Citywide San Francisco's data and analytics industry is raking in new investment, with 23 local companies raising money. New funding rounds were recently announced by data and analytics companies Avanoo , Kompyte. and Rollbar , according to company database Crunchbase . Avanoo topped the city's recent funding headlines by announcing a $4.5 million Series A round on April 22. According to its Crunchbase profile, "Avanoo helps employees adopt behaviors, mindsets and stories to improve culture and performance." The six-year-old company also raised a $3.4 million seed round in 2015. Next up, Kompyte. raised $3 million in funding, in a round announced on May 1 led by Caixa Capital Risc. According to Crunchbase, "Kompyte is a competitive intelligence tool designed to respond in real-time to its users' competitors' online strategies. It is designed to learn about its users' competitors' online strategies in real-time, and respond to them in an easy and affordable way. Kompyte's competitive intelligence software enables businesses to collect, organize, analyze and act on competitive changes in their market." Founded in 2014, the company has raised three previous rounds, including a $276,024 round in 2017. Meanwhile, Rollbar raised $1.5 million in debt financing funding, announced on April 29. The round was financed by Silicon Valley Bank. From the company's Crunchbase profile, "Rollbar detects errors that happen in web applications and helps developers track and fix them. Features include alerts, a dashboard, a suite of analysis tools and an API. Officially supported languages include Ruby, Python, PHP and Node.js on the server-side, and Javascript, iOS and Android on the client side." Rollbar last raised $2 million in Series A funding in 2017. In total, San Francisco-based data and analytics companies have raised $305 million in venture funding over the past month, and $4.7 billion over the past year. This story was created automatically using local investment data, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


Unexpected visitor spotted in Fresno


A federal judge on Wednesday postponed a ruling on whether the Trump administration hid the involvement of a dead GOP operative who was pushing to add a citizenship question to the 2020 census because it would advantage Republicans. U.S. District Court Judge Jesse Furman said he was putting off any decision because he did not want to rush the process before the Supreme Court rules on the citizenship question. "There's no apparent urgency to resolve applications before me, no reason to rush the process before the Supreme Court makes its decision, this could easily be handled after their decision, and I don't want to do anything to cross the line," Furman said. In a packed Manhattan federal courtroom, attorneys for the New York Immigration Coalition were looking to impose sanctions against the Justice Department for withholding evidence and making false statements. The evidence refers to court filings released last week that suggested the idea for adding the citizenship question may have originated with Thomas Hofeller, a Republican redistricting specialist, who wrote in letters and memos that the question would create an electoral advantage for "Republicans and non-Hispanic whites." In a brief filed before the hearing, the Justice Department said that Hofeller had no role in its request to the Commerce Department in December 2017. "There is no smoking gun here, only smoke and mirrors," the department said. According to several reports, Hofeller urged President Donald Trump's transition team to include a citizenship question on its list of priorities for the new president. John Freedman, representing the New York Immigration Coalition, told the judge that they are looking for sanctions and to determine whether Commerce officials had access to Hofeller's analysis. In January, Furman blocked the Trump administration from asking about citizenship status on the 2020 census, saying that while such a question would be constitutional, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross had added it arbitrarily and did not follow proper administrative procedures. The Supreme Court is expected to issue its decision regarding the legality of adding the citizenship question to the census before the end of June so that the government can meet its printing deadline. Furman set a July 12th deadline for the plaintiffs to file a motion to lay out the evidence. A reply from the government is expected on Aug. 2nd.


LOS ANGELES Some days, he laughs like we've never heard him laugh. Other days, he barks with a startling chill. One moment he rages with competitiveness. The next moment, his throat is thick with humility. He winces in pain. He reflects with wisdom. He jokes about his shortcomings. He fights against frailty. It's taken 19 years, but it feels like Los Angeles is finally seeing the real Kobe Bryant, and what a joy. During a season filled with Lakers defeats, every game for Kobe is a triumph over age, a victory over reputation, a win against the natural predisposition to preserve a mask that has served him so well for so long. That mask was gone when he showed up after a Sacramento game with a fat lip and said, "I'm hurting, I'm hurting." That mask disappeared when he showed up in Detroit and said he was so tired he slept the day away. "I closed my eyes it was 9:30 a.m., I opened them again it was 2 o'clock, what the hell happened?" Derek Jeter just completed a carefully orchestrated farewell tour in which the world learned nothing about him, planting him into the landscape as little more than a pinstriped monument. Kobe Bryant is only a couple of months into what could a two-year farewell tour, and he delightfully couldn't be more different. He is slowly showing us everything, revealing bits of himself in every grand moment and small gesture, ensuring that he won't just be remembered as a Staples Center statue, but somebody real. Remember his first milestone, seven games into the season, when he set the awkward NBA record for career missed shots? Byron Scott, the Lakers' coach, actually threw up a shield for Bryant by calling the record "crap," and a younger Bryant might have walked away in a huff, but this one stuck around and smiled. "Well, I'm a shooting guard that's played 19 years," he said, later adding, "You've got to step up and play, man. You can't worry about criticism. You can't worry about failure." Then, a couple of weeks later, Bryant became the first NBA player with more than 30,000 points and 6,000 assists. Instead of gloating about the assists, he smiled and laughed at himself. "It's a huge honor," he said. "It means I pass more than people say." There was the time he missed a morning shoot-around and blamed his weariness on a mythological figure that sent reporters scrambling to Google. "What I got, man, comes from Chronos," he said, referring to a mythological figure who was the origin for Father Time. Even as he was showing the world his softer and more human side, Bryant reminded everyone of the nasty, almost inhuman competitive edge that fueled his five-ring greatness. For years, everyone has heard stories about Bryant's toughness during practice, but reporters were allowed to see only the final minutes when everything was calm. Last week Bryant finally confirmed those stories by throwing a fit at the end of a practice in front of the media. He ripped teammates, called them "soft like Charmin," and even profanely griped about their effort to General Manager Mitch Kupchak. "I don't know if it helps them, it obviously raises the intensity level," he said later, adding, "I just challenge guys, see what happens. I've always believed in throwing them in the pool then seeing if they can sink or swim." These varying views into Bryant's previously shut-tight persona became even more clear Sunday in Minnesota when he passed Michael Jordan for third place on the all-time scoring list. At the beginning of the postgame interview, this most hardened of athletes looked like he was going to cry. "I'm just honored to be here, to still be playing," he said. A guy who usually talks like he will play forever openly stared down his own basketball mortality. "I appreciate the game even more, because it has a certain finality to it," he said. "Moments like this come around, you're really overjoyed by it. . . . At the same time, the end is pretty near, which is fine too." Then the guy who has long fueled himself with opposing fans' boos actually talked about appreciating cheers from the Minnesota fans. "When you're not expecting a hug, and you get a hug, and you're like, man, this actually feels pretty damn good," he said. When is the last time Kobe Bryant used the word"hug?" As Bryant then explained, for all these years, his tough talk and sharp edges have been more a job description than a personality trait. "I think the competitive nature is something that frightens a lot of people, when you peel back truly what's inside a person, to compete and be at that high level, it scares a lot of people that are comfortable just being average," he said. "You can't get to a supreme level without kind of channeling the dark side." Los Angeles is finally seeing all sides of this town's most polarizing sports star, and it may allow us to drop all the tired criticisms and appreciate the athlete. Seriously, after 19 years, can everyone stop complaining about how much he shoots the ball? On this awful Lakers team, at this stage of his career, does it really matter anymore? This column space has ripped him a lot, but right now, it's a pleasure watching him fight, and he can't shoot the ball enough. I texted Bryant Tuesday about how he has approached this season. "It's growth and understanding that things come and go, good, bad, etc.," he responded. "I have more compassion for others . . . because I'm currently working through the limits time has given me while still challenging the extent of those limitations." I asked him about that dark side. "It's what I am," he said. "It's not WHO I am." Never too late, a city finally sees.


Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's Justice and Development Party, known as AKP, is asking the country's election council for a redo of the mayoral election in Istanbul, the country's financial capital and its largest city. Claiming "organized irregularities," the party has for weeks contested the results of the March 31 election, which it appears to have lost by a razor-thin margin. "There is a clear and organized irregularity and election fraud," said AKP Deputy Chairman Ali İhsan Yavuz. "There is only one body to clear the questions. It is Supreme Election Council. Their decisions are binding for all of us." The main opposition Republican People's Party, CHP, garnered 48.79% and the AK 48.51% of the vote, according to unofficial results. A recount requested by the AKP has ended, according to Turkish news agency Anadolu and CHP members, but the results haven't been announced. "There isn't a tiny bit of problem in the process," said CHP candidate Ekrem İmamoglu. "Before the elections, they said Turkey has the world's most trustworthy election system. Today they shout 'there are irregularities.'" Before this vote, the AKP and its predecessor have consistently won in Istanbul's local elections since the 1990s, when Erdogan launched his political career there as mayor. He served as the face of AKP's local election campaigns this year, holding rallies across Turkey in support of the party. Erdogan's AKP also lost the capital city Ankara in local elections there the same day. The Supreme Election Council, or YSK, last week rejected a request by the AKP to recount votes there, Turkish newspaper Hürriyet reported. The YSK now will decide whether to give the mandate to İmamoglu in Istanbul or to hold new elections June 2. "They count too many reasons to object" to the election results, CHP spokesperson Faik Oztrak said of Erdogan's party. "If one of them does not work, they try the other." İmamoglu should be given the mandate to start the job as mayor, Oztrak said. "This should be done by law" and as a matter of conscience, he said.


Le'Veon Bell has not made an appearance at a minicamp or training camp since 2016, and he is now away from the team that doled out the contract he sought for years. It appears, however, the Jets' recently signed running back does plan to suit up in practice gear for his team fairly soon. Bell has skipped the Jets' voluntary portion of the offseason so far, opting to train on his own. But Adam Gase expects him to show for their minicamp. The mandatory workouts run from June 4-6. "We had a conversation about what was kind of his schedule," Gase said, via Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News . "We'll kind of see how the OTAs go. As of right now, I know the mandatory stuff … he said he was going to be here for that. So, I don't expect him to not show up for (minicamp)." Despite the Jets' public stance being they are OK with Bell skipping their offseason program so far, Mehta notes they are not exactly pleased by this development. Bell in 2017 earned All-Pro honors despite missing the entire Steelers offseason program, during his first franchise-tagged season, but he obviously had far more familiarity with Pittsburgh's offense than the does with his new team's. Every other Jets starter has reported for the team's offseason program. Bell skipped last season and made it to free agency, signing a four-year, $52M Jets contract. "When it's time to play football," Bell wrote ( via Instagram ) when asked when he will show up. "I got to stick to the formula that I know works for me to be the best player I can be…I'm not just tryna win football games; I want a ring! I want to desperately show everybody what I can what I can REALLY do…I'll take the heat right now. Everybody will forget about that once January comes around." Gase and GM Mike Maccagnan were apparently not on the same page when it came to how much to pay Bell, but the Jets are committed to him now. It sounds like their best chance of getting their first glimpse of their new starting running back will come next month. Related slideshow: Ranking top 20 NFL draft classes (provided by imagn)


Indianapolis Colts training camp is right around the corner as the team is set to officially begin the preseason work on July 25. While we discussed the offensive storylines to watch, the defensive side of the ball might be even more intriguing-especially seeing as there will be heated competition at all three levels of the unit. Here are five defensive storylines to watch at Colts training camp: Roles in the CB room The position with the most competition likely on either side of the ball is cornerback. Though there are some prominent names like Kenny Moore and Pierre Desir, every single role is up for grabs by those competing during training camp. The Colts don't have a solidified depth chart at cornerback entering training camp. Outside of Moore's role, the spots are all up for grabs. This means guys like Rock Ya-Sin and Marvell Tell could rise up the depth chart. Nate Hairston and Jalen Collins, despite being lower on the chart, have a chance to make a name for themselves. There will be plenty of competition on the defensive side of the ball, but the cornerback room likely holds the most intrigue. Where will Ben Banogu line up most? The rookie second-round pick will capture many eyes with his elite athleticism on the field during training camp, but the question remains: at what position? The Colts had the TCU product splitting time between defensive end and SAM linebacker throughout the spring workouts. They might lean more toward defensive end after seeing some flashes working in an attacking front, which is much different than the read-and-react defense at TCU. Banogu is an extremely talented athlete, giving him an opportunity to make an impact in some type of role. Where that will be, however, is the storyline to watch with the rookie. More man coverage? The Colts were primarily a zone-heavy defense during the first year under Matt Eberflus' command as defensive coordinator. That is no secret. However, there could be some plans in the works to implement more man coverage in the secondary. Given the type of lengthy, physical and athletic cornerbacks that have been brought in over the years, the Colts could be making their way to using more single-high coverage-providing a much different look than their typical two-high packages. The Colts will still use zone coverage heavily and man coverage on third downs, but it will be interesting to see if there will be more of the latter entering 2019. The battle at MIKE linebacker While the cornerback room as a whole will have the most competition, there is one battle in the middle of the defense between two players that will have a lot of eyes. That will be between third-year linebacker Anthony Walker and rookie third-round pick Bobby Okereke. Both with strengths in their respective games, the Colts are excited to see what comes of the competition in the middle. While Walker is strong leading the defense and working against the run, Okereke has strengths using his range and coverage skills. The duo could be working in a platoon role to begin with, but the battle will be one of the more exciting aspects of training camp. The quick impact of Justin Houston There was a lot of hype leading the train with Houston during the spring practices. But now it's time to strap on the pads and show just what he can bring to a defense that desperately needs a consistent pass rush. The veteran is expected to be a starter at defensive end, focusing solely on rushing the passer and not dropping into coverage-an aspect he was a victim of in Kansas City's 3-4 defense. How quickly Houston can make his presence known remains to be seen, but the veteran will be leading one of the biggest storylines into training camp fresh off a new two-year, $24 million deal. MORE: UFC fighter Ben Askren had an excellent response to getting knocked out in 5 seconds Expected starting lineup for Lakers with LeBron James at point guard Honor thy father: Quinn Cook signed with Lakers for good reason Three Potential Trade Destinations for Russell Westbrook Mesmerizing speed could force Jon'Vea Johnson onto Cowboys roster


President Donald Trump is bringing a message aimed at national unity and healing to the sites of the mass shootings in El Paso and Dayton. But the words he offers for a divided America will be complicated by his own incendiary, anti-immigrant rhetoric that mirrors language linked to one of the shooters.


The irrepressible Rafael Nadal produced yet another clay-court masterclass to overcome a superb effort from Dominic Thiem and make history with an astonishing 12th French Open triumph. In improving his win-loss record at Roland Garros to a scarcely believable 93-2 on Sunday, courtesy of a 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1 victory, Nadal became the first player in history to win a dozen singles crowns at a grand slam event, surpassing Margaret Court's haul of 11 Australian Open victories. At 33, the Spaniard looked as dominant as ever on Court Philippe-Chatrier and Thiem must have felt there was little more he could do as he was ultimately well beaten in the final for a second year in succession, despite producing some great play of his own. Thiem, who knocked out world No. 1 Novak Djokovic in the last four, at least claimed a well-deserved set on this occasion after proving more than a match for the "King of Clay" for the best part of two hours. However, Nadal responded to the setback by racing to victory in ruthless fashion. YOU CAN'T STOP THE KING @RafaelNadal is the 2019 @rolandgarros champion pic.twitter.com/zMw8SAFq7p   ATP Tour (@ATP_Tour) June 9, 2019 His third consecutive triumph in Paris means he now has 18 slam titles, just two short of the record 20 claimed by his great rival, Roger Federer. Having eliminated Djokovic in a five-set contest that finished on Saturday following interruptions for rain, Thiem could have been forgiven for starting sluggishly, but the Austrian was magnificent in the opening exchanges, his athleticism and court coverage matched by some superb shot-making. Here to play. Here to win? #RG19 pic.twitter.com/RpILiyWNqs   Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 9, 2019 The world number four even claimed the first break of the contest to edge 3-2 ahead, but Nadal   relentless and accurate as ever on his favorite surface   canceled it out immediately before enjoying further success on Thiem's serve and wrapping up the opening set to strike a hammer blow. It was tough to find any way back for Thiem, particularly as the reigning champion repeatedly held serve with ease in set two. Having dropped only one point in five service games, Nadal made three successive errors serving at 5-6 and then put a backhand long under pressure, ensuring the match was back on level terms after nearly two hours. Sadly for Thiem and those hoping for an upset, the underdog's level dipped significantly at the start of set three, allowing a resurgent Nadal   who had left the court upon being pegged back   to swiftly reclaim the initiative with a run of 11 straight points and two successive breaks. Nadal was at his clinical best as he wrapped up the set in just 24 minutes, and the end was close when he won the first three games of the fourth, albeit while being forced to save a trio of break points. Since losing the 2nd set, @RafaelNadal has won 36 of the last 50 points! #RG19 pic.twitter.com/vGNLZS8mfV   ATP Tour (@ATP_Tour) June 9, 2019 Thiem, whose girlfriend Kristina Mladenovic won the women's doubles title alongside Timea Babos earlier in the day, dug deep to recover from 0-40 in his next service game, but his display of grit only delayed the inevitable. STATISTICAL BREAKDOWN Rafael Nadal [2] bt Dominic Thiem [4] 6-3 5-7 6-1 6-1 WINNERS/UNFORCED ERRORS Nadal - 38/31 Thiem - 31/38 ACES/DOUBLE FAULTS Nadal - 3/0 Thiem - 7/1 BREAK POINTS WON Nadal - 7/13 Thiem - 2/6 FIRST SERVE PERCENTAGE Nadal - 73 Thiem - 69 MORE : French Open 2019: Novak Djokovic falls to Dominic Thiem in 5-set semifinal thriller | French Open 2019: Ashleigh Barty overwhelms Marketa Vondrousova to win 1st major PERCENTAGE OF POINTS WON ON FIRST/SECOND SERVE Nadal - 73/64 Thiem - 57/50 TOTAL POINTS Nadal - 116 Thiem - 82


Curious just how far your dollar goes in Irvine? 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 finding a place in Irvine with a budget of $2,600/month. Take a peek at what rentals the city has to offer, below. (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. 100 St. Vincent (Oak Creek) Listed at $2,505/month, this 1,257-square-foot two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment is located at 100 St. Vincent. In the unit, you can anticipate hardwood floors, in-unit laundry and a dishwasher. The building features a fitness center. Luckily for pet owners, both dogs and cats are permitted. The listing specifies a $750 pet fee. According to Walk Score, the surrounding area is somewhat walkable, is very bikeable and doesn't offer many public transit options. (See the complete listing here .) 100 Whispering Trail (Orchard Hills) Here's a 1,081-square-foot two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment at 100 Whispering Trail that's going for $2,515/month. In the unit, look for stainless steel appliances, a walk-in closet and in-unit laundry. Pet lovers are in luck: cats and dogs are allowed. Look out for a $750 pet fee. Per Walk Score ratings, the surrounding area requires a car for most errands, is relatively bikeable and offers limited transit options. (Take a look at the full listing here .) 3395 Michelson Drive (Business District) Next, check out this 854-square-foot one-bedroom, one-bathroom unit that's located at 3395 Michelson Drive. It's listed for $2,560/month. The unit boasts a dishwasher, hardwood floors and in-unit laundry. If you have a pet, you'll be happy to learn that cats and dogs are allowed. Per Walk Score ratings, the area around this address is car-dependent, is fairly bikeable and has a few nearby public transportation options. (See the complete listing here .) 100 Simplicity Lane (Woodbury) Last but not least, located at 100 Simplicity Lane, here's a 1,086-square-foot two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment that's listed for $2,590/month. In the unit, plan on a dishwasher, hardwood floors and in-unit laundry. Cats and dogs are permitted. Be prepared for a $750 pet fee. According to Walk Score, this location is car-dependent, is convenient for biking and offers limited transit options. (Check out the complete listing here .) Working with a tight budget? Here are the cheapest rentals recently listed in Irvine . This story was created automatically using local real estate data, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


The Los Angeles Rams officially wrap up their training camp schedule on Sunday with one final practice at UC Irvine. Next, the Rams will head to Napa for a couple of practices with the Raiders before going to Hawaii for their preseason matchup against the Cowboys on Aug. 17. Here's everything you need to know for Sunday's session, which is a light walkthrough after practicing twice with the Chargers. Training camp finale Gates open: 12 p.m. PT Team walkthrough: 2 p.m. PT Giveaway: 2019 schedule magnet (while supplies last) Autographs: Full roster Below you'll find live updates on Twitter from those in attendance at practice. A Twitter List by TheRamsWire MORE: Antonio Brown's foot issues look absolutely gruesome 2020 aggregate mock draft 1.0: Here are the top NBA prospects to know How Andre Iguodala could still be attainable for Houston Texans could have eyes set on Chargers RB Melvin Gordon Yankees Ready to Bury Red Sox's 2019 Season


The MLB Draft is underway from Secaucus, and the first local player has heard his name called. The draft started Monday night and runs through Wednesday. Keep checking in here for the latest updates on New Jersey players being selected. Anthony Volpe, SS Pick: Round 1, Pick No. 30 to the New York Yankees High school/hometown: Delbarton (Watchung) The lowdown: Volpe and Green Wave teammate Jack Leiter (RHP) both have committed to Vanderbilt. The duo helped their team win Morris County and sectional titles this season and will lead Delbarton into its third consecutive Non-Public A state final on Wednesday. Volpe is the Yankees' first New Jersey high school player taken with their first selection since 2003, when the Bombers selected Florham Park resident Eric Duncan (3B) out of Seton Hall Prep. According to MLB.com, Volpe's projected signing bonus would be $2.37 million should he decide to go pro. Gavin Hollowell, RHP Pick: Round 6, Pick No. 189 to the Colorado Rockies College/hometown: St. John's (Montgomery) The lowdown: The 6-foot-7, 215-pound closer had nine saves in 21 appearances this spring for the 31-23 Red Storm, bringing his career save total to 17. Hollowell went 8-3 with a 2.76 ERA in his college career after leading Montgomery to the Somerset County championship as a senior third baseman/pitcher in 2016. The right-hander could net approximately $253,300 based on the signing value of his pick, according to MLB.com. READ : Colorado selects former Montgomery ace Gavin Hollowell in MLB Draft Ricky DeVito, RHP Pick: Round 8, Pick No. 247 to the Atlanta Braves College/hometown: Seton Hall (Staten Island) The lowdown: The 2018 Big East Pitcher of the Year finished with a three-year ERA of 2.60 in 141⅔ career innings pitched with the Pirates. The 6-foot-3, 195-pounder had a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 2.5-to-1 while going 9-8 in 36 appearances (24 starts) in South Orange. The right-hander could net roughly $166,100 based on the signing value of his pick, per MLB.com. Ben Gross, RHP Pick: Round 10, Pick No. 299 to the Minnesota Twins College/hometown: Duke (Cranbury/Princeton H.S.) The lowdown: A transfer from Princeton University, Gross helped the Blue Devils win the Morgantown Regional in the NCAA Tournament by out-dueling Tampa Bay second-round pick John Doxakis (Texas A&M) . The 6-foot-1, 210-pounder took a 7-4 record   equaling his two-season Ivy League win total   into the Nashville Super Regional. Gross was selected by Houston in the 34th round of the 2018 MLB Draft but opted to return to school. Nick Snyder Pick: Round 11, No. 332 overall to the Arizona Diamondbacks College/High school/hometown: West Virginia/Cherokee/Marlton The lowdown: The 6-foot-7, 220-pound left-handed pitcher is coming off a stellar junior season with the Mountaineers, posting a 9-1 record in 16 games (13 starts). He racked up an amazing 103 strikeouts over his 68 innings and held opponents to a .179 batting average. The southpaw boasts a strong fastball-cutter combo. Sean Mooney Pick: Round 12, No. 389th overall by Minnesota Twins College/High School/Hometown: St. John's/Ocean City/Marmora The lowdown: The 6-foot-1, 185-pound right-handed pitcher posted a 2-1 record with a 2.17 ERA in nine starts this season. The junior owns a 21-6 career mark with the Red Storm, including an 11-3 record last season. As a freshman, he went 8-1 with a 1.71 ERA en route to Big East Conference Pitcher of the Year honors. At Ocean City High School, Mooney guided the Red Raiders to the state Group 3 championship during his season season as he went 9-1 with a 0.63 ERA The Twins have shown a great interest in South Jersey pitching prospects as Mooney joins Devin Smeltzer (Bishop Eustace), Denny Bentley (Williamstown) and Cody Stashak (Oakcrest) in the system. This article originally appeared on North Jersey Record: MLB Draft: Tracking the selections from New Jersey


If the pre-season is good for one thing (it's up for debate whether it is or not) then it's transfer rumours. June and July, bleeding into the early part of August, are always loaded with a ceaseless stream of speculation on moves which, by and large, won't happen. But occasionally they do, and that's the only thing that keeps us going through this long, league season-less slog some people call a holiday. So, to tide you over until your team actually signs someone, here are the best transfer rumours this Sunday has to offer. Everton Alludes to Potential Manchester United Move No, that's not as confusing as it sounds. After scoring his first goal for Brazil, Everton - Gremio's Brazilian prospect, not Merseyside's oldest football club - has hinted that he might fancy a move to Old Trafford. Coming on for the last ten minutes to replace Ajax star David Neres, as Brazil led 2-0 over Bolivia in their opening Copa America tie, the 23-year-old cut in from the left and let loose a sizzling effort that put the game beyond doubt, establishing himself on the international scene. As quoted by the Mail , he hinted that his playing style might suit Manchester United , saying: "I'm a player that's always trying to get on top of the opposition, cutting in from the left with dribbles and good finishes. Clubs in Europe have this style of play too and maybe I can fit in at Manchester United and others." There has been no real indication yet that United are interested in him this summer, but they do need wide players... Two More Teenagers Swap England for the Bundesliga Opportunities are hard to come by for young players in English football, so much so that a growing number of youngsters are heading east to Germany to carve out some first-team chances. In recent years, we've seen Jadon Sancho, Ademola Lookman, Reiss Nelson and Reece Oxford among the young prospects who have thrived in the Bundesliga, and it seems as if we will see two more complete moves in the weeks to come. That's because Chelsea 's Martell Taylor-Crossdale and Fulham's Cody Drameh will undergo medicals over moves to Hoffenheim and Eintracht Frankfurt respectively, as per the Mirror . Tayor-Crossdale, 19, is from the Chelsea production line that brought through the likes of Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Tammy Abraham and Callum Hudson-Odoi, while Drameh - just 17 - apparently doesn't fancy a season on the fringes of the squad in the Championship. Harvey Elliott Set for Fulham Departure And now for the smoothest of segues, as Harvey Elliott - in the same age group at Fulham as Drameh - is reported to be closing in on a departure. You might know Elliott as the youngest player to feature in a Premier League match, making his debut for the Cottagers last season at 16 years and 30 days, but our pals the Mail report that with his contract expiring at the end of the month, he too is set for an exit. Barcelona are rumoured to be interested, while he could follow his pals to Germany, as RB Leipzig are mentioned as another potential destination. Christan Benteke to Fight for His Place at Crystal Palace Once one of the most feared target men in English football, Christian Benteke never really recovered from an ill-fated move to Liverpool in 2015. As he now seems to be firmly out of favour at Crystal Palace with just a year left on his deal, he looks set to leave the club this summer and make a career for himself in Turkey, China, or somewhere else that seasoned, big-money, past-their-best pros go to wind down their careers. Or so we thought. The Evening Standard claim that Big Ben does fancy a move to China, but since there are no concrete offers on the table, he is prepared to knuckle down and fight for his place instead. In an injury ravaged season, he managed one goal in 19 appearances in 2018/19. His fate might just depend on whether or not Roy Hodgson is able to secure the services of another striker, with no obvious alternatives available as things stand. Juventus Eye Kieran Trippier as Replacement for Joao Cancelo Juventus fans seemed a bit underwhelmed at the appointment of Maurizio Sarri earlier on Sunday, and if that was something they see as an underwhelming replacement, then it will be interesting to see how they react to bringing in England's third-choice right-back to replace Joao Cancelo. The Times report that should Cancelo move to Manchester City, it's Trippier that Juve chiefs want as a replacement, with a £30m move on the table for the Spurs man, who turns 29 in September. He wants the move too , so this might actually be a goer, as absurd as it sounds. Aston Villa Want Ethan Ampadu on Loan Loan moves to Aston Villa from Chelsea have typically been successful in recent years, with Tammy Abraham winning the Championship golden boot on loan at Villa Park last season. According to The Guardian , Welsh prospect Ethan Ampadu could follow in his footsteps, and get his first real taste of Premier League action with the Villans. It's unclear whether the 18-year-old will be available, with the possibility remaining that any new Chelsea manager - be it Frank Lampard or someone else - could involve him in their first team plans. There is a belief in the club's hierarchy, however, that after making just five appearances in all competitions last season, he would benefit from regular first team football. Villa want to offer him that, and will make their move at the first sign of his availability. So the report goes, at least. Wolves and Southampton in Bidding War Over Inter Starlet Wolves and Southampton are two sides with lofty ambitions for next season, with the former looking to build on their stellar seventh placed finish in their first season back in the top flight, while the latter strive for success in their first full season under Ralph Hasenhuttl. According to Dutch outlet HBVL , the two are set to go head to head over highly-rated Inter centre-back Zinho Vanheusden, who spent last season on loan at Standard Liege, establishing himself as one of the most promising young defenders in the Jupiler Pro League. With the Nerrazzuri taking things in a different direction under Antonio Conte, they are believed to be willing to sell for a fee of around £18m, and nether club are deterred by that asking price for the 19-year-old. Liverpool Interested in Turkish Prospect as Camacho Heads for Exit Dorukhan Tokoz was part of the Turkey side who surprised everyone by getting the better of world champions France last weekend, and could soon get his reward, as rumours circulate that Liverpool and Arsenal could come in for the 23-year-old in the forseeable future. Both sides are reported by Fotomac (as per Sport Witness ) to be in a race with Udinese for the midfielder, for whom Besiktas already rejected an €8m offer from the Italian side. He made 25 appearances for Besiktas last season after signing from Eskiserhispor a year ago, and may be one to watch in the Premier League next season if his current career trajectory is anything to go by. Heading in the opposite direction is Liverpool striker Rafael Camacho, who is looking increasingly likely to return to his native Portugal. According to Portuguese outlet A Bola , Sporting CP are pursuing a move for the 19-year-old after failing to get him on loan last year. The youngster only has one year left on his deal and is reluctant to sign a contract extension, meaning a permanent move for a fee in the region of € 10m could happen.


CHICAGO (CBS)   Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx's Office is expected to release documents from the Jussie Smollett case Friday. Update from court: Kim Foxx's office expects to release documents from Jussie Smollett case *today* Originally, expected documents to be released next week. Files will be released due to judge unsealing case. @cbschicago   Charlie De Mar (@CharlieDeMar) May 31, 2019 The documents were expected to be released next week. Retired Judge Sheila O'Brien is asking for an out-of-county judge to rule on whether or not a special prosecutor is needed to handle Foxx's handling of the case. But a Cook County judge denied that motion. O'Brien has also asked Foxx to appear in court along with other high ranking officials in her office. But, the judge says it is too premature to make that decision. On Thursday, almost 500 pages of Chicago police documents pertaining to the Smollett case were released. Of note, the state's attorney's office contacted police nearly a month before charges were dropped telling them that Smollett will pay $10,000, do community service and admit guilt. But that admission of guilt never happened as the case was suddenly dropped all together   a major shock to the city and police.


Last year, NASCAR's ratings hit an all-time low. It was tough to see a real way out, either; it's a sport that seemed to be losing appeal not just with viewers but with the local markets the circuit visited, as attendance numbers fell as well. Through roughly half of the 2019 season, though, things are at the very least looking up from a ratings perspective, according to Adam Stern's report for Sports Business Journal ($). For its half of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season, Fox Sports finished up 3% in ratings and 2% in viewership across Fox and FS1, excluding rainouts. The network went from a 2.37 rating and 3.977 million viewers per race last year to a 2.44 rating and 4.069 million viewers this year. Still, those are coming off record lows in 2018. Is that a huge gain over last year? No, not really. Plus, it's a small improvement over the lowest possible bar. That's still preferable to sinking even lower, and considering how dire things looked last year, it's definitely a positive. There were at least a few signs that the bounce back year could continue, too. Executives expected viewership would be hurt last season, the first without Dale Earnhardt Jr. competing. Now this year's results show stabilization from the effect of losing the sport's most popular driver. "When a sport loses by far its most marketable athlete, that has to have an impact," said Mike Mulvihill, Fox Sports executive vice president of research, league operations and strategy. "That wasn't making excuses; that was real and impacting the sport. Now, things have stabilized." It's easy to scoff at the idea that one person's absence could drastically impact ratings, but golf has been dealing with this sort of effect for years with Tiger Woods. Dale Jr. isn't Tiger, of course, but he's as close as NASCAR had, and being gone without even a promise of a return (which Tiger finally fulfilled this year ) was a good reason for a lot of fans to tune out entirely. It's obviously not all good news, though. Attendance remains an issue, for example: Also, attendance seems to have not yet stabilized. International Speedway Corp. saw a 4% drop in admissions revenue in the first quarter and said it was expecting declines at some of its tracks in the second quarter. Speedway Motorsports Inc.'s first quarter wasn't directly comparable to the prior year because of scheduling changes, but it's seen mixed results. Charlotte Motor Speedway drew a good crowd in May, for example, but Bristol Motor Speedway attracted a strikingly small crowd for its spring race. The Daytona 500 is the only race to announce a sellout so far this year, with Watkins Glen International saying it's pacing toward one in August. NASCAR is clearly still figuring out how to package itself to attract a new generation of fans, and it's likely they're never going to return to their peak in terms of ratings impact. That's just kind of how it goes in 2019, though, and trending up is always preferable to trending down. [ SBJ ] The post NASCAR ratings slowly rising after 2018's low point appeared first on Awful Announcing .


If you're wondering where the Golden State Warriors were going to find rim protection next season, fear not. Forward Kevon Looney has officially re-signed with Golden State. The two-time NBA champion is coming off the best season of his career. He averaged 6.3 points and 5.2 rebounds in 2018-19 in his fourth year with the Warriors. Looney also made 24 starts in 80 games and averaged just over 18 minutes per contest. In the playoffs, he had a solid role, averaging 7.1 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.0 assist in 20.6 minutes. Looney will be an important piece to the Warriors' defense next season. The exit of DeMarcus Cousins and Andre Iguodala has left big holes in rim protection as Golden State starts to rebuild. But Looney is definitely up to the task. Not only is he a great defender, Looney has great hands and a good nose for the ball - able to get to open spots for the easy flush. The terms of Looney's contract have not been released as per team policy. MORE: Alex Morgan made a perfect trophy joke after winning Best Female Athlete at ESPYS Chris Paul's Contract Is So Bad The Rockets Gave Up Everything in Thunder Trade The Ringer believes Raiders could trade SS Karl Joseph to Cowboys After Packers pass on Jalen Thompson, focus shifts to Natrell Jamerson Breaking down the Oklahoma City Thunder's future draft picks


This was an unapologetically brash full-size coupe back in its day. In the late 1960s you had several options for making a statement with your car in America. One that many people preferred were the various muscle cars. This 1969 Buick Riviera was powerful and stylish, but it went in a different and equally bold direction, and now it could be yours. Chicago Car Club is offering this classic to a lucky future owner. Buick really shot for the moon with the Riviera, even when it came to the name of the paint color for this particular car: Embassy Gold. The paint shimmers like the glittery stuff everyone loves, thanks to a fresh polishing. The same thing goes for the chrome bumpers trim pieces, and the factory wheels. A Buckskin vinyl top is also in tremendous shape. The current owner apparently only used the car during the summer, keeping it securely locked up in the garage during the harsh winter months. A few blemishes exists, which you can expect for an unmolested car of this age, but overall this Buick is in unbelievable condition. More American Classics: 1926 Buick Master Six Is A Slice Of Luxury From The Roaring Twenties The First Two Pontiac Firebirds In the Muscle Car Market The Buckskin interior is all original, perfectly preserving the state of this car when it rolled off the dealer lot. Surprisingly, the vinyl upholstery has held up well. Thanks to tender use, the door panels, controls, and rubber floormats are in excellent condition. There is a modern stereo deck mounted in the glovebox, plus an Alpine 12-disc changer in the trunk. With looks like these, you need something to back it all up. The 430ci V8 does a tremendous job at that, putting 360-horsepower and a monstrous 470 lb.-ft. of torque at your disposal. The odometer reads 77,702 miles, which seems to be accurate considering the condition of this vehicle. Launched 6 years earlier for 1963 and lasting through the 1975 model year, the Buick Riviera strove to encapsulate European-like styling and performance in more American dimensions. It was the top-of-the-line Buick and has enamored people for decades, making the car highly sought after. Rivieras today are highly collectible, especially if you can find one that's still in factory condition.


Police in Avon said a man was shot after a fight with a carjacker.


A military service member assigned to patrol the U.S.-Mexico border has been found dead in southern Arizona -- the second to die there this month, authorities say. The service member -- who has not been identified -- was found Sunday near Ajo, according to a statement from officials at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colo. Foul play is not suspected in the death, which is under investigation, officials added. President Trump has assigned several thousand troops to the southwest border in recent months to support the U.S. Border Patrol. The service member's body was found 22 days after U.S. Army Pfc. Steven Hodges was found dead on federal land near Nogales, the Tucson Sentinel reported. Hodges was also assigned to the Southwest Border Support Mission. Officials said foul play isn't suspected in Hodges' death either. Hodges' battalion commander, Lt. Col. Sean Lyons, said "every soldier in the Tomahawk Battalion is an essential member of our team. "Private First Class Steven Hodges is sorely missed by his teammates and the entire Tomahawk family," Lyons said in a statement. "Every soldier is a national treasure. "We are grateful for all the young men and women who volunteer to serve our nation. We are humbled at the sacrifices their families continue to make on a daily basis, Steven and his family are in our prayers," Lyons continued.


Well so much for tanking. It's the second week of June and the Dolphins are in first place! Well - maybe this isn't exactly what you had in mind. But regardless, seeing the efforts of Stephen Ross, Brian Flores and the rest of the Miami Dolphins organization recognized by the NFL's Huddle for 100 Team Challenge is something Miami fans can feel good about. This week's leaders in the Huddle for 100 Team Challenge! For ideas how you can volunteer and help your team rise in the rankings ➡ https://t.co/0o9Yvztw5h #NFL100 #NFLHuddleFor100 pic.twitter.com/8zubWUCNDX - NFL (@NFL) June 7, 2019 Not only did the Dolphins pace the league in volunteer minutes this week, they are crushing the competition. This, of course, is aided by Fins Weekend, Miami's golf and fishing outing a week ago that was held to raise money for scholarships and attack better graduation rates in the South Florida community. It's been a common theme for the Dolphins all offseason long and should be considered a source of pride for Miami fans. No matter the lows, the Dolphins are one of the franchises that remain committed to using their platform and fame for good. Championships sure would be a great next layer to add on top of blue chip efforts off the field - but all good things to those who wait, right? MORE: Most bizarre and incredible catches by fishermen in past decade Report: New Orleans likely to trade Anthony Davis to Celtics These five upcoming NBA free agents hurt themselves in the playoffs Goldberg, Undertaker Nearly Killed Each Other With Botched Moves At Super ShowDown Packers could have 6 or more new starters on defense in Week 1


Around 2 million people in the United States have had an amputation or were born with a limb difference, and 185,000 undergo amputation surgery each year, according to the Amputee Coalition . No two people's situations are the same: A limb may be amputated because of an accident, injury, illness, or disease. Other limb differences are due to the way a person's body formed in the womb, which is sometimes described as "congenital amputation." I really didn't know much about limb loss until I interviewed Erin Ball , a circus performer who restarted her career after both of her feet were amputated. Last summer, she organized a week-long camp for adult amputees to learn circus skills. At the end of the week, the group put on a show, which Ball called "a celebration of difference and of community and connection." "I cried through the whole thing," she tells SELF. While covering the event, I talked to several amputees and learned a lot of things the general public may not realize about living with a limb difference such as why certain questions about their limbs can be pretty offensive, and that amputation can hugely improve a person's life in many cases. (Note: Everyone quoted in this article identifies as an amputee. More broadly, some people identify as amputees whether they have had amputation surgery or not, while others prefer the phrase "limb difference," so I'll use both terms throughout this story to reflect this.) Here's what four amputees want everyone to understand about what their lives are really like. 1. Don't lump the experiences of all people with a limb difference together. Like any group of individuals who happen to share a specific characteristic, amputees and people with limb differences aren't a monolith. For example, the experiences of arm and leg amputees are different, as are those of congenital amputees compared to people who became amputees as adults. "How everyone relates to their particular disability or however they go to label and identify it is different from person to person," Jason Goldberg, a comedian, actor, and filmmaker from Toronto who was born with a left arm that ends above the elbow, tells SELF. "It's changed me a lot as a person," Erin Ball says of her amputation. "I've built a community and just connect with people on a much deeper level than I used to." Others don't necessarily have a before and after frame like this. "I've always been this way, nothing has changed," says Talli Osborne, an inspirational speaker based in Hamilton, Ontario, who was born with arms that end a few inches below her shoulders and missing bones in her legs. 2. Amputees and people with limb differences use different words to describe themselves and their bodies. "You'll never hear me call myself disabled," Osborne tells SELF. "I just say I'm three feet tall and I have no arms." "We all have challenges, and I don't know why we have to obsess over people that are extremely different when we're all different," she continues. "That's what makes the world beautiful." Goldberg, however, does refer to himself as disabled and has been corrected by others when he uses the word. "This would be able-bodied people telling me that the language or the words that I use to identify myself are not appropriate, and that I should use words like 'differently abled,' " he tells me. "For me, it's a euphemism; it's patronizing." Ana Chilakos, a patient advocate from New Jersey who had a foot amputated after injuries from a car accident left her in chronic pain, tells SELF that people don't always repeat the language she uses, even though they should. "For example, after I establish that I'm an amputee and they call me a 'person with a disability.' It almost feels like they have to speak my being a person into truth, or remind themselves that I am a person. I feel it's redundant because I'm obviously a person!" Amputees use a variety of words to describe their residual limbs, which is the technical term for the part of an arm or leg that remains after amputation. "Stump," for example, resonates with Chilakos. She's planning to get a tattoo on her residual limb "a tree stump on my stump," she says. "When I finally had the amputation, it was almost the idea of cutting off something that was defective, something that was bringing me down," Chilakos explains. "I don't see the stump as this dead thing where nothing grows, because my limb is more alive than ever. I can feel a constant phantom energy from where my foot used to be." In contrast, the word "stump" makes Ball recoil when it's applied to her body. She refers to both her residual limbs and prosthetic legs as simply "legs," she tells SELF. If you're not sure which words a person prefers, ask them and follow their lead. 3. If you want to ask a question, remember that amputees are people, not curiosities. Amputees often get questions when they're out in public, some of which are pretty absurd. "I was on the subway once and a woman asked me if my kids would also have one arm," Goldberg recalls, adding that he "was so taken aback." It's OK to be honest and explain that you're curious or have never met an amputee, Chilakos says. She usually doesn't mind answering questions even from strangers as long as people are tactful and engage with her like a human being. "I'm not a Google search bar," she adds. "Sometimes it is annoying and I don't want to necessarily go into the entire thing, but I don't mind being quick and saying, 'You know, I lost my leg, and it's OK,' " she explains. "What happened?" can be a particularly sensitive question for some, however. "For a while I would answer and then I would feel so horrible," says Ball, who became an amputee after she got frostbite while lost on a walk in the woods. "These are just strangers and they're asking me about the most traumatic time in my life, and then they're just walking away and I'm left with all of these feelings." "There are so many better questions, like, How do my legs work? " she adds. "I always wished I had a better story when I was younger," adds Osborne, whose limb differences are congenital. To her, "What happened to you?" is loaded with the idea that "there's something wrong with me," she says. Osborne has heard plenty of insensitive questions from adults, but she encourages children to ask anything on their minds so they'll understand that difference doesn't have to imply something negative. "Kids just point out the obvious," she notes. It's normal for everyone to notice people who look different, she goes on, but it's important to adjust how you respond to that difference. "Don't react to that person like they're a freaking alien with oozing eyeballs all over them, because that's how [some] people react to me," Osborne says. "When they see me sometimes they jump, [like], 'Oh my God, you scared me!' I'm not scary." 4. Amputation can improve a person's quality of life. To someone who hasn't gone through it, amputation may seem like something that inherently limits a person. Many amputees didn't have a choice about whether or not to keep their limbs. Chilakos says some of the feelings around amputation can be compared to the grief of losing a loved one, or any "sudden loss of something that you thought was going to be there at least until the end of your life." But for her and other elective amputees, the surgery is a decision that can actually restore mobility and quality of life after a serious injury. After more than a dozen surgeries following her car accident, Chilakos still woke up every morning in excruciating pain. It hurt even when she wasn't walking on her reconstructed foot, and she could no longer wear regular shoes. She had to give up her hobby of belly dancing. Ultimately, she decided to have her injured foot amputated so she wouldn't have to live with the pain, and in December, she celebrated what she calls her one-year "ampuversary." Her mom got a cake to celebrate. She recently performed with her dance troupe and now has a closet full of shoes. As a patient advocate, she's worked with other elective amputees. She tells me that she remembers one person saying to her: "I should've done this years ago to save myself from being in so much pain." Chilakos says, "I wish that more people could hear that that is the opinion of so many different amputees." 5. Don't make assumptions about what amputees' lives are like. Goldberg grew up hearing other kids say they didn't know how they'd live if they only had one arm. People have also told Osborne they'll pray for her arms to "grow back," even though she's happy the way she is. When she's just going about her day, Osborne has heard people say they wouldn't be able to do the things she does if they were missing limbs themselves. "Yes, you would, you would figure it out," she says. "So you're saying if you lost your arm right now, you'd have to lie in a bed for the rest of your life? Don't assume you know where I've come from or what I've gone through." While Osborne's physical differences do make life hard in a world that wasn't built for her, she points out that everyone has challenges to deal with. Some of hers just happen to be visible. "We all have our sh*t," she says. "You could have had a way harder childhood than me. How do I know?" 6. It's OK to laugh with someone if they're making a joke about their amputation or limb difference. For instance, when someone asks, "Whose gloves are these?" Osborne likes to say they're hers. "If I'm laughing about it, you should laugh with me because it's hilarious," she says. Goldberg has a joke about getting all his gloves from the lost and found box. "That's just my life, but things like that are kind of funny," he says. When Ball hosted a circus camp for amputees which Goldberg, Chilakos, and Osborne all attended the group staged a performance spoofing various ways people might lose limbs. In one, a group of amputees pretended to be kittens licking another amputee's leg off. In another act, they drew faces on their residual limbs and made them talk like puppets. For Ball, part of healing emotionally after amputation was "finding the humor in it and realizing like oh, I can still continue living and my life is actually better now," she says. 7. Every prosthetic limb is unique. "It's almost like a fingerprint; it's tailored to you," says Chilakos, who previously worked for a prosthetics company. "There's so much artistry and craftsmanship that goes into making these legs perfect for every single person…watching the whole process from a plaster mold to this amazing, custom, high-tech piece of equipment that allows people to walk." Lower limb amputees might have several different prosthetic legs or feet for various occasions: one for everyday use, one that's easy to take on and off for wearing around the house, blades for running, or a foot to use with high heels . As a relatively new amputee, Chilakos doesn't have a huge collection of prosthetics yet, but she's got a leg to run and dance on and is looking forward to getting more. "Maybe one year instead of treating myself to a nice vacation I'll just treat myself to a cute foot," she says. 8. But not all people with limb differences choose to use prosthetic devices. Prosthetic limbs are an essential part of life for many amputees, especially those who've had feet and portions of their legs removed. But depending on their personal situation, not all people with a limb difference find them useful. Osborne used prosthetic limbs until she was 19. She liked being the same height as her peers, but it also felt like she was trying to be someone else. "I've always felt my most comfortable without my arms and legs on," she says. "I learned how to do everything with my little arms and my feet as a baby does…and then all of a sudden you take away those body parts and you cover them up with these plastic things, and then I had to relearn how to do everything again." But Osborne stresses that "this is totally a personal thing," adding, "I never ever want to convince somebody to not wear prosthetics or to wear prosthetics." 9. Amputees want to see their dynamic lives represented in movies and on TV. Stories with amputee characters often focus on a person triumphing over adversity, and put their limb loss or difference at the center of the story. "I would love to watch a film about, like, an amputee who's just a [jerk]," says Goldberg. "I feel like all we tend to do or get involved in [is], like, inspiration porn." Chilakos wants to see more authentic representations of people like her on-screen. Movies like Skyscraper, which stars Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson as a veteran with a prosthetic leg, don't appeal to her because the role isn't played by an amputee. "We're not just a costume." 10. You can play a role in making spaces accessible to everyone. To be a good ally, Chilakos suggests, start by listening and amplify the voices of people with disabilities. Take note of the ways in which the spaces you're in can or can't be accessed by people who use wheelchairs or have other mobility needs. Chilakos bought a ticket to a concert thinking she would walk into the venue on her prosthetic foot. But due to an injury, she was using a wheelchair when the date rolled around. She worried the space wouldn't be accessible and she would have to miss out on the show, but she was pleased to find that wasn't the case. Afterwards, she wrote a review for the venue online. "I think that it's important to give them credit and to point out [that] this is the type of place that has my business," she says. Osborne, who uses a scooter, says it's important to ask people with physical challenges what they actually need. "I can't tell you how often things look accessible to the outside eye and I cannot get in," she explains. "There's an automatic door or there's a ramp, but I still can't get in because it wasn't put in properly. No one thought about the actual person using it. The button is right beside the door. Who on earth can reach that if they're in a wheelchair? And if they can, they push the button, the door opens, hits the wheelchair and closes again." You should also observe your surroundings and take note of what's there, who's there, and who's not there. "If you go around and you don't see people in wheelchairs, it's not because they don't want to be there," Chilakos says. "They're not there because they can't be there because the place hasn't been made accessible to them." Related: This Is How an Aerial Performer Restarted Her Career After Having Both Feet Amputated Everyday Athletes Talk About What Strength Means to Them How Circus Training Helps Me Deal With My Anxiety Disorder


DETROIT (WWJ) - Detroit police are searching for the gunman who left a 13-year-old boy and 23-year-old man fighting for their lives after a shooting at a gas station on the city's west side. The shooting happened just before 11 p.m. Friday at the BP station on Telegraph Road just north of 7 Mile Road. Police say the suspect entered the location and fired several shots, striking both victims. Both were taken to the hospital and last reported in critical condition. The suspect fled the scene on foot and remains at large. He's described as a black male in his mid-twenties, 5'11" tall with a dark complexion and medium build. He was last seen wearing a red shirt with a Nike swoosh and the words "Just Do It," dark-colored shorts and white gym shoes. Anyone who recognizes the suspect, knows of his whereabouts or has any other information is asked to contact the Detroit Police Eighth Precinct at 313-596-5840. Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP.


Porsche has signed Andre Lotterer to complete its line-up for its debut ABB FIA Formula E season in 2019/20. Lotterer left the DS Techeetah team following the final round of the 2018/19 FE season, where he helped the squad win the teams' championship for the first time. The triple Le Mans winner will join the already-announced Neel Jani in the Porsche line-up for next season. Lotterer has been a factory Porsche driver since 2017, the year he joined the manufacturer's LMP1 team following Audi's withdrawal from the World Endurance Championship at the end of the previous campaign. "I'm really looking forward to competing for Porsche in the ABB FIA Formula E championship in the 2019/2020 season," said Lotterer. "I have been part of the Porsche family since 2017 and have lots of great memories of joint successes   particularly when working with Neel. "We drove together in the Porsche LMP1 team in 2017, and drove for Rebellion Racing in the WEC these past two years. It's great that we will now be the driver pairing for the Porsche Formula E team. "I'm looking forward to the new task and to the future collaboration with the team." Jani has been driving for Porsche during the opening phase of its 2019/20 private manufacturer testing alongside former Porsche LMP1 driver Brendon Hartley. Hartley said earlier this year that he was "definitely interested" in joining the Porsche FE squad as a race driver for next season, but the team was understood to have preferred signing a driver with previous FE race experience. Jani did compete in the first two races of the 2017/18 FE championship in Hong Kong with Dragon Racing, but he left the team after that event. Fritz Enzinger, vice president of Porsche motorsport and acting head of its FE team, said: "Signing Andre for the second Porsche Formula E cockpit is definitely the right choice. "He has been a Porsche works driver for three years and knows the team and Neel really well. And we can only benefit from the experience that Andre will bring from the past two Formula E seasons. "Neel and Andre make the perfect driver pairing for Porsche's works entry into Formula E. We are looking forward to entering our maiden season in the ABB FIA Formula E championship for the 2019/2020 season with this strong driver pairing." Andre Lotterer, DS TECHEETAH, DS E-Tense FE19, celebrates with The Techeetah team in the garage Photo by: Sam Bloxham / LAT Images DS Techeetah, which helped Lotterer to a trio of runner-up finishes during his time with the squad, paid tribute to the departing German in its statement. "Until this season where we've been reinforced by our colleagues at DS Automobiles, we've been an incredibly small team where it has been instrumental for all team members to go the extra mile, including our drivers and Andre has really put this into effect," said DS Techeetah team principal Mark Preston. "So for that, together with the points he has racked up with us to win the teams' championship this year, and almost clinched last year, we'd like to say thanks to Andre for this time and wish him the best of luck with his new pursuit." DS Performance Director Xavier Mestelan Pinon added: "I salute and thank Andre for the fantastic work he has done this season. Without him and the valuable points he earned; the titles would have been more complicated to concur. "His involvement and his performance were paramount in our victories and titles. See you soon on the track!" DS Techeetah is now looking for a replacement for Lotterer, who is understood to have had a contract for the 2019/20 season, to join Vergne and a team statement said it has already "been approached by multiple high-level drivers". The team is therefore "evaluating" which driver it will sign and the statement concluded that "this will be announced in due course".


It's impossible not to feel good when listening to Lizzo's music or watching an interview with the powerhouse musician. The 31-year-old singer and flautist truly radiates positivity - especially body positivity - all around, and it's something she's passionate about, but not the mainstream, sometimes disingenuous idea of it. Lizzo expanded on self-love and body positivity in an interview with NPR, saying she wasn't always as comfortable with her body as she is now. "I'm still not every day as comfortable as the day before. At a certain point I kind of realized that my body wasn't going to change unless I did something drastic, which I didn't have money [for]. When I started discovering my self-love and trying to be more positive about my body, this was like 10 years ago, and I was broke. I was like, I have no plastic surgery options, there's no crazy dieting options; I've been big my whole life. 'Just deal with it! Just accept your body!' I made a decision that I would eventually be happy about it, and it took a long time. Ten years later, I have a healthy relationship with my body ." The widespread attention body positivity is getting now is overall a good thing, but Lizzo recognizes that "self-care" has become more of a commodity and a marketing tool than ever before. She said, "I say this on stage to everybody: 'I'm not gonna sell you the commercialized self-love. I'm not gonna sell you the hashtag self-care.' I'm not into that. I feel a responsibility as a pioneer in this wave of body positivity to push the narrative further. I'm not even gonna get into it, but they're just saying, like, 'self-care is all facials and mimosas,' and there are people using the term 'body positivity' but still posting, like, really gorgeous glamour shots. And I get it. That's fine. Everyone deserves to speak on it, everyone deserves to have ownership of their body positivity. But I'm not just gonna settle for that anymore. I think that there's something to emotions and vulnerability and expressing those emotions in a more vulnerable way to yourself that I think we haven't tapped into."


If Cup Noodles haven't comprised one layer of your personal food pyramid at some point, well la-tee-da, Queen Of England. For many, they're synonymous with lean times : college, first job, the months you were scrapping together change out of the couch to grocery shop. Many of us have if not affection, then at least respect for the Styrofoam-packed dollar noodles that got us through those rough patches. Now, for the first time, Nissin turns its attention to "takeout-style Asian meals" in the form of three new microwavable stir-fry cups : Teriyaki Beef, Korean BBQ, and vegetarian Sweet Chili. All are ready with just a splash of water and four minutes in your microwave; it's also suggested you let the noodles rest for a moment post-microwave, like a fine sirloin steak. They're available now at Walmarts nationwide at the same price as other Cup Noodles products and will hit additional retail in December. To conduct this taste test, I enlisted the help of my friends Lisa and Marcus  I needed to use their microwave . Here's what we thought of the new Cup Noodles stir-frys. Teriyaki Beef This one smelled the best as it was nuking, like garlicky sesame noodles you might order from a pan-Asian takeout place. (A word of caution: All three of these will fill your home with a pungent, unplaceably meaty aroma.) Its dominant flavors are sweet sesame and brown sugar, in a way that doesn't bear much resemblance to actual teriyaki . It's salty but not very savory, with the most mild flavors of all three varieties. That said, my friend Lisa remarked that it's the variety she could probably eat the most of, because it's fairly inoffensive. We all agree it's the middle-of-the-road flavor of the three. Grade: B+ Korean BBQ The Korean BBQ flavor offers, ironically, more beef flavor than the Teriyaki Beef, with crumbled bits of meat that taste like the sausage in Chef Boyardee products. Though the packaging proudly proclaims "No Added MSG"  ugh  that high level of meaty-savory brown-sauceness pervades this whole bowl, in a good way. The longer we let the bowl cool, the stickier the sauce becomes, delivering more flavor per bite. There's even a pleasant lime tartness to the finish of the sauce. These are the most pleasing noodles of the three, lighting up the lizard part of whatever cortex makes us crave sticky beef noodles when we're hungover. Grade: A- Sweet Chili The vegetarian option left us longing for the generic beefiness of the other two flavors. Without that, the noodles smell only like hot cardboard, and the whole bowl tastes thin and unremarkable. The noodles are too sweet initially and then unpleasantly citric after that; Lisa says she imagines this is what Buddy The Elf's syrup-topped spaghetti tasted like. It's missing the meaty oomph of the other two, and is significantly less satisfying overall. Grade: B- Bottom line: For roughly a dollar each, and given their shelf stable nature, I'd definitely keep a few of the Cup Noodles Korean BBQ stir-frys on hand for emergency hangover situations. They satisfy the craving for sticky, salty, saucy takeout noodles, but at a much lower price point and without the hurdle of human interaction. As Cup Noodles is to ramen, so too is Cup Noodles to stir-fry. It's not going to replicate the real deal, but for a dollar, I'm not expecting that. Related video: This instant ramen hack is completely genius (Provided by Delish)


Even though the way he was expressing it is something most of us can only think about, it does look like LeBron James is as excited for the upcoming NBA season as the rest of us are. Even though LeBron was in Dad Mode watching his eldest son Bronny Jr. play this weekend in Las Vegas, something compelled James to participate in the layup lines with Bronny's squad and also give the fans in attendance something to talk about with some fantastic throwdowns. LeBron is out here DUNKING DURING WARM UPS!! Oh snap!! @KingJames @TipHoops pic.twitter.com/9YH4cPSWaL - Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) July 27, 2019 LeBron also appeared to be wearing the Atomic Violent LeBron 16s that are scheduled to come out in late August , which will likely be a winner with Lakers fans. It also may have helped excite LeBron that Las Vegas was once again the center of the basketball universe, with several tournaments in Vegas as well as the WNBA All-Star Game at Mandalay Bay. But the most likely answer is that LeBron, like the rest of us, can't wait for the NBA season to finally get here. For the first time in a long time, there is no clear-cut championship favorite and several of the NBA's top players are skipping the FIBA World Cup in order to focus on what should be an exciting season. MORE: James Harden and Russell Westbrook fight over last shot in amazing NBA 2K edit Behind the scenes with new-look Nets: 'We got stars without mortgaging everything'' Jayson Tatum's bold predictions for the 2019-20 season Joe Staley has high praise for Nick Bosa after 49ers first practice Packers training camp practice roundup: July 27


DENVER   A suburban Denver man has been arrested in the unsolved slaying of a soldier in Colorado 32 years ago after DNA evidence was used to create an image of what a suspect might look like, authorities said Friday. Civilian and Army investigators arrested Michael Whyte of Thornton in the 1987 strangulation death of Darlene Krashoc, 20, a soldier stationed at Fort Carson outside Colorado Springs. Whyte, 58, was arrested at his home Thursday on suspicion of first-degree murder. Online jail records did not indicate whether he had an attorney who could speak on his behalf. Krashoc's body was found behind a Colorado Springs restaurant on March 17, 1987. Investigators said she had gone to a nightclub the previous evening with other soldiers from her unit, a maintenance company. She was last seen leaving the club between midnight and 1 a.m., and police on a routine patrol found her body. Investigators said they believe her body had been moved to a spot behind the restaurant, but they did not say where she was killed. Authorities said they re-opened the investigation twice before, in 2004 and 2011, and found male DNA on several pieces of evidence. The Army Criminal Investigation Laboratory re-analyzed the DNA in 2016, and it was sent to a private company that specializes in using DNA to create images of what someone might look like. The company made two composites, one showing the person at about age 25 and another at about 50 to 55. Police said the process, called phenotyping, uses DNA to predict traits such as ancestry, hair and eye color and face shape. Authorities made at least one of the pictures public in 2017. But they have not said if that generated a tip that led to Whyte's arrest   only that DNA led them to him. The images have not been made public.


Jason Witten has lined up with a Hall of Famer, and he's been on teams that went to the playoffs as a top seed twice. But the veteran tight end believes that the team he left the broadcasting booth to rejoin might be the most talented version of the Cowboys he's been on. "Yeah, I think it's close," Witten said, via Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram . " The most talent I've seen ." Of course, his role's going to be different this time, as he's expected to play 25 snaps a game and be more of a complement for Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott and Amari Cooper than he ever was when he was playing with Tony Romo and Terrell Owens or Dez Bryant. "Fitting in with teammates has never been an issue for me," he said. "It's always been something that came very natural. It was important for me to reiterate to them early on that this is their team, it's their time. It's an opportunity for me to be a part of it. "I'm still going to be myself. I think that's what we all want, is for me to come back and approach it that way. But even early on with those guys, I constantly   whether it was Sean [Lee], Dak, different players along the way, Zeke   I always tried to empower, even though I was the elder statesman on the team." It remains to be seen if they can have any more success (they haven't advanced beyond the divisional round since 1995), but Witten clearly thinks they're talented enough to. Related slideshow: 2019 NFL draft: The top picks (Provided by imagn)


With the 2019 NBA Draft drawing closer by the day and the early entry deadline officially passed, teams are starting to close in on prospects. Since the NBA combine, no one has probably risen more than Ole Miss guard Terence Davis, who now has a chance to sneak into the first round because of the impression he has made on NBA executives in a variety of post season events. The Warriors have been one of those teams looking at Davis, scheduling him for not one, but two pre-draft workouts, per Tony Jones . Golden State is intrigued by the idea of adding Davis to the team. So, for the people who may not have watched much college basketball (or at least Ole Miss games) how would Davis fit on next year's Warriors squad? Measures Height: 6'4″ Wingspan: 6'9″ Weight: 192 Year: Senior Age: 22.0 Stats Points: 15.2 Rebounds: 5.8 Assists: 3.5 Steals: 1.6 Blocks: 0.6 Turnovers: 2.8 2FG: 50.0% 3PT: 37.1% FT: 77.2% Minutes: 31.0 Games played/started: 33/32 Davis has long been a successful college basketball player, starting three years at Ole Miss. But unlike most first round picks, his NBA future was never set in stone. Even three months ago, Davis was considered by many to be a fringe second-round pick. However, his fit in a modern NBA that combines a blend of 3-and-D potential, with shot-making skills, gives him a shot to be a productive role player. Davis' game is buoyed by his physical profile. With the height of a guard but the length and physicality to theoretically switch onto wings and forwards, he has the ability to fit onto any modern defense. He rebounds well for his position, and Davis' college days produced a variety of steals and blocks that showcase his defensive potential. If he can stay focused consistently, he can become a plus on the less glamorous end of the court. Using a self-described football player's mentality (as told to HoopsHype's Bryan Kalbrosky ), Davis is able to use his physical gifts to carve space to the basket and score from all three levels. During his senior season, he shot 77 percent from the free-throw line and 37 percent from behind the arc, which should translate to the NBA provided he makes minor adjustments. Davis does have a few drawbacks that provide cause for concern, though. While he does shoot the ball relatively well, he is a very streaky shooter. Finding consistency could provide a boon to his professional career. Additionally, while his passing is adequate to good, it is nothing spectacular and could be taken advantage of at the NBA level. Davis' biggest flaw is his tendency to become overly aggressive. Throughout his college career, he has shown semi-regular cases of tunnel vision. This can take his whole team out of sync, as they just watch while Davis creates low percentage opportunities, whether it be for himself or his teammates. In order to succeed in the NBA, he needs to tone this down and learn to play within the system of the team, which is increasingly imperative if he does get drafted by Golden State. The 2019 offseason could heavily deplete the Warriors' depth, especially on the wing (if they lose Kevin Durant, Shaun Livingston and maybe even Andre Iguodala). While the team drafted Jacob Evans last year, they still need more help. If Davis can play within himself, he can fit perfectly as a 3-and-D wing with the ability to create his own shot on a cost-effective rookie deal. MORE: Heavyweight champ Andy Ruiz hits back at Stephen A. Smith after 'Butter Bean' comment Roundup: New Black Mirror Season Premieres; Trump Imposes Cuban Travel Restrictions; Manafort Sent to Rikers Return of NASCAR: Packers planning ways to get 4 OLBs on the field together Did Nike accidentally reveal that Kevin Durant is staying with the Warriors? Report: Suns, Bulls offering lottery picks for Lonzo Ball


A coalition of more than two dozen liberal groups on Tuesday urged House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to begin impeachment proceedings against President Trump, writing in a letter that her reticence is "resulting in dangerous inaction that enables this racist and xenophobic president." The strongly worded letter voicing frustration with Pelosi (D-Calif.) came a day after the Democratic-led House returned from a week-long recess and continued to grapple with how to respond to the report of special counsel Robert S. Mueller III. While a growing number of Democrats are calling for launching an impeachment inquiry based on findings related to potential obstruction of justice, Pelosi has continued to counsel caution, calling for deliberate steps to investigate Trump. Subscribe to the Post Most newsletter: Today's most popular stories on The Washington Post The letter sent Tuesday calls for Pelosi to exercise "bold, moral leadership" and says that "instead of using your power, you are giving us political excuses for why you shouldn't." "Instead of leading, you and your colleagues have asked us to wait   wait for the Mueller report, wait for the unredacted Mueller report, wait for Mueller's testimony about the Mueller report, wait for more investigations, wait for bipartisan consensus, wait for impeachment to poll better, or wait for the 2020 election," it says. The groups signing the letter include CREDO Action, Free Speech for People, MPower, Movimiento Cosecha, Democracy for America, Indivisible, Working Families Party and Women's March. Mueller ended his role as special counsel last week and said his office could not consider whether to charge Trump with a crime because of a long-standing Justice Department opinion that a sitting president cannot be indicted. During a brief public appearance, Mueller repeated a line in his report explaining that his team would have exonerated Trump of obstructing the probe into Russian election interference if it could have. Some Democrats read that as a signal that they should more aggressively pursue impeachment of the president. In the letter, the liberal groups tell Pelosi that there is "still a chance to turn things around." "You are a powerful leader who has stood up for women's rights, cleared a path for other women to get to Congress and brought us the [Affordable Care Act]," they wrote. "Your strong leadership can help move the public narrative, not only on impeachment but on the dangers Trump's presidency poses for all Americans."


Sorry, summer, but you're too hot!!! Fall will be here sooner than you think, so why not get a head start on your office wardrobe? And no, your work outfits don't have to only consist of black pants and constricting blazers. Here, 18 fall work outfit ideas to give you some chic inspiration. Whether your office is more dressy or casual, there's a cute look for you and it just might make you crave a PSL. Sorry! 1) Faux-Leather Culottes Forever21 $29.90 Shop Now Dip your toes into some neutrals when the cold weather hits with a cute cream sweater and brown faux-leather culottes. If it's the beginning of fall and not quite as freezing, opt for some white sneaks and you're done! No need to throw on outerwear unless your office really cranks up the A/C. 2) Relaxed Shirtdress Neon Rose $51.00 Shop Now Yes, you can totally wear florals during fall especially if they have gorgeous hues of olive green and burnt orange like the ones in this botanical shirtdress. Complete your look with statement earrings and a top-handle for a killer office look. 3) Zip It Through Denim Boilersuit Nasty Gal $48.00 Shop Now A boilersuit is always chic and easy to throw on if you're running late to work. One in a bright shade of red will make you stand out in the hallways, and it looks even better with a pair of white-hot boots . 4) Midi Skirt - Turmeric Warp + Weft $109.00 Shop Now Wow, have you ever seen a more elevated outfit?! A camel-tone skirt with a black turtleneck and booties is ultra sophisticated without looking too uptight. 5) Faux Patent-Leather Midi Skirt Marni $294.00 Shop Now A longer patent-leather skirt is work appropriate yet trendy even more so when worn with a swirly zebra-print shirt and platform slingbacks . Since your bottoms will catch any reflection, they'll really be the focal point. 6) Trapeze Maxi Dress With Puff Sleeve Asos DESIGN $60.00 Shop Now Channel the autumnal hues with this orange printed maxi and red block heels . This piece is perfect for transitional weather, too, since the silhouette is summery, but with the right accessories, you can easily wear it in cooler temps. 7) Core Moto lucky brand $289.99 Shop Now If your office is more casual, simply throw on a classic leather jacket with medium-wash skinnies and brown booties . You can also edge up any of your summer dresses with this outerwear piece to get more wear out of them. 8) Bold Notion Wide-Leg Jumpsuit modcloth $89.00 Shop Now A jumpsuit with a literal cheetah print is a piece you'll love to wear both in and out of the office. The bright pattern stands out against the darker green, and it looks even cuter with a pair of coordinating heeled sandals . 9) The Tommy | Stage Door Boyish Jeans $168.00 Shop Now A striped button-down is a classic work go-to that doesn't look at all stuffy with cropped denim jeans and black mules . 10) Stevie Canvas Romper Urban Outfitters $79.00 Shop Now If it's *technically* fall but doesn't quite feel like it temperature-wise, a shorter romper with a belted waist and thick-soled sandals makes a fun 'fit. Once the weather cools down, you can pair it with a statement coat and combat boots. 11) Playful Proportions Miniskirt Modcloth $49.00 Shop Now A patterned skirt that also has a solid black panel will go with tons of neutral tops including this playful keyhole sweater . Balance out the darker tones with a bright heel and you'll get so many compliments. 12) Honey Plush Cropped Cardigan Urban Outfitters $59.00 Shop Now A knit cardigan is versatile because you can wear it on its own as a top when buttoned all the way or wear it open. Take your tie-dye T-shirt from summer and wear it underneath, and pair it with a black mini , loafers , and ankle socks for an effortless vibe. 13) Wool-Blend Chunky Knit Sweater & Other Stories $119.00 Shop Now This look is great for those lazy Mondays when you want to put in minimal effort to get ready. (Basically me every day, TBH.) An oversize beige sweater instantly becomes more put-together with zebra-print pants and black heeled booties . As a bonus, you can wear the comfy sweater as loungewear too! 14) Cardigan Sweater Dress Eloquii $129.95 Shop Now If you *really* love cardigans, get one in dress form with contrasting red and white stripes. Pull it together with matching red ankle-strap shoes and you'll have the confidence to kill that presentation you've been preparing for. 15) The Wool Oversize Blazer everlane $180.00 Shop Now Your favorite white T-shirt and jeans might not sound too dressy, but tuck in the shirt and add a double-breasted blazer for an instantly chic work outfit. Complete it with comfortable loafers if you're on your feet for most of the day. 16) Lucky Break Olive Oversize Jacket Lulu's $64.00 Shop Now An olive jacket with an open front adds some color to a black sweater dress and beige boots , but you can also wear it with jeans and a T-shirt for a more low-key weekend look. 17) Red Double-Breasted Coat Captain's Blog $78.00 Shop Now No one will miss you when you walk into the office with a coat as red as this. Balance out the elevated outerwear with distressed crop jeans , a plain T-shirt , and simple heels , and you'll feel prepared to take on the day no matter how hectic. 18) Out of Sight Jumpsuit C/MEO $184.00 Shop Now Another transitional piece is this onesie with a belted waist. Wear it with sandals in warm temps, but once fall hits, you can wear it with a coat, heels , and a trendy top-handle bag .


NASA's Kepler Space Telescope may be dead , but that doesn't mean that the wealth of data it gathered doesn't still hold some untold surprises. A new research paper from scientists at the Max Planck Institute, Georg August University, and the Sonneberg Observatory is a great reminder of that, and it reveals the existence of 18 (!) completely new exoplanets that were previously unknown to astronomers. The discovery was made after a careful analysis of Kepler data using a new method of approach that is more sensitive and could, its creators believe, uncover dozens or even over a hundred totally new worlds orbiting distant stars. Typically, data exoplanet-hunting hardware is scanned for changes in star brightness that could indicate the presence of a planet. However, this can make it difficult to spot smaller planets, like those similar in size to Earth. "Standard search algorithms attempt to identify sudden drops in brightness," Dr. Rene Heller, first author of the research published in Astronomy & Astrophysics , said in a statement . "In reality, however, a stellar disk appears slightly darker at the edge than in the center. When a planet moves in front of a star, it therefore initially blocks less starlight than at the mid-time of the transit. The maximum dimming of the star occurs in the center of the transit just before the star becomes gradually brighter again," he explains. Related Slideshow: Provided by Photo Services A whopping 18 new planets are one heck of a discovery, but almost none of them would likely be habitable by life as we understand it. In fact, a full 17 of them are likely far too hot for liquid water to exist on their surfaces. That's a huge bummer for those of us who dream of the discovery of a true "alien" world complete with its own unique forms of life. The single outlier, a planet called EPIC 201238110.02, is quite a bit larger than Earth but still within the realm of what astronomers consider "Earth-like." It's at the right distance from its host star that it could likely support liquid water on its surface. This so-called "Goldilocks zone" is right where Earth sits, and it's thought that planets in this zone of their respective stars are our best chance for finding extraterrestrial life. Going forward, the researchers will set their sights on discovering even more previously-unknown worlds, and we'll be hoping some more potentially habitable planets are in the mix.


HOUSTON -- It has all the makings of a rivalry for the ages, whether the outcome of the series between the Warriors and the Rockets backs it up or not. It has some spicy modern history, requiring no more than a glance back less than 12 months ago to the epic, seven-game, Western Conference Finals showdown that Golden State won en route to its second consecutive NBA title. There are big characters, elite players, juicy story lines and the reality that the victor will immediately be installed as the overwhelming favorite to win this year's championship. And there is acrimony over everything from fouling to flopping, making it seem like the red stuff seeping from James Harden's eyes is not the only type of bad blood coursing through this slugfest. Or maybe not? While the Warriors and Rockets do a pretty darn good job of making it seem like they can't stand each other one minute, at other times relations are remarkably and confusingly cordial. Just as you get Steve Kerr dramatically flopping into a group of reporters to poke fun at Harden and his penchant for exaggerating contact, there was Kevin Durant, in a stunning turn of events this week, defending the primary scorer for the Rockets and effusing respect. "I don't think that he's been cheating the game at all," Durant said. "Everybody, once they get into the lane, they use little tricks to try to get their shot off. I don't think he's any different." Game 2 Tuesday, which seems like an eternity ago now thanks to the NBA's oddball scheduling system, was supposed to be the most heated there has been between the teams, ignited by refereeing furor from Game 1 and heightened by the presence of controversial ref Scott Foster. Yet when Draymond Green accidentally raked Harden's eyes, the Golden State big man and Durant went over to inquire about Harden's welfare as he left the court. "Just to check on him," Green said afterwards. "It's not about hurting anybody out there. So many times, people forget that when a guy is injured, you live with that every day, every second of every day. It's not just about this game." All nice and friendly. Right? Maybe. Harden wasn't in much mood to talk about it but many wondered if the apology was being taken as genuine . Harden's eyes were still visibly very red Thursday. There are mixed messages all over the place. Houston was infuriated by Golden State's defensive tactics in the series opener but 48 hours later Clint Capela was extolling the virtues of the Warriors' outstanding defense. Meanwhile, Andre Iguodala praised Houston's resiliency. If there is some discord, it is at least partially offset by respect. The Warriors know that no one plays them harder, nor is better equipped to give them a challenge. If not for an injury to Chris Paul in Game 6 in 2018, the Rockets might be the reigning NBA champions. Golden State would counter that Iguodala's injury in the same series depleted its defensive resources. Either way, they know what the other brings and as a result, the Warriors are taking nothing for granted even after establishing a significant advantage with a 2-0 series lead heading into Saturday night's Game 3 . "That is a heck of a team over there," Klay Thompson said. "They do a lot of things well and we have to bring it, all of the time." Paul has been chippy, getting ejected from Game 1, and acting sarcastic, mock celebrating when the officials gave Harden a three-point foul in Game 2. Yet he has been fulsome in his praise of Stephen Curry, who responded in kind, sharing a nostalgic story of when he trained with Paul in North Carolina early in his career. NBA HISTORY: Blazers outlast Nuggets in first 4OT playoff game since 1953 CURRY'S WEAKNESS: Will Rockets capitalize on Stephen Curry's penchant for foul trouble? DAME TIME: Damian Lillard and Portland deserve your respect Certainly it is mightily rare that Golden State goes into any game as an underdog, especially a sizable one. That's how it is for Game 3 at Toyota Center though, with the Las Vegas line favoring the home side by as many as 3.5 points. A lot of it has to do with home court advantage, although Houston won exactly half of its four home games during the Conference Finals last year and split the two home games during this regular season. It is an oddity that having opened what most people see as a series-winning ga , Golden State goes in as a bigger underdog than it has been all year. Who knows what the rivalry holds, especially if Durant's seemingly imminent departure shakes things up for the two-time defending champions. All we know is that it is well worth watching now. It is the most powerful and star-studded showdown the league has got, a matchup that could comfortably serve as the Finals and sometimes feels that way. It has our full attention because that's what happens with great soap operas, regardless of whether the two groups of players eventually figure out whether they like each other or not. Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Martin Rogers on Twitter @RogersJourno This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Opinion: How much bad blood is there between Warriors and Rockets? Related Slideshow: Best of the NBA Playoffs (Provided by imagn)