-looking little SUV based on the front-wheel drive unibody Ford Focus platform. It was previewed (and leaked) at a Ford dealer event in Las Vegas last November after being confirmed by Ford product VP Hau Thai-Tang last August . It seems to us, this will be Ford's attempt at coming up with a rival for the Jeep Renegade; not something like a Suzuki Jimny , unfortunately. Automotive News also reports that the Bronco and it's "Baby" sibling will eventually be joined by a new unibody pickup truck with some off-road capability. It's all part of Ford's plan to be a better rival to Jeep. It'll Arrive Next Year Automotive News reports that at a recent dealer event in Palm Springs, Ford executives said the Bronco would arrive in showrooms in late 2020, a few months after the Baby Bronco.A few months after that, the unibody pickup would arrive. It's a long wait, especially for a truck announced in early 2017.


DETROIT   Nate Lashley's week at the Rocket Mortgage Classic didn't start with an opening-round 63. Instead he got things going with a bogey-free 68 in a Monday qualifier just up the road from Detroit Golf Club, one that missed the mark by two shots and sparked a week of limbo in the Motor City for a player whose performance through 54 holes is a shining testament to the fine lines that exist in the professional game. "Another one of those rounds where I played well, but just not well enough," Lashley said. "You've got to make a lot of putts on those Mondays, and I guess I was saving them for the tournament." RELATED: Rocket Mortgage Classic leaderboard That might register as the understatement of the week, as Lashley once again laid waste to this week's inaugural host venue while leaving the rest of the field in his wake. A sterling 63, one that once again mixed nine birdies and nine pars just like his first-round effort, means that Lashley will carry a six-shot lead into the final round as he looks to win for the first time. It's an opportunity he's dreamed about for years, but one he wasn't sure would even be possible Monday when he trudged away from another failed qualifier. Lashley was first alternate at last week's Travelers Championship and ultimately didn't get into the field, but this week the break went his way. He learned Wednesday afternoon that he would snag the 156th and final spot in the field based on his conditional status after a late injury withdrawal from David Berganio Jr., and it's been downhill ever since. "I was just really happy. Really, I just felt like I really needed to be in the tournament because I was playing well," Lashley said. "Being first alternate's no fun, to be out of the tournament by just one spot. So realistically I'm just real thankful to get in this week, and glad I took advantage of it." Lashley has been teetering on the brink of status for much of the summer. Playing this season without a firm schedule in place, the 36-year-old started the week 132nd in points and had goals that largely related to cracking the top 125 and clinching a card for 2020. But now the bar is much higher than that, as he turned a one-shot advantage into a near-runaway by burying birdies on four of his final seven holes. "You're seeing the talent that he possesses," said caddie Ricky Romano. "You're just seeing Nate for who he is. He's a really calm, cool dude. He's a man's man. You can go and just drink beer with him, he loves sports. I've been telling him, 'I want everybody to know the Nate Lashley that I know.' And he's showing it right now." Full-field scores from the Rocket Mortgage Classic Rocket Mortgage Classic: Articles, photos and videos While Lashley's name appears stenciled on the trophy, things can change quickly on a course that offers up ample birdie chances. Look no further than last week in Hartford, where Zack Sucher saw a five-shot weekend lead evaporate in a span of 20 minutes. Lashley has an eight-shot cushion over former Masters champ Patrick Reed, but the two players closest to him are, like the leader, in search of a maiden win. That includes J.T. Poston, who sits alone in second place at 17 under and will join Lashley in Sunday's final pairing. "I think a lot of us at this level have won on many other levels," Poston said after a third-round 66. "It's not that we don't know how to win, it just might be that we haven't done it at this level yet. So there will be some pressure, some nerves I'm sure tomorrow trying to win your first event out here." But to do so he'll need to chase down Lashley, whose life has been anything but ordinary and whose path to the PGA Tour was anything but direct. Lashley's parents and girlfriend died in a 2004 plane crash while traveling back from watching him play a collegiate event when he was at the University of Arizona. His pro career struggled to get going in the aftermath, and he didn't earn a Tour card until becoming a 34-year-old rookie in 2017. Even as recently as 2012, he had put his clubs away and gotten his real estate license, opting to flip houses for a few months before the lure of competition proved too strong to resist. "I thought I was pretty much done with golf," he said. But he decided to give the professional ranks one more shot, worked his way up through the LatinoAmerica and former Web.com Tour and now sits on the precipice of a career-altering victory. And to think, he almost skipped town Monday empty-handed. "I always felt like I had the talent and ability to play out here, and it was just a matter of getting out here and getting comfortable," Lashley said. "It's not an easy thing to do, by no means, but I took some time and I feel like I'm finally there. Hopefully I can take advantage tomorrow."


Given several chances at left tackle with the Giants, Ereck Flowers may be set to receive another NFC East starting opportunity. This one will come with the Redskins, who as of now plan to use the former top-10 pick as a starter. Offensive line coach Bill Callahan said, via Les Carpenter of the Washington Post , Flowers is pegged to start opposite Brandon Scherff at left guard. Flowers, who started 48 games at tackle with the Giants and seven with the Jaguars from 2015-18 before moving to guard in Washington , lined up back at tackle during parts of Redskins minicamp because of Trent Williams ' absence. While the first-round bust did not fare well in the public portion of the workouts, Washington remains optimistic. The Redskins drafted fourth-round guard Wes Martin (Indiana) but appear to have him set to develop behind Scherff and Flowers. " I see a lot of potential when we've moved tackles inside ," Callahan said, via Carpenter. " I think it gives us size, it gives us power. He's long; he's square. Obviously, he can play in the short area, so those are things we kind of identified during free agency that we liked, and we are trying to fit him into that mode. So it's been a work in progress, we got a long ways to go yet, but he's made a nice transition ." Shifting first to the AFC, here is the latest from some of the NFL's Eastern Time Zone-stationed franchises: Colts VP of player personnel Rex Hogan becoming the Jets' assistant GM may nix the franchise pairing two of its GM candidates in the front office. Bears exec Champ Kelly was linked to the Jets, but Rich Cimini of ESPN.com notes ( Twitter link ) the recent New York GM interviewee was the favorite for the job Hogan received. With Chad Alexander coming aboard as the Jets' player personnel director and Phil Savage having also accepted a Jets job, the Jets are running out of prominent titles. This could keep Kelly in Chicago. Hogan was still under contract with the Colts, Albert Breer of SI.com tweets , but Chris Ballard gave permission to allow for one of his top lieutenants to leave. Although Hogan and Ed Dodds were hired together, Cimini notes ( on Twitter ) Hogan served as the Colts' No. 3 man in their decision-making hierarchy and will move to No. 2 with the Jets. This could put Hogan, who obviously helped the Colts in their rapid rebuild, on the GM radar in the near future. Moving to a far more contentious process, Nick Caserio remains with the Patriots as their player personnel director. But with Caserio preparing to leave in 2020   perhaps to become the Texans' GM   Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk wonders how much input Bill Belichick's right-hand man will have over the next several months. Caserio's contract runs through the 2020 draft, per Florio, but will Belichick clue in a potentially departing exec on the inner workings of his plans? In a draft when the Patriots could be (again) targeting a Tom Brady successor, the uncertainty around Caserio may force the Pats to turn to other execs during that research process.


Authorities in central California say a 38-year-old woman and two little girls, ages 5 and 3, died from their injuries after a car crashed into their home in Ceres. The Modesto Bee reports a 10-year-old girl was taken to a hospital with major injuries after the car went through the fence and backyard of a duplex before crashing into the home early Sunday. The California Highway Patrol says alcohol and/or drugs are suspected and that the car's driver, 46-year-old Felix Ferdin of Modesto, was arrested. Officials say he had only minor injuries. The CHP says Ferdin was booked into jail on three counts of gross vehicular manslaughter and felony driving under the influence. The CHP was working Monday morning to confirm the relationship between the woman and the three children. READ MORE: Woman, 2 girls killed after car crashes into Ceres home CHECK OUT KCRA: Stay informed. Get the latest Modesto, Stockton and Sacramento news and weather from the KCRA news team.


Kevin Spacey's case could face a turning point The criminal groping case against Oscar-winner Kevin Spacey faces a possible turning point Monday when prosecutors and defense attorneys gather at a pretrial hearing to discuss a critical question: Where is the accuser's cellphone   and why is it missing? Prosecutors believe the cellphone contains texts that bolster the allegation by accuser William Little, now 21, that Spacey groped his genitals for three minutes while both were drinking in the bar where Little was working as a then-18-year-old restaurant bus boy. Boeing 737 Max crash: Did pilots train enough to fly the jets? In the final, harrowing seconds of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, the pilots tried desperately to keep their Boeing 737 Max aloft. Nothing worked, and multiple alarms, clackers and other audible warnings distracted the pair. The jet crashed in March outside Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, killing 157. Boeing's automatic flight system overrode the actions of the flight crew . But the crash also raised questions on whether mistakes were made in the cockpit, and if foreign airlines require pilots to have sufficient training. Those questions will be at the fore Monday , when a committee of the United Nations-backed body that sets international standards for air travel is scheduled to take a fresh look at pilot requirements. This 15-year-old's remarkable Wimbledon run continues Fifteen-year-old American Cori "Coco" Gauff faces No. 7-seeded Simona Halep on Monday at Wimbledon after pulling off another huge upset days earlier. After taking down Venus Williams in the first round and Magdalena Rybarikova in the second round   both in straight sets   Gauff pulled off a comeback to beat Slovenian Polona Hercog 3-6, 7-6, 7-5. Gauff's three victories have made her a darling at Wimbledon, as she became the youngest tennis player to win a match in the prestigious tournament since Jennifer Capriati in 1991. "You can kind of fake it until you make it, but I'm not faking it, at least right now," Gauff told reporters Wednesday. Wealthy financier Jeffrey Epstein expected to appear in court on sex charges Wealthy financier and registered sex offender Jeffrey Epstein was arrested Saturday in New York on sex-trafficking charges involving allegations that date to the 2000s, according to law enforcement officials. He was taken into federal custody and is expected to appear Monday in Manhattan federal court , two officials told the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the case. The arrest comes amid renewed scrutiny of a 2008 plea deal in which Epstein pleaded guilty to Florida state prostitution charges, ending a federal investigation that could have landed him in prison for life. Instead, Epstein was sentenced to 13 months in jail and was required to reach settlements with his victims and register as a sex offender. A funeral for a bossa nova legend A funeral will be held Monday for Joao Gilberto, a Brazilian singer, guitarist and songwriter considered one of the fathers of the bossa nova genre that gained global popularity in the 1960s and became an iconic sound of the South American nation. He died on Saturday, his son said. He was 88. Joao Marcelo said his father had been battling health issues, though no official cause of his death in Rio de Janeiro was given. The musician is survived by three children. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kevin Spacey trial, Wimbledon and a bossa nova legend: 5 things you need to know Monday


Xfinity Series driver Ryan Sieg will have CMR Construction & Roofing as the full-time primary sponsor on his No. 39 Chevrolet next year, Ryan Sieg Racing announced Friday. It will be the first time Sieg has had a yearlong primary sponsor in the Xfinity Series, which he has competed in full time since 2014. The news comes with Sieg in the midst of his best season yet . He already has a career-best two top fives and six top 10s ahead of tonight's race at Daytona International Speedway. "I am really excited for the 2020 NASCAR Xfinity Series season," Sieg said in a release. "We are a small family owned and operated team, and we've worked really hard to put together a great program. I can't thank CMR, and everyone at the organization for believing in me, and RSS Racing." CMR Construction & Roofing first sponsored Sieg at Texas Motor Speedway in March and is on his car tonight in Daytona. "We are excited to sponsor Ryan Sieg for the 2020 NASCAR Xfinity Series season. I raced alongside Ryan in the past, and the Sieg family are great people, both on and off the track," said Jason White , president of motorsports for the company. "CMR is looking forward to a great partnership and racing program." White made 51 starts in the Xfinity Series from 1999-2014. Was such a busy weekend in Daytona. We had over 100 guests at the track. So cool to have a company like @CMRroofing joining us full time! https://t.co/7eTsC2jjB4   Ryan Sieg Racing (@RyanSiegRacing) July 8, 2019


When Kevin Durant went down with what the Golden State Warriors fear to be an Achilles tear in Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Monday night, the future   for Durant, the Warriors and the entire NBA   became murky. What now? It has long been believed that this was going to be Durant's last year in Golden State, that he'd lead the Warriors to a third consecutive championship and then head elsewhere this summer. Perhaps the injury changes nothing. Perhaps it changes everything. It's possible that only Durant and those closest to him know what he's going to do. It's also possible that he has no idea. Still, he has options, and his decision could alter the NBA for years . He could opt in If the Warriors' fears are confirmed, Durant could miss most, if not all, of next season. But Durant has a player option, meaning he can choose whether or not he wants to become an unrestricted free agent on June 30 or stay with the Warriors for one more season. The option is for $31.5 million, so Durant could exercise it, get paid, get healthy, and push his decision to the summer of 2020. He would, however, be leaving money on the table by opting in, which makes this option less likely than others. He could hit the market Durant is arguably the best player in the NBA and one of the most gifted scorers in basketball history. Achilles injuries are devastating and the odds of a player returning to previous form aren't high. Both of these can be true at the same time. If you're the New York Knicks, Los Angeles Clippers, Brooklyn Nets or another team with money to spend this summer, do you offer Durant a max contract not knowing if he'll see the court in 2019-20 or, more importantly, if he'll ever be the same player again? The answer should be yes. Durant is only 30 and he doesn't play above the rim. He's as smooth as they come, and his length and ability to shoot over defenders is what makes him so deadly. Sure, there's a chance that he never returns to perennial MVP candidate status. There's also a chance that he does, and that's a risk worth taking. He could re-sign with Warriors The Warriors can offer Durant more money than any other team. What if he decides to come back for the long term and keep the dynasty rolling? What if this ending   suffering a serious injury and watching your team (probably) lose in the Finals without you   isn't an ending at all, but just another chapter in Durant's Warriors story? What if the Warriors' reaction to his injury , from president of basketball operations Bob Myers on down , makes Durant feel more comfortable with the organization than he ever has before? That's a lot of "what ifs," but for now, hypotheticals are all anyone has. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What's next for Kevin Durant after Achilles injury? Breaking down his options Related slideshow: The 2019 NBA Finals (Provided by imagn)


Don't think of this weekend as saying goodbye to Darrell Waltrip. Rather, it's more of a "see you soon." Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series race at Sonoma will be Waltrip's final broadcast call for Fox. The Hall of Famer has been with Fox since the tragic 2001 Daytona 500, injecting race broadcasts with the same Southern twang and vibrant personality that made him a famous driver so many years ago. But with Waltrip retiring, a question presents itself: Who replaces him in the booth? Veteran Mike Joy remains as a steady unifying presence, and four-time Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon offers well-timed personal stories, too. Rumors about who might join that duo have run rampant for months. Kevin Harvick, who is committed to driving for Stewart-Haas Racing next season, would have made perfect sense. But his career behind the wheel isn't done yet, so nix that one. That said, after speaking with people in the NASCAR industry and close to Fox, there are a few names worth keeping an eye on. Here are five that stand out:     1. Matt Kenseth Are there more qualified, experienced options? Probably. But Kenseth's dry sense of humor was long one of the best in the NASCAR garage, and that would translate tremendously well to television. His credentials   two Daytona 500s, the 2000 Rookie of the Year over Dale Earnhardt Jr., the 2003 Cup Series title and 39 career wins   would give him instant clout in the booth, too. More than fit necessarily, this is about someone with great potential to excel on camera. Kenseth is confident, stable, and when given the chance, hilarious. He and Gordon would be an interesting fit personality-wise, but if Fox is looking for a recent retiree to fill Waltrip's shoes, you'd be hard-pressed to find someone more engaging personally than Kenseth. 2. Danica Patrick Now we're getting into more people with some television experience. Patrick called the Indianapolis 500 for NBC last month and excelled, so there's a recent precedent. And then obviously, there's the spotlight that follows Patrick anywhere she goes. Despite her underwhelming statistics as a NASCAR driver, there was always attention cast on her. Patrick's personality is somewhat like Kenseth's, in that she has a dryer sense of humor, but she and Gordon would make for a fascinating dynamic. The downsides here are that Patrick already has a number of other business ventures occupying her time, and whether she'd go back on previously saying she couldn't commit to broadcasting long-term. 3. Regan Smith As big a name as Kenseth or Patrick? No. But a reliable, seasoned ex-driver with plenty of broadcast experience? You betcha. Smith currently works for Fox as a pit reporter for Cup and Xfinity races, but he also spends time in studio as an analyst for "NASCAR Race Hub." That combination of on-camera reps makes him more-than ready to take on an expanded role in the booth. He would also be a fine complement to Gordon in the booth, with both capable of providing color or more detailed commentary. Smith might not be a sexy pick, but even on a short-term deal, he'd be a refreshing younger addition to a sometimes-dated booth. 4. Larry McReynolds This one's pretty obvious, right? McReynolds previously worked in the booth with Joy and Waltrip until Gordon's arrival in 2016, and he's stayed heavily involved with Fox as both an in-race and in-studio analyst. The familiarity factor, combined with already having Larry Mac in house, would make for the easiest, most seamless transition for the network. But that said, how would McReynolds and Gordon co-exist in the booth? Both have an incredibly technical and nuanced understanding of the sport, but neither is the sort of gregarious personality Waltrip is. That's not to say anyone would be able to instantly come in and replicate DW's energy, but McReynolds would seemingly only be a short-term option for Fox. 5. No one (2-man booth) Hear me out on this one: Fox's most obvious long-term replacement for Waltrip   and perhaps even for Gordon, should he opt to slide into a larger role at Hendrick Motorsports in the near future   is Harvick. He's well-known, well-liked, has boatloads of experience, and does a great job. What more could you ask for? But given Harvick's status, and the fact that he clearly wants to continue competing for championships as long as he can, that's not an option right now. So … why force the issue? A two-man booth with Gordon and Joy would take some more heavy lifting from both broadcasters, but it's nothing either isn't capable of doing. For Gordon, it might even be preferable to have a little more autonomy and control in the booth. That way, Fox doesn't shove anyone into a role they're not well-suited for, and it leaves an opening for Harvick whenever he steps out of the car. This option may have legs, too. Fox Sports CEO Erik Shanks told the Sports Business Daily the network currently has "no plan" to replace Waltrip, lending more credibility to the idea of a two-man booth. Regardless, Fox will have to make a decision relatively soon   expect more news on this front as the season draws to a close this fall.     THIS WEEK'S NASCAR RACE AT SONOMA: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW. Race: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Toyota/Save Mart 350. Distance: 90 laps, or 226.8 miles. Where: Sonoma Raceway, a 2.52-mile asphalt road course in Sonoma, Calif. When: 3 p.m. Sunday. TV: FS1. Last year's winner: Martin Truex Jr. Worth mentioning: This is the first of only three road courses races on the Cup Series schedule (the others being at Watkins Glen and the Charlotte Roval).     WHO'S HOT/WHO'S NOT HOT Joey Logano: A second win this season, and in the dominant fashion he showed at Michigan, shows why Logano currently tops the Cup Series leaderboard. Martin Truex Jr.: He might not have won at Michigan, but a third-place finish still keeps his momentum rolling   he's sixth in the points standings now, but even that feels low. NOT Erik Jones: Jones has had his bright spots this season, but inconsistency has pushed him to the playoff bubble   two finishes the last three races outside the Top 30 isn't getting it done. Austin Dillon: Three consecutive finishes outside the Top 25, and he's quickly slipping out of playoff contention altogether.     ©2019 The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, N.C.) Visit The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, N.C.) at www.charlotteobserver.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.


One year ago on May 25, 2018, Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra went on their first official date. Less than two months later, they were engaged , and just a few months after that, they became husband and wife in the first of multiple wedding ceremonies in the actress's native India. On May 25, 2019, Nick took to Instagram to gush about his wife and share details of their first date last year. "One year ago today I went to go see Beauty and the Beast at the Hollywood bowl with a group of friends. One of those friends was the woman that would become my best friend, my confidant, my muse, my beautiful wife," he wrote. "I am so grateful for our journey together so far. You make me smile every day and you inspire me to be the best version of myself. I am honored to be your husband. I love you. ❤." Priyanka responded in the comments with a sweet sentiment of her own: "The most amazing thing that ever happened to me is you. I love you babs.. 😍." The former "Quantico" star also took to her own Instagram to reveal the very special way Nick helped her celebrate their one-year dating anniversary even though they couldn't be together due to work commitments: He hooked her up with Mariah Carey tickets for the diva's Royal Albert Hall concert in London -- and Priyanka met Mimi backstage! "The best husband ever...A #lambily member's dream came true...Even though he was busy and we were apart, he made sure I celebrated our one year anniversary with my fave! The incomparable @mariahcarey #Mimi  you were amazing!" Priyanka captioned a photo slideshow . "So lovely meeting you and thank you for the incredible show...you will always be my baby @nickjonas Happy one year love! @fchhara thx for being my date! So fun! #mimi meets mimi wearing @mimi," she added. Though Nick and Priyanka's romance moved fast, the seeds of love were actually sewn years earlier when Nick slid into the actress's DMs in 2016. They were just both so busy with work, it took nearly two years for that official first date to happen. Celebrity hookups and first dates: How your favorite stars met and got together:


We introduced Aibo to six dogs and had a dog behaviorist give us a play-by-play. This is what happened.


Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has suggested the title race could have another twist in it yet, as the Reds get set to face Wolves on the last day of the season. A win for Klopp's side will only be enough for them to clinch the title if Manchester City drop points at Brighton, but with few expecting either side to drop points given how consistently they have performed over the course of the season - sitting on 95 and 94 points respectively - the general belief is that City will retain their crown with a win. The manager is taking nothing for granted, saying that neither result is a given, and that all his side can do is take care of their end and hope for the best. "In this situation obviously it looks like Wolves and Brighton , they are there, City will win and we will win and at the end City are champions," the German told Liverpool's official website . "But there's a game to play. "Wolves have ambitions, they showed the whole year real ambition. They enjoyed their football, they are seventh in an unbelievably competitive league from getting promoted last year. "They played wonderful football in a lot of moments. They are difficult to play, good defending, sensational counter-attacking, scoring in the right moments, staying calm and composed in important moments of a game. Nuno is doing an incredible job there. That makes our game pretty difficult." On City's trip to Brighton , he continued: "And on the other hand, Brighton, it's their last home game in the Premier League season. They know they will have another one next year for sure. How I know this team, they are full of joy for football, so they will try everything as well. "So, both teams have to win their games, that's what I want to say. That's not sure in the moment, so we have to focus on that." No matter where the title ends up, the side on the losing end will have a chance to make amends before taking off on their summer holidays. City will face Watford in the final of the FA Cup, while Liverpool - having famously come back from the dead to conquer Barcelona during the week - will take on Spurs in the Champions League grand finale next month.


Interested in adopting a pet   or just taking a peek at some cool kitties near you? There are dozens of great cats up for adoption at animal shelters in and around Orlando. Animal shelters work hard to care for unhoused pets and connect them to loving homes. Hoodline used data from Petfinder to power this roundup of cats currently available for adoption. (Details like pet availability, training, vaccinations and other features are based on data provided by Petfinder and may be subject to change; contact the shelter for the latest information.) Carmelo, Siamese and domestic shorthair mix Carmelo is a male Siamese and domestic shorthair mix in the care of Catapalooza, Inc. Carmelo would do great in a home with kids   he is a real "people pet." Carmelo is already neutered, and he has all his shots. He's already house-trained. Here's what Carmelo's friends at Catapalooza, Inc. think of him: Carmelo was found wandering. He has a cute, cross-eyed look and while he likes to play with dogs, he is not fond of other cats. Read more about Carmelo on Petfinder . Layla, calico Layla is a charming female calico cat currently residing at Cats In Knead, Inc . Layla loves other cats. She's vaccinated and spayed. Good news: She is already house-trained. Notes from Layla's caretakers: Layla is shy but loves to cuddle and be with her humans. Read more about how to adopt Layla on Petfinder . Camila, domestic shorthair mix Camila is a female domestic shorthair mix in the care of Catapalooza Inc. Camila gets along well with other cats. She's already house-trained, has all of her shots and is spayed. From Camila's current caretaker: Camila is a really sweet, loving girl. She had a rough start in life and was sick as a baby. As a result, she has been in foster care a really long time. She is a little slow to warm up. Please come and meet her and see if she is a good match. Read more about Camila on Petfinder . This story was created automatically using local animal shelter data, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


The man accused of fleeing a crash that claimed the life of a 22-month-old boy surrendered to authorities Saturday morning, police said. Messod Bendayan, a Daytona Beach police spokesman, confirmed that Earnest Ponder, 29, turned himself in at the Volusia County Branch Jail, where he is being held without bail. A warrant was out for Ponder's arrest on charges of leaving the scene of a crash with death and driving with a suspended license in a crash involving death or injury. [READ MORE: 4 children struck by car, injured on Volusia beach] [READ MORE: Sunbathers run over by car in New Smyrna Beach] Police said Ponder was driving a 2005 Chrysler 300 and was backing into a parking lot of an apartment building Thursday night at 430 Charles St. when he struck 22-month-old Ar'myis Ford. Ponder got out of his vehicle, saw what he did and then ran away, according to police. The child was transported to Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach where he was pronounced dead. Daytona Beach Police Chief Craig Capri said the collision appeared to be accidental, but Ponder made his situation much worse when he decided to flee. "I'm just concerned for the family right now," Capri told the media Friday. [READ MORE: Volusia, Flagler see sharp increases in hit-and-run crashes] Witnesses identified Ponder immediately. He had been a neighbor of the Ford family and was a friend of the child's parents, friends told The News-Journal. Ponder has a criminal history, which includes two stints in prison, according to state records. In 2008, he was sentenced to two years in prison for selling cocaine and fleeing law enforcement. He served another year after being convicted again in 2013 of selling cocaine. ---------- DON'T MISS AN EPISODE, SUBSCRIBE: iTunes 5/8 Google Play ___ (c)2019 The News-Journal, Daytona Beach, Fla. Visit The News-Journal, Daytona Beach, Fla. at www.news-journalonline.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.


In 25 years of interviewing athletes, I've learnt that they never ask you anything back. Roger Federer is the exception. In the van to his private jet, he bombards me with questions: how badly have the gilets jaunes smashed up Paris, where I live? Do I have children? When he discovers I have twins (he has two sets, one female, one male), and that my mother, like his, came from northern Johannesburg, he grins with delight: "We could be like brothers." He speaks near-perfect English, with some of the singsong rhythm of his native Swiss-German. This morning we are flying his shared NetJets plane from Zurich to Madrid, where he's playing a tournament. We take off almost vertically: private jets fly at over 40,000 feet, higher than commercial planes, and whizz through the thin and nearly traffic-free air. Federer and I sit facing each other in soft beige leather armchairs. The stewardess unfolds a dining table between us. Our fellow passengers   two of Federer's fitness coaches and a NetJets man   loll on a sofa at the back of the cabin. I feel as if I'm in a magazine advertisement for first-class life. My tablemate, despite a slightly bulbous nose, is as beautiful as a Roman god. With his long legs slung over each other, he looks perfectly at ease in his body. He smiles and makes eye contact with the confidence of a man accustomed to getting a good response from everybody he meets. Unlike many athletes, he doesn't need an agent by his side to censor his speech. Video by Sports Illustrated Aged 37, Federer has been on the circuit playing uniquely gorgeous tennis for 20 years. Pundits began predicting his retirement a decade ago, but he won another Wimbledon in 2017, the Australian Open last year (his 20th Grand Slam tournament) and he returns to Wimbledon next week ranking third in the world behind Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, and seeded second by the tournament's organisers. He is aiming for a record ninth victory. He seems genuinely unsure when he will retire. On the plane this morning, he appears as vigorous as a grown-up can be. I want to get him to review his life and career. But first the stewardess brings us mini-croissants and fruit skewers. I had wondered whether Federer would eat human food; Djokovic likes his gluten-free and raw, when he deigns to eat at all. But Federer spreads marmalade on his croissant. Over 40,000 ft in a private jet (Brunch supplied by Park Hyatt, Zurich) Juices   Morning Energy, Ginger Sunrise, Green Booster Fresh cut fruits Birchermüesli Omelette with bacon and vegetables Bakeries and muffins Total SFr98 (£78/$99) The stewardess suggests detox juices: "Morning energy!" Federer smiles: "I never have, but let me try one." She gives him three different juices. I order a café latte, he an espresso, and we both get muesli. This is turning out less Spartan than I'd feared. "Really," I start, "you've had multiple careers. You had your rise; then unchallenged supremacy; then rivals arrive   " "I see it the same way," he interrupts. I continue: "Now you're battling your way back to the top." Here he demurs. "It's really the good times now. It's like I'm on this tour, almost, and I can appreciate these moments. Not knowing what the end is, is also maybe nice." He says he savours every trip now, because he knows it may be his last visit to that city. Then how would he sum up his career? "It's gone way too fast. I feel like I was a junior yesterday." The bourgeois boy from Basel (his parents worked for the Ciba-Geigy pharmaceutical company) left home at 14 to enter a tennis academy. "I cried when I was away. Every time I took a train, Sunday night at six, I was as sad as could be, but it was my choice. You give up your childhood a bit, but I would probably do it all over again." At 15, he sat practising his autograph on paper tablecloths in French restaurants. "In case I got famous. I was thinking, 'Hopefully one day I can win tournaments and be in the top 100. And who knows, maybe play against one of those guys I've seen on TV.' I think at 18 I broke the top 100, and you're like, 'wow, I can really be on the tour. I'm in the locker room with Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras. My god, it's so cool.' " The teenager's biggest challenge was off-court life: "Doing the red carpets, meeting important people, looking at women, speaking to women, speaking to people who I couldn't place, it was hard. I was a shy person. But I think tennis helped me, really shaped me." Aged 19, at the Sydney Olympics, he met his future wife Mirka Vavrinec, who was playing tennis for Switzerland. Months later, he finally won a tournament. He recalls the carefree tennis of youth: "At 20, there's a great point, and you're like, 'This one, I'm going to crush so hard, I'm actually going to make a hole into the ground.' At 37 you're like, 'Hmm, I'm probably going to first hit it there, then manoeuvre the guy around, and somehow work my way to the net and finish off with a nice volley.' " Nowadays, he says, he sometimes has to push himself to try "the crazy shots". He worries about becoming too canny, and tennis becoming too professional. He has wolfed down everything except his fruit. I initially assume our breakfast is over, but the stewardess reappears to take more orders. "Could I maybe have one more espresso?" asks Federer, adding a very British, "Sorry." She suggests an omelette. "Why not?" says Federer. I concur, and remark on his appetite. "I don't want to become too serious," he says. "It also reminds me, maybe, I'm more than just a tennis player." Has he really eaten KitKats before major finals? "I'll have a coffee before every match, and if there is a chocolate on the side, I'll have a chocolate. Or a cookie." Geniuses don't have to sacrifice like mortals. But Federer had to learn to control his genius. I ask if he recognises parallels with another natural: Lionel Messi. Federer, a football fan, lights up. He asks excitedly if I've met Messi (he hasn't). "Funny enough," he says, "I haven't spoken about Messi nearly enough. What I love about Messi probably most is when he gets the ball and is able to turn the body towards goal, and then he has full vision. Then he's going to pass, or dribble, or shoot. There's always three options for him. He's one of the few who's got that." I note the parallel: Federer, too, has many choices. The tennis writer and coach John Yandell once counted 20 variations of his forehand alone. "Yes," nods Federer. "The problem when you're younger is knowing to use what when. That is quite   how do you say?   complex. Whereas if you're a player who's just very good at doing forehands and backhands across court all day, it's easier. "I've got a lot of different options. For us it's more challenging. I think once you master the craft of knowing, 'Which club shall I take out of the bag for this shot or pass?', it's incredibly exciting. Maybe this is why my love for the game is so big nowadays. Geometry, angles, when to hit which shot, should I serve and volley? Stay back? Should I chip and charge? Should I hit big?" It's really the good times now. It's like I'm on this tour, almost, and I can appreciate these moments. Not knowing what the end is, is also maybe nice Once he mastered his options, he won his first Grand Slam tournament at Wimbledon in 2003. In January 2004 he added the Australian Open. Then, he said, "I took a conscious decision: I'd like to play for a long time." His fitness coach recommended frequent breaks rather than chasing every appearance fee. "You could just power out and say, 'I'm planning to play till 30,' like everybody else did, but I always thought it'd be so much fun to play through generations. Because our generations are not 10 years, 15 years. Every five years you have somebody else. My generation, then Rafael, Novak and Andy [Murray]. Now you have the next generation. I wanted to experience that, and also   it sounds stupid now   maybe give younger guys an opportunity to play somebody old like me." From 2004 through January 2010 he towered over men's tennis (except against Nadal on clay), winning 15 Grand Slam tournaments. In 2009 his twin daughters arrived. "For me, '10 and '11 are a blur, because of the children. All I remember is moments with my family, not my results. I'm happy it's this way." But while Federer changed nappies, Nadal and Djokovic matured and began beating him on all surfaces. Nadal's record against Federer, after a 15-year rivalry, stands at 24-15, after this month's straight-set victory in the semi-finals of the French Open. Federer didn't win any Grand Slam tournaments from 2013 through 2016. Given his age, most pundits assumed he was fading. He says, "Those were the fighting years for me. This is where I had to show battle." Would he have preferred unchallenged supremacy? "Of course. I would have loved to dominate forever. When Rafael and others were coming through, it took me some getting used to." He says of Nadal: "At one point you tip your hat: you're very good. I take joy after realising: you cannot just be alone at the top. You need rivals. I'm thankful to these guys, to make me a better player." Federer and Nadal have set a tone of niceness in the locker room. In the 1980s, Jimmy Connors and John McEnroe sometimes didn't even speak to rivals and youngsters. Federer reports hearing that "in the '80s and '90s, a few guys really could not stand each other". By the time he started on tour, things had improved. "It was a very friendly locker room already, so I guess I just maintained that. Something I care deeply about is that young guys are welcomed nicely on to the tour, and they realise, 'This is going to be fun, buddy, and, we, the top guys, are cool.' " So when a teenage rookie walks into the locker room, Federer goes up and says hi? "Yes. Then maybe: 'You want to practice?' And in that practice, you can chat: 'What's going on? Do you have brothers or sisters? Who was your hero growing up?' " I interject: "But you were their hero." "Not always. Sometimes. That's always awkward, especially when it happened the first time." In 2014, Federer's sons were born. I quote the chess player Garry Kasparov, who told me over an FT Lunch in 2003 that at 40, "You can't throw energy of nuclear size in the game. Because you have family, or kids, maybe businesses, you have other problems." Federer enthusiastically interrupts: "I always feel like I'm wearing two watches, one on myself and one of the family, because I know their schedules inside out. I know when they're going to bed, when I'm at the tennis. I know I can quickly FaceTime them before they go to bed, 45 minutes before I play. "I come back [home] after winning a match or tournament, or losing, and they're like, 'Hey, can you play Lego with me?', and I'm like, 'Let's do it.' Fine, I sometimes sit there and my match is going through my mind, but I am trying to give full attention to my son. I never saw in my vision, as a little boy, winning Wimbledon and then going to play with my children. So this is quite surreal." His egalitarian fellow-Swiss allow him to be a regular dad. "I can go to playgrounds with my kids. It's just me speaking to other parents, like what you would be doing." Don't some parents want selfies? "Yes, and that is normal. I have to make a decision when I walk out in the morning: am I in the mood for it? If not, well, I have a choice to stay home. And I can always be polite and say, 'I'm with my children right now. I'm trying to build a house in the forest or whatever, but I'm happy to do it later.' " After his knee operation in 2016, many predicted retirement. But he has since added three more Grand Slam titles. "I believe I'm at the height of my physical possibilities still," he says. Though he takes more breaks nowadays, it's not only to protect ageing bones. "You don't want to go through a career racing through everything, and think, 'I was never enjoying my biggest moments.' " A while back, he suggested to his wife that they take time to savour his tournament wins. Instead of flying out at once, "Maybe we could leave the next morning. We could have a nice dinner, a glass of champagne, chill out." Has he had a happy 20 years on tour? "Very." Does he fear the void afterwards? "Not really. Having a foundation, having four children, having some sponsors that are going to exceed my playing days, I think it will be fine." And he won't miss the stress, he adds. "I will miss that other family: the players. I think that's what will be toughest. One day, when you really leave, the question is, who are you still going to be in touch with? That's when you realise who your real friends are from the tour. You realise there's not many." Who are they? His immediate answer is touching: "I would think that I'm still in touch with Rafael." After nearly two hours of almost ceaseless conversation, we're descending into Madrid. Federer gestures at the arid fields below us. "Europe is so much fun. You see, we're travelling just a little bit. The landscape's already semi-burnt from the sun. In Switzerland, everything's just green. I love that about Europe." He tries to enjoy the cities he visits. He never wanted his travels to be "hotel, club, airport, see you later. We try to have a hotel in the city centre, so we can go for a walk or go to a park. Nowadays, with the zoo, we see cities from a totally different angle with the kids. I like restaurants at night, to decompress with my wife and friends." Federer claims to enjoy interviews. I ask what we journalists still don't get about him. That he's a jokester in private, he replies. And also: "Maybe they don't know I have a wine cellar, and I like to open a bottle with friends." On the tarmac, the NetJets man snaps our picture. Federer throws an arm around me, and I put my hand on his back. Every other back I've touched felt like a single undefined mass. On Federer's back you feel every bone and muscle. It's like reading an anatomy textbook in Braille. Then I go to the regular terminal for my economy flight home. Simon Kuper will be speaking about sport and leadership at the FTWeekend Festival in London's Kenwood House on Sat Sept 7th Follow @FTLifeArts on Twitter to find out about our latest stories first. Listen and subscribe to Everything Else, the FT culture podcast, at ft.com/everything-else or on Apple Podcasts


Detroit will see a return of last week's light rainfall as early as tomorrow, according to drone-powered weather forecasting service Saildrone . Tomorrow's forecast shows the greatest possibility of rain at 90 percent, with rain possible through Sunday. Also look for winds this coming week. Winds are expected to rise as high as 21 miles per hour on Saturday, while today will be quieter with a top speed of just 10 mph. Temperatures will be mild tomorrow, reaching a high of 65 degrees. Skies will be cloudy today. 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.


INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Brittney Griner scored 26 points, DeWanna Bonner added 25 and the Phoenix Mercury used a dominant first half to defeat the Indiana Fever 94-87 on Sunday. Griner and former Indiana point guard Briann January both had 14 in the first half when the Mercury took a 53-28 lead at the half. It was 81-54 in the opening seconds of the fourth quarter before the Fever stormed back, hitting five 3-pointers in cutting 20 points off the deficit. Reserve Leilani Mitchell had two of her four 3-pointers in the fourth quarter and scored 17 for the Mercury (2-2) and January added 16. Phoenix made 9 of 18 3-pointers and had 26 assists on 34 baskets. Five players had at least four assists, led by Mitchell's six. Kelsey Mitchell hit four 3-pointers and had 26 points for the Fever (3-2). Kennedy Burke went 4 of 4 from distance, 7 of 8 overall and added 18 points with Tiffany Mitchell scoring 17. Indiana was 10 of 16 behind the arc. Phoenix shot 53 percent in the half with 15 assists on 20 baskets with only one turnover.


SUPER GT has unveiled a provisional calendar for the 2020 season, the first to feature two events outside of Japan. Okayama will retain the traditional season-opening slot on the second weekend of April, followed by races at Fuji and Suzuka in May. The series will begin its overseas tour with the Chang International Circuit in Thailand, which recently revealed that it was close to extending its contract with SUPER GT for 2020. . The venue, despite its five-year absence, has remained a favourite among manufacturers for testing, particularly during the winter months. Dates for neither overseas rounds were revealed, but both races are expected to take place between June and August. SUPER GT has strategically scheduled both international races around the 2020 Tokyo Olympics to avoid hosting a race at the same time as the Games in Japan. The domestic leg of the season will resume at Sugo in September, with Autopolis hosting the penultimate round in October. The championship will conclude at Motegi on November 7-8. The Fuji 500-mile event, which normally takes places on the first weekend of August, has been dropped from the 2020 season to avoid a clash with the Olympics. Read Also: Toyota places Super GT race winner Yamashita in WEC Makowiecki targeting first win with Nissan in 2019 Provisional 2020 Super GT calendar: DateVenue April 11-12 Okayama International Circuit May 3-4 Fuji Speedway May 30-31 Suzuka Circuit TBA Chang International Circuit (Buriram) TBA Sepang International Circuit September 12-13 Sportsland SUGO October 24-25 Autopolis November 7-8 Twin Ring Motegi


Astronomers surveying the sky with NASA's Spitzer space telescope have been able to peer back to the early universe, 13 billion years in the past, and find some of the very first galaxies. They look like tiny, orange dots aglow in a sea of darkness -- not too dissimilar to the famed first image of a black hole -- but the minuscule lights imaged by Spitzer contain a host of young stars, composed mostly of hydrogen and helium. The discovery of these unexpectedly-bright galaxies could provide new clues about one of the most important cosmic events in history: the "Epoch of Reionization." The new research, published in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society in April , required Spitzer to stare into the same region of sky for over 200 hours, studying the ancient cosmos as part of a campaign known as the GOODS Re-ionization Era wide-Area Treasury from Spitzer (GREATS). Another great, the Hubble Space Telescope, also contributed to the data. With Spitzer trained on a region of the sky for so long, it was able to gather light that had traveled across the universe to reach us. In what amounts to a cosmic staring contest, Spitzer didn't blink. The telescope detected faint infrared signals from 135 distant galaxies, produced by high levels of ionizing radiation. It's a particularly important finding, because ionizing radiation is believed to have contributed to the Epoch of Reionization in the early universe -- a cosmic transformation that shaped the universe as we know it today. Astronomers are still stumped as to what exactly caused these changes, but the early galaxies detected by Spitzer may provide some clues. "Our latest Spitzer result reveals how different these early galaxies are to those at later times and pinpoints our sample as a key set for providing insights into how galaxies so efficiently reionized the universe," said Garth Illingworth, a co-author on the new study . The results were surprising for Michael Werner, project scientist with Spitzer at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. "We did not expect that Spitzer, with a mirror no larger than a Hula-Hoop, would be capable of seeing galaxies so close to the dawn of time," he said in a statement . "But nature is full of surprises, and the unexpected brightness of these early galaxies, together with Spitzer's superb performance, puts them within range of our small but powerful observatory." Spitzer, launched in 2003, is an infrared observatory in an Earth-trailing orbit operated by NASA and the California Institute of Technology. It carries three instruments that allow it to "see" across the wavelengths of infrared light, providing spectacular views of the gaseous, dusty distant cosmos. NASA Spitzer telescope celebrates 15 years of astounding images


Welcome to the PHT Morning Skate, a collection of links from around the hockey world. Have a link you want to submit? Email us at phtblog@nbcsports.com . • Big is back in the NHL and the Habs are way too small. ( Montreal Gazette ) • Brock Boeser is waiting for a couple of deals to work themselves out before he signs. ( The Hockey Writers ) • The Wild should be trying to emulate the Toronto Maple Leafs. ( Editor in Leaf ) • The Vancouver Canucks should pursue Jesse Puljujarvi . ( The Canuck Way ) • Ovi runs youth hockey clinic in China. ( NHL.com ) • Five questions that need answers in the upcoming season. ( The Comeback ) • Shattenkirk has 'huge chip' on shoulder for Lightning. ( NHL.com ) • The Changing NHL: Scoring, speed the new name of the game. ( BlueJackets.com ) • Do NHL players resent hockey's shift to analytics? ( Sin.Bin Vegas ) • The NHL's most-improved teams during this offseason. ( Featurd ) • The numbers say this is the best time to pull the goalie. ( Sportscasting ) • Who wore it best? A history of the No. 1 for the Pittsburgh Penguins. ( Pensburgh ) • The biggest game in Philadelphia Flyers history. ( Last Word on Hockey ) • Ovechkin hints at retirement when his contract is up. ( Stars and Sticks ) MORE: • ProHockeyTalk's 2019 NHL free agency tracker • Your 2019-20 NHL on NBC TV schedule Scott Billeck is a writer for Pro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports . Drop him a line at phtblog@nbcsports.com or follow him on Twitter @scottbilleck


Haas Formula 1 team boss Gunther Steiner hopes that his drivers pay more attention to their pit boards in the future after they were black-flagged in Monaco GP practice. Following an IT failure in the garage, the team could not communicate with Kevin Magnussen and Romain Grosjean by radio, and did not have any data from the car's telemetry. When the drivers initially failed to respond to a pit board message asking them to stop, the team requested help from the FIA. Both drivers eventually saw the black flag at the startline , and returned to the pits. After the problem was fixed they were able to rejoin the session. "We had an issue with the IT equipment," said Steiner. "We had no data anymore, nothing, no radio, we couldn't contact them and we couldn't see what the car was doing. They needed to come in quick. "We put the pit board out but they didn't see it, so we came up with the idea let's ask race control to give them the black flag so they'll come in. That's what we did. Everybody got a little too excited about it. "We were a little bit creative there, and asked for some help to get them focussed to come in. They got in and then we fixed the problem and we got out the last 20 minutes." Asked about the eventual response to the black flag, he said: "They should look at the pit board as well! I think they will now in future, if for more than five laps you don't hear anything on the radio in Monte Carlo something must be wrong." Kevin Magnussen, Haas F1 Team VF-19 Photo by: Andy Hone / LAT Images Magnussen gave the team some encouragement by taking seventh place in FP2, although he was beaten to "best of the rest" honours by Toro Rosso's Alex Albon. However the early signs are that the team has got its tyres working well this weekend, although Steiner suggested it was more related to the move to soft compounds than any change in approach. "It's a different tyre compound, the soft family," he said when asked by Motorsport.com. "I said before the race I hope we can get them to work here. Pirelli told me that will be possible, and they seem to be working. "There are also lessons learned, whenever you have difficulty, you learn quicker. The main thing is that we are in the family of the soft tyres, we're in the C3, C4, C5 here, that''s the biggest difference. Asked if the team can lead the chase of the top three he said: "We will go for it. We've qualified seventh and eighth quite a few times this year, so it looks like the car is competitive here. "So it could be possible. It's so tight here because the lap is short, so many variables here, more than any other place, and the gaps between the cars are minimal." "So everybody need to be perfect, and if somebody else has a more perfect lap than you, then he's in front of you. I think we have quite a good car and good drivers, so why not?"


Slideshow by photo services President Donald Trump's vow to launch a nationwide deportation sweep fell short of expectations on Sunday, with only a small number of operations that appeared to fall closer in line with routine enforcement. While the effort seems to have been downgraded -- or perhaps just delayed -- immigrant communities across the U.S. were still on red alert. Jorge-Mario Cabrera with the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, or CHIRLA, in Los Angeles told ABC News' Clayton Sandell that most of the calls the organization has received are people inquiring about their legal rights and that most reports of ICE vans in the city turned out to be unfounded. The fear though among many undocumented immigrants is that the Trump administration has merely delayed the raids, which could happen Monday when people return to work. "If the president wanted to hold communities hostage, he's done a very good job," Cabrera said. Greg Chen, head of government relations for the American Immigration Lawyers Association, said community organizations were expecting the threat of raids to last through Friday. (MORE: Dem presidential candidates react to Trump on ICE raids) "This is by no means over yet," he said. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Sunday declined to disclose any arrest numbers and referred reporters to a prior statement that declined to offer details "due to law-enforcement sensitivities." Federal immigration officers were initially scheduled to sweep across 10 cities on Sunday, including San Francisco, Los Angeles, Houston, Denver, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Baltimore, Chicago and Atlanta, to arrest about 2,000 undocumented immigrants with final removal orders, the Trump administration announced. Officials later announced that Houston and New Orleans would not see immigration enforcement actions due to Hurricane Barry, which made landfall on Saturday. On Friday, Trump said the deportations would happen Sunday and that there was "nothing to be secret about." "It starts on Sunday and they're going to take people out and they're going to bring them back to their countries or they're going to take criminals out, put them in prison, or put them in prison in the countries they came from," Trump said. Elected officials took to social media to assure residents of the resources available to them. (MORE: Trump confirms ICE raids set for Sunday as cities, advocates brace to respond) Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti posted a video Saturday stating that the city was not coordinating with ICE's efforts. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner tweeted that he stands "with every Houstonion regardless of immigration status." New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said the city had seen no ICE activity on Sunday. He noted there were three "confirmed situations involving ICE operations" on Saturday but no arrests. "The Trump administration uses fear as a weapon," de Blasio tweeted. "We're making sure our immigrant communities are getting accurate information and have the resources to defend their rights." A number of other 2020 presidential candidates expressed their opposition to the planned ICE operations. Pete Buttigieg, mayor of South Bend, Indiana, tweeted that the raids were designed to "tear families apart" and further Trump's "extreme agenda." Washington Gov. Jay Inslee told ABC News Live on Saturday that state officials were monitoring the proposed raids "very carefully" and that they would "vigorously defend the rights of anyone" in the state. (MORE: Deportation raids are about distracting from issues: Amy Klobuchar) Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar said the Trump administration announced the raids to "make news" and scare the public. "If you wanted to go after security risks, and there are people who are security risks, why would you alert them and say you're doing this on a Sunday and do it two weekends in a row?" Klobuchar asked ABC News' Chief White House Correspondent Jonathan Karl on "This Week" on Sunday. "Why? Because you want to make news, right?" On Sunday, ICE urged jurisdictions in California and other sanctuary locations to cooperate to "keep foreign criminals off of our streets," tweeting that "communities are safer when law enforcement agencies work together." (MORE: Thousands protest ICE across cities targeted for weekend raids) In San Diego, 20 people were were arrested in raids in recent days, but those arrests were part of a five-day enforcement operation, and apparently not specifically tied to the raids mentioned by Trump. Thousands of people took to the streets on Friday to protest the planned mass roundup. ABC News' Jeffrey Cook and Soo Youn contributed to this report.


The Giants drafted left guard Will Hernandez in the second round of last year's draft and he turned out to be an immediate starter up front. Hernandez was one of the stronger players on a line that was playing much better at the end of the year than the start and the Giants made moves this offseason designed to build on that improvement. One of those moves was trading for Kevin Zeitler , who has been installed as their starting right guard. Zeitler should be an upgrade over what the Giants had last season, but his role in making the line better extends beyond his spot on the field. Hernandez cited Zeitler's instruction as something that's made him better heading into his second season. "He's been phenomenal , not only as a player but as a teacher, too," Hernandez said, via the team's website. "He's taught a lot of young guys, including myself, a lot of technique. He was one of the top pass protectors in the league last year, so he definitely has a lot to offer and he's passing it on to the young guys, myself also, and we're really glad to have him." Giants quarterback Eli Manning said recently that he believes the team's offense can be better in 2019 than it was last year. If that's the case, improvement from Hernandez and the line as a whole is likely to play a big role.


The Knicks are expected to shop Frank Ntilikina on the trade market this offseason, and the guard is unlikely to object, according to Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News . A source tells Bondy that Ntilikina "desires a relocation." As Bondy outlines, Ntilikina had been represented by CAA, but decided to change agencies after the Knicks failed to move him at February's trade deadline. The plan is for him to be represented by French agent Bouna Ndiaye going forward, as was previously reported by French Knicks Pod . The change in representation was directly linked to Ntilikina's desire to be traded, Bondy says in a follow-up tweet , citing a league source. Ntilikina, the No. 8 pick in the 2017 draft, was selected by Phil Jackson shortly before Jackson was let go by the Knicks. The team's current management group doesn't appear to be as invested in the 20-year-old, with reports indicating that New York hopes to get a first-round draft pick in return for him. Ntilikina saw his role adjusted frequently last season by new head coach David Fizdale, who played the youngster at both guard spots and didn't give him consistent minutes in a crowded backcourt that also featured Emmanuel Mudiay , Dennis Smith , Trey Burke , Allonzo Trier , Damyean Dotson , and others over the course of the season.


New York-based pharmaceutical company Schrödinger has secured $110 million in Series F funding, according to company database Crunchbase , topping the city's recent funding headlines. The cash infusion was announced May 19 and led by David E. Shaw. According to its Crunchbase profile, "Schrödinger is a scientific leader in computational drug design for pharmaceutical and biotechnology research." The 29-year-old company has raised four previous funding rounds, including an $85 million Series E round earlier this year. The round brings total funding raised by New York companies in science and engineering over the past month to $692 million, an increase of $155 million from the month before. The local science and engineering industry has seen 204 funding rounds over the past year, securing a total of $3.4 billion in venture funding. In other local funding news, network security company Siemplify announced a $30 million Series C funding round on May 20, led by Georgian Partners. According to Crunchbase, "Siemplify is a security orchestration, automation and response (SOAR) provider that is redefining security operations for enterprises and MSSPs worldwide. Its holistic security operations platform is a simple, centralized workbench that enables security teams to better investigate, analyze and remediate threats. And, using automated, repeatable processes and enhanced measurement of KPIs, Siemplify empowers SOC teams to create a culture of continuous improvement." Founded in 2015, the company has raised four previous rounds, including a $14 million Series B round in 2018. This story was created automatically using local investment data, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


Interested in adopting a pet   or just taking a peek at some cuddly kittens? There are dozens of darling kittens up for adoption at animal shelters in and around Dallas. Animal shelters work hard to care for unhoused pets and connect them to loving homes. Hoodline used data from Petfinder to power this roundup of kittens currently available for adoption. (Details like pet availability, training, vaccinations and other features are based on data provided by Petfinder and may be subject to change; contact the shelter for the latest information.) Gigi, domestic shorthair Gigi is an adorable female domestic shorthair kitten currently housed at Humane Society of Dallas . Gigi is friendly as can be   she loves dogs, cats and kids. She's mastered her house-training etiquette. She has all of her shots, too. A few words from Gigi: Hi my name is Gigi, and I was transferred from another shelter with my siblings. I do love all kinds of toys and to be cuddled. Come and meet me so I can steal your heart away. Read more about Gigi on Petfinder . Elf, American shorthair Elf is a female American shorthair kitten currently residing at Texas Pawprints Cat & Kitten Rescue . Elf is eager to make friends, and she gets along well with other cats. Good news: She's already house-trained and has all her shots. Here's what Elf's friends at Texas Pawprints Cat & Kitten Rescue think of her: Elf is a sweet girl that loves to cuddle and sleep on her humans. She will also follow her humans from room to room. She will come running when you call her "Elfie," and will purr when being picked up. She loves to be held. Read more about Elf on Petfinder . Blackberry, Bengal and Maine coon mix Blackberry is a darling male Bengal and Maine coon kitten currently residing at Texas Exotic Cat Rescue . Blackberry is a social butterfly, and he loves dogs, cats and kids. No need to worry: He's already house-trained, and he has all of his shots. From Blackberry's current caretaker: Blackberry has more of a Maine Coon personality, liking to be held and cuddled, which is rather unlike most Bengals. It's a toss-up whether he will have a short coat when he gets his adult fur, as he's still has the kitten fuzzies. Read more about Blackberry on Petfinder . Delilah, calico mix Delilah is an endearing female calico kitten being cared for at A Voice for All Paws, Inc. Delilah is happy to keep company with other cats. She has mastered her house-training etiquette, and she has been vaccinated. Delilah is a special needs pet, so please inquire about her specific care requirements. Notes from Delilah's caretakers: Delilah is the sweetest little calico. She has only one eye but this doesn't slow her down! Read more about how to adopt Delilah on Petfinder . Gussy, domestic shorthair mix Gussy is an cheeky female domestic shorthair kitten being kept at A Voice for All Paws, Inc. . Gussy is eager to make friends   she loves dogs, cats and children. Gussy has been vaccinated. She's already house-trained, as well. From Gussy's current caretaker: Gussy was born approximately March 14, 2019. She is the sweetest, loving and calm kitten. Read more about Gussy on Petfinder . Caviar, domestic shorthair Caviar is a charming male domestic shorthair kitten currently housed at Texas CARES . Caviar gets along well with other cats. He has all his shots. He is already house-trained. Here's what Caviar has to say: Hi, I'm Caviar. I'm a sweet black kitty. My foster mom says I'm a cuddlebug. Like my siblings, I do love to play and explore, but I always have time for cuddles and petting. I even like being held like a baby! I'm all ready to find a fur-ever home soon. I might be the purr-fect cuddlebug for you. Read more about how to adopt Caviar on Petfinder . Wyatt, domestic shorthair mix Wyatt is a winsome male domestic shorthair kitten currently housed at A Voice for All Paws, Inc. Wyatt loves dogs, cats and kids. Have no fear: He's already house-trained, and his vaccinations are up to date About Wyatt Wyatt is a gorgeous fluff ball who loves to cuddle and will tell you all about it! His birthday is April 19. This sweet boy will win your heart! Read more about Wyatt on Petfinder . This story was created automatically using local animal shelter data, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


A spa in Los Angeles has agreed to change its policies and pay damages to a blind man denied access to the facility on grounds "his kind" would not be able to follow instructions. Spa Palace, which is operated by CJ Spa Group Inc, settled the case with the US Department of Justice after the man filed a complaint. Authorities said the complainant, who was not identified, went to the spa in July 2017 with a friend for a massage at the facility in Los Angeles's Westlake neighborhood. An employee informed him that he could not enter the facility or receive a massage as "his kind" would not be able to follow instructions and the massage therapist could not care for him, a Department of Justice statement said. The pair left but received a call 45 minutes later from another spa employee who said they could return and receive a massage. They declined the offer. Spa Palace claimed that the man was not denied service but was told that he would need to be accompanied by his friend at all times while in the facility -- a policy that will now be changed. "Individuals with disabilities, including those who are blind, should not be excluded from activities or services on the basis of stereotypes or false assumptions," US Attorney Nick Hanna said in a statement. "My office will continue to enforce the law to ensure equal treatment for people with disabilities." In addition to changing its policy concerning people with disabilities, the spa has agreed to pay $5,000 in damages to the complainant and a civil penalty of $5,000 to the US Treasury. Related video: These Glass Houses Have an Outdoor Tub Overlooking Chile's Wine Country (Provided by Travel + Leisure)


Democratic presidential candidates chasing former Vice President Joe Biden in the polls are shifting gears as they seek to gain momentum heading into the first debate next month. Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) is trying to engage President Trump in direct confrontations to command part of the news cycle and move up, while former Rep. Beto O'Rourke (D-Texas), whose campaign has struggled, is doing more media appearances. Meanwhile, South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D) is aiming to win over African American voters to broaden his support. Biden has pulled ahead from the pack in national polls, while also leading in early voting states like Iowa and New Hampshire. In the RealClearPolitics average of national polls, Biden has a roughly 25-point lead over Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Harris and a 17-point lead on Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who often places second in the polls. The race is closer in Iowa, with the RealClearPolitics average showing Biden up 4 points on Sanders and 12 points on third-place Buttigieg. In New Hampshire, he has a 13-point lead on Sanders and an 18-point lead on Buttigieg. Warren has seen her numbers inch upward in recent weeks, but she's still well behind Biden. Still, the Iowa caucuses, when the first balloting of the 2020 primary season begins, are still nine months away. And many candidates are quick to note that they are very much in the early phases of their campaigns, insisting that they are more focused on introducing themselves to voters and mapping out coherent policy proposals than jockeying for front-runner status in opinion polls. But at the same time, the White House hopefuls are betting on standout performances in the first Democratic primary debates next month to bolster their campaigns and pitch their visions before a national audience. Their shifting strategies underscore a political reality: With more than 20 people vying for the party's nomination, candidates are under more pressure than ever to compete for the votes, donations and media attention necessary to power a prolonged national campaign. "In this business there are winds that blow, and seasons tend to change quickly," said Antjuan Seawright, a South Carolina-based Democratic strategist. "I think people are recalibrating. They're making adjustments and they're trying to figure out how to stay on the tops of the hearts and minds of voters." O'Rourke conceded earlier this month that he needed to "do a better job" reaching national audiences after largely avoiding high-profile television appearances for most of his presidential campaign so far. That remark, made during an appearance on MSNBC, was followed the next day by an appearance on ABC's "The View" and later by a well-received televised town hall on CNN. "The CNN town hall was a big success for him, the kind of national TV that I think people had been asking for," one aide to O'Rourke told The Hill. "I think they got to see on stage that he hasn't forgotten how to play ball. He's getting better." O'Rourke has focused on expanding his national team - bringing on Jeff Berman, who ran former President Obama's delegate operation, as his senior adviser on delegate strategy - and building out his top aides in New Hampshire. The apparent reboot comes as he has struggled to elicit the same energy that defined his unsuccessful 2018 Senate bid against Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas). While his presidential announcement in March was met with fanfare by supporters, he has seen his poll numbers drop into the low single digits in recent weeks and has faced criticism for lacking policy specifics. O'Rourke's aides and allies argue that the fundamentals of his campaign - he has said he prefers face-to-face interactions to TV appearances and large campaign rallies - remain the same. But his reemergence on national TV underscores how much of the 2020 presidential contest has been driven by viral moments and media exposure. For Harris, her viral moment came earlier this month with her pointed questioning of Attorney General William Barr during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, an exchange that helped the California senator reestablish her prosecutor bona fides by taking on one of the Trump administration's highest-profile officials. That line of questioning was reflective of a shift in strategy for Harris after struggling for months to hone her campaign message. She has sought to court the Democratic Party's liberal base by taking more progressive positions on issues like health care and voting rights. But some strategists say that in doing so, Harris has risked alienating more moderate voters. Harris in recent weeks has more aggressively positioned herself as the candidate willing to take on Trump, a nod to the overwhelming desire among Democratic primary voters to pick a nominee who is capable of defeating the president in 2020. In an appearance on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" last week, Harris criticized Trump after he walked out of a meeting with Democratic congressional leaders on infrastructure and demanded that Democrats halt their ongoing investigations of him and his administration. "We cannot abandon our democracy for the sake of appeasing somebody who is completely focused on his interests only," Harris said. Harris's more aggressive posturing against Trump, as well as her questioning of Barr, may be paying off. A Monmouth University poll released Thursday showed her tied with for second place with Sanders, at 14 percent, among early primary and caucus voters. For Buttigieg, who saw his political stock rise quickly after entering the presidential contest as a relative unknown, the shift in campaign tactics is in part a response to criticism that he has drawn mostly white audiences on the trail. He met earlier this month with civil rights leader Rev. Al Sharpton in Harlem and has said he plans to spend more time in South Carolina, the first state to vote in the primaries where a majority of the Democratic electorate is made up of black voters. Adding even more weight to the vote in South Carolina is the fact that the Palmetto State is the last state to vote before Super Tuesday, when delegates from 13 states will be up for grabs. Biden has built up a sizable lead in South Carolina. A poll released earlier this month by Change Research and The Post and Courier newspaper in Charleston showed the former vice president with 46 percent support among likely Democratic primary voters in the state. Sanders came in second, with 15 percent, followed by Buttigieg, with 8 percent. Seawright, the Democratic strategist, said that carrying the support of African American voters in South Carolina will be crucial not just to winning that primary, but to taking the Democratic presidential nomination. "Black people will decide who our nominee will be. Anything other than making our community a priority is not smart political thinking," Seawright said . "The ballgame is going to be in South Carolina. If you're not making serious investments here, you may as well not even participate."


The sea was angry on Sunday at Royal Portrush, my friends. Just not as angry as Henrik Stenson. The 2016 Open champ had an outside shot of claiming the claret jug for a second time entering the final round of the 148th British Open , but he'll leave Northern Ireland empty-handed. In fact, he'll also be down a golf club. RELATED: 18 things you should know about Henrik Stenson Already three over on his round as the Swede played his approach shot into No. 17, Stenson hit a cold shank. And then he snapped the club over his leg. Check it out: https://twitter.com/GolfChannel/status/1152972612827529217 Bo Jackson would be proud. Good stuff. Also, notice how Henrik made sure to shout "FORE!" first. There was an incident involving a player not doing that on Friday, so nicely done all around, Henrik. Of course, this isn't the first time Stenson has taken his frustration out on his equipment. He offered up this honest assessment of his temper in a Golf Digest My Shot interview from 2014 : *I have a temper on the golf course. When my fuses start to melt, I have to react immediately, or else I'm useless the rest of the round. Because I can't punch myself out, I tend to take it out on my clubs. My clubs are my friends, and as such I have a bunch on my conscience for how I've treated them. I've lost count of how many drivers, fairway woods and wedges I've murdered. To the 7-iron I broke during the 2011 U.S. Open and the clubs I undoubtedly will break in the future I humbly apologize." No need to apologize to us, Henrik. That was the most entertaining moment of Sunday's final round. RELATED: Thomas Pieters just can't kick his habit of snapping golf clubs WATCH MORE VIDEOS FROM THE LOOP See the video. Related slideshow: Best of the British Open (Provided by imagn)