RALEIGH, N.C.   A quest that began on the Great Wall of China will end in the Stanley Cup Final. The Bruins' march to the Eastern Conference championship, which they captured with a 4-0 win in Game 4 on Thursday night over the Hurricanes, saw them trek through an injury-riddled regular season, scale the arduous mountains of Toronto and Columbus, and blaze through the comparatively gentle hills of Carolina. Next stop: St. Louis or San Jose, in a Stanley Cup Final slated to start sometime in the next 10 days. Jumbo Joe Thornton and the Sharks lead the Western Conference finals, 2-1. "There's some unfinished business, so that's part of the emotion that you keep in check," coach Bruce Cassidy said. "There's still four more steps to take." The Bruins are back in the Final for the first time since 2013, a stretch that saw them miss the playoffs twice, suffer a pair of second-round exits, and lose once in the first round. Five players from the 2011 Cup team   Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand, Tuukka Rask, David Krejci, and their 42-year-old captain, Zdeno Chara   will keep chasing their second Cup. Chara, who was scratched Thursday to rest a minor injury, dressed for the celebration at PNC Arena and led the handshake line. He hugged Bergeron and his teammates, many of whom surrounded 35-year-old veteran David Backes , whose eyes were wet with tears when he spoke afterward. Chara shook the hand of NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly before posing with the Prince of Wales Trophy. No one touched it. "Proud of the guys, especially the way we played today," said Cassidy, who gleefully noted that, like Backes, he will go for his first Stanley Cup. "They've earned the right to be there, we've earned the right to be where we are." No doubt about it. The Bruins hammered the Hurricanes in four straight by dominating the special-teams battle   Boston's power play was 7 of 15, while Carolina's was 1 for 14   getting lights-out netminding from Rask, and seeing every player in the lineup make a positive contribution. The Bruins, now on a seven-game winning streak, also had a boost from visiting fans, who made sold-out PNC Arena sound like TD Garden with "Let's Go Bruins" and "Tuuuuuk" chants. They sure heard it, defenseman Torey Krug said. They'll get more of that in Boston, which will host Game 1 of the Cup Final. A pair of power-play goals, from David Pastrnak and Bergeron, gave the Bruins the lead in the second period. Bergeron pumped his fists when Pastrnak fed him for a layup with 9:28 left. Marchand, their pal on the No. 1 line, sailed home an empty-netter with 2:17 to go. This was utter domination by the Bruins, who wound up leading for all but 13:08 in the four-game sweep. Rask was his usual brilliant self, making 24 saves and recording his second shutout in consecutive clinching games. He appeared to have grown to be 9 feet tall, and barely registered a pulse on some saves he made. Rask's teammates were as committed and attentive as usual, and were airtight without Chara. The Bruins allowed four shots in the second period, none of them a threat, and just two in the third period before Carolina pulled netminder Curtis McElhinney with 5:24 left. Neither Scott Walker nor Justin Williams could save the Hurricanes, who had made the playoffs for the first time since 2009   when they rode Walker's Game 7 OT winner against the Bruins to the East finals. The Hurricanes were dispirited in Game 3 after a first period in which they outshot the Bruins, 20-6, but could not solve Rask. In the first period of Game 4, the Bruins were at risk for feeling the same. They had several golden opportunities, but opted to pass up seemingly good shots to create tap-ins against McElhinney. The top line was the guiltiest. Bergeron   whose assist in Game 2 was the only even-strength point the line registered in the first three games   fanned on a shot in front and went cross-crease to Pastrnak, who tried to go back to Bergeron. The pair combined on a similar play minutes later, McElhinney snuffing it out. Carolina's netminder wasn't just lucky. On one glittering early sequence, he kicked aside a Charlie McAvoy slapper from the circle and robbed Marchand with his glove. The Hurricanes had a pair of power plays in the first, beginning with a Matt Grzelcyk tripping call 1:18 in. They went 0 for 2, displaying all the strength of a Sunday summer breeze. The Bruins cashed in twice on three chances. The Hurricanes had their best zone time of the evening before they bailed out the Bruins with a too many men call at 4:28 of the second. On a rush up the left wing, Marchand's eyes, body, and stick blade were telling McElhinney he was shooting   but he zipped it to Pastrnak, who was driving the middle lane and got inside position on Calvin de Haan. There was the tap-in the Bruins wanted. Soon it was 2-0, some 24 seconds into another power play. Not long after, a joyful celebration was on in the corner near Rask's net. Four wins to go. Follow Matt Porter on Twitter at @mattyports


After clearing waivers on Wednesday, veteran shooting guard J.R. Smith has lined up a free agent meeting with the Bucks, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic, who reports that the sit-down will happen today. JR Smith will have a free-agent meeting with the Bucks today in Milwaukee, league sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium . Bucks are searching for a wing shooter and both sides will have opportunity to sit down.   Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 18, 2019 As Charania notes, Milwaukee remains in the market for a wing shooter. However, the team has little financial flexibility, having used up its cap space and its room exception. While the Bucks can't offer more than the veteran's minimum, Smith is unlikely to command more than that at this stage in his career. Released this week by the Cavaliers, Smith hasn't appeared in an NBA game since last November, when he parted ways with the team for the remainder of the season. In the first month of the 2018/19 season, he appeared in 11 games (20.2 MPG), averaging 6.7 PPG on .342/.308/.800 shooting. Those numbers were among the worst of his 15-year NBA career, though the sample size was extremely limited. In his last full season in 2017/18, Smith recorded 8.3 PPG with a .375 3PT% in 80 games (28.1 MPG). The idea of the Lakers as a landing spot for Smith was a popular topic of speculation, given his connection to LeBron James and Klutch Sports. But a report surfaced shortly after the Cavs waived him indicating that the Lakers were an unlikely destination for the veteran.


Didier Drogba might be on his way to MLS as a breaking report from Noel Butler on tsn.CA has confirmed that the Ivorian striker is negotiating a contract with MLS. After leaving Chelsea as an EPL champion, the 37-year old striker did not hang up the boots yet. After an experiment in China, both Serie A and MLS have been rumored to want the exciting striker. It seems that the Chicago Fire is also on the Drogba bandwagon but Butler's detailed article confirms, via sources, that Drogba has set his eyes on Montreal. Even though, Joey Saputo made it clear that he will not be willing to spend tons of money if the signing didn't make sense on and off the pitch. Drogba's name is enough to excite any club though he is far from being in optimal shape at his age but could he boost the Bleu-Blanc-Noir in the standings and revenue? Stay tuned for more.


The New England Patriots haven't made their trip to the White House, which is typical for a Super Bowl winner. And as time passes, they seem less and less likely to make an appearance for their win in Super Bowl LIII, according to ESPN's Mike Reiss . The Patriots did not respond with comment when asked if they will attend the White House. In the past, the Patriots have visited the president on April 2, 2002, May 10, 2004, April 13, 2005, April 23, 2015 and April 19, 2017. We're, of course, well past that point. With nothing scheduled, the team is running out of time to put something on the books, especially at a time when players are on vacation and are spread across the country. Trips to the White House have become particularly controversial under President Donald Trump's administration. When the Patriots visited the president after Super Bowl LI, much was made of their lack of attendance . That came on the heels of Trump's disparaging comments about NFL players who were kneeling to spark conversation about social inequality . MORE: Jimmy Butler's decision to sign with the Miami Heat just got super awkward What the Heck is Going On With the Jimmy Butler Sign-and-Trade? NBA Free Agency 2019: The top players It looks like the Patriots won't be doing a Super Bowl champion visit to the White House Rob Gronkowski's retirement physique shows he's really done with football


NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP)   Religious publishers say President Donald Trump's most recent proposed tariffs on Chinese imports could result in a Bible shortage. That's because millions of Bibles   some estimates put it at 150 million or more   are printed in China each year. Critics of a proposed tariff say it would make the Bible more expensive for consumers and hurt the evangelism efforts of Christian organizations that give away Bibles as part of their ministry. HarperCollins Christian Publishing President and CEO Mark Schoenwald recently told the U.S. Trade Representative that the company believes the Trump administration "never intended to impose a 'Bible Tax' on consumers and religious organizations," according to a transcript of his remarks provided by the publisher. The two largest Bible publishers in the United States, Zondervan and Thomas Nelson, are owned by HarperCollins, and they incur close to 75% of their Bible manufacturing expenses in China, Schoenwald said. Together, they command 38% of the American Bible market, he said. The full size of that market is difficult to gauge. A spokeswoman at HarperCollins said they believe around 20 million Bibles are sold in the U.S. each year. The NDP group, which includes NPD BookScan and PubTrack Digital, captured 5.7 million print Bible sales in the U.S. in 2018. But that figure doesn't capture all sales, including the large number of Bibles sold by publishers directly to congregations. Regardless, it's clear the Bible is the top-selling book in the U.S. By comparison, the next best seller in 2018 was Michelle Obama's "Becoming," which BookScan estimates sold 3.5 million copies. The proposed 25% tariff would apply to all books, but critics say it would disproportionately affect Bibles and children's books. Both tend to have specialized printing requirements that Chinese printers are set up to meet while many domestic printers are not. "U.S. printers moved their Bible printing facilities abroad decades ago, leaving no substantial domestic manufacturing alternatives," Schoenwald said. Stan Jantz, president and CEO of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association, said in a phone interview that over half of worldwide Bible production takes place in China. The tariff would hurt organizations that give away Bibles and also make it difficult for publishers to sell the Bible at a price people can afford, he said. "Traditionally, historically books have been excluded from tariffs," Jantz added. Biblica, the International Bible Society, is a charitable religious organization that gives away Bibles to people in 55 countries. China represents 72% of the group's investment in Bible publishing, according to Biblica President and CEO Geof Morin. A Bible tariff would "dramatically affect the number of Bibles we are able to print and give away, impacting the religious freedom of individuals in countries where Bible access is limited and often nonexistent," Morin said in testimony to the Trade Representative, according to a transcript he provided. The critics also argue that a tariff on books would not advance the purported goals of the tariff, to stop the Chinese from acquiring American technology, trade secrets and intellectual property. "The printing of books does not require significant technology or know-how that is at risk of theft or appropriation by China," Tyndale House CEO Mark Taylor said in written comments on the tariffs. For now, the publishers and other Bible distributors must simply wait to see if their pleas will be answered. Trump and President Xi Jinping of China agreed at a recent meeting of the Group of 20 major economies to resume trade negotiations, a decision that puts all the proposed tariffs on hold. Forecasters warned, however, the two sides still face the same differences that caused talks to break down in earlier this year.


A hacker swiped credit card applications, Social Security numbers, and bank account information affecting more than 100 million people from Capital One's server, the bank announced Monday . Authorities say they arrested a suspect, Seattle software engineer Paige Thompson, after she posted about the incident on social media, the New York Times reports . "I've basically strapped myself with a bomb vest, dropping capital ones dox and admitting it," Thompson purportedly posted on Slack, prosecutors say. Her posts on the social network Meetup initially alerted the FBI after the breach on July 19, according to the New York Times. There, Thompson ran a group called Seattle Warez Kiddies for "anybody with an appreciation for distributed systems, programming, hacking, cracking." From that point, they traced her online activity to other accounts on Twitter and Slack where she allegedly bragged about the hack. Thompson has been charged with computer fraud and abuse, and faces a maximum sentence of a $250,000 fine and up to five years in prison, the BBC reported . According to court documents, the FBI says the hacker took advantage of a "firewall misconfiguration" to breach the bank's server. Capital One attributed the incident to an exploited "configuration vulnerability," and said the hacker made off with 140,000 Social Security numbers and 80,000 bank account numbers. In total, the heist compromised information affecting roughly 100 million people in the United States and another 6 million in Canada. The bank's chief executive, Richard D. Fairbank, apologized for the incident in a statement Monday. "I am deeply sorry for what has happened," Fairbank wrote. "I sincerely apologize for the understandable worry this incident must be causing those affected, and I am committed to making it right." In the wake of the data breach, Capital One is offering free credit monitoring and identity protection to anyone affected.


Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen put himself on the NFL map when he hurdled Minnesota Vikings linebacker Anthony Barr during a Week 3 victory on the road last season. Other fan bases are taking note, and Allen is all right with it. In an interview with The Athletic , Allen was asked about the "coolest thing" about his position in the NFL. The second-year pro can see positives and negatives about playing the highest-profile position on professional football roster. "Obviously, there's good and bad. The most significant thing is pressure. But I've been able to do a lot. I went to Monaco," Allen said. However, there are also times when he travels to enemy territory. While doing so, Allen found some delight at the expense of New York Jets fans. "I went to a Yankees game last month, and they put me on the Jumbotron at Yankee Stadium, which was really, really cool. I got booed because they're Jets fans, but that, to me, was so gratifying," Allen said. It makes sense, as Jets fans have an additional reason to challenge Allen. New York selected quarterback Sam Darnold four spots ahead of Allen in the 2017 draft. If Darnold is outplayed by Allen, it will indicate yet another mistake made by the Jets front office. Allen continued, "I thought, 'Yeah, they don't like me around here. I'm into that.' That was fun." It's his home landing spot that is particularly satisfying for the Wyoming product. Buffalo is approximately 1,530 miles east of his alma mater. He has found a way to be embraced by fans in Western New York, even challenging the most hardened Bills fans. "Then, just around the town of Buffalo, I feel super loved here. It's a great base, the best fan base in the NFL. To feel a part of them, a part of Bills Mafia, the beer-chugging thing, it shows everybody on the Bills is a normal person just like anybody else," Allen said. Allen may be the recipient of some jeers from downstaters, but it's all love in Western New York. Then again, folks from the same area in the greater New York City region booed another quarterback recently, too. That one, in a bizarre twist, was New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones . Allen's boo-birds make much more sense… MORE: The NBA should be embarrassed about all the wrong hats being worn at the draft Roundup: Toy Story 4 Worth the Wait; Slack is Back, Lil Nas X Here to Stay The 2019 NBA draft pick by pick Luke Bowanko: what the Lions are getting with their new OL Odell Beckham blames politics for fallout with Giants


With the imminent announcement of Frank Lampard as the new Chelsea manager, the 41-year-old will no doubt turn to the clubs youth ranks as he looks to bring through some of Chelsea's young guns. Although given cameo roles in the domestic cups and dead rubber European ties, youth players at Chelsea have found the door slammed shut as big signings were demanded to try to compete with the like of Manchester City during recent seasons. With Lampard's appointment, might this just be the time to revert to within due to the transfer ban currently in place at Stamford Bridge? Here are eight youngsters who could form part of Lampard's plans and make the step up. Tammy Abraham Tammy Abraham has said Chelsea's transfer ban represents a glorious opportunity for the club's academy prospects and next season will be 'now or never' for him to break into the first-team. The 21-year-old had a glorious on loan campaign helping Aston Villa to promotion to the Premier League. Abraham will no doubt be given the chance to impress under Lampard and must grasp the opportunity with both hands. Jake Clarke-Salter Could it be good timing for Clarke-Salter to make a name for himself? You bet. With Gary Cahill released by Chelsea at the end of last season, the 21-year-old has the chance to stake a claim going forward. Currently captaining England Under-21s, he was also skipper for the Under-19 side previously and won the Under-20 World Cup two years ago. He spent last season on loan at Vitesse Arnhem. Perhaps he could partner Fikayo Tomori in the Chelsea defence moving forward ? in an all-English centre-back pairing. Mason Mount Mount is a player who is highly thought of by Lampard, having been pivotal under the new Chelsea manager at Derby. The 20-year-old had a superb season last campaign in the Championship and could well be given his opportunity in the 2019/20 season. He scored 11 goals and provided six assists in 43 games for the Rams, and Lampard could use the player, following Chelsea's transfer ban. A perfect option for Chelsea next season. Jay Dasilva Jay Dasilva has had an impressive season for Bristol City having made a total of 21 appearances at Ashton Gate. Lampard could bring him into the fray as competition for Marcos Alonso. The 21-year-old is looking to follow in the footsteps of Ashley Cole, but Bristol City are wanting to re -take the youngster on-loan once again next season, having lost exciting starlet Lloyd Kelly to Bournemouth. He would learn a lot from Lampard and be given the freedom to foray down the left delivering dangerous balls for the Chelsea front men. He is no doubt worth a shout at full-back. Fikayo Tomori Another player Lampard knows well from his time at Derby. Tomori's rise has been incredible under the stewardship of the new Chelsea manager and he is ready to 'return home' to the Bridge, where he has been since the age of seven. The 21-year-old has what it takes to become a regular for Chelsea and should be given the opportunity to fill the void left by Gary Cahill. Tomori's presence and power is something to note, but the Derby player of the season, who started 40 of the 43 league games and in all eight of their cup matches, is the real deal and could flourish under the continued guidance of Lampard and Morris. Trevor Chalobah The brother of former Chelsea and now Watford midfielder Nathaniel Chalobah, the 19-year-old spent last campaign on-loan at Ipswich Town. The centre-back who can also operate as midfielder would give Lampard options in two key areas. David Luiz is 32, and midfielders Danny Drinkwater and Jorginho are expected to depart, so cover is key. Antonio Conte raised eyebrows when he named him on Chelsea's bench for the FA Cup final. Clearly he had seen enough to give him his support. With two years left on his Chelsea deal, its make or break for the youngster ahead of the new campaign.  Ethan Ampadu The 18-year-old joined the Blues from Exeter City in July 2017. He can operate as a defensive midfielder or centre-back. Ampadu will no doubt be given more opportunities under Lampard. He was previously a target for Sir Alex Ferguson, before Chelsea pipped the Red Devils to sign him. He has mainly been used in the domestic cup competitions under Sarri and Conte, but the youngster will no doubt want to impress and could go on to be a star under Lampard in years to come.  Reece James James, who spent last season on-loan at Wigan can operate as both a right back and left back, therefore offering versatility. The 19-year-old, who has been linked with moves to both Brighton and Liverpool in the past could be the perfect replacement for César Azpilicueta or Davide Zappacosta. James played in the same youth team as Callum Hudson-Odoi and is very highly thought of within the club. Only missing one game for the Latics last campaign, the youngster would thrive under Lampard and should be given the opportunity next season.


House Democrats on Thursday forced Republicans to vote against their own drug pricing bills by packaging them with measures intended to shore up ObamaCare. The House passed the package in a 234-183 vote, with Democrats drawing only five Republicans to vote with the majority. As part of the package, Democrats voted on three bills that would help remove barriers to generic drugs entering the market, and would crack down on tactics that lawmakers say pharmaceutical companies use to tamp down competition and keep prices high. The bills were bipartisan, and passed unanimously out of the Energy and Commerce Committee, but Democratic leaders this week combined them with legislation rolling back some of what they call the administration's "sabotage" of ObamaCare. That forced Republicans into the tough position of voting down popular drug pricing bills, so as not to be seen as favoring ObamaCare. The move was slammed by Republicans for inserting politics into something that has traditionally been bipartisan. "I have to express my regret that the bipartisan work we did ... gets paired up with a purely partisan bill they know we had problems with," said Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.), the top Republican on the Energy and Commerce Committee. "That's disappointing at best and discouraging and unfortunate, because there's an opportunity to legislate here," Walden added. Republicans had pushed for the drug pricing bills to be separated out from the ObamaCare legislation for a standalone vote. Adding in the ObamaCare legislation also makes it less likely the GOP-controlled Senate will take up the drug pricing bills. President Trump, who has made lowering drug prices a key priority, said he supports the drug pricing provisions but would veto the ObamaCare legislation if it ever passed the Senate. The drug pricing bills included the long-stalled Creates Act, as well as one that would crack down on brand-name drug companies paying generic companies to delay introducing their competing drugs - a practice called "pay-for-delay." During a press conference Thursday, House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) decried adding what he said were "partisan poison pills" to legislation where everyone was in agreement. "They took a situation where we found common ground on drug pricing and transparency ... but before they came to the floor, they put poison pills in it dealing with the Affordable Care Act," McCarthy said. Democrats said the savings from the three drug pricing bills, which the Congressional Budget Office estimated at $4 billion over the next 10 years, is needed to pay for the ObamaCare bills. Those bills would ban short-term insurance plans, which Democrats call "junk insurance" plans because they don't have to meet ObamaCare's coverage requirements. The package also includes a bill to restore marketing and outreach funding to help Americans buy insurance through the insurance exchanges. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said Democratic leadership forced Republicans into the tough vote on drug pricing in part because of repeated GOP attempts to undermine ObamaCare. "I think, frankly, we have packaged these bills because we think they are all part and parcel of what we pledged to the American people; that is, bringing down prices and making healthcare available at a level that they need to protect themselves and their families," Hoyer told reporters Wednesday. "I regret that the administration continues to try to undermine the ACA." Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) told The Hill he thinks there will be other opportunities for bipartisan work on drug pricing. "This is important to strengthen the ACA. I don't have a problem with what leadership is doing," Khanna said. Updated at 7:50 p.m.


Apartment hunting on a budget can be challenging. So what does the low-end pricing on a rental in the Platinum Triangle look like these days   and what might you get for your money? According to Walk Score's assessment, the neighborhood is car-dependent, has some bike infrastructure and has good transit options. It also features median rents for a one bedroom that hover around $2,046, compared to a $1,500 one-bedroom median for Anaheim as a whole. A look at local listings for studios and one-bedroom apartments in the Platinum Triangle via rental sites Zumper and Apartment Guide yields a look at what price-conscious apartment seekers can expect to find in this Anaheim neighborhood. Read on for the cheapest listings available right now. (Note: prices and availability are subject to change.) Hoodline offers data-driven analysis of local happenings and trends across cities. Links included in this article may earn Hoodline a commission on clicks and transactions. 1818 S.State College Blvd. Listed at $2,004/month, this 890-square-foot one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment, located at 1818 S. State College Blvd., is 2.0 percent less than the $2,046/month median rent for a one bedroom in the Platinum Triangle. The unit has hardwood floors and granite countertops. For those with furry friends in tow, know that cats and dogs are allowed on this property. The listing specifies a $99 pet deposit. (See the complete listing here .) 1105 E. Katella Ave. This one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment, situated at 1105 E. Katella Ave., is listed for $2,037/month for its 709 square feet. In the unit, anticipate granite countertops and stainless steel appliances. Pet owners, take heed: Cats and dogs are welcome. (See the complete listing here .) 2211 E. Orangewood Ave. Here's a one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment at 2211 E. Orangewood Ave., which is going for $2,045/month. In the unit, expect to find in-unit laundry and a mix of hardwood and carpeted floors. Pet owners, take heed: Cats and dogs are welcome. (See the full listing here .) This story was created automatically using local real estate data, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


The weather report shows more light rainfall is in store for Orlando, due to last through Tuesday, according to the seven-day forecast from drone-powered weather service Saildrone . Today's forecast shows the greatest likelihood of rain at 94 percent, while the most rainfall is predicted on Monday at 0.53 inches. The coming days will also see warm temperatures, persisting through Tuesday as well. The weather will bring a high temperature of 91 degrees on Wednesday. Winds will stay somewhat calm in the course of the week, with the highest speeds on Friday at just 9 mph. This story was created automatically using Saildrone's local weather forecast data, then reviewed by an editor. We also incorporate historic weather data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


From Anne Hathaway to Ellen DeGeneres, here's a list of famous people who gave up being vegan for a variety of reasons. Although many people are vegan , a plant-based diet doesn't work for everyone. Some celebrities have been open about their experiences giving up a vegan diet. Although she said she followed a plant-based diet for eight years, comedian Ellen DeGeneres recently shared that she stopped being vegan "for no real reason." Natalie Portman said she stopped being vegan while she was pregnant in 2011 but has since said she's back to following a plant-based diet. Rapper Waka Flocka Flame has said he thinks "the public scared [him] from being vegan." Switching to a vegan diet is a major lifestyle change that comes with both benefits and drawbacks . When someone decides to follow veganism, they are cutting out all animal products from their diet, including meat, eggs, and dairy. And although there are some celebrities who lead plant-based lifestyles , veganism is certainly not sustainable or practical for everyone. Here are some celebrities who have spoken about giving up being vegan. Natalie Portman said she stopped being vegan while she was pregnant, but she's back to following a plant-based diet. Natalie Portman has been an outspoken supporter of a vegan lifestyle for many years - she even launched a now-defunct vegan shoe line back in 2008 . But when she got pregnant in 2011, she said she had to give up the vegan diet. She told radio station Q100 , "I actually went back to being vegetarian when I became pregnant, just because I felt like I wanted that stuff. I was listening to my body to have eggs and dairy." Portman said, however, she has since made the transition back to being vegan and in 2018 she told Us Weekly that she and her children follow a plant-based diet. Kristen Bell also said she stopped following a vegan diet during her first pregnancy. According to Today, Kristen Bell has been a vegetarian since she was 11 years old and she said she went vegan in 2012 after watching "Forks Over Knives," a documentary examining degenerative diseases and their connection to animal-based and processed foods. But Bell said she realized that the diet wasn't sustainable for her while she was pregnant with her first child. She told Today , "During my first pregnancy, I was working and it felt like I needed more calories. I was pretty conscious of it." Today, Bell said she is a vegetarian though she said she supports those who follow a vegan diet. "I think being vegan is a wonderful way to live and it has great effects on the body," she told Today. "I also think it has really good effects on the environment." Ellen DeGeneres said she stopped being vegan "for no real reason." Around 2008, Ellen DeGeneres switched to a vegan diet for ethical reasons and so she could "have energy," per an interview with Shape magazine in 2010. In that same interview, she said she followed a diet of "no animals, no dairy, nothing processed; a lot of soup, veggies, rice, beans, legumes." But in her 2019 Netflix stand-up comedy special "Relatable," DeGeneres told a joke about being vegan but followed it with , "I'm not really vegan, I say it for the joke ... I was vegan for eight years and I really believe that it's great for you." She added, "I was healthier than I'd ever been, I loved being vegan. But just in the last year or two for no reason really, I started eating a piece of fish once in a while. And I'll eat eggs from chickens I know - if they are in someone's backyard and they're wandering around and they're happy." Anne Hathaway said she ditched her vegan diet partially because it didn't make her feel healthy or strong. It seems Anne Hathaway first went mostly vegan around 2011, in part because she was trying to lose weight for her role as Catwoman in "The Dark Knight Rises," per HuffPost. She said she kept up a vegan lifestyle for a few years until she was filming the movie "Interstellar." In 2014, she told Harper's Bazaar that the shoot for the movie took place in Iceland and it was physically demanding - she spent most of her day in a 40-pound space suit. She also told the publication that she gave up her vegan diet when she felt compelled to try a piece of fresh fish while at a restaurant in Reykjavik, Iceland. Hathaway said the next day, after eating the fish, she "just felt better." She added that when she was following a vegan diet, she "just didn't feel good or healthy, not strong." She told the same story to Tatler earlier this year , elaborating, "I had a piece of salmon and my brain felt like a computer rebooting." Since then, she has reintroduced meat, dairy, and eggs into her diet. Zooey Deschanel said a vegan diet was nearly "impossible" for her to follow because of her other food sensitivities. When asked if she was vegan in 2010, Zooey Deschanel told Health magazine that she wasn't anymore. "My older sister, 'Bones' star Emily Deschanel, has been a very, very committed vegan since high school. I wish I could be like that, but I'm not," she told the publication. "I have a lot of food sensitivities - I can't eat wheat or soy - and it was very difficult to eat and get enough calories. It was even impossible to eat at a vegan restaurant," she added. In 2011, the "New Girl" actress also told New York magazine that "to be a gluten-free vegan is, like, the most difficult thing you could possibly be ... and I lasted, like, six months." Waka Flocka Flame said he thinks "the public scared [him] from being vegan." In one 2017 interview, which was sponsored by animal-rights organization PETA , rapper Waka Flocka Flame said he first opted to follow a vegan diet in 2014 so he could lose weight. He explained he had gained 45 pounds in one month and he was "tired of" his weight. He said he also followed the diet because he wanted to be healthy. But in a 2018 interview with Paper magazine, Flame said he had "dropped the vegan card." "I think the public scared me from being vegan," he told the publication. He said he didn't like the title of being vegan and what he felt it said to others, adding that vegans "scare people ... like people are really scared of vegans. They are like the ... cops. When vegans are around, people be trying to throw their food under the table, like oh, the vegans!" He said he is now a pescatarian (meaning he follows a vegetarian diet but makes an exception for fish) and he calls himself "a conscious eater," meaning he thinks carefully about what he eats and drinks. Derek Hough said he was vegan for just a few weeks but had to give in to his cravings. In August 2017, Derek Hough told Us Weekly that he was following a vegan diet and it was "easy," particularly because he lived in Los Angeles, an area known for having a lot of plant-based eateries and options . While following a vegan diet, the dancer said he felt "great" and he had more energy and his skin was clearing up. But he said he only followed a vegan lifestyle for a few weeks before he gave it up. In November 2017, he told People that although he loved being vegan, it just wasn't totally working for him. Hough explained, "It was great, but I found for me if I'm craving something - like if I'm craving meat, then I'll have it. But I don't eat it as often and I will say that. But for me it's about the greens … that gives you the energy."


A lawsuit over a sinkhole on Quintana Road that killed one person and injured two others in 2016 won't go to trial, but the victims will receive nearly $15 million in compensation and the San Antonio Water System will get $1 million, according to the victims' lead attorney. The San Antonio Water System's board of trustees on Tuesday approved the terms of the settlement that also includes engineering firm CDM Smith and construction company C.J. Louis. The two companies, which were hired by SAWS to construct a sewer line that failed and created the massive sinkhole, will each pay the utility $500,000 as part of the settlement. The settlement still must be approved by a judge. "We were sued by the three plaintiffs, but we also brought our own cause of action against the engineering company and the construction company," SAWS President and CEO Robert Puente said in an interview. "All of our issues have been resolved. … We are being dismissed from this lawsuit, and we are not paying anything" in the settlement. The $1 million that SAWS will receive in the settlement will offset some of the expenses for repairing the sewer line and the road, which cost a total of $2.9 million, according to SAWS officials. On ExpressNews.com: Deadly sinkhole formed at sewage line junction Puente said that because the case won't go to trial, there won't be a final determination about who was at fault for the Dec. 6, 2016, collapse. A large sewer line failed, eroding the ground around it until Quintana Road caved in. Doralinda Nishihara, a part-time Bexar County Sheriff's Office deputy, was off duty when she drove into the sinkhole and died. Soon after, Anthony Villarreal also drove into the hole and pedestrian Claudia Milay Silva fell in. They survived. They, along with the family of Nishihara, sued SAWS and the two contractors. Dan Sciano, the lead plaintiff's attorney in the case, said the plaintiffs will receive $14.75 million. He and a team of lawyers spent more than a year building the case against the defendants. In court documents, the plaintiffs argued that the engineering firm designed a sewer line and junction between two pipes that weren't sound and used materials that weren't approved for such projects. The plaintiffs also alleged that the construction company and SAWS were complicit because they were aware of the issues with design and construction materials. On ExpressNews.com: Gushing water in sinkhole hides the cause of sewer pipe break "The engineer should have never designed it, the contractor never should have built it, and SAWS should never have approved it," Sciano said. "The good news is that the matter is resolved. The bad news is that it took someone's life to solve it." Berto Guerra, chairman of the SAWS board of trustees, said it's been a "sad" process. "The thoughts and prayers of all 1,700 SAWS team members and the entire board of trustees have been with the family of Deputy Dora Nishihara," he said in a statement before the meeting. "We hope that having the lawsuits resolved today will bring some measure of healing to the family." Guerra said that SAWS will continue to "do everything in its power" to ensure the safety. CDM Smith, the engineering firm, no longer has an office in San Antonio and hasn't sought work on SAWS projects, Puente said. The C.J. Louis construction company has continued to win low-bid contracts since the Quintana Road incident. Puente said their work has continually met expectations and passed inspections on subsequent projects. Josh Baugh covers environmental issues in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read him on our free site , mySA.com, and on our subscriber site , ExpressNews.com. | jbaugh@express-news.net | Twitter: @jbaugh


A former Baltimore police officer has been convicted of second-degree assault and misconduct for a beating last August that was captured in a video that went viral. A judge found Arthur Williams not guilty of the more serious charge of first-degree assault. The second-degree assault and misconduct convictions are misdemeanors. Williams resigned from the department on the day of the assault . The victim of the beating, DaShawn McGrier, said just a few words as he walked out of court after hearing the judge's verdict. "Justice ran its course, man. That's all. I have no further comment," McGrier said. He can be seen in the cellphone video Williams being beating him repeatedly by Williams on a sidewalk in east Baltimore last August. The trial lasted four days and included Williams testifying that he acted in self-defense that day , that he was trying to regain control of police equipment from McGrier. McGrier also testified. The cellphone video wasn't used as evidence in court, but one of two police body camera videos played by prosecutors showed McGrier sobbing while talking to paramedics after the beating. McGrier was not charged with a crime. In the end, the judge found Williams guilty of second-degree assault and misconduct and not guilty of first-degree assault, the most serious charge. The prosecuting attorney didn't speak to reporters after the verdict. But a statement released from the City State's Attorney's Office reads, in part, "The defendant abused his position and put a citizen he was sworn to protect in danger, and now he will have to face the consequences of his deplorable actions." Williams' attorney, Tom Maronick, said that, although the former officer is disappointed about the misdemeanor convictions, he is relieved. "We're very pleased with the result from the court that first-degree assault was a 'not guilty,'I mean that's a felony charge for him, and I thought from the very beginning that that was something that they didn't have evidence for," Maronick said. The judge can give any penalty that's not cruel and unusual. Williams' sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 9. He faces 10 years for the second-degree assault charge. Misconduct in office is a common-law offense and does not carry a maximum sentence. READ MORE: Former BPD officer convicted in assault of man in August CHECK OUT WBAL: Get all the latest Baltimore news, weather and sports. WBAL-TV brings you the best in Maryland news online, anytime.


Kristen Bell's daughters are pretty sure she's about as old as dirt. Plus, more celebrity news for July 18, 2019. Kristen Bell's daughters try to guess her age on her 39th birthday: '89' Lookin' pretty good for an octogenarian, Kristen Bell !Oh, wait. That's because you're still in your 30s. Kristen turned 39 on Thursday, July 18. But to her daughters, 6-year-old Lincoln, and 4-year-old Delta, the "Veronica Mars" star might as well be nearing the triple digits. In a rare Instagram video featuring her kids' voices (she rarely, if ever, shows their faces on social media), a makeup-free Kristen asks the girls how old they think their mom is turning that day. "Six ... ," Delta begins before pausing. She then declares,"63," which Kristen repeats like a good sport. "How old do you think I'm turning, Linc?" she asks her older daughter. "Eighty-nine," says Lincoln. At this point, Kristen looks to the girls' dad for some help. Turning towards Dax Shepard, who seems to be filming the exchange, Kristen asks, "OK, Dad, how old do you think I'm turning?" Says Dax, "I'd say about somewhere in the middle of those two guesses, so 71, is that right?" Once again playing the good sport, kristen says nothing about the husband points we'd be deducting if we were in her shoes. "I'm turning 39," she tells her daughters. "My kids are kind," she captioned the post. "I dont care if they cant do math 👵👵👵." Kim Kardashian lobbies White House for help getting A$AP Rocky released from Swedish prison Kim Kardashian West is taking her interest in criminal justice reform back to the White House -- and overseas. A source tells Page Six the aspiring lawyer reached out to Donald Trump's son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner earlier this month to "see if there was anything that can be done to release" rapper A$AP Rocky, who was detained in Sweden after allegedly getting into a street fight with two men who appeared to have been the instigators in video of the exchange posted by Rocky's manager. Since he was detained, Rocky's manager has said the rapper is being held in "inhumane conditions" including "24/7 solitary confinement, restriction of amenities for the most basic of human functions" at the Kronoberg Detention Center. According to the Post's source, Kim and Kanye West are "very concerned" about Rocky's well being and "very hopeful that the Swedish government will release him soon." A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department has also spoken out about the situation, saying "there are certainly some facts about the arrest and detention that raise concerns" and that the department expects "all governments, including Sweden, to treat American citizens fairly and with respect. A rep for the detention center has denied the allegations, saying the facility was recently renovated. The prosecutor on the case in Sweden tells Page Six a decision should be reached by the end of the week regarding whether to prosecute the rapper or extend his prison term. The men who allegedly attacked him are also reportedly being detained. Angelina Jolie and Vivienne Jolie-Pitt adopt a bunny Vivienne Jolie-Pitt, 11, is the proud new owner of a gray and white bunny. The Daily Mail reports Angelina Jolie was spotted taking her daughter to a PetSmart in Los Angeles this week, where they appear to have adopted the new pet and stocked up on bunny care supplies. The new addition to the family might be the first pet Angelina and Brad Pitt 's six kids have gotten since the former couple split. When they were together, they reportedly shared gerbils, goldfish and an English bulldog named Jacques. If a recent report from The Sun is correct, the bunny will likely be headed to Brad's house with the kids, who Angelina has reportedly consented to have stay with their dad for most of the rest of the summer while she finishes shooting "Those Who Wish Me Dead," marking a step forward in the pair's long-running c ustody battle. Britney Spears' dad will move forward with defamation case against fan site The man who operates Britney Spears Instagram fan account "Absolute Britney" has been served with legal papers regarding a defamation case Britney's dad, Jamie Spears will now be able to pursue. The Blast reports Anthony Steven, who goes by Anthony Elia, will be due in court to defend himself over claims he's to blame for what's described in the suit as fans accusing Jamie, Britney and Britney's team "of numerous false and malicious things, including attempts to mislead the public with the content that appears on her social media." Among those was a post Lynne Spears got dragged into in which the account pointed a finger at the singer's conservators and reps for allegedly "deleting positive comments on her Instagram post and leaving negative ones to keep up the illusion that she needs help." Is Duchess Meghan 'struggling' with her new 'level' of fame? Some of the extra privacy Duchess Meghan and Prince Harry have been building into their lives may be the product of Meghan's discomfort with the kind of status joining the royal family has ushered into her life. "Meghan has struggled with the intensity of the spotlight," a royal source tells People . "Although she is a former actress, this is on a different level." The scrutiny has also grown stronger since Meghan and Harry welcomed their son Archie on May 6. People reports the royals' decision to have a private christening for Archie, to limit the release of photos of the baby and not to go public with the names of his godparents may all be tied to the new pressures Meghan is enduring. In the meantime, she has Duchess Kate , who has spoken publicly about how "lonely" motherhood can be, to lean on. The two appeared closer than usual when they attended Wimbledon together last weekend. Kate was even spotted consoling Meghan after her close friend, Serena Williams lost in the finals. Dolly Parton is all about remixing 'Old Town Road' with Lil Nas X Lil Nas X can add one more music icon to his growing list of fans. The 20-year-old chart-topper recently got a thumbs-up from Mariah Carey after asking her to record a remix of his hit, "Old Town Road," according to People . Now, Dolly Parton's chiming in to say she's down to record a version, too. While Mariah replied to Lil Nas' request by posting a photo of herself in a cowboy hat, smiling, Dolly took the visual "yes" a step further, responding to his, "Y'all think I can get Dolly Parton and [rapper] Megan Thee Stallion on an old town road remix?" tweet with an image of the "Old Town Road" album art tweaked to show one stallion colored bright pink -- with blonde hair. Lil Nas X's response? "YEE YEE GANG!" Kylie Jenner selfie ruled the 'modern-day equivalent of what was once an autograph' A judgement in what seems like a nit-picky argument about the use of a selfie featuring Kylie Jenner could have broad implications for the way courts handle photos of celebrities on social media. A judge in Australia's Federal Court ruled has that because Kylie looked "familiar" with Linda Hammond in a selfie they took together that Linda had permission to use on her personal Instagram, Linda now owns the photo and can post it again without issue. According to Buzzfeed , Linda co-founded Quay, a sunglasses store that Kylie had an endorsement deal with in 2017. Linda later sold most of her Quay shares to a company called Elevate, then launched a lingerie company called Dream Bandits with her husband. Elevate reportedly sued Linda and her husband on grounds they were infringing on Quay's trademarks and copyright with Dream Bandits by implying there's a tie between that company and Quay, where Linda remains on the board. As for the so-called "Kylie Jenner issue," Elevate is concerned that because the Kylie selfie was taken after a photoshoot and the license for those photos has ended, the implied connection between Dream Bandits and Quay opens Quay up to possibly being sued by Kylie's team. On Tuesday, July 16, however, a judge ruled the photo's "un-posed familiarity and informality would suggest that it was not intended to be anything more than a modern-day photographic equivalent of what was once an autograph" and that an injunction forcing Linda to take the photo down "would intrude on Ms Hammond's personal freedom and control over her Instagram account." Multiple outlets are now reporting the implications of viewing a selfie as a "modern-day ... equivalent of ... an autograph" could spark a seismic shift in online rights for celebrity selfies. Amber Heard opens up about her push for the SHIELD Act and the problem with the phrase 'revenge porn' Amber Heard is working with members of Congress to make it a federal crime to publicly share explicit images of people without their consent. The actress, who was among a slew of stars who had nude photos hacked from their iCloud accounts and leaked online in 2014, opened up about so-called "revenge porn" on the latest edition of "The Conversation with Amanda de Cadenet," reminding listeners that the hackers pleaded guilty to stealing the photos, but no one was ever charged for posting them online, according to the Daily Mail. She also pointed out that the "revenge porn" term itself is problematic. "[The term] implies that there was an action, for which the victim was responsible. For you to seek revenge, it implies that somebody did something wrong," she said. Amber also reiterated some of the points she made during a press conference on Capitol Hill in May, where she said graphic, private images of her remain on the internet, but they've since been "manipulated" and often surface alongside what she described as "sexually explicit and humiliating and degrading headlines." She said she's still "harassed, stalked and humiliated by the theft of those images." Amber's now working with Sen. Kamala Harris and representatives Jackie Speier and John Katko to get support for the SHIELD Act, which would make the distribution -- not just the theft -- of non-consensual, explicit images a federal crime. "That's the beautiful thing about legislation," Amber said on Amanda's podcast. "It is one thing to change attitudes, and when we talk about changing cultural attitudes, we talk about imparting change, we have to appreciate how much of that is informed by legislation which codifies it." Jermaine Dupri still has that big tattoo of his ex, Janet Jackson After his acrimonious split from Amber Heard , Johnny Depp had a tattoo of his pet name for her changed from "slim" to "scum" to "scam." There's no such bad blood between Jermaine Dupri and Janet Jackson , though, so the huge tat Jermaine has of Janet going down the right side of his body has stayed put. "I have a tattoo of her   but I know her," Jermaine told Page Six of his ex. "People have tattoos of people that they do not know. So when I got the Janet tattoo people were like, 'What if y'all break up?' But this is someone I know. I don't regret Janet's tattoo   we have matching ones." Janet and Jermaine dated from 2002 until 2009. After Janet left her husband, Wissam Al Mana, in 2017, she was rumored to have been "getting close to" Jermaine again. While nothing seems to have come of that reunion, it sounds as if the two still talk. It also sounds like Jermaine has yet to rule out a rekindled romance with the singer. "When people on Twitter say, 'Why haven't you said happy birthday to Janet Jackson?'. . . these people are stupid. It's a person that I dated for almost 10 years. I can pick up the phone and call that person," he said when asked about their status now. "So when you ask if I wish that I could get Janet Jackson back," he added, "... it's a phone call away." Jordyn Woods lands another new gig -- as a video vixen Jordyn Woods is still proving there's no such thing as bad press. In the wake of her alleged hookup with Khloe Kardashian's then-boyfriend, Tristan Thompson, she's landed multiple new spotlight opportunities, from her candid interview about what happened with Tristan and the Kardashian-Jenner family on "Red Table Talk" to appearances like a speaking engagement at a festival overseas. Her latest gig? Video vixen. TMZ spotted Jordyn, clad in a black, goth-styled getup that showed off her curves, on the set of a new Rick Ross video this week.


The 2019 NFL offseason is winding down, but there are still players available in free agency and via trade who could help teams. Here's a look at 10 deals that would make an impact. Bears trade a conditional draft pick to the Buccaneers for Cairo Santos While 49ers kicker and former Bear Robbie Gould has been connected with Chicago this offseason, Santos would come at a much more reasonable cost after the Bucs drafted kicker Matt Gay. Santos was on Chicago's roster briefly in 2017, and he has a history with head coach Matt Nagy in Kansas City. Santos has made a respectable 83 percent of his field-goal attempts during his five-year NFL career and trading for him could go a long way in fixing the issues Chicago has had at the position. Buccaneers trade a late-2020 draft pick to the Bengals for John Ross Ross is only two years removed from being the ninth overall pick in the draft, but there have been rumors of a trade this offseason with new head coach Zac Taylor running the team. There were durability concerns for Ross out of college, and he's been active for only 16 games in two years. Still, the NFL Combine 40-yard dash record-holder has obvious talent and could be a fit for Bruce Arians' offense. Arians has never found a speedy receiver he didn't like, and the Bucs lost DeSean Jackson this offseason so they could use a replacement. Buccaneers sign Jay Ajayi It was a surprise that the Bucs didn't address running back in the draft, perhaps showing their confidence in 2018 second-round pick Ronald Jones. Regardless, they could use some more depth, and Ajayi is the best running back left on the market. He's still recovering from a torn ACL, but Ajayi brings experience and upside as a former 1,200 yard rusher in Miami. Cardinals trade a late-2020 draft pick to Redskins for Case Keenum This move would be insignificant in some respects, but Keenum is a perfect fit for Arizona and could be available after Washington drafted Dwayne Haskins. There's a real possibility Keenum will be third on Washington's depth chart behind Haskins and Colt McCoy, while Arizona is lacking an experienced backup behind Kyler Murray. Keenum played under Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury at Houston, so he could help along the development of Murray in his rookie season. Washington already traded a late-round pick to acquire Keenum from Denver this offseason and might be able to recoup that value by moving him. Cardinals sign Michael Crabtree Another blast from the past in the Air Raid system, Crabtree played under offensive mastermind Mike Leach in college at Texas Tech prior to Kingsbury's arrival. He's lost a step at this point in his career but is still a capable slot receiver in an offensive system that employs plenty of them. Arizona went heavy at wide receiver in this year's draft, but there could be room for another experienced wideout as the team tries to help Murray's development along. Chiefs trade a mid-2020 draft pick to Cardinals for Patrick Peterson Peterson is suspended the first six games of the season for PEDs, putting the Cardinals in a big bind on defense. Arizona is in a rebuilding year with a rookie head coach and quarterback, but the Chiefs have ambitions to play well beyond the regular season again. K.C.'s biggest roster need is cornerback, one area it did not heavily address in the offseason. There is a fit here for both sides. Chiefs trade a late-2020 draft pick to the Dolphins for Albert Wilson The potential loss of Tyreek Hill is likely one factor that spurred the Chiefs to use their top draft choice on Georgia wideout Mecole Hardman. There is still a need for more receivers if the Chiefs will be without Hill, and Wilson is a potentially great fit. The former Chief cashed in with Miami last offseason, but head coach Adam Gase has moved on since then and the Dolphins have some wideout depth. It wouldn't take long for Wilson to learn the Chiefs offense given that he spent his first four seasons in K.C. and also had 10 receptions for 147 yards in Week 17 of the 2017 season, Patrick Mahomes' first NFL start. Returning from a hip injury, Wilson could come cheap if the Chiefs can fit his $8-plus million cap hit. Cowboys sign Eric Berry Dallas has been connected to Berry since he was released by the Chiefs, and the strong fit is still mutual. Berry would add safety depth and be a leader to an already strong Dallas defense while still out to prove he has something left after consecutive injury-plagued seasons. Jaguars trade a mid-2020 draft pick to the Eagles for Nelson Agholor Agholor is a free agent following the 2019 season, and Philadelphia seems unlikely to bring him back after using a second-round pick on J.J. Arcega-Whiteside. If Arcega-Whiteside shows that he's ready in the preseason, Philadelphia could move on from Agholor for draft capital. New Jaguars offensive coordinator John DeFilippo was Philadelphia's quarterbacks coach in 2017, and Nick Foles has two years of experience throwing to Agholor in Philly. Packers trade for Tajae Sharpe Sharpe looked like a potential keeper in his 2016 rookie season, but his stock has plummeted over the last two years. Tennessee signed Adam Humphries and drafted A.J. Brown this offseason, putting Sharpe's playing time in question heading into his fourth season. Green Bay could still use more receivers, and Sharpe is already familiar with head coach Matt LaFleur's offense after playing in it with the Titans last year. Related slideshow: 2019 NFL draft: The top picks (Provided by imagn)


In 2018, drivers asked for hi-tech, onboard cameras and now they're getting them. The New York International Auto Show , open to the public through April 28, is ground zero for next-generation car technology and also home to several vehicles that offer in-car and exterior monitoring systems. From upgraded blind spot cams to facial recognition software installed in the dash, cars on display are equipped with several sets of digital eyes that can improve vehicle security, safety and convenience. Some of the cameras can help propel cars closer toward an autonomous future by enabling the vehicle to see what's around it. Others are installed to combat drunk driving by analyzing the driver's face and behavior. Last year, onboard cameras were on the top of motorists' wishlists, according to auto trends search data released by Google. Auto companies like Kia, BMW, Tesla and General Motors are positioning themselves to meet the increasing demand. Where are the cameras? Almost everywhere. Cadillac's new CT5 compact sedan has a hands-free driving assistant that can navigate most U.S. highways on its own, as long as the driver stays attentive. Unveiled at the auto show, there's a camera on top of the steering column that monitors the driver's awareness. The 2020 Hyundai Sonata, which made its first stop in North America at the auto show, has five cameras installed throughout the car   four of which are used to provide the driver with an enhanced bird's eye view of the vehicle's exterior. The sedan has front-facing cameras, mirror mounted cameras, a rearview camera and ultrasonic sensors that project sound waves to detect the proximity of objects to the vehicle. BMW has an optional driver monitoring camera in its new 2019 X5 SUV. The video camera is mounted in the digital dashboard as part of BMW's Extended Traffic Jam Assistant system to make sure the driver is paying attention to the road ahead. Tesla cars are also bespeckled with cameras, both internally and externally. Eight surround-cameras give new Tesla's 360 degrees of visibility, helping the semi-autonomous cars see the world around them. Displays confuse the cops: Tesla Model 3 confuses police officer who thinks a computer is mounted on the dashboard Where do images, videos and data end up? Some go straight to the manufacturer. With all these cameras and sensors, modern cars can collect details about driving habits that some automakers use for future innovations like digital road maps that can help with autonomous driving. BMW, for example, provides real-time vehicle data to the mapping software company HERE. The data is being used to develop a range of connected vehicle services, according to HERE. Some of the data and images never leave the car. The computers on Tesla vehicles house information that drivers voluntarily save. The information can be erased through a factory reset. Still, the autonomous car maker came under scrutiny last month after a hacker discovered that Teslas found in junkyards still contained the driver's stored videos, location and navigational data. Big savings, but there's a catch: T-Mobile gets into banking, offering 4% interest and no fees on its free checking account Wind in your hair? Yaasss! Convertibles aren't quite dead yet as models hang on Getting data from your own Tesla after a wreck requires that you buy a proprietary cable that costs $995. The software required to use the hardware is free. Modern cars: Is your car hackable? Cybersecurity experts say it might be What can the cameras be used for? Consumers want onboard cameras that go beyond recording the road ahead, according to Google's auto trend data, and that's precisely what car makers are offering. With 16 cameras and sensors, the 2019 Kia K900 was built to eliminate blind spots. Cameras on the outside of the car offer a clear view of your blind spots on the digital dashboard. The 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLS SUV uses forward-scanning cameras and mapping data to tilt the car into corners for a smoother ride on and off road. Mercedes says it "ensures superior suspension comfort, agile handling and good off-road capabilities." In 2016, the Cadillac CT6 introduced a video recording system for added sedan security and a head tracking system that helps make sure your eyes stay on the road. Captured footage is stored on a standard SD card in the truck of the vehicle. Cameras might also soon be able to reduce risky behavior. Volvo announced in March that it "believes intoxication and distraction should be addressed by installing in-car cameras and other sensors that monitor the driver and allow the car to intervene." Early next year, the company will be installing in-cabin cameras in all of its vehicles. Tesla CEO Elon Musk took to Twitter to explain why there's a tiny camera installed above the rearview mirror in Model 3s. Musk said that the camera will help the Palo Alto-based company compete with ride-sharing giants in the future. "It's there for when we start competing with Uber/Lyft & people allow their car to earn money for them as part of the Tesla shared autonomy fleet. In case someone messes up your car, you can check the video," Musk said in a tweet. How permanent are the cameras? Unlike dashboard cameras you can stick on your windshield, automakers are building extra sets of eyes directly into the car's body. So one of the only ways to avoid them if you want 21st-century vehicle safety is to buy a car that doesn't use them or opt out of optional advanced safety features. However, finding a new vehicle that doesn't have at least one onboard camera may be more difficult as time goes on. New cars sold in the U.S. are required to have backup cameras to help drivers avoid accidents under a federal regulation that took effect last year. The regulation requires rearview cameras and video displays on all new models to prevent accidents in which pedestrians are run over because a driver can't see them as they back up their vehicles. The global automotive camera market is expected to almost double in the next 6 years, increasing to a 15 billion-dollar industry, according to a new global forecast report by Research and Markets. Worried about privacy? Some cameras, like the rearview mirror camera on Tesla cars, come with a sliding panel so you can cover it up if you're worried about being watched. Follow Dalvin Brown on Twitter: @Dalvin_Brown This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Where are the cameras in your car and what are they looking for?


May 22--WASHINGTON -- Current and former military officers urged the White House not to pardon service members and security contractors implicated in war crimes, warning that forgiving their offenses would send a dangerous signal to U.S. troops and potential adversaries. Aides to President Trump have been examining high-profile war crimes cases from Iraq and Afghanistan, preparing paperwork so Trump could issue pardons during Memorial Day commemorations next week, according to two senior U.S. officials. But the possibility that Trump could issue pardons has brought a flood of opposition from current and former high-ranking officers, who say it would encourage misconduct by showing that violations of laws prohibiting attacks on civilians and prisoners of war will be treated with leniency. "Absent evidence of innocence or injustice, the wholesale pardon of U.S. service members accused of war crimes signals our troops and allies that we don't take the law of armed conflict seriously," retired Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said in a tweet Tuesday. He added: "Bad message. Bad precedent. Abdication of moral responsibility. Risk to us." Among those under consideration for a pardon is Chief Petty Officer Edward Gallagher, a Navy SEAL awaiting court-martial on charges that he shot unarmed civilians and stabbed a teenage Islamic State fighter in Iraq in 2017, according to one of the officials, who discussed the internal deliberations in return for anonymity. Gallagher has pleaded not guilty and commentators on Fox News have lobbied Trump to pardon him. Other cases being examined by the White House include those of Army Maj. Mathew Golsteyn, who is charged with killing an unarmed Afghan in 2010; three Marine snipers prosecuted for urinating on the corpse of a dead Afghan fighter in 2011; and a former security guard for Blackwater Worldwide who was convicted of murder in December for killing unarmed Iraqis in 2007. Other officers warned that if U.S. personnel accused of such crimes escaped punishment, civilians on foreign battlefields would be less inclined to cooperate with U.S. forces, and U.S. service members taken prisoners would be more likely to be mistreated or even killed when taken captive. "If President Trump issues indiscriminate pardons of individuals accused -- or convicted by their fellow service members -- of war crimes, he relinquishes the United States' moral high ground and undermines the good order and discipline critical to winning on the battlefield," said retired Gen. Charles Krulak, a former commandant of the Marine Corps. Several officials said Trump is not believed to have consulted his senior military advisors about issuing pardons. The possibility of military pardons was first reported by the New York Times. Senior officers have not spoken out publicly about the possibility Trump could pardon accused war criminals, but many are privately outraged, according to one currently serving at the Pentagon. "I think a lot of us would see it in the same way -- that it's just awful," he said. The possibility of that reaction inside the military could cause Trump not to go ahead with the pardons. But Trump has ignored top military officers before, and Pentagon officials who once served to check his impulses, including former Defense Secretary James N. Mattis, are no longer serving in the administration. Asked about the possibility that Trump would pardon service members, acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan told reporters Tuesday: "I'm not really going to speculate on any of the pardons, but I would just say we'll leave it to the White House to comment on the situation there." Trump has repeatedly bypassed normal procedures for issuing pardons and granting clemency, seizing on cases mentioned on Fox News or that resonate with him or his supporters. This month, he pardoned Army Lt. Michael Behenna, who was convicted of killing an Iraqi during questioning in 2008. "We are talking about some of the most despicable war crimes. To even contemplate pardons in such cases is disgusting and dishonorable," said Raha Wala, a lawyer at Human Rights First. "It's no wonder that some of our most respected military leaders are speaking out against this, as they should." ___ (c)2019 Los Angeles Times Visit the Los Angeles Times at www.latimes.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.


Chris Broussard is an NBA insider in the most generous sense of the term. The FS1 personality offers analysis on the NBA, and when he sticks to that, the guy is quite good at his job. Broussard tends to get into trouble when he tries to offer reports on what is going on behind the scenes . While ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski and The Athletic's Shams Charania have made careers out of getting accurate scoops on player transactions early, Broussard has become a meme out of getting scoops that tend to be … not so accurate. This unfortunate trend continued this week with Broussard's latest "update" on the Kawhi Leonard situation. Wojnarowski reported early on Saturday morning that Leonard would be joining the Los Angeles Clippers , along with Paul George. This is what Broussard tweeted on Thursday: Kawhi Update: Raptors had strong meeting yesterday. Drake heavily involved. Talked of having Kawhi involved w/his OVO record label. Kawhi in deep soul searching. Wants Lakers but wants to make sure Big 3 will fit/work. Clippers out. It's btwn Lakers & Raptors. Very close. - Chris Broussard (@Chris_Broussard) July 4, 2019 So, yeah. Not great. And it was so close, too! If he just leaves out "Clippers out" it's an … interesting, if a little dubious tweet. Now it's just wrong. Just all wrong in every way. I want to give Broussard the benefit of the doubt. I'm trying to be generous here. Broussard is a massively successful guy and I have no idea where he's getting his information from, but he might want to re-assess those sources of information moving forward. MORE: Come on, Miami: Trade for Russell Westbrook and let's put a cherry on this sundae Russell Westbrook Chased Away Another Star Teammate NBA Free Agency 2019: The top players Kendrick Perkins confirms report about Kevin Durant's ending in OKC Pro Football Focus pegs 1 current Steeler for the Hall of Fame Related slideshow: 2019 NBA offseason moves (Provided by imagn)


Oh boy, it's the big one! Brazil take on Argentina for a place in the Copa America final this week, in the game the rest of the world has been waiting for from South America's continental championship. Lionel Messi, Dani Alves, Sergio Aguero, Alisson, Angel Di Maria and more will square off in Belo Horizonte in one of the most star-studded games you are likely to find anywhere on this planet. Over the many, many years of intense rivalry, Brazil have had the edge over their neighbours to the south, with Seleção winning 43 matches in comparison to the 38 wins of La Albiceleste. Brazil have also had the lion's share of the bragging rights in recent years, winning 12 of the last 21 meetings. With another instalment of the hottest rivalry in South America set to take place in the early hours of Wednesday morning (for European viewers), let's look back on some of the more historic games these two sides have played out over the last 30 years. Argentina 1-0 Brazil (June 1990) Brazil and Argentina came up against each other in the round of 16 in the 1990 World Cup in Italy which ended up being one of the tensest and most controversial games in the tournament's history. The game stayed goal-free until the 81st minute when Diego Maradona sent through Claudio Caniggia to score the only effort of the game. Later Brazilian defender Branco claimed he was offered 'holy water' at half-time, which was in-fact water spiked with tranquillizers to try and slow him down. While the official party line from Brazil is that the incident never took place, Maradona (ever the prankster) has since claimed responsibility for the incident on Argentine TV. Brazil 2-2 Argentina (6-4 on pens, July 1995) Another of the most controversial incidents between these two titans of world football occurred in the 1995 Copa America in Uruguay in the round of 16. Argentina were winning the game 2-1 until the final ten minutes when Tulio equalised for Brazil after openly controlling the ball with his left arm. The referee claimed to not see the incident in question and the goal stood. It became known as the 'hand of the devil' as Brazil went on to win the game 6-4 on penalties. However, they got some comeuppance as they ultimately lost the tournament to Uruguay in the final, also on penalties. Brazil 2-2 Argentina (6-4 on pens, July 2004) More penalty drama. In the 93th minute, Argentina on course to win the 2004 Copa America final in Peru before 23-year-old powerhouse striker Adriano scored to equalise and take it to penalties. Argentina then went on to lose from the spot, as Andres D'Alessandro and Gabriel Heinze both missed. Adriano claimed the Golden Boot and Brazil held the World Cup and Copa America for the second time in their illustrious history. Brazil 3-0 Argentina (July 2007) Most Argentinian fans will have blocked this game from memory as Brazil put them to the sword in the final of the 2007 Copa America in Venezuela. Brazil came into this game as underdogs for the match-up having finished second in their group to Mexico, with Argentina dominating every match they played in the competition, scoring 16 goals in their five matches. However, the pressure seemed to get to Argentina as captain Roberto Ayala scored an own goal, before Julio Baptista added a second and before 24-year-old Dani Alves came on at right wing, scoring the pivotal third. Oh and this tournament also saw the breakthrough of a 20-year-old Lionel Messi, who was named Young Player of the Tournament. Argentina 3-0 Brazil (August 2008) Away from the Copa America and World Cup drama, the old rivals met up in the semi-finals of the Summer Olympics in Beijing in 2008, as Barcelona teammates Lionel Messi and Ronaldinho went head to head. Nine players received a booking, while two Brazilians were sent off in a feisty encounter. A young Sergio Aguero scored two goals in the space of five minutes, with Juan Riquelme scoring the decisive third with a penalty in the 76th minute. Argentina then went on to win in the final against Nigeria, securing their second consecutive gold medal at the Olympics.


Joe Douglas is still settling into life as the General Manager of the Jets and part of that process includes watching tape of the players who make up the roster. Douglas started that process before his interview with the team. He told Albert Breer of SI.com that he watched six of the offense's games and four of the defense's before meeting with the team with the explanation that he wanted to watch as much of quarterback Sam Darnold as possible given his importance to the future of the team. Watching Darnold meant watching wide receiver Robby Anderson as well and Douglas came away from those viewings impressed with what Anderson brings to the table. "He's a tough weapon for defenses to match up with, he can get behind you and he can challenge the defense vertically. That was a very pleasant surprise," Douglas said. Anderson is in the final year of his contract and backing up what Douglas saw on tape might lead to a new long-term deal for the wideout.


The House Oversight Committee plans to vote Wednesday on whether to subpoena White House counselor Kellyanne Conway following a government watchdog's finding that she violated the Hatch Act. In a memo sent to the White House, the committee said it "will hold a hearing to examine the recommendation of the independent Office of Special Counsel (OSC) that President Trump remove Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway from federal service, as well as reports by OSC about Ms. Conway and other Trump Administration appointees." The memo continued: "The Committee also will hold a business meeting to consider a subpoena in the event that Ms. Conway does not appear." The OSC recommended earlier in June that Conway be fired from the federal government for violating the Hatch Act on "numerous occasions." The Hatch Act is a federal law that limits certain political activities of federal employees. The OSC, which is separate from the office with a similar name previously run by Robert Mueller, said in a scathing report that Conway violated the Hatch Act by "disparaging Democratic presidential candidates while speaking in her official capacity during television interviews and on social media. "Ms. Conway's violations, if left unpunished, would send a message to all federal employees that they need not abide by the Hatch Act's restrictions. Her actions thus erode the principal foundation of our democratic system the rule of law," the OSC said in a statement, noting that Conway has been a "repeat offender." The White House, however, has stood by Conway - calling the OSC ruling "unprecedented" and suggesting it was politically influenced. "The Office of Special Counsel's (OSC) unprecedented actions against Kellyanne Conway are deeply flawed and violate her constitutional rights to free speech and due process. Others, of all political views, have objected to the OSC's unclear and unevenly applied rules which have a chilling effect on free speech for all federal employees," White House Deputy Press Secretary Steven Groves said in a statement. Groves added: "Its decisions seem to be influenced by media pressure and liberal organizations   and perhaps OSC should be mindful of its own mandate to act in a fair, impartial, non-political manner, and not misinterpret or weaponize the Hatch Act." Fox News' Brooke Singman contributed to this report.


Editor's note: The opinions in this article are the author's, as published by our content partner, and do not necessarily represent the views of MSN or Microsoft. The latest Quinnipiac and Morning Consult polls confirm suspicion that Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) is running a much better campaign   brimming with ideas, relating her personal story to policy and directly appealing to African American voters   than Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who's running the identical campaign he ran in 2016. That's just one of the takeaways from the latest round of polling. More vividly than ever, we also see that despite President Trump's claims of exoneration, the winner of the Democratic nomination has a solid chance to beat Trump, Quinnipiac's poll tells us: President Trump begins his reelection campaign in a deep hole as 54 percent of American voters say they "definitely" will not vote for him, compared to 52 percent in an April 30 Quinnipiac University National Poll. Today, 31 percent say they "definitely" will vote for Trump and 12 percent say they will "consider voting for him." Definitely voting for Trump are 76 percent of Republicans, 3 percent of Democrats and 21 percent of independent voters. . . . American voters give Trump a negative 38 - 57 percent favorability rating. Trump's ratings on policy are awful. On approval/disapproval of his performance handling the economy, Trump barely gets a plurality (48/45). On everything else, voters pan him. ("37 - 58 percent for handling foreign policy; 39 - 53 percent for handling trade; 40 - 50 percent for handling the nation's policy toward China; 37 - 47 percent for handling the nation's policy toward Iran.") And this all comes when the electorate has an overwhelmingly positive view of the economy. "The total 71 percent for 'excellent' and 'good' is the highest total number for American voter attitudes on the economy in almost 18 years." And yet more than half of voters won't even consider voting for him. Subscribe to the Post Most newsletter: Today's most popular stories on The Washington Post On the Democratic side, all but five candidates have converged in a scrum, with support of 3 percent or less. Beto O'Rourke is at 2 percent (down 3 from the prior month). In the top five, former vice president Joe Biden draws 35 percent, Sanders only 16 percent, followed by Warren (13), Sen. Kamala Harris (Calif.) at 8 percent and South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg (5). It is always possible for others to break out of the pack with a great debate performance, but with 18 candidates drawing 3 percent or less (and many of them not registering even 1 percent) their task is formidable. The main reason Biden continues to do so well is that people actually like him. In the general electorate, "With a 49 - 39 percent favorability rating, former Vice President Joseph Biden is the only presidential contender, Democrat or Republican, with a clear positive score." Buttigieg's split is 23-19 percent favorable, with Sanders at 41-48 percent and Warren at 32-41 percent. The worst is New York Mayor Bill deBlasio who gets 8 percent approval - 45 percent disapproval. The Morning Consult poll shows similar results. Biden is at 39 percent, Sanders at 19, Warren at 9, Harris at 8 and Buttigieg at 6. There are a few critical numbers in the data. First, Trump has a gi-normous problem with women: according to Quinnipiac, 60 percent will definitely not vote for him, 28 percent would definitely vote for him. Among white women (a group he won in 2016) he has a 20-point gap between those who will definitely not consider him and those who definitely will vote for him (55/35 percent). His party's total war on Roe v. Wade is about the worst thing for a candidate that faces a rising wall of female opposition and also opposition from white college grads, both men and women (59 percent definitely won't vote for him, 28 percent definitely will). Second, the race is quickly becoming a contest among five Democratic candidates, not 23. This polling, unfortunately for the candidates at the back of the pack, may becoming a self-fulfilling prophesy. Should the DNC raise the threshold for admission into the debates from 1 percent to 2 percent, the debate field would shrink to only eight. Third, Sanders's biggest problem in the short run is Warren, who is statistically tied with him in the Quinnipiac poll. If she in fact passes him   and she could well do so with a terrific performance in the debates with her policy chops and Oklahoma roots   it's not clear how Sanders would strike back. Trump may have done Democrats and the country a huge favor by raising the "socialist" problem. He might as well have painted an "unelectable" sign on Sanders's back. (Biden's hope would be that Sanders stays in, just as he did 2016, thereby preventing Warren from consolidating the progressive vote.) With the debates, we'll see if the other four candidates in the top five can dent Biden and which, if any, can become the undisputed "not Biden" choice. The most intriguing question for the remainder of 2019 may be which candidates drop out even before Iowa, where a lowly showing could do more harm than good to one's political ambitions. Read more: Henry Olsen: Trump doesn't need Pennsylvania to win reelection Paul Waldman: Why Trump actually has many advantages in 2020 Hugh Hewitt: Democrats will pick a fight with Trump over Iran at their 2020 peril Jennifer Rubin: Trump's biggest problems for 2020: Joe Biden and women


Longtime Broncos trainer Steve "Greek" Antonopulos will serve as owner Pat Bowlen's presenter at the Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony in August. Given that Antonopulos is the only full-time employee that has been with the team for the entire Bowlen era (1984-present), he was a perfect choice to present Denver's accomplished owner. Antonopulos, who now serves as the Broncos' director of sports medicine, formed a special bond with Bowlen during his time with the team. "It all started with him coming in and asking about players," Antonopulos told media members at the team's facility on Tuesday. "Nobody cared about players more than Mr. Bowlen. He liked to communicate with them, not because he wanted to rub elbows, but because he cared about him. And, you know what, that was important to see that from the standpoint of caring for players ourselves seeing him care about players. "The relationship that we developed - he kind of used me as a medical advisor for him and he entrusted me with that care and direction to make sure that he was things - we just clicked. Everything we did together was just a cool deal and became very good friends." Bowlen, 75, had to step down from day-to-day duties in 2014 to continue his battle with Alzheimer's disease. When players were at the facility, Bowlen had the same routine each morning from 1984-2014. "His days started by parking that car in the [lot], walking down the hall, getting two sticks of gum from the equipment room and then to the training room," Antonopulos said. "Our conversations went from the players injuries to the players family to his issues. The trusted relationship that we had with each other has been phenomenal." Antonopulos and several of Bowlen's family members will unveil the owner's bronze bust Aug. 3 in Canton, Ohio. MORE: Five potential Chris Paul trade destinations Kyle Busch was so frustrated during Coke 600 that he told Joe Gibbs he quit Roundup: NFL Owners Want 18-Game Season Again, Alex Trebek Cancer Near Remission, Israel Redoing Election Report: The Celtics are no longer the favorites to sign Kyrie Irving 5 things we'll be watching at Lions week 2 of OTAs


The Jaguars have signed defensive back Josh Robinson, according to a PFT source. Robinson worked out for the team earlier Thursday. Robinson played for the Saints last season and appeared in 11 games as a reserve. He was a member of the Buccaneers in 2016 and 2017, and he spent the first four years of his career with the Vikings. Robinson was a third-round pick in 2012. Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Bouye are the starters for the Jaguars at the position with D.J. Hayden back for a second season as the third corner. The Jaguars, though, obviously are in search of some depth behind those three.


Dina was born in Iraq, lives in the US, and may end her life on Mars. She's one of 663 people who are still in the running for a place on the first four-person team that Mars One, a Dutch organization launched in 2011, wants to send to the red planet. Candidates have been whittled down from some 200,000 who applied. In a video made for the Guardian by Stateless Media, Dina (whose last name isn't given) and two other hopefuls one from the UK, one from Mozambique discuss love, sex, and death on Mars. Dina is 29 now, but she'll be nearing 40 by the time of the Mars mission's planned launch in 2024. She could be almost a year older than that when they arrive on Mars, which is up to 300 days' travel away . Her days may then be numbered. A group of strategic engineering graduates estimated that the first of the travelers would die in 68 days  though the plan is to live there much longer . Intimacy is not encouraged, because of the potential risks of childbirth though in the long term the future of colony would rely on it . No one will return from the mission. This led, last year, to a prohibition on Muslims joining the mission , issued by the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowment in the United Arab Emirates. It judged the mission to be so inevitably fatal that it is essentially suicide. In the future, the mission plans to meet its costs, to a large extent, via broadcast rights . The first mission will cost $6 billion, according to estimates, though a subsequent mission a plan is already in the pipeline would be somewhat cheaper.


TALLAHASSEE   Local governments won't be able to ban plastic straws for the next five years under a bill approved by the Legislature and headed to Gov. Ron DeSantis. The measure is the latest example of the constant tug-of-war between the Legislature and cities and counties over home rule. Currently, 10 cities across the state have rules governing the use of plastic straws, which some say are a threat to the environment. The House passed the bill (HB 771) last week, If DeSantis signs it, local governments would not be able to enforce any ordinance banning plastic straws until July 2024 at the earliest. The vote Tuesday in the Republican-controlled Senate was largely along party lines. Under the bill, the research arm of the Legislature would also be required to conduct a study of "each ordinance or regulation adopted" by local governments related to single-use plastic straws. A report of the study would need to be submitted by December to Senate President Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, and House Speaker Jose Oliva, R-Miami Lakes. Rather than focusing on the environmental impacts of plastic-straw bans, the study would focus on the "data and conclusions" used in adopting local ordinances. This has irked environmental groups, which argue that sufficient evidence already exists that plastic pollution is detrimental to the environment. When lawmakers considered the proposal in committee hearings, groups often brought up a study by the World Economic Forum that said there will be more plastic by weight than fish in oceans by 2050. State lawmakers have also taken aim at other local regulations that were enacted to protect the environment. One of those efforts is in a bill by Sen. Travis Hutson, R-St. Augustine. That bill targets local ordinances that restrict the sale and use of sunscreens containing certain chemicals that studies have found to damage coral reefs.


Editor's note: The opinions in this article are the author's, as published by our content partner, and do not necessarily represent the views of MSN or Microsoft. Joe Biden is the current frontrunner of the Democratic Party. He's leading all other primary candidates, in several polls, by double digits. And many party strategists believe that the working-class-whispering former vice president is the only candidate who can beat Donald Trump. But at tonight's Democratic primary debate, most of the questions posed to the candidates and some of the most heated moments involved the candidate both physically and politically to Biden's left: Bernie Sanders. In one of the first exchanges of the night, the moderators cited Sanders's affiliation with the Democratic Socialists of America, and asked the former Governor John Hickenlooper of Colorado whether the Democratic Party is veering toward socialism. Hickenlooper replied by criticizing Medicare for all and the Green New Deal, two proposals that Sanders and other progressives have championed, and called for candidates to more clearly communicate that "we," meaning the Democrats, "are not socialists." Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York cut in, too, assuring viewers that the current debate within the party is not over socialism, but "between capitalism on the one hand and greed on the other." [ Read: As Bernie Sanders leans into socialism, his rivals laugh. ] Several of the candidates seemed to define themselves against Sanders, reflexively comparing and contrasting their agenda with his. It was a reminder of just how popular the Vermont senators' ideas have become since his first campaign in 2016: It's his policies, not Biden's, that have dominated discussion for much of the past three years. First, health care. When asked about the pragmatism of progressive proposals, Senator Michael Bennet of Colorado said, "I agree with Bernie" on his goal of universal health care. But "where I disagree is on his solution of Medicare for all." Mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Indiana, for his part, criticized what he sees as an impractical shift to a Medicare-for-all system. "Every person in politics who allows that phrase to escape their lips has a responsibility to explain how you are supposed to get from here to there," Buttigieg said. When the subject turned to student debt, candidates jabbed at Sanders's new proposal to cancel all Americans' student debt, to the tune of $1.6 trillion , with no income or other restrictions. "I believe in free college for those whom cost could be a barrier," Buttigieg said. "I just don't believe it makes sense to ask working-class families to subsidize even the children of billionaires." Biden explained he'd want to give students tuition-free community college instead. The candidates, again and again, were playing the game on Sanders's turf. He didn't receive the Democratic Party's nomination in 2016, and he might not secure it in 2020. But when the issues he's long championed are being debated before 15 million Americans, in some ways, he's already won.


Watch how this Siberian Husky reacts after spotting a deer herd in front of the family's home.