SACRAMENTO, Calif.   Environmental concerns, including fear of harming a sensitive frog species, have forced Camp fire crews to back away from cleaning some properties in the Paradise area. State officials tasked with debris cleanup say they have been directed not to enter an estimated 800 burned Butte County home sites within 100 feet of a waterway. They've been told to wait for representatives of several state and federal agencies to reach an agreement on environmental assessment guidelines. The issue cropped up well into a year-long, estimated $2 billion-plus cleanup operation at about 11,000 properties in Paradise, Concow and Magalia that burned in November's Camp fire, the most destructive blaze in state history. The revelation that some stream-side properties are now on hold triggered a strong public rebuke Thursday from two local legislators who said they heard about the issue from angry constituents on the ridge. In statement calling the situation "absurd," Sen. Jim Nielsen, R-Tehama, and Assemblyman James Gallagher, R-Yuba City, lamented "that frogs, birds and waterways are causing work to stop in some areas." The pair said the state Office of Emergency Services and other agencies deserve kudos for ramping up debris cleaning operations since spring weather started, but pointed out "survivors are anxious to rebuild or move on. Our neighbors have gone through hell in this disaster, and must be the priority." An OES spokesman said state Fish and Wildlife officials informed other agencies that 800 properties near waterways will require an extra level of site assessment before they are allowed to be cleaned, to make sure the work will not cause environmental harm, including to an endangered frog species that resides on the ridge. State Fish and Wildlife officials could not be reached for comment Thursday. Eric Lamoureux of Cal OES said the state expects to have a protocol in place in the next few days. "We are close to finalizing those plans. We are trying to balance the need to get these properties cleared as quickly as possible but also protecting our environment out there." He did not say what that protocol would look like, who would be inspecting the home sites, when they would do it, and what would happen at a site if an endangered species were found or some other environmental concern were to arise. Lamoureux said debris cleanup operations have not been slowed by the environmental questions. State officials said 141 crews are on the hillside daily cleaning other sites, averaging about 100 sites a day. Trucks and rigs dig out the debris, and top soil from burned out home sites, loading them into plastic in trucks to be hauled to Northern California landfills. The issue has angered some landowners. Alicia Rock, whose home on Clear Creek was destroyed in the fire, said she moved quickly to get the rebuilding permit process going, and thought her property's cleanup was going to happen Tuesday, but now has been told she must wait indefinitely. She said she even warned officials early in winter, when the creek was high, that debris was being pulled into the creek. She called the situation "stupid." "I have followed the process to a T. Now I am being held up," she said. "Come on guys, you've had six months. You knew this was coming."     ©2019 The Sacramento Bee (Sacramento, Calif.) Visit The Sacramento Bee (Sacramento, Calif.) at www.sacbee.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.


FARMINGDALE, N.Y   Phil Mickelson and Rory McIlroy were walking across the putting green in front of Bethpage's clubhouse early Friday afternoon en route to the scoring area when someone yelled, "Come on Phil, come on Rory, you guys can still win this thing!" McIlroy smiled, shook his head and said to Mickelson, "If they let us play best ball, we might have a chance." Mickelson laughed. It would be a tad strong to say the two men were whistling past the PGA Championship graveyard, but it might take a best-ball-type score for either to get into any sort of contention this weekend. McIlroy had to be happy just to get the chance to tee it up Saturday. He needed four late birdies on the his second nine the front at Bethpage Black to shoot a one-under-par 71, which left him at three-over-par 143 for 36 holes, just inside the cut line. "If you'd told me after I walked off the 12th green that I was still going to be around for the weekend, I probably wouldn't have believed you," he said. "So, in that sense I feel good about the way I finished." McIlroy started 6-5-6 on the treacherous first three holes of the back nine; that's five-over-par. Mickelson was considerably better, but also got hit with an early double-bogey a 6 at what should be the easiest hole in that stretch, the 11th. He did bounce back to birdie the 12th and, like McIlroy, shot 71, which left him at even par 140 for the first 36 holes. "I needed to get through the back nine, but I had that double on 11," he said. "So for me to turn at one-over was OK, but that took a lot of momentum away. If I could have shot par or better on the that back side, the front nine was totally different. You could really get on those nine holes. You saw Rory do it, a lot of guys do it." RELATED: What is Phil Mickelson's legacy? Mickelson did have three birdies on the front nine, but also had three bogeys two of them on the par 3s. He played just well enough to be able to talk about having a chance on the weekend. "It feels close," he insisted. "I'm looking forward to the weekend and there are some low if you play well there are some low rounds out there. We're seeing it, four, five-under-par rounds, and hopefully I need one of those." He will almost certainly need two rounds like that to factor on Sunday afternoon. Mickelson had reason to be optimistic coming in here. He finished second to Tiger Woods the first time the U.S. Open was played on Bethpage's Black course in 2002 and tied for second behind Lucas Glover in the rain-soaked Open of 2009. Mickelson started the year very well, finishing second to Adam Long in the Desert Classic, then winning at Pebble Beach three weeks later with a sterling final round 65 to catch Paul Casey. It was his fifth win at Pebble Beach and his 44th PGA Tour victory. Everyone who can spell the word golf knows that Mickelson will turn 49 on June 16 which just happens to be Father's Day Sunday this year, meaning it is the day the U.S. Open is scheduled to conclude at Pebble Beach. It would be the stuff of a Disney movie if Mickelson finally completed the career Grand Slam by winning the Open that day on a golf course he gets misty-eyed talking about. Mickelson's grandfather, Al Santos, was one of Pebble Beach's first caddies exactly 100 years ago, and Mickelson carries a Morgan Head Silver dollar given to him by his grandfather when he plays the golf course. Mickelson has finished second in the Open six times. He knows his chances are almost certainly down to a precious few. Pebble Beach might be his last, best chance. Of course, as Mickelson has repeatedly pointed out, Pebble Beach in June is a lot different than in February, but he should certainly feel comfortable there. What's more, among the five men who have won an Open at Pebble Beach Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, Tom Kite, Tiger Woods, Graeme McDowell only McDowell didn't have a February win on the Monterey Peninsula before winning in June. But Pebble's a month away. For the moment, Mickelson would love to find a couple of low numbers this weekend on a golf course that will yield them if you play nearly perfect golf. Mickelson is immensely popular in the New York area he's almost certain to be the U.S. Ryder Cup captain when the matches are played here in 2024. Every birdie he made on Friday drew huge cheers along with the characteristic Mickelson sheepish grin and cap tug. There are still plenty of good swings left in Mickelson, but there's also little doubt that their number is dwindling. Just as there's almost no way to know which Phil will show up on the golf course (see Shinnecock, Saturday 2018, 13th hole), there's also almost no way to know which Phil will show up off the golf course. Mickelson has finished second in the U.S. Open six times. He knows his chances are almost certainly down to a precious few. Pebble Beach might be his last, best one. Earlier in the week, he declined the PGA of America's stock request to come speak to the media prior to the start of the championship. As a past PGA champion, twice a runner-up at Bethpage and a certain future Ryder Cup captain, he was an automatic to be asked to come to the media center. "Second or third on our list," a PGA official said. "Behind Tiger [Woods] but probably not anyone else." Mickelson said thanks, but no thanks. Sour Phil. On Thursday, Mickelson shot a one-under-par 69, but didn't get off the golf course until close to 7 o'clock. With an early tee time Friday, it would have been understandable if he wanted to get through his media paces as quickly as possible.The PGA official in charge of letting players know what they are needed to do post-round forgot to let Mickelson know that the Golf Channel wanted to get him on camera one-on-one after he had gone through his initial questioning. When Mickelson finished, he saw longtime Golf Channel producer Andrew Bradley standing near the podium. Before Bradley could make a request, Mickelson said: "Do you guys need me?" He then patiently answered a half-dozen questions. Sweet Phil. Friday, he was brief, clearly eager to get inside before the expected rain started to fall in earnest. He answered four questions no rancor but not in the expansive mood he can be in after rounds. He headed inside to the clubhouse, still hoping for a good weekend and that Disney-style ending a month from now. Of course, no one including Mickelson knows when Sweet Phil might turn into Sour Phil. As Mickelson headed to the clubhouse, someone commented that, in spite of being well back of Brooks Koepka, Mickelson seemed to be in good spirits. A member of the British media said, "It's early. Remember last time he was on Long Island [Shinnecock] he didn't hit a moving ball until Saturday." To the fans here, there's only one Phil the one they all adore. If they had their way, he and McIlroy would be allowed to play best-ball on the weekend. Whether that would be good enough is something we'll never know. Explore Golf Digest All Access, with more than 30 video series to improve your game WATCH: GOLF DIGEST VIDEOS


Kelsey Wells is an Instagram star and fitness trainer with over 2 million followers. She rose to fame after a transformation photo she posted urging women to "screw the scales" went viral in 2016. Wells has now created a selection of workout programs to help women empower themselves through fitness. However, she says the main mistake women make with regard to exercising is focusing on aesthetics, rather than health. Wells told INSIDER how she shifted her internal dialogue and found her passion for fitness. Kelsey Wells is shivering in the lobby of the stylish Ace Hotel in east London. With an herbal tea, fruit salad, and bottle of water in front of her, the fitness icon may be feeling the draft, but she still looks like the epitome of health. Wearing Stella McCartney trainers, a bright red, long-sleeved crop-top, charcoal marl sweatpants, diamond earrings, eyelash extensions, a perfect gel manicure, and hair swept up into a sleek high bun, fitness has never looked more stylish. It's people like Wells who are to thank for the current vogue for healthy living - with 2.1 million followers on Instagram , she makes living a healthy lifestyle aspirational, but, crucially, not unobtainable. Getting more women to understand the power of finding a love for fitness has become Wells' mission as she's grown her empire over the past five years - but she says there's still one major thing most women are getting wrong in their approach to embracing it. 'Fitness is not about aesthetics' If there's one thing Wells, 30, wants every woman to get into their head, it's that working out is not about changing how your body looks. "I think the biggest misconception and the most important thing for everyone to understand about fitness in general is that fitness is not about aesthetics, fitness is about your health," the American trainer told INSIDER while in London for Balance Festival , a weekend-long wellness event. "For way too long, we were bombarded with the opposite messaging in a lot of different ways and it just doesn't serve you. It triggers guilt and stress." Wells is referring to the idea that working out, be that going to the gym or heading out for a jog, is something you have to endure as punishment for eating or to try to lose body fat before, say, a wedding or holiday. "You don't need to get fit for summer or for a holiday or an event, it's not about that," she said. "The fact is we all have a body, we all have health, we have one body so you need to take care of your body and that is what fitness is about." This is what led Wells to launch a new at-home version of her PWR workout program, "PWR at Home," which is available on the Sweat app - she wanted to make exercise even more accessible. "I named my programs PWR because I empowered myself through fitness, I was able to understand that fitness is about health, and find my confidence and my own self love," she said. "I used fitness as a tool to empower myself instead of a tool to beat myself up, and that's my goal with what I do, to help other women do the same." Your mindset changes everything Wells' physical transformation over the past five years may be clear, but she says it was successfully transforming her outlook that made all the difference. "I grew up with not the best internal dialogue towards myself and I was always very hard on myself and my body," she said. "I looked at fitness and exercise as a chore and as something you did to change your body. That's pretty tragic. "My biggest transformation that I ever made was being able to switch that mindset, truly learn and understand that one thing. "And if women can do that, then it changes everything because then your efforts towards eating healthily and exercising are coming from a place of gratitude towards your body and a place of joy, you are taking care of yourself, you're relieving stress, you're taking care of your health, physical, mental, and emotional." It's still OK to have physical goals Don't feel bad if you're looking at Wells, admiring her physique, and feeling motivated by the prospect of getting in shape to change your appearance. The Instagram star believes it's totally fine to have aesthetic goals, but they shouldn't be your main motivation for working out. "There's nothing wrong with your body changing or having physical goals so long as they're attainable for your body type and you're going about them in a healthy way," Wells explained. "But the problem becomes when that's your driver - you'll never be satisfied, you'll always be picking yourself apart, you'll feel like it's taking too long, you'll think it's not working and will just feel discouraged." She added that you need to be careful with the goals you choose for yourself. "If your goal is fat loss, that's a good goal, especially if you need to be healthier," Wells said. "But it's about making sure you're doing that in healthy ways, not doing anything too extreme, and understanding that you are beautiful and sexy just as you are now. Changing your body isn't going to make you feel that way." Wells believes working out is actually the "ultimate" form of self-care. "If you're exercising because you want to take care of yourself, have more energy, sleep better, have more confidence, then those physical changes will come," she said. "It's about taking care of yourself for the right reasons and then when those changes come, your confidence will grow. You need to love your body through every phase and change and stage." Exercise and mental health It may be hard to believe, but Wells hasn't always been the mega-fit beacon of health she is now - in fact, just five years ago, exercise didn't feature in her life at all. Everything changed after she had her son, Anderson, who is now 5 years old. Working as an interior designer at the time, Wells was struggling with post-natal anxiety, and her midwife suggested she try exercising to improve her mental health. "I was like, 'There's no way,' I was quite sarcastic about it, like, 'Sure I'll exercise, that's not going to help, this is a real thing,'" she said. But little by little she began moving more - first just going for walks with Anderson in a stroller, then doing body-weighted workouts in her basement flat a couple of times a week, which eventually turned into four times a week. "I committed to myself but I stopped and started and quit and all of the things most women do," Wells said. "But then, the more I did it, the more I realized, 'Wow, this is helping me.' And the more I started to see my body change in the mirror, the more I started to feel better. "It didn't cure my anxiety but it definitely enabled me to cope with it holistically and gave me more energy, helped me sleep better, lifted that weight on my chest, and cleared my mind. And so I realized, 'Wow, there's so much more to this.' I was mind blown." At the age of 24, Wells discovered a passion for fitness, and a year later in July 2016, after she posted a transformation photo online that encouraged women to "screw the scale," she went viral. Instagram is a double-edged sword Instagram has largely been credited for popularizing the "fit" look - fewer women now aspire to look like the skinny models of the '90s, and instead seek muscular arms and so-called "bubble butts." Indeed, Wells is one of the biggest names in the fitness industry on Instagram, and regularly posting photos and videos has helped her rise to international fame. But she acknowledges that there are pros and cons to the role Instagram has played in the perception of fitness. "Different looks come on trend - thigh gaps, big bums… these are things that are unrealistic and unattainable for most body types," Wells said. "If for you social media is draining and negative and you find yourself in a negative spiral of comparison, I would first advise you really be careful with the content you're consuming." She says influencers have a responsibility to be truthful and show life as it really is. Despite this, Wells' own Instagram only features glossy, perfectly posed photos, without a stray hair, drop of sweat, or roll of flesh in sight. However, she believes nobody should follow anyone that doesn't make them feel good about themselves. "If there's someone you follow or content you see that makes you feel 'less than,' that's on you to unfollow or not look," she said. "You have to be honest with yourself." She believes that overall, Instagram has allowed women to educate themselves about fitness. "Instagram is a phenomenal blessing for the fitness landscape because through your phone you can learn so much," she said. "You can find messages, people, places, and things that are going to empower you and inspire you to be better and feel better, and go, do, and be your best. So I think it's a wonderful thing and I'm very grateful it exists." It's for these reasons that Wells says she will always keep her Instagram account as the "positive, authentic, and uplifting" space she believes it is. 'You have to be intentional about your thoughts' Wells has accepted that she can't control how people will perceive her, but that's not to say she isn't affected by the comments she receives. In a recent post in which Wells had spoken about the importance of having a positive internal dialogue, someone had commented saying, "That's easy for you to say." "When I saw her comment, I just wanted to hug her because I would've said that too five years ago," Wells said. It is easy for her to say now, she admits, but it's taken time and hard work. "For five years I've worked really hard on taking care of my mental health - just like I take care of my body and I exercise regularly, I exercise mentally regularly," she said. "I do meditation, I focus on choosing positivity, I do very practical things to help my mental and emotional health just as I do my physical health. "So yes, it's easy for me to say but it's not because I look a certain way, it's because I've worked hard for that." Five years ago, Wells' mindset toward her body was one that will be familiar to many women. "When I would see a photo of myself or my reflection in the mirror, I would start picking myself apart immediately, but you have to consciously stop," she said. Wells' husband Ryan encouraged her to speak more kindly to herself - when he caught her being negative about her appearance, he'd call her out and make her say out loud two of her strengths or positive qualities. "It might sound silly or cheesy but it's so important," Wells said. "You have to be intentional about your thoughts and it was very hard at first, but the more you do it - it's the same with physical exercise - the easier it becomes. "I never did anything extreme, I never all of a sudden changed my life, but here I am five years later and my mindset is completely different, my body is completely different, my health is completely different, and it all was just done through the smallest efforts compounded over time." Related Video: Kelsey Wells' Strengthening Circuit (Provided by Health.com)


The Cubs got some unwelcome injury news today on two fronts. Closer Craig Kimbrel was placed on the 10-day IL with a knee injury, while further examination revealed that catcher Willson Contreras is expected to miss about a month of action. ESPNChicago.com's Jesse Rogers covered the news ( links to Twitter ). Righty Duane Underwood Jr. is coming up to replace Kimbrel on the active roster. The hope, clearly, is that it won't be a lengthy absence for the recently added veteran. All that's really known at the moment is that Kimbrel is dealing with inflammation, though it seems he has already been cleared of major structural issues with an MRI. The veteran hurler says he's confident he'll be ready to return after the minimum absence. Kimbrel has already saved nine games for the Cubbies. But the new relationship has been a bit rocky. In 12 2/3 innings, Kimbrel has already coughed up four home runs. He has exhibited a clear loss of velocity and sports a 17:8 K/BB ratio (a 15.0% K%-BB% is less than half his career average), though he's still managing a strong 16.5% swinging-strike rate that's right at his career mean. Hopefully, the Chicago org will welcome back an even better version of Kimbrel once he has taken a brief respite and sorted out his knee. The team is facing a rather more worrying situation with its top backstop. Contreras suggested that he expects at least four weeks on the shelf, as Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Tribune reports ( Twitter links ). He indicated that he'll be taking a cautious recovery path   no doubt a good idea given the timing. While there's every reason to believe Contreras will be fully healed in time for the stretch run and postseason, it'd only take one setback to put that at risk. It stands to reason that the Cubs will be on the hunt for another receiver   a search that'll be complicated by the new August acquisition rules . The club had Martin Maldonado briefly, but shipped him on to the Astros before the trade deadline. At present, Victor Caratini and Taylor Davis are holding down the fort.


Firefighters were called out to a fire at a metal iron and tire recycling plant on the city's southwest side Thursday night. According to SAFD, the cause of the fire was due to metal debris getting hung up on the machinery. An official with SAFD said tires and debris at Monterrey Iron and Metal in the 2300 block of Quintana Road were on fire when crews arrived around 10:30 p.m. The fire was well contained and no structures were threatened. No one was harmed.


Brooks Koepka's second consecutive PGA Championship victory impressed Las Vegas enough that it thinks he's ready to do something historic: win a third consecutive U.S. Open. The Westgate SuperBook opened Koepka, 29, as a 5-1 pick to win next month at Pebble Beach. Koepka won last year's U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills and the 2017 tournament at Erin Hills. Only Scottish golfer Willie Anderson (1903-05) has won three straight. Sunday's victory at Bethpage Black was Koepka's fourth career major championship. After faltering in the final round, he edged out Dustin Johnson. Not coincidentally, Johnson opened at 8-1 to win the U.S. Open, back of only Koepka. Tiger Woods, who missed the cut at the PGA, opened as the third pick at 12-1. The 2019 U.S. Open is scheduled for June 13-16 at Pebble Beach. Here are the betting odds for the 2019 U.S. Open: MORE : PGA Championship 2019: Bethpage wobble does little to deny Brooks Koepka's status as dominant major force | PGA Championship 2019: Dustin Johnson upbeat despite falling short | PGA Championship 2019: Brooks Koepka basks in major triumph Golfer Odds Brooks Koepka 5/1 Dustin Johnson 8/1 Tiger Woods 12/1 Rory McIlroy 14/1 Justin Rose 16/1 Justin Thomas 20/1 Ricky Fowler 20/1 Jon Rahm 20/1 Jason Day 20/1 Jordan Spieth 20/1 Xander Schauffele 25/1 Francesco Molinari 25/1 Tommy Fleetwood 25/1 Bryson DeChambeau 30/1 Patrick Cantlay 30/1 Phil Mickelson 30/1 Tony Finau 40/1 Odds are as of May 19, 2019. Related slideshow: Best of PGA Championship (Provided by imagn)


Alex Marquez says his Marc VDS Moto2 team has helped him rediscover his self-belief, after scoring back-to-back race wins at Le Mans and Mugello. Marquez, younger brother of five-time MotoGP champion Marc, ended a winless streak dating back to Motegi 2017 when he picked up his first win of the season last month at Le Mans. He followed that up with a second triumph last weekend at Mugello, where he finished a comfortable two seconds ahead of Luca Marini to score successive wins for the first time since his title-winning Moto3 campaign of 2014. It put him within two points of Luca Baldassarri, who was fourth in Italy, at the head of the standings. "It was one of those races that you had to be smart," reflected Marquez, speaking to DAZN . "I wanted to save the tyre and in Mugello if you go behind [another rider] you can take advantage very well and gain some tenths on the straight without opening up so much the throttle and damaging the tyres. "It's what I wanted, to control the race. I honestly did not think I could win with such a distance, there were four or five riders who were very close that could have won. "I had to do a race like that: wait, control and set the pace. In the end everything went perfectly and in large part it is thanks to the team." Marquez began his Moto2 campaign with a disappointing seventh in Qatar, and only scored one podium - with third in Argentina - prior to his Le Mans win. His Mugello triumph also came after a crash on Friday practice, and the Spaniard credited the work of his Marc VDS team for his recent turnaround. "They have made me change my mentality, they have made me believe in myself, this was very important," Marquez added. "We managed free practice better, which is where we work the most. "In Mugello, in FP2, we made a mistake for the whole team, but we knew how to turn it around and in qualifying we were very good, and that makes me believe in myself." Marquez's name has been mentioned in connection with a 2020 Pramac Ducati MotoGP ride , albeit only in the event that Jack Miller does not stay with the team. That appears unlikely now following Danilo Petrucci's Mugello win, prior to which Miller admitted he would be happy to remain with Pramac if he doesn't get a Ducati factory promotion. Additional reporting by German Garcia Casanova Race winner Alex Marquez, Marc VDS Racing Photo by: Gold and Goose / LAT Images


The Grizzlies and Suns have agreed to a trade that will send newly acquired Memphis sharpshooter Kyle Korver to Phoenix along with Jevon Carter , reports ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. The Grizzlies are trading Kyle Korver and Jevon Carter to the Suns for DeAnthony Melton, Josh Jackson 2020 second-round pick and 2021 conditional second-round pick, league sources tell ESPN.   Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 3, 2019 That 2021 Suns second-rounder will only change hands if it falls between 31-35, tweets Chris Herrington of The Daily Memphian. Brooklyn will receive it if it lands between 36-60. Because Korver is part of the Mike Conley trade with Utah that hasn't yet been completed, this deal can't be made official until after that one is finalized. Once both deals are done, the Grizzlies will pick up a former No. 4 overall pick (Jackson), as well as a second-rounder from last year's draft (Melton), along with at least one future second-round pick. In two NBA seasons, Jackson has been inconsistent for the Suns, averaging 12.3 PPG and 4.5 RPG but shooting just .415/.294/.650 in 156 total contests (25.3 MPG). He has also faced questions about his maturity and off-court behavior. However, he's still just 22 years old, so the Grizzlies will get the opportunity to see if they can continue to develop him and help him reach his ceiling. They'll also have to decide by the end of October whether to pick up $8.9M option for 2020-21   at this point, I'd be surprised if they do. Melton, the 46th overall pick in 2018's draft, is another intriguing roll of the dice for Memphis, one the team has long had its eye on, per Wojnarowski ( Twitter link ). The former USC Trojan is considered a strong defender and started 31 games for the Suns in his rookie season, averaging 5.0 PPG, 3.2 APG, 2.7 RPG and 1.4 SPG in 50 total contests. As for the Suns' side, the move looks like it's primarily designed to clear the cap room necessary to complete their other reported moves this week, including Ricky Rubio 's three-year, $51M deal. They'll also be able to retain Kelly Oubre 's cap hold and will presumably see if Carter can earn some minutes in their backcourt rotation. According to Wojnarowski ( via Twitter ), Korver is expected to be bought out by Phoenix before his $7.5M salary for 2019-20 becomes fully guaranteed. Korver's deal is only partially guaranteed for $3.44M as long as he doesn't remain under contract through July 7. If and when Korver clears waivers, the Lakers, Bucks and Sixers will be the front-runners to sign him, says Wojnarowski.


Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac's watchdog has a vision for ending U.S. control of the mortgage giants that hinges on the companies holding more capital. But that dream could run into a cold political reality of making home loans more expensive as President Donald Trump ramps up his re-election bid. Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Mark Calabria, who became Fannie and Freddie's regulator in April, has said the companies need to raise capital buffers to protect against the kinds of catastrophic losses they had during the 2008 financial crisis. He doesn't want to release Fannie and Freddie unless they have sufficient backstops to prevent another taxpayer bailout. "It was insufficient capital that triggered the conservatorship, and it's going to be sufficient capital that triggers an exit," Calabria, a Trump appointee, said last month at a mortgage banking conference in New York. He added that he wants Fannie and Freddie ready to start raising funds by January. To get there, Calabria has suggested the companies boost their capital levels to as much as 5% of assets, which would be a whopping $274 billion. For a cushion that high, mortgage finance experts say Fannie and Freddie would probably have to increase the fees they charge lenders to insure against borrower defaults. Those expenses would be passed along to home-buyers. Economic Impact A downside: mortgage costs could go up. Trump is heading into his re-election campaign with his approval stuck at less than 45% in almost every poll, and his chances for winning a second term may depend on the health of the economy next year. Any housing woes would add another potential impediment, along with his trade war with China and possible new tariffs on Mexico. "It's unnecessary and doesn't make any sense," said Mark Zandi, chief economist of Moody's Analytics, who believes that fees Fannie and Freddie charge are already at appropriate levels. "Higher mortgage rates will raise payments and reduce demand. Less demand will mean lower house-price growth." Figuring out a fix for Fannie and Freddie, something Trump has called a "pretty urgent" problem, is the main unresolved issue from the 2008 meltdown. The Treasury Department is near completion of a plan to return Fannie and Freddie to private ownership that could be released within weeks, said people familiar with the matter. The White House is reviewing a draft of the proposal, one of the people said. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin would have to sign-off on the plan before it's formally sent to the White House, and officials expect months to pass before any of it starts to be implemented. An FHFA spokeswoman said the agency is still reviewing what would be sufficient capital levels for Fannie and Freddie. A Treasury spokesman didn't respond to a request for comment. Taxpayer Rescue Fannie and Freddie don't lend themselves. They buy mortgages made by lenders and wrap them into securities that are sold to investors with guarantees against default. The two companies were seized by regulators more than a decade ago and sustained by $191.5 billion in taxpayer money. They have since returned to profitability and sent more to the Treasury in dividends than they received in bailout funds. Here's why capital impacts the fees that Fannie and Freddie charge lenders to backstop loans: The companies are expected by regulators and investors to earn money on their capital stockpiles. So if Fannie and Freddie have a combined $200 billion of capital and must make a 10% rate of return, then they would have to raise fees to a level that allows them to earn about $20 billion. While under U.S. control, Fannie and Freddie are each restricted to a capital buffer of $3 billion, far less than they'd need to get through an economic downturn. Instead of retaining profits to build up capital, the companies send almost all of their earnings to the Treasury, a practice Calabria says he wants to bring to an end. Fannie and Freddie's old capital requirements were suspended when they were seized by the government in 2008. New rules were proposed last year by then-FHFA director Mel Watt that would have had the two companies hold anywhere from $103.5 billion to $139.5 billion combined. Calabria is expected to issue a final plan later this year. Like Insurers Hedge fund manager Bill Ackman, whose firm is one of the largest holders of the companies' common stock, called the proposed higher capital levels unlikely and unnecessary on a recent earnings call. "These are not banks," said Ackman, who runs Pershing Square Capital Management. "They're really insurance companies, and they're insuring what we believe to be one of the safest assets in the world, which is the first mortgage on, kind of, middle-class homes to a credit-worthy borrower on a geographically diversified basis." Ackman said Fannie and Freddie will have all the capital they need at 2.5% of assets because of their "huge" cash flows. Trump and Treasury officials have publicly said they want to work with lawmakers on an overhaul of housing-finance policy, though some within the administration are skeptical they can reach a compromise with House Democrats, said one of the people, who like others asked not to be named in discussing internal deliberations. That might prompt the administration to bypass Congress in releasing Fannie and Freddie. Coming IPOs? The capital levels floated by Calabria could complicate such efforts. He told Fox Business Network last month that a $250 billion capital raise is "in the ballpark" of what he thinks is appropriate. While Calabria and administration officials have said they're evaluating an initial public offering, a stock sale of even a fraction of that value would easily be the largest in history. Regardless, Calabria has leverage because the White House and Treasury need his backing to execute any plan to end the conservatorships, said Brandon Barford, founder of Beacon Policy Advisors. "If they want to release them on a schedule that the administration would want, they're going to have to agree to what the director wants on capital," Barford said. --With assistance from Christopher Maloney and Saleha Mohsin.


With doors to the world's first vertical indoor amusement park and Asia's first indoor movie-themed attractions set to open this summer, Lionsgate Entertainment World divulged more details about the new interactive experiences based on popular film franchises like "The Hunger Games," "Divergent" and "Now You See Me" last week at the IAAPA Expo Asia in Shanghai. Film studio Lionsgate is getting ready to open its highly anticipated new theme park Lionsgate Entertainment World at Novotown Hengqin, a major tourism and entertainment development project on Hengqin island in Zhuhai near Hong Kong and Macau. Spanning 22,000 square meters, the indoor amusement park will feature 30 attractions, including rides that take guests into some of the fantastical worlds of the studio's biggest blockbusters. Aboard the "Hunger Games-Mockingjay Flight" riders are made part of the rebellion and fly over Panem in a 3D motion simulator. "Twilight" fans can race with Jacob and the Black Pack wolves on a VR dirt-bike adventure on "The Twilight Saga: Midnight Ride" that allows for interactions with friends and family. Thrillseekers can also time travel to Ancient Egypt aboard "Gods of Egypt: Battle for Eternity" on a high-speed VR roller coaster. "Now You See Me" and "Escape Plan" will also feature at the site, where guests will be engaged "through story-telling and cutting-edge technology" and will be able to "challenge themselves physically and mentally, and become the hero of their own stories," outlined Selena Magill, General Manager of Lionsgate Entertainment World. Lionsgate Entertainment World is set to open in China this summer. The studio is also poised to open a similar outdoor version of its movie-themed amusement park this summer in South Korea. Lionsgate Movie World at Jeju Shinhwa World, Korea will span 122,000 square meters on the resort island of Jeju.


WASHINGTON   Juan Soto figures he was probably 12 years old when he returned home one day, after completing three levels of English courses, and told his mom he was done. He didn't want to learn the new language anymore. He didn't need to learn it anymore. "She tells me if I want to be a baseball player, I have to learn," Soto recalled. "I said, 'No, I just have to play baseball.'" But as Soto kept just playing baseball, his perspective changed. The Washington Nationals signed him to a contract in 2015 and gave him a $1.5-million signing bonus. They shipped the then-16-year-old Dominican outfielder to their academy in Boca Chica, a complex about an hour east of his hometown of Santo Domingo and a few miles from the beach. He started to think of English not as a chore, but as another skill to be mastered on his way to the big leagues. "If you want to be a superstar," Soto told USA TODAY Sports, "you've got to be ready in every spot." Soto, now 20, has emerged as one of baseball's bright young stars over the past year   and one of the main reasons the Nationals felt comfortable letting Bryce Harper walk in free agency. But beyond his patience at the plate and ability to crush fastballs, he has most impressed teammates and staff with the dedication he's put into English   not just learning the language, but perfecting it. "He was first to graduate at the (Dominican) academy, speaking English," Nationals manager Dave Martinez told USA TODAY Sports. "He's very adamant about fitting in and being a part of this culture, as well as back at home." According to statistics provided by MLB , more than 25 percent of players on Opening Day rosters this season hailed from Spanish-speaking countries, including more than 100 players from the Dominican Republic alone. Some players prefer to stick to their native tongues. Others work to pick up conversational English, to better communicate with their teammates and fans. Few pick it up as quickly as Soto has. "It's tough, definitely. It's really tough," said Venezuelan-born pitcher Anibal Sanchez, who explained that he spoke zero English when he first joined the Boston Red Sox organization in 2001. "When I came to the U.S., as soon as I got out of the plane, they asked me where I was from. And the answer was my name. The guy started laughing at me, but it is what it is at that point." Sanchez said he's taken online classes with a private teacher even in recent years to improve his English. For Soto, the process really started when he signed with the team less than four years ago   though he admits he did have a slight head start, thanks to his mom. When he arrived in Boca Chica, the staff gave Soto a log-in for Rosetta Stone and required him, like other prospects at the academy, to study English for at least one hour a day, five days per week. Soto met that daily requirement   and then some. "Everybody goes to sleep and all this stuff, and I stayed awake and said 'oh, let's do some English,'" Soto said. "I started working. I (did) like two hours, one (more) hour every day. That's why I finished really fast." The following year, when Soto graduated to the Gulf Coast League   the lowest rung of the minors   he used it as an opportunity to pick up more real-world experience. He spoke with his American teammates often, and found a safe learning space at a nearby McDonald's, where employees didn't judge him for saying the incorrect word or phrase. If you think @Nationals OF Juan Soto is a fast learner on the baseball field, you should hear the story about how quickly he learned English. 🙌🏼 pic.twitter.com/yDejAmbfp9   Infield Chatter (@InfieldChatter) January 9, 2019 Soto became so articulate so quickly that by the time the Nationals called him up last spring, at 19, he was already able to conduct interviews in English. "I didn't even know we've got to talk with the media every day. So I was like… Wow," Soto said with a smile. "I was a little nervous, but every word I said, I was like 'Oh, I can do it in English.' So I started doing it in English since the first day." Octavio Martinez, the Nationals' translator, flanked Soto during interviews with reporters when he was called up. And he's still on hand now, in case Soto misses a word or doesn't understand a question. But Martinez said he's rarely needed. "I'm definitely very impressed   the fact that at such a young age, he's able to comprehend it so well," Martinez said. "I think the biggest thing is just his confidence, which shows on the field. He's so confident. It's the same thing with him talking to the media   he's confident in what he's going to say." Now, even two months into his second big-league season, Soto is the fourth-youngest player in the majors. He finished second in National League Rookie of the Year voting last season and has already racked up six home runs and 22 RBI this year, despite spending the past eight days on the injured list with back spasms. (He is eligible to return Saturday.) Soto said he's still working on his English every day, mostly by talking with teammates. The language has become important to him on the field, and even more so beyond it. He wants to be able to communicate with reporters in interviews, but also feel comfortable interacting with fans who might approach him at a restaurant and ask for an autograph. "You've got to be comfortable to talk with them, and they've got to be comfortable with you talking, to ask everything they want," Soto explained. "That's why (stars) are stars. They're good in every spot." Contact Tom Schad at tschad@usatoday.com or on Twitter @Tom_Schad . This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Nationals phenom Juan Soto thinks mastering English will help him become one of baseball's best Related slideshow: The 2019 MLB season (Provided by imagn)


The Hubble Space Telescope has identified soccer ball-shaped molecules amid the gas and dust that fills the space beyond our solar system and between other star systems. That space is known as the interstellar medium or ISM, and Hubble is exposing some of the mysterious electrically charged molecules within it. A recently published study in the Astrophysical Journal Letters explores the soccer ball molecules. When stars and planets form, they pull together material from clouds of gas and dust. This is why the interstellar medium is so important. "The diffuse ISM can be considered as the starting point for the chemical processes that ultimately give rise to planets and life," said Martin Cordiner, study author and research associate in the Catholic University of America's Department of Physics, in a statement. "So fully identifying its contents provides information on the ingredients available to create stars and planets." Cordiner is now at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, the agency said Tuesday. The soccer ball shape of the molecule is due to the arrangement of 60 carbon atoms in a hollow sphere, giving them the shorthand of C60. The molecules are a form of carbon called Buckminsterfullerene or Buckyballs. On Earth, these molecules can rarely be found in rocks and minerals or appear in soot created from high combustion. Although the molecules have been observed in space before, this observation marks the first time that electrically charged C60 has been seen in the interstellar medium. The electrical charge occurs when an electron is shorn off by UV light from stars, which creates a positive charge. "The diffuse ISM was historically considered too harsh and tenuous an environment for appreciable abundances of large molecules to occur," Cordiner said. "Prior to the detection of C60, the largest known molecules in space were only 12 atoms in size. Our confirmation of C60+ shows just how complex astrochemistry can get, even in the lowest density, most strongly ultraviolet-irradiated environments in the Galaxy." The interstellar medium is difficult to study because it's so far away, so astronomers have to study the way it affects light from distant stars to understand it. Some of the compounds that make up the interstellar medium block or absorb different wavelengths of starlight as it passes through this space. Those compounds have unique patterns that affect starlight, allowing astronomers to identify them as diffuse interstellar bands. Testing the many bands to match them up would take quite some time, but the research team was able to match C60. Hubble observations were matched with C60 data. This detection could help astronomers understand other compounds. Although most of this interstellar environment contains helium and hydrogen, two of the most plentiful elements in the universe, there are other unidentified compounds waiting to be discovered. Life as we know it is carbon-based, and now carbon has been shown to form and survive in the harsh and exposed interstellar medium. "In some ways, life can be thought of as the ultimate in chemical complexity," Cordiner said. "The presence of C60 unequivocally demonstrates a high level of chemical complexity intrinsic to space environments, and points toward a strong likelihood for other extremely complex, carbon-bearing molecules arising spontaneously in space." Cordiner said that the researchers will continue searching to see where else they can locate the molecules in the universe. At the moment, their observations seem to point to a widespread presence in our galaxy, the Milky Way.


The Brewers announced Tuesday that they have released infielder Brett Lawrie . He had been attempting to work back towards the majors on a minor-league deal after a long layoff. Lawrie, who's still just 29 years of age, hasn't appeared in the majors since 2016 owing to a variety of leg ailments. When he landed with the Milwaukee organization , the idea was to build him back up physically before setting him loose on the ballfield to see what was left in the tank. Though his contract contemplated up to $7M in earnings, it did not include substantial guarantees. It isn't clear exactly what went wrong. Lawrie evidently did not advance to a point that he was ready for game action, as he was never sent out on assignment with a Brewers affiliate.


Curious just how far your dollar goes in Detroit? We've rounded up the latest rental listings via rental site Zumper to get a sense of what to expect when it comes to hunting down an apartment in Detroit with a budget of $700/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. 18711 Schoolcraft, #9 First, there's this one-bedroom, one-bathroom residence over at 18711 Schoolcraft, #9. It's listed for $700/month for its 450 square feet of space. Pet owners, take heed: furry friends are not allowed on this property. The rental doesn't require a leasing fee. A security deposit equivalent to one month's rent is required. Per Walk Score ratings, this location isn't very walkable, isn't particularly bikeable and has some transit options. (See the complete listing here .) 9932 Lawton St., #8 Here's a one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment at 9932 Lawton St., #8 that's going for $675/month. In the unit, you'll get hardwood floors, in-unit laundry and a balcony. Feline companions are welcome. Future tenants needn't worry about a leasing fee. According to Walk Score's assessment, this location is somewhat walkable, has some bike infrastructure and has some transit options. (Check out the complete listing here .) 709 Hazelwood St. Listed at $650/month, this 500-square-foot studio is located at 709 Hazelwood St. In the unit, expect to find granite countertops and a mix of carpeted and hardwood floors. Amenities offered in the building include on-site laundry, assigned parking and on-site management. Good news for animal lovers: both dogs and cats are permitted here. Look out for a $55 application fee. Per Walk Score ratings, the surrounding area is friendly for those on foot, has some bike infrastructure and has some transit options. (Take a look at the complete listing here .) 22320 W. Seven Mile Road (Berg-Lasher) Located at 22320 W. Seven Mile Road, here's an 800-square-foot one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment that's listed for $650/month. In the unit, you can anticipate air conditioning, in-unit laundry and a mix of hardwood and carpeted flooring. Cats and dogs are not welcome. Secured entry and assigned parking are listed as building amenities. Future tenants needn't worry about a leasing fee. According to Walk Score, the area around this address isn't very walkable, is relatively bikeable and has a few 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.


Although several drivers entered this week's eNASCAR Heat Pro League race in desperate need to clinch a playoff berth, it was familiar faces winning the races. In the Xbox One division event, SHGSlick14x was in front of a multi-car accident that took away his biggest challenger for the win in Sam Morris (MorDog5) who spun in the incident while running second. The Stewart-Haas driver was able to go on and pick his first race win of the season. The victory by SHGSlick14x - along with SHG_HotRod_14p already scoring a pair of wins in the PlayStation 4 division - makes Stewart-Haas Gaming the second team to have both drivers win so far this year. GoFas Gaming was the first team to do it this season. The voice of Stewart-Haas Gaming Jake Morris was ecstatic after seeing one of his driver's pick up a win for the second week in a row. "I think we found a little magic (tonight)," said Morris. "We set some incentives up for these guys to go out there and win and we got it done." Team Penske Esports driver Brian Tedeschi (ShellVPower22) made it through the accident to finish second with Roush Fenway Gaming's Nick Walker (wowTHATSgarbage) once again putting on a show coming from the rear of the field to finish third. RCR Esports driver Jordan McGraw (TheJMacAttack34) finished fourth for his first top-five showing of the season with Germain Gaming's Jacob Kerr (JacobKerr13) completing the top five. Results XBox Photo by: NASCAR / 704 Games In the PlayStation 4 division event Wood Brothers Gaming driver Slade Gravitt (sladeg84) scored his first win since taking the season opener at Charlotte in May. The Georgia teenager was able to make the pass with two laps by JRMotorsports driver Jason Keffer (JRM_Keffer7) and hold on for the victory. "One my, unbelievable to have two wins," said Gravitt. "Two wins with a lot on the line. I want to thank everyone at Wood Brothers and (sponsor) Spin for this opportunity. "I couldn't be happier. I don't know if this was better than Charlotte (win) but it's awesome." Gravitt, the youngest driver in the field who has just started his senior year of high school, said strategy helped position him to get the win. "Corey Rothgeb (Pennzoil2) and I were saving gas us to had a plan and made an alignment this week. We worked together and it really worked out when (Keffer) and the (TJ McGowan/Voltage20_) caught on with our plan and went with us." Rothgeb finished second with McGowan, Keffer and SHG_HotRod_14p rounding out the top five. By recording a pair of runner-up finishes by Tedeschi and Rothgeb, Team Penske Esports picked up their second event win of the season. Results PS4 Photo by: NASCAR / 704 Games After losing the lead in the overall standings last week, Team Penske eSports moved back into the top spot to lead Roush Fenway Gaming by nine points (498-489) with one race remaining in the regular season. Stewart-Haas Gaming is third with JR Motorsports and Leavine Family Racing rounding out the top five. Standings Photo by: NASCAR / 704 Games The regular season finale will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 21st at Daytona International Speedway. The pre-race show will kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET. For more information on the eNASCAR Heat Pro League, please visit eNASCARHeat.com and you can also follow the league on the following social media platforms: Facebook Twitter Instagram


The late Al Davis is credited with coining the phrase "just win, baby," but a current NFL quarterback may be borrowing it as his motto for the 2019 season. Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins discussed his place in the NFL landscape on Wednesday and he noted that his standing would look different if his teams posted better records. Washington and Minnesota are a combined 32-30-2 over his four full years as a starter and Cousins believes that needs to change for him to be seen in a more positive light. "I think [getting to] the next level really is all about winning," Cousins said, via Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press . "I'm pretty much a .500 quarterback in my career so far and I don't think that's where you want to be and that's not why you are brought in or people are excited about you." Cousins said the narrative will be that he went to the next level if the team does well even if he doesn't post " gaudy statistics ." The need to win games can't be disputed, although doing it in spite of Cousins' play seems like an unlikely way for the Vikings to get back to the postseason.


15-year-old Cori Gauff defeated five-time champion Venus Williams in straight sets Monday during the first round of Wimbledon, 6-4, 6-4. 15-YEAR-OLD COCO GAUFF JUST DEFEATED VENUS WILLIAMS pic.twitter.com/6jXN29mp1n   espnW (@espnW) July 1, 2019 10 Things to know about Cori Gauff: 1. The American teenager, who goes by "CoCo," was born on March 13, 2004. She wasn't even alive when Venus won her first two Wimbledon titles. Youngest Player in History to Qualify for #Wimbledon . 15 year old, Cori Gauff #AgainstAllOdds pic.twitter.com/VdD1FUPv8y   Nalu (@worldofnalu) July 1, 2019 2. She's the youngest player to qualify for Wimbledon in the Open Era. 15-year-old Cori Gauff: Took a high school science exam on Wednesday. Beat Venus Williams at Wimbledon on Monday. pic.twitter.com/nZ8AaL4EUl   ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) July 1, 2019 3. Gauff grew up idolizing Venus and Serena Williams and told BBC Sport Serena is "the reason why I play tennis." She also said she's "been dreaming to share the court with Venus" in a pre-match interview. "They're the reason I wanted to pick up a tennis racket" After coming through Qualifying, @CocoGauff now has the chance to face one of her idols... #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/20iqy8zYgj   Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) June 28, 2019 4. She started playing tennis at the age of seven. WIMBLEDON 2019 RESULTS: Live tennis scores, full draw, bracket at All England Club 5. She grew up in Atlanta, but currently lives in Delray Beach, Florida. 6. Gauff's parents were both Division I athletes. Her father played basketball at Georgia State and her mother was a track and field athlete at Florida State. 7. She has two main sponsors: New Balance and Italian food company Barilla, which is also a sponsor of Roger Federer. Cori Gauff - 15 years, 3 months, 19 days Venus Williams - 39 years, 0 months, 4 days One of the biggest results in #Wimbledon history as the youngest ever player to qualify for the tournament Cori Gauff defeats legend Venus Williams, who is more than double her age pic.twitter.com/qgk7mbXMn5   SuperSport ⚽ (@SuperSportTV) July 1, 2019 8. She is 5-feet 9-inches tall. 9. Her highest world ranking (299) came last month. She is currently ranked 313. 10. Gauff made her professional debut in May 2018 as a qualifier into the $25K event at Osprey, where she won her first professional match.


Members of BirthStrike, a UK-based group, are refusing to have children, because of the threats posed by climate change.


Ricardo Lamas ' Chicago homecoming this past Saturday didn't go the way he planned it thanks to Calvin Kattar. Tuesday, he said the first-round knockout loss landed him in the hospital - where he's been since after the fight due to a jaw fractured in three places. Kattar (20-3 MMA, 4-1 UFC) knocked out Lamas (19-8 MMA, 10-6 UFC) with 54 seconds left in the first round at UFC 238 at United Center in Chicago in a fight that opened the ESPN-broadcast prelims. Lamas grew up in and still lives in the city's suburbs. Lamas posted on Instagram that he had surgery Monday to put titanium plates in his jaw. He did not give a timeline for his return, other than to say he and his wife are expecting their third child this summer. He also managed to find a moment to insert some good-natured humor about his plight. "Update: I suffered 3 fractures in my jaw during the fight," Lamas posted. "Been in the hospital since & had surgery yesterday. Titanium plates were installed. I asked the doctor to install laser guns in my mouth that I could activate with my tongue and shoot through my teeth but he said that was impossible. I'd like to thank everyone who reached out with kind messages. I'd like to thank my family, my beautiful wife, who without I wouldn't be able to live my dream, my parents & brothers who have supported m e from day one & all my extended family for their support as well as my sponsors. For my beloved city of Chicago, I'm sorry I let you down again, but I wanted to thank you all for the cheers you gave me during my introduction, it gave me chills and I will never forget it, Chicago truly has the best fans. For now, it's quality time with my family & baby #3 coming early August which puts in perspective what's really important in Life." Lamas challenged then-champion Jose Aldo for the featherweight title at UFC 169 a little more than five years ago after moving to the division when the UFC brought the WEC into the fold. He won his first four fights to get a title shot, but lost a decision to Aldo. The 37-year-old won five of his next seven fights, only losing to current champion Max Holloway and two-time title challenger Chad Mendes. But it's been a rough stretch for him of late. Lamas was upset by Josh Emmett with a first-round knockout in December 2017. Six months later, also in Chicago, he lost a split decision to Mirsad Bektic at UFC 225 in front of his home fans. He bounced back in November 2018 with a third-round TKO of fellow Chicago-area veteran fighter Darren Elkins before losing to Kattar with a vicious two-punch KO. Lamas splits his training time between the MMA Masters team in Miami and the UFC Gym franchise he owns in Naperville, Ill., west of Chicago. He told MMA Junkie during UFC 238 fight week that owning the gym was the next natural phase of his career to go with fighting and coaching. For complete coverage of UFC 238 , visit the UFC Events section of the site. MORE: Players on both teams were upset with Raptors fans for cheering Kevin Durant's injury Watch as jury convicts former NFL player Kellen Winslow Jr. of raping homeless woman Roundup: New York City Helicopter Crash; Kylie Jenner's Birthday Party; Gulf of Mexico 'Dead Zone' 2 things to look for during the Raiders mandatory mini-camp News: Do Cowboys have best group of QBs across the entire league?


Another game in a few hours.. literally It took two days to complete, but the Dodgers picked up the 7-2 win over the Phillies . After a two hour and 37 minute rain delay, the two teams played past 1 a.m. in a matchup that lasted over six hours. Prior to the nearly three hour delay, the Dodgers jumped on top. LA worked three straight walks against Nick Pivetta to load the bases in the first. A.J. Pollock flied out, bringing in a run to give his team the lead. It was in the top of the third when the game went into the rain delay. They resumed play right around 10:35 p.m. ET. With the delay being so long, Kenta Maeda 's day was done. He threw two scoreless innings, striking out three and walking two. Since Maeda exited early, the game would be turned over to the bullpen. The newest Dodger, Casey Sadler , got the ball first. He collected two outs before turning the ball over to Julio Urias. In 2 2 ⁄ 3 innings he allowed a run, though it was unearned, while striking out three. As a reliever this season, Urias has an ERA of 1.62. He did it with the bat as well, as he had an RBI single in the sixth inning. Both teams were tied entering the seventh. Max Muncy led off the inning with a single, and was followed with a two-rum homer off the bat of David Freese . Cloudy with a chance of Freesing rain. pic.twitter.com/NG7HmtNBrq   Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 18, 2019 . @alannarizzo caught up with David Freese to discuss his tie-breaking HR after a long rain delay tonight in Philadelphia. #Dodgers pic.twitter.com/NQu2M50j0T   SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) July 18, 2019 Justin Turner would follow with the same an inning later, as he hit a two-run homer as well, giving the Dodgers the 6-2 cushion. JTurned on one. pic.twitter.com/0k1WjWg9OC   Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 18, 2019 Pedro Baez , Joe Kelly and Dylan Floro all threw at least an inning of scoreless relief to help secure the Dodgers victory. Wednesday particulars WP: Pedro Baez (4-2) 1 2 ⁄ 3 IP, 0 ER, 2 SO LP: Juan Nicasio (1-3) 1 IP, 2 ER Home runs: David Freese (9) Justin Turner (12) Box score Up next The Dodgers will look for the series win on Thursday morning. The game will be EXCLUSIVELY on Youtube. In order to watch, go to the MLB Youtube page and click on the game to watch.


Curious just how far your dollar goes in Midtown? According to Walk Score, this Atlanta neighborhood is quite walkable and offers many nearby public transportation options. Data from rental site Zumper shows that the median rent for a one bedroom in Midtown is currently hovering around $1,700. So, what might you expect to find if you've got a budget of $1,400/month? Read on for a roundup of the latest rental listings, via Zumper and Apartment Guide . (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. 131 Ponce De Leon Ave. NE Here's a 604-square-foot studio apartment at 131 Ponce De Leon Ave. NE that's going for $1,327/month. The building features assigned parking, a fitness center and a swimming pool. When it comes to pets, both meows and barks are welcome. The rental doesn't require a leasing fee. (Take a look at the full listing here .) 741 Ponce De Leon Court NE Next, check out this 842-square-foot one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment that's located at 741 Ponce De Leon Court NE. It's listed for $1,350/month. In the unit, which comes furnished, you can expect a balcony, in-unit laundry and hardwood flooring. Animals are not welcome. (See the complete listing here .) 855 W. Peachtree St. NW Located at 855 W. Peachtree St. NW, here's a 420-square-foot studio apartment that's listed for $1,369/month. Expect to see a balcony, in-unit laundry, high ceilings and a walk-in closet in the unit. When it comes to pets, both meows and barks are allowed. There isn't a leasing fee associated with this rental. (Take a gander at the complete listing here .) 1280 W. Peachtree St. NW Listed at $1,400/month, this 645-square-foot one-bedroom, one-bathroom condo is located at 1280 W. Peachtree St. NW. Building amenities include garage parking, a fitness center and a swimming pool. Cats and dogs are not welcome. There isn't a leasing fee associated with this rental. (Take a look at the complete listing here .) This story was created automatically using local real estate data from Zumper and Apartment Guide , then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


Chip Ganassi Racing teammates Kurt Busch and Kyle Larson led the way in Friday's first NASCAR Cup Series practice at Dover (Del.) International Speedway. Busch's average lap speed of 168.445 mph set a blistering pace for the 50-minute session, which saw 23 drivers post speeds faster than the track's qualifying record. Brad Keselowski set the record in 2014 with an average lap speed of 164.444 mph. Larson ended up second (168.106 mph) and Kevin Harvick was third (167.950 mph). William Byron and Ryan Blaney completed the top-five. "Good job boys," Busch said over his team radio after posting the fast lap. "It feels like it's fast   the most downforce, the most power on the smallest track we go to with it," Busch said in a later interview. "We've got to back it up later in qualifying." Rounding out the top-10 are Alex Bowman, Denny Hamlin, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chase Elliott and Jimmie Johnson. All four Hendrick Motorsports drivers posted fast speeds in the top-10. Four drivers had to sit out the final 15 minutes of Friday's practice   Ross Chastain, Chris Buescher and Cody Ware for being late into inspection last weekend and Kurt Busch for having multiple inspection failures last weekend. Cla#Driver ManufacturerLapsTimeGapIntervalMph 1 1 Kurt Busch Chevrolet 11 21.372 168.445 2 42 Kyle Larson Chevrolet 11 21.415 0.043 0.043 168.106 3 4 Kevin Harvick Ford 9 21.435 0.063 0.020 167.950 4 24 William Byron Chevrolet 11 21.474 0.102 0.039 167.645 5 12 Ryan Blaney Ford 11 21.474 0.102 0.000 167.645 6 88 Alex Bowman Chevrolet 11 21.491 0.119 0.017 167.512 7 11 Denny Hamlin Toyota 14 21.493 0.121 0.002 167.496 8 17 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Ford 9 21.535 0.163 0.042 167.170 9 9 Chase Elliott Chevrolet 11 21.536 0.164 0.001 167.162 10 48 Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet 10 21.548 0.176 0.012 167.069 11 18 Kyle Busch Toyota 11 21.571 0.199 0.023 166.891 12 10 Aric Almirola Ford 10 21.601 0.229 0.030 166.659 13 20 Erik Jones Toyota 11 21.606 0.234 0.005 166.620 14 14 Clint Bowyer Ford 11 21.615 0.243 0.009 166.551 15 41 Daniel Suarez Ford 11 21.618 0.246 0.003 166.528 16 95 Matt DiBenedetto Toyota 14 21.622 0.250 0.004 166.497 17 19 Martin Truex Jr. Toyota 14 21.645 0.273 0.023 166.320 18 43 Darrell Wallace Jr. Chevrolet 15 21.670 0.298 0.025 166.128 19 22 Joey Logano Ford 13 21.693 0.321 0.023 165.952 20 3 Austin Dillon Chevrolet 13 21.702 0.330 0.009 165.883 21 8 Daniel Hemric Chevrolet 15 21.737 0.365 0.035 165.616 22 6 Ryan Newman Ford 15 21.750 0.378 0.013 165.517 23 2 Brad Keselowski Ford 10 21.764 0.392 0.014 165.411 24 37 Chris Buescher Chevrolet 16 21.917 0.545 0.153 164.256 25 38 David Ragan Ford 11 21.917 0.545 0.000 164.256 26 13 Ty Dillon Chevrolet 19 22.023 0.651 0.106 163.465 27 21 Paul Menard Ford 12 22.036 0.664 0.013 163.369 28 32 Corey Lajoie Ford 15 22.054 0.682 0.018 163.236 29 00 Landon Cassill Chevrolet 15 22.056 0.684 0.002 163.221 30 36 Matt Tifft Ford 28 22.075 0.703 0.019 163.080 31 47 Ryan Preece Chevrolet 29 22.089 0.717 0.014 162.977 32 34 Michael McDowell Ford 19 22.139 0.767 0.050 162.609 33 52 B.J. McLeod Chevrolet 3 22.935 1.563 0.796 156.965 34 15 Ross Chastain Chevrolet 10 23.013 1.641 0.078 156.433 35 77 Quin Houff Chevrolet 24 23.569 2.197 0.556 152.743 36 51 Cody Ware Ford 15 23.638 2.266 0.069 152.297 37 27 Reed Sorenson Chevrolet 13 24.002 2.630 0.364 149.988


Identify the symptoms of autoimmune disease so you can fight back. 10 Ways Your Body May Be Attacking Itself Inside your veins right now, there's an army of white blood cells seeking and destroying viruses and bacteria consider them the Armed Forces in your arm… and leg, and heart, and brain. They keep you healthy in winter. They fight against cancer. They are your friend and ally until they aren't. Because sometimes, this army can turn against you. Sometimes, these antibodies  instead of fighting bacteria sneakily and skillfully attack your body, using all their know-how to destroy you from within. There's a name for this: autoimmune disease, and it can affect nearly every organ in the human body the nervous, endocrine, and gastrointestinal systems, along with connective tissue, skin, blood, and blood vessels. Multiple sclerosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Alopecia are just a few autoimmune diseases, and they can be hard to pinpoint. Most patients see an average of four doctors over three years before receiving a correct diagnosis, according to American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association . Yet it's not uncommon: Kim Kardashian West has it, Selena Gomez has it and more than 50 million Americans (of whom more than 75% of them are women!) live with it often undiagnosed for years. To discover more about the many forms of autoimmune disease, don't miss this special report from The Remedy allowing you to identify the symptoms fast, so you can fight back. 1. Multiple Sclerosis Even famous people can be misdiagnosed when it comes to multiple sclerosis or MS that's what happened to Selma Blair, who had symptoms for years before finally being given a diagnosis in August of 2018. So what is MS? It's a rare and potentially disabling disease of the brain and nervous system that affects mostly women of Northern European descent. Most people with MS are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50, with at least two to three times more women than men getting it, according to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society . Like many autoimmune diseases, signs and symptoms of MS vary widely depending on the amount of nerve damage and which nerves are affected, and often include problems with vision, balance, muscle control, and other bodily functions. While those severe MS may lose the ability to walk independently or at all, others may have milder symptoms, or experience long periods of remission without any new issues. The Remedy Rx: Many who have MS are able to live long and happy lives, with the proper support. Early warning signs to watch out for include tingling and numbness, pains and spasms, balance problems, dizziness and bladder issues. 2. Rheumatoid Arthritis Rheumatoid arthritis, or RA, affects more than 1.3 million Americans and more than 75% of RA patients are women, according to the American College of Rheumatology . While the disease most often strikes between the ages of 30 and 50, it can start at any age. RA is characterized by joint pain, stiffness, and inflammation usually at its worst in the morning. The hands, wrists, and feet are most commonly affected and those with RA describe tender, warm, swollen joints that can sometimes appear red when inflamed. While this is primarily a joint disease, rheumatoid arthritis can also affect your organs, such as your lungs, skin, eyes, and heart. The Remedy Rx: Advancements in physiotherapy and medication have helped make this disease more manageable. Pay particular attention to symmetry: it's common for those affected by RA to experience symptoms in the same joints on both sides of the body. 3. Lupus Known as the disease of a thousand faces, due to its complex nature, lupus is a serious disease most often diagnosed in young women between the ages of 15 and 44. According to the Lupus Foundation of America , this disease is often called "the great imitator" because its symptoms are often the same as those of rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, Lyme disease, diabetes, and several heart, lung, muscle, and bone diseases. Symptoms include inflammation, swelling, and damage to skin, joints, kidneys, blood, heart, and lungs and 16,000 new cases are reported each year in the United States. Diagnosing lupus can be very challenging. Here's why: there isn't a single definitive test that can give doctors a clear "yes" or "no" answer. And sometimes, it can take months and often years before a diagnosis is made. The Remedy Rx: The most distinctive sign of lupus a facial rash that resembles the wings of a butterfly unfolding across the bridge of the nose and both cheeks occurs in many, but not all, cases of lupus. If you see this pattern, call your doctor. 4. Psoriasis Dry, cracked skin that sometimes bleeds? Red scaly patches that itch? Thick pitted or ridged nails? Itching, burning, soreness? Psoriasis may be the culprit a common skin condition that causes cells to build up rapidly on the surface of the skin, which forms itchy scales and red patches that can be painful. Psoriasis is a chronic condition that comes and goes. There's no cure but symptoms can be managed, particularly with lifestyle changes like managing stress and yes moisturizing, a lot. But one of the first known therapies according to the JAMA Dermatology , found in an ancient Egyptian medical text dating to circa 1550 BC known as the Ebers papyrus is almost certainly the strangest… A concoction of sea salt, onions, and wait for it urine. Good thing that we've made some progress towards less pungent treatments since 1550 BC! The Remedy Rx: While there's no cure for psoriasis, symptoms can be managed, particularly with lifestyle changes like managing stress, quitting smoking and moisturizing. And there are other remedies that can calm the inflammation and irritation, like turmeric or fish oil. 5. Graves' Disease Sometimes things get hyper, which is exactly what happens with Graves  disease, an autoimmune disorder that causes hyperthyroidism or overactive thyroid. With Graves  your immune system attacks your thyroid gland, causing it to produce more thyroid hormone than you need. Your thyroid is a little, butterfly-shaped gland located in the front of your neck the hormones it produces control quite a number of different body processes, and symptoms can be wide-ranging, including bulging eyes, enlargement of the thyroid gland (also known as a goiter), weight loss despite normal eating, heart palpitations, fine tremors in fingers or hands, an increase in perspiration or warm, clammy skin, frequent bowel movements and more. Graves  disease is seven to eight times more common in women than in men according to the NIH   typically affecting people between the ages of 30 to 50, though it can develop at any age. Serious problems with the heart, muscles, bones and for women, with infertility and irregular menstrual cycles if Graves  (and hyperthyroidism in general) is left untreated. The Remedy Rx: There are a number of treatments available for Graves  disease. Most are aimed at inhibiting the overproduction of thyroid hormones while others focus on symptom reduction. 6. Hashimoto's Thyroiditis Hashimoto's thyroiditis can be a stealthy disease. You may not notice symptoms at first, as it typically progresses quite slowly over a number of years, causing chronic thyroid damage that leads to a drop in overall thyroid levels in your blood. According to the American Thyroid Association , Hashimoto's disease is the leading cause of hypothyroidism underactive thyroid in the United States. In fact it's the most common thyroid disorder, affecting 14 million people in the United States alone! Here's what happens with Hashimoto's disease: your immune system mistakenly attacks your thyroid gland, which is part of your hormone or endocrine system. And when your thyroid comes under attack from malfunctioning immune cells, it impairs the ability to produce thyroid hormone, which helps regulate many of your bodily functions. When this happens many internal systems can go awry. Classic symptoms include fatigue or a sense of sluggishness, unexplained weight gain, joint pain and stiffness, brittle nails, hair loss, constipation, increased sensitivity to cold, among others. And just in case you were wondering, Hashimoto's thyroiditis is named after the Japanese surgeon who discovered it in 1912. The Remedy Rx: Treatment is very effective for Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Depending on levels of thyroid hormone in the blood, doctors may simply observe. For those with overt hypothyroidism, synthetic levothyroxine taken orally works very well. Getting the right dose may take some finessing, our advice: find a doctor with whom you'd want to collaborate. 7. Type 1 Diabetes Your body breaks down carbohydrates into glucose, which it uses for energy. With type 1 diabetes, your body produces little or no insulin, the hormone needed to move glucose (or blood sugar) from the bloodstream into the cells of your body to produce energy. Type 1 diabetes doesn't discriminate. It can occur at any age, in people of all races, shapes, and sizes. According to the NIH, type 1 diabetes accounts for about 10% of all cases of diabetes occurring most frequently among people of European descent, affecting 2 million people in North America and Europe. There is a remarkable geographic variance in incidence of type 1 according to the NIH , a child in Finland is about 400 times more likely than a child in Venezuela to acquire the disease. Pretty astonishing, right? Researchers do not know exactly what causes type 1 diabetes but believe that a combination of genetic and environmental factors are to blame. The Remedy Rx: The good news is that type 1 diabetes can be successfully treated via insulin therapy and other treatments, allowing those with the condition to live long, healthy lives. Regular exercise and a healthy diet are key to living well with type 1  here are some inspiring recipes for those with this condition . 8. Vitiligo Vitiligo is a skin disorder in which pigment-free patches of skin appear on the body. It occurs when melanocytes the cells responsible for skin pigment are destroyed. While the cause of vitiligo is unknown, scientists believe it may be an autoimmune disease, where the body's immune system attacks the pigment-producing cells. Winnie Harlow is the first model with vitiligo to ever walk in the vaunted Victoria's Secret fashion show. Living with a skin disorder like vitiligo can be difficult, but Harlow has shown that it does not need to hold you back from living your best life. The Remedy Rx: Vitamin B12, folic acid, and sun exposure may be a viable treatment for vitiligo, according to the results of a two-year study done at University Hospital in Sweden. Researchers found that more than half of the study participants experienced repigmentation when on a cocktail of vitamin B12, folic acid, and sun exposure. And in 64% of those in study, the spread of vitiligo was halted! Living with a skin disorder like vitiligo can be difficult, but Harlow has shown that it does not need to hold you back from living your best life. 9. Alopecia Experiencing hair loss on your scalp or face? It may be due to alopecia areata, a common autoimmune disease affecting as many as 6.8 million Americans alone, according to the National Alopecia Foundation . With this disorder, the body's immune system attacks healthy hair follicles, causing them to become smaller to the point that they drastically slow down production to where hair growth stops. Alopecia does not discriminate affecting males and females of all ages and ethnicities. Scientists believe that both nature and nurture are at play when it comes to this disease. In fact, identical twins, who share all the same genes, only have a 55% of both developing alopecia highlighting the interplay between genetic predisposition and environmental factors. The Remedy Rx: Struggling with a recent diagnosis of alopecia areata? Please know that you're not alone. Becoming part of a community can really help, find a local support group meeting at naaf.org . 10. Celiac Disease Someone in your immediate family (parent, child, sibling) have celiac disease? There's a 1 in 10 chance of your developing it according to the Celiac Disease Foundation . A serious autoimmune disease, the hallmark of celiac disease is the inability to process gluten normally. When a person with celiac consumes gluten a protein found in wheat, rye, barley their body mounts an immune response that attacks the small intestine. Repeated attacks lead to damage of the small fingerlike projections that line the small intestine, known as villi, which are crucial for proper nutrient absorption. Celiac disease can be tricky to diagnose as it affects people differently. In fact, some who have the disorder have no symptoms at all, despite testing positive for the disease. One thing is certain though if left untreated, celiac disease can lead to serious health problems. Today, there is only one treatment for celiac disease: a lifelong adherence to a strict gluten-free diet. This means no bread, pasta, pancakes, beer, and some other food items like soy sauce. The Remedy Rx: The trick here is to make your gluten-free life as scrumptious as possible. Here is an amazing recipe resource so that you've always got delicious on speed dial.


All it takes for a diet to blow up is a few celebrities to start buzzing about it. That's exactly what happened with the F-Factor diet after Megyn Kelly, Katie Couric, and Olivia Culpo raved about it. The diet first started getting buzz back in 2006 after dietitian and F-Factor founder Tanya Zuckerbrot published the book, The F-Factor Diet: Discover the Secret to Permanent Weight Loss . Since then, plenty of people have jumped onto the F-Factor train. Maybe you've heard of it, maybe you haven't. If you're at all fuzzy on the details, we've got answers to your questions: What's this all about again? And how does the whole thing actually work? Here's everything you need to know. What is the F-Factor diet? The diet is based on four principles that sound pretty great: Eat carbs, dine out, drink alcohol, work out less. Of course, it's a little more nuanced than that. The diet specifically focuses on combining lean proteins with high-fiber carbohydrates that are low in calories and keep you feeling full. The diet was founded by registered dietitian Tanya Zuckerbrot, who has been in private practice in NYC for more than 20 years. Video: Crazy Kitchens: Celebrity dietician Tanya Zuckerbrot shares her favorite diet tips and tricks (TODAY) How does it work? The "F" in F-Factor stands for "fiber," and the diet is big on that. It recommends that women have at least 35 grams of fiber a day and that men have 38 or more grams of the stuff daily. Fiber is a non-digestible carbohydrate, and "one of the most important dietary components associated with good health," says Sonya Angelone, RD, a spokeswoman for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. "For over 40 years, research studies have consistently shown that dietary fiber is associated with healthier cholesterol and blood sugar levels, is associated with less constipation and better bowel function, less colon cancer, and helps with weight management," Angelone says. Fiber also helps fill you up and stay satisfied, so eating plenty of it can help reduce hunger pangs many people experience on other diets, says New York-based registered dietitian Jessica Cording . Meals include things like chicken cacciatore, zucchini parmesan waffles, and creamy mushroom asparagus risotto. Is it healthy? It definitely has the potential to be healthy if you approach it right. "This diet is most likely healthy if whole minimally processed foods are chosen," she says. "The benefit comes from eating whole foods." Cording agrees. Because the diet isn't restrictive, it makes it more likely that people will stick with it. "Many people find it appealing that they can still enjoy carbohydrates and alcohol," she says. Why can it help me lose weight? "Because this diet combines lean proteins with fiber   two nutrients that help you stay full   eating this way can help stave off those feelings of hunger that tend to creep up when someone is on a weight loss diet," Cording says. And, on a mental level, following a diet that emphasizes adding more fiber instead of restricting what you eat "can help avoid putting forbidden foods on a pedestal that leads to fixation on those foods," she says. High fiber foods also tend to be pretty healthy, and filling up on healthy foods can lead to weight loss. "High fiber foods are usually vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and legumes," Angelone points out. "Foods with fiber are plants (since fiber gives plants structure) and have fewer calories per volume that fats and proteins." What can I eat? There are a few different ways you can approach the diet. Plenty of people buy Zuckerbrot's book and take it from there. There are lots of recipes on the F-Factor Diet's website that you can use for inspiration, and Pinterest is packed with them, too. Zuckerbrot also sells things on her website like F-Factor protein powder and protein bars, if you want to kick things up a notch. And, if you're willing to shell out a little more money, you can make an appointment with Zuckerbrot or one of her fellow F-Factor dietitians to get one-on-one coaching. Do dietitians have any concerns about this? Since the F-Factor diet is a high fiber diet, Cording just recommends stepping up your fiber intake gradually "to avoid digestive discomfort like gas, bloating, and abdominal discomfort." It's also a good idea to drink lots of water to keep things moving through your GI tract, she says. The diet also doesn't address portion and appetite control. "Some people are overweight because they eat even when full," Angelone says. "They may not have hunger hormones that regulate appetite properly, they may eat mindlessly, and they may eat for emotional reasons. Just eating more fiber, which fills the stomach a bit more, may not be the answer for everyone's weight issues." Gallery: 50+ delicious dessert recipes that won't derail your diet


Want to hit up the newest restaurant and retail additions to Houston? From a an ice cream parlor to a seafood spot, read on for a list of the newest destinations to land around town. Flower & Cream A newcomer to Braeswood Place, Flower & Cream is an ice cream and frozen yogurt spot, offering macarons and doughnuts that's located at 2617 W. Holcombe Blvd., Suite B. So far, it's been well-received: it's got a five-star rating out of 10 reviews on Yelp. The artisan ice cream shop offers 11 flavors at the moment and all the mix-ins are made in-house, according to Eater.com . Guests can also choose from a variety of different cone options. Look for the Nutella banana, the honey rose and the roasted strawberry ice cream, as well as the matcha cone. Beard Papa's New to 9393 Bellaire Blvd., Suite G, in Sharpstown is Beard Papa's , a bakery, offering desserts and more. This franchise has locations across the country. The bakery serves up cream puffs in a variety of shell and custard flavors, fondant and ice cream shakes. On the menu, look for the chocolate eclair puff, the dulce de leche puff and the caramel cream puff. (Check out the full menu here .) Mico's Hot Chicken Head over to 3803 San Jacinto St. in Midtown and you'll find Mico's Hot Chicken , a chicken shop, food truck and Southern spot. And with five stars out of 14 reviews on Yelp, it's been a hit thus far. The truck has three items on the menu: Halal chicken tenders, The Sammich (brioche bun with coleslaw, pickles, and Mico's signature sauce) as well as Animal fries (waffle fries topped with melted cheese, Mico's signature sauce, chopped chicken and chives). (Find the menu here .) Magnol French Baking Now open at 1500 N. Post Oak Road, Suite 160. in Spring Branch East is Magnol French Baking , a bakery. The newcomer offers organic French bread and pastries. The menu includes baguettes, pecan-cranberry bread, hamburger buns, boules and pain de mie in various sizes. This story was created automatically using local business data, then reviewed and augmented by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


This has been an up-and-down season for the Rockies, who began 3-12, climbed all the way to 40-34 and have since nosedived to 46-50. The multiple rotten stretches the Rockies have stumbled through this year may prevent them from earning a third straight playoff berth, but for now, they're a still-manageable 3 1/2 games out of wild-card position in the jam-packed National League. However, that doesn't seem to be much of much solace to general manager Jeff Bridich, who admitted to Thomas Harding of MLB.com that the Rockies are playing "really bad baseball." Bridich added that the Rockies' horrid performance over the past several weeks could complicate matters leading up to the July 31 trade deadline. "It all needs addressing," Bridich said of his roster, though he doesn't see "any quick fixes" and suggested he's not gearing up to purchase outside help right now. While Harding notes Bridich bought at the previous two deadlines, which helped the team get to the postseason in each case, the GM was frank in saying this year "feels different" compared to those seasons. "Just watch us play," Bridich said. "We get a good outing from our starter, and we'll find a way to lose that game through offense or the bullpen or defense. We'll get a lot of offense one game and our bullpen will come blow it or defense will blow it, or combine. There's a different way each night, it seems. When that's your reality in all parts of your team, it's a tough go to fix all that in one small time period of the year." Problems are indeed prevalent for the Rockies. Despite having to pitch half its season at Coors Field, Colorado's staff was legitimately effective last year. Among their starters, Kyle Freeland finished fourth in NL Cy Young voting, German Marquez was a strikeout machine, and Tyler Anderson , Jon Gray and Antonio Senzatela offered fine complementary performances. This year, with the exception of Gray, everyone from that group has taken noticeable steps back. Meanwhile, the Rockies' bullpen has felt the absence of Adam Ottavino , who signed with the Yankees in the offseason, and fellow veterans Wade Davis and Seunghwan Oh (whose season is now over because of an elbow injury) have been dreadful. The bullpen's lone bright spot over a large sample of work has been Scott Oberg , who has posted a 1.35 ERA/3.06 FIP in 46 2/3 frames. As Bridich suggested, the Rockies' position player group has also fallen flat. Despite the presences of Nolan Arenado , Trevor Story , Charlie Blackmon and David Dahl , the unit's the fifth worst in the league by fWAR (5.2). Colorado has scored the majors' fourth-most runs (527), but according to park-adjusted metric wRC+ (85), only five offenses have been worse. In the field, the club has been run-of-the-mill at best in errors (15th), Defensive Runs Saved (20th) and Ultimate Zone Rating (22nd). Thanks to the Rockies' team-wide issues, they may be more inclined to sell or stand pat than buy in the next two weeks. The trouble is, if the team wants to ship players out, it doesn't seem to have a lot of realistic trade chips. Oh, catcher Chris Iannetta and infielder Mark Reynolds are the Rockies' only impending free agents, but there's little to no trade value in any of those cases. While the Rockies would likely jump at the chance to get any of the big contracts of Davis, Ian Desmond , Jake McGee and Bryan Shaw off their books, that's not happening. Daniel Murphy has been hot of late, though he's a soon-to-be 35-year-old with almost $18M in guaranteed money left on his contract through 2020. On the other hand, Story   who has two years of arbitration eligibility left after this one   would bring back a haul in a trade. But it's almost impossible to imagine the Rockies dealing the 26-year-old this summer, especially considering they'd like to extend him . Gray and Oberg, who also come with arbitration control through 2021, would be easier to give up than Story. However, it would take a "truly special" return for the team to trade either of those right-handers, according to Harding.


Suzuki MotoGP rider Joan Mir will remain in hospital overnight following his high-speed test crash during Monday's post-Czech Grand Prix test. , who ended the Brno test seventh-fastest , fell entering Turn 1 with less than an hour to go at a speed of almost 300km/h, hitting the airfence. The 2017 Moto3 champion was firstly evaluated by circuit doctors, who diagnosed him with a pulmonary contusion, before being transferred by helicopter to Brno University Hospital for further examination. There it was confirmed that Mir had escaped serious injury, but he is set to remain under observation for a further 24 to 48 hours before heading to Austria to try and take part in this weekend's Red Bull Ring race. "The crash was a scary one, but finally it looks like everything is more or less OK," said Mir. "I had some pain and struggled to breathe initially, but then the situation got better and better and I received excellent assistance and support from the medics at the track. "It will take a couple of days to recover, I need to take it easy and take my time, but at the moment I feel relieved that everything is OK, and I hope I will be 100 percent ready to race in Austria in just a few days." Mir currently lies 13th in the standings with a best finish of sixth at Barcelona, and is second in the rookies' classification behind , who topped Monday's test. Joan Mir, Team Suzuki MotoGP Photo by: Gold and Goose / LAT Images


Our food editor wants to change the way you cook corn.


Paris Saint-Germain released a statement on Monday and quelled any speculation that the French club has any intention of selling Kylian Mbappe during the 2019 summer transfer window. "Strong links have united Paris Saint-Germain and Kylian Mbappe for two years and the story will continue next season," a translated version of PSG's statement said. pic.twitter.com/5ishYraDnW   Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_inside) May 20, 2019 On Sunday, Mbappe hinted at potentially playing elsewhere while accepting an award for being named Ligue 1's Best Player and Best Young Player of the Year. He called earning the honor a "turning point" in his career and then advocated for "having more responsibilities, maybe at PSG, maybe elsewhere." Mbappe, 20, helped PSG capture its second straight Ligue 1 title this season. He tallied 32 goals and seven assists in 28 league contests. The dominant campaign came on the back of helping France win the 2018 World Cup. Mbappe scored four goals en route to helping the French team win its first tournament since 1984.


Here's how #MUFC line up for today's #ICC2019 clash... #MUTOUR 🏴   Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 3, 2019