Sex education taught in the UK could be more in-depth and inclusive, according to a new study published in BMJ Open. These findings come from the third (and largest) National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (Natsal-3). Researchers compared data collected from nearly 4,000 men and women ages 16 to 24 in 1990-91 to data collected in 1999-2002 and 2010-12. By comparing these sets of data, researchers were able to see how information about sex has changed. Plus, they could see where young British people were getting their sexual information. The results showed school is the primary source of information, increasing from 28 percent in 1990 to 40 percent in 2012; parents are a secondary source; and health professionals are a third source. Though around half of young people reported getting their information from other sources, including their first sexual partner, the media, and pornography. Where young people get their information from influenced their sexual behavior. Among men and women who learned mostly in school, they reported having sex for the first time at a later age than those who got their information outside the classroom. As a result, these people were less likely to report having unsafe safe and contract a sexually transmitted infection (STI). Interestingly, women in school had a healthier outlook on, and experience with, sex than men whose primary source of information was also school. Bridging this gender gap is the first opportunity UK sex education programs have to improve, researchers said. "Our results suggest we need a broader framing of sex education in schools that addresses the needs of both young men and women, with a move away from the traditional female-focused 'periods, pills and pregnancy' approach," Wendy Macdowall, study author and lecturer at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, said in a press release . Of the information that is available to British young people, 70 percent said there's not enough relating to "sexual feelings, emotions, and relationships, as well as STIs and contraception for women." Thusly, the second opportunity for improvement comes down to UK parents. Sure, having "the talk" about the birds and the bees can be awkward, but a lot of the men and women surveyed said they would have liked their parents to give them more information. Nearly nine in 10 teens in the United States "say that it would be much easier for them to delay sexual activity if they had open, honest, and ongoing conversations with their parents about sex," reported The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy . Parents can improve upon this by working to be what the University of Texas Prevention Research Center calls "askable." This essentially means emphasizing to children all questions are welcome. Additionally, asking children questions about what he or she thinks or knows about sex can be a good way to narrow down the need-be topics of discussion. Source: Macdowall W, et al. BMJ Open . 2015.


Dodgers left-handed reliever Tony Cingrani , who has yet to play at all this year, will likely see his season come to an end, per The Athletic's Pedro Moura . Cingrani will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his left shoulder, which "probably" marks the end of his season, manager Dave Roberts told Moura. Currently on the 10-day injured list with shoulder soreness, Cingrani suffered a setback during his rehab assignment that required the club to shut down the 29-year-old. After undergoing an MRI, it's been determined that the injury will require surgery, a disappointing and frustrating development for both Cingrani and the Dodgers, who acquired the southpaw from the Reds at the 2017 trade deadline. He has thus far been able to pitch in just 52 games for the Dodgers, and with Cingrani eligible for free agency at season's end, he may have already appeared in his last game in Los Angeles. Here's more Dodgers injury news... Third baseman Justin Turner will return to the starting lineup for Monday's game against the Diamondbacks, according to J.P. Hoornstra of the Southern California Media Group. His absence from Sunday's game marks the fourth consecutive game that Turner is out of the lineup thanks to right hamstring tightness, and Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times reports that Turner's injury is "a little more severe" than anticipated, but evidently the 34-year-old is healthy enough to play in tomorrow's series opener in Phoenix. Catcher Austin Barnes , who recently landed on the injured list with a groin strain, is on track to return in time for Friday's series opener against the Giants, per Castillo , who adds that Barnes is slated to make a pair of rehab appearances for the Dodgers' Class A-Advanced affiliate before coming off the injured list late this week. Barnes has posted a solid .738 OPS in 40 games for the Dodgers this year, working in tandem with Russell Martin to form a serviceable catching combination for a first-place team. Related slideshow: 2019 MLB season (provided by imagn)


The man accused of shooting and killing a Sacramento police officer made his first court appearance Monday afternoon. Wearing a bandage on his head, likely covering a self-inflicted jail injury , 45-year-old Adel Sambrano Ramos stood quietly in the courtroom's holding cage as a judge read the charges he is facing. He was appointed a public defender and he did not enter a plea. Ramos faces four felony charges, including murder, with two special circumstances. The first is that Officer Tara O'Sullivan was a peace officer and the second is that he killed her lying in wait, according to court documents. He is also accused of attempted murder on another police officer, identified as Daniel Chipp. Counts three and four allege that Ramos used illegal weapons during the shooting. "There is an ongoing investigation it's going to take a long time to process the crime scene," Sacramento County Deputy District Attorney Rod Norgaard said. "My guess is that the charging document may have some additional counts as time goes on." Sacramento Police Chief Daniel Hahn said Ramos killed O'Sullivan last week but had the intent to kill more people. O'Sullivan was shot and killed after officers were called to a home to help a woman escape a domestic disturbance situation. Hahn said Ramos was determined to hurt the five officers who showed up. | RELATED | PD: Officers 'ambushed' by suspect during deadly shooting at north Sacramento home "It is clear by the suspect's action that he was intent on murdering additional officers and was taking action to do just that -- repeatedly shooting at officers throughout much of this incident. We now know that he had multiple weapons in multiple buildings on the property, both handguns and rifles, and numerous rounds of ammunition," Hahn said. Norgaard said no decision has been made about by the DA's Office seeking the death penalty if Ramos is convicted. "We have an internal policy that dictates the procedure by which we seek the death penalty, which includes input from his counsel if they so choose," he said. "And that decision will be made down the road, anyways." Ramos' next court date is slated for the morning of July 22. He is not eligible for bail. READ MORE: Man charged in Sacramento officer's slaying appears in court CHECK OUT KCRA: Stay informed. Get the latest Modesto, Stockton and Sacramento news and weather from the KCRA news team.


Looking to uncover all that Madison Park has to offer? Get to know this Charlotte neighborhood by browsing its most popular local businesses, from a Greek spot to a coffee shop. Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top places to visit in Madison Park, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of neighborhood businesses. Read on for the results. 1. The Mad Greek Of Charlotte First up is Greek, Mediterranean and traditional American spot The Mad Greek of Charlotte , situated at 5011 South Blvd. With 4.5 stars out of 259 reviews on Yelp, it's proven to be a local favorite. The spot specializes in authentic Greek dishes, according to its website . Its homemade baklava is baked fresh daily. 2. Good Food on Montford Cocktail bar and New American spot Good Food on Montford , which offers tapas and more, is another top choice. Yelpers give the business, located at 1701 Montford Drive, 4.5 stars out of 734 reviews. The menu features pasta, seafood, poultry, pork and beef, as well as a wide selection of wine, beer and cocktails. 3. Jasmine Grill Jasmine Grill , a Mediterranean, Middle Eastern and halal spot, is another much-loved neighborhood go-to, with 4.5 stars out of 531 Yelp reviews. Head over to 5033 South Blvd., Suite G to see for yourself. Try the chicken shawarma wrap or the falafel salad. View the full menu here . 4. Crispy Banh Mi Check out Crispy Banh Mi , which has earned 4.5 stars out of 257 reviews on Yelp. You can find the Vietnamese spot, which offers sandwiches, juice and smoothies, at 5100 S Blvd., Suite C. The menu also features appetizers, like crispy quail and egg rolls, noodle bowls and more. 5. Mugs Coffee Finally, there's Mugs Coffee , a local favorite with 4.5 stars out of 150 reviews. Stop by 5126 Park Road, Suite 1D to hit up the spot to score coffee, tea and more next time you're in the neighborhood. Complement your cup of joe with biscotti or bacon, egg and cheese on a croissant. 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.


Former baseball commissioner Bud Selig is making the media rounds in advance of the release of his book, " For the Good of the Game. " Yesterday Sports Illustrated ran an excerpt of the book . It's the part in which Selig talks about his feelings as Barry Bonds was on the verge of breaking Hank Aaron's all-time home run record. Forced to follow Bonds from town to town as a minor slump extended the time expected for Bonds to pass Aaron, Selig was miserable, he says. "It was one of the few times in my life I wasn't excited about going to ballparks, and if you know me that's all you need to know." He bopped off the Bonds beat for a day to induct Cal Ripken and Tony Gwynn into the Hall of Fame and secretly wished that Bonds would break the record when he was in Cooperstown so he wouldn't have to be there. "But I received no reprieve," Selig remembers, "so I trudged on." Part of Selig's unhappiness is at least somewhat understandable. He became friends with Hank Aaron in 1958 and continues to be close friends with him to this very day. No one likes to see bad things happen to their friends. Selig only nods to that a bit, however. He was mostly miserable, he says, because he knew that Bonds' record-setting performance was powered by performance enhancing drugs, and that did not sit well with him: We had been caught off guard when McGwire and Sosa passed Maris, but this was almost a decade later. Of course, by then we knew what was going on. This was an age when sluggers found extra power through chemistry, and, of course, Barry was one of the leading men in baseball's steroids narrative. This is a bald-faced lie. Selig was not "caught off guard" in 1998 and did not know what was going on only in the run-up to Bonds breaking the record in 2007. He was aware of baseball's biggest stars using PEDs at least 13 years earlier, but probably even earlier than that, and he and his fellow owners and all of baseball's leadership did absolutely nothing about it because it did not suit their interests. PEDs in baseball were in no way a priority for Selig until he began to get some heat for it a decade later. All of this is well-documented and Selig is counting on collective amnesia about it all in order to sell his book, obfuscate his own misdeeds and to burnish his legacy. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the FBI mounted a drug investigation called Operation Equine which went after the illegal sale of steroids. The lead investigator for Operation Equine was an agent named Greg Stejskal. While the investigation sought to go after dealers, not buyers, two very famous buyers were uncovered in the course of the investigation: Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire. Indictments in the operation were unsealed in 1992, but Canseco's and McGwire's names were left out of it. Two years later, in 1994, Stejskal still stewed over the fact that a couple of star athletes were using PEDs and thought that, maybe, someone should know about it. In August of that year he was at a seminar about sports scandals at the FBI's training center in Quantico, Virginia. Also in attendance was Kevin Hallinan, baseball's Chief of Security. Stejskal told Hallinan about McGwire and Canseco's involvement in illegal PEDs. Hallinan's response "we've heard it too." He said, though, that baseball couldn't do anything about it because it had to go through the union to implement testing and that wasn't happening. Selig was acting commissioner for two years prior to the Stejskal-Hallinan conversation. He was no doubt part of the "we" who had "heard it too." For the Commissioner not be aware of that would be impossible to contemplate. Which is to say that even if one makes the unlikely assumption that Bud Selig did not have a general awareness of the use of PEDs in professional sports   an awareness a Congressional subcommittee spoke of as early as 1973   he absolutely knew about specific PED use among two of baseball's biggest stars at least 13 years before Barry Bonds broke Hank Aaron's record and likely well before that. Over the years Selig's defenders have followed on Hallinan's assertion that MLB's hands were tied with respect to PEDs because of the union's opposition to drug testing. And yes, the union was long opposed to drug testing of any kind. But to suggest that meant Major League Baseball could do nothing about it despite that is ridiculous. Drug testing is collectively-bargained. Collective bargaining, by definition, involves one side proposing a thing, the other side agreeing, objecting or countering and negotiations ensuing. There is zero evidence that Major League Baseball ever proposed drug testing or pressed the union on the matter in any way in the years after it became aware that the game's biggest stars were doping. It was not a priority for them. They did not care. Mostly because big sluggers hitting big homers was and remains very good for the game's bottom line. At the bargaining table the league was far more interested in breaking the union financially, imposing a salary cap and making empty threats about contracting franchises. But that's only a small part of it. The bigger part of it involves Selig's total abdication of leadership on the matter which, history has clearly shown, he could've effectively exercised to make combatting PED use a priority in the game but refused to do so. Rather, he merely reacted to bad press about PEDs, doing the bare minimum he had to do to stop the bad press until it was no longer tenable for him to do so. When his hand was finally forced to take real action he grudgingly did so by making the players the sole bad guys in the narrative after which he began a twelve-year-long and counting victory lap in which he has taken full credit for stopping the PED scourge. Despite knowing no later than 1994 that the game's biggest stars were drug users, despite McGwire and Sosa breaking records in 1998, despite a reporter writing about androstenedione sitting on the shelf of McGwire's locker that season (after which the reporter was pilloried by his colleagues, thus deflecting the controversy), despite the offensive boom of the 1990s and early 2000s, and despite Barry Bonds hitting an insane 73 homers in 2001, baseball remained totally silent on PEDs until 2002. What changed that was not the league speaking out or the union having a change of heart and willingly retreating from its anti-testing stance. It was Ken Caminiti and then Jose Canseco admitting to their own PED use publicly and talking about it publicly. Caminiti did so in an interview with Sports Illustrated in June of 2002. Canseco soon followed and promised to write a book about it. In August of 2002   two months after Caminiti went public   Major League Baseball and the union agreed to survey drug testing that would, eventually, lead to the fully-blown drug testing and discipline regime we have today. It was not placed on the agenda because either the league or the union had had enough. It was not agreed to because of hard-fought negotiations. It was 100% the product of bad press and the desire to mitigate negative public opinion. It was that   mere public acknowledgment of PEDs in baseball that put the league in a bad light   that began to change the game. This dynamic of baseball reacting to public outcry about PEDs as opposed to acting proactively would continue to shape the PED issue in baseball for the next several years: Canseco's book was published in February of 2005. One month later, as a direct consequence of the book, Canseco, Alex Rodriguez, Rafael Palmeiro, Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, and Curt Schilling were summoned on March 17, 2005 to testify in front of Congress; In the wake of the stir created by Caminiti and Canseco's admissions the feds launched the BALCO investigation which would lead to the implication and prosecution of Barry Bonds. The book "Game of Shadows," by Mark Fainaru-Wada and Lance Williams , chronicled that investigation. It was published on March 23, 2006; On March 26, 2006   three days after the publication of "Game of Shadows"   Bud Selig announced that he had commissioned George Mitchell to conduct an investigation into PEDs in baseball which would lead to the Mitchell Report, released in late 2007 ; Baseball's drug testing regime   which before the Mitchell Report involved seldom and spotty testing and resulted in 10-day suspensions for positive tests   was significantly ratcheted up in in direct response to the Mitchell Report. Several years later punishment was ratcheted up even more severely, but again, only in reaction to scandal, this time the Biogenesis scandal. We are well aware of how easy it is for the Commissioner of Baseball to set the agenda for the game. Like Rob Manfred has done with pace of play and myriad other issues in recent years   and like Selig himself did with all manner of issues during the latter part of his tenure   all that needs to be done is for the Commissioner to voice his concern about a topic. When he does so it immediately rockets to the top of the game's agenda. The baseball press eagerly begins discussing the issue (almost always in the manner as it was framed by the Commissioner), sports radio begins talking about it, the fans begin talking about it and the league's narrative on the matter dominates the discussion. There is back and forth and the union has a say in things, but once the Commissioner raises an issue it is out there until it is resolved in his favor or abandoned in the face of popular opposition. Bud Selig made no effort to do any of this with PEDs. He had zero interest in pressing the issue of PEDs in baseball despite his clear awareness of the problem for years and years. He merely reacted to the heat as a means of self preservation. All action ever taken by the league was done so in direct proportion to how much bad publicity baseball received about players' PED use. When there was no heat, Selig did nothing. When there was a little heat Selig did a little. When there was a lot of heat he did a lot. At no time, however, did Selig act proactively despite his knowledge of the situation. He turned a blind eye and later played dumb because he didn't care, because he had other priorities and, later, because   thanks to the Mitchell Report   he had successfully convinced the public and the press that he was in no way aware of or responsible for the problem. Selig is lying when he said he had no idea about PEDs in baseball during the McGwire-Sosa chase. He is lying when he said he became aware of it in the years in between that and Bonds' final pursuit of Aaron. He wants our sympathy for how saddened he was by Bonds' PED-aided accomplishments yet says absolutely nothing   zero   about why he failed to act until bad press, Congressional pressure, a couple of books which put the game in a bad light and public opinion forced him to do so. Anyone   be it a fan or, especially, a member of the baseball press   who buys into Selig's words on all of this now is a willfully ignorant sucker. Anyone who uncritically passes his words along or lauds him for his candor is complicit in Selig's lies and is, effectively, a part of his P.R. team. Follow @craigcalcaterra Related slideshow: The 2019 MLB season (Provided by imagn)


Kawhi Leonard told everyone during his introductory press conference upon joining the Toronto Raptors that he was a "fun guy." Though many doubted that, Leonard has shown that is the case. After leading his Toronto Raptors to the championship with a 114-110 win in Game 6 at Oracle Arena against the Golden State Warriors, Leonard went into the locker room and celebrated with his teammates. He danced and popped bottles as he celebrated: Kawhi dancing as #WeTheNorth celebrate with champagne in the locker room… pic.twitter.com/IpIVHnNI44   SportsLine (@SportsLine) June 14, 2019 Leonard is viewed as robotic because of the lack of emotions he displays and straightforward answers he gives in interviews . Maybe he just has supreme focus that keeps him from letting up until he's finally reached his goal. It wasn't until he won the title that he finally put it all down to celebrate, which is admirable. Related Slideshow: Best of the 2019 NBA Finals (provided by imagn)


Incense burners were used for smoking cannabis 2,500 years ago, scientists from Beijing announced saying they discovered the earliest evidence of marijuana use by people. The burners, found in the Altai Mountains on the China-Russia border, contained burnt stones and black marks from cannabis plants. The study, jointly conducted by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, was able to confirm the use of cannabis by analysing the chemical compounds found in the burners.


Editor's note: The opinions in this article are the author's, as published by our content partner, and do not necessarily represent the views of MSN or Microsoft. Does Jared Kushner know anything relevant to his White House role at all? Have any comprehension of the role of a public servant? See a purpose in his life other than elevating himself into ever-higher echelons of wealth and influence? If you were going by his remarks in a recent interview with Axios, the answer would have to be no. Kushner sputtered and spun, looking like a little boy dressed up in his father's suit, unable to give a definitive or direct answer to nearly every question asked of him. From abortion rights to Israel, Palestinians to the presidential campaign, Kushner served word salad. It was a rare and jarring look inside the mind of a cipher made suddenly and undeservedly powerful. What we saw: A whole lot of nothing. The urgent takeaway: voters cannot squander the nation's upcoming opportunity to restore competence, stature and sanity to the White House. Kushner's interview would have been comical if this underqualified senior adviser didn't have the ear of the leader of the free world, and didn't, absurdly, believe himself the right guy to advise on any number of matters   including taking over the Middle East peace process. His real qualifications? He married a Trump, and his father-in-law likes him. Before that, Kushner had achieved little beyond a mediocre academic career, a massive real estate failure via his criminal dad's company, and the decision to purchase a newspaper   The New York Observer   as a vanity project that he promptly ran into the ground. This White House is such a pulsating example of unearned privilege (see here , here , here , here and here ), that in a nation that prides itself on meritocracy and swears that those who work hard are rewarded, we see that it's also possible to be a rich dolt and still occupy one of the most powerful positions on earth. (In the case of Kushner's father-in-law, whose trajectory of failure and mediocrity landed him in the Oval Office, to occupy what may be the most powerful position on earth.) Just how ignorant, middling and amoral is Kushner? The Axios interview offers some startling clues. Among them is that he manages to spin his utter incompetence as a good thing. Asked by Axios' Jonathan Swan to name the thing Trump will be known for in 50 or 100 years, he replied, in part: "What this President did is he represented an outsider who came in, brought in a ton of people who never would've been in Washington before who were not 'qualified' by conventional standards," Kushner said, thus absolving himself of his own pretender status. "And he's brought in a ton of people that have brought great results to this country both economically and from a national security point of view." It is true that Trump brought in a great many "outsiders" who were not qualified for their administration jobs by conventional standards (or any standards, really). His cabinet members and other appointments have been often inept, many of them just seriously inexperienced. Even his ambassadors are the least qualified in living memory. As a result, America's reputation worldwide has been sullied, we are facing unprecedented attacks on freedom of the press, election interference from a hostile foreign power has gone largely ignored by the administration, and we may be facing a constitutional crisis. Those are not "great results." They are disastrous to our living democracy. In the Axios interview, Kushner also defended Trump from accusations of racism, saying, "You can't not be a racist for 69 years and then run for president and be a racist." This would be relevant if Trump hadn't been a racist for 69 years, but in fact he has spent significant time and money over the past several decades pushing his racist views. Recall, for one consequential example (among many), the Justice Department's 1973 crackdown on Trump's real estate organization for screening rental applicants by race (Trump settled the case without admitting wrongdoing). Or Trump's decision in 1989 to take out a newspaper ad pushing the death penalty after five African American teenagers were accused of rape in Central Park; they were later exonerated, but Trump refused to accept it. Kushner, of course, knows all about this. Asked specifically about Trump's promotion of the birther canard about President Obama, Kushner repeatedly refused to answer   concluding with: "Uh, like I said I was not involved in that. That was a long time ago." This was par for the course in the interview. When confronted with inconvenient information   like the fact that Kushner's friend Saudi Prince Mohammed Bin Salman ordered, the CIA has concluded , the brutal murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who was living in the United States   Kushner similarly hedged. (What is the administration waiting for to hold Mohammed Bin Salman accountable, he was asked? "I believe that there's a report that they're working on.") He did the same on the question of whether he supports abortion rights: "I'm here to enforce his (Trump's) positions. His position is the one that as a staffer in the White House will work to push.") There's an ongoing fiction that those around Trump are keeping this rig afloat, and that even if the President is small-minded and spends his days yelling at the television and tweeting, those around him are ably steering the ship. The Kushner interview lays bare how false that is. Trump has put sycophants and loyal family members in influential positions over people who actually know what they're doing. The Trump family are the ones at the wheel. We can't lose our ability to be shocked by how low this floor keeps dropping. And the influence of someone who is simultaneously profoundly clueless and ill-equipped for his job, and yet also self-admiring of his "outsider" status, is dangerous. Experience matters. Knowledge matters. Without it, we simply have a government of know-nothings   advising a President desperately in need of better angels whispering in his ear.


Does your small business need to hire? If so, you need to plan how you'll get around three of the biggest minefields for small employers. According to a recent study , small business owners' top challenges with hiring are a lack of qualified candidates, new hires not living up to expectations, and too much employee turnover. Here's how to tackle these problems and make sure your new hires work out. How to find the best job candidates It's a job seeker's market right now, and for small businesses that can't offer the same perks and benefits as larger companies (like employee cafeterias or on-site daycare), getting the best of the best may seem a lost cause. Wrong! To attract better job candidates, try these tips. 1. Start hiring now According to the job search site, Career Sidekick , June, July, and August are the worst times to look for jobs. Most companies aren't hiring because too many people are on vacation. Differentiate your business by actively seeking job candidates during the summer months, and you'll get more applicants. Looking for entry-level workers? Although most colleges get out in May or early June, there are still some graduates who are just beginning the job search. 2. Don't be a perfectionist During the aftermath of the Great Recession, many companies got very picky about who they hired. Employers wanted workers who had the exact skills, experience, and characteristics they wanted to fill a particular slot. In today's job market, employers have to ease up on their demands. Plus, trying to find a candidate who fits a cookie-cutter mold is a recipe for disappointment. Instead of rejecting a candidate who has four (not five) years of experience, try interviewing people who are "close enough" to what you want. In decades of experience as a manager, I've learned that attitude and aptitude are always more important than experience and expertise. How to make sure new employees work out Finding employees who fit your organization is key to successful hiring and that takes time. Unfortunately, as a busy small business owner, you need everything done yesterday, including hiring that new employee. Combined with the fact that most of us hate interviewing job candidates, it's easy to rush through the hiring process. Instead, take the time to do the following: 1. Schedule meet-and-greets Arrange meetings between candidates and the people they'll be working with, such as supervisors and team members, as a second interview. You'll get a second opinion, and your employees will be more likely to work well with someone they had a say in hiring. 2. Test the candidate on key job skills When I worked at a magazine, we asked candidates for writing jobs to write a short article and those applying for editing jobs to edit an article. Testing is a good way to sort out if someone has what it takes. 3. Check references According to one survey , 38% of managers have dropped a candidate after finding out they lied on their resume. Candidates most commonly fudged the truth on job experience, job duties, education, and dates of employment. Contact references and verify facts such as dates of employment, job title, and job duties. If the position warrants it, you might consider a background check on candidates. Welcome aboard Bringing new employees on board in a positive way is key to helping the new hire be successful, so be ready for their first day on the job. There's nothing worse than showing up to work excited for your first day…only to find that nobody remembered you were coming. Set up the new employee's workstation, uniform, and other tools needed to do the job. Then have tax forms, employee agreements, and other documents ready to read and sign. Additionally, the new employee's supervisor should be available to show them the ropes, like how to track time and turn in their timesheets . Provide ongoing training during the new employee's first few weeks, with frequent feedback to make sure they're learning their role. As the employee becomes more confident, you can step back a bit, but you check in with them every week or so to see if they have any problems or questions. Finally, don't forget to welcome them. Gallup polls find, consistently, that having friends at work leads to better performance . Introduce new employees to your staff on their first day and pair them up with a "buddy" who can answer workplace culture questions and make them feel at home. Taking them out to lunch with the team is also a nice gesture on the first day. The real secret to hiring employees who fit in? Make your company a place where people want to work, and you'll never have a problem finding workers. This article originally appeared on TSheets.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.


Mohamed Salah, the Liverpool striker who wants to see men in the Middle East treat women better , is getting blowback after supporting a teammate accused of sexual harassment and helping in his reinstatement. Amr Warda was cut from Egypt's Africa Cup of Nations squad on Wednesday following allegations that he sent inappropriate messages . Salah and Pharaohs captain Ahmed Elmohamady intervened on the midfielder's behalf and he was reinstated for the host team on Friday. It's resulted in a complicated stance for Salah, who was championed two months ago for his strong stance on giving women more respect. Warda accused of sending 'lewd,' 'aggressive' messages Merhan Keller, a British-Egyptian model, shared screenshots this week showing inappropriate messages sent by Warda on Whatsapp and Instagram that were "lewd" and "aggressive," according to The Guardian . Keller also shared screenshots and videos of conversations reportedly from other women who had received harassment, per the Guardian. And other women on social media shared similar screenshots, per the BBC . Warda, 25, allegedly became unpleasant when he was rejected. The Egyptian Football Federation (EFA) released a statement saying Warda was dismissed "in order to maintain the state of discipline, commitment and concentration." He was set to miss the entire tournament, which Egypt is hosting. It's at least the second time he's been accused of harassing women. In 2017 while with a Portuguese club, he allegedly harassed two teammates' wives and was cut from the team three weeks in. Warda apologizes, reinstated Warda posted a short video to social media the following day apologizing for the incident to his family, teammates, the EFA and "anyone who is upset at me or anyone I have upset," per the Guardian . The EFA decided Friday to reinstate Warda and suspend him only until the end of the first round of the tournament. In a statement, President Hani Abu Reda "praised the spirit of solidarity between the players and their desire to pardon their colleague Amr Warda and to lift the suspension from him." That solidarity was pushed by Salah, per reports , and came after teammates, notably the captain, held up his jersey after Egypt's victory on Wednesday. What was @Pharaohs ' @Elmo_27 thinking, by raising this jersey, in an apparent show of solidarity with Amr Warda? Does the @EFA & @MoSalah know this is bad for the image of the team? @monaeltahawy , what do you think about all this? pic.twitter.com/xpaqjDRgg1   Osasu Obayiuwana (@osasuo) June 27, 2019 Salah intervenes for Warda Salah, 27, gained worldwide recognition as an advocate for women when TIME Magazine named him one of its 100 Most Influential People in April. Salah said women in Egypt deserve more than they receive now and "it's not optional" to change how they are treated in the country for the better. He told TIME : "I support the woman more than I did before, because I feel like she deserves more than what they give her now, at the moment." Salah stood in support of Warda with a series of tweets Wednesday in which he wrote that "many who make mistakes can change for the better and shouldn't be sent straight to the guillotine, which is the easiest way out." Women must be treated with the utmost respect. "No" means "no". Those things are and must remain sacred. I also believe that many who make mistakes can change for the better and shouldn't be sent straight to the guillotine, which is the easiest way out.   Mohamed Salah (@MoSalah) June 26, 2019 We need to believe in second chances... we need to guide and educate. Shunning is not the answer.   Mohamed Salah (@MoSalah) June 26, 2019 Fans, media question Salah's stance Social media users, including media members, are taking the striker to task and many are asking what chance this if for Warda , because "it's not the second." They've called Salah complicit and questioned his role in the change the star player said he wants to see in the region. You're an icon in Egypt, @MoSalah . And for this reason, you must choose your words and actions very carefully. Do you think the serial acts of Amr Warda, against women, can be pardoned, without him changing his awful behaviour, for which he clearly requires psychological help? https://t.co/ArHF334Lmu   Osasu Obayiuwana (@osasuo) June 27, 2019 We give second chances when those who committed a mistake are punished for their action, then comes the inclusion. But protecting misogynists from the consequences of their actions is not inclusion, it means that YOU are complicit.   Mai Shams El-Din (@maishams) June 27, 2019 If you really think we need to change the way we treat women in our culture, then punishing Warda for repeatedly harassing women is how start. This is one time in which the Egyptian Football Association is clearly right & you're clearly wrong. Warda has to face consequences   Timothy E Kaldas (@tekaldas) June 27, 2019 You give someone a second chance when they are showing remorse for what they did! When they are willing to take responsibility and apologise to their victims, the women who had to endure his sexual harassment. But what you just did right now is enable a repeat sex offender!!   Mona Seif (@Monasosh) June 27, 2019 Salah had a chance to take action in a cause he has championed and for which he was named a titan, but instead went the opposite direction. Egypt plays Uganda on Sunday in the third round of the group stage. More from Yahoo Sports: USWNT needs Alex Morgan to step up vs. France Rapinoe stands ground in cross-Atlantic Trump spat Report: Celtics are the favorite to land Walker Sources: Hill meets with NFL over child abuse charges Related slideshow: Best photos of the 2019 Women's World Cup (provided by imagn)


Electronic Arts Inc. was the worst performing stock in the S&P 500 index Friday, as the second-season release of "Apex Legends" hit a snag, raising concerns the new version of the publisher's latest smash-hit may not satisfy gamers as hoped. Optimism may have been too high. In early June SunTrust told clients trade press reviews had skewed positive for the game's rebirth with improvements to weapons and maps. EA has benefited from Apex Legends' early growth, but signs that uptake is cooling-off now call into question whether the game can become a formidable competitor to Epic Games Inc.'s Fortnite -- a phenomenon that has had video-game publishers scrambling to catch up. "A lot of people were expecting this season to kind of blow them out the water," Nick Licouris, an investment adviser covering video games at Gerber Kawasaki Inc said. "I wasn't too impressed" and EA really needs Apex Legends to be cross-platform in order to take to it to the next level. "That was one great thing that Fortnite did." Shares in the company saw their biggest decline in five months Friday, falling as much as 5.6% intraday. Video-game peers also fell, with Activision Blizzard Inc. down as much as 4.2% and Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. down 2.4%. Adding to the shift in sentiment, a flaw in one of the free-to-play battle royale game's characters surfaced in a Reddit video on Thursday, concerning some users that a perimeter security capability reveals the exact location of the Wattson character when breached. But EA says it's not aware of any bug with Wattson or major issues with the new season. "A few players have reported issues with redeeming the Twitch Prime Wattson skin, which we're working on, but that's not a gameplay issue, and it's only a very small number of players," a company spokesman said. Even so, it is still early days for the second season release. People "are making a big deal out of Twitch views," Wedbush analyst Michael Pachter said in an interview. While Twitch views will matter ultimately, the game has only been out a few days, he said. "People are complaining about the server crashes, not the content of the game itself." --With assistance from Christopher Palmeri.


Reasons why it's better to adopt a dog rather than purchasing one. Adopt, Don't Shop Getting a dog is one of life's greatest pleasures. There's nothing quite like welcoming an adorable, cuddly, fuzzy, four-legged member to your family! However, buying a dog from a breeder or pet store isn't the best choice. There are millions of dogs in shelters across the country that would give anything to be in a loving home. Plus, there are SO many benefits to adopting a dog rather than shopping for one. If you're thinking about adopting a pup, check out this list for 13 reasons why you should do so. You'll Save A Life Unfortunately, many dogs are euthanized at shelters all across the country because of overcrowding, their age, health, and other heartbreaking reasons. By adopting a dog rather than buying one, you'll save a life that might otherwise be cut short. You'll Free Up Space At The Shelter Adopting a dog from a shelter means there will be more space for other pups who need a temporary home before they hopefully get adopted, too! You'll Give A Pup The Best Life They Could Ever Ask For All dogs want is to be loved and show you how much they love you. By adopting a dog from a shelter, you'll be giving them the best possible life they could ever have, and they'll be eternally grateful for that. You'll Save Money It's not uncommon for there to be an adoption fee when picking out a pet from a shelter, but buying a dog from a breeder or a pet store is insanely expensive! We're talking thousands of dollars! However, for a few hundred dollars (sometimes even less), you'll not only save a dog's life, but you'll save some serious cash, too. Adoption Helps More Than One Animal Which brings me to my next point: Adoption isn't just helping the animal(s) you choose to adopt; it's helping other pets at the shelter, too! Your donation/adoption fee will help supply food, blankets, toys, and other goodies and necessities shelters need. It's A Big 'Screw You' To Puppy Mills The best way to fight puppy mills is to not buy animals from one! If you don't support puppy mills, it'll be harder for them to stay in business. You'll Become Healthier Once you adopt a pup, your new friend is going to need to go on walks ALL the time. Even if you're just walking around the block three times a day, that's still more than the zero times a day. Plus, seeing your adopted pup interact with other dogs at the park or while out and about will bring you   and of course, them   so much joy! They May Already Be Trained A lot of people say "you never know what you're going to get" when it comes to rescue dogs, however, that's not necessarily a bad thing! Your brand-new doggo might be fully trained, which is great if you don't want to go through the trials and tribulations of potty training. (And, honestly, who wants to go through that?) You'll Be Happier Fact: Dogs make almost everyone happy. If a dog doesn't make you happy, you might be a cold, dead, soulless human being. The end. Thank you for coming to my TED Talk. You'll Become More Social Dogs are just like kids   you have to socialize them if you don't want them to turn out weird. In turn, the more you socialize your pup (by taking them to the dog park, training classes, out for Saturday brunch, etc.), the more you'll socialize, too. Also, that's EXACTLY how 30% of Hallmark holiday movies start, so who knows   maybe you'll meet the love of your life while you're out with your doggo. There Are Tons Of Options To Choose From If you buy from a breeder, puppy mill, or pet store, your options are pretty limited. However, when you adopt, you can literally find ANY type of dog you want, especially with sites like Petfinder. Also, going to a shelter and seeing if you make that special connection with a dog right away is a truly wonderful and special feeling. Other People May Follow Suit Not gonna lie, this happened with me and my brothers! We all adopted dogs within a year of each other, after seeing what a wonderful addition they made to each other's families. If you adopt a dog, other people in your life may follow suit, which means they'll save money, give a dog the best life ever, become more active, and everything else on this list. You'll Gain A New Best Friend Most importantly, you'll gain a new best friend. Dogs enhance our lives so much! The second you adopt a shelter dog, you'll wonder how you ever lived your life before they were in it.


A new vape shop has made its debut in the neighborhood. Called Vape Daze , the new arrival is located at 6677 N. Northwest Highway in Edison Park. This new business offers glass pieces, CBD pods, melatonin gummies, bath bombs and more. Look for your favorite flavors among more than 300 flavors of e-liquid, which includes 35 flavors for Juul. With a four-star rating out of four reviews on Yelp so far, Vape Daze has made a promising start. Youkhana D., who was among the first Yelpers to review the new spot on April 17, wrote, "What a beautiful setup. Big selection of glass pieces and really informative. Charlie helped me pick out a beautiful hookah and glass pipe. Great addition to the Edison area." And Jake C. wrote , "This place is sick, the employees are all great and extremely knowledgeable. For a shop with high-quality products, they are extremely reasonably priced." Interested? Stop by to welcome the new business to the neighborhood. Vape Daze is open from 11 a.m. 10 p.m. on Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m. midnight on Friday and Saturday and noon 8 p.m. on Sunday. 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.


Republican Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey on Monday signed a bill into law that requires someone convicted of a sex offense against a child under the age of 13 to begin chemical castration a month before being released from custody. The law requires individuals convicted of such an offense to continue treatments until a court deems the treatment is no longer necessary. It says offenders must pay for the treatment, and they can't be denied parole solely based on an inability to pay. "This bill is a step toward protecting children in Alabama," Ivey said. Both houses of the Alabama Legislature approved the legislation late last month, after it was put forward by state GOP Rep. Steve Hurst. Chemical castration involves administering medication -- via tablets or injection -- to take away sexual interest and make it impossible for a person to perform sexual acts. If the person stops taking the drug the effects can be reversed. Several states have versions of chemical castration in their laws. The legislation defines chemical castration as "the receiving of medication, including, but not limited to, medroxyprogesterone acetate treatment or its chemical equivalent, that, among other things, reduces, inhibits, or blocks the production of testosterone, hormones, or other chemicals in a person's body." According to the law, if a given offender chooses to stop receiving the treatment, they will be in violation of parole and forced to return to custody. The use of chemical castration is internationally controversial, and critics say forced chemical castration violates human rights. This story has been updated.


The Houston Texans had arguably one of the most sensational conclusions to the offseason with firing general manager Brian Gaine, but the totality of the offseason was unimpressive. Frank Schwab from Yahoo! Sports released his preview for the Texans , and claims the acquisitions of safety Tashaun Gipson and cornerback Bradley Roby to replace Tyrann Mathieu and Kareem Jackson were downgrades at their respective positions. It's safe to say safety Tyrann Mathieu was the Texans' fifth star last season, but he left to join Kansas City via free agency. Fellow defensive back Kareem Jackson took an $11 million per year deal in Denver. They were replaced by safety Tashaun Gipson and cornerback Bradley Roby. Gipson and Roby have talent, but those are downgrades. The Texans signed left tackle Matt Kalil, but he has been a disappointment for years, with the Vikings and then the Panthers. And Kalil is coming off a knee injury. Another contributing factor for Schwab grading the Texans so low in his offseason grades was his colleague, Eric Edholm, giving the Texans a low grade after the 2019 NFL draft. Yahoo's Eric Edholm gave the Texans' draft class his lowest grade this year , tied with two other teams for last place. Alabama State offensive tackle Tytus Howard and Northern Illinois offensive tackle Max Scharping, the team's first- and second-round picks, were viewed as reaches. It's hard to get excited about the offseason moves While the firing of Gaine and subsequent failed pursuit of New England Patriots director of player personnel Nick Caserio was not mentioned by Schwab as a contributing factor for the grade, it nonetheless a Jets-esque spectacle Houston could have done without - like putting an exclamation mark on an otherwise boring or monotonous sentence to liven things up. In the NFL, the seasons never end; they only stop playing games. A new type of competition takes place between March and July. Only the harvest from September through December will prove whether the Texans' low offseason grade will doom them to a fruitless January. MORE: Poker player argues over dealer chip counting error during crucial all-in hand at WSOP Main Event Colts ranked No. 1 in NFL future power rankings Big Baller Brand Hits New Low With Clearance Sale at Local Gym Trysten Hill may be crowning point on Cowboys star-studded defense Future looks bright for the Steelers according to ESPN


WASHINGTON (AP) -- A few days after the birth of his second daughter, Kacy, Max Scherzer was back to work. His wife wouldn't have it any other way. Scherzer sustained a dominant stretch with seven strong innings two days after the birth of his daughter, Kurt Suzuki homered and the Washington Nationals beat the Kansas City Royals 6-0 on Saturday. BOX SCORE: NATIONALS 6, ROYALS 0 The NL pitcher of the month for June, Scherzer (9-5) allowed four hits and struck out 11 with one walk in his final outing before heading to Tuesday's All-Star Game, where he won't pitch. Kacy was born Thursday. "I know my wife, Erica, she wanted me to pitch today," Scherzer said. "She wants me out there pitching, she doesn't want me sitting at home. We got the in-laws in, we got help. She's a baseball wife, she (was) a pitcher (in college). She knows she wants me out there competing." Scherzer has won seven straight starts and has an 0.84 ERA over his last nine appearances. On Saturday, he settled in after a 22-pitch first inning and later struck out the side in the seventh inning as Washington won for the ninth time in 11 games. "I played in Atlanta (with Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine) and those guys they had were pretty good, but what I've seen out of Max is incredible, it really is," manager Dave Martinez said. "I don't know how many games now where he keeps getting better and better as we go along." Both teams wore throwback uniforms in celebration of their franchise's 50 years since joining Major League Baseball in 1969, with the Nationals wearing the powder blue uniforms of the Montreal Expos. Kansas City starter Glenn Sparkman (2-5) gave up four runs and nine hits in six innings. "The way it looked early, they were going to bash his brains in, and he did a nice job of settling down and making pitches," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "I was pleased that he was able to give us six strong." Alex Gordon had two hits and a walk for the Royals, who have lost eight of 10. With Washington leading 1-0, Matt Adams walked leading off the second and Suzuki followed with his 11th homer of the season to culminate a 10-pitch at-bat. Juan Soto had two RBI singles. EXPOS DAY Hall of Famer and former Expo Vladimir Guerrero threw out the ceremonial first pitch. ... It wasn't the first time in an Expos uniform for Martinez, who caught Guerrero's pitch, and third base coach Bobby Henley. Martinez hit .279 over 3 1/2 seasons with Montreal, and Henley was a teammate of Guerrero's on the 1998 Expos. ... Expos highlights were shown between innings. WHEELS Scherzer stole his first base of the season and second of his career after a single in the fourth. He was then caught too far off second on Trea Turner's grounder to third for a fielder's choice. CENTURY STEAL Kansas City CF Whit Merrifield recorded his 100th career steal when he swiped second in the first inning. He's the sixth fastest player in Royals history to reach that mark, doing it in 474 games. Tom Goodwin was the fastest (243 games). TRAINER'S ROOM Royals: Manager Ned Yost said he was without a quartet of relievers following Friday's 11-inning game including Wily Peralta (who pitched in four out of past five games), Jake Newberry (three out of four), Kevin McCarthy (51 pitches in the past three days) and Ian Kennedy (49 pitches in two days). Nationals: Martinez said 1B Ryan Zimmerman was "normally sore" coming out of Friday's game and was given the day off. ... Martinez said Scherzer will get some extra time off after the All-Star break and won't make his next start until Sunday, July 14. UP NEXT Royals: RHP Jakob Junis (4-8, 5.53) is winless since May 30. He received one run of support or less in four of his past six outings. He's never faced the Nationals. Nationals: LHP Patrick Corbin (7-5, 3.55) has a 1.29 ERA with 24 strikeouts, four walks and a .181 opponents' batting average over his past three starts. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports


It's been a long process, but the day has finally come: Boston Red Sox legend David Ortiz has been released from the hospital after being shot down in the Dominican Republic back in June , per multiple sources. David Ortiz was released from the hospital yesterday, a source close to the family told ESPN. Ortiz will continue his rehabilitation at home, where he will be closely monitored by full-time nurses and will be visited regularly by his personal physician. https://t.co/Tt3l6q9Ihs   Marly Rivera (@MarlyRiveraESPN) July 27, 2019 It was a little touch and go for a moment for Ortiz, but he was transferred to a hospital in Boston after the initial attack, underwent another surgery , and was later transferred to the ICU unit, from which he was removed in late June . David Ortiz released from the hospital, per @MarlyRiveraESPN .   Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) July 27, 2019 Marly Rivera of ESPN reported that Ortiz was released from the hospital on Friday and will continue his rehabilitation from home. You can bet he'll be under strict watch from his doctors and nurses, but this is encouraging news regarding one of the greatest designated hitters of all time. I'm sure fans can't wait to see him up and throwing out the first pitch at Fenway Park (which you know they'll do), but this is just another positive step in the right direction for Ortiz fully healing from this crazy incident down in his home country. Related slideshow: 2019 MLB season (provided by imagn)


If you've ever been the last player picked for anything, then perhaps you can identify with something the NFL calls "Mr. Irrelevant." It's been a tradition since 1976, when former wide receiver Paul Savata came up with the grand idea that the last player picked in the NFL draft should be celebrated and rejoiced. Savata, 82, wasn't the last player taken when he was drafted out of USC in 1951. He was a 10th-round selection, the 110th pick overall, by the Steelers that particular year when the NFL draft actually went 30 rounds. But years later, he was able to convince the league that that being picked last overall shouldn't come with any negative stigma attached to it. It's a privilege, Savata fought, to be drafted at all. That's why he, and members of his family in the decades since, continue to throw a week-long party in honor of "Mr. Irrelevant," including a parade in Newport Beach, Calif., other events including a trip through Disneyland, a day at Dodger Stadium and a boatload of gifts and other surprises. "Mr. Irrelevant Week," as it has come to be known, officially kicks off in another two weeks and this year's "lucky" recipient, former UCLA tight end Caleb Wilson of the Arizona Cardinals, can't wait to be the latest underdog to be honored. "Yeah, it's going to be cool," Wilson, the 254th and final pick in this year's draft, told The Republic this week. "I'm going to be down there with all my family and it's going to be fun. I can't wait." As anxious as Wilson is to get the royal treatment from a thousand or so strangers from June 28 to July 2, and as is custom, to have all the extra proceeds from the festival donated to worthwhile charities, there is something else for which Wilson can't wait. It's establishing a close bond with Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray and   wait for it   being the only player in NFL history drafted last overall to catch a touchdown pass from a player drafted No.1 overall the same year. Asked how long he's been thinking about that possibility actually becoming a record-setting reality, Wilson said, "Yeah, pretty much every single day since I got drafted." How cool would that be? Mr. Irrelevant from Southern California catching a touchdown from the reigning Texas-born Heisman Trophy winner from Oklahoma. Not only that, but teammates on the receiving and throwing end   one who stands 6 feet, 4 inches tall (Wilson) and the other (Murray) who barely registers 5-10. "That would be awesome," Wilson said. "I mean, that's a dream come true. In a preseason game or a real game   any game   to be able to catch a touchdown in general, especially with him being the No.1 pick and me being the last pick, that's a story in itself. That would be awesome and hopefully, that comes some day. "That's what I'm hoping happens, anyway." Are you a sports fan? Stay in the know. Subscribe to azcentral.com today . Maybe it will. Each player is the son of formidable football coaches and comes with a certain pedigree. Wilson's father, Chris, is a longtime college assistant who spent the past three seasons as defensive line coach for the Philadelphia Eagles. Murray's father, Kevin, is a former record-setting quarterback from Texas A&M who has been a successful high school coach. Despite being polar opposites in this year's draft, Wilson and Murray were two of the best at their respective positions last year in college. Wilson led all FBS tight ends in receiving yards (965); Murray was the NCAA's showstopper   4,361 passing yards, 42 touchdowns and 1,001 rushing yards with a dozen more running TDs. "I love Caleb," Murray said. "He's a really good pass catcher. I didn't realize he played quarterback in high school and was a walk-on at USC. But he's worked hard for everything he's earned. Now that he's here, he can really catch the ball and run good routes. "He's smart, just has a good feel for soft spots in zones and know how to get open against man (coverage)." Wilson and Murray have been hitting it off and developing a nice chemistry since the start of the Cardinals' offseason workouts, which formally wrapped up this week. "Great pass catcher," Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury said of Wilson. "… He's got great route-running ability and great hands, so it'll be interesting to see once we get the pads on (in training camp) kind of where that goes." Wilson can only dream about it, which is something he's been doing a lot of lately. But that's to be expected, considering the circumstances. Who wouldn't root for "Mr. Irrelevant" to not only make the team, but start catching touchdowns from the No.1 overall pick? "I've tried just to focus on the day-to-day things," Wilson said, "but I have great friends and my friends are always telling me like, 'Man, Caleb, your story is awesome. It could be really cool one day if you just keep working on what you're doing.' "I try to stay humble, honestly, but I have great family and friends who always support me and give me a little love all the time, so that's greatly appreciated. But yeah, I definitely have been dreaming about it. I mean, playing in the NFL and catching touchdowns from a guy like Kyler is a dream come true. I mean, it would be if it happens." First, Wilson has to crack the Cardinals' 53-man roster, which could be difficult because of all the depth in front of him. But he's making some nice strides because of his hard work and attention to detail, especially when it comes to getting to know Murray and understanding the quarterback's tendencies and preferences. The more he learns Murray, the more he said he can become "a valuable option for him." It's all part of being a quarterback's best friend. "And you do that just by being consistent," Wilson said. "When the ball comes my way, he's going to know I'm going to make the play." If he makes it and starts catching touchdowns in this odd, but fascinating first overall to last overall connection, the whole "Mr. Irrelevant" thing could take on a new perspective. "I think it's almost like the American way," Cardinals General Manager Steve Keim said. "It's like you have an opportunity. Just because you're the last pick in the draft, it doesn't matter where you were picked. … We all have a chance to do big things." Mr. Irrelevant A brief history of the last players selected in the NFL draft since 1976, when the "Mr. Irrelevant" celebration began. This illustrates how long the odds are for the final draftee to make it in the NFL. 2019: Caleb Wilson, TE, Arizona Cardinals 2018: Trey Quinn, WR, Washington Redskins, SMU Caught nine passes last year for 75 yards and one TD; is on the Washington camp roster 2017: Chad Kelly, QB, Denver Broncos, Ole Miss Currently on the Colts training camp roster 2016: Kalan Reed, CB, Tennessee Titans, Southern Miss Played seven games with Titans; currently with Seahawks 2015: Gerald Christian, TE, Arizona Cardinals, Louisville Played in three games with the Bills, most recently was with AAF's Arizona Hotshots 2014: Lonnie Ballentine, S, Houston Texans, Memphis Played four games in three season with Houston 2013: Justice Cunningham, TE, Indianapolis Colts, South Carolina Played four games with Colts, Rams 2012: Chandler Harnish, QB, Indianapolis Colts, Northern Illinois Spent time with Colts, Dolphins, Vikings, Cardinals but did not appear in a game 2011: Cheta Ozougwu, DE, Texans, Rice Played nine games with Bears, Saints 2010: Tim Toone, WR, Detroit Lions, Weber State Peoria product spent time with Lions, Bills, Falcons, Broncos but did not appear in a game 2009: Ryan Succop, K, Kansas City Chiefs, South Carolina Entering sixth season with Tennessee after five years with Chiefs 2008: David Vobora, OLB, St. Louis Rams, Idaho Played in 40 games for the Rams, Seahawks 2007: Ramzee Robinson, CB, Lions, Alabama Played in 26 games with Lions, Browns and Eagles 2006: Kevin McMahan, WR, Oakland Raiders, Maine Was with Raiders, Giants, Chiefs, Panthers but did not play in any games 2005: Andy Stokes, TE, New England Patriots, William Penn Spent time with Patriots, Cardinals but did not play 2004: Andre Sommersell, LB, Oakland Raiders, Colorado State Played two seasons in CFL, NFL Europe 2003: Ryan Hoag, WR, Oakland Raiders, Gustavus Adolphus Spent time with nine teams in various leagues. In the NFL, was on the Vikings' active roster for three games but did not appear in any games. 2002: Ahmad Miller, DT, Houston Texans, UNLV Saw preseason action with Texans, Giants 2001: Tevita Ofahengaue, TE, Arizona Cardinals, BYU Was with Cardinals, Jaguars but did not play 2000: Michael Green, DB, Chicago Bears, Northwestern State Solid nine-year career spent mostly with Bears; missed all of 2006 with an injury. Recorded 426 tackles with four interceptions 1999: Jim Finn, RB, Chicago Bears, Pennsylvania Played in 106 games over seven seasons with Colts, Giants and caught 60 passes 1998: Cam Quayle, TE, Baltimore Ravens, Weber State Played 10 games in Barcelona with NFL Europe 1997: Ronnie McAda, QB, Green Bay Packers, Army Did not see any game action with Green Bay or Denver 1996: Sam Manuel, LB, San Francisco 49ers, New Mexico State Played one season in NFL Europe 1995: Michael Reed, DB, Carolina Panthers, Boston College Saw action in three games with Panthers 1994 (draft reduced to the current seven rounds): Marty Moore, LB, New England Patriots, Kentucky Phoenix native appeared in 112 games over eight seasons with Patriots, Browns; best season was 2000 when he made 75 tackles for Cleveland 1993 (draft reduced to eight rounds): Daron Alcorn, K, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Akron After being cut by Bucs, spent eight seasons in the Arena Football League 1992: Matt Elliott, C, Washington Redskins, Michigan Played in 63 games with Washington, Carolina 1991: Larry Wanke, QB, New York Giants, John Carroll Did not make the team as a rookie 1990: Demetrius Davis, TE, Oakland Raiders, Nevada Played four seasons with NFL Europe 1989: Everett Ross, WR, Minnesota Vikings, Ohio State Joined the U.S. Army after being cut in camp 1988: Jeff Beathard, WR, Los Angeles Rams, Southern Oregon State Played one season in Canada; currently a scout for the Panthers 1987: Norman Jefferson, DB, Green Bay Packers, LSU Played in 14 games over two seasons with the Packers 1986: Mike Travis, DB, San Diego Chargers, Georgia Tech Cut in preseason 1985: Donald Chumley, DT, San Francisco 49ers, Georgia Played on season in Canada 1984: Randy Essington, QB, Los Angeles Raiders, Colorado Cut in preseason 1983: John Tuggle, RB, New York Giants, Cal Played all 16 games as rookie, missed 1994 with an injury, then was diagnosed with cancer and died in 1986 at age 25. The Giants wore his No. 38 on their helmets all during their Super Bowl season. 1982: Tim Washington, DB, San Francisco 49ers, Fresno State Played in two games for 49ers, Chiefs 1981: Phil Nelson, TE, Oakland Raiders, Delaware Cut in training camp 1980: Tyrone McGriff, G, Pittsburgh Steelers, Florida A&M Played 36 games over three seasons in Pittsburgh 1979: Mike Almond, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers, Northwestern State Cut in training camp 1978: Lee Washburn, G, Dallas Cowboys, Montana State Cut in training camp 1977 (draft reduced to 12 rounds): Jim Kelleher, RB, Minnesota Vikings, Colorado Cut in camp, then cut the following year in camp by Philadelphia 1976 (last year the draft lasted 1 picks): Kelvin Kirk, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers, Dayton Played seven seasons in the CFL Have an opinion on the Arizona Cardinals? Reach McManaman at bob.mcmanaman@arizonarepublic.com and follow him on Twitter @azbobbymac. Listen to him live every Tuesday afternoon between 2-5:30 on AM 1060/SB Nation Radio on Calling All Sports with Roc and Manuch and every Wednesday afternoon between 1-4 on Fox Sports 910-AM on The Freaks with Kenny and Crash. News and information you can trust. Start your online subscription . Cardinals' offense remains a mystery This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona Cardinals' 'Mr. Irrelevant' Caleb Wilson living the NFL dream


A woman charged with elderly abuse is refuting claims about what led to her being fired from an assisted-living center in Greenville this week. Stephanie Ann Lowden, a Greenville pastor, said it was the elderly woman who was the aggressor, not the other way around. Lowden and Diana Garrett were criminally charged and fired from their jobs after a Rolling Green Village resident's son recorded video of facility staff interacting with his 89-year-old mother on May 17, according to the Greenville County Sheriff's Office. That video was brought to the Greenville County Sheriff's Office, which launched an investigation and charged the women this week. The video has not been viewed by a reporter for The Greenville News. The Sheriff's Office has not released that footage. The woman's son could not be immediately reached for comment. He declined to comment through investigators after The News requested an interview. A request for the complete incident report from the Sheriff's Office investigation was denied. Legal investigator Wes Smith said too much time has elapsed since the initial investigation launched May 22. South Carolina open records laws state public bodies must make records available for public inspection for at least a 14-day period. Only the first page of the report was given to The Greenville News at the Sheriff's Office, and it included redacted names and one sentence to describe the incident: "I arrived at the incident location in response to a call for service." More: Second woman arrested in case of abused mom inside Greenville assisted-living center The News has submitted a records request through the Freedom of Information Act to obtain additional documents pertaining to the investigation. Arrest warrants state the two employees "forced" the elderly woman into the shower and were psychologically abusive. A statement from the Sheriff's Office says the woman's son noticed injuries popping up on his mother's body so he decided to record a video inside the room. Lowden spoke exclusively with The News Thursday after she was released from jail on a personal recognizance bond. Garrett could not be reached for comment. Neither of the women have prior criminal records, according to records obtained from the State Law Enforcement Division. Lowden said the elderly woman at Rolling Green suffers from dementia and was "combative" with the staff and resisted them while the staff was attempting to get the woman into the shower. "The whole staff was trying to get her to stop being combative. We weren't aggressive. We didn't strangle her. We didn't grab her. We didn't throw her around. We didn't do nothing," Lowden said. "We were trying to get her in the shower. She was fighting. She even ripped a pole off the wall, and I came in there in the middle of it." TELLING IMPORTANT STORIES Through local journalism we help keep you informed about sometimes difficult issues in the community. Become a subscriber and access all our stories. Here's our special offer . The woman was brought into the facility about a year and a half ago when family members admitted her and told staff she had not showered in more than a year, Lowden said. Lowden said based on the woman's needs, she should have been placed in the facility's skilled nursing center, not the facility's "memory care" neighborhood, but family members insisted she stay in memory care. According to Chelsea Wilson, a spokeswoman for Rolling Green, the woman is still a resident there in spite of the abuse allegations. Wilson declined to comment on Lowden's accusations. "We cannot comment to this as the legal processes are now underway," she said. Tragedy strikes family: Coroner IDs Greenville 2-year-old who died after accidentally shooting himself The criminal cases for Lowden and Garrett are pending. "If your mom was being abused, you would have snatched your mom out of there," Lowden said. Lowden said she has been providing hospice and elderly care for 20 years and had been with Rolling Green for more than a year. "How do I go from being the best work to this animal? It don't add up, man," Lowden said while sobbing. "I got crucified." Lowden is a longtime Greenville resident, a minister and a gospel artist. Rolling Green staff said they were forced to fire her out of fear of civil litigation from the elderly woman's family, she said. "I have to fight. I have to get a lawyer. I have to get a job to pay for a lawyer," Lowden said. "My face is everywhere." 2017 incident: Pickens woman pleaded 'for mercy' as son killed in confrontation with deputies, lawsuit says Lowden said Rolling Green's policy is that no filming should take place within the resident rooms. "In regards to recording devices in the rooms of residents, we're discussing policies regarding recording devices in resident rooms," Wilson said in an email to The News. "These discussions include addressing the dignity and privacy of residents, as well as staff awareness. We will continue to work with residents, families and our staff to make a decision that will help all parties involved." Daniel J. Gross covers public safety and breaking news for The Greenville News. Reach him at dgross@greenvillenews.com or on Twitter @danieljgross. This article originally appeared on The Greenville News: SC assisted-living employee and pastor charged with abuse: 'I got crucified'


Indianapolis residents won't see the Purple and Blue lines open as soon as anticipated. The bidding and construction start dates for the two bus rapid transit lines, which will follow the Red Line's anticipated September launch, has been pushed back for both major public transportation projects. Red Line: Here's what riders can expect from Red Line electric buses and stations The Purple Line, which connects Indianapolis to Lawrence, will now start the bidding process in 2020 and begin construction in 2021. Service is expected to begin in 2022. Previously IndyGo said bidding and construction would happen in late 2019 and early 2020, and service would begin in late fall 2021. The Blue Line, which services the Indianapolis International Airport, is now unlikely to start project bidding until 2022, with construction starting in 2023. Service would begin in 2025. Before, IndyGo said the bidding and construction would start in fall 2020, and service would begin in fall 2022. Justin Stuehrenberg, vice president of planning and capital projects, said in a statement that the timelines for the two projects need to be adjusted for a number of reasons, including acquiring necessary property, working with the Indianapolis Department of Public Works and utility companies, and finalizing federal grants. "With our Purple Line construction schedule and the recent announcement that the North Split and Interstate 69 will be happening in 2021 and 2022, we see a need to revise the Blue Line timeline and relieve pressure on commuters and the available contractors," Stuehrenberg said in the statement. Stuehrenberg is referring to two major projects: the reconstruction of the North Split of I-65 and I-70 that has seen deterioration over the years, and the final leg of the I-69 project that will run 26 miles from Martinsville to Indianapolis. The Purple Line will include stops at two campuses of Ivy Tech Community College, and Fort Harrison State Park. The route will run from Downtown north on Meridian Street and heading east on 38th Street, then north on Post Road. It replaces Route 39. Support our journalism Become an IndyStar subscriber today to support stories like this one. Get unlimited digital access here! The Blue Line is expected to shave off 13 minutes from downtown Indianapolis to the airport. It will replace Route 8, and travels along Washington Street from Cumberland, west to the airport. The Purple and Blue Lines are the two other bus rapid transit projects that, like the Red Line, feature electric buses, and stations that include shelters, real-time arrival information and ticket vending machines. Kellie Hwang is a reporter at IndyStar. Contact her at 317-444-6032 or kellie.hwang@indystar.com. Follow her on Twitter: @KellieHwang. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Purple Line and Blue Line construction start delayed by IndyGo


Intermittent fasting has gotten a lot of attention as a way to lose weight and feel healthier overall. All types of intermittent fasting (also called time-restricted eating or interval eating) adhere to the same overarching concept: eat whatever you want, but only during a certain period every day. For the rest of the time, you don't consume anything besides water. One of the most popular types of intermittent fasting is called the 16:8 diet, where you limit your food intake to an 8-hour eating window and go 16 hours without eating any food. Some people call it the 16:8 diet or 16:8 fasting. Here's what you should know about it and whether it can really help you lose weight. What is the 16:8 diet? The 16:8 diet is a version of intermittent fasting that restricts eating to an 8-hour window. During that time, you're allowed to eat and drink what you want with no calorie restrictions. During the 16-hour fasting period, you can (and should) drink plenty of water. Black coffee and tea are fine, too. What time period works best? Keeping your eating window earlier say, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. seems to be the most beneficial. The body's biological clock is primed to eat earlier in the day, explains Courtney Peterson, PhD , assistant professor of nutrition at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. "In most people, blood sugar control is best in the morning and gets worse as the day progresses. You also digest food faster in the morning. So there's a metabolic advantage to eating earlier in the daytime," she says. But if that timeframe seems unrealistic, don't worry. Recent findings suggest that bumping your eating window just a little bit later, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., could also be effective for weight loss. When following the 16:8 diet, you restrict eating to an 8-hour window and then do a 16-hour fast. Video: Halle Berry on keto and intermittent fasting Can the 16:8 diet help you lose weight? It might. When 23 obese adults restricted their eating from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. for 12 weeks, they ate around 350 fewer calories per day compared to the control group, according to a recent Nutrition and Healthy Aging study. They also lost a few pounds and saw a drop in their systolic blood pressure (the top number). However, that study was very small, and more research will be needed to confirm the results. Going for longish periods without eating seems to send the body into fat-burning mode and limit blood sugar spikes. "Those two factors combined mean that you're reducing the blood sugar highs and lows that make you hungrier," Peterson says. Time-restricted eating also keeps your appetite in check by lowering the hunger hormone ghrelin, she adds. There's another reason why 16:8 dieters might end up eating less. "I think participants found it difficult to eat all of their regular meals and snacks within the 8-hour timeframe," says Kristina Varady, PhD , associate professor of nutrition at the University of Illinois Chicago and a co-author of the Nutrition and Healthy Aging study. If trying to eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. seems like a squeeze, you'll likely end up cutting out a meal or shrinking your portions. What are the drawbacks of following the 16:8 diet? While the 16:8 diet seems like a great way to drop weight fast, it does have some cons. Sarah Mirkin, RD, author of Fill Your Plate, Lose the Weight , a 21-day meal plan designed to help women over 40 lose weight, says, "I think that it limits food intake to such a small window of time that it's difficult for someone to meet their nutritional needs." Indeed, fasting for a long period of time probably means you're not able to enjoy three full meals with snacks each day. Whether you're skipping breakfast or dinner, missing a meal always results in not receiving adequate nutrients. And since the 16:8 diet gives you license to eat whatever you want, you might be tempted to fill up only on fatty, processed foods, especially if you're feeling ravenous. Hunger can also clout your better judgment and lead you to binge eat as well. "Studies show that the majority of people are not able to sustain it for very long and oftentimes end up binging on unhealthy foods, causing weight gain," Mirkin says. Other drawbacks of 16: 8 fasting include poor sleep, muscle mass loss (since it doesn't allow enough time during the day to meet protein needs ), disordered/binge eating, weakness, nausea, and fatigue , Mirkin says. To help you make better food choices and avoid binge eating, Mirkin recommends sticking to a 12-hour eating window instead of an 8-hour one. "This allows adequate sleep and prevents late-night munching. It also allows you to fuel evenly throughout the day so that a person is able to meet their nutritional needs without watching the clock so closely," Mirkin explains. Is 16:8 diet better than other types of intermittent fasting? It all depends on you. Researchers suspect that the 16:8 diet isn't quite as effective for weight loss as more extreme forms of fasting, like alternate-day fasting. On the other hand, studies suggest that alternate-day fasting doesn't produce better weight loss results compared to daily calorie restriction. Plus, eating only every other day is very restrictive and can be tougher to stick to. The 5:2 diet is another intermittent fasting method, which allows you to eat normally five days a week and restricts your calories to just 500 to 600 for the other two days. The advantage of following the 5:2 diet versus the 16:8 diet is that you can eat normally on any days you want, depending on your schedule. However, research shows that the 5:2 diet isn't more effective than continuous calorie restriction. So what if you think you could restrict your eating to fewer than eight hours, but aren't sure you could commit to alternate-day fasting? You might want to try shortening your daily eating window a little bit more. Varady and her team are currently in the process of comparing 4-hour and 6-hour eating windows for shedding pounds. "We are curious to see if these shorter eating windows result in more rapid weight loss compared to 8-hour time restricted feeding," she says. Should you try the 16:8 diet? The best diet is one that you can stick with, and that means finding a plan that fits into your daily routine. If you already tend to eat dinner on the early side, the 16:8 diet could be great. But for some people, stopping eating by 6 p.m. could have a negative impact on their social lives dinner or drinks with friends could get trickier. (Still, there's always weekend brunch!) It might impact things at home too, if your family tends to eat on the later side. "People should choose the diet that best fits with their lifestyle and weight loss goals," Varady says. On the other hand, an intermittent fasting-style diet just might feel simpler than trying to follow a more complicated eating plan and that can count for a lot. "The idea of having a simple rule to follow may make it easier for people to avoid any mindless eating," Peterson says. "I have had some people tell me that intermittent fasting made it easier for them to eat healthfully." Just remember: While you don't have to track your calories during your eating window, you shouldn't let things turn into a free for all. "It's smarter to still eat moderately," Peterson says. Stick with mostly healthy, minimally processed foods like lean proteins, complex carbs, and plenty of fruits and vegetables. As for portions? Eat until you're satisfied, not stuffed. ⚠ Botton line: Just because you don't have to track your calories, it doesn't mean you should let things turn into a free fall diet. ⚠ Finally, keep in mind that intermittent fasting isn't for everyone. You shouldn't do the 16:8 diet if you use insulin, have ever had an eating disorder, or are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, Peterson says. Always talk with your doctor before starting 16:8 fasting to make sure it's safe for you. Stay updated on the latest science-backed health, fitness, and nutrition news by signing up for the Prevention.com newsletter here . For added fun, follow us on Instagram . Gallery: 40 'healthy' foods that nutritionists never eat


Arsenal have confirmed the departure of defender Laurent Koscielny , who has sealed a move to Bordeaux for a reported €5m. The 33-year-old had been pushing for a move away from the Emirates Stadium after refusing to travel on their pre-season tour, but no side in Ligue 1 were prepared to meet Arsenal's asking price for the defender. Laurent Koscielny is leaving us to join Ligue 1 side Bordeaux   Arsenal (@Arsenal) August 6, 2019 However, after lengthy negotiations with Bordeaux, an agreement is believed to have been reached on Monday night, and Arsenal took to their official website to confirm Koscielny's departure from the club. He leaves the club after nine years and 353 appearances, having established himself as a real fan favourite at the Emirates. He fought back from a serious Achilles injury last season to force his way back into the starting lineup under Unai Emery, racking up 31 outings in all competitions to help the Gunners to fifth in the Premier League . However, he was seemingly determined to seal a return to France, asking Arsenal to cancel his contract as a gesture of good will. The Gunners were adamant that any interested side had to pay a transfer fee to sign him, which ultimately saw a move to Rennes break down. Bordeaux took advantage of the situation and managed to finally agree on a fee of around €5m to bring Koscielny back to France. As for Arsenal, Emery remain in pursuit of a replacement. William Saliba will join the club next summer, but the likes of RB Leipzig's Dayot Upamecano, Benfica's Ruben Dias and Juventus ' Daniele Rugani have been linked with immediate moves to the Emirates.


Just when you thought you couldn't feel any worse about the Boston Red Sox bullpen. The Red Sox began their London Series with the New York Yankees two days removed from a bullpen meltdown against the Chicago White Sox. And, well, Boston's reliever group picked up where it left off, surrendering a whopping 20 runs over two embarrassing games at London Stadium. After allowing 11 Yankees to score in Saturday's series opener, the Red Sox bullpen squandered a 4-2 lead Sunday, allowing 10 runs -- including a nine-run seventh inning -- in a 12-8 defeat. For the series, Red Sox relievers surrendered 21 runs on 23 hits over 12 1/3 innings. If you include Wednesday's loss to the White Sox, Boston's bullpen has allowed 24 runs on 29 hits over its last 15 1/3 innings. The Red Sox have blown 17 saves, good for second in Major League Baseball. At this time last year, they had blown only seven saves, the fewest in the game. At this point, "disaster" is the only word to describe the team's bullpen. Red Sox manager Alex Cora has remained positive despite the group's struggles all season, but even he now seems to be fed up. "Tomorrow's supposed to be an off day, it's not going to be one for me," Cora who noted he thought Red Sox pitchers were tipping their pitches, said after the game, as seen on NESN's postgame coverage. "There's going to be a lot of people working on this and trying to figure out what's going on. Some of it is execution, some of it is details." When asked whether he's concerned about overworking his bullpen, Cora added: "I mean, it's the nature of the 162 games and the games that we play." So, where does Boston go from here? The Red Sox have talented arms in the minors -- Darwinzon Hernandez and Durbin Feltman, to name a couple -- but if they were ready, they likely would be here right now. As for the current members of the bullpen, it's hard to imagine them turning things around anytime soon. It's not their fault, they are what they are. There's a reason why Matt Barnes, Ryan Brasier, Brandon Workman and Marcus Walden never have been trusted high-leverage relievers in their careers: They're not good enough. Yes, Barnes and Brasier were great during the 2018 playoffs, but it's become clear those performances were outliers. Plus, if the Red Sox really trusted them in the late innings, they wouldn't have used their starters as relievers throughout the team's run to a World Series title. That leaves the trade market , which Boston reportedly is "surveying." But, with his team now 11 games back of first place in the American League East and currently out of the Wild Card picture, it's fair to wonder whether Dave Dombrowski has waited too long. Here are some other notes from Sunday's game: -- After a surprisingly effective start to the season, March Walden has taken a turn for the worse. -- On the flip side, Colten Brewer has rebounded from the disastrous beginning to his Red Sox career. -- The story of the 2019 Red Sox in two tweets: -- If you like offense, then the London Series was for you. -- Boston now is 1-6 against the Yankees this season. The defending champs are a combined 16-23 against the seven teams ahead of them in the AL overall standings. "It was eye opening, the last two days," Cora said. " ... Right now, they're a lot better than us, so we need to get better." -- The Red Sox never have come back from an 11-game deficit to finish in first place. The franchise record occurred in 1988, when Boston erased a 10-game deficit to win the AL East. -- Cora, as he should, believes his team is capable of turning things around. "We can win the World Series. We have the talent to win the World Series." Related slideshow: 2019 MLB season (Provided by imagn)


Top Senate Republicans will meet with President Donald Trump's negotiating team to discuss whether the party can pass government funding bills amid stalled bipartisan budget negotiations with congressional Democrats. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Senate Appropriations Chairman Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) and other Republican appropriators will meet with acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and acting director of the Office of Management and Budget Russ Vought on Tuesday afternoon, according to three people familiar with the matter. Mnuchin has been Trump's point man on fiscal issues this year after last year's debacle that resulted in a 35-day partial government shutdown. Mulvaney, a former OMB chief and House member, and Vought are seen as more reluctant to cut a spending deal with Democrats given their opposition to spending increases. Some conservatives want to allow blunt budget cuts to take place in the fall that will occur automatically absent action   though leaders in both parties vastly prefer a new budget deal to avoid spending cuts on both defense and domestic matters. Talks among Republicans and Democrats are stalled, with Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) over a disagreement on increasing domestic spending. So, Senate Republicans are trying to figure out if they can begin moving spending bills absent a two-year spending agreement. House Democrats are moving this week to pass a package spending bills, though without the impediment of the Senate's supermajority requirement. Shelby is eager to work with Appropriations Committee ranking member Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) to begin passing spending bills after reaching an agreement last year to ward off so-called "poison pill" amendments that can derail the process. That could more difficult this year with an internal Democratic debate over how far to go to kill the Hyde amendment, which restricts abortion spending. Spending chiefs in both chambers successfully collaborated last year to fund roughly 75 percent of the government by the Sept. 30 deadline, a marked improvement over previous years. But parts of the government still shut down after the midterm elections due to disputes over President Donald Trump's border wall demands. This year, Congress is behind schedule in part due to the broader fiscal standoff, but also due to increasing impeachment tensions between Pelosi and the president. Both parties are increasingly worried about a potential fiscal disaster this fall, when a budget deal expires. The government needs to be funded past Sept. 30, and the debt ceiling will need to be raised later in the fall, creating a potentially calamitous mix of must-pass legislation.


FARMINGDALE, N.Y. - In the shadow of the Manhattan skyline, Brooks Koepka stood as a tower of authority as he continued his mastery of major championships with a wire-to-wire victory at Bethpage Black in the 101st playing of the PGA Championship. On a blustery, overcast Sunday, with the People's Country Club finally flashing its teeth, Koepka held off one final challenge to win his second consecutive Wanamaker Trophy and his fourth major championship in his last eight starts. With his Schwarzenegger biceps, Popeye forearms and unruffled composure, Koepka bludgeoned Bethpage Black and the field through three rounds and then didn't crack in the final round despite four consecutive bogeys and five in all on the inward nine as he saved himself from squandering the largest 54-hole lead in a major championship. SCORES : 101st PGA Championship With a final-round, 4-over-par 74, Koepka finished two shots clear of Dustin Johnson, his fellow Bash Brother and frequent workout partner who steadily cut into Koepka's 54-hole, seven-shot lead before he fell back on the final three holes. "It was a difficult day, difficult golf course, and it just was a battle," Koepka said. "DJ played a hell of a round to come back. This is probably the most satisfied I've been with all the majors. This one's definitely at the top of the list of how emotionally spent I am and how mentally spent I am." With rounds of 63-65-70-74, Koepka finished at 8 under in a tournament where only six players finished under par. With the victory - worth $1.98 million - Koepka overtook Johnson as the No. 1 player in the world. Johnson closed with a 69 and got within one shot with a birdie on the 15th just before Koepka bogeyed 14. But Johnson limped home with two bogeys in his final three holes and has now completed the runner-up career Grand Slam, finishing second in all four majors. "Obviously I knew starting seven back that it was going to be a big feat to catch Brooks," said Johnson, whose lone major triumph came in the 2016 U.S. Open. "I definitely gave him a run." Jordan Spieth (71), Patrick Cantlay (71) and Matt Wallace (72) tied for third at 2 under. Koepka was cruising to the title before turbulence set in on the back nine as he bogeyed 11, 12, 13 and 14. That's when the crowd turned on him as it started chanting, 'DJ, DJ, DJ." But Koepka responded. "I was in shock with what was going on," Koepka said. "I got stuck on the bogey train. The hour I spent from 11 to 14, it was interesting. They started chanting DJ and it sort of helped me. It made me refocus and I hit a good one on 15." With his fourth major triumph in 23 months, Koepka has become Tigeresque in the majors with a stretch of supremacy that includes a tie for second in last month's Masters when Tiger Woods won his fifth green jacket and 15th major by one shot. One would have to go back to the best days of Woods, when he won seven of 11 majors held from the 1999 PGA through the 2002 U.S. Open, or when he won five of 12 majors from the 2005 Masters through the 2007 PGA, to find such dominance. Koepka joined Woods, who did it twice, as the only players to win back-to-back PGAs since the championship moved to stroke play. From Thursday's start, when Koepka shot 7-under-par 63 to break the course record and become the only player with a pair of 63s in PGA history, he proved to be an uncatchable force. With a 65 in the second round, he established the lowest 36-hole score in major championship history at 128 and upped his lead to seven shots. After an even-par 70 in the third round, he still held a seven-shot lead. And now, along with consecutive titles in the U.S. Open, Koepka, 29, is the first to hold back-to-back majors concurrently. "His performances in majors is similar to Tiger, but Tiger did it every week," said Paul Casey, who tied for 29th. "But (Koepka's) physical attributes put him in a category where only one or two guys can compete with him when he really gets going." http://www.pga.com/events/pgachampionship/embeded-video/6088 Koepka will be going to Pebble Beach next month, where he'll try to join Willie Anderson as the only players to win the U.S. Open in three consecutive years. In his lone start in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, Koepka finished in a tie for eighth in 2016. "Every major championship is a good fit for Brooks," said Claude Harmon III, who has been Koepka's swing coach since 2013 and is also Johnson's coach. "He likes everything about a major - the pressure, the atmosphere, the demands of the course. He puts in the work. Hard work. He grinds. He's got the perfect demeanor. He wants to get better. He wants to win majors." Never one to back down from a challenge or blink heading to the unknown, Koepka's road to major dominance actually began in the Eastern Hemisphere on the European Tour and its developmental circuit. From Spain to Scotland, from Kenya to Kazakhstan, from South Africa to Shanghai, Koepka grew as a man and his game began to take major strides as he built up a cache of confidence tackling currency demands, time zone changes, dining challenges and every golf course condition imaginable. "He paid his dues," said Woods, who got beat by 17 shots by Koepka en route to missing the cut as the two played together in the first two rounds. "He found a game and a dedication that he needed to play well, and he's doing that. "And everyone's different. Everyone peaks differently and does things differently, and he's found what he needs to do for himself, and at, what is he, 29? He's got many more years ahead of him where he can do this." That's the plan, Koepka said. "It's been a hell of a run," he said. "I'm going to do everything I can to make sure it doesn't stop. It's been so much fun that last two years. To be standing here with four majors, it's mind-blowing." Others have been just as overwhelmingly impressed. https://compass.pressekompass.net/compasses/golfweek/did-tiger-woods-take-off-too-much-time-a MORE: This photo of Kyler Murray led to more speculation about his height Patriots will prove Super Bowl LIII shutdown defense was no fluke Roundup: Scarlett Johansson and Colin Jost Engaged, Robert F. Smith Pays Off Morehouse Student Loans NCSA: Five common recruiting myths Breaking down Darnell Savage's skill set and fit in Packers defense