It seems hard to believe that Rory McIlroy is 30 years old (May 4). Considering all the curly-haired lad from Northern Ireland has done during his career, one would think he passed that milestone age a while back. Then again, McIlroy turned pro as a teenager and has not looked back. He's one of golf's greats and still has much, much left to contribute to game before it's time to hang up the irons. So, in honor of McIlroy turning 30, here's a look at how he became of the best golfers in the history of the game. Wee Rory joins the club Born in the town of Holywood in Northern Ireland on May 4, 1989, McIlroy was introduced to the game of golf as a lad by his father, Gerry. At age 7, young Rory was already a member of the Holywood Golf Club, and his life as a competitive golfer got its start. By the time he was 10, McIlroy was making a name for himself as one of the top youth golfers in the world. King of European amateur golf When McIlroy reached his teens, it was obvious he was something special in terms of his skill and poise up and down a golf course. In 2006, a 17-year-old McIlroy won the European Amateur at Italy's Biella Golf Club by three strokes with a score of 274. It was a defining moment in McIlroy's career and a true glimpse of the greatness for the game he held within. Making the cut Though McIlroy played his first European Tour event at the 2005 British Masters at 16, he made his first cut on the Tour in 2007. He did so at the Dubai Desert Classic, which he finished tied for 52nd. McIlroy won more than €7,600 for the effort but was unable to keep it because of his amateur status. On to the Open As a result of his European Amateur victory, McIlroy earned a crack at the big time   the 2007 Open Championship at the famed and brutally tough Carnoustie Golf Links in Scotland. Still an amateur and playing in his first major, McIlroy opened with a 3-under 68. He made the cut   and finished with a 5-over   in a tie for 42nd, but it was good enough for low amateur honors. Time to go pro It was finally time for McIlroy to take his game professional. That happened in September 2007, at age 18. Later that year, McIlroy earned his European Tour card, and for the 2007 season, he made more than €275,000   not a bad haul for a partial season and someone under the age of 20 . Finally, a pro winner McIlroy was an established pro and had a full season on the European Tour under his belt when he finally won his first tournament as a professional. That came at the 2009 Dubai Desert Classic, the same event where he made his first cut in a pro tournament. McIlroy shot a 19-under 269 to edge Justin Rose by a single stroke. That victory also propelled him into the top 20 of the World Golf Rankings. Mr. McIlroy goes to Augusta Not only was McIlroy becoming a star on the European scene, but he was gaining attention in the U.S. The likes of Tiger Woods had already taken notice, and in 2009, McIlroy made his debut at the Masters for his first major appearance as a pro. Not only made did McIlroy make the cut at Augusta, but he finished in a tie for 20th. It would be the beginning of some impressive major golf by the Irishman in 2009. Making some major statements Looking to build on that solid showing at the Masters, McIlroy turned even more heads by carding a final-round 68 to tie for 10th at the 2009 U.S. Open at Bethpage's Black Course. After finishing just inside the top 50 at the Open Championship that same year, McIlroy further solidified himself as a major contender by tying for third at the PGA Championship at Hazeltine. Ready to take on America By November 2009, McIlroy was now among the world's top-ranked golfers and ready to take his game across the pond to the States on a regular basis. That same month, McIlroy announced that he would be part of the PGA Tour for the 2010 season, truly establishing himself as an international golf star. Now, a PGA Tour winner Balancing his time between the European Tour and America's premier golf competitions, McIlroy enjoyed his first taste of victory on the PGA Tour in May 2010   two days before his 21st birthday. At the same tournament where got off to a strong start this week, McIlroy shot a 15-under 273 to top runner-up Phil Mickelson by four stokes at the Quail Hollow Championship. In doing so, McIlroy became the first golfer since Woods to win a PGA Tour event before turning 21. Strong Open showing in 2010 While McIlroy's star status was on the rise in America, he was poised to head back to the U.K. and earn glory at the grandest event in the history of golf. McIlroy failed to crack the top 40 in his first two starts at the Open Championship, but 2010 would be different. On the Old Course at St. Andrews, McIlroy opened with a blistering 9-under 63 and ended up finishing tied for third   another massive statement from the budding star. McIlroy: The major winner One of the more memorable lowlights to McIlroy's early pro career came at the 2011 Masters, where he led by four shots heading into the final round but shot an 80 to finish T15. However, he did not let that setback linger and followed with one of the greatest performances in the history of major championship golf. McIlroy earned his first major triumph at the 2011 U.S. Open at Congressional, shooting a remarkable 16-under 268 (a new U.S. Open record) for an eight-shot victory over Jason Day. The new No. 1 McIlroy's third victory on the PGA Tour at the 2012 Honda Classic, in which he edged Woods and Tom Gillis by two strokes, proved to be a special. With the win, McIlroy earned the world's No. 1 golf ranking. Two months before his 23rd birthday, McIlroy became the second-youngest golfer to reach No. 1 in the world. Another major moment Already shaping up to be a special season, 2012 got even better for McIlroy in August. He claimed his second major championship with another dominating performance, this time at the PGA Championship on the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island. A birdie on the final hole gave McIlroy a final-round 66 for an eight-shot victory, which was a new record. He also regained the world's No. 1 ranking he lost earlier in the season. Two-way money man In 2012, McIlroy was a force to be reckoned with and the face of pro golf's youthful movement. So, it should not have come as a surprise that he won the money title on both the European and PGA Tours in 2012. McIlroy took home a little more than €5.5 million in Europe and just over $8 million on the U.S. Tour. Get him to the tee on time McIlroy capped his stellar 2012 season with a memorable finish at the Ryder Cup. On the final day, McIlroy misinterpreted his tee time and ended up arriving to the course some 12 minutes before he was slated to go off   thanks to a police escort. It didn't matter, McIlroy claimed the final of his three points with a 2 & 1 win over Keegan Bradley to help Europe claim the Cup on U.S. soil. Something special in 2014 After a rough 2013, when he failed to win on both the European and PGA Tours, McIlroy bounced back big-time in 2014. He won three times on the PGA Tour, including his two most recent major titles. The first of the season might have been the sweetest. A two-stroke victory over Rickie Fowler and Sergio Garcia at the Open Championship at Royal Liverpool made McIlroy the third European to win three different majors. McIlroy then claimed his second PGA Championship victory by outlasting Mickelson by a stroke to win at Valhalla. Set back in the love game While McIlroy was enjoying the best season of his professional golf career in 2014, his personal life wasn't necessarily up to par. In May 2014, McIlroy ended his engagement with tennis star and fiancee Caroline Wozniacki, whom he had dated since 2011. Reportedly, the invitations to the wedding had already been sent out and McIlroy got cold feet. According to Wozniacki, McIlroy broke up with her on the phone. He's not Mr. Perfect Now, McIlroy's alleged handling of his relationship with Wozniacki certainly would seem to put him in a bad light. Then again, he's human, and McIlroy's off-course issues or controversies seem tame compared to other high-profile celebrities. There was the 2013 withdrawal from the Honda Classic because of a toothache that earned McIlroy some jeers. He's chided the Ryder Cup and threw a club into the water out of frustration at Doral in 2015, too. But if those are among the worst examples of McIlroy's behavior, we can live with those instances. Hurting for a win While McIlroy kept piling up the wins in 2015 and 2016 (he also won the FedEx Cup in the latter), '17 proved a bit more challenging for one the world's elite golfers. He still made over $2.4 million on the PGA Tour and did nearly as well in Europe, but he went the entire calendar year without a victory. McIlroy also dealt with a nagging rib injury that limited his schedule. Personal bounce back Though McIlroy's 2017 was a bit rough on the course, he won big off it. In April of that year, McIlroy married girlfriend Erica Stoll, a former PGA of America employee whom he started seeing in 2015. They were engaged by the end of that year and wed at a castle in Cong, County Mayo in Ireland. Back in the win column The drought was finally over. McIlroy was a winner on the PGA again, and all seemed right with the golf world. He shot a final-round 64 and beat Bryson DeChambeau by three shots to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March 2018. It was McIlroy's first victory anywhere in the world since winning the Tour Championship in September 2016. Looking good so far At the moment, it's fair to say McIlroy is in relatively good form on the 2019 season. Heading into Quail Hollow, he's posted seven top-10 finishes in nine starts on the PGA Tour, placed second at the WGC-Mexico Championship and shot a 16-under to win the Players Championship in March to join Woods and Jack Nicklaus as the only golfers to win 15 PGA Tour events and four majors prior to their 30th birthday. Inside the numbers Entering the first weekend of May and his 30th birthday, McIlroy has posted almost 30 professional golf victories, won four major titles and been on four winning Ryder Cup teams for Europe. While he's still looking for that elusive Masters crown to complete golf's Grand Slam, McIlroy is sure to add to those impressive victory totals and, of course, the more than $76 million he's earned on both the PGA and European Tours. Much more to come Don't think age will be a deterrent for McIlroy. After all, life really doesn't start until 30, right? Sure, he has not won a major since 2014, but as long as he stays healthy and his game remains sharp, McIlroy will be among the favorites in every tournament for the foreseeable future. And, it would be unwise to think his major-winning days are in the past.


For most pitchers, throwing a perfect game is the pinnacle of their career. It's something to tell their grandkids. It's a shared accomplishment for the whole team to remember. Now imagine having five of those in the last six weeks. That is the reality of Drake softball pitcher Nicole Newman, who set an NCAA record Friday with her fifth perfect game of the season according to ESPN . All five perfect games have occurred since March 30. 🚨 PERFECT GAME 🚨 @DrakeSoftball 's Nicole Newman ties the #MVCsoftball tournament record with 18 strikeouts to send the Bulldogs to tomorrow's championship game! pic.twitter.com/AZU3Pnqy9X   Missouri Valley Conference (@MVCsports) May 10, 2019 In addition to blanking Bradley on Friday, Newman was also perfect on March 30 against Indiana State, April 6 against Valparaiso, April 13 against Loyola and May 3 against Evansville. In the 31 innings pitched in those games, Newman recorded 74 strikeouts. Newman broke a tie with four other pitchers for the single-season perfect game record, the most recent being Oklahoma's Paige Parker in 2015. Granted, NCAA softball pitchers have a somewhat easier road to perfection thanks to seven-inning regulation games and the presence of a mercy rule, which can shrink games down to five innings if a team leads by at least eight runs. Newman still stands alone in the record books. As if five perfect games weren't enough, Newman has also posted three no-hitters this year and contributed to two more combined ones. The senior entered this season with four no-hitters under he belt, giving 12 career individual no-nos. Newman has pitched in 42 of her team's 55 games this season, recording a 0.88 ERA, good for second in the country, and an NCAA-leading 380 strikeouts in 199 innings. Opponents are hitting .109 against her this year. She's also hitting .273/.424/.432 at the plate this year. More from Yahoo Sports: Keyser: Red Sox shouldn't have gone to White House David Beckham banned from driving for 6 months Troubling events clouding Cubs' red-hot start Lakers' offer to Lue was 'pitiful,' says Billups


Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi has admitted he is still hurt by the club's humiliating exit from this season's Champions League, where the club threw away a 3-0 semi-final first leg lead against Liverpool in an incredible night at Anfield. Two goals apiece from Divock Origi and Georginio Wijnaldum gave Liverpool the 4-0 victory they required to progress to the final in Madrid, while Messi and his teammates were left distraught at another capitulation in Europe's elite competition. Barcelona also lost a three-goal advantage in the European Cup last season, going out to Roma on away goals having won the first leg 4-1 at the Camp Nou, and the Argentina international has admitted that this year's loss has greatly affected himself and the rest of the squad. Quoted by the Liverpool Echo speaking ahead of Barca's Copa del Rey final against Valencia on Saturday, Messi said: "It was a really big blow which we received at Anfield - me and all the dressing room felt it. "It was tough to get back up, you saw that in the next game we had to play. It was a really tough blow. Now [we] have the chance to win a double and end the season on a high note." Despite having the opportunity to lead his side to consecutive domestic doubles, Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde is risk of losing his job due to the club's lack of success in the Champions League during his reign. Messi added: "I haven't seen much of the criticism of the manager, and sincerely I think Valverde has done an impressive job all the time he's been here. In the game against Liverpool he was hardly to blame for anything. We as the players are to blame." That remarkable defeat means the 31-year-old will be forced to watch on as their semi-final conquerers take on English rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the final at the Wanda Metropolitano on 1st June, with the Reds looking to win the sixth European Cup title in their history.


Watford captain Troy Deeney turned 31 on Saturday, June 29, and as he nears the end of his playing days, the forward can look back on a fairytale career in football. The Hornets hitman spent two seasons in the youth setup at ninth-tier club Chelmsley Town before a four-year spell with local side Walsall. However, after joining the Saddlers in 2006, he was immediately shipped out on loan to Halesowen Town, who lay two divisions higher than his previous employers. That first @premierleague goal feeling!  @T_Deeney  pic.twitter.com/vP5pLE3k0S   Watford Football Club (@WatfordFC) June 29, 2019 It would take him until the start of the following term to score his first professional goal, Deeney netting for Walsall against Millwall in a League One clash. He developed into the club's star performer, earning a £500,000 move to Watford in 2010, which saw his wages more than tripled to £6,000-a-week. Despite serving a ten-month imprisonment for affray in 2012, the striker became a firm favourite amongst fans, being handed the armband at the start of the team's promotion-winning campaign of 2014/15. He is now one of the most recognisable faces in the Premier League , whilst also earning plaudits for his straight-talking comments on issues in the game. To celebrate Deeney's big day, here's a look at seven other top-flight players who made it there the hard way. Jamie Vardy When it comes to Premier League footballers, Jamie Vardy is rather unconventional. He avoids the gym, fuels his devastating displays with a couple of Red Bulls and chooses to 'snus' smokeless tobacco. And yet, he continues to terrify opposition defences, racking up 81 goals in his past four seasons for Leicester City . When the Foxes brought him in for £1m from Fleetwood Town - a record for a non-league player - a fair few eyebrows were raised. However, Leicester knew what they were doing, bringing in a fearsome finisher with a ratio of 0.86 goals-per-game the year prior. Additionally, the season before that the speedster had amassed 23 goals for Halifax Town in the Northern Premier Division. The England international's attributes and skills translated well to life at the top of the pyramid, helping him break the Premier League for most consecutive matches scored in as the Midlanders lifted their maiden title in 2016. Charlie Austin Charlie Austin began in Reading's academy, but was let go as a teenager after being deemed too short to be an effective forward. He's now 6'2 and sitting on 246 career goals, of which 34 came in the Premier League - that's how to prove your doubters wrong. Following his Royals release, Austin had stints with Kintbury Rangers and Hungerford Town, whilst also working as a bricklayer. Then came the big break, the striker earning an opportunity at Swindon Town. He proved his abilities in front of goal, eventually transferring to Burnley and then Queens Park Rangers, Austin firing in 18 goals during his sole Premier League campaign with the latter. That saw him make a £4m switch to Southampton in 2016, though he has struggled for form at St Mary's of late. Michail Antonio Reading must be kicking themselves having allowed both Austin and Michail Antonio to depart Berkshire. The winger was purchased by the club from Tooting & Mitcham United in 2008, yet played just 28 Championship games in four seasons. Then-League One outfit Sheffield Wednesday took him off their hands for next-to-nothing, with Antonio moving to Nottingham Forest shortly afterwards. An impressive year at the County Ground convinced West Ham United to fork out £7m for the Londoner, who has since become one of the Hammers' most valued assets. Yannick Bolasie He may have been born in Lyon, but Yannick Bolasie first learned his trade in non-league obscurity with Hillingdon Borough before deciding on an unorthodox move to Maltese team Floriana. He returned to England after a season-long stay on the Mediterranean, though this time he would be playing in the Football League at Plymouth Argyle. However, the wideman was still some way from reaching the promised land, taking the journeyman's path there with loan spells at several lesser-known clubs. His blistering pace and direct dribbling saw Bristol City swoop for the Congo international in 2011, where he was an instant hit. Crystal Palace marvelled at his ungodly speed and brought him in to form a deadly wing duo of Bolasie and Wilfried Zaha. He reached the Premier League in 2014 as the Eagles successfully navigated the Championship playoffs, earning admirers and, eventually, a £25m transfer to Everton . Harry Arter Like many of his companions on this list, Harry Arter was discarded at a young age. Charlton Athletic were uninterested in the midfielder, leaving him unemployed and desperate for a chance in the game. Woking gave the Irishman a platform from which he could make a name for himself, with Bournemouth spotting his potential in 2010. Following a tribunal, they landed their target for a measly £4,000 and instantly put him into the starting lineup. With the Cherries, Arter would ride an incredible wave all the way from League Two to the top-flight, whilst also receiving a call-up to the Republic of Ireland's national setup. Joe Hart Having been with Manchester City since 2006, many people are unaware that Joe Hart started his career at Shrewsbury Town. Well, he did, looking assured and imposing between the sticks, his performances leading the Sky Blues to buy the shot-stopper for £1.5m. When he arrived in the north west, City were financially crippled and a source of frustration and anger for supporters. Then, Sheikh Mansour happened. In the 11 years since the billionaire took charge at the Etihad Stadium, Hart has won two Premier League titles, two League Cups and a solitary FA Cup, whilst also competing in three major tournaments as England's number one. Ashley Williams During his time with Hednesford Town, Ashley Williams was also a waiter and a petrol station attendant. Conversely, during his time with Everton, the centre-back has also been captaining Wales.  An extended stay at Stockport Town preceded Williams' splendid spell with Swansea City , the defender helping the Swans to promotion in 2011 and keeping them in the top-division until his departure three years ago. The Toffees paid the Welsh side £12m for his services, though he has looked hesitant at Goodison Park, resulting in a loan move to Stoke City last term.


Thanks to the miracle of modern refrigeration, we're able to keep perishable foods longer and no longer have to go shopping every single day for fresh food. Though most of us probably don't think about how amazing that is on a regular basis, we definitely pay attention when something goes wrong. If you've ever gotten a mouthful of chunky, spoiled milk or eaten a mayonnaise-based salad that sat in the sun too long at a picnic and later got sick because of it, you realize quickly that our ability to keep foods in cold storage is a really big deal. So how long is too long to keep a food at room temperature that's supposed to be refrigerated? Here are a few things to keep in mind: How long has been out of the fridge? According to the USDA , put perishable foods in the refrigerator within two hours of purchasing it. If it's above 90 degrees, then you only have an hour, so hop to it. This also goes for serving foods at a dinner, picnic or other event where you have dishes sitting out for prolonged periods. If that's the case, also try serving the perishable item in a container that is nestled in a bowl of ice. It is a potentially hazardous food? Potentially hazardous foods exist in a form capable of supporting rapid and progressive growth of microorganisms, according to Princeton University's Environmental Health and Safety department . Examples include any food which consists in whole or in part of milk or milk products, eggs, meat, poultry, rice, fish, shellfish and edible crustaceans. These foods in particular need to be served at safe temperatures. Per Princeton: "All potentially hazardous food should be kept below 41 o F (for cold foods) or above 135 o F (for hot foods) except during necessary preparation time or a short display period. Hot or cold holding equipment may be required to store and display food during an event. A food thermometer is also required if potentially hazardous foods will be served." Has it entered the food danger zone? Food left out for too long at room temperature is the perfect breeding ground for bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella to grow to dangerous levels that can cause illness. According to the USDA: "Bacteria grow most rapidly in the range of temperatures between 40 °F and 140 °F, doubling in number in as little as 20 minutes. This range of temperatures is often called the 'Danger Zone.'" When in doubt, throw it out Not only does this rhyme, but it's really important. Having the last few spoons of chicken salad isn't worth getting sick over.life This story was originally published on 11/8/13 and was updated on 7/23/19 to provide more thorough and current information. Gallery: 50 surprising kitchen safety dos and don'ts (Eat This, Not That!)


LONDON   Six months after agents from Saudi Arabia murdered and dismembered the writer Jamal Khashoggi, companies are no longer shying away from the Arab kingdom. The movie theater giant AMC says it is moving ahead with ambitious expansion plans for dozens of cinemas there. Hundreds of investors thronged last week to place $100 billion in orders for the first international bond sale tied to Saudi Arabia's state-backed oil company. Google has a major data center in the works. Many companies contend that they are, in part, helping to open up the deeply conservative society. A screening of Marvel's "Black Panther " at a repurposed concert hall in early 2018 lifted a 35-year ban on movie theaters, with men and women attending the showing together. But the math is simple: There is serious money to be made from working with the kingdom that lives off the world's most profitable company, Aramco. A few weeks ago, Aramco disclosed that it generated $111.1 billion in net income last year. That was more than Apple, Royal Dutch Shell and Exxon Mobil combined. "It is nothing personal," J. Robinson West, the managing director of the BCG Center for Energy Impact, a Washington-based consulting unit, said about why investors and banks flocked to the bond sale. To corporations around the world, the October death of Mr. Khashoggi, a columnist for The Washington Post who was strangled when he entered the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, was a controversy to avoid. Business leaders pulled out of a high-profile, government-sponsored conference in Riyadh, and have since largely kept quiet about their companies' ties to the kingdom. But global businesses and Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, recognize a need for each other. Sign Up For the Morning Briefing Newsletter Saudi Arabia's fortunes fall and rise with the price of oil. Increasingly, it wants fresh investment and businesses to support its fast-growing population   33 million people, most of whom are younger than 30   and to winnow a nearly 13 percent unemployment rate. The crown prince rolled out a grand promotional campaign in 2016 to woo investors, but the results have been meager. Direct foreign investment fell to a decade low in 2017, just $1.4 billion, according to the Institute for International Finance, a research organization in Washington. Investment fell, in part, because of concerns about how the kingdom   which increasingly means Prince Mohammed   confronts problems. In fall 2017, hundreds of Saudi businessmen and princes were detained, essentially under house arrest, at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Riyadh and other locations amid corruption allegations. About a dozen female activists were arrested in May for campaigning for broader rights, including driving. Some are still being held on "suspicion of harming Saudi interests," and their court hearings have been delayed multiple times, including this week. "Things certainly got worse after the fall of 2017 and have not significantly improved," said Karen Young, a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington, referring to investment levels. But the promise of Saudi Arabia, which saw oil prices rise by a third this year to about $71 a barrel for Brent crude, has been too rich for many big companies to pass up. Google, JPMorgan Chase and the Japanese technology giant SoftBank are among the businesses that have kept Saudi Arabia as a partner. "We thought long and hard, and concluded that the best course of action was to go forward," Adam Aron, the chief executive of AMC, said in an interview, describing his company's decision to open at least 40 new theaters there over the next five years. "It's the right thing to do for the people of Saudi Arabia," he said this month. "They have been deprived of going to the movies for decades." Related video: US bars entry to 16 individuals linked to Khashoggi murder (provided by Newsy) Google has been working on a Saudi data center, its first in the Middle East and an important hub for its cloud computing services, for more than a year. Revelations about Mr. Khashoggi's killing had not derailed its plans. When asked about its business with the kingdom, Google said it had signed a memo of understanding with Saudi Aramco in early 2018 "to explore potential establishment of cloud services to serve our customers in the Middle East." "There are no further updates to share at this time," the company added. JPMorgan's chief executive, Jamie Dimon, canceled an appearance at the Riyadh conference in October, but showed up to pitch Saudi Aramco's bond deal to investors in New York two weeks ago. The investment firm Blackstone is still planning to spend money from a $40 billion infrastructure fund, of which $20 billion is meant to come from Saudi coffers, according to a person briefed on the matter who was not authorized to speak publicly about the firm's investment plans. And SoftBank, whose nearly $100 billion Vision Fund for technology investments counts the Saudi government as its biggest backer, has had little difficulty crafting deals using Saudi cash. It has participated in 20 investments since the Khashoggi news emerged, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence. Some analysts said that floating Aramco's bonds was a shrewd move by the crown prince. Aramco raised $12 billion from its first-ever bond offering on the international market. Investors placed tens of billions of dollars in orders on the same day that the State Department barred 16 Saudis from the United States , for their suspected role in killing Mr. Khashoggi. "Everyone in Saudi will be celebrating that they have actually pulled this through and made it a success story," Ayham Kamel, head of Middle East at Eurasia Group, a political risk firm, said of the bond deal. Many Western companies were tight lipped about their continued investment in Saudi Arabia for weeks after Mr. Khashoggi disappeared. But in November, SoftBank's chief executive, Masayoshi Son, publicly articulated what many corporate titans have quietly used as their justification for working with the kingdom. "As horrible as this event was, we cannot turn our backs on the Saudi people as we work to help them in their continued efforts to reform and modernize their society," Mr. Son told analysts and investors at an earnings presentation in Tokyo Companies have also taken cues from the Trump administration, which has repeatedly stressed that it considers the crown prince a crucial ally in a long-awaited Middle East peace proposal and other issues. Saudi Arabia is likely to be active, not only as a place to invest but as a borrower and an investor. The country's sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund, has assembled a nearly $300 billion portfolio of assets that includes stakes in technology companies like Uber and the electric carmaker Lucid. Its chief, Yasir al-Rumayyan, said in February that the fund planned to open investment offices in New York and San Francisco as it stepped up investments. Still, some companies have decided to back away. Endeavor, the Hollywood talent agency, returned a $400 million investment from the Saudis this year and severed its relationship with the kingdom's leaders. The British entrepreneur Richard Branson, who returned from a 2017 visit to the kingdom wowed by Prince Mohammed's vision, recoiled after Mr. Khashoggi's murder. Mr. Branson suspended his directorships in Saudi tourism ventures and cut off conversations with the Public Investment Fund. In the unlikely event that more Western companies follow suit, the kingdom has a contingency plan: working increasingly with allies in Asia . Countries including China, South Korea and Thailand have become key customers for the Saudis as the United States reduces its dependence on imported oil because of domestic shale production. In turn, the Chinese oil giant Sinopec has become a high-profile investor in the kingdom, with a refining joint venture with Aramco and a research and development facility at a science park called Dhahran Techno Valley, in eastern Saudi Arabia. The science park represents an effort by the Saudis to create a technology hub around Aramco and the nearby King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals. Other companies listed as tenants on the park's website include Halliburton, Honeywell, Schlumberger, Emerson Electric, General Electric and Baker Hughes, a G.E. company. On Monday, Aramco said it was spending $1.25 billion for a stake in Hyundai Oil Bank, a South Korean refiner, creating what it called a "dedicated outlet" for Saudi crude. The question now is whether and how Saudi Arabia can use the momentum from the Aramco bond sale. "For people to invest in Saudi Arabia, they need a belief that this country is moving in the right direction," said Roger Diwan, a vice president at IHS Markit, a research firm. "The last 12 months have not been stellar." Michael J. de la Merced and Stanley Reed reported from London, and Daisuke Wakabayashi from San Francisco. Brooks Barnes contributed reporting from Los Angeles. Correction: April 17, 2019 This article has been revised to reflect the following correction: An earlier version of this article misstated the given name of the Eurasia Group's head of Middle East. He is Ayham Kamel, not Ayahm.


Light rainfall is in store for Miami over the next few days, according to the seven-day forecast from drone-powered weather service Saildrone . Today's forecast shows the highest likelihood of rain at 98 percent, while the most rainfall is expected on Sunday at 1.01 inches. The next few days will also bring warm temperatures, due to persist through Monday. Winds will continue to be light over the course of the week, with the highest speeds on Monday at just 9 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.


Beer enthusiasts are raising a glass to lawmakers -- as they get ready to pass a bill -- that would allow you to buy a case of your favorite beer -- directly from any brewery in the state.


Miami will see a return of last week's light rainfall in the coming days, according to drone-powered weather forecasting service Saildrone . Today's forecast calls for 0.54 inches of rain, while the chance of rain will stick below 43 percent throughout the remainder of the week. The next few days will also bring warm temperatures, expected to last through Monday. Temperatures will reach a high of 88 degrees on Thursday. Skies will partially clear on Friday, remaining partly cloudy through Monday. Winds will continue to be light in the course of the week, with the highest speeds on Sunday at just 12 mph. This story was created automatically using Saildrone's local weather forecast data, then reviewed by an editor. We also incorporate historic weather data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


Before monster trucks were a thing, Bigfoot was blowing people's minds with its gargantuan custom boat engine and 66-inch tires. The truck doesn't race anymore, but it's too cool to be left to rot. Take a look at how it's being revived for action. A lot of folks recognize Bigfoot today the simple design, blue paint, chrome bed bar and flotation tires are famous. But before it was on posters, the original Bigfoot was just a regular 1974 Ford F-250. Bob Chandler, who still owns the truck, bought it as his own rig from a Ford dealer in '74. He even had a camper shell on it for camping trips at one point. But the off-road upgrades started right away. "It ended up being a vicious cycle. Because I put back tires on it, and they weren't big enough for me, so I put bigger tires on it. Then I started breaking axles, so you put bigger axles on it. And then you run out of power so you've got to put a bigger engine. So that's why I went to a 460 in it.... It went that way for probably three or four years." That engine is the focus of this PowerNation video, as the Engine Power crew dismantles and rebuilds the Ford 460 supercharged marine engine under Bigfoot's hood. Apparently the powerplant cost $25,000 in 1985, which is almost $60,000 in today's money, which actually sounds pretty cheap for a specialized purpose-built race engine. And if you want to see even more monster truck wrenching, PowerNation also has a clip on mounting up this truck's transmission. You might not "need" tutorials on how to work on Bigfoot, since, uh, I can't imagine too many of you have one of these in your garage. But it's really cool to see what was cutting edge technology 30 years ago, and watch Bigfoot's heart get some much-needed surgery.


BALTIMORE - Heather Cook, the former Episcopal bishop who garnered headlines around the world after fatally striking a Baltimore bicyclist with her car while driving drunk two days after Christmas in 2014, has been released from prison. Cook, 62, served just over half of the seven-year sentence she was originally given on four criminal charges in connection with the crash that killed bicyclist Thomas Palermo, a software engineer and married father of two, on Dec. 27, 2014. Released a little after 10 a.m. Tuesday from the Maryland Correctional Institute for Women, she will be on supervised probation for five years, according to her attorney, David Irwin of Towson. Gerard Shields, a spokesman for the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, said Cook will be required to report within 24 hours to a Parole and Probation field office for intake. "She will then be classified and assigned to an office location according to the home address she provides to us," he said in an email. Cook will learn the exact conditions of her probation at the meeting. Cook was the No. 2 official in the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland at the time she struck Palermo, who was 41 and the father of two young children, with her 2001 Subaru Forester in Roland Park. Witnesses said she left the scene of the crash and did not return until half an hour later. A Breathalyzer test at that point registered her blood alcohol level at 0.22%, nearly three times the legal limit for driving. Cook resigned in May 2015, and the church deposed her from the ministry the same day. She pleaded guilty later that year to four criminal charges, including failing to remain at the scene of a fatal collision. Baltimore Circuit Judge Timothy J. Doory sentenced her to 10 years on that charge, but suspended all but two years, a period he ruled would run in addition to a five-year sentence for vehicular manslaughter. The church's screening practices came under scrutiny after it emerged that Cook had pleaded guilty to a drunken driving charge on the Eastern Shore four years before her elevation to bishop - and that the search committee that selected her had been aware of that 2010 arrest. Diocesan officials said that committee members were never told of the arrest in detail and that the panel left it up to Cook to tell her electors about it. Officials have said she alluded to the case in parish meetings, but only in vague terms. Cook was told at a hearing last November that her release date was expected to be Aug. 6. She already had earned sentence reductions for good behavior and was seeking a sentence modification that would have changed two of her sentences from consecutive to concurrent status, making her eligible for immediate release. At the hearing, Doory told the court he believed Cook had shown "substantial rehabilitation," but he still denied the motion. Her release date was recently moved from August to May because once prisoners are within six months of their release date, the rate at which they accumulate those points accelerates, Shields said. At that point, they're awarded credit for the points they would have earned during the rest of their sentence, Shields added. Cook already had earned a more than three-year reduction in her original sentence by taking extensive part in prison programs. She organized and ran a weekly addiction-recovery meeting for fellow inmates, organized a prisonwide symposium on recovery that featured a lineup of outside speakers and wrote a column on recovery for the prison newsletter. Shields said Cook has been earning extra credits in recent months for working in the correctional department's mail and distribution center. She had applied for early release several times, including for parole in 2017, a work-release program in 2018, and home detention in 2018 and earlier this year. She was denied each time. Members of the Palermo family vehemently opposed each of Cook's attempts to gain early release and criticized her behavior, including the fact that she had admittedly left the crash scene and did not return until 30 minutes later. "Each of Cook's attempts to reduce her sentence - applications for parole, house arrest, work release, now ... one for modification - traumatizes my sister and her family anew," Palermo's sister-in-law, Alisa Rock, said of Palermo's widow, Rachel, and the couple's children in November. "This trauma will affect them all for the rest of their lives, and it's only appropriate that Heather Cook serve out her original sentence not only for the act of killing Tom, but for leaving him there. Especially for leaving him there, for abdicating responsibility for what she did." Leah Rock, also Palermo's sister-in-law, said last month that Cook's performance in prison - where drugs and alcohol are harder to come by than they are on the outside - was insufficient to prove she has conquered the addiction problems she admits have plagued her. Rock also said 3 1/2 years in prison were not enough to atone for the damage her crimes have caused. "(Tom's) children have a lifetime sentence of growing up without their father, and his friends and family have a lifetime sentence of missing him," she said. Irwin has said that even though he has "great empathy" for the Palermo family, he believes Cook's efforts in prison suggest she is in fact rehabilitated and ready to help others. "In no way do I minimize the tragedy of the offense which (Cook) committed, but I truly believe it's time for her to go to a different phase of her life seeking redemption," he said. "I'm glad she is finally being released. She has been a model prisoner who has done amazing things in the department of corrections to help other women." Irwin said he didn't know exactly what Cook's plans were upon her release other than complying with the terms of her probation - violations could land her back in prison - and continuing what he called her mission of helping women living behind bars. "All I know is that she wants to continue to help women who are incarcerated, even when she's not there," he said. Visit The Baltimore Sun at www.baltimoresun.com


A commercial flight to space is just a couple years off, according to SpaceX . Late last week at the Asia Pacific Satellite Conference in Indonesia, an executive from Elon Musk's aerospace company announced that it expects the first commercial mission of its spacecraft, Starship, to take place in 2021, reports Space News . The company seems so confident about the timeline that it's already in negotiations with potential customers about the flight. "We are in discussions with three different customers as we speak right now to be that first mission," said Jonathan Hofeller, SpaceX's vice president of commercial sales. "Those are all telecom companies." While SpaceX is aiming for a 2021 launch date, there's still plenty of rigorous testing that needs to be done first. Hofeller said there are plans to do several tests of Starship and its rocket booster Super Heavy in order to demonstrate the next generation launching system for customers and ease any concerns insurers may have. The company also conducted a "hop" test of a Starship prototype in April, in which the vehicle was launched centimeters into the air. Continued testing will reach higher altitudes in the coming months, with the hope of getting the craft orbital "as quickly as possible, potentially even this year." In addition to testing, the actual spacecraft which was originally called Big Falcon Rocket, or BFR, before its upper stage was renamed Starship and its rocket booster Super Heavy that will fly the mission still needs to be finalized. Two competing development teams in Florida and Texas are currently working on different builds of the ship, according to Endgadget . The website reports that the final spacecraft may well combine elements of both development teams' work. Whichever build SpaceX goes with, the Starship-Super Heavy combo will be able to carry 20 metric tons of cargo into space and over 100 tons to low Earth orbit. The eventual goal is for the spacecraft to ferry payloads to the moon and Mars. Sign up for Robb Report's Newsletter . For the latest news, follow us on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram .


Mike Smith is going to ride in Saturday's Kentucky Derby after all. Churchill Downs announced Friday morning that Smith will ride Sunland Derby winner Cutting Humor in the Derby. Smith became available Wednesday when his original mount   morning-line favorite Omaha Beach   was scratched because of an entrapped epiglottis. Cutting Humor, owned by Jack Wolf's Starlight Racing and trained by Todd Pletcher , was the final Derby hopeful to secure a jockey, with Churchill Downs staple Corey Lanerie announced as the rider Monday. It's been a whirlwind three weeks for Smith since winning the Arkansas Derby on April 13. He also had ridden Santa Anita Derby winner Roadster and faced the tough decision of whether to stay on him or go with Omaha Beach . More Derby: Haikal scratched from the field But when Omaha Beach was scratched Wednesday , Smith appeared to be without a ride. Smith, 53, has won the Kentucky Derby twice, with Giacomo in 2005 and eventual Triple Crown winner Justify last year. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Triple Crown-winning jockey Mike Smith gets Kentucky Derby mount on Cutting Humor Related slideshow: The best Kentucky Derby celebrity sightings (Provided by imagn)


When safety Eric Weddle signed with the Rams following his release by the Ravens earlier this year, he called it a " dream scenario " to return to Southern California after growing up and starting his NFL career there. Joining the Rams isn't just a homecoming tour, however. Weddle's expected to play a big role on defense and he said this week that he can bring more value to the team by helping fellow safety John Johnson continue to develop. "I'm here to push him to that next level . He's got a chance to be an exceptional safety for a long time and I can see it in him," Weddle said, via the team's website. "He's got to get there, so I'll push him every day that's for sure." Johnson moved into the starting lineup as a rookie in 2017 and contributed 119 tackles, four interceptions and a forced fumble to the defense in the regular season last year. He also came up with the interception of Drew Brees in overtime of the NFC Championship Game that set up the field goal that sent the Rams to the Super Bowl. If Johnson takes a step forward and Weddle avoids a big slip in play at 34, safety should be a strength for the Rams this year.


ANCHORAGE, Alaska   Royal Dutch Shell is parking two massive Arctic oil drilling rigs in Seattle's waterfront before they head north. The first drill rig, the Polar Pioneer, arrived in Seattle waters on Thursday, with the other   the Noble Discoverer   at a nearby port awaiting transit. Here's a look at the debate over Shell's plans to drill in the Arctic: HOW MUCH FUEL IS AT STAKE? The U.S. Geological Survey estimates Arctic offshore reserves at 26 billion barrels of recoverable oil and 130 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. Shell says developing these reserves could increase domestic oil supplies by more than 1 million barrels a day. Shell has already spent nearly $7 billion in preparing to to recover this oil, and plans to drill up to four exploratory wells over two years in the Chukchi Sea to determine whether there are commercial quantities of oil and gas. WHY IS SHELL PREPARING ITS RIGS IN SEATTLE AND NOT ALASKA? Alaska doesn't have the infrastructure in place to stage Shell's Arctic fleet. Shell stored equipment in Seattle for the 2012 drilling season and again wants to use its deep-water port, loading space and workforce to load drilling rigs and the accompanying fleet with supplies and personnel. Seattle provides not only a port but also facilities to load pipe, drilling mud and everything else needed for a complex underwater drilling operation. WHY ARE CONSERVATION GROUPS OPPOSED? People concerned with a warming planet object to additional fossil fuel development. They worry that industrial development and a catastrophic spill would ruin a fragile region far from responders. Environmental groups contend the oil industry has never demonstrated companies can clean up a major spill in water choked with ice. The Arctic is more than 1,000 miles from the nearest Coast Guard base. The northern Alaska coastline lacks deep-water ports, major airports and the most basic infrastructure for spill responders. The Arctic Ocean's open-water season begins in July and closes a few months later in cold, dark, conditions with some of the most treacherous storms on the planet. HOW DO ALASKANS FEEL ABOUT ARCTIC OFFSHORE DRILLING? State officials welcome drilling. Alaska receives upward of 90 percent of its revenue from the oil industry, and a drop in capacity or a dip in crude oil prices can mean multi-billion dollar state government deficits. Alaska is experiencing both. Though Shell is drilling in federal waters, Alaska hopes the federal government will share revenue and that Shell and other companies will transport crude through a pipeline system connected to the trans-Alaska pipeline. IS EXPLORATORY DRILLING SAFE? Shell says yes. Wells would be drilled in the relatively shallow outer continental shelf at three to five times less pressure than the Deepwater Horizon explosion and spill in April 2010, spokesman Curtis Smith said. In the "unlikely" event of a blowout, Smith said, Shell has drilling mud to plug a well, a containment system that could funnel spilled crude to the surface, a second drill rig stationed nearby to drill a relief well and other tools to minimize damage. Drilling foes says Shell's 2012 drilling season, which ended with one rig aground off Kodiak and the other fined $12.1 million for breaking maritime law, shows Shell is not prepared to meet Arctic challenges. WHAT ELSE IS NEEDED BEFORE SHELL CAN DRILL? The company cleared a major hurdle on Monday when the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management approved the company's multiyear drilling plan. However, it still needs several approvals from state and federal agencies before it can drill. These include a land-use permit for Goodhope Bay from the state of Alaska. Shell spokesman Curtis Smith says he expects that permit to be issued within the next few weeks. The public comment period on this ended April 30. Shell also is awaiting a drilling permit from the federal Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement and authorizations related to wastewater discharge from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, among others.


When the 2019 free agency period opened the Detroit Lions aggressively targeted and signed slot cornerback Justin Coleman, aiming to improve one of the weakest positions on the roster. In a recent article, Pro Football Focus' (PFF) Austin Gayle called Coleman an underrated talent at slot cornerback and significant upgrade for Detroit , concluding that he believes the "Lions' brass was smart to jump at the opportunity to sign the 26-year-old standout to a long-term deal". Justin Coleman is an underrated talent at slot cornerback and a significant upgrade for Detroit. @PFF_AustinGayle details why Coleman is flying under the radar as one of the NFL's rising stars: https://t.co/tDP3fUXRG3 pic.twitter.com/lwDhkhsB2S - PFF (@PFF) June 25, 2019 "Among the 31 players with 400 or more snaps played at slot cornerback in the last two seasons combined," Gayle said, "Coleman ranks fourth in slot coverage grade at 84.3. He also ranks eighth in forced incompletion percentage (12.7%) and seventh in passer rating allowed (84.5)." As Gayle stated, this is a significant upgrade from what the Lions had last year. The season began with Jamal Agnew as their starting slot corner but he was injured in game five and the Lions had no answer to replace him. The rotating door of players led to a PFF ranking of 31st and Football Outsider DVOA ranking of 32nd in slot receiver coverage for the Lions. Gayle would go on to discuss what makes Coleman a terrific slot corner, why slot cornerbacks are more valuable in today's NFL and how he fits in with the Lions secondary players. "Not only does Coleman give Detroit a top player to replace its slew of misfits in the slot in 2019, but he also will allow Matt Patricia & Co. to feel more comfortable leaving Slay at outside cornerback, where he's proven to be at his best. Slay ranked just 14th in coverage grade from all alignments last season at 78.4, but his coverage grade at outside cornerback (85.8) ranked inside the top-three among qualifiers." This is another offseason move by general manager Bob Quinn that gets better the longer you look at it. MORE: This perfect Shaq impersonation at the NBA Awards show had fans in tears NBA Free Agency 2019: The top players D'Angelo Russell Rumors: Lakers, Timberwolves Interested in Young Point Guard Raven Greene looks like a top player to watch at Packers training camp 3 adjustments the Raiders should make on offense in 2019


MIAMI (CBSMiami)   A woman is wounded inside a West Kendall Publix supermarket in a bizarre accident. Miami-Dade police says she was grazed by a bullet when an off-duty City of Miami Police officer's weapon somehow discharges when he reaches into his pocket. A source confirmed to CBS4 that the officer is a firearms instructor. According to MDPD, the officer was in line at a cash register at the store on Kendall Drive at Southwest 168th Avenue and when the bullet was fired, it hit the floor and ricocheted and grazed a female customer who was behind him. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue responded and treated the woman on the scene. Miami-Dade Police detectives also responded and interviewed the off-duty officer, witnesses and the victim. There was an unusual site inside the store. The area around the cash registers was sealed off by yellow crime scene for most of the afternoon. CBS4's Peter D'Oench spoke with a friend of the victim who was inside the store with her. They were not together at the time but he heard the shot. Gregory Pena said, "We were inside the store and I heard the gunshot. I didn't see it but she is going to be ok." "Where was she grazed?" Asked D'Oench. "Right here on the side of her leg," said Pena. "Will she need stitches?" Pena was asked. "No, he said." "It's a little bit scary," he said. "This could have been anything. Thankfully nothing happened." Publix customer Barbie Rodriguez said, "This is worrisome and this is scary. I hope she will be ok." Another Publix customer, Juan Cardona, said, "Nowadays with arms, things happen. I really don't know. I understand he may not have meant it but you need to be more careful, especially with guns in a public place." So far, Miami-Dade Police have not identified the Miami officer or the victim. CBS4 asked police if they were looking into possible negligence on the part of the officer and they said they were not investigating this incident as a crime. Miami Police will conduct their own investigation and right now they are not commenting. Late Wednesday, Publix released the following statement: "This is a pending Miami-Dade investigation and as such, we cannot comment."


Golf's postseason gets underway on Thursday with the Northern Trust Open, the first of three tournaments in the FedEx Cup playoffs. The top 125 players on the FedEx Cup points list are eligible to compete this weekend at Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City, New Jersey. The tournament, which became part of the FedEx Cup playoffs in 2007, has traditionally been held either in New York or New Jersey. All but four of the top 125 that qualified will compete over the weekend, with Paul Casey among the notable golfers sitting out of the tournament. Of the three FedEx Cup events, the Northern Trust is the only one with a 36-hole cut, which will narrow the field down to the top 70 players after Friday's round. MORE: Watch the Northern Trust Championship live with fuboTV (7-day free trial) Many of golf's best   including Tiger Woods   will be playing in the Northern Trust, which awards 2,000 FedEx Cup points to the winner of the tournament, a major boost for anyone on the cusp of the top-70 cutoff for next week's BMW Championship. Woods is the only golfer to win the FedEx Cup twice, a feat he accomplished in 2007 and 2009. Some golfers at the top of the standings will be in a comfortable position regardless, especially the top five of Brooks Koepka, Rory McIlroy, Matt Kuchar, Xander Schauffele and Gary Woodland, who all earned their spot due to impressive PGA Tour regular season performances. Here is all of the information for how to tune in to the Northern Trust, which will set the stage for the final two FedEx Cup events that follow. Northern Trust Open 2019 TV schedule, live stream The Northern Trust has a similar broadcast schedule to many other PGA Tour events, with Golf Channel leading the coverage for the first two rounds, while the latter part of Saturday and Sunday is aired on CBS. You can also stream the Northern Trust on fuboTV, which offers a free seven-day trial . Date Time TV Channel Thursday, August 8 2-6 p.m. ET Golf Channel/ fuboTV Friday, August 9 2-6 p.m. ET Golf Channel/ fuboTV Saturday, August 10 1-2:45 p.m. ET Golf Channel/ fuboTV Saturday, August 10 3-6 p.m. ET CBS/ fuboTV Sunday, August 11 12-1:45 p.m. ET Golf Channel/ fuboTV Sunday, August 11 3-6 p.m. ET CBS/ fuboTV Tiger Woods' Northern Trust tee times Tiger Woods will ramp up his run for a third FedEx Cup victory starting on Thursday. He will play the first two rounds with J.T. Poston and Scott Piercy. Round Time Pairing 1 7:43 a.m. ET J.T. Poston, Scott Piercy 2 12:33 p.m. ET Poston, Piercy 3 TBD 4 TBD Who else is in the Northern Trust field? There are plenty of names worth watching beyond those in the star-studded top five, including Dustin Johnson (No. 7) and Jon Rahm (No. 10), who seem to securely have a spot among the top 70 in the BMW Championship, but can certainly benefit from a good finish at Liberty National. Besides Woods, Hideki Matsuyama (No. 30) and Phil Mickelson are currently on the cusp of Tour Championship qualification, the final FedEx Cup tournament, which features the top 30 golfers in the standings. Jordan Spieth (No. 69) and Matthew Wolff (No. 70) are among those who need a quality performance this weekend to secure their spot in the top 70 for next weekend. The last five FedEx Cup playoff winners will be in the field, including 2018 champion Justin Rose. Tee times for Round 1, featured groups Woods' group and a couple of trios that are comprised of the top six in the FedEx Cup standings will make up the featured groups for Thursday and Friday. You can view a full list of Round 1 tee times here . Round 1 (ET) Round 2 (ET) Group 7:43 a.m. 12:33 p.m. Tiger Woods, J.T. Poston, Scott Piercy 8:16 a.m. 1:06 p.m. Brooks Koepka, Rory McIlroy, Matt Kuchar 1:06 p.m. 8:16 a.m. Xander Schauffele, Gary Woodland, Patrick Cantlay Northern Trust purse, winnings In addition to the hefty reward of the 2,000 FedEx Cup points, the Northern Trust purse amounts to $9,250,000, with the winner collecting $1,665,000. The Northern Trust purse has seen a $250,000 increase every year since 2015. Odds to win the Northern Trust Koepka and McIlroy   the top two golfers in the FedEx Cup standings   headline the list of favorites, but it becomes less clear after that. Rahm's odds are better than most, while Justin Thomas, who is No. 17 in the FedEx Cup standings, is given the fifth-highest odds. Keep an eye on Tommy Fleetwood, who is coming off an impressive second place finish at the British Open, as a good value bet at +2500. Golfer Odds Brooks Koepka +800 Rory McIlroy +1100 Jon Rahm +1400 Dustin Johnson +1600 Justin Thomas +1800 Justin Rose +2000 Patrick Cantlay +2200 Rickie Fowler +2200 Tiger Woods +2500 Tommy Fleetwood +2500 Webb Simpson +2500 (Odds via Bovada ) MORE: Northern Trust picks, sleepers, betting advice Northern Trust past winners Dustin Johnson is the only golfer to win the Northern Trust multiple times since it became a FedEx Cup event, while Vijay Singh's four tournament victories since its inception in 1967 is more than any other golfer. DeChambeau would be the first back-to-back winner with a victory this year. Year Winner Score 2019 TBD ... 2018 Bryson DeChambeau -18 2017 Dustin Johnson -13 2016 Patrick Reed -9 2015 Jason Day -19 2014 Hunter Mahan -14 2013 Adam Scott -11 2012 Nick Watney -10 2011 Dustin Johnson -19 2010 Matt Kuchar -12 2009 Heath Slocum -9


SAN ANTONIO   The Spurs are no longer "older than dirt," which for years was one of coach Gregg Popovich's favorite go-to lines when asked about the team's aging core of star players. The Spurs selected a pair of 19-year-old forwards Thursday night in first-round picks Luka Samanic of Croatia and Kentucky-ex Keldon Johnson. That gives them several players 26 years old or younger, including Lonnie Walker IV (20), Dejounte Murray (22), Chimezie Metu (22), Jakob Poeltl (23), Derrick White (24), Bryn Forbes (25) and Davis Bertans (26). So is there such a thing as having too many youngsters? "I hope not," Spurs general manager R.C. Buford said late Thursday night. Samanic, Johnson and second-round pick Quindarry Johnson, a guard from Mississippi State, likely will spend a lot of time playing for the Spurs' G League team in Austin next season. "Austin provides a great opportunity," Buford said. "I think our guys have taken great advantage of the work that is available to them, starting years back. People's professional approach and the approach of our staff and the attention to the details that get carried forward from Austin to San Antonio allow the growth you see." Buford put forth Cory Joseph (now a free agent after spending the last two seasons with Indiana), Kyle Anderson (now with Memphis), Murray and White as examples of players that have developed in Austin before contributing to the Spurs. "It's a real tribute to Pop and our coaching staff that they trust that process and allow those guys opportunities to be successful," Buford said. "It's not always the case where coaches trust young play-ers. I think Pop and our group has been really diligent in seeing the path through."


Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg falls out of Glassdoor's top 20 CEO ranking for the first time, although his employee approval rate remains high. The company has dealt with a wave of PR crises over the past year, including the revelation that data firm Cambridge Analytica improperly accessed millions of Facebook users' data. CNBC has previously reported that Facebook has struggled to recruit top talent in the wake of its privacy scandals in 2018. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg isn't as overwhelmingly popular among his employees as he once was, recently released Glassdoor data shows. Zuckerberg fell 39 spots in Glassdoor's annual ranking of top CEOs for its Employees' Choice Awards, from No. 16 to No. 55, falling out of the top 20 for the first time since Glassdoor kicked off the survey in 2013. His employee approval rating remains high, at 94%, according to Glassdoor, but is down from 96% last year. Zuckerberg came in first place in Glassdoor's first iteration of the ranking in 2013. The drop in his ranking may reflect internal unease as the company has juggled various publicity crises over the past year. Multiple former Facebook recruiters told CNBC that Facebook has had a harder time recruiting talented new hires since the March 2018 Cambridge Analytica scandal, in which a political research firm improperly accessed user data to target political ads meant to help President Donald Trump in the 2016 election. Facebook's stock price is also near the same level it was in January 2018, which may also have hurt the rankings, as many employees receive stock as part of their compensation. Zuckerberg lagged behind tech peers such as Google CEO Sundar Pichai, who also received a 94% CEO approval rating but came in 46th place overall. But Zuckerberg still came ahead of Apple CEO Tim Cook, whose approval rating was 92%, landing him in the 69th spot on the list. Subscribe to CNBC on YouTube.


How will Milwaukee officials complete the streetcar's lakefront loop if the Couture apartment tower   and its transit center   isn't built? That question didn't get a very detailed response Wednesday from those overseeing the new streetcar service, known as The Hop. But, there are some possible alternatives. They could include a temporary stop for the lakefront loop   or even extending the route closer to the lakefront and building a station separate from the Couture's transit hub. However, city officials remain confident the Couture will be built, according to both Jeff Polenske, Milwaukee's public works commissioner, and Dan Casanova of the Department of City Development. Polenske and Casanova spoke at a meeting of the Common Council's Public Works Committee. "We do have a project that's moving forward," Polenske said. Not all committee members agreed. "You keep saying that. But it's not," said Ald. Michael Murphy about the Couture's long-delayed construction start. Subscribe to get the BusinessWatch email newsletter. The 44-story, 322-unit Couture is to be developed by Barrett Lo Visionary Development LLC at 909 E. Michigan St., just west of Lincoln Memorial Drive. The firm has until July 26 to submit an application for what the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development calls a "firm commitment" to issue a key loan guarantee. That extension is being provided so Barrett Lo can complete the equity financing for the $122 million project, according to HUD. It's the second such extension granted since the agency in late October invited the firm to seek the firm commitment   an indication that the Couture had passed HUD's underwriting process. The $122 million Couture's financing is to include an $80 million loan guaranteed by HUD, $25 million in equity cash and $17.5 million in city funds for the Couture's transit concourse and other public improvements, according to a city report. The city funds would come from property taxes generated by the Couture and the neighboring 833 East office building. That transit concourse would include a stop for The Hop. The Hop's lakefront loop is to begin operating by the end of 2020 on tracks already built on East Michigan and East Clybourn streets. The Couture's transit concourse would link those tracks. But some committee members said they're concerned that the lakefront loop won't meet that December 2020 deadline   which could force Milwaukee to repay a federal grant used to help finance the route. Polenske said the city hasn't sought an extension of the deadline because officials believe the Couture construction will start on time to allow the transit concourse to be built by the end of 2020. However, if that doesn't happen, the city could have a "temporary means to go through" the Couture site, he said, with a temporary streetcar stop on Clybourn Street. Also, Ald. Robert Bauman suggested the possibility of extending the route across Lincoln Memorial Drive to a new platform near Discovery World. That would cost more money, Polenske said. He and Casanova reiterated that they believe Barrett Lo will complete its financing for the Couture. Casanova said HUD would not have extended the loan guarantee application deadline a second time without Barrett Lo showing progress in securing the project's equity investors. A Couture transit concourse solves problems for both Barrett Lo and local officials. Barrett Lo needed to buy the Couture site, a former county bus facility, at a deep discount to help make the project feasible, according to the county's consulting firm, Chicago-based S.B. Friedman & Co. But, the county was on the hook to pay $6.7 million to the Federal Transit Administration if it didn't sell the property at market value. That's because the agency helped finance the bus facility with a 1988 grant. So, city Development Commissioner Rocky Marcoux suggested Barrett Lo redesign the Couture to include a transit concourse for the streetcar and buses. That met the Federal Transit Administration's condition that the county would not have to pay back the federal grant as long as the Couture site's sale proceeds were used for another transit project. Barrett Lo bought the 2.2-acre county site for $500,000, and in 2017 demolished the bus facility. Along with the uncompleted lakefront loop, The Hop's main route runs through downtown between the Milwaukee Intermodal Station, 433 W. St. Paul Ave., and Burns Commons, 1300 N. Franklin Place. Mayor Tom Barrett wants to spend $46.8 million to build an extension from the Intermodal Station to the Wisconsin Center convention facility   before next July's Democratic National Convention   and for preliminary engineering tied to planned extensions linking Bronzeville to the north of downtown and Walker's Point to the south. But a review of that financing proposal, which needs Common Council approval, has been delayed because of questions and concerns raised by council members. Tom Daykin can be emailed at tdaykin@jrn.com and followed on Instagram , Twitter and Facebook . Our subscribers make this coverage possible. Subscribe to the Journal Sentinel today and get a special offer at jsonline.com/deal. Top Headlines from Business: Subscriber exclusive: Long-delayed conversion of Milwaukee's former Pabst building into upscale apartments is ramping up work F Street Group pitches large Brown Deer apartment development near similar neighborhood project What's it take to be part of Wisconsin's 1%? Income of at least $338,328 FOLLOW JS BUSINESS: Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: If Couture tower isn't built, how will The Hop lakefront loop open?


Cori "Coco" Gauff is the 15-year-old who is the talk of the 2019 Wimbledon Championships . She is taking the competition by storm, will be a millionaire before the end of the year, and has been talked up as a future number one ranked player. Gauff watches makeup tutorials on YouTube before big tennis matches, once dressed up as the Daughter of Eden for Halloween, and is a big fan of the singer Jaden Smith. However, she plays with a maturity that belies her teenage years. Gauff is next in action on Friday, when she takes on Polona Hercog in the tournament's third round. Visit Business Insider's home page for more stories . Cori "Coco" Gauff, the 15-year-old American who is taking the 2019 Wimbledon Championships by storm, will be a millionaire before the end of the year. Gauff has long been one of her sport's worst-kept secrets. Three years ago, her father Corey Gauff told ESPN that Coco took to tennis when she was six years old because "she liked the skirts." Over the years she began to appreciate the technical aspect of the sport, too, as her long and lean figure meant that, as her dad put it, she had a "weird wingspan." She was, perhaps, always destined to have a strong service game as a result. At eight years old she met her idol Serena Williams for the first time at a tournament in New York. Gauff got the veteran American player to autograph a tennis ball. "She's always been my favorite player," Gauff once said, according to ESPN. Apparently, Williams told her to "keep on doing what you're doing." By the age of 12, she said she wanted emulate Williams and become "the greatest of all time." The next year she became the youngest ever player to reach the US Open girl's final, and the year after she won her first title at the French Open. She remains the youngest junior world girl's number one ever, and is now the youngest woman to ever qualify for the main draw in a Grand Slam tournament. What's more, she's doing it all in style. Gauff shook up the world by showing drop shot prowess against Venus Williams in the first round of Wimbledon on Monday, broke the former five-time Wimbledon champion's serve, and mastered rallies to take critical points from the more experienced competitor. In the end, she won 6-4, 6-4. Read more : A 15-year-old American who had to take a science test last week just beat Venus Williams in the first round at Wimbledon Two days later Gauff showed the Williams win was no fluke by winning in straight sets once again on Wednesday, this time beating Magdalena Rybarikova 6-3, 6-3. Gauff has already won $139,000 in Wimbledon prize money but would make far, far more should she maintain this run and knock Polona Hercog out from the competition in the third round on Friday. This, on top of the $75,011 in career earnings she had pocketed before setting food on the All England Club courts, means she has earned almost $215,000 (and counting) from tennis before her 16th birthday. But according to Forbes , this is mere pocket change, as the teenager will be a millionaire within the next few months. Gauff has deals with three key sponsors - New Balance, the pasta-maker Barilla, and the racket manufacturer Head. Gauff was already on course to "earn at least $1 million in 2019," Forbes reported in March - and the value of these deals are layered to performance, so she could earn even more. What else do we know about Gauff? In a press conference this week, Gauff said she uses social media to relax, dressed up as the Daughter of Eden for Halloween last year, and loves singer Jaden Smith, the son of Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith who is responsible for hits like "Sin," "ICONIC," and "Uno Dos." After her victory over Venus Williams, Gauff said she was left starstruck because of how many celebrities were messaging her. As far as her pre-match ritual, she said she watches YouTube. "Surprisingly, social media relaxes me kinda before a match, not really Instagram so much … I watch YouTube videos which gets me in a laughing spirit or whatever." Gauff was then asked what, specifically, she watches. Laughing at the question, she flicked a long braid away from her eyes, and said: "I watch make-up tutorials, I watch blogging, social experiments. I watch Udy, they do a bunch of pranks, they keep me laughing. Whatever YouTube recommends me I kind of just watch." According to the New York Times , Gauff has musical interests away from Smith, and likes listening to Kendrick Lamar, Rihanna, and Beyonce. Destined for the top Gauff, raised in Delray Beach, Florida, is cut from athletic cloth as her father played basketball at Georgia State while her mother, Candi, was a prominent track athlete at Florida State, Forbes reported . Gauff, seemingly destined for the top of her sport, already has the backing of the biggest names in tennis. According to 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams, Gauff is "so cool." She said: "She's a great girl. I love her dad. They're just really cool people," The Telegraph said . 20-time Grand Slam winner Roger Federer, whose TEAM8 management firm represents Gauff, said before her win over Venus Williams that he was "super happy" that she qualified for the main draw. "I saw the last couple of games when she qualified," he said, according to Reuters . "It's a great story. Coco is a nice girl, works really hard. I think she's obviously got a wonderful future ahead of herself." Federer even saw Gauff at the All England Club this week. Spotting her at the side of one of the outside courts, he said: "Hey, they she is!" before proceeding to slap her hand. After Federer disappeared, a smiling Gauff turned to the camera and said: "Get that on camera?" Yeah, we got that on camera! 😁👍 @CocoGauff meets @rogerfederer ! pic.twitter.com/ir204b88f2   WTA (@WTA) July 3, 2019 To get an impression of how far people in tennis expect Gauff to go, perhaps the former three-time Wimbledon champion John McEnroe said it best. "If she isn't number one in the world by the time she is 20, I would be absolutely shocked," he said, according to Reuters . "It was too bad for Venus that she had to play her." Gauff contests her third round against Polona Hercog on Friday. Related Slideshow: Best of 2019 Wimbledon Championships (Provided by imagn)


Want to get your kicks on Route 66 and drive across the country, but not sure what's still there, what's historically relevant, and how things have changed along what's often known as the Mother Road? Read here to find out what you can see now (and what's better to just read about) if you make a plan to head west. GET YOUR KICKS ON ROUTE 66 Route 66 had had a major impact on American history in the 20th century. Long before the interstate highways were a twinkle in Dwight Eisenhower's eye, it connected many previously isolated Western settlements from Chicago to Los Angeles for the first time. Learn about the notable locations that trace the development of Route 66, and find out what remains of that history for travelers to experience now   whether you're planning a cross-country adventure or just planning a weekend trip. THEN: ROLLA TO SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI A large portion of Route 66 overlaps with the northern route of the Trail of Tears, along which some 12,000 Native Americans were forcibly, often fatally, made to march from their ancestral lands to present-day Oklahoma in 1838. Like many modern highways, segments of Route 66 made use of pre-existing wagon roads , which explains why today it not only intersects with but often aligns with the Trail of Tears for long distances between Rolla and Springfield. NOW: CUBA, MISSOURI Today the town of Cuba has been designated "Route 66 Mural City" for its public art and features the Route's oldest continuously operated motel, The Wagon Wheel . There are a number of nearby sites commemorating the loss of an estimated 3 to 4,000 lives on the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail, including the Snelson-Brinker House near which Cherokee were encamped. There's also the now-decrepit memorial erected by a man named Larry Baggett on the border of Phelps and Pulaski counties, one of Route 66's many lingering roadside oddities . THEN: TRUXTON, ARIZONA In 1857, Congress tasked Lieutenant Edward Fitzgerald Beale with creating the Southwest's first federally funded interstate between Fort Defiance in New Mexico and the Colorado River, while also testing the usefulness of camels as pack animals in American deserts. The camels were a no-go, but Beale's wagon road would become the basis for another significant portion of Route 66 and kickstart growth of many settlements along its path. Among these is Truxton, the site of natural springs in northwestern Arizona Beale named for his son. NOW: TRUXTON, AZ Truxton wasn't much of anything until the 1950s postwar car boom, and then became one among many Route 66 cities bypassed by the construction of I-40 in 1979. It's very nearly a ghost town today, with less than 200 residents and a few decaying art deco motels and service stations lining the main drag, plus a faded "Cowgill's" signpost pointing the way to more famous stops along the route. THEN: ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO Another important antecedent to Route 66 was the National Old Trails (N.O.T.) Road, cobbled together in 1910 and spanning 3,096 miles from Washington, D.C. to Los Angeles. Almost all of its last portion from Albuquerque to Los Angeles, previously called the Grand Canyon Route, would become Route 66. NOW: ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO There are many Route 66 sites remaining in New Mexico's largest and fastest growing city. On the corner of 4th St and Central Ave, two different alignments of the original road from 1926 and 1937 intersect, and following either street leads to an assortment of longstanding neon signed motels, as well as the Madonna of the Trail monument honoring the pioneer women who traveled the N.O.T. THEN: CAJON PASS, CALIFORNIA (1926) The last significant mountain range Route 66 has to negotiate before coasting to the Pacific Ocean is the Cajon Pass towards San Bernardino. It was used by settlers coming to the Los Angeles area since 1830, when California was still a Spanish colony. In 1914 the route was paved for automobiles as part of the N.O.T. NOW: CAJON PASS, CALIFORNIA Though I-15 bypassed and built over much of the alignment in the late '60s, parts of the original automobile route, before it was called 66, can still be seen from Cajon Pass. On I-15's southbound lanes north of the pass a more leisurely and indirect dirt road can be seen and reportedly accessed using a high-clearance 4WD vehicle from the intersection with State Route 138. THEN: SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI (1926) Along with Cyrus Avery of Tulsa, Springfield's John Woodruff is credited as one of the major visionaries behind Route 66. After Congress passed legislation for the creation of national roadways, the pair successfully lobbied for a route between Chicago and Los Angeles. On April 30, 1926, the route was titled 66 and received a dedication placard in downtown Springfield. NOW: SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI The "Birthplace of Route 66" takes its heritage seriously, even hosting an annual festival along the original route featuring a parade of musical performers and classic cars . Visitors anytime of the year can visit see the original dedication placard and sections of the original road at Birthplace of Route 66 Roadside Park or enjoy authentic mid-century fast food at the Steak 'n Shake opened 1962. THEN: TULSA, OKLAHOMA Nicknamed the father of Route 66, Cyrus Avery was a Tulsa businessman, civil leader, and advocate for the Good Roads Movement, whose own family had journeyed from Pennsylvania by covered wagon and settled in Indian Territory. Avery was crucial in seeing that the "Main Street of America" pass through Oklahoma, then later pushing to have its entirety paved. One major publicity boost was their "Bunion Derby" footrace from Los Angeles to New York City in 1928. NOW: TULSA, OKLAHOMA Route 66 traffic became so saturated and unsafe in the postwar era that Oklahoma built a turnpike between Tulsa and Joplin, Missouri in 1957, the route's first major bypass. Today Tulsa pays tribute to its Route 66 history with the Cyrus Avery Centennial Plaza near the 11th Street Bridge, with multiple enormous commemorative sculptures, art deco buildings , and neon motel signs from the original route's heyday. THEN: OATMAN, ARIZONA One of the most demanding stretches of the N.O.T. and later Route 66 was a steep section of hairpin turns through the Black Mountains outside Oatman (peak population of 10,000) in Western Arizona. Motoring was so dangerous even after Route 66 was paved in 1938, some early travelers would hire locals to navigate this stretch to avoid injury. NOW: OATMAN, ARIZONA The treacherous stretch of highway still exists as the Oatman Highway, while the unincorporated village of Oatman's glory days have long passed it by with the decline of its mining industry and a 1952 highway realignment. The resurgence of tourist interest in Route 66 combined with the town's picture-perfect Old West facades has helped it remain something more than a ghost town , featuring gunfight reenactments, grumpy burros (donkeys) wandering the streets, and a hotel dating back to 1902. THEN: SHAMROCK, TEXAS Shamrock in the Texas panhandle was one of many small towns whose commercial growth depended on the opening of Route 66, almost simultaneous to the discovery of oil there in 1926. The population peaked at 3,778 in 1930, but businesses continued thriving at the expense of Route 66 motorists as their numbers grew exponentially through the decades. NOW: SHAMROCK, TEXAS Shamrock is still home to one of Route 66's most famous remaining examples of art deco architecture, the U-Drop Inn , a combination fuel station and restaurant dating back to 1936 whose likeness featured in the Pixar film "Cars." Once the only café within 100 miles of town before falling into disrepair, it finished restoration with a $1.7 million federal grant in 2003 to become a museum and authentic recreation of a 1940 fueling station. THEN: JERICHO GAP, TEXAS One of the last parts of Route 66 to be paved was Jericho Gap, a dirt section that became treacherous when wet, trapping motorists in thick mud the locals called " Black Gumbo ." Some of these same locals would help tourists, often at a price, by pulling the vehicles out with horse teams. This revenue stream dried up when the New Deal-originated Civilian Conservation Corps and Works Progress Administration diverted the road to higher ground in the late 30s. NOW: JERICHO GAP/AMARILLO, TEXAS Jericho was hardly a town in the first place, its peak population barely cresting 100. Today little remains of it but a dirt trail Route 66 traditionalists can retrace on their way from Alanreed to Groom. Travelers can find more easily accessible and iconic landmarks like the Cadillac Ranch and Big Texan Steak Ranch in nearby Amarillo. THEN: SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO The original Route 66 followed the pre-existing Old Santa Fe Trail dating to 1822, and while it went through many realignments over the years, none was quite so petty as the one that cut it off from the historic section of northern New Mexico in 1937. After losing reelection in 1927, outgoing governor Arthur T. Hannett took revenge by pushing through a realignment proposal that avoided the capital of Santa Fe , whose politicians he held responsible for the loss, before his tenure was up. The more central modern route was completed with the paving of Route 66 in 1937. NOW: SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO Santa Fe is still doing fine despite Hannett's revenge, though is perhaps not as populous as it would've been otherwise. A road marker at the Old Santa Fe Trail and Water Street delineates the pre-1937 Route 66 alignment, which is worth taking today for its further-reaching historic significance . Santa Fe boasts both the nation's oldest house and church as well as numerous Route 66-era motor inns and gas stations on present day Cerrillos Ave. THEN: SANTA ROSA, NEW MEXICO One of Route 66's most famous nicknames from author John Steinbeck, who in his 1939 novel " The Grapes of Wrath " dubbed it "the mother road." The book dramatizes the mass migration of poor Midwestern farmers to California looking for work following the Dust Bowl. It was adapted by John Ford into an Oscar-winning film just a year later, with scenes shot at the crossing of the Pecos River in Santa Rosa, New Mexico, and elsewhere along the route. NOW: SANTA ROSA, NEW MEXICO Santa Rosa was bypassed by the 1972 construction of I-40 drawing traffic from Route 66. It retains shreds of this past with a collection of classic hot rods at the Route 66 Auto Museum, as well as some aging neon signs for motels and eateries long since demolished. THEN: TUCUMCARI, NEW MEXICO Advertising gimmicks were a prime way to vie for passing tourists and migrants' business in the early boom days of Route 66. The town of Tucumcari, for example, launched a roadside campaign encouraging motorists to reach "Tucumcari Tonite," boasting of 2,000 motel rooms for an overnight stay. One of the most famous and identifiable of these was the Blue Swallow Inn built in 1939, with an evocative neon sign and a drive-in garage for each room. NOW: TUCUMCARI, NEW MEXICO The Blue Swallow Inn is still open, as are many other midcentury motels and souvenir shops with eye-catching facades throughout Tucumcari. The "Gateway to New Mexico" is undoubtedly one of the state's best surviving windows into mid-century roadside commerce, with must-stops including the kitschy Tee Pee Curios and the Odeon Theater, a pre-war art deco movie house. THEN: WAYNESVILLE, MISSOURI Once World War II came around, Route 66 was no longer just for Okies and tourists moving West, but became a major supply line for military traffic and supplies for the Pacific theater. Fort Leonard Wood was established in early 1941 to manage the increased transport, while commerce in nearby Waynesville benefitted from the influx of soldiers. NOW: WAYNESVILLE, MISSOURI Route 66 was widened to four lanes and bypassed Waynesville in the late 1950s. Many of its midcentury businesses have been demolished or merely changed ownership. One of the town's most enduring roadside oddities was only discovered after the highway was widened, a local-painted "Frog Rock" now maintained by today's military officers still sanctioned at Fort Leonard Wood. THEN: LOS ANGELES In the decades after World War II, millions of returning servicemen and families followed Route 66 to California on the promise of better lives in developing suburbs, making it the Union's most populous state by 1962. Among them was Pennsylvania-born songwriter Bobby Troup, who while on the road in 1946 penned a song about the highway "(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66." It was made famous by Nat King Cole and has been covered by Chuck Berry, The Rolling Stones, Depeche Mode, and others. NOW: LOS ANGELES Route 66 originally ended smackdab in the center of downtown Los Angeles on the corner of Broadway and 7th, though today the widely-accepted stopping point is Santa Monica Pier. The road has been redirected more than a half-dozen ways over the years, but the most iconic views will come from either the original 1926-31 alignment, through historic neighborhoods like Chinatown and Olvera Street, or the Hollywood Freeway version from 1953-64, lined with many remaining kitschy mid-century motor inns. THEN: SAN BERNARDINO, CALIFORNIA The cross-country road trips Route 66 helped originate in turn gave rise to the American commercial juggernaut of fast food . Just over the Cajon Pass, San Bernardino is the birthplace of many fast food chains, including the original McDonald's , opened in 1940 but refocused into something simpler and closer to its current iteration in 1948. NOW: SAN BERNARDINO, CALIFORNIA The historic (and free) McDonald's Museum still preserves the original restaurant's appearance , serving as one of San Bernardino's biggest Route 66-related attractions. Otherwise the sights are rather limited to stylish motor inns catering to all that postwar traffic, including the stand alone teepees of the Wigwam Motel and Oasis Motel's neon sign, from which a Middle Eastern turban-wearing caricature has been removed, since the 1950s. THEN: LUTHER, OKLAHOMA Not all Americans were welcome on America's mother road. In 1930, 44 of the 89 counties through which it passed were "sundown towns," all-white communities where African Americans were banned from city limits after dark. To avoid these towns throughout the West as well as elsewhere, black Americans well into the Civil Rights era relied on the Negro Motorist Green Book to point them to the rare safe havens like Luther, Oklahoma's Threatt Filling Station, opened around 1915 by one of the University of Central Oklahoma's first black graduates. NOW: LUTHER, OKLAHOMA The population of Luther was little more than 1,000 as of the last census. Threatt Filling Station closed sometime after the 1950s, but the original sandstone building still stands sans gas pumps. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1995. THEN: WILLIAMS, ARIZONA The Interstate Highway system constructed during the 1950s realigned many stretches of the original Route 66, borrowing the old designation for new, more direct thoroughfares and depriving signage to older established roadside businesses. This trend continued for decades until 1984, when Williams became the last town to have it section of Route 66 bypassed by the construction of I-40. NOW: WILLIAMS, ARIZONA The old Route 66 of the '30s and '40s (or at least its buildings) are well-preserved on Williams's main street, the town's economy benefiting from its status as southern terminus of the Grand Canyon Railway. Besides the odd café, the town's main offerings are longstanding hotels and motels like the El Rancho, Thunderbird, and Sun Dial. THEN: ELK CITY, OKLAHOMA Elk City is a rather typical Western Oklahoma town, built by homesteaders, served by Route 66 traffic, and briefly enlivened by the discovery of natural gas in 1947. The agricultural and then oil boomtown's stretch of Route 66 served travelers with a similarly typical assortment of Art Deco motels and eateries, before being bypassed by the I-40 running south of town in 1966. NOW: ELK CITY, OKLAHOMA Modestly-sized Elk City has developed one of the country's most extensive museum complexes paying tribute to Route 66. The National Route 66 & Transportation Museum is unique in covering all eight states through which its namesake runs, and sits within a stone's throw of relics like the Casa Grande hotel from 1928, once the largest Route 66 hotel between Oklahoma City and Amarillo.


The Eagles didn't ask defensive end Josh Sweat to do much during his rookie season. Sweat played 68 defensive snaps in nine games before going on injured reserve in December, so he had a lot of time to learn by watching other players. Two of those players   Michael Bennett and Chris Long   moved on this offseason and Sweat said he's aware the team will be looking for him to put what he's learned into action as a result. "It's implied," Sweat said, via Philly.com. "I know. I don't need nobody to tell me. But, yeah, it's definitely implied . You just feel it in the atmosphere. But I'm ready to live up to it." Derek Barnett , Brandon Graham and Vinny Curry are also on hand at defensive end, but the Eagles like to rotate several players through those spots. A step forward for Sweat would ensure that remains an appealing approach in 2019.


We are not letting go of World Cup fever until we absolutely have to   and it seems like Panini America agree, releasing a 36-card Instant set to celebrate the USWNT's key moments on their way to a fourth triumph. The cards include Megan Rapinoe's iconic arms-spread celebration   brought out in the quarter-final against hosts France and in the final against the Netherlands, when the veteran scored the opening goal on the hour mark   and Alyssa Naeher's penalty save from Steph Houghton against England. Meanwhile, the competition has had a massive impact on the ground in England, who lost to the US at the semi-final stage in Lyon. Xtreme Events , who book 5-a-side matches throughout the UK, saw a 712% increase in women's only football matches being booked over the tournament's first four weeks, with Bath going from 11% of their bookings being women's only matches in May to a massive 74% the following month. WSL teams have taken advantage of the women's game's increased profile this last six weeks to push the opening weekend of their season, with a Manchester derby being played at the Etihad Stadium and Chelsea facing Tottenham at Stamford Bridge, while the Premier League takes a week off for the international break. The Panini Instant collection exists to commemorate milestones and achievements in real time so fans don't have to wait months (or even years!) to capture their favourite moments. This set is available until 3pm ET (8pm UK time) on Tuesday, July 16. The set will be shipped to consumers within 8-10 business days after the ordering window expires. Fans can also purchase individual Instant cards released during the USWNT's magical run here .


Three-in-10 Americans say they would only vote for a candidate for major office who shares their views on abortion, according to a new CNN poll conducted by SSRS . That's higher than at any point in CNN polling on the topic from 1996 on. Gender is a big factor in whether a person views abortion as a critical issue, even more than partisanship. Women (33%)   especially independent women (42%) and non-white women (39%)   are more apt to consider it a critical issue than men (26%). The share who say it is critical for them is about the same across party lines (33% for independents, 29% for Democrats, 28% for Republicans). Twenty percent overall say they don't see abortion as a major issue, while 45% would consider a candidate's position on abortion, but don't see it as a decisive issue. RELATED: Full poll results After former Vice President Joe Biden said Wednesday that he still supports the Hyde Amendment   a prohibition on federal funds being used for abortion, except in cases of rape, incest, or when the life of the mother is at stake   many of his opponents jumped at the opportunity to draw a distinction with the frontrunner and oppose his take. The poll was conducted before the debate over the Hyde Amendment erupted, and, in its results, Biden's backers were no different from other potential Democratic primary voters on whether the issue is central to their choice for major offices (30% among Biden's supporters, 32% among other potential Democratic voters). But abortion has been a prominent issue outside of the Democratic contest as well. Georgia, Alabama, Missouri and other states have enacted laws placing sharp limits on abortion designed to test the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade ruling, which established a woman's right to an abortion. The poll finds most Americans are opposed to bans on abortion. In general, Americans' views on when abortion ought to be legal have shifted slightly toward the extreme ends of the scale since the last time CNN polled on the topic in 2016. A majority felt it should be legal only under certain circumstances in that poll (53%), but now, 48% feel the same way. At the same time, the shares saying abortion ought to be legal in all circumstances (31%) and illegal in all circumstances (18%) have each ticked up a couple of points. About 4 in 10 whose views on abortion fall at the far ends of the scale say they will only support a candidate who shares their views on abortion (42% among those who say abortion should be illegal in all situations, 37% among those who say it should be legal in all). That drops to 21% among those who think it should only be legal under some circumstances. Asked more directly about a law in their own state banning all abortions except those necessary to save the life of the mother, nearly 6 in 10 Americans (58%) are opposed, 36% would favor it. Majorities of Republicans (53%) and conservatives (57%) would favor such a law, but opposition among Democrats (75%) and liberals (82%) is stronger. The CNN Poll was conducted by SSRS May 28-31 among a random national sample of 1,006 adults reached on landlines or cellphones by a live interviewer. Results for the full sample have a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3.8 percentage points. It is larger for subgroups.