It's not uncommon for teams to rely on their very best players week in and week out. That's exactly what the Los Angeles Rams did last season, helping them win 13 games and make it all the way to the Super Bowl. They used the same five starters on the offensive line all season, primarily only four wide receivers (due to Cooper Kupp's injury) and hardly ever put a tight end on the field not named Gerald Everett or Tyler Higbee. The defense had more of a rotation, which is to be expected, but even still, the Rams leaned heavily on a core group of players who rarely came off the field. As a result, Los Angeles landed four players on Pro Football Focus' list of the top iron men in the league last season. The qualifier is having an overall grade of at least 80.0 and playing 80 percent of the snaps during the regular season. Below are the Rams players who made the cut on offense and defense . Robert Woods Overall Grade: 87.9 Offensive Snaps: 1,041 Rob Havenstein Overall Grade: 84.3 Offensive Snaps: 1,100 Andrew Whitworth Overall Grade: 83.1 Offensive Snaps: 1,037 John Johnson III Overall Grade: 83.7 Defensive Snaps: 1,155 You might notice a glaring omission from this group of players. Somehow, Aaron Donald didn't make the list despite earning an overall grade of 95.6 last season and playing 90.4 percent of the defensive snaps, according to Pro Football Reference . Clearly there's a discrepancy between Pro Football Reference's snap counts and PFF's, because Pro Football Reference has Johnson as playing 962 defensive snaps (95 percent). Regardless, it's no surprise the Rams landed four players in this group. Havenstein and Whitworth were two of the best offensive tackles in the NFL last season, while Woods continues to be an underrated receiver. Johnson hardly ever comes off the field, which is a trend that should continue into 2019. MORE: Steph Curry opens up about Kevin Durant's exit, state of Warriors after big changes Chris Paul's Contract Is So Bad The Rockets Gave Up Everything in Thunder Trade NBA Depth Charts News: Major trade target at safety, levels to Cowboys WRs, NFL's best back The Ringer believes Raiders could trade SS Karl Joseph to Cowboys


MOSCOW (Reuters) - The Kremlin said on Friday it saw a chance that Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump would meet at the G20 meeting in Japan's Osaka later this month, the Interfax news agency reported. "There is of course a chance. There is a chance anything could happen," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted as saying. (Reporting by Maria Kiselyova; writing by Tom Balmforth; Editing by Catherine Evans)


The Indianapolis Colts signed quarterback Chad Kelly and waived defensive tackle Jordan Thompson, the team announced Monday. There was interest from the Colts' side in signing Kelly, who was a seventh-round pick with the Denver Broncos in 2017. The Colts brought Kelly in for a workout during the team's rookie minicamp but didn't sign him to a contract then. Kelly had a chance to grab the starting role during the 2018 season for the Broncos, but he was released after being arrested and charged with first-degree criminal trespassing . The Ole Miss product completed 62.5% of his passes for 2,758 yards, 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions in nine games during his senior season in 2016. Kelly will be entering a quarterback room that currently consists of Andrew Luck, Jacoby Brissett and Phillip Walker. MORE: This photo of Kyler Murray led to more speculation about his height Patriots will prove Super Bowl LIII shutdown defense was no fluke Roundup: Scarlett Johansson and Colin Jost Engaged, Robert F. Smith Pays Off Morehouse Student Loans NCSA: Five common recruiting myths Mike Clay projects the Giants to finish with two wins in 2019


Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) on Thursday blocked an effort to pass a bill requiring political campaigns to report to the FBI any offers of foreign assistance. After President Donald Trump said he would welcome information from a foreign government about his opponents in the 2020 election, Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) tried to pass the bill on the Senate floor via unanimous consent. Blackburn prevented unanimous consent by raising an objection to the measure. During an ABC interview that aired Wednesday, Trump was asked whether he would accept information offered by a foreign entity like China or Russia about a political rival, or instead call the FBI. "I think you might want to listen," Trump said. "I think there's nothing wrong with listening. If somebody called from a country, Norway, [and said], 'We have information on your opponent.' Oh, I think I'd want to hear it." It's already illegal for electoral campaigns to knowingly accept help from a foreign entity or power. Warner's bill would also mandate that campaigns report such an offer of foreign assistance to federal authorities. Blackburn objected to the legislation, however, arguing that it would pose an "overbroad" burden on campaigns. The senator claimed that it would apply to campaign workers on "so many different levels" ― from vendors to door knockers to phone bankers. And she said she worried about how the bill would affect Dreamers ― undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children ― who sign up to volunteer for political campaigns. Blackburn added that, of course, "no one wants foreign interference of any type" in U.S. elections. Warner responded by calling his colleague's reading of the bill "not accurate." "The only thing that would have to be reported is if the agent of a foreign government or national offered something that was already prohibited," he said. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) also weighed in after Blackburn's objection, calling it "disgraceful" that "our Republican friends cower before this president when they know that the things he does severely damage democracy." Trump's comments to ABC also prompted another wave of calls for impeachment from Democratic lawmakers and his 2020 Democratic challengers. Most Republican lawmakers said they would personally report offers of foreign assistance to the FBI, though some of them also sought to point fingers at Democrats over their role in funding the 2016 Christopher Steele dossier . But Warner said the Steele dossier had already been properly reported to the authorities. "That was reported to the FBI. It was given to the FBI in the summer of 2016," he said. This article originally appeared on HuffPost .


Belgian superstar Eden Hazard turned down huge offers from a number of Premier League clubs before his move from Chelsea to Real Madrid, according to his former Blues teammate Cesar Azpilicueta. Hazard moved to the Spanish giants just weeks after lifting the Europa League trophy with Chelsea for a fee of £130m including add-ons, and a healthy wage of £400,000 a week. The 28-year-old leaves the Blues after seven years, and during that time he has lifted numerous trophies with the club. Hazard has lifted the Premier League, the FA Cup, the EFL Cup as well as the Europa League on two occasions during his time in England. Although, Hazard could have remained in England if his former teammate Azpilicueta is to be believed. As reported by The Sun , the Spaniard said: " Honestly, the times that he had to cope with the rumours. "He always showed his desire not to sign for an English team, even if he could have better contracts. He has never been a selfish person. "He always had this dream to play for Real Madrid and we will see what happens. But I think he has been very honest until the last day." Azpilicueta has revealed Hazard had been sent more lucrative deals from English teams but turned them down out of respect for Chelsea. #CFC (Mail) pic.twitter.com/5yC6iFj9sG   CFC (@ChelsWriter) June 28, 2019 Azpilicueta and Hazard both joined the Blues in 2012, with the pair becoming firm friends and after the Belgians departure the 29-year-old said: "(I'm) Very sad. Amazing person, amazing player. He has been a very important part of our team. A very good friend of mine, very close. "We arrived here seven years ago together from France and you know if that moment comes obviously I will be very sad." The centre-back doesn't hold the move against Hazard, saying he left the Blues in the right way. "That's why the fans they love him because he didn't play with the club, he didn't move for another contract," he added. "He just always gives his best. He was very clear with the club and that's why the club is also happy with him. "Obviously it is a big opportunity for him. He has been amazing for us and I hope he still wins trophies in Real Madrid."


Small but effective changes could make all the difference Brain Cancer Brain tumors can develop in a couple of different ways   either by beginning in the brain itself or as a result of cancer spreading from another part of the body. Some risk factors include exposure to radiation , which can happen if you're already being treated for another type of cancer, and having a family history, which is rare. The risk of developing cancer by using radiation-based imaging tests such as X-rays and CT scans isn't fully known, but to be safe doctors prescribe these only when absolutely necessary. Esophageal Cancer High levels of acid in the body could create a higher risk of esophageal cancer . That's why people who suffer from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are at an increased risk. One healthy step to take is to stop smoking . Nicotine in cigarettes loosens the muscles that keep the stomach separate from the esophagus. When that muscle is loosened, the acidic levels in the esophagus rise. Also cut back on or stop drinking alcohol, and exercise to maintain a healthy weight. Pancreatic Cancer Pancreatic cancer has several risk factors, but the biggest one is smoking. That is the "most important avoidable risk factor" for this type of cancer, the American Cancer Society reports. Maintaining a healthy weight is also important for prevention of the disease, which mostly affects people age 55 and older. Skin Cancer Preventing skin cancer means staying out of the sun as much as possible, especially for long periods of time . If you are spending lots of time outside, make sure to re-apply broad spectrum sunscreen with a high SPF. Wear a hat to protect your face from harsh sunlight. Do not go tanning in UV tanning beds. The exposure can damage your skin tremendously. Meet with a dermatologist to have a full skin exam , and chart any skin discolorations or changes to moles. Liver Cancer Obesity can play a role in liver cancer . Layers of fatty tissue around the abdomen can increase the risk of fatty liver disease and cirrhosis. Maintaining a healthy weight is beneficial for lowering the chance of liver cancer. This can be done by eliminating added sugar from your diet. Heavy drinking is another risk factor. High levels of alcohol in the body can damage the liver and lead to cancer. Lung Cancer The No. 1 cause of lung cancer is smoking . Stop smoking or using any tobacco products to reduce the risk. Also avoid secondhand smoke whenever possible. Smoke from other people's cigarettes and cigars can negatively affect your health. Thyroid Cancer Maintain a healthy diet to reduce the risk of thyroid cancer. Lots of fruits and vegetables are recommended. Food with unsaturated fats (aka, omega-3 fatty acids) have been known to help protect the body against cancer. Salmon is one such food with its high levels of good fatty acids. Add lots of salmon to your diet to help prevent thyroid cancer . Depending on the genetic history and whether or not thyroid cancer runs in the family, removing the thyroid completely might be another option to consider. Leukemia Being overweight can increase the risks of leukemia . Eat lots of fruits and vegetables, and stay physically active to maintain a healthy body weight. Also, quit smoking if you are a smoker. The damage done to the body from smoking can increase the risk of leukemia. Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma HIV is known to increase the risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma , which affects the white blood cells in the lymphatic system. Be safe with your sexual partners and get tested regularly. Another factor is the use of medication that suppresses the immune system . Certain chemicals found in lawn products have also been linked to the increased chance of developing non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Be careful with any insecticides or weed killers that are used outside. Ovarian Cancer While there is no known way to completely prevent ovarian cancer, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend staying on birth control pills for five years or longer. The hormonal regulation of the body helps to lower the risk of ovarian cancer. Removing ovaries or having a tubal ligation can also help reduce the risk . There is also a lower risk for those who have given birth or have breastfed for a year or longer.


Aaron Ramsey has described his move to Juventus as a dream, insisting that he is looking forward to achieving success under new manager Maurizio Sarri. The Welshman, who is currently recovering from injury, sealed a free transfer to the Allianz stadium this summer after his contract with Arsenal expired, and he is expected to become a core part of the Serie A champions' squad. ⚪⚫8⃣ @aaronramsey ⚪⚫8⃣ #WelcomeAaron pic.twitter.com/eJGC69Unzh   JuventusFC (@juventusfcen) July 15, 2019 Speaking in his first press conference (via the club's YouTube channel ), Ramsey confessed that he could not reject Juventus once he learned they were keen on signing him. He said: " When I knew that Juventus was interested in me, I couldn't refuse that. It's a great club, one of the biggest in the world, and to have the opportunity to come here and to play for them is a dream, to come and play at the top level. "It's a challenge for myself, to come over and experience a different way of life, a different culture, for me to take that in and embrace that. Hopefully everything goes nicely over here. "I know how hard it's going to be, I have prepared myself for that, and i'm looking forward to the challenge. "I received a great welcome from everyone here. I've met Sarri and I can't wait to help him and the team reach some big goals this season. Sarri did very well in England I think he can make a great contribution here, looking for both wins and playing good football. "I'm working hard with the rest of the group to be ready as soon as possible. My recovery is progressing well and day after day I'm recovering my form. It's not yet been decided whether I'll go on the tour to Asia." A message for you all from @aaronramsey ! ⚪⚫ Don't forget to watch the Welshman's press conference tomorrow at 14:30 CEST ⏰ #WelcomeAaron #LiveAhead pic.twitter.com/utQHZl3bCF   JuventusFC (@juventusfcen) July 14, 2019 When asked what fans can expect from him at Juventus, Ramsey responded: "I like to have an impact on the game, whether that's scoring goals or providing assists. I can defend but also push forwards, we will understand together with the coach how I can help the team. "I will wear the number eight shirt next season. I wanted it and when it became available I had to take it. I know a great champion like Claudio Marchisio wore it and if I can do what he has I will be very proud. I am ready for this big challenge."


If there's one cool place on Earth where the Lexus GX deserves to be driven, it's the Costa Rican rainforest. The country's off-road culture is evident from the moment you land I saw about a dozen muddy Toyota Prados in my 40-minute ride to the hotel, and the Ticos' laid-back vibe mixes well with this SUV. The Lexus GX is essentially a rebadged and better-equipped Prado, and the Papagayo Peninsula with its plunging ocean cliffs and deep biodiversity served as the location for the launch of the 2020 GX. For 2020, the vehicle received a minor styling update, an off-road package, and standard safety technologies. Research the Lexus GX on MSN Autos Although we only drove the updated Lexus GX on pavement, we hope to go back later for some off-road fun. The bigger spindle grille, which looks good on the GX, is the most obvious of the exterior style updates. It gives the SUV more presence on the road and aligns well with the redesigned triple-beam LED headlights, standard for 2020. A new Sport Design package adds details to the grille surround, side mirrors, and 19-inch wheels. Step inside, and it's a different story. Although the GX got new premium materials, the technology and interior design are pretty old. The touchscreen and its infotainment screen look outdated, and the design of the center console is reminiscent of last decade's cars. That stands to reason, as the current-gen GX launched in 2009 and has since received only a few updates most of them styling. If you can ignore the old tech, though, the rest of the interior might please you. The Rioja Red interior, with red leather and a black headliner, is new for 2020. That combination really stands out in the old-style cabin. The Premium and Luxury models get new wood and aluminum trim, which looks polished and complements the red interior nicely. The amount of leather inside can be overwhelming; most of the dash, door panels, and even the sides of the center console are covered in it. The three-row configuration is still standard, but the third row is easy to fold for a flat cargo floor. The second row can also be folded, but that won't provide a fully flat layout, as the seat backs don't go all the way down. With the addition of two USB ports (bringing the total to four), second-row passengers can charge their phones. The new off-road package adds multiterrain select, which lets the driver choose different modes depending on the driving conditions (mud, sand, rocks, and moguls). The system regulates wheelspin by adjusting the brakes and throttle output. Also included in the off-road package: a transmission cooler, a fuel tank protector, and the multiterrain and panoramic view monitors, which display front, rear, side, and under-camera views on the infotainment screen; the latter view shows the terrain and tire location under the vehicle. Crawl control was available in the 2019 model year, but it's now part of the off-road package. Under the hood, the GX didn't receive any changes. It still carries the 4.6-liter V-8 that produces 301 hp and 329 lb-ft of torque mated to a six-speed automatic. During our quick drive we noted that the transmission suffered from the same issues as the Tacoma's tranny put the shifter in drive, and the body moves forward even though you're stepping on the brakes. Once you're up to highway speed, though, the shifts are smoother and the cabin is quieter. The V-8 produces a good roar when you step on the throttle and go uphill. Given the GX's big size, it showed some body roll on the twisty Costa Rican roads. There's no denying the GX is showing its age, but it has also shown to be a reliable model just like its cousins, the Prado and 4Runner. Another addition for 2020: Lexus Safety System+, which comes standard on all trims. A pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, lane departure alert, intelligent high-beams, and high-speed dynamic radar cruise control are part of the deal. Although these technologies aren't up to date with what we've seen on more modern SUVs, they're a step above what the GX had last year. We hope to get back to Costa Rica soon to spend more time with the 2020 Lexus GX and try out its off-road package. And who knows we might also bring a Prado and 4Runner along. Research the Lexus GX on MSN Autos


Miami Dolhins edge rusher Charles Harris discusses his new responsibilities in learning coach Brian Flores' defense.


Colts quarterback Andrew Luck remains out of practice with a lingering calf injury, and he won't be back any time soon. Coach Frank Reich confirmed today that Luck won't participate in any of next week's practices leading up to Thursday night's preseason opener at Buffalo. Reich tried to put a positive spin on the news, saying, "I feel good about where we're at." But we've previously seen the Colts paint an overly optimistic picture about a Luck injury, when he missed the entire 2017 season with a shoulder injury that the team initially said wouldn't cause him to miss any regular-season games at all. There's no reason to think Luck's calf injury is anything close to that serious, but it's always a concern for any team when the starting quarterback isn't healthy enough to practice. Luck wasn't healthy enough to practice this week, and he won't be next week, either.


There's no one perfect way to lose belly fat or body fat in general, but making nutritional changes and building muscle can help tremendously. We Asked an Expert If Building Muscle Burns Belly Fat - Here's What He Said There's no one perfect way to lose belly fat or body fat in general, but making nutritional changes and building muscle can help tremendously. If you're already thinking about what ab workouts you should be doing to build muscle in your core - since that's where belly fat is - you may want to reconsider. Doing all your favorite ab exercises every day will more than likely strengthen your core muscles, but they won't burn belly fat because spot reduction (targeting one specific area of fat on your body) doesn't work. Instead, you should focus on strength training (and do some cardio) in order to get rid of belly fat. Click through the slideshow above to learn more. Does Weightlifting and Building Muscle Burn Belly Fat? Building muscle can help you burn fat , but can it burn belly fat specifically? "Not directly. Lifting weights will help you develop muscle," Rondel King, MS, CSCS, an exercise physiologist at NYU Langone's Sports Performance Center , told POPSUGAR. "As a result, your resting metabolic rate (how much energy/calories your body burns at rest) will get higher. You'll essentially be burning more calories, and that can potentially lead to overall weight loss, which includes fat as well," he explained. How Often You Should Strength Train to Lose Belly Fat If you're trying to lose body fat (yes, belly fat too) and build muscle , Rondel recommends strength training two to three days a week. On strength days, you should focus on full-body workouts that incorporate compound exercises like pull-ups, squats, and deadlifts. These are multijoint movements that work multiple groups of large muscles at once. Because you're using more muscle, your body has to expend more energy to perform these exercises, as opposed to an isolated movement like the bicep curl . As a result, you'll burn more calories and fat. "You definitely want to target the large muscle groups because you'll develop bigger muscles," Rondel said. You should also adequately stress your muscles (aka lift heavy) "so you can elicit an adaption, which is developing more muscle fibers and increasing your overall resting metabolic rate," Rondel said. If you aren't sure how heavy you should be lifting in order to stress your muscles, use this guide to help you choose the right weight . How Often You Should Do Cardio to Lose Belly Fat Strength training can help you lose belly fat, but it isn't the only form of exercise you should do. Cardio can help you lose fat, but according to Rondel, you've got to choose the right cardio. Doing long, drawn-out cardio is OK, but it can potentially become catabolic and break down your muscle tissue. To circumvent this, Rondel recommends doing high-intensity interval training (HIIT) like cardio. "It gives you a hormonal response that's conducive to muscle growth, and it's more anabolic - where you're developing tissue, muscles, collagen, cartilage, things of that nature," he said in a previous interview . If you like doing steady-state cardio, you don't have to give it up. In fact, you can do cardio every day. Rondel recommends doing HIIT ( this is one of our favorite HIIT workouts ) two to three days a week and steady-state cardio three to four days a week as long as each session isn't longer than 30-minutes. If you want, you can do cardio and strength on the same days. In this case, Rondel said to do 30 minutes of cardio and 30 minutes of strength. You can burn fat and build muscle with exercise, but you've also got to make nutritional changes. To lose fat, 50 percent of your daily caloric intake should come from carbs, 25 percent should come from fats, and the final 25 percent should come for protein, Nikki Jupe , MS, RD, LD, CSSD, senior sports dietitian at the University of Oregon told POPSUGAR in a previous interview . This is a general estimate and we recommend speaking with a registered dietitian to find what works best for you and your goals.


PITTSBURGH (AP) A seemingly safe five-run ninth-inning lead gone in a flash, the Milwaukee Brewers were badly in need of a pickup. Facing one of the best closers in the majors, Orlando Arcia provided one. The shortstop's sharp single off Pittsburgh's Felipe Vazquez in the top of the 10th inning started a rally that ended with Lorenzo Cain's go-ahead RBI single to put the Brewers ahead for good as Milwaukee ended a three-game losing streak to move in front of idle Chicago for first-place in the airtight NL Central. ''I think it's one of those things where you have to do something good to change around the feeling,'' Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. Good feelings were in short supply in the Milwaukee dugout after the Pirates erased a five-run deficit in the ninth. Starling Marte's sacrifice fly scored Melky Cabrera and got the Pirates going. All-Star first baseman Josh Bell followed two batters later with a three-run shot to the right-field seats off Delios Guerra to get Pittsburgh within one. Milwaukee reliever Junior Guerra came on in an attempt to get the final out. His first pitch to Jung Ho Kang ended up in the left-field bleachers to tie the game. ''That pitch to Kang was kind of in the middle,'' Junior Guerra said. ''I expect that he's not going to swing on the first pitch. That's why I don't throw fastball.'' The Brewers, however, bounced back against Vazquez (2-1). Arcia singled with one out, moved to third on Manny Pina's single and scored when Cain's sharp grounder got through the hole between first and second base. ''A lot of things happened,'' Cain said. ''We had the lead there in the end. They ended up coming back. At the end of the day, we find a way to come back and win. We definitely needed that. It was a big boost for the boys.'' Arcia finished 2 for 4, including his 12th home run of the season. Pina and Jesus Aguilar both hit two-run shots during Milwaukee's four-run eighth that gave the Brewers a five-run lead the bullpen squandered. Junior Guerra (3-1) picked up the win after blowing the save when he struck out pinch-hitter Joe Musgrove - a starting pitcher by trade - with two on in the bottom of the 10th. ''It felt like the Twilight Zone in a lot of ways,'' Counsell said. Aguilar took advantage of just his second start since mid-June to hit his sixth homer of the season and drive in three runs. Counsell re-inserted Aguilar into the starting lineup in hopes of giving the offense a jolt after the Brewers were shut out on consecutive days by Cincinnati. The first baseman responded by ending Milwaukee's 26-inning scoreless drought with an RBI single in the fourth off Pirates starter Steven Brault then provided some insurance with a two-run shot to the bleachers in left field in the eighth. The Brewers arrived in Pittsburgh coming off a listless series in Cincinnati in which they dropped three of four as the gap between first and fifth in the tight Central shrank to 3 1/2 games. Counsell took Yasmani Grandal out of the leadoff spot, dropped Mike Moustakas from third to cleanup and gave Aguilar - an All-Star in 2018 - a start in place of Eric Thames. Aguilar came in hitting .203 on the season, but collected just his second multiple-hit game since May 12. He ripped a single to right field with two outs in the fourth to give the Brewers their first run since the sixth inning of an 11-inning loss to Cincinnati on Tuesday. The Brewers appeared to be in good shape after Josh Hader wiggled out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh and a four-run eighth pushed Milwaukee's lead to five. RESILIENT PIRATES Bell, who will compete in the Home Run Derby on Monday night in Cleveland, now has 27 home runs on the season and five in his last five games. Adam Frazier finished with three hits and is batting .619 (13 of 21) in July. Pittsburgh has dropped two straight following a stretch in which it went 12-5 to get back into the NL Central race. Despite the loss, Bell believes Pittsburgh's comeback will pay off going forward. ''I think it sends a message to them it doesn't matter what the score is,'' Bell said. ''We're right there knocking on the door.'' BRAULT INJURED Brault exited after walking Arcia leading off the fifth with discomfort in his left (throwing) shoulder. Brault, coming off a June in which he posted a 2.52 ERA after injuries forced him to join Pittsburgh's starting rotation full-time, allowed one run on two hits with two walks and four strikeouts. ''It was just tight after every inning,'' Brault said. ''And in that fifth inning I wasn't able to get to the point where I needed to be. It was obvious seeing my velocity drop.'' TRAINER'S ROOM Brewers: LF Ryan Braun's sore right knee is catching up with him. The 35-year-old said he initially hurt the knee during the 2018 playoffs and irritated the injury while making a sliding catch in Cincinnati on Tuesday. The 2011 National League MVP didn't start on Friday but did leg out a double to center as a pinch hitter in the seventh. Pirates: C Francisco Cervelli (concussion) is open to switching positions in an effort to help the team. Cervelli hasn't played since taking a broken bat to the chin against the Los Angeles Dodgers on May 25. UP NEXT Brewers: Adrian Houser (2-2, 3.26 ERA) is 0-2 with a 7.62 ERA while working as an ''opener'' this season. Houser pitches a season-high five innings against Cincinnati on Monday. Pirates: Dario Agrazal (1-0, 2.70) will make his third major-league start on Saturday in place of Trevor Williams, who was placed on the paternity list Friday evening. --- More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports


Jersey City has no rain in the forecast for the next few days, with rainfall expected later in the week, according to the seven-day forecast from drone-powered weather service Saildrone . Tuesday's forecast shows the greatest chance of rain at 79 percent, with expected rainfall of 1.27 inches. The next few days will also see warm temperatures, due to last through Thursday. The weather will bring a high temperature of 83 degrees on Monday. Skies will be partly cloudy through Saturday and mostly cloudy on Sunday. Winds will continue to be light throughout the week, with the highest speeds on Saturday at just 11 mph. This story was created automatically using Saildrone's local weather forecast data, then reviewed by an editor. We also incorporate historic weather data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


The second half of the MLB regular season is underway, and the award front-runners are becoming clearer. Here's a look at the top three candidates for MLB's top awards as of the All-Star break. AL MVP: Alex Bregman, 3B/SS, Astros Bregman finished fifth in the AL MVP voting last year, and he's continuing to build on that success. He hit .265-23-56 with a .927 OPS during the first half and has filled in nicely at shortstop for Carlos Correa. He ranked fourth in WAR in the AL at the break (4.1). AL MVP: DJ LeMahieu, IF, Yankees It's tough to fathom where the Yankees would be without LeMahieu, who has played Gold Glove defense all over the infield and is leading the AL in batting average. He's also showing nice pop with 12 home runs, 21 doubles and 64 RBI, helping him produce a nearly .900 OPS and 3.9 WAR. AL MVP: Mike Trout, CF, Angels Trout is the clear favorite to win the AL MVP as of the All-Star break, which would be the third of his career. As of the break, the star center fielder was leading the AL in home runs (28), RBI (67), walks (76), on-base percentage (.453) and slugging percentage (.646) while playing great defense. NL MVP: Josh Bell, 1B, Pirates Bell is having a breakout 2019 season, putting up massive numbers after changing his swing in the offseason. He was hitting .302-27-84 with a 1.024 OPS at the break, helping the Pirates to remain in contention in the NL Central. NL MVP: Cody Bellinger, OF, Dodgers Bellinger leads MLB with a 6.7 WAR, combining elite offense with great outfield defense. The 2017 NL Rookie of the Year is hitting .334-31-73 with a 1.118 OPS and has shown no signs of slowing down. NL MVP: Christian Yelich, OF, Brewers Yelich is trying to repeat as the NL MVP and is looking to top last year's incredible numbers. He leads the league with 32 home runs and is also hitting .330 with 68 RBI and 21 stolen bases. His 1.138 OPS leads the majors. AL Cy Young: Mike Minor, SP, Rangers Minor has had a truly remarkable first half, with a 2.73 ERA and 1.164 WHIP in 19 starts despite pitching half his games at a hitter's park in Texas. The lefty is helping keep the Rangers in playoff contention and is also a legitimate MVP candidate. AL Cy Young: Charlie Morton, SP, Rays Morton has been quite an offseason addition for the Rays. The former Astros starter has stepped up as an ace, with a league-best 2.35 ERA and 148 strikeouts in 118.2 innings. AL Cy Young: Justin Verlander, SP, Astros Verlander finished second in the AL Cy Young voting last year but is hoping to win the award for the second time this year. He has a 2.98 ERA and league-best 0.81 WHIP with 160 strikeouts in 132.2 innings. NL Cy Young: Zack Greinke, SP, Diamondbacks Arizona needed its best players to pick up the slack after losing Patrick Corbin, Paul Goldschmidt and A.J. Pollock in the offseason, and Greinke has done just that. He has a 2.95 ERA and 0.95 WHIP with 114/16 K/BB in 128 innings over 20 starts for Arizona. NL Cy Young: Hyun-Jin Ryu, SP, Dodgers Ryu had an amazing first half with 10 wins, a 1.78 ERA, and 0.93 WHIP over 116 innings for the Dodgers. He's walked only 11 batters. NL Cy Young: Max Scherzer, SP, Nationals Scherzer is looking to win his fourth Cy Young winner, and not even a broken nose has been able to stop him. The Nats ace has a 2.30 ERA and 0.98 WHIP and easily leads MLB with 181 strikeouts in 129.1 innings. His 5.5 WAR is easily tops among all NL pitchers. AL Rookie of the Year: Michael Chavis, IF, Red Sox Chavis' pace has slowed after swinging a hot bat upon his promotion to the majors, but he's still been terrific, hitting .258-15-48 in 307 plate appearances while playing three different infield positions. AL Rookie of the Year: John Means, P, Orioles Means garnered Baltimore's lone All-Star nod with his great first half. At the break, he had a 2.50 ERA in 82.2 innings between starting and relief, with a 3.14 K/BB ratio thus far. AL Rookie of the Year: Spencer Turnbull, SP, Tigers Turnbull is currently sidelined with a shoulder injury, but he had a great first half. The Tigers starter posted a 3.31 ERA in 17 starts, with 84 strikeouts in 89.2 innings at the break. NL Rookie of the Year: Pete Alonso, 1B, Mets Alonso is arguably the Mets best rookie since Dwight Gooden and has a chance to figure into the MVP conversation. He hit .280-30-68 with a 1.006 OPS during the first half and capped off his start by winning the MLB Home Run Derby. NL Rookie of the Year: Mike Soroka, SP, Braves Despite starting the year on the injured list with a shoulder issue, Soroka has become Atlanta's ace this season. The groundball specialist has a 2.24 ERA and 10 wins over 16 starts and made his first All-Star appearance as well. NL Rookie of the Year: Fernando Tatis Jr., SS, Padres Tatis has been lightning in a bottle for the Padres in his first season. The 20-year-old is hitting .339-14-33 with 13 steals and a 1.021 OPS in only 249 plate appearances. He missed time due to injury but hasn't missed a beat. AL Manager of the Year: Rocco Baldelli, Twins The Twins have the third-best record in the AL, 56-33 at the break, and now lead the rival Indians by 6.5 games in the AL Central. While the team's roster improved during the offseason, Baldelli has also managed the bullpen well without a true closer and overseen huge improvements from Jake Odorizzi, Martin Perez, Max Kepler and Jorge Polanco. AL Manager of the Year: Aaron Boone, Yankees No team has had more injuries during the first half than New York, with big names like Giancarlo Stanton, Aaron Judge, Luis Severino and Miguel Andujar missing significant time. The team does have plenty of depth, but Boone deserves credit for keeping the ship running smoothly. AL Manager of the Year: Kevin Cash, Rays Cash's Rays won 90 games last season and are on the way to an encore this year. Tampa Bay has contended with the loss of Tyler Glasnow and struggles from 2018 ace Blake Snell, still sitting at 52-39 at the break. NL Manager of the Year: Clint Hurdle, Pirates The Pirates pitching staff has been a major disappointment this year, with Jameson Taillon suffering an arm injury and Chris Archer struggling. Despite those issues, at the break the Pirates were just 2.5 games back in the loaded NL Central with a surprising lineup. Hurdle deserves some of the praise. NL Manager of the Year: Torey Lovullo, Diamondbacks It looked like Arizona was rebuilding in the offseason, trading Paul Goldschmidt for young players and allowing free agents Patrick Corbin and A.J. Pollock to walk. Despite those losses the Diamondbacks have held it together with a 46-45 record at the break and a real shot at a wild-card spot. Lovullo has guided breakout seasons from Ketel Marte, Eduardo Escobar and Christian Walker, among others. NL Manager of the Year: Brian Snitker, Braves The talk of the offseason in the NL East was the big moves from the Phillies, Nationals and Mets, yet Snitker's Braves lead the division by six games at the break. The team's youth movement continues to develop nicely, even while there have been some speed bumps this year like losing closer Arodys Vizcaino and struggles from Kevin Gausman and Mike Foltynewicz.


The United Kingdom has increased the threat level for its forces and diplomats in Iraq due to the threat from Iran . The move comes a day after all non-essential American personnel were ordered to leave the Iraq Embassy and consulate amid claims that Iran-backed militias moved missiles near bases housing U.S. forces. MIKE POMPEO SAID IRAN-BACKED MILITIAS MOVED ROCKETS NEAR AMERICAN BASES IN IRAQ The U.K. also put its personnel in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar on a heightened state of alert, according to Sky News , with a source telling the network that there's an increased possibility of Iran or its proxies taking action against British, U.S. or other allied interests in the Middle East. Britain appears to have drawn similar conclusions to the U.S. amid the increasing tensions between the Trump administration and the Iranian regime, even though a British general took an unusual step to disregard the Iranian threat on Monday. Earlier this week, Maj Gen Chris Ghika, the deputy commander of Operation Inherent Resolve, the U.S.-led force combatting Islamic State in Syria and Iraq, told reporters: "No, there's been no increased threat from Iranian-backed forces in Iraq and Syria". The targets of possible action by Iran or its proxies are likely to be oil infrastructure or other civilian targets, Sky News reported. The attacks are expected to be done in a way that the Iranian regime could plausibly deny it in an effort to avoid retaliation from Western forces. Iran has recently threatened to pull out of the nuclear deal and resume higher uranium enrichment if no new deal is put in place, while Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told the Iraqi top brass that U.S. intelligence showed Iran-backed militias moved missiles near bases housing American forces. Iran's foreign minister Mohammad Zarif on Thursday deemed new sanctions imposed by the Trump administration as "unacceptable" but noted that the country is committed to the nuclear deal. "We believe that escalation by the United States is unacceptable and uncalled for. We have exercised maximum restraints," he said during a visit in Japan. The claim that hostile militia forces are positioning the rockets near bases housing American troops, provides insight into the threats the U.S. faces in the Middle East in the wake of rising tensions between the Trump administration and the Iranian regime. American military experts have suggested "Iran or its proxies" damaged four commercial ships off the coast of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sunday. Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, accused Tehran of ordering "the terrorist acts" against their oil pipeline, a drone attack that was claimed by Yemen's Iran-allied Houthi rebels. President Trump denied Tuesday the reports that the administration was planning to send more than 100,000 troops to the region in the wake of heightened tensions in the region, but instead noted that "If we did that, we'd send a hell of a lot more troops than that."


World number one Novak Djokovic could meet eighth-seed Rafael Nadal in the US Open quarter-finals while Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka meet in another quarter-final under the US Open draw announced Thursday. Djokovic's half of the draw also includes a potential semi-final against either fourth seed Kei Nishikori, last year's US Open runner-up from Japan, or defending champion Marin Cilic. The other half, paced by second seed Roger Federer, includes the Wawrinka-Murray possible last-eight meeting. Federer could meet Czech Tomas Berdych in the quarter-finals and might meet John Isner in the round of 16. Former champion Murray was drawn to face controversial Australian Nick Kyrgios in the first round. Kyrgios, 20, was handed a suspended ban and fine this week for his lurid verbal attack on Stan Wawrinka at the Montreal Masters.


As the Thunder prepare to carry out their game plan for the 2019 NBA Draft and free agency, it turns out one potential trade target won't be made available to Oklahoma City - or any team in the NBA. The idea of the Washington Wizards working out a deal that would send Bradley Beal to the Thunder has been kicked around for some time. But it appears the Wizards aren't interested in moving their superstar player. Period. Jeff Goodman of Stadium Sports reported on the matter Thursday: Bradley Beal isn't going anywhere. Washington Wizards have no intention of dealing Beal. In addition to Goodman's report , Keith Smith of RealGM explained this decision is in line with how Washington has been approaching Beal for some time: This matches what has always been the word out of Washington. Beal is the franchise guy now with Wall hurt. The Wizards have no reason to consider moving him, as they still hope to be a competitive team over the next few years. Looks like the team's big three remains Russell Westbrook, Paul George and Steven Adams . . . for now . MORE: Warriors and Kevin Durant Could Reportedly Work Out Wild 'Delayed' Sign-and-Trade with Knicks Everyone had so many LeBron jokes about the reported 'Space Jam 2' cast Five potential Kevin Durant landing spots in free agency Reggie Bush takes shot at Lions, calls them cheap Browns have several single-season records that could fall in 2019


KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Former KU Jayhawks football coach David Beaty said in a sworn statement that he's holding off on buying a house in Austin, Texas, while he awaits the $3 million he says Kansas Athletics owes him for finishing out the 2018 season, during which he was fired. Beaty's residence - he's currently living in an Austin apartment and plans to stay there indefinitely while his wife and youngest daughter remain in Lawrence - gets to a central matter in his lawsuit against Kansas Athletics. Beaty's affidavit was included in his lawyers' response this week to Kansas Athletics' attempt to dismiss the lawsuit he filed earlier this year. Kansas Athletics claimed that Beaty can't sue in federal court in part because he lives in Kansas, the same state where Kansas Athletics and the university operate. But lawyers for Beaty contend he lives in Texas. To support that claim, Beaty said he's registered to vote in Texas, where he moved in January. He also has a Texas driver's license and an insurance policy with a Texas address for a 2015 BMW. "My wife and youngest daughter still reside in Lawrence, Kansas because we do not believe trying to purchase a home in Austin, Texas, makes sense while Kansas Athletics, Inc. holds the $3 million it previously acknowledged it owed me," Beaty said in an affidavit. "Austin has a very competitive real estate market, so the uncertainty Kansas Athletics, Inc. has created for me and my family has made evaluating where we will live in Austin difficult." He added that he's in discussions for a job with an unspecified football program in Texas, but that nothing is finalized yet. KU fired Beaty last season with three games remaining on the schedule. The Jayhawks, who have not fared well on the gridiron in a decade, went 3-9 that season. According to Beaty, he met with Kansas athletic director Jeff Long on Nov. 4, one day after losing to Iowa State, and was told the university was terminating him without cause. Beaty's affidavit said Long asked him to stay on to finish the season, which Beaty agreed to do after being told he would receive $3 million from the terms of his contract. When the discussion ended, they shook hands, Beaty said. "I believed Mr. Long, and I relied on his promises when I agreed to stay on as Head Coach until the end of the season," Beaty said in his affidavit. A Nov. 29 letter from Long to Beaty said the termination was without cause. The Jayhawks lost the last three games of the season, the conclusion of which did not bring him his $3 million payout, but instead news of an NCAA infractions investigation into a subordinate of Beaty's. Beaty's lawsuit said KU used the investigation, which the athletics department initiated and details of which are not known publicly, to reclassify his termination for cause and to withhold his payout. The lawsuit contains an allegation that unnamed senior Kansas Athletics officials had commented about wanting to "find something" on Beaty, "like a dead hooker in his closet" to keep from paying him $3 million. Kansas Athletics has denied that the NCAA investigation was a pretext for not paying Beaty, saying it was discovered as it conducted exit interviews with Beaty's staff. It also denied the salacious comments alleged in Beaty's lawsuit. Visit The Kansas City Star (Kansas City, Mo.) at www.kansascity.com


Grilling steak is our real favorite pastime. Grilling is America's real favorite pastime, and the number one excuse to spend every minute outside in the sun. When mealtime hits, get sunglasses on and beers at the ready: These grilled steak recipes are waiting. For more, here's how to grill a steak with step-by-step photos. Grilled Strip Steak with Blistered Tomatoes and Green Beans For this grilled strip steak recipe, cooking half the tomatoes in a skillet placed on the grill lets you capture all their juices and turn them into a saucy condiment for the meat. See recipe. Grilled Short Ribs with Pickled Daikon If you've ever had kalbi at a Korean barbecue restaurant, you've had grilled flanken-style short ribs. For this recipe, look for them prepackaged in the meat case, or ask your butcher. This concentrated, aromatic, spicy-sweet chile paste seasons the ribs robustly in as little as 15 minutes. See recipe. Grilled Brisket with Scallion-Peanut Salsa Normally, you associate brisket with long, slow cooking maybe on a winter afternoon but we're making a case for throwing it on the grill. Hear us out, because it works, especially with this peanut topping. The only thing wintry: Freezing the brisket makes it easier to slice it against the grain, which nullifies its naturally ropy texture and exposes more surface area to the flavorful marinade. See recipe. Grilled Rib Eye with Shishito Pepper Salsa Cooking the peppers for only a short time preserves their green color and means they'll bring some bite and texture to the salsa. See recipe. Grilled Bone-In Ribeye Let it rain with the kosher salt for the best flavor, you want to season these simple steaks really well before they get grilled. Great with Garlicky Harissa or Charred Tomatillo Chermoula . See recipe. Open-Face Steak Sandwich with Parmesan Dressing Mark your calendar: It's steak sandwich night in America. (Feeling virtuous? Remove the bread and…voilà: steak salad!) See recipe. Tri-Tip with Chimichurri The tri-tip is a tender, triangular cut of beef tucked near the sirloin. There are only two per steer, so if your butcher is out, go with sirloin. See recipe. Skirt Steak and Smashed Potatoes with Herb Dressing Board dressing: take all of those flavorful juices that accumulate when the meat rests off your cutting board and pour them back over the meat, where they belong. See recipe. Pounded Flank Steak with Zucchini Salsa A little meat-mallet action transforms this tough cut of beef into a quick-grilling all-star. We cribbed the pounding technique from Chris Fischer's amazing The Beetlebung Farm Cookbook . See recipe. Coconut-Marinated Short Rib Kebabs with Peanut-Chile Oil Don't braise your short ribs grill them. They're intensely beefy, with gorgeous marbling that encourages crispy bits. See recipe. Grilled Beef with Broccoli You'll get all the traditional flavors of the classic takeout dish by using a marinade made up of oyster sauce, Shaoxing wine, and soy sauce, but the steak and broccoli are grilled for a fresh summertime variation. See recipe. Hawaiian Rib-Eye Steak Now you can make one of Hillstone's most popular dishes at home, a decision you will never regret. See recipe. Steakhouse Salad with Red Chile Dressing and Peanuts The steak can be marinated a day in advance in fact, it gets better. See recipe. Skirt Steak with Preserved Lemon Butter and Sesame Cauliflower Skirt steak is one of our favorite cuts of beef it's flavorful, affordable, and quick-cooking. That said, it's imperative to slice it thinly against the grain for the best texture. See recipe. Chi Spacca's Bistecca Fiorentina If you don't enjoy very rare meat, keep these steaks on the grill until they reach 120°; they'll still be rare, but less aggressively so. See recipe. Dry-Rubbed Flank Steak with Grilled Corn Salsa This spicy and sweet powerhouse seasoning blend packs layers of flavor onto grilled flank steak. See recipe. Tecate Skirt-Steak Tacos Any fairly thin cut of beef will work with this marinade; try flank or New York strip. See recipe. Grilled Steak Salad with Beets and Scallions If you don't feel like making aioli, use prepared mayonnaise and season it with mustard and garlic. See recipe. Gochujang-Marinated Skirt Steak Skirt steak is the ultimate summer steak for grilling quick cooking, buttery, and versatile. See recipe. Sliced Strip Steak with Arugula and Parsley Last night's steak, whatever it is, will do. Rib eye, porterhouse, flank, and strip are all excellent the next day. See recipe. Parachute's Steak-and-Egg Bibimbap Not ready to commit to a special dolsot bowl? Toast the cooked rice mixture in a generous splash of vegetable oil in a large skillet until a crunchy layer forms, 10 15 minutes, then pile on the ingredients as described. See recipe. Spiced and Grilled Steaks with Citrus Chutney The sugar in the dry spice mix will help these steaks take on color quickly, so keep a close eye on them. See recipe. Ember-Grilled Steak with Bay Leaf Browned Butter Chefs everywhere know it: Fire is where the magic happens. See recipe. Thai Steak and Noodle Salad This is no simple salad: It's a multicourse meal on a plate. Its dramatic presentation is part of the allure. See recipe. Sweet Onion Marinated Skirt Steak The white vinegar's acidity curbs the onion's bite and highlights its sweetness, resulting in the perfect marinade. See recipe. Grilled Hanger Steak with Fennel Salad 51 Lincoln grills the tomatoes for this salad, but unless you have a screaming-hot grill, this can be tricky. Either way, use beefsteaks, which have an excellent ratio of flesh to seeds. See recipe. Grilled Bistecca with Herby Fish Sauce Why baste your steak with fish sauce ? It's called umami. Get into it. Rub steak with ¼ cup oil; season with salt and sprinkle with pepper (it should nearly cover both sides). Let sit at room temperature 30 minutes. For an over-the-top dinner menu, serve with arugula with Italian plums , Romano bean salad , paccheri with shellfish , grilled red mullet , and brioche au rhum . We said over-the-top. See recipe. Mezcal-Marinated Fajitas The mezcal and fish sauce in these fajitas make for a surprisingly good combination. You'll get a smoky, earthy flavor from the mezcal, while the fish sauce adds a little funk and saltiness. If you prefer, use any kind of chopped up chicken or pork in place of the skirt steak. See recipe.


The NCAA did its usual thing Wednesday, covering itself in jargon and policy nuance while the obvious solution to one of its major challenges goes untapped. Eventually, schools will realize they can't go on like this. The entire transfer issue that has roiled college sports over the last year is stuck in a morass of waiver request red tape and unnecessary paperwork, and nothing the NCAA did Wednesday is going to relieve that headache. The NCAA's latest set of guidelines for granting immediate eligibility to transfers , primarily in football and basketball, is just another temporary fix. It sharpens some of the boundaries and adds a teaspoon of focus into a process that is largely subjective and rife with potential abuse. Like every other time the NCAA tries to paper over the gaping hole in the side of its house, someone will eventually punch through it. The solution here is so obvious, and so easy, that it almost defies logic schools haven't already pushed for it. It's time to give college football and basketball players a one-time pass during their career to transfer free and clear   no waivers, no extenuating circumstances, no questions. While a consensus of athletics directors and coaches isn't yet mentally ready to embrace that step, you can sense in conversations across college sports that it's coming. This year? Probably not. Within five? Absolutely. While the NCAA attempted to bring clarity to the waiver process Wednesday with what it characterized as small tweaks   the truth there lies deep in the weeds of NCAA policy wonkism   it's still as transparent as mud. And the fundamental problem of two seemingly similar cases being adjudicated differently won't go away, leading to more mistrust and frustration of the system both inside and outside the industry. And it's going to create mountains of unnecessary work for compliance departments and NCAA staffers whose time could be much better spent on stuff that actually matters. It's a reaction to a reaction, which means there will be another reaction. So why not just get to the point here and let everyone play by the same rules? Well, we know why. The NCAA, by its very nature, is a highly reactive organization. It's a lumbering bureaucracy attempting to carry out the will of more than 1,000 schools in disparate spheres of financial strength, academic might and athletic ambition. When things in college sports defy common sense or seem needlessly complicated, critics of the NCAA often mistake malice or incompetence for a much simpler truth: The NCAA is too big and too democratic to fix stuff proactively or without breaking something else in the process. We've seen that play out with transfers, which have to sit out a year unless, well, there's a reason they shouldn't. Those reasons used to be pretty limited in scope; most commonly, athletes could get around it if they had their scholarship pulled or an immediate family member had a serious illness that required them to be closer to home. But more than a year ago, the NCAA allowed a handful of football players who transferred from Ole Miss to be eligible immediately at other schools because they claimed they were misled during the recruiting process about the severity of the penalties the program might receive from an NCAA investigation. The attorney representing most of the players, Tom Mars, made a very public and compelling case with troves of text messages showing Ole Miss officials and head coach Hugh Freeze had underplayed the threat of sanctions. That put the NCAA in a corner because while it was obvious they should be eligible, there wasn't necessarily a mechanism to get them eligible   especially because Ole Miss disagreed with the notion it was caught lying. So a compromise was reached with fancy, vague language that allowed everyone to claim victory: "Documented mitigating circumstances outside of the student-athlete's control." Injecting that phrase as grounds for a waiver, of course, caught the attention of others who were attempting to become immediately eligible. A "mitigating circumstance" could be a lot of things, right? And with Mars suddenly becoming the go-to attorney for some high-profile football players, the perception was that more waivers were being granted (even if the percentages were relatively low and not much different than the historical norms). It has, predictably, led to an onslaught of schools trying to get their transfers eligible on fairly flimsy ground. And why not? If the perception is the NCAA has been lenient on waivers, there's seemingly an incentive for everyone to take a shot. But this is particularly silly when the NCAA already allows the one-time free pass transfer in most of the so-called "non-revenue" sports. It's really just football, men's and women's basketball, baseball and hockey where the athletes have to sit out. So the sensible thing to do would be make the rules the same across the board and eliminate the need for waivers altogether. Sure, there would be details that have to be sorted out. Tie the free pass to being in good academic standing? No problem. Would tampering be a potential issue? Sure, but it already is -- and if the original school makes that charge, let a committee in Indianapolis sort that kind of thing out rather than making kids submit extensive medical documentation about a family member's cancer diagnosis or make some arbitrary distinction about transferring to a campus that's 110 miles from their home rather than 95. Putting more policy on top of bad policy won't work over the long haul for the NCAA. Schools may not be ready yet to give their most valuable athletes a one-time free agency pass, but they need to get there soon. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Opinion: Time for NCAA to give football, basketball players one-time pass to transfer


The congressional commission investigating the case of Mexico's 43 students missing since September could shut down Thursday amid budget cuts. The group is one of 19 in Mexico's Chamber of Deputies that was scheduled to close because officials wanted workers, under contract until August, to resign in advance, Notimex reported. Congresswoman Zuleyma Huidobro Gonzalez told reporters at a news conference that she'd previously requested reports twice on how many of the workers weren't actively participating so she could determine how many to cut to save money, Telesur reported. "To date there has been no response to this request," she said. The case of the 43 missing students has been controversial since they disappeared on Sept. 26 on their way to protest a speech by the mayor's wife in Iguala, Guerrero. The mayor, José Luis Abarca Velázquez, is thought to have called the police to intercept the group, which police later turned over to a drug cartel. The incident set off waves of anti-government protests across Mexico and into the United States, with demonstrators calling out the country's leaders for corruption. Mexico's Attorney General at the time, Jesus Murillo Karam, announced in late January that the gang members likely killed the students and incinerated their remains. Only one student's body was identifiable, causing relatives to demand the investigation be reopened with better evidence examination. They've rallied around the motto "Alive they took them, alive we want them back." More than 100 people have been arrested in connection with the students' disappearance, and their treatment is at the heart of a separate commission's inquiry. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights announced Monday it had begun looking into about a dozen complaints that suspects were tortured and abused. Their findings were due to be released later this year, Agence France Presse reported. More on MSN: Clashes erupt after Burundi coup attempt (AFP) Yemen aid starts to flow as truce mainly holds (Reuters) Depp's dogs must leave Australia or be put down (Sky News)


Briana Culberson and her husband Ryan proved you can stay on the keto diet at Disneyland. The couple shared an Instagram photo Tuesday of themselves eating a turkey leg at the theme park. Disneyland's turkey legs have 720 calories and contain 36 grams of fat, making them keto-friendly. Sticking with a diet can be tricky when you're out of the house, but apparently keto fans don't have to sweat it when they go to Disneyland. Keto dieters Briana Culberson, daughter of The Real Housewives of Orange County's Vicki Gunvalson, and her husband Ryan just shared a photo of themselves at the theme park, and pointed out that they had no issues staying keto while they were there. "What do you mean you can't do Keto at Disneyland? Here, hold my turkey leg. #disneyland #turkeyleg," Ryan captioned a shot on Instagram of himself and Briana, next to the classic Disney treat. In case you're not familiar with it, Disney's turkey leg is a huge hit at their theme parks. In fact, the North American parks sold two million turkey legs in 2013, according to The New York Times . Disney doesn't post nutrition information about the legs, but the Times says that each leg is about 720 calories and contains 36 grams of fat. And, given that they're a big hunk of meat, it's pretty easy to assume that they're super keto-friendly. Briana and Ryan have been all about keto since collectively losing 86 pounds on the diet in less than a year. Briana (who often posts on Ryan's account) shared in January that she had lost 45 pounds on the diet. "But most importantly my health has greatly improved!" she wrote next to before and after photos of herself, via Ryan's account. "The face on the left is of an average American diet, never felt good, having constant lupus flares, and on and off steroids for almost a year." (Briana was diagnosed with lupus in 2016, and almost had to have her leg amputated last year due to her condition, People says.) "The face on the right is strict keto, steroid free, and lupus flare free," she said. Since then, Ryan has regularly shared his favorite keto tips and recipes on Instagram. Clearly, these two are all in-and it's working for them. Video: Everything You Need To Know About The Keto Diet (Men's Health)


SACRAMENTO, Calif.   A late-night argument between Southern California city councilors ended with one unconscious on the floor of a resort during an annual gathering of local government officials that some past attendees say is more fraternity party than public policy retreat. The May 18 incident drew unwanted attention to the California Contract Cities Association, a little-known organization formed six decades ago to represent the interests of communities that contract for services such as police, fire, trash collection and street maintenance. The fight occurred around 12:30 a.m., after the first day of business at the Annual Municipal Seminar, held at the Renaissance Indian Wells Resort & Spa. The meeting agenda included panels on such issues as homelessness, active shooters and government ethics. There also was plenty of time for relaxation and fun on the taxpayers' dime. A golf tournament was played before official business started and conference attendees received a welcome bag with a bottle of wine, corkscrew and several tickets for free alcoholic drinks at conference-sponsored events. Association Executive Director Marcel Rodarte declined to provide names of the attendees but a list obtained by The Associated Press showed more than 350 people. Many were officials from the organization's 76 member cities, along with people from the Los Angeles County sheriff and fire departments   agencies that contract with many association cities. There also were representatives from companies including Southern California Gas and TNT Fireworks. TNT provided a fireworks show on the last night of the gathering. The meeting isn't cheap   $600 per person for the seminar and a discounted $214 per night for hotel rooms. Many cities foot the bill for their officials to attend. The association, comprised of Rodarte and two underlings, expected to bring in $320,000 at the event, according to its budget. The AP spoke to five people who either attended this year or have gone before. All described it as a gathering that is more social than business and where alcohol is prevalent, sometimes provided by city vendors who rent out suites and provide open bars. One called it "spring break for city council members." All spoke only on condition of anonymity because they did not want to harm professional or business relationships. Virtually all of the association's members are from Southern California, and most from the Los Angeles area. Many are small, though Los Angeles itself and Long Beach are members. Cities pay between $1,200 and $8,000 in membership dues each year, budget documents show. The organization advocates for local governments, though it is not registered to lobby at the Capitol. Its primary function is hosting several educational seminars each year. They're often held at upscale resorts; the annual conference in May has been held at Indian Wells for 19 years, and a summit last October was held at the Coronado Island Marriott Resort and Spa. The Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort in Orange County also has played host. The League of California Cities, a larger city advocacy organization, is holding its conference this year at a convention center in Long Beach. Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia, a Democrat who represents the city of Commerce that is home to the councilors who fought at the meeting, has attended one of the association's conferences. She questioned whether the seminar "is the best way to be using our taxpayer dollars." "I've been questioning the culture around Contract Cities   and I don't think I'm the only one   for a long time," she said. Margaret Clark, mayor of Rosemead just east of Los Angeles, said she doesn't see the gathering as a giant party. She said it was a shame "one jerk that can't handle his alcohol," gave the organization a bad reputation, a reference to the Commerce city councilor who allegedly punched a colleague. "We're not going out there to schmooze," Clark said. "Those of us that really care about our communities are there to learn and share." The Riverside County Sheriff's Department is investigating the incident, which started with an argument between two Commerce City Council members  Ivan Altamirano and Leonard Mendoza   and ultimately involved seven people. Mendoza was knocked unconscious and Commerce Mayor John Soria said he and Altamirano were attacked from behind by two people and he was punched in the head and face. Rodarte, the contract cities' executive director, noted the fight was not during an association-sanctioned event. He said Commerce's membership has been suspended. The association "condemns, in the strongest terms, the behavior of those involved in the incident," he said in an emailed statement, adding "violent behavior is unacceptable and inconsistent with the values of our Association and members." He declined to address whether the association has too much partying at its events. Tom Hogen-Esch, a professor of political science at California State University-Northridge who studies Los Angeles government, said organizations like the Contract Cities Association can be a valuable advocacy tool for communities. But, he said, "cities obviously need to be careful about these kinds of events, making sure that they don't become junkets."


Since Indiana opened its first state-run needle exchange last spring, Tara Burton, 25, has made weekly visits to turn over needles she used to shoot Opana, a prescription painkiller, up her track-marked arm. The one-story clinic in rural Scott County, Indiana, marks a sea change in states where conservative lawmakers had staunchly opposed old needles-for-new exchanges. An HIV epidemic in Indiana and a rise in Hepatitis C cases in Kentucky helped push those states to pass laws allowing communities to open needle exchanges. A pilot exchange program is due to begin in West Virginia in September. And Southern Ohio has opened exchanges in two cities since 2012. "Some of the most conservative members of the community are supporting this now because they understand it," said Scott Lockard, president of the Kentucky Health Departments Association. He added, however, that "lots of education" is still needed. Opponents insist exchanges facilitate criminal behavior. "Really, you're encouraging drug use," said Kentucky State Representative Stan Lee, a Republican, comparing distributing clean needles to giving out condoms at schools. Needle exchanges, which exist in 34 states, are gaining wider acceptance as health officials nationwide have expressed alarm at the surge in opiate abuse, including heroin and prescription opiates delivered through needles that are often passed between addicts. Those needles also spread potentially deadly diseases such as HIV and Hepatitis C. Deaths from heroin overdoses jumped 286 percent nationwide from 2002 to 2013, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Few communities have been as starkly confronted with the health risks as Indiana's Scott County, a rural pocket of 24,000 people anchored by the working class towns of Austin and Scottsburg. Since December, the county has recorded 175 new HIV cases, up from an annual average of five, all tied to injected drugs. HEALTH EMERGENCY Faced with a public health emergency, Indiana Governor Mike Pence, a Republican who had opposed exchanges, approved the state's first exchange program in March. Soon after, the Scott County Health Department's needle exchange opened its doors, providing intravenous drug users with sterile needles when they turn in dirty ones. Since then, the number of new HIV cases has dropped from more than 20 each week to one in the last two weeks. Madison County also plans an exchange. "The Scott County outbreak scared everybody because it was easy to look over your shoulder and say we've got all the conditions here to be next," said Daniel Raymond, policy director of the New York-based Harm Reduction Coalition. "What's driving greater acceptance of needle exchanges is we don't have time to fight over ideology. We need to do something now because we're losing too many people." Forty miles south, health officials in Louisville, Kentucky, opened that state's first needle exchange in June. The city of Lexington and rural Pendleton County have since approved exchanges, and officials are considering opening them in at least half a dozen more places in the coming months. Kentucky State Senator Wil Schroder, a former prosecutor, said he did a "180" on needle exchanges, going from opposing them to persuading fellow Republicans that they can inform users about addiction programs while getting dirty needles out of parks. The exchanges could also cut treatment costs, he added. Kentucky has the highest rate of Hepatitis C in the United States, with more than 56,000 infected residents requiring possible lifetime insurance and Medicaid costs of $4.5 billion. Schroder said Hepatitis C cost Kentucky $28 million in 2014. "The more I researched the issue, my mind started to change," he said. Wayne Crabtree, a Louisville health official, said he sees all kinds of people enter the clinic as drug abuse spreads to include more women and high income earners. One of his jobs is to convince users that exchange workers are there to help, not punish or judge. In its first month, the exchange has gotten 12 people into rehabilitation. Burton, the woman who drops off used needles weekly at the Scott County clinic, said the exchange keeps users safe. "People didn't care whose needle was whose before; that's what started this," said Burton, who contracted HIV before it opened. "It's a lot better now." (Reporting by Mary Wisniewski and Steve Bittenbender in Austin, Indiana; Editing by Richard Chang)


The number of crime incidents in Charlotte saw an overall increase last week, for the second week in a row, according to SpotCrime , which collects data from police agencies and validated sources. Incidents rose to 1,685 for the week of July 22, up from 1,583 the week before. The overall increase in crime reports was led by theft and vandalism. Theft incidents rose to 856 last week, from 707 the week before. Vandalism went from 97 to 103. Reports of theft have continued to grow for the last two weeks. There were 281 reported assaults last week. That represents an increase from 278 incidents the previous week. Among the few types of offenses that saw a downturn last week, reports of robbery went from 47 to 39, and arson fell from two to one. There were 309 reports of "other" crimes, a decrease of 51 from the previous week. SpotCrime's broad "other" category includes a variety of offenses like fraud, trespassing, public disturbance and traffic violations. Of those incidents, 73 involved arrests, such as for drug possession, down from 88 reported arrests the week before. Looking at crime patterns in different areas of the city, Downtown Charlotte, East Forest and Montclaire South had the most reported incidents last week. East Forest and Montclaire South were at the top of the list the previous week as well. Downtown Charlotte saw the largest increase; incidents in the neighborhood have been rising for two weeks in a row. Crime reports in East Forest also rose for a second week, and incidents in Harris-Houston are up considerably as well. Regarding when most crimes are committed, Wednesday, Friday and Tuesday had the most crime incidents last week. The largest increase from the previous week occurred on Friday, Wednesday and Tuesday, while incidents on Monday and Sunday went down. Comparing times of day, late morning, late afternoon and evening saw the most crime last week. Want a longer-term view of crime in Charlotte? Here's our latest monthly crime report . To report a crime in progress or life-threatening emergency, call 911. To report a non-urgent crime or complaint, contact your local police department. Head to SpotCrime to get free local crime alerts in your area. This story was created automatically using local crime data, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about our data sources and local crime methodology. Got thoughts about what we're doing? Go here to share your feedback.


Several large trucks ended up swallowed inside what officials believe may be a sinkhole in central Florida early Wednesday. The Orange County Sheriff's Office said the hole opened up around 1 a.m. on private property along Boggy Creek Road, located near Orlando International Airport . Deputies arriving at the scene discovered "a large fracture in the ground between two lakes that had collapsed" that is estimated to be at least 30-feet wide. LIGHTNING STRIKE IN COLORADO INJURES 8 HIKERS, 1 CRITICALLY, OFFICIALS SAY The Orange County Fire Rescue said on Twitter that several trucks had been swallowed. Photos posted by the agency showed the vehicles peeking out of the newly-formed hole. HERE ARE THE DEADLIEST AND COSTLIEST HURRICANES TO HIT THE US MAINLAND Fire officials said there was one man who stays at a mobile home on the property, but he was not injured. It's not yet known if the incident is an actual sinkhole or a fracture in the ground caused by something else, FOX35 reported . CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APP The Florida Environmental Protection Division has been contacted and will investigate the incident. Slideshow by photo services


CHICAGO - As Sinaloa boss Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman's trusted godson, Damaso Lopez Serrano was considered to be the highest-ranking member of the notorious cartel to ever turn himself in when he walked across the Mexican border two years ago and began cooperating with U.S. authorities. It was a move that also made him a marked man, according to federal prosecutors. While he was locked up at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Chicago in April, Serrano testified Monday in Chicago's federal court, he learned that gang members had been offered $25,000 to severely beat him. The alleged "hit" had been ordered by Serrano's former drug trafficking associate, Jesus Beltran Leon, who wanted someone to "split his head" as punishment for cooperating, according to federal prosecutors. Serrano's testimony came at a sentencing hearing for Leon, who pleaded guilty in April to importing thousands of pounds of narcotics into the U.S. on behalf of the cartel. In asking for a sentence of at least 35 years in prison, prosecutors said in a recent court filing that Leon was secretly recorded by another inmate talking about the planned hit. Security was tight for the hearing in U.S. District Judge Ruben Castillo's courtroom, with metal detectors set up by the entrance and cellphones and other electronics forbidden. Dressed in green prison garb, Serrano, 31, testified through a Spanish interpreter that he was drafted into the cartel by his father, Damaso "El Licenciado" Lopez Nunez, who at the time was one of Guzman's most trusted associates. Serrano said he had personally ordered at least 15 killings and more than 20 kidnappings of rival narcos in his time with the cartel. He said he knew Leon mostly though drug trafficking networks run by Guzman's sons, known in Mexico as "Los Chapitos." In 2001, Leon was with one of the sons when they went to pick up Guzman after his spectacular escape from prison, according to Serrano, who testified that Leon told him the story personally. "So they went and picked him up, and Chapo told (his son) not to worry, that he was going to get lost for a while, but that everything would be all right," Serrano testified. "And then they just dropped him off somewhere." According to Serrano, Leon was known to be brash and undisciplined in his work. He would carry a gold-plated AK-47 onto the dance floor at parties, snort cocaine and go on dayslong drinking binges, Serrano testified. Years ago, Leon was exiled from Sinaloa's capital of Culiacan after he fatally shot a politically powerful person during an argument at a party, Serrano said. On cross-examination, Serrano acknowledged that he had no firsthand knowledge of the alleged killing and couldn't remember the victim's name. In asking for the minimum possible sentence of 10 years in prison, Leon's attorneys say prosecutors have vastly overstated his role in the cartel and ignored compelling evidence that Leon was brutally tortured by Mexican marines after his arrest in 2014 - abuse that was allegedly witnessed by U.S. federal drug agents. "(Leon) was tortured physically, brutally and repeatedly," Leon's lead attorney, Beau Brindley, wrote in a filing last month. "If one must choose between being tough on crime and tough on torture, one should choose the latter as the more insidious evil to root out. Unlike crime itself, this kind of torture erodes the very respect for our institutions." Castillo had previously heard evidence about the alleged torture as part of a defense effort to dismiss the indictment. While Castillo declined to toss the charges, he said in a ruling that the allegations painted a "disturbing picture" of tactics employed by law enforcement in Mexico. The judge also said he was "deeply disturbed by the accusation that American law enforcement agents may be condoning or turning a blind eye to these tactics." Leon, 35, also known as "El Trebol," which is Spanish for "The Clover," was added to an indictment in 2014 against the notorious Mexican cartel that has been described as the most significant drug case in Chicago's history. He pleaded guilty to narcotics trafficking in April in a declaration that carries no agreement with prosecutors on a possible sentence that could be as much as life in prison. The indictment, which also names Guzman and several of his top henchmen, alleged that the cartel used jumbo jets, submarines and tunnels to smuggle massive amounts of drugs into the U.S., much of which was later distributed in wholesale quantities through a network built by Chicago twins Pedro and Margarito Flores. The charges alleged that Leon acted as a lieutenant for Guzman's son Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar, and helped coordinate vast shipments of drugs into the U.S. for distribution. The cartel members then laundered billions of dollars in proceeds back to Mexico, according to the charges. To protect their lucrative drug trade, cartel members, including Leon, used any means necessary, including "bribing corrupt public officials," committing kidnappings and extortion, and threatening or committing violence against rival drug dealers as well as members of law enforcement, the charges alleged. According to a recent prosecution filing, a former high-ranking member of the Sinaloa cartel - now identified as Serrano - said he witnessed one of Joaquin Guzman's sons offering Leon an "investment opportunity" to import kilograms of cocaine from Venezuela by airplane. He accepted, the cartel member told authorities. Another former cartel member cooperating with the feds, Guadalupe Fernandez Valencia, testified Monday that she was in Mexico in February 2014 when she saw Leon running. She said Leon had been at a restaurant with two of Joaquin Guzman's sons when a waiter told them the "government was coming," according to prosecutors. Valencia testified Leon told her they had exchanged clothing with waiters and then escaped, leaving behind their cars. Valencia pleaded guilty in July to trafficking narcotics for the cartel and is awaiting sentencing. Guzman was convicted in New York earlier this year of murder conspiracy and drug trafficking charges and sentenced in July to life in prison. Visit the Chicago Tribune at www.chicagotribune.com


Orange County teachers overwhelmingly voted down their latest contract proposal. The school board is expected to hear about it during a budget meeting. Teachers in the district felt that the increase in their health insurance would offset the raise that this contract offered. The bargaining process will have to start over. The union released the vote tally late Monday night, after about ten hours counting ballots. There were 1,000 yes votes but nearly 4,000 individuals voted no. In a statement to WESH 2 News, the union president said that OCPS, like other employers across Florida and across the nation, is seeing a steep increase in insurance costs. Some teachers felt as though the union leaders did not fight hard enough for them in the initial stages. The union president says she did what she could. Both sides agree that the Florida government needs to bring in further funding. By law, Florida teachers are not allowed to strike. READ MORE: Orange County teachers overwhelmingly vote against contract proposal CHECK OUT WESH: Stay in the know with the latest Orlando news, weather and sports. Get the top stories and all the scores from the team at WESH.


Four years, $15 million and the passion of its celebrity owners have brought a fresh attitude   and smart new interiors   to Miami Beach's historic Cardozo Hotel. "The whole thing is new," said Emilio Estefan (yes, that Emilio Estefan), who owns the hotel with wife Gloria. "Bathrooms, floors, air conditioners. That's why it took us four years. I said if we're going to do it, let's do it first class." When the Ocean Drive landmark reopened last week, return visitors found a world of crisp whiteness: new marble floors, interior columns covered in creamy mosaic tiles, couches swathed in white. But there's no starkness here; accents such as wooden lounge chairs and white candles are designed to create a relaxed ambience. (You are on vacation after all.) It's all a far cry from the dark furniture, wood paneling and animal print headboards of the Cardozo's previous iterations. Built in 1939 and named after Benjamin Cardozo, a former U.S. Supreme Court justice, the three-story, 41-room hotel sits on a corner lot overlooking Lummus Park and the ocean beyond. Henry Hohauser designed the hotel, along with several other South Beach art deco inns including the Park Central Hotel (now the Celino South Beach Hotel), Essex House Hotel (now Essex House by Clevelander) and The Webster Hotel. The Cardozo Hotel was among the first historic Miami Beach hotels to be renovated in the early 1980s. When the Estefans bought the hotel in 1992, many questioned the investment. "People said, 'Why are you buying on Ocean Drive? It's all old people,' " Emilio Estefan said. "Everything changed and you have to go with the changes. Ocean Drive represents Miami, it's a perfect example of what Miami is all about." Since the '90s, the Estefans have upgraded the hotel twice as the neighborhood has transformed around them. The hotel has served as a movie set several times under the Estefans' ownership. Scenes from the 1996 movie "The Birdcage" were shot at the Cardozo, as were some from the 1998 movie "There's Something About Mary," the 1999 movie "Any Given Sunday," and the 2008 movie "Marley & Me." Because the hotel is historically designated, no changes could be made to the facade. Rooms remain their original size with the exception of a third-floor penthouse suite. All have been updated with new floors, tiles and furnishings in soothing neutrals. With the help of Miami-based architect Aldo Ducci, the Estefans incorporated pieces from their personal furniture and art collections into the hotel's design. In the first-floor private meeting space sit patio chairs from their Miami Beach home along with a floor-to-ceiling silver mirror that was a prop for music videos. Art from local and international artists   a metal sculpture imitating mangrove roots behind the front desk, a framed black-and-white multimedia work in the private meeting room   abound. "I wanted to make something like I feel when I go to my house," said Emilio Estefan. "We travel all over the world and we know things that work and things that don't work. It has to be simple, comfortable, great beds, great showers." Estefan says he has been at the hotel nearly every day working on finishing details. The third-floor penthouse suite   four rooms combined into one that spans the entire width of the hotel   is his favorite. He designed sliding glass doors that allow for more space in the bathrooms. A black and white rug of his sits in one of the common areas. Also new to the hotel is BiCE Cucina, an international Italian restaurant chain, which opened in the first floor in April. The restaurant is serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, and room service to hotel guests. The restaurant's doors open up to a wraparound porch that sits on Ocean Drive. The Estefans hired Benchmark, a global hospitality company, to manage the hotel this year. Benchmark also manages the Estefans' Vero Beach, Fla., hotel Costa d'Este Beach Resort and Spa. The Cardozo's reopening is part of a larger trend to preserve and update Miami Beach's art deco hotels. Historic hotel renovations constituted the majority of the city's hotel openings in 2015 and 2016, according to Ernst & Young. That trend has slowed down slightly, but there are still more renovation openings to come, including the 1940s Raleigh Hotel and the 1930s Lennox Hotel. Room rates at the Cardozo Hotel start at $239 per night.     ©2019 Miami Herald Visit Miami Herald at www.miamiherald.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.


New research from the International Air Transport Association revealed that airlines around the world carried 4.4 billion passengers in 2018, an increase of 6.9 percent from the previous year. The IATA also found that efficiency reached record-breaking numbers, as 81.9 percent of available seats were filled. Fuel efficiency also improved by more than 12 percent when compared to 2010 figures. Low-cost carriers boasted the most growth, with the segment increasing by 13.4 percent in terms of available seat miles. The budget-airline sector accounted for 29 percent of global seats in 2018, up from 16 percent in 2004. "Airlines are connecting more people and places than ever before. The freedom to fly is more accessible than ever," IATA CEO Alexandre de Juniac said. "And our world is a more prosperous place as a result. As with any human activity this comes with an environmental cost that airlines are committed to reducing." "We understand that sustainability is essential to our license to spread aviation's benefits," de Juniac continued. "From 2020 we will cap net carbon emissions growth. And, by 2050, we will cut our net carbon footprint to half 2005 levels." Flight availability is also on the rise, with 22,000 city pairs now connected by direct journeys, an increase of 1,300 over 2017 and double the 10,250 city pairs connected in 1998. As for the cost of air transport, it has been cut in half over the last 20 years. The region that saw the fastest growth in airline passengers during 2018 was the Asia-Pacific region. In total, 1.6 billion passengers in the region, an increase of 9.2 percent compared to 2017 and representing 37.1 percent of the global market share. Airlines in North America carried 989 million passengers last year, an increase of 4.8 percent.


Chinese consumers are throwing their support behind Huawei, accusing the U.S. of "bullying the company," with some on social media saying they're looking to buy the technology giant's products over Apple. The U.S. has stepped up pressure on Huawei recently, putting it on a blacklist that requires American firms to get a license from the government before selling to the Chinese telecom equipment and smartphone maker. The move threatens to cut of the supply of key components to Huawei. Alphabet's Google also said it would suspend some business with Huawei earlier this week. But the U.S. scaled back some of those restrictions, granting a 90-day period for American firms to continue working with Huawei, including Google. Chinese social media users, many of whom are often very patriotic about home-grown brands, have been rallying behind Huawei. A hashtag on Twitter-like social media site Weibo, which translates as "Huawei's chip doesn't need to rely on U.S. supply chain," had nearly 50 million views. And some users are saying they're now looking to buy Huawei products over those from Apple. "I've also decided to buy a Huawei Phone, and I will change my plan from buying an Apple Watch into a Huawei product, taking action to support Huawei," one Weibo user said in a Mandarin post that was translated by CNBC. "It had been bullied by the U.S. so poorly recently." "Even though my stock investment account is facing a loss continuously, I'm still preparing to switch my other phone into Huawei, to show support with action," another user said. One users said it's a "fantasy" to stop Huawei. "We will stop Apple," the netizen said. It's unclear how widespread the anti-Apple sentiment is in China, but one expert cautioned that online claims shouldn't be taken too seriously. "It is true that nationalistic sentiment is rising in light of recent events, and I won't be surprised if Apple takes a bit of heat as a result. But many users in China still aspire for Apple's prestige and products. We need to be careful not to overgeneralize based upon a sample of vocal users online," said Bryan Ma, vice president of devices research at market research firm International Data Corporation. Apple declined to comment when contacted by CNBC for this report. Greater China accounts for around 17% of Apple's net sales. In the company's fiscal second quarter, Greater China net sales fell over 21% year-on-year. The company has faced intense competition in China from Huawei and other players like Xiaomi. It has also struggled with its pricing strategy for its latest devices in the country and retailers were forced to slash prices on some of those models earlier this year. But experts said the political tensions between the U.S. and China could end up hurting Apple further. "I think it wouldn't take much for Beijing to flip the switch on national sentiment and really call for an outright ban," David Riedel, president and founder of the Riedel Research Group, told CNBC's "Squawk Box Asia" on Wednesday. "We have seen social media ticking up in terms of an unofficial blacklist of Apple, I think the Chinese believe they have a very good alternative in Huawei and their other homegrown and homemade handsets." Huawei is the world's second-largest smartphone maker in the world by market share behind Samsung. But cutting it off from key U.S. suppliers could hurt its global ambitions , experts said. While Huawei relies on American firms for its products, Apple also has a large number of Chinese suppliers. If there is disruption to the supply chain for Apple, that could hurt sales. Nicole Peng, vice president of mobility at Canalys, noted that Apple has been called out before by Chinese consumers. Those times, she said, boycott activities "usually only last for a few weeks." This time could be different, however. "Although Apple is very experienced, this time could be the toughest (the company has) ever seen and they should try everything to communicate with their loyal users on where they stand meanwhile," Peng told CNBC, adding that the American tech giant may have to "embrace" a negative turn for its China sales in the short term. Interestingly, Huawei CEO Ren Zhengfei has often praised Apple. He called it a "great company" during an interview with CNBC earlier this year. In another interview on Wednesday with Chinese media, Ren also spoke of the importance of working with American firms. "In such a critical moment, I'm grateful to U.S. companies, as they've contributed a lot to Huawei's development and showed their conscientiousness on the matter," Ren said, according to the Global Times , a news outlet run by China's Communist Party.


Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts openly wishes closer Kenley Jansen had learned his lesson about pitching through injury a little sooner. Jansen melted down in the ninth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday night. After getting an out on a comebacker that hit his right ankle, he gave up four straight hits and three runs, turning an 8-6 Dodgers lead into a 9-8 loss. After the game, Jansen said his ankle had gone numb, and he was unable to push off after getting struck and should have left the game . Reacting on Wednesday, Roberts wasn't exactly thrilled that his closer had waited to divulge this information after he'd blown the save and waved off trainers in the process. Dave Roberts described hearing these Kenley Jansen comments last night as "a little bit tough to swallow." He said they discussed them. Jansen is sore and unavailable tonight, but Roberts hopes to have him available tomorrow. https://t.co/0y2m167B4N   Pedro Moura (@pedromoura) July 17, 2019 It's a fine lesson in pain management. Athletes want to play and push through injury, and some fans will call them soft if they don't play. Not listening to one's body, however, can lead to disasters like this. Related slideshow: 2019 MLB season (Provided by imagn)


The Giants acquired Jabrill Peppers in the trade that sent Odell Beckham to the Browns, but the idea wasn't for Peppers to play a role in replacing Beckham on offense. Peppers is set to start at safety and is a leading candidate to serve as a punt returner, but he has some experience on offense from his days at the University of Michigan. The question of whether he'd take a shot at doing so in the NFL came up this week as the Giants deal with several issues at wide receiver. Corey Coleman is out for the year with a torn ACL, Golden Tate is set to serve a four-game suspension to open the year and Sterling Shepard is recovering from a broken thumb. Peppers said he'd be open to the idea and believes he "could do whatever I put my mind to" before discussing why players are usually limited to one side of the ball. "Guys might not have gotten chance , and guys might not want to because now it's about making your career last as long as possible so you reap the fruits of your labor," Peppers said, via NJ.com. "I definitely think there are guys that can do it. But will they do it? Will they want to do it? Will the team make them do it? Especially if they are key guys. It's all up in the air. It depends on a lot   the type of system and type of franchise." Patrick Peterson and Adoree' Jackson are other defensive backs who have moonlighted on offense, but it's been for limited snaps and there haven't been signs that the Giants are looking to add Peppers to that list so far this summer.


A new arrival at Packers camp: former Badgers DT Olive Sagapolu. pic.twitter.com/GmlB2l26JA - Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) July 26, 2019 In addition to signing running back Corey Grant , the Green Bay Packers also added rookie defensive lineman and former Wisconsin Badgers standout Olive Sagapolu to the roster on Friday, according to Rob Demovsky of ESPN. Sagapolu is on the field and wearing No. 67 for the start of Friday's training camp practice at Nitschke Field. The 6-2, 335-pound Sagapolu was an All-Big Ten pick for the Badgers as a nose tackle during the 2017 season. His senior season ended with a shoulder injury after eight games. Sagapolu tallied eight tackles for losses and five sacks over his final two seasons in Madison. The Samoan native is maybe best known for his backflips on the beach. If nothing else, the flips are a ridiculous show of agility and athleticism from a man Sagapolu's size. In fact, Bruce Feldman of The Athletic listed Sagapolu at No. 4 on his annual list of college football's "Freaks" before the 2018 season, noting the flips and his strong testing numbers in the broad jump, vertical jump and 10-yard split almost 350 pounds. Adding Grant and Sagapolu puts the Packers roster at 91 players to begin Friday's practice, meaning the team needed to make a roster move to clear one spot. The team had a roster spot open after releasing veteran defensive lineman Mike Daniels on Wednesday. Sagapolu played both on the nose in three-man fronts and at defensive tackle in four-man fronts for the Badgers. MORE: UFC's Thiago Santos shares brutal update on injuries suffered in loss to Jon Jones Miles Sanders looking a RB2 in Fantasy Football Packers signing former Jaguars RB Corey Grant Instant observations from Day 1 of Patriots training camp Chiefs rookie RB Darwin Thompson calls Patrick Mahomes 'a real-life Jug machine'