Yesterday the Yankees made a move to weaken their roster. They sent the Oakland Athletics cash in exchange for veteran DH/"1B" Kendrys Morales . Oakland themselves acquired Morales a month and a half ago from the Toronto Blue Jays for a low-minors infielder named Jesus Lopez and a small chunk of international free agent cap space. Both the Yankees and A's came into 2019 with reasonable playoff aspirations and were facing injuries to their 1B and DH depth. The only issue, of course, is that Kendrys Morales isn't a good MLB player anymore. He hasn't been for three years, posting a 98 wRC+, a .245/.317/.424 line, and -0.7 fWAR in 1205 PAs since the start of 2017. A month and change from his 36th birthday, Morales looks cooked, but his pint-sized price tag made him an easy plug for both Oakland and New York. The Blue Jays are paying $10 million of Morales' $12 million salary this year, and New York will likely be paying only a portion of the remainder in their deal with Oakland. Given the choice between a pricier, quality option and cheap, replaceable mediocrity, teams have increasingly selected the latter, and that's a clear obstacle for the Mariners efforts to trade Edwin Encarnación . EE has been everything Seattle could've hoped for and then some this year. After a truly elite stretch from 2012-2015, Encarnación's offense has declined each season, from a 136 wRC+ in to 2016 to 130 the following year, and just 115 in 2018. Half a year older than his former teammate Kendrys, Encarnación has rebounded all the same for a 127 wRC+ thus far, upping his walk rate and cutting his K% to its lowest point since 2015. Edwin's resurgence has helped the M's to some of the best 1B/DH production in the league. In the table above we can get a decent sense of who is leading and who is lagging. The Dodgers , with a combo of Cody Bellinger and Max Muncy , are blitzing the league at the cold corner. The Rockies , meanwhile, are floundering thanks to a combo of a hurt/underperforming Daniel Murphy and under-qualified Ryan McMahon and Mark Reynolds. Unfortunately, while EE would be an upgrade at the 1B and/or DH positions of several teams, much of the league is uninterested in improving their roster for the 2019 season. Fortunately, despite being merely mediocre with the glove, the Parrot's papa has accrued more innings at 1B this year than either of the past two seasons, looking passable enough for an NL club to bite. It's a bit early for buyers and sellers to make decisive moves, but both leagues have teams with great reasons to act early and boost their roster. In the AL, the haves and have-nots are stark, with six teams at over 60% odds of making the playoffs per FanGraphs and no others above 7.1% Meanwhile, only two teams in the NL are complete and utter toast, and an incremental upgrade would be significant. Blending playoff odds and positional production, who is the best fit for Edwin? We run the gamut here of shoo-ins like Houston to long shots like Cincinnati, but these nine clubs are the framework of the market. A few can be ruled out fairly comfortably with extra information, of course. In addition to their tenuous playoff odds, the Reds are set at 1B with Joey Votto , and will live or die with their star. Similarly, though Oakland's odds of returning to the playoffs are cratering, their poor production at 1B is due to Matt Olson 's absence with injury, and Khris Davis has been decent. Moreover, while the Angels could certainly use better production from their 1B/DH position, Billy Eppler's team appears uninterested in trying to win for the third straight season, and with Justin Bour headed to AAA in exchange for a LHH/LHP, Pujols ever-present, and Ohtani on the mend, there's less of a fit than might be expected. That leaves six teams - three AL, three NL. Briefly, let's go through each team's need or counterbalance. Houston - The Astros wrapped up the AL West about three weeks ago, and even with José Altuve struggling their focus has to be on October already. To succeed then, they could use more than what they're getting from Yuli Gurriel , who is once again the team's weak link. Houston values his positional versatility, but Gurriel is less than a month from his 35th birthday and is a below-average hitter for a 1B. EE would fill the whole instantly, although they could choose to move internally and promote Yordan Alvarez instead. New York - The Yankees now have Kendrys Morales, which I've made my feelings clear about. Luke Voit has been solid at 1B, but with the literal dozens of injuries they've suffered, the Yankees are running out of cupcake schedule to cushion against. With Miguel Andujar, Giancarlo Stanton , and Greg Bird sidelined indefinitely, the Yankees are the best fit for the Parrot in my appraisal. In spite of their injuries, their fortunate scheduling and dominant bullpen has helped them maintain great playoff odds, but the Rays ' emergence and Red Sox stumbles have made the gap between the division and the wild card as thin as a colorful imaginary feather. Cleveland - Who doesn't love a homecoming? It would be inarguably strange for the Mariners to return Encarnación to Cleveland after just a couple months, but the penny-pinching AL Central favorites are in danger of getting squeezed out of the playoffs by the pesky Twins . Much of that is due to an anemic offense that's been getting little-to-nothing from Jake Bauers / Carlos González and the since-departed Hanley Ramírez at the DH spot. The club bet on Bauers and won't want to cut bait entirely, but he can handle the field and still might need time in the minors - time Cleveland is quickly running out of if Minnesota keeps winning. Milwaukee - Most of the Brewers entire infield has been a travesty at the plate, with Jesus Aguilar and Travis Shaw in particular stinking up the joint. Between the presence of Eric Thames and the recent call-up of Keston Hiura I'd be hard-pressed to see Milwaukee adding another power-first 1B, but with little time to waste they could pull the trigger and sort it out later. Washington - Speaking of teams with no time to waste, the Nationals are struggling to prove their mettle in the post-Bryce era. Four teams in the NL East have 33.3% or better odds of making the playoffs, but the Nats are eight games out of first right now. Matt Adams and the ancient/injured Ryan Zimmerman have not been getting it done, and sticking recently acquired Gerardo Parra over there feels like true desperation. The Nats aren't dead yet, but they need more from a lot of guys, and EE would make plenty of sense as an ignition spark. Colorado - The team needing to squint the hardest for their playoff odds on this list is the group in most dire need of Encarnación's services. Despite signing Daniel Murphy to play 1B for some reason, moving Ian Desmond to CF, Colorado shockingly has struggled to score runs this year! How weird is that? Murphy 's numbers have been woeful since his return from a wrist injury, and his replacements have fared no better. The Rockies need to turn things around ASAP to get back to the playoffs, and adding a big bopper would do wonders for them. Any move the M's make with Encarnación will be predicated on their willingness to eat most of his salary. They got $5 million in compensation when he arrived, balancing out his $5 million buyout for next season, but he'll still be owed around $15-16 million more for the rest of his $21.667 million total he's owed this season. The return won't be sizable in any case - another low-level pitching prospect perhaps, but something like what Adam Lind cost a couple years ago would still be a useful return for the Mariners fledgling farm. We may have to wait all the way until July to see where Edwin ends up, but we know Jerry can strike a deal at any time.


A Winston-Salem man recently pled guilty to vandalizing the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. The National Park Service reports Jamie Underwood appeared in federal court in Elizabeth City on July 8. Underwood pleaded guilty to vandalizing the original bronze door of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse and was ordered to pay $1,922 in restitution. A photo appears to show the letters 'SEF' scrawled on the door. Underwood was put on probation for a year. In June 2018, the lighthouse posted photos of the vandalism in effort to find the perpetrator. A conservator treated the affected area. The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, nearly 150 years old, is a National Historic Landmark. OTHER STORIES Why Lighthouses Look The Way They Do Bodie Island, Cape Hatteras Lighthouses To Open For Climbing Follow WFMY News 2 on Facebook and Twitter ► Make it easy to keep up to date with more stories like this. Download the WFMY News 2 App: Apple Users , Android Users


DELRAY BEACH, Fla.   Two years, almost to the day, after a Delray Beach woman presumably was lost at sea while honeymooning with her husband in the Bahamas, a judge legally and officially has declared her dead, court records show. Isabella Hellmann's husband, Lewis Bennett, is scheduled to be sentenced in his wife's death later this month. By officially declaring Hellmann's death, the judge has cleared the way for the couple's 2-year-old daughter, Emelia, to inherit $18,000 from her mother's modest estate. Bennett, 42, entered into a plea bargain with prosecutors in November and pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter after repeatedly claiming he had been asleep below deck when the couple's catamaran got into trouble, took on water and sank. His 41-year-old wife had been at the helm and disappeared, Bennett said, when he later was rescued in a lifeboat. "As Isabella Hellman has not been heard from nor seen since being lost at sea on May 14, 2017 … there are no reasonable inferences or an explanation of her absence other than her presumed death at sea," Palm Beach County Circuit Court Judge Scott Suskauer wrote in a May 9 order. A copy of Hellmann's completed death certificate was included in court filings. She had no will. The judge also ordered the FBI to give the keys to Hellmann's condominium to an attorney representing her parents, so that it can be sold, records show. The condo, records show, is valued at $130,000 and Hellmann's bank accounts totaled $41,117. Hellmann, a real estate broker, had $8,524 in credit card bills, according to court filings. The judge ordered that $18,000 go into Emelia's trust account. The girl will turn 3 in July and lives with Bennett's parents in Scotland. Another $20,000 will go toward attorney's fees and the rest will go toward paying creditors. When Bennett, a dual citizen of the United Kingdom and Australia, goes before a federal judge on May 28 in Miami, he faces a maximum sentence of eight years in prison. When Bennett made an apology in court in January to Hellmann's family, he said: "I know that they have been through unimaginable pain as a result of my actions and for that I am truly sorry." "I have made poor decisions which compounded a tragedy of such magnitude that I pray no one else would ever have to experience it," Bennett said. He did not describe what happened to Hellmann the night she vanished. Despite a four-day ocean search, Hellmann's body was never found.     ©2019 Sun Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) Visit the Sun Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) at www.sun-sentinel.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.


The countdown is on to summer, and if you are still on the hunt for a perfect family getaway, TPG has some great suggestions   and no, you don't need a trust fund to explore this summer. Our top summer travel picks are loaded with fun activities for everyone and offer lodging that can be easily booked with points to free up your cash budget for more experiences and tasty treats. Our list even includes two international destinations, so be prepared to dust off your passports , if you pick those spots. In This Post For Adventurous Families: Asheville, North Carolina Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, this continuously evolving hot spot is perfect for fun-loving, outdoorsy families. American Airlines included Asheville (AVL) in its summer 2019 regional route updates , now flying twice daily from New York City's LaGuardia Airport (LGA); the airline also added nonstop daily flights from Philadelphia (PHL). In fact, the airport is one of the fastest-growing aviation markets . Here's how to maximize American's award routing rules this summer. Or, booking American Airlines-operated flights with British Airways Avios ( especially before May 30 ), may be a good bet if you can find saver award space (which can be tough in AVL). There are also several new can't-miss adventures located here. The famed Biltmore Estate is offering two new and very cool experiences this summer. The first is falconry lessons for adults and kids aged 8 and up; there's also an off-road tour for adults and teens on an electric trike that reaches speeds of up to 20 mph. Both activities are offered to a maximum of four people at a time and cost $125 each. There is a 10 percent discount on the falconry experience for guests of the Biltmore's Inn and Village Hotel. The Biltmore also offers a well-rounded summer concert series . Visit at the end of July and you can get some "Good Vibrations" with the Beach Boys. Remember to pack a credit card that provides a bonus on entertainment charges ! Dates to keep in mind: July 25: The Beach Boys; tickets between $60 $85 July 26: The B-52s; tickets between $65 $90 Aug. 6: Chicago; tickets go on sale May 8 Aug. 9: The O'Jays and Kool & the Gang; tickets go on sale May 15 Another unique nearby activity this summer might be to check out the "abandoned" Wizard of Oz-themed park that is in Beach Mountain, North Carolina. Where to stay : Family-friendly lodging options abound in this city. We like the Homewood Suites by Hilton Asheville-Tunnel Road (33k to 50k Hilton Honors points) in downtown Asheville. It's close to all the action and just minutes away from the Biltmore and the Blue Ridge Parkway. It's got an indoor pool, a free shuttle to area attractions and the suites with kitchenettes make it easy to save a few bucks by eating breakfast at the hotel and storing snacks for in between adventures. You can book a suite with two beds, a Keurig for the adults and snacks for the kids. Here are options for racking up additional Hilton points for your family's summer vacation. You can also check out the Hyatt Place Asheville Downtown, which offers rooms for 12,000 World of Hyatt points per night. For Thrill-Seeking Families: Orlando, Florida This may seem like an obvious choice for a summer vacation with kids, but there are a bunch of new attractions and bigger-than-ever roller coasters at nearly all of Orlando's major theme parks such as Disney World and Universal Orlando . "Everything is awesome" at Legoland's new Lego Movie World , where brick enthusiasts (we know that includes parents too, it's OK to admit it) can experience all-new attractions including the Masters of Flight ride on a triple-decker couch. Disney World is also unveiling a host of new rides and attractions this year. This summer, the whole family can get the full race car experience at Lightning McQueen's Racing Academy at Disney's Hollywood Studios, while Disney's Star Wars: Galaxy Edge theme park opens in Orlando on Aug. 29 . For more on Disney's offerings, check out our 9 New Disney World Attractions You Won't Want to Miss in 2019 and there's even a big sale on Disney resort stays going on now for summer travel dates . Other high-octane rides for your family of daredevils include the new Tigris , Florida's tallest launch coaster, at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, and KareKareCurl, a powerful waterslide that leaves you weightless on a vertical wall, at Aquatica Orlando. Where to Stay : At TPG , we like the Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista   Disney Springs Area for it's awesome Disney perks, which include Extra Magic Hours and 60-day-in-advance FastPass+ reservations through 2019 , bookable using points. You can nab a standard award room for around 50,000 points per night, less on somewhat off-peak dates. If the kids' school doesn't start back until September, aim for August when the rates dip below 50,000 points. Want more suggestions? Check out our guide to using your points at Disney World area hotels and our ultimate guide to visiting Walt Disney World. For Outdoorsy Families: Anchorage, Alaska If you are looking to beat the scorching summer heat, the beauty of Alaska is unmatched and summer is the perfect time to take it all in. Lazy Otter Charters has added a new 46-foot boat, the Voyager, to its fleet for a breathtaking day trip. The boat is specifically designed for glacier and wildlife cruises   eagles and otters and bears, oh my!   and the company is known for its education on wildlife conservation. If you happen to stay over June 22, you can take part in Anchorage's summer solstice celebrations that take full advantage of the region's 22 hours of functional daylight. There are fishing derbys, road races, block parties, concerts and the Children's Rainbow Factory, which includes a kayak pool and a giant sandbox. Worried about the long travel time? Don't be! American, United and Delta have all started their seasonal routes with nonstop flights to Anchorage from several major cities in the lower 48 states including Chicago, Dallas, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Newark, Salt Lake City and Minneapolis, to name just a few. This might be a good opportunity to use the companion certificate available with the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature credit card . Where to stay : Check out the Anchorage Marriott Downtown (Category 5, from 35,000 points per night) for its walkability and views of the city and the mountains. The hotel offers several family-friendly amenities including an indoor pool, on-site dining, upgraded rooms with kitchenettes, and connecting rooms if you have older kids who want their own space. Note that it can be difficult to snag a room with double beds on points, so try to book early or use the 35k free night certificate that you earn annually from the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card at your card holder anniversary each year. Just be sure to explore beyond, Anchorage, too! Here are some nearby suggestions . For Anglophile Families: London, England Summer 2019 is a great time to travel to jolly old England. If you want to catch a glimpse of the royal family (and those royal babies!) make sure to book your trip for the weekend of June 8 for the annual Trooping the Color . The Queen's birthday parade is not to be missed with all the pomp and circumstance the British have to offer. There's also a great selection of new children's activities in and around London. We are excited about the Marwell Zoo's BRICKOSAURS exhibit, running through Sept. 1, featuring two surefire kid favorites   Legos and dinosaurs. The zoo, located about an hour and a half outside London, has welcomed several new animals this year including a red panda named Peter. British Airways offers nonstop flights from a host of US cities, even including cities such as Charleston, Pittsburgh, Austin and New Orleans. If you plan to use your Avios, just be sure to consider any fuel surcharges, which can be hefty   here are some of the best ways to use miles to get to Europe . Where to stay : Check out the Park Plaza County Hall London , which boasts views of the London Eye from higher floors. This hotel is walkable to several great attractions, including the Sea Life London Aquarium and Big Ben, plus the Tube (subway) for exploring the rest of the city. Kid-friendly amenities include free cots and cribs, a goody bag at check-in and a play area. You can book a Radisson Rewards family room in June for 87,500 points per night for two adults and two children ages 12 or younger; the room includes a separate living area and bedroom along with a kitchenette and free Wi-Fi. You can read more about the Park Plaza County Hall in our round up of 8 Points-Friendly Hotels in London for Families of 4 . And here are tips for getting around London with kids . Want to make the most out of your points in London? Check out our new site, The Points Guy UK , and our picks for the top posh hotels for families in London . For Beach-Loving Families: Oranjestad, Aruba You didn't think we'd give you a list of top summer vacations without including the Caribbean, did you? Aruba is full of family-friendly activities and stretches of the perfect beach . Several airlines have routes to this island nation from major US cities, making paradise closer than ever. American Airlines will fly direct to Aruba with regular flights from several cities including New York, Chicago and Dallas-Fort Worth. Delta Air Lines has added Aruba to its list of Caribbean destinations from Boston with new, nonstop Saturday flights. Aruba's famed white sand beaches and crystal blue waters speak for themselves, but where best to enjoy them? We love the option of all-inclusive resorts , which are routinely adding new experiences and amenities that cater to families and children. Where to stay : Check out Divi Aruba All Inclusive , a highly rated, all-inclusive resort which proudly caters to families with kids programs and tons of beachfront activities, from pool volleyball to windsurfing lessons. The best part is that kids under 5 stay, eat and play for free, while kids ages 6 12 are just $50 per child, per night. Chase Sapphire Reserve card holders can use their Chase Ultimate Rewards to book a standard garden-view room with two queen beds (sleeps up to four) from 35,750 points per night. A room with a view of the pool costs more at 37,050 points per night. (If you hold a different Chase credit card, you may be offered rooms at different point rates.) If that's not the right spot for you, there are lots of family-friendly points options in Aruba that won't break the bank such as the Hyatt Regency in Aruba for 25,000 World of Hyatt points per night ( or transfer your Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Hyatt at a 1:1 ratio ). Bottom Line Great vacations are what summer is made of   don't worry about being (a little) late to the party. There is still time to book a family trip that everyone will enjoy. For the latest travel news, deals and points and miles tips please subscribe to The Points Guy daily email newsletter .


After breaking his leg and ankle in the Boston Celtics' 2017-18 season opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Celtics forward Gordon Hayward's playing future was in doubt. He battled courageously through an arduous recovery process that was as straining mentally and emotionally as physically to return to the court in time for the 2018-19 season opener and though showing rust, hesitation and a lack of conditioning, he was back on the hardwood doing what he loves. The 2018-19 season wasn't necessarily kind to Hayward, as the forward struggled mightily to knock down shots and explode off of his surgically-repaired leg and ankle. However, as the season progressed, Hayward's play steadily improved and his confidence did as well. In the first three months of the regular season, Hayward shot no better than 41.7 percent from the field in any month and shot a paltry 37.0 percent from the field in December. However, from January to April, Hayward shot no worse than 46.5 percent from the field in any month and shot a season-high 65.0 percent from the field in the final month of the regular season. Averaging 18.3 points per game in April, there were even times where opponents would say Hayward was beginning to resemble the player he was in 2016-17 with the Utah Jazz, when he earned his first and only All-Star selection. He was knocking down shots efficiently, attacking the rim confidently, using his patience and basketball IQ to make plays for his teammates and had a few impact defensive plays as well. Not bad for a player that an anonymous Golden State Warriors player would say was a liability on both ends of the court when they played earlier in the season. Frankly, in the playoffs, Hayward would once again look like a shell of his former self, struggling to do much outside of creating for others. The veteran forward shot just 41.4 percent from the field while averaging 9.6 points and 2.4 assists in 29.7 minutes per game in those nine contests and was all but invisible against the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference semifinals, with 7.4 points and 3.0 assists per game on 34.3 percent shooting from the field. However, Celtics president and general manager Danny Ainge isn't worried about Hayward. "He's doing everything he can," Ainge says. "If he doesn't become the player he wants to be then it won't be from a lack of trying. But I'm very excited and optimistic." Gordon Hayward is at Auerbach Center every day with coaches, according to Ainge: "I'm not worried about Gordon Hayward. He's doing everything he can. If he doesn't become the player that he wants to be then it won't be from a lack of trying. But I'm very excited and optimistic." - Mark Murphy (@Murf56) June 5, 2019 Looking at players who have suffered major injuries before, like Paul George of the Oklahoma City Thunder, it could take Hayward two seasons to return to his prime form. George has told Hayward as much himself . If that's the case, the Celtics could be getting the best version of Hayward - one of the most skilled and intelligent players in the league - yet. Hayward's ability to regain his explosiveness is going to be one of the most important storylines for Boston. Especially as, depending on what happens with Kyrie Irving this offseason, they could need every point that Hayward can produce next season. * All stats gathered from Basketball Reference MORE: Heavyweight champ Andy Ruiz hits back at Stephen A. Smith after 'Butter Bean' comment Angel Hernandez's Blatant Missed Calls Should Spark Change for MLB These five upcoming NBA free agents helped themselves in the playoffs Bad hammy puts Klay Thompson's durability to the test Could Raiders DB Gareon Conely develop into a Pro Bowl cornerback?


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ASHEVILLE   In Western North Carolina, a million-dollar view usually means sweeping mountain vistas. But in the city, apparently $1.625 million buys you something different   a spectacular view of the Rankin Avenue parking garage. Sold in late July, the condo is a three-bed, three-bath, 4,152-square-foot monster in the old T.S. Morrison & Co. Building, also home to Sweet Peas Hostel. It's the most expensive condo sold in downtown Asheville since 2017, according to the MLS. The condo has stunning details, including stained glass dividers and a locally crafted wrought iron, plus a sprawling floor plan that's hard to find in downtown. Even then, it's hard to ignore the Rankin Avenue parking signs peering at you from every window. What's behind the property value? Janet Whitworth, the real estate agent who sold the listing, confirmed that the new owners plan to use the condo as a private residence   no offices or stores in the cards. Clearly, the views weren't a dealbreaker for the new owners. Whitworth attributes the property's value to "the size, location and quality finishes," she told the Citizen Times in a phone interview. "It's hard to get a three-bedroom condo downtown, especially one that's roomy," Whitworth added. "It would have been a $2 million condo if it had a nice view of the skyline." Perhaps the new owners were after easy access to Asheville's stellar restaurant scene, or wanted first dibs on Tops for Shoes sales? Or maybe just convenient parking options. Help the Asheville Citizen Times continue to provide in-depth reporting like this. Find our latest subscription options and special offers here. This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: An Asheville condo sells for $1.6M with downtown parking garage view


In the futuristic Star Trek-like world , people don't spend so much time tapping their phones or typing on keyboards. They have conversations with their computers. That future, in which people effortlessly ask for something from their always-everywhere computer and can ask further requests based on the response, isn't several centuries away. Apparently, it's possible today. During its Build developer conference in Seattle on Monday , Microsoft showed off new technology for its Cortana voice assistant. The upgrades, powered in part by technology Microsoft acquired for an undisclosed amount last year through a company called Semantic Machines, allows someone to have an ongoing conversation tracking scheduling appointments, reminders and other similar tasks with little effort. For example, today we can typically ask voice assistants to read back our calendars, but Microsoft believes that in the not too distant future, we don't need to bark out " Siri !" or " Cortana !" Instead, we can merely ask our always-listening assistants what our schedules are, whether the right people have been invited to meetings and where we have lunch plans set. And Microsoft says we won't need to use the stilted language most voice assistants require these days. ZDNet : Microsoft Build 2019: What to expect for AI, Azure, bots, Windows | Microsoft adds more AI, mixed-reality, IoT services to its Azure line-up While it's only a demo, Microsoft's talk about the future of voice assistants offers a promising look at where this technology is headed. Today, we've had to learn a mishmash of odd phrasing and repeated commands to get voice-controlled technology to do what we want it to. And often, they get it wrong anyway , particularly when we dictate a message to them. That's part of why Microsoft is touting its advances. While the company's Cortana voice assistant is included in its Windows 10 software for PCs and can be downloaded for Apple iPhones and Android-powered devices, it isn't as widely used as Apple's Siri, Google's Assistant or Amazon's Alexa, according to data from industry researcher Voicebot.ai. That hasn't stopped Microsoft from trying though. Two years ago, the software giant showed off new technology it's offering companies to more easily understand what you say, even if you don't say it exactly as the computer would normally understand. So if a video game you're playing is expecting to hear you say "how old are you," and you say "you look really young," it'll know you basically mean the same thing. The company's also been bulking up its technology for computers to understand what we say, creating new features for its Skype team chat system, for example, that offers live captions of what people say , and even can translate languages in real time. What's unclear is when Microsoft will be able to offer this conversational AI tech to the rest of us. For now, it's just a demonstration.


A text-to-give effort to fund San Antonio's homeless and cut panhandlers off at the knees went live Friday. District 8 Councilman Manny Pelaez led a panel trumpeting the Change the Way We Give Campaign. The mobile donation effort will raise money for organizations and agencies who help the homeless. Pelaez said he believes it's more effective than giving to cardboard hustlers on street corners. "That version of charity   what I call 'fast food charity   it might seem like the right thing to do at that moment. And it might feel good," Pelaez said. "But I'm asking people to mindful and thoughtful." Benefactors can text SAGIVE or 41444 to donate. Their phone then receives a link outlining the impact of their donation: Providing transportation, getting IDs for the homeless, mental health and medical services, access to housing and preventing homelessness entirely. The homeless fund also hopes to cut down on panhandling profits. "Homelessness and panhandling aren't the same thing," Pelaez said. SAGIVE is being tested in his district first because of a prevalent problem with streetside-begging. Pelaez said a city-wide rollout by the end of the year could happen. He secured $30,000 for app development, signage for panhandling hot spots and education materials. "We know that every single dollar goes towards services, shelter, prevention, response, education," he said. According to the councilman, benevolence extend out the window of a vehicle has no true accountability. He said that, frequently, the spare change in your car funds substance abuse and other expenses from some people who are homeless and some who pretend to be homeless. LeManda Del Toro, who works at Haven for Hope, agrees with the councilman. She Del Toro was once chronically homeless, and things eventually got so bad that she panhandled. "It's humbling. It's humiliating in a sense, putting myself out there to be exposed," Del Toro said. The signs she held for her street-level fundraising read: "Will do anything for money." She said her profits rarely went to pull her out of homelessness. "I wasn't in it for monies to be fed or sheltered," Del Toro said. "I had something for me at that for me to address. And that looked like addiction." The money collected from SAGIVE goes directly to the South Alamo Regional Alliance for the Homeless (SARAH) for equitable distribution to agencies and organizations that assist the homeless like Haven for Hope. Other popular stories on KENS5.com 11 dead after Virginia Beach shooting Child's remains found in search for Maleah Davis SAISD implements new tech allowing parents to track students on buses Inmate charged with capital murder after allegedly killing cellmate


LAS VEGAS   You could breeze through the outdoor Neon Museum in under 30 minutes, snapping a few photos of vintage Vegas signs for Instagram and Facebook before returning to the gambling action on nearby Fremont Street or the Las Vegas Strip. But you wouldn't learn about Liberace's dry cleaner (Steiner Cleaners), the city's first racially integrated hotel casino (the short-lived Moulin Rouge) or why the Golden Nugget casino featured the year 1905 on its glittery facade instead of 1946, the year it opened (to appear more established to gamblers). The Las Vegas history lesson comes only with a guided tour of the downtown museum, a boneyard filled with 250 neon signs from Vegas' past, 17 of them restored and still glowing. Along with the can't-miss bright-blue happy-shirt sign from Steiner, the hot-pink Liberace sign from the defunct Liberace Museum and giant nugget from the Golden Nugget hotel casino, visitors will find signs from defunct or renovated casino hotels. The giant skull from Treasure Island's family-friendly pirate show days is there, and so is the genie's lamp from Aladdin hotel and casino. There are signs from roadside motels and a mini-mart that beckoned hungover travelers headed back to California with free aspirin and "tender sympathy." The vintage signs are scattered on both sides of a circular dirt path, stacked against each other like items at a yard sale. Visit more than once and you'll see signs you missed on your first trip, especially if you dip into the boneyard's nooks and crannies. The newest addition: the giant guitar from the Hard Rock Cafe, which closed in 2016 after a nearly 30-year run. The sign owner, Young Electric Sign Company, donated the guitar to the museum, which launched a $350,000 fundraising campaign in 2017 to transport, restore and maintain it. The sign debuted in March. In addition to Las Vegas trivia, the guide on our one-hour night tour taught us the chemistry of neon and about the notorious gambler, casino owner and criminal Benny Binion of Binion's Horseshoe, who Vegas visitors have to thank for replacing sawdust with carpeting on casino floors. And she gave us a tip for dating signs: Those built before 1970 have spikes or ladders, which workers used to climb eight to 10 stories to change the bulbs on signs. The practice went away with the advent of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration in 1971. The guided tour was an hour   and $28   well spent in Las Vegas. Guided tours for families with kids, led by youth volunteers, are $5 per person (kids 6 and under free) and available on select dates, but they are not offered in the summer. The last one for the season, in late May, is sold out. Neon Museum Self-guided tour : Visitors are free to stroll the grounds daily with a general admission ticket. I did a self-guided tour and a guided tour on the same day and took nothing away from the self-guided tour except some photos. (No audio tours are offered.) Specialty tours and programs : In addition to the youth tours, the museum has a variety of special events and tours, including lectures and a popular $50 photo walk. Coming In October, a four-month exhibition of original fine art from director Tim Burton. "Brilliant!" show : Las Vegas is known for its shows, but not too many are evening outdoor performances. The museum's lively new "Brilliant!" show, which opened in early 2018, is a choreographed nearly-40-minute light and music show that illuminates long-dead signs and offers some narrated Las Vegas history. Visitors dance and sing along to songs including Elvis' "Heartbreak Hotel'' and "Viva Las Vegas'' and Frank Sinatra's "Luck Be A Lady.'' The show is $23 for adults. The best option: a $42 combination ticket that includes a guided tour of the boneyard and the "Brilliant!" show, back to back. Advance reservations are recommended for any visit as tours and other programs sell out regularly. Details: neonmuseum.org This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Neon Museum: A Las Vegas history lesson and Instagram-worthy photos in one spot


If being an elite athlete stopped working out for Sergio Ramos, Nick Kyrgios, or Draymond Green, they could always get work as a James Bond bad guy. Sports can generate feel-good stories showcasing people who have worked all of their lives to achieve something very few ever get close to. This is not a list celebrating those stories. We've rounded up the cheats, the thugs, and the downright annoying athletes that make the world of sport what it is. Shout out to all the villains. Visit Business Insider's home page for more stories . If you like your sports played squeaky clean, then stop here. But if you live for the chaotic moments from live events and love to watch an athlete attempt to win through apparently wicked means, then this is the list for you. Before we go any further, we should be really clear about what we mean by the word "villain." This is not someone who gets into serious trouble or has legal problems outside of sport, but rather an athlete who attempts to gain success by being a bit mischievous or controversial. Read more : These are the 15 best fights in the entire history of UFC Rather than steroid scandals, lawsuits, and wanton violence away from the game, this means diving or flopping in soccer, underarm serves in tennis, and outlandish statements made by motormouth athletes. A villain, for us, is someone you love to hate, and someone you want to watch just to root against. So, without further ado, here are the 15 greatest villains in sport, listed in alphabetical order by name. Tom Brady and coach Bill Belichick are a double act that have been synonymous with success for more than a decade. Sport : Football. Why they're bad to the bone : They're unapologetically successful, and that alone is enough to make anyone who isn't a New England Patriots fan loathe them. Together, Patriots coach Belichick and quarterback Brady have won six Super Bowl championships and are the key reasons for the New England dynasty in the NFL. But the apparent means used to get that success has come under scrutiny, with the Los Angeles Times earlier this year calling the Patriots "football's perfect villain - cheating, haughty, hated." Under Belichick's watch, the Patriots were caught videotaping opponents' defensive signals in 2007. This became known as "Spygate." And if that were not bad enough, there was then "Deflategate," when the league believed Brady probably knew deflated footballs were going to be used in the 2015 AFC Championship Game against the Indianapolis Colts, something that would have given the Pats an advantage during offensive plays. The whole ordeal inspired a 10-year-old called Ace Davis to create an entire science project about it, as he hoped to conclude that Brady is a cheater. Read more : A 10-year-old boy won a science fair with a project concluding that Tom Brady is a cheater Dereck Chisora is one of the most unpredictable boxers in the game today. Sport : Boxing. Why he's bad to the bone : Where do we start? Chisora bit Paul Butlin in the middle of their 2009 fight, tried to kiss Carl Baker at a prefight staredown in 2010, and spat water all over Wladimir Klitschko's face in the middle of the Olympiahalle ring in Munich, Germany just before his lop-sided decision loss to Vitali Klitschko in 2012. Having lasted to the final bell in an exhausting fight against Klitschko, Chisora confronted David Haye at the post-event press conference. Haye responded by attacking Chisora with a glass bottle . Chisora is one wild man. Colby Covington is a "MAGA" hat-wearing cagefighter with a megaphone. Sport : Mixed martial arts. Why he's bad to the bone : If you hate spoilers, don't ever visit UFC welterweight Colby Covington's social media pages because he revels in posting as many as he can , just to ruin your day. He trash talks his haters by calling them "nerds" or "virgins," and polarized fan opinion when he presented his interim world title to Donald Trump at the White House. Covington had nothing but good words to say about Trump, telling MMA Junkie after the visit that it was an "out of body experience" because "he was so cool … he likes chicks, wrestling, MMA. He's just a regular guy." Read more : Conor McGregor is a 'coked up little leprechaun' and a 'nerd,' according to one of UFC's most controversial fighters Even in the chaotic world of NHL, Sidney Crosby is renowned for being an agitator. Sport : Hockey. Why he's bad to the bone : "Sid the kid" is a trophy magnet having attracted back-to-back Winter Olympic gold medals with Canada and three Stanley Cup wins with the Pittsburgh Penguins NHL team. His passing, leadership, and work ethic separate him from many of his peers, but he's also a hot head - even by hockey's standards. Crosby is someone who slaps his stick between the legs and into the testicles of people who get in his way. Just ask Buffalo Sabres center Ryan O'Reilly who, bizarrely, brushed if off with the words "it happens" as a response to the 2017 incident. A few nights later, Crosby nearly hacked off the tip of Ottawa Senators defenseman Marc Methot's finger when he slashed at it with his stick. Crosby's villainy is only enhanced as his shocking acts seemingly go unpunished by referees. Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green seems to love attracting haters. Sport : Basketball. Why he's bad to the bone : Draymond Green was suspended for taking a swing at Lebron James' groin during a 2016 match against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Green, viewed as one of NBA's most prolific foulers, once said he was not a "dirty" player but later, as the Washington Post pointed out , went on to kick Kyrie Irving. Green, the loud, brash, raucous forward, is the yin to Golden State Warriors teammate Steph Curry's cool, calm, point-collecting yang. Together, they are great. Curry enjoys the love, while Green takes the hate. Zlatan Ibrahimovic is the sort of guy to score a goal and tell fans they're welcome before they even thank him. Sport : Soccer. Why he's bad to the bone : Zlatan Ibrahimovic announced his arrival to the LA Galaxy with a full-page advertisement in the Los Angeles Times. The ad had five words: "Dear Los Angeles, You're welcome." The funny thing is, this isn't even the most Zlatan thing he's ever done. He has "accidentally" kung-fu kicked a goalkeeper in the chest, ahs headbutted his own teammate , and once got sent off for slapping an opponent and trying to con the referee by faking an injury. Ibrahimovic, unquestionably, has the biggest ego in soccer as he's a man who frequently compares himself to God . However, he recently let it slip that he has no ego at home as his wife only lets him hang one picture of himself, and it's not even of his face . Nick Kyrgios has mastered the art of mangling a racket. Sport : Tennis. Why he's bad to the bone : In 2015, Kyrgios was booed by the Wimbledon Championships crowd because he was perceived to be throwing away the match. He trash talks his peers like he is selling UFC pay-per-views ahead of a box office fight , has been fined for verbally abusing a spectator , and says he's "not dedicated to the game at all." When Kyrgios does try, he has an extraordinary box of tricks like underarm serves, tweeners, or just turning around and bending over to present his buttocks to his opponent - all of which he did during his May 14 win over Daniil Medvedev at the Italian Open. Kyrgios unravelled Medvedev so successfully in Rome that the Russian ended up smashing his racket repeatedly on the floor of the clay court. However, in the very next match, Kyrgios reverted to type, having fallen apart in a second round disqualification loss to Casper Ruud. Read more : Nick Kyrgios is out of the Italian Open after he threw a chair onto the court, packed his bag, and walked off in the middle of the match 'If that's dirty, that's dirty,' Manny Machado once said. 'I don't know, call it what you want.' Sport : Baseball. Why he's bad to the bone : Baseball's reprobate Manny Machado has channeled the great heels of WWE like The Rock and embraced the role as his sport's villain. "I always will be the villain, no matter what," he told the New York Post earlier this year, though he said he wasn't exactly sure why. Last season, however, he stomped on the heel of Steve Pearce, the first baseman for the Boston Red Sox, two years after a wild brawl that was sparked when he was hit by Yordano Ventura's pitch, then stormed to the mound to throw hands like it was the Royal Rumble. It was not long before everyone from the Kansas City Royals and Baltimore Orioles benches joined in, with all hell breaking loose. Marc Marquez's aggressive tactics angered a rival who once accused him of "destroying" the sport. Sport : MotoGP. Why he's bad to the bone : A seven-time MotoGP world champion, Marquez is one of the most successful racers ever. And as he's still only 26 years old, he'll have plenty left in the gas tank to potentially add to that haul in the seasons ahead. But during his time on the track, he has riled his rivals - particularly Valentino Rossi, another of the sport's true greats. At the Argentina Grand Prix last year, Marquez chased down Rossi and attempted an aggressive maneuver, making contact with the Italian. Rossi fell while Marquez stayed upright. He was reprimanded with a 30-second penalty and later accused by an apoplectic Rossi of destroying MotoGP . Jose Mourinho is one of the most polarizing characters in sport. Sport : Soccer. Why he's bad to the bone : The wildly decorated soccer boss has long been revered for his Machiavellian ways. In 2005, he was slapped with a two-match UEFA Champions League ban during his first stint as the manager of Chelsea FC. This meant he had to avoid his players. But never one to take rules and regulations seriously, Mourinho arrived at the locker room early, gave his team talk, then hid in a laundry basket and instructed his kit man to wheel him past oblivious UEFA officials. Over the years, not much has changed. When he was Real Madrid manager he made whiffy gestures at FC Barcelona forward Lionel Messi and even poked Tito Vilanova in the eye . After he returned to Chelsea, in 2014, he engineered a rivalry with the Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger by calling him a "specialist in failure." And, when he was employed by Manchester United more recently, he angered the former Chelsea boss Antonio Conte so much that the Italian challenged him to a fight . Read more : Dementia, match-fixing, and doping: Inside José Mourinho and Antonio Conte's bitter war of words Luis Suarez bites, then clasps his teeth like he's the one who's hurt. Sport : Soccer. Why he's bad to the bone : One of the most joyfully gifted strikers in world soccer over the last 10 years also happens to be a prolific biter. He's bit not once , not twice , but thrice in his career as a soccer player (that we know of). This alone is enough to attract villain status but he also flops, dives, and feigns injury. Oh, and he also purposefully cleared the ball away from the goalline with his hands during a 2010 FIFA World Cup match, denying Ghana what would have been a critical goal - a winner - that would have dumped Uruguay out of the tournament. Suarez was sent off but loitered around the tunnel as he awaited the fate of the resulting penalty he had conceded. Ghana missed the penalty and he celebrated wildly, attracting further condemnation. The match went to a penalty shootout, which Uruguay won . Liz Patu is the Luis Suarez of Australian rugby. Sport : Rugby. Why she's bad to the bone : Wallaroos captain Liz Patu summoned her inner Luis Suarez and clamped her jaw down on Rebecca Clough's flesh during a Super W club match between Queensland and Rugby WA earlier this year. "She bit me!" Clough is reported to have said at the time, according to The Guardian . Clough informed the match referee, and swore while telling Patu to not bite her again. Patu was slapped with a six week ban, ending her season. Infamous soccer player Sergio Ramos laughs in the face of the red cards he collects. Sport : Soccer. Why he's bad to the bone : One of the greatest villains on YouTube is the cat who pushed another cat down the stairs. We're not saying Real Madrid defender Ramos is that evil cat, but because he's the most indisciplined athlete in La Liga history (154 yellow cards and 19 reds) and the most carded player in Champions League history (37 yellows and three reds), he's actually far worse. Read more : Sergio Ramos, the badboy of world soccer, has been mercilessly trolling Liverpool FC boss Jurgen Klopp Patrick Reed is reportedly not too popular on the PGA tour, but this golfer likely won't care. Sport : Golf. Why he's bad to the bone : He just seems to rub people the wrong way. "There is no doubting the ability of Patrick as a golfer, it was Patrick as a person that we chose not to associate with," an assistant golf coach from the University of Georgia said of a younger Reed, according to Golf.com . When Reed was playing golf at college he was apparently abrasive, a cheat, and a thief, though these are all things he denies . As a pro, has used a homophobic slur , shushed the crowd, and has ordered camera crews on the course to move away from him. Last year, he appeared to isolate himself when he was critical of his US Ryder Cup teammates and coach . A stark contrast to the camaderie the European team showed on a daily basis. A former judoka and mixed martial artist turned professional wrestler, nobody attracts jeers quite like "Rowdy" Ronda Rousey. Sport : Professional wrestling / sports entertainment. Why she's bad to the bone : Ronda Rousey has been successful in many careers. She won a bronze medal in judo at the 2008 Olympic Games, was crowned Strikeforce and UFC bantamweight world champion in mixed martial arts, and went on to lift the Raw women's championship in WWE. Rousey divided opinion when she was in UFC because she broke Miesha Tate's arm in 2012, would trash talk her opponents , and refused to address the media after her devastating losses. At WWE, she has also ruffled feathers. In January 2018, WWE said it suspended Rousey for 30 days after she "attacked" her WWE mentor with a briefcase on live TV. She "blew the roof off the joint" in her first ever wrestling match a matter of months later, and won her first WWE title when she dropped SummerSlam opponent Alexa Bliss on her neck in August.


Stuck on Bourbon Street.


The Phillies have agreed to a contract with left-hander Drew Smyly , reports Jon Heyman of the MLB Network. Drew Smyly agrees to Phillies deal. They could use lefty in rotation. @JSalisburyNBCS on it   Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 19, 2019 Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia reported last night that Smyly, who opted out of a minor league deal with the Brewers yesterday, was drawing interest from the Phils. Smyly opened the season with the Rangers, who acquired him at the beginning of the 2018-19 offseason when the Cubs needed to shed his salary in order to exercise their option on Cole Hamels . Smyly had signed a two-year, $10M contract with Chicago, knowing that his first season would be spent rehabbing from 2017 Tommy John surgery. At the time, the deal looked like a potential high-reward pickup for Texas. Smyly had solid career numbers prior to his surgery   3.74 ERA, 8.7 K/9, 2.5 BB/9   and had shown a penchant for missing bats while limiting walks. A return to that form would've given the Rangers at least a solid trade chip and at best could've fueled a surprise postseason push. Instead, the Rangers received a worst-case scenario. In his first MLB work since that Tommy John operation, Smyly was hammered for an 8.42 ERA with 9.1 K/9, 6.0 BB/9 and an eye-popping 3.33 HR/9 mark. Home runs have always been a bit of an issue for Smyly, an extreme fly-ball pitcher, but the league-wide home run boom has proven particularly problematic for the southpaw. Texas ultimately released him last month, and Milwaukee picked him up on a minor league deal on July 1. His time with the Brewers was brief but a bit more encouraging. Smyly made three starts with Milwaukee's top affiliate in San Antonio, where he allowed seven runs on 10 hits (two homers) and three walks with 18 strikeouts in 12 2/3 innings of work. Philadelphia currently has an all-right-handed rotation, and they've received particularly shaky work from fourth and fifth starters Nick Pivetta (5.74 ERA in 69 innings) and Vince Velasquez (4.97 ERA in 50 2/3 innings). The Phillies have also gotten 10 starts out of Jerad Eickhoff (5.40 ERA) and three from Cole Irvin (5.60 ERA) with little success to show for it. While Smyly himself is somewhat of a shot in the dark at this point, there's little harm in taking a look to see if he can help the big league club. The Rangers are on the hook for Smyly's salary, so the Phillies need only pay him the prorated league minimum for any time spent on the active roster.


The Cowboys got a bit of good news Tuesday with a tentative clearance for rookie running back Mike Weber. Weber left a Saturday session during the team's rookie minicamp with a sore knee, and it was reported he would undergo an MRI to determine the severity of the injury. ESPN's Todd Archer reports that for now the seventh-round pick from Ohio State looks to have dodged a bullet and will not require surgery at the moment. Rookie running back Mike Weber will not have surgery at this time on a sore right knee that required an MRI after the Cowboys' rookie minicamp over the weekend. The hope is rest and rehab will help but there is a possibility of needing a scope in the… https://t.co/QCcUjMMYDl - Todd Archer (@toddarcher) May 14, 2019 The scope could come at a later time if Weber's knee does not improve. Archer reports that after suffering the morning injury, Weber returned to the facility later that same afternoon to watch the team's final workout. The Cowboys will have OTAs each weekend starting at the end of May prior to their June minicamp. MORE: NBA Free Agency 2019: The top players This video from behind the bench might be the best view of Kawhi Leonard's buzzer-beater Roundup: Bill Nye's Comments; Seinfeld Finales Ranked; The Office's Streaming Future Matt Patricia not 'drinking from the fire hose' in his second offseason Report: Chicago Bulls could offer top-6 pick for Lonzo Ball in trade


CONCORD, N.C.   With their backs against the wall to make the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson and the No. 48 team needed new life. That came in the form of a crew chief change atop the pit box, promoting race engineer Cliff Daniels to replace Kevin Meendering after 21 races at the helm for Johnson. Meeting with the media on Monday afternoon at the Hendrick Motorsports campus, the explanation was simple for Johnson regarding the move as he sits in foreign territory   17th in points and 12 points behind the playoff cutline. "We have to act now is the bottom line," Johnson said. "We don't have any time to waste." But Johnson made it a point to reiterate that Meendering, now set to assume a senior competition role within the organization, did nothing wrong to result in the drastic shakeup. "We're always trying to figure out how to make our team better," Johnson said. "What's tricky is when it boils down to people and needing to make a change. It's never easy. It's never fun." This season isn't the first time Johnson and Daniels have worked closely together. Daniels played a role in Johnson's record-tying championship season in 2016 as an engineer for then-crew chief Chad Knaus. "Coming back and being ingrained with the team and those levels of communication, we did in a lot of ways pick up where they left off," Daniels said. "In some new ways   and I've commented to him several times   his fire is so intense right now. The level he is trying to perform, the level we know the team needs to perform is all there. We just have to execute it properly." While Daniels has no prior experience as a crew chief, it's the instant connection with the 31-year-old that invigorates Johnson in his quest for an eighth title. "In this instance, with Cliff coming back at Sonoma, there was just such a spark that he brought," Johnson said. "As the weeks went on, I noticed, outside people noticed, I think our fans have even noticed. Management even noticed and it was something we felt like we need to pursue to give ourselves the best chance to make the playoffs and have a shot at eight this year." Johnson noted that initial talks regarding the move began roughly one week ago. But for Daniels, he didn't receive official word until a text message from competition director Jeff Andrews on Monday morning, just hours before Hendrick Motorsports made the final decision public knowledge. Mere days before Sunday's race at Watkins Glen International (3 p.m. ET on NBCSN/NBC Sports App, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio), the pair have to figure out a plan for a very technical road course where pit strategy notoriously comes into play. With a cool nature that mirrors his driver's persona, however, Daniels is ready to make something happen. "We will absolutely have a plan that we'll try to execute through the race," Daniels said. "With that plan, you have to have contingencies, of course. But with the resources that we have here at Hendrick Motorsports, the recent success we've had at road courses. … We have so many factors we can pull from to operate from a position of strength. It's just going to be on us to execute throughout the weekend." Johnson echoed the confidence. "With the history that Cliff and I have, I know we'll be able to come to the track and really up our game and hopefully get the job done." ]]>


Video by Patriots Wire Tom Brady wasn't willing to disclose much information about his contract negotiations, despite the fact he's entering his 20th NFL season and has just one year remaining on his contract. When the six-time Super Bowl champion was pressed about his long-term future with the Patriots on Wednesday at the team's training camp, he talked around the question by praising the Patriots coaching staff and front office. "I've had such a great experience over a lot of years," Brady told reporters. "I appreciate this team and the opportunity it gave me in 2000. I play for a great coach in Coach [Bill] Belichick, and [offensive coordinator] Josh [McDaniels] and I have a great working relationship. I love Mr. [Robert] Kraft and his family. We've had just incredible success. Hopefully we can keep it going." "It was a great off-season, but now it's time for football." pic.twitter.com/Q2oO2hdaOw   New England Patriots (@Patriots) July 31, 2019 Brady was then asked if he would be interested in going "year-to-year" for his next contract, but he again didn't give a straight answer. "We're all day-to-day if you think about it. None of us are really promised anything," Brady said. "I'm trying to do the best I can do today and just let those things sort themselves out." As for whether he thinks he deserves a contract extension, Brady said he would rather defer to the public's opinion than give one of his own. "I don't know. That's up for talkshow debate," Brady said. "What do you guys think? Should we take a poll? Talk to Mr. Kraft, come on. No, like I said, we've got a great relationship so we'll see how it goes." One thing Brady did make clear, though, is that it'll be hard for him "to imagine doing anything else in life." "I'm enjoying it," Brady said. "You know, every year has its different challenges, and it's like a day like this, we've got to keep grinding through them. It's hot, we've been at it for a week or two, and we've got to find ways to make improvements. That's what this time of year is all about. "I love playing ball, so to still be out here at 41   soon to be 42   it's a pretty great thing for me." MORE : Bill Belichick vows to be 'more involved' with Patriots' defense | NFL trade rumors: Redskins have discussed moving Trent Williams | Patriots try QB Danny Etling at wide receiver Brady has hinted in the past that he wouldn't consider retirement until his mid-40s. Even though he'll turn 42 next month, he's still one of the most effective and efficient quarterbacks. He led the Patriots to a spot in the last three Super Bowls and won two of them. Last season, he completed 65.8% of his passes for 4,355 yards and 29 touchdowns with 11 interceptions.


CLEVELAND   The consequences from the Jonathan Lucroy-Jake Marisnick home plate collision that happened Sunday are already being felt. And they're not limited to Lucroy and Marisnick   though Lucroy has been diagnosed with a concussion and a broken nose, and Marisnick has had to defend his actions and work through whatever guilt he may have. Players are concerned that more home-plate collisions could lead to more rules protecting catchers, which would place more restrictions on baserunners trying to score. Catchers are obviously the most at risk during home-plate collisions, but White Sox catcher James McCann didn't place the blame for Sunday's collision on anyone. "I just know you have two players that are playing extremely hard, that are trying to do everything they can to help their team win," McCann told Yahoo Sports at All-Star Media Day on Monday. "And honestly I don't think there's any rule change or anything that would have affected that play, I think it happened too fast to change anything." McCann said that regardless of the rules, he always readies himself behind the plate like they don't exist. He's always "preparing [himself] to get run over." But he feels like the collision rule unfairly benefits baserunners. "I think that at times, the rule benefits the runner," McCann said. "In the sense that every other base, when a runner's sliding into it, they have to stay on the base. Whereas at home, all they have to do is touch it. So they can slide an arm's length away from the plate, and touch the tip of the plate with their finger and they're safe, and for me as a catcher, I have to be in front of the plate and it's hard to reach back and reach a guy like that." McCann is almost certainly in the minority with that opinion. Guys who run the bases and do no catching, like Whit Merrifield of the Kansas City Royals, feel like the rule is restrictive, and may be trying to remove something from the game that just can't be removed   danger. "When a play like that happens, it's really hard for a baserunner, now with the rules, to know what he can and can't do," Merrifield told Yahoo Sports. "It's a hard situation because Marisnick is moving so fast and he's got so little time to react to what's about to happen. It's just the way the game is now, you can't hit anybody. ... [Collisions] are just part of the game. It's like football, you can't prevent guys from hitting each other." Baseball moves too fast to remove all the danger and risk. And considering why the rule was enacted in the first place ( it's informally called The Buster Posey Rule for a reason, his knee was severely injured in a home plate collision), some players may be nervous that more home plate collisions could lead to more rules. Colorado Rockies centerfielder Charlie Blackmon definitely is. "...The game happens really fast. To slow it down and say it's this guy's fault or that guy's fault is really tough," Blackmon said. "I think the rules are fine, if anything I think the rules are a little too much. I don't want to see the game changed a whole lot because someone gets hurt. That's unfortunate that people get hurt, but the game is very dangerous. I don't want the game to be changed or watered down because of one injury. I like the game the way it is." Baseball is full of split-second decisions that can have lasting effects. And while Blackmon and players of his ilk don't want any more rules, Kris Bryant of the Chicago Cubs had a slightly different take. He definitely doesn't want more rules, but he wants the rules already on the books to be clear. Bryant feels like the home-plate collision rule is murky and confusing, and yearns for clarity so everyone knows for sure what they are and are not allowed to do. "I honestly think the rule is not that clear," Bryant said. "As a player, I don't know what I can and can't do. I'm obviously not going to try and take out a catcher, but I'm just running to home plate and the catcher comes into me, I don't know what's fine and what's not. Obviously I'm trying to slide and avoid the catcher, because nobody wants to see what happened yesterday in our game." Michael Brantley, the Houston Astros left fielder who watched the collision as it happened, rejects the notion that there was any malicious intent in the collision. Not just because he and Marisnick are teammates, but because Brantley looks at baseball as one large extended family, and while there's competition between teams and players, they're all in this together. "It's baseball, it happens," Brantley said. "No one wanted it to happen. It's a brotherhood, no one's out there trying to hurt anybody else like that. This is a family all the way around no matter what team you play for." More from Yahoo Sports: Rapinoe, Morgan, USWNT make ultimate equal pay statement This World Cup left Ellis' critics little ground to stand on Best way to spice up the Home Run Derby Celebrate USWNT's World Cup title by shopping gear


Hours after Virginia's highest law enforcement officer warned Congress of continued and "persistent threats to our election systems," state officials could not confirm how much Richmond has spent on Virginia's election security. Virginia received a $9 million grant from the federal government in June 2018   an investment designed to improve election security in the face of threats from Russia and malicious cyber actors. Yet after months of information requests from WUSA9, the Virginia Department of Elections failed to produce specific dollar amounts or current allocations for the federal funds. The latest online public documents report $0 of $9 million spent as of October 2018, with no recent 2019 filings available. In a letter to members of the U.S. Senate, Virginia Attorney General Mark R. Herring and 21 other state attorneys general asked for more election security funding, as well as bipartisan election security legislation. "Fair and free elections are the foundation of our democracy and we must do everything in our power to protect them from outside interference," Herring said Tuesday. "It is imperative that Congress takes every precaution necessary to make sure that what happened in the 2016 election, when Russian hackers infiltrated state and local elections, never happens again." Under Virginia's proposed plan for the funding, nearly $6 million will be eventually directed towards new cyber-security initiatives. Virginia Elections Commissioner Christopher E. Piper outlined a top priority for the federal grant   to secure the state's election networks and protect access to its sensitive computer systems. Although Virginia voting machines do not have direct connections to the internet, concerns have grown that hackers could attempt to alter vote totals once the numbers are submitted to the state. No federal dollars are planned for new Virginia voting booth equipment, and no spending dates besides the grant's beginning and end are made available in public documents. Sign up for the Get Up DC newsletter : Your forecast. Your commute. Your news.


PARKER, Colo. -- A Parker girl is collecting school supplies for needy families instead of gifts for her birthday. Walking into Cherokee Trail Elementary, one can't miss the painted message greeting visitors at the entrance: "take care of one another." Six-year-old Emma Burson is taking that message to heart. "Some kids, their parents don't have money, and they only have one dollar," Burson said. "Some kids look really sad and I want them to be very happy with the things that they want for school." Instead of asking for presents this year for her birthday, Burson asked her friends to donate school supplies for students in need in the Parker community, adding to a colorful bin of pencils, backpacks and glue. "A lot of those kids are very self-conscious and they don't want other kids to know," said Principal Josh Miller. "Now, they can focus on their academics, they can focus on loving school and having fun here." Miller says they'll give the supplies to their school-based psychologist to give to families in need. The rest could be donated to other schools in the district. If you're interested in donating, you can drop off supplies at Cherokee Trail Elementary between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.     ©2019 KDVR-TV, Denver Visit KDVR-TV, Denver at www.kdvr.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.


LaVar Ball found himself at the center of controversy this week when he told First Take host Molly Qerim that she could "switch gears" with him anytime . ESPN responded by condemning Ball's on-air remarks. And according to a report from The Athletic, Ball had been effectively banned from appearing on ESPN platforms in the future . Yet, despite LaVar's willingness to speak out about anything, he had remained quiet all week about his comments to the ESPN personality. That changed on Saturday. Reporters caught up with LaVar, who was in Los Angeles to watch LaMelo's Drew League game, and asked him about ESPN's ban and the backlash to his comments. LaVar dismissed any ill intent behind his words and essentially laughed off Qerim for taking offense to it. "Only time I hit on her is if she breaking in my house and I mistake her for the boogeyman." LaVar Ball on his "inappropriate" comment to Molly Qerim. (Via @sleepersallday ) pic.twitter.com/cE4Iin0C7a - Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) June 23, 2019 LaVar said: "How am I gonna be banned? I don't work for them. I gotta be banned from ESPN? I got my own show." He continued when asked about the comment: "I don't even have to respond to that on the fact that I meant no sexual intent. Nothing on the fact that 'switch gears' means change topics to me. Her mind in the gutter and she think of something else. Only time I hit on her is if she's breaking in my house, and I mistake her for the boogeyman." Following Monday's airing of First Take , Qerim said that she was satisfied with ESPN's response to the comments. She added that she would have appreciated if LaVar had apologized publicly to her. MORE: NBA Free Agency 2019: The top players Pelicans coach gets last laugh over Anthony Davis' 'That's All Folks' shirt Report: Celtics interested in signing French center Vincent Poirier With all eyes on Browns' receiving group, Nick Chubb brings necessary balance Colts feel Ben Banogu's best starting point is at DE Related slideshow: 2019 NBA Finals (provided by imagn)


SALEM, Iowa   When voters ask Sen. Elizabeth Warren about her plan for universal child care, she's likely to launch into a story about her Aunt Bee   a woman who, as the candidate tells it, came to help, arriving "with seven suitcases and a Pekingese named Buddy"   and stayed for 16 years. It's a story to tell voters more about Warren herself, but it also serves to highlight one of her many policy prescriptions for the country. The Massachusetts Democrat has churned out a consistent stream of policy proposals since getting in the president race , with more than a dozen in-depth plans ranging from leveraging public lands in the fight against climate change to student loan debt forgiveness . While other candidates have worked to increase their name ID, Warren is pushing to make her name synonymous with having "a plan for that"   the thing that could differentiate her from the Democratic field of more than 20 contenders. But while the consistent flurry of policy papers puts meat on the bone for reporters, as well as puts the pressure on fellow candidates, are voters clamoring for specifics? For Warren, perhaps nowhere does the answer to that question matter more than in Iowa   where she's banking on consolidating support to springboard her into the top tier of candidates in the state's first-in-the-nation caucuses early next year. She has a sizable presence on the ground in the Hawkeye State: Over 50 staffers   more than almost any of her competitors   who are hosting events, spreading Warren's message and signing Iowans up to caucus. The operation is costing her financially, but it may also be paying off. In more than a dozen conversations over three days recently at events for multiple candidates, including Warren, voters told NBC News they wanted to hear specifics before making their choice   and that Warren was cementing herself as "the policy candidate" in the field. "(Warren)'s the plan girl right now, isn't she?" Keith Kuper of Ackley told NBC News Saturday in Iowa Falls. "She really has specifics, plans on almost everything." Kuper is leaning toward supporting Warren   and said other candidates on his radar, like South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, will need to be more specific if they want to peel off his support. "I think Buttigieg has an amazing charisma and appeal, he's so smart, he handles himself so well," Kuper said. But "he is light on specifics." If Buttigieg "comes forward with progressive ideas and continues to show himself really strong in debates and so forth   and really strong against conservatism and Trumpism   you know, I could see myself switching over to him even though he's slight on specifics." Emma Dinneen, meanwhile, said she's already decided to caucus for Warren   "because of how she talks to us" and "the fact that she has definitive ideas," she said after a meet-and-greet event on Sunday with the candidate in Ottumwa, Iowa. In the basement of a coffee shop in Iowa Falls on Saturday, Warren's was the first name that came to Kristi Harris' mind as someone in the Democratic field talking about policy. "I want someone who knows how to solve problems," Harris said after an event for Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand. Harris remains undecided, allowing that the choice will be "difficult" given the size of the field, but whoever she ultimately supports needs to "understand the issues deeply." Warren has seen a polling surge in recent weeks , rising as high as third place nationally as voters tune in and learn more about the field. "I talk about plans because its got to be not just that we go to Washington in order to talk about change, but we go to Washington to make change. That's the idea here," she told a crowd at sunset in Salem on Sunday. And playing into her "policy wonk" reputation could be helping, Democratic strategist Joel Payne told NBC News, noting that Warren is "using the 'plan' piece to engage more people" in a way where other candidates have struggled. But the parsing of the Democratic field on policy stands in stark contrast with the incumbent that the eventual nominee will face in November of next year, who is known more for campaigning on catch phrases ("build the wall") than policy white papers. Democratic voters care deeply about beating Trump in 2020, listing it regularly as their top priority , but they want policy answers, too. "I think America is ready for more than a personality," Carolyn Jones said on Sunday in Oskaloosa, while she waited in line for a selfie with Warren. "We need policy right now, we need a backlash, a policy over what we've got right now, which is a personality and a character."


The Cleveland Browns claimed safety Jermaine Whitehead via waivers from the Green Bay Packer last November. The news that he was being waived by the Packers came as a surprise to many in Green Bay as he was contributing a good amount for their defense. It appeared he was in line for the starting free safety position after the Packers traded Ha-Ha Clinton Dix to the Washington Redskins in late October of 2018. In the first game after the departure of Clinton-Dix, Green Bay matched up with New England in Foxboro, Mass. on Monday Night Football (Nov. 5th, 2018). In the second quarter, Whitehead began exchanging shoves with Patriot's Center David Andrews, then spun around and slapped Andrews in the face. He was flagged for unnecessary roughness and ejected from the game. He was promptly waived by the Packers and then claimed by the Browns. Whitehead is entering his fourth year in the NFL and went undrafted after playing at Auburn. He was one of the four free agents the Browns re-signed to their roster in April. He played exclusively on special teams for the Brown last season. It was somewhat surprising that the Browns tendered the 26-year-old while waiving fellow safety Derrick Kindred at the same time. However, it may be starting to make more sense after last week's OTAs. Whitehead received primarily first-team reps for the Browns defense during last weeks workouts. New defensive coordinator Steve Wilks had Whitehead lining up opposite Damarious Randall at Strong safety, opposite Morgan Burnett at Free Safety and in a three-safety alignment that has Randall, Burnett and Whitehead all on the field. Second team reps at the position featured newly acquired Eric Murray and fourth-round draft pick Sheldrick Redwine. Wilks has been known to use two linebackers with a hybrid LB/safety . There was speculation as to who could potentially fill that role and while it is certainly very early in the process, it is noteworthy that Whitehead could potentially be used there. The Packers did use Whitehead in their "Nitro-Linebacker" role which is a fancy way of referring to a Safety who lines up in the box, where they would traditionally have a Linebacker. MORE: Clint Bowyer furiously punched Ryan Newman after NASCAR's All-Star Race Did the Raiders steal the best fullback in the 2019 NFL draft? NBA Free Agency 2019: The top players Teams are 'a great deal more wary' about signing Kyrie Irving Video: Deontay Wilder Knocked Out Dominic Breazeale in First Round


Here's what you need to know about what's happening in Baltimore. In wake of scandal, Baltimore council gives preliminary approval to stronger ethics law The Baltimore City Council has voted unanimously to strengthen the city's financial disclosure laws, the first reform measure to win approval from a package proposed this spring amid the scandal over former Mayor Catherine Pugh's sales of her self-published children's books. Read the full story on Baltimore Sun . Police: Man's service dog killed in West Baltimore shooting The service dog was killed in the 3900 block of Chatam Road. Read the full story on Baltimore Sun . Robbed Baltimore deputy police commissioner is a civilian who doesn't carry gun or badge Daniel Murphy, the Baltimore Police deputy commissioner who was robbed at gunpoint while out with his wife, is a civilian employee who doesn't carry a gun or badge, a police spokesman said. Read the full story on Baltimore Sun . 2 shot, 1 fatally, in Baltimore, just blocks away from other recent shootings Two people were shot, one of them fatally, in Baltimore, police said, capping a violent weekend in the city that saw nine people hit by gunfire in the span of just eight hours the night before. Read the full story on Baltimore Sun . This story was created automatically using data about news stories on social media from CrowdTangle , then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


DUI: Ford Motor Company's Drugged Driving Suit teaches students the real world effects of driving impaired. As a learning tool there's nothing better to illustrate a physical or mental impairment to driving more than a real world experience. Designed to Ford's new "Drugged Driving Suit" is designed to show drivers the dangers of driving under the influence of illegal drugs such as cannabis, cocaine and heroin. According to NHTSA, approximately 18 percent of all motor vehicle driver deaths involve drugs other than alcohol, such as marijuana and cocaine. The Drugged Driving Suit will be incorporated into Ford Driving Skills for Life, the award-winning novice driver education program that has provided free training to more than half a million people globally Ford developed the suit together with scientists from the respected Meyer-Hentschel Institute in Germany to simulate some of the effects of drugs such as cannabis, cocaine, heroin, and MDMA (commonly known as Ecstasy); including slower reaction time, distorted vision, hand tremors and poor coordination. The new Drugged Driving Suit will be incorporated into Ford Driving Skills for Life, the award-winning young driver program that has provided training to more than 500,000 people around the world through hands-on and online tuition since its inception 11 years ago. "Driving after taking illegal drugs can have potentially fatal consequences for the driver, their passengers, and other road users," said James Graham, global program manager for Ford Driving Skills for Life. "We have already seen first-hand the eye-opening effect that our Drunk Driving Suit has had on those who wear it, and are confident that our new Drugged Driving Suit will have a similar impact." Recent national data shows drugged driving on the rise. According to the most recent findings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), approximately 18 percent of all motor vehicle driver deaths involve drugs other than alcohol, such as marijuana and cocaine. A NHTSA roadside survey also found that 22 percent of drivers tested positive for illegal, prescription or over-the-counter drugs. Follow MSN Autos on Facebook Like the Drunk Driving Suit that Ford incorporated into the Driving Skills for Life program last year, the new Drugged Driving suit simulates the effects of reduced mobility, vision and coordination with padding and ankle weights, goggles and headphones. "We know that some drugs can cause trembling hands, so we incorporated a device into the suit that creates just such a tremor," said Gundolf Meyer-Hentschel, CEO of the Meyer-Hentschel Institute. "Drug users sometimes see flashing lights in their peripheral field, an effect recreated by our goggles, while imaginary sounds are generated by the headphones. Additionally, the goggles distort perception, and produce colorful visual sensations   a side effect of LSD use." According to the 2013 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, approximately 9.9 million people 12 and older reported driving under the influence of illicit drugs. Similarly, a meta-analysis of multiple studies from the National Institute of Health has shown that the risk of being involved in an accident roughly doubles after marijuana use. Ford Driving Skills for Life was established in 2003 by Ford Motor Company Fund, the Governors Highway Safety Association, and a panel of safety experts to teach newly licensed teens and parents the necessary skills for safe driving beyond what they learn in standard driver education programs. The basic premise behind Ford Driving Skills for Life is to provide a step in the learning process, providing new skills and information not currently shared with newly licensed drivers in basic driver education courses. By the end of 2015, the international program will be offered in 30 countries and a hands-on driving clinic conducted in all 50 states in the United States, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. The program is expected to have provided behind-the-wheel training to more than 150,000 drivers globally by the end of this year.


Curious just how far your dollar goes in Chicago? We've rounded up the latest rental offerings via rental sites Zumper and Apartment Guide to get a sense of what to expect when it comes to scoring housing in Chicago if you don't want to spend more than $2,600/month on rent. Read on for the listings. (Note: prices and availability are subject to change.) Hoodline offers data-driven analysis of local happenings and trends across cities. Links included in this article may earn Hoodline a commission on clicks and transactions. 220 W. Illinois St. (River North) Listed at $2,501/month, this 700-square-foot one-bedroom, one-bathroom spot is located at 220 W. Illinois St. The unit offers a dishwasher, a balcony, a walk-in closet, air conditioning, a fireplace and in-unit laundry. Neither cats nor dogs are welcome. According to Walk Score, the surrounding area is a "walker's paradise," is quite bikeable and boasts excellent transit options. (Check out the complete listing here .) 1120 N. LaSalle St. (Near North) Next, there's this two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment located at 1120 N. LaSalle St. It's listed for $2,509/month for its 975 square feet. The building features on-site laundry, garage parking and secured entry. The unit also comes with hardwood flooring. Pet owners, take heed: cats and dogs are welcome. According to Walk Score's assessment, the surrounding area has excellent walkability, is quite bikeable and boasts excellent transit options. (Take a gander at the complete listing here .) 311 W. Illinois St. (River North) Here's a one-bedroom, one-bathroom abode at 311 W. Illinois St. that's also going for $2,509/month. The building has additional storage space. When it comes to pets, both meows and barks are welcome. Walk Score indicates that this location has excellent walkability, is quite bikeable and has excellent transit. (Check out the complete listing here .) 180 N. Ada St. (West Town) Located at 180 N. Ada St., here's a 691-square-foot one-bedroom, one-bathroom spot that's listed for $2,510/month. The residence includes a fireplace, in-unit laundry and a mix of hardwood floors and carpeting. Pet owners, take heed: cats and dogs are welcome. There isn't a leasing fee associated with this rental. Walk Score indicates that the area around this address is very walkable, is great for biking and boasts excellent transit options. (See the complete listing here .) 1920 N. Milwaukee Ave. (Bucktown) Finally, there's this two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment situated at 1920 N. Milwaukee Ave. It's listed for $2,513/month. The unit comes with hardwood flooring, in-unit laundry and central heating and air conditioning. If you've got a pet, you'll be happy to learn that cats and dogs are allowed. Walk Score indicates that this location has excellent walkability, is great for biking and boasts excellent transit options. (See the complete listing here .) Working with a tight budget? Here are the cheapest rentals recently listed in Chicago . This story was created automatically using local real estate data from Zumper and Apartment Guide , then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


Relief, however profound, can be quickly replaced by complacency. It is hard to remember how omnipresent the fear of nuclear war once was. Most teenagers surveyed in the UK and US in the early 1980s thought they were likely to see a nuclear war, and a third of American high school seniors agreed with the statement that "nuclear or biological annihilation will probably be the fate of all mankind in my lifetime". The threat of Armageddon suffused even pop songs. The television dramas Threads and The Day After terrified British and American audiences with their depiction of nuclear strikes and the aftermath. Even Ronald Reagan privately confessed that he was "very depressed" by the latter film and one biographer suggested it played a small part in shaping the US president's pursuit of arms control deals. In 1987, he and Mikhail Gorbachev signed the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. The cruise missiles were removed from western Europe, including Greenham Common. Yet on Friday this key plank of arms control is due to fall . The US announced in January that it would pull out, due to Russian breaches. One danger is that the US could decide to deploy previously banned missiles to Europe   and that Russia would respond. The bigger danger is that the remaining plank will soon be jettisoned too: New Start, which limits the number of strategic warheads held by the US and Russia, expires in 2021. It could be extended by another five years, but the national security adviser John Bolton, who despises any constraints on the US, has already said that is unlikely. His boss has suggested that the US and Russia could end up with a new deal drawing in China. That looks unlikelier still: while China has invested huge sums in upgrading its military, its stockpile of warheads is a fraction of the size of Washington or Moscow's. Some think Mr Trump might override Mr Bolton if Russia, which would like to extend the treaty, offers token amendments, allowing him to claim that he improved on his predecessor's deal (which replaced an earlier treaty). Others look to Congress. On Wednesday, bipartisan Senate legislation was introduced, calling for the extension of New Start unless the administration provides clear evidence of Russian breaches justifying its expiry, or a new agreement is signed. Adam Smith, the Democrat chair of the House armed services committee, is proving a compelling opponent of unrestrained nuclear spending: without treaties, the only controls are financial. It is true that New Start is limited and born of another era: it controls only nuclear weaponry and covers only two countries, albeit those with over 90% of the nuclear stockpile. This is an age of nuclear proliferation (the US approved exports of nuclear technology to Saudi Arabia late last year; North Korea has been busy testing missiles this week). There is a growing threat from cyberweapons and other new technologies. But many experts fear that without it, a new arms race is inevitable. Even if the loss of transparency and predictability   due to an end to verification   might be a bigger issue than proliferation in the short term, that in time would be likely to lead to the growth of armouries. The best-case scenario might be an eventual return to some form of arms control agreements   after time has been lost, money squandered and risks have grown exponentially. The ideal, of a comprehensive multilateral deal, is not currently on offer, and a separate nuclear deal still makes sense. And it is hard to see why others should sign up when the two biggest players are reneging on or trashing existing agreements.


Boston will see a return of last week's light rainfall as early as tomorrow, according to drone-powered weather forecasting service Saildrone . Tomorrow's forecast shows the highest likelihood of rain at 93 percent, with rain possible on Sunday. The next few days will also bring warm temperatures, due to last through Thursday. Temperatures will reach a high of 81 degrees today. Skies will be mostly cloudy today and cloudy on Monday. Winds will continue to be fairly calm over the course of the week, with the highest speeds on Monday at just 10 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.


Per an official team announcement, the Mets have designated outfielder Carlos Gomez for assignment in order to make room for pitcher Noah Syndergaard , who has been activated from the injured list. Syndergaard landed on the 10-day injured list on June 16 with a hamstring strain that forced him to exit his last start early. After spending two weeks on the shelf, Thor is on track to start Sunday's series finale against the Braves. Thus far, Syndergaard hasn't been able to produce the results we've come to expect from him; his 4.51 ERA is markedly above 2.93 mark he posted between 2015 and 2018. His 3.61 FIP paints a somewhat more promising picture, though even that is considerably worse than his previous numbers. With Gomez out of the picture, the Mets will proceed with 13 pitchers on the active roster for the time being. Due to Dominic Smith 's emergence as a viable left fielder, Michael Conforto has stepped into a regular role in center field, leaving Juan Lagares as the team's fourth outfielder and making Gomez relatively expendable. However, it's not just roster crunch that's pushing Gomez off the roster: He has not been especially impressive in his 99 plate appearances with the Mets, slashing a mediocre .198/.278/.337 with 30 strikeouts. While his .616 OPS is a notch above Lagares's dreadful .514 mark, Gomez has graded out poorly as a defensive center fielder; Lagares, on the other hand, benefits from a solid reputation as a defender. Now it looks as though Gomez, who was in his second stint with the Mets, will see his time with the team come to an end.


A new Guinness World Record has been set for the largest dog photo shoot ever. A carnival in Ohio had 374 dogs gather together for an epic picture. The pups took individual photos and then all crowded in for a group shot taken by a drone. People at the event said it was a great opportunity to meet other dogs and their owners in person. "We've really had the opportunity to meet so many different dogs on [Instagram] and the event gave us the chance to meet so many of those dogs," Seth Weinstein, who posed for the pic with his dog Luna, said. InsideEdition.com's Justine Re reports.


A Delta passenger is criticizing the airline for not compensating her enough for damaging "priceless and highly treasured" family heirlooms stored in her luggage. Katelyn Peters, 20, shared a series of photos and posts to her sister's Twitter account Thursday that show her suitcase looking like it had been "through the shredder." Inside, she wrote, was a pair of custom beaded moccasins made in the early 1900s. Returning to Canada from New Mexico, Peters had planned to carry on her luggage but was told by airline representatives at the airport she needed to check it. Packed inside were a pair of custom beaded moccasins made in the early 1900s that were "given to me in trust to represent my family and where we are from." They were "destroyed" inside the suitcase. "I literally cried for days," she tweeted . Peters told customer service that the monetary value of her damaged belongings (which also included an "heirloom belt," "heirloom top" and makeup) came to just over $2,600. The airline initially responded that, because she was "unable to provide a receipt or bank statement to substantiate the original purchases," they could only offer about $530. After she shared the post, Delta responded that it could further review the complaint. Over a direct message exchange Friday, a representative said the claim had been sent to a supervisor to be reviewed. After @delta forced me to check my bag (bc of course there's no room in the cabin) they send my suitcase with my regalia inside through the shredder. Then offer me $112 in compensation for custom made irreplaceable fully beaded moccasins. Never flying #Delta again 🖕🏼 pic.twitter.com/xhplP5RyfM   Tigerlily (@Tigerlily007) June 6, 2019 In a statement to USA TODAY, Delta apologized to Peters "for the damage to her luggage and its contents." The airline said it will review the case to prevent similar situations in the future. "We've reached out to her directly to try to make this right," Delta representative Adrian Gee wrote in an email to USA TODAY. Peters told USA TODAY that she has been in contact with Delta and they have "yet to finalize any agreement regarding compensation." More: Spirit Airlines bans passenger whose e-cigarette set off a plane's smoke alarm More: Alaska Air criticized after video surfaces of worker 'carelessly throwing luggage' off plane This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Delta customer 'cried for days' after 'priceless family heirlooms' were destroyed in transit