Ajax have confirmed that their star winger Hakim Ziyech is going to leave the club this summer, sparking a mass scramble for the Moroccan's services among Europe's elite in the coming weeks. The 26-year-old was named the club's player of the year for a second consecutive season and has been outstanding throughout the campaign, scoring 21 times and assisting 24 in all competitions. Like many of his Ajax teammates, it has been his displays in the Champions League in particular which has seen his stock rise this season, leading to some of the world's biggest clubs attempting to secure his signature. With an incredibly low €25m release clause in his contract, Ziyech is surely set to be one of the bargains of this summer's transfer window but who wants him and will be the one to get him? Here is a list of the contenders and how likely he is to join them. Juventus The Serie A champions are preparing for a summer of change with manager Massimiliano Allegri set to depart the club when the season finishes and there are reports attackers Paulo Dybala and Douglas Costa are also set to leave the Old Lady come the end of the campaign. If that is the case the new manager, whoever that may be, could well see Ziyech as a perfect player to bring in as a replacement for the two South American stars, with the Ajax man's ability to create goalscoring opportunities for his teammates sure to excite Juve's main man Cristiano Ronaldo . With so much uncertainty surrounding the Italian side at present, however, the opportunity to sign Ziyech may well pass Juventus by. Likelihood rating: 3/10 Liverpool Despite having one of the most dangerous attacking tridents in world football it is no secret that Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is on the lookout for another versatile forward for his squad and Ziyech may well fit the bill. The former FC Twente man is able to play in all positions across the front three with his pace and creativity seemingly ideal for the way Klopp likes to play. With Sadio Mane , Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino assured of their places in the starting XI however, Ziyech may decide he is more likely to get regular first-team football elsewhere, while Liverpool look for cheaper backup. Likelihood rating: 3/10 Manchester United Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side are crying out for a new right winger and have been since the days of Sir Alex Ferguson. While reports suggest their main target for the position was Borussia Dortmund 's Jadon Sancho, before the failure to qualify for the Champions League all but ruled that deal out, it would be extremely remiss of the Red Devils not to target a deal for Ziyech during this window. With the club needing so many players in a variety of positions, the chance to obtain such a high-quality player for just €25m is one they should seriously consider, especially having paid over the odds on multiple occasions in the last few years. With United unable to offer Champions League football however, it would be a surprise for Ziyech to choose them over other teams who will be in next season's competition. Likelihood rating: 4/10 Paris Saint-Germain The Ligue 1 champions are always on the hunt for attacking players to improve their squad and, having come up short in the European Cup once again this year, they may well look to freshen up their frontline with a move for one of the competition's star performers this season. With the future of Edinson Cavani up in the air, PSG may well look to Ziyech to fill the void if he is to depart. Assuming Kylian Mbappe stays, following PSG's latest statement on his future , an attack consisting of the French superstar, Neymar and Ziyech could be enough to take them all the way in Europe next season. Likelihood rating: 5/10 Bayern Munich Despite picking up their seventh consecutive Bundesliga title recently it is set to be a summer of upheaval in Bavaria with an ageing squad requiring an injection of youth as they attempt to challenge again for the Champions League. In no position is this more apparent than out-wide where stalwart wingers Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben are both leaving this summer. While they have Kingsley Coman and Serge Gnabry in their ranks, Ziyech may well prove to be a step-up in quality from those two and, with the Bayern board known for not paying excessive fees, the release clause could lead to them taking the plunge on a player with such huge potential. Likelihood rating: 7/10 Arsenal An interview from two years ago has resurfaced recently where Ziyech described a move to Arsenal as his 'dream' and that Gunners star Mesut Ozil was his 'idol'. With manager Unai Emery in the market for a winger this summer, it could end up being a match made in heaven, with Arsenal desperate for a player of Ziyech's quality in the wide positions. Despite claiming it was his dream to come to the Emirates, in reality Ziyech will not want to spend a year out of the Champions League as he approaches the peak of his career and this deal may well be dependant on whether or not Arsenal make next year's competition by winning the Europa League final against Chelsea on 29 May. If they do though, Ziyech's dream may well come to fruition. Likelihood rating: 7/10 (8/10 with Europa League victory)


The future home of the Los Angeles Rams and Chargers in Inglewood won't open for another year, but the stadium is on the verge of having an official name. According to FOX Business , SoFi is deep in negotiations to buy the naming rights of the Inglewood stadium. FOX Business reports that talks between SoFi and the NFL are in the late stages and if a deal is reached, the finance company could pay as much as $20 million per year for at least the next decade. That's a significant chunk of change, but the Inglewood stadium is projected to be the most expensive venue ever built in North American sports history. It's expected to cost north of $5 billion for the entire complex. SoFi, or Social Finance, is an online loan company that specializes in personal loans and refinancing student loans. SoFi is reportedly in talks to raise $500 million from the Qatar Investment Authority, which would value the company at around $4.3 billion. It is not yet known what the official name of the stadium will be, but the 2022 Super Bowl is scheduled to be held in Inglewood, which will draw massive crowds and viewers on television. MORE: Draymond Green to LeBron James' 14-Year-Old Son: "I'm at Your F--king Neck This Summer" Tim Tebow's horrible season is extremely impressive and MLB is not out for him yet Packers should have one of NFL's most improved secondaries in 2019 Raiders LG Richie Incognito signing points to more power football in Oakland Four potential Khris Middleton landing spots in free agency


Apartment hunting on a budget can be tricky. So what does the low-end rent on a rental in the Colony look like these days   and what might you get for your money? According to Walk Score, the neighborhood is friendly for those on foot, is fairly bikeable and has some transit options. It also features median rents for a one bedroom that hover around $1,593, compared to a $1,500 one-bedroom median for Anaheim as a whole. A look at local listings for studios and one-bedroom apartments in the Colony via rental sites Zumper and Apartment Guide offers an overview of what price-conscious apartment seekers can expect to find in this Anaheim neighborhood. Take a look at the cheapest listings available right now, below. (Note: prices and availability are subject to change.) Hoodline offers data-driven analysis of local happenings and trends across cities. Links included in this article may earn Hoodline a commission on clicks and transactions. 116-118 S. Olive St. Listed at $1,500/month, this one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment, located at 116-118 S. Olive St., is 5.8 percent less than the $1,593/month median rent for a one bedroom in the Colony. On-site laundry is listed as a building amenity. In the unit, look for central heating and air conditioning, hardwood flooring, stainless steel appliances, a dishwasher and a ceiling fan. Pets are not welcome. (See the complete listing here .) 810 N. Loara St. This one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment, situated at 810 N. Loara St., is listed for $1,580/month for its 660 square feet. The building offers on-site management. If you've got a pet, you'll be happy to learn that cats and dogs are allowed. (See the complete listing here .) 707 W. Santa Ana St. Here's a one-bedroom, one-bathroom residence at 707 W. Santa Ana St., which, at 582 square feet, is going for $1,590/month. The building offers assigned parking and on-site laundry. In the unit, you'll find a ceiling fan and a walk-in closet. When it comes to pets, both meows and barks are allowed. Future tenants needn't worry about a leasing fee. (See the full listing here .) This story was created automatically using local real estate data, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live without money? These people live without money Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live without money? To not worry about your bank account balance, your retirement fund, or your mortgage payments? Here's a look at a handful of people who've managed to do just that live without money in our modern world. Mark Boyle In 2008, on Buy Nothing Day , Irish economics graduate and former businessman Mark Boyle gave up money completely. He sold his house, began trading work for accommodation, made a stove from cans, built a solar shower, planted a garden, and dug a compost toilet. His motivation? Dissatisfaction with modern life and the health of the planet. See photo on Wikimedia Mark Boyle After his experience of living cash-free, Boyle went on to become a writer writing with pencil and paper by candlelight, no less. He wrote a series of articles for The Guardian , earning him the nickname the Moneyless Man, followed by his first book, The Moneyless Man , which recounts his first year without money. Somewhat ironically, Boyle used the money he earned from his book sales to buy a small patch of land on which he built a cabin, where he lives without a car, running water, electricity, or modern technology. Instead, he rides a bike, chops wood, hauls water, forages in the woods, tends his garden, and fishes for pike and trout. Boyle recently released his third book, The Way Home: Tales from a Life Without Technology , which reflects on his minimalist lifestyle. Daniel Suelo In the fall of 2000, Daniel Suelo , on the cusp of turning 40, took his last $30, left it in a phone booth, and stopped using money for good. Suelo quit his job in Denver, Colorado, and moved to Moab, Utah, where he lives in caves and forages for food, from mulberries and wild onions to roadkill and dumpster discards. His goal? "To stay free from the illusion of money." Daniel Suelo Suelo's inspiration for going moneyless came from a chance encounter with the Dalai Lama in India, who "recommended that everybody go back to where they were planted, instead of trying to find greener grass on the other side of the fence." Suelo took his advice, returned to America, and moved into the wild. Although he occasionally accepts lodging from strangers and house-sits, he doesn't take welfare, food stamps, or any kind of government assistance. Heidemarie Schwermer After a career as a teacher and then a psychotherapist, mother of two, and grandmother of three, German Heidemarie Schwermer gave up her job to live without money. Schwermer had long been fascinated by the idea of living without money, and first founded an exchange circle, Give and Take Central, in 1994, helping people exchange goods and services. The more she bartered, the less money she needed, which prompted her to try living without money for one year. See photo on Facebook Heidemarie Schwermer In 1996, a 50-something Schwermer sold her apartment and everything in it except what she could fit in a small suitcase. What began as a one-year experiment lasted nearly two decades. Once she got a taste of a new way of living, she didn't want to go back to her old life. She gave away her pension and relied instead on what she found and what people gave her. She would move from place to place, giving lectures. The only payment she would accept from her speaking engagements, however, was enough to cover her train fare. The documentary Living Without Money tells the story of her life without money. Jo Nemeth Australian Jo Nemeth lived a normal life as a community development program coordinator with a family, but she felt frustrated with the fact that she had to drive all the time and didn't have time to grow her own food. She was stressed and unhappy, just working to pay the bills. That is, until January 2015, when she decided to stop using money . See photo on Instagram Jo Nemeth After reading Changing Gears by Greg Foyster about a couple who travels Australia by bike and Mark Boyle's The Moneyless Manifesto , Nemeth took the plunge and started living without money. Although she and her partner went their separate ways, Nemeth began her journey, living on friends' land, house-sitting, and receiving donations of second-hand clothes and other items. She also grows much of her own food and reuses items. Her golden rule ? Not to use anything that was bought specifically for her personal benefit, thereby reducing her environmental footprint. See photo on Instagram Amanda Barker In July 2017, Amanda Barker began living without money. As a vegan and an animal rights activist, Barker is part of a close-knit community that helps her live currency-free. To maintain her minimalist lifestyle, she combines hitchhiking, dumpster diving, couch surfing, camping, and cutting her own hair. She gave up makeup, coffee, alcohol, and other items that require money. Barker got inspired by the book The Man Who Quit Money , which tells the story of Daniel Suelo. Her goal is to show that there's an alternative way to live. See photo on Facebook Lasqueti Island For the roughly 400 residents on the small island of Lasqueti off the coast of British Columbia, Canada, going off-grid isn't just a dream it's a reality. Not connected to the provincial power grid, residents create their own energy from solar, wind, or hydro, or simply go without. People spend their days working hard to survive by chopping firewood, tending their gardens, and maintaining the water and waste systems, like composting toilets. Lasqueti Island On Lasqueti Island there's no grocery store, no paved roads, and no sanitation services such as garbage collection or a sewage system. But there's a free store where residents can take what they need, a recycling centre, an elementary school that runs on solar power (pictured), volunteer firefighters, organic farms, a few Bed and Breakfast, and a restaurant that also serves as a bakery and general store. While the island isn't completely cash-free, there isn't a lot of money exchanging hands. Elf Pavlik Elf Pavlik decided to live money-free when he returned to Europe after working in California at a highly competitive internet company. Elf quickly had enough of that lifestyle and turned to working on organic farms ( WWOOF ), after which he decided to give up money for good. He also recycled his passport, driver's licence, and state ID. Now he travels around, focusing on how to use technology to develop a more decentralized way of allocating assets so that people can "use their time on what they find meaningful, not just what produces money." See photo on Facebook Raphael Fellmer In 2010, Raphael Fellmer travelled with two friends from the Netherlands to Mexico without money via Europe, Morocco, and the Canary Islands, where they found a sail boat which took them to Brazil. Riding on the success of this experiment, Fellmer decided to continue living without money with his wife. Along the way, he became a vegan for animal welfare, world hunger, and environmental reasons. See photo on Facebook Raphael Fellmer After 15 months of travelling, Fellmer and his wife returned home to have a baby. Back in Europe, he continued his "money strike" to raise awareness of how wasteful society can be. He went on to help develop foodsharing.de , a foodsaving website that connects supermarkets, bakeries, restaurants and other businesses with foodsavers who regularly collect and share unsold food. The five-year experiment of living without money ended with the birth of his second child. In 2014, his book Happy Without Money was published. Fellmer went on to found Germany's first SIRPLUS food outlet to save and redistribute good food that would otherwise go to waste. See photo on Instagram An Teach Saor In 2013, Mark Boyle, the Moneyless Man, along with friends Thomas Smith and Jesse Pasteiner, founded An Teach Saor (Irish for "The Free House"), a moneyless community in County Galway, Ireland. The trio turned a neglected three-acre plot into a permaculture demonstration site with 700 coppice trees, a nut orchard, a young forest garden, a no-dig vegetable plot, natural beehives, mushroom logs, rainwater harvesting, humanure compost systems, a stone cottage, and more. They run it collaboratively with visitors, neighbours, and WWOOFers. In 2014, the centre crowdfunded to retrofit a large dilapidated pig barn into an event space, eco-learning centre, and moneyless pub featuring home brew.


Hate crimes against members of the LGBT community are on the increase in DC. The latest figures from the Metropolitan Police Department show that D.C. has experienced 8 more gender identity and sexual orientation hate crimes through May 31 of this year than during the same period in 2018. The data comes after the District observed a 38 percent increase of similar crimes between 2017 and 2018. The crimes have occurred all over the city too. In 2018, more than quarter of them took place in neighborhoods considered to be friendly to LGBT residents. Those neighborhoods included Shaw, Logan Circle and Dupont Circle. On Thursday night, city leaders and law enforcement officials from both DC and Prince George's County attended a meeting at HIPS to discuss ways they can bring the violence to an end. "It is a sobering moment that we all came together with one goal in mind and that is to first solve these two cases and also prevent future cases," said Sheila Alexander-Reid, the Director of the DC Mayor's Office of LGBTQ Affairs. Ruby Corado, the executive director of the LGBT community center Casa Ruby, said she believes the people committing these crimes are getting back out on the streets with too much ease. "And, when you have people being arrested and never being held accountable, that's a pass that you can do it again," she said. The meeting comes after two transgender women, Ashanti Carmon and Zoe Spears, were killed in Fairmount Heights, Maryland this year within four blocks of one another. On Friday, the community will gather to hold a vigil at 5:30 p.m. on the 600 block of 59th Street in Fairmount Heights. That is where Spears was killed.


MILFORD -- The Mary Taylor Memorial United Methodist Church was the recent target of a hate crime twice within the past few days. Church leaders say it was all over a sign the pastor decided to put up to welcome all. "He said that he didn't agree with the fact that we were open to gays that that was not Christian," said Reverend Kristina Hansen of the church. Reverend Kristina Hansen was talking about Charles Yarbrough, the man from Nashville, Tennessee who police said caused damage to the inside of the church Monday morning and last Thursday evening. Yarbrough has been charged with a hate crime and third degree burglary and criminal mischief. The wood was smashed into by the kneelers, the seat cushions were sliced open and the wood on the Reverend's office door was shredded by a box cutter. "There are so many different theological views at some point, there places where people are able to change, there are places where people are resistant," added Reverend Hansen. Reverend Hansen told FOX61 the sign was posted in response to a decision at a Special General Conference in February in St., Louis when the United Methodist Church voted to ban gay clergy and same-sex marriages. It was believed Yarbrough was able to sneak into the church last Thursday during a community meal event and on Monday, he was able to get into the Wesley Center before it opened. "We pray for those who disagree with you right? That's part of what our tradition is," added Reverend Hansen. The church held a discussion Tuesday evening to address the incident. "This is the building for sure but it's not the church, the congregation is the church and the congregation is what us doing work and where the love is coming from," said Sarah O'Brien of the Mary Taylor Memorial Church Gay/Straight Alliance. Yarbrough is being held on a 50-thousand dollar bond. As for the church, they said they will be enforcing tougher security measures.     ©2019 WTIC-TV, Hartford Visit WTIC-TV, Hartford at www.fox61.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.


Michael Sam's dream of playing in professional football still is alive, but it appears the road back to an NFL roster will be a difficult one. The 25-year-old defensive end out of Missouri participated in this weekend's veteran's combine   along with older free agents such as Michael Bush and Brady Quinn   and according to what an agent told TMZ Sports, things didn't go too well . "My real honest opinion is that he was flat-out horrible," a "big time NFL agent" reportedly told the news website. "He did not belong out there." Other reports mentioned that Sam   who made history as the first openly gay player drafted in the NFL when the St. Louis Rams took him in the seventh round in 2014   clocked unofficial 40-yard dash times of 5.07 and 5.10 seconds. Sam ran a 4.91 at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis and an unofficial 4.69 at Missouri's pro day. To make matters worse, TMZ Sports claims an NFL scout at the veteran's combine was concerned about Sam's attitude. "He thinks he's a superstar," the scout reportedly told TMZ Sports. "It would be nice if he could do something on the field to back up the attitude." Sam was released by the Rams on Aug. 30 before signing with the Dallas Cowboys' practice squad a few days later. The Cowboys waived him on Oct. 21, and Sam hasn't latched on with another team since. There's still hope for the SEC's 2013 Defensive Player of the Year, but according to TMZ Sports, he might have to go north of the border to get his first chance. "I think there's a chance he could play in the Canadian Football League," an agent reportedly told the news website. "He sells tickets. He attracts fans. And from there you never know."


Nearly 1,000 men and women in California prisons overdosed last year and required emergency medical attention in what officials acknowledge is part of an alarming spike in opioid use by those behind bars, according to records obtained by The Chronicle. The number of inmates treated for drug or alcohol overdoses jumped from 469 to 997 from 2015 to 2018   a 113% increase. While many of the prisoners survived, the most recent data available show drug-related inmate deaths are on the rise, too   from 17 in 2006 to 40 in 2017. The rise in overdoses comes despite the state pouring millions into technologies designed to block contraband at prison entry points. But as powerful opioids such as fentanyl require smaller doses and become easier to smuggle, these efforts have proved futile in stopping the flow of drugs via visitors, prison employees, the mail and even drones. "There are so many opportunities, so much money to be made, I don't think there's one single answer," said Jody Lewen, founder of the Prison University Project, which teaches college courses at San Quentin State Prison. As long as there are human beings going in and out, there are going to be opportunities." Total overdoses surged across the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation's 36 institutions, which hold more than 126,000 people. But a review of data provided by California Correctional Health Care Services shows the uptick was especially severe in a handful of places. Incidents at San Quentin and Solano state prisons remained steady from 2017 to 2018, with 12 and eight overdoses each year, respectively. Meanwhile, Salinas Valley State Prison saw overdoses jump from 42 in 2017 to 100 last year; and at Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility, a lockup in San Diego County, they ballooned from 32 to 83 over the same period. "As is the case in society as a whole, California state prisons have experienced an unfortunate increase in drug overdoses and hospitalizations due to opioids in recent years," corrections spokeswoman Vicky Waters said in a statement. Prisons and their health care system are "committed to addressing this issue and are taking proactive steps to both reduce the introduction of contraband into our facilities and to provide increased treatment options for inmates with substance abuse disorders," she said. The trend in California's prisons reflects the nationwide opioid epidemic. In 2017, 47,600 people died of opioid overdoses, compared with 42,249 in 2016, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2017, then-Gov. Jerry Brown funneled $15.3 million into a three-year program to curb smuggling. Last year's budget included $9.1 million for a comprehensive interdiction pilot program at the California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and State Prison in Corcoran (Kings County). Efforts to block the infiltration of drugs in California prisons have included parcel scanners, low-dose, full-body scanners, metal detectors and drug-sniffing dogs, in addition to expanded rehabilitation services and addiction treatments. But drug-screening policies aren't uniformly enforced on employees and visitors systemwide, and loopholes exist, said Joe Baumann, a recently retired corrections officer and former finance chairman of the guards union. Dogs aren't used 24 hours a day, and even low-dose scanners can't detect drugs hidden in an orifice, said Baumann, who still consults for the union. It's common for prison visitors to hide a baggie of drugs in their bodies, remove it in a bathroom and give it to an inmate with a kiss, Baumann said. Others have been brazen enough to use tennis rackets to lob balls stuffed with drugs over prison fences. One elderly couple attempted to throw a football containing drugs over the fence of the California Rehabilitation Center in Norco (Riverside County) to help their son pay off a drug debt, but couldn't make it over. Baumann said the state would have to spend untold tax dollars to close the loopholes, and there's no guarantee drugs wouldn't find another way inside prison walls. He acknowledged that a few "dirty" staff members have contributed to the prison drug epidemic but said inmates often snitch on them or other inmates. "Prison drug smuggling is absolutely the purest form of capitalism," Baumann said. Overdoses climbed to the fourth-leading cause of death among California prisoners in 2017, outpacing deaths from infectious diseases, suicide and homicide, and trailing cancer, cardiovascular disease and end-stage liver disease. "It's a really big problem," said Donald Specter, executive director of the Berkeley nonprofit Prison Law Office, which provides free legal services to inmates. No one can pinpoint exactly why overdoses are rising so quickly, or if it's because of more drugs coming into the prisons or more potent strains, he said. State Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, chairwoman of the Senate Public Safety Committee, points to fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is up to 100 times more potent than morphine. "One of the horrible things about fentanyl is that it can be used in such tiny quantities that it's so much harder to detect," she said. Last year in late April, 14 men incarcerated at Mule Creek State Prison in Amador County became sick on a substance later identified as fentanyl. One later died. An inmate suspected as the distributor was given a disciplinary infraction, and his case was turned over to the local district attorney's office, Waters said. Fentanyl has found its way into what is supposed to be one of the state's most secure prison facilities, contributing to the deaths of at least four men on San Quentin's Death Row in the past two years, according to autopsy reports. Joe Abbott, 49, died of acute multiple illicit drug intoxication on Jan. 31, 2018. A toxicology report found both methamphetamine and fentanyl in his system. A few months earlier, on Nov. 2, 2017, 40-year-old condemned inmate Emilio Avalos died of acute fentanyl intoxication, according to his autopsy. Convicted killers Herminio Serna, 53, and Joseph Perez Jr., 47, died just one day apart on Dec. 3 and 4, respectively. Officials cited unknown causes at the time. But an internal email obtained by The Chronicle on Dec. 5 showed that San Quentin officials called an emergency meeting to discuss a lethal strain of contraband inside the facility. Autopsies concluded that both Serna and Perez died of acute drug intoxication, according to Marin County Chief Deputy Coroner Roger Fielding. Both men tested positive for fentanyl and other drugs. Investigations into those deaths are pending. Skinner said this year's state prison budget will focus more on the root cause of overdoses. "If we want to lessen the hospitalizations and the deaths," she said, "we'll need to be utilizing the substitutes, meaning medically assisted treatments." This can include methadone or other treatment drugs as well as counseling. Inmate advocates are pushing for this strategy over interdiction. "In last year's budget the prison system got some money to try to keep the drugs out of the prison, which is almost an impossible task," Specter said. "We have to tackle the source of the problem, which is addiction." Megan Cassidy is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: megan.cassidy@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @meganrcassidy


San Antonio is predicted to turn hot this coming week, according to drone-powered weather forecasting service Saildrone . Temperatures will reach a high of 95 degrees on Tuesday. Light rainfall is also in store tomorrow. The greatest chance of rain is predicted on Thursday at 65 percent. Skies will be cloudy today and mostly cloudy Friday through Monday. Winds are expected to reach a modest high of 15 miles per hour tomorrow, and remain in the teens through Friday. 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 Braves plan for left-hander Dallas Keuchel to make his season debut Friday against the division-rival Nationals, according to manager Brian Snitker (via David O'Brien of The Athletic and Mark Bowman of MLB.com ). Keuchel has pitched two minor league tuneup games since he ended his protracted trip to free agency with a one-year, $13M agreement on June 7. The first, in which Keuchel threw seven shutout, one-hit innings at the Single-A level, went swimmingly. Keuchel added another seven frames in a Double-A start Saturday, though he allowed 11 hits and three earned runs. However, the Braves are "encouraged" by the fact that Keuchel threw 101 pitches in that outing, Bowman writes. Although the reigning NL East-champion Braves lead their division by 2 1/2 games this year, they've gotten to this point with middling starting pitching. In need of a complement to superb rookie Mike Soroka , the club made a notable in-season commitment to the 31-year-old Keuchel, who often excelled in Houston over the previous half-decade and has a 2015 AL Cy Young Award on his resume. Keuchel is now about to join a Braves rotation which, aside from Soroka, isn't the most trustworthy group. Julio Teheran has enjoyed a major bounce-back year in terms of bottom-line results, but as always, his peripherals aren't as encouraging as his ERA. Meantime, Max Fried has cooled off since a great start, Mike Foltynewicz has been surprisingly poor after what looked like a breakout 2018, and Kevin Gausman (now injured), Sean Newcomb , Kyle Wright , Touki Toussaint and Bryse Wilson haven't offered solutions over a combined 22 starts. Fortunately for Atlanta, Keuchel's not the only reinforcement on the way. Injured center fielder Ender Inciarte   out since May 15 with a lumbar strain   has been cleared for baseball activities and could embark on a rehab assignment next week, per Bowman. However, as Bowman notes, Inciarte will not reclaim the starting job in center field when he returns to the majors. The Braves can't sit rookie standout left fielder Austin Riley , who will continue to line up alongside Inciarte's center field replacement, Ronald Acuna Jr. , and right fielder Nick Markakis . The defensively adept Inciarte had center on lockdown in Atlanta from 2016 until landing on the IL this year, but his injury and subpar start over the first month and a half of this season opened the door for the hot-hitting Riley.


Wednesday, July 3 Northside Rock N' Roll Carnival 4 p.m.-1 a.m. Wednesday, 11 a.m.-midnight Thursday, Hoffner Park, 4101 Hamilton Ave., Northside. Featuring live music and vendors. northsiderocks.com. Blue Ash Montgomery Symphony July 3rd Concert, 7:30-9 p.m., Montgomery Park, 10101 Montgomery Road, Montgomery. Free. "Super Heroes and Super Divas" will feature music from "Batman: A Dark Knight Rises," "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," and "Respect" as a tribute to Aretha Franklin. Featured guest soloist will be diva Kara Shay Thompson. Stars and Stripes, Armed Forces Salute and a Sousa March will fill out our holiday programming. bamso.org. Colerain 4th of July Spectacular 4200 Springdale Road, Colerain Township. The Rumpke/Colerain 4th of July Spectacular presented by Northgate Mall is a family-oriented (no alcohol) event featuring live music and fireworks. ♦ Just in it for the BOOM!?: Here's the list of FIREWORKS, when and where to watch ♦ Red, White and Blue Ash: What to know before you go ♦ Weather: What to expect with rain and how that impacts events ♦ More stuff to do: Things to do in Cincinnati this weekend: July 3-7 ♦ We're No. 2!: Cincinnati ranked No. 2 for weather on Fourth of July ... weird? Red, White and Kaboom, 8 p.m., William Harbin Park, 1300 Hunter Road; Village Green Park, 301 Wessel Drive; Fairfield Aquatic Center, 350 Kolb Drive; Marsh Lake, 6440 River Road, Fairfield. Fireworks display from Rozzi Famous Fireworks, entertainment, food and activities at four official viewing locations in Fairfield. fairfield-city-org. Red, White and Kaboom Firework Swim, 7-11 p.m., Fairfield Aquatic Center, 350 Kolb Drive, Fairfield. Enjoy the fireworks poolside and party with a DJ, games, food and more. fairfield-city-org. Red Rhythm and Boom 4-10 p.m., Mason Municipal Campus, 6000 Mason-Montgomery Road, Mason. Food, vendors, kids' activities, live music and fireworks. Live music includes Daughtry and Echosmith. imaginemason.org. New Richmond Freedom Fest, noon-11 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday, Front Street, New Richmond. Car show (7/3), DJ with music, live bands, vendors, rides, food, drinks and huge firework display. newrichmond.org. Green Township Independence Day Concert and Fireworks 6:30-10 p.m., Kuliga Park, 6717 Bridgetown Road, Green Township. Live music with The Midwestern followed by Saffire Express. Firework display by Queen City Pyro at dusk. Food, beer and soft drinks for sale by local community organizations. Do not bring alcoholic beverages to the park. Free shuttle buses start at 5:30 from Dulles Elementary and Our Lady of Visitation. Parking is limited at Kuliga Park to special passes and handicap permits only. No onsite parking guaranteed. Sparks in the Park Riverside Park, 425 Victor Stier Drive, Milford. Family fun, music, food and Rozzi's Famous Fireworks. Ronnie Vaughn band at 6 p.m. LaRosa's Balloon Glow, 6 p.m., Coney Island, 6201 Kellogg Ave., Anderson Township. Schedule of Events: 6 p.m. live music at Moonlight Square Gazebo. 8 p.m. Balloon Glow in Moonlite Mall. See glowing hot air balloons fill the evening sky with dazzling colors. 10 p.m. Rozzi's Famous Fireworks puts on a display over Lake Como. Sunlite Water Adventure will be open 10 a.m.-9:30 p.m. for swimming. The Pool area will remain open for fireworks viewing. Coney's classic rides and attractions will stay open until 11 p.m. Parking: $10 until 2 p.m.; $15 after 2 p.m. Independence Day Cruise, 6:30-11:30 p.m., BB Riverboats, 101 Riverboat Row, Newport. Celebrate with old-fashioned picnic as you cruise to Coney Island to watch the LaRosa's Balloon Glow. $75 adults, $48 children. Never hit an article limit again: Subscribe now for as low as 33 cents per week Thursday, July 4 Mariemont Fireworks Independence Day Celebration, 9:30 p.m., Bell Tower at Dogwood Park, Mariemont. Enjoy the fireworks along with patriotic music from the Carillon. Red, White and Blue Ash, 4-10:30 p.m., Summit Park, 4335 Glendale-Milford Road, Blue Ash. Food and family activities, live music by Natalie Brady Music & the Night Owls and Kansas. Fireworks at 10 p.m. Sisters of Notre Dame 4th of July Festival 1-6 p.m., Sisters of Notre Dame, 1601 Dixie Highway, Covington. Held at the St. Joseph Heights Convent. Chicken dinners, raffles, games for children and adults, live music, petting zoo and pony rides, silent auction, market filled with handmade items and homemade baked goods. www.sndky.org. Red, White and BOOM! 8 p.m., Riverbend Music Center, 6295 Kellogg Ave., Anderson Township. Patriotic collection of songs, fun and fanfare is quintessentially American. Picnics are welcome and Cincinnati Pops Orchestra fans ages 17 and under sit for free. Fireworks follow the concert. Northside 4th of July Parade, noon, Hamilton Ave., Northside. City's most creative and unique Independence Day parade starts at the northern boundary of the neighborhood (Hamilton Avenue and Ashtree Drive) and travels south on Hamilton Avenue to Hoffner Park. northsidejuly4.com. City of Montgomery Independence Day Celebration Festival, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Montgomery Park, 10105 Montgomery Road, Montgomery. Free. This family-friendly festival features live music by Eden, a variety of summer foods and drinks offered by vendors and local civic organizations, carnival games, pony rides, and fun. The popular watermelon seed spitting contest returns. New in 2019, don't miss the opportunity to toss a ball to dunk the mayor and city manager. montgomeryohio.org. Fourth of July Celebration, 6-10 p.m., Washington Park, 1230 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. Greendale 4th of July Celebration , 8 a.m.-10 p.m., Greendale Park, 827 Nowlin Ave., Greendale. Some events free. 5K Run/Walk registration begins at 6:30, race at 8 a.m. Fishing derby at 9 a.m., afternoon bike parade. Food all day and fireworks at 9:30 p.m. 812-537-9219. cityofgreendale.net. Independence Day Fireworks, 11 a.m.-11 p.m., Ault Park, 5090 Observatory Ave. Concessions, morning program includes children's parade and contest. 6-11 p.m. includes live music and fireworks by Rozzi's Famous Fireworks. 4th of July at Stricker's Grove, 3-11 p.m., Stricker's Grove, 11490 Hamilton-Cleves Road, Ross. Admission is free. Parking is $5 per car before 6 p.m. Afterward. parking is $ 8 per car. Ride tickets can be purchased individually or unlimited ride armband for $16. 513-521-9747. Open to the public. Rozzi Fireworks at 10 p.m. Ride hours 3-11 p.m. Bring in your own food or purchase from concession stand. Chris Robinson Brotherhood, 6:30 p.m., RiversEdge Amphitheater at Marcum Park, 116 Dayton St., Hamilton. Free. All ages. VIP tickets available. Prohibited items: Carry-in alcohol (including DORA cups), coolers, pets, bicycles (inside the venue), tents, canopies, large sun umbrellas, weapons, smoking and non-factory sealed beverage containers. riversedgelive.com. Friday, July 5 Independence Celebration and Saturday Fireworks, 5 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday, 5409 Madison Pike, Independence. Family fun night on Friday features rides, dodgeball tournament, Circus Mojo, live music from What She Said and lantern launch at dusk. On Saturday, cars and pipes at 10 a.m., parade at 3 p.m., festival and rides open at 4 p.m. Live music by Gen X. Fireworks at 10 p.m. Free. $15 all-day ride pass Friday, $20 all-day ride pass Saturday. Sunday, July 7 Light Up Liberty, 6 p.m., First Church of God, 6101 Princeton Glendale Road, Liberty Township. 4th of July, alcohol-free, community celebration provides evening of family-friendly fun for all ages. Live music, food from local vendors. Family Fun Zone includes carnival activities and much more at cost. Spectacular fireworks finale. lightupliberty.com. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: July 4th events in Cincinnati: Here are all the fireworks, festivals


Bears fans have been chomping at the bit to see rookie RB David Montgomery in action and the former Iowa State Cyclone did not disappoint in his first game as a Chicago Bear. During the second quarter of the Bears' first preseason game against the Panthers, Montgomery led the Chicago on a scoring drive with four touches and accounted for 46 yards, culminating in a seven-yard touchdown that featured a devastating cutback to shake the defender. David Montgomery TD #Bears pic.twitter.com/KhK3UbOTy0 - The Loop Sports (@TheLoop_Sports) August 9, 2019 Chances are Montgomery will be seeing a lot of the Soldier Field end zone this season. His score put the Bears up 7-6 late in the second quarter. MORE: A furious Chris Davis had to be held back from Orioles manager Brandon Hyde Packers vs. Texans: Time, TV schedule, streaming, how to watch Nate Sudfeld delivers 75-yard bomb to Marken Michel for 1st TD of Eagles preseason Cowboys due for a regression in 2019? How to watch Patriots vs. Lions


This is the XFL. Again. Vince McMahon and Alpha Entertainment LLC continue to accumulate talent for the reboot of the professional football league in 2020. McMahon started by picking Oliver Luck as commissioner, and the league completed its round of head-coaching hires with June Jones in Houston on Monday. MORE: Ranking all 31 NFL stadiums, from worst to best The next step will be players   and Sporting News will have you covered with that happens. In the meantime, here is a look at the eight XFL franchises, their head coaches and where they will play in 2020. Dallas Coach/GM: Bob Stoops Stadium: Globe Life Park (Arlington, Texas) Lowdown: Stoops will return to coaching after retiring from Oklahoma in 2016 with a 190-48 record. He never coached in the NFL. Dallas made a splash by hiring Hal Mumme   one of the founders of the "Air Raid"   as its offensive coordinator. Houston President: Brian Michael Cooper GM: TBD Coach: June Jones Stadium: TDECU Stadium (Houston, Texas) Lowdown: Jones served as receivers coach for the Houston Gamblers in the USFL in 1984. He has professional coaching stints in the USFL, CFL and NFL on his resume, and he will bring that experience to the franchise. Los Angeles President: Heather Brooks Karatz Coach/GM: Winston Moss Stadium: Dignity Health Sports Park (Carson, Cailf.) Lowdown: Los Angeles is one of the two returning XFL markets, and Moss, a former Los Angeles Raiders linebacker, takes over as the head coach after almost two decades as an assistant in the NFL. New York President: Janet Such Coach/GM: Kevin Gilbride Stadium: MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, N.J.) Lowdown: New York is the other city that had an original XFL franchise and gives the league one of two major markets on the East Coast. Gilbride was an assistant for the Giants from 2004-13. He was part of two Super Bowl championship teams. St. Louis Coach/GM: Jonathan Hayes Stadium: The Dome at America's Center (St. Louis, Mo.) Lowdown: St. Louis gets back into professional football after watching the Rams leave for Los Angeles. Hayes played tight end for the Steelers and Chiefs before a long stint as the Bengals tight ends coach from 2003-18. Seattle President: Ryan Gutafson Coach/GM: Jim Zorn Stadium: CenturyLink Field (Seattle, Wash.) Lowdown: The Seahawks have a decided home-field advantage. Will this Seattle franchise enjoy the same feeling? Zorn played quarterback for Seattle from 1976-84 and returned as an offensive assistant before a head-coaching stint with the Redskins. Tampa Bay Coach/GM: Marc Trestman Stadium: Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, Fla.) Lowdown: The Tampa Bay market had success with the USFL and Arena football, and this will be another chance. Trestman won three Grey Cups as the head coach in Montreal before a two-year stint with the Chicago Bears. Washington President: Erik Moses Coach/GM: Pep Hamilton Stadium: Audi Field (Washington, D.C.) Lowdown: Washington did not have a franchise in the original XFL, but it did have a USFL team that enjoyed success at the professional level. That was also during the Redskins' heyday. Hamilton last served as offensive coordinator at Michigan from 2017-18.


After significant roster churn during Scott Frost 's first year in Lincoln, it's been quiet, relatively speaking, on the transfer front for Nebraska this year. So, of course, there is now some further 2019 roster churning on which to note. Amidst significant speculation about his future, an NU official has confirmed that the name of CJ Smith is now listed in the NCAA transfer database. As Smith was ticketed for significant playing time in 2019, it's unclear what triggered the defensive back's decision to enter the portal. Smith was a three-star member of the Cornhuskers' 2018 recruiting class. The Omaha World-Herald writes that "Smith was the first recruit to commit to Scott Frost at Nebraska." After playing in the first two games of the 2018 season, Smith sustained a significant knee injury in the second contest that sidelined him for the remainder of the year. Between the time Frost was hired as the head coach at Nebraska in December of 2017 to the start of the 2018 regular season, at least a baker's dozen Cornhuskers left the Big Ten school . This offseason, Smith became the fifth as he joins linebackers Quayshon Alexander ( HERE ) and Breon Dixon ( HERE ), defensive back Cam Jones ( HERE ) and punter Caleb Lightbourn ( HERE ) in departing the program.


An award-winning lamb is currently under investigation and may be stripped of its title after veterinarians at the Logan County Fair in Ohio found illegal drugs in its system. Performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) have transcended from sport to livestock, as the grand champion lamb was giving a performance-enhancing diuretic, which is banned from competition because it makes the animal's muscles feel leaner. The Ohio Department of Agriculture is spearheading the investigation into lamb PED use, although it doesn't seem to be as rampant as steroid use in baseball during the 1990s. It's not clear what will happen to the owner after the investigation is complete. NAZI SOLDIERS USED PERFORMANCE-ENHANCING 'SUPER-DRUG' IN WORLD WAR II, SHOCKING DOCUMENTARY REVEALS "We don't know how it got in there, and we may never know. But it's the exhibitor's responsibility to present an animal to the fair for competition that's free of all of those," Dr. Tony Forshey, the state veterinarian at the Ohio Department of Agriculture, told NBC 4 Columbus . The grand champion lamb was reportedly showed by a young 4-H member between July 7-13 when it tested positive for the illegal drugs. 4-H is a network of youth organizations created to engage the development of young people and is administered by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture. A problem with diuretics is while they give the lamb an unfair advantage, they also contaminate the meat. Forshey added that you don't want people eating animals that are carrying adulterated products. That sentiment was also shared by Jute Marihugh, an 11-year-old who talked about the importance of knowing the right way to care for your animal. OHIO PHARMACEUTICAL DISTRIBUTOR ACCUSED OF FLOODING APPALACHIA WITH OPIOIDS "It's really important because you know how to take care of your animal, you know if it gets sick what you do, you can inform other people about it that don't know and it's just a really great learning experience," said Marihugh. Jute's 13-year-old brother Hawkins shared a wise opinion on PED abuse in livestock competitions. "You don't want an animal with a ton of drugs in it because it might not be safe to eat and everything," said Hawkins. "So that's why I think it's pretty important to have good quality stuff." CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The lamb is currently being held until all the drugs are flushed out of its system. After that, it will be sent to slaughter and taken to market.


KINGWOOD, TX   Residents in the Elm Grove subdivision in Kingwood, whose homes were flooded during severe storms in May, have filed a class action lawsuit alleging developers in a neighboring subdivision blocked their drainage system and caused flooding in their homes. An estimated 200 Elm Grove residents are suing Figure Four Partners, a subsidiary of Houston-based Perry Homes, along with Rebel Contractors, Inc. and PSWA, Inc. As many as 400 homes were flooded when severe storms moved through the Houston area on May 7. According to the lawsuit, the developers began work in a planned residential area north of Elm Grove, known as the Woodridge Village Development. The developers allegedly stripped the area of trees, and trenched the area and added box culverts in an attempt to create drainage, according to court documents. As a result of that development, the lawsuit alleges homes in the Elm Grove subdivision, which had never flooded   even during Hurricane Harvey   were inundated with flood waters. "When the rain came in on May 7th, there was nowhere for the water to go. They put in a culvert that blocked the drainage and that backed into the development, and when it had nowhere to go it rushed down the streets," Kimberley Spurlock, one of the attorneys representing the Elm Grove homeowners told KPRC. Elm Grove residents also claimed developers violated the Texas Water Code by blocking drainage systems for the Elm Grove subdivision, making the flooding worse, according to the lawsuit. "This may be the most outrageous act I've seen in my life. I saw what happened in Elm Grove on May 7th. I watched my friends pull up their carpet, rip their walls apart and throw their memories onto their front lawns," Houston City Councilman and Kingwood resident Dave Martin told the Tribune. "These people can try to intimidate us all they want, but it will only make us stronger and more determined. What they don't understand is when you've walked through hell and survived, it only makes us stronger. I say, bring it on as the truth is on our side. Kingwood Strong." Meanwhile, developers filed a counter lawsuit claiming the flooding was an "Act of God" and not a result of negligence and should be handed by Montgomery County. Omar Chawdhary, who also represents Elm Grove residents, said the counter suit "unbelievable" calling it a ploy to manipulate Elm Grove residents into dropping their lawsuit . "This is a David-vs.-Goliath story where the big companies are putting forth the effort to say that the homeowners, who have never been flooded before, are going to have to pay the companies for flooding their homes," Chawdhary said. Elm Grove residents are seeking damages in excess of $1 million. READ ALSO: Torrential Rains Cause Flooding In Humble, Kingwood Send your news tips and story ideas to bryan.kirk@patch.com


Senior program instructor Dan Fudge says dogs are natural stress relievers.


Former secretary of state Rex Tillerson spoke with the leaders of the House Foreign Affairs committee on Tuesday in a lengthy session that, an aide said, touched on his time working in the Trump administration, the frictions he had with the president's son-in-law, and efforts to tackle issues like Russian interference in the 2016 election. Tillerson's appearance, first reported by The Daily Beast, took place as virtually every other Trumpworld luminary has been stonewalling congressional oversight efforts. At the same time the former secretary of state was speaking before lawmakers, former White House counsel Don McGahn was ignoring a subpoena to testify in front of the House Judiciary Committee. Tillerson's arrival at the Capitol was handled with extreme secrecy. No media advisories or press releases were sent out announcing his appearance. And he took a little-noticed route into the building in order to avoid being seen by members of the media. Tillerson reached out to the committee and expressed a willingness to meet, a committee aide said. In a more than six-hour meeting, he told members and staffers that the Trump administration actively avoided confronting Russia about allegations of interference in the election in an effort to develop a solid relationship with the Kremlin, a committee aide told The Daily Beast. Related video: Rex Tillerson opens up on Trump and his firing (CBS News) Tillerson also told members and aides that he had tried to establish a formal and disciplined interagency process at the State Department whereby the president could receive informed briefings on sensitive foreign policy matters, the aide said. That effort never manifested, Tillerson told the committee, in part because of the president's management style, but also because of interference from other aides. Tillerson told the committee that the president's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, at times impeded his ability to communicate effectively and introduce to President Trump policy proposals developed by State Department experts on major foreign affairs matters across the globe, not just in the Middle East. Kushner, a White House adviser, has publicly focused much of his international efforts on the Middle East and is set to unveil a Middle East peace plan in the coming weeks. Tillerson had a notoriously prickly relationship with the president, reportedly calling him a "moron" in private. But he was present during critical moments of the administration, including Trump's private 2017 meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Hamburg, Germany. Since leaving his post, Tillerson has rarely made public appearances, save for speaking at a panel in Houston in December. During that appearance, he said there was "no question" Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election. "So often, the president would say, 'Here's what I want to do and here's how I want to do it,' and I would have to say to him, 'Mr. President I understand what you want to do but you can't do it that way. It violates the law,'" Tillerson said. Tillerson's interview by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Eliot Engel (D-NY) and ranking member Michael McCaul (R-TX) comes a month after special counsel Robert Mueller published his report on Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. Since then, top Democrats on the Hill have demanded that Attorney General Bill Barr and Mueller answer questions related to the report and its publication. Barr has declined to testify before the House, citing the insistence of the committee that staff lawyers be allowed to conduct some of the questioning. Mueller is reportedly in negotiations to testify, though the Department of Justice had previously not agreed on a date for him to do so. On Tuesday, CNN reported that Mueller's team had expressed reluctance about the possibility of a testimony taking place in public for fear that it would appear political. Read more at The Daily Beast.


FLINT, Mich. (AP) Former Michigan State University basketball star Mateen Cleaves is standing trial on sexual assault charges in his Michigan hometown. Opening statements began Thursday in Genesee County Circuit Court in Flint, where Cleaves is charged with criminal sexual conduct, assault with intent to commit criminal sexual conduct and unlawful imprisonment. He's accused of assaulting a 24-year-old woman after a charity golf event and a visit to a Flint-area bar in 2015. A district judge dismissed the charges in 2016, but a circuit court reinstated them on appeal. Michigan's Court of Appeals in 2017 denied Cleaves' request to review the decision reinstating the charges. Michigan's Supreme Court declined last year to review that decision. Cleaves led Michigan State to the NCAA basketball championship in 2000 and played for four NBA teams.


UPDATE: Missing man in Franklin County found dead in pond, state police say


On May 22nd 1996, Juventus overcame tournament favourites Ajax on penalties to win their second ever European Cup in one of the greatest finals ever seen in the competition. More than 50,000 Juve supporters packed in to see them crowned European champions that night, but 23 years, 18 Champions League campaigns and five finals later, the Old Lady have not tasted European glory since. That wait will end in 2020. #Juventus = champions of Europe, #OTD in 1996 #UCLfinal pic.twitter.com/Zcegkl8OxS vía @ChampionsLeague   D'FootballOfficial (@DFootballOffic1) May 22, 2019 The team they defeated in the 1996 final came back to haunt them in 2019, as a youthful Ajax side provided a massive upset, beating Juve 3-2 on aggregate to progress to the Champions League semi-finals. At the time of his signing last summer, Cristiano Ronaldo had just come off the back of three straight European triumphs with Real Madrid , and spending €100m on the Portuguese forward was a not-so-subtle way of saying 'please, please, please go and win us a Champions League.' Whilst Ronaldo was unable to deliver on that front, his signing has come to massively benefit the club in a way which they may not have foreseen, as the Portuguese forward's mere presence has proved a very attractive proposition to Juve's transfer targets this summer. " Ronaldo is a great champion. The chance to play with him definitely had a bearing on my decision." Adrien Rabiot on his decision to join Juve this summer, via  AS  Adrien Rabiot, possibly the Old Lady's most notable signing of the summer so far, cited Ronaldo as one of the reasons he chose Juventus. Along with Aaron Ramsey and Gianluigi Buffon , the Frenchman was signed as a free agent following the expiry of his contract with Paris Saint-Germain. Free agents of this calibre will always attract interest from a number of clubs due to the low-cost, low-risk nature of the deal and convincing these players to pick Juve over rival bidders would have been considerably harder without Ronaldo. This appears to be no different with the Old Lady's pursuit of Ajax's Matthijs de Ligt. The Dutch defender appears to be edging towards a deal with the Turin club, despite significant interest from the likes of Barcelona , Manchester United and Manchester City . And it is with this signing, presuming it goes through, that Juve must become favourites for the 2019/20 Champions League. POTENTIAL XI | Here's a look at how Juventus could potentially line-up next season after the summer transfer window ⚪⚫ What changes would you make? 樂 #Juventus https://t.co/6TqHGrPQVn pic.twitter.com/vsyxRJKQhY   Football Transfers⚽ (@Transfers) July 14, 2019 Aged just 19, De Ligt led Ajax to the Champions League final four, dominating in defence and scoring key goals in both the quarter-final and semi-final stages. He followed that up with an UEFA Nations League final appearance with the Netherlands, where he ultimately lost to Ronaldo's Portugal side. And not wanting to pass up a golden opportunity, 'agent' Ronaldo took the time to  ask the young defender to join him at Juve . The continued chase of De Ligt is not to say Juve are satisfied with their options going forward, as they continue to be linked with a move for Inter's Mauro Icardi . The Argentine recently left the club's training camp and his exit appears to be imminent. Should Juve manage to sign the wantaway striker, you may as well start inscribing their name on the Champions League trophy now. Despite winning them five straight Serie A titles, manager Massimiliano Allegri paid the price for continued European failure, as he lost his job at the Allianz Stadium in May. Juve decided to replace one Italian with another, recruiting Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri, who had just tasted European success of his own with the Londoners, albeit in the Europa League. The Italian manager split opinion during his time in England, with many highlighting his tactical rigidity as a downfall of his managerial regime. In particular, his refusal to play N'Golo Kante in his natural central defensive midfield role was a stick that was repeatedly used to beat him. Nevertheless, the former Napoli boss is still held in high esteem in Italy and this will help him command the respect of his star-studded new squad. Just over 12 months ago, Sarri pushed the reigning Serie A champions all the way in the league, but his Napoli team's total of 91 points fell just short of the 95 accumulated by Juve. In spite of his failure to win a trophy in Italy, the style of play employed by Sarri during his time in Naples attracted praise from all across European football. Following Napoli's 2-1 victory over Manchester City in the Champions League, Pep Guardiola was full of praise for his opposite number, claiming the Italians were 'maybe the best' side he has ever faced. English football is not renowned for tactical nous, so perhaps Sarri did not have enough time to fully implement his ideas at Chelsea. After all, even Guardiola finished third in his maiden Premier League campaign. But if his time in Naples is anything to go by, Juve will be playing a high-pressing system next season, with an emphasis on passing football and confidence to play under pressure. A system under which Juve's world-class talents are bound to flourish. And for these reasons, we may as well say hello to the 2020 Champions League winners, Juventus.


By Doug Kyed Bill Belichick woke up on the wrong side of the bed and country Tuesday morning. The New England Patriots head coach was in rare form at the NFL Annual Meeting in Arizona, where he spoke for 40 minutes at the AFC coaches breakfast and offered very little to reporters on hand. For example, Belichick muttered "I don't know," when asked how the Patriots' defense will change now that star cornerback Darrelle Revis is playing for the the New York Jets. Belichick doesn't seem to think Revis playing for a divisional rival is a very big deal. "It's NFL free agency. It's like that in the NFL," Belichick told reporters. "Players leave teams and go to teams in free agency every year. That's not a big story." The Patriots had the option to pay Revis $20 million in 2015 to keep him in New England. Belichick didn't exactly expound when asked why the Patriots elected to decline that option. "It's NFL free agency," Belichick said. "We do what's best for our football team."


May 13--A judge ordered Monday that evidence presented in the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Mohamed Noor will be made available for public viewing, but did not decide whether the data can be copied, photographed or videotaped. Hennepin County District Judge Kathryn Quaintance's decision comes on the heels of a Friday filing by prosecutors who requested that none of the evidence be shown to the public because of a possible appeal of Noor's conviction and other potential legal challenges. The court asked for both sides' opinion on the matter. Noor's defense attorneys have declined to weigh in on the issue. Quaintance's order said the approximately 300 trial exhibits will be made available to the media for viewing. However, she wrote, anyone who wants to copy the evidence must file a legal challenge in court by Thursday. The judge wrote that an order on copying trial evidence will be issued at a later date.A court spokesman said a date has not been set for public viewing of the evidence. The limited access to trial exhibits is the latest in a series of decisions aimed at limiting public access to the trial, which itself heavily criticized alleged police secrecy around the case. Quaintance prompted concerns from the media and public before trial when she decided to display key body-camera videos and autopsy photos on a TV screen with its back turned to the public gallery. She reversed the decision after a coalition of media outlets, including the Star Tribune, challenged the matter on a First Amendment basis. The judge has also sealed the identities of jurors for the time being, a rare move in Minnesota. Noor was convicted April 30 of third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 7. Noor fatally shot Justine Ruszczyk Damond on July 15, 2017, after responding to her 911 call about a possible sexual assault in the alley behind her south Minneapolis home. Chao Xiong • 612-270-4708 Twitter: @ChaoStrib ___ (c)2019 the Star Tribune (Minneapolis) Visit the Star Tribune (Minneapolis) at www.startribune.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.


The Cowboys have said they don't want to be market-setters in deals for Dak Prescott , Ezekiel Elliott and Amari Cooper . At the same time, they have said all three have "solid" offers in front of them. Those offers, according to multiple reports, would rank the three players "at least in the top five" at their respective positions. It is unclear whether that's new money or total value at signing. The Cowboys offer to Elliott is more in line with Le'Veon Bell than Todd Gurley . Gurley's deal averages $14.4 million per season, while Bell's annual average is $13.1 million. Bell also received $10 million less in guaranteed money than Gurley. Elliott wants more than $15 million annually , according to Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram . The Cowboys are "frustrated" at the lack of engagement in talks with all three, according to multiple reports, and executive vice president Stephen Jones said Tuesday he doubts the team can get any of the three signed before they break training camp in Oxnard, California, on Aug. 15. Jones was asked on 105.3 The Fan about the possibility of not getting a deal done with Prescott this year. "It's not terrifying to me," Jones said on his radio show, via Todd Archer of ESPN. "Do we want to make a deal with Dak? Do we want to do a deal that hopefully he will think is really good and good for him? We certainly want to do that, but we're not afraid to go another year. I mean we're certainly not. That happens in this business. But I don't want anyone to think we're not going to go to the midnight hour and exhaust all things to get a deal done with Dak, to get a deal done with Zeke and to get a deal done with Amari and then get deals done with other players. That's what we're in the business for, to tie up young guys that we think so much of that we drafted." Cooper and Prescott are entering the final year of their contracts, and the Cowboys have picked up the fifth-year option on Elliott's contract for 2020.


By this time next week we'll be knee-deep in earnings from J.P. Morgan, Wells Fargo, Netflix, and a pile of other big names. Until then, at least for Friday, it could be possible to have fresh records for the big U.S. indexes as we continue to bask in the warm afterglow of a dovish Fed. Enter party-pooper Bank of America Merrill Lynch who warned clients Friday of an "overshoot" in credit and equity prices in coming months, followed by a "big [second half] top in asset prices." Caution of that kind seems to be only getting louder as we bump along to these new highs. Our call of the day comes from the chief executive of Milton Berg Advisors, Milton Berg, who heeded his own warning signs earlier this month. He turned bearish on the S&P 500 and Nasdaq on July 2 as his two portfolios have seen gains of 20% plus this year. Berg told digital financial media group Real Vision in an interview that there's one big reason he's out of the market for now: "We have a list of more than 100 indicators that we match to previous market peaks and of all these 100 only two are inconsistent with levels seen at market peaks." Berg uses a trove of proprietary indicators and historical data to make his calls. His claim to fame, outside of working with hedge fund biggies like George Soros and Stanley Druckenmiller, is nailing the 1987 market crash to the day. Still, Berg says there's is one thing that doesn't quite add up for that view that stocks are nearing a peak. Thirty-year (BX:TMUBMUSD30Y) U.S. bonds on a 6- and 12-month basis are doing far better than they've ever done at a final market top, he notes. Read: 30-year Treasury yield hits nearly 6-week high after 'borderline shocking' debt auction Berg has also turned bearish on the bond market, where investors have been piling in on fears of a recession. State Street Global Advisors recently reported that bond exchange-traded funds drew a record $25 billion in June , beating by a huge margin a prior record in October 2014. He says the bond conundrum may also send another message to investors. That the final leg of this stock market rally coincides with a bond market rally, which will signal a peak for stocks. Read: JPMorgan says bond-market rally faces risk of 'tantrum' like 2013 and 2016 Need to Know starts early and is updated until the opening bell, but sign up here to get it delivered once to your email box. Be sure to check the Need to Know item. The emailed version will be sent out at about 7:30 a.m. Eastern.


It's hard to imagine that just two seasons ago the Chiefs only had a single player on the Pro Football Focus top 50 list . Heading into the 2019 season, the Chiefs have tied for the second-most players to appear on the list. It just goes to show the growth of these players in such a short amount of time. Here's a look at what PFF had to say about each player that made their list: RT Mitchell Schwartz - No. 48 Schwartz turned in career highs in overall grade (83.6) and pass-block grade (85.6) this past season. He also finished the year ranked tied for fifth in pass-blocking efficiency (97.9) and pressure percentage allowed (3.6%). The epitome of consistency, Schwartz has played 1,000 or more offensive snaps in every year of his seven-year NFL career and has yet to earn an overall grade below 72.6 or a pass-blocking grade below 73.8. Schwartz is rapidly approaching 8,000 consecutive snaps in his career. He's been a golden goose as a pass blocker since joining the Chiefs as a free agent in 2016, consistently locking up the elite pass rushers in the AFC West. TE Travis Kelce - No. 28 Among the 63 NFL tight ends with at least 900 offensive snaps played in the last three seasons, Kelce ranks first in overall grade (91.1) and receiving grade (91.1). He also leads all tight ends in receptions of 15-plus yards (104), yards after the catch (1,774) and first-down receptions (189). Kelce's ability to force missed tackles and gain yards after the catch is truly what makes him special. His three-year forced missed tackles total (38) leads all tight ends, and his staggering 6.1 yards after the catch per reception average since 2016 is absurd considering the fact that he's hauled in 290 receptions in the three-year span. Kelce was the player who made the PFF top-50 list in 2017 for the Chiefs. He's the only tight end to make this list in 2019. He's also been a beacon of consistency throughout his career. It's an absolute joy to see him continue to be at the top of his game with Patrick Mahomes as his quarterback. DT Chris Jones - No. 20 Jones' three-year overall grade (90.8) and pass-rush grade (91.1) rank sixth and tied for third, respectively, among the 73 at his position with 1,200 or more defensive snaps played since 2016. He also ranks fourth among qualifiers in three-year pass-rush win percentage (15.7%) behind Aaron Donald, Fletcher Cox and Geno Atkins. Jones is getting some newfound praise after he led the Chiefs in sacks in 2019. PFF's grades have been pretty consistent in recognizing Jones as a top pass rusher for the past several seasons. Now that his numbers are in step with the top players at the position, he's getting some new exposure. QB Patrick Mahomes - No. 6 Mahomes' 46 big-time throws were three more than anyone else in the NFL. He broke PFF's single-season deep passing yardage record with 1,514 yards on passes of 20 or more yards downfield, and that's with three dropped deep balls on the year. In fact, Mahomes had 35 dropped passes from his receivers this season, the third-most of any quarterback in the NFL. If you didn't think that Mahomes was going to make this list, I can't help you. He was the best player in the NFL last season, and PFF's analytics recognize that. He might not be the top player on this list, but entering just his second season as a starter it's probably the safe bet to be a little conservative with his ranking. MORE: The NBA should be embarrassed about all the wrong hats being worn at the draft The 2019 NBA draft pick by pick Roundup: Toy Story 4 Worth the Wait; Slack is Back, Lil Nas X Here to Stay Heading into training camp: Andy Jones vs. Travis Fulgham Nat Berhe still has love for the Giants


Once you drop your cigarette habit, the positive changes begin almost instantly. What Happens To Your Body When You Quit Smoking When you quit smoking, there are a number of health benefits that you'll experience, some of which start almost immediately and some of which you'll continue to see others throughout the years as your body heals and gets stronger. From added energy and deeper sleep to lessening your chances of developing fatal diseases, click through the slideshow above for 14 things that happen to your body once you quit smoking. 1. Your Blood Pressure Returns To Normal When you finally decide to quit smoking, you can expect to reap the benefits in just 20 minutes! That's how long it takes for your blood pressure to begin to drop after you smoked your last cigarette. Eventually, as time passes and you continue to stay away from smoking, your blood pressure will return to a normal, healthy state. 2. Your Body Gets Rid Of Excess Carbon Monoxide The many deadly toxins within cigarettes are passed on to smokers each time they inhale. This includes carbon monoxide, which can be fatal if there's too much in your system. But when you quit smoking, you're no longer taking in these harmful chemicals and you're also giving your body a chance to rid itself of any lingers toxins. In fact, just 12 hours after your last cigarette, the carbon monoxide levels in your body will have returned to normal, which will also increase the amount of oxygen that can reach your blood and lungs. 3. Your Lungs Will Get Rid Of Mucus Your body won't only be ridding itself of excess toxins during the first 12 to 48 hours after you quit smoking. Two days after your last cigarette, you may notice that you're coughing or sneezing up some rather nasty mucus. This is because your body is getting rid of all the grime, gunk, and grossness that was left behind every time you smoked. As unpleasant as this stage is, don't worry! It won't last forever, and the fact that your body is cleaning itself out is actually a good thing. 4. Your Sense Of Smell And Taste Will Improve Over the years, the nerve endings that allow you to smell and taste have been damaged by smoking. But just two days after your last cigarette, the nerve endings will begin to heal and your sense of smell and taste with both improve and seem more heightened. So get ready to stop and smell the incredibly fragrant roses before enjoying one of the most flavorful meals you've had in ages. 5. Your Nicotine Levels Will Decrease As the harmful toxins found in cigarettes continue to leave your body, the levels of nicotine in your system will have significantly dropped after three days. And while this is definitely a good thing, it may leave you at the mercy of the next thing that you might experience. Read on! 6. You May Experience Withdrawal Symptoms When you smoked a cigarette, nicotine was largely responsible for the calming effect that you experienced. When you stop providing your body with nicotine and the existing amount in your system decreases, you may experience dreaded withdrawals. Prepare yourself for headaches, dizziness, sleepiness, anxiety, or depressed feelings. And prepare anyone around you to deal with your potential mood swings because YIKES! But remind yourself and your friends/family/coworkers that this is only temporary and it will lead to a healthier, happier you. 7. Your Lungs Will Heal Breathe easy, friend! Thanks to the fact that you're not regularly filling your lungs with toxic smoke, they'll start to heal right away, and within a month, your lungs will begin to function better. And as breathing becomes easier, you'll find that you're no longer short of breath when you're active and you won't have as many coughing fits. On top of that, if you've suffered from lung infections in the past, you may notice that they start to become less frequent around the nine-month mark. 8. You're Less Likely To Develop Lung Cancer One of the biggest reasons to quit smoking is the fact that it can help you avoid serious diseases, such as lung cancer. According to Verywell Mind , when you quit smoking, you reduce the risk of developing lung cancer by 30-50 percent and reduce the risk of lung cancer recurrence by 77 percent. Beyond that, you reduce the risk of death from lung cancer by 66 percent and the risk of death from a lung cancer recurrence by 46 percent. 9. Your Circulation Will Improve In the first few months after you quit smoking, you may notice that your hands and feet don't get as cold as often. This is because your circulation has improved due to the fact that your blood is more easily able to move throughout your body. 10. You're Less Likely To Develop Heart Disease Heart-related issues are another serious health concern you're more likely to avoid if and when you quit smoking. When you ditch cigarettes you reportedly reduce the risk of death from coronary heart disease, heart attack, or stroke by 45 percent. Medical News Today explains that "in as little as [one] day after quitting smoking, a person's blood pressure begins to drop, decreasing the risk of heart disease from smoking-induced high blood pressure." 11. Exercising Will Be Easier Thanks to the fact that blood is circulating more easily throughout your body and your lungs are now getting more oxygen, you may find that it's a lot easier to exercise. This will obviously lead to other health benefits that you'll enjoy. So you may soon be up for a jog, a swim, or a rowdy (yet friendly, of course) game of basketball. 12. You'll Sleep Better If you have trouble drifting off when you head to bed and never seem to fall into a deep slumber, then you'll be thrilled to find out that might change when you quit smoking. On top of the fact that you'll no longer have nicotine ( which is a stimulant ) keeping you up at night, you'll also be able to breathe more easily and your circulation will improve, which means that you'll be able to ease into a deeper sleep each night, likely stay asleep for longer, and feel much more rested when you wake up in the morning. 13. You Won't Be As Likely To Develop Blood Clots Or Suffer From A Stroke When you quit smoking, your blood vessels and arteries are no longer being negatively affected by the toxic ingredients you take in when smoking. This means that around five years after you've said goodbye to cigarettes, your arteries will widen enough for your blood to flow freely which lessens the chance of developing clots and you'll be less likely to suffer from a stroke. 14. Your Mental Health May Improve And You'll Feel Happier (And Proud) Although you may experience a few unpleasant withdrawal symptoms early on in your efforts to quit smoking, eventually the lack of cigarettes (and the accompanying toxins) can give your mental health a boost. Not only will nicotine no longer affect your mood, but you'll also be rid of any shame around your former habit. You can feel proud that you've beaten your addiction and taken a solid step towards improving your health.


PEBBLE BEACH, Calif.   The stage is set for what should be the ideal U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, perhaps the most popular of all U.S. Open courses with its magnificent Pacific coastline and small greens, with its history of high drama and great champions. The fairways are roughly the same width as always at Pebble. The rough is lush and penal. The forecast is good. ''I don't think I've seen the golf course in better condition,'' said John Bodenhamer, the senior managing director of championships for the USGA. So what could possibly go wrong? Based on the recent run of U.S. Open mishaps, that's a question that lingers for some of golf's best players. And the USGA can only hope it has the answer. ''I think the U.S. Open has been in the past one of the most respected majors as far as the test you're going to face - fair, hard, a good test of golf,'' Rickie Fowler said. ''I don't think you're going to find a lot of guys who say it's been a true test. Not all that stuff is coming together like it used to.'' Fowler is still relatively young, and he's never passed the test at any major. But he is not a lone voice on this. Phil Mickelson is playing his 28th U.S. Open, with a record six runner-up finishes, and he's praying for rain. ''One hundred percent of the time, they have messed it up if it doesn't rain,'' Mickelson said, so bitter about a pin position at Shinnecock Hills last year that he swatted a ball with his putter as it was rolling off the green. ''The rain is the governor - that's the only governor they have. And if they don't have a governor, they don't know how to control themselves.'' Tiger Woods, a three-time U.S. Open champion, at times feels like even he recognizes it. ''The Open has changed,'' Woods said. ''I thought it was just narrow fairways - hit it in the fairway or hack out, move on. Now there's chipping areas around the greens. There's less rough, graduated rough. They try to make the Open strategically different. I just like it when there's high rough and narrow fairways and, 'Go get it, boys.''' That's why the USGA might face more pressure this week than any of the players. It needs to get this one right. Your browser does not support iframes. U.S. Open: Full-field tee times | Full coverage Some of it has been out of the USGA's control, such as the lack of wind at Erin Hills on a wide-open course designed for it. The fescue grass on the greens at Chambers Bay in 2015 was all but dead when the tournament started, and putting was severely difficult by Sunday. Jordan Spieth won when Dustin Johnson three-putted for par from 12 feet on the last hole. Oakmont was a typical U.S. Open marred by a rules gaffe that led to Johnson and Shane Lowry playing most of the back nine while not knowing the score. The USGA waited until after the round to determine whether Johnson's ball had moved on the fifth green. The USGA handled it by the book - it just didn't account for the day of the week. And then an ideal course at Shinnecock Hills changed on Saturday with a few new pins, a blue sky and more wind. The last 45 players to tee off couldn't break par. ''It's not lost on us, all that's been said and written,'' Bodenhamer said. ''It's incumbent upon us to have a great U.S. Open - not just this year, the next several years.'' Bodenhamer considered the list of U.S. Open champions at Pebble - Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, Tom Kite, Woods and Graeme McDowell - and suggested Pebble Beach needs little more than window dressing to be the test it's always been. There are a few changes. Rough has been restored left of the green on the par-5 14th, where in 2010 a shot that missed by an inch rolled for a mile - or so it seemed - and reasonable shots often rolled back to the players. Bodenhamer said the fairways are slightly narrower than in 2010, and there are few instances of graduated rough, especially on the shorter par 4s. This should be a typical U.S. Open. Right? ''Golf course setup is not easy,'' former champion Jim Furyk said. ''We're human. The golf course changes. Nothing is free of being able to screw it up. You're dealing with a moving target. As critical as we are as players, it would be difficult to be on the other side and set it up.'' The problem in Furyk's view is how the USGA has responded to it over the years. If anything is going to go bad in a major, the U.S. Open is the chief candidate. That's the very nature of this major. It wants to live on the edge - players expect that - and invariably the line is crossed. With so much negativity since 2014 - the USGA's finest but forgotten hour, setting up Pinehurst No. 2 for men and women in consecutive weeks - there has been a growing disconnect between the USGA and the players it sees only once a year. ''Pinehurst, they did a good job,'' Adam Scott said. ''I recall being in the parking lot at Hoylake right after it and saying to Mike Davis, 'That was a good U.S. Open, well done.' Because I felt he needed that feedback. Obviously, it didn't go the right direction since then.'' Davis, the CEO of the USGA who has been setting up the U.S. Open since Winged Foot in 2006, turned the control over to Bodenhamer, his chief assistant. Bodenhamer has kept an open mind as he listens to his staff (including agronomists), along with the superintendent and golf director at Pebble Beach, longtime Pebble Beach caddie Casey Boins, and several past U.S. Open champions including Woods, Furyk, Rory McIlroy, Ernie Els, Hale Irwin and Curtis Strange. ''They've earned the right to talk about the U.S. Open,'' Bodenhamer said. The USGA also hired former PGA Tour player Jason Gore to be available to players for any questions or concerns. Top rules officials for the USGA have been at PGA Tour events more than ever to build better relationships. The measure, though, is four days over Pebble Beach. The goal is to present the toughest test of the year without it getting silly. For all the criticism, however, the quality of champions is strong - Brooks Koepka and Johnson, Jordan Spieth and Justin Rose, Woods, McIlroy and Martin Kaymer. And it's difficult to argue with Koepka's observation that ''we've all got to play it. We've all got to deal with the same issues.'' One thing the USGA got away from is the moniker. Instead of the ''toughest test in golf,'' the blue blazers more recently have called it the ''ultimate test.'' It's just semantics, but Bodenhamer had an even better definition that might give the U.S. Open a fresh start with an old style. ''The best way to describe it is what I grew up with: When you see it, you'll know it's a U.S. Open,'' he said. ''I think you'll see that this year.''


MAHWAH, NJ   The Township Council has cancelled a special meeting Thursday for a new cell tower after rejecting all bids received for the project at Fire Company 3. The winning bidder submitted "an unacceptable location" for the tower that was "not compliant with the wetlands delineation" of the project. It was also not compliant with the bid's insurance requirements, Mayor John Roth said in an email to Council President David May and other officials. "The township is rejecting all bids and will re-bid the project in a manner that will provide greater clarity as to permissible tower location and insurance requirements," Roth said. Bid documents will be revised and submitted to the council for review at its July 25 meeting. The rejection of bids is the latest chapter in a 14-year quest to remediate a 2-mile-wide reception dead zone in the northern part of the township. Homeowners near the firehouse have pushed back on the plan despite cellphone service providers and a township consultant recommending that site as the best location for a tower at least four times, NorthJersey.com reported. Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com


This past offseason, the Minnesota Vikings lost the best punt returner in franchise history when Marcus Sherels signed a one-year free agent contract with the New Orleans Saints . With Organized Team Activities underway for the purple, it appears that a fan favorite from last season has the inside track to the job. In an article that is, largely, about free agent wide receiver Jordan Taylor , Mark Craig of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune dropped in this little tidbit. "I think I might be the tallest punt returner in NFL history," Taylor said after spending Tuesday's OTA as the No. 2 punt returner behind Chad Beebe , the early front-runner to replacing Marcus Sherels , who owned the job for eight seasons. Yes, it appears that Chad Beebe is going to get the first opportunity to replace Sherels as the primary punt returner for the Vikings. Beebe spent the first half of the 2018 season on the practice squad, and got called up before the Vikings' Week 9 matchup against the Detroit Lions . He caught four passes for 39 yards last season, but also missed five games with a hamstring issue. He didn't return any punts in 2018, but did handle those duties in college at Northern Illinois. I know that people thought I made too much of Sherels' departure when it happened, but I really think that he's going to be very tough to replace. A lot of people took what Sherels did for granted, and now the Vikings don't have the luxury of knowing that Sherels and his steady abilities will be going back every time an opponent punts the ball away. Although Beebe has the inside track on the job now, based on the article linked above, there's still likely going to be some pretty solid competition for it during the rest of OTAs, minicamp, and into Training Camp as well.


It's not a secret that the Los Angeles Clippers and owner Steve Ballmer are attempting to to get out from under the Lakers' shadows at the Staples Center in Southern California. Over the past several years, this team has been linked to a plot across from the soon-to-be erected Inglewood NFL stadium. According to Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, the Clippers' efforts to build a new arena in Inglewood have also violated California law, per Curbed Los Angeles : "When the City Council (of Inglewood) voted to enter into an 'exclusive negotiating agreement' with the owners of the Clippers in June 2017, it did not include in its meeting agenda a description about the location of the proposed arena or the scope of the project, according to Deputy District Attorney Bjorn Dodd. Dodd continued with rather alarming allegations against the Clippers' brass and the city of Inglewood. "The deficiency of the agenda descriptions appears to have been part of concerted efforts between representatives of the city and the Murphy's Bowl LLC to limit the notice given to the public." The DA's office in Southern California ultimately found that these omissions violated the state's Brown Act, which notes that the public should be made aware of the specifics regarding the sales of publicly owned land. Unfortunately for those advocating against the possibility of a new NBA arena in Inglewood, the DA's office received these claims too late to take action. If the office had been made aware of these allegations beforehand, negotiations between Inglewood and the Lakers would have been deemed "null and void," according to Dodd. This all comes amid public backlash against a potential Clippers arena in the city. Despite the DA's stance on the subject Wednesday, there's not much the office can do about this situation. Its only hope is that public backlash might prevent a deal from actually being completed.


Visiting Sandpointe, or just looking to better appreciate what it has to offer? Get to know this Santa Ana neighborhood by browsing its most popular local businesses, from a classic pizzeria to a Mexican-inspired seafood eatery to a bakery and breakfast spot. Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top places to visit in Sandpointe, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of neighborhood businesses. Read on for the results. 1. Rafael's Pizza Topping the list is Rafael's Pizza , a spot to score made-from-scratch pizza pies and more. Located at 128 W. MacArthur Blvd., it's the highest-rated business in the neighborhood, boasting four stars out of 303 reviews on Yelp. The long-standing pizzeria   established in 1976   serves up hand-tossed pizzas crafted using the finest ingredients, from classic cheese and Hawaiian-style to barbecue chicken and margherita. Calzones and Italian subs are on offer as well, along with pasta dishes like spaghetti and meatballs. (You can view the full menu here .) 2. Clemente Seafood Restaurant Clemente Seafood Restaurant is another top choice. Yelpers give the business, located at 124 W. MacArthur Blvd., four stars out of 350 reviews. On the menu, look for Mexican-inspired seafood cuisine , "blending all flavors from all 32 Mexican States." Come try favorites like baby clam tostadas, shrimp tacos and whole fish cooked in ranchero sauce; or enjoy non-seafood specialties chicken enchiladas and carne asada nachos. 3. Mill Bakery Mill Bakery , a Mexican spot that offers breakfast and desserts, is another neighborhood go-to, with four stars out of 65 Yelp reviews. Head over to 116 W. MacArthur Blvd. to see for yourself. A variety of breakfast burritos and sandwiches are on offer, along with espresso beverages, juices and milk shakes. Customizable cakes for all occasions are also available, as well as doughnuts, pastries and more. 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.


Looking to try the top music venues around? Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the best affordable music venues in Berkeley, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of where to go next time you're looking for some live music. 1. The Back Room Topping the list is The Back Room . Located at 1984 Bonita Ave. (between University Avenue and Berkeley Way) in Downtown Berkeley, the music venue and performing arts spot is the highest-rated low-priced music venue in Berkeley, boasting five stars out of 14 reviews on Yelp. According to its website , The Back Room was founded in 2016 to recreate the original Freight & Salvage, a beloved Berkeley music venue dedicated to acoustic music. Here, you'll find acoustically-based genres, including jazz, blues, folk, bluegrass, Americana and more. 2. Ashkenaz Music And Dance Community Center Next up is Ashkenaz Music and Dance Community Center , situated at 1317 San Pablo Ave. (between Camelia and Gilman streets). With four stars out of 93 reviews on Yelp, the dance club, music venue and dance school has proven to be a local favorite for those looking for a cheap option. "Ashkenaz is a non-profit, all-ages community center and cafe dedicated to fostering intercultural understanding and friendship through music and dance," states its website . The center hosts local and international performing artists in performances, classes and workshops. 3. 924 Gilman 924 Gilman , located at 924 Gilman St. (between Seventh and Eighth streets), is another top choice, with Yelpers giving the low-priced music venue and community service/non-profit spot four stars out of 92 reviews. The DIY non-profit is an all-ages, volunteer-run venue for music, art and community events. 4. Hertz Concert Hall Hertz Concert Hall , a music venue and performing arts spot, is another much-loved, cheap go-to, with 4.5 stars out of 13 Yelp reviews. Head over to University of California Berkeley, College Ave and Bancroft Way to see for yourself. The concert hall frequently hosts the UC Berkeley Symphony Orchestra, as well as classical recitals. 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.


John Walton, part of the Walton & Johnson radio show, has passed away, Steve Johnson announced Tuesday. In a post to fans, Johnson said Walton was receiving treatment for medical issues over the past month, but they were too numerous to overcome. The post continues to say he made the decision to return home Monday and spend his last hours with his family. He went out on his own terms, passing away Monday night around 11:55 p.m., the post said. In a statement, Johnson said: "I will always cherish John as not only a partner but a deal friend. His wit and humor defined him as the unique individual we all knew him to be. He will never be replaced. He had a voice and he had something to say. Your loyalty and support for him and his craft was always a mutual sentiment. John cared deeply for all of you. He loved to make you all laugh. Please remember his family in your thoughts and prayers." The Walton & Johnson show started in February 1983 and has a unique mix of "stream of consciousness, opinionated and compelling talk, guests, musical elements, fictional characters, famous impersonations, great skit writing and production coupled with powerful audience interaction," according to their website. Walton was born and raised in Houston. READ MORE: John Walton of the Walton & Johnson radio show has died CHECK OUT WDSU: Get all the New Orleans news you need. With the latest New Orleans weather, sports and stories from around the state, WDSU is your news leader.


New York City will see a return of last week's light rainfall this coming week, according to drone-powered weather forecasting service Saildrone . Today's forecast shows the highest likelihood of rain at 99 percent, while the most rainfall is predicted on Wednesday at 0.88 inches. The coming days will also bring warm temperatures, expected to last through Thursday. Temperatures will reach a high of 87 degrees on Tuesday. Skies will be mostly cloudy on Saturday. Winds are forecast to reach a modest high of 14 mph today, but will calm somewhat beginning on Monday. 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.