Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds is transforming the Iowa Supreme Court from one that leaned liberal to a solidly conservative body, prompting concerns among critics that it could erode past support for civil liberties as well as abortion and gay rights. Through a combination of coincidence, a mandatory retirement age of 72 for judges and changes in the selection process that favor Republicans, Reynolds could make the most appointments to the seven-member court since former Democratic Gov. Tom Vilsack named five from 1999 to 2007. Governor for just over two years, Reynolds already has appointed two justices   one due to illness and another a retirement . One of her appointees is a member of the conservative Federalist Society, which has been instrumental in vetting judges for President Donald Trump's aggressive push to remake the federal courts . The current balance of the court is five appointed by Republicans and two by Democrats, although GOP appointee Chief Justice Mark Cady often sides with liberals. Reynolds will get to replace Brent Appel, a Democratic appointee, who turns 72 in 2022, the last year of her current term. If she runs and wins a second term as governor, she could replace David Wiggins in 2023, the last retiring Democrat appointee, and Cady in 2025 to complete the conservative transformation. It marks a stark contrast from the recent past, when an Iowa Supreme Court ruling in 2009 made it the third state in the nation to legalize same-sex marriage . As recently as 2018, the court established the foundation for a fundamental right to abortion under the Iowa Constitution. Reynolds' appointments were after that ruling. Since the abortion ruling, the new majority has begun to assert itself. Last week in a 4-3 decision , the new majority concluded that police can continue to charge drivers with crimes they weren't initially stopped for, a practice civil rights groups say is racial discrimination. In May the court, in another 4-3 decision, supported a 2017 law that removed bargaining rights for many state employees. Republicans this year used their advantage of control over the governor's office and majorities in both chambers of the Legislature to change the selection process for appeals judges from a nonpartisan judicial commission to one giving the governor more power. Under the previous system established in the 1960s, potential judges and justices were chosen by a commission made up of lawyers elected by lawyers and appointees named by the governor. The equal balance of legal professionals and political appointees was seen as a way to minimize political influence. The commission was chaired by the senior justice of the state Supreme Court. The commission reviewed applications for openings on the bench and sent three finalists to the governor, who names justices. Supreme Court justices in Iowa face retention elections every eight years and must earn a majority of votes to remain on the bench. Republicans complained that the lawyers appointed to the commission tended to be more to the left and sent liberal nominees to the governor. They cited a law professor's 2017 research suggesting that Iowa's courts leaned to the left of its citizens more than any state except New Hampshire of the 36 states that used judicial commissions to help select judges. "Iowa was near the top in terms of leftward judiciary," said Vanderbilt University law professor Brian Fitzpatrick, who studied 3,000 state appellate judges tracking campaign contributions, party registration and primary voting data to reflect political leaning. Reynolds signed into law in May a change that removed the senior Supreme Court justice as the chairman and replaced him with the governor's appointee, giving her a majority on the commission. "We're certainly concerned now because the governor does have more power and I think is more partisan," said Connie Ryan, chairwoman of Justice Not Politics, a group that pushes to keep politics out of the courts. The changes prompted several Democratic lawmakers to sue, saying the new law was legislative overreach and violated the state constitution. B ut the lawsuit was dismissed last week. The lawmakers have appealed to the Iowa Supreme Court. Religious conservatives are thrilled with the changes, hoping that a Republican-dominated court will endorse restrictions on abortion. "It's an improvement. Our biggest thing is to put power back to the people and get judges favorable to the constitution," said Bob Vander Plaats, an influential Christian conservative activist who heads a group called the Family Leader. "We believe the sanctity of human life is constitutional, that our plan for marriage is constitutional." This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa Supreme Court rulings turn conservative after Reynolds' appointments


Philz Coffee , a San Fransisco-based company with a loyal following, will debut its first location this weekend in Wicker Park . The official opening date is Friday, June 21 but the coffeeshop will be open sporadically for sneak peeks starting Sunday at 1640 W. Division Street. Philz will also open Chicago locations in Hyde Park, Lincoln Park, and suburban Evanston in that order. The first Philz opened in 2002 in San Francisco's Mission district. Founder Phil Jaber isn't involved in day to day operations as son Jacob Jaber now has those responsibilities. The younger Jaber is in Chicago to oversee the Midwest expansion. There are more than 50 Philz locations. The first Chicago location is new construction, just west of the CTA's Division Street Blue Line stop. Fabiana's Bakery in Hyde Park and Aya Pastry (run by the parent company of Gold Coast steakhouse Maple & Ash ) will supply baked goods. Philz also serves light items including toasts, bowls, and sandwiches with Mediterranean flavors like labneh and zatar . Jacob Jaber pointed out his family has Lebanese and Palestinian roots. Philz uses 12 secret coffee blends from countries including Brazil, Colombia, Ethiopia, and Yemen. Unlike Starbucks and other coffeeshops, customers don't order at the cash register. They'll be greeted by a barista who can steer customers through the menu suggesting blends, specialty drinks and more. Customers can also customize their drinks. Jaber said a Philz staffer crunched a spreadsheet and calculated more than 4 million different drink combos. There's no condiment stand with syrups (Philz doesn't use syrups) or sugar as Philz's staff mixes any add-ons behind the counter. "The problem with 'artisan' is that it's not accessible to the masses," Jacob Jaber said when describing what makes his chain different. "We want to make quality accessible to everyone." Division Street in Wicker Park doesn't lack coffeeshops with cafes including Scone City , Intelligentsia, Caffe Streets , and Starbucks. Jaber said he doesn't really pay attention to the competition. They see Chicago as a gateway to the rest of the Midwest and doesn't see any difference in Chicago's coffee culture compared to other cities. It's just a great city that enjoys good coffee and has a large enough population to make expansion attractive, Jaber said. Customers at Philz want a different experience and appreciate quality, Jaber added. Those sound like generic company talking points, but Jaber believes in those words. Strong WiFi is a point of pride (there's a Philz inside Facebook's Silicon alley headquarters). The average customer lingers for about 90 minutes, Jaber said. For example, a customer could order a cold-brew coffee with brown sugar that's garnished with fresh mint. The beans are ground while the customer is waiting. Jaber estimated that it takes three to four minutes to make a drink. Those who don't want to wait, including morning commuters, can use the Philz app for quicker service. The app stores drink favorites and even includes photos of baristas. Stay tuned for more coverage as opening day grows closer.


The people who worked at the brick building that housed 24 developmentally disabled residents called it the "Bronx Zoo." One worker regularly hit a resident while he ate, making him cower in fear at mealtimes. Another worker would repeatedly "smack, punch and push" a female resident, sometimes when she tried to watch staff members cook. A female worker sat in the lap of a male resident who used a wheelchair, placing his hands on her breasts and moving provocatively while other employees laughed and cheered, according to records and depositions. Darlene Ruffin, an employee turned whistle-blower, told state investigators that she saw bruising every day. "I couldn't keep up," she said. Sign Up for the Morning Briefing Newsletter The abuse first came to light five years ago , leading to a public outcry and an investigation by the state, which runs the facility, called the Union Avenue I.R.A., in the Bronx. But in a new review of the case, The New York Times found that when officials tried to fire 13 employees for abuse or neglect at the home, they failed each time. The workers were shielded by the state arbitration process, whose shortcomings   a focus of earlier Times reporting   often return abusive employees to the job. The Bronx case is emblematic of a larger problem across New York. Hundreds of pages of disciplinary records from 2015 to 2017, obtained by The Times under the state open-records law, show that more than one-third of the employees statewide found to have committed abuse-related offenses at group homes and other facilities were put back on the job, often after arbitration with the worker's union. The residents in the state's far-flung network of more than 1,000 group homes are particularly dependent on their caregivers. In many cases, they are unable to communicate and live in group homes almost their entire lives. Some are also immobile, while others have been all but abandoned by their families. Jennifer O'Sullivan, a spokeswoman for the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities, which oversees the state's homes, said in a statement that abuse of people in the agency's care "is completely unacceptable" and that the Bronx workers were disciplined and retrained. Recycling abusive employees has long been an endemic problem. Eight years ago, The Times reviewed thousands of pages of disciplinary files for 233 workers. In a quarter of substantiated abuse cases, employees were transferred to other homes rather than fired, including in cases involving sexual assaults. The newly obtained disciplinary records involved 120 employees. They show that while the transfers appear to have decreased, the state still keeps problematic workers at their jobs. The findings are the latest sign that attempts to change the oversight of care for the developmentally disabled by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's administration has stumbled. "Eight years have passed, and there have been no significant reforms to stop or prevent physical abuse," said Michael Carey, an advocate since his son Jonathan died in state care, and the most outspoken critic of the governor's reform efforts. Mr. Carey has lamented that the developmentally disabled are largely cut off from the mainstream justice system, and has long backed a bill in Albany that would require group homes to call 911 to report assaults and serious injuries. After any allegations of abuse or neglect, the state issues the accused employee a formal listing of accusations, setting in motion a disciplinary process that often ends in arbitration. Questions of appropriate discipline extend across the state, the new case files show. One group home employee in the state's Finger Lakes region was returned to work in 2016 even after being found to have pulled the hood of a garment over a resident's head before smacking the resident repeatedly. An employee in the Hudson Valley was transferred from one group home to another in 2017 after pinching a resident's arm so many times that it caused bruising. An employee in Brooklyn who pushed a resident to the ground, causing a head injury, kept his job, even though in 2015 an arbitrator found his testimony "rambling at times and evasive at others." A worker near Buffalo was also retained that year after sleeping on the job and throwing a shoe at a resident, striking the person in the back. Some confrontations with staff members turn deadly. Heather Roselli, 35 but with the mind of a child, feared she was going to die at her group home near Rochester. In 2017, she pleaded to be moved out and said she was "concerned that she will be killed there," according to a state record of an emergency call she placed. Later that year, she was fatally injured when she was pinned to the floor; two workers pleaded guilty in connection with her death. One of them, Sarah DiLallo, was "very close to being fired" before Ms. Roselli's death and had been demoted for "her failure to follow numerous agency rules," the state said in court records. "They're not hiring the right people," said Keith Parks, Ms. Roselli's stepfather, in an interview. "You have to be a caring, compassionate individual to be in these settings. These are not machines; these are not shelves you are stocking. These are human lives." In 2013, in response to The Times's articles, the Cuomo administration created the Justice Center for the Protection of People With Special Needs to investigate abuse. Critics have said it was poorly conceived, and judges have repeatedly challenged its power to prosecute cases. The center said it had an 85 percent conviction rate in the 174 cases it prosecuted over half a decade. In its Bronx investigation, the center substantiated allegations of physical abuse or neglect against 13 employees, but the state failed to persuade arbitrators to fire any of them. The center and the Bronx district attorney each said recently that they lacked sufficient evidence to bring criminal charges. Ten of the employees still work for the state. "Cases involving individuals with special needs are particularly challenging," the center said in a statement. "Victims may be nonverbal or unable to provide testimony, and witnesses may not be cooperative." In the Bronx and statewide, arbitration between the state and the Civil Service Employees Association can allow abusive employees to keep their jobs. One arbitrator returned an employee to work "over strong objection of state," records showed, after he grabbed a resident by the pant leg and shirt and shoved the resident into a recliner with enough force that it hit a wall. Mark Kotzin, a C.S.E.A. spokesman, declined to comment on specific cases. He said the employees have "some of the hardest work imaginable," and when they hear of abuse or neglect, "they get upset and want the abusers gone." While many employees are compassionate, some boil over, case files reveal. "I will pop you like a zit. I [expletive] hate you," one worker said to a resident. "Why do you act like such a crazy person?" another worker asked a resident. A third proclaimed that she "did not give a [expletive] about the consumers"   a term the state uses to refer to developmentally disabled residents. "Most families have no clue what they're putting their kids into," said Mr. Carey, the advocate, adding, "It's all hidden from the general public." In some places, the police appear to be more frequently intervening, particularly at Sunmount in northern New York, one of the last large housing facilities. One worker, for example, faced nine disciplinary charges after pouring Gatorade on a resident, slapping and jumping on a resident, and laughing while two colleagues were hitting a resident. He was arrested in 2015 and resigned. But at the Bronx building, which includes three group homes, oversight appeared scant. In 2014, records documented multiple bruises for weeks at a time on a female resident's breasts, arms, stomach, legs and buttocks, but she received no medical attention. The state investigation   and a 2016 civil rights lawsuit filed on behalf of three residents of the Bronx facility against state officials and staff members   reinforced that well-meaning employees have long faced intimidation at an agency with a history of thwarting and even violating the confidentiality of whistle-blowers. "No one comes forward   nobody reports anybody," said Ilann M. Maazel, the lead lawyer for the plaintiffs. "Individuals with developmental disabilities can't speak for themselves. So, who is going to speak for them?" In recent months, two former employees of the Bronx facility were so reluctant to be deposed in the lawsuit that a federal judge in Manhattan took the unusual step of having them arrested and brought into court, where they promised to testify. The judge, Paul A. Engelmayer, told one witness, Ms. Ruffin, that he had made it clear there was to be no retaliation, adding, "I want you to know that I've got your back on that." Another former employee, Michael Robertson, told state investigators that his car window was broken after he reported on a colleague. "Ain't nothing confidential," Mr. Robertson said, "so people develop a sense to keep their mouth shut, even if they're angry about what they see." Ms. O'Sullivan, the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities spokeswoman, said the agency was aware of concerns about "potential peer retaliation" and took steps to "change the culture." The Bronx investigation began after Ms. Ruffin sent out letters anonymously   "because I was scared," she later testified. Her identity was unmasked by investigators through handwriting analysis. She regretted not acting sooner to protect the residents. "I just waited too long," she said. "I know that I failed them." Jack Begg contributed research.


The Marion County Sheriff's Office is searching for a man deputies say is missing and endangered. Eric Simanton, 36, was last heard from around 8:45 a.m. Thursday. Investigators say he had traveled to his family's home on 127th Lane Road in Ocala, where he reportedly left behind his truck and items that raised concerns about his well-being. Simanton is described as white, 6-foot-2 and 215 pounds. He has hazel eyes and brown hair. If you have any information about where he might be, you should call 911. What other people are reading right now: 15 apps parents should look out for on their kids' phones 2 workers injured when gas ignited at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Florida cops search for man they say asked Walmart clerk for weapon that could kill lots of people FWC: Gator attacks and kills dog in Polk County retention pond Sobbing 11-year-old girl begs for dad's release after massive ICE raid ► Make it easy to keep up-to-date with more stories like this. Download the 10News app now . Have a news tip? Email desk@wtsp.com, or visit our Facebook page or Twitter feed .


If you've noticed a recent uptick in cyberattacks targeting infrastructure and government facilities, you're not alone. Aside from utilizing more sophisticated capabilities, the attacks are coming at us with an alarming frequency. Now, according to a new study by IBM's X-Force Incident Response and Intelligence Services (IRIS) team, destructive attacks devised with an intent to wipe data and shut down critical systems have increased by a whopping 200 percent over the past six months. IBM said 50 percent of the malware attacks were in the manufacturing, oil and gas, and education sectors. Most of the destructive attacks observed by the team have taken place in Europe, the US, and the Middle East. The impact The use of destructive malware and ransomware can cost affected organizations $239 million on average, the researchers said. This is 61 times costlier than the average cost of a data breach ($3.92 million), according to a report released by IBM Security last month. The severity of the incidents can translate to multinational companies losing access to as many as 12,000 devices, in addition to devoting at least 512 hours for incidence response and remediation, researchers report, citing analysis of publicly disclosed cyberattacks. The malicious code deployed in these cases can result in data loss, render enterprise devices inoperable, cripple device functions, and lock down systems in return for a ransom payment. Some examples of destructive malware include NotPetya, Stuxnet , Shamoon , and Dark Seoul . The cyber espionage group Strontium (aka Fancy Bear or APT28 ) in particular has been notorious for their involvement in the NotPetya attacks against Ukranian banks and infrastructure in June 2017. Going beyond nation-states While the use of such malware was restricted to state-sponsored hacking groups for bringing down geopolitical rivals, IBM researchers warn that   since late 2018   the attacks are expanding beyond nation-states. What's more, cybercriminals appear to be incorporating destructive components, such as wiper malware. "This is especially true for cybercriminals who use ransomware , including strains such as LockerGoga and MegaCortex ," the report cautioned. LockerGoga hit several companies early this year, leading them to order hundreds of new computers after being locked out by the ransomware . The findings are consistent with a report published by F-Secure last week , which disclosed how organized criminal actors inspired by North Korean hacking groups are mounting a wide array of targeted cyberattacks against the global finance industry with an aim to steal data and sabotage trading systems. The need for cybersecurity preparedness Phishing emails and password-guessing are the most commonly used attack infection vectors to gain initial entry. But the researchers also observed watering hole attacks and scenarios where third parties with a connection to the true target were compromised before mounting a malicious attack (called a supply chain attack). In a similar development, security firm Crowdstrike cautioned how nation-state hacking groups are increasingly targeting mobile devices in an effort to conduct espionage, intelligence gathering and sabotage of selected targets. Understanding the threat landscape is one thing. But it goes without saying companies need to proactively devise strong countermeasures to reduce the risk of fallout from such attacks . Whether be it implementing multi-factor authentication to secure accounts, or by ensuring timely data backups, having well-tailored security controls in place across the organization can ensure preparedness at "both tactical and strategic levels for a destructive malware attack."


Here on Earth, we see the Sun rise and set once in any given 24-hour period. If you want to see the sunrise or sunset you need to set your watch so you don't miss it, or you'll be left waiting another day for the opportunity. Things are a whole lot different on the International Space Station. Travelers spending time aboard the orbiting laboratory don't just have to deal with the lack of gravity and somewhat cramped quarters, they also have to wrestle with the fact that normal "days" don't really exist when you're speeding around the Earth over a dozen times per day. Astronaut Nick Hague, who is currently on board the ISS, decided to use that to his advantage and filmed a gorgeous time-lapse of Earth from the eyes of an ISS resident. The video, which is just under a minute long, is pure eye candy: "This time-lapse video taken by NASA astronaut Nick Hague squeezes a 30-minute International Space Station trip over a cloudy Earth into 60 seconds, covering the Pacific to the Atlantic," NASA explains. The International Space Station completes a full orbit of Earth in just around 90 minutes. At that rate, astronauts aboard the spacecraft get to see around 16 sunsets every 24 hours. Those aboard the space station keep to strict schedules to ensure they remain in a rhythm similar to their counterparts on Earth. NASA routinely provides live streaming views of Earth and space from the International Space Station, but it's undeniably cool to see a high-quality timelapse like this that was shot by one of NASA's own astronauts. Hague, who arrived at the space station earlier this year, will remain aboard the spacecraft for Expedition 60 which is slated to begin in July of this year. Sign up for BGR's Newsletter . For the latest news, follow us on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram .


Last month, Le'Veon Bell came back to his house and realized that half a million dollars' worth of clothes, jewelry and cash was missing. Now, details of the incident have emerged. According to TMZ , Bell had two girlfriends over and they slept in his bed for the night. The next morning Bell went to go work out, and when he came back the two women had disappeared with some of his most valuable possessions. He tried to call the women back, but they ignored him. Bell told police that when he left they were both naked. With details out in the open, many are poking fun at and criticizing Bell. WFAN host Bart Scott is one of those people. "How dumb can you be? I love you, Le'Veon, but how stupid can you be to leave two random chicks in your house?" the former Jets linebacker said on WFAN Friday. "They're stealing shoes. Who steals shoes? I understand the jewelry, but why do you want to take his size 12-and-a-halfs?" Meanwhile, the Twitter world couldn't help but laugh. I hate when that happens. https://t.co/Xwg06TSso5 - Steve Politi (@StevePoliti) June 21, 2019 #LeveonBell deserves 'Donkey Of The Day' for that 911 pohone call ♀… you left 2 groupies naked in your bed in your house and then you come back and you're jewelry and shoes were gone. Bruh! Then you told the 911 operator they were naked when she asked for a description - Michelle Richardson (@MRichWJLA) June 21, 2019 Omg the Leveon Bell 911 call. I am deaddddd - Buss Down Theotiana (@TheoTweetHaver) June 21, 2019 If you can't trust your two naked girlfriends you left in bed while you went to work out, who can you trust? https://t.co/TFh8tNWutW - Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) June 21, 2019 At least the #Jets know LeVeon Bell is working. Dude was at the gym for 2 hours with two naked chicks in his bed. That's what I call discipline. Very impressive tbh - John Middlekauff (@JohnMiddlekauff) June 22, 2019 MORE: NBA Free Agency 2019: The top players Pelicans coach gets last laugh over Anthony Davis' 'That's All Folks' shirt We'll know shortly about the future of NFL Sunday Ticket Chiefs WR Byron Pringle projected to be starter by Matt Waldman J.J. Watt: Practicing against Packers, playing at Lambeau will be 'really, really cool experience'


Justing Amash speaks with FOX 17 on why he decided to split from the Republican Party.


A young girl from Connecticut turned her time spent in the hospital into a chance to help ease the fear of many other young patients. Ella Casano, now 12, was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease called Idiopathic Thrombocytopenia Purpura (ITP) when she was seven. "It's when her body attacks and destroys its own platelets, so it puts her at higher risk for bleeding or injury, more than most people," Meg Casano, Ella's mother, told CNN. Due to ITP, Ella had to have IV infusions every six to eight weeks. As for many young children, and adults, this process scared her. "When I had my first infusion, I was surprised and a little bit intimidated by the look of the amount of tubing and medical equipment on my IV pole," Ella said in a statement on her website . Ella stared down her fear and came up with a creative solution to disguise the medicine. "So, she cut up a stuffed animal and used a hot glue gun and made her very first Medi Teddy," Casano said. Seeing how delighted the nurses were with the idea, Ella and her mother started the process to patent, manufacture and distribute the invention they named Medi Teddy. "The purpose of the Medi Teddy is to conceal a bag of IV fluid, medication, or blood product from the child who is receiving it and instead provide a friendly face to look at!," Casano said. The back side of the pouch is made of mesh so that nurses and doctors can see the status of the medicine the patient is receiving. Ella made several protocols and gave them to her nurses to use for feedback on how to make it better. She then researched business plans at school for an independent study and crafted her own for Medi Teddy. With the help of her mom, they are filing paperwork to make the company a nonprofit organization. On Sunday, they launched a GoFundMe to raise $5,000 so that they can place their first order of 500 units. By Thursday, they surpassed their goal by over $2,000. "The response has been wonderful -- her nurses have tried the prototypes and given suggestions," Casano said. "And we think we are ready to produce a really awesome product that can help hundreds of kids. " Once the bears are made, she says they plan on giving them to children at no cost.


Ecuador and Japan drew to allow Paraguay to sew up the final knockout round spot, sending Miguel Almiron and Co. into a match-up with Brazil. [ MORE: Johannsson to MLS? ] And Uruguay rode Edinson Cavani's goal into the other side of the bracket, moving ahead of Chile in a tight match. Ecuador 1-1 Japan There was a lot to like in a match with 30-plus shots and the ultimate prize of a match-up with Brazil on Thursday in Porto Alegre. Shoya Nakajima put the Asian side ahead a quarter-hour into the match, but Angel Mena provided an equalizer before halftime to put both sides in danger of failure to reach the knockout rounds. Chile 0-1 Uruguay Cavani scored for the second time this tournament as Uruguay claimed first place in Group A and a knockout round meeting with Peru. Cavani's deftly flicked header of a Jonathan Rodriguez pass pushed Uruguay above Chile, which had won both of its group matches and now meets Colombia on Friday. Cavani with the header! Uruguay takes the lead on his second career Copa América goal 👏 pic.twitter.com/cdcPE653oc   ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) June 25, 2019 Knockout round schedule June 27 Brazil v. Paraguay June 28 Venezuela v. Argentina Colombia v. Chile June 29 Uruguay v. Peru July 2 Brazil/Paraguay v. Venezuela/Argentina Colombia/Chile v. Uruguay/Peru July 6 Third place playoff July 7 Final Follow @NicholasMendola


The Hornets will become the latest NBA team to carry a pair of brothers on the same roster. In this case, it'll be the Martin twins   Cody Martin and Caleb Martin   who signed with Charlotte, per Shams Charania of The Athletic ( Twitter link ). Cody, who was the 36th overall pick in the 2019 draft, will sign a three-year contract with the Hornets, according to Charania. That deal figures to come out of the team's mid-level exception, since Charlotte would otherwise be limited to two years. As for Caleb, he'll get a partially guaranteed deal, Charania adds. If that guarantee doesn't exceed $50K, he could emerge as a candidate to fill the club's open two-way slot. The Martins, who are each 6-foot-7 forwards, spent their college careers playing together as well, first at North Carolina State and later at Nevada. In 2018-19, Cody averaged 12.1 PPG, 4.9 APG, and 4.5 RPG with a .505/.358/.763 shooting line, while Caleb recorded 19.2 PPG, 5.1 RPG, and 2.8 APG on .409/.338/.732 shooting. After the Hornets selected Cody early in the second round last month, Caleb joined the team's Summer League roster, though he was unable to play due to a knee injury. Charlotte wanted to keep an eye on Caleb during the summer, according to Rick Bonnell of The Charlotte Observer ( Twitter link ), who says he heard in Las Vegas that it was a given that Caleb would be in camp with the Hornets this fall, assuming he was healthy. The Martins will become the second pair of twins to play on the same roster this fall, joining Brook Lopez and Robin Lopez of the Bucks. Milwaukee also employs another set of brothers   Giannis Antetokounmpo and Thanasis Antetokounmpo   while the Pacers will have both Aaron Holiday and Justin Holiday under contract. Related slideshow: 10 best moves of the 2019 NBA offseason (Provided by Yardbarker)


NEW YORK   Five merciless Bronx gang-bangers were convicted of first-degree murder Friday for butchering an innocent 15-year-old aspiring cop in a gory explosion of misdirected vengeance. A Bronx jury deliberated for just eight hours over two days before convicting the killer quintet of Trinitarios for first-degree murder, second-degree murder, conspiracy and gang assault in a courtroom ringed with more than three dozen court officers. The verdict came just six days before the first anniversary of Lesandro 'Junior' Guzman-Feliz's savage slaying in a mistaken identity killing that broke the city's collective heart. All face life without parole for dragging the terrified teen from a Bronx bodega and fatally gashing the youth with a machete and knives as he begged for mercy. The killers were looking to exact payback on a rival gang when they wrongly went after Guzman-Feliz, who was a member of the New York Police Department's Explorers program and hoped to become a police detective. While one unrepentant killer shouted out a Trinitarios gang greeting in Spanish after the verdict, the slain youth's mother took no joy in the convictions. "I'm not going to have my son back, but those killers, those murderers, they're not going to be outside killing other kids," said Leandra Feliz, who opted to watch the verdict in a different courtroom via livestream. "My son was a good kid, he was only 15 years old … He was a really good kid. He'd never been in any trouble in his life until those kids murdered (him)." The mom, who suffered several emotional outbursts during the difficult five-week trial, appeared relieved outside court   as if a heavy weight was lifted by the sweeping verdict in the June 20, 2018, killing of her beloved boy. "Junior came to symbolize all of the young people who have lost their lives to brutal gang violence," said Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark. "Today's verdict fortifies the Bronx community's stand against violence … We hope that the verdicts bring some consolation to his family, who have endured so much pain." Scores of the slain teen's supporters inside and outside the courthouse cheered the verdict, with many carrying signs reading "Justice for Junior." Defendants Jonaiki Martinez Estrella, Elvin Garcia, Antonio Rodriguez Hernandez Santiago and Manuel Rivera showed no emotion as the cascade of guilty verdicts filled the Bronx courtroom. The fifth killer, Jose Muniz, yelled "Hasta la muerte!"   Spanish for "Til Death"   in a declaration of gang solidarity. The defendants, all members of the Trinitarios street gang, descended on the helpless and outnumbered victim as Junior battled desperately for his life. Muniz was identified as the machete-waving man attacking Junior, while Estrella was seen plunging what appears to be a bread knife through the youth's neck as the killing came to an end. The first-degree murder conviction meant the jury determined that Junior was tortured before his tormentors finally killed him. Sentencing was set for July 16, with Junior's older brother Manny Ortiz hopeful that all five will receive the maximum jail terms. "Life without parole, that's what we're expecting," said Ortiz, 32, who was cheered as he left the courthouse. "I'm very happy. It was expected. They all were guilty, and a jury found them guilty. Justice for Junior." A pair of turncoat witnesses testified against their former gang brethren, with one recounting the directions given to the killers by reputed Los Sures boss Diego Suero. "If you have a gun, you shoot," he allegedly instructed his underlings. "If you have a knife, you stab. If you have a machete, use a machete." The cooperators avoided any jail time by cutting their deal with prosecutors before the trial started on May 6, with prosecutors arguing the teen's death was a calculated killing ordered by a gang leaders. The trial took its toll on the victim's mother, who at one point wailed incoherently during a court session where graphic video of her dying son clutching at a fatal neck wound was shown. Court officers were needed to remove her from the building.     ©2019 New York Daily News Visit New York Daily News at www.nydailynews.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.


The Redskins are adding some offensive line depth. The team is signing offensive tackle Corey Robinson , according to John Keim of ESPN.com (Twitter link ). Trent Williams didn't report to training camp and his status with the team is uncertain at best, so it makes sense why they made the move. It's unclear if this will impact their interest in free agent tackle Donald Penn , who we heard yesterday they planned on working out. In a separate tweet , Keim writes that sources told him there's "still a chance" the team signs Penn. Robinson originally entered the league as a seventh-round pick of the Lions back in 2015. He spent the next three seasons with Detroit, and started eight games for them between 2016 and 2017. He got traded to the Panthers just before the start of last season, but was released a few weeks later. He was picked up by the Jaguars in November, and ended up starting a game for them. The Redskins lost swing tackle Ty Nsekhe in free agency this offseason, which makes the Williams situation all the more unsettling for them. Williams is apparently seeking a new contract, and hopefully they can get him back in the fold soon. Ideally, Robinson won't be seeing the field very much.


1. The one caveat you'd hear to the fast-moving Devin White -to-Tampa train before the draft was this: If Quinnen Williams were to drop into the Bucs' laps, that would enable them to move on from Gerald McCoy . Other teams have been waiting for an outcome in the McCoy saga. He's due a non-guaranteed $13 million this year (with $12.5 million due next year, and $12.9 million the year after), which has made him, basically, untradeable. And that's not to say he can't play anymore. He can, just not at the level that would justify that kind of pay. On top of that, the Bucs need cap relief; they have less than $2 million in cap room, and a rookie class that includes the fifth overall pick to sign. Bottom line: Chances are, McCoy isn't a Buc this year. 2. Starting tomorrow, teams can sign players without it hurting their standing in the compensatory pick formula , and one name many have been eyeing is Ndamukong Suh . By the sounds of it, though, Suh's asking price is high, which has contributed to his availability. If his price isn't met, it will be interesting to see if he plays. Remember, Suh has never played on a deal with an APY of less than $10 million he was on a five-year, $68 million deal as part of the last class to benefit from the pre-rookie wage scale days; signed a six-year, $114 million deal in Miami after that; then signed for one year at $14.5 million with the Rams last spring, after being cut midway through his Dolphins deal. He's taken home at least $12 million in cash in each of the last six years, more than $20 million in cash in three of those years, and more than $25 million in two of those years. To be fair, he's earned it. The guy hasn't missed a start his entire career, outside of a two-game suspension in 2011. 3. Cam Newton is very close to being ready to throw again, but there's no reason for the Panthers to rush him in the spring. They got good progress from Taylor Heinicke and Kyle Allen last year, and those two will get reps in Newton's absence. Will Grier will join the fray next week. The important thing for Carolina is getting Newton in a position where he can hit the ground running in September, in his second year in Norv Turner's offense. 4. Since we got Tom Brady 's franchise-tag number for 2020 in MMQB ($32.4 million), I figured we could help with the figures for two other old quarterbacks going into contract years. Based on their 2019 cap numbers, it will cost the Giants at least $27.6 million to tag Eli Manning next year, and the Chargers at least $27.84 million to tag Philip Rivers in '20. 5. Richie Incognito could well wind up a Raider his workout was Monday morning, and he had a physical in the afternoon. After touching base with a couple people around him, it sounds like the ex-Bills Pro Bowler is in a much better frame of mind than he was a few months ago. He could be the final piece to a really good Raiders offensive line. 6. Good for the XFL getting its broadcast deals lined up. That's a nice step. But remind me not to overreact to opening week ratings next year, O.K.? Thanks. 7. Underrated part of the barrage of Tom Brady Derby picture analysis? The reconciliation between Kliff Kingsbury and his old Texas Tech quarterback, Baker Mayfield . Both rolled in Brady's crew in Louisville. (Kliff, for his part, has always maintained love for Mayfield, but Mayfield held a grudge for a while.) 8. High picks should stand out athletically in rookie minicamp, and consider that box checked with Cleveland's second-round pick, Greedy Williams . His movement skills flashed, as they should have most people I've talked to considered him the most physically gifted of the corners in this year's draft. 9. I wouldn't underrate the impact of Brad Childress re-joining Matt Nagy 's staff in Chicago, after his cameo in the AAF. Last summer, our MMQB lead for the open of training camp was on Nagy's think tank in Chicago  a group that would constantly bounce offensive concepts and ideas off one another. There were only three guys who were part of that: Nagy, offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich and Childress. 10. Listen to Cowboys COO Stephen Jones when he positions Ezekiel Elliott as the engine to the Dallas machine, as he did with Pro Football Talk. And then look at how much better everyone's been from Dak Prescott on down when Elliott is really rolling. Part of Elliott's value, of course, is that he's playing with a young quarterback and a skill-position group that's undergone a lot of upheaval the last three years. But the reality of the Cowboys' situation is the reality of the Cowboys' situation, and that team is built to rely on Elliott in a big way. If you ask me, they may be better off just biting the bullet now. That way, when he gets into his sixth and seventh years, they'd largely be out of the guaranteed money and have flexibility if he hits the wall, as some backs at that point do. • Question or comment? Email us at talkback@themmqb.com .


We've all gazed longingly at images of white-sand beaches, swaying palms and crystalline oceans. But not everything is always as it seems in those holiday brochures. Disappointing beaches We've all gazed longingly at images of white-sand beaches, swaying palms and crystalline oceans. But not everything is always as it seems in those holiday brochures. From clever photography angles to over-zealous editing, there are plenty of tricks that will make you believe you're going to paradise, when in reality it's all a little bit disappointing. Here are some of the world's beaches where the pictures don't quite match real life... Ipanema beach, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil One of the world's most well-known beaches, Ipanema is a hive of activity on Rio's shores. With gorgeous mountain views, a leafy boardwalk and wonderful white sand, it's the perfect place to spend a sunny day in Brazil. Or is it? Ipanema beach, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil As long as you don't mind rubbing sweaty shoulders with everyone else in town, it's just fine. Though you can find some quieter, more spacious stretches of sand further along the coast, away from the big city, at Prainha. Cala Brandinchi, Sardinia, Italy This spectacular stretch of sand can be found on the island of Sardinia, just off the coast of Italy. The white sand and surrounding blue ocean make it a truly idyllic location. But its sands aren't always so pristine... Cala Brandinchi, Sardinia, Italy Come summer, hundreds of people swarm on this stretch, bringing parasols, beach towels and wind breaks with them, setting up camp for a day in the sun. You'll have to arrive early to get a spot near the unbelievably clear water. Whitehaven Beach, Whitsunday Islands, Australia Look up any list of the world's best beaches and you'll find glorious aerial photos of Whitehaven, just like this one. The swirls of sand beneath the ocean, created by the currents, make this a mesmerizing location from above. Whitehaven Beach, Whitsunday Islands, Australia But from ground level, the whole experience is somewhat underwhelming. It just looks like any other beach, really. If you do want to be awed you'd better take to the skies instead. Diani Beach, Kenya Lapped by the Indian Ocean, Diani beach looks like the sand of dreams, all bright white with traditional fishing boats bobbing in the distance. This is one of Kenya's premier beach resorts, after all. Diani Beach, Kenya Diani doesn't always look so pristine. The ocean regularly washes up seaweed that dries out on the sand and ruins that picture-perfect stretch of whiteness. This, plus the hordes of hawkers trying to sell you everything from Maasai blankets to coconuts, make this beach thoroughly disappointing. Elafonisi, Crete, Greece This pink sand beach isn't some sci-fi movie set. Elafonisi, on the southwest coast of the Greek island of Crete, is known the world over for its pink-tinged sands. But if you're hoping for views like this, you might want a reality check... Elafonisi, Crete, Greece Sadly, most photos of Elafonisi are saturated to accentuate that pink color, which is a result of the coral and shells washed up here. It's still a beautiful beach regardless, and when the tide is out you can walk across a sandbar to a small chapel. Kuta Beach, Bali, Indonesia Regularly lauded as one of the world's finest beaches, Kuta has been a favorite haunt for visitors and locals alike on this Indonesian island. The wide stretch of soft sand is the perfect place to catch some rays and have a truly relaxing break, and no doubt brochures with pictures like this have sold many a holiday. Kuta Beach, Bali, Indonesia Kuta has become a victim of its own success, though, and is now one of Bali's most polluted and dirtiest beaches. Litter was found strewn right across the sands here in February 2019, as rubbish from nearby resorts was blown onto the beach after high winds and heavy rains. This didn't seem to stop the tourists, though, as many continued to sun themselves among the trash. Skeleton Coast, Namibia With the Namib Desert running right out to Namibia's coastline, these must be some of the biggest beaches in the world. The undulating yellow sand contrasting with the deep blue of the Atlantic is an enthralling sight, best viewed from a scenic flight over the coast. You'll spot seals basking on the sand and shipwrecks engulfed by nature, if you're lucky... Skeleton Coast, Namibia It pays to be prepared for disappointment, as Namibia's location on the Atlantic coast guarantees it some pretty strong winds and incredibly varied weather. A sunny morning can quickly turn into a cloudy afternoon, and most days a thick fog rolls in off the ocean completely distorting views of the coastline. Bondi Beach, Australia Bondi is Sydney's most famous beach and a surfer's paradise. It's on the front of many a postcard and brochure, selling this seaside city as a beautiful, cosmopolitan holiday destination. But don't expect it to always look like this... Bondi Beach, Australia In Australia's summer months, between November and February, the beaches in Sydney get overrun with visitors   even more so than this. Finding a spot on the sand can prove tricky, so if you're really keen you'll have to arrive early. Barafundle Bay, Pembrokeshire, Wales, UK This beautiful stretch of sand can be found on the Pembrokeshire coast in Wales   a national park lauded for its gorgeous landscapes and plentiful wildlife. But sunny days like this are hard to come by in Wales... Barafundle Bay, Pembrokeshire, Wales, UK That azure ocean quickly turns dark once the clouds roll in, and with more than a third of the year seeing rainfall in Wales, it's likely this will be your view than that bright, sunny scene. Navagio Beach, Zakynthos, Greece This picturesque beach is one of Greece's most famous, thanks to the hulk of a shipwreck that's seemingly sinking into its sands. The MV Panagiotis freightliner ran aground here in the 1980s and now gives this cove a Cast Away kind of vibe. But don't expect to be stranded here alone... Navagio Beach, Zakynthos, Greece With this kind of fame comes crowds, and Navagio is rarely found empty these days, except perhaps in the depths of winter. Boat trips from the surrounding areas stop off here for picnics and to allow visitors to explore the wreckage, and so your hopes of playing the lone survivor will be well and truly crushed. Boulders Beach, Cape Town, South Africa The sight of penguins on a beach might seem odd, but in South Africa, these flightless birds have made a home just outside the center of Cape Town. There are hundreds of them, but it's not always the Attenborough-style documentary scene you might hope for... Boulders Beach, Cape Town, South Africa The penguins live along the coast and spend some of their time sheltering from the sun in the surrounding bushes. This means that you might not see the hordes that many photos depict, and instead just witness a few waddling birds going about their business on the sand. They're still adorable, though, so don't let that put you off. Jökulsárlón, Iceland This beach in Iceland is famous for its striking black sand and the glassy chunks of ice scattered across its surface. The glacial lagoon is a popular stop for visitors exploring Vatnajökull National Park, and brochure photos often depict scenes like this, with the sun setting behind the ice creating an ethereal landscape. Jökulsárlón, Iceland But sadly, the reality is very different. Clever photography by professionals makes this beach look far more enticing than it is. On a cloudy day   of which there are many in Iceland   it certainly doesn't look like the brochure photos. Juhu Beach, Mumbai, India Mumbai's well-to-do Juhu area has a buzzing beach, where families and even Bollywood stars come to celebrate the sunset with games of cricket and classic South Indian snacks on the sand. But it's not always this beautiful... Juhu Beach, Mumbai, India The water is filthy and swimming is not recommended   it's one of the most polluted beaches in the world   and after heavy rains and storms, rubbish from the city's 18 million residents washes up on the shore. A tragic, sobering sight, Juhu Beach is a clear example of how humans are devastating the Earth's coastlines. Luskentyre, Harris, Scotland Scotland's remote islands have a swathe of glorious beaches, with white sand and oceans clear enough to make you believe you're in the Caribbean. But let's face it, Scotland isn't a country known for fantastic weather... Luskentyre, Harris, Scotland Come to Luskentyre and you're more likely to be faced with this rather drab view than anything quite so idyllic. There's more than just beaches to see on Harris, so check out our guide to the island . Glass Beach, California, USA On the coast of California, near Fort Bragg, Glass Beach is a popular tourist attraction. The colorful little pebbles that sit among the sand here might look pretty, but the story behind them isn't so positive... Glass Beach, California, USA These pebbles are in fact sea glass, and they're a result of human waste being discarded in the ocean. It starts out as entire glass bottles thrown into the sea, and over time they break and erode to form small pebbles and are washed up among the sand. Another example of how we're changing the face of our coastlines with careless practices. Papkolea Beach, Hawaii, USA Papkolea Beach in Hawaii is otherworldly, or so the brochures depict. The green color seen here isn't moss, but green olivine crystals that come from a cinder cone volcano nearby. Mixed in with the sand, it makes it look as if the beach is emerald in color. Papkolea Beach, Hawaii, USA In reality, though, the color isn't nearly as vibrant. Over-edited photographs with ramped-up saturation levels are the cause of disappointment for many a visitor to these shores. Brighton Beach, England The city of Brighton is known as one of Britain's quirkiest places, with a large student population and a creative scene to rival London. Its pebble beach is a glorious place in summer, with views out to the horizon and the somewhat haunting shell of the West Pier, which burned down in 2003. But don't expect it to be this quiet on a beautiful summer's day... Brighton Beach, England There won't be a spare deck chair in sight, as this is the go-to beach destination for Londoners when the sun's out, and locals flock to the shores too. The beach bars and cafés under the promenade backing the beach get full very quickly, so expect to queue a while for those ice creams, and be vigilant around the pesky seagulls that will no doubt want a spot of your lunch. Sadly, the popularity of this beach is also damaging it, as when the crowds have gone, all too often beer cans and picnic leftovers are discarded right on the pebbles by careless visitors. Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos, Caribbean The Caribbean is the ultimate beach destination. The many islands strewn across the sea here have glorious, pristine coastlines ripe for sun worshippers. Not to mention the strikingly turquoise ocean, filled with marine life and colorful coral. Grand Turk, part of the Turks and Caicos, is one of the highlights here, and there may be no better sight than the seemingly endless horizon, blending into a bright blue sky beyond the beach. Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos, Caribbean That is, until a great big cruise ship comes and blocks the view. On Grand Turk, the cruise terminal is right on the beach and ships dock at a pontoon that leads straight onto the sand. It sounds ideal for passengers, who have a short walk to get to the sunbeds, but for the rest of us, it's certainly spoiling the view. Dubrovnik, Croatia Dubrovnik is on many a traveler's bucket list thanks to its starring role in Game of Thrones , the pretty cobblestone streets and its impressive city walls from which you can get glorious views. This coastal city has some stretches of sand too, which occasionally look like this. Dubrovnik, Croatia But visit in the height of summer and you might have to face trial by combat to find a spot for your towel. Overtourism has been a big problem in Croatia in the last few years, and particularly in Dubrovnik where huge cruise ships dock, thronging the city with visitors by day. Maya Bay, Ko Phi Phi, Thailand Movie fans will recognize this sandy crescent as the very stretch Leonardo DiCaprio lost his mind on in the film The Beach . Its bright-white sands and towering karst cliffs are an otherworldly sight, worthy of any beach bucket (and spade) list. Maya Bay, Ko Phi Phi, Thailand But thanks to its worldwide fame, it has now been ruined by overtourism. So much so, that Thai authorities have banned access to the island entirely to try and restore the damaged corals and marine habitats. There's no reopening date yet but it's thought there will be a cap of 2,000 people a day, less than half the 5,000 reportedly visiting before the closure. There are hundreds of absolutely stunning beaches across Thailand's many islands though, so don't feel too disheartened   another (and probably quieter) paradise is just around the corner. Loved this feature? See more epic travel fails from the Taj Mahal to Yosemite


There's an old saying in sports that 'numbers don't lie.' Well, here's a number that's not lying about what a drunken outburst aboard an airplane will cost you. $172,000. Kyong Chol Kim was sentenced this week to six months in jail and ordered to pay a fine of $172,000 after his drunken behavior aboard a Hawaiian Airlines flight in February forced the plane to turn around and make an emergency landing back in Honolulu. The flight was heading to South Korea . The six-figure fine represents what it cost the airline to turn the flight around, land back in Honolulu, and start all over again. According to prosecutors, the 48-year old Kim apparently drank an entire bottle of whiskey before boarding the flight and caused an uproar on the plane, including pestering a child seated next to him and lunging at a flight attendant. Fortunately, in addition to the crew, there were several members of the United States military onboard who helped subdue Kim while the pilots turned back to Honolulu. Related video: The Longest Flight in the U.S. Just Launched   and It Lasts Over 11 Hours (Provided by Travel + Leisure)


ATLANTA   Austin Riley knew he had a good chance to score from first base as soon as Ozzie Albies made contact. The power-hitting left fielder just didn't know whether he'd get the green light from third base coach Ron Washington. "I knew it was in the gap, so run as hard as I can," Riley said. "If he wants to stop me, he'll stop me. He didn't stop me. A good hit by Ozzie and a good team win." BOX SCORE: BRAVES 8, PIRATES 7 Riley tied the game with a solo homer in the ninth inning and scored the winning run on Albies' double off Michael Feliz in the 11th, leading the Atlanta Braves past the Pittsburgh Pirates 8-7 for their sixth straight victory Wednesday night. The Braves (39-29) took over sole possession of first place in the NL East and moved 10 games over .500 for the first time this season. Josh Bell hit a tiebreaking solo homer off Atlanta closer Luke Jackson in the top of the ninth. Riley, who had a two-run triple in the first, took Kyle Crick deep to make it 7-all in the bottom half. After Riley was hit by a pitch on his left hand in the 11th, Albies drove a gapper into right-center and Riley slid headfirst across the plate to end it. "As soon as I hit it in the gap," Albies said, "I knew he would score and win this game." Jacob Webb (4-0) pitched two innings to earn the victory. Feliz (2-3) took the loss. Rain delayed the game for 55 minutes in the seventh. Braves starter Mike Soroka allowed career highs of five runs and 10 hits in five innings. The 21-year-old began the night having given up one run or less in nine of 10 starts this season, but did not factor in the decision. Soroka, whose ERA rose 54 points to 1.92, walked one and struck out three. Atlanta led 3-0 in the first on Nick Markakis' opposite-field RBI single and Riley's triple. The Braves were up 4-2 in the second after Freddie Freeman's RBI single and 6-2 in the third following Soroka's two-run single. Pittsburgh made it 3-2 in the second on RBI singles by Adam Frazier and Elias Diaz and 6-4 in the fourth on Kevin Newman's two-run double. Starling Marte's 10th homer cut the margin to 6-5 in the fifth. The Pirates tied it 6-all in the sixth against Josh Tomlin. Gregory Polanco had a pinch-hit single, advanced to third on Newman's single and scored on Corey Dickerson's sacrifice fly. "We had our backs against the wall a little bit, but we battled back and gave ourselves a chance," said Bell, who leads the majors with 61 RBIs. "It's good mojo going into tomorrow." Mitch Keller, making his second career start for Pittsburgh, allowed six runs and 10 hits in three innings. His ERA rose 1.93 points to 15.43. TRAINER'S ROOM Pirates: Director of sports medicine Tom Tomcyzk said C Francisco Cervelli, on the injured list since May 26 with a concussion, has no symptoms and is scheduled to be re-examined by a neurologist in the next couple of days. Tomcyzk said Cervelli feels normal in everyday life, but has yet to be cleared. The 33-year-old Cervelli has a long history with head injuries during his 12-year career, including six documented concussions since 2011. Braves: CF Ender Inciarte, on the injured list since May 15 with a lumbar strain, still has no timetable to resume baseball activities. "It's still biting him a bit. I think he has good days, has bad days, taking it a day at a time," manager Brian Snitker said. "He's not in that position now to even look ahead where he might -- until he starts running the bases, hitting and all that stuff." SHARP PLAY Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson saved a run in the third. Running into left field, he bumped into third baseman Josh Donaldson a bit as both players pursued the shallow fly. Swanson called off Donaldson and Riley to turn and make a difficult basket catch. MORE RILEY The rookie slugger became the fastest player in franchise history to reach 10 homers, doing so in 26 games to break the mark set by Wally Berger of the Boston Braves in 1930. Riley also tied Earl Torgeson of the 1947 Boston Braves as the quickest to 29 RBIs, in 26 games. ... Riley had his left hand wrapped in ice after the game. He said he was sore from getting hit by the pitch, but not in pain. LANGELIERS SIGNS The Braves signed their first-round draft pick, Baylor catcher Shea Langeliers. Atlanta chose Langeliers with the ninth overall selection, which it received as compensation for not signing last year's No. 8 pick, pitcher Carter Stewart. UP NEXT Pirates: RHP Joe Musgrove (4-6, 4.40 ERA) starts for the second time in the four-game series after getting ejected in the first inning Monday following a confrontation with Donaldson. Braves: RHP Julio Teheran (4-3, 3.03) is 2-0 with a 0.70 ERA in his last seven starts. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports


M issed the window of opportunity to buy a ticket to the exclusive pool parties at Hearst Castle ? Don't have plans to check out the infinity pools at the new TWA Hotel or any of these dreamy safari lodges anytime soon? That doesn't mean you have to suffer through the next heat wave sans swimming pool. Thanks to a new Airbnb-like platform for pool sharing called Swimply, you can now rent access to someone's backyard pool by the hour. Described as the "first ever online marketplace for pool sharing," Swimply is the brainchild of Bunim Laskin, a 22-year-old entrepreneur from New Jersey. Laskin created the app, which launched with a pilot program in summer 2018 , to "democratize the pool experience so that everyone can enjoy an instant escape from reality." Now homeowners can officially sign up to list their underutilized pools to make some extra cash at swimply.com , while non pool owners can browse through the listings on the online platform in 26 states, including California, Hawaii, Florida, and New York. There are also pools available to rent in select locations in Canada and Australia. For example, you can rent a waterfront pool in Miami Beach for $150 an hour during your next Florida vacation. Or if you find yourself at your parent's pool-less house back in Los Angeles over the holidays, you can invite everyone over to a saltwater pool with mountain views for $75 an hour. Each owner sets an hourly rate based on details such as pool size, timing, and amenities like bathroom, BBQ, and pool toy access but the average rental is $45 per hour. It is also up to the owners to decide whether or not they will be home while you use their pool, so the amount of privacy differs with each rental. However, each pool listed on Swimply is inspected by a local pool service company for hygiene and safety before it can be listed on the app. RELATED VIDEO: Airbnb for your pool: Swimply offers pool rentals by the hour (via KVUE-TV)


Michael Brockers has been through it all with the Los Angeles Rams. He's seen the lows after the team went 4-12 in 2016 and fired Jeff Fisher, but he's also been to the top by reaching the Super Bowl last season. He's never struggled to put in 100 percent effort despite disappointing results year after year, and 2019 will be no different. After coming up short in the Super Bowl, Brockers feels driven to get back to the big game. "I don't know if I'm lying or not, but I feel refreshed," Brockers said, via the team's official site . "I feel - coming from the Super Bowl loss, that fire kind of drives you some more. So just ready to get back out there." He's not alone in feeling that way. Sean McVay has always preached the importance of responding to adversity, which the Rams will have to do next season after their embarrassing performance in Super Bowl LIII. The entire roster is motivated to succeed and accomplish even more than they did a year ago. "I think everybody feels the same way. Everybody - we're glad how the season went, we were happy about it. But as far as how it ended, we know we could've finished better, and we want to finish better," Brockers said. "So I think that's what drives us each and every day coming in here, the whole team showing up for OTAs and voluntary OTAs and stuff like that - it just shows that we want to get back to that championship." Brockers is entering his eighth NFL season and has become a leader in the locker room. He's the longest-tenured member of the Rams and young players have gravitated towards him. He says that's happened naturally and he's "accepted the role" as a veteran on the field. MORE: Alex Trebek had a classic response to James Holzhauer's 'two dimes' wager New Packers OLB coach raves about rookie Rashan Gary NBA Free Agency 2019: The top players Roundup: Michael Avenatti Charged With Defrauding Stormy Daniels, George RR Martin on Game of Thrones Books, Ron Artest Doc Trailer 49ers LB roles change with new defensive front


Australian authorities have uncovered a US$140 million stash of amphetamines after an alleged criminal's run-in with the law saw his drug-filled van crash into an officer's car outside a police station. Security camera footage released on Tuesday showed a white van ploughing into the front of a vehicle parked outside a suburban Sydney police station before speeding off down the street. Police said the alleged 26-year-old driver was pulled over about an hour later, less than a 10-minute drive away from the accident scene. The van was said to be packed with moving boxes containing 237 kilograms (523 pounds) of methylamphetamine, an illegal drug commonly known as "ice', with a total estimated street value of AUS$200 million. Australia has a growing problem with meth, with a government report released last year showing the country has proportionally more users than most nations. The van driver has been charged with large commercial drug supply, negligent driving, and not giving particulars to police. He was due to appear in a Sydney court later on Tuesday. No one was injured in the incident.


Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Nick Foles spoke with the media after Friday's practice session, and as most would expect, it was a very emotional meeting as he discussed his wife's miscarriage. Foles also told the media that she was the reason he came back to practice so soon as she encouraged him to be with his teammates as the Jags are trying to bounce back from a five-win season. "If my wife needed me at home right now, I'd be at home. That's just me being honest," Foles said per Mike DiRocco of ESPN . "She's the one who said, 'Go, the team needs you right now.' She knows I'm coming home right away [after practice]. So that's her. It really is as simple as that. If she says, 'I need you to stay home,' I'm going to call the team right now and just say I need to be home. The great thing is the team said as long as I need, whatever I need, they understand. They've been wonderful. But at the same time, my wife also knows; she wants me to be here because we're building something right here." Foles was excused from organized team activities last week for what Doug Marrone indicated was a family matter. Later on that week, Tori Foles took to Instagram to announce the unfortunate news, explaining that she had early labor complications last weekend. Foles also told the media that he admired his wife's strength as she is also battling postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, which affects blood circulation and causes many other complications. "She's way stronger than I'll ever be," Foles said Friday. "She's gone through so much, and people don't realize it. … She was bedridden, hospitals. She battles that every single day. We've gone through so much this past couple of years. We're going through this now, but she's so strong. She's unbelievable." Most on the outside looking in like ourselves can't help but admire the strength of both Nick and Tori, who have endured a lot since his NFL career has started. It certainly explains how the quarterback went from overcoming wanting to leave the game to becoming a Super Bowl champion and bringing the city of Philadelphia their first Lombardi Trophy. Listen to the latest from the Jags Wire team by checking out the Jags Den Podcast. Subscribe on Apple's iTunes podcasts or Stitcher Radio . Listen MORE: Did Nike accidentally reveal that Kevin Durant is staying with the Warriors? 'Jeopardy' star James Holzhauer shoots down one of so many wild conspiracy theories after loss Should Bills fans worry about Roger Goodell's comments? Roundup: iTunes Done; Chipotle Prices; North Carolina Shark Attack; Billionaire Jay-Z Gerald McCoy explains why he picked the Panthers over Browns, Ravens


Steve Kerr personally apologized to Kyle Lowry and the Toronto Raptors for the shove by Golden State Warriors minority owner Mark Stevens. During Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday night, Lowry dove into the stands in an attempt to save a ball. Stevens was sitting courtside and shoved him while reportedly yelling vulgar things at the Raptors guard . Kerr spoke with the media on Thursday and said he wasn't aware of the incident until a day later. Nevertheless, he apologized to Lowry and Toronto. Steve Kerr says he hasn't exactly seen what happened to Kyle Lowry last night but he did apologize to Lowry and the Raptors for the incident pic.twitter.com/JBXF479FlV   Def Pen Hoops (@DefPenHoops) June 6, 2019 The NBA has been cracking down on inappropriate fan conduct such as this. They announced in a statement that Stevens has been banned indefinitely , while the Warriors have suspended Stevens from team activities indefinitely.


A hiker found his path blocked by a particularly itchy wombat, trying to give itself a good scratch.


Ready to hit up the newest businesses to open in Charlotte? From a nail salon to a cafe, read on for a list of the newest spots to debut near you. Polished Nail Bar Now open at 4151 Park Road is the Polished Nail Bar , a nail salon and waxing and skin care spot. This spot has sister locations in Charlotte and Raleigh. The list of services here includes waxing, facials, manicures, pedicures and more. Microblading, which involves the tattooing of eyebrows, is also available. Take a gander at the full list of services here . The new arrival has enjoyed a decent start with 3.5 stars from four reviews on Yelp. Yelper haley p. wrote , "The massage chairs are brand new and the service is impeccable. I'd ask for Paulina to do your manicure and pedicure because she is the best at what she does. Having mimosas during a pedicure is like the icing on the cake." Bar Marcel A new Italian, French and Spanish spot has opened up shop in the neighborhood. Called Bar Marcel , the newcomer is located at 3920 Sharon Road, Suite #160, in South Park. To start, take a look at the Duck Liver Pate as an appetizer. This spot serves up a variety of pasta dishes including Tagliatelle, which includes shrimp, capers, kale and more. The Colorado Lamb Chops head the list of large plates on the menu . Bar Marcel has proven popular thus far, with a five-star rating out of six reviews on Yelp. Kate T., who was among the first Yelpers to review the new spot on May 29, wrote, "We started with the Raspberry Basil Gimlet and the Charcuterie Board. The board was absolutely divine with homemade duck pate, boudin, house-cured salami, three cheeses along with mustard, jam and pickles. It was a perfect start to the evening and very filling." Cafe Fior Now open at 14825 Ballantyne Village Way, Suite #135, in Ballantyne is Cafe Fior , a restaurant, offering coffee and tea and more. This spot serves up chai, lattes and more. Try the Iced Rose Tea with Lemongrass or the Masala Chai. Cafe Fior serves breakfast and lunch daily. Look for the Tuna Melt among the lunch options. With four stars from one review on Yelp, it's still early days for the new arrival. Yelper Melissa D. wrote , "Our first visit was quick, as we just wanted to drop by and get some coffee to go. The coffee was good and we'll definitely come back to try it again." This story was created automatically using local business data, then reviewed and augmented by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


If you're a fan of the arts, mark your calendars: there's plenty to do when it comes to artsy events in Seattle this week, from a dance festival to a magician. 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. Northwest Balboa Festival 2019 From the event description: The Northwest Balboa Festival is back for its fifth year! Who thought we'd make it a whole half-decade? But here 2019 is, and our shoes are still slick, our steps still shufflin' and our music is still hot. This year's Northwest Balboa Festival will bring the best of what the Pacific Northwest's dance community has to offer. We feel so blessed that you have chosen to spend your time with us, sharing this dance that we love. When: Friday, May 17, 8 p.m.- Sunday, May 19, 7 p.m. Where: Seattle, various locations Price: $95 - $115 Click here for more details, and to get your tickets Seattle Say Yes From the event description: Artist Scott Erickson walks us through the very personal and universal conversation about the death of a dream and the overwhelming voice of giving up in our lives. "Say Yes: A Liturgy of Not Giving Up on Yourself" is a multi-sensory experience that reveals this moment not as an ending but as a sacred doorway into a much deeper invitation to our hopes, vocation and our existence itself. When: Saturday, May 18, 7-9 p.m. Where: Seattle First Church of the Nazarene, 4401 Second Ave. NE Price: $10 Click here for more details, and to get your tickets Intrepidus Dance: "Dénouement" From the event description: Merriam Webster defines dénouement as "The final outcome of a complex sequence of events." Intrepidus' fifth season was navigated amidst a season of grief and healing for both Artistic Director Holly Logan Livingston and Executive Director Samantha Weissbach Williams. The narratives that have resulted investigate the celebration and heartache of welcoming new life, as well as examine how humanity quantifies the quality of a life already lived. When: Friday, May 17, 7:30 p.m. Where: Yaw Theater, 6520 Fifth Ave. S Price: $10 Click here for more details, and to get your tickets Mentalist Eran Raven in "Mysteries of the Mind" From the event description: Minds will be read, and blown, when mentalist Eran Raven enters the room. After a successful two-year run off Broadway, Raven brings his latest show "Mysteries of the Mind" to Hale's Ales Palladium Theater in Seattle. If you're a fan of hits like "Lie to Me" or "The Mentalist" then you're in for a treat as Raven uses cutting-edge psychological and persuasive techniques to read minds and amaze audiences around the world. Watch as the master mentalist demonstrates his powers over random spectators, plucking thoughts right out of their heads, subtly influencing their decisions and leaving everyone wanting more. When: Friday, May 17, 8 p.m. Where: Hale's Ales Palladium Theater, 4301 Leary Way NW Price: Free - $30 Click here for more details, and to get your tickets This story was created automatically using local event data, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce kicked off the NFL's "Experiences of a Lifetime" giveaways this weekend. Kelce joined the wedding party of a pair of Chiefs fans as a part of the NFL's celebration of 100 seasons. It's the first of many giveaways to come, so other fanbases should be on the lookout for different opportunities in the future. Matt and Taylor welcomed Kelce into their special day and the NFL documented the whole adventure. He came, he saw, he joked, he danced the night away. Check out a bunch of videos and pictures from the wedding reception below: Yep, best ever. @tkelce | #NFL100 pic.twitter.com/67NRszOwOt - Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) June 29, 2019 The wedding topper for this cake is incredible. I'm just curious if the NFL has a cake designer on standby, because they only announced the winner for the contest on Friday. That's quite the wedding cake for a 48 hour turnaround. The moment @tkelce met the bride and groom! #NFL100 pic.twitter.com/7hbGMFQ0tk - Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) June 29, 2019 Kelce got the first hug of the recently married bride and groom. He presented them with the NFL 100 football and then got right to the party. In Kelce's video announcing that Matt and Taylor had won the contest , he mentioned that he couldn't wait to get on the dance floor. He wasn't joking either. 8⃣7⃣ is always the life of the party! #NFL100 pic.twitter.com/CSGCRXlvwy - Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) June 30, 2019 I don't think many people realized they needed to see Kelce doing the Cupid Shuffle until it actually happened. Of course, Kelce was tearing it up on the dance floor all night long. Touchdown dance preview? Dancing with the bride! #NFL100 @tkelce pic.twitter.com/fu1DSeKMXr - NFL (@NFL) June 30, 2019 Leading the entire wedding in dance just shows the type of charisma that Kelce has. He brings it on and off the football field. Epic speech and wedding gift from @tkelce and the @chiefs ! ❤ #NFL100 pic.twitter.com/COo8IeqvSi - NFL (@NFL) June 30, 2019 Great speech here from Kelce, he didn't take up too much of the couples shine and brought it all back to them. Throwing in a ticket package for the entire wedding party is a really nice gesture from the Chiefs organization. An unforgettable night at Taylor and Matt's wedding! @tkelce sure had a good time! #NFL100 | #ChiefsKingdom pic.twitter.com/9KFGLWnBP9 - Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) June 30, 2019 Kelce could make a business after football just posing in people's wedding photos with them. There was even a special message from Kelce to the entirety of Chiefs Kingdom. . @tkelce on why #ChiefsKingdom is the BEST pic.twitter.com/utxt0hz49U - Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) June 29, 2019 A Super Bowl would be a nice belated wedding gift for the newlywed couple and the rest of Chiefs Kingdom. MORE: NBA free agency Day 1: Winners and losers Lakers Rumors: Kawhi Leonard Rumblings; Danny Green, Seth Curry and Andre Iguodala are all Targets It looks like the Patriots won't be doing a Super Bowl champion visit to the White House NBA Free Agency 2019: The top players Ex-Giants QB Jared Lorenzen in ICU, 'fighting with everything he has'


Flip through the gallery to see the USA TODAY Sports preview of what's ahead for college football in the fall. The second national signing day and spring practices have passed since the previous USA TODAY Sports early Top 25, which had Alabama and Clemson atop the list of college football's best teams heading into the 2019 season. When it comes to the Tigers and Crimson Tide, the post-spring update isn't much of an update at all   the two national powers still lead the way. For the rest of the Bowl Subdivision, spring practices provided a glimpse into what to expect come August. The end of drills also provided a shakeup to our projected Top 25, with a handful of Power Five additions and several changes to the list that debuted in the wake of Clemson's national championship in January. The initial postseason ranking for each school from January is in parenthesis. 25. Wisconsin (23) Wisconsin has earned a high degree of national respect as a program but enters 2019 with a major question: What can Paul Chryst and the Badgers expect from true freshman quarterback Graham Mertz? 24. Baylor (25) The Bears are trending upwards heading into coach Matt Rhule's third season. An easy non-conference schedule is followed by a smooth entry into Big 12 play, meaning the Bears could be at 6-2 heading into a crucial November. 23. Syracuse (22) Dino Babers aims to lead the Orange to double-digit wins for the second year in a row after last season's breakthrough. There'll be a change at quarterback, with Tommy DeVito set to take over full time after playing in eight games as a freshman, but there are few questions about the health of the offense. 22. Boise State (24) Unsettled competitions at quarterback and running back dominated the conversation this spring, and perhaps rightfully so. But the Broncos are loaded at wide receiver, experienced on the offensive line and poised to excel on defense with depth on every level. 21. Penn State (19) A flurry of offseason departures was followed by this spring's surprising move: Tommy Stevens opted to transfer rather than continue in Penn State's quarterback battle. That changes the equation under center. However, it's important to remember that redshirt sophomore Sean Clifford has been viewed as the future at the position   only his time was supposed to come in 2020, not this fall. 20. Army (20) Army is rolling with confidence after the finest season in the program's modern era. A smooth schedule has the Black Knights destined for a spot in the Top 25. The only concern might be the change at defensive coordinator, as Jay Bateman did superb work under Jeff Monken before leaving to join Mack Brown at North Carolina. 19. Nebraska (21) The defense is going to be better, maybe even significantly so. The Cornhuskers have a Heisman contender in quarterback Adrian Martinez but need to add depth at the skill positions and are again not entirely trustworthy along the line. Overall, however, this is a team set to take the next step under Scott Frost. 18. Stanford (18) Those questions about the health of Stanford's running game weren't answered during the spring, and likely won't be addressed completely until a brutal stretch to start the year   against Northwestern, Southern California, UCF and Oregon. 17. Northwestern (Not ranked) The Wildcats look like the most complete team in the Big Ten West. Whether they can repeat atop the division depends on how well former Clemson quarterback Hunter Johnson takes to the offensive scheme. While Pat Fitzgerald hasn't declared a starter, the signs from Johnson this spring have been positive. 16. Auburn (Not ranked) There's no short-term conclusion in sight for Auburn's quarterback competition. True freshman Bo Nix and redshirt freshman Joey Gatewood fared the best during the spring game, for what that's worth. That Gus Malzahn will call plays on offense is an intriguing twist heading into what is again a brutal schedule. 15. Iowa State (17) Matt Campbell left the spring praising newcomer Breece Hall at running back and incumbent quarterback Matt Purdy, the two keys to the Cyclones' offensive success. Another reason to be optimistic: Iowa State's defense looks built to last in the Big 12. The defensive front in particular showed this spring why it's a major asset. 14. Central Florida (12) The Knights will take another run at the New Year's Six with a new quarterback, whether holdover Darriel Mack Jr. or Notre Dame transfer Brandon Wimbush. As of now, there's little separating the two main contenders. UCF is still the class of the Group of Five even without McKenzie Milton. 13. Florida (14) Dan Mullen's second team will be just as good as his first, but whether the Gators can put a serious dent into Georgia's ownership of the East Division depends in large part on three factors: the performance by the offensive line, the health of the running game and the play on the back end of the secondary. The line in particular needs to improve after a spotty spring. 12. Washington (9) Presumed backup quarterback Jake Haener has made things interesting this spring, though it would be a huge surprise to see anyone other than Jacob Eason at the controls of the Huskies offense come August. Washington will enter the summer with holes on defense but a number of talented youngsters ready to fill the void; based on the spring, look for the staff to lean on a heavy rotation of players. 11. Notre Dame (13) The Irish have to feel good about the spring performance of running back Jafar Armstrong, who put a strong hold on the starting job after serving as the backup to Dexter Williams a year ago. Better yet, quarterback Ian Book showed during drills that he's ready to build on a very solid first season as the starter. 10. Texas (5) There's plenty to like about Texas but enough reason for concern exiting the spring to knock the Longhorns down a few pegs from their debut ranking. At heart is line play on both sides of the ball, with the offensive front still a work in progress as the staff looks to rebuild depth. The defense began the process of replacing eight senior starters. 9. Oregon (11) Ten returning starters on offense, led by a potential top draft pick in Justin Herbert. Another seven starters are back on defense. The early returns on new defensive coordinator Andy Avalos have been predictably positive. The Ducks made a great hire in bringing Avalos over from Boise State. 8. Texas A&M (10) The Aggies have a ceiling as high as the College Football Playoff, though the program might not be ready to take that leap in Jimbo Fisher's second season. A&M needs to improve its pass defense after a lackluster 2018, addressing those concerns by signing one of the nation's top secondary classes in December and February. 7. LSU (8) The Tigers spent most of the spring in a spread-based, no-huddle system that conceivably would bring the offense out its malaise and take advantage of a strong cast of skill players. Another takeaway? That true freshman defensive back Derek Stingley is going to be the program's next great one in the secondary. 6. Michigan (7) Not to overrate an individual spring game   no one ever does that   but the Wolverines' scrimmage saw an offense under new coordinator Josh Gattis that allowed skill players to make plays in space, a painfully missing piece for much of Jim Harbaugh's tenure. If this holds, the Wolverines are going to be a national factor. 5. Ohio State (6) The Buckeyes' quarterback transfer didn't shine: Justin Fields was spotty in the spring game. But his work throughout the spring was strong, helping the Georgia transfer to lay a foundation for securing the job come fall camp. Ohio State's going to be a major contender in Ryan Day's first season. 4. Oklahoma (4) If the spring game is any indication, Alabama transfer Jalen Hurts is going to be a good fit for Lincoln Riley and the Sooners. As if there were any questions about the Sooners' quarterback play. Hurts was strong through the air and unsurprisingly effective as a runner to cap the spring and head into the summer on a high note. 3. Georgia (3) The Bulldogs' series of practices revealed a team loaded with underclassmen talent set to contribute at many important spots   such as the secondary, for example, which coach Kirby Smart singled out for praise multiple times in April. 2. Alabama (1) The spring provided a look at the Tide's revamped and overhauled coaching staff, even if a few key faces   such as offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian   aren't new to the program. The more things change, the more they stay the same. Alabama and Clemson are the nation's best teams entering the summer. 1. Clemson (2) It's all sunshine and rainbows in the wake of the program's latest national championship. Not that everything is peachy: Clemson lost wide receiver Amari Rodgers to an ACL tear in March, potentially robbing the offense of an all-conference weapon. Rodgers is a good one, but I think Trevor Lawrence and the Tigers will be OK.


HOUSTON   Hours before the Houston Rockets faced unofficial elimination against the Golden State Warriors on Saturday night, resident wise man Jason Terry bound through one of the Toyota Center tunnels after the team's shoot-around and shared his perspective on that night's affair. "This is our Game 7!" he yelled to a nearby Rockets staff member. The problem, as it turned out, is that they played as if it was Oct. 7. The Rockets, who were well aware that no team has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit in a seven-game series, gave the kind of effort and execution that was worthy of a preseason outing in their 115-80 loss to the Warriors in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals. And now, with Game 4 in Houston on Monday and the prospect of Golden State's trip to the Finals seemingly a matter of when rather than if, the time seems right to re-assess this Golden State group and ask the only question that matters. Can they win it all? Of course they can. How they can do it is another question entirely. And yes, for those who merely watched the highlights of this one, there was much more to this runaway win than the latest spectacular showing from MVP Stephen Curry (40 points on 12-of-19 shooting overall, 7-of-9 from three-point range). Can the Warriors win it all when they live and die by the three-pointer? Well here's the thing about the widely-believed narrative: It's simply not true. Take the first half, for example, when they hit just four three-pointers but got out to a 62-37 lead by leaning on the kinds of principles that many casual fans still don't realize they possess: The defense that was the top-ranked unit in the NBA in the regular season (the Rockets shot just 29.3% in the first half and 33.7% for the game) and a penetration attack that was tied with the Rockets for second during that time (32 of their 58 points in the paint came in the first half). The Warriors' offense was as clean as it's ever been, too, with 15 of their 26 assists in the half to go with one turnover. "I think what a lot of people may not understand is that our offense tonight was integral to our defensive success   integral," Warriors assistant coach and defensive guru Ron Adams told USA TODAY Sports. "When we produce low turnovers in a game, and we're ready defensively, then we become a pretty special team." The Warriors' defensive versatility on the wings just isn't fair sometimes, and it finally benefited them against Harden in Game 3. Klay Thompson tried and mostly failed to contain Harden in the first two games, when the Warriors' attempts to force him off the three-point line only led to the kind of efficient mid-range game that no one saw coming. Harden averaged 33 points (57.1% shooting), 10.5 rebounds and 9.0 assists in those first two games. So Warriors' coach Steve Kerr and Adams decided to give Harden a different look. Harrison Barnes spent some time on Harden, then Andre Iguodala and Thompson, and all of a sudden the Rockets' masterful man finally came back down to earth. Harden missed 13 of his 16 shots, finishing with 17 points, three rebounds and four assists. Adams, as it so happens, was an Oklahoma City assistant coach when Harden was finding his way with the Thunder. The two remain close, with Harden calling Adams a "friend" at Saturday morning's shoot-around. "I thought Harrison did a really good job (on Harden) early," Adams said. "A different body, a different defensive presence (than Thompson). And then I thought we closed space behind him on some of the high picks we saw. But again, in being fair to James and their team, we played pretty much error-less ball. "We didn't shoot it great, but it allowed us to defend. We had the lead. The lead is important. That allowed us to do things, to gain confidence, to put pressure on their shooters. So a lot of good things. And everyone who guarded him did well, but this team has a lot of pride defensively. They weren't particularly happy with those two games." Because the Rockets depend so much on Harden, the task of slowing him down was priority Nos. 1 through 10 or so on the Warriors' in-house game plan. And to hear Iguodala tell it, slowing Harden is an exercise in focus, intelligence and endurance. "You make him take tough shots, and (Harden) made tough shots (in the first two games)," Iguodala said. "So you kind of throw some different things (at him). It's all the same concept defensively: Make him take a tough shot, don't let him get to his spot as easy, cut him off at certain angles, when pick and roll comes communication is key, try and get it out of his hands, and if he does catch it (have him) catch it as far out as possible, and then hope for the best." Can the Warriors get better? Here we are in late May, with this team up 3-0 in the Western Conference finals, and they're talking about getting better. They're using words like "development" and discussing lessons learned from the latest game. No folks, this is not normal. Kerr pounded that point home afterward, expressing his glee at the fact that the first half was yet another reminder that defending with that kind of vigor can lead to a dominant performance in just the same way that a Splash Brothers clinic can. "We're up 25 points (at halftime) with a box score that doesn't look that impressive from a shooting standpoint (45.1% shooting overall, 26.7% from three-point range)," Kerr said. "It's a great lesson for our team. If we defend like crazy and take care of the ball, we're going to be in good shape." Even with the 2-0 series lead coming in, the Warriors weren't happy with the way things had gone. Bare in mind, this team that had a league-best plus-10.1 point differential during the regular season had won by a combined four points in those two games. That's not the sort of one-sided stuff they're used to, and it was made worse because Harden was looking like Michael Jordan the way he took it to them. As big man Andrew Bogut said afterward, we would have seen this coming if we had known how much discontent there was inside their locker room. "Look, it sounds arrogant and cocky, but we sure believe that (they can get better)," Bogut said. "We didn't play that well the first two games. You knew something was brewing in our locker room, and we had that focus today. We gave them our best shot, and we blew them apart. "The series isn't over, but we've learned a whole lot about ourselves. The New Orleans series was great for us (in the first round) because even though it was a sweep, they pushed us, and they pushed us to the brink some games. Memphis (in the second round) was the same. They tested us. ... Every series, I feel like, has made us stronger and made us better." Is Curry still improving too? How can you tell when Curry is having a special night? When people are debating his historical place on Twitter. There was chatter about whether he was already better than Steve Nash had ever been and the great debate about whether he will go down as the best shooter of all-time. But as Adams pointed out, it's the stuff that isn't being discussed that is helping him get to yet another level. The hustle plays. The sequence in the second quarter when he somehow beat Dwight Howard for a rebound, drew the second foul on the Rockets big man in a matter of seconds (giving Howard three at the time) and went to work demoralizing a Houston team that simply couldn't keep him in check. "I know for you guys (the media) it's like he was doing it offensively tonight, but he's doing some small things that are extremely important that don't get publicized," Adams said. "That's just gratifying." From Curry to the rest of them, this is the scary part for the Rockets and the team that they'll likely face in the Finals. "I think there's more in us," Adams said. Follow Sam Amick on Twitter @sam_amick .


Curious just how far your dollar goes in Anaheim? We've rounded up the latest rental listings via rental sites Zumper and Apartment Guide to get a sense of what to expect when it comes to locating a rental in Anaheim if you've got $1,600/month earmarked for your rent. Take a look at the listings, below. (Note: prices and availability are subject to change.) Hoodline offers data-driven analysis of local happenings and trends across cities. Links included in this article may earn Hoodline a commission on clicks and transactions. 222 N. Muller St. (Northwest Anaheim) First up, there's this one-bedroom, one-bathroom abode situated at 222 N. Muller St. It's listed for $1,550/month for its 780 square feet. The building has on-site laundry, secured entry and garage parking. You can also expect to see a balcony and a dishwasher in the unit. Pets are not welcome. According to Walk Score, the surrounding area is somewhat walkable, is relatively bikeable and has some transit options. (See the complete listing here .) 1619 W. Crescent Ave. (The Colony) Next, check out this 750-square-foot one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment that's located at 1619 W. Crescent Ave. It's listed for $1,580/month. The building has secured entry, on-site laundry and garage parking. In the unit, you'll find hardwood flooring. Pet lovers are in luck: Cats and dogs are welcome. Expect a $400 pet fee. According to Walk Score, the surrounding area is quite walkable, has some bike infrastructure and has some transit options. (Take a look at the complete listing here .) 5601 E. Orangethorpe Ave. Finally, located at 5601 E. Orangethorpe Ave., here's a 540-square-foot studio apartment that's listed for $1,583/month. In the residence, you'll find a walk-in closet. The building offers a swimming pool, on-site laundry and a fitness center. Both cats and dogs are welcome. The rental doesn't require a leasing fee. According to Walk Score's assessment, the surrounding area isn't very walkable, has minimal bike infrastructure and has some transit options. (Check out the complete listing here .) Working with a tight budget? Here are the cheapest rentals recently listed in Anaheim . This story was created automatically using local real estate data from Zumper and Apartment Guide , then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


Kansas City fire investigators say fireworks started a house fire that sent two firefighters to the hospital Thursday morning. The fireworks started the fire on the rear porch of a home at 33rd and Bales at 2:21 a.m. The fire quickly engulfed the house. One person inside made it out safely. The back of the home collapsed during the fire, causing two firefighters to fall one story. They were not injured. Two other firefighters suffered minor burn injuries. They were transported to the hospital for treatment. READ MORE: Fireworks cause fire that injured two Kansas City firefighters CHECK OUT KMBC: Get the latest Kansas City news, sports and weather from KMBC. With the best local coverage and the top Missouri news stories, you can stay in the know.