2018/19 is over and the next season is already on the horizon. With that will come the much-anticipated release of FIFA 20 and hours and hours of fun. The introduction of a new Vola Mode (evoking memories of FIFA Street) among other new features in the upcoming edition has fans on the edge of their seat in excitement. One of the most famous clubs in MLS, LA Galaxy are a contender for the MLS Cup and will be a go-to club of many MLS fans come the game's release in Autumn. Given how the players have performed of late, here's how LA Galaxy's squad are expected to be rated for 2020... Servando Carrasco Position: Midfielder FIFA 19 Rating: 65 Predicted FIFA 20 Rating: 65 More famously known in America as Women's World Cup winner Alex Morgan's husband, the Mexican is a useful squad member who is able to fill in at midfield. He has had an average season this year and it would be justified for his rating to stay the same. Uriel Antuna Position: Winger FIFA 19 Rating: 66 Predicted FIFA 20 Rating: 66 The Manchester City loanee has had a decent campaign, having contributed to five goals from 17 appearances from out wide. The 21-year-old has played a decent part in the Galaxy's great attack and hence deserves to have the same rating as he did in FIFA 19. Daniel Steres Position: Centre Back FIFA 19 Rating: 66 Predicted FIFA 20 Rating: 66 American defender Steres has been impressive in the attacking end where he has chipped in for three goals but defensive troubles for the LA Galaxy has hindered their attempt to clinch the top spot. Therefore Steres' rating stays the same. Chris Pontius Position: Winger FIFA 19 Rating: 67 Predicted FIFA 20 Rating: 66 The American winger has had a tough 2019 campaign as he has failed to replicate the form he showed in 2018. He has only produced a goal and two assists in his sporadic 12 appearances. After being an important part of the side in 2018, Pontius has become a rotation player and his rating should reflect his decreasing role in the team. Matt Lampson Position: Goalkeeper FIFA 19 Rating: 67 Predicted FIFA 20 Rating: 66 Lampson has failed to beat David Bingham to be the No. 1 and therefore has not played a lot for the Galaxy. In his only appearance this season, he conceded four, which does not help his claim to be the first choice keeper. A lack of appearances and a poor showing means he gets a slightly harsh downgrade. David Bingham Position: Goalkeeper FIFA 19 Rating: 67 Predicted FIFA 20 Rating: 67 Bingham might have secured the first choice spot for the goalkeeper position but has had a relatively poor campaign so far. He has kept seven clean sheets but conceded 25 goals in 20 goals in the MLS - an unhealthy return for a team aiming to win the MLS Cup. It's unfair to blame Bingham (solely) for the amount conceded though, so he keeps his rating of 67. Dave Romney Position: Centre Back FIFA 19 Rating: 68 Predicted FIFA 20 Rating: 67 Similar to Pontius, Romney was a starter for the Galaxy in 2018 but this season he has been resigned to the bench. He is a useful squad member as he can deputise for any position in the defence yet his rating for FIFA 20 will get a hit due to his lack of playing time. João Pedro Position: Midfielder FIFA 19 Rating: 66 Predicted FIFA 20 Rating: 67 Pedro was sent out on loan to Portugal to play for CD Tondela and put in some assured performances notably for his last game for the club, where he scored his only goal for the Liga NOS outfit. With improvement from the season prior, it means his rating gets a small increase. Rolf Feltscher Position: Right Back FIFA 19 Rating: 67 Predicted FIFA 20 Rating: 67 Feltscher has been a regular for the Galaxy and has contributed to three goals from 12 appearances from right-back- a great feat. However, he managed a similar tally the campaign prior hence his rating stays the same as there is a lack of improvement. Jörgen Skjelvik Position: Defender FIFA 19 Rating: 67 Predicted FIFA 20 Rating: 67 Capable of playing both centre back and left back, the speed demon has been a regular for the Galaxy for a couple of years. He has produced consistent performances when he has played but nothing out of the ordinary. Therefore, his rating stays the same. Emmanuel Boateng Position: Midfielder FIFA 19 Rating: 68 Predicted FIFA 20 Rating: 67 Boateng has had a relatively poor 2019 MLS season as he has only scored one goal for LA but most of his minutes came off the bench, hence his fewer goal contributions this season. Despite this, the quality he has shown has not been on the level of which he showed in 2018 meaning his FIFA rating gets a slight downgrade. Perry Kitchen Position: Midfielder FIFA 19 Rating: 69 Predicted FIFA 20 Rating: 69 An injury-hit 2019 season means it is unfair to judge Kitchen but since his return, he has featured in most games highlighting his importance to the team. With his injury, Kitchen's FIFA rating doesn't change. Joe Corona Position: Midfielder FIFA 19 Rating: 69 Predicted FIFA 20 Rating: 70 It has been a decent season for Corona as he has featured in every game and has shown his class throughout the MLS season with a great performance against New England Revolution being a highlight. Having proved to be an important player for LA, his rating gets a minor upgrade. Favio Álvarez Position: Attacking Midfielder FIFA 19 Rating: N/A Predicted FIFA 20 Rating: 71 Álvarez did not have a FIFA 19 rating as he was not in the game but we are predicting to have a 71 rating. He managed a goal and two assists in just eight appearances- an impressive tally. The Argentinian also showed his versatility as he played on either wing, which is the position he played in when he scored his first goal for the Galaxy. However, he is a loan signing and will return to CA Tucúman, an Argentinian club, at the end of 2019. Sebastian Lletget Position: Midfielder FIFA 19 Rating: 71 Predicted FIFA 20 Rating: 72 Lletget has formed a great midfield partnership with Corona and has played the majority of LA Galaxy's game like Corona, indicating how crucial they are as a duo. The highlight of his season has to be the crucial late goal he scored against Minnesota which helped secure a win for LA. His presence in the middle of the park and his consistent performances means the American gets a slight upgrade for his FIFA 20 rating. Diego Polenta Position: Defender FIFA 19 Rating: N/A Predicted FIFA 20 Rating: 72 Like Álvarez, Polenta did not have a FIFA 19 rating but we are predicting to have a 72 rating as he has impressed for the Galaxy in defence. Capable of playing any position in defence, Polenta was a great pickup for free and looks like he will become an important cog for the defence in the future. Giancarlo González Position: Centre Back FIFA 19 Rating: 77 Predicted FIFA 20 Rating: 77 Having transferred from Bologna in April 2019, the Costa Rican has become a starter for LA Galaxy and has put in assured performances. He has yet to help fix the Galaxy's defensive woes but he is a welcome addition to the side. Having barely played for Bologna in the 2018/19 season, his rating stays the same. Jonathan dos Santos Position: Midfielder FIFA 19 Rating: 77 Predicted FIFA 20 Rating: 77 The former Barcelona and Villareal midfielder has produced another solid campaign for the Galaxy having scored two and assisted two goals whilst taking some of the captaincy duties. He is one of the best midfielders in the league and has continued to show that with his brilliant passing. However, he has not really improved from last season so his rating remains the same. Romain Alessandrini Position: Winger FIFA 19 Rating: 78 Predicted FIFA 20 Rating: 78 The French right-winger has endured a tough season as he has suffered multiple injuries with a knee injury he suffered against Houston keeping him out from April 2019. Therefore, it is difficult to judge his rating and is harsh to get a downgrade so his rating remains at 78. Zlatan Ibrahimovic Position: Striker FIFA 19 Rating: 85 Predicted FIFA 20 Rating: 86 The captain and star striker, Zlatan has proved why he is regarded as one of the best strikers of his generation. The 37-year-old has put the Galaxy and has carried them to a play-off place whilst scoring some screamers along the way- notably the winner on his debut. Contributing a goal per game, the Swede has shown America why he is worth the hype he had when he joined the Galaxy. His rating will, therefore, get a deserved upgrade.


Editor's note: The opinions in this article are the author's, as published by our content partner, and do not necessarily represent the views of MSN or Microsoft. Surprising absolutely no one, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin thumbed his nose at the House of Representatives on Monday evening and decided not to turn over President Donald Trump's business and personal tax returns after weeks of saying he just needed a little more time to think about it.In a letter to House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal, Mnuchin, citing guidance he received from the Justice Department, said the committee's request for Trump's returns "lacks a legitimate legislative purpose" and he was "therefore not authorized" to release them. With that, Mnuchin said he was "informing" Neal that Treasury "may not lawfully fulfill the Committee's request." If it wasn't clear before, then it is now: Trump's White House has decided to wage war on the principles of transparency and oversight, arguing in a series of recent confrontations with the law enforcement community and Congress that the executive branch has the authority and independence to decide for itself whether it has to respond to   and even recognize   checks on its power. That muscularity surfaced during Attorney General William Barr's Senate testimony last week, when he fended off hours of questions about how he oversaw the disclosure and interpretation of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report on his Russia-Trump investigation. In response to questions about whether Trump had tried to impede or derail Mueller's probe, and had therefore obstructed justice, Barr at one point said presidents had the power to upend any federal investigation   and to make up his or her mind whether the underlying reasons for a probe were robust enough for it to continue. "The president, who has constitutional authority to supervise proceedings   if in fact a proceeding was not well-founded, if it was a groundless proceeding, if it was based on false allegations, the president does not have to sit there, constitutionally, and allow it to run its course," Barr said . In short, if the president doesn't like a federal investigation, even if it's about him or her, and makes a case that it's being conducted in bad faith, then they can stop it. (This might recommend all future presidents to take to Twitter, perhaps, to poison public sentiment about any probe involving the Oval Office.) It's no shock, then, that Barr's Justice Department gave Mnuchin the legal argument he needed to keep Trump's tax returns under wraps. Trump's private attorneys are on board with these arguments too. In a lawsuit last week that they filed on behalf of Trump, his three eldest children, and his company against Deutsche Bank AG and Capital One Financial Corporation, they argued that neither company should comply with Congressional requests for the Trump family's financial records because doing so violated the family's financial privacy and exceeded Congress's constitutional mandate. And how does the lawsuit define Congress's mandate? It claims legislators can only legislate and therefore don't have constitutional authority to engage in oversight or investigations of the presidency. Congress can only take actions that are tied to existing legislation, the lawsuit asserts. That, of course, is also Mnuchin's argument. In the language of the Trump family's lawsuit , none of this is about legislation, it's all about partisan politics. Investigations of the president, the lawsuit says, are taking place only to "ferret about for any material that might be used to cause him political damage," and "no grounds exist to establish any purpose other than a political one." That's remarkably similar to Barr's repeated observation about the origins and goals of the Mueller probe, one he emphasized during his press conference on April 18 when he released the report: "The president was frustrated and angered by a sincere belief that the investigation was undermining his presidency, propelled by his political opponents, and fueled by illegal leaks." Defining Congressional oversight as legitimate only when it's tied to legislation helps keep Congress off your back, obviously. But that doesn't mean it's the proper definition or that it's in the broader, non-partisan public interest to define it as such. Effective oversight, as the Constitution's framers clearly understood, involved separation of powers and checks and balances. Congress is empowered to monitor the presidency, and denying it any supervisory capacity beyond legislation leaves it hamstrung   intentionally. Trump is the most financially conflicted president of the modern era. Unlike recent predecessors in the Oval Office, he has chosen not to voluntarily release his tax returns. That limits the public's full understanding of the financial or business pressures that might inform his policymaking, an understanding that is basic to ethical and transparent governing. It's the kind of situation that calls for aggressive Congressional monitoring. But in the era of Mnuchin, Barr and Trump, this view is unlikely to prevail unless legislators take the battle just as seriously as the White House does.


Because you want clean dishes, don't ya? In theory, your dishwasher should be constantly cleaning itself - but sadly, it isn't . Over time, bits of food, grease, undissolved detergent , and water minerals build up on the dishwasher's filter and interior walls. Along with an unpleasant odor and look, this gunk can actually leave spots and film on your glassware, dinnerware, and flatware. In short, that means if you don't clean your dishwasher correctly, your appliance can't fully do its job. Plus, if you let the food and grime build up, it can seriously damage the dishwasher's filter and pump, ultimately resulting in costly repairs. At the Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab , we've done the research to find the most effective way to clean your dishwasher, along with testing different dishwasher detergents and cleaners . Along the way, we've discovered the best tricks to keep your dishwasher clean and odor-free. If musty odor is your biggest problem, run the Rinse Only cycle and leave the door ajar to circulate air flow. When it comes to odor, however, start by tackling the root of the problem: leftover food that has turned your dishwasher into a second garbage disposal. To prevent unwanted smells, wipe excess food before loading plates, silverware, bowls, and other items into the dishwasher. While you're at it, remove paper labels or tags attached to new, unused items, too. Follow this step-by-step guide to learn how to clean a dishwasher the right way: Daily: Remove bits of food. Get in the habit of cleaning any remaining bits of foods - beans, pasta, and so on - after each dishwashing cycle. Pull out the bottom rack to look for any leftover food that may have fallen into the well and remove it with a paper towel to prevent odors and future buildup. SHOP PAPER TOWELS Weekly: Wipe away door grime. With a damp sponge or cloth, wipe away any residue and spots that may have splashed or settled onto the interior surface of the door its door edges, handle, or dishwasher controls. SHOP SPONGES Weekly: Remove and rinse the filter. It's simple: If the filter isn't clean, nothing else will be. To eliminate pesky spots on future loads, unlock and remove the filter found below the bottom spray arm and rinse it under hot running water. With a soft toothbrush, scrub the mesh screen and plastic frame to remove any grease or particles stuck in the crevices. Once it's just like new, lock it back into place. If you're not sure where your machine's filter is located, check the owner's manual or manufacturer's website for details. SHOP TOOTHBRUSHES Monthly: Give it a deep clean. Whether you opt to use a dishwasher cleaning tablet or take the DIY route with a grime-fighting white vinegar mixture, it's important to get down and dirty to remove any trapped particles, mineral buildup, and detergent residue. For a homemade option, place a glass measuring cup filled with two cups of distilled white vinegar on the top rack and run a normal cycle without detergent or dishes. For a more thorough clean, use cleaning tablets like these picks from Cascade and Affresh because they contain surfactants that dissolve food bits and greasy residue. Just make sure you read the instructions before you use the cleaning tablets, since some can't run in the same cycle as dishes and detergent. SHOP AFFRESH DISHWASHER CLEANER When needed: Polish stainless steel. Fingerprints make any surface look dull and grimy, but they really standout - in a bad way - on stainless steel appliances. Use a stainless steel cleaner like GH Seal Stars Weiman and Affresh to shine up your dishwasher door. Not only will they leave behind a streak-free shine, but they contain ingredients to help repel future dirt and smudges. Whatever you do, stay away from abrasive cleaners or pads that can scratch and mar your dishwasher's exterior. SHOP WEIMAN STAINLESS STEEL CLEANER


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said on Friday he could not imagine using the United States' debt ceiling as a tool to negotiate a spending deal with lawmakers in Congress, saying the government's credit rating was sacred. "Hopefully we're in good shape on the debt ceiling. I can't imagine anybody ever even thinking of using the debt ceiling as a negotiating wedge," Trump told reporters at the White House. "I don't think anybody would want to play that card." U.S. borrowing authority could be exhausted sometime in September, according to the latest administration estimates, rather than in October or November, as had earlier been projected. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has said she hopes for a vote on the debt limit before Congress takes its recess in August. She said on Wednesday for that to happen, she needed an agreement this week in order to get it to the House floor by July 25 so the Senate can consider it before recessing. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on Thursday the Trump administration and congressional leaders had agreed on broad spending levels for the next two fiscal years but Pelosi would not confirm there was a deal. "We have actually now agreed on the spending numbers for both years," Mnuchin said on Thursday at a G7 finance leaders meeting in France. "We're now working on offsets and certain structural issues and as part of this, we've agreed that there would be a long-term debt ceiling extension." (Reporting by Steve Holland; writing by David Alexander; editing by G Crosse and Bill Trott)


The New Jersey Devils have made some real improvements to the roster this offseason, drafting Jack Hughes first overall, trading for P.K. Subban and signing Wayne Simmonds in the span of just a few days. It certainly sounds like more is coming though as at a press conference to introduce Subban, Devils' owner Josh Harris told the media that the team is "not done" and that GM Ray Shero is "wheeling and dealing." Obviously what exactly they're planning remains unclear, but the Devils are certainly in a position to do a lot of things this summer. The team still has to re-sign restricted free agents Pavel Zacha and Will Butcher , but even after taking on Subban's huge contract the team still has nearly $17M in cap space. That's even more impressive when you realize that they have several young players like Michael McLeod , Jesper Boqvist and Ty Smith who may end up making the club while still on their entry-level contracts. If New Jersey is looking to spend up to the cap ceiling this year they could still add several substantial pieces. The question is do they want to sacrifice some of their future to get better right now. Star forward Taylor Hall is only signed for the upcoming season, and the team actually has just a single player  Damon Severson  signed past 2021-22. While Hughes, Nico Hischier and others represent a great core to build around, there may not be a need to spend right now if they aren't going to also keep some of their more veteran assets. In fact, considering that Hall and Hischier will both need new contracts next summer the risk of taking on too much salary in any trade is a real one. Still, you have to think that Shero is checking in on ways to improve in the short-term even if only to convince Hall to stick around. There are obvious fits for names like Nikita Gusev , Jason Zucker and Chris Kreider who have all been included in trade speculation over the last few months, but whether the Devils will actually go after any of them is still not clear. At the very least, Harris' confidence that the team will make a move of some sort gives the hockey world another team to watch over the coming weeks. As arbitration dates come and go, the dog days of summer are just around the corner where hockey news is difficult to come by.


In terms of activity, this was easily the busiest offseason in recent history for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The team not only divested themselves of much of the drama that plagued them last season but also added some significant talent on both sides of the football. After missing the playoffs last season Pittsburgh looks read to reload and make a push. But ESPN doesn't seem to share the enthusiasm most fans have when they gave out their grades for the offseason. In their latest grades piece, they gave the Steelers a C for their moves. The gist of the article is fairly simple. The team has gone all in on quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and have basically thrown the offense on his back. This team has always been as good as Big Ben but this will be especially true this season. However, don't discount how much better the defense will be this time around. Pittsburgh has put a ton of work into making this defense more formidable, particularly against the pass. What grade would you give the Steelers for their offseason moves? MORE: NBA fans had so many memes for Steph Curry's exchange with Drake Five potential Chris Paul trade destinations Roundup: Spelling Bee Ends in 8-Way Tie; Kim Jong Un Executing People Again; Kids Go Nuts for 'Old Town Road' Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti shocked by C.J. Mosley's contract with Jets Giants get a chuckle: Odell Beckham already in hot water in Cleveland


Former Audi DTM driver Adrien Tambay will make his prototype debut in this month's Barcelona European Le Mans Series round. The son of ex-Formula 1 driver Patrick will race the Inter Europol squad's Ligier JS P217 LMP2 at the four-hour evening race on July 20 in place of Frenchman Leo Roussel. Roussel has been unable to take up his seat in the Polish entrant's Ligier because he is still recovering from a back injuries sustained in an accident in practice for the Monza ELMS round in May. Tambay, 28, who raced for Audi in the DTM in 2012-16, will share the car with Kuba Smiechowski and sometime Williams F1 test driver Dani Clos. "It's a very exciting new challenge for me, given the fact that I haven't raced such a quick car for quite a while, but I am confident that doing so in Barcelona, a track that I know well," said Tambay. "I love this kind of challenge where skills and adaptation are keys to success, and I am ready for it." Tambay will get his first taste of the team's Ligier in testing at Barcelona on the Wednesday ahead of the race, although he has tested a previous-generation P2 car in the past. Roussel is scheduled to return to the team after his recovery from an operation to fuse three vertebrae is complete. Clos is re-taking his place in the Euro Interpol line-up after missing last month's Le Mans 24 Hours, which was not part of his programme. The Inter Europol Ligier is one of 18 LMP2 cars entered for the Barcelona race, which will begin in daylight at 6.30pm local time and conclude after dusk at 10.30pm. Jean-Eric Vergne is set for his first ELMS appearance of the season with G-Drive Racing having missed the opening races at Paul Ricard and Monza due to clashes with Formula E. #34 Inter Europol Competition Oreca 07 Gibson: Jakub Smiechowski, Jamie Winslow, Nigel Moore Photo by: Marc Fleury


Curious just how far your dollar goes in Sacramento? 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 hunting down a place in Sacramento if you're on a budget of $1,100/month. 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. 2512 X St. (Curtis Park) Listed at $1,100/month, this 650-square-foot one-bedroom, one-bathroom is located at 2512 X St. Amenities offered in the building include on-site laundry. Neither cats nor dogs are allowed. The rental doesn't require a leasing fee. According to Walk Score, this location is friendly for those on foot, is quite bikeable and offers many nearby public transportation options. (Take a look at the complete listing here .) 2612 Second Ave. (Curtis Park) Here's a 700-square-foot one-bedroom, one-bathroom at 2612 Second Ave. that's going for $1,095/month. In the unit, expect in-unit laundry and a balcony. The building boasts assigned parking. Pets are not welcome. There's no leasing fee required for this rental. According to Walk Score, the surrounding area is friendly for those on foot, is convenient for biking and has some transit options. (Take a look at the full listing here .) 3014 O St. (East Sacramento) Listed at $1,075/month, this 518-square-foot one-bedroom, one-bathroom is located at 3014 O St. In the unit, you can anticipate hardwood floors, a walk-in closet and a ceiling fan. When it comes to building amenities, expect assigned parking, on-site laundry and on-site management. Pets are welcome. According to Walk Score's assessment, this location is quite walkable, is a "biker's paradise" and offers many nearby public transportation options. (See the complete listing here .) This story was created automatically using local real estate data, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


Baltimore police are asking for help to identify two persons of interest after a woman's body was found in a shopping cart earlier this month. Police released photos of the persons of interest Wednesday. Police are not calling the men suspects. Investigators said the body of a black or Hispanic woman was found May 12 in a shopping cart near a Dumpster at the Clarks Lane Garden Apartments in northwest Baltimore. On Tuesday, police released a photo of a tattoo that they hope someone would recognize in an effort to identify the woman. The tattoo was located on the victim's buttocks. Anyone with information should call police at 410-396-2100. READ MORE: Persons of interest sought after body found in shopping cart CHECK OUT WBAL: Get all the latest Baltimore news, weather and sports. WBAL-TV brings you the best in Maryland news online, anytime.


Three NASCAR Cup Series drivers will make their big movie debuts next week in the movie Stuber. Richard Childress Racing's Austin Dillon , Germain Racing's Ty Dillon and Stewart-Haas Racing's Daniel Suarez each make appearances in the movie, which stars Kumail Nanjiani ( The Big Sick) and Dave Bautista ( Guardians of the Galaxy ). Here's the synopsis for the film, which debuts July 12: "When a mild-mannered Uber driver named Stu (Kumail Nanjiani) picks up a passenger (Dave Bautista) who turns out to be a cop hot on the trail of a brutal killer, he's thrust into a harrowing ordeal where he desperately tries to hold onto his wits, his life and his five-star rating." The movie is the third acting credit for Austin Dillon. He appeared as himself on the TV show Nashville in 2014 and was in an episode of the show Rosewood in 2017. It is the second acting credit for both Ty Dillon and Suarez. Dillon portrayed himself in an episode of the cartoon Milo Murphy's Law last year while Suarez voiced the character Danny Swervez in Cars 3 in 2017. You can see a glimpse of the driver's performances in the below video. You might see some familiar faces in @STUBERMovie with @DaveBautista and @kumailn ! Don't miss @austindillon3 , @tydillon and @Daniel_SuarezG in theaters July 12 or at @DISupdates on Saturday night. pic.twitter.com/YoWHiSl7TL   #NASCARSalutes (@NASCAR) July 5, 2019 Follow @DanielMcFadin


New plans are in the works to revitalize this northeast Indy area.


Maybe it was the one-handed, one-legged home run hit by Todd Frazier of the Mets. Maybe it was Ketel Marte of the Diamondbacks hitting a home run 482 feet. Maybe it was Arizona and Philadelphia smashing a record 13 home runs on Monday , or the Nationals going back-to-back-to-back-to-back Sunday. Maybe it was Eugenio Suarez hitting a home run with an exit velocity of just 86.7 mph. Chances are you have reached a tipping point when it comes to the way the ball is flying out of ballparks this year. And because we are conditioned to explain changes in our world by yelling " Conspiracy !" in a Pavlovian way, we are flooded with conclusions that the baseball is "a joke" and that owners secretly "juiced" the ball to jolt declining attendance. Now that such theories are so widespread, individual events and games are loaded with "confirmation bias." We believe the ball is juiced, and so every opposite field homer is proof that it is. What's actually going on? Setting aside conspiracy theories, these are the facts: • The ball is flying more than it did last year. However, it is not quite flying like it did in 2017, when the conspiracies began (with some good reason). • Hitters are hitting the ball harder and in the air more than ever before . We have to be go beyond the simplicity of the "juiced ball" theory and take a hard look at how hitting has changed and will continue to change. Hitting has lagged behind pitching when it comes to leveraging science and technology, but that is beginning to change, which I wrote about before the season started . Marte, for instance, is just one of many hitters who have crossed this Rubicon. From 2015 17 he hit eight home runs and slugged .361. He swung the bat like an old-school middle infielder: quick to and through the ball with a strong top hand and a short, low finish. Now at 6'1", 165 pounds, he swings like Jim Thome: the bat is in the zone longer, he extends fully through contact with his arms extended to a high finish that creates so much loft he often winds up on the heel of his front foot, with his toes off the ground, the way that Thome back-legged home runs. He has learned to create speed and leverage to hit the ball better and higher, not more often. Over the past two years Marte has hit 30 homers and slugged .467. His launch angle increased from 5.7 degrees last year to 11.3 this year. His exit velocity improved from 88.5 mph to 91.0 mph. There are stories like his in every clubhouse. This is how you win (it's too hard to stitch three hits together to score) and this is how you get paid. Yes, strikeouts keep going up, but when hitters swing now they swing for maximum damage. It's increasingly a boom-or-bust game. So let's set aside conspiracy theories and stick to the facts. Here is what is going on: 1. Baseball is on a record pace of home runs At this rate, MLB hitters will break the record of 6,105 home runs set in 2017 not by a little, but by a lot: by 456 homers, or 7.5%. Compared to last year, homers are up 17.5%, with almost one thousand more dingers expected. The 2017 season was so home-run happy that to help stem the conspiracy theories MLB commissioned an independent study to examine the baseball. The panel found that while the physical properties of the baseball appeared to be unchanged, the ball did create less drag as it moved through the air. Less drag equals more distance. More distance means more home runs. It wasn't your imagination. The ball played "hotter." In 2018, home runs retreated sharply (down 8.5%), but now they are flying again. The whip-saw nature of these major swings up 8.8% in 2017, down 8.5% in 2018, up 17.5% in 2019 encourages the idea that MLB is messing with the baseball like it's a thermostat, turning it up or down at will. 2. Batters are hitting more fly balls The saying around the game is "slug is in the air." Nobody wants to hit a groundball. And so we get a record rate of flyballs: MLB Fly Ball Percentage 3. Batters are hitting the ball harder Take a look at this: fly balls that are home runs are being hit harder each year: Fly Ball Home Runs 4. More well-hit fly balls are going out of the park Let's take all the fly balls hit at least 100 mph. They are occurring this season at double the rate as they did in 2015, which means we have seen almost as many such hard-hit fly balls as we saw the entire 2015 season: Fly Balls Hit 100+ MPH 5. The "hotter" baseball the one with less drag baseball admitted to from 2017 seems to be back Let's try an experiment. The average exit velocity of a home run last year was 103.5. So let's examine what happened to all fly balls hit in the past five seasons at between 103 and 104 mph. The average launch angle for such fly balls in each season happens to be exactly the same in four of those years (30 degrees) and virtually the same in the fifth (31 degrees in 2016). With fixed coordinates, this experiment is the equivalent of Iron Byron, one of those golf ball testing robots. We can look at how baseballs fly when they are hit at the same exit velocity and the same launch angle: Fly Balls Hit 103 104 MPH What does that mean? It means a fly ball hit at those parameters this year is 14% more likely to be a home run this year than it was last year. (But 3% less likely than the same batted ball in 2017.) 3% sounds like a margin of error, subject to differences in weather and schedule. But 14% is a large difference. So this is the environment that creates more home runs: hitters are learning to hit more fly balls, they are hitting the ball harder (when they do hit it), and the ball is carrying farther this year than it did last year. Related slideshow: The 2019 MLB season (Provided by imagn)


Cleveland will see a return of last week's light rainfall in the coming days, according to drone-powered weather forecasting service Saildrone . Today's forecast shows the greatest chance of rain at 100 percent, while the most rainfall is expected on Thursday at 0.79 inches. The immediate forecast also has warm temperatures in store for today with a high of 75 degrees, then turn cooler tomorrow with a high of 64 degrees. Skies will partially clear on Friday. Winds are expected to reach a modest high of 13 mph on Friday, while today and tomorrow will remain calmer. This story was created automatically using Saildrone's local weather forecast data, then reviewed by an editor. We also incorporate historic weather data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


Figuring out how to pay another looming tariff bill isn't the way Robert Heiblim would've chosen to spend National Small Business Week. Heiblim and his 25-employee company now face paying a 25% duty -- up from 10% -- on almost half of the consumer electronics they have made in China as the trade war between the world's two largest economies escalates. Their predicament came about all too quickly. Negotiators had appeared to be nearing a deal when President Donald Trump on Sunday unexpectedly announced the tariff increase, which took effect 12:01 a.m. Friday, in response to what he said was China reneging on previous commitments in trade negotiations. The shocking development, coming on the week the U.S. Small Business Administration designated to celebrate entrepreneurship, is the latest blow to firms such as Heiblim's that can't easily pass along or absorb more costs -- especially on short notice. "I'm not Apple who can just say, 'Well, if you want the new iPhone, it's now $1,000,'' said Heiblim, president of Boulder International in New Jersey. "Suddenly, if you just need a whole lot more cash, it's really disruptive.'' Battle Lines Drawn The U.S. tariff hike on some $200 billion in Chinese goods came as China's top trade envoy, Liu He was in Washington for two days of talks through Friday. While Trump said a deal is still possible this week, he's also threatened to impose an additional 25% tariff on $325 billion of Chinese imports. China has promised retaliation on U.S. exports. Unlike larger firms that can more easily handle the additional costs from the tariffs, smaller firms often must use cash to pay the tariffs that they'd otherwise spend on hiring more employees, marketing or expanding their businesses, said Heiblim, who's chairman of the Consumer Technology Association's Small Business Council. Tom Lix, founder of Cleveland Whiskey in Cleveland, Ohio, employs 15 people but has not filled four positions that he planned to because of the tariffs. He had also hoped to expand distribution into Asia but hasn't because retaliatory tariffs on whiskey sapped demand. Related video: How will the tariff increase impact Americans? (provided by CBS News) "We are going to get hit across many industries if we head down this path,'' Lix said on a call Thursday with small business owners arranged by Tariffs Hurt the Heartland, an umbrella group of trade associations pushing back against Trump's levies. Read more - How U.S.-China Trade War Has Reached a Turning Point: QuickTake At least with the previous three rounds of tariffs that Trump imposed on Chinese imports, there was some advance notice, said Tiffany Zarfas Williams, owner of the Luggage Shop of Lubbock in Texas. Trump gave only five days' notice with the latest increase. "This has caused us to scramble,'' Williams said on the call. About 85% of the goods she sells are from China, and she's already heard from major vendors that prices will rise in line with the tariffs, she said. Heiblim has a shipment of Bluetooth speakers and other goods en route from China that he expects to arrive in the U.S. next week, and he was initially concerned he'd have to pay the higher duty on them. But U.S. Customs and Border Protection said Thursday that the 25% tariff would be assessed only on products exported after 12:01 a.m. Friday. "But it doesn't help me for the next shipment,'' Heiblim said. --With assistance from Ben Holland.


WYFF News 4 Investigates got a tip that a Greenville county councilman has his primary residence in Anderson county. We went digging into tax documents that show where councilman Ennis Fant owns property. The Anderson County Tax Assessor's Office sent a notice to Fant Thursday that he owes upwards of $55,000 in property taxes. The office got a tip about a month ago, saying the councilman may not be paying the correct amount in property taxes. "We followed up on that and did discover that is does appear that there are multiple legal residences - one here in Anderson County, and one in Greenville County," said Bob McLean, deputy assessor at the Anderson County tax office. McLean told WYFF News 4 Investigates that Fant paid a 4 percent property tax on his Anderson property since 1999 - that's the rate for a primary residence. The problem: Fant claims he lives in Greenville county, where he is a county councilman, so he should pay 6% on his Anderson County property. Fant told WYFF News 4 Investigates on Wednesday that he lives on Ghana Drive in Greenville, which is in his district. Tax records show Fant is paying 6% property taxes here - not the 4% owner-occupied rate. In the state of South Carolina, homeowners only get one 4% tax rate for a primary residence. After that, owners have to pay 6% on any additional homes. We reached out several times to Fant on Thursday for comment on what the tax assessor told WYFF News 4 Investigates. He declined to go on camera. Greenville County Councilman Joe Dill tells WYFF News 4 Investigates that he received multiple calls from concerned citizens about this. Dill later went online and looked at the tax forms himself. "All I know is, if you give the 4% discount - that means you're paying 4% on your residence, homestead exemption - you don't have the pay the school district any taxes. See, there's a lot of different organizations that's getting cheated because he's not paying the fair tax at his residence," Dill said. Dill wants Fant to clarify that he legally lives in his district in Greenville County, and he wants Fant to pay back any money that's owed. Greenville County tells WYFF News 4 Investigates they are looking into this and will act accordingly. WYFF News 4 Investigates will continue to follow this story for updates. READ MORE: Greenville County councilman owes $55K in property taxes, Anderson County Assessor's Office says CHECK OUT WYFF: Get the latest Greenville news and weather. For live, local, late-breaking Greenville, SC, news coverage, WYFF is the place to be.


NEW YORK ( 1010 WINS) -- Authorities say that have arrested a man for plotting to throw or detonate explosives in Times Square. CBS2 reports that the suspect was picked up by the Joint Terrorism Task Force, which is composed of both the NYPD and the FBI. An undercover sting caught the suspect and though his name has not been released, he is slated to appear in federal court in New York on Friday. Authorities believe the man was acting alone and there is larger danger in the city. More to come on this developing story. Like 1010 WINS on Facebook and follow @1010WINS on Twitter to get breaking news, traffic, and weather for New York City.


His Mennonite ancestors fled persecution to York. Now their farm is an ICE prison York County Prison is an ironic symbol of the immigration debate Dave Dietz stood on the ground that his ancestors had walked centuries ago. The ground was paved. A large, white building loomed in the background, across the parking lot from the now white-brick farmhouse that had been built by his ancestors nearly three centuries ago. (The original part of the farmhouse was constructed of stone.) Across the driveway into the complex is a small cemetery, surrounded by a wrought-iron fence. His maternal ancestors   the Stricklers and Millers   are buried there. On a recent Friday, a crew tended to the cemetery, cutting the grass and trimming around the headstones. The crew wore yellow reflective vests over their orange, prison-issued jumpsuits. The cemetery, you see, is now part of the property of York County and is the site of the prison. That may seem strange enough, that a former farm that had been deeded to Dietz's ancestors by the heirs of William Penn is now the site of a prison. There is a certain irony in that. But to further compound the irony, Dietz's Mennonite ancestors fled Germany centuries ago to escape religious persecution, lured to the then-colony of Pennsylvania by Penn's promise of religious freedom and tolerance. Because of its experience, essentially seeking asylum in the new colonies, the Mennonites have long been advocates for the humane treatment of immigrants, offering legal services and support in navigating the United States' byzantine immigration system. The real irony is that the York County Prison houses immigrants detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. "I'm not quite sure what my grandmother thought about it," Dietz, a 47-year-old former organic farmer and now produce manager, said. "My guess is she would be sad that it's not a farm anymore." More: It's hard to see my Mennonite family's ancestral farm serve as an ICE prison in York More: Legal immigrant has been held by ICE in York prison for 2 years for no logical reason More: Woman finds 'purpose in life' helping paralyzed goats and a cow whose owner went to prison More: The end of an era: Legendary dive bar The Broken Oar to be auctioned off Dietz's ancestors Ulrich and Mary Strickler came to America in 1737, arriving in Philadelphia aboard a sailing ship called the Charming Nancy, having purchased 200 acres of farmland west of the Susquehanna River from the heirs of William Penn. Dietz's maternal great-grandfather Samuel Strickler, was born in the stone farmhouse on the family farm in 1875. Dietz's connection with the land is a straight line. Sometime in the early 20th Century, Dietz said, the family sold the farm, and subsequently, it was sold to York County, which was looking for a site for its prison. In 1985, the county contracted the federal government to house a small number of immigration detainees on an emergency basis. That changed in June 1993 when the county agreed to take in 154 men who had come to the United States from China on the doomed Golden Venture ship , which had run aground off Rockaway Beach in New York in February of that year. The county's involvement with federal immigration agencies grew over the years. Today, ICE occupies a wing of the prison, a space that includes courtrooms for immigration court, housing an average of 695 detainees a day. The county receives about $96 per detainee per day, the contract bringing in about $26 million a year. For a few years, the immigration service used the old Strickler farmhouse for its offices. (The building is now vacant.) As the debate over immigration has reached fever pitch, Dietz reflected on that, his family's history, and the history of the farm. "Now we are at a crossroads in our society," he wrote in an op-ed piece for the Daily Record , "with an administration that is going to extremes to demonize and exclude our newest, most-desperate asylum-seekers. I hear an awful lot about security, but not much about compassion, generosity, or trust in God. It seems that the richest nation in the world has grown insecure, proud and calloused." He asked the York County commissioners to "reflect on the irony of our locking up today's refugees fleeing violence within sight of the very house that was built by immigrants..." He asked, "Are we so sick as a society that we would harden our hearts to asylum-seekers just so we can save a few bucks in taxes," he asked. The county is currently in negotiations for a new contract with ICE   the current three-year contract expires at the end of this year, according to county spokesman Mark Walters. There is no indication that the county will terminate its relationship with the federal government. Although the county is, via contract, part of the immigration system, it should be noted that local officials have no influence over federal immigration laws or practices. Still, Dietz believes it is a matter of conscience that the immigration system, including the detention of immigrants in the county prison, is a symptom of the fear and loathing that dominates our public discourse. "It grieves my heart that we're becoming such a frightened society," he said. "This is the home of the brave and land of the free, and many of us are so unnecessarily afraid of an overblown bogey man that we've lost understanding of our common humanity." Also of interest, a gallery of photos below: This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Immigration detention center: Pa. prison ironic symbol of debate


Brad Keselowski will start first in Sunday's Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway (3 p.m. ET on NBCSN) after winning the pole in qualifying Friday. The Michigan native claimed the pole position with a speed of 190.471 mph around the 2-mile track. It is his second pole of the year (New Hampshire), the 16th of his career and his second at Michigan. The top five was completed by Kevin Harvick (190.471 mph), William Byron (189.703), Alex Bowman (189.509) and Clint Bowyer (189.439). "This Discount Tire Ford Mustang has bene incredible since we unloaded," Keselowski told NBCSN. "We were really fast in practice then everybody started picking up a bunch here, towards the end of qualifying got a little nervous. (Crew chief) Paul Wolfe and the team did a great job, we picked up just enough to get our second pole. Hopefully we can put it into a win." Keselowski has yet to win at Michigan in 20 career starts. Michigan is just the second track he has won multiple poles on, the other is New Hampshire (four). "It definitely nags on me," Keselowski said of not having a win at Michigan. "The advantage of being the pole-sitter is really dependent on how the yellows fall and the pit strategies fall. It can be a huge advantage if the race has a lot of yellows but if the race doesn't have many yellows it can be maybe a slight disadvantage with pit stalls and things of that nature. It plays out to how the strategy unfolds as much as anything else." Clint Bowyer qualified fifth, his best starting position since he started there in the June Michigan race. Chase Elliott qualified sixth, giving Hendrick Motorsports three cars in the top six for the third time this year. Austin Dillon (seventh) and Daniel Hemric (11th) had their qualifying times disallowed for not having fully functional alternators and will start at the back of the field . The infraction is a L1 level penalty. Click here for qualifying results. Yes yes yes! My favorite part was the crowd cheer at the end. #Goosebumps Being able to hear the crowd react is something I didn't know I missed till we went back to single car qualifying. https://t.co/iS0UnwMYAj   Brad Keselowski (@keselowski) August 9, 2019


Stacker looks at the UN World Tourism Organization's 2018 Tourism Highlights Report to break down the facts and figures behind the global tourism industry. Tourism industry by the numbers Americans' reputation for being narcissistic may have something to it. A 2017 study published in Nature ("Self-construals and the Dark Triad traits in six countries") found that U.S. residents show more signs of narcissism from self-indulgence to aggression than people in other countries. What's more, Americans and international citizens alike see the U.S. as home to some of the most self-centered people in the world. Our news is usually nationally focused; and Americans are often said to be biased toward the West and not to care about what others have to say. Americans are also less likely to learn a second language than their international counterparts. There are reasons to open up to the wider world that stretch beyond monetary advantages tourist-friendly countries enjoy each year. Travel certainly provides a boost to developing and established economies; but it also provides a potential avenue toward understanding for people from different backgrounds, religions, political spectrums, and histories. In addition, many scholars and global leaders see tourism as a way to promote peace around the world. Most people aren't going to visit war zones, of course, but some argue that traveling around the world and learning about different people can be a deterrent to structural violence. Also, consider the benefits individual tourists get from trying new foods , seeing breathtaking art and historical wonders , and exploring a world that's never been more connected. Given the size of the tourism market, Stacker took a deep dive into the 2018 Tourism Highlights published by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). The UNWTO used data and statistics from 2017 to compile this overview of tourism around the world, which looks at where people were coming from, where they were going, how much they were spending, and more. Stacker chose the most significant figures from the report and broke them down so you can learn what those numbers mean, why they matter, and what this record-shattering year for tourism says about what's going on in the world. 1.33 million Total number of tourist arrivals around the world. This number marks a growth in international tourist arrivals of 7%, far outpacing the World Tourism Organization's projection of 3.8% yearly growth in the decade between 2010 and 2020. This unprecedented growth might be driven by stable fuel prices (plane tickets are cheaper) and increasing demand for international travel in African and Asian markets. The UNWTO suspects things will slow down in 2019 and beyond because of Brexit woes, trade disputes, and a possible economic slowdown. 55% Percent of tourists traveling for leisure, recreation, and holidays. Some outlets have reported that the millennial generation "killed" the vacation with its reluctance to take time off from work, but it might not be appropriate to write the obituary just yet. The number of tourists traveling for leisure made up over half the trips taken in 2017. Visiting friends and family falls to a distant second place. $1.34 billion Total amount of expenditures by international tourists in 2017. Things took a dip between 2008 and 2009 after the global recession, but have been slowly creeping up thanks to increasing demand in destinations around the world, including in the Middle East and others that were previously dealing with security issues. 3 Destinations that moved up in the top 10 tourism destinations. Spain beat out the United States to take second place, while Mexico climbed two spots to reach sixth, and Turkey went from 10th to #8 in the rankings. Some experts cite "global unease" with the Trump administration as a possible reason why the United States might have fallen off in the rankings. International visitors have been a huge boost to Mexico's economic growth, though Americans have stayed away because of drug cartel violence. 52 million Number of additional tourists going to Europe in 2017. Virtually every part of Europe saw an increase in tourism in 2017, both in established tourist attractions and emerging markets. Spain and Italy, both well-known tourist meccas that regularly find themselves in the top five, saw increasing numbers of visitors. However, Turkey has seen the biggest surge . The years 2015 and 2016 saw terror attacks and a failed coup take a huge bite out of the tourist economy. Flocks of visitors have returned to take in the sights and visit the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. 23% Increase in tourism in Tunisia. This North African country is among the most popular places to visit on the African continent; more than 7 million tourists came to the country, putting it just behind Morocco in overall popularity among visitors. The Arab Spring uprisings in 2011 and terror attacks in 2015 impacted the industry that makes up 8% of the nation's economy, but recent years have seen double-digit increases in visitors from Russia, Algeria, and parts of Europe. 1 in 10 Jobs related to the tourism industry. Tourism is a huge economic driver around the world, with 10% of jobs supported by it in some way. In 2016, this accounted for a total of 292 million jobs, according to reports by The World Travel and Tourism Council. This far outpaces the growth in other sectors of the global economy and often provides jobs in places and to people who most need them, including women and those without high levels of education. $257.7 billion Spending by Chinese tourists. Experts report that China wants its citizens to spend more as the government tries to gear its economy and stimulate a nation of savers into spending more of their money. That $257.7 billion increasingly goes toward eating out, sightseeing, and entertainment, though shopping used to dominate Chinese tourists' spending. U.S. tourists sit at a distant second place, spending $135 billion. 4 of 5 The number of tourists who travel in their own regions. While more people than ever might be traveling abroad, most don't end up too far from home. The WTO defines five travel regions Africa, Asia and the Pacific, the Americas, Europe, and the Middle East and only 20% of international tourists actually leave them. It seems likely that this intra-regional travel will only increase as the Asian and African economies continue to grow and attract visitors from neighboring countries. One-half Europe generates nearly half 48% of the globe's outbound tourists. Part of this can be explained by the fact that (at least compared to their American counterparts), European workers receive a huge amount of paid vacation time. Sometimes whole businesses shut down for several weeks near the end of the summer, allowing workers to take trips for fun or to visit family without having to worry about their paychecks. 8 Years of sustained growth in global tourism. The year 2017 might have been a record-shattering year for growth but it's part of a longer upswing in global tourism in the aftermath of the 2008 recession. Impacting economies around the globe, the travel industry took a big hit as families canceled vacations in the wake of layoffs and pay freezes. The years since have seen recovery and changes in how people travel, including the rise of housing-sharing apps like Airbnb that didn't exist before the crash. $4 billion Amount spent each day spent on tourism. When you consider flights, as well as other goods and services, then the global tourism industry takes in an astonishing $4 billion every day. In total, exports from the tourism industry equal $ 1.6 trillion every year. Third Tourism is the world's third-largest export category. Following behind chemicals and fuels and coming before automobile parts, tourism is foundational to the global economy. Though it's difficult to tell just how much of the economy tourists are stimulating, because their spending is often lumped in with the spending of locals, both the WTO and other organizations have found it essential to the global marketplace. 3% Increase in arrivals from the Caribbean. Everyone's favorite cruise destination saw mixed results in the 2017 travel season thanks to hurricanes Irma and Maria devastating the region. While some islands, like Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, struggled through a long recovery, the Dominican Republic and Jamaica saw upticks in visitors and are working to improve roads and other conditions to continue attracting visitors. 30% Increase in tourism spending in Russia. The Russian Federation faced a currency crisis in 2013 and 2014, due to the global drop in oil prices and the response to their military actions in Ukraine. This caused the ruble to lose much of its value relative to other currencies. However, in 2017 growth returned to the Russian tourism industry, with 15 million citizens taking off to distant locales and spending more of their money. 57% Tourists who travel by air. Aviation was key to the development of the tourism industry as a whole. A powerful force for world globalization, airplanes make it fast and easy to travel to new countries and continents cheaply and quickly relative to the time trips took in the past. The drop in global oil prices also helped. 58 million Tourists in the Middle East. The Arab Spring uprisings across the Middle East in 2011 greatly affected the tourism industry in that region; attractions that once saw thousands of visitors were empty. The years following those uprisings have seen growth across the region, particularly, but not exclusively, in Egypt thanks to an increase in food tourism, cheaper access to several Wonders of the World, and more. 1% Increase in tourist receipts in North America. While tourism isn't exactly down in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, the region hasn't seen the same growth in spending or arrivals that its neighbors in Central America and South America has enjoyed. The United States, which takes home around 65% of the tourism market in the Americas, has not posted the record returns and growth that European countries saw, for example. Some experts attribute this to a kind of Trump slump. Many international tourists have a negative view of the current U.S. president and thus decide to spend their money elsewhere. 323 million Tourists to Asia. Though Chinese tourists around the world have been the biggest news in Asian tourism, the number of visits to the region is not something to ignore. Hong Kong and Bangkok have been some of the most popular tourist cities for the past several years. East Asia is one of the world's fastest-growing tourist economies, driven by visits from those in the Asia and Pacific regions. -10.7% Percent change in the number of tourists to Saudi Arabia. Though one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Middle East, accounting for about 28% of the region's visitors, Saudi Arabia saw a decline in 2017. The kingdom has attempted to open its borders in recent years in hopes of diversifying its economy. Unmarried women over 25, for example, are now allowed to travel in its borders but the process of entering the country is still difficult and there are strict rules for conduct and behavior of tourists. $519 billion Tourism spending in Europe. Backpacking across Europe is still a solid option for young adults who aren't quite sure what they want to do with their lives yet (or for those who do but want to see the world first). Though those trips can be relatively cheap, Europe is home to the world's top tourist destinations and those places know how to get tourists to spend their money to stimulate their cities' and countries' economies. One-quarter Share of the tourism market in the Americas. As Latin America stabilizes after decades of violence in the 20th century, more and more tourists are flocking to the countries to eat delicious food, visit sites like the Mayan pyramids, and more. This has allowed the continents to capture 24% of the total tourism spending; in Latin America, the growth has created jobs , developed the country's somewhat fragile economies, and even led to increased environmental protections. 2% Tourists who travel by rail. The United States has never quite embraced trains the way their international counterparts have, devoting far less time and money to maintaining rail systems within the country. However, that doesn't mean the system can't be embraced for international travel. Only 2% of international tourists opt for trains to move around but those who do get to enjoy stunning views and even a whole board game based around the concept. 30% Share of services exports. Tourism drives 30% of the exports of non-manufactured items; this includes financial services, delivery service, and internet troubleshooting among others. This percentage is even higher in developing countries, where tourism often is an even more crucial part of the economy than it is in more established economies. This is driven mostly by small and medium-sized businesses, meaning that the benefits of the tourist economy don't just go to big corporations but also have an impact on the everyday lives of millions of people. 10% Percent of jobs, goods, and services in the world related to tourism Of the world's gross domestic product (direct, indirect, induced), about 10% of the jobs in the world are related to tourism in some way, so it's probably not surprising that 10% of the value of the world's goods and services would be tied to the industry, as well. Despite trade issues between the United States and China the biggest economic powers in the world the global economy has remained strong, due in part to strong growth in this sector.


The Oakland Raiders have officially signed all of their 2019 draft class as No. 4 overall pick Clelin Ferrell has agreed to terms on a new four-year deal. After signing his first NFL contract, Ferrell expressed his excitement about being a "Raider" as he prepares for training camp: Part of the family. @cle_missile 's message to #RaiderNation after signing his rookie contract. pic.twitter.com/83TNf1vhv2 - Oakland Raiders (@Raiders) June 18, 2019 Ferrell is expected to open the season as one of their starting defensive ends, likely opposite of second-year player Arden Key. Given Ferrell's big-time experience in the ACC, it wouldn't be a shock to see him play well as a rookie. Look for Ferrell to have a significant role in 2019 for the Raiders as he could be in the running for Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. MORE: Four potential Kawhi Leonard landing spots in free agency Dale Earnhardt Jr. weighs in on NASCAR Truck Series feud, penalty options Fierce, fiesty WR competition for Cowboys behind Top 3 roster locks Rams trading Tyler Higbee to Patriots would make sense for both teams Roundup: Google Calendar Goes Down; Earthquake Off Coast of Japan; Pat Shanahan Resigns


Josh Jackson 's most notable moment in the NBA so far was missing an autograph session . This isn't a great follow-up for the young Suns forward. Gina Mizell of The Athletic: Here is Josh Jackson's public case info. He was charged with resisting arrest and escape at a Miami music festival over the weekend. #Suns pic.twitter.com/Hwu2OYrcIe   Gina Mizell (@ginamizell) May 13, 2019 Andy Slater of Slater Scoops: SLATER SCOOP: Phoenix Suns forward Josh Jackson was arrested at Rolling Loud music festival in Miami Gardens. Jackson tried to enter VIP area many times without proper pass, source says. After cops handcuffed him, he ran away. He's charged with escape and resisting arrest. pic.twitter.com/Km8vVNrKQe   Andy Slater (@AndySlater) May 13, 2019 I'm skeptical whenever someone is charged with only things like escape and resisting. What was he being arrested for in the first place? But Jackson will have to deal with this.


The American rapper A$AP Rocky has been ordered released from jail pending a verdict in the high-profile assault case against him in Sweden. President Donald Trump took a keen interest in the case following a lobbying effort from Kim Kardashian West and her husband, rapper Kanye West. Trump demanded that the Swedish government release the rapper, and in a call with Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven, said he would "personally vouch for his bail, or an alternative," Trump wrote in a post on Twitter. "I watched the tapes of A$AP Rocky, and he was being followed and harassed by troublemakers. Treat Americans fairly!" Trump wrote in another post. Trump tweet Rocky, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, has been in custody since July 3 along with two members of his entourage. Prosecutors are seeking a six-month sentence for Mayers, who is accused of assaulting 19-year-old Mustafa Jafari. Mayers and his associates have pleaded not guilty. In a celebratory tweet following Friday's announcement, Trump wrote: "A$AP Rocky released from prison and on his way home to the United States from Sweden. It was a Rocky Week, get home ASAP A$AP!" Trump tweet


Valtteri Bottas and Max Verstappen both blamed too cold tyres for their failure to improve in the final shootout for pole position at the Monaco Grand Prix. While Lewis Hamilton managed to eke out his best lap of the weekend on his final run in Q3 to grab the top spot, both Bottas and Verstappen had to abort their runs after tyre temperature woes hit them. Read Also: Monaco GP: Hamilton on pole as Leclerc goes out in Q1 Both men had far from ideal out-laps as they had to work their way through traffic, and that meant their tyres were not in the ideal operating window for the start of their final runs. Bottas, who was pipped for pole by Mercedes teammate Hamilton, said: "My feelings at the moment are really, really disappointed with qualifying, I really felt I had the speed today. "I felt really good in the car all day. In the first run I felt there were two or three tenths I could improve, so I should have done a better job in the first run. "In the second run I had quite a lot of traffic on the out-lap so had to go off line in a few places, and the tyres just didn't work in the second run. So disappointing." As well as not being able to get his tyres up to the right temperature, Bottas said that going off line to overtake slower cars had put him on to dirty sections of the track - which further hampered their preparation. "The issue was for me the traffic on the out-lap," added the Finn. "There were a couple of cars I was stuck behind and had to pass off line, and you get quite a bit of dust on the tyres. If you cannot get enough temperatures then on this track it is really critical. "Already at Turn 1, I felt the tyres were not there and every corner was slower and slower until I had a big snap at Turn 8. That was it." Verstappen felt that at best he could have got within three tenths of pole position, but says any hopes of splitting the Mercedes cars were gone by the first corner of his final lap "When you look to the weekend we were just missing the two or three tenths in the end," explained the Red Bull driver, who will start third. "Q2 was a very good lap, also the tyres were switched on, and here it makes quite a bit of difference. "In Q3, my first run going into Turn 1 the rear tyres were not gripping up, so I lost a bit of time there. The rest of the lap was pretty stable compared to Q2, so not bad. "Then my final run in Q3, I had a bit of traffic on the out-lap and when I started the lap they were just cold, and I was already two or three tenths down so I decided to abort. "In general we did a good job, coming into this weekend. I had a feeling we were not as strong as we last year here, but for me it was a good qualifying." Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB15 Photo by: Andy Hone / LAT Images


Editor's note: The opinions in this article are the author's, as published by our content partner, and do not necessarily represent the views of MSN or Microsoft. In one weekend, 31 people were murdered and dozens more injured in two mass shootings just hours apart in El Paso, Texas , and Dayton, Ohio . The death toll may still grow. The shooters killed the young and old, men and women. In El Paso, the white-nationalist shooter's intent was to claim as many Latino lives as possible. In both cities, the victims had their tomorrows taken or their futures forever altered by domestic terrorists as they shopped or enjoyed an evening out everyday activities we all expect to pursue in safety. And in both cases, the gunmen used military-style assault weapons that were purchased legally. America is reacting as we have come to expect in the wake of mass shootings . Thoughts and prayers are offered, as they should be. Communities come together, as they should, in vigils to remember those lost and injured and to remind ourselves that we shouldn't keep letting this happen. Elected officials speak about the need for change. But the tragedies do keep happening, while the one thing that we know can reduce the number and the death tolls of mass shootings has not been done: reinstituting the ban on assault weapons and the limit on high-capacity magazines that was in effect from 1994 to 2004. Assault weapons are designed to inflict maximum harm in a short period of time. A 2015 study by Everytown for Gun Safety found that shootings where assault weapons were used resulted in 155% more people shot and 47% more people killed than gun incidents with other types of weapons. It should come as no surprise that when we see high death and injury totals, from Sandy Hook to Las Vegas to Parkland to El Paso to Dayton, the killers have used these weapons. The Dayton killer shot 41 bullets in 30 seconds before the police got him. He killed nine people and wounded 14 others, almost one victim per second. I worked hard to pass and was proud to sign the ban on these weapons of war into law, and the results were clear: mass shooting fatalities declined while they were in effect and have risen sharply since they were allowed to lapse. For too long, America has allowed a determined, well-financed group to pretend to grieve with us while spreading paranoia among those who responsibly use guns for hunting, sport shooting and self-protection. For too long, the gun lobby and their elected allies have stalled, deflected and changed the conversation until the pressure abates and they can get back to business, heedless of the killings inevitably yet to come. It pains me to see people in the culture I grew up in buy into the argument that banning weapons of war threatens the Second Amendment and their way of life. As the 1994 assault-weapons ban shows, deaths from mass shootings fell while the number of hunting licenses actually increased. No one has to give up their culture to save the lives of innocent people, so many of them very young. The gun lobby often invokes the Democratic losses in the 1994 midterm elections after passing the assault-weapons ban and the Brady background-check bill to try to scare lawmakers of both parties into maintaining the status quo. Those who lost their seats in that election did cast brave votes to make our country safer and give our children the chance to grow up and live their dreams. The 2018 elections, thanks to the passionate activism of citizen groups across the country, proved that it's a different world now. Today members of Congress will be supported if they reinstate the assault-weapons and large-ammunition magazine bans, and if the Senate passes the universal-background-check law already passed by the House of Representatives. Of course, no single action can completely end mass shootings and the wave of gun violence that plagues communities across America. We all have to stand against, not inflame, the racial, religious and gender-based bigotries that often drive the delusions of mass killers. The "red flag" law is a good idea. Also, we can and should do more to prevent, treat and manage mental illness. But the incidence of mental illness in America is similar to that of other wealthy nations, yet we have far more deadly mass shootings. What's different is the sheer number of guns per capita and the widespread accessibility of weapons of war. We know reinstating the assault-weapons ban and the ammunition limit, and making improved background checks universal, will help. A 2018 rand study found that policies that could bring about a drop in gun deaths as small as just 1% would mean 1,500 fewer deaths in a decade. And we can do better than that. We have talked, tweeted and delayed long enough. This is about who we are as a country, what America will look like years from now, and whether our children and grandchildren will be safer and freer to grow up. I have always believed in the inherent goodness of people. I still do. I have spent my life trying to advance the idea that our common humanity matters more than our interesting differences and working for a world in which we are coming together, not being torn apart. We can take a big step toward that world by keeping assault weapons out of the hands of those who wish to destroy it.


The FBI on Saturday arrested a man described as a commander of an armed group that has been detaining migrants in New Mexico, the state attorney general's office said. Larry Mitchell Hopkins, 69, of Flora Vista, New Mexico, was arrested for allegedly being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas and the FBI said. The arrest comes after New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, a Democrat, demanded that members of a militia group, some of whom are armed, stop detaining migrants at the New Mexico-Mexico border. Balderas said in a statement that Hopkins is "a member of the armed group of individuals reportedly detaining migrants near Sunland Park, New Mexico." Slideshow by photo services "This is a dangerous felon who should not have weapons around children and families," Balderas said. "Today's arrest by the FBI indicates clearly that the rule of law should be in the hands of trained law enforcement officials, not armed vigilantes." Jim Benvie, a spokesman for United Constitutional Patriots, said Hopkins is their "national commander." In a letter Thursday to Lujan Grisham and Balderas, the American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico said United Constitutional Patriots had arrested nearly 300 people Tuesday near Sunland Park, a city about 10 miles from El Paso, Texas. Hopkins is scheduled to appear in federal court Monday in Las Cruces. It was unclear if he has an attorney. A message left at a phone number that public records show might belong to Hopkins in Flora Vista was not immediately returned Saturday. Lujan Grisham said this week that state officials would be working with the state attorney general and local police to stop the militia group from arresting migrants. Balderas warned this week that "these individuals should not attempt to exercise authority reserved for law enforcement." Benvie claimed Saturday that Hopkins' arrest was politically motivated and that the United Constitutional Patriots is an "armed patriot group" not an armed militia. He said Hopkins is a Vietnam veteran and former "fugitive recovery officer," or bounty hunter. "I believe that this was an attack from the governor ordered to the AG's office to come out to our camp and find something that they could find to either shut us down, get us removed from the property that we're on, or do something else to harm the integrity of the organization," Benvie said. The FBI said it arrested Hopkins on a federal complaint and did not mention an armed group. Reuters reported Thursday that United Constitutional Patriots, made up mainly of veterans, has been patrolling in the Sunland Park area since late February. They have been posting videos almost daily of members in camouflage, armed with semi-automatic rifles, holding asylum-seekers until Border Patrol officers arrive, the news agency reported. U.S. Customs and Border Protection said in a statement that it "does not endorse private groups or organizations taking enforcement matters into their own hands." Armed civilian groups have been a fixture on the border for years, especially when large numbers of migrants come, the Associated Press reported. But unlike previous times, many of the migrants crossing now are children. In the Border Patrol's El Paso sector, which has emerged as the second-busiest corridor for illegal crossings after Texas' Rio Grande Valley, 86% of arrests in March were people who came as families or unaccompanied children, the AP reported.


The Philadelphia Eagles and New England Patriots are officially rivals now, even if fans from the Boston area are still in shock about the Birds Super Bowl 52 victory. The National Football League is celebrating their 100th season in 2019, and one of the cooler promotional items is the leagues "Game of the Week" this season. No, it's not specifically slotted for Sunday or Monday night football, but each week, the "Game of Week" will hold significant meaning and celebration for teams around the NFL. This season, during week 11, the Eagles vs. Patriots will be the 'Landmark Game' of that week, as the NFL will celebrate the Patriots Super Bowl 39 victory over the Eagles, and the Birds Super Bowl 52 victory over New England. Week 11 (Nov. 17): New England Patriots at Philadelphia Eagles, CBS The two teams met in Super Bowls XXXIX and LII, with a split in the matchups. The last meeting produced the "Philly Special" and an Eagles' win behind backup QB Nick Foles. New England took the victory in Super Bowl 39, 24-21, but the Eagles earned their revenge with a 41-33 win in Super Bowl 52, that resulted in arguably the greatest play in Super Bowl history. 'Philly Philly' as Nick Foles called it, but "Philly Special" in the playbook, became a play in which running back Corey Clement took the snap and lateraled the ball to tight end Trey Burton, who threw the ball to quarterback Nick Foles in the end zone for the touchdown. Foles became the first quarterback to catch a touchdown pass in Super Bowl history and would later be named Super Bowl MVP after going 28-of-43 for 373 yards, three touchdowns, and a 106.1 passer rating. The 'Philly Special" will now go down in history and be celebrated during the NFL's 100th season. MORE: Kevin Durant calls 'BS' on Stephen A. Smith's explosive claims on First Take Elfrid Payton: 'I feel we embody what New York basketball was about back in the day' 9 quarterbacks who will improve in 2019 The Steelers got their new Brett Keisel with Isaiah Buggs Kawhi Leonard Joining the Lakers According to Stephen A. Smith's Sources


ST. LOUIS (AP) After a tough eight-game stretch, Chad Pinder is starting to find his hitting stroke. Pinder and Marcus Semien homered in a six-run fifth inning, and the Oakland Athletics rallied to beat the St. Louis Cardinals 7-3 Tuesday night. Pinder had three hits Sunday to end a 3-for-23 slump, and kept it going against the Cardinals. ''I was just trying to keep the momentum, not trying to do too much,'' Pinder said. ''I just tried to keep that same approach especially during batting practice today.'' Matt Olson also went deep to help Oakland win for the sixth time in eight games. Tha A's, who had totaled nine runs over their last three games, overcame a 3-1 deficit with the big fifth inning to knock out Cardinals starter Jack Flaherty (4-5). ''He had inconsistent command,'' St. Louis manager Mike Shildt about Flaherty. ''A couple of homers and balls that found holes and balls that were hit hard and it become a big inning.'' Josh Phegley opened the inning with a ground-rule double, and Pinder homered to left to tie the score. ''Honestly I went up with the mindset to get a pitch just to move (the runner) over to third, not to do too much,'' Pinder said. ''The first pitch he threw me was a four-seamer and it had a little cut and I was trying to get my timing there and he ended up throwing pretty much the same exact pitch the next pitch and I was able to put a good swing on it. '' Semien followed with his shot to center to put Oakland ahead 4-3. The A's scored three more runs on three singles - including Stephen Piscotty's run-scoring hit - and pinch-hitter Khris Davis' two-run double off reliever John Brebbia. ''I wasn't able to execute,'' Flaherty said. ''The ball to Pinder, he just put a good swing on it. It got Semien down 0-2 and threw a really bad pitch. I battled with Piscotty and he battled and put a good swing on it. You make mistakes and they found holes.'' Flaherty gave up a season-high seven runs and nine hits and a walk in 4 2/3 innings. He gave up three homers to raise his total to nine allowed in five winless June starts. Overall, Flaherty has given up 18 homers in 16 starts this season. Flaherty has given up five leads of two or more runs this season. J.B. Wendelken (1-1) picked up his first MLB victory after spending time with Oakland in parts of three seasons. He got the final two outs of the fourth inning and was lifted for a pinch-hitter in the bottom of the fifth. ''(I'm) super excited,'' Wendelken said. ''You get a little jittery every now and then but when you get a win like that it means a lot because the boys stepped up when we were down and that's all you could ask for right there. '' The Athletics went ahead 1-0 in the second when Olson led off with a home run to left field. The Cardinals went ahead with a three-run second. Matt Carpenter tripled with two outs, driving in Yadier Molina and Kolten Wong. He hit a deep fly to center and Ramon Laureano fell down after turning the wrong way on the ball. It landed just in front of the wall and Laureano for Carpenter's second triple this season. He scored on a double by Paul DeJong for a 3-1 lead. Oakland's Chris Bassitt was lifted for a reliever after 3 1/3 innings. It was his shortest stint in his 12 starts this season. He allowed three runs and four hits with four walks. FOUL BALL Cardinals RF Jose Martinez fouled off eight consecutive pitches before striking out in a 12-pitch at-bat to end the first inning with two men on base. Bassitt made 34 pitches in the inning. ROSTER MOVES The Cardinals recalled RHP Daniel Ponce de Leon and RHP Dominic Leone from Triple-A Memphis on Tuesday. LHP Genesis Cabrera was optioned to the Redbirds. TRAINER'S ROOM Athletics: LHP Sean Manaea (shoulder) has been shut down with no timetable on his return. He has soreness on his right side. He threw 60 pitches in a simulated game last Thursday. ... C Chris Herrmann (right knee) will catch back-to-back games in a rehab assignment in Las Vegas before he will be activated from the injured list. Cardinals: RHP Jordan Hicks (right elbow) has been placed on the 10-day Injured List, retroactive to June 23. ... RHP Alex Reyes (strained pectoral muscle) will miss two to three starts at Triple-A Memphis. The oft-injured Reyes has a 7.39 ERA in 28 innings for the Redbirds this season. UP NEXT Athletics: RHP Daniel Mengden (1-1, 5.09) is being recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas for his second stint with the A's this season. Cardinals: RHP Adam Wainwright (5-6, 4.50) will be making his third career start against Oakland. He won the previous two, going eight innings or more in each game. --- More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports


Violent protests rocked Puerto Rico Wednesday night as new details emerged of the corruption scandal surrounding the governor. Thousands of demonstrators demanding the resignation of Governor Ricardo Rossello clashed with police. David Begnaud reports.


Great white sharks are headed north, but like many tourists, they are stopping by the Carolinas on their way. Four great whites that are being tracked by the nonprofit research group OCEARCH were lingering off the coast of the Carolinas this week. The tags on two of the biggest sharks pinged Monday off the South Carolina coast. A 12-foot, 9-inch great white named Caroline was close to shore off Edisto Beach. The larger of the two, Luna, was out over the Charleston Bump, 80 to 200 miles southeast of Charleston. The Charleston Bump is a deep-water bank similar to the Bahamas banks but does not reach the sea surface, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. From depths of more than 2,300 feet, the bottom ramps up to about 1,230 feet. Huge fish, some exceeding 100 pounds, are found in the caves and overhangs of the Bump. Luna is a 15 feet long and weighs in at 2,137 pounds. For perspective, that's about the length of a Ford Mustang and about twice the weight of a grand piano. Luna is the second largest shark caught and tagged by OCEARCH. She was caught in October 2018 near Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, and was named in the city's honor. OCEARCH shark tags use satellite technology to relay information on location, depth and temperature. OCEARCH says Luna moves along the East Coast of North America and has traveled as far south as the northern Bahamas. It is common for great white sharks to be tracked off the Carolina coast during their summer migration. "As the water warms up down south, they'll push north," OCEARCH founding chairman Chris Fischer told NBC News. Among the sharks' northern destinations is the south shore of Long Island, where they typically go to give birth. Fischer says there is no need for beachgoers to fear the travels of great whites, but anyone who enjoys coastal waters should be aware of their presence. The trackers let researchers keep tabs on the sharks, but experts remind us, the great white sharks have always been there. "I mean, these things are the kings of the ocean," Fischer said. "They go wherever they want." READ MORE: Great white sharks cluster off Carolina coast, including one that's massive CHECK OUT WTAE: Stay in the know with the latest Pittsburgh news, weather and sports. Catch all of the day's top stories and more from the team at WTAE Pittsburgh Action News 4.


PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland   Rory McIlroy insists the disappointment of his nightmare start to The Open was not enhanced by it occurring at Royal Portrush. It was an opening round to forget for McIlroy, who started with a quadruple-bogey eight and finished with a 7 on the par-4 18th en route to an 8-over-par 79. That was 12 behind early clubhouse leader Shane Lowry, while world No. 1 Brooks Koepka was also at 4 under through 15 holes. McIlroy's round did not follow the script for the local hero and he faces a monumental battle to even make the weekend for Portrush's first Open Championship since 1951. "I'd be disappointed regardless, whether it was here or St Andrews or Birkdale or any of the other tournaments or majors," he said. "I'm disappointed, but at the end of the day I'm still the same person. "I'm going to go back and see my family, see my friends, and hopefully they don't think any less of me after a performance like that. I'll dust myself off and come back out tomorrow and try to do better. "I didn't give a very good account of myself out there and I can definitely play better, as all of you know. It's about doing the simple stuff - getting the ball in the fairway, missing it in the right spots if you do miss it. "The things I usually do pretty well I didn't do today and it made for a tough start." Quadruple-bogey 8 Rory McIlroy goes out of bounds with his opening tee shot. #TheOpen pic.twitter.com/zxo1UWprEu   The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) July 18, 2019 McIlroy said his opening hole did not play on his mind and actually focused his game as he felt the situation could not get worse. MORE : British Open 2019: David Duval cards a 13 (THIRTEEN!) on one hole | British Open 2019: Breaking down Rory McIlroy's nightmare at Royal Portrush "It almost settled me down. It was almost like, well, that's sort of the worst that can happen. Put your head down and keep going," he added. "I'm not saying that it was the ideal start. But at that point what else can go wrong? "I just put my head down and tried to keep hitting good shots and I did that for the next 13 or 14 holes. I just let it go a little bit at the end."


Over the years, celebrity couples have chosen the Met Gala to make their romances red carpet official, including most notably Kylie Jenner and Travis Scott, Selena Gomez and The Weeknd, and J-Rod. Selena Gomez and The Weeknd Gigi Hadid and Zayn Malik Sarah Silverman and Michael Sheen Elon Musk and Grimes Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas Lili Reinhart and Cole Sprouse Katharine McPhee and David Foster Alex Rodriguez and Anne Wojcicki FKA Twigs and Robert Pattinson Kylie Jenner and Travis Scott Hailey Baldwin and Shawn Mendes


CLEVELAND   Cleveland authorities say a drive-by shooting killed a baby girl who was hit in the chest while riding in a car. The county medical examiner's office says emergency medics rushed 5-month-old Aavielle Wakefield to a children's hospital, where she died after the shooting Thursday. WEWS-TV reports police said the baby's mother was driving with at least one other person in a neighborhood a few miles southeast of downtown, and only the child was hit. WKYC-TV reports officials suspect the gunfire came from an apartment building, but no immediate arrests were made. Police Chief Calvin Williams and Mayor Frank Jackson visited the scene Thursday evening. It's the third deadly drive-by shooting of a child in Cleveland over the past month. A 3-year-old boy and a 5-year-old boy were killed in September.


No, you're not dreaming Manchester United fans and you do not need to pinch yourselves - Juventus forward Paulo Dybala's agent really has arrived in England to begin talks over a possible move. The 25-year-old has slipped down La Vecchia Signora's pecking order ever since Cristiano Ronaldo arrived in Turin, with a tumultuous relationship with previous manager Massimiliano Allegri leading to rumours of a possible exit. L'agente di @PauDybala_JR è in Inghilterra per trattare con lo @ManUtd : se trova l'accordo economico, via libera allo scambio con #Lukaku alla @juventusfc #calciomercato @SkySport   Gianluca Di Marzio (@DiMarzio) July 30, 2019 That talk appeared to have gone away when Allegri made way for Maurizio Sarri as manager - but over the last 24 hours, Dybala has emerged as a serious swap deal contender for Manchester United as they look to oust Romelu Lukaku from Old Trafford - as well as being linked with a move to Tottenham. Earlier today, reports suggested that Juventus were willing to part company with the Argentine, and now it appears the rumours really do have some legs as Dybala's agent, as reported by both Gianluca DiMarzio and Fabrizio Romano , has arrived in England to negotiate with Manchester United over personal terms. Romano claims that Dybala's preference is to stay with the Old Lady, but he's not happy with his current situation in Italy - and United will push hard to present their case to the former Palermo forward. He currently earns €6.5m-a-year after tax at Juventus, with talk that he'll want to earn a staggering €10m-a-year, again after tax, already doing the rounds. Juventus are seemingly placing the ball in Dybala's court over where his future lies, much like they have done previously with Arturo Vidal and Paul Pogba - who were allowed to depart Italy despite the club's unwillingness to part company. Lukaku, meanwhile, has been strongly linked with Juve's Serie A rivals Inter, but a deal appears unlikely as the Nerazzurri simply don't have the financial firepower to match United's £75m valuation of the Belgian - much to the chagrin of boss Antonio Conte. Paulo Dybala's agent is now in England to start talks about personal terms with Manchester United. Juventus are waiting to understand the final decision of Dybala about his future; he'd like to stay but Man United will try to push. 🔴 #MUFC #ManUnited #Juventus #transfers   Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 30, 2019 Last season, Dybala made 42 appearances in all competitions, but managed just ten goals as he struggled to find his place in the team alongside Cristiano Ronaldo . Lukaku is seen as a better fit next to the Portuguese forward, although a deal seems far from straightforward - as some persuading will need to be done before a deal can be finalised.


Editor's note: The opinions in this article are the author's, as published by our content partner, and do not necessarily represent the views of MSN or Microsoft. Now that Representative Justin Amash has left the Republican party, he'll be getting some calls asking whether he plans to run for president in 2020. Never Trumpers and consultants and left-wing billionaires will be jostling with Libertarian-party leaders for meetings with him   all convinced that his candidacy could drain enough votes to sink Trump's reelection. The five-term Michigan congressman left the Republican party last week to become an independent. He claims he plans to run for reelection to his Grand Rapids seat under that banner. But he told CNN on Sunday that he hasn't closed the door on a White House bid. "I still wouldn't rule anything like that out," he said. "I have to use my skills, my public influence, where it serves the country best." If he ran, Amash could run as an independent, but that would involve a grueling ballot-access campaign. If he ran as a Libertarian, he would probably be able to immediately secure a place on the ballot of some 40 states where Libertarians are already a qualified party. While he didn't mention President Trump in his GOP-departure announcement, it's clear that the 39-year-old Amash doesn't see himself as a good fit in a Trump-led party. In May, he announced he had seen enough evidence in the Mueller report to support impeaching Trump for obstruction of justice. Naturally, President Trump dismissed Amash's move by calling him "a total loser" in a tweet. But Trump aides say that an Amash 2020 candidacy could pose real challenges to both Trump and any Democratic nominee. "People forget that Gary Johnson, a former governor of New Mexico, won more votes as a Libertarian than the difference between Trump and Clinton in 11 states in 2016," a Trump adviser told me. Johnson ended up with 3.3 percent of the national vote. Later, Johnson told me he thought that a lot of his votes came from Democrats disillusioned with Hillary Clinton and from people who normally wouldn't have voted for president. The Trump adviser told me that while in many states a Libertarian would probably draw more votes from Trump than from a Democrat, that might not always be the case. He points to a new poll in Amash's home state of Michigan that shows Joe Biden's lead among independent voters dropping from 13 percentage points to a tie when Amash is offered as an option. Biden's lead in Michigan overall fell from 12 points in a head-to-head against Trump to only 6 points with Amash on the ballot. Pollster Richard Czuba, who took the poll for the Detroit News and WDIV-TV, analyzed Amash's impact for the News : "What he will do is give independent voters who don't want to support President Trump an outlet to not vote for the Democrat. And if you look at who or what would be moving toward Amash, it is particularly independent men." Czuba says the 2020 race is increasingly dividing along pro-Trump and anti-Trump lines. His poll is "frankly somewhat of a lesson for the Democrats in their effort to defeat the president," he told the News , noting that he was surprised by the poll's results. "The more the effort gets diluted, the more Democrats start walking away from the process, the greater the avenue is for Trump to do what he did in 2016." Indeed, the latest Washington Post poll shows that a strong economy has lifted Trump to his highest approval rating since he took office. At 47 percent, his current rating is a point higher than the 46 percent of the vote that he won in in 2016. But you can bet that the most enthusiastic Trump supporters wouldn't see Amash favorably, as a factor that could tilt some key swing states toward Trump rather than a Democrat. I have little doubt that some left-wing donors   and even a few anti-Trump GOP-establishment donors   are already thinking of contributing to independent expenditure efforts in behalf of Amash, should he choose to run for president. But if politics in recent years has taught us anything, it is that the conventional wisdom is often dated and useless. If Justin Amash runs for president as a principled libertarian who lacks Trump's excesses, he might indeed hurt the president in key states. But if he runs as more of a reformer who wants to attack corporate welfare and question the drug war, he could attract younger voters who would normally vote Democratic. As Trump opponents jostle for a chance to convince Justin Amash to run in 2020, they should remember the old Chinese adage that you should be careful what you wish for. You might get it.