Quick Take A doctored video of an interview with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi portrays her speech as being slowed and slurred, and has been used to advance a false claim that she was "drunk." Full Story Within hours of her interview at the Center for American Progress Ideas Conference , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi became the target of an online deception that purported to show she was "drunk." The manipulated video clip, which was posted May 22, shows the California Democrat talking about President Donald Trump at the conference. But it was more tightly cropped than the original video and edited to slow Pelosi's speech, making it appear that she was slurring her words. Tens of thousands of Facebook users shared the distorted clip, which received more than 2 million views. Many users spread the video by posting comments advancing the false claim that she was "drunk"   mirroring a claim made in the caption of a YouTube version of the video, which was widely shared before being removed by the platform. The same portion of Pelosi's full exchange with Neera Tanden, CAP's president, makes clear to viewers that the viral version was doctored. In fact, the 3-minute and 7-second doctored version adds more than 40 seconds to the same section of the interview as seen on C-SPAN and CAP's YouTube channel . Maura Shea , an associate teaching professor of film-video and media studies at Penn State, said in an interview that the length added to the version on Facebook, as opposed to the one on C-SPAN, is one sign of its manipulated nature: "Time is time." The sound, too, of the Facebook copy shows signs of editing   notably a " tin can or a swirling sound in the background" that's especially apparent in the moments when Pelosi is not talking, Shea said. "It can happen when you digitally slow something down and you don't want the pitch to change," Shea said. "W hich is normally what would happen with a slowed down clip." She added: "You're making frames that don't exist so they don't sound perfectly clean." A spokesman for Pelosi told FactCheck.org that Pelosi does not drink   something we were also told by staff in 2010   and noted that Trump's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani shared the video on Twitter before deleting it. Giuliani seemingly referred to the video again on Twitter Friday, calling it a " caricature exaggerating her already halting speech pattern." Pelosi and Trump have exchanged jabs following the president's walkout from a planned infrastructure meeting on May 22. A day later, Trump shared a Fox Business segment that was critical of Pelosi's speaking during a press conference that day. " PELOSI STAMMERS THROUGH NEWS CONFERENCE," he wrote . That video does not appear to be distorted, but instead uses selective clips of her full exchange with reporters. Editor's note: FactCheck.org is one of several organizations working with Facebook to debunk misinformation shared on social media. Our previous stories can be found here . Sources Giuliani, Rudy (@RudyGiuliani). " Nancy Pelosi wants an apology for a caricature exaggerating her already halting speech pattern. First she should withdraw her charge which hurts our entire nation when she says the President needs an 'intervention. 'People who live in a glass house shouldn't throw stones.' " Twitter. 24 May 2019. " Pelosi at CAP Ideas Conference ." Video. C-SPAN. 22 May 2019. Shea, Maura. Associate teaching professor of film-video and media studies at Penn State. Phone interview with FactCheck.org. 24 May 2019. " The 2019 Ideas Conference   Part 1 ." Video. Center for American Progress. YouTube. 22 May 2019. Trump, Donald (@realDonaldTrump). " 'PELOSI STAMMERS THROUGH NEWS CONFERENCE.' " Twitter. 23 May 2019. The post Manipulated Video Targeting Pelosi Goes Viral appeared first on FactCheck.org .


The museum's 230,000-square-foot Gilder Center is expected to be completed by 2021 Following a years-long battle, including a lawsuit from a local group, the American Museum of Natural History finally broke ground on its new educational center. Elected officials, including Mayor (and presidential candidate) Bill de Blasio, community members, and leaders of the museum celebrated the groundbreaking of its $383 million Richard Gilder Center for Science, Education, and Innovation at a Wednesday morning event. The 230,000-square-foot structure, designed by Studio Gang, will include several new exhibition galleries; a "Collections Core" with four million specimens that visitors can peek into; an insectarium (the first museum gallery in 50 years to be dedicated to insects, according to a statement); and a "Butterfly Vivarium" living butterfly exhibit. Additionally, Theodore Roosevelt Park will get a new landscape design by Reed Hilderbrand, which will enlarge the entrance to the park from Columbus Avenue, and add seating areas and more trees. "The design will invite visitors to explore the wonders of the museum with its openness and smooth, flowing geometry," Studio Gang's Jeanne Gang said in a statement. In his remarks, de Blasio referred to the challenges that the project faced. "Not everybody understood immediately why it was so important to foster STEM education, why it was so important to create this center," he said. "But perseverance is a virtue and we're all here today because we believed together that this was important for our future." "How wonderful is it to be together on what can now officially be called a construction site," Ellen V. Futter, the museum's president said. "I hope you have an enormous sense of pride and purpose as we officially begin construction for what quite simply will be a spectacular and vitally important resource for science and education." The museum's plans for the Gilder Center, first revealed in 2015, sparked opposition from community members stemming from its potential impact on the environment, including the loss of seven trees and space in Theodore Roosevelt Park. A group called the Community United to Protect Theodore Roosevelt Park filed a lawsuit in 2018 , which resulted in a temporary restraining order on the project. That was lifted in February, allowing the project to move forward. The Community United group argued that the museum should be required to go through the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP) to receive permits for the project and said that the Parks Department misinterpreted the law when it approved the plans to build the center. Most recently, in April, the New York State Supreme Court Appellate Division dismissed the group's appeal to dismiss the court ruling, capping the legal battle on the museum's expansion, which is now expected to be completed by 2021.


Count one of UConn's old basketball rivals as excited to see the school return to the Big East. Reports emerged Saturday morning that the Huskies would be leaving the AAC to return to the Big East, and Syracuse basketball coach Jim Boeheim was pleased with the news. "Well, it's great for the school," Boeheim told Forbes' Adam Zagoria on Saturday . "It's a strong league and all their traditional rivals [are in the league]. It's a great move, couldn't be better." Big East coaches will welcome the competition. It has remained a strong conference with UConn's absence, but as a traditional conference power with a lot of natural rivals, Boeheim is correct that their return will ultimately be good for the league. Just don't ask the school's football coach about things.


So you're hungry and you're ready for some American food. Good news: we've found the freshest spots to satisfy your appetite. Here are the newest places to check out the next time you're in the mood for American food. Off the Hoof 201 E. Fourth St., Suite 136, Lacy Off the Hoof is a food court, offering sandwiches, barbecue and more. Off the Hoof, located inside the 4th Street Market, specializes in "ranch to table" barbecue made from 100% grass-fed beef and humanely-raised pork from local family farms. On the menu, look for the beef dip sandwich and barbecue chopped pork or sides like tater salad and meaty beans. Check out the full menu here . Off the Hoof's current Yelp rating of 4.5 stars out of five reviews indicates positive attention from users. Yelper Sophia C., who reviewed Off the Hoof on May 26, wrote , "This place is so good if you are looking for American comfort food. This is the first barbecue-style sausage I've had with cheddar where the cheese oozed out. It was incredibly good." And Jeff W. noted , "The short rib slider was excellent. Tender, juicy and flavorful. Tallow fries with house-made ketchup   tied for top ranking worldwide for fries. Solid value. Excellent quality. We were not disappointed." Off the Hoof is open from 11 a.m. 9 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday and 11 a.m. 10 p.m. on Thursday-Saturday. Munchies Vegan Diner 515 N. Main St., Lacy Munchies Vegan Diner is a traditional American and breakfast and brunch spot. This new business specializes in vegan comfort food. On the menu, expect to see items like breakfast poutine, crunchy taco burgers and a tuna melt. According to the business' Facebook page , "Munchies is a modern eatery serving high-quality traditional and non-traditional vegan dishes." Explore the menu here . Yelp users are excited about Munchies Vegan Diner, which currently holds 4.5- stars out of 13 reviews on the site. Yelper Christopher C., who reviewed Munchies Vegan Diner on May 30, wrote , "You thought vegan food was boring and stale? Just wait till you try the wonderful array of menu items that harken back to our childhood foodie lives. They reimagine classic staples of the comfort food we all once loved, and they take it to the next level and make it something super special." S P. noted , "Yum, yum, yum. Such a great place with great people serving up great food. Wally and the team were so accommodating to my food allergies and even prepared a special order for me. Absolutely no reason to look any further, you will leave fully satisfied and thinking about your next visit as I am now." Munchies Vegan Diner is open from 10 a.m. 11 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday and 10 a.m. 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. Ground House Burger 201 E. Fourth St., Lacy Ground House Burger is a spot to score burgers and more. Located inside the 4th Street Market, Ground House Burger serves up unique burger and fry combos. From the rainbow-colored Magical burger to the double-patty Massive Mack Burger, this spot serves up a wide array of American comfort food. Yelp users are generally positive about Ground House Burger, which currently holds four stars out of 73 reviews on the site. Yelper Mark B., who was one of the first users to visit Ground House Burger on April 7, wrote , "The food came pretty quick and once I got my order it looked amazing. The food was really good too. The meat was cooked really well and the blend of the bacon, onion rings, beef and Texas toast was perfect. The real highlight for me was the tater tots, which were a perfect crisp. The cashier was kind enough to give me some ranch which went well with both items." Ivan H. noted , "Believe the hype. The Magical Burger is worth the experience. Go with an appetite because it will get you if you aren't ready." Ground House Burger is open from 11 a.m. 8:30 p.m. daily. 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.


A man accused of detonating two bombs outside the Pickens County Courthouse Sunday night is in custody while reports of additional bombs in Pickens are being investigated, according to the Pickens police department. The suspect's identity has not yet been released. Pickens Police Department records clerk Susan Kinsey said the man police took into custody Tuesday in reference to the courthouse bombing told police he also planted devices at the Department of Social Services building in Pickens. BREAKING NEWS Get news as it happens. Please consider becoming a subscriber. Here's how . Marilyn Matheus, spokesperson for the Department of Social Services of South Carolina, confirmed workers were evacuated from the DSS building on McDaniel Avenue in Pickens on Tuesday. Several DSS employees were standing in a parking lot across the street after being told to evacuate the building. They said others decided to go home. FBI spokesman Don Wood said federal bomb technicians are on scene and are part of a joint-agency investigation that includes the Pickens Police Department, the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. FBI agents were also involved in investigating the courthouse bombs, he said. The Pickens County Sheriff's Office was also on scene to provide support to secure the scene, said Chief Deputy Creed Hashe, of the Pickens County Sheriff's Office. From yesterday: Police: Homemade bombs detonated at Pickens County Courthouse This article originally appeared on The Greenville News: Pickens County SC courthouse bomb suspect arrested, DSS evacuated


The Anthony Davis trade could be delayed if Kawhi Leonard doesn't choose a team by noon ET on Saturday, ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk and Bobby Marks report. The complex, four-way deal involving the Lakers, Pelicans, Hawks and Wizards can become official Saturday. The Lakers would lose their ability to give Leonard a max contract if any of the other teams involved declines to delay the trade. However, those teams are expected to cooperate, according to Marks. The Lakers and Pelicans agreed on the initial deal in which Los Angeles sent Lonzo Ball , Brandon Ingram , Josh Hart and three first-round picks to New Orleans for Davis. Los Angeles opened up a max $32 million salary slot by shipping Moritz Wagner , Isaac Bonga , Jemerrio Jones and a 2022 second-round pick to Washington, which sent cash to New Orleans. Davis also agreed to waive his $4 million trade kicker. New Orleans and Atlanta made a big draft-night swap as an offshoot of the Davis trade. New Orleans moved the No. 4 overall pick, forward De'Andre Hunter , it received from the Lakers as well as a late second-rounder along with Solomon Hill 's contract to the Hawks for two first-rounders, center Jaxson Hayes and guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker , an early second-round pick and a first-rounder next year. Without the delay, the Lakers could offer Leonard only a four-year, $127 million contract   $11MM less than the max over the life of the deal. Leonard's indecision has also caused some other delays. The Pelicans won't be able to sign free agent guard JJ Redick until the Hill trade is finished. Hill is ticketed to the Grizzlies in another trade once the Davis deal is completed. The rookies involved in those proposed transactions, as well as the three young players headed to the Wizards, aren't allowed to play summer-league ball until everything is finalized.


NORTH SALEM, NY   State police are investigating the death of a 6-week-old infant in the Town of North Salem. On June 14, troopers responded with North Salem Ambulance and Westchester County EMS to Raymond Road in North Salem for a report of an unresponsive 6-week-old boy. Police said the child's name was Mason J. Cowan. He was taken to Danbury Hospital where he was later pronounced dead. The investigation into the child's death is ongoing, police said. Find and "Like" Hudson Valley Patches' Facebook Pages .


More than 1,300 migrants, mostly from sub-Saharan Africa and Syria, arrived in Sicily on Saturday, after having been picked up in the Mediterranean, the Italian coastguard said. Some 785 migrants -- including 133 women and 27 children -- arrived in Palermo after being picked up off the Libyan coast by the Norwegian cargo ship Siem Pilot, which is part of EU border security operation Triton. Another 468 were taken to the southeastern Sicilian town of Pozzallo aboard the Irish navy patrol ship Le Niamh. Then 102 others, including two pregnant women, were taken to the port of Trapani in western Sicily. Five of the rescued men had to be taken to Trapani hospital for treatment of injuries, sources said without specifying the nature of their wounds. Italy and Greece have been hard pressed to handle a massive increase in migrants fleeing conflicts and poverty in Africa and the Middle East. More than 1,900 migrants have died this year making the perilous journey across the Mediterranean to Europe, out of around 150,000 people who have made the crossing, the International Organization for Migration said earlier this month.


(Reuters) - World number five Alexander Zverev of Germany breezed into the second round of the Halle Open with a 6-4 7-5 victory over Dutchman Robin Hasse on Monday. Second-seeded Zverev struggled on serve at times and finished with seven double faults but he fired 12 aces and converted four break points to advance after an hour and 45 minutes. Russian third seed Karen Khachanov also progressed by winning 7-6(5) 6-4 against Serbia's Miomir Kecmanovic -- a late replacement for Damir Dzumhur who withdrew from the tournament. However, there was an early upset when fifth seed Gael Monfils lost 7-6(6) 6-4 to French compatriot Pierre-Hugues Herbert. Top seed Roger Federer is in action on Tuesday against John Millman, who beat the Swiss at the U.S. Open last year. (Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Ken Ferris) Related slideshow: U.S. Open singles champions (provided by photo services)


Embattled Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell's job is safe   for now. President Trump's top economic adviser was asked Tuesday whether Powell's position is protected. "There is no effort to remove him. I will say that unequivocally at the present time. Yes, he's safe," Larry Kudlow said at a CNBC Capital Exchange event. "To be very clear, there are no plans presently to change Mr. Powell's job or any of that sort of thing." Subscribe to the Post Most newsletter: Today's most popular stories on The Washington Post Trump has been saying for months that the Fed should cut interest rates, a move that probably would boost the economy and the stock market ahead of the 2020 election. Powell has not done that, and the president has gone as far as suggesting he might remove Powell as Fed chair. But White House officials continue to say there are no immediate plans to act. The Fed is supposed to be independent of politics, meaning its leaders should make the best decisions for the U.S. economy in the long term, not what's ideal for short-term political wins. Fed chairs are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate for four-year terms. Trump handpicked Powell for the job but has since expressed some regret about his choice. Powell has been adamant that he does not believe he can be removed from his position before his term expires in 2022, but Trump has suggested there may be a legal loophole in which he can demote Powell to being one of the Fed governors. Kudlow defended the president's criticism of the Fed, arguing that it was good advice. Unemployment is at a half-century low , but it does not appear to be triggering inflation, Kudlow said, so interest rates could be lower. "The Fed should be independent, but that word 'independent'   I mean, it doesn't mean they operate from another planet," Kudlow said. "That doesn't mean that they shouldn't listen to advice from their elders." Trump recently said he plans to nominate conservative scholar Judy Shelton and economist Christopher Waller to fill the last two remaining spots on the Fed's seven-person board. Both Shelton and Waller support lowering interest rates. Kudlow said there is "no shortage of candidates" to fill Fed positions, although Trump's last four nominees have failed to get past the Republican-controlled Senate. Powell is set to testify Wednesday before the House Financial Services Committee and Thursday before the Senate Banking Committee. The U.S. economy looks healthy, but the Fed is widely expected to reduce interest rates from the current level of 2.35 percent to 2.1 percent later this month in an effort to stimulate the economy and counterbalance Trump's trade war and weak growth overseas.


We want to take a moment to recognize the unsung hero of wedding season: the mother of the bride. 80 Moving Mother-Daughter Wedding Moments That Will Have You Calling Your Mom We want to take a moment to recognize the unsung hero of wedding season: the mother of the bride . Where would we be without the unconditional love and support of our moms ? You might want to grab a tissue (or two) to take a look at these emotional mother-daughter wedding photos.


Pakistan's openers launched a confident assault on England's bowlers at Trent Bridge on Monday as they tried to put a woeful collapse against the West Indies in their first match of the World Cup behind them. Pakistan were 69 without loss off the first 10 overs after being sent in to bat by England captain Eoin Morgan, with Imam-ul-Haq 30 not out and fellow left-hander Fakhar Zaman unbeaten on 31. It was a different story from their 105 all out that saw several batsmen succumb to a barrage of bouncers from the West Indies in a seven-wicket defeat at Trent Bridge on Friday. England recalled fast bowler Mark Wood in what appeared to be a clear bid to expose Pakistan's suppose vulnerability against 90 mph-plus bowling but Morgan did not bring him into the attack until the 10th over. Morgan, unusually for a one-day international, deployed three slips at the start of the innings for the new-ball pair of Chris Woakes and Jofra Archer. But Pakistan, who have lost their past 11 completed one-day internationals, including a 4-0 series defeat to England, made a confident start. Fakhar slashed the fourth ball of the match through the covers for a boundary that owed much to a misfield by Morgan. Fakhar, one of the stars of Pakistan's 2017 Champions Trophy-winning team in England, also carved a four off the last ball of the over. He followed up with a legside pick-up four off Archer, who had troubled several South Africa batsmen with his speed during England's 104-run win over the Proteas in Thursday's tournament opener at the Oval. Imam was also finding his range, smashing a six over long-on.


Ten presidential primary candidates came out swinging right from the get-go during the second night of the second Democratic debates Wednesday, and the zingers started flying even before opening statements got underway. A guide to the 24 Democratic contenders who want to face Trump Here are some of the jabs, one-liners and gaffs from the stage that received big responses: (MORE: Fact-checking Democratic candidates on the issues on the 2nd night of debate) Joe Biden's 'Go easy on me, kid' comment As California Sen. Kamala Harris walked out on stage, she was greeted by former Vice President Joe Biden , who quietly said to her, "Go easy on me, kid." The moment was picked up by his mic and came after a contentious moment at the first debate between the two, which was followed by a month of back-and-forth sparring over Biden's record and Harris' history as a young prosecutor . Harris' campaign took exception to the former veep's comment. Harris' press secretary retweeted: Kid? https://t.co/KDvxxIwoXz   Ian Sams (@IanSams) August 1, 2019 Andrew Yang's 'Asian man who likes math' comment During his opening statement, the entrepreneur received a big reaction from the crowd when he said, "We need to do the opposite of much of what we're doing right now, and the opposite of Donald Trump is an Asian man who likes math." Cory Booker's 's---hole countries' comment During a discussion on immigration, the New Jersey senator took the opportunity to reference a Trump-ism from earlier this year that sparked a firestorm of controversy. "That's playing into what the Republicans want, to pit some immigrants against other immigrants," Booker said. "Some are from s---hole countries and some are from working countries. We need to reform this whole immigration system and begin to be the country that says everyone has worth and dignity and this should be a country that honors everyone." (MORE: The White House's shifting narrative on Trump's 's---hole' comment) Kirsten Gillibrand's 'Um,' 'Clorox the Oval Office' comments Immediately after that 's---hole countries' zinger from Booker, CNN's Don Lemon turned to Gillibrand to ask for her response. But in that moment, the New York senator seemed to be caught off guard. "Um--," she said, to much laughter from the crowd, before she recovered. Later in the debate, Gillibrand got a big audience response when she said, "The first thing that I'm going to do when I'm president is I'm going to Clorox the Oval Office." Joe Biden's 'Excuse me, the future president' comment, followed by Cory Booker's 'Kool-Aid' comment Another moment of Booker and Biden slugging it out came when the two contenders were discussing criminal justice reform. As they were arguing over who had passed what reform bill, the former vice president sort of stumbled and seemed to, jokingly, endorse Booker for president. "The fact is that the bills that the president -- excuse me, the future president, that the senator is talking about, are bills that were passed years ago and they were passed overwhelmingly," Biden said. When CNN's Jake Tapper asked Booker for his response, Booker didn't hold back, starting with, "Well, first of all I'm grateful that he endorsed my presidency already" to much laughter from the audience. (MORE:Joe Biden accidentally endorses Sen. Cory Booker for president during 2020 debate) Booker later followed with another zinger as he and Biden were arguing over comparing their records of handling crime bills. "There's a saying in my community that you're dipping into the Kool-Aid and you don't even know the flavor. You need to come to the city and see the reforms we put in place," said Booker, who is a former mayor of Newark. And it to bring it full circle, the official Kool-Aid Twitter account jumped into the fray with this tweet: #Ahem @SenBooker OH YEAH #WeKnowTheFlavor #DemDebate pic.twitter.com/Xaq1bbFifB   Kool-Aid (@koolaid) August 1, 2019 Andrew Yang's 'Asian man who likes math' comment During his opening statement, the entrepreneur received a big reaction from the crowd when he said, "We need to do the opposite of much of what we're doing right now, and the opposite of Donald Trump is an Asian man who likes math." Cory Booker's 's---hole countries' comment During a discussion on immigration, the New Jersey senator took the opportunity to reference a Trump-ism from earlier this year that sparked a firestorm of controversy. "That's playing into what the Republicans want, to pit some immigrants against other immigrants," Booker said. "Some are from s---hole countries and some are from working countries. We need to reform this whole immigration system and begin to be the country that says everyone has worth and dignity and this should be a country that honors everyone." (MORE: The White House's shifting narrative on Trump's 's---hole' comment) Kirsten Gillibrand's 'Um,' 'Clorox the Oval Office' comments Immediately after that 's---hole countries' zinger from Booker, CNN's Don Lemon turned to Gillibrand to ask for her response. But in that moment, the New York senator seemed to be caught off guard. "Um--," she said, to much laughter from the crowd, before she recovered. Later in the debate, Gillibrand got a big audience response when she said, "The first thing that I'm going to do when I'm president is I'm going to Clorox the Oval Office." Joe Biden's 'Excuse me, the future president' comment, followed by Cory Booker's 'Kool-Aid' comment Another moment of Booker and Biden slugging it out came when the two contenders were discussing criminal justice reform. As they were arguing over who had passed what reform bill, the former vice president sort of stumbled and seemed to, jokingly, endorse Booker for president. "The fact is that the bills that the president -- excuse me, the future president, that the senator is talking about, are bills that were passed years ago and they were passed overwhelmingly," Biden said. When CNN's Jake Tapper asked Booker for his response, Booker didn't hold back, starting with, "Well, first of all I m grateful that he endorsed my presidency already" to much laughter from the audience. (MORE:Joe Biden accidentally endorses Sen. Cory Booker for president during 2020 debate) Booker later followed with another zinger as he and Biden were arguing over comparing their records of handling crime bills. "There's a saying in my community that you're dipping into the Kool-Aid and you don't even know the flavor. You need to come to the city and see the reforms we put in place," said Booker, who is a former mayor of Newark. And it to bring it full circle, the official Kool-Aid Twitter account jumped into the fray with this tweet: #Ahem @SenBooker OH YEAH #WeKnowTheFlavor #DemDebate pic.twitter.com/Xaq1bbFifB   Kool-Aid (@koolaid) August 1, 2019 &lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/telerik:script&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt; /telerik:script


A Latino grandfather as the face of medical marijuana? A documentary on the life of an octogenarian New Yorker known as "cannabuelo"   a play on the words cannabis and abuelo (Spanish for grandfather)   aims to show the benefits of the medical marijuana industry to minority communities. Jorge Gavilanes, 80, who is originally from Ecuador, has stage 4 prostate cancer. He lost a significant amount of weight and energy following surgery and chemotherapy and that's when his grandson and caretaker, Nelson Guerrero, 27, suggested he try cannabis to improve his quality of life. Despite initial reluctance from Guerrero's parents, Gavilanes began taking three drops of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD)   compounds in cannabis plants that can have therapeutic properties   after each meal. "Almost immediately, he was sleeping better and his appetite returned," Guerrero told NBC News. "And when he microdoses, it doesn't really affect his mobility or what he's doing, so he can still drive the car for short distances with no issues. The biggest thing is that cannabis has helped alleviate his pain." Now, Gavilanes is sharing his experiences as a New York medical marijuana patient in a new film titled "CannAbuelo: The Jorge Gavilanes Story." The forthcoming film is part of a larger initiative by the Cannabis Cultural Association, a New York-based nonprofit co-founded by Guerrero to help minority communities engage with the legal cannabis industry. "There's a lot of people suffering with cancer right now," Gavilanes said. "They should be informed about this medicine." Guerrero, the association's executive director, said many misconceptions about medical marijuana persist, particularly among older Latinos. "Hopefully people start thinking of it differently, in terms of the medical benefits," Guerrero said. "It's not smoking joints and hitting bongs; it's a medical breakthrough and we want to get the conversation going." Inspiring dialogue among those who are reticent to engage with the medical marijuana industry is what the Cannabis Cultural Association aims to do through meet-ups, workshops and other events. Last Saturday, it participated in a rally at Union Square Park to advocate for equity and inclusion in the marijuana industry. The organization has also co-sponsored community board meetings during which panels of experts speak about how the cannabis industry can impact a neighborhood. Guerrero notes that African-American and Latino communities are disproportionately criminalized for marijuana possession, which makes them reluctant to reap its medical and economic benefits . As a result, he and his team, which is mostly composed of people of color, are actively fighting for equity in the cannabis industry for black and Latino entrepreneurs and patients by providing resources about the New York state medical marijuana program on its website . The group also provides legal assistance to those who are unable to use cannabis as a medical treatment under the Controlled Substances Act . "CannAbuelo: The Jorge Gavilanes Story," will be released in different versions over the next few months on the Cannabis Cultural Association's website and YouTube channel. The documentary is in Gavilanes' native Spanish with English subtitles and is 30 minutes long. Guerrero said they plan to have different versions of the film to tailor it to people looking for specific information. "My abuelo is my best friend and cannabis is what gave him a second shot at living," Guerrero said. "When your grandfather is told, 'Yeah, you have six months or a year to live' and he decides he doesn't want to do chemo again, that he wants to enjoy whatever time he has left, he deserves to have the best quality of life he can," Guerrero said. "Hopefully a lot more abuelos will start using cannabis after this film."


AUGUSTA, Maine (AP)   Maine's governor plans to sign a bill in coming days to set up a legal framework for recreational marijuana sales, a spokesman for Democratic Gov. Janet Mills said Friday. The state's voters chose to legalize both the use and sale of recreational marijuana among adults in November 2016, but months of delays and political squabbles have slowed the implementation of a commercial industry. The state now has a legal road map for marijuana to arrive in stores as soon as early 2020. The regulations could be implemented by September, according to David Heidrich, a spokesman for the Maine Department of Administrative and Financial Services. That would mean the state could begin accepting license applications by the end of the year and sales could begin in early spring 2020. Marijuana is legal for adult recreational use in 10 states and the District of Columbia, though some, like Maine, have yet to set up commercial sales. Medical marijuana was already legal in Maine, and under the 2016 law, adults over 21 can possess up to 2.5 ounces (70.9 grams) of marijuana without penalty. Supporters of Maine's newest regulations say the limbo over marijuana sales has created an illegal market in the state. Once the new regulatory system is in place, a flurry of state bills to refine the state's approach to marijuana will likely follow. Bills to expunge marijuana-related convictions failed this year, while next year lawmakers plan to consider bills to restrict where marijuana may be smoked and allow marijuana stores to make deliveries. Advocacy and industry groups have been lobbying to legalize marijuana sales for months. Three marijuana companies in the state reported spending nearly $75,000 to lobby state officials this year while sending another $45,000 in inauguration donations to Gov. Janet Mills, according to an Associated Press review of state campaign finance reports. The state had proposed rules aimed at preventing large, out-of-state companies from controlling Maine's recreational market through complex contracts. But marijuana company Wellness Connection of Maine, which has out-of-state financial contracts, threatened to sue. So lawmakers ended up amending the rules. Maine residents who have lived in the state for at least four years would still have to claim at least 51% ownership of a cannabis company to qualify for a license. Municipalities could opt in or out of allowing marijuana sales, though only a handful of cities and towns have laid the groundwork for retail sales. ___ Follow AP's complete marijuana coverage: https://apnews.com/Marijuana.


INDIANAPOLIS   Bankers Life Fieldhouse is where Greg Oden grew up watching the Indiana Pacers. It's where he helped Lawrence North win three state titles and earned his Indiana Mr. Basketball and Mr. Basketball USA titles in 2006. It's where Oden still calls home and the fans Sunday welcomed him back with open arms. Sunday's Big 3 action was the first time the former No. 1 draft pick stepped on the floor at Bankers Life since March 26, 2014, when he played against the Pacers as a member of the Miami Heat during his final NBA season. Oden announced his retirement from basketball in 2016 after a one-year stint in the Chinese Basketball Association. His only other playing experience came last summer during The Basketball Tournament 2018   a $2 million winner-take-all single elimination tournament. Following the Aliens' 10-point loss Sunday in Ice Cube's 3-on-3, halfcourt league, where Oden finished with eight points and six rebounds, he was asked about his perspective being able to play basketball again. He paused. "I saw my daughter walk down the stairs with my wife and it put a big smile on my face," he said. "That's my perspective. All this stuff is just extra." Quite a bit has changed for Oden in the past three years. He's stayed close to the game, finishing a stint as a student coach for the Ohio State men's basketball team, who he helped lead to a national championship game appearance in 2007, earlier this year. He graduated, earning his degree in sports industry in May. He had his first child, Londyn, in 2016, and married his wife Sabrina in 2017. Oden climbed his way out of alcoholism and has worked on his physical and mental health. That's why, even after playing basketball against professional-level competition for the first time in years, he took some time to reflect. "It's more about my mind and perspective of life and what I'm doing and what I spent most of my time with. That's what's changed for me," Oden said. "I started thinking on the up and up and being better in the mental space a couple of years ago." While so much has changed, some things have remained the same. Like the butterflies the 31-year-old still feels when he suits up. Prior to the team's shootaround Saturday, Oden talked about how he was "a little anxious." Stuck talking with the media, he was the last member of the Aliens to take the floor during their 30-minute shooting session. It wasn't a typical practice, with many of former NBA players joking around greeting members of other teams as they shuffled in and out of the Pacers practice court. After his interview, Oden hurriedly grabbed his shoes and ran out to join his teammates on the floor. Those nerves seemed to dissipate Sunday after he bodied up guys like 6-10 Al Jefferson and 6-7 Chris Johnson, throwing down a pair of dunks and causing the crowd to erupt in the process. "I really didn't even hear them," Oden said of the crowd. "Once I started playing, it was just about playing and getting the win." Support our journalism Become an IndyStar subscriber today to support stories like this one. Get unlimited digital access here! That mindset is one of the reasons Andre Owens, team captain of the Aliens and a Big 3 player since 2017, reached out to Oden earlier this year and later drafted him with the seventh overall pick. Former Ohio State teammate Mike Conley told Owens a few months ago that Oden had been working out and might be interested in playing. Oden, in the process of finishing school, couldn't drive anywhere for a workout, so Owens drove out to Columbus to visit him. "He looked really well," said Owens, a Perry Meridian High School alum. "I told him, 'Come back right before you come to the combine, we'll have you play with some other bigs.' He came back and played very well, and I said, 'All right, I'm going to get you.'" Oden says he's grateful to just be able to play again. He enjoyed staying around the sport with Ohio State and, once the Big 3 season ends, wouldn't mind coaching. "I just want to use my story to definitely help people, help kids," Oden said. "Being able to use what I know to help people keep on moving and keep on taking that step forward and realizing that no matter what happens, there's going to be bumps in the road, you've got to keep on moving." Follow IndyStar sports reporter Robby General on @ rgeneraljr . Contact him via email at rgeneral@gannett.com . This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Big 3: Greg Oden returns to Indianapolis, has new perspective on life Related slideshow: Big 3 comes to Bankers Life Fieldhouse


Missouri's capital, Jefferson City, took a direct hit from a powerful tornado Wednesday. The monster twister touched down just before midnight. Missouri is under a state of emergency, hit by at least 13 tornadoes in just the last 24 hours. Three people have died across the state. Justin Andrews of St. Louis affiliate KMOV reports.


It's almost 50 years to the day since the Apollo 11 mission launched atop a Saturn V rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. That launch, on July 16, 1969, represented a triumph of human achievement and engineering, a frighteningly dangerous foray into the unknown and a hugely patriotic way for America to stick it to the Soviets. I've only ever experienced Apollo through grainy archival footage and crackling audio recordings. But now, half a century later, NASA is planning to go back to the moon. And at the space agency's latest launch, I got a front row seat to the awesome promise of space travel. Turns out, it doesn't matter whether you're experiencing the very first manned mission to the moon in the 1960s or the next step in space discovery in 2019 -- a sonic boom is still the best sound you'll ever hear. Launching a rocket off a rocket In the early hours of Tuesday morning, NASA conducted the Ascent Abort 2 (AA-2) test flight at Cape Canaveral. The launch was the final test flight for the Artemis mission , which is set to send the first woman and the next man to the lunar surface aboard the Orion spacecraft in 2024. This was the last stop before the moon -- the final chance to test the critical systems that will pull the command module and our astronauts inside to safety if anything goes wrong. From here, the next stop is human beings landing back on the moon (and, eventually, missions on to Mars ). After the rocket climbed to roughly 44,000 feet and reached speeds around Mach 1.08 (almost 830 miles per hour), the team fired the abort motor on the Orion test vehicle, separating the command module from the launch vehicle. Just 3 minutes and 13 seconds later, the command module splashed down in the ocean. From where I was standing, on the roof of a building more than three miles away from the launchpad, the sound of the splash came as an almighty roar. And once the early data had come in, shortly after the launch, the verdict was clear: If the Launch Abort System performed like this during an actual flight, the crew would survive. It was a short test, but according to Charlie Precourt, a former NASA shuttle astronaut and head of the propulsion division at Northrop Grumman (the company that built the rocket systems for the abort test), it was far from simple. "I like to describe it as launching a rocket off of a flying rocket," he told me shortly after the launch. "It's tough enough to fly a rocket off a still launch pad -- the launch pad for our launch abort system is actually a moving rocket at very high speeds, so it's a very complicated set of computer algorithms that guide the firing of the motor." This test flight was a long way from the Apollo launch -- there were no astronauts on board, and the test rocket was significantly smaller than the Saturn V -- but being on the ground at Cape Canaveral was the closest I've ever felt to that historic event. On the ground A rocket launch is exhausting, even if you're just watching. The day before the AA-2 test flight, I woke at 4 a.m. and drove out to the Kennedy Space Center with CNET video producers John Kim and Logan Moy. As the only foreign national in our group, I could only go as far as the badging center on the perimeter: A NASA escort would take me (and two lovely Dutch photographers) beyond the gates and into the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Once we were through, the full scale of NASA's operations became clear. Fifty years of history came into full view. As the sun rose behind us, we bussed out to the launchpad. The test vehicle was in the final preparation stages before launch. The biting insects had formed hunting packs. We shuffled off the bus and joined the crew of veteran photographers as they began setting up their remote cameras. These cameras -- positioned in an area near the launchpad that would soon be off limits to press -- were all set up to trigger remotely or at the sound of the blast. Each photographer has their own technique for getting a camera to trigger at the right time while staying in focus (and with enough battery) to capture the perfect shot. "Ask each photographer," I was told. "They'll all give you a different method." While the photographers jury-rigged tin foil and cling film casings around their DSLRs, we trekked down the hill to take photos. I swatted away wasps, sweated in the humidity and almost stepped on an alligator. (Turns out even the tightest levels of NASA security can't stop a six-foot reptile from setting up camp in the grass a few feet away from me.) Coming to terms with my own mortality, I was back on the bus driving across to see the mobile launcher that will eventually provide the launch support structure for Orion, as well as the massive crawler transporter that had moved the launcher into place. In all the busing around, I was hit with the overwhelming feeling that the more things change, the more they stay the same. Here I was, 50 years after the Apollo 11 launch, doing the same tours reporters and observers would have taken back then. And cursing the July heat and feeling my hand stick to the paper as I took down notes. We drove past rows of low-roofed industrial buildings, unchanged from NASA's early days, when the space race was at its most intense and Soviet rivalry saw an entire industry spring up on the space coast in a decade. These buildings -- all midcentury modernism and utilitarian white paint -- popped up here and there in the marshy landscape as we drove around the base, looking like they'd appeared overnight. Knowing the rush to get to space in the '60s, they probably did. In the press building, the names of famous CBS anchor Walter Cronkite and Jack King (NASA's public affairs officer during the Apollo 11 launch and the man who narrated the launch day countdown) were inscribed into plaques on the wall. As I answered emails on my cellphone, I noticed faded stickers glued to the tables: Phone lines must be reserved before use. That felt like the biggest relic I'd seen on this tour. And then the launch itself, seen from the roof of an old Air Force building. The countdown, the anticipation and then the fierce explosion and brilliant plumes of smoke. And of course, the thunderous roar as the sound hit us seconds later. Next stop: The moon "So! D'ya get anything good?" Packing up our gear, we were soon comparing shots and talking about which rocket parts were jettisoned where. Some of the photographers here seemed like they could have been around since those early Apollo days. One wore a baseball cap so completely obscured by commemorative mission pins he looked like a decorated soldier. Sitting back on the bus, it was easy to feel drawn back to the early days at Canaveral. The technology might have changed -- the rockets more advanced, the systems more refined -- but the overarching the goals haven't changed all that much since the '60s. Just like Apollo 50 years ago, the Artemis mission will reach out to space to extend the human race farther than it's been. While Artemis is treading familiar ground by going back to the moon, NASA is extending its grasp further. "Our goal now is to go further, for longer durations," Orion Program Manager Mark Karasich told me from the Kennedy Space Center. "And our goal is to go to Mars, initially, and eventually take humanity across the solar system. The moon this time is a place where we're going to develop and practice our techniques for going to these other destinations." At the press conference after the launch, he was talking about ticking off the next goal on NASA's list. "The next big check mark is the moon," he said. But this time, the moon truly will be one small step -- a step in a bigger journey that could see us becoming a multiplanetary species. Which leads us back to that sonic boom and the Orion test flight at Cape Canaveral. This wasn't the biggest rocket NASA has launched, and it certainly won't be the last. But waking up at the crack of dawn to trek out to the space coast on Tuesday morning, I realized this is part of a big leap forward. Just as it was for those first people who braved the July heat to watch the Apollo launch 50 years ago, this is part of something bigger. As Charlie Precourt, the former astronaut, told me shortly after the launch, space launches truly never get old. "Did you hear the rumble of that thing?" he asked me. "You never get tired of that." Neil Armstrong, first man on the moon, flies high as pilot and astronaut


America's national parks , monuments, and recreation areas are filled with natural and historic attractions that are prime to explore in the summertime. While warm weather means a greater ability to explore these locations, that can often mean larger crowds. Travel + Leisure spoke to the National Park Foundation (the official charity of the National Park Service) and park representatives to learn which sites within the National Park Service make for a prime summer stop and to get insider tips on how visitors can make the most of their time at each without swarms of crowds. Most of these parks are ideal for families, with specific trails and areas highlighted that are great for kids to explore. Here's your guide to summer fun at 16 incredible locations   most of which aren't on every traveler's radar. Channel Islands National Park Located off of the California coast, Channel Islands National Park is one of the country's least-visited parks, but boasts five different islands that each offer their own appeal. While the islands are only accessible by boat or by plane, concessionaires offer transportation to take in the whales and activities like sailing and snorkeling that await in the summer. Will Shafroth, president of the National Park Foundation, recommends Cathedral Cove and Landing Cove, which host sea stars, sea urchins and kaleidoscopic fish underneath their waters. For those looking for great hiking trails, Anacapa Island has just what you're looking for. And Santa Cruz is home to a number of underwater caves and clear-water beaches. Redwood National and State Parks California's Redwoods National and State Parks are home to the world's tallest trees, which can take on a stunning appearance in the summertime fog . When cold air comes in from the ocean and combines with warm air inland, it creates a thin layer of fog that shrouds the soaring trees, making for unforgettable photo opportunities. Well-maintained trails, a 40-mile coastline with beaches and roads that allow easy access to get around make this an ideal location for families. Park representatives even say some of the best features are found along the side roads most travelers often overlook. Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve Colorado's Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve experiences a rare phenomenon that turns a portion of the park into a natural waterslide for youngsters and adults alike in the spring and summer. Surge flow typically occurs in May and extends into the start of the summer, creating waves in Medano Creek as melting snow from the nearby mountains trickles down and makes underwater ridges in the sand that break with the water flow as often as every 20 seconds. Since temperatures can dip in the winter, stargazing and backcountry camping are popular activities visitors should enjoy while they can in the summertime, when campgrounds remain open and rangers host a range of evening activities. Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve is made up of six different sites across south Louisiana, all of which are free. Most of the location's programs are also free, making for an affordable getaway for the entire family. Activities abound, from alligator spotting and bayou cruising to learning Cajun dancing. Most sites offer summer camps, while each also has a Junior Ranger program for kids. Shafroth recommends visitors turn the trip into a multi-stop journey by heading to the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park , a 30-minute drive away, the park is entirely devoted to jazz. Indiana Dunes National Park America's new national park offers 15,000 acres of beaches, woods, prairies and dunes that stretch across 15 miles of Lake Michigan's shoreline. Most crowds flock to the beaches in the summer, so visitors looking for uncrowded beaches will want to visit on weekdays, but the park is also home to many other wonders that can get overlooked. These include Pinhook Bog , an old bog completely covered with floating plants that visitors can view through ranger-led tours in the summer, and trails like the Paul H. Douglas (Miller Woods) Trail , which weaves through black oak savannah habitats, ponds, soaring trees and wildflowers. Isle Royal National Park Michigan's Isle Royale National Park has backcountry trails, sunken shipwrecks and hundreds of satellite islands to explore by boat, but it still remains one of the country's least-visited national parks. While the park can only be accessed by boat or seaplane, transportation services help facilitate visits. One of the lesser-known islands that park representatives recommend is Passage Island , which hosts a jungle-like atmosphere with massive exotic plants. The Washington Creek Campground is the best option for families looking to stay for multiple days, as it provides access to hikes like the Windigo Nature Trail , which weaves through a historic mining pit, a swamp with Cedar trees in the water and Balsam fir trees. Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve At Idaho's Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve , visitors will find islands dotted with cinder cones and lava formations. Roughly 99 percent of visitors only explore locations around the seven-mile loop road , according to park representatives, even though the preserve is roughly the size of the state of Rhode Island. To get away from the crowds, head to the preserve's wilderness , which includes cinder cone volcanoes, lava formations, small groves of limber pine trees and plenty of wildflowers. Take the family-friendly Tree Molds Trail , the lengthier Wilderness Trail or the Broken Top Loop Trail (which has a lava cave along the way), to head into the wilderness. Point Reyes National Seashore Point Reyes National Seashore provides opportunities for hiking, body surfing, kayaking, clam digging, berry gathering and spotting harbor seals. Heading here Monday through Thursday is the best bet to avoid crowds. Meanwhile, lesser-explored gems include the hiking trails located between Palomarin and Bear Valley, which lead to remote beaches like Sculptured Beach and provide views of a variety of mammals, wildflowers and ocean overlooks. While the trails range from moderate to strenuous, representatives recommend consulting a map at the visitor center to gauge the difficulty of each. The Bear Valley Trail up to Divide Meadow is also a relaxing hike for families that leads to an open meadow dotted with animals, like deer in the early morning and in the evening. Mesa Verde National Park Colorado's Mesa Verde National Park is home to the Cliff Palace , North America's largest cliff dwelling. Visiting before 10 a.m. or in the evenings provides quiet opportunities and a better chance at spotting animals like mule deer, wild turkeys, gray foxes, or elk, with the park's main road opening at 8 a.m. through sunset to allow plenty of time to view popular stops before or after the crowds arrive mid-day. Wethermill Mesa remains a quieter portion of the park in the summer, with opportunities for hiking, bicycling, and visiting cliff dwellings like the Step House . Crater Lake National Park Oregon's Crater Lake National Park is famous for hosting the deepest lake in the country, but it's also home to prime hiking trails like Garfield Peak, which can be one of the more heavily trafficked trails in the park. To get an unforgettable view, Shafroth recommends heading on the trail before dawn to catch the sun rising over the rim of the crater. Shafroth also recommends stopping at Wizard Island , where visitors can see an actual volcano inside of a volcano. Voyageurs National Park Voyageurs National Park has more than 500 islands, making it a water lover's paradise that's less traversed than popular stops like Acadia National Park and Olympic National Park . That's why Shafroth finds that the park offers a magnificent tranquility, where oftentimes, only the sounds of wildlife can be heard. "It's one of my favorite aspects of this park: you can literally go an entire day without hearing any human sounds," Shafroth said. Lassen Volcanic National Park Though California's Lassen Volcanic National Park is starting to gain in popularity, it still remains a hidden gem. Offering meadows dotted with wildflowers, volcanic formations, steaming fumeroles and crystal-clear mountain lakes, the national park is a scenic destination with plenty to check out. Oftentimes, families can likely find a campsite without needing reservations, according to park representatives. For those who love winter, the park's higher snowpack allows visitors to have snowball fights and even go sledding in the middle of summer, when temperatures hover around 70 degrees. While most folks tend to stick to locations along the Lassen National Park Highway on the western side, the eastern side of the park offers just as spectacular scenery, but with fewer crowds. The eastern portion has dirt roads to drive through, but a car with four-wheel drive is not needed to get here. Apostle Islands National Lakeshore Wisconsin's Apostle Islands National Lakeshore has beaches, cliffs and lighthouses across 21 islands and 12 miles of mainland. But because the islands can take more planning to access , visitors will find smaller crowds once they arrive. Apostles Island Cruises offers two- to three-hour boat trips along the islands that are a great option for families looking to take in the area's scenery and its many lighthouses. There are also camping shuttles that can drop visitors off on an island to allow for multi-day explorations. For families, park representatives also recommend taking the shuttle service to Stockton Island and hiking to Julian Bay , a lovely beach less than half a mile from the campsites where visitors can explore wetlands. Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park At Georgia's Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park , visitors can delve into the historic spaces where Martin Luther King Jr. spent his time, from his childhood home to the church he delivered a variety of sermons in. The historical park is located just 20 minutes from the Paces Mill entrance of the Chattahooche River National Recreation Area . While the recreation area is known for its range of trails, Shafroth recommends exploring it by water along the 48 miles of the Chattahoochee River, where views of wildlife and wildflowers can be seen when rafting or kayaking. Boston National Historical Park Boston's national parks each have their own charm to offer, with easy access to one another. Start at Boston Harbor Island National Recreation Area and take the morning ferry out to Peddocks Island to explore military ruins and hiking trails weaving through coastal forests and marshes. You'll even catch views of Boston Light , the nation's oldest lighthouse station, along the way. From there, take a boat into Boston National Historical Park , where on Friday nights rangers take visitors out to tours on the Charleston Navy Yard as the sun sets, creating a majestic scene over Boston's skyline as the canons can be heard. Head to Bunker Hill , where in the evening you'll be treated to incredible views over the city surrounded by nothing but quiet. Cape Hatteras National Seashore North Carolina's Cape Hatteras National Seashore hosts more than 70 miles of Atlantic Ocean coast, offering beaches that feel uncrowded thanks to such a large terrain. From July through September, visitors can see sea turtle nest excavations from the female loggerhead and green turtles that nest on the beaches, though this activity is quite popular. Those in search of peaceful walks can make their way to the three designated trails that form part of North Carolina's Mountains-to-Sea Trail, stretching from the Great Smoky Mountains to the Outer Banks. Representatives also recommend visiting Ocracoke Island , a less popular option to Hatteras Island that offers prime shelling and trails like Hammock Hills Trail to see dunes, a maritime forest and salt marshes. Related Video: You Can Stay Steps From Glacier National Park in an Adorable Tiny Home Village


Looking for a yummy Middle Eastern meal near you? Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top Middle Eastern spots around Worcester, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of where to achieve your dreams. 1. Shawarma Palace Topping the list is Shawarma Palace . Located at 3 Pleasant St., the Lebanese spot, which offers salads and sandwiches, is the highest-rated Middle Eastern restaurant in Worcester, boasting five stars out of 296 reviews on Yelp. 2. Pomir Grill Next up is Pomir Grill , situated at 119 Shrewsbury St. With 4.5 stars out of 183 reviews on Yelp, the Afghan spot has proven to be a local favorite. 3. Wraps 'N' Bowls Wraps 'N' Bowls , located at 667 W. Boylston St., is another top choice, with Yelpers giving the Middle Eastern and Mediterranean spot 4.5 stars out of 80 reviews. 4. Bahnan's Bakery Bahnan's Bakery , a halal, Mediterranean and Lebanese spot, is another much-loved go-to, with 4.5 stars out of 70 Yelp reviews. Head over to 344 Pleasant St. to see for yourself. 5. Grill 352 & Kabab Finally, there's Grill 352 & Kabab , a local favorite with 4.5 stars out of 39 reviews. Stop by 352 Shrewsbury St. to hit up the halal spot, which offers burgers and kebabs, next time you're in the mood. 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.


Walmart is rolling out free next-day delivery on its most popular items, increasing the stakes in the retail shipping wars with Amazon. The nation's largest retailer said Tuesday it's been building a network of more efficient e-commerce distribution centers to make that happen. The next-day service will cover 220,000 popular items from diapers and non-perishable food items to toys and electronics. That's nearly double the number of items it carries in its stores. Next-day delivery, which will require a minimum order of $35, will be available in Phoenix, Arizona, and Las Vegas on Tuesday. In coming days, it will expand to southern California. The discounter plans to roll out the service to 75% of the U.S. population by year-end. It will also be adding hundreds of thousands more products as the program expands. The announcement comes just two weeks after online behemoth Amazon said it's upgrading its free shipping option to Prime members who pay $119 a year to one-day delivery from two-day delivery. Amazon has declined to say when the switch will happen, but it already offers one-day delivery for some items in certain areas. Walmart says the new delivery program has been in the works for a while. "Customer expectations continue to rise," said Marc Lore, CEO of Walmart's U.S. e-commerce division, told The Associated Press in a phone interview. "We're trying to get ahead of that." The move will only increase pressure on other rivals that are already investing in millions of dollars to shorten the delivery window. Amazon changed consumer expectations when it launched its two-day delivery for Prime members back in 2005 and forced other retailers to step up their game. But analysts say Amazon then needed to cut the delivery time in half to make its membership more attractive since others like Walmart offered free two-day deliveries without any membership. Two years ago, Walmart began offering free two-day shipping on millions of items on its website for orders of at least $35. Target also offers free two-day shipping for those who spend at least $35 or use its RedCard loyalty card. Walmart has also been expanding same-day grocery delivery service fulfilled from its stores for a fee of about $10. Lore says it will be cheaper for the company to do next-day delivery versus two-day service because eligible items will come from a single fulfillment center located closest to the customer. This means orders will ship in one box, or in as few as possible, unlike two-day deliveries that come in multiple boxes from multiple locations. Walmart is also trying to limit costs by tailoring products based on what shoppers demand in the local markets. For example, sunscreen would be available all year for areas like Southern California and Phoenix. Still, Walmart sells far fewer products than Amazon and its online U.S. sales are only a fraction of Amazon's online global merchandise empire. Jason Goldberg, chief commerce strategy officer of Publicis Communications, noted Walmart isn't going to be able to ship the same number of products as Amazon under one-day shipping and its profit margins could get further squeezed as it focuses on the most popular items that would be subject to pricing wars. Amazon has also been delivering more packages itself rather than relying on the post office and other carriers like UPS and FedEx. The company expects to spend $800 million in the second quarter to speed up deliveries and has expanded its fleet of jets. On Monday, it announced that it will be expanding an incentive program to its employees so they can quit their jobs and start their own Amazon package delivery businesses. Walmart has one big advantage over Amazon   its more than 4,700 stores. Walmart and Target have been turning their physical stores into shipping hubs, speeding up deliveries and helping to defray costs for services like curbside delivery and in-store pickup. Walmart has also been expanding the use of robots in its stores, which keep tabs on what's on and not on the shelves. Meanwhile, Target has redesigned its staging area for packages to help speed up fulfilling curbside deliveries.


Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison was chatting happily at a campaign event at the Country Women's Association in Albury, Australia, on Tuesday when, what was that? Oh, an egg striking him from behind. That's right, it's the second high-profile egging of an Australian politician this year   the first time, of course, being when an egg was cracked on the back of Sen. Fraser Anning's head shortly after he blamed the deadly Christchurch mosque attacks on migration. That time, yolk dripped down the back of Anning's closely shaved head as a number of his supporters tackled the egg assailant and held him to the floor. Subscribe to the Post Most newsletter: Today's most popular stories on The Washington Post On Tuesday, though, the egg failed to crack, instead bouncing right off the back of the prime minister's head like a tennis ball. Looks like the woman who threw it got her hands on a bad egg. In the scuffle that followed, it wasn't the egger who was knocked down but a 70-year-old woman nearby. She had recently undergone surgery and was worried about further injuring herself. "My main concern was holding my stomach to make sure it didn't get hit," the woman, Margaret Baxter, told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. Morrison tweeted concern for Baxter and that he helped her up off the ground and "gave her a hug." "Our farmers have to put up with these same idiots who are invading their farms and their homes," Morrison wrote. There have been recent tensions between vegan activists and animal farmers in Australia, although it seems unlikely that a vegan's weapon of choice would be an egg. And while Morrison seemed to indicate that the egg thrower was to blame for Baxter's fall, the Associated Press reported that Baxter said it was actually a nearby cameraman who knocked her over during the scuffle. A 24-year-old woman was arrested following the egging, and the AP identified her as Amber Holt. She was charged with drug possession and common assault, after police said they found cannabis on her during a search. "A woman has been charged after allegedly striking the Prime Minister with an egg at an event in Albury earlier today," New South Wales police said in a statement. "The prime minister's security team quickly detained the woman. During the incident, a 70-year-old woman fell to the ground. No injuries were reported." The motive behind Holt's actions was not immediately clear, although she is due to appear in court on May 27. After footage of Anning being egged went viral, Will Connolly, the teenage suspect, was quickly dubbed "egg boy." A crowdfunding campaign raised tens of thousands of dollars for his potential legal fees, as many critics of Anning responded with fury over his remarks about the Christchurch attack and were enraged that he responded to the egging by striking his assailant in the face. Australian authorities later decided not to press charges against the senator, saying his actions were "treated as self-defense." Connolly, for his part, was given an "official caution." This time around, some on social media jumped to call the perpetrator "egg girl." But it's unclear whether she'll gain as much popularity as "egg boy." Opposition leader Bill Shorten said she exhibited "appalling and disgraceful behavior," Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported. "If this protester thinks she will get sympathy or support from me, she couldn't be more wrong," he said. Read more Politicians, public swiftly condemn Aussie senator who punched 'egg boy' in the face He was a 'family man' running for the Australian Senate. Then a video from a D.C. strip club aired on national television. As vast swaths of Australia dry out, a mental health crisis takes shape


Read on for the most recent top news you may have missed in Stockton. 2 dead in crash involving big rigs, sedans north of Stockton; NB I-5 to be closed for several hours A deadly crash involving multiple vehicles, including two big rigs, has northbound Interstate 5 closed between Eight Mile Road and the Flag City exit Thursday morning. Read the full story on CBS13 CBS Sacramento . 3 Stockton teens nabbed on guns, ammo STOCKTON   Officers responded Wednesday afternoon to a report of armed suspects in a vehicle and wound up arresting two juveniles. Read the full story on Recordnet.com . 13 arrested in sweeping citywide gang crackdown Authorities have arrested 13 people as part of an investigation into a Stockton gang that was "involved in some serious violent crimes" in the city. Read the full story on Recordnet.com . 'The state of the city is strong,' says Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs Tubbs announced new projects for affordable housing, youth, and the need to step up efforts to reduce the city's homicide rate at his state of the city address. Read the full story on ABC Sacramento, KXTV . Stockton homicide is third in five days STOCKTON   Police are investigating the city's 18th homicide and the third in five days after finding a man suffering from a gunshot wound Read the full story on Recordnet.com . This story was created automatically using data about news stories on social media from CrowdTangle , then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


When the Philadelphia Eagles lost linebacker Jordan Hicks this offseason to free agency, pundits and skeptics were unsure of how the Birds would replace the talented veteran. Howie Roseman did one better, replacing Hicks with one of the top tackling linebackers in all of football. The Eagles signed Zach Brown, who was released by the Washington Redskins for salary cap purposes, and the feeling was mutual, with the linebacker ending his free agent process once Philadelphia got involved. USA Today's NFL writer Doug Farrar has ranked the 11 best linebackers in the league for 2019 and Brown landed at No. 6 on the list. One of the most assignment-correct linebackers in the NFL, Brown has a great ability to tear off to either sideline and still keep his body under control to make the tackle. There are few wasted steps and movements in anything he's doing, whether he's blitzing up the middle or taking a receiver down in slant/flat coverage. Last season for the Redskins, Brown had 96 total tackles in 16 games. Selected by the Tennessee Titans in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft, Brown started 25 games for the Redskins over the past two seasons, totaling 223 tackles, while being pretty productive in passing situations as well. Brown was released in a move that saved the Redskins $3.88 million. The 29-year-old Brown was ranked No. 29 on NFL.com's top free agent's list and was the NFL's third-ranked middle linebacker, per Pro Football Focus. MORE: This perfect Shaq impersonation at the NBA Awards show had fans in tears Roundup: Donald Trump on Iran; Bernie Sanders' Proposal; Jussie Smollett; Coffee and Fat Loss Heading into training camp: How keeping a 4th TE impacts roster construction NBA Free Agency 2019: The top players Play speed fuels standout offseason for Packers WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling


Here's how Halle Berry stays in such incredible shape at age 52. Halle Berry Shared 4 Fat-Burning Cardio Exercises That Will Get You Into Shape ASAP No trainer, no problem. We've got Halle Berry . Halle is the first to admit that she's not a trainer (we'd definitely hire her if she was) just a fitness fanatic sharing what works for her. She's shared everything from what she eats on the keto diet to a quick, ab-shredding workout . For her most recent Fitness Friday post, Halle told us her four key cardio exercises "to set your body (and fat) on FIRE," she said in her caption. "Regular cardio just ain't gonna cut it. Sometimes you gotta add weight to lose weight," she added. If you're ready to upgrade your cardio without ever stepping foot on a treadmill, click through the slideshow above for Halle's go-to moves. Weighted Jacks Halle and Peter took the classic jumping jack and increased the intensity by incorporating hand weights. Complete three sets of 50 reps. Weighted Skier Jumps Weighted skiers are basically an advanced squat jump . To perform them, lower down into a squat and then jump up as high as you can (with control) extending your arms overhead. Halle said to perform them with ankle weights or hand weights. Complete three sets of 30 reps. Weighted Run and Punch If you thought high knees were challenging, wait until you try the weighted run and punch. This move will get your heart rate all the way up while testing your coordination. As you perform high knees , simultaneously throw punches with weights in your hands. Complete three sets of 40 reps. Palms to Knees or Straight Jump Finish off Halle's intense workout with palms to knees, aka tuck jumps , or squat jumps . Complete three sets of 20 reps.


MILWAUKEE (AP) One pitch was all Freddie Freeman needed to power the Atlanta Braves to their fifth straight victory. The left-handed slugger sent an offering from Milwaukee Brewers starter Adrian Houser deep to center field to bring home three of the Braves' four runs in a 4-2 win Monday night. ''We've been clicking for two months now,'' Freeman said. ''None of this surprises anyone in this clubhouse. We are playing really good baseball.'' The homer marked Freeman's 25th of the season and helped the first-place Braves improve to a season-best 21 games over .500. Freeman is the fastest player in Braves franchise history to reach 25 homers since Andruw Jones in 2005. Freeman reached the mark in 95 games. It took Jones 78 games. Max Fried (10-4) pitched five scoreless innings to secure the win. The left-hander surrendered three hits and struck out five in just 78 pitches. Braves manager Brian Snitker said he pulled Fried early after a blister had formed on his left index finger. ''I thought it was smart not trying to pitch through it,'' Snitker said. ''It was pretty significant. If he hadn't have said anything and kept pitching, it probably would have torn open.'' Fried is now 2-0 with 11 shutout innings pitched against Milwaukee this year. Freeman's home run put Atlanta on the board first in the fourth. The blast scored Ronald Acuna Jr. and Darby Swanson who each reached on a base hit. The Braves improved to a major-league best 40-17 since Snitker moved Acuna Jr. to the top of the order on May 10. Houser (2-4) fell to 0-4 as a starter this season after allowing four earned runs on eight hits in six innings. Milwaukee, which stranded seven baserunners, has now dropped five of their last six and eight of their last 10 games. ''We just gotta make more plays,'' Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. ''That's what it comes down to. Whether it be better at-bats and stuff or just making a play defensively (or) making a big pitch when it counts. ... We gotta find a way to make plays. That's how we kind of break through this. Just make more plays. That's the only way to do it.'' Ryan Braun hit his 13th home run of the season in the sixth and Keston Hiura brought home the Brewers' other run on a deep drive to center that fell just beyond the outstretched glove of Acuna Jr. The RBI triple pulled Milwaukee to within 3-2. Austin Riley singled on a fly ball off Braun's glove in the seventh. The base hit scored Ozzie Albies. Christian Yelich had two hits on the night and added a stolen base, his 22nd of the season. Luke Jackson pitched the ninth to earn his 17th save of the season. GIO TAKES THE MOUND Brewers left-hander Gio Gonzalez pitched 4 2/3 innings, allowed one run on five hits and struck out four in a rehab start Monday for the Triple-A San Antonio Missions. Gonzalez also surrendered a home run in the start against Nashville. Gonzalez threw 68 pitches, 44 for strikes. The two-time All-Star hasn't pitched for the Brewers since being placed on injured list June 1 with left arm fatigue. TRAINER'S ROOM Braves: RHP Jacob Webb (right elbow impingement) was placed on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to Saturday. Brewers: RHP Corbin Burnes (right shoulder irritation) was placed on the 10-day injured list. Burnes (1-5), who suffered his fifth loss of the season Sunday after allowing four earned runs on four hits while facing just four batters, said his shoulder was bothering him for four or five days but Sunday was the first day he felt it while on the mound. Counsell said he doesn't believe Burnes' injury is serious but said he'll shut him down for what he doubts will be a long time. UP NEXT Brewers right-hander Brandon Woodruff (10-3, 3.67 ERA) will face right-hander Bryse Wilson (1-0, 6.14 ERA) on Tuesday in the second game of the three-game series. Woodruff lost his last start July 4 in Cincinnati after allowing just one earned run in six innings of work. Wilson will be recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett. Tuesday is expected to be a spot start for Wilson. --- Keith Jenkins can be reached at https://twitter.com/MrKeithJenkins --- More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports


Missed the the most recent top news in Stockton? Read on for everything you need to know. Abandoned baby discovered alive in Stockton dumpster A baby boy was discovered alive Tuesday after he was abandoned in a dumpster near a Stockton apartment complex. Read the full story on KPIX CBS San Francisco Bay Area . Man shot beneath downtown Stockton overpass STOCKTON   A pedestrian was walking on South Stanislaus Street near the Crosstown Freeway late Monday night when he heard two gunshots. Read the full story on Recordnet.com . S.J. Giants rally in 11th to snap Ports' winning streak STOCKTON   While five Ports players have been tabbed to play in next week's California League All-Star game, it's also been a couple of unheralded teammates who have helped the Ports enjoy a recent surge of success. Read the full story on Recordnet.com . This story was created automatically using data about news stories on social media from CrowdTangle , then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


Over the past year, 14 million Americans aged 18 to 64 were estimated to be involved in accidents caused by drivers aged 65 and over, according to a new Caring.com report. Among those accident victims, 18- to 29-year-olds were the most likely to be involved in a crash with an elderly driver. Even though older drivers are involved in a large number of crashes, they have one of the lowest fatality rates, according to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (PDF). Seniors often self-regulate, choosing to drive during daylight hours and avoiding busy areas. Despite those figures, it's the seniors themselves who think they pose a serious danger. While the survey reveals that most Americans under 65 are far more concerned with drivers who are drunk, teenaged, or distracted than those who are senior, respondents 65 or over feel that they are more of a threat behind the wheel than drivers who are intoxicated. Most people under 65 are unwilling to talk to their parents about when it's time to stop driving; in fact, 40 percent said they'd rather discuss funeral arrangements with their parents. So who should start the discussion? Among respondents to the random, nationwide phone survey, 29 percent said they think a doctor is the best person to determine when it's time to stop driving, while 25 percent said it was a family decision and 23 percent thought the government or local department of motor vehicles should make the determination. Only 16 percent thought the seniors should decide for themselves. (Learn more about when it is time for seniors to retire their keys.) Those findings fly in the face of what seniors want. Almost a third of seniors said they would prefer their family to determine when they stop driving, while 26 percent think they should make the decision themselves. About one in five would leave it up to their doctor or caretaker, and just 10 percent say the decision should be made by the government. "No one wants to be the one to take away Mom or Dad's keys, but sometimes it can be crucial for their safety," said Andy Cohen, CEO of Caring.com, a website that provides support and referrals to those caring for the elderly. "Plus, many seniors would actually prefer to hear it from a family member than from a police officer on the road. There are numerous online resources that people can use to make the conversation go as smoothly as possible."   Aaron Gold More from Consumer Reports: Best and worst three-row vehicles Safest and most lethal late-model cars Best new cars for under $25,000 Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright © 2006-2015 Consumers Union of U.S.


A man wanted in connection with a fatal Canton Township shooting was arrested in California Wednesday. Police say 25-year-old Deny King of Moreno Valley, California was arrested with the help of the US Marshal Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force, the Pacific Southwest Regional Task Force Central District of California U.S. Marshals and the Riverside County Sheriff's Office in California without incident. The shooting occurred June 27 at Brick City Lounge in Canton Township. King faces charges for aggravated murder, and felonious assault. He is currently being held in Cois Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta, California. The investigation in ongoing and King's extradition back to Stark County is pending. Anyone with information is asked to call the Stark County Sheriff's Office at 330-430-3800.


Jun. 4--Carson Palmer will always be remembered around here as a Trojan. The former USC quarterback's No. 3 jersey was retired after a college career that included a Heisman Trophy in 2002 and the second-most passing yards (11,818) in team history. As far as his 14-year NFL career is concerned, Carson might be most associated with the Cincinnati Bengals, who drafted him No. 1 overall in 2003 and notched their first winning season in 15 years during his first season as a starter in 2005. But he will be immortalized by another NFL team, the one with which he spent the last five years of his career. The Arizona Cardinals announced Tuesday that Palmer will become the 18th member of the team's Ring of Honor at State Farm Stadium. "I am absolutely honored," Palmer told Cardinals president Michael Bidwell in a Facetime chat tweeted Tuesday by the team. "Five years was not enough for me -- I wish I could have gotten there earlier." Palmer put up some of his best numbers during his time with the Cardinals, including his top three seasons in passing yards -- 4,671 in 2015, followed by 4,274 in 2013 and 4,233 in 2016. His passer rating of 91.1 is second among players who attempted more than 20 passes for the Cardinals, and he's fourth on the team's all-time list for passing yards (16,782) and passing touchdowns (105). He retired in 2017, two years after leading the Cardinals to the NFC championship game. He will be inducted into the Ring of Honor on Sept. 29. That night, the Cardinals host the Seattle Seahawks, who just happen to be coached by Palmer's former college coach, Pete Carroll. ___ (c)2019 the Los Angeles Times Visit the Los Angeles Times at www.latimes.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Related slideshow: The Best of the 2019 NFL OTAs (provided by imagn)


Visiting Ballantyne, or just looking to better appreciate what it has to offer? Get to know this Charlotte neighborhood by browsing its most popular local businesses, from a taphouse to a hair salon. Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top places to visit in Ballantyne, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of neighborhood businesses. Read on for the results. 1. Duckworth's Grill & Taphouse Topping the list is sports bar and traditional American spot Duckworth's Grill & Taphouse . Located at 14015 Conlan Circle, it's the highest-rated business in the neighborhood, boasting four stars out of 340 reviews on Yelp. This spot offers a beer club for lovers of craft beer. 2. The Blue Taj Next up is Indian spot The Blue Taj , situated at 14815 Ballantyne Village Way, Suite #170. With four stars out of 356 reviews on Yelp, it's proven to be a local favorite. Hitting this spot for lunch? Look for the dal of the day , a lentil dish chosen by the chef each day. 3. Element 5 Salon Hair salon Element 5 Salon is another top choice. Yelpers give the business, located at 16615 Lancaster Highway, Suite #105, 4.5 stars out of 114 reviews. Haircuts begin at $40 for women and $25 for men at this spot . 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.


It may not be the most pleasant of topics, but planning your estate is important to ensure your wishes are respected and your loved ones are taken care of. Here are 20 things that can happen to your assets after your death. What happens to your assets after your death? It may not be the most pleasant of topics, but planning your estate is important to ensure your wishes are respected and your loved ones are taken care of. Click through the slideshow to see 20 things that can happen to your assets after your death. Dying with a will If you have a will, your executor will administer your estate after you pass away, which includes filing your income tax, paying off your debts, and ensuring your assets are divvied up according to your wishes. Dying without a will If you die without a will , the government gets to decide what happens to your assets, so much will be determined by the laws where you live. Typically, your assets are divided among your surviving heirs, including your spouse, children, parents, and siblings. Income tax After you die, your executor will need to file your final income tax return . This applies not only to income earned in your final year, but also to any interest earned on your assets before they are divvied up among your inheritors and any capital gains earned on assets, such as stocks and bonds, sold after your death. Debts If you leave behind any outstanding debts , they must be paid before any inheritance is doled out to your beneficiaries. If you do not have enough cash in your estate to pay off your debts, your assets may be sold to cover the costs. Typically, other people cannot inherit your debts however, there are exceptions, such as joint or co-signed debts. Student loans In the United States, for example, federal student loans are cancelled, and the debt is discharged once you die. However, depending on the policy, private student loans differ. Some offer debt forgiveness policies, while others do not. Mortgage If you die before your mortgage is paid off, the inheritor can either take on the remaining mortgage if they want to keep the house, or they can sell the house to pay off the debt. If you leave behind a joint homeowner, such as a spouse, they are responsible for the payments. Reverse mortgage Some people take out a reverse mortgage on their home to bolster their retirement savings. This debt must be paid by whoever inherits the property. Depending on the size of the reverse mortgage, there may be little equity left in the home. Car loan If you still have a loan on a vehicle when you die, it will be paid off by your estate. If there s not enough money left in your estate and you were the sole borrower, then the vehicle may be repossessed, unless the inheritor wants to keep the car and continue paying off the loan. Pension Pension benefits for surviving spouses vary depending on where you live, your specific plan, and your age. Some beneficiaries may receive monthly benefits or a lump sum after their spouse dies. Depending on the situation, they may or may not have to pay tax on it. Estate or inheritance taxes Some countries have high estate taxes , while others have none. Japan, for instance, has the highest estate tax rate at 55%, followed by South Korea at 50%, and France at 45%. The United States charges 40%; however, in 2019, the US raised its exemption ceiling to $ 11.4 million per individual or $22.8 million for a married couple. Life insurance payouts Typically, life insurance payouts are protected from creditors and rarely taxed , providing a good option for ensuring you will have something left to leave your loved ones. Changing your will after you die Typically, your beneficiaries can change your will after you die within two years, as long as they are all in agreement. It may seem odd, but there can be many reasons for this whether it s to ease the tax burden or reward a beneficiary who cared for you more than others. Contesting a will Depending on the legal system where you live, a relative or an heir may contest your will, and a judge may make changes to it after you die. In a recent case in Canada, a judge changed a will after the parents left 93% of their $9-million estate to their two sons and the remaining 7% to their four daughters, even though the daughters did most of the work caring for their aging parents and helped build their parents' fortune. The judge found the parents had discriminated against the daughters based on "outdated traditional values." Leaving it all to Fido Since pets are typically viewed as property, you cannot make them your beneficiaries. However, you can set up a pet trust to ensure they live like royalty after you die. The wealthy make headlines when they set up enormous trusts for their furry friends, like hotelier Leona Helmsley whose Maltese became a multimillionaire upon her death, while her grandchildren got nothing. The rest of us may just want to make sure our best friends are well cared for once we're gone. Bequeathing your assets to charity There are many different options when it comes to leaving a gift to charity , but the important thing is to include detailed information about your charitable wishes in your will so that there is no ambiguity. Protecting your gifts after you die What happens if you want your children to inherit everything, but you're concerned about their spouses (your sons- or daughters-in-law)? What if their marriage ends in divorce or their spouse is bad with money? One option is to set up a trust so that the "assets are not commingled and made subject to equitable distribution." Secret beneficiaries Have a mistress or a love child you'd like to secretly provide for after you're gone? You can set up a secret trust, "where you leave money to a person in your will with the prearranged instructions that they will confidentially give the money to someone else." You can also hire a trust company to administer your secret gift once you're gone. Protecting your land Some people love the land they live on and the animals that make it their home. If you worry about what might become of your property after you die, you can protect it forever and ensure that it's used as a wildlife sanctuary by gifting it to a charity that will do just that. Real estate One challenge with real estate is that, unlike liquid assets, it's hard to divvy up a house among multiple heirs unless you specify that it be sold and the proceeds distributed according to your wishes. However, if you want one child, for instance, to live in your home and buy out your other children, you will need to specify this in great detail in your will to avoid any disputes. Business A business may be the most complicated estate item to plan for as it is not liquid and may require ongoing management. The easiest option is the sell the business and divide the proceeds. But what if you built the business from scratch and want to ensure its survival after you die? Passing on the business to a family member is one option, though it can be fraught with complications from sibling feuds and buyouts to poor management. The best option may be to develop a solid succession plan.


Marilyn Monroe said: "Your clothes should be tight enough to show you're a woman, but loose enough to show you're a lady." So we buy the most perfect-fitting sweater, but then shrinking fabrics go and mess everything up. OK, we know cotton shrinks. And I can feel my mom's pride from miles away whenever I'm at the store and remember to check the tag. Ah, 50 percent cotton. This one will be fine , I think. The other 50 percent stuff will surely negate the contraction of cotton! Tackle every type of laundry stain with this pinnable guide Fast-forward to a couple of weeks later and... I'm shipping my recently purchased, one-time-washed tee to my 1-year-old niece. Now I've lost my mom's pride and my new favorite shirt. Why does fabric shrink? So why do fabrics shrink in the first place? Well, there are two reasons for shrinkage : Relaxation: When clothing is made, the fibers that make up the fabric are twisted and spun and pulled and stretched. So when we wash them for the first time, the fibers are actually shrinking back to their natural tension. Progressive: This occurs over time, as your items may get smaller and smaller with each use. It's because the natural fibers, like our hair, have tiny cuticles. The more we wear and wash and tumble our clothes, the more these cuticles rub on each other, ruffle and bunch up. Thus, tinier clothes. Fabrics that shrink Now, I love my niece and all, but I need clothes too. So let's smarten up! Here are the fabrics we need to watch out for if we are trying to keep our clothes the same size. That said, you don't necessarily have to avoid buying these fabrics, but instead, pay close attention to how to care for these fabrics. This means you may have to put a little more work into your laundry routine. (Hey, but think about how our grandmothers had to wash clothes.) How to reverse shrinkage But do not fear! Even in your worst-case scenario, you can actually reverse shrunk clothes   somewhat. First, remember why clothes shrink? It's because of those cute little cuticles. Heat (washing in hot water, drying in hot air) causes the cuticles to fray outward, while any friction causes them to frizz more and tangle. This is where Hair Care 101 comes in: Conditioner mollifies this process. It bonds to the fiber (or hair) and keeps the cuticles smooth and calm. So to unshrink your favorite shirt, soak it in a warm (not hot!) water and conditioner mixture (about 2 tablespoons of conditioner to 1 quart of water). Roll the shirt in a towel to squish out the extra water, then gently tug and reshape it, and leave it to dry completely on a flat surface. When all else fails, just send it to your niece. Image: Tiffany Egbert/SheKnows


Los Angeles will see a return of last week's cloudy skies this coming week, according to drone-powered weather forecasting service Saildrone . Skies will be partly cloudy today through Wednesday, turning mostly cloudy beginning on Thursday. Also, look for cool temperatures today and tomorrow. Temperatures will make way for warmer weather on Sunday, with a high of 74 degrees. Winds will continue to be fairly calm through the week, with the highest speeds today at only 10 mph. This story was created automatically using Saildrone's local weather forecast data, then reviewed by an editor. We also incorporate historic weather data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.