1 Beware these ways you can lose Social Security benefits Social Security is a financial lifeline for older Americans, but the benefits can be modest even when you use strategies to get the largest amount you possibly can . Much depends on when you were born, when you retire, and many other factors. Though $2,861 a month is this year's max for someone leaving the workforce at normal retirement age, you could find yourself collecting far less. Watch out for these 10 ways the choices you make can lead to reduced or lost benefits. 1. If you claim benefits too early What Social Security calls normal or full retirement age is somewhere between 66 and 67, depending on the year you were born. At that age, you can claim everything you've got coming to you based on your work record. But you can file for benefits starting as soon as age 62. Many seniors do file early because of job loss or health problems, but doing so dramatically reduces benefits. If your full retirement age is 67 but you file at 62, your monthly benefit will be reduced by 30% . The reduction is permanent unless you withdraw your claim within a year and pay back any early benefits you received. 2. If you earn too much after taking benefits early If you take benefits early and keep working, your income might further reduce the amount you can get. Limits on earnings are adjusted each year to reflect national wage trends. In 2019, the cap is $17,640. For every $2 you earn over that, you lose $1 in benefits. During the year you turn your full retirement age, the cap rises to $46,920. One dollar is withheld for every $3 earned above the threshold. After you reach full retirement, there's no limit to how much you can earn. Nothing will be deducted from your benefits. 3. If you take a spousal benefit too soon Spousal benefits can be a good deal for couples with lopsided incomes, or if one spouse never worked. The lower-earning partner can receive up to 50% of the monthly benefit that the high earner has coming at full retirement. But to receive the maximum spousal benefit, you have to wait until your own full retirement age. If you claim a spousal benefit early   say at 62   you may receive as little as 32.5% of your better half's benefit. The only time this scenario makes sense is when the higher earner decides not to take Social Security until age 70, to collect the ultra-largest benefit. During that wait, the other partner's early spousal benefit can bring some Social Security money into the household. 4. If your identity is stolen Social Security numbers have become a bigger target for hackers than credit card numbers, according to Javelin Research . Numerous attempts have been made at breaching the Social Security website, and 58,000 allegations of fraud were logged over three recent years. Identity thieves pose as real beneficiaries and attempt to claim their Social Security money. If a victim delays filing for benefits, the theft might go undiscovered for years. Protect yourself by creating a mySocialSecurity account at SSA.gov. Check it regularly for suspicious activity. You can hold the account long before you're ready to claim benefits. 5. If you fall victim to other scammers Fake phone calls supposedly from the Social Security Administration have skyrocketed. From March 2018 to March 2019, more than 76,000 people reported Social Security phone scams that cost them $19 million, the Federal Trade Commission says. Fraudsters may call and ask for personal information under the guise of updating your account or reporting suspicious activity. Some may demand money for "unfreezing" your account. Social Security workers typically don't operate that way, so hang up. Call the agency at 1-800-772-1213 (NOT at the number you see on your caller ID) to find out if someone legitimately contacted you. And, report any fake calls to the Office of the Inspector General. 6. If your income triggers taxes on your benefits You can lose benefits to taxes, depending on how much you earn in retirement. If your income is more than $25,000 as an individual or more than $32,000 as a married couple filing jointly, you'll owe federal taxes on a portion of your benefits. The portion could be 50% or 85% based on your income level. "Income" in this case is defined as the sum of your adjusted gross income, your nontaxable interest and half of your annual Social Security. Thirteen states apply taxes to Social Security benefits, too. 7. If you owe student loans, back taxes or alimony Debt can be a heavy burden at any age, but it's especially punishing in retirement. The first $750 of your monthly Social Security will always be safe, but what's called an offset could reduce additional amounts. An offset occurs when a legitimate claim is filed against your benefits to pay off a debt. Offsets usually stem from back taxes, unpaid alimony or child support, and defaulted student loans. Student loan debt is growing quickly among older people   it rose 4.5% in the last year for people in their 60s, reports the credit bureau Experian. 8. If your income raises your Medicare premiums Medicare Part B premiums are deducted from the benefits paid to most people on Social Security. Even when premiums rise sharply, most beneficiaries never see a reduction in their Social Security check, under what's called the "hold harmless" rule. But the rule doesn't apply to a very small percentage of seniors whose higher incomes require them to pay greater Medicare Part B premiums . Those costs can eat into Social Security benefits, particularly whenever your income rises and crosses a threshold where an increase in Medicare premiums kicks in. 9. If Social Security undergoes changes Social Security has long-standing financial woes. In fact, it's paying out more money than it collects in payroll taxes. Congress has tossed around several ideas, including whether to raise the full retirement age, maybe to 69 or even 70. Under such a scenario, retirees would receive less than they currently do if they choose to take Social Security at 62 or another early age. If full retirement were raised to 69, benefits claimed at age 62 would be reduced by 40%, according to Urban Institute calculations reported by Reuters . 10. If you receive a pension Benefits can be reduced for retired government workers, teachers, railroad workers and employees of foreign companies. It typically happens if you collect a pension and if your employer didn't pay into the Social Security system. The program's complex " windfall elimination provision " can cut your Social Security by up to 50%, but the impact depends on your work history. Something called the government pension offset can be even tougher if you're taking a spousal or survivors benefit. There are exceptions, so you may not be affected at all. You'll want to talk to your pension administrator and a financial adviser with Social Security experience to find out where you stand. Subscribe now to our free weekly newsletter. Don't miss out.


CHARLOTTE, NC   Animal control officials are urging pet owners to verify their animals have up-to-date rabies vaccinations after a rabid raccoon came in contact with two pet dogs in southeast Charlotte this week. The incident marks the fifth animal to test positive for rabies in Mecklenburg County this year, they say. According to a statement issued by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Animal Care and Control, the rabid raccoon entered a yard in the Mint Hill area June 11, where it was attacked by two pet dogs. Both dogs were current on their rabies vaccinations and received a booster within 96 hours of exposure. SEE ALSO: Huntersville Family's Car Attacked By 'Rabid' Coyote ACC said the incident is a reminder that pet owners need to keep rabies vaccinations up-to-date, and that by state law, all dogs, cats and ferrets must be vaccinated by four months of age. Animal Care and Control offers free rabies vaccinations once a month at the animal shelter located at 8315 Byrum Drive in Charlotte on the second Saturday of each month. The clinic hours are 8 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.


Amit Shah and Aditya Madiraju wanted a traditional Desi wedding to celebrate their union in New Jersey, but the same-sex couple hadn't a clue how much attention their beautiful wedding photos would garner. "We had absolutely no idea our photos would go viral. In fact, we are still shocked now when news articles are written every day about us," Shah   owner and creative director of AATMA Performing Arts, an L.A. and New York-based dance company   told Gay Star News after the couple's wedding on July 18. "I think most of the attention is coming due to the photos being so raw," he added. The stunning images were taken by Charmi Pena, who shot the wedding, and Paulo Salud, who covered the henna and cocktail parties. "Both photographers know our aesthetic and the intimate vibe we were going for," said Shah. "We wanted the photographs to capture real moments, and they did exactly that." RELATED: She Could Be the First Drag Queen Elected to Congress: 'People Can't Ignore You,' Says Maebe A. Girl Shah said that their wedding was also major step for the South Asian LGBTQ community, as it took place in a Hindu temple. "The fact that the ceremony took place at a temple under religious observation is a huge thing for our community," he told the Gay Star News . "I guess it is unheard of, and we didn't realize the impact it would have." RELATED: Man Offers 'Free Dad Hugs' at Pride Parade and Says the Positive Response Is 'Humbling' But 'Sad' Shah and Madiraju met in 2016, when they hit it off at a mutual friend's birthday party. Two years later, they tied the knot at City Hall in New York in January 2018. The couple wanted to have a traditional celebration surrounded by their closest friends and family members, as Madiraju told Pink News that their families had been supportive of the relationship from the start. "Both our families have been supportive from day one," Madiraju, who works at a wealth management bank, told the outlet. They decided to have a colorful Desi, or South Asian, celebration, complete with traditional kurtas, a Mehdni party and the traditional religious ceremonies. RELATED: Meet the Woman Who Volunteers as a 'Stand-In' Mom at Same-Sex Weddings: It's a 'Complete Joy' The couple styled themselves, as they both love fashion, and wore pieces from Anita Dongre, "a huge designer in India who has dressed the biggest stars around the world," said Shah. "We were honored to wear pieces from her new collection," he added. They wore kurtas from Bohame, a sustainable brand in India, for the Mehendi party, and later rocked custom looks created by Shah's company, Andaz Design, for the cocktail reception. The newlyweds said the outpouring of support has been incredible. "The response had been so overwhelming and we are honored to share our story with the world," Shah told Gay Star News . "It seems like people need to hear our story to feel empowered and we are excited to provide people with some inspiration."


Authorities are searching for a missing Colorado woman who vanished during a visit to California. Police said Jennifer Michelle Lorber, 30, disappeared after arriving in Los Angeles from Colorado on Thursday. Officers said they found her rental car near the Pacific Coast Highway around 1 a.m. Sunday, but there was no sign of her. Witnesses said they saw her at a motel not far from where the car was found. Her family said she suffers from depression and last had contact with her around 11 p.m. Thursday. "Lorber suffers from depression and her family is concerned for her wellbeing," the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said in a statement. "Any information please contact the sheriff's Homicide Bureau, Missing Person Detail." The department described Lorber as 5 feet, 1 inch tall, about 100 pounds, with long brown hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Missing Persons Unit at 323-890-5500.


🏴 CYMRU. TOGETHER. STRONGER 🏴 #CROWAL #TheRedWall #YWalGoch pic.twitter.com/1x4RAQouHo   Wales 🏴 (@Cymru) June 8, 2019


We heard earlier today that the Texans won't be extending Jadeveon Clowney . The two sides aren't going to reach a deal before the July 15th deadline, and Clowney will play the 2019 season under the franchise tag. After firing Brian Gaine and failing in their attempt to hire Nick Caserio away from the Patriots, the Texans were left without a general manager. It's been unclear who is running things in the front office, although now we have a little more clarity that it's head coach Bill O'Brien. Gaine and O'Brien "disagreed on whether to make a long-term commitment to" Clowney, a source told Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com . There was a report right after Gaine was fired that his handling of the Clowney situation was partially responsible for his termination, but that suggested that Gaine was fired for not making progress on an extension. Now it seems like the opposite is true, and that it was Gaine who wanted to extend him all along. Word leaking out that a head coach opposes a contract extension for a current player is sure to make things awkward in the locker room, and makes it more likely that this is Clowney's last season with Houston. The Texans are widely expected to make another run at Caserio once his contract expires following the 2020 draft, but they'll need to make a decision on Clowney before then when free agency opens in March. O'Brien is likely to still be running the show then, and he clearly is hesitant to commit to Clowney for the future. The first overall pick back in 2014, Clowney has blossomed into a great player, but the Texans don't want to break the bank for him. A Pro Bowler each of the last three seasons, Clowney is likely looking to reset the market for pass rushers yet again, and he had been staying away from the Texans' offseason activities while he held out for a new deal. The report from earlier today indicated he might miss a solid chunk of training camp but that he's expected to show up in time for the regular season.


At first glance, the 2019 Lincoln Nautilus looks like a completely new vehicle. In reality, it's a midcycle update of the second-generation MKX that launched in 2015. To its credit, the 2019 Nautilus represents one of the more substantial facelifts we've seen recently, with new exterior styling, drivetrain enhancements and feature-set revisions. The end result is a luxury crossover that's worth your attention. Related Video: 2019 Lincoln Nautilus: A classier new name for a classier crossover (Provided by Roadshow) The Lincoln look While some midcycle updates are nothing more than barely noticeable nips and tucks, the Nautilus' overhaul is drastic, especially up front. Gone is the busy, split-wing grille of the old MKX , replaced by a single-frame chrome design that ties the Nautilus to its other Lincoln stablemates. This reasonably sized grille is in stark contrast to what BMW is doing with its steroid-infused kidney grilles or Lexus ' can't-miss spindle mugs -- we wish more automakers would adopt this less-is-more ethos. Research the Lincoln Nautilus on MSN Autos Complemented by new wheel designs and a reworked front fascia, the result is a Nautilus that isn't wildly emotional or over-the-top in appearance, but a clean, classy crossover. It's quite attractive, especially in my test car's shade of chroma elite copper paint. Different as the exterior is, the Nautilus' cabin hasn't received the same overhaul. But that isn't necessarily a bad thing. There are generous amounts of head- and legroom for both front and rear passengers, and there's a sizable 37.2 cubic feet of cargo space in the trunk area, which grows to 68.8 with the backs eats down. Soft, leather-wrapped surfaces in a two-tone brown and white color scheme look and feel premium, while new-for-2019 acoustic side glass and more sound insulation keep everything hushed inside. 2019 Lincoln Nautilus: A new name and a new face The cabin's big change is the addition of a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. A center stack with nice-sized and clearly marked knobs and buttons to control audio and climate remains, though this is the one area where the Lincoln is starting to look dated. Tried-and-true tech Spearheading infotainment in the Nautilus is Ford's venerable Sync 3 interface that gets Lincoln-specific background colors, housed in an 8-inch touchscreen. Sync 3 definitely isn't as visually impressive to look at as systems from Audi and Mercedes-Benz, but it's intuitively laid out and is responsive enough to commands. The onboard navigation system calculates routes in short order and the 19-speaker Revel Ultima audio setup in my range-topping Black Label tester offers clear, crisp sound. Other tricks up Sync's sleeve include a 4G Wi-Fi hotspot and integration for Amazon Alexa and Waze. Both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also standard for folks who prefer to turn infotainment responsibilities to their smartphones . The Nautilus' power point game is strong as well, with people in front having access to a wireless charge pad, two USB ports and two 12-volt sockets. Kids in the backseat shouldn't have any issues with dead phones or tablets , either, with a three-prong plug and 12-volt outlet within easy reach on the back of the center console. No matter the trim level, every Nautilus comes standard with the Lincoln Co-Pilot360 group of safety technologies. That includes forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, and automatic high beams. On the Black Label , the list is beefed up with an excellent adaptive cruise control system, lane-centering tech, parking sensors and active park assist. A 360-degree camera is also here, though image resolution isn't great and frankly disappointing to see in a luxury vehicle. Comfortable, but not perfect On the performance front, the Nautilus gets a new 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder base engine with 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. My tester, however, has the bigger and badder 2.7-liter twin-turbocharged V6, churning out 335 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque. Both powerplants work with a new eight-speed automatic transmission. With the more powerful engine and all-wheel drive, the Nautilus is estimated to return 19 miles per gallon in the city and 26 mpg on the highway. In Sport mode, there's noticeable power lag under initial acceleration, but the engine really wakes up above 2,000 rpm. However, the transmission could use some work. Shifts aren't always consistently swift in this sportier setting. Putting the Nautilus into its Normal mode smooths out gearbox behavior a bit, but there's still some noticeable wonkiness to this eight-speed unit. Sport mode also stiffens the adaptive dampers and adds some weight to the steering, resulting in fairly sharp reflexes for a 4,305-pound luxury crossover. Turn-in is quick and there's respectable grip to be had from the 265/40 R21 Continental CrossContact LX Sport tires. However, there's still some body roll, and not much steering feel. Anyone looking for someone more engaging from behind the wheel will want to look at the Audi Q5 or BMW X3 instead. On the other hand, if it's a comfortable ride you're after, definitely check out the Lincoln. The Nautilus is at its best in Comfort mode, delivering a cushy ride while cruising around town -- enhanced by the massage function of my tester's Ultra Comfort front seats. Yes, even on this honkin' 21-inch wheel-and-tire package, the suspension gobbles up impacts remarkable well. You'll just have to be OK with the occasional audible thud being transmitted into the cabin. Pretty and plush With its base, four-cylinder engine and front-wheel drive, the 2019 Lincoln Nautilus starts at $41,335, including $995 for destination. My Black Label model comes in at a lofty $69,380, but in addition to its $8,995 worth of options, offers ownership perks like service pickup and re-delivery, anytime car washes, concierge services and an annual full car detail. My ideal Nautilus is the $49,870 Reserve model, which includes the adaptive suspension system and 20-inch wheels. It's a heavy car, so tacking on $2,070 for the turbo V6 is something I'll do, as is adding $2,495 for all-wheel drive because winter in the Midwest can get rough. Important features like blind-spot monitoring and a 13-speaker Revel sound system are already included, making any tech-related add-ons unnecessary. The only other thing I will spring for are the $1,500 Ultra Comfort front seats because the massage function is pretty great. That brings my Lincoln price tag to $55,935 -- a far more reasonable ask than the car pictured here. With a handsome new face, quiet and feature-rich cabin and smooth ride character, the updated 2019 MK-- er, Nautilus solidifies its spot as a serious player in the midsize luxury crossover segment. The Lexus RX is its toughest competitor, but offers a duller drive and less appealing styling. If you value cushiness above all, the Nautilus might just be for you. Research the Lincoln Nautilus on MSN Autos This was originally published on Roadshow.


Interested in finding out about the newest businesses to open in Los Angeles? From a Japanese restaurant to an Italian spot, read on for a list of the newest spots to arrive around town. OTOTO Wander over to 1360 Allison Ave. in Echo Park and you'll find OTOTO , a new sake bar and Japanese spot with five stars out of four reviews on Yelp. The menu features traditional and original sakes, shochu and Japanese craft beers, as well as "drinking snacks," such as Japanese fried chicken, beef tartare and Japanese cabbage pancakes. Coffee Dose Coffee Dose is a spot to score coffee, tea and more that recently opened its doors at 8101 Melrose Ave. in Melrose and has garnered 4.5 stars from five Yelp reviews. Located in the Bandier store, the coffee shop serves up CBD-infused lattes, as well as drinks with MCT oil and Vital Proteins collagen. The Dragon and Meeple New to 3742 S. Flower St. in Exposition Park is The Dragon and Meeple , a spot to score burgers, sandwiches, poutine and more with five stars out of 24 reviews on Yelp. The board game cafe offers craft beer and pub food. On the menu , look for the Downfall burger with cheese and fried jalapeños on an everything bun. The Little Friend Stop by 822 Washington Blvd. in Venice and you'll find The Little Friend , a cocktail bar with 4.5 stars from three Yelp reviews. The bar serves up "craft cocktails and lots of fun," as stated on the business' Facebook page . The handcrafted cocktail menu includes The Enforcer, with Hennessy, cassis, lime and ginger, and The Passion, with mezcal, housemade hibiscus liqueur, passionfruit and lemon. CinqueTerre WEST Osteria A new addition to Pacific Palisades, CinqueTerre WEST Osteria is an Italian spot, offering pizza and more, that's located at 970 Monument St., Suite 110. So far, it's been a popular addition, with Yelpers awarding it five stars out of ten reviews. The family-run Italian restaurant serves regional cuisine from the coastal region of Liguria and features housemade pastas and handmade pizza dough. On the menu , look for tomato and basil tagliatelle and the Margherita pizza. 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.


A 46-year-old man has received a lifetime ban on hunting, fishing, and trapping in Colorado and the other 48 states in the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact after an investigation revealed his involvement in numerous wildlife crimes. Jeff Bodnar, 46, of Hartsel, Colo. was arrested for 22 crimes stemming from an investigation by Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW). Bodnar pleaded guilty on May 7 to possession of a weapon by a previous offender   a class 6 felony, and unlawful possession of two black bears and a mountain lion. He was fined $4,593.50 and sentenced to 10 days in jail, which has been suspended pending successful completion of probation. CPW's Wildlife Commission approved the lifetime suspension against Bodnar at its June meeting. Under it, Bodnar would face fines ranging between $1,000-10,000 and up to 90 days in jail if he is detected in any hunting, fishing or trapping activity in the future. Before his latest conviction, CPW said Bodnar's hunting, fishing and trapping privileges had already been suspended twice previously. "Mr. Bodnar appears to possess a complete disregard for Colorado's hunting laws and a total indifference for wildlife," wildlife officer Ian Petkash said. "We take these investigations seriously because of the toll someone like this can take on local wildlife populations." In 2008, according to CPW, Bodnar was convicted of a federal felony for attempting to sell illegally taken bobcats across state lines. He was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison. In the most recent case, CPW received a report that Bodnar had resumed hunting and trapping while under a suspension. Wildlife officers then initiated a multi-year investigation that resulted in his arrest. "The illegal exploitation of wildlife will not be tolerated and we will continue to aggressively investigate wildlife crimes in this state," Petkash said. "It is important to note that these type of actions are those of a poacher, not a hunter, and it is good to bring somebody like this to justice." SUGGESTED VIDEOS | Local stories from 9NEWS


The Brazilian Grand Prix will move next year to a new purpose-built circuit in Rio de Janeiro that could be named after Ayrton Senna, the country's president revealed on Wednesday. Amid uncertainty over the long-term future of the current event at Interlagos in Sao Paulo , Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro said that a switch of venues would happen in 2020 when the event moves to Rio. At a press conference, he announced that a deal had been signed with Rio's governor Wilson Witzel and mayor Marcelo Crivella for the construction of a new track in the western Deodoro district. The plan is for the circuit's construction to be finished before the end of this year, and it will be financed entirely with private money. Speaking to reporters, the president said: "The management of F1 has decided to maintain a grand prix in Brazil, but Sao Paulo has become impractical because of the event's public financial support and the debt that exists over there. "The new racetrack will be built in six or seven months. The hotel sector will be happy, the state economy as well since it will be six or seven thousands jobs generation. It is good for both Rio de Janeiro and Brazil." Após nossa vitória nas eleições, a Fórmula 1, que iria embora do Brasil, decidiu não só permanecer, mas também construir um novo autódromo no RJ, que terá o nome do ídolo Ayrton Senna. Com isso, milhares de empregos serão criados, beneficiando a economia e a população do estado.   Jair M. Bolsonaro (@jairbolsonaro) May 8, 2019 In a tweet, the president stated: "After our victory in the elections, Formula 1, which would leave Brazil, decided not only to remain, but also to build a new race track in RJ [City of Rio de Janeiro], which will have the name of the idol Ayrton Senna. With this, thousands of jobs will be created, benefiting the economy and the population of the state." The former home of the Brazilian Grand Prix in Rio, the Jacarepagua circuit, was demolished as it gave way to the Olympic Park in 2016. The new Deodoro circuit will be built on land that has been given up by the army and is set to be designed by Hermann Tilke. It is also targeting a MotoGP event as well. Liberty has a strained relationship with the city of Sao Paulo and the race promoters. The event is the least lucrative flyaway race in terms of the fee paid to the F1 organisation, but Sao Paulo insists that it has a contract with F1 until 2020 to keep the race at Interlagos. Additional reporting by Gustavo Faldon


England midfielder Jill Scott has praised Lionesses captain Steph Houghton in the wake of her missed penalty during Tuesday night's Women's World Cup semi-final defeat against the USA. After USA goals from Christen Press and Alex Morgan either side of an Ellen White strike for England, and a disallowed offside goal, a late spot kick awarded following a VAR review handed Houghton the chance to equalise and potentially force the contest to extra-time. Unfortunately for the England skipper, Alyssa Naeher in the American goal was equal to the low struck effort and preserved the U.S. lead, which ultimately proved decisive. White, who has explained why she wasn't the one taking the penalty , stated afterwards that there is 'no blame' in this England team, with Scott insisting that the Lionesses wouldn't have even made it to the last four without Houghton leading them. "[Steph] leads this team so well and when moments like that happen come along it probably goes on your captain, and rightly so, she's a fantastic penalty taker," Scott told 90min's Ben Haines. "But that's sport, there's high and lows. You can't have a career that's just constant highs. Ellen White you've been magnificent! @FIFAWWC owes a lot to her & the specs. Love everything about the way she played, how clinical she's been, how she's been one of us fans on the pitch & how fabulous she has been with the media off it. @ellsbells89 pic.twitter.com/35dEzlPNdL   Ben Haines (@benhainess) July 2, 2019 "She's been fantastic. We wouldn't even be in this semi final without her and, for me, she just keeps getting better and better with age. It's a moment that I'm sure will hurt, but I don't think we'd be here without her so she can hold her head high." Reflecting on England's tournament as a whole, Scott, at the fourth World Cup of her fine career, is proud of what the team has achieved, even if it fell slightly short of their target. "Once the emotion has gone out of it, I think we can be very proud that three tournaments in a row we've taken this team to a semi final and I don't think many can say they've done that," she said. "We're athletes and we'll pick ourselves up, we'll train hard and we know there's a medal up for grabs on Saturday," Scott added, referring to the upcoming third/fourth place playoff in Nice. "We can guarantee to the people at home we'll be giving our all for that game and we'll be coming back with something because it's been a fantastic journey and I'm just gutted that we couldn't end it on a high."


William Byron rolled to the Busch Pole Award for the second straight week in Saturday qualifying, earning the No. 1 starting spot for Sunday's Pocono 400 (2 p.m. ET, FS1, MRN, SiriusXM). Byron navigated the 2.5-mile, three-cornered track to a fast lap of 173.494 mph in the Hendrick Motorsports No. 24 Chevrolet. The pole position was his third of the season, his first at Pocono and the third of his Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series career. RELATED: Starting lineup | Pocono schedule Byron also started first in last weekend's Coca-Cola 600. He'll be making the 50th start of his Monster Energy Series career on Sunday. Kyle Busch's Joe Gibbs Racing No. 18 Toyota will flank Byron on Sunday's front row after claiming the No. 2 starting spot with a lap of 172.629 mph. Clint Bowyer qualified third with Erik Jones fourth to make up the second row for Sunday's starting grid. Brad Keselowski rounded out the top five in qualifying. JJ Yeley had the lone incident of the session with a spin off Turn 2 in the Rick Ware Racing No. 52 Chevrolet. Yeley's car barely scrubbed the outside wall, but he was able to drive back to pit road without significant damage. Defending race winner Martin Truex Jr. earned the 20th starting spot with the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 19 Toyota. He'll be going for his second straight Monster Energy Series victory, on the heels of his win last weekend in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte. To expedite the qualifying process, NASCAR officials sent out cars for their qualifying runs in groups of three, with each car spaced at 15-second intervals. Teams were informed that any perceived attempt to use an aerodynamic draft in the format could result in their qualifying lap being disallowed. Sunday's 400-miler is the 14th of 36 points-paying races for the Monster Energy Series. The event kicks off the second half of the series' regular season. This story will be updated. ]]>


It's almost as if falling mortgage rates are becoming hum-drum, at least for homebuyers. Total mortgage application volume increased 1.3% last week from the previous week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association's seasonally adjusted index. Volume was 40% higher than a year ago, largely because lower mortgage rates are strengthening the refinance market. Rates have fallen in three of the last four weeks and are now at the lowest level since September 2017. The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances ($484,350 or less) decreased to 4.06% from 4.14%, with points decreasing to 0.35 from 0.38 (including the origination fee) for loans with a 20% down payment. That is 78 basis points lower than a year earlier. "Markets last week reacted to a more dovish FOMC statement and forecast, with Treasury yields falling after the meeting," said Joel Kan, MBA's associate vice president of economic and industry forecasting. "Mortgage rates dropped again for most loan types, which led to an increase in refinance activity, partly driven by a 9% jump in VA applications." The drop spurred more refinance activity, with those applications rising 3% for the week and a striking 92% annually. As home values continue to rise, more borrowers become eligible to refinance, and so each drop in rates brings out more business for lenders. Mortgage applications to purchase a home, however, fell 1% for the week but were 9% higher than a year earlier. Buyers are less sensitive to weekly rate moves. Existing home sales did move slightly higher in May from April, as rates fell, but they were still lower than a year ago. Buyers continue to face high prices and low supply of affordable homes. "Now at almost the halfway mark of 2019, we have generally seen a stronger purchase market than last year, despite still-tight existing inventory and insufficient new construction," Kan said. Sales of newly built homes fell unexpectedly sharply in May, despite lower mortgage rates. Affordability appeared to be the culprit, although some blamed the drop in weaker consumer sentiment in the overall economy.


Aston Villa have agreed a £15m deal with Manchester City for the signing of Brazilian midfielder Douglas Luiz. Luiz joined City from Vasco de Gama for around £10.8m back in 2017, but was unable to obtain a work permit to play in England. Therefore, he has thus never actually played for his parent club, instead joining sister outfit FC Girona on a two-year loan. In those two seasons in Spain he has made 46 appearances across competitions, making quite a name for himself. Pep Guardiola was understood to be keen on bringing the defender back to the Etihad, but work permit issues have persisted. According to a report from BBC Sport , Villa have agreed on a £15m fee for the Brazil Under-23s captain and are hopeful he will finally be granted a work permit. The regulations have been made stricter in recent times, with players hailing from nations inside the top 10 of FIFA's rankings required to have played 30% of their side's international fixtures in the last two years to be guaranteed a permit. As of yet, Luiz has not been capped at senior level, however, there is an 'Exceptions Panel', which can grant permits to clubs based on the 'experience and value' said player could have. ⚽ Some surprising names in this list, but do you know who the best penalty takers of all time are? https://t.co/l4dyrmDekS   90min (@90min_Football) July 12, 2019 And, the Villans are confident that the fact that Luiz now has two years of European football under his belt and that they are willing to make him their fourth most expensive transfer of all-time will be enough to persuade the panel. He would become Villa's eighth signing of the summer, following the arrival of Jota, Anwar El Ghazi, Kortney Hause, Wesley Moraes, Matt Targett, Tyrone Mings and Ezri Konsa.


Patrick Mahomes was an MVP in the National Football League and a god-send for fantasy football players who may have gambled and used an early pick on the Chiefs star quarterback. Mahomes had some monster games last seasons throwing to the likes of Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill. Carson Wentz his facing a similar season from a talent standpoint, with the Philadelphia Eagles loaded at just about every offensive position. With so many elegant and fast toys comes a rise in your value as a passer and according to Pro Football Focus , that's exactly what's happening with Wentz. At the end of mandatory minicamps, Wentz was viewed as a tier six quarterback in some early fantasy rankings. Now, the Eagles star is no longer just a fantasy sleeper, but now someone worth taking a risk on. Wentz finished 2018 as the No. 23 fantasy QB, but with 19.0 points per game, he was on a 304-point pace that would have had him as the QB10 over 16 games, and that was despite arguably being rushed back from injury (his first game of the season was one of his two or three worst outings on the year). Wentz finished 2017 as the No. 7 fantasy QB, but with 22.8 points per game, he was on a 365-point pace that would have had him as the QB1 over 16 games. With DeSean Jackson, JJ Arcega-Whiteside and a matured Dallas Goedert on the outside, Wentz has weapons who are big, powerful and faster than everyone else. With Jordan Howard and Miles Sanders, he now has the threat of the run, allowing for more eight-man fronts, which becomes one-on-one coverage on the outside. MORE: Roundup: A$AP Rocky Pleads Not Guilty; Katy Perry Owes Damages for 'Dark Horse'; Pound Plummets as Boris Johnson Preps for Brexit Chiefs have CB Tremon Smith playing RB at training camp Angler lands 946-pound marlin by himself for 'historic catch' Dez Bryant has 'no interest in playing football right now' Jon Gruden has high expectations for Raiders' safeties, Karl Joseph and Johnathan Abram


BROOKLYN, Mich. (AP) -- NASCAR's top series has been a two-team show. Joey Logano's victory at Michigan on Monday gave Team Penske its fifth Cup win of the season. That's two fewer than Penske had all of last year, when Logano won the series title. In another year, Penske might be the clear choice as NASCAR's dominant team, but that's not the case at the moment. Joe Gibbs Racing has nine victories - together, these two teams have combined to win 14 of the 15 races so far. ''When I think of key races to win, obviously the crown jewel events that we probably all know, Brickyard, Daytona, Darlington, those type of racetracks that really stand out,'' Logano said. ''This one is next in line to me because of Roger Penske, this being in his backyard. You always want to win at your home track.'' It's been quite a few weeks for Penske, who won his 18th Indianapolis 500 thanks to Simon Pagenaud and now has the points leader in NASCAR with Logano. Of course, to win Monday, Logano had to hold off two of Gibbs' top cars - the No. 19 of Martin Truex Jr. and the No. 18 of Kyle Busch. Truex complained afterward that he thought Logano was too quick on an overtime restart. Logano and Brad Keselowski are first and third in the Cup standings for Penske. Busch is second, Truex is sixth, and Denny Hamlin is seventh for Gibbs. The two teams combined to take four of the top six spots in Monday's race. ''We just did the best we could with what we had,'' Busch said. ''Our M&M's Camry was not great, but we just kept working on it all day. We just kept falling back or doing rounds, doing air pressure, everything we could to get improving on it and make it better. ... Overall we came with about - way better than we should have. Let's go with that. Way better than we should have.'' At this point last season, five teams had victories, and Stewart-Haas Racing and JGR had combined to win 11 of the 15 races. But through 15 races in 2017, eight different teams had already won, and none of them had more than three victories. The next four races on the schedule - at Sonoma, Chicagoland, Daytona and Kentucky - are at places where Truex, Busch and Erik Jones won last year. They all drive for Gibbs at the moment, so perhaps Team Penske should feel a bit relieved after taking advantage of its opportunity at Michigan, where JGR has won only one of the past 15 races. JGR has managed to win nine races despite having no poles yet this year. Logano was actually the first driver to win from the pole all season - although all three of his career wins at MIS were as the pole winner. Just another factor that appeared to work in Penske's favor in Michigan. ''I think there's a lot of advantages to winning the pole here in Michigan. Number one being the pit stall you get is the best pit stall in not only this racetrack but probably the whole sport when it comes to winning a pole here,'' Logano said. ''That first pit stall is really good. It's really close to the camera line, which obviously puts you in what position you're in when you're leaving. The closer it is, the faster the stall. Pretty big advantage to get it here. That pays rewards throughout the whole race. ''We had a fast car. We kept it out front.'' --- Follow Noah Trister at www.Twitter.com/noahtrister --- More AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/apf-AutoRacing and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports


CLEVELAND (AP) -- Nearly two years ago, the U.S. men's soccer team was dealt its most devastating loss in three decades, absorbing an impossible-to-imagine setback that shattered an entire program. The Americans can soon get some payback, though with much less at stake. Coming off a shutout of an inferior Guyana team in its CONCACAF Gold Cup opener, the U.S. faces Trinidad and Tobago for the first time Saturday since Oct. 10, 2017, when the Soca Warriors stunned the Americans 2-1 and ended their streak of seven World Cup appearances. The embarrassing defeat still resonates within in U.S. soccer circles and epitomizes the beauty and cruelty of the international game. The U.S. only needed a tie against the world's 99th ranked team, which had nothing on the line, but failed in spectacular fashion before a sparse crowd that watched American soccer dealt a wound that's still healing. The U.S. squad became an instant punchline for pundits. The colossal defeat also led to a slow, seismic overhaul of the men's program, which has been overshadowed for decades by the powerful U.S. women, three-time World Cup champions who are currently feasting in France on all their opponents. But while many U.S. men's soccer fans want revenge for that soggy night in Couva, Trinidad, two years ago, this group of U.S. players is determined to look forward. There's nothing they can do to change the past. "You look at how many of these guys were paying that day in Trinidad, not a ton," U.S. midfielder Wil Trapp said when asked if revenge was a motivator. "For us, as a federation, there is a lot bit of that angle. But for us as players, it's about winning the game. Period." Following 18 straight exhibitions, the U.S. played its first competitive match in 20 months and dominated from the start Tuesday in St. Paul, Minnesota in romping 4-0 over tiny Guyana, ranked No. 177 worldwide. Tyler Boyd scored his first two goals after switching affiliation from New Zealand last month, the U.S. got a lucky bounce for another score and the Americans showed signs of improvement in new coach Gregg Berhalter's system, which places a premium on possession. After disappointing losses to Venezuela and Jamaica in June friendlies, Berhalter wasn't sure what to expect from his young squad, which includes only six players who were in Trinidad two years ago. Following the easy win, Berhalter made a point of not getting carried away with a result that improved the U.S. to 33 wins, one loss and four draws in the Gold Cup group stage. "A decent starting point," he said. "Not much more than that." Michael Bradley, restored to captain for the first time under Berhalter, echoed his coach in keeping the win in perspective. "We're not going to go overboard because it was a game we should win and we did win," Bradley said. "We handled things in a pretty solid way. We scored some good goals, we didn't give away a ton defensively and we'll continue to get better and continue to build as the tournament goes on. That's the most important thing." Playing on the home field of the NFL's Cleveland Browns, the Americans figure to get a much stiffer test from Trinidad and Tobago. The Soca Warriors lost their Group D opener 2-0 to Panama and need points to have any hopes of advancing. The on-field rivalry between the U.S. and T&T extends back to 1989. The island nation needed only a draw with the U.S. to qualify for the 1990 World Cup but were beaten 1-0 before an overflow crowd of 25,000 in the Trinidad's national stadium. There won't be nearly as much on the line this time for either squad. Bradley said this group of Americans can't worry about any history other than their own. "Totally different team," he said. "I'm not sure on the inside of the group it carries a whole lot of weight." --- More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/apf-Soccer and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports Related slideshow: Best photos of the 2019 Women's World Cup (provided by imagn)


Several weeks after the deadly Virginia Beach Municipal Center shooting on May 31, over $3.3 million has been raised for the tragedy fund. Senior Director, Resource Development & Marketing for the United Way of South Hampton Roads, Kelsey Mohring, said about $2.9 million has been given in corporate pledges, and over $450,000 has been given in individual donations. Mohring said typically it takes about 6 months to collect all of the funds following a tragedy like this, so the plan is to keep the fund open for that length of time. Click here to make a donation or text the keyword VABEACH to 41444. RELATED: Rep. Luria to introduce legislation to name Virginia Beach post office after Municipal Center shooting victim Congresswoman Luria requested clarification from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) about donations made to the Virginia Beach mass shooting victims. Commissioner Rettig responded in a letter dated June 13: "Payments that individuals receive, directly or indirectly, from members of the public in response to a disaster or emergency hardship are considered gifts and are excluded from the gross income of the recipients under Section 102 of the Internal Revenue Code." VB TRAGEDY COVERAGE: Virginia Beach tries to dispel 'rumors' about mass shooting You might want to take note of this temporary relocation and other items at the Municipal Center Local businesses 'Signs of Strength' campaign support Virginia Beach shooting victims FBI completes involvement in Virgina Beach shooting investigation, VBPD still on scene Wear your #LoveForVB! Donate to the Virginia Beach Tragedy Fund, and receive a special T-shirt. Virginia Beach city employees observe moment of silence for victims of municipal center shooting


One of the biggest losses the Chicago Bears suffered this offseason was the departure of safety Adrian Amos, who signed a lucrative free-agent contract with the Green Bay Packers. In his place, GM Ryan Pace signed former first-round pick Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, who's expected to start alongside Eddie Jackson. If he's healthy, that is. Clinton-Dix is beginning training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform ("PUP") list because of a knee injury suffered at the end of minicamp. And while the injury has been described as minor, the timetable for the sixth-year pro's return has not been determined. Coach Matt Nagy thinks he's close, at least that's what he told reporters in Bourbonnais, Ill at Bears training camp Friday. In regard to #Bears S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, who is on PUP with a knee injury, coach Matt Nagy said, "I think he's close but I don't have anything specific." Nagy said there was no arthroscopic surgery following the injury in June near the end of the offseason program. - Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) July 26, 2019 Clinton-Dix's injury will create an opportunity for players like DeAndre Houston-Carson and Deon Bush to make their mark. Only one of them is likely to make the final roster, assuming Clinton-Dix makes a speedy recovery as expected. Remember to subscribe to Chicago Shuffle on iTunes and leave a friendly review and rating. View embedded content MORE: Pirates announcers called out the Cardinals for breaking a lame unwritten rule How signing Mike Daniels impacts the Lions salary cap Things starting as expected for 2 former Steelers Instant observations from Day 2 of Patriots training camp Dish/Sling TV Drops Fox Sports RSNs and MLB Pennant Race Viewing Will Be Affected


There may never be a single play in Auburn Tigers football history more iconic, thrilling and utterly out of nowhere than the incredible Kick Six. With the clock showing all zeroes in the 2013 Iron Bowl, Auburn's Chris Davis grabbed a missed Alabama field goal nine yards deep in the end zone and took it all the way back, shocking the No. 1 Tide and sending the Plains into pandemonium. Sadly, the Tiger program will never be the same now that celebrated radio announcer Rod Bramblett tragically lost his life along with his wife in a fatal car accident Saturday. But count Davis among those who will never forget Bramblett, whose call of the famous Kick Six will live on forever in Auburn lore. Wow... My Condolences goes out to the Bramblett family, continue to pray for guidance and understanding for those they left behind. You'll be truly/deeply missed on the Plains Rod! #theregoesdavis #Legendary ??   Chris Davis (@chris11au) May 26, 2019 In so many ways, Bramblett is almost as much a part of the legacy of the Kick Six as Davis himself, as the energy and passion that oozed out of him behind the microphone as the incredible play unfolded perfectly captures the particular pageantry of college football at it's very best. Watch it. Drink it in. Rod Bramblett, the radio voice of the Auburn Tigers, and his wife, Paula, died from injuries suffered in a car crash Saturday night. Bramblett was honored as National Broadcaster of the Year in 2013, in part for his call on The Kick Six. pic.twitter.com/ImAjIfbsc3   SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 26, 2019 " Davis is gonna run it all the way back! Auburn's gonna win the football game! Auburn's gonna win the football game! He ran the missed field goal back! He ran it back 109 yards! They're not going to keep them off the field tonight! Holy Cow!" College football won't be the same without Bramblett. Chris Davis' legacy, as well as that of the 2013 SEC champs which went on to play for the national title, is forever linked with his magical radio call. Fortunately, his voice will live on long, long after we're all gone. Related slideshow: Ranking the 10 best college football mascots (provided by For The Win)


The most popular ticket in Oklahoma City this upcoming season will undoubtedly be Russell Westbrook's return to Chesapeake Bay Arena. As Thunder fans well know, the former face of Oklahoma City's NBA franchise was dealt to the Houston Rockets to play with former Thunder teammate James Harden soon after ex-Thunder wing Paul George was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers to join up with Kawhi Leonard. While George's return game may promote an increase in foot-traffic and viewership, it will pale in comparison to Westbrook's visit - which won't be until the 2020 portion of next season's schedule. Shams Charania of The Athletic is reporting the Thunder will host Westbrook, Harden and the Rockets for the first time next season on January 9. Sources: Notable superstar return games on 2019-20 NBA schedule: Clippers' Kawhi Leonard at Toronto: Dec. 11 Lakers' Anthony Davis at New Orleans: Nov. 27 Nets' Kyrie Irving at Boston: Nov. 27 Rockets' Russell Westbrook at Oklahoma City: Jan. 9. - Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 2, 2019 ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski also reported the slate of NBA games for Christmas Day. To no one's surprise, given their current state, the Thunder are not among the teams included. Though, Westbrook and Harden will play. The Rockets will spend the holiday in the Bay Area and face the Golden State Warriors. Another Christmas showcase game: The Rockets will play the Warriors in San Francisco, sources told ESPN. https://t.co/CkP0jT29DK - Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) August 2, 2019 MORE: How Kawhi Leonard broke the news to Raptors coach Nick Nurse that he was leaving Five potential Jeremy Lin landing spots in free agency Biggest winners from the first week of Packers training camp Sean McVay, Rams are flipping the script on practice and the preseason Dez Bryant: Saints will get first opportunity to sign me


Allan Saint-Maximin is edging closer to becoming a Newcastle United player, as Steve Bruce continues to work on deals to bring a further three players to St. James' Park. The 22-year-old winger has long been a target for a number of Premier League clubs, including Watford. However, it now appears that the Magpies have risen to pole position in the race to secure the Frenchman's signature.  #NUFC 's front three this season could be their three most expensive players EVER ⚽ Saint-Maximin - £17m ⚽ Almiron - £21m ⚽ Joelinton - £40m pic.twitter.com/zdhwHmlE20   Unibet (@unibet) August 1, 2019 It was reported yesterday that Saint-Maximin's current employer: OGC Nice, had agreed a fee with Newcastle for the transfer of the young wide-man. Despite this, Sky Sports are now reporting that whilst the two clubs are "very close" to agreeing a deal, the finances of the move are not yet confirmed. It is understood that the Magpies will have to pay £16.5m in order to sign the player, who scored six goals in Ligue 1 last campaign, although this fee could eventually rise to £20m. The news of Saint-Maximin's imminent arrival comes soon after the club smashed their transfer record in order to sign Brazilian striker Joelinton , and Steve Bruce shows no sign of halting Newcastle's spending spree. Sky are also alleging that Newcastle are interested in recruiting a further three players, before the close of the transfer window next Thursday. Southampton striker Charlie Austin is being targeted as a replacement for the departing Ayoze Perez and Joselu, while the Magpies are also still reportedly interested in Porto front man Moussa Marega. Bruce is similarly looking to bolster his defensive options, amid speculation over Ciaran Clark's future at the club. Swedish international Emil Krafth, who currently plays his club football in France for Amiens, as well as PSG defender Stanley Nsoki, have both been touted for a move to St. James' Park.


An Upstate man was charged after deputies said he set fire to a car and drank beer while he watched it burn, according to a report from the Union County Sheriff's Office. Kenneth Wayne Peigler Jr., 52, was arrested June 18, the report said. The report said deputies were called to a home on Pasture Drive in Union about a disturbance and fire. When officers arrived they found a car on fire in the front yard. The report said a man, later identified as Peigler, came outside with a case of beer in his hand. Peigler told deputies his wife had set the vehicle on fire, the report said. The report said deputies did not get any written statements from Peigler "due to the fact that Kenny was standing in the driveway consuming alcohol while watching the vehicle burn." Deputies spoke with Peigler's wife,who told them Peigler got mad at her because she would not talk to him so he went outside and broke the windows on the vehicle. She said she was sitting on the couch and saw the car was on fire, according to the report. Peigler's wife said he told her he would put the fire out if she would talk to him. Peigler's wife said she left the home and went down the road to call 911. Peigler was charged with third-degree arson, the report said. READ MORE: Upstate man drinks beer while watching car burn in driveway, report says CHECK OUT WYFF: Get the latest Greenville news and weather. For live, local, late-breaking Greenville, SC, news coverage, WYFF is the place to be.


Welcome to the latest episode of the Baker Mayfield-Colin Cowherd feud. The FOX Sports commentator called Mayfield, Cleveland Browns general manager John Dorsey and wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. "peas in a pod" in a segment on his show that came off as both a compliment and an insult. And the Browns quarterback responded by calling Cowherd a "donkey" for his "irrational opinion". Although Cowherd started off saying Mayfield and Beckham "will be very good" together this season, he reiterated his year-old opinion that he wouldn't have taken Mayfield with the No. 1 overall NFL Draft pick like the Browns did last year. But he still said Mayfield and Dorsey - and now Beckham - work well together, but it all came off like a backhanded compliment. "John Dorsey got fired by Kansas City. @BakerMayfield was a walk-on twice and Cleveland's been the laughing stock of the league. They're all peas in a pod. They work together." - @ColinCowherd pic.twitter.com/ojvyM6mABB - Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) May 3, 2019 Referencing an "endearing" story by The Athletic about Mayfield and Dorsey, Cowherd said: "John Dorsey got fired by Kansas City. Baker Mayfield is a walk-on twice, and Cleveland's been the laughing stock of the league. They're all three peas in a pod. They work together. Dorsey gets maligned for taking high-risk guys and getting wacked, Baker got looked past twice by college programs and he's got a chip on his shoulder. And Cleveland - I mean, let's be honest - for years, it was known as the mistake by the lake. … "Baker Mayfield - it works. It works. He's got a chip, Cleveland's got a chip, Dorsey's got a chip. Do I think Cleveland's out of their gourd by thinking Super Bowl? Yes. They finished 7-8-1 last year, third place in their own division, 1-5 against playoff teams. I don't think Odell Beckham changes the world. I do think they're a nine-win team. I do think they flirt with the playoffs. I think their schedule early is brutal, filled with unbelievably tough road games, so I think they wake up early in November and they're about a game above .500 as a new rookie head coach. "And I also think Freddie Kitchens will get fired within two years, and Baker will be on his third coach in four years because I don't think Freddie can handle this group of dudes." Mayfield responded to Cowherd's segment by calling him a "donkey", which apparently ruined the commentator's weekend, based on the Twitter exchange they had. you're a donkey man - Baker Mayfield (@bakermayfield) May 3, 2019 It doesn't seem like Mayfield cared to watch the four-minute segment, and he focused on the quote in the tweet where Cowherd highlights Mayfield's early college days rather than him becoming a Heisman Trophy winner and the No. 1 overall draft pick. He might have had a different response if he watched the video, but maybe not because a backhanded compliment is really still an insult. Why would I listen to you instead of just reading the quote? That's exactly what you do when you go on air… skip all the details and important stuff, then go for the irrational opinion for clicks. - Baker Mayfield (@bakermayfield) May 3, 2019 Mayfield and Cowherd's feud goes back a while, and includes Cowherd saying the quarterback is a bad teammate and wasn't mature enough to succeed in the NFL and making the outrageous claim that he could tackle Mayfield . Last month, Mayfield also slammed Cowherd on Twitter for claiming Beckham isn't happy with his new team. Still, in Cowherd's recent segment he said Mayfield is always welcomed on his show, so maybe the Browns quarterback will fire back in person at some point. (Thanks to Awful Announcing for sharing.) MORE: The Kentucky Derby result was overturned by a replay review and fans lost it Four potential Nikola Vucevic landing spots in free agency Giants' Reggie White Jr. doesn't care whose No. 13 he's wearing Maximum Security Disqualified, Country House Wins Kentucky Derby Lions gave OT Ryan Pope the biggest UDFA guaranteed deal


From when to wash and what to use, here are the ten best ways to care for your curls so they always look their best. Anyone with curly hair can attest to the fact that it takes a lot of trial and error before you find a routine (and the right products) that works for you. That said, there are a few helpful tips to keep in mind across the board. Here, the ten best for every type of curl. Use Curl-Specific Shampoos Many conventional formulas can strip curls of their natural moisture (and any curly girl knows you ll take all the moisture you can get). Use a sulfate-free cleanser or co-wash instead (and the occasional clarifying shampoo to remove any product buildup on your scalp when needed). Scale Back on Washing Altogether Shampooing your hair every day might be the protocol for some, but for curls it s overkill. In fact, it will just dry them out and make them less bouncy. If you need a refresh between washes, mist a little leave-in conditioner (some ladies also swear by good ol  H2O in a spray bottle ) and scrunch to coax your coils back to life. Scale Back on Washing Altogether Shampooing your hair every day might be the protocol for some, but for curls it s overkill. In fact, it will just dry them out and make them less bouncy. If you need a refresh between washes, mist a little leave-in conditioner (some ladies also swear by good ol  H2O in a spray bottle) and scrunch to coax your coils back to life. Beware of the Brush A wide-toothed comb is your best friend (and you should pretty much use only when your hair is sopping wet with conditioner). On that note, always start combing from the bottom and work your way up to detangle strands. Deep Condition Weekly Wash as usual, load on your favorite hair treatment (the one above has a cult following), comb it through and cover it up with a plastic cap. Let it absorb for at least the duration of an episode of Handmaid's Tale (or, you know, Friends ) before rinsing it out. Ditch Your Towel Swap your terry cloth or cotton for a microfiber towel instead. And when drying your hair, blot or press any excess water out gently never rough it up. Ditch Your Towel Swap your terry cloth or cotton for a microfiber towel instead. And when drying your hair, blot or press any excess water out gently never rough it up. Let Your Hair Air Dry Wash it at night and let it dry completely before going to bed. (We cannot stress this enough. Sleeping on even slightly damp hair will make your curls flat and lifeless the next morning.) If you prefer the speed of a blow dryer, get thee a diffuser to direct the air flow so you don t end up disrupting your curls and put it on the cool setting to amp up shine. Lay Off the Heat Entirely The less you blow it out or iron it smooth, the better off your curls will be. Heat is super drying and can cause damage to already fragile strands. Over time, it can completely change your natural curl pattern (which will take a long grow-out period to get things back to normal). Lay Off the Heat Entirely The less you blow it out or iron it smooth, the better off your curls will be. Heat is super drying and can cause damage to already fragile strands. Over time, it can completely change your natural curl pattern (which will take a long grow-out period to get things back to normal). Get a Silk or Satin Pillowcase Tossing and turning throughout the night can seriously frizz up your curls. Minimize any friction by swapping out your cotton pillowcase for a silk or satin one instead. (Bonus: It feels pretty darn nice against your face, too.) Keep Your Hands Off Once your hair has been styled the way you want, try your best not to touch it. (Seriously, sit on your hands if you have to.) Touching is a surefire way to induce frizz. Keep Your Hands Off Once your hair has been styled the way you want, try your best not to touch it. (Seriously, sit on your hands if you have to.) Touching is a surefire way to induce frizz. Find a Stylist Who Knows Curls There are salons ( like DevaChan ) that specialize entirely in curly hair. Taking the time to look for someone who knows your texture will make all the difference between getting that perfectly precise cut you want (every quarter inch counts, y'all) and not having your hair hacked at mercilessly. RELATED: 19 Things Only Women With Curly Hair Understand


It was a good day for soccer fans in Ukraine, New Zealand and Uruguay as the trio of nations all won their respective games on Monday at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup. All three nations confirmed qualification to the next round of the tournament. Ukraine moved into pole position in Group D with six points, and Uruguay and New Zealand both moved onto six points to lead Group C. [READ: Soto brace gives U-20 USMNT win over Nigeria ] Ukraine defender Dennis Popov scored for the second straight match as Ukraine came out 1-0 victors over Qatar. The European side dominated the match against the Gulf nation, finishing with 14 shots and four on goal. Qatar finished on top in terms of possession but after Popov's goal early in the second half, Ukraine sat back and absorbed pressure. With the win, Ukraine needs just a point or better against Nigeria to win the group. Elsewhere, Uruguay's Nicolas Acevedo scored in the first half before Nicolás Schiappacasse finished the game off with a strike in second half stoppage time to sink Honduras. Also, New Zealand's Gianni Stensness and an own goal from John Kitolano gave New Zealand a 2-0 win over Norway.


A series that opened in ugly fashion closed on a decided upswing for the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday afternoon. Led by yet another strong outing by Brandon Woodruff and a five-run third inning, the Brewers downed the Cincinnati Reds, 7-5, at Miller Park and earned a split in the teams' four-game set. BOX SCORE: BREWERS 7, REDS 5 Woodruff struck out a career-high 12 over seven innings and Travis Shaw and Orlando Arcia homered as the Brewers won their second straight after returning home having gone 2-6 and losing five of their last six on the road. Milwaukee had lost the first two games of this series by a combined score of 18-8 before rebounding to win the final two. Reds starter Anthony DeSclafani was literally untouchable in the first two innings, striking out all six Brewers batters he faced swinging to tie a club record set by Robert Stephenson on Aug. 27, 2017 against Pittsburgh. But the tenor of the game changed in a hurry in the third. Shaw started what would be a five-run barrage with a booming homer to right on DeSclafani's first offering. After Woodruff struck out, Ben Gamel and Yasmani Grandal both singled, with Grandal's shot bouncing off the base of the wall in left only to see Gamel stop at second base after mis-reading it. It wound up not mattering, as Christian Yelich doubled to the gap in right-center to drive in Gamel and then Mike Moustakas singled off the wall in right to plate Grandal and Yelich. After Ryan Braun struck out, Eric Thames walked to bring Orlando Arcia to the plate and he singled to center to drive in Moustakas and make it 5-0. DeSclafani would exit after surrendering a one-out double to Braun in the fifth, which the Brewers eventually turned into another run after Braun stole third and Thames drove him in with a sacrifice fly. Arcia, up next, hit his 10th homer of the season to right-center, upping Milwaukee's lead to 7-0. Woodruff had six strikeouts himself over the first three innings, fanning the side in both the first and third. He also used double-play grounders to end the second and fourth, and got a strong throw to second from Grandal to cut down Yasiel Puig on a steal attempt in the fifth. Cincinnati finally got to him in the sixth, when a bad-hop single over the glove of Arcia up the middle paved the way to an eventual three-run homer by Joey Votto that made it a 7-3 game. Woodruff (9-2) allowed only a single the rest of the way, however, and capped his day with two more strikeouts to leave him with 12. That tied the Brewers' single-game high, set initially by Corbin Burnes over just five innings against the St. Louis Cardinals on March 31. His nine wins are tied with Hyun-Jin Ryu of the Los Angeles Dodgers for most in the National League. The Reds scored twice in the ninth against Jeremy Jeffress, making things interesting as Josh Hader had to quickly begin warming. But Jeffress recovered to get José Peraza to fly out to left to end it. KEY TAKEAWAYS Speed it up: After a 37-minute first inning on Saturday in which seven runs were scored, the Brewers and Reds combined for no runs, one single and six strikeouts in a 16-minute first inning in this one. Gave it a try: With one out in the fourth, Grandal tried bunting against the shift from the left side of the plate. It would have been a perfect effort, too, but the ball rolled just foul down the third-base line. Give him credit for trying, at least. Move it around: Shaw opened the third by homering and then ended it by striking out. That marked 11th time this season the Brewers have batted around in an inning, and the second time in three days. They also did it in the eighth inning Friday. It's way out of here: Shaw's homer registered at 465, which was his longest in the Statcast era (since 2015). It also marked the third time in five games the Brewers have set a new season high for longest homer; Yelich hit a 447-footer on Wednesday at Petco Park in San Diego, then eclipsed that with a 462-footer to right on Thursday at Miller Park. Broken wood: Grandal was none too pleased after striking out against former Brewer Zach Duke in the sixth, smacking his bat on the ground and cracking it as he walked back to the dugout and then finishing it off by snapping it in two over his knee. RECORD This year: 42-36 Last year: 46-32 ATTENDANCE Sunday: 41,237 This year: 1,339,119 (34,336 avg.) Last year: 1,345,976 (34,513 avg.) COMING UP Monday: Off day. Tuesday: Brewers vs. Mariners 7:10 p.m. Milwaukee RHP Zach Davies (7-1, 3.06) vs. Seattle LHP Marco Gonzales (8-6, 4.38). TV: FS Wisconsin. Radio: AM-620. Our subscribers make this coverage possible. Subscribe to the Journal Sentinel today and get a special offer at jsonline.com/deal. Top Headlines from Sports: Brewers 6, Reds 5: Grandal at leadoff pays huge dividends as losing skid ends Alexander Rossi exorcises Road America demons in dominating fashion Major League Fishing raises standards for competitive bass angling FOLLOW JS SPORTS: Like our Facebook Page for the latest news This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Brewers 7, Reds 5: Strong effort by Brandon Woodruff, offense nets a series split Related slideshow: 2019 MLB season (provided by imagn)


The Miami Heat probably don't have enough to offer to trade into the top 10 of the NBA Draft, Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald reports. Miami has the No. 13 pick and would probably have to get a third party involved in order to move up, Chiang says, noting the Heat can't combine their first-rounder with their 2020 or 2022 first-round pick under current rules. Miami might be able to secure a future protected first-rounder if it trades down in the first round. If it trades the pick without getting a first-round pick in return, the incentive would be to dump a big contract, Chiang adds. We have more from around the Southeast Division: The Hawks worked out six prospects on Friday, Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution tweets . The group included guards Jalek Felton (BC Nokia), Joshua Obiesie (Oliver Wurzburg) and Charles Matthews (Michigan), forwards Daulton Hommes (Point Loma) and Nikola Miskovic (Mega Bemax) and center Sagaba Konate (West Virginia). Shooting guard Ty Jerome , a mid- to late first-round prospect, worked out for the Magic on Friday, Adam Zagoria of the New York Times tweets. Jerome is ranked No. 25 overall by ESPN's Jonathan Givony. The Magic hold the No. 16 pick in the first round. The Magic worked out Gonzaga forward Brandon Clarke on Wednesday, Josh Robbins of The Athletic tweets . Clarke is ranked No. 13 overall by Givony. Forwards Paul Eboua (Italy), Miskovic and Grant Williams (Tennessee) visited on the same day, as well as point guards Chris Clemons (Campbell) and Jeremiah Martin (Memphis). Magic center Nikola Vucevic will be highly coveted on the free-agent market but he'll strongly consider staying in Orlando, reports Stefan Djordjevic of Eurohoops.net . "I'm satisfied in Orlando. This was our best season since I arrived," he said. "Everything clicked with the arrival of the new coach. We advanced to the playoffs, surpassing all expectations and everything's fine on that side. I've also been reading that many are interested but to be honest, I don't know which teams want me. When I see all the offers, I'll think and decide." Taking on a bad contract or two in order to add draft picks might be a prudent strategy for the Heat next summer, Ira Winderman writes in a commentary .


Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic dueled for five hours Sunday during a historic Wimbledon final that saw Djokovic win his fifth Wimbledon title. The match was the most compelling back-and-forth drama we've seen in any sport in many a year, and it really was a shame one of them had to lose. Afterward, as the men received their trophies, they both showed everyone what sportsmanship looks like with a couple of the classiest interviews you'll ever see following such a hard-fought battle. Federer, who lost, went first. He said "it's not over yet," and then proceeded to lavish praise on Djokovic for coming through during the clutch moments. "At 37, it's not over yet!" For @rogerfederer , the pursuit of more Grand Slam glory continues… #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/Y1o1b1tjf4   Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 14, 2019 Afterward, Djokovic praised his longtime rival and said Federer inspires him. "When I was a boy… I used to make the trophies out of different materials in my room" @DjokerNole 's childhood dream has become a reality for a fifth time… #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/fpRYRIE9BA   Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 14, 2019 These two legends gave the entire sports world a clinic in pure class   the icing on the cake after such a phenomenal display on Centre Court. Related slideshow: Best images of Wimbledon (Provided by imagn)


CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) - Kimberly St. John-Stevenson, 54, is charged with conspiracy, telecommunications fraud, obstructing justice, money laundering and engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity. She decided to go on trial for her alleged connection to a Facebook scam that stole from hundreds of victims. She will start trial Monday, Oct. 21. Investigators say she along with two others defrauded hundreds of victims out of more than $300,000. 19 News exposed the scam over two years ago . The women had all been members of a private mom's group on Facebook, called "Zee's Place," which offered deep discounts on toys and baby products -- like car seats and diapers -- and even trips to Disney World. According to the indictment, "Zee's Place" was created by Sbeih-Maddox and St. John-Stevenson in August 2016, and was "targeted toward suburban moms in search of bargains." "Because of the bargain prices on the offered items, the community grew by word of mouth; ultimately, at least 200 people made purchases from Zee's Place," the indictment states. "Any new Zee's Place customer received at least their first "bargain" without any issue; however, upon ordering (and paying for) additional "bargains," Sbeih-Maddox and St. John-Stevenson failed to remit the purchased items, instead offering delays and excuses and never returning the funds paid." One of the co-conspirators, Zienup Sbeih-Maddox pleaded guilty last month. Copyright 2019 WOIO. All rights reserved.


Honda was surprised by its most recent Formula 1 performance and says there is no "easy answer" for why it and Red Bull have closed in on Mercedes and Ferrari. Max Verstappen won this month's Austrian Grand Prix to give the Red Bull-Honda partnership its first victory together, and should have finished on the podium in the British Grand Prix but was wiped out by Sebastian Vettel. Verstappen thought he could have fought for pole at Silverstone , where Red Bull has traditionally had a major deficit in the V6 turbo-hybrid era, without a turbo lag issue. That was brought on by Verstappen trying to get on the throttle too quickly for the engine to handle without a discrepancy , a legacy of the Red Bull car improvements that have brought it closer to the two top teams. Honda F1 technical director Toyoharu Tanabe admitted he was surprised to be so closer to the leading pace at Silverstone and said it could suggest the Red Bull-Honda package is not as far from Mercedes as it thought. "Maybe, but we need to understand which corner or which straight we have a better lap time or speed," Tanabe told Motorsport.com. "Then maybe we can analyse what is good here and what was wrong, what was the deficit in the past seven or eight races. "It's not very easy to tell, it looks like the gap got closer compared to previous races   not only the race, but also qualifying. But we have not an easy answer yet." Read Also: Ferrari knows it must react to increasing Red Bull threat Honda targets faster qualifying mode as "next step" Verstappen's victory in Austria was recognised as a success on merit but played down simultaneously, as Mercedes was hurt by cooling problems. Red Bull has been restricted to sniping for occasional victories in the V6 turbo-hybrid engine era, as Renault's engine deficit left the team too far adrift at power-sensitive circuits. However, Honda has made progress throughout the season and also believes its recently-introduced Spec 3 engine - which came with a small power increase   has improved at each of the three grands prix it has been used in. "The starting point was not too bad compared to last year's first race with the new spec," said Tanabe. "It means we've learned a lot from last year, and the calibration quality we improved from the initial running. We still have areas to learn at the track after the race. "In practice situations and real race situations. we could learn a small bit where we could improve our performance. In France, Austria, Britain, we have an improvement."


The Yordan Alvarez era, if there is to be such a thing, begins Sunday afternoon at Minute Maid Park. Alvarez, 21, arrived in Houston on Sunday morning from Salt Lake City, where he was playing with the Triple A Round Rock Express, and made it to the ballpark shortly after 11 a.m. to prepare for his first major league start, wearing uniform number 44 and batting fifth as the Astros' designated hitter against the Oriioles. Ranked as the No. 23 prospect in Major League Baseball by MLB.com, the lefthanded-hitting outfielder was hitting .343 at Round Rock with 16 doubles, 23 home runs, 71 RBIs and a 1.184 in 56 games. "It's going to be a busy day for him," said Astros manager A.J. Hinch. "We're excited that he's here." At 6 feet 5 and 225 pounds, Alvarez, who was not available for comment before the game, lends an imposing presence to the Astros' lineup and arrives on a wave of similarly imposing hype as the latest Next Big Thing to wear an Astros uniform. Hinch said Alvarez was being promoted now because he has earned the opportunity. He said the rookie probably would have been brought up late last week but for the Astros' back-to-back extra-inning games against the Mariners and Orioles. The Astros optioned lefthander Reymin Guduan to the minors and put pitcher Lance McCullers, who is out for the year while recovering from Tommy John surgery, on the 60-day disabled list to add Alvarez to the 40-man roster. "He brings a presence," Hinch said. "He's going to be nervous, and you never know how guys are going to adjust at the next level, but he has outperformed Triple A. He has done everything we've asked, including moving around the field a little bit. He has played left, he's played a little bit at first, and im' excited that he has gotten his opportunity up here." The Astros have off days Monday and Thursday, followed next week by a series at Cincinnati, so Hinch said he is comfortable going with 12 pitchers and 13 position players for the time being. The manager said he wants to get Alvarez accustomed to Minute Maid Park's unusual confines before putting him in left field during a game. First base, he said, is not an option at this time, but he will use Alvarez in the outfield during the Reds series that begins June 17. "I told him in the spring, I told him in Triple A ... that he needs to be able to stay on the field because there will be days I want to DH (Michael) Brantley or when George (Springer) or Jose (Altuve) come back. It's important for him and for our roster to function the way I like." But for Sunday, at least, it's Alvarez the hitter who will be on display. "There's not a ballpark that can hold him," Hinch said. "He's got power to any part of the field. "The thing that has impressed me has been his discipline. He knows a ball from a strike. He has great balance, he is very athletic in the batter's box. ... I like his mature approach at the plate."


DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.   New venue, new winner. First stop. First win. That's certainly what a substantial portion of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series field is hoping for this weekend at the season's first road course event at Sonoma Raceway in Sonoma, California. The series returns from a Father's Day off-weekend and heads West to California's scenic wine country for the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway (Sunday, June 23 at 3 p.m. ET on FS1, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). And while the season's four-time winner Kyle Busch and three-time victors Martin Truex Jr. and Brad Keselowski have been collecting trophies left and right, the season's first true test of left-and-right may be just what some other of the consensus championship contenders need to score that first win of 2019. Joe Gibbs Racing driver Martin Truex Jr. arrives in Northern California as the defending race winner and his JGR teammate Kyle Busch has a pair of wins at the track as well. But there are four other drivers ranked among the Playoffs Top 16 who have won at Sonoma before, still looking for a first sip of winner's wine this weekend as they march towards the Fall Playoffs. RELATED: Full Cup standings Four former Sonoma winners   Kevin Harvick, Clint Bowyer, Kurt Busch and Jimmie Johnson   are all winless on the season, but ranked inside that Playoff's Top 16 arriving in California. By their standards a win this week isn't just do-able, it's over-due. Harvick won at Sonoma in 2017 and was runner-up to Truex last year. The driver of the No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford Mustang earned eight wins a year ago in his valiant challenge for the 2018 title and had scored five trophies by Father's Day. But this season, Harvick shows up in his native California eager and highly motivated to earn his first victory of the season and restore his championship mojo. Harvick has finished in the top-10 or better in four of the last five Sonoma races. His Stewart-Haas Racing teammate Clint Bowyer boasts the same favorable statistic   in fact, the 2012 Sonoma winner was third last year, runner-up in 2017 and third in 2015. His eight top-five finishes are most in the field this week. MORE: Active road course winners Kurt Busch, who drives for Chip Ganassi Racing, won at Sonoma in 2011 and has finished in the top-10 in seven of the last eight races there   including runner-up to his younger brother Kyle in 2015. Perhaps no driver in the top 16 is more motivated to sip a glass of winner's wine and hoist a trophy then seven-time series champion Jimmie Johnson, who is looking for his first victory in over two seasons. He won at Sonoma in 2010 and had top-10s in 2014 and 2015. It's an interesting evolution for road racing in NASCAR. In the early days of the sport, drivers tended to be all-in or way-off when it came to the non-oval venues. Some certainly adapted well to the road course challenges, others worked hard at it and even attended Bob Bondurant race schools to bone up. Some had previous road course experience in other series. Ricky Rudd, who always liked road course racing, won the very first Sonoma race in 1989 and NASCAR Hall of Famer Rusty Wallace   another who took to this form of racing well   won the next year. Each of the two drivers won twice at Sonoma over their careers. Ernie Irvan, another Californian, scored two wins at Sonoma in the early 1990s and NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin won at Sonoma in 1997. RELATED: All-time road course winners Even in the years thereafter, renowned road racers such as Robby Gordon (2003), and Juan Pablo Montoya (2007) scored Sonoma trophies and set the bar. And new NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon, who was born minutes away from the Sonoma course, also took to that brand of competition, winning a track record five times in his career   including three consecutive times from 1998-2000. But as the sport evolved and the championship format changed   essentially shortening the regular season by 10 races to make way for the Playoffs   it became essential for all the Monster Energy Series drivers to shift their road course game into a higher gear. At the series' other traditional road course track, the historic Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International, there have been five different winners in the last five races from A.J. Allmendinger in 2014 (his first series victory) to first-time road course winners Joey Logano in 2015, Denny Hamlin in 2016, Truex in 2017 and Chase Elliott in 2018. Ryan Blaney scored his first non-oval series win on the Charlotte ROVAL's debut last year   a hybrid course of infield turns and the Charlotte Motor Speedway banking. The unique challenges presented by Sonoma's road course   including the reintroduction of the famed "Carousel" turn   present a prime opportunity for some of the sport's biggest names and championship hopefuls to break into the Busch-Truex-Keselowski "Big Winner's" party this season. And it makes this week's stop even more crucial in the championship setting. ]]>


If free-agent forward Michael Beasley signs with an NBA team, he'll have to sit out his first five games with that new club. According to Shams Charania of The Athletic ( via Twitter ), the NBA has hit Beasley with a five-game suspension for violating the league's anti-drug policy. Beasley, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2008 draft, spent most of last season with the Lakers after signing a one-year contract last summer. However, his role in Los Angeles was limited. He appeared in just 26 games, averaging 7.0 points and 2.3 rebounds in 10.7 minutes. The Lakers sent Beasley to the Clippers, along with Ivica Zubac , in exchange for Mike Muscala in a deadline deal in February. The Clippers subsequently released the 30-year-old Beasley, making him an unrestricted free agent. He joined the Guangdong Southern Tigers in China to finish the season. A free agent again this offseason, Beasley hasn't generated much buzz. His suspension probably won't be a deal-breaker, but for a player who was already having trouble finding a new home, it represents another red flag.


There comes a time in every girl's life when her close friends start to have babies. For me, it began around five years ago…and hasn't stopped yet. Out of my closest girlfriends, I'd say 90% of them are now mothers. That's a pretty big number. If your friendship is close and your bond is strong, things won't change fundamentally. Your relationship should remain intact and your love for one another won't waver at all. But please believe me: things WILL change. Your friendship will take on a whole new look, your conversations will be different and in some ways, you'll begin to feel like two totally different people. Because you are . Sure, you'll still do the things you always did: you'll catch up, you'll gossip, you'll discuss TV shows and music, you'll make plans, and you'll be there when the other one needs you. And when you do get to see each other   not as often, but it will happen   you'll have a great time and it will fill that void that only a best friend can fill. But, the changes. The huge differences in your lives. They're there. They're obvious. Not just to you, the child-free (and in my case, also single) person, but to them, too. Some of these changes: 1. You'll text them something funny, ask a question or even say hello at 10 p.m. (because you're energetic and awake and this is a normal hour for you to still be doing things) and they won't answer. Because they're asleep. But their response will come in, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, at 6a.m. (because they're energetic and awake and up with a small child) and it'll be your turn not to answer. Because YOU'RE asleep. I recently got home on a Saturday night around midnight and had a REALLY funny story to tell my girls, but knew that none of them would be awake to chat with me about my night. Because of this, a lot of my weekend conversations (phone calls, FaceTime, texts) now take place relatively early in the mornings   err, when I finally get up   and throughout the day. But once the clock strikes around 8 p.m.? I know I'll officially lose contact with my ladies for the day. Holy different schedules, Batman. 2. Speaking of phone conversations, you'll have them   they'll just have a new…"soundtrack." Crying babies, general fussing, demands being made by tiny humans in the background… you'll hear it all. It'll take you and your gal pal a much longer time to get through a conversation or a story, and there will be interruptions galore ("Hey, hold on. What? No, you can't have that now.") ("Shhhh… sorry Ali, gimme a second; the baby's screaming")("LET ME CALL YOU RIGHT BACK HE JUST POOPED EVERYWHERE")   but what matters is that you're still in touch. And both of you need those conversations. 3. You, as a childless person with lots of free time to dick around on the Internet, on social media and in general, know more about things like pop culture, new musicians and young-people-slang-terms and will often have to school your mom-friends on what they are. I laughed out loud when a text from my girlfriend Beth came in once that said, "what is an Iggy Azalea?" and then weeks later she asked, "what does 'Turn Down for What?' mean?" I'm happy to be there and explain these things to her, and in turn she teaches me about all the pregnancy and baby-related things that I have zero clue about. 4. The social gatherings of your girlfriends with kids will consist of other children's birthday parties, get-togethers with other adorable families and wholesome G-rated activities. Yours? Bars. Booze. Loud Music. Crowds. Young People. Late Nights. Debauchery. Littttttttttttle different. And neither of you can imagine trading places with the other right now. 5. You live a more selfish lifestyle: you pamper yourself, you get manicures, you get your hair done, you shop for clothes (for you, of course), and you sleep in on weekends. Them? SelfLESS. They run around like madwomen; sleep-deprived and up to their elbows in spit-up and God knows what else, buying things and providing for their children, being amazing moms and putting their families first. It really puts things in perspective and makes me admire the mothers in my life even more. So, sure: our lives in some ways are totally different now. Sometimes it's more evident than others, and on the other hand sometimes we talk or are together and it's like we're 18 years old all over again. I may never be in the same boat as my girlfriends to trade war stories about pregnancy and motherhood and dirty diapers, but that doesn't change the fact that we are bound for life by our friendship and love for one another. And that will NEVER change.


NEW YORK   A Bronx teen died Wednesday, three days after he raced into a raging apartment fire and carried a 3-year-old girl down 14 flights of stairs in a desperate and ultimately unsuccessful rescue attempt, relatives and police sources said Wednesday. Lucas Silverio ran up toward the flames in the early morning hours Sunday after a fire in the compactor room of a Bronx building went up a shaft to the 14th floor, with mom Jasmine Moreno and daughter Yasleen McDonald forced to flee through the billowing smoke and searing heat from an apartment one floor up. When mother and daughter tripped and became separated in the dense smoke, the 19-year-old Silverio heard Jasmine screaming for her lost child, the sources said. He ran back up the stairs and found the little girl on the 14th floor. Silverio grabbed the girl just as both were scalded by a massive blast of heat and fire, according to the sources. Silverio, who was naked, burned and disoriented when he reached the ground floor, delivered the badly burned Yasleen to waiting firefighters and paramedics. The little girl, suffering from smoke inhalation and burns over 80% of her tiny body, died one day later at New York-Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center. Silverio was burned over 80% of his body as well and died Wednesday. The cause of the fire, though still under investigation, does not appear to be suspicious. The blaze started around 1:45 a.m. inside 725 Garden St., about one block from the Bronx Zoo. Residents described a chaotic scene of blinding smoke, heat and fire, with firefighters unable to bring the blaze under control for two hours.     ©2019 New York Daily News Visit New York Daily News at www.nydailynews.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.


DETROIT   Detroit police say the pastor of a storefront church shot and killed a man who tried to attack him during a service. Assistant Detroit Police Chief Steve Dolunt tells the Detroit News and Detroit Free Press the shooting happened Sunday afternoon just after the start of a service at the City of God church. Dolunt says the man and the pastor had prior "issues." He says the man was threatening the pastor with a brick when the pastor pulled out a pistol and shot him several times. The man died a short time later at a hospital. Authorities didn't immediately release the names of either man. Dolunt says prosecutors will review the case to decide whether the shooting was justified. The pastor was taken into custody for questioning.