A hunter's bullet may have accidentally struck and killed a woman and star college athlete as she was driving on an Iowa highway in the middle of the night over the weekend. Police said the bullet shattered the driver's window of 25-year-old Micalla Rettinger's car Sunday on Highway 218 in Waterloo , striking her in the neck and killing her. The bullet also struck her boyfriend Adam Kimball, 32, in the face, wounding him, according to police and the Des Moines Register . WOMAN KILLED IN CALIFORNIA SYNAGOGUE SHOOTING AFTER SHIELDING RABBI FROM GUNFIRE MOURNED BY HUNDREDS A third person in the car was not hurt. Investigators have ruled out road rage as the motive in Rettinger's death. "That was one of the first things we looked into, is to whether these people were involved in a dispute or something that had occurred earlier," Waterloo Police Maj. Joe Leibold said, according to KWWL-TV . "The passenger said there was nothing like that," he said. "They simply left work and drove here. There wasn't a lot of traffic. So there wasn't they cut something off, nothing that occurred to the passenger in the vehicle. They simply left work and driving home, there was nothing unusual nothing that got their attention." OFFICIALS: PARENTS OF SUSPECT AMONG 7 KILLED IN TENNESSEE Because the shooting occurred around 2:30 a.m., one theory is the shooter could be a person who was hunting illegally, the station reported. Police on Monday appealed to the public for help in "locating any person who may be involved in shooting or hunting (legal or illegal) in the area of the Cedar River between the Highway 218 Bridge and the Conger Ave Bridge." The appeal also included owners of trail/surveillance cameras. It was also possible that the bullet could have come from someone randomly shooting a weapon, according to KWWL. Rettinger graduated from the University of Northern Iowa where she was a member of the softball team, earning conference honors in her junior and senior year. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP "Sunday morning, we lost a member of the Panther family. We are devastated to learn of the senseless death of Micalla Rettinger," Director of Athletics David Harris said. "This news is heartbreaking to our softball team, UNI Athletics and the entire campus."


The Philadelphia Eagles have approached the running back position by a committee for years now, and that's the expectation that Miles Sanders will have going forward in terms of sharing the wealth. Despite Jordan Howard being among the league leaders in yards from scrimmage over the past three seasons, Sanders, who missed most of the OTAs with a hamstring injury, is under the impression that there won't be a bell-cow running back, instead, he believes they'll be touches galore for everyone. While a guest on NFL Total Access on Tuesday, Sanders talked about his excitement for his rookie season and how the Birds won't have a quote on quote, "star" at running back. "It's definitely going to be competitive. That's what I like about rooms likes this. It was like this at Penn State. It was a very talented running back room. But I'm just used to that stuff: competing and making each other better. Nobody's really going to be the star running back, I think," said Sanders on Total Access on Tuesday. "I think the ball's going to be spread out a lot, and that's what I kind of like, too. "Everybody's getting a touch in the game and then just affecting the game in any type of way. So, I'm willing to do whatever it takes to help the team win." It'll imperative for the Eagles to establish a dominant and efficient running game this season, as the team attempts to keep Carson Wentz upright and from taking so many shots. The Eagles backfield will consist of Howard, Sanders, Corey Clement, Wendell Smallwood, and Josh Adams. MORE: Freddie Freeman was mic'd up during his at-bat against Justin Verlander and it was pure gold Listen to Rich Paul Explain Why Anthony Davis Waived $4 Million Lakers Trade Kicker Former Steeler DeAngelo Williams throws shade at WR Ryan Switzer Honor thy father: Quinn Cook signed with Lakers for good reason Expected starting lineup for Lakers with LeBron James at point guard


Ferrari's will sacrifice some of its straightline speed advantage in the pursuit of more downforce as it evolves its Formula 1 car's aerodynamic philosophy. As expected, , which maintained its 100% winning start to the season. Ferrari brought several upgrades to Paul Ricard and persevered with an updated front wing, rear wing and brake ducts through qualifying and the race, but removed its new floor after Friday practice. The team had not expected the new parts to transform its performance, and instead hoped it would be key to setting the direction for its car's development over the coming weeks and months. Asked by Motorsport.com which direction Ferrari was heading development-wise, team principal Mattia Binotto said: "I think we are looking for, eventually, more downforce to the detriment of the speed. "Even if the car will not be too efficient, [it will] give more downforce to get the tyres working. "That will be the direction to go. [In qualifying at Paul Ricard] we've seen how difficult to get the tyres working. That is something we are focused on." Ferrari has enjoyed a notable top-speed advantage over Mercedes this season, which its rival has put down to a superior engine as well as car philosophy. However, Ferrari's lack of peak aerodynamic performance has translated into too big a deficit to Mercedes through the corners. Its drivers finished third and fifth in France, which Binotto said was not a positive race but "not too bad as well considering initial expectations". "We cannot be happy," he admitted. "We can only be happy with the times we will be faster than all the competitors. But we know we were expecting a difficult race weekend here in Paul Ricard. "We were not expecting to close the gap at all here. We brought some upgrades, some worked well, others not. "It's always a shame when something's not working. We've got some homework to do in that respect, but that shows we have some margin to improve the car. So at least the direction we are starting to set is the right one."


The average salary for nurses is highest in these metro areas. The 30 cities with the highest-paid nurses This year, National Nurses Week is May 6-12, so it's time to celebrate those unsung heroes who help keep us well and take care of us when we're sick or injured. Nursing is a demanding job, but nurses in some areas of the country are better compensated than others. Nationwide, the mean hourly wage for a registered nurse is $36.30, and the mean annual RN salary is $75,510. In some cities, however, they can earn considerably more, often because the cost of living is higher or there's a shortage of nurses in the area. Here are the average annual salaries for registered nurses in 30 metropolitan areas so you can see where it pays to be a nurse . Click or swipe through to see them all. 30. Denver: $75,340 Denver is home to UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital, a teaching hospital affiliated with the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Other local hospitals include the Medical Center of Aurora and Porter Adventist Hospital. Denver is the only area in the top 30 cities where nurses are paid less than the national average. The Denver metro area includes Aurora and Lakewood. See If Nurses Make the Cut in Colorado: Minimum Salary You Need To Be Happy in Every State 29. Charleston, South Carolina: $75,780 Nurses in Charleston make slightly more than the national average, but the cost of living is also 4% higher than the U.S. average, so you might not want to pack up and move there if you're a nurse looking to build your savings. Charleston is home to Roper St. Francis Hospital and MUSC Health   University Medical Center. 28. Philadelphia: $77,680 Nurses in Philadelphia earn about 3% more than the national average. It will cost you about 17% more than average to live in the City of Brotherly Love, however. This metro area includes Camden and Wilmington, plus New Jersey and Delaware, and surrounding towns in Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey and Maryland. Hospitals in the area include the Hospitals of the University of Pennsylvania   Penn Presbyterian and the Nemours Children's Health System. 27. Chicago: $77,710 If you're working as a nurse in Chicago, you're making about 3% more than the average nurse in the U.S., but you're also paying about 23% more to live in the Windy City. The greater Chicago area includes Naperville, Elgin and surrounding towns. Major hospitals include Northwestern Memorial, Rush University Medical Center and University of Chicago Medical Center. Find Out: How Much You Need To Live Comfortably in 50 Major US Cities 26. Baltimore: $77,920 In Baltimore, nurses make about 3% more than average, but the cost of living is 17% higher. Hospitals in the Baltimore area include the prestigious Johns Hopkins Hospital and the University of Maryland Medical Center, both of which are well-respected teaching hospitals. The area includes Columbia, Towson and surrounding towns. 25. Phoenix: $78,080 Phoenix is home to the Mayo Clinic-Phoenix, an outpost of the renowned Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, as well as St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center. Nurses in the Phoenix area are paid 3.4% more than the national average, and the cost of living is 5% lower than average, so Phoenix is a win-win choice for nurses. The greater Phoenix area includes Mesa, Scottsdale and other nearby towns. 24. Providence, Rhode Island: $78,300 Nurses in Providence earn 3.7% more than the national average, but the cost of living is 22% higher. The greater Providence area includes Warwick, Rhode Island and surrounding towns in Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts. The area is home to Butler Hospital, Hasbro Children's Hospital, and Southcoast Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River, Massachusetts. More Careers to Consider: Looking for a Job? These Industries Actually Need More Workers 23. Madison, Wisconsin: $79,810 In Madison, the average salary for an RN is 5.7% higher than the national average, and the cost of living is 7% higher. Hospitals in Madison include UW Health University Hospital. 22. Houston: $80,160 Nurses in Houston earn 6.1% more than the national average, and the cost of living is 2% lower than average, making the city appealing to nursing professionals. Hospitals and medical centers in the area include Houston Methodist Hospital and Baylor St. Luke's Hospital. The metro Houston area includes The Woodlands and Sugar Land. 21. Hartford, Connecticut: $80,240 The average nurse's salary in Hartford is 6.2% higher, but the cost of living is also 17% more than the national average. Hartford Hospital, St. Francis Hospital and Connecticut Children's Medical Center are large employers in the area. See: The Biggest Employers in 50 Major Cities 20. Springfield, Massachusetts: $80,370 The Springfield metro area includes towns in western Massachusetts and northwestern Connecticut. Major hospitals in the area include Baystate Medical Center, Cooley Dickinson Hospital and Shriners Hospital for Children. Nurses in this area earn 6.4% higher salaries than the national average. 19. Washington: $81,470 With an average nursing salary that's 7.9% higher than the country as a whole and a cost of living that's 39% higher than average, the nation's capital might not be a bargain for nurses. However, you'll find notable hospitals such as MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Virginia Hospital Center and Holy Cross Hospital   Silver Spring. The Washington metro area includes Arlington, Virginia; Alexandria, Virginia; and surrounding towns in the District of Columbia, Virginia, Maryland and West Virginia. See: More Women Are Entering Washington's Job Market   but There's One Problem 18. New Haven, Connecticut: $83,250 New Haven is home to Yale University, and Yale New Haven Hospital is a highly regarded teaching hospital. It's the main teaching facility for the Yale School of Nursing and the Yale School of Medicine. Nurses in New Haven earn 10.2% more than the national average. 17. Bridgeport, Connecticut: $83,290 Nurses in Bridgeport earn 10% more than the national average, and the cost of living is just 4% higher, so this is a good area for nurses. Greater Bridgeport is home to St. Vincent's Medical Center, Stamford Hospital and Silver Hill Hospital. The Bridgeport metro area includes Stamford and Norwalk. 16. Minneapolis: $83,520 It will cost you 5% more than the national average to live in Minneapolis, but if you're in the nursing profession, you'll get paid 10.6% more than your average colleague. Major hospitals include Abbot Northwestern and Mercy Hospital, as well as the Mayo Clinic, which is a 90-minute drive from the Twin Cities. The Minneapolis metro area includes St. Paul, Bloomington and surrounding towns in Minnesota and Wisconsin. 15. Seattle: $85,840 Nurses in Seattle earn 13.6% more than the national average, but the cost of living is also 49% higher there. You'll find hospitals such as Seattle Cancer Care Alliance and University of Washington Medical Center. The Seattle metro area includes Tacoma and Bellevue. 14. Worcester, Massachusetts: $86,420 Nurses in Worcester earn 14.4% more than the national average, and the cost of living is 18% higher, so this is a fairly decent area for nurses. The greater Worcester area, which is home to UMass Memorial Medical Center, includes central Massachusetts and north-central Connecticut. See Where Massachusetts Ranks: The Best and Worst States To Be Rich in America 13. Las Vegas: $87,920 Nurses in Las Vegas earn 16.4% more than the national average, and the cost of living is just 3% higher, so it's a good location for those professionals. The Las Vegas metro area includes Henderson and Paradise. 12. New York: $91,160 Nurses in New York earn 20.7% more than the national average. The Big Apple is home to Mount Sinai Beth Israel Hospital, New York Presbyterian Hospital   Columbia and Cornell. The New York metro area includes Newark and Jersey City, New Jersey, as well as surrounding towns in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. 11. Bakersfield, California: $92,110 In Bakersfield, about 100 miles north of Los Angeles, nurses earn 22% more than the national average. Hospitals in Bakersfield and the surrounding area include Adventist Health Bakersfield, Bakersfield Heart Hospital and Kern Medical Center. See: 12 Cities With High Salaries and Low Costs of Living 10. Portland, Oregon: $93,570 Nurses in Portland earn 23.9% more than the national average. The greater Portland area includes Vancouver, Washington, Hillsboro, Oregon and surrounding towns in Oregon and Washington. Area hospitals include OHSU Hospital and Providence St. Vincent Medical Center. 9. Boston: $95,270 Boston is a mecca for healthcare, and nurses can work at well-respected hospitals like Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston Children's Hospital and Brigham and Women's Hospital. Nurse pay is 26% above the national average, but the cost of living is also 48% higher. The Boston metro area includes Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Nashua, New Hampshire. 8. Fresno, California: $96,900 Compared to many other cities in California, Fresno is relatively affordable. The cost of living is just 6% higher than the national average, and nurses are paid nearly 28% more than average. This makes Fresno a smart choice for nurses. Consider: What You Can Get Around the World for the Price of a California Home 7. San Diego: $98,440 Nurses in San Diego earn 27.7% more than the national average, but you'll pay 44% more to live in this city compared to the average cost of living in the U.S. Besides beautiful weather and beaches, San Diego boasts hospitals including Scripps La Jolla Hospital and UC San Diego Health   Jacobs Medical Center. Honolulu: $99,600 Who wouldn't want to live and work in beautiful Hawaii? Nurses are well-paid here, at 32% more than the national average, but the cost of living is 88% higher. Honolulu is home to Hawaii State Hospital and Queen's Medical Center. 5. Los Angeles: $99,930 Coming in at just under $100,000, the average nursing salary in Los Angeles is 32.3% higher than the national average. However, the cost of living in Los Angeles is also 43% above the national average. Notable hospitals in the City of Angels include UCLA Medical Center and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. See Why: The Salary You Need To Live Well in LA Is Staggering 4. Riverside, California: $101,830 Nurses in Riverside earn 34.9% more than the national average. Hospitals in the area include Loma Linda University Medical Center and Kaiser Permanente Fontana Medical Center. The Riverside metro area includes San Bernadino and Ontario. 3. Sacramento, California: $120,530 Earning 59% more than the national average for a nurse's salary, RNs at Mercy General, UC Davis Medical Center and other healthcare providers in the Sacramento area do well. When you factor in the cost of living   which is just 17% higher than the national average   you can see that this area is a win-win choice for nurses. The Sacramento metro area includes Roseville and Arden-Arcade. 2. San Jose, California: $128,610 Nurses at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, Stanford Health Care, El Camino Hospital and other medical centers in San Jose, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara and surrounding towns earn nearly 70% more than the average nurse in the U.S. This area has a high cost of living at 49% more than average, but nurses looking to relocate would be wise to consider San Jose. 1. San Francisco: $128,990 Nurses in the San Francisco area earn 70% more than the national average. But before you pack your bags, you should know that the cost of living is 80% higher than the national average. The greater San Francisco area includes Oakland, Hayward and surrounding towns, and hospitals in the area include UCSF Medical Center and Kaiser Permanente Medical Center. Where Should You Live? Sacramento vs. the Bay Area How To Make More Money as a Nurse If you're a registered nurse or planning to become one, here are some ways to maximize your earning potential: Move to California Of the 30 areas that pay the highest salaries for nurses, the top five   and seven of the top eight   are in California. The cost of living is also higher in the Golden State, but the average RN salary outpaces that. Surprisingly, Florida   even with all of its senior care and nursing facilities   doesn't crack the top 30 at all. Work In an Outpatient Care Center or Hospital The mean annual salary nationwide for nurses who work in an outpatient care center is $79,230. For those who work in a medical surgical hospital, it's $77,730. Those who work in skilled nursing care facilities make about $10,000 less per year, with an average salary of just $67,370. Work per Diem In order to keep hospitals fully staffed during busy periods   or because there's a shortage of nurses in a particular area   many hospitals will hire nurses on a per diem, or by-the-day, basis. In high-demand areas like San Francisco, a nurse can earn $70-$100 per hour working per diem. These nurses typically don't get benefits, and there's no guarantee that they'll be able to work a certain number of hours. But many nurses who don't want to work full time year-round will choose per diem work so they can earn the equivalent of a month's salary for a full-time nurse in a week or less. Keep reading to find out where nurses rank among the highest- and lowest-paying jobs in healthcare . More on Making Money at Your Job These States Offer the Best and Worst Pay for Nurses These 10 Healthcare Jobs Are the Most Lucrative, Study Finds This Is the Ideal Salary You Need To Take Home $100K in Your State These States Offer the Best and Worst Pay for Teachers Methodology: GOBankingRates analyzed the top 100 metropolitan areas in the United States by population to find the 30 cities with the highest-paid nurses. GOBankingRates took the May 2018 Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment Statistics and filtered for the occupation title "registered nurses." The final ranking was decided by ranking the mean annual wage for each metropolitan area.


A built-up Frontier on a budget. There's no point in sugar coating it: the Nissan Frontier is an old truck. This generation of the Japanese brand's pickup reaches all the way back to 2005 and hasn't seen any major changes in the last decade. Despite this, the Frontier sells better than you might think. In fact, Nissan sold 7,000 more Frontiers in 2018 than it did in 2005. Let that sink in. Although Nissan seems to ignore the Frontier, it's still an important part of the company's profitability puzzle. And it's because of that role that Nissan recently unveiled the one-off Destination Frontier, bringing an outdoorsy spin to the company's aging pickup. Research the Nissan Frontier on MSN Autos | Find a Nissan Frontier near you Ignore the hokey name. The Destination Frontier packs all the tools for exploring the outdoors while appealing to a very specific audience. Overlanding, a term growing more common each year, combines off-roading and camping. The activity demands a rig that can tackle obstacles and also accommodate overnight passengers in relative comfort. In simple terms, the idea here is to throw your gear into the truck and travel off the grid for a weekend (or longer). Overlanding Awesomeness: Rivian R1T Electric Truck Video Tour At Overland Expo Off-Road-Ready Honda Passport, Ridgeline Debut At Overland Expo [UPDATE] The hobby has grown rapidly enough to spawn, the Overland Expos, a pair of events that bounce between Arizona in the spring and Virginia in the fall. Nissan built the Destination Frontier for the former, but rather than pull the cover off the truck and move it to the company's booth at Overland Expo West, just south of Flagstaff, Nissan let us exercise the one-off show truck. The Frontier joined a convoy of other Nissan off-road vehicles, including specialty versions of the Armada SUV , Titan pickup truck, and NV passenger van for a run through northern Arizona to see Nissan unveil the Ultimate Parks Titan . Such a trip demands a robust vehicle, and luckily the Destination Frontier is just that. While some overland builds take things to the max with six-figure price tags and jaw-dropping options lists, the Destination Frontier is relatively tame. According to Nissan, the truck includes roughly $10,000 worth of additional parts, meaning the whole package is theoretically available for around $40,000 out the door. Or roughly the cost of a well-equipped Nissan Titan XD . The Destination Frontier packs the core essentials for overlanding. Starting from the bottom, there are American racing wheels wrapped in 33-inch Nitto tires and a three-inch Nisstec lift kit. Meanwhile, Hefty Fabworks bumpers, skid plates, rock sliders, and a bed rack give the Frontier an imposing presence on the trail. And to complete the overland experience, Nissan added a CVT rooftop tent, Dometic refrigerator, and Baja Designs auxiliary lights to the Destination Frontier. Research the Nissan Frontier on MSN Autos | Find a Nissan Frontier near you With just 261 horsepower and a dated five-speed transmission, the Frontier is already at a disadvantage next to newer and more powerful competitors. And let's not forget the added weight from the accessories, which don't improve matters.


RALEIGH   The civil rights leader who started the "Moral Monday" protest movement in North Carolina has been convicted of trespassing during a 2017 protest at the General Assembly. News outlets report that the Rev. William Barber was convicted of a misdemeanor charge in a Wake County courtroom Thursday. Barber was charged for not leaving the General Assembly when told to do so, and he demanded a jury trial. In an email, Barber said he would appeal the verdict. Barber testified that the Constitution gives him the right to protest in the building. He said he organized a sit-in at the legislative building because Republican leaders wouldn't meet with him. Barber, a former state NAACP president, is a leader of the revived national Poor People's Campaign. This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Civil rights leader William Barber convicted of trespassing at legislature


Even fewer than two months after watching Jack Hughes selected first overall by the New Jersey Devils, scouts and prospect evaluators are already hard at work putting together their boards for the 2020 draft class. One of the premier tournaments for the following year's prospects is the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup, an international tournament that happens in August before junior seasons get underway. Canada and Russia will meet in Saturday's gold-medal game after the two countries have had perfect records so far. To get the Canadians there, top 2020 prospect Cole Perfetti put on a show against Sweden. The 17-year old forward scored twice on breakaways during regulation and then tallied three times in the shootout including the game-winning goal. In international play the shootout winner is credited with a goal, meaning Perfetti's hat trick takes him to eight goals on the tournament tying the record set by Vancouver Canucks draft pick Vasily Podkolzin last year. Playing for the Saginaw Spirit of the OHL in 2018-19, Perfetti recorded 37 goals and 74 points as a rookie, which already had him at the top of many early rankings. His performance in the tournament will only help his cause and put him among the first few names selected next spring. Canada has also received outstanding performances from Jamie Drysdale   who may end up as the top available defenseman next June  and Hendrix Lapierre , and looks like it will have an impressive wave of prospects coming through in the next few years. This team doesn't even include Alexis Lafreniere , who currently projects as the top overall pick. Lafreniere captained the Canadians at the tournament last summer and recorded 11 points in five games. For Russia, the scoring has been driven by Alexander Pashin , who has five goals in four games, but the real story has been goaltending. Yaroslav Askarov has allowed just three goals on 87 shots and continues his absolute dominance on the international stage. Following Spencer Knight 's 13th overall selection in June, Askarov may well be the next goaltender to go in the top half of the first round. Undersized Finnish forward Roni Hirvonen , who had five points in four games, and Swedish star Daniel Ljungman -- who also scored twice in the shootout against Canada and has four goals in four games -- have also delivered solid performances at the tournament. USA Hockey had quite the disappointing tournament, especially after all the international success the program has experienced over the last several years. The team lost to the Czech Republic in overtime today to finish sixth.


Jazz center Ekpe Udoh will become an unrestricted free agent and there's no guarantee he'll remain in the NBA. According to Eric Woodyard of The Deseret News , Udoh is drawing significant interest from a handful of EuroLeague teams. A source tells Woodyard that Udoh has "up to four or five multi-million-dollar offers" on the table from teams in Spain, Italy and Turkey. Woodyard reports that if Udoh is interested in playing overseas, he could look to reach an agreement within the next week. Udoh, who began his career with the Golden State Warriors in 2010 after being selected sixth overall in the draft out of Baylor, remained in the NBA through the 2014-15 season, then joined Turkish team Fenerbahce for two years. He won a EuroLeague title with the club in 2017 and was named the EuroLeague Final Four MVP before heading back to the NBA with the Jazz. Now that his contract with Utah is set to expire, the veteran big man could be intrigued by a return to Europe, where he'd have a more sizable role. In 114 games for the Jazz over the past two seasons, Udoh averaged 2.5 ppg, 2.1 rpg and 0.9 bpg in limited minutes (9.9 mpg). If Udoh remains in the NBA, he can meet with potential suitors beginning at the end of June. There's nothing to stop European teams from reaching out to his camp before then since they're not subject to the NBA's anti-tampering rules.


The Astros' aggression at home plate Sunday helped shove them into the All-Star break on a rush of adrenaline   and left an opposing catcher in the hospital. Yuli Gurriel was responsible for a good chunk of the onslaught, thanks to his grand slam in the sixth inning that pushed the Astros back into an eventual 11-10 triumph over the Los Angeles Angels in 10 innings. Jake Marisnick was responsible for much of the rest of the aggression, plowing over Angels catcher Jonathan Lucroy at the plate in the eighth inning. Lucroy wound up in a hospital being evaluated for a possible concussion and broken nose. Marisnick was ruled out to end the inning, and a crew-chief review upheld the call to boos from the Minute Maid Park crowd. The game was tied at 10 at the time, and the Astros wound up celebrating two innings later on George Springer's single that scored Josh Reddick, who led off the 10th with a double. "This was huge," Springer said of the Astros' battling back from 7-2 and 10-8 deficits. "They were up big, we came back, and then they took the lead again. It was just a good game by each side after trading blows. It was good for us to come out on top." Astros insider: Takeaways from series vs. Angels The Astros (57-33) wound up winning the series after dropping the opener 5-4 on Friday against the Angels (45-46). They shut out the Angels 4-0 on Saturday behind a brilliant effort from All-Star Gerrit Cole, setting the stage for one of the season's wildest games. Sunday, as the dirt settled on the Astros' seventh win in their past eight games, the stunning play at the plate that left Lucroy bloody and dazed was on everyone's minds, and it prompted national debate on whether catchers are protected enough in such situations. "Bad play," Marisnick said. "I was running and see him take a step up the line like he was going to drop and go back, so I tried to take an in step and slide headfirst on the inside corner." Marisnick was trying to score from third on Springer's fly ball to right field, and he jarred the ball loose when blasting Lucroy. "I watched the play again, and he drops right in front of me," Marisnick said. "Once I kind of made a decision, it was too late, and it was a bad play, and I hope he's OK. It's terrible. I wish him the best, and I hope he's OK. I'll reach out to him to make sure he's OK." Astros manager A.J. Hinch said the umpires ruled Marisnick out because he "deviated" from his path, as prohibited in the MLB rulebook. "I really hope he's OK," Hinch said of Lucroy. "That was an ugly play, and I never like to see any athlete get carted off the field. It was an unfortunate play. To see a veteran player in such a highly emotionally charged play go out like that, that's the first thing I think about in this game. "I don't fault Jake. He wasn't going after him. He tried to take a step (from) where Lucroy was going to go. It's difficult in that little one-to-three-foot circle where you're trying to figure out going at full speed what's going to happen." On TXSN: Astros opportunity will have to wait for prospect J.B. Bukauskas Hinch and Angels manager Brad Ausmus are former big league catchers, and Ausmus had a different perspective of the play than Marisnick and Hinch in looking out for his catcher. "It looked like Marisnick took a step to the left and bowled into him with his arm up," Ausmus said. "The call was right. MLB should probably take a look at it and consider some type of suspension, quite frankly." Meantime the Astros' Jose Urquidy owns two big league starts, and the Astros own two sizable comeback victories with the rookie on the mound. His first start in the majors came at Colorado on Tuesday, a game the Astros rallied to win 9-8 despite Urquidy's allowing a couple of early runs over 3 2/3 innings. He left in the fourth with a 5-2 lead, but the Astros wound up needing to come back from an 8-5 deficit in that one. On Sunday, following Urquidy's early exit (five runs allowed in 2 1/3 innings), the Astros relied on six relievers, with All-Star Ryan Pressly (2-1) earning the victory by pitching the 10th. Angels star Mike Trout inflicted the most damage on Astros pitching, with his 27th and 28th home runs of the season giving him four RBIs. The Astros break for Tuesday's All-Star Game with an MLB-leading six players heading to Cleveland. They crank up the second half of the season Thursday in the opener of a four-game series at Texas. brent.zwerneman@chron.com twitter.com/brentzwerneman


It's that time of year again, when procrastinators everywhere suddenly panic because they have no plans for Memorial Day weekend. Luckily we're here to rescue you and your family from boredom! It's that time of year again, when procrastinators everywhere suddenly panic because they have no plans for Memorial Day weekend. Luckily we're here to rescue you and your family from boredom! Hit the racetrack in Indianapolis 'Gentlemen, start your engines.' Who hasn t heard the immortal words that launch the Indy 500 race every year? So why not take a trip to Indianapolis to spend Memorial Day weekend finding out what all the excitement is about? Other than the actual race, Motor Speedway mania will be revved up with 500 Festival celebrations. The 500 Festival includes road races, parades, and kids  activities. Don t forget to wander through the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum before hitting the track! Celebrate street painting in Santa Barbara The Santa Barbara Mission in California was the first U.S. city to host an I Madonnari Festival , the three-day Italian festival of street painters. Now it's become an annual event that happens around Memorial Day weekend and includes hundreds of madonnari (street painters), who will cover the mission plaza with 150 different paintings. Though the paintings are made with chalk, the tradition, dating at least to the 16th century, is called 'street painting' because of how closely the pictures can resemble the oil paintings the artists use as their models. The festival benefits the Children s Creative Project, a nonprofit arts education program of the Santa Barbara County Education Office. Get the best barbecue in St. Louis Loosen your belt and head for the epic 'rib-off' held during the U.S. Army St. Louis Ribfest , a free Memorial Day celebration with BBQ vendors from all over the country, live music, and activities for kids. If you're spending the weekend in the area, make time to visit Schlafly Bottleworks brewery's annual Memorial Day festival. This year, it's called Art Outside and will feature local art and local beer. On Memorial Day, you can tackle one of the largest flea markets in the Midwest, Gypsy Caravan , where the $5 entry fee benefits the St. Louis Symphony and its educational and community programs. Experience folk arts in Seattle The Northwest Folklife Festival in Seattle celebrates Memorial Day weekend with four days of free performances intended to revive and sustain ethnic, folk, and traditional arts. It features more than 800 musical performances in multiple genres, covering American and international styles. Other events include cultural dance workshops, storytelling sessions, film screenings, cooking demonstrations, and conversation panels about the arts. The best part is that some of these events are participatory, which means you can join in all the singing and dancing action. Attend the National Memorial Day Parade The largest Memorial Day parade in the country takes place every year in Washington, D.C. Watching hundreds of servicemen and women march down Constitution Avenue is a moving reminder of what this holiday is really all about, and it instills a powerful sense of national pride. Sample wines in New Orleans Just when you thought New Orleans had the best cuisine, it takes your tastebuds to the next level. The New Orleans Wine & Food Experience gives you access to hundreds of wineries and restaurants from all over the country (and the world!) and their award-winning products. The festival also raises money for local non-profits, so all of your eating and drinking goes toward a good cause! Get jazzy in Atlanta One of the largest free jazz festivals in the country, the Atlanta Jazz Festival features dozens of artists performing over Memorial Day weekend. Past performers include Lionel Hampton, Wynton Marsalis, Ray Charles, and Miles Davis, among other jazz legends. Check out the festival's lineup to see who's playing this year. Marvel at flying kits in Atlantic City New Jersey is home to the largest kite festival in North America, the Wildwoods International Kite Festival . It takes place just outside Atlantic City on Wildwoods Beach. Kite makers from all over the world showcase their most colorful creations. The first night of the festival makes its grand entrance with an illuminated night fly. There are even kite competitions, including the World Indoor Kite Competition where people fly kites without wind. Oh, and it's all free. Witness the country's best performing arts in Charleston Beginning over Memorial Day weekend, Spoleto Festival USA brings two weeks of theater, opera, jazz, and symphonic and choral music performances to South Carolina. Each of the festival's 12 venues is among the city's most historic theaters and churches, and all have hosted world-renowned artists like Yo-Yo Ma and Jean-Yves Thibaudet. According to its website, Spoleto is internationally recognized as America's premier performing arts festival. Get covered in flowers in Palm Springs Palm Springs Air Museum in California hosts an annual Memorial Day ceremony called the Flower Drop & Air Fair . Throughout the day, visitors can watch air shows, visit flight exhibitions, and see a World War II reenactment. The ceremony culminates with the Flower Drop Memorial Service, a fly-by with planes in missing man formation (a salute to fallen military members) followed by B-25 Mitchell Bomber that drops 3,000 red and white carnations on spectators below. Spend a day at Navy Pier in Chicago Memorial Day kicks off the summer fireworks season at Navy Pier , but don't miss out on any attractions during the day. Hop aboard Spirit of Chicago for a cruise with a spectacular view of the Chicago skyline and an onboard DJ. Take a ride on the Centennial Wheel, the pier's 200-foot Ferris wheel. Stroll the picturesque south dock promenade. Belmont-Sheffield Music Festival is in the nearby Lakeview neighborhood, and if you're willing to travel to the Chicago suburbs, check out the Red, White & Bar-B-Q competition in Westmont. Explore the caves in Bowling Green Just an hour north of Nashville is another amazing destination and one that's bound to be less crowded on this popular travel weekend! In Bowling Green, Kentucky , would-be explorers can take a tour of Mammoth Caves, the longest known network of caves in the world. If spelunking isn't your thing, there are plenty of other ways to enjoy this up-and-coming destination. Check out the National Corvette Museum , peruse the lively Night Market, or simply sit back and savor Bowling Green's world-famous bourbon. Kick off your summer in style in Barbados If your ideal vacation is sun and sand all the way, Sandals Royal Barbados might be the Memorial Day destination for you. This brand-new Barbados location of the famous Sandals Resort line has it all: a rooftop pool, overwater cabanas, and a 15,000-square-foot spa. Adventurers can scuba dive through the tropical waters of Barbados, and foodies can puzzle over which of the 17 separate restaurants in the town of St. Lawrence Gap to experience. There's no place better to leave behind the winter blues for good. Have an enlightening experience in Reno Tahoe Reno Tahoe, the tourist vernacular term for the area of Reno, Nevada bordering Lake Tahoe, serves up a Memorial Day experience like no other. Feast on the best of the city's culinary offerings at ' Food Truck Friday ,' or marvel at the hundreds of gorgeous lanterns that fly into the sky on Saturday night during the annual Lantern Fest . There are also plenty of aquatic offerings on the shores of Lake Tahoe enjoy swimming, paddle boarding, and whitewater rafting. And if you want to reflect on the reason for the season, you can take in the annual Celebration of Heroes Parade on Saturday afternoon.


Discover which of your worst medical problems may be a product of tension and pressure. 30 Things Stress Is Doing to Your Body You wouldn't eat a food that shrinks your brain. You wouldn't drive a car that makes you sweat. You wouldn't buy a purse that worsens PMS. So why are we all so cool with stress being just "a part of life"? It doesn't have to be. And if you reduce stress, you will be better for it. Because the impact stress has on your body is remarkable and hazardous. Just this June, a study on mice revealed that stress actually rewires the neurotransmitters in the brain, causing them to experience sensory stimuli (like sounds or visual cues) differently. "I couldn't believe that we were seeing such strong effects," said one of the study's authors. Read on to discover 30 more things stress is doing to your body, from the editors of The Remedy and how you can combat it. And to live your happiest and healthiest life, don't miss these essential 50 Unhealthiest Habits on the Planet . 1. It Can Give You Headaches Your head is more likely to throb when you're stressed, according to the Mayo Clinic , with a tension-type headache or even a migraine. And feeling under pressure is also likely to make your headaches worse. 2. It Causes Shaking Stress kicks your body into its fight or flight mode, ramping up the release of certain hormones and preparing you to deal with danger. The result can sometimes be hands that shake like maracas. 3. It Shrinks Your Brain We're not kidding. When we're stressed, our body releases the hormone cortisol, and in limited doses, it can actually be beneficial. But studies including one at the University of California at Berkeley  have shown that chronic stress actually decreases the weight and volume of the brain. 4. It Can Give You Heartburn Stress can increase the production of stomach acid, leading to that annoying reflux, as acid irritates the esophagus. And if you already suffer from chronic heartburn, stress can make it worse. A study of nearly 13,000 sufferers published in Internal Medicine discovered that nearly half reported stress as the biggest factor that worsened symptoms. 5. It Can Lead to Insomnia Stress gets us all riled up and causes hyper-arousal, making it difficult to fall asleep, stay asleep and making the quality of our sleep worse. The Remedy Rx: The National Sleep Foundation suggests a cooling off period before bed time, which allows the brain to wind down. Two hours should do it. Put your work away, turn off the TV and grab a book or listen to music. 6. It Can Make You Short of Breath When you're stressed, the muscles responsible for breathing tense up , making it more difficult to catch your breath. The Remedy Rx: If you begin to feel panicky and short of breath, start by exhaling deeply, emptying your lungs. You can also try breathing through your nose, which automatically slows your breathing. 7. It Can Weaken Your Immune System If it seems like you're more likely to be sick when you're stressed, you may not be imagining it. Studies have shed light on the link between stress and sickness, finding that those living with chronic stress (such as unemployment or caregiving to a dementia patient) had a suppressed immune system that left them more vulnerable to the flu and a host of other illnesses. 8. It Can Make Your Heart Pound When we're under stress, our hearts beat faster to help blood reach our vital organs. Often it's harmless, but it may not be for those suffering chronic stress. One study from the European Society of Cardiology found that people with stressful jobs nurses or bus drivers, for example had a 48% higher risk of atrial fibrillation, a condition marked by an irregular, often rapid heart beat. 9. It Can Make It Harder to Conceive Stress has been shown to cause reproductive problems in both men and women. In one study published in Fertility and Sterility , researchers tested 274 women who were trying to get pregnant and found that those with higher levels of a particular enzyme in their saliva correlated to stress had a 12% more difficult time getting knocked up. 10. It Can Make It Harder For Men to...Er Erectile dysfunction is complicated and can have physical as well as psychological causes. Science , however, has shown over and over that stress tends to make the condition worse by releasing more adrenaline and causing exaggerated contractions of the muscles in the penis, keeping it from filling with blood. 11. It Can Interfere With Your Menstrual Cycle Research has shown that various kinds of stress can wreak havoc on a woman's period, making it irregular or disappear altogether. And to make matters worse, the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development studied 259 women and found that stress can also make PMS pain worse. 12. It Can Lower Your Sex Drive And it's true in both men and women. The causes, a study shows, can be both physical and psychological. Stress causes hormonal changes in the body, which aren't particularly conducive for getting it on. It also makes someone distracted, and when their mind is on something else, sex can take a back seat. The Remedy Rx: One way to break the no-sex cycle is to get more physical with your partner, according to the Gottman Institute . "It simply forces the body to go from stress to relaxation, if you allow this. Kiss your stressed out partner a little bit more and hug them for 20 seconds longer." 13. It Can Raise Your Blood Pressure Stress gets your heart pumping faster and spikes your blood pressure. Not good. Usually, the response in temporary, a reaction to a particular stressful event. But chronic stress over long periods of time can cause inflammation in the arteries, which could lead to a heart attack down the road. The Remedy Rx: Try some good ol' fashioned exercise. Working out three to five times a week can reduce your stress and will make a difference long-term in lowering your blood pressure, according to the Mayo Clinic. 14. It Spikes Your Blood Sugar When you're stressed, your body behaves as if it's under attack, and your liver reacts by releasing more glucose into your bloodstream. Ongoing stress can lead to long-term sugar spikes, putting you at risk of type 2 diabetes, say experts . 15. It Can Give You a Stomach Ache Your gut has the most nerves in your body, this side of your brain, and stress can adversely affect your entire digestive system. The hormones released when you're stressed can interfere with digestion and harm the microorganisms living in your digestive tract. Cue indigestion, cramps, nausea and a whole host of other GI issues. 16. It Can Force Your Muscles to Tense Up That tightening can cause back aches and other ailments. The Remedy Rx: Next time you're feeling stressed, reach for the walnuts. Researchers have shown that foods containing polyunsaturated fats, like the nuts, may help us deal better with stress. 17. It Can Turn Your Mouth Into a Desert Stress can lead to a dry mouth in several ways, say experts . Anxious people tend to breathe through their mouths, drying out the inside. The acid reflux associated with stress can also have an affect on the salivary glands and keep them from producing as much. 18. It Might Leave You Feeling Listless Chronic stress can leave your feeling zapped of energy. It could be the accompanying insomnia, or some theorize that it might have something to do with exhausting your adrenal gland though a 2016 review of the research debunked that diagnosis. 19. It Makes You Sweat And Stink We sweat more when we're stressed and we sweat differently, studies show. Anxiety causes sweat to be produced from the apocrine glands, which secrete a thicker, milkier sweat than our eccrine glands. The downside: sweat from the apocrine glands tends to stink more. 20. It Can Mess With Your Genes Getting headaches is one thing, but actually altering your genetic code? Yep. Researchers at the University of Copenhagen have found that stress can switch on genes that weren't supposed to be switched on. "The consequence is that genes that should be turned off are now active and this may disturb cellular development, identity and growth," the researcher said. 21. It Can Cause Depression A study at Johns Hopkins concluded that long-term stress may affect the way that the genes controlling mood and behavior are expressed, leading a stressed-out person to be at a higher risk of depression. Tests on mice found that stress led to an increase in a protein produced by a gene called Fkbp5, which in humans has been linked to depression and bipolar disease. 22. It Could Lead to Disability "Are the strains and demands of modern society commonly exceeding human ability?" That's the question asked by the authors of this study of more than 17,000 working adults in Stockholm, Sweden. The scientists found that even mild stress can lead to long-term disability or an inability to work. Those who experienced mild stress were 70% more likely to collect disability benefits. 23. It Could Make You Die Younger Watch out. Men who are moderately or highly stressed for a number of years were found to have a 50 percent higher mortality rate, according to the Journal of Aging Research . The good news is that two very stressful situations a year might actually be beneficial, teaching us to cope with adversity. Anything beyond that, however, and it might be an early grave. 24. It Could Make You Crave Fatty, Sweet Foods There may be something to that cliche about stress eating. Researchers at University College London found that feeling stressed changes what we eat. Those under pressure didn't necessarily eat more, but they did reach for more sweet, fatty foods than usual. The Remedy Rx: If you're feeling stressed, be more aware of what you're eating and try to curb your consumption of junk food no matter how much your brain is screaming that you need it. For food solutions, visit eatthis.com . 25. It Worsens Your Memory… One of those areas of the brain that gets shrunken by stress is the hippocampus, which plays a big part in learning and memory. A 2018 study found that those with higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol did worse on memory tests, especially women. 26. ...But In Some Cases, Can Also Improve Memory Research has shown that periods of mild to moderate stress may actually help the brain to better encode memories and improve learning. For example, a college student freaked out about an upcoming midterm may actually retain the material better and ace the test. 27. It Can Fuel Cancer In addition to generally suppressing the immune system, stress can lead to the growth of malignant cells, making a cancerous tumor bigger, says one study . 28. It Could Make You Crave Alcohol Children of parents with drinking problems face a greater risk of turning to booze after experiencing stressful situations, a University of Gothenburg study found. The Remedy Rx: "If alcohol relaxes you when you're stressed, then you should try to find other ways of calming yourself down relaxation exercises, for example," the researcher suggests. 29. It Can Cause Ringing In Your Ears Tinnitus, that same kind of annoying ringing you get after, say, sitting through a Metallica concert, might just be induced by stress. One study by the Egypt's Minia University found that those suffering from chronic ringing tended to be more stressed. In short, "There is a direct correlation between duration of tinnitus and severity of stress." 30. It Can Cause Your Heart to Fail It doesn't get more serious than that. Severe mental stress can bring on "sudden cardiac death," as medical professionals colorfully call it. In particular, suffering through a traumatic event, such as an earthquake or a war strike, can be so stressful that people literally keel over. The Remedy Rx: Don't worry. No one's ever died of a panic attack. If you're experiencing anxiety, don't miss these 20 Ways to Strip Away Stress .


The St. Louis Blues won't have to go through a messy arbitration hearing with Zach Sanford , instead re-signing the restricted free agent to a two-year deal. The contract will pay Sanford an average of $1.5M. Sanford, 24, came to the Blues several years ago in the deal that saw Kevin Shattenkirk join the Washington Capitals but only really made an impact this season. Playing in 60 games during the regular season, the 6-4 power forward registered 20 points and ended up making quite the impression during the Stanley Cup Final. Scoring four points in five games against the Boston Bruins, including a goal in the deciding game seven, Sanford's future looks bright as a bottom-six contributor. In fact, Sanford's presence may be exactly why the Blues don't have a ton of interest in bringing back Pat Maroon on a new deal. Sanford can likely fill the same role as a big-bodied forward with some scoring upside and is considerably younger. A $1.5M cap hit doesn't represent a very lucrative deal but does give the young forward some sense of security in his NHL role moving forward. Sanford will actually be a restricted free agent when the deal ends. The Blues now have just three restricted free agents scheduled for arbitration in Jordan Binnington , Joel Edmundson and Oskar Sundqvist . Those three may also end up signing deals before their respective hearings, something that happens with the vast majority of players who file for arbitration. Ivan Barbashev and Robby Fabbri , the team's other two NHL RFAs, were not eligible to file this year.


A night after Brett Lawrie slid high, the A's defeated the Royals 5-0 behind Josh Reddick's three-run home run. Royals starter Yordano Ventura was ejected after hitting Lawrie and starting a bench-clearing brawl.


Tyler Boyd scored a pair of goals including the 1,000th in United States men's national team history as Gregg Berhalter's USMNT opened its Gold Cup run with a somewhat misleading 4-0 defeat of Guyana in Minnesota late Tuesday. Paul Arriola had a goal, an assist, and a shot that took two deflections including one off of Gyasi Zardes' face in the win. Weston McKennie had an assist in an impactful performance before leaving with injury in the second half. USMNT boss Gregg Berhalter said the injury was a cramp. Let's hope so. Next up for the USMNT is a Saturday match-up with Trinidad and Tobago in Cleveland. Guyana will meet Panama, who beat T&T 2-0 on Tuesday. [ MORE: Player ratings | 3 things ] The United States had plenty of possession to start, and Christian Pulisic was looking lively. Though positioned centrally in the formation, he often drifted to the left to get the ball and work toward the middle. It was Guyana who nearly struck for an opener against the run of play, lashing over the goal off a short corner. Gyasi Zardes thought he'd forced a goal moments later, but the offside flag was up. Weston McKennie played a gorgeous through ball into Tyler Boyd, and Boyd sent a promising pass to the middle of the box only to see a shot blocked by the packed-in defense. Then Pulisic was stopped point-blank by Akel Clarke. McKennie then set up Arriola for the opener, with the DC United man slapping the side of his right foot through the ball to sent it around Clarke and into the goal. Boyd the stung a shot wide of the far post after missing with a low drive earlier in the match. Clarke then made an outstanding save on a Nick Lima drive   again set up in part by McKennie   before Boyd hit a ball into outer space. A nervy moment early in the second half gave way to relief, as Boyd struck with vigor off a delightful ball from Michael Bradley. This was a "Bradley in his AS Roma prime" long ball, and Boyd delivered with a fine low strike . Zardes then made it 3-0 with a header he knew little about: Just how they drew it up! 😂 Paul Arriola's shot deflects off Zardes and makes it 3-0 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/Ys6ph3CAhG   FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 19, 2019 Berhalter would soon remove Pulisic and Bradley, and then an injury forced his hand on the third substitution. That one could echo deep into the tournament if it's anything more than precaution, with McKennie exiting the field. Boyd then scored another terrific goal. It looked even better than his first until replays revealed a significant deflection en route to the scoreboard. Zardes later cued up Boyd for a chance at the hat trick, but the Kiwi-born attacked hit his shot into the outside of the goal. He could've had five goals. TYLER BOYD AGAIN! 🇺🇸 What a strike for his second goal of the night 🚀 pic.twitter.com/NT8yIt8ZGG   FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 19, 2019 Follow @NicholasMendola


Pol Espargaro's current superior form to his fellow KTM MotoGP riders is reminiscent of Ducati's Casey Stoner era, according to Espargaro's works teammate Johann Zarco. Espargaro, who joined KTM for its full-time premier-class debut in 2017, emerged as the benchmark rider against squadmate Bradley Smith in his first two years on the RC16. For 2019, Smith was replaced by big-name signing Zarco, while top privateer outfit Tech 3 also joined the camp - yet Espargaro has so far scored all 31 of KTM's manufacturer points, and delivered its best-ever MotoGP finish in the dry with sixth place last time out at Le Mans. Asked ahead of Mugello if he was working on making the RC16 more user-friendly, Zarco said: "First of all, I care to be good just myself, it is the main thing. If my way of work brings good things for other riders, I will be glad to see it. "For sure at the moment it is like the Stoner times, only Casey was able to be fast on the Ducati in 2007, Pol is the one really up [compared] to all the others. "The target of KTM, they are happy with that kind of result, but would be even more happy if they have the four bikes competitive." Stoner spent four years as a factory Ducati rider in MotoGP, and outperformed each of his respective factory teammates   Loris Capirossi, Marco Melandri and Nicky Hayden   during that time. He scored Ducati's first-ever MotoGP riders' title in 2007, and was responsible for 23 of Ducati's 24 race wins during his stint with the Italian firm. Zarco, who looked strong in rain conditions at Le Mans but was shuffled back down the order under normal weather, said the French GP "was a great answer for me, with the great result of Pol and me once again having same problems". He added: "Now I'll try to take another way of thinking and to use better the bike, even if it is not for victory yet, at least [to] catch the top 10." Tech 3 rookie Miguel Oliveira has often run Zarco close in 2019 so far, but has too remained well adrift of Espargaro. Asked by Motorsport.com about the Spaniard's breakthrough Le Mans result, Oliveira said: "Pol is on his third year on the bike   I think it's natural also for him to be the year that he gets results. It's normal. "If he got the same result as us, it [would've] really showed that the development has been very tough. So, it's definitely positive for the whole crew, for the project, to see that one rider is doing very good. "It shows that we can be there, it's somehow not disappointing at all because we know that we are also capable of being there   maybe not yet, but we will get there." Additional reporting by Gerald Dirnbeck Pol Espargaro, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Photo by: Gold and Goose / LAT Images


One of the major stories this offseason for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers has been the contract situation of defensive tackle and three-time All-Pro Gerald McCoy. The veteran is scheduled to make $13 million if he plays for the Bucs in 2019, although none of that money is guaranteed. The general consensus around the league has been that the Buccaneers will eventually release the franchise favorite, given that new head coach Bruce Arians has openly questioned whether the veteran's production of late warrants the hefty price tag. McCoy has been a no-show for all offseason voluntary workouts so far, and was absent for the start of OTA's yesterday. While fans may think the major holdup is McCoy being unwilling to take a pay cut in his salary, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times has reported that the team hasn't not yet asked the All-Pro to do that. Why? Likely because the team is hoping they will find someone willing to trade for McCoy as opposed to them just releasing him outright. It may be wishful thinking to believe the Bucs and McCoy could still find a way to make things work. Given his absence all offseason, and the haters who have been after him, maybe a new team and fresh start would be best for both parties. MORE: Zion Williamson still has options if he doesn't want to play for the Pelicans NBA Free Agency 2019: The top players Cowboys News: Prescott's circle of trust questioned, Kris Richard RKGs Pro Football Focus names Raiders CB Isaiah Johnson as a steal of the 2019 draft How Jamie Collins would fit if he returns to Patriots


Charlotte 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 94 degrees on Tuesday, then ease a bit from Friday to Monday. Also expect a chance of rain later in the week. The best chance of rain is forecast on Saturday at 69 percent, with the possibility of light rainfall of 0.12 inches. Skies will be mostly cloudy today and partly cloudy tomorrow. Winds will stay fairly calm over the course of 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.


ALBANY, N.Y. (AP)   President Donald Trump's New York state tax returns could be given to Congress under a new law in his home state that the Democratic governor signed Monday. The measure signed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo directs state tax officials to share state returns of certain elected and appointed officials upon written request from the chairpersons of one of three committees: House Ways and Means, Senate Finance or Joint Committee on Taxation. Designed to give Congress a way around the Republican president's refusal to release his returns, the new law is expected to face legal challenges. And it's unclear whether Congress will request access to Trump's state returns, which tax experts say would include many of the same details as his federal return. "No one person   no matter what office they might hold   is above the law," said Sen. Brad Hoylman, a Manhattan Democrat and the Senate sponsor of the legislation. All sides expect legal challenges and requests for injunctions, meaning it could be many months before any state tax returns are handed over. The White House did not return a message seeking comment Monday on the law. Trump has long filed taxes in New York as a resident of the state. He is the first president since Watergate to decline to make his returns public, often claiming that he would release them if he were not under audit. The president has not weighed in on the new law but has repeatedly accused New York Democrats of using their positions to harass him and his allies. Republican state lawmakers say their concerns about the new law go far beyond Trump, arguing that any official from New York could be targeted. "We're going to let them, political hacks, decide when they want to invade your privacy," Sen. Andrew Lanza, R-Staten Island, said during floor debate on the bill. "Today, it's because you are a Democrat, tomorrow it's because you're a Republican, the next day it's because you want to run for Congress." Democrats are eager to get ahold of the returns, which could reveal details about his business dealings, his debts and international financial ties. If Congress does request and obtain Trump's state tax returns, that doesn't mean the public gets to see them. Under federal law, the confidential information in the returns is supposed to be for the committee's eyes only. To address concerns about the tax privacy of everyday New Yorkers, state lawmakers narrowed the measure so it applies only to the state income tax returns elected officials, party leaders and top public officials, like judges   as well as any businesses or legal entities they control. In addition, state tax officials would be required to redact personal information, such as Social Security numbers or personal addresses, before handing over the documents. Top lawmakers in Washington have differed on whether congressional committees should make use of the new law. U.S. House Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler, a New York Democrat, has touted the bill as "a workaround to a White House that continues to obstruct and stonewall the legitimate oversight work of Congress." Ways and Means Chairman Richard Neal, D-Massachusetts, however, has signaled that he may not be interested. Neal is already pursuing Trump's federal returns and has threatened to go to court in order to get the administration to comply. "The difficulty is that we don't have control over state taxes," Neal said in May when asked about the New York legislation. "For the moment, we're still proceeding on our own path." The group Stand Up America, created in 2016 to mobilize opposition to Trump, urged Democrats in Washington to immediately request Trump's state returns. "New York has provided Congress a new route for getting answers on behalf of the American people   and all they have to do is ask," Ryan Thomas, a spokesman for the organization, said in a statement. "Any further delay is an injustice to the American people who deserve transparency about Trump's foreign entanglements and massive conflicts of interest." Neal has issued subpoenas for six years of Trump's tax documents, but Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has so far resisted, saying Congress' request "lacks a legitimate legislative purpose."


A 20-year-old and two teenagers were charged as adults in a string of armed robberies and an attempted robbery in Federal Hill on Saturday, police announced. Jaquante Lide, 20, Aaron Scott, 16, and Troy Barnes, 16, face armed carjacking, attempted carjacking, theft and assault charges in at least three incidents, police said. The suspects are accused of robbing people of their cars and phones, including shooting one multiple times with a BB gun. See more in Crime » A 19-year-old man told police his cellphone was stolen by two armed robbers about 3:30 p.m. in the 700 block of Battery Ave., after they got out of a car that had pulled up in the block, police said. About a half hour later, a 43-year-old woman was assaulted with a BB gun by several carjackers attempting to steal her vehicle in the 1200 block of Riverside Ave., police said. She was shot multiple times with a BB gun and taken to a hospital for treatment, according to police and City Councilman Eric Costello. A Jeep Patriot was taken in armed carjacking at 4:24 p.m. in the 100 block of East Wells St., police said. Police did not release the names of the victims. Two of the suspects were arrested at Randall and South Hanover streets, while the third was arrested behind the wheel of the stolen Jeep in the 2300 block of West Baltimore St., police said. Lide did not have a lawyer listed in court records, and no phone number was listed for his address in the 2600 block of Presbury St. in West Baltimore. Charges for the two 16-year-olds had not been posted to the Maryland Judiciary's online case database as of Sunday evening. Detectives from the Citywide Robbery Unit are continuing to investigate, and any witnesses are asked to call 410-366-6341. cmcampbell@baltsun.com twitter.com/cmcampbell6


Not only will DeAndre McNeal be moving on to yet another new school, but he'll be moving on to another side of the ball as well. Earlier this offseason, McNeal opted to leave Florida Atlantic. This week, it was confirmed by 247Sports.com that McNeal has decided to continue his collegiate playing career at SMU. As McNeal has already graduated from FAU, he'll be eligible to play immediately for SMU in 2019. This latest move continues McNeal's vagabond journey through various levels of the college football world. A four-star member of Texas' 2015 recruiting class, McNeal was indefinitely suspended by then-head coach Charlie Strong in August of 2016. Not long after, the then-wide receiver opted to transfer out and ultimately moved on to a California junior college. With UCLA in hot pursuit, McNeal opted instead to sign with Lane Kiffin and FAU in February of 2017. After catching 23 passes for 317 yards and two touchdowns during his first season with the Owls, McNeal caught one pass for one yard in what turned out to be his last season with the Owls in 2018. With the Mustangs, the 6-1, 215-pound McNeal will shift from offense to the defensive secondary. The upcoming season will be the Texas native's final year of eligibility.


Say hello to the Cullinan, the first SUV from Rolls-Royce. This uber-premium automaker has a storied history building some of the finest luxury sedans and coupes in the world. But fear not, you well-heeled readers -- the Cullinan SUV is as decadent a Rolls-Royce as any other. Research the Rolls-Royce Cullinan on MSN Autos That's because Rolls-Royce builds the Cullinan on the same (aptly named) "Architecture of Luxury" that underpins the new Phantom. And with an air suspension, all-wheel drive and a wealth of usable cargo space out back, the Cullinan is simply better equipped to not only take you places other Rolls-Royces can't, but bring all of your finest gear along, as well. Related Video: Driving the 2019 Rolls-Royce Cullinan SUV Power comes from a 6.75-liter V12 engine, producing 563 horsepower and 627 pound-feet of torque. There's more than enough power for quick acceleration, and it all comes on with an effortlessly elegant rush. As I make my way up to cruising speed, the eight-speed automatic transmission does its thing invisibly -- seriously, I never feel it changing gears. And as I approach a curve or hill, the transmission uses GPS data to preemptively downshift (again, smoothly) so I'm always in the correct gear for what's ahead. Living luxe in the 2019 Rolls-Royce Cullinan Why don't you come with me... A characteristic feature of all Rolls-Royce cars is the so-called "magic carpet ride," and while that sounds like a gimmicky term, I can't think of a better way to describe it. Stereoscopic cameras read the road ahead and adjust the air suspension every millisecond. I feel like I'm driving on freshly poured, super-smooth asphalt, and nothing breaks the spell. Potholes? What potholes? Once I'm on the highway, however, the incredibly soft suspension can make the Cullinan feel floaty at speed. Sure, this is a very luxurious car with a serene ride, but it's sometimes hard to get a sense of exactly what's happening underneath you. Adaptive cruise control makes highway slogs a lot easier, and willingly keeps the Cullinan at a set distance from the car ahead, smoothly bringing me to a stop as I reach heavy traffic on the San Francisco Bay Bridge. Lane-keeping assist provides extra guidance as well, and gives a slight vibration through the steering wheel should I stray out of the lane. Thankfully, unlike some manufacturers, there's no audible warning to go with the lane-departure system. After all, Rolls-Royce has packed 220 pounds of sound-deadening material into the Cullinan. You think it's going to run all that with some loud beeping? On winding roads, the Cullinan certainly shows its size. This is a 6,000-pound, 17-foot-long SUV, and not intended for spirited backroad blasts. Still, rear-axle steering helps the Cullinan feel more nimble than you might expect, and the air suspension keeps the body level while cornering. There's a decent amount of feedback through the steering, too. Plus, I love how I can see the hood rise up under hard acceleration like a ship cutting through ocean waters, and the big brakes have ample stopping power with solid pedal feel. There are no drive modes, save for an off-road setting that raises the Cullinan by 2 inches over its standard ride height, and adjusts the transmission, throttle, engine and steering calibration. Editor-in-chief Tim Stevens had a chance to do some light off-roading when he first drove the Cullinan last year. And I'm pretty stoked to put it through a very thorough off-road test this fall. I'll touch on fuel efficiency only briefly, because it's not really one of the Cullinan's strong suits. Of course, if you're buying a Cullinan, fuel economy probably isn't high up on your list of purchase considerations. The EPA rates Rolls-Royce's SUV at 12 miles per gallon in the city, 20 mpg highway and 14 mpg combined. During a week of mixed driving, I saw right around 12 mpg. Ultra-luxe interior Instead, you're buying a Cullinan because it's one of the finest luxury cars available anywhere. The leathers are so beautiful and so soft, and the surfaces that aren't covered in hide are made from open-pore wood and exquisite textiles. Lambswool floor mats just make me want to curl my toes in the carpets, and every surface around me is heated for added comfort. Rear-seat passengers have it really sweet. My tester has the available bench seat configuration which can fold down to, as Rolls-Royce says, "carry a long item back from their trip -- whether it be a Mark Rothko from the art gallery or a newly discovered artifact from the latest archaeological dig." Behind the rear seats you'll find 21 cubic feet of cargo space. That isn't a ton, but there's added versatility to be found in the clamshell hatch, which can be optioned with a pair of slide-out seats for the absolute finest tailgating you can imagine. The rear seats can fold down at the touch of a button, giving you 68 cubic feet of space and a load length of 88 inches. That's longer than a long-wheelbase Range Rover , by the way. If you want to get really fancy, you can spec a two-seat layout with adjustable chairs, as well as a cooler in the middle for -- what else? -- champagne. The seats have a massage function, as well as an electronically deployable tray table, which houses a 12-inch tablet that can control the Cullinan's infotainment system. Therein lies my only real issue with the Cullinan: the infotainment system is somewhat lacking. This is essentially a reskinned version of BMW's iDrive software, controlled by the Spirit of Ecstasy-adorned rotary dial in the center console or by touching the 10-inch screen in the center of the dash. I've never really been a fan of iDrive -- it's full of menus and submenus that make things far more complicated than they ought to be. Neither Apple CarPlay or Android Auto are available, though you can use screen mirroring to get your Android-powered phone's interface to appear. However, resident Android expert Antuan Goodwin tells me the most popular phones running this software don't support screen monitoring. The embedded navigation system is clunky and not very intuitive, and while I can use voice commands to enter a destination, it has a hard time recognizing many words -- especially California streets with Spanish names. There isn't a one-box entry function, either, so you have to toggle through many layers of navigation data before setting off. For a vehicle with a tagline "Effortless Everywhere," this infotainment setup is overly complicated. But it's not all bad on the tech front. Five USB Type-C outlets are available throughout the cabin, as are three 12-volt outlets and a wireless charging pad inside the center console. Like any Rolls-Royce, the sky's the limit in terms of customization, and the company will do almost anything you ask it to -- for a price, natch. My tester starts at $325,000, but adds things like a $5,000 bespoke clock, $4,025 for contrasting piping on the seats, $9,950 for an upgraded audio system and a whole lot more. Add in $2,500 for destination, $2,600 for a gas-guzzler tax, and you end up with the $399,275 as-tested price of the Cullinan you see here. Research the Rolls-Royce Cullinan on MSN Autos Nothing else in the world really competes with the Rolls-Royce Cullinan. A Land Rover Range Rover offers good luxury with substantial off-road chops, and you could certainly compare the Bentley Bentayga , though it's not nearly as nice to drive or be driven in. Expensive as it is, the 2019 Cullinan is arguably the finest SUV in the world. But what else would you expect from Rolls-Royce? This was originally published on Roadshow.


SEATTLE, WA   Just this week, wildfires have broke out in Redmond, Des Moines, and Gig Harbor. In Eastern Washington, the National Weather Service issued a red flag warning due to high winds that had the potential to spread fire. Those incidents are just a taste of what is expected to be another bad wildfire season in Washington and Puget Sound. The Seattle-Tacoma area is in a severe drought , and a weak El Niño in the Pacific Ocean means a reduced chance of rain this summer   meanwhile, just .81 inches of rain has fallen at Sea-Tac Airport so far in June, but 1.57 inches is normal, according to the NWS. Local governments are trying to prepare Puget Sound residents for wildfire season. This week, a number of agencies, including the state Department of Health and the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency (PSCAA), held a wildfire smoke safety seminar in Seattle. Here are some tips they shared: Stay updated on local air quality conditions. The best place to do that is at the PSCAA website , which tracks air quality in Pierce, King, and Snohomish counties. If you're able, buy an air filter mask. The ones to get are rated N-95 or N-100. Find out more about those from the FDA . Get a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, preferably one with charcoal. See the EPA's Indoor Air Filtration fact sheet to learn more. You can make your own DIY air filter at home. All you need is a box fan and a HEPA filter. Affix the filter to the front of the fan with duct tape. You can place the homemade filter in a window or just have it running in a room. When wildfire smoke hits, stay indoors, keep windows closed, and avoid physical activity. Exercise can be harmful in smoky conditions. Other activities to avoid? Don't burn candles or incense, don't vacuum, and don't grill or build a campfire. When running an air conditioner, set it re-circulate and close the fresh-air intake. Change the filter often. Seek shelter. Public buildings like libraries and community centers offer air conditioning and, typically, better air filtration systems than some homes. In Seattle, the city is upgrading air filters in public buildings designated as wildfire shelters . "People in the Northwest love our summers, but we now face a hard reality. That climate change is going to steal parts of that summer from us more often as temperatures rise and forests dry out sooner in the spring. We encourage everyone to take steps now to prepare for wildfire season, by knowing where the nearest cooling center is located, having a plan for helping vulnerable family and friends and monitoring air quality at PSCAA" Executive Director Craig Kenworthy said this week.


Los Angeles Rams rookie linebacker Dakota Allen has had a long path to the NFL. After starting as a freshman at Texas Tech, he was kicked off the team after getting arrested and forced to play at a junior college for a year, where he starred on the Netflix series "Last Chance U." Allen has persevered through a lot, so he's more than ready for the battle that lies ahead. As a seventh-round pick, Allen isn't guaranteed anything and he'll have to scrap and claw to make the final 53-man roster. During his media availability as the Rams opened camp, Allen made it clear he understands that. When asked what he needs to do to make the team, Allen replied by describing the importance of special teams. "Basically just come out here for training camp and prove why I do deserve a spot," he said. "I feel like I definitely need to show up on special teams for this training camp. I also need to make a couple plays on defense so I feel like this is a great opportunity, and just excited to be here." Allen is clearly realistic about what needs to be done, and making an impact on John Fassel's unit is the best way for someone like him to make the team. Allen was a special teams standout in college, so covering kicks won't be anything new to him. Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports Allen was also asked about advice he's gotten about transitioning to the pro game. "I know some of the other guys said it's not like college as far as the strain it does on your body," he said. "But, they say it's a lot more mental. So I feel like I really need to get ahead in the playbook, make sure I'm watching film and studying the plays before every practice before I go out there." Allen is saying all the right things, and he's clearly a hard worker. Players taken 251st overall don't often get to contribute much as rookies, but Allen could be an exception if he shows well over the next month in camp. After releasing Mark Barron earlier this offseason, the Rams are a little bit thin at inside linebacker. The current plan is to start Micah Kiser, who has never taken a defensive snap before. The Rams' run defense needs all the help it can get, and if Kiser falters or there's an injury, Allen could get a shot. It sounds like he's already embracing his role and will be ready if his number is called. MORE: UFC's Thiago Santos shares brutal update on injuries suffered in loss to Jon Jones Instant observations from Day 1 of Patriots training camp Giants' Eli Manning fires back at Odell Beckham in the most Eli way ever Observations from Lions training camp, Day 1: Jahlani Tavai gets starting reps Ranking the NBA's Top 10 Big Threes


WASHINGTON   Former Vice President Joe Biden on Tuesday unveiled a $1.7-trillion, 10-year plan to combat climate change, the latest entry in a spate of proposals from Democratic White House hopefuls to address a global environmental issue that was rarely addressed in past presidential campaigns. Biden's plan calls for cutting net emissions of greenhouse gases to zero by 2050   a goal set out in the Green New Deal, the policy framework backed by many progressive Democrats. He calls for covering the cost of the plan, which includes $400 billion for clean energy research, with revenues gained from repealing the tax cuts enacted by President Trump in 2017. Also entering the climate change debate Tuesday was Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, who called for spending $2 trillion over 10 years on research and development and other federal spending to speed the transition to a clean-energy economy. Warren proposes paying for the plan with a previously unveiled tax on corporate profits over $100 million. She embraces the 2050 zero-emissions goal, but says that projected global emissions would have to be cut in half by 2030 to meet that goal. Biden's plan has been keenly anticipated in recent weeks as an indicator of how far he would move toward the goals set by the party's progressive wing. Last month, a Biden advisor told a reporter from Reuters that the former vice president would seek a "middle road" on climate, setting off days of controversy. That dispute provided a subtext of the speech by Sen. Bernie Sanders at last weekend's California Democratic Party convention in which he declared that "we have got to make it clear that when the future of the planet is at stake, there is no 'middle ground.'" Biden's campaign said the report was not accurate, and Biden promised to give a major speech on the subject. Biden's plan stops short of imposing a carbon tax or a "cap and trade" market system, which many leading climate experts consider crucial to keeping the Earth's temperature from warming more than 2 degrees Celsius, the goal laid out in the Paris agreement on climate change. Instead, the plan calls more broadly for an "enforcement mechanism" to be passed by Congress and enacted by 2025. It would be based on the principle that "polluters must bear the full cost of the carbon pollution they are emitting," according to the campaign. "Our economy must achieve ambitious reductions in emissions economy-wide instead of having just a few sectors carry the burden of change," the Biden plan says. "The enforcement mechanism will achieve clear, legally-binding emissions reductions with environmental integrity." The plan leaves open the possibility that the mechanism could be a carbon tax, which many economists see as the most efficient way to transform the economy from one based heavily on fossil fuels to one powered by renewable sources. But others argue that many of the same results could be achieved by toughening up the existing regulatory system without the politically debilitating fight over imposing a broad new tax. Climate change has dramatically risen in prominence as a political issue over the last two years as research has provided increasingly alarming reports of the impending economic and environmental consequences and as impacts of a warming climate have become more visible. The issue has emerged as an especially important issue among younger Democratic primary voters. Biden's 22-page policy paper is described as a "plan for a clean-energy revolution." The paper gives a long list of proposals -- some vague and some specific -- that seem designed in part to make clear how his plans would be more than a repeat or restoration of policies of the Obama presidency. The plan is not as ambitious as the one unveiled by Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, who called for eliminating net carbon emissions by 2035. He too did not call for a carbon tax. The Biden plan is in its broad outlines more like that of former Rep. Beto O'Rourke, who also set a 2050 goal and called for $1.5 trillion in federal spending over 10 years for his climate change plan.