As Congress approaches another deadline, lawmakers seemed hopeful Monday evening they could do something increasingly rare: take off their can-kicking shoes and make a deal. Aides told CQ Roll Call that Speaker John A. Boehner was set to give the Republican Conference an update on the "bipartisan discussions" regarding the Sustainable Growth Rate during the GOP's weekly meeting Tuesday morning. And the prospect of reaching an elusive long-term deal on the payment formula for doctors and medical professionals accepting Medicare was looking better and better. "For years, the SGR has distorted Medicare's finances and the federal budget," Joe Pitts , R-Pa., chairman of the Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee, said in a statement Monday night. "We're now very close to permanently replacing it and passing some real Medicare reforms that will have a lasting impact. There's a lot for conservatives to like here." The details of a long-term deal haven't been released, or even completely negotiated. But members seem receptive to the idea that a compromise would not be entirely offset. The argument goes, because Congress routinely extends SGR without paying for it anyway, any savings Republicans could extract from a so-called "doc fix" would be a win. It just depends on your perspective of a baseline. Do you start from the assumption that Congress will adjust the Medicare payment formula without offsets, or do you begin by assuming that any change to current law needs to be paid for? While the latter position has been the historical one for fiscal hawks, even some of the most conservative members in the GOP conference see some merit to the other position. "It's a fair point," said House Freedom Caucus Chairman Jim Jordan . "Because it is a little sort of   been kicked along forever. And now if we're actually going to offset some of it with real savings, that's something we got to look at." The Ohio Republican noted that, "obviously," conservatives believed an SGR deal would be better if it were paid for. "But we want to look at it," he said. "We want to see what is paid for." That Jordan isn't outright dismissing a deal is something   and it's proof that arguments from Americans Tax Reform and even the Wall Street Journal editorial page are seeping into the conservative consciousness. Ryan Ellis, the tax policy director for ATR, said leadership and committee staff working on the deal had repeatedly assured him the proposed bill would be "totally paid for, and then some   just not by the end of the 10-year window." "But since when do we measure entitlement reforms with 10-year windows?" Ellis asked in a statement.â€‹ "The Medicare actuaries report uses a 75-year time horizon, for example. Entitlement reform is slow and gradual to be fair to current seniors who can't adjust. But the savings grow like an avalanche over time." Of course, not every member is prepared to accept this idea of future savings and a nebulous SGR baseline. "America's speaking very, very loud. And we need to listen," Paul Gosar , R-Ariz., told CQ Roll Call Monday night. "They said stop this president. They didn't say sing Kumbaya with the other side." Gosar said the numbers on a deal just didn't add up. And he didn't expect Boehner to incur the potential wrath of conservatives by cutting a deal with Democrats that cuts conservatives out of the discussion. "I don't think he can afford to do that," Gosar said. But what happens if Boehner does it anyway? "Stay tuned," he said. Boehner almost certainly could pass a deal with Democrats and a healthy majority of the GOP conference. Democrats seem to want an extension   maybe two years, maybe four years   of the Children's Health Insurance Program. Republicans want some spending concessions on the Medicare payment system. Conservative Rep. John Fleming , who said he'd been briefed on the emerging deal, told CQ Roll Call he thinks he'll be able to vote for an eventual deal. "We're being honest for the first time," the Louisiana Republican said. "This has all been a shell game for over a decade." Still, this is Congress: the New York City street corner of shell games. And these are lawmakers: the Ray Guys of legislative punting. If there's anything Congress is particularly skilled at, it's finding a way to sour the big deal in favor of the short-term bargain. SGR is no exception. Congress has opted for a "patch" 17 times in a row on the "doc fix." And Boehner, who is still reeling from the Department of Homeland Security funding battle where Republicans caved on not blocking President Barack Obama's executive action on immigration, could see some political expediency to a shorter deal that allows Congress to address this issue later. A final decision may just depend on the backlash he faces from conservatives. "Be careful what you ask for," Gosar said ominously when asked about Boehner potentially disregarding conservatives. "I'm sure there's a line in that sand," he added, noting that he was on his way to a Monday evening HFC meeting where SGR would certainly be a topic of conversation. Melissa Attias contributed to this report. Related: 'Doc Fix' Is Latest Spending Battle for Conservatives Conservatives Still Fuming Over Secret 'Doc Fix' Voice Vote (Video) (Updated) The 114th: CQ Roll Call's Guide to the New Congress Get breaking news alerts and more from Roll Call in your inbox or on your iPhone .


Speaking at a commencement ceremony in his home state of Indiana, Vice President Mike Pence said he was proud of the Trump administration for standing "without a apology" for the "sanctity of human life," but avoided any mention of the controversial anti-abortion measures approved in several states in recent weeks. "I couldn't be more proud to be part of an administration that stood strong on the timeless values that have made this nation great, stood without apology for the sanctity of human life," Pence told graduating students at Taylor University. While the vice president has expressed similar sentiments before, his comments on Saturday come as outrage builds among the Democratic field of 2020 presidential candidates over a new Alabama law that would make it a felony to perform an abortion and carry a sentence of up to 99 years in prison. (MORE: Alabama governor signs controversial abortion ban into law but will likely face legal challenges) The vice president did not directly address the measure, which was signed into law by Alabama's governor but will have to survive legal challenges before it takes effect, or similarly restrictive bills approved in Georgia and Missouri. The speech closely resembled remarks Pence has made in commencement addresses at various university's during this graduation season. For the most part, Pence's address at Taylor discussed what the vice president described as the difficulties in being a devout Christian in today's society. "You know, throughout most of our American history [it] has been pretty easy to call yourself a Christian. But things are different now," he said. "Lately it's become acceptable, even fashionable, to malign traditional Christian beliefs. So as you prepare to leave this place, and build your life on the Christ centered world engaging foundation poured here at Taylor University   be prepared to stand up," The choice of Pence as Taylor's commencement speaker stirred up a heated debate on campus of the Christian college. (MORE: 41 states have tried to pass abortion restrictions this year, as Georgia votes on a new ban: Report) Following the announcement, the Taylor faculty voted 61-49 to express their disagreement with the university's decision. A petition circulated by students and alumni that protested Pence's visit to the campus got 8,000 signatures online. "Inviting Vice President Pence to Taylor University and giving him a coveted platform for his political views makes our alumni, faculty, staff and current students complicit in the Trump-Pence Administration's policies, which we believe are not consistent with the Christian ethic of love we hold dear," the petition said. Minutes before Pence was introduced on Saturday, dozens of graduates and faculty walked out of the graduation ceremony. At the close of his speech, the vice president received a standing ovation, according to the school's student newspaper.


DUBLIN, Ohio   At 43-years-old and having spent his share of time on the surgeon's table, Peyton Manning took particular interest in his playing partner's performance on Wednesday at Muirfield Village. The former signal caller took his annual place alongside Tiger Woods during the Memorial pro-am, a rite that's become more enjoyable as Manning's game has proportionally improved as he sails deeper into retirement. While he clearly has no interest in suiting back up and heading to OTAs, he certainly had to marvel at his medical miracle of a sidekick. "The most impressive thing is how he's been able to adjust and be adaptive to playing in a new physical state," said Manning, who like Woods returned from fusion surgery on his neck to win a Super Bowl and conclude a Hall of Fame career. "To use a baseball analogy, I couldn't throw the 100 mph fast ball anymore but I could still work the outside edges of the plate. You can strike a guy out that way and he struck a lot of guys out down there at Augusta." For an athlete like Manning, Woods' return from the depths of injury is the ultimate silver lining. Overcoming physical barriers to reestablish competitive relevance brings a level of appreciation that transcends the understanding of a casual observer. And with that unique sense of awe is also a singular awareness of the toll these types of comebacks can take. It's an understanding, for example, of not only how demanding it was for Woods to end a decade-long major victory drought at Augusta National but also how much more difficult it now is to maintain that edge. When Woods teed off for the first round of the PGA Championship two weeks ago, the unrealistic expectations were expected. What wasn't anticipated were rounds of 72-73 and an unscheduled trip back to South Florida following a missed cut. Perhaps it shouldn't have been much of a surprise. The emotional plateau that Woods achieved at the Masters was always going to be difficult to follow, and a curiously limited schedule to prepare for the year's second major didn't help things. He skipped the Wells Fargo Championship, which had traditionally been his first start following the Masters. He wasn't ready. Woods' preparation was also limited at Bethpage Black, where he played just nine practice holes before being sidelined on Wednesday by illness. "It took me a little bit," said Woods when asked how long it took him to recover from the Masters. "I lost quite a bit of weight and wasn't feeling my best but I was able to put most of it back on. Just continue working at it." Full-field tee times from the Memorial Tournament Memorial Tournament: Articles, photos and videos By all accounts that won't be the case for next month's U.S. Open. Woods arrived at Muirfield Village looking refreshed and ready following a scouting trip last week to Pebble Beach. There was a twilight range session on Tuesday followed by Wednesday's pro-am. "I feel a lot better. I just need to play a little bit more now. Hopefully it will be four solid days heading into the U.S. Open," Woods said. Woods' resume at Muirfield Village, which includes five victories at Jack's Place, hasn't necessarily translated to success at the U.S. Open. He's won the U.S. Open just once (2000) following a victory at the Memorial, but Muirfield Village has always served as a timely tune-up for the national championship. For those who believe that's somehow disrespectful to Jack Nicklaus, the event's host, know that this is the man who set the standard for peaking at major championships. Nicklaus understands the big picture better than anyone else. "I would consider him the favorite, he won by 15 shots when he played there," Nicklaus said of Woods' chances at the U.S. Open. "Sure. Absolutely. He loves it, absolutely he should be the favorite." But if Woods' history at Pebble Beach, where he lapped the field at the 2000 U.S. Open by 15 shots, is a reason to be optimistic about his chances, it's his current circumstance that should make him the undisputed favorite. Unlike the PGA Championship, where he still seemed adrift in his post-Masters honeymoon, Woods now appears to be on a more familiar path to the U.S. Open. It was always easy to believe that Woods arrived at major championships in his prime and was magically transformed into an unbeatable force, but the truth is it was his unparalleled preparation that at least partially fueled his belief that the title, any title, was his for the taking. In a way the last six weeks since his victory at Augusta National have shown the world what exceptional athletes like Manning already know. Climbing out of the void of injury is difficult but maintaining that edge and level of preparation is just as demanding. Note: Watch Tiger Woods' opening round at the Memorial Tournament on PGA Tour Live, beginning at 8 a.m. ET on Thursday.


Veteran NBA swingman Wesley Johnson will head overseas for the 2019/20 season. Greek club Panathinaikos issued a press release today announcing that it has signed Johnson to a one-year contract. The fourth overall pick in the 2010 draft, Johnson didn't develop into the sort of impact player that his draft position may have portended, but he has been a reliable rotation piece over the course of his nine-year NBA career. In 609 career games for the Timberwolves, Suns, Lakers, Clippers, Pelicans and Wizards, Johnson has averaged 7.0 PPG and 3.2 RPG with a .404/.337/.741 shooting line. The 32-year-old was traded twice during the 2018/19 league year, playing limited minutes in 26 games for New Orleans and 12 for Washington before the Wizards released him during the final week of the regular season. In Greece, Johnson will team up with another former lottery pick   the 10th overall selection in the 2011 draft, Jimmer Fredette also signed with Panathinaikos last week .


A little more than a week after signing guard Tiano Pupungatoa, the Vikings have waived him to sign another guard, Tyler Catalina. Catalina last played in the NFL in 2017 with the Redskins, playing in seven games while starting two. The former Georgia Bulldog was with the Redskisn last season, but was on the IR all season due to a shoulder injury. The Redskins waived him on July 31, so the Vikings acted quickly to bring him in. Clearly a sign that they wanted him. We'll see if Catalina, 26, can make a good enough impression over the next month or so to land a spot on Minnesota's roster. MORE: Jordan Crawford says Nike still owes him $500 for his legendary dunk on LeBron Steven Jackson gets random drug test from NFL after signing 1-day contract Biggest winners from the first week of Packers training camp Winners and losers from first week of Raiders training camp MLB World Series Power Rankings Following the Trade Deadline


Porsche secured its first victory in the Spa 24 Hours since 2010 thanks to the GPX Racing squad at the end of a disrupted, rain-affected race. Kevin Estre, Michael Christensen, Richard Lietz took honours in the Gulf-liveried #20 Porsche 911 GT3-R, leading a one-two for the Weissach marque ahead of the #998 ROWE Racing car shared by Nick Tandy, Patrick Pilet and Frederic Makowiecki. Estre had been some 40s clear of Tandy at one stage in the final hour, but Tandy had halved that gap by the time a final full-course yellow period was called with 24 minutes to go when Benny Simonsen crashed the #16 Porsche on the run down to Pouhon. The race was resumed with 14 minutes left on the clock, only for another FCY to be called minutes later when Klaus Bachler's #54 Dinamic Porsche and Rene Rast's #1 WRT Audi R8 LMS made contact at Pouhon, an incident that put the latter car out of fourth place. Estre's lead was down to five seconds for the final dash to the flag, and he duly held on by 3.347s over Tandy in the remaining four minutes. Third went to the #4 Black Falcon Mercedes AMG-GT3 shared by Maro Engel, Yelmer Buurman and Luca Stolz, 17s down on the winning Porsche, while the #25 Sainteloc Audi of Markus Winkelhock, Frederic Vervisch and Christopher Haase was the final lead lap finisher in fourth. The race had been red-flagged for almost six hours due to poor weather in the early morning hours before finally resuming with some five hours left on the clock. At this stage, three cars that had not made their mandatory five-minute technical pitstops led the way, meaning the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup points-leading SMP Racing Ferrari that had led at both the six-hour mark and 12-hour mark effectively held the advantage. But Mikhail Aleshin had already surrendered the lead to Rast's Audi before he spun on a wet kerb exiting Fagnes, hitting the KCMG Nissan of Oliver Jarvis and damaging his suspension. The #72 car Aleshin shared with Davide Rigon and Miguel Molina was later retired. The #1 Audi driven by Rast and his fellow DTM racers Robin Frijns and Nico Muller led until Muller spun at Les Combes while coming under pressure from a charging Estre. Estre had just dispatched polesitter Engel for second , which became the lead when Muller had his off, and pulled away to the tune of over 10s in the penultimate hour as the Mercedes struggled to keep up with the Porsche in the damp closing stages. The Black Falcon car lost further time at its final pitstop as Engel came in with just over 65 minutes remaining, meaning the team had to hold the German for 20 seconds to avoid falling foul of the rules governing maximum stint lengths - dropping Engel behind Tandy. Completing the top five, albeit one lap down, was the #98 ROWE Racing Porsche after Mathieu Jaminet prevailed over the solo factory Honda NSX GT3 Evo driven by Renger van der Zande in a final-lap battle. Two more Porsches secured top-10 finishes, the #99 ROWE car in seventh and the #117 Team75 Bernhard car in ninth, either side of the best of the Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evos, the #563 FFF Racing car. Defending Spa winner BMW just failed to get a car inside the top 10, with the Walkenhorst-run M6 GT3 that had been second at the time of the red flag ending up 11th at the finish. Aston Martin's top Vantage GT3 was the #76 R-Motorsport car, three laps down, one place ahead of the best of the KCMG-run Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3s. Bentley endured a race to forget with its four-strong squad of M-Sport-run Continental GT3s, the best of which finished in 29th place and four laps down. Read Also: Bentley questions Spa 24h BoP after missing Superpole Ferrari also had a disastrous outing as all four of its Intercontinental GT Challenge-nominated cars failed to finish, including the #51 entry crewed by James Calado, Alessandro Pier Guidi and Sam Bird after Pier Guidi crashed out in the night. Race results (Top 10): Pos.#DriversTeamCarTime/Gap 1 20 Richard Lietz Michael Christensen Kevin Estre GPX Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R 363 laps 2 998 Frederic Makowiecki Patrick Pilet Nick Tandy ROWE Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R 3.347 3 4 Maro Engel Yelmer Buurman Luca Stolz Mercedes-AMG Team Black Falcon Mercedes-AMG GT3 17.945 4 25 Markus Winkelhock Frederic Vervisch Christopher Haase Audi Sport Team Sainteloc Audi R8 LMS 22.425 5 98 Sven Muller Romain Dumas Mathieu Jaminet ROWE Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R 1 Lap 6 30 Mario Farnbacher Renger van der Zande Bertrand Baguette Honda Team Motul Honda NSX GT3 Evo 1 Lap 7 99 Dennis Olsen Matt Campbell Dirk Werner ROWE Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R 1 Lap 8 563 Dennis Lind Andrea Caldarelli Marco Mapelli Orange 1 FFF Racing Team Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo 1 Lap 9 117 Earl Bamber Timo Bernhard Laurens Vanthoor KUS Team75 Bernhard Porsche 911 GT3 R 1 Lap 10 999 Maxi Buhk Lucas Auer Maxi Gotz Mercedes-AMG Team GruppeM Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 1 Lap


If ice cream and frozen yogurt are what you're after, look no further: The Baked Bear has added a new location at 15900 La Cantera Parkway, Suite 26140. The Baked Bear, which has locations in California, Alabama, Missouri and Texas, specializes in custom-made ice cream sandwiches, with a giant scoop of original-recipe ice cream between fresh-baked cookies or brownies topped with cereal, cookie crumbles or other sweets. The shop serves more than a dozen flavors of ice cream, including salted caramel fudge, birthday cake, espresso bean and mint chocolate chip, as well as more than a dozen flavors of cookies, such as funfetti, red velvet, snickerdoodle and white chocolate macadamia nut. You'll also see classic ice cream sundaes and warm cookie or brownie bowls on the menu . With a five-star rating out of 10 reviews on Yelp so far, The Baked Bear has already made a good impression. Loraine E., who was among the first Yelpers to review the new spot on July 19, wrote, "Perfect sweet treat! If you're at La Cantera and you're looking for something sweet, definitely stop by The Baked Bear!" Yelper Lindsi P. added , "The service was really great, and we beat the crowd. I got [the] s'mores ice cream flavor, which was amazing, between two chocolate chip cookies." Intrigued? Stop in to try it for yourself. The Baked Bear is open from noon 10 p.m. Monday-Thursday and Sunday and noon 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Want to keep your finger on the pulse of new businesses in San Antonio? Here's what else opened recently near you . This story was created automatically using local business data, then reviewed and augmented by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


Auburn sophomore forward Chuma Okeke will sign with an agent and keep his name in the NBA draft, ESPN's Jonathan Givony tweets . Okeke has decided not to participate in the NBA Combine, apparently comfortable with his draft status, Givony adds. The 6'8" Okeke is currently ranked No. 41 by Givony. The decision to sit out the Combine suggests Okeke will go higher than that, perhaps in the first round. Okeke suffered a torn left ACL during the NCAA Tournament and underwent surgery on April 2nd. He posted averages of 12.0 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 1.9 APG, 1.8 SPG and 1.2 BPG during his sophomore campaign. He excelled in the tournaments, notching 18 points and 13 rebounds against Tennessee in the Tigers' 84-64 Southeast Conference championship victory. Okeke erupted for 20 points and 12 rebounds against North Carolina in a 97-80 win during the Sweet 16 before he suffered the injury while driving to the basket. Okeke came off the bench during his freshman season, averaging 7.5 PPG and 5.8 RPG.


Read on for the most recent top news you may have missed in Philadelphia. 17 kids assault 45-year-old lifeguard in Philadelphia's Mayfair section, police say More than a dozen kids ages12 to 18 assaulted the lifeguard, police said. Read the full story on CBS Philly . Mayor Kenney unloads on President Trump Kenney made the comments while announcing new steps to help immigrants facing deportation. Read the full story on CBS Philly . Philadelphia DA asks court to declare death penalty system unconstitutional Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner is asking the state Supreme Court to declare Pennsylvania's death penalty system unconstitutional. Read the full story on 6abc Action News . Crews rush to battle house fire in Southwest Philadelphia The flames broke on the 5900 block of Kingsessing Ave. Read the full story on CBS Philadelphia . Police: Brazen bandits prey on Northeast Philadelphia Target Police say they are searching for a pair of brazen bandits preying on a Target in Northeast Philadelphia. Read the full story on ABC Philadelphia, WPVI . This story was created automatically using data about news stories on social media from CrowdTangle , then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


DUBAI, July 16 (Reuters) - Iran's supreme leader upped the ante in a volatile stand-off with the United States on Tuesday, warning Tehran would continue removing restraints on its nuclear program and retaliate for the seizure of an Iranian oil tanker. Tensions have spiked since U.S. President Donald Trump last year abandoned world powers' 2015 nuclear deal with Iran under which it agreed to curtail its enrichment of uranium in return for the lifting of global sanctions crippling its economy. European parties to the pact decided on Monday not to trigger the deal's dispute mechanism in favor of pursuing more talks and avert any U.S.-Iranian military conflict, but took no action to shield Iran against a sanctions clampdown by Trump. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's ultimate authority, accused Britain, Germany and France of failing to uphold obligations under the deal to restore Iranian access to global trade, especially for Tehran's oil exports blocked by U.S. sanctions. "According to our foreign minister, Europe made 11 commitments, none of which they abided by. We abided by our commitments and even beyond them. Now that we've begun to reduce our commitments, they oppose it. How insolent! You didn't abide by your commitments!" Khamenei said, according to his website. "We have started to reduce our commitments and this trend shall continue," Khamenei said in remarks carried by state television. IRAN FUMES OVER EU INACTION He has previously upbraided European powers for not standing up to Trump and circumventing his sanctions noose. Russia and China are also parties to the accord. But it was the first time Khamenei explicitly pledged to press ahead with breaches of the nuclear deal, spurning European appeals to Iran to restore limits on enrichment aimed at obviating any dash to developing atomic bombs. "So far, efforts to win gestures from Iran to de-escalate the crisis are not succeeding (as) Tehran is demanding the lifting of sanctions on its oil and banking sectors first," a European diplomatic source told Reuters. Iran has long denied any intent to acquire nuclear weapons, and has said all its breaches could be reversed if Washington returned to the deal and its economic dividends were realized. Tehran has accused Washington of waging "economic war." "Western governments' major vice is their arrogance," Khamenei said. "If the country opposing them is a weak one, their arrogance works. But if it's a country that knows and stands up against them, they will be defeated." IAEA inspectors last week confirmed Iran is now enriching uranium to 4.5% fissile purity, above the 3.67% limit set by its deal, the second breach in as many weeks after Tehran exceeded limits on its stock of low-enriched uranium. The level at which Iran is now refining uranium is still well below the 20% purity of enrichment Iran reached before the deal, and the 90% needed to yield bomb-grade nuclear fuel. Low-enriched uranium provides fuel for civilian power plants. European Union foreign ministers, in a meeting on Monday, deemed Iran's violations not to be "significant," drawing Israeli accusations of appeasement recalling failed diplomacy with Nazi Germany in the run-up to World War Two. British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said on Monday Iran remained "a good year away from developing a nuclear bomb," adding there was still a "small window to keep the deal alive." The Europeans are trying to set up Instex, a barter-based trade conduit with Iran but it would initially deal only in items not subject to U.S. sanctions -- such as pharmaceuticals and foods. Iran has said Instex must include oil sales or provide substantial credit facilities for it to be beneficial. "PIRACY" Khamenei also said Iran would respond to Britain's "piracy" over the seizure in early July of an Iranian oil tanker in Gibraltar. "Evil Britain commits piracy and steals our ship ... and gives it a legal appearance. The Islamic Republic...will not leave this wickedness unanswered and will respond to it at an appropriate time and place," he said. Iran has called on Britain to immediately release the vessel, which was detained by British Royal Marines on the suspicion that it was breaking European sanctions by taking oil to Tehran's close ally Syria. Washington says it is applying "maximum pressure" on Iran to agree stricter limits on its nuclear capacity, curb its ballistic missile program and end support for proxy forces in a Middle East power struggle with U.S.-backed Gulf Arabs. Fears of direct U.S.-Iranian conflict have risen since May with several attacks on oil tankers in the Gulf, Iran's downing of a U.S. surveillance drone, and a plan for U.S. air strikes on Iran last month that Trump aborted at the last minute. In what loomed as another obstacle to trouble-shooting diplomacy, Iran confirmed on Tuesday it had detained French-Iranian scholar Fariba Adelkhah but declined to elaborate, a day after Paris demanded information on her case. Rights activists have accused Iran of arresting a number of dual nationals to try and extract concessions from the West - a charge the Islamic Republic has repeatedly dismissed. Iran's rial currency appears to have stabilized despite the brewing confrontation with the United States, gaining about 13% since early May after a 60% plunge last year. Analysts said that not only was Iran's forex market growing used to the tensions but the central bank had propped up the rial through injections of hard cash and steps to ensure the return of dollars earned from exports.


Looking to try the top steakhouses around? Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the best high-end steakhouses in Stockton, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of the best spots to venture next time you're on the hunt. 1. Prime Table Topping the list is Prime Table , located at 357 Lincoln Center. The steakhouse is the highest-rated high-end steakhouse in Stockton, boasting 4.5 stars out of 190 reviews on Yelp. Expect to find such items as blistered shishito peppers, ribeye and triple-cooked fries. 2. Midgley's Public House Next up is Midgley's Public House , situated at 296 Lincoln Center. Chef Michael Midgley brings his culinary talents to this American-fusion spot. Boasting four stars out of 513 reviews on Yelp, the eatery has proven to be a local favorite for those looking to indulge. The menu features filet mignon and desserts like its banana bourbon cake. 3. El Rancho Inn-Steak & Lobster House Stockton Metropolitan Airport's El Rancho Inn-Steak & Lobster House , located at 1457 E. Mariposa Road, is another top choice. Yelpers give the fancy steakhouse four stars out of 271 reviews. Expect to find New York steak, lobster, prawns and more on the menu. When it comes to dessert, dig into treats like the salted caramel brownie. This story was created automatically using local business data, then reviewed and augmented by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


ARLINGTON, Texas   Josh Hamilton will be inducted to the Texas Rangers Hall of Fame, along with former Arlington, Texas mayor Richard Greene, on Aug. 17 before a game against Minnesota Twins, so get tickets now. Now to the important stuff, catching up with one of the best players in Rangers history. Hamilton, who hasn't been seen at Globe Life Park in three years, said on Monday that he is continuing to win his daily battle with addiction while trying to catch up on missed time with his daughters. The five-time All-Star is a full-time dad when he has custody of his girls, and a rancher when he doesn't. He doesn't watch much baseball, but when he does he has to fight of the sensation that he could still be doing what he was so good at for six seasons with the Rangers. Hamilton is never going to be a normal guy, but he's trying. "I'm doing good," he said. "I've been making up for lost time with my girls, being dad." The Rangers announced their Hall class for 2019 at noon sharp and made Hamilton, the 2010 American League MVP, and Greene, a driving force behind the construction of Globe Life Park and a Star-Telegram contributor, available on a conference call. Hamilton did his from the tailgate of a pickup truck at a gas station between his ranch in College Station and his home in Tarrant County. He didn't seem bothered, or at the least tried to make the best of talking to the beat writers who wrote about the highs and lows of his career. The numerous highlights are what earned him a place in the Rangers' Hall. In addition to the MVP in 2010, he won the AL batting title and the AL Championship Series MVP. It's hard to forget his performance in the Home Run Derby in 2008 or the four-home run game in 2012 at Baltimore. He hit the go-ahead two-run homer in the 10th inning of Game 6 of the 2011 World Series. All of that came after he was kicked out of baseball for repeated violations of the MLB drug program, stopped using drugs and alcohol, and was reinstated in 2006 by then-MLB commissioner Bud Selig. Hamilton, the No. 1 overall pick in the 1999 draft by the Tampa Bay Rays, made his MLB debut in 2007 with the Cincinnati Reds. "It's a great honor," said Hamilton, who turns 38 on Tuesday. "If I was to think about 15 or 20 years ago about getting in any Hall of Fame at any point in my life, I would have said no. I've got to thank the good lord above, the Rangers, and all the fans. It's very humbling." So, too, it seems is the opportunity to spend time with his daughters. They attend school full time in Tarrant Count, they all play softball, and they aren't old enough drive themselves to and fro. Hamilton, who also moved his parents to Texas from North Carolina, has been spotted at an area Hobby Lobby and at his local grocery store. "There are a lot of things where everybody looks at my like, 'What are you doing here?' he said. "I'm like, 'I'm a person, and I have to shop for my kids.'" While he tells himself that he could still probably serve as a designated hitter, with his knees healthy and ranching keeping him strong and in shape, he wouldn't want to give up the time he has with his daughters. He rehabbed his left knee in 2016 after having his ACL repaired and prepared to play in 2017 before more knee troubles, but realized at some point that it was time for him to retire. He didn't want a news conference or Josh Hamilton Day at the ballpark. Hamilton just wanted to fade into the background. "I just felt like it was time for me to be with them," he said. "I felt like the girls needed me more than I needed baseball." But as busy as he is chauffeuring the girls and running errands and being a ranch hand, it doesn't occupy all his time, and down time is the hardest time for Hamilton as he tries to remain sober. He fell from the wagon on at least three public occasions during his career, in 2009 and in 2012 with the Rangers and in 2015 with the Angels. While the Rangers supported him, the Angels punt him and the $80 million remaining on his contract to the Rangers in April 2015. Hamilton, who made connections with scores of other addicts and recovering addicts during his career, said that he is still fighting. "There's always thoughts about doing something I shouldn't do," Hamilton said. "But that's going to be rest of my life. Don't think about it. Don't react. Don't do it. It's all good. Surround yourself with good people, people who love you and people who want you to do good, and now I've become a good contributing part of the community. "Yeah, man, it's all good."     ©2019 Fort Worth Star-Telegram Visit the Fort Worth Star-Telegram at www.star-telegram.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.


West Ham forward Marko Arnautović has handed in a transfer request at London Stadium following an offer from an unnamed Chinese club. The Austrian appeared to push for a move to the Chinese Super League during the most recent January transfer window but never saw a deal materialise, instead being rewarded with a new £100k-a-week contract by West Ham. But Arnautović is once again looking to leave the Premier League this summer, and Sky Sports report that the 30-year-old handed in a transfer request on Tuesday following another offer from a Chinese club. Marko Arnautovic has handed in transfer request to West Ham. Has offer from Chinese club. Can't just be about getting a new contract this time because he got one in January   Kaveh Solhekol (@SkyKaveh) July 2, 2019 Arnautović only joined West Ham in 2017 following a £20m move from Stoke City , going on to score 22 goals in 65 appearances for the Hammers across all competitions. But the Austria international appears to be set on receiving a big payday as he enters the latter stages of his career. It's unknown which Chinese club have an offer on the table for Arnautović, but the two sides who were interested six months ago - Shanghai SIPG and Guangzhou Evergrande - could come back in for the Austrian. West Ham have already been searching the transfer market for potential replacements throughout the the window, but so far they've had no luck with long-term target Maximiliano Gómez from Celta de Vigo. FC Porto's Moussa Marega believes that a move to join Manuel Pellegrini's side is a real possibility , and talks with the 28-year-old striker could commence once Mali's journey in the Africa Cup of Nations comes to an end this summer.


RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Copa America organizers CONMEBOL defended the use of video technology at the tournament after revealing VAR stoppages had averaged two minutes 26 seconds per intervention, nearly double the time taken at the 2018 World Cup. The lengthy delays to play owing to VAR has led to whistling from disgruntled supporters and been criticized by figures including Colombia coach Carlos Queiroz, just as the technology has become a huge topic of debate at the Women's World Cup. CONMEBOL referees' chief Wilson Seneme gave a news conference on Tuesday after the conclusion of the group stage to discuss the use of VAR at the tournament and said there had been 17 interventions in the 18 games, with 11 on-screen reviews. The average time per intervention easily eclipses the 80-second delays for VAR at the 2018 World Cup, the first major tournament where the technology was used. The longest amount of stoppage time added on in the Copa was nine minutes in Brazil's goalless draw with Venezuela, during which three goals were ruled out -- two by VAR. The extra time for stoppages added in that game was dwarfed, however, by the 18 minutes added in England's 3-0 win over Cameroon in the Women's World Cup. "There have been no scandals and this gives us peace of mind. We are very satisfied with the result," Seneme said, adding that 15 decisions were changed as a result of the technology's use and two were upheld. "We have been working on this since 2017 and the positive and negative results have allowed us to manage it well in 2019. The referee is still the one who decides, VAR is there to help the decisions." Venezuela have had a total of four goals scored against them ruled out by VAR, and after they scraped a goalless draw with hosts Brazil after two late goals were chalked off, coach Rafael Dudamel delightedly declared "Long live VAR". Argentina meanwhile were losing to Paraguay when they were awarded a penalty which no-one had appealed for after VAR spotted that a shot from Lautaro Martinez had taken the slightest of deflections off the hand of Paraguay's Ivan Piris. Lionel Messi scored from the spot to salvage a 1-1 draw which proved crucial in his side progressing to the last eight, where they will face Venezuela. Colombia coach Queiroz has been VAR's fiercest critic at the tournament, saying it desperately needed to be reviewed after it denied his side a goal and overturned a penalty that had been awarded to them in a 1-0 win over Paraguay. "Something has to change, because the fans are left confused and the players and coaches too. VAR was supposed to make football clearer and more objective but it's doing the opposite," he said. "We need to have a re-think for the good of football because the fans are not happy about it and neither are we." (Reporting by Richard Martin; Editing by Toby Davis)


Looking to add a new companion to the family? There are dozens of cuddly kittens up for adoption at animal shelters in and around Anaheim, so you won't have to look far to find the perfect new pal. Hoodline used data from Petfinder to power this roundup of kittens available for adoption near you. Read on to meet some friendly, furry locals. (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.) Sriracha, domestic shorthair Sriracha is a darling male domestic shorthair kitten currently housed at A Pawsitive Approach . Sriracha is a social animal   he loves other cats. He already has all of his shots. He's mastered his house-training etiquette. Here's what Sriracha's friends at A Pawsitive Approach think of him: Sriracha is quite the sweet boy. He loves to chill and watch the action around him. Read more about how to adopt Sriracha on Petfinder . Berlioz, tabby and domestic shorthair mix Berlioz is a female tabby and domestic shorthair kitten staying at A Pawsitive Approach . Berlioz is a social butterfly   she loves other cats. Have no fear: She is already house-trained. Her vaccinations are already up to date. Berlioz's current caretakers say: This grayish/black tabby still has her baby face. She's a little shy but warms up quickly... [She] would be a great addition to a family with another cat. Apply to adopt Berlioz today at Petfinder . Toulouse, tabby Toulouse is a male tabby kitten being kept at A Pawsitive Approach . Toulouse is ready to make friends, and he loves other cats. His vaccinations are up to date. He is already house-trained. Toulouse's current caretakers say: This orange tabby is the sweetest little cuddle bug you will ever meet. Apply to adopt Toulouse today at Petfinder . Molly, tabby Molly is a female tabby kitten currently residing at A Pawsitive Approach . Good news: She's already house-trained. She is vaccinated. Read more about Molly on Petfinder . Tammy, tabby Tammy is a sweet female tabby kitten being cared for at A Pawsitive Approach . Tammy has been vaccinated. She is already house-trained. Read more about how to adopt Tammy 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.


Looking to uncover all that Jamaica Plain has to offer? Get to know this Boston neighborhood by browsing its most popular local businesses, from a brewery and tap room to an ice cream shop and bakery. Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top places to visit in Jamaica Plain, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of neighborhood businesses. Read on for the results. 1. Samuel Adams Brewery Topping the list is Samuel Adams Brewery . Located at 30 Germania St. (between Brookside Avenue and Marmion Street), it's the most popular business in the neighborhood, boasting 4.5 stars out of 1,404 reviews on Yelp. The brewery and tap room offers a list of Samuel Adams' many beers, including seasonal brews, pale ales, IPAs, porters, sours and specialty smoked rye. Tours of the brewery are also offered. 2. The Haven Next up is gastropub and Scottish spot The Haven , serving fish and chips and more, situated at 2 Perkins St. (between Huntington Avenue and Centre Street). With 4.5 stars out of 499 reviews on Yelp, it's proven to be a local favorite. The restaurant features an extensive list of Scotch whiskeys, as well as dinner entrees of herb roasted chicken, homemade chicken sausage, lamb haggis, beer battered haddock and vegetarian curry. 3. Chilacates Mexican Street Food Mexican spot Chilacates Mexican Street Food is another top choice. Yelpers give the business, located at 224 Amory St. (between Boylston and Porter streets), 4.5 stars out of 438 reviews. The restaurant offers brunch and lunch, with menu items such as toasted Mexican telera bread with refried beans, melted jack cheese and avocado, as well as tacos, burritos, enchiladas and quesadillas. 4. Brassica Kitchen & Cafe Brassica Kitchen & Cafe , a cafe, cocktail bar and New American spot, is another much-loved neighborhood go-to, with 4.5 stars out of 221 Yelp reviews. Head over to 3710 Washington St. (at Tower Street) to see for yourself. Expect to find egg and cheddar on brioche on the breakfast menu, and fried chicken and a Japanese-style risotto among the dinner entrees. 5. FoMu Check out FoMu , which has earned 4.5 stars out of 208 reviews on Yelp. You can find the bakery, which offers ice cream, frozen yogurt, coffee, tea and more, at 617 Centre St. (between Pond and St. John streets). Ice cream flavors include chocolate pudding, espresso bean, candy bar, apple cider doughnut and salted caramel. Ice cream cakes, ice cream sandwiches, brownies and cookies are also available. This story was created automatically using local business data, then reviewed and augmented by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


The Washington Redskins entered the first day of 2019 minicamp with the intentions of coming together as a team and getting the groundwork laid for a highly-anticipated season. Instead, they were left with one of their most important players beginning what looks like a hold-out over contract disputes. Pro Bowl left tackle Trent Williams was not present at the mandatory minicamp on Tuesday morning, as he let the team know that he wanted to redo his contract. Williams is currently signed through 2020, with $24 million left in his deal. According to ESPN's John Keim, the Redskins were not surprised that Williams was a no-show, and that the team had been in talks with the 30-year-old veteran. "It's personal between him and the agent and the organization," Gruden said, via ESPN.com . "We'll handle it accordingly. Trent knows we all want him back. I want him back in the worst way. His teammates want him back in the worst way. There is a business side to pro football, and that's what he's about right now so we'll find out what happens." It was first reported by NFL Network that Williams desires a new contract. He is currently one of the highest-paid tackles in the NFL, stemming from his five-year deal signed in 2015. His base salary of $11 million in 2019 ranks fourth among active tackles in the game. However, the price of a highly-touted pass protector is rising, as shown by Trenton Brown receiving over $36 million in guaranteed money, with $15.25M per year in Oakland. Williams sees himself among peers at that price, and Gruden can't argue. "He's the best left tackle in pro football," Gruden said. "He's a great player for us, a great leader. Love to have him here without a doubt." Without Williams on the field, the Redskins lack production at the tackle position. RT Morgan Moses is working back from off-season ankle surgery, and veteran Ereck Flowers is trying to keep his career afloat with a new role in Washington. Whether they like it or not, the Redskins success this season relies in large part on the production they get out of their offensive line, and with their biggest piece missing, the future is in question. Until Williams returns, things are not full steam ahead in Washington. "Hopefully we will get it situated soon and get him back here," said Gruden. MORE: WATCH: Did Nike just reveal Kevin Durant's free agency destination? Did Nike accidentally reveal that Kevin Durant is staying with the Warriors? Report: Suns, Bulls offering lottery picks for Lonzo Ball Return of NASCAR: Packers planning ways to get 4 OLBs on the field together PFF projects Raiders DE Maxx Crosby to beat out Arden Key for starting role


Nike's "Dream Crazy" commercial narrated by civil rights activist and former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick has been nominated for a 2019 Emmy Award . LeBron James and other prominent athletes are featured in the critically acclaimed Nike spot along with Kaepernick. At the 1:10 mark of the video, LeBron first emerges as a young high school basketball phenom before the ad goes on to depict James speaking at the opening of his I Promise School in Akron, Ohio. "Don't become the best basketball player on the planet," Kaepernick says during the commercial as images of LeBron flash across the screen. "Be bigger than basketball. Believe in something, even if it means sacrificing everything." The short video went viral when it was first released in September for its inspirational message. But it was also met with controversy as a result of Kaepernick's previous protests on police brutality and racial inequality during the national anthem. Despite that, this commercial remains just one of many moments that LeBron used his platform to lend his support to those like the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback who are working for change in the community. Nike's two-minute ad was nominated in the outstanding commercial category along with "A Great Day In Hollywood" by Netflix, "Behind The Mac" by Macbook, "Point of View" by Sandy Hook Promise and "Shot on an iPhone XS" by iPhone. The winners are scheduled to be announced on September 22. MORE: Is Tacko Fall an NBA player? Here is the case for why... and why not Angler defies odds, lands truly enormous halibut Dan Le Batard Rips Trump and 'Send Her Back' Chants What made Bills hiring of Ken Dorsey a crucial hiring The Jaden Springer Blog: Breaking down his top five


Colorado was a leader when it came to missed mortgage payments and foreclosures in the years before the 2008 financial crisis. Now, no state can compare when it comes to borrowers who are timely on their mortgage payments and hanging onto their homes. The share of mortgage loans in the state past due 30 days or more stood at 1.78 percent in April, according to Black Knight, a mortgage technology firm . That is only slightly above the record low of 1.76 percent reached in the state last August. Colorado has had the lowest rate of mortgage delinquencies of any state for 26 consecutive months and has ranked in the bottom five states for the past 94 months, said Mitch Cohen, a spokesman for Black Knight. When it comes to the share of mortgage loans that are seriously delinquent, past due 90 days or more, Colorado has had the lowest rate of any state for 14 months and ranked among the bottom five for 49 months. And it's not because other states are slouching. The U.S. national delinquency rate hit a record low in April based on records back to 2000, according to Black Knight. RELATED: In Denver housing market, what was hot is now cold. See where your ZIP code ranks in home prices. "Colorado has consistently outpaced the national average in many top-level economic metrics, including   but not limited to   both GDP and population growth. Combined with rising home prices, a strong economy and a robust job market, these factors have all helped keep a lid on mortgage delinquencies," said Andy Walden, Black Knight's director of market research. Colorado home prices have risen more than 80 percent since 2011, double the gain seen nationally, according to the FHFA Purchase-Only Home Price Index. All that appreciation has helped homeowners along the Front Range build one of the thickest equity cushions in the country . Borrowers have a strong incentive to catch up if they slip behind. They also have an easier escape route if they can't get current. In an undersupplied housing market like metro Denver, buyers have remained plentiful. Last year, there were 1,461 homes sold in the state in a foreclosure sale. In 2007, nearly 40,000 homes went into foreclosure and nearly 25,000 ended up sold at auction, according to statistics from the Colorado Department of Local Affairs . Denver housing economist Ryan McMaken, who compiles the state's foreclosure statistics, said the market has seen less new home construction this cycle than the prior one, avoiding a supply glut. The ability to sell a home quickly and for more than the debt borrowed against it may explain why far fewer homes are going all the way to a foreclosure sale, he said. But it doesn't explain why Colorado homeowners are missing mortgage payments at half the rate of everyone else. Are their financial stresses here in some way less than those in other states, even states with lower unemployment? One explanation is that lenders have been much stricter since the housing crash in who they will lend to. It is simply much harder to purchase a home than it was last decade. Related Articles 8z and Redfin join real estate's instant-offer race along Front Range The most significant action a seller can take? Staging. Denver remains a top destination for millennials Metro Denver's housing market tug of war continues into April Home price gains in Denver slow in February "Credit quality in residential lending on a national level is very strong," said Tom Wind, executive vice president of consumer lending at U.S. Bank, one of the state's largest lenders. Those underwriting standards are national. But Colorado had such a deep purge of homeowners via foreclosures that it meant a bigger share of buyers who took over came under the more stringent standards. And those who survived were more likely to toe the line. "People can learn. There is no reason to expect the next financial crisis to play out in exactly the same way," McMaken said.


Pitt is adding some SEC speed to their defense this offseason. The addition comes in the form of graduate transfer linebacker Kylan Johnson , who arrives in the Steel City after spending the past three years at Florida. "Kylan is a really smart player with a great nose for the football," head coach Pat Narduzzi said in a school release. "He can play either outside linebacker position and is a great fit for our scheme. Kylan's experience and athleticism will be immediate assets for our linebacker group." After arriving in Gainesville as part of the class of 2016, Johnson wound up making nine starts for the Gators over a total of 33 games and recorded a total 83 tackles and a sack. Johnson has a single season of eligibility remaining with the Panthers and arrives to help out a linebacking corps that is probably thinner than Narduzzi would like heading into 2019. Middle linebacker Elias Reynolds is the only returning starter at Pitt and the defending ACC Coastal champs also have to replace several other key contributors in the front seven for the upcoming campaign. Pitt opens the season at home against conference rival Virginia on August 31.


Reynolds senior running back I'dre Bell will get his chance to play Division I football next year. Reynolds coach Shane Laws told the Citizen Times on June 4 that Bell has accepted a preferred walk-on position at Appalachian State. "This is a really good deal for him," Laws said. "I think he's a Division I caliber player and this gives him the chance to go out there and earn a scholarship." Bell's senior season was cut short after suffering a knee injury in a Sept. 28 game against Tuscola. Before the injury, Bell had 62 carries for 602 yards and six touchdowns, adding 30 catches for 322 yards and five scores. Reynolds senior lineman George Martinez and Jayquan Lewis will also play football at Louisburg College next year, according to Laws. This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Reynolds' I'dre Bell to play Division I football


The XFL will broadcast half their games on ABC and Fox, the league announced Monday. The spring football league hopes to do better than its predecessor, the Alliance of American Football, which shut down its operations last month and face a bevy of lawsuits. "We are thrilled to partner with ESPN and FOX Sports, two innovative media companies with extensive experience in world-class football production that will undoubtedly help us reimagine football," said Vince McMahon, XFL Founder & Chairman. "The XFL broadcast schedule provides us with incredible reach and makes it easy for fans to watch our games consistently every weekend." There will be no rights fees paid by the networks, but both ESPN and Fox will hold the streaming rights to games and will handle cross-promotion plus the selling of advertisements. The XFL's season will start on Feb. 8, just six days after Super Bowl LIV, which will be held at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida. Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, St. Louis, Seattle, Tampa Bay and Washington D.C. have already been awarded franchises for the XFL. "We look forward to showcasing the XFL on ESPN and ABC, including the kickoff game and championship during the league's inaugural season," said Burke Magnus, ESPN Executive Vice President, Programming and Scheduling. "Vince McMahon and Oliver Luck are two of the sports industry's most creative and experienced leaders, and they have exciting plans for this league. We believe in their vision for the XFL, which will be a great addition to our year-round commitment to football." Two games will be broadcast live that day, with the first being shown on ABC and the night cap being show by Fox. ESPN, ESPN2 and FS1 will also broadcast games throughout the season. The league's championship is scheduled for April 26 and will be shown on ESPN. Related slideshow: Top picks of 2019 NFL Draft (provided by imagn)


A Benz Velo participated in the world's first automobile race, the 1894 Paris to Rouen rally. Since then, the automaker has never stopped competing. After letting us drive the AMG GT R Pro , Mercedes invited journalists to Silverstone to poke around their race car collection. Both Lewis Hamilton and Valteri Bottas were there, and so were DTM and endurance champions Bernd Schneider and Klaus Ludwig. Here's what we saw from Mercedes' 125-year history in motorsports. Schneider won his fifth DTM championship in 2006 with this V-8 screamer. He also raced this SLS AMG GT3, which seems like a rather intimidating car. The battle scars of 2015. The wonderful Sauber Mercedes C9. Group C at its best. No problem here. Another Schneider car, the winning Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR. Dial GT1 for emergencies. This was before Mercedes' race cars began taking flight . Unfortunately, any "Red Pig" Mercedes you see is a replica, including this one. This one isn't even a runner. Still, it looks like an absolute boss. Oh, the 1994 Penske PC-23, powered by a 209 Mercedes-Benz pushrod V-8. 1952, double win for the 300 SLs at the 3rd Carrera Panamericana. Mercedes Simplex. Plenty of power by 1904 standards. And it still runs strong, until it ultimately overheats. No such problem in this, a supercharged 1931 SSK. Mercedes-Benz W25, grand prix car for 1934. And the W154, with a supercharged V-12 for 1938. America's favorite, the 300 SL. W196R, the 300SLR Streamliner from 1955. An absolute stunner. Klaus Ludwig's 190 Evo 2. Mercedes spent three decades in DTM before repackaging their know-how to create the Aston Martin Vantage DTM. The difference between a GT3 and a GT4. It's Formula One weekend. Is Mercedes winning? Probably. The Blitzen Benz. 21.5-liters of fury from 1909. Claus Ludwig was the champion in 1992. 10,000rpm. Miss a shift, and it blows. This is the Zakspeed Mercedes from 1991. Trust me, this Porsche-designed supercharged straight-six is sufficiently loud when you're sitting behind it. That's just a nice color combination. But frankly, what we could all build ourselves is a Safari-spec 500SL. In 1980, this SL raced in Argentina, New Zealand and at the African Ivory Coast Bandama rally. Such a badass.


MIAMI (AP) The Miami Marlins' homestand ended with a mob scene around Brian Anderson at second base that included punches on the arm, slaps on the back, hugs and high-fives. It's a wonder the Marlins remembered how to celebrate ninth-inning heroics, because they haven't had many. Anderson doubled home the winning run with one out in the ninth, and the Marlins earned their first walkoff victory of the year by beating the San Diego Padres 4-3 on Thursday. ''That was a lot of fun right there,'' Anderson said. ''Being able to finally get it done for the team feels great.'' Miami was 1 for 13 with runners in scoring position before Anderson came through. The score was 3-all when Garrett Cooper singled with one out in the ninth against Trey Wingenter (1-3). Pinch runner Yadiel Rivera stole second and scored without a play after third baseman Manny Machado barely missed a diving try at a backhanded stop of Anderson's liner into the corner. ''I was able to sneak it past him,'' Anderson said. Fernando Tatis Jr. hit his 15th home run for the Padres, who were hurt by sloppy defense and struck out 15 times. Sergio Romo (2-0) had two strikeouts in a perfect ninth. Teammate Harold Ramirez hit his fourth homer. Miami, which has the worst record in the National League, won two of three from the Padres. The Marlins went 1-10-3 in the series through May 15, and since then they're 8-8-1. ''We're in every game,'' Miami manager Don Mattingly said. ''We've talked about how it's time for us to win close games. That's where we're going to move forward.'' San Diego fell to 1-5 since the All-Star break. ''Not a good game, not a good series for us,'' manager Andy Green said. ''We weren't fundamentally sound, and we didn't deserve to win this series. We made a lot of mistakes on the defensive side of the ball, and didn't create enough offensive opportunities.'' The Marlins scored two unearned runs in the second after catcher Austin Hedges made an errant throw on a sacrifice bunt. The bunt appeared to be foul, but Green shrugged off the questionable call. ''It was an easy double play, and we didn't do it,'' he said. Miami had the better defense. A leaping catch at the wall by center fielder Cesar Puello robbed Hunter Renfroe in the fifth. Marlins starter Caleb Smith gave up two runs in five innings. San Diego's Dinelson Lamet allowed three runs, one earned, in four innings. ''It was a full team win,'' Anderson said. ''We played good defense all day. Smitty is back, doing his usual thing, giving us a chance every time, and our bullpen was great.'' SHAKY SERIES Tatis was 0 for 10 in the series with seven strikeouts before he homered to center field in the fifth. He also committed a throwing error, his third in two days, but Green said the rookie shortstop's defense isn't a concern. ''He's going to be completely fine,'' Green said. ''He just hasn't been crisp the past few days.'' Tatis didn't talk to reporters after the game. WHAT RELIEF Padres rookie Andres Munoz kept the score tied with two scoreless innings and topped out at 102 mph. He gave up a leadoff double to Cooper in the seventh and then struck out the side. MAKING SOME NOISE Attendance on camp day was 21,149, including more than 12,000 youngsters who provided a steady din, a rarity at Marlins Park. The crowd was the largest since opening day. TRAINER'S ROOM Padres: RHP Garrett Richards made his first rehab start in his return from Tommy John surgery, allowing one run with three strikeouts in two innings in the Arizona Rookie League. Marlins: Before the game, they placed INF/OF JT Riddle (right forearm strain) on the 10-day injured list and reinstated 3B Martin Prado (right hamstring strain) from the IL. Prado had been sidelined since June 12. UP NEXT Padres: LHP Eric Lauer (5-7, 4.04) is scheduled to start Friday when San Diego opens a three-game series at the Cubs. Marlins: Rookie RHP Zac Gallen (0-1, 4.24) is scheduled to make his fifth career start when Miami opens a six-game trip Friday at the Dodgers. Miami is 13-13 against Los Angeles since 2015. --- More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports --- Follow Steven Wine on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Steve-Wine


The power dynamic of the Golden State Warriors during the Kevin Durant era has been as fascinating, if not more so, than the actual run of dominance on the court. Curry is the guy who changed everything for the franchise with his shooting ability and Klay Thompson was the perfect Robin to Curry's Batman. The team went on an unbelievable run to win the 2015 NBA Finals and made a trip back, losing in seven games to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Durant came the next season, helping lead the Warriors to two more titles, and maybe another one this season. Durant has won the Finals MVP in each of the last two seasons, but many say that the Warriors offense is only so good because of the attention he draws from all defenders even when he doesn't have the ball. For Klay Thompson, it's simple. Kevin Durant is the team's best player. It isn't a knock on Curry, who is going to go down as one of the 10 best players of all time, it's just that Durant can do a lot of things no one else can with his combinatino of "I'm happy we won so we can get some rest and get [Durant] healthy because if we want to get this 3-peat, we desperately need him back. He's our best player, we dearly miss him. We'll hold it down while he's out, but it's not the same without him. Far from it." "If we want to get this 3-peat, we desperately need him back. He's our best player." - Klay on KD pic.twitter.com/oRqkgwV1hL - Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 11, 2019 "I'm happy we won so we can get some rest and get [Durant] healthy because if we want to get this 3-peat, we desperately need him back. He's our best player, we dearly miss him. We'll hold it down while he's out, but it's not the same without him. Far from it." It isn't a knock on Curry, who is going to go down as one of the 10 best players of all time, it's just that Durant can do a lot of things no one else can with his combination of size and skill, he's a unique, almost impossible to defend player. After Game 6, Curry said that Durant had carried the team all postseason, and it's this kind of credit deference is what landed Durant on the team in the first place. The Warriors two top dogs giving Durant all of the praise in a huge closeout game that he didn't play in could be the best recruiting pitch that the Warriors could offer up between now and July. Curry's legacy takes a slight hit of Durant continues to win Finals MVPs, and Thompson's contract is secondary to Durant's if he does indeed decide to come back. Both of these guys know this, and yet, they both showered Durant with love following of the biggest wins of this era. If Durant does decide to come back, Thompson and Curry could be the ones to thank. MORE: Most bizarre and incredible catches by fishermen in past decade NBA Free Agency 2019: The top players Kyrie Irving 'has had discussions' about playing for the Lakers Steph Curry's Game 6 win keeps parents Dell and Sonya from splitting up Riley Ridley was one of the best value picks from the 2019 NFL draft Related slideshow: Best of 2019 NBA playoffs (Provided by imagn)


The San Jose Sharks have signed another important part of their group of young forwards, inking Kevin Labanc to a one-year contract . Financial details have not been released, but GM Doug Wilson issued a statement: Kevin took a big step forward in his production last season and has grown into an important part of our team here in San Jose. He's always had a dangerous shot but really stepped into a playmaking role for us last season and improved his 200-foot game as well. We think he still has even more potential to tap into and we're excited to see what he can do with an elevated role with this talented group. Labanc, 23, will still be a restricted free agent next summer and is betting on himself with the short-term deal. The sixth-round pick made quick work of the AHL after making the leap to professional hockey and just finished his first full season in the NHL. Scoring 17 goals and 56 points, the former OHL superstar is ready to take another step and become one of the offensive leaders in San Jose now that Joe Pavelski has left town and Joe Thornton is another year older. If he does improve his numbers again in 2019-20, he'll be in line for an even bigger deal next summer. That's the gamble the Sharks had to take though given their cap crunch this year. The team spent a good amount of their cap space on extensions with Erik Karlsson and Timo Meier , leaving it without room to really buy out several years of unrestricted free agent status with Labanc. A short-term deal like this could result in him asking for even more in a year's time but also places much of the risk on Labanc to perform up to his standards and stay healthy. For a team looking like Stanley Cup contenders once again, that kind of bet can be beneficial to both sides. The question now will be just how high can Labanc climb? When the Sharks picked him 171st overall in 2014, he was coming off a 35-point season with the Barrie Colts and looked like a potential organizational filler. He quickly showed he had bigger plans with a 107-point season following his draft, only to up that even further by scoring 153 points in a combined 80 regular-season and playoff games for the Colts in 2015-16. An impressive playmaking presence on the power play, Labanc could see his numbers improve even further if a bump in ice time comes this season. Those 56 points last season came while averaging just 14 minutes a night, something that should change with Pavelski no longer in the mix on the right wing.


Team USA has lost its marquee player for this year's FIBA World Cup, with James Harden saying Friday he has withdrawn from the team. According to the Houston Chronicle , Harden said he has already informed U.S. coach Gregg Popovich about his decision, which will free up much of the former NBA MVP's August and early September and allow him to focus on getting to know his new Rockets teammates. Harden's withdrawal comes shortly after Anthony Davis did the same, leaving Popovich without most of the elite American-born NBA players for the tournament. The likes of LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, Russell Westbrook and Kyrie Irving already declined an opportunity to participate for a variety of reasons. The star power among the remaining 18 players scheduled to attend training camp in Las Vegas next month rests mostly in the backcourt, led by Damian Lillard, Kemba Walker and Bradley Beal. Another standout guard, Kyle Lowry, recently had surgery to repair a tendon injury in his left thumb but is hoping to recover in time to play in the World Cup, ESPN reported Thursday. Here's the remaining 18 guys on the USA World Cup roster, w/ Senior Team experience. Still a solid group. Also possible they add a name or two in the next couple of weeks. pic.twitter.com/kzeWfetkWC   John Schuhmann (@johnschuhmann) July 19, 2019 With Harden and Davis out, Lowry, Kevin Love, Andre Drummond, Eric Gordon and Harrison Barnes are the only players remaining on the initial U.S. roster with World Cup or Olympics experience. MORE : Anthony Davis to skip FIBA Basketball World Cup, still planning to play in Olympics, report says | Nike countersuing Clippers' Kawhi Leonard over 'Klaw' logo | Kevin Durant injury update: Nets superstar shares recovery photos on Instagram The U.S. team will have training camp in Las Vegas Aug. 5-9, concluding with an intrasquad scrimmage on the final day. The team will relocate to Los Angeles for more practice Aug. 13-15 before playing Spain Aug. 16, and the 12-man World Cup roster will be announced the following day. After a series of practices and exhibitions in Australia in late August, the U.S. will open group play in Shanghai on Sept. 1 against the Czech Republic. Related slideshow: 10 best moves of the 2019 NBA offseason (Provided by Yardbarker)


A dog was spotted playing fetch by himself at Barton Springs in Austin, Texas.


Auditor general to conduct follow-up audit of dog law enforcement


Missed the the most recent top news in Detroit? Read on for everything you need to know. Detroit police seek missing 15-year-old boy Police are looking for a missing 15-year-old boy last seen May 24 in the 1000 block of Clark Street. Read the full story on Graham Media: WDIV Detroit . Man killed in shootout with Wayne State police in Detroit's Midtown Wayne State police are investigating after an officer got into a shootout with a gunman Wednesday night, according to police. Read the full story on Graham Media: WDIV Detroit . National 'Weird Homes Tour' returns to Detroit This one's for the spooky, creative, and different. The Weird Homes Tour is making its way back to Detroit. Read the full story on Detroit Metro Times . This story was created automatically using data about news stories on social media from CrowdTangle , then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


The Jacksonville Jaguars sat 32 players for their Week 1 preseason battle against the Baltimore Ravens and the results haven't been pretty. In fact, the Jags found themselves down 16-0 when the half ended. However, despite the score, there were some positives to take from the first half - and one of those positives on defense was undrafted rookie cornerback Tae Hayes. Continuing the success he had causing turnovers in practice, the young corner once again made an impact play in Thursday's game against the Ravens by picking off fellow rookie Trace McSorley late in the second quarter. No one more excited for @hayeskt2 's INT than @jalenramsey #JAXvsBAL | #DUUUVAL pic.twitter.com/URRGfMXjFL - #DUUUVAL (@Jaguars) August 9, 2019 Hayes' pick couldn't have come at a better time as the Ravens were on the Jags' 40-yard line. The pick also lifted the spirits on the sidelines as Pro Bowler Jalen Ramsey was the first to congratulate his comrade despite not taking the field at all Thursday. As previously mentioned, Hayes' pick doesn't come as a complete shock because he had been impressing in camp and even had two picks on Tanner Lee on Day 9 of camp. While he is a little undersized at 5-foot-9, 188-pounds, his scrappiness could at the least land him a practice squad spot when final cuts are made if he continues to impress. MORE: A furious Chris Davis had to be held back from Orioles manager Brandon Hyde Packers vs. Texans: Time, TV schedule, streaming, how to watch Ravens vs. Jaguars Week 1: Time, TV schedule and how to stream online How to watch Patriots vs. Lions Deadline passes as Elliott loses accrued season, fines reach $500K


Orlando will continue to face hot weather today, according to drone-powered weather forecasting service Saildrone . Temperatures will reach a high of 91 degrees on Tuesday, then drop slightly from Wednesday to Saturday. The next few days will also bring partly cloudy skies, expected to persist through Thursday. Skies will begin clearing on Friday, remaining clear through Monday. Winds will continue to be light throughout the week, with the highest speeds on Sunday at only 12 mph. This story was created automatically using Saildrone's local weather forecast data, then reviewed by an editor. We also incorporate historic weather data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


Here's why you shouldn't give knives in China, jump a line in England, or admire a watch in Fiji and why you should spit on some people in Kenya? Here's why you shouldn't give knives in China, jump a line in England, or admire a watch in Fiji and why you should spit on some people in Kenya? Don't leave your chopsticks sticking up in Japan Never stick your chopsticks vertically in a bowl of rice. 'It's considered extremely taboo because it reminds people of funerals where a bowl of rice is offered with two chopsticks standing vertically in the center as an offering to the deceased,' explains Bonnie Tsai, manners expert and founder and director of Beyond Etiquette . Instead, place them across the top of the bowl or next to the bowl if you're still eating. Remove your shoes before entering a home in Vietnam Visitors to most Asian countries should be prepared to remove their shoes before entering a home, says Lori Whatley , PhD, a human behavior expert and clinical psychologist. 'It is considered a major cultural mistake not to do this as the interior of a home represents personal space,' she explains. Show respect by leaving your shoes outside the door (yes, even overnight) and making sure your feet are clean. Request your bill in Italy When dining out in Italy, be on your best manners as meals are typically considered more formal affairs than most Americans are used to, according to the travel company Fodor's . Another difference is that the waiter will not bring you the check until you ask for it so you need to alert the waiter when you are ready to pay rather than simply waiting to be presented with the bill. Follow the dress code in Saudi Arabia It doesn't matter if you think a country's rules around clothing are appropriate or not if you are a guest in that country, you should follow them, says Maryanne Parker, an international etiquette consultant in San Diego, speaker, author of Posh Overnight , and founder of Manor of Manners International . 'In Saudi Arabia women are required to wear a headscarf and abaya (long dress) if they want to enter certain places, like a mosque,' she explains. 'Yes, even if it's July and 110 degrees outside. Not all Middle Eastern nations are that strict but make sure you ask about the dress code before going.' Clear your plate in Greece 'Leaving food on your plate can be seen as an insult to your host as it can imply that you didn't think the food was appetizing,' Tsai says. If you're worried about overeating or not liking something, take small portions of each dish and eat all of what you take. If you want more you can ask for seconds, which will delight your host. Spit to say hello in Kenya 'In Kenya, the Maasai tribe spit at one another the same way we shake hands in America,' Whatley says. 'It is considered a gift and compliment to be spit on in that culture.' However, Kenyans that are not part of the Maasai simply use a more casual wave or handshake to say hello. Be careful with compliments in Fiji Fijian culture reveres the custom of kerekere, or 'shared property,' according to Fodor's . This means that if someone asks you for something, it's polite to give it to them. On the flip side, this means you need to be careful of openly admiring something that belongs to a Fijian as they will feel obligated to give it to you, they add. Clasp your own hands instead of shaking hands in Thailand Shaking hands is a cultural faux pas in Thailand, Whatley says. 'When meeting someone you will be offered a 'wai' which is a greeting involving putting palms together at chest level,' she explains. 'This is their customary greeting and conveys reverence and respect.' Don't eat in front of people who are fasting in the United Arab Emirates 'If you travel to a Muslim country during Ramadan, a Holy month observed by the Muslims all over the world, know that observant people will be fasting from sunup to sundown,' Parker says. 'It is a very poor manners to eat or drink in front of people who are fasting.' This doesn't mean you don't need to follow their fast but you should eat your meals where they won't be bothered by the sight, sound, or smell of you eating. Get in line in England Lines, or 'queues,' hold a special place in English etiquette, according to Fodor's . 'They highly value patience, and will turn on 'queue jumpers' who try to cut in line with some ferocity,' they explain. 'Complaining while waiting in line is considered wimpy. Enduring the wait with good humor is considered a sign of strong moral character.' Skip bouquets of sunflowers in Russia Note to would-be suitors: 'Giving a person yellow flowers in Russia represents hate and is offensive,' Whatley says. Yellow flowers are also considered funeral flowers. Another floral tip? 'They only give flowers in odd numbers, an even number of flowers is never given,' she adds. Eat with your fingers in India Indian food is generally meant to be eaten with your fingers and will be served in such a way as to make that convenient for you, Tsai says. Use two fingers and the bread to scoop up liquidy dishes. 'Make sure to use your right hand when eating as the left is seen as 'unclean' and disrespectful,' she explains. Keep your knees and shoulders covered in Morocco Modesty isn't just seen as a religious issue but is also a sign of respect and politeness in Morocco, according to Frommer's . Both genders are generally expected to wear clothing that covers the shoulders and goes to below the knees. 'Running shorts, sleeveless shirts, and beachwear are only worn when playing sports or at the beach, and if worn at other times are almost tantamount to wearing only your underwear,' they write. Never give knives as a gift in China Gift giving is an important ritual in China, even among new acquaintances, but when you're picking out a present be sure to avoid any cutting implements, Tsai says. 'Never give knives, scissors, or any other cutting equipment as gifts because they signal the end of your relationship,' she says. Patience is a virtue in Mexico Things move at a much slower pace in Mexico than they do in the United States, according to Fodor's. The good news is that there's no stigma attached to being late, so feel free to take your time. If you are frustrated by others' slowness though you'd best keep it to yourself. The traditional punctuality and straightforwardness of Americans, Canadians, and Europeans are often perceived as curt and aggressive, Fodor's says. 'Mexicans are extremely polite, so losing your temper over delays or complaining loudly will get you branded as rude and make people less inclined to help you,' they explain.


A new spot to score pizza and more has debuted in the neighborhood. Located at 1607 W. Montrose Ave. in Lakeview, the new addition is called Crushed Pizzeria . This new business serves up thin crust pizza. The menu now features specialty pies like the Louie, with sausage, pepperoni and capicola, or the Alex P, with olives and mushrooms. Crushed Pizzeria has proven popular thus far, with a 4.5-star rating out of 14 reviews on Yelp. Yelper William M., who was among the first Yelpers to review the new spot on May 29, wrote, "I stopped by on the way home to get a couple of slices, it was delicious. The crust was thin, but it was crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside. Sauce had great flavor and the sausage was perfect. " And Justin B. wrote , "Absolutely love this pizza. It's the kind of pizza where you are excited to get to the crust. Try the T.C. or the Rose. Owners were super friendly as well. Support local." Interested? Stop by to welcome the new business to the neighborhood. Crushed Pizzeria is open from 3 10 p.m. on Monday-Thursday and Sunday, and 3  11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Want to keep your finger on the pulse of new businesses in Chicago? Here's what else opened recently near you . This story was created automatically using local business data, then reviewed and augmented by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


Six months have passed since Clemson dismantled Alabama 44-16 in the national championship game in January, but that decisive defeat is still being debated and discussed even as the 2019 season is about to unfold. There were 14 teams in attendance at the ACC Football Kickoff media gathering in Charlotte on Wednesday and Thursday, yet much of the conversation revolved around Clemson and Alabama and whether or not a showdown between the teams might unfold for a fifth consecutive year. Here's a sampling of what was said about Clemson and Alabama, by players, coaches and analysts: Clemson's John Simpson on Alabama Senior offensive lineman John Simpson reacts to comments made by Alabama linebacker Dylan Moses contending that Georgia was a tougher opponent last season than the Tigers. "Those guys are really talented over there. If that's the way they feel, then that's the way they feel. I don't want to say this, but Georgia didn't beat them by 28 points. It is what it is. It's all facts. That's his opinion, that's how he feels. MORE CLEMSON SPORTS NEWS (Joint) Our sports team follows the goings-on at Clemson athletics even in the off-season. Never miss out on the scores, analysis and insights. Please consider becoming a subscriber. Here's our special offer . "It's all about facts. The SEC is a great conference, but the ACC has a lot of great teams as well. We go to bowl games and beat SEC teams. It's really about facts." Simpson on 'toughest' opponent "I personally feel like Notre Dame was the best team that we played. Notre Dame was really good. I think Notre Dame was better than Alabama was." Clemson's Dabo Swinney on Alabama "I don't know what I'm supposed to say. We were the better team that day. There really isn't nothing else to say." But Swinney found something to add. "I think our league is so understated it's not even funny. We've won more national championships in the last six years than any conference in football. You probably wouldn't know that because nobody is going to talk about that." Mark Richt on Clemson vs. Alabama Richt, former coach at Miami and Georgia, can offer a unique perspective as he joins the ACC Network team. "I don't think anybody was complaining about that game (Clemson vs. Alabama) last year; if you want to be entertained, it was pretty entertaining. You can get tired of a team or a certain couple of teams, but you also keep down appreciate excellence." Katie George on Clemson vs. Alabama George, a former volleyball player at Louisville and an analyst for the ACC Network, weighed in on the possibility of a Clemson vs. Alabama, Part V. "I think sometimes fans would like to see somebody new, but you know what? I'm of the thinking that if you're that good and you've put in the work you deserve to be there. I don't think you need to be on the separate side of a bracket to make it more fair or anything like that. Alabama and Clemson have earned it based on the pedigree they've had for the past 10 or so years. I'm not tired of it by any means." N.C. State's James Smith-Williams The Wolfpack's senior defensive end says Clemson deserves to be lauded for its decisive win against Alabama. "The narrative has always been the same: The SEC's the best, the SEC has great teams and I give them all the credit in the world. But then you point toward the national champion, right? They've had good games, but last year Clemson had their number. It was the national championship game and they won by I don't know how many points (28), but they did what they did. You've got to give Clemson props." SEC Media Days: What Alabama said about Clemson This article originally appeared on The Greenville News: ACC: Here's what Clemson football is saying about Alabama football


The Patriots apparently won't be visiting the White House this summer , but the owner of the team was in D.C. on Monday night for a dinner with the President. The event, held at the Treasury Department, honored the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani. Robert Kraft sat two spots from President Donald Trump, via Bloomberg.com. Rams owner Stan Kroenke also sat at the President's table. Kraft's presence will raise some eyebrows given his still-pending misdemeanor charges of solicitation of prostitution. By all appearances, however, the case against him is dead   the only question at this point is when the charges will officially be dismissed. The dinner came a night after the football stadium owned and operated by Kraft hosted a concert from the Rolling Stones. During the show, Mick Jagger offered up a quote at Gillette Stadium that quite possibly will place Jagger on the same "pay no mind" list that U.K. Ambassador Kim Darroch now occupies. Said Jagger, via RollingStone.com, "If only the British had held on to the airports, the whole thing might have gone differently for us ."


Fulham are lining up replacements should they lose Serbian international Aleksandar Mitrovic this summer. Mitrovic looks set to leave Craven Cottage this summer, with Fulham asking for around £30m in order to free up funds and replace the striker with the likes of Britt Assombalonga and Dwight Gayle. Mitrovic netted 11 times for the Cottagers in the Premier League last season, earning interest from striker-heavy West Ham and striker-deficient Crystal Palace. The Evening Standard report that manager Scott Parker is interested in signing an experienced Championship striker should he lose Mitrovic in the coming weeks. Gayle scored 24 goals whilst on loan at West Brom and helped guide them to a top six finish, narrowly missing out in the playoff semi-finals to Midlands rivals Aston Villa, and Newcastle are believed to have set a £20m asking price for the goalscorer. Assombalonga netted 14 times last season and would be the slightly cheaper option, with Middlesbrough asking for a fee around £15m to recoup the money they paid for him when he signed from Nottingham Forest two years ago. Fulham have a tough season ahead of them as they plan to mount a promotion push and Parker is already looking build a squad he believes is good enough. Should Fulham hold out for £30m for the Serbian, Parker hopes the money will be invested into the rebuilding of a squad capable achieving instant promotion.


Ferrari is "seriously" looking at setting up an Esports programme having been the only Formula 1 team yet to embrace the concept up to now. F1 launched an official Esports series in 2017, which last year grew to include all nine teams except Ferrari. These dedicated Esports teams have continued for the 2019 edition, which will include a total prize fund of $500,000. "Esports is increasing in terms of interest and certainly as Ferrari we are looking seriously into it," said Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto. "We are not yet fully committed to the programme but it's something where the discussions are ongoing. We will, very soon, make our own decision." F1's Esports series includes a qualifying stage to determine which drivers enter a two-day draft process to allow the F1 teams to select their drivers for the Pro Series. Once drivers have been picked, the Pro Series will take place between September and December across four live events to decide the F1 Esports Series' teams' and drivers' championship and the winner. Ferrari's hesitancy towards new F1 projects has also been seen on the broadcast side. Last year, along with Mercedes, Ferrari decided not to give permission for Netflix to film inside the team for the 'Drive To Survive' series that launched on the streaming service earlier this year. However, Binotto   who described Netflix and Esports as "certainly great programmes"   suggested that could change for this year. Ferrari and Mercedes have both been discussing with programme bosses about relenting and opening their doors for a second series. Read Also: Netflix series would have been "distraction" for Mercedes "It's certainly an interesting programme," said Binotto. "We were not participating last season as Ferrari. "We are considering it at the moment. "We have not taken our final decision, so it's something we will do in the next few weeks."


In the greater Sacramento region, 6,311 people lost a total of $29,595,487.70 to various cyber crimes in 2018, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Internet Crime Complaint Center . Overall, the state of California has the most amount of victims to cyber crimes and the most amount of loss by these victims in the nation, according to the 2018 report on cyber crimes . In California, nearly 50,000 victims lost over $450 million to cyber crimes. The Internet Crime Complaint Center under the Cyber Division of the FBI works towards informing people of scams and schemes while also helping people after they have been victimized. The center also continually tracks and helps victims of cyber crimes, which can include cyber terrorism, identity theft, and government fraud. The top three types of fraud that, on average, cost the most per victim in 2018 were investment fraud, business email compromise and real estate fraud. Barbara Wade, a spokesperson for the FBI, said it is suggested people keep their anti-virus software updated and stay aware of current scams to help prevent themselves from being a victim of a cyber crime. The Internet Crime Complaint Center keeps a list of known trends and schemes on their website . The state of California ranks third in the nation for having a high amount of identity theft cases, according to the Federal Trade Commission . Some tips offered by the center to avoid identity theft include: Check to make sure the website or business you're giving your credit card information to is secure and legitimate. Ask or find a physical address rather than a P.O. Box or mail drop. Do not throw out bank or credit card statements in a usable form. Do not give out your credit card number over the phone unless you've made the call. Continually monitor your credit statements for fraudulent activity. Report unauthorized transactions to your bank or credit card company as often as possible. Review a copy of your credit report at least once a year. Should someone be victimized by cyber crimes, Wade said they should file a report with the Internet Crime Complaint Center on their website or call their local FBI office. The center's Recover Asset Team, which has helped victims in the United States recover 75 percent of their losses, will then help the victims in recovering funds. Definitions of the types of crimes can be found in the Internet Crime Complaint Center's annual report . RELATED: She used internet sites to connect with men. Then she met them & robbed them. A thief in the family: Is someone you love stealing from you? This is how burglars are breaking into homes These cars are on the 'most stolen' list We interviewed 8 convicted criminals and learned they all shared one thing in common Watch More on ABC10: Inside the Sacramento Police Academy Is getting through the Sacramento Police Academy tougher than getting through boot camp for the U.S. Marines? Find out from the latest class of recruits, see some of what they go through to earn a badge, and learn why they're doing it.


The Phillies apparently want to beef up their pitching staff before the July 31 trade deadline. Philadelphia general manager Matt Klentak has been "in contact with every team that has pitching available," MLB insider Jim Bowden reported Tuesday during an appearance on CBS Sports HQ . The Phillies came into the season with high expectations but have been inconsistent so far. They entered play Tuesday with a 48-46 record and have lost four of their last six games. While Philadelphia is tied for the second wild-card spot, president Andy MacPhail said the team might not be willing to trade top prospects for frontline players. "Hard for us to make the judgment now that we're one trade away from the World Series," MacPhail told reporters last week, via MLB.com . "We don't believe that. I don't believe that. So, as a result, you're going to have to be more judicious with your playing talent. It doesn't mean you can't make a different type of deal, doesn't mean you can't make a deal where a component is taking on somebody's salary." Blue Jays ace Marcus Stroman and Giants left-hander Madison Bumgarner are expected to be available while the Indians could consider moving Trevor Bauer. The Phillies, however, may not be willing to meet the asking price for any of those players. "Our ownership has been pretty clear, and they've demonstrated by their actions, that salary is not something that is going to be ... it has to make some sense, but that's not going to be something that's going to hold us back," MacPhail said. "I think from my standpoint, I'm going to be more judicious. "We win seven in a row ... I might feel differently. Given our current circumstances, I think I'm going to be a little judicious and careful about what talent's walking out the door." MORE : Gabe Kapler says Jake Arrieta 'at 85 percent' is Phillies' best option | Phillies All-Star J.T. Realmuto interested in signing extension, report says | Todd Frazier: Jake Arrieta went 'a little overboard' with dented skull threat The Phillies are interested in Orioles reliever Mychal Givens, according to an earlier report from MASN . Related slideshow: The 2019 MLB season (Provided by imagn)