Japanese auto safety supplier Takata admitted that certain airbag inflators that it supplied to General Motors for use in GMT900 trucks were defective. But GM continues to petition the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, saying that the trucks are actually safe and don't need to be fixed. Unsurprisingly, some folks aren't happy. By now we've all already heard about the biggest recall in automotive history involving faulty ammonium-nitrate-equipped Takata airbag inflators that can, due to humidity, deploy so violently that they send shrapnel into occupants. But something I didn't realize until recently was that General Motors has been petitioning the government for more than three years to avoid having to recall certain GMT900 trucks and SUVs built between 2007 and 2014. In case you're wondering, GMT900 trucks include the Chevrolet Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500, Chevrolet Silverado 2500/3500, GMC Sierra 2500/3500, Chevrolet Tahoe, Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Avalanche, GMC Yukon, GMC Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade, Cadillac Escalade ESV, and Cadillac Escalade EXT. Back in 2016, NHTSA and Takata agreed to "declare a defect" on all front airbag inflators that utilized phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate without a moisture-absorbing agent, and they agreed that the "defect declarations" would happen in waves. The first wave happened in May of 2016, then the next near the end of 2016, then the third near the end of 2017, and the final near the very end of 2018. GM has responded to all four of those defect declarations with petitions, with the company's main point being, per the NHTSA notice document " Petitions for Decisions of Inconsequential Noncompliance: General Motors, LLC ," that its passenger-side airbags don't need to be recalled since, thanks to integration and inflator differences, they are safe. From the notice: GM has petitioned the Agency for a decision that, because of differences in inflator design and vehicle integration, the equipment defect determined to exist by Takata is inconsequential as it relates to motor vehicle safety in the GMT900 vehicles, and that GM should therefore be relieved of its notification and remedy obligations. GM says its airbags include a number of design features that influence the dynamics of the airbag deployment features not used by other OEMs. Those include, per the notice, "greater vent-area-to-propellant-mass ratios, steel end caps, and thinner propellant wafers." In addition, the notice says GM alleges that the physical environment of the trucks protects passenger inflators from temperature cycling that can "lead to propellant degradation and, ultimately, inflator rupture." This latest petition talks about how studies with Northrop Grumman have allegedly shown that even "worse-than-worst-case humidity exposure and temperature cycling" won't yield inflator ruptures, and that ultimately, the "covered passenger inflators" aren't an "unreasonable risk to safety." Per the notice document: According to the Fourth Petition, "[a]fter the filing of the Third Petition, GM and Northrop Grumman continued to investigate and analyze the longer-term performance of the GMT900 Inflators." (5) Id. at 3. Specifically, GM states that Northrop Grumman: Aged leftover GMT900 inflators from the original aging study to "extreme field exposure" of an estimated thirty-five years "produc[ing] more ruptures in the comparison group non-GMT900 Takata inflators but no ruptures in the GMT900 Inflators" and applied a predictive-rupture model to GMT900 Inflators yielding results consistent with those from the long-term aging study. Id. at 3-4. GM contends it thereby "has established that worse-than-worst case humidity exposure and temperature cycling will not cause inflator ruptures in the GMT900 Vehicles at any point within even unrealistically conservative vehicle-service life estimates" i.e., that the covered passenger inflators, as integrated into the GMT900 vehicles, do not present an unreasonable risk to safety. See id. at 4. So GM says it has field data that includes 66,894 passenger airbag deployments in GMT900 cars without a single reported rupture. On top of that, GM's data allegedly includes ballistic tests of 4,270 "covered passenger inflators" without a rupture. NHTSA posted the notice of receipt of this petition on the 18th, and the period of public comment has begun. Unsurprisingly, some folks want GM to just recall the airbags. From Kiran Cha: If Takata, designer, states these air bags are faulty, why would GM not recall? I get it, it would cost more than $1b to do this, but you need to own your product and fix it. From an anonymous commenter: If these air bags are a problem then you need to make GM replace them. I have a safety recall from July 2016 on these and I still can't have them replaced. This is something that can cause death to my wife or grandkids if they go off and explode the wrong way. Three Years is 3 to many. The time to fix this is now!!!! It's a tough spot to be in if you're GM. If data shows that the airbags are safe, why replace them? But at the same time, having Takata airbags that have been declared defective in cars isn't great, either. It's unfortunate all around.


Aston Villa's ground, Villa Park, has been sold to the club's owners Wes Edens and Nesef Sawiris for £56.7m. The stadium is now owned by NSWE Stadium Ltd, who are controlled by Sawiris and Edens. Documents reveal that the ownership has been moved from the club to the owners, something which has previously been frowned upon. Yet the reasons behind it are thought to be to comply with Financial Fair Play regulations. As revealed by BirminghamLive (via Express & Star ) through access of Land Registry documents, NSWE paid the £56.7m on the 21 May, assuming control over the company as part of the agreement, previously known as Aston Villa Ltd. There are numerous subsidiary companies which make up the control of Villa, with NSWE as one of them, all feeding into main parent company Recon Group UK Ltd. Becoming directors of NSWE now giving Sawiris and Edens greater control. Sawiris and Edens halted financial turmoil for the Birmingham club, saving them from very hefty financial issues back in 2018, becoming majority shareholders. Since then, the club has gained promotion back to the Premier League and their fortunes appear to be looking upwards. Despite this, the change of hands over the ownership of the stadium has unsettled fans. The Aston Villa Supporters' Trust has released a statement regarding their concerns. "The Trust is concerned to read the news today, that despite the recording of an Asset of Community Value on the stadium, a transfer of ownership may have taken place. "We are attempting to clarify the details. When they are available we will seek an urgent meeting with the club. "In addition, we will be requesting clarification on the loss of match day facilities for fans, with the demolition of Villa Village and the Academy, which was not mentioned at the FCG when it is evident plans were far advanced." Fans will be hoping to get the issue resolved shortly as the club look to prepare for their return to the Premier League.


Within a broader look at the potential return of Ben Zobrist later this season, The Athletic's Patrick Mooney writes (subscription required) that the Cubs believe they can shift their trade-deadline focus to acquiring left-handed relief help now that they've addressed their biggest need by signing Craig Kimbrel . Lefty relief has indeed been an issue for the Cubs in 2019, as they've had somewhat of a revolving door to the bullpen while cycling through southpaws. Kyle Ryan has been a relatively steady presence, pitching to a 4.37 ERA (3.55 FIP) with a strong 27-to-8 K/BB ratio in 22 2/3 innings. Beyond him, the club has received sub-par results from Mike Montgomery , who has also missed time due to injury. Xavier Cedeno , signed in Spring Training, has only been healthy enough to tally a pair of innings but began a minor league rehab assignment this week. Randy Rosario hasn't fared well in a small sample of work, nor has Tim Collins . One key but yet-unknown variable in the Cubs' search will be just how much financial leeway the front office has at its disposal. Cubs ownership plainly stated it had nothing more to spend on the roster back in February; it was largely because of the money saved from placing Zobrist on the restricted list that Kimbrel even became a viable option. That said, Mooney notes that president of baseball operations Theo Epstein and his front office typically set aside a "significant" amount of money for in-season additions each winter. If the Cubs do have some reserve funds at the ready, then acquiring a half-season of a lefty reliever's salary could well be feasible. Even if that's not the case, it's always possible to convince a potential trade partner to include some cash in a deal. Doing so would likely require a greater prospect package, though, and the Cubs' farm system is not among the game's most highly regarded. As for lefty relievers that can be expected to become available, the market should bear plenty of options. Giants southpaw Will Smith will headline the rental class, though his teammate, Tony Watson , is a highly appealing alternative. Kansas City's Jake Diekman is in the midst of a strong season and should be available, too. Depending on how the next several weeks play out for their respective clubs, either Sean Doolittle or Brad Hand could become available, though each would have a substantial price tag attached to his name in negotiations. Either San Diego's Robbie Erlin or Seattle's Roenis Elias could be more affordable alternatives. Both are controlled beyond the 2019 campaign and in the midst of solid seasons. Other names will surely emerge   particularly if some current fringe Wild Card contenders fall out of the race and sell off pieces. In speaking with Mooney, Epstein voiced a willingness to be "proactive" while noting that this year's one true trade deadline could create a unique market environment. "It's very competitive out there, so we'll see," said Epstein. "…The new rules this year, too, will probably make for a higher volume across the industry, even if there are a lot of small deals." Related slideshow: The 2019 MLB season (Provided by imagn)


ASHEVILLE   A Blue Ridge Parkway supervisory law enforcement ranger was found to have broken the law and violated the Department of the Interior's Code of Conduct, according to documents obtained by the Citizen Times through the Freedom of Information Act. A report by the National Park Service's Office of Professional Responsibility found that Pisgah District Ranger Greg Wozniak violated Tennessee illegal drug use laws, for which he was arrested on June 12, 2018, in Knoxville . Leesa Brandon, spokeswoman for the parkway, said "appropriate action" is being considered. Wozniak, 45, has remained on "desk duty," not allowed to perform law enforcement functions since the internal investigation was requested by his supervisor, Chief Ranger Neal Labrie. Brandon said Wozniak, while performing administrative duties, has continued to maintain his salary, which according to Data Universe, a database of federal employee salaries, is $73,000. He has worked on the parkway for five years. RELATED : Parkway ranger remains on desk duty a year after arrest Boyle column: Wozniak case just smells bad Another parkway ranger, Chuck Hester, has been performing Wozniak's supervisory law enforcement duties. Wozniak, who worked in Great Smoky Mountains National Park from 2001-09, had been in charge of all law enforcement, visitor protection, and search and rescue operations along the parkway's Pisgah District, which runs from Milepost 305 at the U.S. 221 entrance in Linville to the parkway's southern terminus in Cherokee. The district includes one of the busiest stretches of the scenic roadway through Asheville, north to Craggy Gardens and south to the Mount Pisgah area. There are 28 law enforcement rangers, including supervisors, charged with patrolling the 469 miles of parkway, which is the second-most visited unit in the National Park Service with 14.7 million visitors in 2018. Crash in Knoxville, with drugs found On the night of June 12, 2018, Wozniak collided with another vehicle near the I-40 on-ramp. Both vehicles were totaled and needed to be towed. The report states Wozniak "had been drinking" although no blood alcohol test was taken. He was arrested on two counts of simple possession/casual exchange. The arrest report, showing he was jailed on $1,000 bail. Criminal charges were dropped on July 20, 2018, and the arrest was expunged from his record. RELATED : Parkway ranger's arrest expunged, may return to duty soon The NPS Office of Professional Responsibility report states that in a voluntary interview on July 12, 2018, Wozniak admitted to smoking marijuana earlier the evening of June 12, 2018, and purchasing the marijuana and illegal mushrooms. He also admitted that after the two-vehicle accident, he threw the drugs, which were in a tackle box, "over the guardrail into the bushes" when he panicked. The driver with whom he collided witnessed Wozniak disposing of the tackle box and told the police, who retrieved it and found inside 10.1 grams of marijuana, 6.1 grams of mushrooms and six THC gummy edibles. He also claimed to not have used any illegal drugs "probably since college," which was "25 years ago." RELATED : Death on the trail; more people visit national parks but fewer rangers on patrol Wozniak said he also had been drinking with a friend that night. The Knoxville Police Department crash report, written by officer Trisha Ward, states he had been drinking but no field sobriety tests were taken. The Knoxville Police Department did not explain why no blood alcohol tests were given. Wozniak did not appear to have had any drug test until June 25, 2018, nearly two weeks after his arrest. Those tests came back negative for illegal drugs. When asked by the investigator if he immediately showed his National Park Service law enforcement badge to the police officers on scene, Wozniak said he did not. He said he didn't mention he was a law enforcement officer until he was in custody. Results of NPS internal investigation Once the OPR report was completed in August 2018, the park requested a Board of Inquiry through the National Park Service Washington Office, Brandon said. A Board of Inquiry is convened to make recommendations relating to whether a commissioned employee should be allowed to maintain an NPS law enforcement commission. Steve Stinnett, who was the parkway chief ranger from 2006-14 when he retired, told the Citizen Times on July 26 that he had participated at a different park in Board of Inquiry as a witness. He said the boards are not common, and there was never one called for a ranger's conduct during his eight years on the parkway. He said the boards are usually convened at the regional level   which for the parkway would be the Southeast Region in Atlanta   and comprise a variety of people, from chief rangers to other law enforcement and administrative personnel from other parks. "It would have to be something major for a park not to go with the recommendation of the board of inquiry," Stinnett said, speaking on procedure, not on the Wozniak case specifically. "The agency has reviewed the investigative and Board of Inquiry findings. Appropriate action is being considered," Brandon said in an email, but would not say what the findings were. The Citizen Times has made a FOIA request for the Board of Inquiry report. The OPR report also found that Wozniak had violated the code of conduct for National Park Service law enforcement, a document that says in part: "I will never knowingly violate any local, state, or federal laws or regulations recognizing that I hold a unique position of traditional high public trust, which carries an inherent personal commitment to uphold laws and the integrity of my profession." Wozniak did not respond to a request for comment for this story, but told the Citizen Times on March 14 he had never been arrested before and regrets his actions the night of the incident. Help the Asheville Citizen Times continue to provide in-depth reporting like this. Find our latest subscription options and special offers here. This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Blue Ridge Parkway ranger violated Interior Department code of conduct


PHOENIX   An Indian national is the second person in a month to die in Arizona while being held in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement . The latest death occurred at the La Paz County Jail in Parker, a rural town in far western Arizona near the California border. ICE officials said Simratpal Singh, 21, was found unresponsive and not breathing at the La Paz County Jail on May 3, while he awaited transfer to an ICE facility. Singh was transferred to ICE custody earlier that day after posting bond on charges of assault and sexual assault, ICE officials said. Local paramedics responded and Singh was transported by ambulance to the La Paz Regional Hospital. He was then airlifted to Abrazo West Campus Hospital in Goodyear. He was pronounced dead at 1:58 a.m. on May 3, ICE officials said. A pending autopsy will determine the official cause of death, ICE officials said. The Department Homeland Security's Office of Inspector General and the ICE Office of Professional Responsibility were notified of the death, along with state health and local law enforcement agencies. ICE also notified Indian consular officials of Singh's death. The La Paz County Sheriff's Office has asked the neighboring Mohave County Sheriff Department to conduct an outside investigation, said Anita Mortensen, a spokeswoman at the MCSD. The La Paz County Sheriff's Office did not respond to a request for comment. Singh's death comes four weeks after a Mexican national died on April 3 while in ICE custody at the Florence Service Processing Center, an ICE-run detention facility about 60 miles south of Phoenix. On April 1, Abel Reyes-Clemente, 54, was placed into medical observation at the Florence detention center after showing signs and symptoms of the flu, ICE officials said. Five people have died in ICE custody since the start of the current fiscal year on Oct. 1, according to ICE officials. Separately, at least four people have also died while in the custody of Customs and Border Protection this fiscal year, including two children from Guatemala. Deficient medical care contributed to the deaths at least seven immigrants being held in ICE custody, according to a 2016 report by Human Rights Watch, an advocacy group. Follow Daniel Gonzalez on Twitter: @azdangonzalez . This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Man from India is the second person in 4 weeks to die in ICE custody in Arizona


ATLANTA (AP) Washington Nationals manager Dave Martinez may have found a new pinch-hitter in his team's latest win. Stephen Strasburg showed he can shine in the batter's box as well as on the mound. Strasburg had a three-run homer among his three hits and set a franchise-record for a pitcher with five RBIs, as the surging Nationals beat the Atlanta Braves 13-4 on Thursday night. Strasburg's hitting made up for a so-so night on the mound, as he allowed three runs and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings. ''Stephen wasn't as sharp as he could be but man he swung the bat really well,'' Martinez said. ''He might be a pinch-hitter coming up here for the rest of these games.'' Strasburg, who won the Silver Slugger Award in 2012, said he may have been a little lucky at the plate. ''It's just how crazy this game is,'' Strasburg said. ''Sometimes you just run into the ball.'' Strasburg is the first Nationals pitcher to drive in five runs in a game and have two hits in one inning. His homer was the highlight of an eight-run third inning that also included a two-run double by Victor Robles, an RBI triple by Adam Eaton and a run-scoring double by Anthony Rendon. The Nationals, who have won 14 of their last 18 games, cut Atlanta's lead to 5 1/2 games in the NL East by winning the opener of a four-game series. The Braves have lost three straight. Strasburg (12-4) improved to 3-0 against Atlanta this season by winning his fifth straight start. His effort on the mound was overshadowed by his career highs in hits and RBIs. Strasburg led off the third with a single to center. After the Nationals knocked rookie right-hander Kyle Wright (0-3) out of the game in the long inning, Strasburg hit Touki Toussaint's second pitch 420 feet over the Washington bullpen behind the left-field wall for an 8-1 lead. Strasburg's big night at the plate continued when he hit a two-run single off Toussaint in the fifth. All the time spent running the bases, including scoring from first on Eaton's triple, may have drained Strasburg. He was pulled in the sixth after giving up a run-scoring triple to Ozzie Albies and Brian McCann's RBI single. Nick Markakis hit a line-drive homer off right-hander Kyle McGowin in the eighth. The opposite-field shot barely cleared the left-field wall. Wright allowed seven runs and seven hits with three walks - all in the third inning - in 2 2/3 innings. Wright was recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett before the game. ''I just kind of beat myself a little bit,'' Wright said. ''I think it was lack of feel with the fastball.'' Rendon had three hits, including two doubles, and a walk. TRAINER'S ROOM Nationals: RHP Max Scherzer (mid-back strain) played catch but did not throw in the bullpen as expected and may not start on Sunday. Braves: RHP Kevin Gausman (right shoulder tendinitis) is on track to come off the IL and start on Sunday after throwing on Thursday. ''Talking to him, he feels really good where he's at right now,'' Snitker said. DUGOUT DANCER Strasburg celebrated the homer by dancing with his teammates in the dugout . ''Stras isn't much of a dancer,'' said first baseman Ryan Zimmerman. ''Maybe his wedding is the last time he danced.'' ROSTER MOVES The Braves also reinstated outfielder Ender Inciarte from the 10-day injured list and optioned right-handers Bryse Wilson and Huascar Ynoa to Gwinnett. Inciarte, who had been out since May 15 with a lumbar strain, did not have a hit as he started in center field with Ronald Acuna Jr. moving to left field. Inciarte, a three-time Gold Glove winner, isn't returning to a regular job. Rookie Austin Riley has taken over in left field. ''Just filling in,'' said manager Brian Snitker when asked about Inciarte's role. ''I'm not going to feel like I'm forced to get him in.'' CHARLIE ON THE HILL Utility infielder Charlie Culberson made his second pitching appearance of the season with a scoreless ninth. He also recorded a scoreless ninth against San Diego on May 2. UP NEXT Nationals: LHP Patrick Corbin (7-5, 3.39) will face the Braves for the first time this season on Friday night. Braves: RHP Julio Teheran (5-6, 3.71 ERA) is 6-6 with a 4.13 ERA in 21 career starts against Washington, including 0-2 with a 6.57 ERA in 2018. Teheran had been scheduled to start on Thursday night, but the start was pushed back when Wright was recalled. --- More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports


LEE'S SUMMIT, MO (KCTV) -- An 18-year-old Lee's Summit man has been charged with sexual abuse connected to his employment at a Lee's Summit daycare facility. Joseph Hammerly faces two counts of the unclassified felony of statutory sodomy and deviate sexual intercourse with a person less than 12-years-old. Hammerly's mother, 47-year-old Emily Hammerly, the owner of the daycare, has been charged with endangering the welfare of a child. Emily Hammerly faces one count endangering the welfare of a child and one count of failure of a mandated reporter to report child abuse. According to court records, the victim was dropped off at Little Learner daycare located at 800 SE Church St. on July 11. The victim told one of her teachers that the day before, another teacher, Joseph Hammerly, had taken her to the bathroom and had her put her mouth on his "weiner," the victim said. She stated when they were done, he gave her "apple candies." That teacher then immediately contacted the business manager who informed the victim's parents of the victim's statements. The victim's parents then filed a report with the Lee's Summit Police Department. A forensic interview with the victim revealed a story consistent with what was reported to the business manager of Little Learner. Further, the victim stated that Joseph Hammerly told her not to tell anyone, that it was a surprise and she was the only one that knows. Police responded to the dayare and reviewed the security footage of the victim's assigned room for the day in question. A detective observed footage consistent with the victim's story, though there is no camera inside the bathroom and thus no footage exists for events inside the bathroom at the facility. Police interviewed the reporting staff members who issued statements that the victim reported the same description of the events to them. The business manager also stated she brought the victim's report of this incident to the attention of the owner of the business, Emily Hammerly, who instructed her to "re-direct [the victim] and tell her we don't talk like that." Joseph Hammerly reported to work the following day and worked his entire shift with the victim present at Little Learner. Another teacher at the facility stated she was told by the business manager that after the incident, Joseph Hammerly could continue working and everything was handled. Reese interviewed Emily Hammerly who stated she was notified by her business manager of the victim's statement on the morning of July 11. Emily Hammerly stated she did not instruct any of her employees to hotline the incident and immediately responded back to her residence to speak with her son, Joseph. Emily Hammerly stated that after speaking with her son, there was nothing she found odd and allowed him to continue working the Thursday and Friday shift, so it didn't appear like he was "hiding" from anything. Emily Hammerly stated she made sure her son was not to be left alone with any of the children during his shift. Prosecutors have requested a bond of $75,000 cash only for Joseph Hammerly, and a bond of $20,000 for Emily Hammerly.


Quarterback Dwayne Haskins has checked off a couple of rookie season boxes. He signed his contract with Washington before taking part in rookie minicamp over the weekend. Those practices started Haskins' work on some practical matters that he'll need to master like calling plays in a huddle and got the ball rolling on a quarterback competition that will be a dominant storyline for the team for the next few months. While head coach Jay Gruden won't put Haskins ahead of Case Keenum or Colt McCoy at this point in the calendar, he does acknowledged that the rookie gives the team something neither of the veteran options can give them. "But it is exciting to have a quarterback here that you're gonna have for at least five years that you know you can grow with," Gruden said, via Albert Breer of SI.com. "You can build your offense around his skill set. … It's exciting, for sure." Gruden's never had that kind of long-term view at quarterback during his tenure in Washington. Now it's just a matter of figuring out when to flip the switch on the future.


Editor's note: The opinions in this article are the author's, as published by our content partner, and do not necessarily represent the views of MSN or Microsoft. With the upcoming CNN Democratic presidential primary debates in Detroit, the candidates who would replace President Donald Trump should now find themselves with powerful moments of clarity on the 2020 election and the issue of racism. This, after Trump insulted Rep. Elijah Cummings, calling the lawmaker's majority-black district in Baltimore a " rat and rodent infested mess ." Trump recently told four freshman congresswomen of color known as the "Squad" to " go back " to their home countries, while his supporters yelled " send her back! " at a North Carolina rally when he singled out Rep. Ilhan Omar for rebuke. This racist GOP message of "go back" and "infestation" will only intensify as 2020 approaches. Anti-racist writer Tim Wise tweeted that if the Democrats lose the election, it will not be because of their policy positions, but because they relied on "mainstream Democratic consultants" who warned against focusing too much on Trump's racism and playing into his narrative, and failed to realize that Trump represents   like David Duke in his 1990s senatorial and gubernatorial races   a "moral struggle against racism." "Their support for Trump was never about policy. It was about the bigotry, the fact that he hates who they hate," Wise tweeted , noting that to downplay Trump's race baiting is to normalize it, and depress turnout among those who would vote against him. Trump has normalized white supremacy, after decades of a GOP Southern Strategy of veiled racism and dog whistles used to attract disaffected white segregationists who resented black progress and the gains of the civil rights movement. Today, a large contingent of the Republican base supports Trump because of his racism and not in spite of it. Further, Trump's policies are increasingly associated   at home and abroad   with fascism. Americans, including Jewish Americans, are protesting the horrific conditions in the ICE migrant concentration camps and proclaiming "never again," while Germany's largest magazine Stern depicted Trump draped in an American flag while giving a Nazi salute, with the caption, translated: "Neo-Nazis, Ku-Klux-Klan, racism: As Donald Trump stirs hatred in America." Joe Kaeser , the CEO of the German industrial giant Siemens, tweeted: "I find it depressing that the most important political office in the world is turning into the face of racism and exclusion," while former UK Labour Party strategist Alastair Campbell compared Trump's racial attacks to Hitler and said "the seeds of fascism are being sown." Racial violence, white nationalism and white domestic terror are on the rise in America. According to FBI director Christopher Wray, there is an increase in domestic terrorism arrests , a majority of which involve white supremacist violence. Not unlike days past when whites feared being outnumbered by blacks and translated their paranoia into punitive laws of racial control, America has entered an " era of white anxiety ." Some white people are freaking out over demographic changes in a nation where whites will make up less than half the population by 2050. According to Census Bureau estimates , babies of color now outnumber non-Hispanic white babies. Greater diversity and inclusion are causing a white backlash rather than greater acceptance, ushering in a white nationalist executive branch, harsher immigration policies, abortion bans, voter suppression and attempted census rigging to maximize white power . Professor Amy Wax at the University of Pennsylvania Law School reflected this sentiment when she proposed limiting immigration to Western countries, proclaiming at a panel discussion entitled "American Greatness and Immigration: The Case for Low and Slow" that that "our country will be better off with more whites and fewer nonwhites," and immigrants are too loud and create an increase in litter. As Russia targeted the election systems of all 50 states and exploited racial divisions to help Trump win the 2016 election, Trump has tapped into white grievance and fanned the flames of racial hatred. He recently retweeted Katie Hopkins , a British far-right personality who has called (in a tweet she later deleted but for which she offered no apology) for a "final solution" of Muslims after the Manchester bombing and made offensive comments against blacks and Jews. The NAACP passed a unanimous resolution calling for Trump's impeachment, proclaiming "this president has led one of the most racist and xenophobic administrations since the Jim Crow era." With this backdrop, the Democratic candidates must position themselves as the party of the future, of multiculturalism, diversity and inclusion, and frame the 2020 election   and impeachment   as a fight against racism and authoritarianism, an existential threat to democracy. Democrats flipped red seats and regained the House in a rebuke to Trump, with excitement from voters of color and whites who are "woke" on racial injustice . Yet Democrats squander their power when they reject impeachment, and only legitimize Trump and his racism when they treat him as a "normal" pre-2016 candidate. Democratic candidates are weighing in on Trump's racism on the campaign trail. Elizabeth Warren said she doesn't have to "look at his heart" to know Trump is a racist, pointing instead to his hateful and divisive actions. Warren also said that if Trump were not president, "he would be in handcuffs and indicted ." Kamala Harris said Trump "needs to go back where he came from and leave that office." Bernie Sanders called Trump a racist and said, "We must stand together for justice and dignity towards all," while Joe Biden said diversity is America's strength, despite the fact that "Trump continues to spew hateful rhetoric, sow division, and stoke racial tensions for his own political gain." Beto O'Rourke called Trump a racist and said "What we saw in North Carolina last week was almost an impromptu Nuremberg rally." Pete Buttigieg said white supremacy "is the only issue that almost ended this country," and "could be the lurking issue that ends this country in the future, if we don't wrangle it down in our time." In 2020, Trump has decided to stick with his base and not build from it. Democrats must be upfront on his racism and stand boldly against him, rather than pretend they will seek bipartisanship with a political party that is comfortable associating with white nationalists.


Americans aren't buying motorhomes like they used to, but drivable RVs still top consumer preferences. Americans buy hundreds of thousands of RVs every year. The industry made more than $20 billion in revenue last year as consumers snapped up motorhomes, travel trailers and more. Data from the RV Dealers Association of America shows the most popular brand in each segment of the industry. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Americans bought nearly half a million recreational vehicles in 2018, with the industry bringing in more than $20 billion in revenue. But their sense of adventure wasn't limited to one type of RV. The segment is broken down by industry analysts into nine classes, ranging from small campers to massive diesel motorhomes. But as with any consumer market, tastes change over time and new competitors can take the reins. Read more: 11 things you should always look for when buying an RV The national RV Dealers Association tracks manufacturer data for each type of RV, and publishes sales statistics every year. Based on their information, gathered via the use of an outside company called Statistical Surveys, this is the most popular RV brand in each class: Travel trailer Travel trailers are by far the most popular RV type, with 289,940 being sold in 2018. Jayco retained its lead in the "large, but highly fragmented" travel-trailer segment, RVDA said, but lost 20 basis points from 2017. Cherokee, Wildwood, Salem, and Rockwood, make up spots two through five. Fifth wheel Second to travel trailers, 83,252 fifth wheel RVs were sold in 2018. Montana was able to raise its lead to 8% market share, but Reflection is quickly catching up. Class A For the largest and most expensive of motorhomes, which have declined in sales for three years in a row, the iconic Winnebago has retained its lead. However, its market share fell slightly in 2018. Allegro, A.C.E, Cochmen, and Georgetown make up the rest of the top five. Class B Class B, conventionally known as the camper-van segment, is one of the quickest growing segments, RVDA says, and Winnebago's Touring Coach easily topped the competition. Erwin Hymer and the famous Airstream also make the top five of this segment. Class C Class C motorhomes, or those built on truck chassis, is also growing in step with its smaller Class B counterparts. Four Winds leads this segment, though its lead slipped a bit in 2018. Coachmen, Winnebago, Sunseeker, and Chateau make up the other top four brands in this segment.


Oakland Oakland will cool off a bit in the coming days, according to drone-powered weather forecasting service Saildrone . Temperatures will hit 71 degrees today, then turn cooler Wednesday, reaching just 63 degrees. The immediate forecast also has mostly cloudy skies in store for today. Skies will become fully overcast on Wednesday. Winds will stay light through the week, with the highest speeds tomorrow at only 12 mph. This story was created automatically using Saildrone's local weather forecast data, then reviewed by an editor. We also incorporate historic weather data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


The man suspected of running a red light early Tuesday morning and causing the crash that killed an off-duty Milwaukee police officer has been booked on a preliminary charge of homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle. Milwaukee Police Chief Alfonso Morales said Tuesday that the man arrested in connection in the death of Officer Kou Her was 34 years old and had four previous OWI convictions, including one in May 2017 for which he was still on probation. According to the booking log at the Milwaukee County Jail, Dante L. James, 34, had been booked Tuesday on a preliminary charge of homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle. A check of online court records showed that James' criminal record matched with the one described by Morales. The cause of his 2017 OWI conviction was also James running a red light at a high speed. A witness said she saw James, who was driving a Chevrolet Malibu, traveling along West Capitol Drive at a "high rate of speed, disregard a red light" and nearly strike another vehicle. In an effort to avoid the other vehicle James crashed into a tree on May 3, 2017, at 3:05 a.m. James had no memory of the accident, court records show. He was immediately transferred to Froedtert Hospital where he was in a coma for five weeks due to injuries from the crash, including a traumatic brain injury. After waking up from the coma, he was confined to bed for several months, according to a sentencing memorandum. James was sentenced to two years probation, including one year in jail with work-release privileges, his license was revoked for three years and he was to have an interlock ignition on his car, meaning he must pass a breathalyzer test before being able to start his car, for his 2017 OWI conviction, court records show. Milwaukee Municipal court also issued James a $174 ticket on Thursday for an April 28 speeding charge that happened near the location of the Tuesday crash. Along with the four OWIs, one of which was from Ohio, James also has a felony possession of a firearm conviction and a felony charge of trying to escape law enforcement custody, according to court records. After finishing his shift at the Police District 4 station, Her was driving home about 1:30 a.m. Tuesday when James ran a red light at North 60th Street and West Capitol Drive, striking Her's vehicle, Morales said. RELATED: Aldermen call on Mayor Barrett to offer plan to address reckless driving Contact Keith Schubert at (414) 223-5451 or kschubert@gannett.com . Follow him on Twitter at @keithsch94 Our subscribers make this coverage possible. Subscribe to the Journal Sentinel today and get a special offer at jsonline.com/deal. Top Headlines: Suspect in crash that killed off-duty officer booked on preliminary homicide charge Stingl: Her name really is Marijuana Pepsi, and now it's Dr. Marijuana Pepsi GOP activists prepare for Trump's re-election campaign in Wisconsin SUBSCRIBER EXCLUSIVE: 22 must-see acts at Summerfest 2019 in Milwaukee FOLLOW THE JOURNAL SENTINEL: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Driver arrested in crash that killed MPD Officer Kou Her identified


CHICAGO (AP) -- Whether rookie Adbert Alzolay stays in the majors for the remainder of the season is a question for another day. The 24-year-old from Venezuela showed he belongs Thursday night. Alzolay, the Cubs' top pitching prospect, tossed four innings of dazzling relief in his debut and the offense broke through with a six-run third as Chicago quickly rallied for a 7-4 victory over the New York Mets. The crowd of 38,956 gave Alzolay a standing ovation as he headed to the dugout in the ninth, and he tipped his cap. BOX SCORE: CUBS 7, METS 4 "The best thing that ever happened to me," he said. "All the people were cheering my name. I did my job, did my part and we got the game. ... It's amazing." Javier Baez homered and tripled, and Anthony Rizzo had a two-run double as the NL Central leaders improved to 26-12 at Wrigley Field. Rookie slugger Pete Alonso hit his 25th homer and Todd Frazier connected for the 200th of his career, but the Mets dropped to 15-26 on the road. Before the game, they fired pitching coach Dave Eiland and bullpen coach Chuck Hernandez. Alonso tied Dodgers star Cody Bellinger (2017) for most homers by an NL rookie before the All-Star break. Alonso also is one shy of the Mets' rookie mark set by Darryl Strawberry in 1983. Alzolay (1-0) replaced starter Tyler Chatwood to begin the fifth. The right-hander struck out five and didn't allow a hit until Frazier's leadoff homer in the ninth. Alzolay was replaced after walking the next batter. He was recalled before the game from Triple-A Iowa, where he went 2-1 with a 3.09 ERA in six starts this season. Alzolay had 46 strikeouts in 32 innings with a WHIP of 0.94. "It was nice for him to get called up," Rizzo said. "It was a long time coming; he was hurt last year. To pitch well like that at home, it's a good way to break in." Steve Cishek got three outs for his seventh save. New York spot starter Walker Lockett (0-1) retired his first six batters and had a 3-0 lead when he took the mound in the third following Alonso's two-run shot. But things quickly fell apart for the 25-year-old right-hander, who made his Mets debut in place of injured Noah Syndergaard. Carlos Gonzalez led off with a single and was sacrificed to second by Chatwood. Daniel Descalso followed with an RBI single. Kyle Schwarber walked and Kris Bryant hit a bloop to right that fell in for a run-scoring single. With runners on the corners, Rizzo doubled down the right field line to score both and give Chicago a 4-2 lead. The Cubs weren't done. Baez tripled to center to score Rizzo. After Lockett was yanked, Baez scored on a wild pitch by Brooks Pounders to make it 6-3. "Lockett was cruising through it, throwing strikes, getting groundballs and then left a couple pitches up," Mets manager Mickey Callaway said. "He left a pitch up to Rizzo, he smoked it. "It happened fast." Baez hit his 18th homer in the seventh. REGAN REPLACES EILAND The Mets named Phil Regan interim pitching coach, Ricky Bones interim bullpen coach and Jeremy Accardo interim pitching strategist. The 82-year-old Regan has been the club's minor league assistant pitching coordinator since 2016 after spending 2009-15 as the pitching coach for Class A St. Lucie. The former major league pitcher managed the Baltimore Orioles during the 1995 season. Bones began this year as the pitching coach for St. Lucie. He was the Mets' bullpen coach from 2012-18. Accardo was in his first full season as the Mets' minor league pitching coordinator. "Our belief is we have the talent to be better than we've performed," general manager Brodie Van Wagenen said. FAMILY TIES Alzolay said he was able to talk with his family in Venezuela after the game, and they were able to watch. ONE FOR THE TROPHY CASE Because of the Wrigley Field tradition of throwing back homers hit by visiting players, Frazier was easily able to retrieve the ball from his milestone shot. ROSTER MOVES Mets: To make room for Lockett, left-hander Daniel Zamora was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse. Cubs: To make room for Alzolay, lefty Tim Collins was designated for assignment. UP NEXT Mets lefty Jason Vargas (3-3, 3.74 ERA) faces righty Yu Darvish (2-3, 4.65) in the second of the four-game series Friday afternoon. Vargas had to leave his last start Sunday against the Cardinals after four innings with cramping in his left calf. Darvish is coming off his best outing of the season -- one run and two hits in seven innings against the Dodgers on Saturday. ------ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP--Sports Related slideshow: Best of the 2019 MLB season (Provided by imagn)


Despite using the No. 24 pick in the 2019 NFL draft on Alabama running back Josh Jacobs, many believe their running back corps is still just "average." In a recent piece by Christian D'Andrea of SB Nation , he ranked all 32 running back stables from 1-32. In his list, the Raiders' finished No. 17, just ahead of the Detroit Lions and the Philadelphia Eagles. Jacobs is likely to open the season as the team's starter, and he should see a significant workload as a rookie. Jacobs is a powerful back who can win as a receiver, as well. He is the perfect every-down back for today's NFL and should see at least 300 touches as a rookie. Backing him up will likely be veteran Doug Martin, who was re-signed after Isaiah Crowell suffered a season-ending torn Achilles last month. Martin was effective last season as a starter, averaging 4.2 yards per carry on 172 touches while starting nine games for the Raiders. Veteran Jalen Richard is expected to continue to be the team's third-down back after setting career highs in receptions and receiving yards in 2018. Richard is an explosive back who excels in the passing game, especially after the catch. Look for him to match his production next season despite the limited role. Last but not least, we have to mention Deandre Washington and Chris Warren. Washington made the roster over Warren last year, appearing in 10 games. The former fifth-round pick from the 2016 NFL draft finished the season with 30 carries for 115 yards, career lows in both. Entering the final year of his deal, Washington needs a big training camp to make the roster for the fourth consecutive season. Warren, on the other hand, has the size, speed, and talent to develop into an every down back. However, he has struggled to stay healthy and is still a developing player. Look for Washington and Warren to battle for the final roster spot in 2019. Overall, the Raiders have a lot of talent at the position, but it's going to be up to Jacobs to carry this unit in 2019. If he can be the player that Raiders believe he is, look for Oakland's ranking to dramatically rise on lists like this next offseason. MORE: NHL fans weren't impressed with Mike Milbury's questions for Pam from 'The Office' WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling impressing staff going into Packers minicamp Roundup: Chris Pratt and Katherine Schwarzenegger Get Married, Chicago Poop Vandal, Johnny Manziel Talks XFL Sleeping on Patriots WR Demaryius Thomas would be a huge mistake Bears believe Clinton-Dix is an upgrade over Amos


COLUMBUS   A superior court judge has approved a reduced bond for Krista Noelle Madden, the Asheville mother accused of trying to kill her 7-week-old daughter in May. Judge Peter Knight reduced Madden's bond from $750,000 to $100,000 with the condition that she have no direct contact with her two children. Her attorney, Sean Devereux of Asheville, said it's possible that Madden will post bond and be released from jail as early as June 26. Under the terms of the ruling, Madden will be allowed to communicate with her daughters   a three-year-old and infant Shaylie   via Skype or similar technology but she can have no in-person interaction with the children. Any electronic communication must be supervised by Buncombe County Department of Health and Human Services. Henderson County District Attorney Greg Newman argued for keeping the bond at $750,000, stating "the safety of the children is paramount." After the ruling was delivered, Newman said he was satisfied with the judge's decision and was confident the children would be protected. Judge Knight and Newman both acknowledged that Madden has no prior criminal history. Devereux stressed that they were not seeking Madden's return home. "She'll be living with her mother and father, not her husband and her children," Devereux said. Devereux said that Madden had been prescribed medications and an outpatient treatment plan during her stay at UNC Chapel Hill's Perinatal Psychiatry inpatient unit, both of which will continue after her release. More: Krista Madden attorney: Incident came 'totally out of the blue' Newman stated that he and Devereux have read Madden's medical records, but did not offer any details on the diagnosis. The defense team did seek some in-person interaction with both children, but that was denied. Devereux said that Buncombe County DHHS has been handling the investigation and has found no indications of physical or mental abuse. Newman acknowledged that Madden poses no danger to herself or the public, and said he had no concerns about Madden appearing in court. Newman raised concerns that if Madden is released to family members, "there would be the temptation to loosen those boundaries so that she has contact with the children that she should really not have" in spite of DHHS' involvement in the case, he said. Charges Madden was charged with first-degree attempted murder after her infant daughter Shaylie was found 30 feet down a steep, heavily forested ravine in rural Henderson County. Police say Madden herself threw the baby over the ravine's edge, though Madden described "placing" the baby on the ground in interviews with police, according to search warrants. During the bond reduction hearing on June 26, Devereux referred to "the incident where the child was abandoned briefly in Henderson County." Madden initially told authorities that she and her baby had been kidnapped by two strangers wearing ski masks, according to police, though that story quickly unraveled after Shaylie was found. More: Mother accused of trying to kill 7-week-old to be transferred to psychiatric facility Inpatient psychiatric treatment Due to mental health concerns, Madden was transferred May 17 to UNC Chapel Hill's Perinatal Psychiatry Inpatient Unit, a treatment center that specializes in mental health conditions that affect women before and after giving birth. Devereux said he hoped to have Madden assessed for possible postpartum depression or postpartum psychosis, a severe mental health crisis that can cause otherwise stable new mothers to have delusions and even hallucinations. "Everybody said she was a wonderful mother to the older child and was doing fine with this kid," Devereux said. "So, it just kind of came totally out of the blue." This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Bond reduced for Krista Madden, mom accused of attempted murder


DK Live's Ben Zweiman reveals which teams he believes were the biggest losers of NHL free agency and why.


The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' lone bright spot on an otherwise abysmal defense last season was first-year pass rusher Jason Pierre-Paul, who the Bucs acquired in a trade last offseason with the New York Giants. Pierre-Paul totaled 12.5 sacks, becoming the first Buccaneer since Simeon Rice in 2005 to tally double-digit sacks. But a car accident this offseason left the former Super Bowl champ with a fractured neck , which could sideline him for much, if not all of the regular season. Not surprisingly, Pierre-Paul's absence is viewed as a major storyline to watch for enter training camp, according to ESPN . "The earliest Pierre-Paul could return is November, sources told ESPN. Three players - Carl Nassib, Shaquil Barrett and Noah Spence - will largely be responsible for filling the void left by the first Bucs player to record double-digit sacks in 12 seasons. While Nassib might be the obvious choice here because of his 6.5 sacks last season, Spence and Barrett are really intriguing names to watch." There will be plenty of sacks to go around with Pierre-Paul out. It'll be up to Todd Bowles to figure out the best way to fill the big man's void until he can return. Until then, speedy recovery and best wishes to Pierre-Paul. MORE: Mike Trout's perfect 98.6 MPH throw to home plate had everyone in awe What might Kostas Antetokounmpo bring to the Lakers on offense? Why Mike Daniels should be on every potential playoff team's radar Sean Payton brushes off concerns about Drew Brees' decline 7 interesting plays from Chiefs training camp today


Novas have proven themselves to be quite quick when modified the right ways. Some people want to impress everyone by pulling up in a supercar. Other guys are more into something that might not look fast, but then blows everyone away when it smokes rubber. This 1968 Chevrolet Nova restomod is a great sleeper. Unlike some modified Novas, it doesn't have a big blower protruding out of the hood or some crazy stance that almost mimics a Funny Car. The big key to speed with this Nova is the massive 5.7-liter LS1 V8 sending plenty of horsepower and torque to those back wheels. Like any proper muscle car, restomodded or not, this Chevy uses a Borg Warner 6-speed manual transmission. Just mashing the accelerator and letting the computer have the fun of shifting really saps the fun out of these cars. Completing the setup is a hydraulic clutch and an 8.5 10-bolt rear. With great power comes great need to keep that power in check. Fortunately, Cal Trac bars combined with power rack-and-pinion steering, tubular control arms, QA1 coil over shocks, and power four-wheel disc brakes. More American Cars: 1992 Ford Mustang LX Summer Edition Is An Instant Classic Here's Your Chance To Own The Perfect 'Cuda While not as smoking hot as that powertrain, the body on this Chevy Nova is in great shape, making it an attractive sleeper. The seller claims there are zero signs of rust, and examining the photos that certainly appears to be true. Slathered on each panel is a lustrous Torch red paint that almost looks wet when the light hits it just so. This car rolls on 17-inch Billet Specialties wheels up front and 18-inchers in the rear. Sometimes you get an awesome powertrain and exterior, but the interior leaves you feeling letdown. This car has a nice, all-new interior with bucket seats and center console. An American Muscle dash houses the decidedly modern gauge cluster and a modern sound system. The Chevy Nova has been a popular car for engine swaps, thanks to its lightweight yet solid construction. Because they have a good reputation and the LS1 is a fantastic engine, this setup is a surefire hit with crowds. Old town Automobiles is offering this Chevy Nova restomod to fulfill your need for speed.


Unite, the union whose members include many Heathrow workers including security staff, firefighters, engineers and other passenger service operators, has confirmed its first strike to take this place this week on Monday, August 5 and Tuesday, August 6. The dispute with the UK's largest airport is over pay, and further strike dates for August 23 and 24 have already been announced. There is a chance that talks, which are continuing over the weekend, will resolve the situation at least in part to the extent that the strikes will be canceled, but at the time of publication, they are scheduled to go ahead. Both Heathrow Airport and airlines have started to take actions to limit disruptions, including a number of measures which impact those planning on traveling to, from or via Heathrow this week. Airlines have already been asked to proactively cancel a total of 172 flights by Heathrow and further cancellations are likely. Across the board, passengers are advised to arrive at the airport earlier than planned and to expect longer than usual security lines. Because a strike by airport workers is outside of the control of airlines, passengers are not entitled to any compensation (under EU 261 or other) but airlines have a 'duty of care' to look after impacted passengers, which includes rebooking as well as refreshments, meals and potential hotel accommodation, depending on the length of any delay. Impacted travelers should also check details of their travel insurance. British Airways British Airways is bearing the brunt of the proactive cancellations, given both the number of flights they operate out of LHR as well as the frequency on certain routes. Terminal 5, BA's home, will see the number of security lines reduced, and the First Wing security checkpoint will be closed. Passengers will only be allowed to bring one small personal item of hand luggage on board (which needs to fit under the seat in front of them) with additional items needing to be checked-in (even if the fare purchased does not allow for bags to be checked). This restrictions includes passengers originating their journey from elsewhere and transiting through LHR. At the same time, though, the airline is asking passengers to travel as light as possible and consolidate bags as it is expecting to be handling more bags than normal. Bags can be checked in from 6 p.m. the evening before traveling. Catering will also be restricted on a number of flights, particularly on shorter routes, with some premium passengers being offered vouchers instead. British Airways is allowing passengers booked on short-haul flights from LHR on August 5 and 6 to rebook on an alternative BA flight in the same cabin on any days between August 1 and 12 from London Gatwick or London City, and any days between August 1 and 12 (except for August 5 and 6   the strike dates) from London Heathrow. Passengers traveling with British Airways on the impacted dates are encouraged to both check the status of their flight as well as check the dedicated BA page on the strikes . Virgin Atlantic Over and above advising passengers to continue to check the Virgin Atlantic website and to arrive at Heathrow early, the airline is switching a number of services from London Heathrow (LHR) to London Gatwick (LGW). Monday, August 5: Arriving into LGW (departing destinations on Sunday, August 4): VS138   New York-JFK-London Heathrow VS154   New York-JFK-London Heathrow VS104   Atlanta-London Heathrow Monday, August 5: Departing from LGW VS3   London Heathrow-New York JFK VS153   London Heathrow-New York JFK VS1   London Heathrow-New York Newark VS157   London Heathrow-Boston There are similar plans to switch the following flights from LHR to LGW for Tuesday, August 6 , though these are yet to be confirmed: Arriving into LGW on Tuesday, August 6 VS4   New York-JFK-London Heathrow (departing August 5) VS138   New York-JFK-London Heathrow (departing August 5) VS2   Newark-London Heathrow (departing August 5) VS158   Boston-London Heathrow (departing August 6) Departing from LGW on Tuesday, August 6 VS3   London Heathrow-New York JFK VS153   London Heathrow-New York JFK VS1   London Heathrow-New York Newark VS157   London Heathrow-Boston Passengers traveling with Virgin Atlantic on Monday, August 5 and Tuesday, August 6 are encouraged to check their flight status on the Virgin Atlantic website before heading to the airport (in plenty of time). Flybe The regional airline that has increased its service from London Heathrow has advised passengers that the following flights will be impacted if the strike ends up going ahead. August 5 BE2104 London Heathrow   Edinburgh BE2188 London Heathrow   Newquay BE2110 London Heathrow   Edinburgh August 6 BE2102 London Heathrow   Edinburgh BE2110 London Heathrow   Edinburgh Passengers booked on those flights can change their travel dates to flights on August 3, 4, 7, 8 or 9 provided there are seats available. The latest can be found here . American Airlines AA may be waiving change fees for impacted passengers due to travel to, from or via LHR on the strike dates. Options will be made available online to impacted passengers, who should check their trip and options here . Bottom Line If your travels are flexible, it may be worth considering changing your plans to avoid a potentially miserable airport experience with lengthy delays. All airlines using Heathrow are likely to put measures in place to limit disruptions and customer impact. So, if you are due to travel and going ahead, you are strongly encouraged to check your airlines' website for the latest information (including the above as the situation is evolving). Either way, if you are traveling, plan your luggage in line with the guidance given by airlines and arrive at the airport with plenty of time as there will likely be delays at security and check-in. It's never a bad idea to think of a plan B as well   i.e. what alternative flights (or means of transportation) can get you to your destination if your flight ends up being canceled at the last minute. Related video: Eurostar vs British Airways: Racing from London to Paris


With a new powertrain and exceptional body, this Chevelle is the ultimate sleeper! The 1965 Chevrolet Chevelle was a hot car of its time, and an attractive collectible for today's enthusiasts. While some are used in drag racing, and even road racing, the majority of the mid-1960s Chevelles you're likely to run across in this condition are all about show, but this 1965 certainly shows that there's an exception to every rule! While this example is an outstanding show car, it's also packing the modern drivetrain of a 5th-generation ZL1 Camaro under the hood, and you'd be in for a bad time if you tried to pick a fight with it, on or off the track. Dropped in only 1,000 miles ago, the LSA supercharged LS3 crate engine with aftermarket cam and monster tune, this beastly engine is putting down about 650-horsepower. Backing the engine is a stout 4L80 transmission - which is a powertrain known for withstanding high output engines, and commonly found on modern blown street cars - it works in conjunction with a Circle D 3,000 stall torque converter. Handling all this power, while funneling it to the ground, is a built 12-bolt rearend. And since exhaust exists through the PYPES exhaust with Flowmaster mufflers, this Chevelle has a distinct growl. Giving the car the modern stopping power it needs is a complete CPP front disc brake kit with a CPP master cylinder and proportioning valve - the front rotors are cross-drilled and slotted. Handling comes courtesy of a heavy-duty front rear sway bar set with new bushings and links. All new dampners are fitted with heavy duty Spohn Performance tubular rear control trailing arms. While the Chevelle has been modified with a lot of go-fast parts, most of what you see (before popping the hood) remain original. The body panel stamps are even still visible, and the floor pans are the factory originals and in exceptional condition with a satin finish. GR Classics has this car in their inventory, but it's been priced to sell, even without considering the pricey powertrain!


Against the run of play in the first half, Arsenal showed a clinical touch that has been missing from the side in recent weeks. Alexandre Lacazette did not throw away his shots, scoring a brace as Arsenal defeated Valencia, 3-1, to take a lead in their UEFA Europa League semifinal tie. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang , who set up Lacazette for his first, scored a goal in second half stoppage time to put Arsenal in a commanding position ahead of next week's trip to the Mestalla. Elsewhere, Chelsea used a goal from Pedro to come back and draw with Eintracht Frankfurt, 1-1 at the CommerzBank Arena in Frankfurt, Germany. Lacazette's pair of goals gave him four during this season's Europa League, as Arsenal has seemed to prioritize European competition, especially at home, over the past couple of months. 3   @LacazetteAlex is the third Arsenal player to score a brace in a European semi-final, after Charlie George (1970 Fairs Cup) and Steve Bould (1995 Cup Winners Cup). Turnaround. #ARSVAL   OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 2, 2019 In just the 11th minute at the Emirates Stadium, Mouctar Diakhaby got on the end of a Rodrigo header in the box and was quickest to react, scoring to put Valencia ahead and give the visitors a shock early lead. To the Arsenal fans delight, the lead didn't last long. In the 18th minute, Lacazette and Aubameyang combined to see Aubameyang played through, one-on-one with a Valencia defender. Aubameyang took Neto off his line before centering to Lacazette, who calmly finished into an open net. Eight minutes later, Lacazette scored again as he headed home from a Granit Xhaka cross into the box, giving Arsenal the lead against the run of play. The Gunners looked more likely to score in the second half, and Aubameyang finally found the net himself, volleying home off a Saed Kolasinac cross to give Arsenal some breathing room heading into the second leg.


I'm a big fan of multitasking . I've always got upward of 20 tabs open in my browser, I listen to podcasts or watch my favorite TV shows while working out, and many of my meals are eaten with one hand on the keyboard and the other holding a fork. (I'm not proud of that last one.) So of course when I found out there's a simple way you can build up your calf muscles while getting ready in the morning, I was all in. Back in my ballet days, relevé rising onto my tiptoes was an essential part of footwork at the barre. It also happens to be a killer strengthening exercise for your ankles and calves. But you don't need a studio to get it done. Misty Copeland does 20 relevés on each foot each morning , and you can steal every ballerina's secret to toned legs by doing a similar routine yourself as you stand at your bathroom sink. Every morning, make it your mission to hold a relevé for as long as it takes you to brush your teeth, resting a hand on the edge of the sink for balance. The American Dental Association recommends brushing for two minutes, twice a day, which is more than enough time to squeeze in a ballet dancer's miniature workout. It might not seem like enough time to have an impact, but never underestimate the power of ballet. After just 30 seconds of relevé, you'll start to feel the burn. (VIDEO) Study: Exercise makes people happier than money (Provided by Cooking Light) This is the workout one renowned ballerina swears by for strength training and recovery . You can also try this booty-kicking workout that will make you feel like a (sweaty) prima ballerina .


Kawhi Leonard appears to have his free agency decision narrowed down to three teams or fewer, but the NBA Finals MVP is in no rush to choose between them. ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski said on "Get Up" Tuesday morning that Leonard "very much has a willingness to play it out this week" and may not agree to a deal until after the 4th of July holiday. "There's a possibility there may not be a decision until later in the week."   @wojespn on Kawhi pic.twitter.com/1EO5KckJma   Get Up (@GetUpESPN) July 2, 2019 The Lakers are believed to be the front-runner to sign Leonard, and there were a number of indications on Monday night that the deal is as good as finalized . However, nothing is official until Leonard makes the announcement, and there's a reason he is giving the Toronto Raptors a chance to meet with him last. Video by CBS Sports Leonard has spoken with Magic Johnson about the possibility of joining the Lakers, and the details of that conversation made it clear he is seriously considering it. All that said, it's hard to imagine Leonard having made up his mind on Monday and not announcing a decision until late in the week. The latest report probably means he is still undecided. Related slideshow: 2019 NBA offseason moves (Provided by imagn)


The Penguins knew they were taking a gamble when they shipped Phil Kessel to Arizona in exchange for Alex Galchenyuk and prospects , but they made a smart investment with what they got in return. The 25-year-old hasn't yet put up the same point production as a player of Kessel's caliber, but he's still growing his game and has already shown that he is capable of producing on the top-six. And now that he's in Pittsburgh, he's bound to find a spark on the forecheck. After experiencing ups and downs with the Canadiens and not knowing whether he'd play at center or wing, he was shipped out to Arizona, where he impressed immediately with his versatility and shooting ability. In 72 games, he finished as the Coyotes' top goal-scorer (19) and also finished third in points (41) on a weak offensive team. Now, he's ready to bring his skill set to Pittsburgh, which should automatically help his stat line. NHL FREE AGENCY 2019: RFA, UFA tracker for all 31 teams Looking at his production over time, Galchenyuk hasn't been played with the caliber of a top-six forward who can put up 20 goals and 40-50 points a season. He hasn't had the strongest offenses around him, especially with Arizona, but he'll be able to find more depth and chemistry in Pittsburgh, especially if he joins the second line as expected. As he's introduced to a star-studded lineup that features Sidney Crosby, as well as projected top-six linemate Evgeni Malkin, Galchenyuk has finally found a lineup that complements his style and will help him build on his skill set   and, most importantly, increase his output going to work on one of the best offensive teams in the NHL (sixth in the league last season with an average of 3.30 goals per game). The 6-1, 207-pound forward is a proven playmaker, but he's also shown that he can be a pure goal-scorer with a knack for finding the back of the net; he possesses a quick, accurate shot that makes him a major threat on offense. Having the right center and being able to use his speed and size should not only allow him to find chemistry, but give him the opportunity to put more shots on net. Not to mention, Pittsburgh has enough depth down the middle and will likely give him a permanent role as a winger, and without any more confusion on whether he'll play on the left side or at pivot, he'll have more confidence in his position and a sense of what his role is on the ice. This will also help as he slots in on special teams. He'll get even more ice time on the fifth-best power-play unit in the league (24.6 percent). MORE: Phil Kessel ready to start anew with the Coyotes The only thing Galchenyuk has to improve on is his defensive play. He must prove that he can not only play well on offense, but also build on his two-way play and backcheck efficiently, while showing that he can be a constant in the lineup and always bring a full effort to the table. All of this should help the young forward find consistency, something that he's lacked over the course of his career, and fill the void left by Kessel, a regular 20-30 goal scorer who brought a lot of star power for Pittsburgh. Not only that, but Galchenyuk should be able to have a breakthrough and show why he was taken third overall in the 2012 NHL Draft.


The Toronto Maple Leafs don't have to worry about someone poaching their minor league head coach. Not yet anyway. Tuesday the club announced that Toronto Marlies head coach Sheldon Keefe has signed a two-year extension to stay in the AHL. GM Kyle Dubas explained the contract: "Over the last four seasons Sheldon has done a great job developing our individual prospects into Maple Leafs while also guiding the Marlies deep into the playoffs in each of his four seasons with the organization, including the Calder Cup in 2018. Ensuring that Sheldon remains tasked with guiding the development of our prospects was very important to our program and the reason we began the discussion to extend Sheldon months ago." Keefe, 38, is a rising star in the coaching world that has found incredible success at the AHL level. In his four years coaching the Marlies, the team has advanced to the Conference Final three times and won a Calder Cup in 2018. That success has come even as the Maple Leafs continue to pull talent up every year, graduating players like William Nylander , Zach Hyman , Kasperi Kapanen , Andreas Johnsson and Travis Dermott to full-time NHL status. The blend of winning and development is an important one for a minor league team, and one that Keefe has navigated well over the last few years. That success is exactly why many called for him to be promoted to the NHL squad after another disappointing exit by the Maple Leafs this spring. Head coach Mike Babcock was criticized by fans and media alike for his player usage against the Boston Bruins in the first round, and some speculated that he might be on his way out when Dubas failed to give him a vote of confidence right away. That vote came a few days later, when Dubas confirmed that Babcock and he were on the same page going forward. Still, with teams calling on Keefe to see if he would be interested in interviewing for an NHL job somewhere else, Dubas and the Maple Leafs had to find a way to keep him in the organization. His contract is expected to pay much more than his AHL contemporaries, and there does seem to be a path to the Toronto NHL head coaching position down the road if Babcock doesn't find a way to advance past the first round.


Hall of fame basketball coach Don Nelson used Hack-A-Whoever. "It's very effective," Nelson said in one breath. "You'd be silly not to use it." In the next breath, Nelson said, "I don't like it. I don't think it's good for basketball." San Antonio Spurs coach and basketball philosopher Gregg Popovich, who also employs the strategy and did so in his first-round series against the Los Angeles Clippers, understands the NBA's predicament. "On an intellectual or principle basis, I think you're on high ground," Popovich said of the tactic. "Now, visual-wise, it's awful. It couldn't be worse. I tend to side on the principle side where it's basketball, and if we have a guy who can't shoot and it's an important part of the game, I should probably get him off the court." In Game 2 between the Los Angeles Clippers and Houston Rockets on Wednesday, the teams combined to shoot 96 free throws, including 64 by the Rockets. Houston center Dwight Howard was 8-of-21 from the line and though Clippers center DeAndre Jordan was 4-of-6, Clippers coach Doc Rivers removed him from the game during a stretch of the game's final minutes. It has become   to some critics   a blight on the product. It's not a question of viable strategy. Teams have taken what was supposed to be disadvantage (fouling ) and turned into an advantage (putting poor free throw shooters on the foul line). Now, there is some disagreement about the strategy's effectiveness. The question is: Should it be strategy at all? Should the league eliminate intentional backcourt and frontcourt fouls with no play on the basketball? The NBA will grapple with the topic in the coming weeks. The league's general manager meetings are scheduled for next week, and the competition committee generally meets during the NBA Finals. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said he is undecided on the issue, and while Silver is open to ideas, he is cautious to make changes to the structure of the game. "I don't like it. Aesthetically, it's not good, for a fan to watch it, even though I find the strategy fascinating," Silver told Bleacher Report Radio. "On the other hand, the last time we discussed it at our board meeting several years ago, I remember Michael Jordan was at that meeting. Larry Bird was at that meeting, and the greats who were there, their reactions was, 'Guys gotta make their free throws." Though it might ugly to watch, Silver said the data revealed that viewers are not changing the channel when Hack-A-Whoever is used. Remember, Silver might be in charge but he alone doesn't make changes, and it doesn't sound like he feels strongly enough about to force change. The league's competition committee will study the issue and make a recommendation. If the committee feels a change might be better for the game, owners must vote to approve the change. But if owners don't mind the strategy or have coaches and general managers who like the strategy, it will be difficult for the league to eliminate it. Popovich makes a case for keeping it. "There will be a lot of discussion about the fouling, as there should be. But principle-wise, I feel really strongly that it's a tactic that can be used," Popovich said. "If someone can't shoot free throws, that's their problem. "As I've said before, if we're not allowed to do something to take advantage of a team's weakness, a trade should be made before each game. 'We won't foul your guy, but you promise not to block any of our shots.' Or, 'We won't foul your guy, and you allow us to shoot all uncontested shots.'" Popovich gets to the heart of the game: Score as many points as possible and prevent the opponent from scoring, and if putting a poor foul shooter on the line prevents a team from scoring points, then the tactic shouldn't be banned. Fouls are part of the game and free throws are part of the game so fouling a player and making him shoot free throws should be part of the game. In baseball, intentional walks are part of the game, and it's not like Miguel Cabrera of the Detroit Tigers can refuse an intentional walk. Critics of the move says it's not basketball, and SB Nation's Tom Ziller is a proponent of banning Hack-A-Whoever. His solution, which has been trumpeted by others: Give the team fouled in the bonus the option of taking the ball out of bounds or shooting free throws. TNT's Reggie Miller believes the league will take action, eliminating the backcourt fouls where the defender grabs the poor free throw shooter away from ball. Miller also posits that if that happens, teams will also become clever and still find ways to put poor foul shooters on the line. When asked about Hack-A-Shaq in European leagues, Blatt said the strategy doesn't exist. "It's considered unsportsmanlike," he said. "We have fouled players who are poor foul shooters, but in a legal and tactical fashion," Blatt said. "There's no such thing as Hack-A-Shaq. That's one of the reasons I believe they can and should change the rule. … You can't foul a guy with no relation to the game whatsoever. And the referees are educated enough to understand when it's a basketball play and when you're grabbing a guy at the other end of the court who's not involved in the play so as to purposely on the line. … "That's one of those rules overseas that I think is better than what we have here." Time will tell if the NBA feels the same way.


Visiting Porter Square, or just looking to better appreciate what it has to offer? Get to know this Cambridge neighborhood by browsing its most popular local businesses, from Italian restaurants to a bagel shop. Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top places to visit in Porter Square, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of neighborhood businesses. Read on for the results. 1. Giulia Topping the list is Italian spot Giulia . Located at 1682 Massachusetts Ave., it's the highest-rated business in the neighborhood, boasting 4.5 stars out of 426 reviews on Yelp. The menu features high-end Italian fare, including flatbreads, pastas, veal, wild boar and lamb sausage. 2. BerryLine Ice cream and frozen yogurt spot BerryLine , which also offers juices, smoothies and more, is another top choice. Yelpers give the business, located at 1668 Massachusetts Ave., 4.5 stars out of 238 reviews. The dozens of flavors of ice cream and frozen yogurt are made with natural ingredients. Also on the menu are milkshakes, waffles and seasonal drinks. 3. Bagelsaurus Bagelsaurus , a spot to score handmade bagels, spreads and more, is another neighborhood go-to, with four stars out of 564 Yelp reviews. The menu also includes sandwiches, baked goods and coffee. Head over to 1796 Massachusetts Ave. to try it for yourself. 4. Baraka Check out Baraka , which has earned 4.5 stars out of 85 reviews on Yelp. You can find the Mediterranean fusion restaurant at 1728 Massachusetts Ave. On the menu , look for a blend of French, Mediterranean and North African cuisine, such as mango crab cannelloni, European sea bass, bouillabaisse and lamb or chicken tajine. 5. Gran Gusto And then there's Gran Gusto , a local favorite with four stars out of 345 reviews. The restaurant imports more than 80% of the products it uses to make its authentic meals, with deliveries arriving from Italy every week. Look for classic Italian dishes like eggplant Parmesan, stuffed ravioli, spaghetti and gourmet pizzas on the menu . Stop by 90 Sherman St., a short walk from Porter Square, to hit up the Italian eatery the next time you're in the neighborhood. This story was created automatically using local business data, then reviewed and augmented by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


WATKINS GLEN, N.Y.   Jimmie Johnson shared fist bumps with his No. 48 crew, chatted with spanking-new crew chief Cliff Daniels, then added something different to his Sunday afternoon post-race routine at Watkins Glen International. He went looking for Ryan Blaney. RELATED: Unofficial results A half-dozen pit stalls away, Johnson found Blaney's Team Penske No. 12 Ford after the GoBowling at The Glen. He swapped the fist bump for a stern wag of the finger over their on-track altercation with 29 laps to go that sent Johnson's No. 48 spinning. Blaney continued on to a fifth-place finish while Johnson limped to a 19th-place result, further imperiling his hopes at clinching a postseason berth   though he's currently the last who would qualify for the 16-driver field. The minute-long talking-to seemed to end in an agree-to-disagree stalemate, but emotions continued to run high after the cool-down lap. "I was trying to hear what he had to say but his lips were quivering so bad he can't even speak," Johnson told NBCSN. "I guess he's nervous or scared, maybe both, I don't know what the hell the problem is. … He claims it was racing, I can't wait to go racing. Everybody stay tuned." Blaney chalked their contact up to a racing incident, saying that his No. 12 entry was riding on fresher tires when they battled for position. "He's angry. I can't blame him for being angry," Blaney said. "He's trying to get in the playoffs now and have good runs. Trust me, the last guy I want to spin out is Jimmie. We always run great together and I've looked up to him for a long time and still do. (He's) the last guy I want to spin out. It didn't end well, he wasn't happy and I can't blame him. He'll probably race me pretty hard here for the next few weeks, but can't blame him for that. Definitely not my intention there." This story will be updated. ]]>


DETROIT   A group of institutional investors is sinking $1.15 billion into GM Cruise LLC, the autonomous vehicle unit of General Motors. GM announced the investment from a group led by T. Rowe Price on Tuesday and said it included money from GM, Honda and Japanese tech investment firm SoftBank. Cruise CEO Dan Ammann said in a statement the investment gives Cruise deep resources to draw on as it develops and deploys self-driving vehicles. GM spokesman Ray Wert would not disclose other investors, but the GM statement said the deal includes funds and accounts advised by Baltimore-based T. Rowe Price. GM says the investment brings Cruise's valuation to $19 billion. It comes in addition to $2.75 billion from Honda Motor Co. in October of 2018 and $2.25 billion from SoftBank in May of last year. Tuesday's announcement brings investments in Cruise during the past year to $7.25 billion, including money kicked in by the parent company, according to GM. The investment comes as automakers and tech companies seek help to cover the tremendous capital cost of developing autonomous vehicles with an uncertain date for getting a return on their capital. GM would not disclose how the investors would be repaid or Cruise's ownership structure. "We're not speaking to the terms and conditions at this time," Wert said. Investors in startups typically get their money back through profit sharing, when the company is spun off with a public stock offering, or when it is acquired by another company. When SoftBank made its investment last year, it bought a 20 percent stake in Cruise for $2.25 billion. So at that time the company would have been worth just over $11 billion. Cruise is considered among the leaders in the race to deploy autonomous vehicles without human backup drivers. It has pledged to do that in an unspecified city sometime this year, but recently has backed away, saying the deployment would come when it can be done safely.


Cadillac rolled out the CT4-V and CT5-V performance sedans to a rather confused group of journalists last month. What are these cars? Only 355 horsepower in the CTS-V replacement? And just 320 horsepower for the ATS-V successor? Surely, there's something out of place   you can get up to speed with all the details here . Cadillac understood our confusion and explained what was going on rather quickly. The explanation means you have to forget everything you know about what "V" means for a Cadillac, though. Related Video: 2020 Cadillac CT5-V and CT4-V pump-up the V-Series performance sedan lineup (Provided by Roadshow) Any Cadillac with the singular "V" badge on it previously has denoted the absolute top-tier of performance for that particular model. The CTS-V had the Corvette Z06 engine in it and made 640 horsepower. The ATS-V had a boosted 3.6-liter V6 good for a raucous 464 horsepower. They were equivalent to BMW M , Mercedes-AMG or an Audi RS. We're not talking about the lesser M or AMG models, either. No, the last Cadillac Vs were meant to compete with cars like the C63 or M3 , the top-tier of performance in those brands' lineups. This is where you're going to have to start re-learning, because that's no longer the case for a Cadillac with a V badge gracing the rear end. Research the latest new models from Cadillac on MSN Autos What Cadillac has essentially done is demote what V means, with the intention of offering "something else" above it. With this new strategy, we'd equate a Cadillac V to something like an AMG 43 , M340i , or Audi with an S badge on it. Cadillac has even come out with a car similar to this strategy before in the V-Sport . That didn't confuse everybody, though, because the name was different, and the strategy was clear. Now, Cadillac V is just a small stepping stone to these mysterious high performance cars still to come. We asked for any information concerning these future track-ready, fire-breathing monsters, but mum is the word for now. The naming strategy for something above a V is uncharted territory, and it'll also force everyone to learn what the top of the Cadillac lineup is all over again. Why confuse folks like this? Cadillac wants to take advantage of the V brand cache in more of its lineup than just two super sedans. Think future vehicles like an XT5 -V, XT4 -V and others like that. Now that V doesn't mean a Nurburgring-conquering 500+ horsepower luxury muscle car, it makes it far easier for Cadillac to get V badges on everything. Obviously, GM isn't the first to think of this strategy. Both AMG and M badges used to be rare and reserved for only a few models, but now you can find them littered throughout both the Mercedes and BMW lineup in places we never would have thought they'd be 20 years ago. More Vs is the advantage here. But diluting what V means is a big disadvantage of this move. BMW, Mercedes and Audi all kept their top-tier performance car names when going through this transition. Mercedes briefly started out making AMG Sports (that didn't work) before going headlong into the AMG 43 , 53 and 63 performance system we have now. Perhaps much of this confusion could have been avoided if Cadillac had introduced the supposed faster models first, and then introduced these V Lite variants. Everybody would be happy that they could get some of the goodies from a full-on V with manageable horsepower and a reasonable price. We expect these hotter cars to eventually be introduced, but it's the uncertainty around them, and the total 180 on V that forces doubt into all our minds about this move. Forget everything you know about Cadillac V originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 31 May 2019


Training camps are officially under way around the NFL. Some teams held their first practice on Thursday, with others getting going the next two days. It's an exciting time around the league. Young players being given opportunities to prove their worth. Coaches evaluating what they have on the roster in the lead-up to the preseason. Despite camp still being in its infancy, there are a number of players who have already stood out. Here, we take a look at eight of them. Kalen Ballage, running back, Miami Dolphins This former fourth-round pick from Arizona State impressed Miami big-time during the offseason. In fact, Ballage has been taking first-team reps over the better-known Kenyan Drake during the early stages of camp. He has a real good chance of earning the starting running back job in South Beach. That's no small thing given that Drake has been bandied about as a potential breakout candidate this season. Odell Beckham Jr., wide receiver, Cleveland Browns Beckham took Pro Bowl cornerback Denzel Ward to school in his first training camp practice with Cleveland on Thursday. The All-Pro pass-catcher continues to impress with amazing catch after amazing catch. It's not a surprise that OBJ is doing things on the practice field. He remains one of the most talented receivers in the game. With that said, it must be a pleasant sight for quarterback Baker Mayfield and Beckham's new Browns teammates. Marquez Valdes-Scantling, wide receiver, Green Bay Packers We previously focused on this second-year receiver during the offseason . Green Bay is going to make him a major aspect of its offense under first-year head coach Matt LaFleur. If the start of camp is any indication, Valdes-Scantling is more than ready to make an impact. Reports from Wisconsin indicate that MVS is already ahead of Equanimeous St. Brown for the starting job opposite Davante Adams . Daniel Jones, quarterback, New York Giants Will this rookie No. 6 overall pick unseat two-time Super Bowl winner Eli Manning as a rookie? Don't bank on it. But Jones is already showing out during the early stages of training camp. He's made throws that Manning could only imagine. Arm talent has never been an issue here. We're also going to have to wait until real game action in the preseason, but the Giants have to be impressed by what they've seen from the Duke product during the early stages of camp. Bradley Roby, cornerback, Houston Texans Roby signed a mere one-year, $10 million contract with Houston after bombing out as a member of the Denver Broncos following some initial success. Still only 27 years old, there's some optimism here. Roby displayed that during Friday's practice session, picking off Deshaun Watson on a pass that he would have returned for a touchdown in real game action. He has a real opportunity to start in Houston this season. And if the former first-round pick plays well, it could lead to a lucrative long-term deal next offseason. Miles Sanders, running back, Philadelphia Eagles One of the most underrated rookies in the NFL, Sanders is already displaying the traits that could make him a three-down back for the Eagles. He has the agility, speed and physicality to dominate at the next level. Philadelphia's defense found this out and then some during the first couple of practices this week. In fact, Sanders started getting first-team reps just two plays into Philadelphia's initial practice. That tells us how the team feels about him. Derrius Guice, running back, Washington Redskins Coming off a torn ACL , Guice was a full go for Washington's training camp. The former LSU standout didn't disappoint, displaying some early rhythm with rookie quarterback Dwayne Haskins . Talent has never been an issue for the former second-round pick. He remains one of the best young backs in the game. If Guice can consistently show this type of ability as training camp continues, he could ultimately earn Washington's starting job over future Hall of Famer Adrian Peterson. Greedy Williams, cornerback, Cleveland Browns It was a shock to see Williams fall completely out of the first round of April's draft. Considered by most to be a top-15 pick, the former LSU cover guy lasted all the way to Cleveland with the 46th pick. It led to many concluding he was the steal of the draft . If Williams' first couple of training camp practices as a rookie are any indication, he could prove everyone right. Here, we see Williams jumping OBJ for an interception . That type of playmaking ability has been on full display thus far during camp. It could lead to a starting role opposite Denzel Ward as a rookie. Related slideshow: 2019 NFL training camps (Provided by imagn)


Editor's note: The opinions in this article are the author's, as published by our content partner, and do not necessarily represent the views of MSN or Microsoft. The state legislatures are full of activity related to abortion. This is as it should be. New York passed a law making it easier to perform grisly late-term abortions and then celebrated by lighting up the Empire State Building in pink, as though a baby girl had been born rather than sentenced to death by surgical dismemberment. Other states are considering similar laws, while in Georgia abortion has been prohibited once a heartbeat is detectable, and in Alabama the procedure has been almost categorically outlawed. This is what the post- Roe world is going to look like: divisive, ugly, and possibly irreconcilable   democratic , in a word. This raises two conjoined but discrete issues. The first is the question of Roe v. Wade itself as law. Roe is the great textbook case of judicial activism, an absurd and legally indefensible substitution of the political preferences of seven justices of the Supreme Court for the actual text of the Constitution, which was quite silent on the question of abortion for nearly two centuries before Justice Harry Blackmun et al. discovered an ancient constitutional right to abortion lurking in the penumbras of the law. Unless you are committed in principle to the proposition that it is the role of the Supreme Court to act as a national moral superlegislature   the American answer to Iran's Guardian Council: black robes, scholarly pretensions, and all   then Roe is obviously indefensible as a constitutional question. If you doubt that, try this: Rather than starting with the conclusion that the right to abortion must be protected and then searching the Constitution for support, try doing the opposite: Read the document itself with a little bit of intellectual honesty and see whether the right to abortion is sitting there so plainly that the laws made by the nation's lawmakers on behalf of the people who elected them should be nullified. There are many abortion-rights supporters who have concluded that as a strictly legal matter, Roe is somewhere between mistaken and preposterous. Almost no one honestly believes that the case was decided on the constitutional merits  and very few abortion-rights advocates honestly expect it to be endlessly affirmed on its constitutional merits, either. This fact is often implicit in their writing, and in their sputtering vitriol. But the question of what is legal is separate from the question of what should be legal. It is very strange (if you are unused to enduring such great concentrations of stupidity) when a figure such as Representative Brian Sims angrily defends abortion on the grounds that it is legal . Of course abortion is legal. Abortion opponents intend to change the law. It was legal in the United States to own slaves, once. It was legal in Germany to work toward the complete extermination of Jews as a people. The abortions that are performed in the United States are, mostly, legal abortions. That is what abortion opponents propose to put an end to. What will that mean? Wired 's Virginia Heffernan offers a hysterical account of that question, placing abortion restrictions in the company of such phenomena as "honor killings and clitorodectomies." American progressives, being parochial, often invoke the condition of woman in backwards Islamic societies in such debates, apparently unaware of the fact that Islamic law takes a relatively liberal view of abortion. Pakistan, for example, has relatively loose abortion rules and one of the world's highest abortion rates. There are many countries that have stricter regulation of abortion than does the United States, and the prominent ones among them are not Iran and Afghanistan but . . . France , where abortion-on-demand is permitted only through the twelfth week of pregnancy and very tightly restricted thereafter. Most European countries have stricter abortion laws than does the United States in terms of restricting terminations after the first trimester, though as a practical matter first-trimester abortions (the great majority of abortions) may be easier to procure in many European health-care systems. France, Germany, and Switzerland are not very much like Yemen. (An exception to the common European practice is the situation in the continent's formerly Communist countries, where abortion has approximately the legal status of a minor dental procedure.) Abortion opponents have so long been focused on Roe that some of us have lost sight of the fact that its being overturned   which seems to me very likely   is not the end of a long fight but the beginning of one. The post- Roe world will not be one of uniform prohibition of abortion. It will begin with 50 long fights in 50 state legislatures and will likely founder for some time in a series of compromises and stalemates that leave neither side satisfied. That, too, is the usual democratic state of affairs. Outlawing abortion will say something about us as a society. The fact that such a thing had to be outlawed in the first place, being contemplatable at all, says quite a bit more about us as a society, and as a species.