Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green recently called Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson the best in the NFL . Now Green won't have to worry about him in Week 5 next season. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter , Peterson is suspended for the first six games of the season for a violation of the NFL's performance-enhancing drug policy. The star cornerback dropped his appeal . Green and the Bengals host the Cardinals in Week 5. It looked like a winnable matchup before the Peterson news, but teams with rookie passers have given the Bengals problems in recent years. Keep in mind this Week 5 matchup comes after the Bengals start the season on the road in three of four. They open in Seattle and starting in Week 3 make road trips for games against the Buffalo Bills and Pittsburgh Steelers. In other words, Week 5 has always looked like something akin to a breaking point for Zac Taylor's first season. If they aren't winning road games, a game against the Cardinals at home is a chance to get back on track before again hitting the road to play Baltimore. That pivotal Week 5 matchup, just the second home game of the year, just got a whole lot easier. MORE: Report: Browns rookie RB LJ Scott decides to quit NFL after just 2 days Five potential Jimmy Butler landing spots in free agency The 12 worst ceremonial first pitches of all time, ranked (UPDATED) Report: Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant to take 'a long look' at signing with the Nets Jamie Collins' return to Patriots is complicated on many levels


ST. PETERSBURG   Chikara Parks did so much volunteering at Campbell Park Elementary School that people used to think she worked there. Her loyalty remained even after students bullied her two oldest children. The second, Tanijah Clark, got it the worst, with taunts about her weight and hair. Complaints to school officials went nowhere, Parks said. So, counseled by friends and teachers, she found her way to a state scholarship program and now has all four children in private schools. Wealthy and corporate donors get tax breaks for providing the funds. It's a system that gets strong criticism from some on the left. But Parks refuses to get drawn into arguments about the politics of public education. "It shouldn't matter," said the 33 year-old college student and former preschool teacher. "It shouldn't matter what social class that I'm in. If we are able to get our children into better schools, we have to support it. And I feel like most of the people that have money, they don't have these issues with the schools." Tens of thousands of parents like Parks are making similar decisions, fueling a growth of school choice options that critics equate to the privatization of public education. Florida enters the 2019-20 school year having just doubled down on its reputation as a choice state. The Republican-led Legislature this year expanded the state's scholarship program, allowing more children to pay private school tuition with public money. And with a new Republican governor and a choice-friendly education commissioner, it's a good bet the movement will only expand. Nearly 100,000 of Florida's children are in the tax credit scholarship program. More will be served by the new scholarship, which offers private school vouchers for the middle class and is funded directly by the state. In charter schools, which use tax money but are run by independent and sometimes for-profit managers, there are close to 300,000 children. And the trend lines alarm those trying to stem the exodus. Consider: • Charter school enrollment now accounts for roughly one in 10 Florida public school students. A decade ago, it was under 5 percent. • The tax credit scholarship program, which served 22,000 students in 2008 including 1,788 in the Tampa Bay area, has increased nearly fivefold. At last count, there were 11,000 scholarship recipients in Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas and Hernando counties. In Hillsborough alone, 94 private schools were accepting students. Both systems fall under the umbrella of educational "choice," loosely defined as any time a student attends something other than a neighborhood public school. By that definition, proponents say close to half of all children are exercising options that include magnet schools and, unique to Pinellas, fundamental schools that rely on strong parental involvement. In a more narrow sense, choice puts public dollars into the hands of churches and for-profit businesses. Critics say it depletes the government-run systems of the funds they need to meet student needs that can be costly if the child is disabled, or at a disadvantage related to poverty of family instability. "The public schools don't turn any kid away," said Mike Gandolfo, president of the Pinellas County teachers union. "We provide for kids with English as a second language. We provide for kids that are (learning disabled). We provide for every kid." Opponents of charter schools say they are selective in which children they admit, and are not held to the same standards as district-run schools. Those claims are not entirely true. The state does require charter schools to hire certified teachers and administer the yearly Florida Standards Assessment exams. Private schools, which accept the vouchers and scholarships, have a lot more latitude. Campaigning for the new scholarship program at a Tampa Christian school this year, Gov. Ron DeSantis told reporters, "If the taxpayer is paying for the education, it's public education." Union leaders, however, are hoping to mount a legal challenge, similar to one that stopped an earlier voucher program designed by former Gov. Jeb Bush. "If the governor is going to change the definition of what a public school is by saying that any school that receives public money is public school, then every school needs to be held to the same level of accountability as traditional public schools," Gandolfo said. The story of Parks and her children illustrates the sensitivity that surrounds the issue of choice. Parks at first did not want to specify the school where her children had trouble. She soon relented, but made it clear that the school had, and still has, some very good teachers. Kamijah Lawson, now 14, was the first of her children to be treated rudely by the other students at school. But, Kamijah and her mother agreed, she was able to avoid reacting to her tormentors. "With her, she would swallow it," Parks said. Tanijah, 12, was not as fortunate. She grew visibly upset when the children singled her out and insulted her. "It hurt," she said. Parks came to believe that "at that school, that's just something they did." Parks, while going through channels to report the bullying, tried to involve other parents, and community leaders. She wanted to raise awareness and improve the school. Leaving became an option when teachers suggested Kamijah would thrive at Academy Preparatory Center, which uses the state scholarship program to offer a private school type of experience to children from low-income families. After she learned how to apply, Parks made similar arrangements for Tanijah, and then for her two younger sons. "It was the best decision ever," she said. School districts have met the growth of choice with a variety of responses. Some Florida school districts are becoming embroiled in costly legal battles as they seek to slow the trend by denying charter applications. Others have not yet felt the strong pull of private sector alternatives. In Hernando County, officials said little has changed in the past few years, with the exception of more home-schooled children. The county has two charter schools, which together enrolled 343 students last year. In Hillsborough, charters are a relief valve as the district struggles to meet the needs of new residents. "In the southern part of the county, where I live, the population is growing faster than the district can building schools," said Rob Kriete, president of the Hillsborough Classroom Teachers Association. "So the charters are opportunistic in that regard. They can build their schools quicker and get into different spots. It's a problem for us." Districts are trying to become competitive, both in what they offer and how they market their schools. In Hillsborough, the planned new ventures include International Baccalaureate programs at Greco Middle and Alonso High, and a technology program at Just Elementary, a historically high-poverty school that will also get a name change as part of its rebranding. Pasco County public schools are also taking steps to expand choice offerings including more IB programs. "We want to make sure we're responsive to what our community is looking for," superintendent Kurt Browning told business leaders this year when he unveiled Project RISE, a revitalization campaign for schools in the western part of the county. But the competition is continuing to push hard, saying the district isn't doing enough. Charter Schools USA, the Fort Lauderdale for-profit operator, is involved in two planned K-8 "innovation preparation" academies   one near Wesley Chapel and a second between Zephyrhills and Trinity. And RISE, based in Palm Beach County, wants to open a school for grades six through nine in the Wynfields development, also near Wesley Chapel. An entirely different dynamic surrounds "Schools of Hope," a program conceived by state education commissioner Richard Corcoran when he was Speaker of the House. The state bypasses districts, in a sense, and brings high-quality, not-for-profit operators directly into Florida to open schools in neighborhoods that are served by low-performing schools. At the State Board of Education meeting on July 17, Corcoran commended Hillsborough superintendent Jeff Eakins for his collaboration with IDEA, a Texas-based operator that meets these criteria and will open its first four Florida schools in 2020. Eventually, they will serve about 3,000 students. Kriete, the Hillsborough labor leader, is aware that private sector options are meeting many families' needs, and that, politically, charters and vouchers enjoy support from all race and income groups. But he contends that, overall, district-run school systems offer a more complete education, particularly in high school, and that it's incumbent on them to tell that story. "We believe our public schools are stronger at preparing kids for reading, math, social science, the sciences," he said. "We do a better job of teaching kids and getting kids ready for the real world. I believe we're doing the very best we can in Hillsborough and around the state to promote all the great things we do and offer for kids. But promotion takes time and energy and money and we're not given funds to promote all the things we are doing." At Parks' home in St. Petersburg, the results speak for themselves. Kamijah, after struggling at first in math, buckled down and paid more attention in class until she caught up. Tanijah no longer felt like an outcast. "I started socially interacting with the girls, and it was easier. There's going to be some drama, but it wasn't as much as it was at my old school." Parks said she is the first to acknowledge that private school isn't perfect, it's not for everybody, and things do go wrong. But she's pleased with the response she has seen when her children run into trouble. "The staff lets you know that they're on top of this, this is what we're doing, we're going to take care of it," she said. Staff writers Jack Evans, Megan Reeves and Jeffrey Solochek contributed to this report. Contact Marlene Sokol at msokol@tampabay.com or (813) 226-3356. Follow @marlenesokol.     ©2019 the Tampa Bay Times (St. Petersburg, Fla.) Visit the Tampa Bay Times (St. Petersburg, Fla.) at www.tampabay.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.


The Grass Valley, California native scores career-best NASCAR Cup Series finish at Sonoma Raceway in his home state coming home fourth in Toyota/Save Mart 350. to improve his results and Sunday he finally was able to realize that at Sonoma. . "I cannot explain how thankful and glad I am that we got a good run that we deserve," said DiBenedetto. "It has been a tough year; we just haven't had the results that we deserve. We have had fast cars." ride this season after they switched to Toyota in the offseason, wanted to make sure everyone associated with the program knew how much he appreciated the opportunity. "I cannot explain how thankful I am to have this opportunity and how desperate I was to get a run like this for my team and how many people took a chance on me," added DiBenedetto. "I can't explain how many people had to say yes, including all of the JGR (Joe Gibbs Racing) teammates, Toyota, TRD, the sponsors, Procore and Dumont Jets, team owner, everyone on the team, it took every one of those people to say yes because my path to get here is unorthodox." DiBenedetto has been competing in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series for five seasons and reminded everyone that it was a long road to get to the situation he enjoys today at LFR. He also finished fourth earlier this season in the non-point All-Star Open race at Charlotte Motor Speedway last month. "I didn't have the funding to get there; we did it the old school way." From the editor, also read: Martin Truex Jr. fends off teammate Kyle Busch for Sonoma victory Kyle Busch: Second at Sonoma "sucks" but "good for the company" Denny Hamlin wins Stage 2 at Sonoma as leaders short-pit William Byron dominates in Stage 1 win at Sonoma


Oklahoma City Thunder forward Paul George underwent rotator cuff surgery to repair a partially torn tendon in his right shoulder on Tuesday, the team announced. George initially suffered the injury to his right shoulder against the Denver Nuggets on Feb. 26 and had been dealing with it off and on over the final two months of the season. He pushed off surgery until the offseason to address the issue. George is also expected to have a procedure to address a small labrum tear in his left shoulder in the coming weeks. The two injuries hampered George in the final weeks of the season. While the Thunder did not provide an official timetable for George to return, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that George is expected to miss the start of training camp following the two procedures. The start of training camp is typically at the end of September, which would be just under five months since George had his first procedure. The team has not set a definite date for his second shoulder surgery. As NBA players in the past have shown, recovery time from shoulder surgery that severe can often take several months. Of course, most players have just one shoulder injury but George is dealing with two different injuries so his timetable may be a bit different than other players. With George set to miss the next several months, we took a look at how other NBA players have recovered from rotator cuff surgery and how they performed once they did return. Patty Mills, San Antonio Spurs: July 2, 2014 Fresh off of a magnificent performance in the 2014 NBA Finals with the Spurs, Mills underwent surgery just as he was set to hit free agency that summer. Much like George, Mills decided to play through the pain throughout the 2013-14 season and his decision to do so paid off for the Spurs as they would go on to win the NBA championship. Mills initially received a 6-7 month window to return and would eventually return to the court on Dec. 28, 2014. In total, it took Mills nearly six months to return to play for the Spurs since the surgery. In 51 games during the 2014-15 season, Mills averaged 6.9 points and 1.7 assists off of the bench with the Spurs. Since his injury, Mills has improved his production in nearly every season and hasn't suffered any shoulder issues since. Mills averaged 9.9 points this season in 82 games this season for the Spurs. Cody Zeller, Charlotte Hornets: April 22, 2015 Zeller missed 19 out of the last 20 games for the Hornets during the 2014-15 season due to a partially torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder. He underwent surgery on April 22, 2015. Zeller recovered in time to play in the season opener for the Hornets on Oct. 28, 2015. He missed a few games during the 2015-16 season with shoulder soreness but still played in 73 games that year, averaging 8.7 points per game. The six-year veteran has dealt with his fair share of injury concerns over the past two seasons, missing half of the Hornets' games to be exact, but none of which have been due to his surgically-repaired shoulder. Zeller averaged 10.1 points in 49 games this season for the Hornets. He is owed nearly $30 million over the next two seasons. Tyler Johnson, Miami Heat: Feb. 3, 2016 Johnson dealt with a left shoulder injury throughout the 2015-16 season and eventually underwent surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff on Feb. 3, 2016. He was initially set to miss just two months following the surgery but would return to play for the Heat in the second round of the NBA Playoffs on May 1, 2016. Johnson apparently had been dealing with the issue since his college days at Fresno State and wanted to push it off until that offseason but was forced to deal with it during the season. Once Johnson returned, he averaged 4.2 points and 1.6 assists in five games against the Toronto Raptors. The Heat eventually lost in Game 7 to the Raptors that year. Johnson bounced back the following year and recorded a career-high 13.7 points, four rebounds and 3.2 assists in 73 games for the Heat during the 2016-17 season. Johnson has since been traded to the Phoenix Suns. Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers: Jan. 28, 2015 Of course, Bryant is the most prominent NBA player to have endured rotator cuff surgery. Bryant underwent surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder on Jan. 28, 2015. He would miss roughly nine months and would return to play in the Lakers' opener on Oct. 28, 2015, his final season in the NBA. Bryant averaged 17.6 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 66 games that season. As many may still remember, he dropped 60 points against the Utah Jazz in his final game in the NBA. Bryant is eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2020. ***** As shown above, the recovery time for each may vary. The severity of the injury plays a factor in how quickly a player can return to the court but it appears as though George could be ready by the start of next season. George suffered a partial tear in his right shoulder and will address a small tear in his left shoulder in the coming weeks. Recovering from two surgeries will be challenging but it doesn't sound like George will miss too much time - if any at all. The Thunder will certainly be hoping that is the case, anyway. MORE: The full story from the guy who got Danica Patrick a drink at the Bucks-Celtics game 3 Raiders players who could have breakout seasons in 2019 NBA Free Agency 2019: The top players Richard Sherman: 'The secondary wasn't the issue last year' Packers rookie DL Kingsley Keke draws praise for pass-rushing potential


The demise of the NFL is far-fetched and based off early rankings of viewership for the first half of 2019, the National Football League will likely be the rating king for years to come. Sports Media Watch has the data, and via ratings and numbers crunching, the NFL has already generated the ten most-watched sporting events this year, starring the Patriots win over the Rams in Super Bowl 53. Even while generating the lowest rating since 2003, the Super Bowl still generated 98 million viewers on television alone. The Philadelphia Eagles are a hot product right now and based off of the ratings, the Birds playoff win against the Chicago Bears and their divisional-round loss to the New Orleans Saints were two of the top-5 watch sporting events so far this year. Add into the fact that the Eagles Super Bowl victory over the New England Patriots was the most-watched sporting event of 2018, and Philadelphia has been a media darling for over two years now. MORE: Michael Bisping's cageside reaction to Urijah Faber's stunning KO was too good E'Twaun Moore Q&A: 'I didn't know we were going to get all of that back for Anthony Davis' Trysten Hill may be crowning point on Cowboys star-studded defense A story surfaces of James Harden, Chris Paul fighting over the little things New Grady Jarrett contract lays groundwork for Kenny Clark, Packers


FOXBORO, Mass. -- The biggest story of Day 1 of New England Patriots training camp was Danny Etling's position change. The story of Day 2 was much more notable. Patriots starting quarterback Tom Brady was a spectator Friday, observing practice in sweats. It's unusual, to say the least, for Brady to get an off day just one day into training camp. He stayed on the field for the entire session, jogged around and even threw the ball a few times, so Brady's absence likely wasn't a big deal. But it's certainly worth mentioning. [nesn_embed_the_score team="patriots"] -- Defensive end Michael Bennett, center David Andrews, Cole Croston (physically unable to perform list) and Yodny Cajuste (non-football injury list) weren't spotted at practice. -- Brady, wide receiver Julian Edelman (NFI), wide receiver Demaryius Thomas (PUP), running back Sony Michel (PUP), safety Nate Ebner (PUP) and cornerback Ken Webster (PUP) were present but not in uniform. -- Defensive end Deatrich Wise (PUP) returned to practice in uniform but didn't finish the session, departing for a side field. We'll find out Friday afternoon if he was activated off PUP. -- Left tackle Isaiah Wynn left practice early for the side field but returned for the end of the session. Left guard Joe Thuney continued to fill in at left tackle. Ted Karras, James Ferentz and Hjalte Froholdt filled in along the interior offensive line with Andrews out and Thuney at tackle. -- Patrick Chung was still wearing his red non-contact jersey as he recovers from a broken arm suffered in Super Bowl LIII. -- Chung and wide receivers Braxton Berrios, N'Keal Harry, Gunner Olszewski and Phillip Dorsett fielded punts. -- There was an ugly team session in which quarterback Brian Hoyer went 3-of-7 with an interception and Jarrett Stidham went 2-of-6 with two interceptions while Brady observed the practice. Safety Obi Melifonwu and cornerbacks Duke Dawson and Jason McCourty had the interceptions. -- Hoyer went 11-of-14 in 11-on-11s. Stidham went 9-of-12 with an interception to Melifonwu, which was batted by safety Terrence Brooks. Stidham finished off strong, showing nice touch on a touchdown pass to running back James White in the corner of the end zone. He went 5-of-5 in his last portion of practice. -- Jason McCourty and Stephon Gilmore broke up passes. Tight end Matt LaCosse had a drop but also snagged a touchdown away from linebacker Elandon Roberts during team drills. -- Wide receivers Maurice Harris and Jakobi Meyers continue to impress. -- Rookie defensive tackle Byron Cowart had his knee worked on during practice and later departed to the locker room. -- Inside linebackers coach Jerod Mayo continued calling defensive plays during team drills.


Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon is having a case of buyer's remorse. But it could be too late for Dundon to get a refund. Daniel Kaplan of TheAthletic.com reports that Dundon has filed a claim in the Alliance of American Football's bankruptcy case. Dundon alleges that his investment happened due to "misrepresentations," and he seeks a full refund of the $70 million he paid to keep the league afloat for five or six weeks during its only season, before Dundon shuttered it. "Even though AAF executives told [Dundon Capital Partners] its contribution would get the AAF through the first season, those executives knew at the time of the execution of the Term Sheet that the AAF would likely need an additional $50,000,000 (including League revenue) on top of [Dundon Capital Partners'] investment of up to $70,000,000 to get through the first season," the document alleges. "The AAF and its executives never disclosed this information to [Dundon Capital Partners]." In other words, Dundon claims that the AAF led Dundon to believe that an infusion of $70 million would get the league through its first season, but that the AAF knew that in reality $120 million would be required. More specifically, Dundon claims that the AAF led him to believe that an amount considerably less than $70 million would be needed to finish the campaign. "The AAF further represented that it could survive the season with only $55,000,000, leaving substantial capital to prepare for the following season," the document contends. "During the weeks following the execution of the Term Sheet, [Dundon Capital Partners] learned a number of alarming facts that revealed that the AAF was not forthcoming with Dundon and [Dundon Capital Partners]. [Dundon Capital Partners] learned that, in addition to not having the funds to pay salaries after the first week of the League's games, the AAF also had accumulated more than $13,000,000 in unpaid debts and commitments. The AAF did not disclose these unpaid debts or commitments to [Dundon Capital Partners] prior to the execution of the February 14, 2019 Term Sheet." Dundon also contends that the AAF failed to disclose the existence of "ongoing threatened litigation from a past associate who claimed to be a co-founder of the League and who was suing to obtain a 50% interest in the AAF." With precious few assets available to be distributed to the AAF's many creditors, Dundon's filing feels like the first move in a fresh game of chess/checkers/chicken against those who lured him to pump millions down what ultimately became (and possibly already was) a dry hole. Dundon could be trying to ensure that creditors won't target him personally, he could be trying to lay the foundation to target personally those who lured him into the business, and/or he could simply be trying to ensure that the record is clear and unambiguous in the event the pending legal proceedings eventually take a southerly turn from the civil justice system.


In their ongoing series spotlighting the predicted breakout performer for each NFL team in 2019 , the Draft Network and analyst Joe Marino made an unusual choice for the Cleveland Browns. Austin Corbett. The second-year offensive lineman has yet to find his way into the first team at any spot. An abortive attempt to install him at his college position, left tackle, quickly washed out last summer. Now with the right guard position vacant following the trade of Kevin Zeitler to the Giants, Corbett has fallen behind unheralded Kyle Kalis. While Corbett does say he's getting some first-team reps, during the OTA and minicamp sessions open to the media he was clearly behind Kalis in terms of volume with the starters. Marino holds firm to his pre-draft evaluation of Corbett coming out of Nevada, A college left tackle, Corbett projects best inside at guard in the NFL. His mobility, power and technique make him a scheme-transcendent player and option for every team. A balanced blocker, Corbett offers upside as a pass blocker, run blocker and as a move blocker. Proving he can perform consistently on the inside where the opponents are bigger and the action unfolds quicker is vital, but he fared well at the Senior Bowl at guard. In year one, Corbett has plug and play potential given his experience and physical traits. By year three, Corbett should be an excellent starter who is considered a foundational piece of his offensive line. It will be interesting to see if the 2018 second-round pick can fulfill the potential by Year 3. His Year 2 doesn't appear all that promising despite the lofty initial opinion, based on the early returns. MORE: Most bizarre and incredible catches by fishermen in past decade Report: New Orleans likely to trade Anthony Davis to Celtics 3 overlooked offensive players that could make Patriots 53-man roster 3 ways the Packers can scheme Rashan Gary to early success Kevin Durant shows support for teammates after Game 4 loss


Joevanny Vargas is determined to make sure what happened to his daughter, Miranda, never happens to anyone else's child. Vargas successfully pushed New Jersey lawmakers to require three-point seatbelts on school buses, making it one of the few states to do so. He also convinced state lawmakers to tighten the vetting process and medical fitness requirements for school bus drivers. A year after Miranda, a 10-year-old student at East Brook Middle School in Paramus, was killed in a school bus crash on Interstate 80 , Vargas isn't finished channeling his grief into action. He's suing the Paramus school district and its superintendent, as well as the bus driver now charged in Miranda's death, and the operator of the dump truck that struck the bus. He's taking his fight for better school bus safety to Washington and plans to visit with members of Congress to convince them to make New Jersey's new laws nationwide. Standing beside the sponsor of that federal legislation, Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-Wyckoff, on Tuesday in Westwood, Vargas said he's "100% all in." Lawsuit: Murphy administration sues DuPont, 3M over toxic firefighting foam News: Will three county jails in NJ keep referring immigrants to ICE for deportation? New Jersey: Agreement with private operator Northstar expected to save NJ up to $100M "I know for a fact that she would want me to do this," Vargas said, at times fighting back tears. "This is Miranda's legacy, and I will fight to make sure it carries on." Going national It was supposed to be a routine grade school ritual. Students from East Brook Middle school boarded big yellow buses on the morning of May 17, 2018, for a field trip to Waterloo Village, a historic site in Sussex County about 45 minutes west of Paramus. Two of the three buses made it to the site. Miranda's didn't. After getting turned around, the bus's driver, 77-year-old Hudy Muldrow, attempted to make an illegal U-turn in the median of Interstate 80 . A red dump truck operated by Mendez Trucking struck the side of the bus at highway speed, tearing the vehicle off its chassis. Miranda and a 51-year-old teacher at East Brook, Jennifer-Williamson Kennedy, died in the impact. Muldrow, now 78, faces two counts of reckless vehicular homicide . Muldrow's license had been suspended 14 times since 1975, most recently in December 2017. Following the crash, Gottheimer introduced a bill called Miranda's Law that would help prevent drivers with records like Muldrow's from getting behind the wheel. This week, Gottheimer is re-introducing the bill, which would require automatic notification within 24 hours of driver violations to school districts and school bus operators. In the coming weeks, he and Vargas will visit with members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to push the legislation. "We've made great strides this last year in New Jersey, secured by the Vargas family," Gottheimer said. "It's time for every child in every state to have the same protections we have in New Jersey." Gottheimer and Vargas will also lobby for Congress to enact the SECURES Act, which would require lap-and-shoulder restraints on all school buses. There is no federal requirement for school buses to have them. At the time of last year's crash, New Jersey required lap belts on school buses, but not shoulder belts. School buses are generally safe vehicles, offering effective occupant protection in front or rear crashes, but the Paramus crash demonstrated their vulnerability in side-impact crashes . The National Transportation Safety Board has concluded that lap-and-shoulder restraints offer the most effective occupant protection. "The lap belt alone is a relic of the past," Gottheimer said. Even with a new Democratic majority in the House, Gottheimer said the legislation could take time to become law. Still, more co-sponsors, including Democrats and Republicans, have signed on to his bill. He's hopeful he can persuade Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Oregon, the chairman of the Transportation Committee, to hold a hearing on the issue. And Vargas said he'll testify to lawmakers. "Sometimes it takes years to get done," Gottheimer said. "We might not get it done this Congress." Vargas is ready to take the fight to Washington. "This is how I funnel my anger and my pain," he said. Difficult days At the same time Vargas is seeking changes in federal law, he's also seeking accountability in the courts. In February, he sued Muldrow, Mendez Trucking, Paramus Public Schools Superintendent Michele Robinson and Paramus Board of Education President William Holzmann. The suit, filed in February in Superior Court in Bergen County, seeks damages under the Wrongful Death Act and the New Jersey Survivorship Act. In its answer to Vargas's complaint, Mendez Trucking, based in Belleville, faults Muldrow, Robinson and Holzmann for Miranda Vargas's death. In their answer to Vargas's complaint, Muldrow, Robinson and Holzmann fault Mendez Trucking. A trial date has not been set. No amount of justice could replace what Vargas and his family lost. "We never thought we'd find ourselves in such a dark place," he said. "Our lives were destroyed when we lost our Miranda." Vargas said he'll never get to see Miranda graduate from middle school, high school or college. He'll never get to walk her down the aisle. "I will never forgive anyone responsible for doing this to my baby," he said. Vargas described his daughter as a beautiful, loving child who hugged her dad so much he had to remind her about his bad back. "She could never get enough of us," he said. Vargas said the family keeps a seat for her at the dinner table. He said Miranda's twin sister, Madison, makes sure her clothes are arranged in the drawer just as she left them. "Every time I look at you, I see purpose," Vargas said of Madison. "I know Miranda lives through you." And it may be his biggest inspiration of all to keep pushing for change. "We will do everything in our power to make sure she lives on," he said. This article originally appeared on North Jersey Record: Father of Paramus school bus crash victim, Joevanny Vargas, continues fight


The Colorado Rapids game against the Montreal Impact will still be played on Saturday, Aug. 3 at Dick's Sporting Goods Park but scheduled post-game fireworks have been canceled due to the "confirmed presence of plague-infested fleas affecting prairie dog colonies" in Commerce City and surrounding areas, the team announced Friday. Unpaved parking lots in Dick's Sporting Goods Park have also been closed to minimize the risk of exposure to patrons, players and employees of the stadium. Only asphalt lots will be open for use. "The health department feels that taking these precautions will greatly minimize the risk of exposure to patrons, players and employees visiting this weekend," the Tri-County release said. An insecticide is being used to kill the fleas that are spreading the disease to the prairie dogs. The locations surrounding the Rapids' stadium have been "voluntarily closed" to prevent humans or pets from entering infected areas. The game will be played starting at 9 p.m. ET.


The best first sign of spring is, hands down, flowers. Little buds peeking out from the cold, hard ground are proof that change is on its way. Nike brought them a few weeks early with the news of The Nike Sportswear Women's City Collection. Each of the six sneakers pays tribute to a style capital New York, Paris, Tokyo, London, Shanghai and Milan with a distinct floral print. We see the finish line, winter. Spring is officially in sight. "The prints form individual color schemes that define each city," says Nike. "Allowing each shoe to stand-alone." Think: cherry blossoms for Tokyo and an edgy black and white palette for New York. And we're all for hometown pride, but our New York office will be pretty split on loyalties when the collection launches online and at select Nike Sportswear stores on April 11th. Which city are you? Scroll through the gallery below to find out.


Editor's note: The opinions in this article are the author's, as published by our content partner, and do not necessarily represent the views of MSN or Microsoft. Now we know why President Trump picked Mick Mulvaney to fill multiple roles within his administration. Mulvaney, who serves both as Trump's budget director and chief of staff, went on television over the weekend and defended some of the president's most recent embarrassing behavior. In doing so, Mulvaney demonstrated his utter loyalty to Trump and complete shamelessness. It's true that Trump has a reputation for unapologetic transgressiveness. But it was once the case that administration officials could display public embarrassment of this president's antics. Those days are mostly gone   as Mulvaney's weekend performance proves   and that will have consequences for the way Trump's opponents choose to plot their path forward. In the span of a few hours on Sunday, Mulvaney did the following: Mick Mulvaney on President Trump's relationship with Kim Jong Un: To have a good working relationship with somebody, with anybody, how is that ever a bad thing? pic.twitter.com/t2YHY5WXo9   FoxNewsSunday (@FoxNewsSunday) June 2, 2019 Defended Trump's affinity for North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, even after reports that some of Kim's negotiators had been executed in the wake of the failed Trump-Kim summit earlier this year Professed powerlessness in the wake of the Virginia Beach mass shooting that ended in the deaths of 12 victims, plus the shooter Offered tacit approval to the White House staffer who asked Navy officials to hide a destroyer named after the late Sen. John McCain during Trump's recent visit to Japan It is incredibly shameful that the president's best working relationships always seem to be with murderous autocrats . It's embarrassing that victims of mass shootings don't get better than a shrugging "what are you going to do?" response from their president. And it's disgraceful   even authoritarian   to attempt to hide a rival's name from the president's sight. That Mulvaney would pretend otherwise is very odd. Indeed, Mulvaney's parade of brazeness is a sign we've entered a dangerous new era in this presidency. During the first year or so after Trump took office, the White House was filled with top officials who had the good sense to occasionally appear embarrassed by their boss. Former Chief of Staff John Kelly enacted his anguish for the cameras. Gary Cohn , Trump's former chief economic adviser, publicly contemplated resignation after Charlottesville. Former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson let it be known he thought Trump was a moron . Those officials are mostly gone, along with the sense that there are grown-ups left serving this White House. That means it's time for the president's opponents to be bolder than they have so far shown themselves to be. Why? Because it seems Trumpism is becoming more firmly rooted in American political culture   and this development cries out for a powerful response. There are several basic theories about the rise of Trump. One suggests that this particular moment in American politics is an aberration   that the mix of policies and pugnaciousness we loosely define as "Trumpism" will go away about the time that Trump does. This is explicitly the rationale of former Vice President Joe Biden's 2020 candidacy. "I believe history will look back on four years of this president and all he embraces as an aberrant moment in time," Biden said in announcing his run for president. It also explains why House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) keeps slow-walking impeachment, even as she continually makes the case that Trump is unfit for office: If Trump is an aberration, you don't have to be too bold in your response to him   you only have to outlast him . That Trump's first wave of officials appeared embarrassed by his antics seemed to affirm this theory; Cabinet members displayed shame because they suspected that history would judge them . Mulvaney's performance, however, suggests that fear is dissipating, that the president's commitment to never apologizing and never admitting error   the brash, attitudinal aspect of Trumpism   is spreading beyond Trump himself and embedding itself in the GOP's broader political culture. And so, Mulvaney appears to think he will never have to pay a price   reputationally or otherwise   for his behavior. That's a problem. If shame is eliminated from our politics and leaders avoid confrontation, there's little that can truly restrain public officials from bad acts: In addition to checks and balances, the Founders expected that a desire to avoid public embarrassment would keep America's leaders in line. If Trumpism is more than a one-off, then the problem is urgent, and Pelosi's patience with regard to impeachment is unwarranted. It also means Biden, despite his rhetoric, won't be able to uproot the forces the president has unleashed simply by beating Trump in a single election. Mulvaney could afford to be outrageous on Sunday because he doesn't think he has to fear the future. Democrats and other Americans must be similarly fearless in deciding how to respond.


Padraig Harrington held the first-round lead at the Irish Open thanks to a seven-under 63 at Lahinch Golf Club. However, it's not just Harrington's play that's making noise. On Wednesday, the 47-year-old questioned the major strategy of Tiger Woods, the latter who has chosen rest for his Royal Portrush preparation. "I personally think if you're serious about winning the Open you've got to be playing tournament golf at least before it," Harrington said at Lahinch . "You'd rather be playing links golf and being in a tournament than just [playing] on your own, so if you're serious about trying to win the Open you should be playing at least one, if not two, of the events running into it." Woods has not appeared competitively since last month's U.S. Open , where he finished T-21. The 15-time major winner had a similar itinerary between his triumph at Augusta National and the PGA Championship; he had a quick exit at Bethpage Black, missing the cut, although he admitted to being under the weather at the PGA. Before this year, Woods had not played a tournament between majors just three times. Harrington, who has won the Open Championship twice and will captain the European Ryder Cup team in 2020, said he's always been "mightily impressed" that Woods can go between majors without playing. "I'd be a basket case if I didn't play the week before," Harrington said. "Different personalities [are] completely different. "But I do think links golf is different. You're giving up some shots if you don't play some links golf in the couple of weeks coming up to it. There's no better way to understand your clubbing than when you've got a card in your hand and if you under-club there's a little bit of pain and you remember it." The 2019 Open Championship begins July 18, visiting Royal Portrush for the first time since 1951. Francesco Molinari is the defending champ. Check out Golf Digest Schools for the best in video golf instruction WATCH: GOLF DIGEST VIDEOS See the video.


Is it "Montrose" or "the Montrose?" What's "the 44?" And where in the world are the falls in Cypress? On the newest episode of Looped In, the Chronicle's Nancy Sarnoff talks with author, artist and "Houstorian" James Glassman about the origins Houston neighborhood names and highlight some examples of real estate developments that have appropriated the names of their fancier, hipper neighbors . Listen in by using the player on this page, or search for "Looped In" on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app and click subscribe.


For Muslims, it is the holiest month of the year; Ramadan. Muslims across Baltimore and the world are celebrating Ramadan.


Kyle Larson failed to qualify for Saturday night's Knoxville Nationals A main on Wednesday and will have to return to Knoxville Raceway on Friday, but he told The Athletic he was unsure if he would be able to come back because of his NASCAR commitments this weekend at Michigan International Speedway. Larson finished third in last year's Knoxville Nationals and was second the year before that. His father, Mike, told the Des Moines Register a year ago that "the Knoxville Nationals is No. 1 on the bucket list" for his son. A point system is used to partially set the field for Saturday night's Knoxville Nationals . About 100 cars are entered and the field is split into Wednesday and Thursday races. The top 16 in points combined from the two nights advance to Saturday's main event. The next 10 spots are locked into Saturday's B main. The rest of the field returns to race Friday to set their positions in the various races Saturday. Points are awarded for qualifying, heat races and the A, B and C mains. Larson finished sixth in the B main on Wednesday and did not advance to that night's A main. He finished the night ranked 21st in points, meaning he will need to return to race Friday to better his standing for Saturday's races. If Larson didn't compete Friday, he'd be so deep in the various mains that lead to the Knoxville Nationals that his chances of reaching that race would be minimal. With Cup at Michigan this weekend, it complicates things. Cup qualifying begins at 5:05 p.m. ET. Friday. Because Larson qualified in the top 20 last weekend at Watkins Glen, he'll be in the back half of the qualifying draw Friday. He would then need to fly to Iowa to compete that night and return to Michigan. Cup practice begins at 8:35 a.m. ET Saturday. Final Cup practice goes from 11:30 a.m.   12:20 p.m. ET. Then he would have to fly back to Iowa to compete that night and return for Sunday's Cup race at Michigan. Larson told The Athletic after Wednesday's races he had yet to talk to any Chip Ganassi Racing officials about the possibility of racing at Knoxville on Friday. Trey Starks won Wednesday's A main at Knoxville. James McFadden, who is driving in placed of an injured Kasey Kahne , finished second. Field filler tonight. You'll have that sometimes. @Paul_Silva57 is still the best tho. #wootour2031champs   Kyle Larson (@KyleLarsonRacin) August 8, 2019


Sophie Turner is so thankful to have Joe Jonas by her side. A day after the actress stepped out to support her husband at his event, the Jonas Brother accompanied his wife to her Dark Phoenix premiere held at TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood on Tuesday. ET's Nischelle Turner caught up with the X-Men film's leading lady, who couldn't help but gush about how comforting it was to have him as her date. "It's great. It's wonderful. It's nerve wrecking, but it's amazing [to have him here]," Turner expressed. "It's a bit of comfort in an otherwise nerve-wrecking day." The newlyweds looked picture perfect posing on the red carpet. The blonde beauty was stunning in a black-and-gray striped strapless dress by Louis Vuitton that featured silver detailing and a black belt. She also wore earrings and a ring from the French designer. Jonas, on his end, coordinated with his lady love, wearing a black suit with a black-and-white stripped shirt. The night before, Turner dazzled in a silver metallic number while attending the Los Angeles premiere of Jonas' Chasing Happiness . ET caught up with the Jonas Brothers during the event, where they praised their wives for supporting them for the special event. "It's a dream come true," Nick Jonas expressed. "They're all so busy that the fact that they get to come here and support us means the world." Dark Phoenix arrives in theaters on June 7.


Virginia Beach receives 15 bids for mass shooting independent investigation.


Mesa will see a return of last week's light rainfall today, according to drone-powered weather forecasting service Saildrone . Today's forecast shows the highest possibility of rain at 85 percent, with predicted rainfall of 0.02 inches. The coming days will also see warm temperatures, forecast to last through Wednesday. Temperatures will reach a high of 89 degrees on Saturday. Skies will begin clearing on Friday. Winds will continue to be fairly calm through the week, with the highest speeds on Sunday at only 12 mph. This story was created automatically using Saildrone's local weather forecast data, then reviewed by an editor. We also incorporate historic weather data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Actually, which it was depends on what street you stood on a chilly winter evening in El Paso, Texas . On one side of town, raucous crowds gathered at the El Paso County Coliseum. With American flags and banners reading "Finish the Wall" displayed above him, President Donald Trump hailed his "big, beautiful" border wall as the reason for El Paso's low crime rate. Outside the coliseum, thousands of protesters gathered. Marching along the Rio Grande, they joined former Texas Congressman Beto O'Rourke at the Chalio Acosta Sports Center for a counter rally to celebrate El Paso's immigrant culture. It marked a clarion moment for a prospective candidate testing 2020 waters, and heralded what many expected to come -- O'Rourke's official campaign kickoff. Just a few weeks later, he held his first official campaign rally in his hometown. The bills came due for both: Beto For America owed the city $28,630.50 for his March campaign launch; he had already paid $7,609.14 of that as a deposit. The remainder was due May 24. They paid on time -- just under the wire -- with a check dated the day prior to the deadline. El Paso also billed Donald J. Trump for President Inc. for his "Make America Great Again" rally -- for nearly half a million dollars. The invoice was sent to the campaign's Fifth Avenue offices in New York on March 27. It was due April 26, and El Paso has yet to see a dime. The exact number is $470,417.05, broken down by reimbursements owed to six departments: Department of Aviation: $6,286.57 Fire Department: $60,630.84 Health Department: $528 Streets & Maintenance: $6,452 Sun Metro: $15,577.52 Police Department: $380,942.12 A month overdue and no check in sight, El Paso sent a warning to the Trump campaign of its looming penalty -- a letter, coincidentally, sent the same day Beto's check was cut. "Failure to pay your past due balance or to make acceptable payment arrangement within 30 days from the date of this notice (May 23) may result in your account being charged a one-time collection fee of 21 percent on your gross account receivable balance," the letter from El Paso's Office of the Comptroller states. That 21% would add almost $100,000 to the Trump campaign's tab, bringing the sum total to almost $570,000. "As with any invoices we issue out, our expectation is to be paid for the services rendered," Robert Cortinas, El Paso's chief financial officer, told ABC News in a statement. "The City is fiscally responsible." If El Paso doesn't receive payment from the Trump campaign, that money would come out of municipal revenue and the city's contingency budget -- funds used for unexpected and emergency situations, like natural disasters. Just last June, historic and deadly flooding ravaged southern Texas. Now, as tornado alley wakes up, and hurricane season looms -- that's a financial life vest no city wants to do without. Donald J. Trump for President Inc.'s outstanding $470,417.05 is about 63% of the city's contingency budget for the year. The Trump campaign has said it doubts El Paso's accounting and has implied it's been overcharged. "Since 2015, the Trump Campaign has held nearly 550 rallies all over the country, and this invoice is roughly 10 times the amount that a locality generally asks to be reimbursed," Michael Glassner, chief operating officer with the Trump Campaign, told ABC News. "We are reviewing it." Campaigns failing to pay cities for their visits is not uncommon. During the 2016 election, both the Trump and Sen. Bernie Sanders' presidential campaigns were both behind in several rally payments. Trump himself has a storied history of not paying his bills. Often boasting of his business success on the trail and touting his record as the "Dealmaker in Chief," receipts and lawsuits alike reflect a long line of personal debts shifted to businesses, with the burden of multiple Chapter 11 filings falling on investors who bet on his business acumen. Thousands of contractors' lawsuits say Trump and his businesses have refused to pay them. This time, one of the most important border cities would have to recoup the damage. The City of El Paso tells ABC News that it will continue to reach out to see the bill is paid -- even after the books close on this fiscal year -- but if it's in vain, they'll have to absorb the difference. Ironically, that cost would have to be eaten by the very people championed at Trump's campaign rally: El Paso police officers who are on the front lines of the president's border battle. El Paso police officers, who partner with state and federal law enforcement including the FBI, told ABC News that they'll keep serving the public -- no matter what. "We're doing our duties, whether it's a late call, or overtime -- we're going to respond no matter what," El Paso Sgt. Enrique Carrillo told ABC News. "Budget isn't going to dictate how we handle an emergency." ABC News' Will Steakin contributed to this report.


PHILADELPHIA   Jimmy Butler doesn't care about his shot attempts or points. Doesn't care if he plays 40 minutes or 20 minutes. "Like I always say, I just want to win," Butler said late Thursday night. "If we win, I'm good. If we don't, I got a problem." No problems for Butler today, not after leading the Philadelphia 76ers to a 112-101 victory against the Toronto Raptors in Game 6 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series with 25 points, eight assists, six rebounds and two steals. BOX SCORE: 76ERS 112, RAPTORS 101 Butler's effort helped force a decisive Game 7 in Toronto on Sunday (7 p.m. ET, TNT), and the winner will play the Milwaukee Bucks in the conference finals. "We need him to be the same, especially up in Toronto," said Sixers center Joel Embiid, who still isn't 100% after battling illness in this series. 🔔 @JimmyButler (25 PTS, 8 AST) & @BenSimmons25 (21 PTS, 6 AST) combine for 46 points & 14 assists, leading the @sixers to the Game 6 victory! #PhilaUnite #NBAPlayoffs Game 7: Sunday (5/12), 7:00pm/et, TNT pic.twitter.com/YvXuA1Jlys   NBA (@NBA) May 10, 2019 Butler set the tone before the game began. "The mood in the locker room as we went through our version of a shootaround before, you could sense the serious side," said Philadelphia coach Brett Brown. "They got the moment, and he got it as much as anybody. And led us. He was a tremendous leader, and his performance mirrored his attitude." Butler is intense and direct. But it stems from his desire to win, and he brings the most playoff experience to the Sixers. That's why Philadelphia acquired him from the Minnesota Timberwolves early in the season. But it was hard to tell what kind of impact Butler would have. The Sixers played just 10 games during the regular season with Butler, Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, J.J. Reddick and Tobias Harris on the court. That's an impressive starting five. But how would it translate to the playoffs? If Butler searched for the right role during the regular season, he has found it in the playoffs. He wants to help the offense, and his focus on defense makes him one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA. "More than anything, we let our defense start us out and dictate our offense," he said. "I always say when we play like that, we're hard to beat, home, on the road, neutral site. That's how we have to play basketball." On Thursday, he scored six of the Sixers' first 10 points. He had eight points in the quarter and 11 in the second quarter, including seven in a 78-second stretch to end the half. "I just came out aggressive as they tell me to be all the time," Butler said. "Game is simple. I shoot the ball when I'm open. Sometimes, I shoot when I'm not open and I try to get out in transition and get some steals and rebounds and take off. That's just how the game went for us tonight." Against the Raptors, Butler is averaging 23 points, 7.3 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 1.2 steals and shooting 45.5% from the field. After scoring just 10 points in a Game 1 loss, he has scored at least 22 in the last five games, including 30 in Philadelphia's Game 3 victory. "I've said before, this an adult in the room when he's on the court," Brown said. "The athletic plays that he makes, the physical plays that he makes   he attacks. And he's so strong. When he has that laser-focus and you've got that body to back it up, incredible things happen offensively and defensively. He has that mind, that attitude, that's a hell of package." Butler isn't fazed by the moment as he guides Embiid and Simmons through the playoff minefield. Butler has been in this situation before with the Chicago Bulls. He knows what is required. He provides the calming influence, too. There's no panic in Butler's game. "I'm just hoopin'," Butler said. "I'm doing what they ask me to do. I play to win. Right now, this is what I have to do in order to give us a great chance of winning. From game to game, series to series, the role could change. I'm cool with it." So are the Sixers, and they'd be cool with it if Butler hooped like that at least one more game. Follow Jeff Zillgitt on Twitter @JeffZillgitt . This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Opinion: Pushed by his intense desire to win, Butler leads Sixers to Game 7 Related Slideshow: Best of the 2019 NBA Playoffs (provided by imagn)


The Brewers announced Wednesday that infielder/outfielder Hernan Perez cleared waivers after being designated for assignment last week. He's been sent outright to Triple-A San Antonio, though he does have enough big-league service time to reject that assignment and become a free agent. Perez, 28, has struggled to a .235/.277/.383 line through 160 trips to the plate in 2019   his worst production since landing with the Brewers back in 2015. While he's never been any sort of on-base threat, Perez did hit a combined .262/.294/.411 with 36 homers and 58 steals in a part-time role from 2016-18 (1222 plate appearances), demonstrating an interesting blend of power and speed. Pair that with his defensive versatility   he's played every position but catcher in Milwaukee   and the Brewers are likely quite pleased to have the opportunity to keep him in the organization. The Brewers are currently utilizing Tyler Saladino as their backup infielder, although Saladino himself comes with an even spottier offensive track record, so it's possible that Perez will get another look later in the season.


The fourth and final major on the 2019 PGA Tour calendar is upon us. The best players in the world have converged on Royal Portrush for the 148th British Open . Golf's oldest major used to fall third in the seasonal lineup before the PGA Championship moved from August to May. This year, the month of August is all about the Tour Championship after things wrap up in Northern Ireland, so this weekend is the last time golf will be on the mainstream radar until 2020. Tiger Woods, as per usual, is the main draw at Royal Portrush, which is hosting the British Open for the first time since 1951. Northern Ireland's own Rory McIlroy, who has two wins on tour this year but hasn't won a major since 2014, was installed as the hometown betting favorite . Neither man is likely to make it to the weekend, though. MORE: Watch the British Open live with fuboTV (7-day free trial) Woods, ranked fifth in the world, recaptured the sports world's imagination by winning the Masters in April, only to miss the cut at the PGA Championship weeks later. He has stabilized in two appearances since   a top-10 finish at the Memorial Tournament and a tie for 21st at the U.S. Open   but there's still a pall of unfinished business over Woods' season. Royal Portrush represents his final chance in 2019 to make a splash and perhaps inch one win closer to Jack Nicklaus' all-time major record. The 156-player field features each of the world's top 33 ranked golfers, including 2018 champion Francesco Molinari and both of this year's other major winners, Brooks Koepka (PGA Championship) and Gary Woodland (U.S. Open). Koepka (2018), Jordan Spieth (2015) and McIlroy (2014) are the only golfers to win two majors in a calendar year this decade. Just got back inside. Holy monsoon…. He's outta here. Hit a few putts and took off, as did I. Tee time is 10:10AM ET. #TheOpen   Tiger Tracker (@GCTigerTracker) July 17, 2019 Follow Tiger's score and the rest of the field below with our live British Open leaderboard. You can also check out our Tiger Tracker for highlights from Woods' first round. TIGER TRACKER: Follow Tiger Woods' Round 2 at the British Open British Open leaderboard: Live scores from Round 4 Click here or refresh the page if you can't view the leaderboard .


(Bloomberg) -- The Trump administration hasn't revealed the full details of its Middle East peace plan in order to prevent "spoilers" from undermining it, U.S. special envoy Jason Greenblatt said days after a U.S.-backed economic conference in Bahrain sought to drum up support for American peace efforts. "We understand we're protecting something extremely delicate," Greenblatt said at the IDC Herzliya Conference in Israel on Monday. "We understand that there are a lot of spoilers out there. If we start to reveal details of the plan, anyone, group or person who is against a particular part of the plan will start to undermine our efforts." More than two years after President Donald Trump picked his son-in-law and senior adviser, Jared Kushner, to create the "deal of the century" by brokering Middle East peace, few concrete details of the plan have emerged. Kushner promoted the economic component of his proposal in Bahrain last week, but the event was deliberately short on key political questions, and the conference didn't include Palestinian officials. At the conference, Kushner called for about $50 billion in proposed investments in the Palestinian territories and neighboring countries that host refugees, but didn't say who would administer the funds or where they would come from. Read More: Palestinian Windfall Hinges on Political Moves, U.S. Envoy Says The U.S. is expected to release the political details behind the peace plan -- the far more more sensitive part of the equation -- later this year, after Israeli elections in September. When the administration does release the details of the political plan, it's "fully prepared" to defend it and "defend why we chose to recommend what we're recommending," Greenblatt said. Palestinian leaders spurned Kushner's economic vision as an effort to bribe them into accepting an eventual Trump plan that will favor Israel, and Kushner said Palestinian leaders discouraged all but a small contingent of Palestinian entrepreneurs and investors from attending the Bahrain conference. "It was unfortunate that the Palestinian Authority chose not only to boycott the workshop but to try to get others not to come to the workshop," Greenblatt said. "In the end, almost everybody came, and we had a very lively discussion about an economic vision, which is one part of our complete vision." To contact the reporter on this story: Glen Carey in Washington at gcarey8@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Bill Faries at wfaries@bloomberg.net, Larry Liebert For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com ©2019 Bloomberg L.P.


This dachshund wasn't going to pass up a chance to fetch a branch twice its size, diligently navigating a winding walkway before dropping it at its owner's feet.


To help get you through the slow days of the NFL offseason, we here at Lions Wire decided to collect some highlights of the team's key players as they gear up for the 2019 season. Today, we're going to take a look at Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford. Despite an average season by his standards, Stafford's highlights are consistently up there with many of the elite passers in this league. Here are some of his best moments from last season. Week 1: Jets Matthew Stafford finds @ShowtimeTate for the @Lions TD! And we're all tied up in Detroit, 17-17 : ESPN #OnePride pic.twitter.com/2CdvYlkK1F - NFL (@NFL) September 11, 2018 Week 3: Patriots Stafford tosses a dime to @MarvinJonesJr for the TD! @Lions lead is back to 10. #OnePride : #NEvsDET on @SNFonNBC pic.twitter.com/IwWOBoO9TL - NFL (@NFL) September 24, 2018 Week 4: Cowboys This is just beautiful. Stafford to Golladay! #DETvsDAL : FOX pic.twitter.com/b6412wIZQG - NFL (@NFL) September 30, 2018 STAFFORD. TATE. 38-yard @Lions TD! Detroit has the lead! #DETvsDAL #OnePride : FOX pic.twitter.com/6tuwIrBYc7 - NFL (@NFL) September 30, 2018 Week 7: Dolphins . @Mikeey___ hauls in the Matthew Stafford pass for SIX! : FOX #OnePride pic.twitter.com/mbIE7MueMi - NFL (@NFL) October 21, 2018 Week 8: Seahawks "HOW 'BOUT NUMBER NINE?" When you see Matthew Stafford's escape act… (via @NFLFilms ) #NFLMicdUp #OnePride pic.twitter.com/JKRVV3DAMK - NFL (@NFL) November 2, 2018 Matthew Stafford is And @MarvinJonesJr with the GRAB! : FOX #OnePride pic.twitter.com/ExvhL1C2s0 - NFL (@NFL) October 28, 2018 Week 11: Panthers KENNY GOLLADAY! What a grab @kgxix : FOX #OnePride pic.twitter.com/7MQE9BBgoW - NFL (@NFL) November 18, 2018 Week 13: Rams . @__taylordecker plays offensive tackle for the @lions … But he just caught a TD pass from Matthew Stafford. BIG MAN TD! : FOX #OnePride pic.twitter.com/3343tFUiok - NFL (@NFL) December 2, 2018 Week 15: Bills This was beautiful. Stafford to @kgxix for 40 yards! : FOX #OnePride pic.twitter.com/FQMEcWKhQx - NFL (@NFL) December 16, 2018 Week 17: Packers Stafford to @IamTJ_Jones for the @Lions TD! : FOX #OnePride pic.twitter.com/uuszJOrKCH - NFL (@NFL) December 30, 2018 And even though it's not from last season, here's a great video of every Stafford touchdown thrown to Calvin Johnson, just for fun. All 56 regular season touchdowns from Matthew Stafford to @calvinjohnsonjr ! #OnePride pic.twitter.com/qzNjyZzCK0 - NFL (@NFL) September 29, 2018 Follow us @TheLionsWire and @MattUrben on Twitter! MORE: 7 reasons the Warriors are winning another title no matter who they play in the Finals Injury to Reuben Foster could help Chiefs, Redskins strike a deal Roundup: Great White Shark Tracked; James Holzhauer Wins Again; Donald Trump's Accounting Firm Magic Johnson confirms rumor that Lakers want to sign Kyrie Irving Browns players quickly start recruiting freshly cut DT Gerald McCoy


Stockton will see a return of last week's hot temperatures over the next few days, according to drone-powered weather forecasting service Saildrone . Temperatures will reach a high of 104 degrees on Tuesday, then decline a bit on Sunday. The immediate forecast also has clear skies in store for today. Some clouds will appear on Tuesday, remaining partly cloudy through Wednesday. Winds will remain somewhat calm through the week, with the highest speeds on Thursday at just 11 mph. This story was created automatically using Saildrone's local weather forecast data, then reviewed by an editor. We also incorporate historic weather data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


For the first time, scientists have observed an unusual species of fish called the coffinfish which is able to hold its breath for up to four minutes underwater.


Three family members were hurt, one of them critically, after a log ride at an amusement park in Riverside, California, malfunctioned Saturday afternoon. The accident occurred at Castle Park around 4:30 p.m., according to the Riverside Fire Department. The log ride flipped over with a mother, father and their son inside, according to NBC Los Angeles . The mother was ejected from the ride, the fire department said. Castle Park said the ride's water pump experienced a mechanical failure. The three victims were taken to Riverside Community Hospital Trauma Center. The ride was shut down but the park is open. The Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) will conduct an inspection and investigation of the ride. Castle Park told NBC Los Angeles it is also investigating the cause of the incident. "First and foremost   our thoughts and prayers are with the guests involved," Castle Park said in a statement. "Safety is our number one priority and we have begun conducting a full investigation." Every ride is inspected and signed off before it opens on a daily basis, a company spokeswoman also told the outlet. Castle Park was founded in 1976, according to its website .


LOS ANGELES -- Amid an outcry over swelling numbers of homeless people, Los Angeles County public health officials are urging L.A. city to take action to provide basic sanitation -- toilets, handwashing stations and rat extermination -- for thousands of people living on the streets. The requests, and a pledge to cooperate in trying to deal with problems arising from homeless encampments, are contained in a letter sent Friday and obtained by USA TODAY. The thrust of the letter underscores the dilemma facing officials around the country dealing with large numbers of homeless people against the backdrop of an otherwise booming national economy: If cities are going to allow people to camps outside, they must provide basic services to protect public health and quell outbreaks of disease. "Of concern to us are the public health risks that can arise from the persistence of trash (waste) illegally dumped in public spaces, rodent infestations, and lack of adequate facilities for personal hygiene and sanitation for the homeless encampments in the area," County Health Officer Muntu Davis wrote in the two-page letter to the homelessness operations chief of the city of Los Angeles. Though other cities are trying to cope with encampments, Los Angeles has become the epicenter of the nation's homeless problem with thousands of destitute people living in tents or makeshift shelters pitched on sidewalks, under bridges or elsewhere. Many are in a squalid commercial district known as Skid Row. Other, smaller encampments are scattered throughout the county of 88 cities. The county shocked local officials Tuesday in announcing that the annual homeless count rose 58,936, up 12 percent from the previous year despite a Los Angele Times calculation of $619 million spent the previous year on homeless housing. The count marked a reversal from the previous year, when the number dropped by 4 percent. The city's homeless count went up even more, 16 percent to 36,300. The chairwoman of the board that runs the county, Supervisor Janice Hahn, called the numbers "very disappointing, very troubling, very sad." Two days after the new figures were released, the county met privately with city homeless officials. to discuss illegal dumping and sanitation along Skid Row, as explained in the letter. The county and city wanted to identify areas where they can work together, like on the issue of illegal dumping. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, who explored briefly a run for the Democratic presidential nomination, has emphasized illegal dumping as the major problem on Skid Row amid a public outcry about sanitation issues there. Some businesses are believed to be leaving their waste there as a way to avoid paying fees to have it hauled away. "Our streets are not dumpsters," Garcetti said in a statement Friday, adding the city would step up enforcement against illegal dumpers. But the letter makes clear that it is broadening its concerns to include sanitation for those living on the streets to prevent the spread of disease. "If encampments are allowed to persist," the county said street dwellers need to be provided not only with toilets, which are rare on Skid Row, but handwashing stations with soap, water and paper towels. While the county has asked for financial help in providing such basics, the county said it is prohibited from assisting Los Angeles or any of the 87 incorporated suburbs. It also says that the city needs to "provide adequate waste receptacles and routine collection services to ensure waste does not accumulate on the ground surfaces at and around encampments." The city also needs to provide for cleaning and disinfection from urine, feces and other waste on Skid Row. The city's Public Works Department said it has been active in trying to clean up Skid Row. It has 140 crew members with nine supervisors, more than triple the staff from three years ago. In addition, it says there are 102 trash cans in the area, which are serviced twice a day, seven days a week. More: In the second Gilded Age, the mansions get bigger, and the homeless get closer Homeless shelters could deny transgender people under proposed Trump administration rule This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Los Angeles County seeks action from city on toilets, rats and trash to combat homeless crisis


Linebacker Danny Trevathan 's missed 11 games over his first two years with the Bears and the team drafted two inside linebackers in 2018, which likely led some people to wonder if Trevathan would make it through the final two years of the deal he signed in Chicago. Trevathan rebounded to start every game last year, however, and is set to partner with 2018 first-rounder Roquan Smith in the starting lineup again this year. There's an entire season to get through before anyone is likely to think about Trevathan's future with the team in 2020, but the veteran feels sure he has a lot left to offer someone. "I'm just appreciating each day ," Trevathan said, via Kevin Fishbain of TheAthletic.com. "It's a blessing to be this far. I take nothing for granted. I just work my tail off and try to bring as many people along with me as I can. We've been moving it forward in the right direction. That's what you like to see in an organization that's young. Four years here, man. It feels great. I still feel like I've got plenty more in me. I'm taking it stride by stride." Trevathan's leadership was praised by defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano at the end of the offseason program and mixing that with another productive, healthy year on the field could mean Trevathan stays around to show how much is still in the tank.


Wedged between minicamp and training camp, in the slowest time of the NFL's yearlong calendar, is the supplemental draft. Last season, two players were taken in the league's special summertime exemption draft. This year, it was just one player. The Arizona Cardinals spent a fifth-round pick to add Washington State safety Jalen Thompson. If Thompson doesn't do much as a rookie, that'd be par for the course. In 2018, the New York Giants used a third-round pick to take cornerback Sam Beal. He missed last season recovering from shoulder surgery. Still, the Giants and general manager Dave Gettleman are high on Beal. "For what it's worth, we really feel strongly that if Sam were in this draft he'd be a second-round pick," Gettleman said at this year's NFL Combine . The other player taken last year was cornerback Adonis Alexander , whom Washington used a sixth-round pick on. He played sparingly in nine games last season and had just four tackles. The other four players who entered the 2019 supplemental draft   Northland Community College tight end Devonaire Clarington, Syracuse linebacker Shyhem Cullen, Saint Francis defensive back Bryant Perry, and West Virginia wide receiver Marcus Simms   became free agents. How does the NFL Supplemental Draft work? The order for the supplemental draft is split into three tiers. The first tier consists of teams with six wins or less in the previous season. The second tier is the remainder of the teams that didn't make the playoffs. The final tier is for playoff teams. A random draw orders each tier. The full order this year is as follows: Top priority for today's NFL supplemental draft: 1. #Lions 2. #Broncos 3. #Jets 4. #Cardinals 5. #Giants 6. #Bills 7. #Raiders 8. #49ers 9. #Jaguars 10. #Packers 11. #Bengals 12. #Bucs 13. #Falcons 14. #Vikings 15. #Redskins 16. #Titans   Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) July 10, 2019 Supplemental draft priority cont'd: 17. #Dolphins 18. #Steelers 19. #Panthers 20. #Browns 21. #Ravens 22. #Patriots 23. #Cowboys 24. #Seahawks 25. #Eagles 26. #Texans 27. #Bears 28. #Colts 29. #Saints 30. #Chiefs 31. #Chargers 32. #Rams   Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) July 10, 2019 If a team wants a player, it places a bid in a corresponding round. If two or more teams place the same round bid on a player, the pick is awarded to whichever team is highest in the order. If a player is awarded to a team, the team gives up the corresponding round pick in the next year's draft. A team can't bid a pick in a round that they don't own. For instance, the Bears can't bid a first-round pick on a player in the supplemental draft because it was traded to the Raiders as part of the Khalil Mack deal. The Cardinals' decision to spend a fifth-round pick to acquire Thompson means they'll be without a pick in the fifth round in the 2020 NFL Draft. Players can only enter the supplemental draft if their eligibility has changed since the NFL draft in the spring. Those players also have to be approved by the NFL. Here's what you need to know about Thompson and the best of the free agent class, Marcus Simms: Jalen Thompson, S, Washington State Thompson considered entering the 2019 draft, but chose to return to Washington State for his senior season. He started three seasons for the Cougars, earning freshman All-American honors in 2016. He was a second-team all-conference player as a sophomore, and earned honorable mention for the All-Pac-12 team last season. Over three seasons and 39 starts, he had 191 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, six interceptions and 23 passes defended. He was expected to be Washington State's best player on defense this season . However, he was forced to enter the supplemental draft after testing positive for a banned substance. According to a source, #WSU 's Jalen Thompson lost his final year of eligibility because he purchased an over the counter supplement at a nutrition store. The source made a point to emphasize it was not a steroid Thompson bought. Will gather more details as they become available.   Theo Lawson (@TheoLawson_SR) June 29, 2019 Thompson's athleticism, experience and versatility was enough to convince the Cardinals to take a chance on him late in the supplemental draft. At Washington State, Thompson moved around as a safety, and would often come down into the slot to cover a wide receiver or tight end. In that role, he excelled. Jalen Thompson from the slot pic.twitter.com/OKXAWCRFYF   PFF College (@PFF_College) May 23, 2018 Thompson is quick to react to make a play on the ball and rarely finds himself out of position in coverage. He has speed to break on the ball quickly and chase down after the catch. He's solid as a tackler, but won't ever be known as a big hitter. Sometimes he'll try to lay a hit, and whiff on the tackle. At a listed 6'0 and 195 pounds, Thompson is a little bit on the smaller side. Thompson's appeal for the Cardinals was as a coverage safety who can be relied on in man coverage. He's not bad against the run, but not a star two-way safety like Malcolm Jenkins of the Eagles , for instance. Marcus Simms, WR, West Virginia On a pass-happy West Virginia team, Simms was often the third option after Gary Jennings and David Sills. Over three seasons with the Mountaineers, he had 87 receptions for 1,457 yards and eight touchdowns. After West Virginia hired Neal Brown as head coach this offseason, Simms attempted to transfer. Instead, he found himself in the supplemental draft. While he didn't get picked Wednesday, he didn't take long to land with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Source: The #Jaguars are signing former West Virginia WR Marcus Simms, pending a physical tomorrow. Had several offers after today's supplemental draft ended. One to watch in camp.   Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) July 10, 2019 Simms' speed is what stands out the most about his game. He can get out over the top, and uses his quickness to beat the press. He's good at tracking the ball and has some wiggle after the catch. What likely held Simms back from getting picked is the lack of routes he was asked to run at West Virginia. After missing rookie camp and minicamp, Simms will have to catch up in a hurry in the NFL. Simms also enters the NFL with some character dings. He was charged with two DUIs early in his college career, and admitted to marijuana use. Those negatives can give teams pause about a player in the supplemental draft. Still, the Jaguars will willing to take a chance on Simms as a free agent because he's so naturally talented.