See the best 401(k) tips and tricks from experts. See the best 401(k) tips and tricks from experts If your job offers a 401(k), you should definitely be making contributions to it. But simply having a 401(k) doesn't mean you're really making the most of this opportunity to build your retirement nest egg. I spoke to financial experts to find out what to do with a 401(k) now to ensure that you're getting the most out of your retirement savings plan . Click ahead to see what they had to say. 1. Contribute at Least the Full Employer Match Amount Many employers will match employee contributions up to a certain percent, typically between 2 to 7 percent of the employee s salary. If you re unsure about your employer s match, that s a question you should definitely ask them.  I would advise the employee to take advantage of the employer s match in the 401(k) plan, as long as they can afford to do so financially,  said Tim Sullivan, CEO of Strategic Wealth Advisors Group.  Most companies that sponsor 401(k) plans match the employee contributions to different degrees. This means the employee will get some free cash for contributing to the plan.  Know: 15 Big 401(k) Questions to Ask Your Employer Why You Should Do This Now "According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the typical or average 401(k) match nets out to 3.5 percent," said Sullivan. "Over the years, this can add up to thousands and tens of thousands of dollars. The longer that you wait, the less money that you will have when you need it the most in retirement. Just think, over the next five years, if you were able to put in $19,000 each of those years but failed to do so, you would have cost yourself $95,000 that could have been in your 401(k)   not including the market gain. That can have a huge impact on whether you have a successful retirement, or whether you run out of money during retirement." Sullivan recommends reassessing your finances and making the adjustments necessary to get as close to that matched percentage as possible. "If you are thinking that you can't contribute any more than you currently are, stop and look at your expenses for the month," he said. "You can probably go to Starbucks one less time or cut back on fast food." 401(k) Vesting: Not All of the Money in Your 401(k) Is Really Yours 2. Make Sure Your Portfolio Matches Your Risk Tolerance "You must always be making sure that the overall risk of your portfolio matches your risk tolerance," said Sullivan. "If they do not match, then you will need to either decrease or increase the risk of your portfolio. It's not worth losing sleep or stressing yourself out over   that's why you rebalance your portfolio and monitor it more often as you get closer to retirement." Why You Should Do This Now Rebalancing your portfolio is essential to make sure that your 401(k) is working as best as possible for you. However, Sullivan said that how much risk you should allow for depends on how close you are to your retirement date.  Obviously, those closer to retirement right now should probably be more conservative, since they can t afford to take a major loss to their portfolio if they are going to need to use these funds for supplementing their income during retirement,  he said.  Those that are further from retirement can take more of a gamble since they have a longer time horizon before they need to use this money as income.  Sullivan recommends rebalancing your 401(k) portfolio at least twice a year to make sure your investments match your risk tolerance. 3. But Do Take Some Risks Even if you are a risk-averse investor, you should still ensure some of your funds are going toward riskier investments that have higher profit potential. "This may seem counter-intuitive, but individuals need to be taught to invest for retirement and not to save for retirement," said Robert R. Johnson, Ph.D., CFA, CAIA, professor of finance at the Creighton University Heider College of Business. "The surest way to build true long-term wealth for retirement is to invest in the stock market." Why You Should Do This Now "The biggest financial mistake people make is taking too little risk, not too much risk," said Johnson. "In fact, a recent UBS study showed that millennials and the World War II generation have similar asset allocations   low allocations to equities and inordinately high allocations to cash. Both generations were shaped by cataclysmic financial events in their formative years   the WWII generation with the Great Depression and millennials with the financial crisis. Millennials need to begin compounding early, and let that compounding work its patient magic over decades." 4. Practice Dollar-Cost Averaging "Dollar-cost averaging is an investment strategy that involves purchasing a fixed dollar amount of a particular investment on some sort of regular schedule, regardless of market conditions," said Johnson. "In your 401(k), [that means] purchasing a fixed amount of a mutual fund or ETF every month or every pay period." Why You Should Do This Now  In my opinion, the best way to build long-term wealth is to simply buy shares in a broadly diversified income fund on a regular schedule   whether the market has recently gone up, down or sideways,  said Johnson of this 401(k) investing tip.  It is the antithesis of trying to time the market. Dollar-cost averaging takes the emotion out of investing   it basically puts your investment strategy on autopilot.  What Not to Do: 11 Things You Should Never Do With Your 401(k) 5. Diversify Your Assets Your 401(k) portfolio should include a mix of assets and asset classes, said Steve Azoury, financial advisor and owner of Azoury Financial. Why You Should Do This Now  Asset classes many times perform differently in different markets,  said Azoury.  One category could be the best one year and the worst the following year. By diversifying and owning different classifications such as large-cap, mid-cap, and small-cap, it will help you find the mix that fits your risk tolerance.  Know: The Best 401(k) Companies 6. Check the Fees and Costs of Your 401(k) Funds You might be paying fees you're not even aware of , and these fees will vary based on the type of funds you're investing in. "Choose funds with the lowest expense ratios," said Dejan Ilijevski, president of Sabela Capital Market. "The funds with the lowest costs tend to be index funds, which are also generally the best option when investing. Research has shown that disciplined investing with a globally diverse portfolio of index mutual funds has in the long-run outperformed   net of fees   more expensive, speculative strategies and actively managed mutual funds. Look for 'index' in the fund name, like 'Total Stock Market Index Fund.' If they are available in your 401(k), Vanguard funds are a great option." Why You Should Do This Now "Fees can squander your returns," said Ilijevski. By choosing funds with no or low fees, you can maximize your retirement savings. 7. Aim to Contribute 10% of Your Salary If you can contribute more than the match amount, do it. " Contributing a percentage of your salary up to or greater than the match is what we always recommend to clients," said Brian Pirri, CFP, principal at New England Investment & Retirement Group. "Ten percent is usually a good benchmark of what you should be saving." Why You Should Do This Now The more money you contribute, the more opportunity your money has to compound and grow. If you can t contribute 10 percent right off the bat, make this a goal you work toward.  M ake it a goal to save at least 1 percent [more] every year,  said Pirri. He also advises bumping up your contribution each time you get a raise. How to Maximize 401(k) Contributions: 9 Smart Strategies 8. Consider Contributing to a Roth 401(k) Unlike a traditional 401(k), which you contribute to with pretax dollars, contributions made to a Roth 401(k) are made with after-tax dollars. With a Roth 401(k), you don't owe any taxes when you make a withdrawal. Why You Should Do This Now   If a Roth 401(k) option is available, that s a great way for young, lower-income workers that anticipate being in a higher tax bracket later on to save,  said Pirri. When you are making a lower income, you are taxed at a lower rate. Presuming your earnings will be higher when you retire and therefore taxed at a higher rate, you will end up paying fewer taxes overall. More from GoBankingRates 10 Lessons on 401(k) Withdrawal Rules and Options How to Become a 401(k) Millionaire Wells Fargo Crunched the Numbers: The Best 401(k) Plans Have These Key Features We make money easy. Get weekly email updates, including expert advice to help you Live Richer . Gabrielle Olya contributed to the reporting for this article.


Despite public outcry, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee (R) re-signed a proclamation Thursday declaring July 13 as Nathan Bedford Forrest Day in the state, honoring the Ku Klux Klan grand wizard and former Confederate general. Each year, according to state law, the governor is supposed to sign six such proclamations for days of observation, three of which are in honor of the Confederacy, according to The Tennessean . Though they're mostly symbolic, the governor says he signs them out of a sense of duty. "I signed the bill because the law requires that I do that and I haven't looked at changing that law," Lee told The Tennessean on Thursday. His decision was roundly panned by the media . New York Times columnist Jamelle Bouie tweeted: "Very cool that Tennessee has a day honoring a confederate war criminal and founder of America's oldest and deadliest terrorist group." Forrest is known to history as a bloodthirsty slave trader and the KKK's very first grand wizard . In 1864, he led Confederate soldiers to commit what's known as the Fort Pillow Massacre, according to The Washington Post. Three hundred Union soldiers, including 200 black soldiers, were murdered there, often at point-blank range. Residents have been petitioning to remove two statues of Forrest ― including a bust from the state Capitol ― for years. But Lee defends Confederate monuments and the Ku Klux Klan as "part of our history." Earlier this year, Lee told The Tennessean that "The Ku Klux Klan is a part of our history that we're not proud of in Tennessee, and we need to be reminded of that and make certain that we don't forget it. So I wouldn't advocate to remove that." Everyone would be perfectly fine without Nathan Bedford Forrest Day. Everyone. Instead, @GovBillLee did this. pic.twitter.com/JbFwluVav4   Grogan (@TrampusRex) July 12, 2019 At the same time, the governor said he regretted going to "Old South" parties at Auburn University as part of the fraternity Kappa Alpha Order, which reportedly sees Confederate Army Gen. Robert E. Lee as a "spiritual founder." The governor's hands aren't tied in signing such a proclamation. As The Holler points out , plenty of governors have declined to sign them in the past, especially on proclamations they don't personally agree with. In January, Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts (R) refused to sign a proclamation in honor of the book "This Blessed Earth: A Year in the Life of an American Family Farm," by journalist Ted Genoways, because it contained criticism of President Donald Trump, according to The Hill . Reached for comment, Gov. Lee's spokeswoman released a stock statement reiterating that the governor is required to sign the proclamation: "Tennessee governors are required by statute to issue a series of proclamations each year, including Nathan Bedford Forrest Day," said spokeswoman Laine Arnold. "The proclamation that was issued complies with this obligation and is in keeping with prior years." This article originally appeared on HuffPost .


Maxim Dadashev's death on Tuesday has made the UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov rethink how he sees combat sports. Dadashev died on Tuesday, four days after suffering a brain injury during his loss to Subriel Matias in the US. Argentine boxer Hugo Santillan also passed away this week just days after competing in the ring. Stories like these make Nurmagomedov "hate this sport in which we beat each other." Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories . Khabib Nurmagomedov has said that Maxim Dadashev's death has made him "hate this sport in which we beat each other." Dadashev died on Tuesday, four days after suffering a brain injury during his stoppage loss to Subriel Matias at the MGM National Harbor, Oxon Hill, Friday. Dadashev's corner threw in the towel in the 11th round. He was then taken to hospital but never recovered. "This case proves once again that sport is not the most important thing, there are things that are much more important," Nurmagomedov, the UFC's unbeaten lightweight world champion, said in an Instagram post, Thursday . Two days after Dadashev died, the Argentine boxer Hugo Santillan died from injuries he suffered during a fight last weekend. "Every time I see or hear such news, I begin to hate this sport in which we beat each other," Nurmagomedov said. "Everything is temporary, fame, money, titles, and our whole life, we all leave this world, no one will remain." See his Instagram post below: Nurmagomedov is famous for his fourth-round submission win over Conor McGregor at UFC 229 on October 6, 2018. He returns to the Octagon for UFC 242 on September 7 when he defends his lightweight belt against Dustin Poirier.


LOS ANGELES - This was more than just a trade for Anthony Davis. This was a trade for a championship. In dealing Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart and three first-round draft picks to the New Orleans Pelicans for the NBA's most dominating inside presence Saturday, the Lakers did more than just add a giant superstar. They created a title team out of a losing team. They turned a group of underachievers into a group that can overwhelm. They returned hope to a hopelessly lost franchise, real hope, ring hope. This was a trade for LeBron James' interest. You think he'll emotionally invest in this team now? By creating a legitimate title hope, the Lakers should start seeing the legitimate LeBron. This was a trade for potential free agents' attention. You think somebody like Kyrie Irving would want to join this group? Maybe even Kawhi Leonard? One of the league's most unsettling environments just became its most attractive. This was a trade for Davis' future. He is a free agent at the end of the season, and while his representatives have said he wants to play in Los Angeles, the Lakers no longer have to worry about him spending the year being wooed by someone else. He is a Laker now, and will probably be a Laker for a long time. This was a trade for Kyle Kuzma's empowerment. They kept Kuzma! Can you believe they somehow made a major trade for a big-time star and still managed to hold on to arguably their best young player and fan favorite? Kuzma was one of the Lakers kids whose play suffered last year when he was worried that James wanted to trade him. He should worry no more. James clearly wants him. This was a trade for Golden State's vacancy. With the Warriors finally decimated and probably gone, the path to the NBA Finals has been cleared for another dominant West team, and the Lakers just became it. This was, finally, a trade for Rob Pelinka's reputation. The most criticized executive in the league just pulled off a deal that makes the Lakers relevant again. He not only saved the LeBron James era from crumbling almost before it began, he also probably saved his job, and that strange sound he's hearing today is applause. There was even this, on Twitter, from Magic Johnson: "Great trade Rob Pelinka! Job well done." Of course, there will be boos. Some folks around the league will probably think the Lakers gave up too much. Those folks don't understand Los Angeles, and the city's championship expectations, and the pain of the six-year playoff drought, and the increasingly big bucks paid by loyal ticket-holders to see a title while James can still move. The Lakers have to win now, or they will be blowing the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity afforded them by one of the best players ever. The Lakers have to win now, or risk losing the attention of a city that has grown sick of all the drama. So, three first-round draft picks is a ton of picks. So what? James could be retired by the time those picks are cashed. Lonzo Ball was an exciting player, but he was brittle. Brandon Ingram finally began showing some of his potential last year, but the Lakers are done with potential. Josh Hart was a solid role player, but the Lakers can find another solid role player. A reminder: This is Anthony Davis. This is a 26-year-old player who has career averages of 24 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks. This is a guy who can run the floor and dominate on both ends. He is one of the top five players in the league. The impact he will have while sharing the ball and court and moment with James is unimaginable. In the end, amid a formerly desperate and downtrodden Lakers climate, who cares who won the trade? The Lakers may have just won a championship. Visit the Los Angeles Times at www.latimes.com


While today is the first day teams can begin the process of buying out contracts, June 15 is also notable on the NHL calendar for another reason: It's the deadline for players who are under contract overseas (in countries that have signed a Player Transfer Agreement with the NHL) to sign an NHL contract for next season. It appears that Swedish winger Jakob Lilja is making the jump as his club team in Djurgarden announced ( Twitter link ) he has signed an NHL contract. The 25-year-old Lilja was the leading scorer in the SHL at the end of January when he had 32 points in 37 games. However, his production tailed off sharply after that as he posted just five more points over his final 20 regular-season games. He did fare a bit better in the postseason with three goals and five assists in 19 games before losing to Frolunda in the league finals. Lilja is a capable two-way forward and that's the type of role he'll need to play to have success in the NHL, where he likely slots in as a bottom-six option. As for where he might end up, an earlier tweet from Djurgarden stated that Lilja was signing with Columbus but that was quickly removed and replaced with the announcement that he's simply signing an NHL contract. With the deadline being today to get a deal done, it shouldn't be long before his destination is made official.


SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP)   A man suspected of fatally shooting a Sacramento police officer responding to a domestic violence call surrendered after an 8-hour standoff in which he fired his rifle on and off, preventing officers from getting to their colleague as she lay wounded for nearly an hour, authorities said Thursday. The suspect, who has not been identified, was taken into custody at about 2 a.m. and investigators were gathering evidence at the home where Officer Tara O'Sullivan, 26, was shot Wednesday, the Sacramento Police Department said in a statement. O'Sullivan died at UC Davis Medical Center hours after the gunman shot her, Deputy Chief Dave Peletta told reporters. Peletta said O'Sullivan was with another officer when she was shot just before 6 p.m. Wednesday. She had been helping a woman collect her belongings to leave a home when she was wounded, Sgt. Vance Chandler said. The other woman was not hurt, and the relationship between that woman and the gunman was not immediately known. O'Sullivan was wounded while she was in backyard and officers could not reach her for about 45 minutes after she was shot because the gunman kept firing, Chandler said. "Our officers maintained cover in safe positions until we were able to get an armored vehicle in the area," he said. Heavily armed police from several agencies swarmed the residential neighborhood while the standoff was underway and residents were told to stay away from the area. According to city records, O'Sullivan had been working for the city since January 2018, The Sacramento Bee reported. She was part of the first class of graduates of Sacramento State's Law Enforcement Candidate Scholars program in 2017 and went on to the Sacramento Police Academy.


Love it or hate it, Social Security is the foundation of retirement in America, but what people don't know about the system can hurt them. The benefits from the public pension system initiated by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1935 account for more than half the retirement income of more than 75 percent of retired Americans. For many millions of people, Social Security benefits will be their only source of income after they stop working. And with the inexorable decline of private defined-benefit pensions in America, Social Security's guaranteed income will only become more important in the future. "Social Security has become absolutely key to the retirement of Americans," said Alicia H. Munnell, director of the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College. "It's a source of income adjusted for inflation that keeps going for as long as you live," she said. "You want to have as much of this income as possible." But for too many Americans entering retirement, the knee-jerk reaction is to file for benefits at 62, as soon as they are eligible. That decision can cost them hundreds of thousands of dollars through their retirement years. "The most important financial decision that 99 percent of Americans will make about their retirement is how to claim their Social Security benefits," said William Meyer, founder and managing principal of Social Security Solutions. His firm uses software to help people assess potential claiming strategies for their benefits. The easiest way to get the biggest bang for your buck is to wait to claim benefits. The Social Security Administration bumps benefit payments up 8 percent for every year that an individual postpones filing a claim after the full retirement age of 66. Wait until 70, when filing is mandatory, and the check will be about 32 percent bigger every month. Social Security is adjusted for inflation. For example, a single woman who would receive a $2,000 monthly benefit at the full retirement age would instead get about $2,640 if she waited until 70 to claim her benefits. Conversely, if she were to claim her benefits when first eligible, at 62, she would get about 25 percent less than her full retirement age benefit, or $1,515. If she were to live until her late 80s, delaying her Social Security claim could increase her overall income during retirement by six figures. The break-even point when the waiting strategy surpasses the advantage of collecting benefits early is typically about 10 years, financial advisors contend. "I don't care what equation you use; you can't beat the rate of return on delaying your Social Security benefits," Meyer said. "It's a killer deal." The decisions get more complicated for married couples because of considerations of spousal and survivor benefits. Spouses of at least 10 years of a beneficiary are entitled to 50 percent of the spouse's benefit. Surviving spouses of beneficiaries get the full benefit. "With couples, the strategies usually boil down to maximizing the higher wage earner's benefits because it lives beyond the death of the first spouse," said Jim Blankenship, a certified financial planner who is the founder and principal of Blankenship Financial Planning. A popular strategy for couples is for the higher wage earner to file for benefits and then suspend the claim, allowing his or her spouse to claim spousal benefits. Meanwhile, the higher-earning spouse's benefits can continue to grow by 8 percent annually until age 70. At that point, the other spouse can either continue to receive the spousal benefit based on the early filing or claim their own benefits if they are larger. If either spouse was previously married for more than 10 years, there is also the option of claiming benefits derived from that beneficiary if they are greater. There are also limited opportunities to undo decisions about Social Security claims if family, health and financial circumstances change. "There are so many variables to consider, especially if there's a big difference in age between spouses," Blankenship said. "The optimal strategies may change over time." In almost all situations, it makes sense to delay filing for Social Security, even to the point of drawing on a 401(k) plan account or other savings to support yourself until filing for benefits later, Blankenship said. Not all advisors are apt to recommend drawing down the nest egg that they make their fees on, but it is usually the far better strategy. "We recommend whatever makes the most sense economically for the client," Blankenship said. There may be nothing wrong with claiming benefits early, however. An individual who is unable to work and/or is in poor health may have no alternative. If a person has a family history of early death, they may wish to claim their benefits as early as they can. The key is understanding the financial consequences of different strategies. Free analytical tools offered by organizations such as AARP and companies such as T. Rowe Price (TROW) are a good place to start. Meyer's firm offers customers a report based on basic personal data for $20, while $50 allows access to an interactive tool to model different assumptions, and $125 provides someone who can speak on the phone about it. "As long as people are making informed decisions, there are no wrong answers," said Mark Cortazzo, a certified financial planner and senior partner at advisory firm MACRO Consulting Group. "Social Security is one of the things you can control, and you must control it well," he said. "The financial impact of it is enormous over an individual's life expectancy."


CHICAGO (CBS)   Lori Lightfoot was sworn in as Chicago's 56th mayor on Monday, becoming the first black woman and first openly gay person to hold that office, and vowing to deliver the change she promised during her campaign by bringing a new level of integrity to City Hall. Lightfoot said her administration would be led by four guiding principles, offering a reinterpretation of the four stars on the city's flag, suggesting they would stand for safety, education, stability, and integrity. "I know, I know, putting Chicago government and integrity in the same sentence is, well, a little strange," Lightfoot joked. "But that's going to change. It's got to change. For years, they've said Chicago ain't ready for reform. Well, get ready, because reform is here." Happening right now. A new era begins at Chicago City Hall as Mayor Lori Lightfoot arrives on the 5th floor. On @cbschicago pic.twitter.com/tjelFhwtQA   Suzanne Le Mignot (@SuzanneLeMignot) May 20, 2019 Lightfoot has said her first official act as mayor will be signing an executive order taking aim at the longstanding practice of aldermanic privilege, which traditionally has given alderman final authority over permits, licenses, and zoning in their wards. Her order reportedly will not do away with aldermen's authority over zoning changes in their wards, but will strip them of their control over issuing city permits and licenses. "This does not mean our aldermen won't have power in their communities. It does not mean our aldermen won't be able to make sure the streetlights are working or the parking signs are in the right place or any of the thousands of good things they do for people every day," she said. "It simply means ending their unilateral, unchecked control over on every single thing that goes on their wards. Alderman will have a voice, not a veto." https://facebook.com/27510768337_363553244270801 Aldermen's authority over licenses and permits has been at the center of the vast majority of federal corruption cases filed against dozens of aldermen since the 1970s. Blasting elected and appointed officials who "cut shady backroom deals" to profit from their office, Lightfoot   a former federal prosecutor   said the average taxpayer ends up footing the bill for corruption. "When public officials cut shady backroom deals, they get rich and the rest of us get the bill," she said. "When some people get their property taxes cut in exchange for campaign cash, they get the money and sure enough we get the bill." While Lightfoot might face a stiff challenge in restoring public trust in city government, she said her toughest task will be addressing the city's longstanding problems with gun violence and education, which she said have driven far too many families out of the city. "The mass exodus we have seen, particularly in the Black community, saps the vitality of our great city. We must reverse the exodus by creating the reality of safety in every neighborhood. Public safety must not be a commodity that is only available to the wealthy," she said. The new mayor vowed to develop a new proactive strategy to fight crime in neighborhoods hit hardest by gun violence, and to create a new Office of Public Safety. She said the office would be led by a deputy mayor charged with coordinating a unified violence prevention strategy that brings in not only police; but the full weight of city government, along with schools, non-profits, businesses, and the faith community. "People cannot and should not live in neighborhoods that resemble a war zone. Enough of the shootings. Enough of the guns. Enough of the violence," she said. "Today, we reimagine the first star standing for safety, in every neighborhood. People cannot …and should not …live in neighborhoods that resemble a war zone. Enough of the shootings. Enough of the guns. Enough of the violence," @chicagosmayor Lori Lightfoot. pic.twitter.com/4m9GHaM3x5   CBS Chicago (@cbschicago) May 20, 2019 Lightfoot also promised to expand early childhood education in an effort to make sure every student has a good education all the way through high school and college. "Every child gets a quality education that's our business, no matter what," she said. She said the city cannot attract new families to Chicago and keep families here without a quality education for every single child. "Our goal is simple: starting in our schools, we will create a citywide workforce as the pipeline for jobs of today and tomorrow that will be the envy of the world," she said. https://twitter.com/cbschicago/status/1130517940112113664https://twitter.com/cbschicago/status/1130517415379570689 Lightfoot also said she would work with local businesses and labor unions to set up more apprenticeships for students who want to work in the trades, and make sure they can get jobs as soon as they graduate high school. "Every student should have the option to pursue vocational and technical training," Lightfoot said. Lightfoot acknowledged she also faces tough choices when it comes to the city's budget, given ballooning pension payments, at a time Chicago residents already have been hit with significant property tax increases and other higher fees. "None of this is going to be easy," Lightfoot said. "But we will do the hard work with transparency, integrity and a determination to put our pensions on a true path to solvency, and make our government work more efficiently, and without balancing budgets on the backs of low wage and working-class Chicagoans." She also hinted that she would demand developers increase their commitments to providing affordable housing when they receive taxpayer subsidies for construction projects. "Developers can no longer skip their responsibilities by taking tax dollars but leaving it to someone else to solve our affordable housing crisis," she said. "Here too, the City must lead. We need to cut the red tape and obstacles and instead promote the building of new units and have flexibility in our building code so that innovative housing forms can come on line." Ahead of her inauguration, Lightfoot's transition office unveiled her proposal for the City Council's leadership structure: • Ald. Scott Waguespack (32nd) as chair of the Committee on Finance • Ald. Pat Dowell (3rd) as chair of the Committee on Budget and Government Operations • Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36th) as chair of the Committee on Economic, Capital and Technology Development • Ald. Tom Tunney (44th) as chair of the Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards • Ald. Susan Sadlowski Garza (10th) as chair of the Committee on Workforce Development • Ald. Howard Brookins (21st) as chair of the Committee on Transportation and Public Way • Ald. Michelle Harris (8th) as chair of the Committee on Committees and Rules • Ald. Walter Burnett Jr. (27th) as chair of the Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety • Ald. Nicholas Sposato (38th) as chair of the Committee on Special Events, Cultural Affairs and Recreation • Ald. Michael Scott, Jr. (24th) as chair of the Committee on Education and Child Development • Ald. Matthew O'Shea (19th) as the chair of Committee on Aviation • Ald. Chris Taliaferro (29th) as the chair of the Committee on Public Safety • Ald. Harry Osterman (48th) as the chair of the Committee on Housing and Real Estate • Ald. Roderick T. Sawyer (6th) as the chair of the Committee on Health and Human Relations (formerly the Committee on Human Relations) • Ald. George Cárdenas (12th) as chair of the Committee on Environmental Protection and Energy (formerly Committee on Health and Environmental Protection) • Ald. Emma Mitts (37th) as chair of the Committee on License and Consumer Protection According to the Lighfoot administration, the proposal also includes changes to the committee structure, including the creation of a new Committee on Ethics and Good Governance with Ald. Michele Smith as chair, a Committee of Public Health and Human Relations and a Committee on Environment and Energy. However, aldermen must approve the City Council leadership posts, so it's possible Lightfoot could face a fight over who will chair the committees.


DENVER (CBS4)   Anadarko Petroleum Company employs about 1,100 people in Colorado and about half work in Denver. The others in the northern part of the state. For the company, that brings a big commitment to be a good neighbor. "It's always been really important to Anadarko to partner with organizations in the communities where we live and work," explains Amanda Gash, the Manager of Social Investment for Anadarko. "We really strive to create partnerships that go beyond the financial contributions and really have an opportunity for us to engage our employees and work with that organization to create impact in that community." That means partnering with organizations like Habitat for Humanity in Weld County as well as the Weld County Food Bank and the Poudre Learning Center in Greeley. But when it comes to really making a splash for the public, it's Anadarko's commitment to the Civic Center Conservancy and ">Independence Eve that most Coloradans notice. "We want to support the Conservancy and the work they're doing to restore and maintain the beautiful Civic Center Park," Gash said. And Independence Eve is an event Anadarko encourages all of its employees to attend. It's one Gash simply wouldn't miss. "My favorite part of the entire event is the fireworks show. I have a young son who looks forward to this every year and to just sort of see the awe in his eyes when that fireworks show starts. It's my favorite moment." LIST: 4th Of July Fireworks Shows Near Denver


Three GOP senators this week urged President Trump to reject what they describe as Iran's "nuclear blackmail" in the wake of the rogue nation's violation of the 2015 nuclear agreement   and highlighted the use of a mechanism in the U.N. resolution enshrining the deal that allows for a "snapback" of sanctions. "Regime officials have signaled they intend to creep towards a nuclear weapon, while demanding concessions and promising to 'reverse' their violations if their demands are met," Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas; Tom Cotton, R-Ark.; and Marco Rubio, R-Fla., wrote in a letter Tuesday. "We urge you to reject their nuclear blackmail." COTTON MOCKS IRAN OFFICIAL'S SANCTIONS COMPLAINT: WON'T BE ABLE TO SPEND IRANIANS' MONEY IN '5-STAR RESTAURANTS' Iran recently began stockpiling low-enriched uranium beyond agreed limits, in violation of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and have warned that more violations could soon be coming. Given that it was United Nations Security Council resolution 2231 that endorsed the Obama-era deal, the Council could be the site of the next stage in deciding the embattled deal's fate. Trump pulled the U.S. out of the deal last year, having described it as "the worst deal in history," and the administration has since imposed waves of crippling economic sanctions on Tehran. The senators urge Trump to invoke the so-called "snapback mechanism" in resolution 2231 that would restore sanctions on Iran's uranium enrichment and missile development. And while Security Council diplomats seek to work out how the U.S. will re-impose the sanctions given that it quit the deal last year, the letter from the senators notes that the U.N. resolution enables the original parties to the deal to revoke or snapback at any time. "Paragraph 10 of the resolution defines the United States as a participant for the purpose of invoking the mechanism. We urge you to do so," the senators wrote. The lawmakers also call on the president to cease the use of "civil-nuclear waivers" that they say allow Iran to keep a nuclear status quo. While there is another mechanism outside of the Security Council to deal with violations from the parties in the JCPOA, Tehran's threats to enrich uranium mean the process of bringing the snapback mechanism into effect will sooner rather than later be tested. From 2006 onwards the Council passed six resolutions that imposed severe sanctions on Iran in order to halt its nuclear ambitions by banning Iran from conducting nuclear research and developing ballistic missiles. TRUMP VOWS IRAN CANNOT HAVE PATH TO NUKES, SAYS HE HOPES SANCTIONS SENT 'MESSAGE' The senators' letter also claimed that the deal "was built to enable Iranian cheating" and allowed hundreds of billions of dollars to flow into regime coffers, "allowing the Iranians to boost its military and terrorist activities regionally and globally, even as they maintained nuclear weapons infrastructure, periodically exceeded restrictions on nuclear materials." "That's how the deal was always supposed to work, that's how it did work, and that's why it is imperative that the United States now respond forcefully to Iran's systematic violations by ending civil-nuclear waivers and invoking the U.N. snapback," the senators argued. It is unclear how such a move would be received by America's European allies at the Security Council   who opposed the U.S. departure from the deal, and who have fought to keep the compact intact. Behnam Ben Taleblu a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies in Washington, D.C., told Fox News that if the snapback mechanism is used and resolution 2231 is done away with, "it would also mean the Rouhani government's policy of playing both sides of the Atlantic against one another would have failed." A source familiar with the administration's discussions on the use of snapback told Fox News that there are ongoing interagency talks happening now about using the mechanism. An indication of the interagency discussions came earlier in the week from Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, whose statement on Iran's violation called on the international community to restore its longstanding requirement of not allowing any uranium enrichment for the regime's nuclear program in light of Iran's latest violation. His statement pulled no punches as he noted that "no nuclear deal should ever allow the Iranian regime to enrich uranium at any level. Starting in 2006, the United Nations Security Council passed six resolutions requiring the regime to suspend all enrichment activity. It was the right standard then; it is the right standard now." A senior GOP congressional staffer told Fox News: "Snapback is quickly becoming the only game in town, now that Iran has violated the deal." The staffer told Fox that, even though the U.S. left the deal, the administration still has every right per the resolution to put the snapback mechanism into play. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP "There's no technical reason the Trump administration can't just do it and quickly restore the international sanctions from before the deal," the staffer stated, adding that some officials wanted to hold off while the Europeans negotiated with Iran to stay in bounds. "Now that the Europeans have failed and the Iranians are engaged in nuclear blackmail, there's no reason left to hold off."


It goes without saying that the success or failure of the Chicago Bears in 2019 will rest squarely on the right arm of QB Mitch Trubisky. Sometimes, that right arm will be charged with making deep throws down the field. Trubisky was an aggressive passer in 2018 and had varying degrees of success when letting it rip. That said, he needs to become more consistent with his ball placement and QB coach Dave Ragone is using an interesting strategy with his young pupil at training camp. He's comparing deep throws to golf. "Does he pick the right club?" Ragone said via the Chicago Sun-Times . "Does he put enough air under it, or is it too flat? That's innate things. You have to be able to process that within three seconds to know which type of ball to put out there." This is a really smart way to bring context to the deep passing game. So much of a quarterback's accuracy depends on his ability to have a variety of tools in his throwing arsenal, including the understanding of when more or less juice is required on a particular route or rep. The fact Ragone is openly talking about this as a teaching point in camp suggests it's an area where Trubisky still needs growth. And that's OK. The good news is he has a coach who is more than capable of bringing him along and getting him to the point where his consistency on all three levels of the passing game takes a big step forward in 2019. MORE: 'Bachelor in Paradise' 2019 cast guide: Meet all 37 contestants 5 takeaways from the Raiders' first depth chart of 2019 season Quick hits, observations from Packers' first joint practice with Texans Roundup: Dow Plunges; Lindsay Lohan; Hannah Brown Speaks Out; Ryen Russillo Leaving ESPN Mack Wilson and Sione Takitaki make a great odd couple as rookie Browns LBs


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday accused New York state officials of trying to "take down" the National Rifle Association as the powerful gun rights group faces internal divisions and allegations of financial improprieties. New York's attorney general, Letitia James, has issued subpoenas as part of an investigation related to the NRA, but she declined to elaborate. The New York Times reported the probe relates to the group's tax-exempt status. "The NRA is under siege by (New York Governor Andrew) Cuomo and the New York State A.G., who are illegally using the State's legal apparatus to take down and destroy this very important organization, & others. It must get its act together quickly, stop the internal fighting, & get back to GREATNESS - FAST!" Trump said in a Twitter post. Representatives from the governor and attorney general's office did not respond to requests for comment. The gun group was roiled over the weekend when internal disputes spilled into the open at its annual meeting in Indianapolis, when retired U.S. Marine Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North said he will step down as NRA president. North said he was being forced out because of his allegations that NRA leaders engaged in financial improprieties. His departure came after NRA Chief Executive Wayne LaPierre accused North of trying to oust him by threatening to release "damaging" information about him, according to a letter from LaPierre to NRA board members that was published by the Wall Street Journal on Friday. North had told the NRA board last week he had formed a committee to investigate allegations, including one that LaPierre had received about $275,000 in wardrobe items paid for by an NRA vendor from 2004 to 2017, the newspaper reported. The NRA board went into executive session during a meeting on Monday as it debated next steps, according to media reports. The NRA, with more than 5 million members, is the most powerful and well-connected gun lobby in the United States. It has worked closely with legislators to protect firearms manufacturers from liability for gun violence and pushed a ban on U.S. health officials from promoting gun control. NRA officials did not respond to a request for comment. Trump has embraced the gun lobby, vowing not to tighten U.S. firearms laws and advocating proposals such as arming teachers as a way of preventing school shootings. On Friday, Trump used the NRA annual meeting in Indianapolis to announce he was pulling the United States out of an international arms treaty signed in 2013 by Democratic President Barack Obama but opposed by the NRA and conservative groups. The NRA spent $30.3 million to support Trump's 2016 presidential campaign, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, a group that tracks campaign spending. (Reporting by Doina Chiacu and Karen Freifeld; Editing by Steve Orlofsky)


Two-time Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is keen on returning for a third spell at the club, as current boss Maurizio Sarri moves closer to the exit door. Sarri is expected to sign a three-year deal with Juventus in the coming days, forcing the Blues into stepping up their pursuit of a replacement. And, while club legend and Derby County manager Frank Lampard remains the hot favourite, there is concern within the boardroom that the Englishman is not yet ready for such a high profile job. This leaves departing Juve boss Massimiliano Allegri, Erik ten Hag, Javi Gracia, Nuno Espirito Santo, Laurent Blanc, Rafa Benitez and, yes, Mourinho, fighting it out in the 'experienced' corner. According to The Sun , the Portuguese tactician would 'seriously consider' taking up the reigns at Stamford Bridge once more, after being out of management since his ignominious sacking from Manchester United last December. The 56-year-old, who has won three Premier League titles, three League Cups and an FA Cup in his cumulative five years as Chelsea boss, spoke to beIN SPORTS, who he has been doing punditry for, about his managerial future back in March. At the time, he explained: "What I have in mind is that I would like to be back in the summer, in June, for a new club, for a new pre-season. "I know exactly what I don't want. That's the reason why I had to say already to three or four different offers. I had to say no. Had the privilege of working with @morgs_95 over the weekend for her first @FIFAWWC column for @90min_Football . We touched on @USWNT 's chances in France, playing alongside some iconic figures at @ORLPride & international aspirations. Take a read... https://t.co/enwuniodv6   Toby Cudworth (@Toby_Cudworth) June 10, 2019 "And I know what I want, in terms of not a specific club but the nature of the job, the dimension of the job, I know what I want." However, according to Goal , as collated from reports by La Repubblica and Tuttosport , one man who is not so keen on the job from that 'experienced' pack is former Bianconeri boss Allegri, with his alleged refusal to join the club one of the reasons Sarri's confirmation has been delayed in Turin.


TORONTO (AP) Zack Greinke got an extra day off after being slowed by a stiff neck in his last start. It paid off as he came out strong against the struggling Toronto Blue Jays. Greinke and four relievers combined on a five-hitter, Alex Avila and Kevin Cron hit solo home runs and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Blue Jays 6-0 on Saturday. Nick Ahmed drove in two runs as the Diamondbacks won their third straight. ''Great team win,'' outfielder Jarrod Dyson said. ''Zack pitched his butt off.'' Greinke (7-2) allowed four hits in six-plus innings to win for the first time in four starts. He was 0-1 in three games since a May 15 victory over Pittsburgh. ''The fastball command wasn't amazing but the offspeed was good to keep them off balance a little bit,'' Greinke said. Toronto was blanked for the fifth time this season, all of them coming at home. The Blue Jays didn't put a runner in scoring position until the fifth, when Teoscar Hernandez hit a two-out single and Brandon Drury walked. Greinke struck out Luke Maile to end the threat. ''That's what Zack does,'' Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. ''He makes pitches when he has to.'' Greinke left a June 1 start against the Mets after four innings because of cramps in his neck. He then flipped places in the rotation with Merrill Kelly, who started Friday. Three of Arizona's four shutouts this season have come on the road. The Blue Jays lost for the 13th time in 16 games. Toronto has scored two runs or fewer five times in its past seven. They've scored two or fewer runs 26 times this season, second only to Miami (29). Toronto went 0 for 6 with runners in scoring position and left seven men stranded. ''Things aren't happening right now,'' Blue Jays outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. said. Greinke left after Gurriel Jr. tripled to begin the seventh. Andrew Chafin came on and struck out Rowdy Tellez. Yoshihisa Hirano fanned Hernandez and Brandon Drury to keep Toronto scoreless. ''It's hard to throw shutout baseball,'' Lovullo said. ''You're doing a lot right. One guy handed off to the next today to preserve that shutout.'' Matt Andriese pitched the eighth and Zack Godley finished. Blue Jays right-hander Aaron Sanchez (3-7) allowed five runs and six hits in six innings. He's 0-6 with a 5.71 ERA in eight starts since his most recent win, April 27 against Oakland. Ahmed opened the scoring with an RBI single in the second, and the Diamondbacks pulled away with a three-run third, when the first four batters reached safely. Jarrod Dyson, Tim Locastro and Ketel Marte all singled, with Marte's hit bringing home a run, before David Peralta lined an RBI double to right. Two batters later, Ahmed capped the rally with a sacrifice fly. Avila made it 5-0 with a two-out homer in the sixth, his third. Cron connected for the second straight game with a leadoff blast off Sam Gaviglio in the ninth. ''He smashed that ball today,'' Lovullo said. TRAINER'S ROOM Diamondbacks: OF Adam Jones (right hamstring) was held out of the starting lineup for a third straight game. Jones left Tuesday's game in the fourth inning. Blue Jays: SS Freddy Galvis (left hamstring) was held out of the starting lineup. Drury made his fourth career start at shortstop. OOPS! Toronto's Vladimir Guerrero Jr. didn't run hard on his deep drive to center in the first and was held to a single when Dyson fielded the ball off the wall and threw it in quickly. ''You should always go hard,'' Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo said. O CANADA Arizona's last shutout north of the border was Aug. 30, 2000, in Montreal, when Randy Johnson struck out 10 in a five-hitter against the Expos. UP NEXT Diamondbacks: LHP Robbie Ray (4-3, 3.62) has lost two straight starts. He's 2-1 with a 2.63 ERA in his past five road outings. Blue Jays: LHP Clayton Richard (0-1, 3.55) went 0-1 with a 6.60 ERA in three starts against Arizona while pitching for San Diego last season. --- More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports


Craving pizza? Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top pizza hot spots in Miami, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of the best spots to fulfill your urges. 1. Fratelli Milano Topping the list is Fratelli Milano . Located at 213 S.E. First St. downtown, the Italian spot, which offers pizza and more, is the most popular pizza spot in Miami, boasting 4.5 stars out of 1,022 reviews on Yelp. 2. Mister O1 - Brickell Brickell's Mister O1 - Brickell , located at 1000 S. Miami Ave., is another top choice, with Yelpers giving the wine bar, which offers pizza, salads and more, 4.5 stars out of 444 reviews. 3. Vero Vero , an Italian spot that offers pizza and more located downtown, is another much-loved go-to, with 4.5 stars out of 383 Yelp reviews. Head over to 90 S.E. First St. to see for yourself. 4. Mister O1 - Wynwood Check out Mister O1 - Wynwood , which has earned 4.5 stars out of 230 reviews on Yelp. You can find the spot to score pizza and salads at 2315 N. Miami Ave. 5. Amor di Pasta And then there's Amor di Pasta , a Flagami favorite with 4.5 stars out of 229 reviews. Stop by 536 N.W. 57th Ave. to hit up the wine bar and Italian spot, which offers pizza and more, next time you're looking to satisfy your cravings. This story was created automatically using local business data, then reviewed and augmented by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


Free agent defensive tackle Gerald McCoy remains unsigned, but that could change soon. McCoy hopes to make a decision some time today, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. The 31-year-old McCoy, who was released by the Buccaneers, is negotiating with the Panthers, Browns and Ravens. If he's going to pick the Browns, they'd like him at their mandatory minicamp, which starts tomorrow. McCoy's Buccaneers contract was set to pay him $13 million this year, and it's safe to say he's not going to make that much anywhere else. He seems to be hoping that by the end of the day today, some team will at least offer him something close.


Guess who's back, back again… guess who's back, guess who's back, guess who's back, guess who's back. Jason Witten returns to the Cowboys older, a shade slimmer and a more aerodynamic man . Coaches say the 37-year old is "moving well" and "looks the same" as his 35-year-old self. No. 82 returns for his 16th NFL season ready to make a difference. Witten is intended to have a snap count limitation, while supposedly giving way to younger tight ends Blake Jarwin and Dalton Schultz. While a snap count sounds great in theory, riddle me this; the Cowboys are down six in the fourth quarter, ball at their own 20, who's going to drag Witten off the field? Because they're going to have to. That accounts for maybe 10 to 15 extra snaps. Let's give another example; the Cowboys have the ball on a 2nd & 1 at the opponent 45 yard line and Witten's staying in to block or run his famous Y-Option. Lord forbid they don't pick up the first down and now it's 3rd & 1, guess what? Witten's staying in. These types of plays are going to add up, and with them, so is Witten's usage. The man will have his chances the question is what can he do with them? If his performance is anything like his last three years before retirement, Witten will be seen as a progress stopper. But if he can recapture some of what he had prior, there could be interesting returns from a player trying to escape the bell curver. Witten's Contemporaries There are only three tight end comps to Witten's greatness when paired with his longevity; Shannon Sharpe, Antonio Gates and Tony Gonzalez. Sharpe bid adieu to the NFL after his age 35 season. Gonzalez hung 'em up after his age 37 year, the same year Witten will play out during the 2019 NFL season. A tip of the cap to Antonio Gates, who played his age 37 season in 2017, and his age 38 season in 2018. Tony Gonzalez View embedded content Shannon Sharpe View embedded content Antonio Gates View embedded content Jason Witten View embedded content While Gates can be admired for sticking to it, his production the last two season has been minimal; he's averaged 325 yards, 29 receptions, and 2.5 touchdowns. If Witten ends up at that stat line in 2019, his season will be seen as a failure. Witten does far more blocking than Gates, but will still be expected to find the ball in the air. For as mediocre as Gates' numbers were during his age 37 season, Gonzalez's were astounding. While playing in the Atlanta Falcons pass heavy offense during his final season, 2013, Gonzalez put up 859 yards, 83 receptions, and 8 touchdowns. Full stop. Only four tight ends in the NFL put up more than 859 yards in 2018. Only two tight ends had more than eight touchdowns. That level of success at that age is almost unfathomable. If Witten can put up a stat line closer to 500 yards, 50 receptions, and 5 touchdowns, he'll have done his job, and qualified his return to the Cowboys. No, Witten won't likely best Gonzalez's age 37 season. But if he stays on the field and produces while he's there, he'll give the Cowboys a boost toward a Super Bowl run, and a shot at championship; something neither he, Gates or Gonzalez have ever achieved. You can follow Burke at @BurkeDowner. MORE: Heavyweight champ Andy Ruiz hits back at Stephen A. Smith after 'Butter Bean' comment Roundup: New Black Mirror Season Premieres; Trump Imposes Cuban Travel Restrictions; Manafort Sent to Rikers Aaron Rodgers sensing Year 2 jump from Packers WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling Did Nike accidentally reveal that Kevin Durant is staying with the Warriors? Report: Suns, Bulls offering lottery picks for Lonzo Ball


Detroit has no rain in the forecast for the next few days, with light rainfall expected later in the week, according to the seven-day forecast from drone-powered weather service Saildrone . Monday's forecast shows the highest possibility of rain at 77 percent, with rain possible through Tuesday. The coming days will also bring warm temperatures, forecast to persist through Wednesday. The weather will reach a high temperature of 84 degrees on Thursday. Skies will be partly cloudy for the next few days and mostly cloudy on Wednesday. Winds are forecast to reach a modest high of 16 mph on Monday, while today will be quieter with a top speed of just 5 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.


Video by People Wall Street will tell you stocks are always the best long-term investment. Try telling that to art lovers. Especially after what happened Tuesday night. A painting by legendary French Impressionist Claude Monet fetched a record $110.7 million in a frenzied eight-minute bidding war at Sotheby's auction house in New York. Not only is that reported to be the highest amount ever paid for an Impressionist painting, as well as the first time an Impressionist has sold for more than $100 million; it also marks a spectacular, equities-crushing return on investment. The unnamed seller of the Monet "haystacks" masterpiece bought it for just $2.53 million back in 1986. Total return: 4,300%. That's nearly twice the total return on the S&P 500 stock index over the same period. The same investment in an S&P 500 index fund would be worth $62 million today. But the Monet made a lot more money. Of course, you have to factor in dealing costs, taxes, insurance and so on. On the other hand, the owner had the pleasure of hanging the gorgeous work of art on his or her wall for 33 years. Sotheby's said the famous painting, named simply "Meules," was painted in 1890 and is one of 25 in a celebrated series of "haystack" paintings Monet, who died in 1926 at the age of 86. Most of his works are owned by museums and galleries. Just eight are in private hands. The painting sold Tuesday was first bought directly from Monet's dealer by a wealthy Chicago family in 1890, and was owned by that family until 1986.


WASHINGTON (AP) The Washington Nationals can only hope a four-day layoff won't curtail the wave of momentum they're riding into the All-Star break. Anthony Rendon doubled in the tiebreaking run in the eighth inning, Brian Dozier and Victor Robles homered, and Washington beat the Kansas City Royals 5-2 Sunday for its 10th win in 12 games. The resurgent Nationals have blown past Philadelphia into second place in the NL East. Since sinking to 19-31 on May 23, Washington has gone 28-11 and lost only one of 13 series. Now, it's hurry up and wait until their next game, on Friday in Philadelphia. ''It would it be nice to keep playing on this hot streak,'' manager Dave Martinez said. ''I'd say the way they're playing, keep going is great, but I think we all need a break.'' Starting pitching has been a big reason for the turnaround. In extending a trend, left-hander Patrick Corbin struck out 11 and scattered five hits over seven scoreless innings. Over the last seven games, Nationals starters have a 1.35 ERA with 65 strikeouts. It was the ninth time in the last 12 games that Washington starters allowed one run or fewer. The big three of Max Scherzer, Corbin and Stephen Strasburg turned in a history-making performance in the first half, making the Nationals the first team in NL history to have three pitchers with at least 125 strikeouts prior to the All-Star break. ''As a team, just to finish there how we did is awesome, being five games up (47-42) to where we were a couple months ago,'' Corbin said. ''We're kind of where we want to be.'' The hitting has been robust, too. Washington has homered in a franchise-record 21 straight games, the longest active streak in the big leagues. ''I love how we overcame a lot of things in the first month and a half and how we finished,'' Dozier said. ''We've made it happen.'' Corbin left with a 2-0 lead, courtesy of solo homers by Dozier and Robles, but the Royals pulled even in the eighth . After Fernando Rodney gave up a two-out RBI single to Adalberto Mondesi, Alex Gordon greeted Sean Doolittle (6-2) with a run-scoring double. Washington emphatically answered in the bottom half against lefty Jake Diekman (0-6). Rendon's double to the gap in left-center scored Adam Eaton , and Howie Kendrick capped the uprising with a pinch-hit, two-run double. Much earlier, the game developed into a pitching duel between Corbin and Jakob Junis, who allowed only five hits over seven innings. ''I've been struggling a little big lately, so to go out there and have a good outing like that - seven innings, two runs - that's good going into the break and the second half,'' Junis said. ''Hopefully I can take the good from this game and build off that.'' There probably won't be too many times when he goes up against a foe as effective as Corbin. ''He pitched a great game, and I had to compete with that,'' Junis said. ''I'm just glad I kept it close.'' BOUNCED IN RUBBER GAMES The Royals fell to 1-8 in series deciding games, the lone exception a win over Detroit on June 13 to decide a three-game set. That remains KC's lone victory in a rubber game since May 30, 2018. In addition, the Royals are 8-21 in series finales this year. TRAINER'S ROOM Nationals: RHP Max Scherzer has a sore back and will not pitch Tuesday in the All-Star Game, which enables him to get an eight-day break before his next start. ''Our season matters so much more than the All-Star Game,'' Scherzer said. ... INF Ryan Zimmerman wasn't in the starting lineup for a second straight day. ''Everything's good. This is kind of part of the deal moving forward,'' said Zimmerman, who missed 53 games from April to late June with a foot injury. ''It's just going to be managing everything for the rest of the year, but I'll take it. I'm just excited to be back and to be able to help.'' ... RHP Kyle Barraclough (sore forearm) was sent to Class A Potomac on a rehab assignment Sunday. UP NEXT Royals: Last-place Kansas City emerges from the All-Star break with a home game Friday night against the Detroit Tigers, the second-worst team in the AL Central. Nationals: Washington comes out of the break with a Friday night visit to Philadelphia, home of Bryce Harper and the Phillies, who are also in hot pursuit of first-place Atlanta in the NL East. --- More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports


Once again, the Baltimore Ravens spent their offseason revamping their wide receiver corps. After another disappointing season full of drops and lackluster play, Baltimore let nearly all of their wide receivers go in the offseason. John Brown left in free agency while Michael Crabtree was outright released. Chris Moore and Willie Snead are the only real holdovers from last season. But with quarterback Lamar Jackson starting this season in the driver's seat and a new offensive playbook courtesy of coordinator Greg Roman, the Ravens' offense looks for a fresh start. With that fresh start comes a bevy of new talent in the way of two new draft picks and a few free-agent pickups. As we've done with the other skill positions, we'll continue our fantasy football projections for Baltimore's wide receivers. Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end WIDE RECEIVERS Photo by Todd Olszewski/Getty Images There would appear to be few reasons to consider investing in pieces of the Ravens' passing game, considering their expected offensive mentality and the apparent weaknesses of their leading passer. If Jackson has improved over the offseason and if the Ravens revamped defense is unable to keep opposing offenses off the field, then there could be some late-round bargains to be had among Baltimore pass catchers. There are almost 300 targets from the 2018 season no longer on the Ravens' roster after all, following the loss of Crabtree and Brown. Those will get funneled somewhere. Snead led the Ravens receivers last year with 62 receptions, bringing him 651 yards and a touchdown. His output dropped off after Jackson became the starter, however. Snead saw 7.7 targets-per-game with Flacco under center, whereas he commanded just 5.2 with Jackson at quarterback. Snead played 71.7% of his snaps as a slot receiver last year, making him an easier target for Jackson close to the line of scrimmage. This gives Snead some appeal in points-per-reception (PPR) leagues but nothing to get too excited about. Either you'll be wise to stash him in deeper leagues or watch out for him on your waiver wire after Week 1 if he becomes Jackson's favorite target early. Rookie Marquise Brown (ADP WR57) was the first wide receiver taken in this year's NFL draft and he offers legitimate game-changing speed as an outside receiver. However, he began training camp on the PUP list as he recovered from offseason foot surgery - though he hit the practice field in pads for the first time on Day 6 . Having a similar skillset as John Brown, it's a fair comparison for Marquise Brown in 2019. Jackson averaged a mere 3.24 adjusted yards-per-attempt when targeting Brown last season, with the pair never really clicking together under Baltimore's more conservative offensive scheme. Brown's numbers took a major nosedive following the switch to Jackson. He averaged 7.4 targets, 3.8 receptions and 13.2 points-per-game in PPR leagues in the games Flacco played. These fell to 4.3, 1.1 and 3.6 respectively with Jackson starting. Marquise's fantasy appeal will very much depend on how much Jackson has improved as a deep passer, not to mention how often he looks to throw deep. Jackson only attempted 17 deep ball attempts all of last season, at a rate of 1.1 per attempts game. 36 quarterbacks went deep more often last year. However, Brown has a knack for picking up yards after the catch and could see more short and intermediate throws designed to hit him with space to run. Many people expect Brown to perform well this season, likely because of his talent and because of the limited options at wide receiver around him. Fellow rookie Miles Boykin is in a similar situation. He has deep speed on an offense that hasn't really aired it out under Jackson. However, Boykin hit the ground running at training camp, having a stellar day at the Ravens' open practice at M&T Bank Stadium and clearly developing a connection with Jackson . With a new offensive scheme in place, both Brown and Boykin are unknowns. If Baltimore throws deep more often and passes more in the red zone, both players could be in for big seasons. If the scheme stays similar to last year when Jackson took over, both Brown and Boykin will be feast-or-famine players. Chris Moore has garnered some praise from the Ravens coaches throughout the offseason. However, his lack of past production (Moore has only 44 career receptions in 44 games for the Ravens), other names on the depth chart and the offensive mentality of the team makes him a player that should still be on fantasy league waiver wires for some time even after the season has begun. Boykin and Moore are currently going undrafted in fantasy, and I don't see this changing too much before the season starts. Wide receiver fantasy projections: Receptions Receiving Yards Receiving TDs PPR Points Willie Snead 60 700 4 154 Marquise Brown 40 600 3 118 Miles Boykin 25 250 1 56 Chris Moore 20 180 0 38 MORE: Michael Irvin begged Jerry Jones to draft Steelers WR JuJu Smith-Schuster Angler lands 946-pound marlin by himself for 'historic catch' Roundup: A$AP Rocky Pleads Not Guilty; Katy Perry Owes Damages for 'Dark Horse'; Pound Plummets as Boris Johnson Preps for Brexit Chiefs have CB Tremon Smith playing RB at training camp Jon Gruden says Raiders DE Maxx Crosby 'might lead the league in effort'


TACOMA, Wash. (AP)   A man armed with a rifle threw incendiary devices at an immigration jail in Washington state early Saturday morning, then was found dead after four police officers arrived and opened fire, authorities said. The Tacoma Police Department said the officers responded at about 4 a.m. to the privately run Tacoma Northwest Detention Center, a U.S. Department of Homeland Security detention facility that holds migrants pending deportation proceedings. The detention center has also held immigration-seeking parents separated from their children under President Donald Trump's "zero tolerance" policy, an effort meant to deter illegal immigration. The shooting took place about six hours after a peaceful rally in front of the detention center, police spokesman Loretta Cool said. She said another rally was planned for later Saturday, but it would have to be held in a different area because of the investigation into the police shooting. Police said the man caused a vehicle to catch fire and that he attempted to ignite a large propane tank and set buildings on fire. Police said that besides the rifle, he had a satchel and flares. Police said officers called out to the man, and shots were fired. Cool said all four officers fired their weapons, but she didn't have specific details of what took place. She said the officers weren't wearing body cameras, but the area is covered by surveillance cameras from the detention center. She said she didn't know if the man fired at the officers. After the gunfire, officers took cover, contained the area and set up medical aid a short distance away, police said. Officers then located the man and determined he had been shot and was dead at the scene. His name hasn't been released. Authorities say investigators are processing the scene and police are continuing to investigate. No law enforcement officers were injured. The four Tacoma police officers who fired their weapons have been placed on paid administrative leave as is standard in officer-involved shootings. A motive for the man's actions hasn't been determined, Cool said. GEO Group, which runs the 1,575-bed Northwest Detention Center, in an email to The Associated Press said baseless accusations about how detainees are treated at its facilities "have led to misplaced aggression and a dangerous environment for our employees, whose safety is our top priority. Violence of any kind against our employees and property will not be tolerated. We are thankful for the quick and brave action by the Tacoma Police Department, which prevented innocent lives from being endangered." GEO Group said the detention center in Tacoma has modern amenities with air conditioning, recreational activities, a bed for every individual and medical care available at all hours. Last year, a federal judge ruled that Washington state could pursue its lawsuit seeking to force GEO Group to pay minimum wage for work done by detainees at the detention center. In November, a Russian asylum-seeker who conducted a hunger strike to protest the conditions at the detention center died by suicide, the Pierce County Medical Examiner's Office ruled. Mergensana Amar, 40, was taken off life support after attempting to kill himself while in voluntary protective custody at the detention center on Nov. 15, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said.


The US Army says that it will conduct live-fire tests of a new Robotic Combat Vehicle next year. While the tests won't involve vehicles ultimately slated to go into combat, they will be used to show off various technologies that may later be incorporated into platforms in the future, and how soldiers might eventually utilize them on the battlefield. The RCVs are built on an M113 armored personnel carrier , and will be controlled by soldiers in a vehicle called the Mission Enabler Technologies-Demonstrators (MET-Ds), an upgraded Bradley Fighting Vehicle . The MET-Ds will be equipped with cameras and a remote turret, which crew members will control with touchscreen panels. The first phase of testing will begin next March at Fort Carson in Colorado, and will feature a pair of MET-D vehicles and four RCVS. Each MET-D will be controlled by a driver, a gunner, and four soldiers, who will control a pair of RCVs to assess platoon-level maneuvers. The Army's Combat Capabilities Development Command's Ground Vehicle Systems Center and the Next-Generation Combat Vehicle Cross-Functional Team, will then look over the results and make adjustments for future tests. The next phases will be bigger: An infantry unit will test out the RCVs in Europe next May, and another test will take place sometime in late 2021, which will see six MET-Ds and four M113 RCVs, along with four light and medium RCVs to conduct company-level maneuvers. A third phase will take place in 2023, with six MET-Ds and four M113 RCVs, along with four medium and heavy RCVs. Mission Enabler Technologies-Demonstrator (MET-D) vehicles: leveraging the latest tech in cameras, data display, GUI, drive-by-wire capability, unmanned aerial vehicle-provided video, & advanced comms to help w/ battlefield situational awareness & enhance communication capability pic.twitter.com/SyWTwohq5g   U.S. Army CCDC Ground Vehicle Systems Center (@CCDC_GVSC) July 1, 2019 The Army has been working for several years to develop armored robotic vehicles, but the vehicles being used in these tests aren't the actual robotic vehicles that will eventually end up in combat   they're surrogate vehicles designed to simulate a future platform. These tests are aimed not at the vehicle capabilities, but at how their operators utilize them and to learn how to best use future robotic vehicles to attack an enemy without putting soldiers directly in the line of fire. David Centeno Jr., chief of the center's Emerging Capabilities Office, says in the release that when US forces come under fire, the Army will need to "find ways to penetrate that bubble, attrit their systems, and allow for freedom of air and ground maneuver." These robotic systems would be able to do that: they're mobile platforms equipped with cameras and guns, which could be directed into the line of fire by soldiers who are well out of range. The vehicles are expected to be smaller and faster than the crewed vehicles that the Army currently fields. Because they won't actually carry people, they wouldn't need to be as heavily armored, and could dedicate more space to weapons or fuel. The Army is currently working to develop future RCV platforms. In May, it held a demonstration event , which saw six different teams test out eight remotely-controlled robotic vehicles on a course in Texas. The Army used the demonstration to begin figuring out what the best approaches are for building future vehicles and what role they might play on a future battlefield.


Google's new podcast-focused search results have arrived in desktop browsers, after being announced earlier this week at Google I/O 2019. Searching for a podcast now shows you its three most recent episodes which can played directly in Google's web player on podcasts.google.com. The functionality works across both desktop and mobile. It's especially useful on iOS where a dedicated Google Podcasts app is yet to be released, as 9to5Google notes. The web player, which was first spotted back in March , has a similar set of playback controls to the dedicated Google Podcasts app that launched on Android last year . You can skip forwards and backwards, control playback speed, and if you're signed in with a Google Account then it should sync your playback across multiple devices. The biggest limitation is that the interface only lets you browse episodes from a single podcast, you can't browse different podcasts from the site. The web player includes a basic set of podcast playback controls. Google isn't the only company to have launched a web-based podcast player recently. Back in April, Apple updated the web interface for Podcasts to allow it to play episodes directly, strengthening rumors that the company is planning on breaking up iTunes into separate Music, TV, and Podcast apps.


A veteran wide receiver has recently hit the market, and there's a chance that the Washington Redskins could take a look in his direction. The Dallas Cowboys cut Allen Hurns on Wednesday as he neared complete recovery from a broken fibula suffered in the postseason. Hurns had recently expressed displeasure with the Cowboys organization, noting that they had asked him to take a pay cut when he was looking to sign a larger deal in the future. Just spoke with #Cowboys WR Allen Hurns on today's release. He's understandably disappointed saying "I'm good. Just wished they did this earlier, they asked me for a pay cut Monday. Couple days before camp." - Jane Slater (@SlaterNFL) July 23, 2019 The Redskins, who recently freed up some salary cap space with the surprise release of linebacker Mason Foster, now have $11.5 million in cap space that they technically could use in signing Hurns, a former NFC East rival. Washington is most desperate for help at the wide receiver position, and Hurns would surely be an instant star on the team should he sign with Washington. All of this is conjecture, as there have been no reports that the Redskins are even considering looking at the former Cowboy. Still, it is something to consider ahead of training camp and the 2019 regular season. MORE: Instant observations from Day 1 of Patriots training camp Mike Trout's perfect 98.6 MPH throw to home plate had everyone in awe Packers training camp practice roundup: July 25 Ranking the NBA's Top 10 Big Threes Chiefs rookie RB Darwin Thompson calls Patrick Mahomes 'a real-life Jug machine'


For the first time in nearly two decades, a Los Angeles County law enforcement official has been ordered to stand trial for a fatal shooting. Sheriff's Deputy Luke Liu is charged with voluntary manslaughter in the Feb. 24, 2016, shooting death of Francisco Garcia at a Norwalk gas station. After a hearing that stretched over three days, Superior Court Judge Michael E. Pastor on Friday rejected a motion by Liu's attorney to dismiss the manslaughter charge and a special allegation of intentionally discharging a firearm, which caused death. When Liu, 40, was charged in December , he became the first officer to face prosecution for an on-duty shooting since 2000, when LAPD Officer Ronald Orosco was accused of shooting an unarmed motorist in the back in September of that year during a dispute over a traffic citation. More than 1,500 shootings by officers have occurred since then without charges. Liu was on patrol in 2016 when he approached Garcia at a gas station in the 10900 block of Alondra Boulevard to investigate a potential stolen car, said Deputy Dist. Atty. Oscar Plascencia. When Liu asked Garcia whether the vehicle belonged to him, Garcia responded, "It's none of your business," according to a sheriff's report. Court documents indicate Liu stood near the driver's door before walking to the rear of the car. As Liu returned to the front of the car, Garcia, 26, began slowly driving away at approximately 5 mph. Liu said he saw Garcia's right hand reaching into the back seat and feared he was grabbing a firearm, according to sheriff's records. Prosecutors say that as Garcia pulled away, the car struck Liu along both knees. The deputy drew his service weapon, ran alongside the vehicle and fired seven shots at Garcia, who was struck four times. An estimated 20 seconds elapsed from when Liu approached Garcia until he fired his weapon, prosecutors said. Several civilians witnessed the incident, a portion of which was captured on video . Sheriff's Department policy states that deputies should not fire at stationary or moving vehicles unless a person in the vehicle is imminently threatening someone with deadly force using something other than the vehicle itself. After the shooting, Liu pulled Garcia from the car and performed CPR until paramedics arrived, according to witness testimony. Garcia was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Michael D. Schwartz, Liu's attorney, told the judge there was insufficient evidence to prove the shooting was unlawful. Liu received minor injuries when Garcia's car struck him, the lawyer said. But Plascencia argued the killing was "completely unnecessary" and that the deputy had "many, many other options" when Garcia tried to drive away. Liu will be arraigned June. 14. In the meantime, the 10-year department veteran is free on a $1.1-million bond. He has been on administrative leave since last year. The county has already settled a wrongful-death lawsuit with Garcia's family for $1.75 million. L.A. County Dist. Atty. Jackie Lacey, who was elected in 2012, has faced repeated criticism for declining to bring charges in police shootings. In an unusual move, former LAPD Police Chief Charlie Beck called on Lacey to prosecute one of his officers this year, but her office declined. When Liu was charged, Lacey said the use of force, in this case, was not reasonable   the critical factor that often determines whether an officer is charged in a fatal shooting. "We believe the officer's use of deadly force was unjustified and unreasonable under the circumstances," she said. "There is an inherent danger for law enforcement officers every time they put on the uniform. We applaud their dedication and bravery to make split-second decisions in potentially life-threatening situations. But we also must hold them accountable when their conduct is unlawful." The filing has infuriated deputies, who at an earlier arraignment of Liu's packed the courtroom in support of their colleague. Liu's attorney has insisted the evidence shows Garcia ignored the deputy's orders to put his hands on the wheel and drove into his client, prompting Liu to believe that his and others' lives were threatened by the fleeing suspect. City News Service contributed to this story. richard.winton@latimes.com Twitter: @lacrimes


Tamran Provance took us inside her home. There's a bunk bed for her two children and another bed where she sleeps. There's no kitchen or bathroom. "We have the two ice chests to keep the cold water and the meat and stuff cold," she said. Provance is one of about 400 people living in a tent at the Modesto Outdoor Shelter near Beard Brook Park. During this heat wave, her main priority was keeping her family cool and hydrated. The high for the day, on Wednesday, June 12, was over 100 degrees. "They have fans up here by the office that we can go and sit in front of. A lot of us have little portable fans that we've been able to get," Provance said. Staying cool in the sweltering sun was also a challenge for Nettie Gray and her dog, Serenity. There is only one community clean-water station with a hose to cool off. And it's in use nearly nonstop. "Sometimes I go to the river with her or I take her to the hose," Gray said. RELATED: Need to cool down? Try one of these cooling centers Two years ago, her family was homeless. Now, this Stockton teen is helping homeless students at her high school From homeless to tech executive: American River College alumna donates $500K to benefit students in STEM careers Doug Holcomb, operations manager of the shelter, said his team encouraged people to drink plenty of water. "We have a lot of community members that volunteer or donate a lot of bottled water. I think... we have twenty cases that were donated yesterday," Holcomb said. Sara Mendoza kept a close eye on how her daughter, Willow, was holding up in the heat. "She was a little dehydrated yesterday, throwing up," Mendoza said about her 16-month-old daughter. "It's the heat." Mendoza used a small kiddie pool next to her tent to keep Willow cool. Like others at the shelter, Mendoza has the goal of eventually leaving the tent city. There have been 100 documented exits since the shelter opened with some gaining more permanent shelter or simply leaving on their own accord. Hopefully, for a better, more stable life. Continue the conversation with Kurt on Facebook . WATCH ALSO: Modesto father & daughter help homeless in community


Hockey fans learned some answers to some interesting questions during the first round of the 2019 NHL Draft on Friday. Big players seemingly were valued more than small, as big center Kirby Dach surpassed his projections to go third overall to the Blackhawks, while spritely sniper Cole Caulfield slipped to the Canadiens at No. 15 . Spencer Knight did, indeed, become an increasingly rare first-round goalie when the Panthers snapped him up at 13 . The Red Wings answered the question of biggest reach, at least perception-wise, in shocking the crowd by getting Moritz Seider as early as sixth . Biggest steal is a matter of perception, as well, though Caulfield is in the conversation. And, yes, a boatload of Americans   actually, the boat needs to be reasonably big   went in the first round. A record-breaking boat . One lingering, annual question for draft is: how will "The Russian Factor" influence where a prospect goes. In the case of Vasili Podkolzin, the intriguing Russian forward went to the Vancouver Canucks at 10th overall. As you can see from the video above, some Canucks fans were thrilled: Others maybe had mixed feelings: While plenty adorably chanted "Da," as in yes, in welcoming Podkolzin. Some fans might be concerned about "The Russian Factor." In a nutshell, the concern with drafting some Russian players is that it can sometimes be difficult to control their development process, particularly when it comes to the threat of KHL contracts. It's not just about the current CBA severely limiting what a player can make on entry-level deals, but that's a factor when you consider the much stronger chances that a Russian player may eye the KHL. That's absolutely relevant with Podkolzin, who's actually already on a KHL contract, and is expected to honor it for two more seasons. Canucks GM Jim Benning didn't seem too worried about that situation in discussing the pick with Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman shortly after it was made. Benning explained that, in the 10th spot, the player the Canucks picked would probably need two years of development, anyway. Maybe that's not true   NBC's Pierre McGuire stated that an immediate leap wasn't that far fetched if there weren't restrictions   but overall, the Canucks have a point. And they also have a tantalizing situation, as Podkolzin is often described as an explosive talent, setting the stage for Vancouver to have a dynamic talent base including Podkolzin, Elias Pettersson , Brock Boeser , and Quinn Hughes . That must be exciting for Canucks fans, and fans of exciting hockey as a whole. Interestingly, though, Podkolzin isn't just a test case for whether teams should be worried about "The Russian Factor" of struggling to get a prospect to the NHL. This could also be a litmus test regarding scouts seeing big skills and potential, versus those who believe that teams are too quick to overlook the numbers. In a June 12 column about prospects to avoid, The Athletic's Scott Wheeler voiced some concern about Podkolzin's spotty production (sub required), at least when it came to him landing in the top 10: Podkolzin, as I've written since my preliminary ranking last fall, is a player who catches your eye because he appears heavily involved in games physically and heavily involved in the offence through the way he attacks with the puck, but doesn't often enough make plays that result in positive outcomes. There's a difference between catching your eye and winning hockey games. And instincts can only take you so far. I'm all for players who attempt to make plays but there's a level of awareness required to become a great player at the next level and I fear that Podkolzin may be limited to an energizing third-line role without a steep development of that skill in the next few seasons. Now, it's important to realize that Wheeler still penciled in Podkolzin as being worth picking in the 13-20 range, so even those with some mild misgivings believe in him as a prospect. Overall, there are enough wrinkles to make the Podkolzin pick very interesting. Frankly, the Canucks have made a lot of puzzling decisions over the years, from a slew of shaky signings in free agency, to the disconcerting notion of adding Peter Chiarelli to a front office that already seems to march the beat of the wrong drummer. Yet, the one area where they've had some big recent successes is the draft. Calling Elias Pettersson at fifth overall a steal might feel weird, but you can bet that the Flyers wish they could have gotten him at second instead of Nolan Patrick . (Sorry Nolan.) Brock Boeser was a heist at 23rd in 2015, and Quinn Hughes sure looks like the right call at seventh overall from last year. Considering that the Canucks got relatively weak draft lottery luck in landing the 10th pick this year, fans have to be absolutely delighted that Vancouver selected Podkolzin. Especially with some of the peculiar decisions that were made before and after they selected at No. 10. There are ways this can go wrong, however, making Podkolzin's development very interesting to watch.   James O'Brien is a writer for Pro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports . Drop him a line at phtblog@nbcsports.com or follow him on Twitter @cyclelikesedins . Related slideshow: Top picks from the NHL Draft (Provided by imagn)


NFL.com analyst Gil Brandt tabbed the Buffalo Bills' 2019 offseason moves at the third-best organizational work completed in the NFL this offseason. After completely re-vamping their offense via free agency, the Bills had a highly-praise 2019 NFL draft highlighted by their top pick Ed Oliver. Those combined caused Brandt to slate the Bills' offseason in the No. 3 spot. But in explaining that, Brandt finished his thoughts with an interesting nugget. Playoffs or bust for the Bills? That's how he sees it: 3) Buffalo Bills The 2018 Bills carried more than $50 million in dead money in anticipation of retooling the roster this offseason, and the team followed through on its plans. Signees Mitch Morse, Spencer Long and Ty Nsekhe and rookie Cody Ford (drafted No. 38 overall) will upgrade the offensive line, while veterans Cole Beasley, John Brown and Andre Roberts will do the same for the pass-catching corps. The ageless Frank Gore and rookie Devin Singletary (No. 74), meanwhile, were brought in to help bolster the LeSean McCoy-led ground attack. Those additions were all designed to give quarterback Josh Allen a better chance of growing in his second NFL season. On defense, the first-round selection of Ed Oliver (No. 9) should help make up for the retirement of six-time Pro Bowler Kyle Williams. Yes, the Bills just recorded their 11th losing season in the last 15, but this team was surprisingly feisty at times in '18, upsetting the Vikings in Week 3 and finishing with the second-stingiest defense in terms of yards allowed. All of Buffalo's moves, combined with rebuilding projects going on with the Dolphins and Jets, mean anything less than a playoff appearance will count as a disappointment. With the recent news surrounding the Jets and their front office firings, plus the apparent re-build the Dolphins are going through, the Bills have a clear path to the second spot in the AFC East. However, the defending champion Patriots are still going to be a tough test to overcome in 2019. The Bills' best path to the postseason might be a wild card berth. Beating up on the Jets and Dolphins, if possible, could play a big role in doing so for the Bills as well. In regard to the rest of the offseason rankings by NFL.com, the Bills were sandwiched in a top-five. The Browns and Raiders were above the Bills, respectively. Buffalo just edged out the Lions and the Eagles wrapped up the list at five. MORE: This photo of Kyler Murray led to more speculation about his height Tracy Walker is set up to be the next Lions' breakout star Did the Raiders steal the best fullback in the 2019 NFL draft? NBA Free Agency 2019: The top players Kyle Rudolph could be a late offseason acquisition Cowboys need


Watch Brooks Koepka's final round highlights from his 2019 PGA Championship victory.


ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) A four-run deficit in the first inning didn't mean much to Nomar Mazara and Lance Lynn. Mazara hit two home runs, Lynn shook off a rough start and retired 17 of the last 18 batters he faced, and Texas beat the Chicago White Sox 6-5 on Saturday night. ''Nothing (Lynn) does kind of surprises me,'' Rangers manager Chris Woodward said. ''His competitiveness, no matter what the circumstances, it's awesome for all our guys to watch.'' Run-scoring singles by Shin-Soo Choo and Delino DeShields wiped out Chicago's 5-4 lead in the sixth inning against Evan Marshall (3-1), who had not allowed an earned run in 17 1/3 previous innings this season. ''A four-pitch walk, 3-0 to the next guy. That's seven straight (balls),'' Marshall said. ''They were on me tonight. That's a good streak for me to start this year. Let's start a new one tomorrow.'' Mazara had his fourth career two-homer game and drove in three runs. He came to the plate in the first with Chicago leading 4-0, two outs and Elvis Andrus on first base. Mazara hit a 3-1 pitch from Odrisamer Despaigne into the upper deck in right field. Logan Forsythe doubled home another run to pull the Rangers within 4-3. ''We just tried to give Lynn as much time as we can so he can go out there and recover and battle,'' Mazara said. ''We saw a lot of pitches.'' Despaigne threw 34 pitches in the bottom of the 39-minute first inning, after Lynn had used 33. After that, Lynn took over. ''He's really good at making adjustments in game,'' Woodward said. ''He gave up four in the first, but he didn't let that affect him.'' Lynn (9-4) said simply, ''You're only as good as your next pitch.'' Lynn improved to 6-0 at home and tied his season high with seven innings pitched but allowed five earned runs and fell one short of tying the Rangers record of nine consecutive quality starts. Chris Martin pitched a scoreless ninth inning for his third save in four opportunities. Tim Anderson hit a solo home run and three-run double for Chicago. On Anderson's two-out, two-strike double in the first, DeShields couldn't run down the ball at the right-center field wall. Anderson scored four pitches later on a double to left center by Yolmer Sanchez. Mazara tied the game against Despaigne in the third with a solo homer, his third in his first six plate appearances in the series. Lynn retired 13 White Sox batters in a row before Anderson regained Chicago's lead with his homer to center field. TRAINER'S ROOM White Sox: RHP Dylan Covey (right shoulder inflammation) is scheduled for a bullpen session on Sunday that could determine whether he'll return after being placed on the injured list June 9. His return could determine who would start for Chicago on Tuesday at Boston. ''We'll see how it goes (Sunday),'' manager Rick Renteria said, ''and then we could make a clear assessment of when we'll use him.'' Rangers: They could have both of their All-Star finalists back from the injured list for their next series at Detroit. OF Joey Gallo (strained left oblique, on the IL since June 2) is expected back from an injury-rehab assignment ''right now, Tuesday,'' manager Chris Woodward said. OF/DH Hunter Pence (strained right groin) is expected to play Thursday, the first day he's eligible to come off the IL. 1B Ronald Guzman left the game in the ninth inning because of what Woodward called ''a little heel soreness.'' GAME OF MILLILITERS In a pregame cow milking contest between relief pitchers, Texas' Shawn Kelley edged Chicago's Josh Osich. In the baseball game, Osich shut out the Rangers in a career-high 2 1/3 innings. QUALITY The only Texas pitchers to reach nine straight quality starts in a season were Kenny Rogers in 1993 and 2005, and Hall of Famer Gaylord Perry in 1975. Lynn's eight straight quality starts were the most by an American League pitcher this season. Lynn's 6-0 home record tied Minnesota's Jake Odorizzi for the AL's best. Lynn pitched six-plus innings for an 11th straight start, one away from his career high set in 2017. HELPING ARMS Chicago's Charlie Tilson doubled his assist total for the season by starting plays that threw out Asdrubal Cabrera at home in the first inning and Willie Calhoun at third base in the third. Second baseman Yolmer Sanchez made both relay throws. UP NEXT Chicago RHP Ivan Nova (3-5, 6.01) is 3-0 with a 2.97 ERA on the road this season, and 2-1, 3.09 in four career games at Arlington. Rangers rookie RHP Adrian Sampson (5-4, 4.40) will be facing the White Sox for the first time in the conclusion of the three-game series. --- More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports


(Video above is a look at the other headlines from WYFF News 4) Dale Earnhardt Jr. is sharing the special moment that happened the day he spread his mother's ashes. Brenda Jackson died in April of cancer . She was 65. Earnhardt posted Wednesday on Facebook that his mother's side of the family got together for dinner that night. He said they are doing it monthly as a way to remain connected. (Scroll down to see full post) After dinner, he said the family spread his mother's ashes on a hillside on his property, as she had requested, and then something special happened. "As we all were saying our goodbyes at the end of the evening there was a rainbow straight off the front door of the house," Earnhardt said. "What an amazing ending to a special day." The social media post has been shared more than 2, 400 times and has more than 4,100 comments. Jackson is survived by her husband, two children, a stepdaughter, six grandchildren and two brothers. READ MORE: Dale Earnhardt Jr. shares special ending to day he spread mother's ashes CHECK OUT WYFF: Get the latest Greenville news and weather. For live, local, late-breaking Greenville, SC, news coverage, WYFF is the place to be.