A lot of kids are playing on teams these days: More than 28 million, in fact, according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association. Meanwhile, the CDC says 2.6 million are treated in the ER every year for sports injuries. These tips can help keep your child healthy and safe. Protect the head Knocks to the noggin can be dangerous and put players at risk of concussion. In addition to wearing the designated headgear for their sport, kids should learn the appropriate techniques for tackling in football, body checking in hockey, and heading the ball in soccer, says Ingrid Ichesco, MD, a pediatric sports medicine specialist at University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children's Hospital. If a child does experience a hit to the head, "be aware of any headache, dizziness, confusion, or emotional issues," she says. "The number one thing is if they're not acting like themselves, perhaps more irritable, they need to be evaluated by a trainer or doctor." When in doubt, sit it out. Related slideshow: 23 totally insane things parents let their kids do (Provided by Best Life) Be sensitive to pain Kids may feel pressure to get back out on the field after tweaking a muscle, but that doesn't mean they should. "'No pain, no gain' is really about muscle soreness during endurance training," says Joseph E. Herrera, DO., a professor in the Department of Rehabilitation and Human Performance at Mount Sinai Health System. "If a child is feeling true musculoskeletal pain, like elbow, knee, or back pain that persists for days, he or she needs to be checked out by a doctor." Most kids are resilient and will heal, but the American Academy of Pediatrics has a list of questions to review with your child's pediatrician before she returns to play . Don't specialize To reach an elite level and earn scholarships, kids are sometimes pushed to focus on one sport and play it year-round. However, research shows that specialization increases psychological stress, burnout, and injuries in young athletes. For instance, ignoring pitch counts in baseball or softball can lead to "Little Leaguer's elbow," while quarterbacks and volleyball players who "extend" for throwing and hitting may see shoulder injuries. "Playing a variety of sports works many muscle groups, preventing injury as kids' bodies grow," says Dr. Herrera. Limit play time Don't underestimate the psychological and physical power of taking time off-one to two days per week, and two to three months per year in a given sport, advises Dr. Ichesco. "It can be difficult to follow these recommendations due to pressure from coaches, society, and so forth," she says. "But parents should feel empowered to set limits with their children's sports if needed and encourage them to try new things. In general, remember that sports should be fun and our goal is to try to encourage lifelong physical activity and a healthy lifestyle."


Here's what you need to know about what's happening in Philadelphia. Teen fighting for his life, 3 others injured after 71-year-old woman crashes car into south Philadelphia store, police say Police say the driver was trying to park in front of the store when she accidentally accelerated instead. Read the full story on CBS Philly . Bobby Clarke's former home, with Flyers logo-shaped pool, is for sale This pool is everything. Read the full story on NBC10 Philadelphia . Arson suspect sought in West Philadelphia house fire Police are searching for the person responsible for setting a West Philadelphia home on fire overnight. Read the full story on FOX 29 . This story was created automatically using data about news stories on social media from CrowdTangle , then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


FAIRFIELD, Conn. (WCBS 880) -- Thunderstorms across the Tri-state area on Wednesday night caused widespread flooding, trees to fall, stranded drivers, and at least one death. Lightning struck a cottonwood tree and sheared off the top about 30 feet up on Park Avenue in Fairfield near Sacred Heart University around 5 p.m. The severed limbs and the trunk crushed a car and killed 21-year-old Jarrod Marotto from Southington. ...listen to the audio... Witness John Segera watched firefighters try to save the man, but live wires held them back. "One guy, he had a fire or something suit, he got out and he went over there. He was here before the firetruck and everything. Actually it was two guys that tried to help. Not much they could do, the car was buried under the tree," Segera told WCBS 880's Sean Adams. "The tree was on top of the car and the bushes were all around it -- terrible. The wires were live, they couldn't do nothing until the UI came and turned the power off." Marotto was pulled from the vehicle about an hour later. He was rushed to a Bridgeport hospital where he was pronounced dead. During a storm nearly three weeks ago, a fallen tree killed another man. A series of powerful thunderstorms -- the remains of Tropical Storm Barry -- left scattered power outages all across the Tri-State. It flooded streets, highways and subways. Hoboken's west side took on water. On Thursday the rain and scattered thunderstorms continue with extreme heat to follow this weekend.


One was a comic book hero in spikes who captured new fans across the world with his peerless speed and bountiful charisma. The other was an icon in goggles who amassed a record number of medals and redefined what was achievable in the pool. Usain Bolt and Michael Phelps have been by far the biggest draws at the past three Summer Games, but now their retirements have created a massive opportunity for the next generation of stars. Someone will take advantage of that glaring void in star power and emerge as the face of the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. Which athlete is best positioned to capture the public's fancy next summer the way Bolt and Phelps did in Olympics past? With the Opening Ceremony exactly one year away, here's a look at some fresh and familiar faces with the best chance, plus some other key storylines to watch. Who will emerge as the face of Tokyo 2020? 1. Simone Biles If Biles isn't already the most recognizable American Olympic hopeful, she's certainly near the top of the list. The 22-year-old gymnastics phenom fronted several high-profile marketing campaigns before and after the 2016 Rio Games, wrote a best-selling autobiography and appeared on Dancing with the Stars. Biles owes her popularity to her unrivaled dominance and her fun-loving demeanor. She won the individual all-around competition in Rio by nearly two full points and won the most recent world championships by a record margin, yet she continues to push herself to experiment with harder skills and innovative tumbling passes.   Jeff Eisenberg 2. Katie Ledecky Until pulling out of the World Championships on Monday with an undisclosed illness, Ledecky had been dominant in the long-distance freestyle swims. It's not uncommon for no other competitors to even be within striking distance at the end of her races . She won Olympic gold in the 800-meter freestyle at age 15 in London. She captured four more gold medals and a silver four years later in Rio. She is the current world record holder in three different events, the 400-, 800- and 1500-meter freestyle. There's a chance Ledecky could vie for medals in four individual events and two relays in Tokyo. If so, that quest should offset her humble, low-key personality and attract the attention of fans and sponsors.   Jeff Eisenberg 3. Caeleb Dressel At the 2008 Olympics, Michael Phelps claimed eight gold medals, a record that appeared likely to stand for generations at the time. Only three Olympic cycles later, another talented, versatile American swimmer has an outside chance to threaten it. Dressel earned the high-pressure label of the next Phelps at the 2017 World Championships when he captured gold in seven events, the 50- and 100-meter freestyle, the 100-meter butterfly and four different relays. To match or surpass Phelps' record, he'd need to repeat that feat in Tokyo and add at least one more event, maybe the 200 IM, the 200 butterfly or the 200 freestyle. Eight gold medals are too much to ask from anyone, but Dressel might be wise to at least try. The marketing opportunity alone could be worth the effort.   Jeff Eisenberg 4. Christian Coleman Whereas Bolt was a presumptive favorite in the 100 at the past three Olympics, track and field's glamour race should be much more wide open in Tokyo. Coleman could benefit most from that if the young 5-foot-9 American can maintain the form he has displayed the past two-plus years. Coleman ran 9.79 seconds into a slight headwind at the 2018 Diamond League Final, the seventh-fastest time ever recorded in the 100. He followed that up with a world-leading time of 9.81 seconds in June, solidifying himself as the favorite to take gold at the 2019 World Championships next month. With Justin Gatlin turning 38 before the 2020 Olympics and a Jamaican heir apparent to Bolt yet to emerge, Coleman has an excellent chance to claim the title of world's fastest man next July and to reap the endorsements that come with that moniker.   Jeff Eisenberg 5. Noah Lyles Only three men in history have ever run the 200 meters faster than Noah Lyles. One is Bolt, the world record holder at the distance and the greatest sprinter of all time. The second is Michael Johnson, whose world record stood for more than two decades until Bolt smashed it. The third is Yohan Blake, the runner-up to Bolt in the 200 at the London Olympics in 2012. That's pretty good company for Lyles, considered to be one of the young phenoms of the U.S. sprint corps along with Christian Coleman and Michael Norman. The way Lyles is running this season, he should be the favorite for gold in the 200. He could also try for a double by running the 100 and take part in the 4x100-meter relay.   Jeff Eisenberg 6. Adam Peaty When Peaty races, whether he will win is seldom in doubt. The bigger question is usually if he'll better one of his world records or not. The late-blooming 24-year-old British wunderkind captured his third straight world title in the 100-meter breaststroke on Monday, and is favored to win his third straight world title in the 50-meter breaststroke later this week. He is the record holder in both events and owns many of the top times ever recorded in both races. Peaty has been a household name in Great Britain since 2016, when he became the country's first man to win Olympic swimming gold in 28 years. Should he follow that with a dominant performance in Tokyo, he could become world famous too.   Jeff Eisenberg 7. Rikako Ikee When Ikee became the first woman to win six gold medals at last year's Asian Games, it looked like the teenager was destined to emerge as Japanese swimming's golden girl at the Olympics next summer. Then the 19-year-old was diagnosed with leukemia in February, throwing her life and her Olympic dreams into flux. Ikee did not compete this year, but she insists she has not ruled out the possibility of trying to swim next summer. If she were to win an Olympic medal for the host country   or even just get the chance to swim in front of her home fans   she'd instantly become one of the most heartwarming stories of the event and a sentimental favorite of fans across the world   Jeff Eisenberg 8. Lilly King The combination of King's talent and candor has elevated her stature. Not only is she a two-time Olympic gold medalist and world record holder in the 50- and 100-meter breaststroke, she also has built a reputation as an anti-doping crusader who is not afraid to call out an unscrupulous competitor. It started in Rio when King wagged her finger at two-time Russian doper Yulia Efimova, defeated her in the Olympic final and then unloaded on her in the post-race presser. More recently, King slammed swimming's governing body for allowing China's Sun Yang to compete at this week's World Championships under dubious circumstances. King is a favorite to capture multiple gold medals in Tokyo, but it's outspokenness as much as her breaststroke that makes this 22-year-old Indianan a potential face of the 2020 Games.   Jeff Eisenberg Who are the other American athletes and teams to watch? With Team USA projected to win 123 medals   two more than in 2016, and 47 more than any other nation   there will be plenty of American success to anticipate and celebrate. Here are a few particularly compelling teams and individuals. 9. The U.S. women's soccer team is coming off a world championship . It's as popular as ever. Its 2019 iteration was arguably the greatest squad the sport has ever seen . So what's the story here? Well, to cement their status as the GOAT, and shrug off any suggestions of recency bias, the American women have to do something nobody's ever done: The World Cup-Olympic double. No world champion has ever remained on top of the sport the following summer. Women's soccer hadn't yet been introduced to the Games when the U.S. won the inaugural Women's World Cup in 1991. After the famous '99 title , Norway upset the Americans in the 2000 gold medal match. And three years ago in Rio, they flamed out in the quarterfinals   the worst performance at a major tournament in program history. With its 2019 core likely intact 13 months later, and with France failing to qualify , the U.S. will enter 2020 as the favorite. Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe, assuming health and no surprising retirements, will enter as megastars. (Which is why, especially in a team sport, they can't "emerge" as the face of the Games, and aren't included above.) But soccer, unlike some other Olympic sports, is highly volatile and unpredictable.   Henry Bushnell 10. Can an American beach volleyball duo rebound from Rio disappointment? Kerri Walsh-Jennings and April Ross settled for bronze in 2016. They've since split, but each has a new partner and a shot at a medal in Tokyo. Walsh-Jennings has teamed up with Nicole Branagh. At this time next year, they'll both be 41 years old   the oldest female beach volleyball Olympians ever   with a combined five kids. But discount a three-time Olympic champ at your own peril. Ross, meanwhile, will be 38. She'll take her (likely) last shot at gold with 6-foot-5 Alix Klineman alongside her.   Henry Bushnell 11. Allyson Felix is gunning for a fifth Olympic appearance   and, if she gets there, for Carl Lewis' American track-and-field record of 10 medals. She already has the female record with nine   six golds and three silvers. At 34, having given birth to her son last fall, she is anything but a guarantee to even qualify for her top events. But all she needs is one to add to her legend.   Henry Bushnell 12. Jordan Burroughs has spent much of his professional life atop wrestling's 74-kg weight class. He entered 2016 with a 24-1 all-time record at world championships and Olympic Games. Which is why his early elimination and ninth-place finish in Rio were so shocking. They left him in tears. Four years later, he'll be back for redemption.   Henry Bushnell 13. Tiger Woods , an up-and-coming golfer, hopes to join the U.S. team for the second go-round of golf at the Olympics, and he's currently in position to do so. Like Serena Williams and Michael Jordan, Woods has absolutely nothing to prove to anyone   he's won at every level, more than almost anyone else alive   but the idea of playing for his country and winning a new medal has enticed him. "It would be exciting if I got a chance to represent the United States in the Olympic Games," Woods said before the U.S. Open last month. "I don't know how many more times I get a run at it ... it will certainly be an honor if I were able to represent the United States."   Jay Busbee 14. The U.S. men's basketball team should romp to a fourth consecutive gold … if, that is, NBA superstars want to romp to a fourth consecutive gold. And that's a legitimate question after LeBron James, Steph Curry, Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, Anthony Davis and a loooong list of others decided they want no part of the upcoming 2019 FIBA World Cup. Of the 20 Americans selected to the 2019 NBA All-Star Game, only four   at most; possibly as few as two   will be in China next month. Of course, the Olympics wield more prestige and pull. Curry has said he plans to participate. LeBron says Tokyo is a "possibility." Non-top-tier stars are surely interested. But with "load management" a significant concern throughout the league, and with the size of contracts soaring by the millions every summer, players certainly don't have financial or long-term incentive to risk their health for Team USA. (And their NBA teams certainly have incentive to dissuade them.) The question is whether the one-of-a-kind Olympic experience and the honor of representing the country outweigh that risk. All that said, the U.S. men, like the women, are favorites. No matter what. They would be with their World Cup roster this summer. Will be even if two dozen stars pull out. The player pool is stacked. But Canada has its best team ever. Serbia and Spain will be strong. Greece has Giannis, Australia has Ben Simmons and a decent supporting cast, and the globalization of the game continues to make the field deeper.   Henry Bushnell 15. The U.S. men's soccer team was non-existent in London and Rio. Its failure to qualify portended bigger failures ahead. And it still hasn't qualified for 2020, either. But the current crop of U-23 players   and remember, men's soccer at the Olympics is an under-23-plus-three-overage-dudes event   is the most promising the program has come across in some time. The senior national team's three most-talented players, arguably   Christian Pulisic , Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie   are all 20. Two straight U-20 teams have made World Cup quarterfinals. The big question will be whether major European clubs agree to release the likes of Pulisic and Adams. (They aren't required to.) Even if they don't, though, this U.S. group could be a legitimate contender for a first American men's soccer medal since ... 1904!   Henry Bushnell Other storylines 16 . South Africa's Caster Semenya is the unwilling face of a complex, emotionally charged debate that has flared up often throughout her decorated middle-distance running career. The two-time Olympic 800 meters champ and three-time 800 meters world champ faces constant scrutiny over whether the naturally high levels of testosterone her body produces contributes to her dominance on the track. In 2018, track and field's governing body implemented a new rule requiring female athletes to have to sustain a testosterone level of five nanomoles per liter, either naturally or via hormone therapy. In case it weren't already obvious Semenya was the target, the IAAF rule only applied to women's 400-, 800- and 1500-meter races. Semenya appealed the ruling in June and a Swiss federal court intervened, ordering the IAAF to suspend its new policy and offering the South African a temporary reprieve. The injunction has enabled Semenya to compete without undergoing hormone therapy this summer, but it's unclear if final resolution will come before the Tokyo Olympics or not. If Semenya runs at the Olympics without hormone treatment, she'll be the overwhelming favorite in the women's 800. She has not lost a race at that distance since 2015.   Jeff Eisenberg 17. Will Tokyo be ready? With 365 days remaining until the Opening Ceremony, construction and logistics schedules are far more on track for Tokyo than, say, Rio in 2016. More than 3.22 million tickets were sold in the first distribution earlier this summer, surprising organizers with fans' speed and enthusiasm. More than 200,000 people have signed up to volunteer. Still, Tokyo's learning a lesson every host city beforehand could have told them: the Olympics cost so much more than you'll possibly expect. A 2018 estimate put the cost of the 2020 Games at more than $24 billion , a fourfold increase from just five years earlier. While venues are moving toward completion, they're not the only concern: the city could be skin-scorching hot next July and August. As the Guardian noted in a recent story, last year Japan suffered through a monthlong heatwave where temperatures spiked to 106 degrees Fahrenheit, the highest ever recorded in the country. There's always a wild-card element of unpredictability at every Games, and the heat could be the one for 2020.  Jay Busbee 18. Rise of the Robots: The 1964 Tokyo Games featured the first use of computers in connection with the Olympics, and the first time that stopwatches could measure to hundredths of a second. This time around, we'll see a similar leap forward in technology, starting with an armada of cute little robots. Miraitowa and Someity will, according to the IOC , "welcome athletes and guests at Games venues and other Games-related locations with human-like movements, such as shaking hands and waving, and with a variety of facial expressions. Cameras mounted on the robots' foreheads will allow them to recognise when people are nearby and to react to them. Tokyo 2020 and Toyota are additionally discussing a number of ways for the mascot robots to make it easier for children to experience the Games, and to make this experience more enjoyable." No, that doesn't sound terrifying at all. Decide for yourself if you'd be thrilled or horrified to see one of these little sprites walking up to you: When we're all watching robots compete in the Olympics, you'll know where it started.   Jay Busbee 19. New sports: Five new sports will join the Olympic slate this year. Surfing will take place on natural waves about 40 miles from Tokyo. Climbing will feature three disciplines: bouldering, lead climbing, and speed climbing. Karate will have two variants: kumite (fighting) and kata (style). Skateboarding will offer medals in both Park and Street styles. Baseball and softball … presumably you know what's involved in those two sports. How long will each stick around? That depends, in part, on their reception during these Games.   Jay Busbee 20. Youth Movement: The IOC recognizes that its longtime fans are getting older, and younger fans might not be quite so interested in classic events like gymnastics, swimming or track and field. As a result, the IOC's looking to emphasize events aimed at The Youth   not just new events like skateboarding and surfing, but demonstration and potential new sports. South Korea had the first esports demonstration   yes, one day your grandkids could medal in video games   and Paris 2024 will feature a demonstration of breakdancing. And if you think that's ridiculous, well, you're not the demographic the IOC's seeking in the future.   Jay Busbee We're just one year out from the Games. Expect to hear about all these stories, and so many more, over the next 365 days.


A man suspected of shooting an off-duty Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy in the head after killing a person a few miles away Monday was arrested Tuesday after investigators received a tip from his father, authorities say. But there are still many unanswered questions about the seemingly random shooting of Deputy Joseph Solano inside a Jack in the Box in Alhambra. Here is what we know from Times reporting: How was the suspect captured? Rhett McKenzie Nelson, 30, of St. George, Utah, was arrested by Long Beach police after he called his father in Utah and told him about "committing murder in Southern California," according to Sheriff's Department homicide Capt. Kent Wegener. Sheriff Alex Villanueva said there is evidence that Nelson indicated he had killed two people during the phone call. Nelson's father then called Long Beach police, who traced the son's phone using the number his father provided. Officers spotted his vehicle, matching the description of the Kia Sorrento linked to the attack on the deputy the night before, driving away from a church, authorities said. The SUV came to a stop in a driveway in the 2400 block of Granada Avenue and Nelson was taken into custody without incident, police said. What do we know about Nelson? His father, Bradley Nelson, said in a statement that his family had reported him missing in late May. "My wife Jean and I, along with our family, are saddened beyond words to hear of the shooting of Los Angeles Sheriff's Deputy Joseph Solano, and to learn that our son Rhett is being held in connection with this horrifying and senseless attack," Nelson said. "Rhett has been missing since May 26, 2019, leading us to file a missing person's report with authorities. We have spent much time and effort in an attempt to help Rhett and bring him home safely, and we have been distraught and worried since his disappearance. We are cooperating fully with authorities and will provide them with all information they request concerning Rhett and his struggles. We ask that people please pray for Deputy Solano and his family." In a Facebook post, Bradley Nelson said his son left home without any extra clothing or his laptop computer. "We've had no contact with him, his phone is dead or off since then," the post read. "He has a history of opiate abuse and has been clean for about 6 months, but we know what a terrible struggle that is." Nelson came to Southern California around the first week of June, Wegener said. It was not clear why he chose to travel to Los Angeles. Investigators could not immediately say how Nelson may have obtained a weapon or if it was legally owned. What is the condition of Deputy Solano? Solano, a 13-year Sheriff's Department veteran, was listed in grave condition and remained on life support at L.A. County-USC Medical Center on Tuesday afternoon, Villanueva said. Solano, 50, was off-duty and waiting for his meal at the fast-food restaurant on Valley Boulevard about 5:45 p.m. Monday when Nelson allegedly walked in and shot him once in the head. Solano was wearing plain clothes with no holster, badge or anything to signify he was a law enforcement officer at the time of the attack, investigators said. Villanueva said Solano had driven his mother's car to a nearby Jiffy Lube for maintenance just moments before the shooting. "He definitely was a kindhearted, generous, person … we're all rooting for him to make a recovery," the sheriff said. A motive for the shooting remains unknown. Nelson did not attempt to rob the deputy or anyone else in the restaurant, said Lt. Derrick Alfred, who is supervising the team of homicide detectives investigating the shooting. "He kind of lingered in the restaurant for a little while before deciding to go up and shoot the deputy," Alfred said. What about the other shooting? Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore said Tuesday that detectives are also trying to determine whether Nelson was involved in a fatal shooting that took place downtown at 4:50 p.m. Monday, less than an hour before the attack on Solano. Moore said a man was standing in the 1900 block of East 7th Place when he had a "brief exchange" with a person in a car. The victim, who was identified only as a 30-year-old man, was shot at least once and died at the scene, Moore said. After a description of Solano's assailant became public, Moore said detectives began to explore possible links between the shootings and noted that the assailant's clothing and vehicle were similarly described in both incidents. Moore said he could not confirm whether the gun used in that shooting matched the revolver found in Nelson's vehicle. Times staff writers Maya Lau, James Queally and Richard Winton contributed to this report.


A train carrying at least a dozen new automobiles including Jeep Gladiators , Jeep Wranglers , Chevrolet Silverados , and GMC Sierras derailed Wednesday in Nevada, and the photos of the mangled trucks and SUVs are truly astonishing. Thirty-three train cars derailed yesterday morning roughly 30 miles from the Nevada-Utah border near the small town of Caliente, Fox 13 News out of Salt Lake City reports. I called Pioche, Nevada-based Lincoln County Sheriff's Office , who posted the photos you see here and in whose county the wreck occurred, but a representative said he didn't have much information on the incident. He did mention that there were "no injuries or anything like that involved" and that this happened in the "middle of nowhere," but directed me to Union Pacific to learn more. I'll update this post when I hear back from the railroad company. Until then, here's the short press release that the sheriff's office posted to its Facebook page : ***ROAD CLOSURE*** The county road from Elgin to Carp is completely closed until at least tomorrow (07/11/19) and then it will remain partially closed for the next 7-10 days due to the train derailment this morning. There are construction equipment, train cars, and debris blocking the roadway. UPRR is working to get the area cleaned up and the road back open as quick as they can. Lincoln County Sheriff's Office later published the following images to its page with a caption reading, in part: "Please do not travel this area unless absolutely needed while UPRR conducts clean up." And what a clean-up the railroad has ahead of it; just gander at all of these wrecked cars, of both the train and automotive variety: That's a new Jeep Gladiator on its lid, with its plastic front fender flare and its tonneau cover dangling onto the ground. Other Jeeps (either Wranglers or Gladiators) sit in the darkness of a mangled rail car behind it. A little to the right of the previously-shown scene is another train car with Jeeps dangling out of it precariously and what looks like a train axle just sitting on the ground. Even farther to the right is a train car with a Chevy Silverado resting its front bumper on the roof of GMC Sierra Denali missing its right front fender. Here's a closer look: Then there's this image showing a train car on its side; if you look closely, you can spot a GMC Sierra and a Chevy Silverado inside: Here they are: The last of the photos that the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office posted shows some Jeeps in a rail car and, in front of them, a Jeep Wrangler Unlimited in what appears to be decent shape aside from a missing rear fender flare. Of course, who knows what the Jeep looks like on the other side, but based on the condition of the rail car, it seems hopeful that at least some of the Jeeps and GM trucks on this train will be salvageable. Still, these are some depressing photos, especially if you're awaiting shipment of a new body-on-frame off-roader.


Doctors hope the future of cancer treatment is personal: Using genetics, they'll be able to match patients with precisely the drug or treatment option that will fight their tumors. However, information on tumor genetics often isn't linked with data on how well patients with those tumors did on particular treatments. This makes it difficult for researchers to tailor treatments to individual patients. "Sometimes all that's known is how long patients lived who had a particular pathology, if that's even known," says Kenneth Kehl, a medical oncologist at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. "Asking questions like which mutations predict benefit from a particular treatment has been more challenging than one might expect." To help ease those challenges, Kehl worked on a team that developed a machine learning algorithm that could pull information from doctors' and radiologists' notes in electronic health records in order to identify how particular patients' cancer progressed. Their tool, published this week in the journal JAMA Oncology, might in the future help identify patients who could benefit from clinical trials or other specific interventions and it's a piece of larger efforts to bring artificial intelligence into oncology. Most of the information about the progression of tumors in cancer patients is contained in written notes from radiologists, who examine scans and track changes in the status of the cancer. Because it's raw text not choices from a drop-down menu or data points in a spreadsheet most analytic methods can't pull the relevant information. The tool created in this study leveraged improvements in machine learning for language to identify those details in electronic health records. The machine learning system was able to identify cancer outcomes as well as human readers, and much more rapidly. Human readers could only get through three patient records an hour. The tool would be able to analyze an entire cohort of thousands of cancer patients in around 10 minutes. Hypothetically, Kehl says, the tool could be leveraged to sweep the health records of every patient at an institution and identify those who are eligible for and would need clinical trials, and match them to the best possible treatments based on the characteristics of their disease. "It's possible to find patients at scale," Kehl says. For this particular tool, the scans from cancer patients were initially read by human radiologists. But artificial intelligence and machine learning can read images, as well, and research shows that they can analyze scans of tumors as effectively as human radiologists. In another study published this month, radiologists and artificial intelligence experts partnered to develop an algorithm that could determine if lumps on a thyroid should be biopsied and found that recommendations from the machine learning tool recommended biopsies similarly to expert radiologists using the American College of Radiology (ACR) system. Assessing thyroid lumps can be time consuming, and radiologists can face challenges using the ACR system. "We wanted to see if deep learning can perform those decisions automatically," says study author Maciej Mazurowski, associate professor of radiology and electrical and computer engineering at Duke University. There's more work to be done on artificial intelligence and scan analysis before these tools can take the place of radiologists, Mazurowski says, but recent research indicates that it's possible for AI to perform at the level of radiologists. "The final question, even if we can show that these work as well as humans, will be whether and to what extent it will be adopted into the health care system. It's not just whether it works." Visual analysis is further along in medicine and oncology than textual analysis, Kehl says, but both could be components of integration of machine learning into the normal practice of care. It might be possible, for example, to integrate machine interpretation of scans into the overall electronic health record analysis, he says. "That would mean looking at how much information we get from images themselves, how much do we get from human interpretation, and what could we get from the model looking at images," he says. "The optimal strategy still isn't known." It seems possible that, going forward, artificial intelligence might help identify and monitor cancer progress, Kehl says. "It's figuring out how we can incorporate AI generally, and in imaging, pathology, and health records, into the clinical workflow." Gallery: 10 Types of Cancer That Are on the Rise (Provided by Best Life)


I'm wealthy and I've always avoided expensive stuff. Here are my sometimes silly cheapskate tricks to avoid overspending . Frugality is in my bones. From attending a community college before public university to living with my wife in a stunning tree house that I built from salvaged materials to driving my 15-year-old Volvo   I've always avoided expensive stuff. Here are my sometimes silly cheapskate tricks I've collected from a long life of adventures, at home and abroad: At home and work: A 1/2-inch binder clip beats any wallet. It holds cash, credit cards, and the rest. It's smaller   takes less pocket space so it's more comfortable   and costs basically nothing. New suits and dress shirts? I've always gotten the cheapest machine washable available, these days via Amazon. Saving here never stopped me from becoming wealthy. You'll never get rich via looks   unless it's Hollywood or by marrying rich. I'm a compulsive walker. By visiting a good cobbler before they're shot, dress shoes last virtually forever. Over the decades, you'll save big by avoiding buying shoes repeatedly. Good cobblers can handle leather and luggage repairs; so my classic briefcase looks 5 years old but is now over 25. I haven't suffered a barber in over 40 years. Cutting your own hair saves money and time, big time. I use scissors and comb, like barbers. But self-cutting kits are easy and cheap online. Anyone can save hundreds to thousands via energy savers like dropping your thermostat five degrees at night while using an electric blanket. (Google: "home energy savers.") Related video: What to do with your investment money Things I never leave home without: Paper clips can multitask. When a zipper pull-tab breaks, on pants, suitcase, whatever   the clip threads through the zipper's hole. Works for months. I've never, ever replaced it on one pair of pants. I have large clips permanently zippering my beloved old suitcase. They're as comfortable as manufacturer's tabs. But $15 buys enough zipper repair gear online for permanent fix-its. Paper clips also make temporary fasteners (like a chain link or key chain). With one end straightened, they make great pokers   or a hook to pull   when things get stuck in small awkward places. Safety pins make great fasteners, too. Duct tape fixes almost anything. Stuck inside clothing it patches most rips temporarily   avoiding embarrassment. Learn to sew and carry traveler's kits. They're tiny and cheap. These fix-its salvage clothes, otherwise destroyed, and lets you keep truckin'. I learned sewing via my Boy Scout merit badge days. It has paid off endlessly. And one tiny super glue is super useful and indispensable for so many breaks. Online $3-to-$12 buys a foreign made metal nail clipper with a 2-inch knife blade hidden inside   which makes it through airport security. A blade is oh-so handy traveling. Finally, wherever you are: Google the phrase, "learning to sleep well anywhere, anytime." It's an art form. Makes life comfier. Saves money, too. How? Get the very cheapest, clean, safe hotels   and only be in them for sleeping and hygiene. Get out and do stuff. You're not traveling to stare at fancy, expensive hotel walls. Motel 6? OK, but Motel 5 1/4 will do. My biggest, best money saver and cheapskate trick? Never get divorced. Commit to learn to fix each other when broken. My boss and I almost killed each other repeatedly when young. Fix it; you'll be glad later you did. Pay up for quality where it really counts; like top-tier health care. Otherwise, it's just blowing money down some rat hole. You won't become a multibillionaire by saving money. But saving a little along the way never hurts. Ken Fisher is founder and executive chairman of Fisher Investments , author of 11 books, four of which were New York Times bestsellers, and is No. 200 on the Forbes 400 list of richest Americans. Follow him on Twitter: @KennethLFisher The views and opinions expressed in this column are the author's and do not necessarily reflect those of USA TODAY. This article originally appeared on USA Today : I don't buy wallets or go to a barber: Here's my billionaire's guide to saving money


Golden State Warriors superstar Kevin Durant ruptured his Achilles in Game 5 of the 2019 NBA Finals, which is an injury that has historically required roughly eight months to a year's worth of rehabilitation just for players to get back on the court. Durant will be a free agent in the meantime, and as we reported here earlier in the week, multiple teams are still expected to offer him a max contract this summer, including the incumbent Golden State Warriors and long-rumored New York Knicks. This, despite the fact that he may not play a single game in the 2019-20 campaign. Suitors will hold out hope that Durant can return to superstar form in 2020-21, when the 7-footer will turn 32 just prior to the season. That's a risky proposition, since it would defy everything we know about NBA players and Achilles tears. Specialists have speculated that Durant may never be the same, but we don't need them to tell us this. Of the 20 documented Achilles tears in the NBA over the past 15 years, it is difficult to find a single player who ever approached his pre-injury performance again. There are many more cases in the years and decades prior, and yet the wonders of modern medicine have done little to restore players any better. Here are the 10 highest-profile cases of Achilles ruptures this century: Elton Brand (2007) Age at injury: 28 Absence: 8 months (Aug. 3, 2007 to April 2, 2008) Pre-injury season stats ... 2006-07 (80 games): 38.5 MPG, 20.5 PPG (58.1 TS%), 9.3 RPG, 2.9 APG, 23.1 PER Best post-injury season ... 2010-11 (81 games): 34.7 MPG, 15.0 PPG (55.3 TS%), 8.3 RPG, 1.5 APG, 18.5 PER Last NBA game: 2016 *** Mehmet Okur (2010) Age at injury: 30 Absence: 8 months (April 17, 2010 to Dec. 17, 2010) Pre-injury season stats ... 2009-10 (73 games): 29.4 MPG, 13.5 PPG (56.1 TS%), 7.1 RPG, 1.6 APG, 15.6 PER Best post-injury season ... 2011-12 (17 games): 26.7 MPG, 7.6 PPG (46.0 TS%), 4.8 RPG, 1.8 APG, 8.4 PER Last NBA game: 2012 *** Chauncey Billups (2012) Age at injury: 35 Absence: 9 months (Feb. 6, 2012 to Nov. 28, 2012) Pre-injury season stats ... 2010-11 (72 games): 32.1 MPG, 16.8 PPG (61.7 TS%), 2.6 RPG, 5.4 APG, 18.7 PER Best post-injury season ... 2011-12 (20 games): 30.4 MPG, 15.0 PPG (55.4 TS%), 2.5 RPG, 4.0 APG, 16.1 PER Last NBA game: 2014 *** Kobe Bryant (2013) Age at injury: 34 Absence: 8 months (April 12, 2013 to Dec. 8, 2013) Pre-injury season stats ... 2012-13 (78 games): 38.6 MPG, 27.3 PPG (57.0 TS%), 5.6 RPG, 6.0 APG, 23.0 PER Best post-injury season ... 2014-15 (35 games): 34.5 MPG, 22.3 PPG (47.7 TS%), 5.7 RPG, 5.6 APG, 17.6 PER Last NBA game: 2016 *** Anderson Varejao (2014) Age at injury: 32 Absence: 10 months (Dec. 23, 2014 to Oct. 27, 2015) Pre-injury season stats ... 2013-14 (65 games): 27.7 MPG, 8.4 PPG (52.7 TS%), 9.7 RPG, 2.2 APG, 17.0 PER Best post-injury season ... 2015-16 (53 games): 9.4 MPG, 2.6 PPG (47.3 TS%), 2.7 RPG, 0.7 APG, 11.1 PER Last NBA game: 2017 *** Brandon Jennings (2015) Age at injury: 25 Absence: 11 months (Jan. 24, 2015 to Dec. 29, 2015) Pre-injury season stats ... 2013-14 (80 games): 34.1 MPG, 15.5 PPG (48.6 TS%), 3.1 RPG, 7.6 APG, 15.6 PER Best post-injury season ... 2016-17 (81 games): 22.2 MPG, 7.1 PPG (47.9 TS%), 2.4 RPG, 4.9 APG, 12.1 PER Last NBA game: 2018 *** Wesley Matthews (2015) Age at injury: 28 Absence: 7 months (March 5, 2015 to Oct. 28, 2015) Pre-injury season stats ... 2013-14 (82 games): 33.9 MPG, 16.4 PPG (58.8 TS%), 3.5 RPG, 2.4 APG, 15.7 PER Best post-injury season ... 2016-17 (73 games): 34.2 MPG, 13.5 PPG (53.3 TS%), 3.5 RPG, 2.9 APG, 11.9 PER *** Mario Chalmers (2016) Age at injury: 29 Absence: 19 months (March 9, 2016 to Oct. 18, 2017) Pre-injury season stats ... 2015-16 (61 games): 22.5 MPG, 10.3 PPG (56.1 TS%), 2.6 RPG, 3.8 APG, 17.3 PER Best post-injury season ... 2017-18 (66 games): 21.5 MPG, 7.7 PPG (50.3 TS%), 2.4 RPG, 3.0 APG, 10.4 PER Last NBA game: 2018 *** Rudy Gay (2017) Age at injury: 30 Absence: 9 months (Jan. 15, 2017 to Oct. 18, 2017) Pre-injury season stats ... 2015-16 (70 games): 34.0 MPG, 17.2 PPG (53.8 TS%), 6.5 RPG, 1.7 APG, 15.5 PER Best post-injury season ... 2018-19 (69 games): 26.7 MPG, 13.7 PPG (58.3 TS%), 6.8 RPG, 2.6 APG, 17.5 PER *** DeMarcus Cousins (2018) Age at injury: 27 Absence: 12 months (Jan. 26, 2018 to Jan. 18, 2019) Pre-injury season stats ... 2017-18 (48 games): 36.2 MPG, 25.2 PPG (58.3 TS%), 12.9 RPG, 5.4 APG, 22.6 PER Best post-injury season ... 2018-19 (30 games): 25.7 MPG, 16.3 PPG (56.2 TS%), 8.2 RPG, 3.6 APG, 21.4 PER *** J.J. Barea of the Dallas Mavericks and John Wall of the Washington Wizards joined Durant in suffering the same injury this season. Time will tell whether more recent developments in training methods can lead to better outcomes for them. That is also the hope for Cousins, who never looked fully healthy after returning in January. Many careers have been derailed completely, over within a years of suffering the injury, but we have never been faced with an injury like this   to arguably the game's greatest player in the prime of his career. Durant's size and skill separate him from so many of these players, but his athleticism takes all of it to another level. Who is to say the same attributes that have made Durant one of the 20 greatest players in NBA history will not allow him to overcome the obstacles that have left lesser players to merely chase some semblance of consistency in their returns. The exception to the rule regarding Achilles ruptures has always been Atlanta Hawks legend Dominique Wilkins, who tore the tendon at the age of 32 on Jan. 28, 1992. The Human Highlight Reel returned less than 10 months later, on opening night of the 1992-93 season, and scored 30 points opposite Patrick Ewing's New York Knicks. He averaged 29.9 points per game   his best production since his age 28 season   on career-high shooting efficiency in an All-NBA campaign. Wilkins made two more All-Star teams, but when his contract was set to expire for the first time post-injury, the Hawks traded him at the deadline to the Los Angeles Clippers. Wilkins played out his final All-Star season in L.A., signed with the Boston Celtics and saw a precipitous decline in his production as he bounced between European and mercenary NBA stops for the final five years of an illustrious career. That isn't the course we saw Durant's career going into next decade, when we expected him to climb the all-time scoring list and knock legends from the ladder of all-time greats. That exception was also nearly 30 years ago, so here's hoping KD can defy the odds that suggest he will never play at the height of his powers again.               Ben Rohrbach is a staff writer for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at rohrbach_ben@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @brohrbach More from Yahoo Sports: Give the Raptors their due, not an asterisk, for winning NBA title Klay Thompson tears ACL; Warriors still intend to re-sign him Did we just see the end of the Golden State dynasty? Longtime Broncos owner Pat Bowlen dies at 75


Hayden Euper used to struggle to finding the right workouts to build muscle given his busy schedule. He also found that he wasn't eating enough to sustain consistent muscle growth. After doing research to find a better full-body workout routine, along with fueling his body properly, Euper began to see consistent gains. We all know that when life gets busy, it's easy to slack off when it comes to hitting the gym and eating right . As a harried college student in New Orleans, Louisiana, Hayden Euper couldn't make the time to buff up his lean body . Luckily for the 20 year-old, he had a whole summer in which he could dedicate himself to toning up. So that was the question: How much progress could he make with four months devoted to gym and diet? Euper started with 173 pounds on his 6'1" frame. Working without a trainer, he researched lifts online to develop a routine. "Because I was looking to put on muscle," he says, "I knew I would have to lift heavy and often, and limit cardio to prevent excess calorie burn." He started with full-body workouts three times a week for the first eight weeks. (He felt that his body responded better to a full-body workout than isolating muscle groups one at a time.) After that, he transitioned into upper-body workouts four days a week, mixing in two days of legwork. Summer offered him more than just more gym time. "More than any workout I did, my diet was key," he says. "I was under-eating at school, not sleeping well, and not consuming enough calories to grow ." Sleeping a full eight hours a night helped, and he pushed his diet to 3,000 a day, accounting for a high basal metabolism. "The change came gradually," Euper says. "I noticed about three weeks in that my shirts started to fit tighter, but mostly the weight I was able to push was changing, which was the most satisfying for me." At three weeks of good eating, he'd added about five pounds to his weight. After that his gains slowed to about a half-pound to a pound a week, but that didn't bother him. "Because I didn't want to bulk by adding too much fat," he says. "I was totally fine with gaining weight a little slower than some." One of his biggest challenges, he says, was managing expectations. He wanted to focus on his own progress rather than compete with other people with different goals and body structures. "I think staying focused on being better than I was the day before was much more beneficial than comparing myself to people I see on Instagram or in the gym," he says. Ultimately, he wasn't looking to impress others, anyway. He just wanted to challenge himself. "If I end up looking good because of it then that's great," he says, "but I chase the satisfaction of knowing I am pushing myself as hard as I can. I think lifting gives me a sense of satisfaction and mental toughness few other things can." Gallery: 30 things you should never, ever do at the gym (Women's Health)


The Seattle Seahawks dipped into their hearty 2020 draft class last month, sending a future seventh-round pick to the New England Patriots in exchange for tight end Jacob Hollister . At least so far, the Seahawks seem happy with the decision. "Terrific acquisition," offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer commented after OTAs on Tuesday. "He's had a great camp." Hollister comes to Seattle after two seasons with the Patriots, where he hauled in eight receptions (on 16 targets) for 94 yards. A former standout at the University of Wyoming, Hollister brings a nice combination of size and speed to this Seahawks team. "The speed element is awesome," Schottenheimer continued. "Really good route-runner, a lot like Tyler [Lockett] in terms of the instincts. Just the ability to get open, has a great feel for coverages, man and zone. He's been a great acquisition." Hollister will look to emulate another former Patriots player who Seattle acquired for a seventh-round pick, nickel cornerback Justin Coleman, who thrived after coming to the Emerald City. However, with a healthy Will Dissly in the mix - along with Ed Dickson, Nick Vannett and George Fant - making the team as a receiving tight end will be a challenge. Still, Seattle doesn't just give away seventh-round picks, so Hollister will get every chance to prove himself as a viable receiving option for Russell Wilson and the Seahawks during training camp. MORE: Aaron Rodgers zings other NFL QBs over their superior beer-chugging skills These five upcoming NBA free agents helped themselves in the playoffs Saints hosting multiple free agent cornerbacks on Wednesday Aaron Rodgers teases Matt LaFleur, fires back at beer-chugging NFL QBs Did Nike accidentally reveal that Kevin Durant is staying with the Warriors?


A bodega employee was fatally stabbed in the chest in Inwood Wednesday night after confronting a group of men outside the store, police sources tell PIX11 News. Police found Mohamed Nasser Awawdah, 28, unconscious and unresponsive on Dyckman Street near Vermilyea Avenue around 8 p.m., officials said. Police sources tell PIX11`s Anthony DiLorenzo that a group of men was loitering outside the ...


While apologizing for putting himself in a position for the NFL to punish him, Seahawks defensive tackle Jarran Reed made it clear he "totally" disagrees with the six-game suspension. "I apologize to those close to me including my family, the entire Seattle Seahawks organization and fans of the team for putting myself in a position where I could be disciplined by the NFL," Reed wrote on social media. "While I totally disagree with the decision of the NFL, I still must accept it and take responsibility for the situation. I have learned from this and will do everything I can to make my friends, family, teammates, fans and the Seahawks proud of me moving forward." The NFL suspended Reed six games for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy. In April of 2017, a woman told police Reed assaulted her. Police did not arrest or charge Reed. Reed, a second-round draft choice in 2016, started all 16 games last season and produced 10.5 sacks. He is heading into the final year of his rookie contract.


PEBBLE BEACH, Calif.   A capsule look at the five previous U.S. Opens held at Pebble Beach Golf Links: YEAR: 2010 WINNER: Graeme McDowell SCORE: 284 MARGIN: 1 shot RUNNER-UP: Gregory Havret EARNINGS: $1,350,000 SUMMARY: McDowell made only one birdie   an 8-foot putt on No. 5   and closed with a 3-over 74 for the highest final round by a U.S. Open champion in 25 years. That was all that was required on a tough Sunday that eliminated a cast of stars trying to keep pace. The biggest collapse belonged to Dustin Johnson, who lost his three-shot lead with a triple bogey on the second hold, followed with two double bogeys and shot 82. Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Ernie Els were all poised to make a run, and none did. Woods bogeyed five of his first 10 holes and shot 75. Els briefly was tied for the lead until playing a three-hole coastal stretch in 4 over. Mickelson birdied the first hole and didn't make another birdie. McDowell (Northern Ireland) became the first European winner of the U.S. Open since Tony Jacklin of England in 1970. YEAR: 2000 WINNER: Tiger Woods SCORE: 272 MARGIN: 15 shots RUNNERS-UP: Ernie Els, Miguel Angel Jimenez EARNINGS: $800,000 SUMMARY: In the most dominant victory in the 140 years of championship golf, Tiger Woods opened with a 6-under 65 and never let up until he obliterated the field to win by 15 shots, breaking the record for widest margin in a major previously held by Old Tom Morris (13 shots) at the 1862 British Open. He not only went wire-to-wire for his first U.S. Open title, Woods had the low score in three of the four rounds. He set a U.S. Open record with a 10-shot lead through 54 holes, closed with a 67 and tied the U.S. Open record at 272. He became the first player to finish a U.S. Open in double digits under par (12 under) and played the final 26 holes without a bogey. Ernie Els and Miguel Angel Jimenez tied for second at 3-over 287. Woods finished 41 shots ahead of Robert Damron in last place. YEAR: 1992 WINNER: Tom Kite SCORE: 285 MARGIN: 2 shots RUNNER-UP: Jeff Sluman EARNINGS: $275,000 SUMMARY: Tom Kite closed with an even-par 72 and won his first and only major with two unlikely birdies in a brutal final round. Pebble Beach showed its two faces during a wild week. The gentle side allowed Gil Morgan to reach 12 under through the seventh hole of the third round, the lowest anyone had ever been in a U.S. Open. Then it turned nasty. Morgan played his next seven holes in 9 over, and only two birdies over the final three holes gave him a one-shot lead over Kite going into the final round. Vicious wind and firm turf turned Sunday into survival. Colin Montgomerie closed with a 70 and was the clubhouse leader, with Jack Nicklaus in the broadcast booth saying it would be good enough to win. Kite, however, chipped in for birdie on the par-3 seventh and made a 30-foot birdie on the par-3 12th. He led by as many as four shots, made par on the last hole and won by two over Jeff Sluman. YEAR: 1982 WINNER: Tom Watson SCORE: 282 MARGIN: 2 shots RUNNER-UP: Jack Nicklaus EARNINGS: $60,000 SUMMARY: Watson and British Open champion Bill Rogers were tied for the 54-hole lead, with a dozen players separated by four shots at the top of the leaderboard. One of them was Jack Nicklaus, seeking a record fifth U.S. Open title. He ran off five straight birdies starting at No. 3 and joined a four-way tie for the lead. Watson made a 35-foot birdie on the 14th to take the lead, but they were tied when Watson bogeyed the 16th and Nicklaus, playing ahead of him failed to birdie the 18th. On the par-3 17th, Watson hit a 2-iron into the thick rough just over the green. He hit the perfect pitch to a hole running away from him and ran to the side as the ball dropped for birdie in one of the most dramatic U.S. Open shots at Pebble Beach. Needing only a par to win, Watson hit 9-iron to 20 feet on the final hole for a birdie and a two-shot victory and his only U.S. Open title. YEAR: 1972 WINNER: Jack Nicklaus SCORE: 290 MARGIN: 3 shots RUNNER-UP: Bruce Crampton EARNINGS: $30,000 SUMMARY: Nicklaus, the Masters champion, had a one-shot lead over defending U.S. Open champion Lee Trevino, Kermit Zarley and Bruce Crampton, with Arnold Palmer two shots behind going into the final round. With clouds in the forecast, the USGA decided not to water the greens, but strong westerly winds dried out the course and took a toll on the leaders. Nicklaus was in control until a gust nearly knocked him off his feet during his swing on No. 10, and his drive wound up on the beach. He took double bogey. Palmer was poised to take the lead when he faced an 8-foot birdie on the 14th and Nicklaus had an 8-foot bogey putt on the 12th. Palmer missed, Nicklaus made his putt to retain the lead. Nicklaus was three shots ahead on the par-3 17th when he hit a 1-rion into the wind. The ball landed a foot in front of the hole, hit the pin and stopped 6 inches away for birdie. He closed with a 74 for a three-shot victory.


Royal Portrush required some reconfiguration to be able to stage the British Open for the first time in 68 years, meaning the 17th and 18th holes from the Dunluce Links are being replaced by two new holes from land on the Valley Links. With course changes, there also is a one-time alternation in a playoff if it's necessary. For the first time, the R&A says, it will go to a three-hole aggregate playoff at Royal Portrush involving the first, 13th and 18th holes. The 13th is a par 3 with the green not far from the 18th tee. The Open had been using a four-hole aggregate playoff since 1986 at Royal Troon. An R&A spokesman says the decision was "geography-based" and any playoff is expected to return to four holes at other links. Chip shot The final four spots to the British Open are available this week to the leading player not exempt from the top five at the John Deere Classic, and the leading three players not already exempt from the top 10 in the Scottish Open. MORE: UFC fighter Ben Askren had an excellent response to getting knocked out in 5 seconds Expected starting lineup for Lakers with LeBron James at point guard Three Potential Trade Destinations for Russell Westbrook Honor thy father: Quinn Cook signed with Lakers for good reason Former Steeler DeAngelo Williams throws shade at WR Ryan Switzer


3.29pm BST The New York Times released a design for the $20 bill featuring anti-slavery activist Harriet Tubman, which has been embroiled in controversy since the Trump adminstration announced it was delaying the new bill's release by six years. Last month, treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin said the release of the redesigned bill would be delayed six years after the Obama administration's planned launch of the bill in 2020. During his campaign for president, Trump criticized the decision to redesign the bill, calling it "pure political correctness". Current and former treasury department officials told the New York Times that Mnuchin delayed the bill's release out of concern Trump would cancel the plan outright. Mnuchin told the Times he delayed it for technical reasons. Related: Harriet Tubman: the woman, the myth, the legend muddied by $20 bill plaudits 3.07pm BST Ship operator disputes US account of oil tanker attack The US military has released video footage which it says shows an Iranian military patrol boat approaching one of two tankers attacked in the Gulf of Oman, to support the Trump administration's claims that Iran was responsible   a claim the Iranian government denies. The ship's Japanese operator, Kokuka Sangyo, said Friday that the ship was attacked by a flying object , disputing part of the US description of the attack, according to the New York Times. The operator's president, Yutaka Katada, citing accounts from the ship's crew, said: "I do not think there was a time bomb or an object attached to the side of the ship." The attacks escalated tension between the US and Iran, which have been in a standoff since the US imposed economic sanctions on Iran in an attempt to force the renegotiation of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. Donald Trump said Friday that the US had "exposed" Iran's responsibility for the attacks on Friday and in an interview with Fox & Friend said: "Iran did do it." Tehran denied all responsibility for Thursday's attacks and its foreign minister, Javad Zarif, suggested others could be trying to provoke a conflict between Iran and the US. On Friday he tweeted that the US had "immediately jumped to make allegations against Iran without a shred of factual or circumstantial evidence". 2.50pm BST Speaking with Fox & Friends, Trump ever so slightly walked back his comments from two days ago about how he is willing to accept help from a foreign government in the next presidential election. He would still listen to the information, Trump said, but if it is "bad", he would tell US law enforcement. "Of course you give it to the FBI or report it to the attorney general," he said. Two days ago, he dismissed the notion of calling the FBI because the agency "doesn't have enough agents". In the Fox & Friends interview, Trump in general maintained his earlier position, which was in favor of accepting help from foreign governments to win an election, by saying: "If I don't listen, how am I going to know?" Updated at 2.56pm BST 2.35pm BST Trump accuses his former White House counsel of lying under oath Trump claims he never suggested firing special counsel Robert Mueller, despite his former White House counsel Don McGahn saying he did. In the Mueller investigation, which Trump repeatedly described as a "witch-hunt", McGahn testified under oath that the president repeatedly instructed him to have Mueller removed. Trump is now saying McGahn lied. "The story on that very simply, number one, I was never going to fire Mueller. I never suggested firing Mueller," Trump told ABC's George Stephanopoulos in a clip the network released earlier this morning. Stephanopoulos then referenced McGahn's testimony. "I don't care what [McGahn] says, it doesn't matter," Trump responded. Then why would he lie? "Because he wanted to make himself look like a good lawyer," Trump said. "Or he believed it because I would constantly tell anybody that would listen, including you, including the media, that Robert Mueller was conflicted. Robert Mueller had a total conflict of interest." Updated at 2.57pm BST 2.18pm BST Fox and Friends anchors said they thought the interview with Trump, which just concluded at the 50 minute mark, would last ten minutes. One of the more bizarre moments in the interview was when Trump sharply veered from speaking about relations with North Korea to declaring first lady Melania Trump the "new Jackie O." Fox & Friends anchor pivot from North Korea to the paint job on Air Force 1. "The baby blue doesn't fit with us," Trump said, noting people think of Jackie O when they say it. Then he says we have a new Jackie O (Melania).   Paige Lavender (@paigelav) June 14, 2019 "We have our own Jackie O today, it's called Melania. We'll call it 'Melania T,'" Trump said. In March, Trump made a similar comparison in an interview with Breitbart: "If Ivanka Trump were a Democrat or a liberal democrat, even better, she'd be the toast of the world. Same thing with our great first lady, who people love by the way. If our first lady, if I were a Democrat instead of a Republican, she'd be Jackie O times twenty. Instead, they go after her." 2.06pm BST Trump is on a characteristic marathon of breaking news on Fox & Friends right now, having spent about 40 minutes so far on a telephone interview with the show. One big news item: apparently Thomas Homan   a former acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) and current Fox News contributor   is being made "border czar", a position the Trump administration invented. In which President Trump tells the Fox & Friends gang that he is hiring their colleague, Fox News contributor Tom Homan, a thing they did not know. Fox and Trump have merged. pic.twitter.com/CN6AsENodi   Matthew Gertz (@MattGertz) June 14, 2019 Updated at 2.56pm BST 1.57pm BST Good morning and happy Friday Donald Trump has just kicked off his birthday celebrations by chatting with Fox & Friends and announcing he will not fire Kellyanne Conway after a federal watchdog said she should be removed from her position as White House counselor. "It looks to me like they're trying to take away her right on free speech," Trump said of Conway. The US Office of Special Counsel (OSC) on Thursday recommended Conway be removed from the White House because she violated the Hatch Act, which bars government employees from engaging in political campaign activity. Conway is "just a great person", Trump told Fox & Friends. We'll have more on Trump's morning interview with Fox & Friends shortly. These frequent interviews with Fox are a prime example of how the public role of White House press secretary has shrunk under Trump. Yesterday, he announced Sarah Sanders would be stepping down from the post at the end of the month, though her role was reduced well before then, writes the Guardian's Washington DC bureau chief, David Smith : The more [Trump] he talked, the more pointless Sanders' briefings became, since she merely parroted his tweets, evaded serious policy questions and channeled her boss's anti-media barbs. Related: Sarah Sanders' tenure as press secretary ended long before her exit Asked on @foxandfriends about contenders for @presssec , including Anthony Scaramucci, the president LOL'd and said: "I think Anthony, he should stay where he is right now."   Francesca Chambers (@fran_chambers) June 14, 2019 Updated at 2.52pm BST


GOSHEN   The 85th Connecticut Open will be remembered for many things. First and foremost, it was the first time the event was held on a weekend. The event will be remembered for how Torrington Country Club's staff and volunteers helped support the event, as well as the spectators who came out to watch Sunday's final round once the oppressive heat on Friday and Saturday gave way to a comforting breeze on Sunday. And the 85th Open will also be remembered for Rasmey Kong's coming-out party as a golf professional. The West Haven resident shot a 1-under-par 71 to hold off Paul Pastore and win by a shot. "I didn't play my game today. I had some bad breaks and it kind of got to me, but I still stuck with it," Komg said. "I wanted to shoot under par at least. If I shot under par, someone would have to shoot a 67, at least (to tie him). I finished strong, Paul gave a good run at it." Kong, 22, was a standout golfer at North Haven High and had a distinguished career as an amateur before turning pro Dec. 18. This is easily his finest moment as a golfer, holding off the state's top players to pocket the $12,500 winner's check. "It feels great. It was a pretty good day," said Kong, who shot 13-under 202 for the 54-hole event. "I kind of called it. All these guys (his friends), they know. I told them I was going to win. I almost let it slip away but I shot under par, which is fine." Pastore, 23, fired a 67 and caught   and passed   Kong on the back nine. An assistant pro at Fairview CC in Greenwich, Pastore birdied 16, but ballooned a 7-iron in a gale-force wind on the par-3 17th that led to a bogey. "I hit the 7-iron and I ballooned it. I had a 40-yard chip shot. It was probably two clubs too little," said Pastore, who lost in a playoff at the recent New Hampshire Open. "I tried to make the chip shot. I hit it a little too hard. It kind of jumped on me out of the lie." The Open will also be remembered for the low amateur who has became a force on more than just the national junior level. Ben James, a 16-year-old Milford resident and soon-to-be sophomore at Hamden Hall Country Day, continued his great summer by shooting a 67, finishing third at 11-under 205, two shots behind Kong. James, who plays out of Great River GC in Milford, finished second in the Wyndham Invitational, an AJGA event held last month in North Carolina, won another AJGA tournament in Killington two weeks ago, then blew away the field at the State Junior last week, winning four matches decisively. He held the first-round lead for a time on Friday, then finished strong with an eagle on the par-5 16th hole. "It means a lot with all of these great amateurs in this tournament," said James, who has already verbally committed to play at the University of Virginia. "I would say I am practicing so much smarter this year." Blake Morris (CC of Waterbury), Fletcher Babcock (Connecticut National GC) and Jason Thresher (West Suffield) tied for fourth at 9-under 207, four strokes behind Kong. Kong had a four-shot lead to start and also had that lead in the midst of the front nine. But things got interesting when he double-bogeyed the ninth hole and Pastore, playing in the group ahead of Kong, birdied 10 to tie for the lead. Kong punched a shot from under the tree that went into the rough just off green. He hit his third shot straight up in the air and proceeded to make a 6. "It was sitting up (in the rough). I actually think it's a tougher shot, I believe when you have that much of a slope to deal with. I wasn't angry. I made my double. I had nine more holes to play and I battled through." Kong did hold it together, making a 30-footer for birdie on 12 to tie Pastore, who nearly hpoled out of the front bunker for eagle on the same hole, and a 3-footer on 14 for another birdie to retake the lead. He parred in from there. "I was not nervous at all today," Kong said. "I missed a lot of putts either 6 inches short or burned the edge. As long as I stuck with my game, I kept my composure. If I didn't not shoot over par, I'd be fine." Said Pastore, who earned $6,250: "I came down 13 and looked at the leaderboard. I figured I had a chance (coming into the round). I figured he played two good rounds the first two days, it's kind of hard to back that up, but props to him." The Connecticut Open will return to its normal dates of Monday through Wednesday at the end of July when the 86th Connecticut Open in 2020 comes to Ridgewood CC in Danbury. Mike Moraghan, the Connecticut State Golf Association's executive director, called the move to the weekend a success. "This championship had great golf, great players, the club did a great job on its own merits. This championship was a great success," Moraghan said. "We were hoping to get a lot more people to come out and watch. I have to believe what was described almost as life-threatening dangerous heat situations scared people way. … I don't know what percentage of club pros played or didn't play, so that will factor into our decision (to one day host the tournament on a weekend again). The same goes for the amateur players who may or may not have been able to play. There is no question this was a strong field." joseph.morelli@hearstmediact.com; @nhrJoeMorelli 85th Connecticut Open (at Torrington CC) Final round Rasmey Kong (West Haven), 65-66-71-202; Paul Pastore (Fairview CC), 69-67-67-203; Ben James (Great River GC), 67-71-67-205; Blake Morris (CC of Waterbury), 68-70-69-207; Jason Thresher (West Suffield), 68-67-72-207; Fletcher Babcock (Connecticut National GC), 71-65-71-207; Cody Paladino (CC of Farmington), 68-69-71-208; Joshua Salah (Great River GC), 72-69-68-209; Ben Day (CC of Waterbury), 71-67-71-209; Max Theodorakis (Ridgewood CC), 66-71-72-209; Michael VanDerLaan (Southbury), 68-69-72-209; Jeff Evanier (Clinton CC), 73-69-68-210; CJ Swift (Great River GC), 68-73-69-210; Ben Conroy 70-70-70-210; Chris Wiatr (Woodbury), 70-68-73-211; James Sheltman (Alling Memorial GC), 71-71-70-212; Corey Birch (Silver Spring CC), 72-70-70-212; Bradley Lankler (no affiliation), 74-67-71-212; Evan Beirne (New Haven CC), 74-69-69-212; Casey Pyne (Stanwich Club), 73-72-67-210; Alex Beach (Stamford), 71-67-74-212.


ASHEVILLE - Three men, including two from Buncombe County, will serve up to six years of prison after being sentenced for illegal gun possession, federal prosecutors announced June 18. Dennis MacAuthor Rice, 50, of Barnardsville; Brandon Kendrick James, 33, of Greensboro; and Steven Vincent Thomas White, 33, of Asheville in separate incidents have been found guilty of illegally possessing firearms because they were felons. That was according to an announcement by Andrew Murray, United States Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Law enforcement agencies involved were the Buncombe County Sheriff's Office; the Asheville Police Department; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and the FBI. State prosecutor Alexis Solheim with the 30th North Carolina prosecutorial district, argued the case acting as Special Assistant U.S. Attorney U.S. District Court Judge Martin Reidinger sentenced the men. White was sentenced to 24 months in prison and three years of supervised release. That followed a July 25 traffic stop by sheriff's deputies of a car the Asheville man was driving. "Over the course of the traffic stop, law enforcement recovered a loaded firearm from a backpack that belonged to White, located inside the vehicle," the release said. White had a prior federal drug conspiracy conviction and was on supervised release. He was prohibited from possessing a firearm. Rice was sentenced to 77 months in prison and three years of supervised release after an undercover Buncombe County Anti-Crime Taskforce officer bought a gun from him with a magazine that contained three rounds of ammunition on June 5, 2018. Because Rice was convicted in 2014 of possession of a stolen motor vehicle, he was prohibited from possessing a firearm. James was sentenced to 57 months in prison and three years of supervised release for having a semi-automatic pistol loaded with a round of ammunition in the chamber and a large capacity magazine loaded with 15 rounds next to it in the glove compartment of his vehicle. Deputies had responded to a call about a dispute in Candler in which officers say he was involved. James had been convicted of selling cocaine and was prohibited from possessing a gun. This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Gun sting, traffic stop gets Asheville, Barnardsville men federal prison time


Texans coach Bill O'Brien said he hasn't spoken with Brian Gaine since the general manager was dismissed on Friday. Asked about Gaine, whom he praised repeatedly over the past year for their alignment on football decisions, O'Brien said: "Man of high character, good football person." Now, the Texans are in the middle of a search process that included making a run at New England Patriots executive Nick Caserio, whom they've formally requested to interview, and previous interviews with former Cleveland Browns general manager Ray Farmer and San Francisco 49ers executive Martin Mayhew. O'Brien is part of a search committee that includes Cal McNair, senior vice president of football administration, Chris Olsen, who's currently in charge of football operations, team president Jamey Rootes and executive vice president of player development Jack Easterby. "We're still in the process of executing Cal's vision," O'Brien said. Easterby's influence within the organization has grown considerably since he was hired in April following his successful run with the Patriots. "He helps in all areas of the team, he helps me with the team," O'Brien said. "He helps me with putting in processes to help the duties of each department relative to the team. It's all about the team. Jack has been an excellent addition to the organization." O'Brien was asked if he's difficult to work with, generally, after his working relationship with Gaine eroded during the 17 months they worked together. "I guess that would depend on who you ask," O'Brien said. "I guess anytime you're in a leadership position there are going to be a few people who don't agree with you." O'Brien emphasized that the Texans have had a good offseason and are building toward training camp constructively. "I can tell the fans we have a group of guys working very hard," he said. "We're excited about the future." The Texans have gone 42-38 under O'Brien in the regular season and are 1-3 in the playoffs. "I think we always need to improve communication," O'Brien said. "I've always said it starts with me. We have to do a better job. We've done some good things, but not enough to where we want it to be. It's about the Texans, doing what's best for the Texans." Texans defensive end J.J. Watt said he simply stays in his lane as a player. "It's a tough business," he said. "That's a decision for much higher than my head. All I want to do is win. I've always been a man who controls what I can control. I do my work and I go home."


The Braves have swapped out young southpaw A.J. Minter for veteran Jonny Venters , per a club announcement . The former was optioned to Triple-A to make way for the latter's activation from the 10-day injured list. It's a disappointing development for Minter, who looked to be a long-term, late-inning stalwart entering the season. The 25-year-old has struggled to stay in the zone, coughing up 7.4 BB/9 while recording 13.1 K/9. He has allowed a dozen earned runs in 11 frames on the year. Venters, 34, was tendered a contact and agreed to a $2.25M salary after a remarkable comeback campaign following a five-season absence from the majors. He was knocked out of action by a calf strain but is now ready to return to action. Venters has had a bit of a wild showing on his rehab assignment but was solid last year, turning in 34 1/3 innings of 3.67 ERA ball with 7.1 K/9 and 4.2 BB/9 along with a hefty 69.1 percent ground-ball rate over 34 1/3 innings.


RENO, Nev.   David Lingmerth had nine birdies to take the lead Thursday in the suspended first round of the Barracuda Championship, the PGA Tour's lone modified Stableford scoring system event. The Swede had 18 points at Montreaux Golf and Country Club under the format that awards eight points for albatross, five for eagle, two for birdie and zero for par, and subtracts a point for bogey and three for double bogey or worse. Play was stopped at 5:10 p.m. because of lightning and then called off for the rest of the day. "This is a little bit of a physical walk, for sure," Lingmerth said about the layout 5,500 feet above sea level in the Sierra Nevada foothills. "It's very hilly and you can get tired. But golf is a mental game. So I'm just trying to stay relaxed and keep doing what I'm doing. I feel like I'm swinging it good. I gave myself a lot of opportunities out there. So if I can keep that going, should be able to have fun the next few days, too." The 2015 Memorial winner for his lone PGA Tour title, Lingmerth is 229th in the FedEx Cup standings with only two weeks left to get into the top 125 for the first playoff event. He has missed four straight cuts, shooting 79-63 last week in Kentucky in the Barbasol Championship. "Obviously, it's been a little rough go for me for a little while and working my way back," Lingmerth said. "And things are starting to come around. But I don't really think about it that way. I just try to stick to the process. One shot at a time. And whatever happens happens." Full-field scores from the Barracuda Championship Tyrone Van Aswegen, Robert Streb and Tom Hoge were tied for second with 13 points. Y.E. Yang, the 2009 PGA Championship winner, had 12 points. Bronson Burgoon was the top player still on the course. He had 10 points with five holes to play. Jim Herman, the Barbasol winner, eagled the par-5 18th - his ninth hole of the day - in a five-point round. John Daly had minus-2 points. Fighting osteoarthritis in his right knee, the 53-year-old Daly is playing his second PGA Tour event since he was approved for a cart last fall. He missed the cut last week in Kentucky. David Duval closed bogey-double bogey for minus-8 points. He shot 91-78 last week at Royal Portrush to finish last in the British Open. The winner will receive a spot in the PGA Championship, but not in the Masters.


PHOENIX   After leading the major leagues last season with nearly 2,300 days lost to the disabled list, the Texas Rangers are already bracing themselves for a 2015 season without one of their most important players. Ace Yu Darvish suffered a sprain of the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow after pitching only one inning in his spring training debut on Thursday. He will receive a second opinion from New York Mets medical director Dr. David Altchek on Tuesday in New York, after which the team will make a decision on whether Darvish will need season-ending Tommy John surgery. "You've gotta move forward," general manager Jon Daniels said Saturday as the Rangers traveled to face the Milwaukee Brewers. "Meanwhile, we'll get Yu the best care possible. If surgery is ultimately the call   which unfortunately ... most times it is   then we'll get him ready for 2016 if that's the decision." The Rangers did bolster their starting pitching depth with this offseason, adding veteran starter Yovani Gallardo, swingman Ross Detwiler and prospect Anthony Ranaudo. "We came to camp pretty pleased with our starting depth and some of the options we had competing for the fifth spot   now competing for two spots," Daniels said, but adding that making a trade could also be a possibility. "We're going to look internally first. I don't think you rule anything out." With Darvish sidelined   even if he doesn't need surgery, recovery time is expected to be at least four months   Derek Holland would likely become the team's projected opening day starter. However, he only made six appearances last season because of a knee injury   and he's experienced some shoulder soreness in camp this spring. Veterans Gallardo and Colby Lewis are secure in their spots with Detwiler, who allowed one run in 2 2/3 innings against the Brewers on Saturday, among a number of hopefuls to fill out the rotation. The Rangers were preseason favorites in the AL West last season with the addition of first baseman Prince Fielder and outfielder Shin-SooChoo, but Fielder had his season end in mid-May due to neck issues that eventually required spinal fusion surgery. With injuries to Holland, Martin Perez and Matt Harrison, plus Darvish being shut down in early August, the Rangers finished last in the division with a 67-95 record. Having the entire offseason to heal, the Rangers came into camp with playoff aspirations. But those will have to be on hold for now as they await the fate of their ace right-hander. If surgery is required, Daniels said it would likely be scheduled for the middle of next week. Despite the misfortunes, no one would blame the Rangers for wondering if every break they get turns out to be a bad one. "It's easy to fall into that, but I don't think we can allow ourselves to think that way," Daniels said. "We'll talk about that internally, but we're not going to take that woe-is-me mentality. It just doesn't serve any purpose."


A fire that broke out in a commercial building in downtown Los Angeles early Thursday damaged three clothing businesses and triggered a large response from city firefighters. The blaze was reported at 4:19 a.m. in a row of single-story buildings in the 1200 block of Wall Street that house children's clothing stores, authorities said. When Los Angeles Fire Department crews arrived, the blaze was already raging and the businesses were locked, Capt. Cody Weireter said. Firefighters forced their way inside to try to determine the fire's origin but were quickly driven out by flames, he said. "Because of the fire load and the clothes that were burning, it pushed us off the roof and out of the building at the time," Weireter said. Firefighters instead took a defensive stance, battling the blaze from the roofs of adjacent buildings and on ladders extended above the structure. Plumes of thick smoke billowed from the building, blanketing nearby businesses. Flames, which appeared to be contained to one area of the structure, leapt through the roof as firefighters blasted water at the business. It took more than 100 firefighters nearly two hours to knock down the blaze. No injuries were reported. It is not clear how the fire started. hannah.fry@latimes.com Twitter: @Hannahnfry