Classic Ford GT40 looks with a high-powered modern powertrain. Superformance   the creator of stunning GT40, Shelby Cobra, Corvette Grand Sport and Shelby Daytona replicas and continuation cars   wowed the 2018 SEMA Show with the introduction of its Future GT Forty line. This car took the timeless beauty of a Ford GT40 replica and combined it with modern powertrain components from Ford, and now one of these cars can be yours thanks to Hillbank Motor Corporation . While the Future GT Forty revealed at the 2018 SEMA Show rocked a 647-horsepower, 3.5-liter twin-turbo EcoBoost V-6 from the current Ford GT, this car up for sale (chassis P2369) rocks a Ford 5.0-liter Coyote V-8 topped with a Roush supercharger that is good for 650 horsepower. This car was the first Future GT Forty to be built with a V-8 and was also the first with a wide body kit. Like the show car, it is painted in the same red, white and blue livery as the No. 68 Ford GT that won the 2016 24 Hours of Le Mans. More than just a show car, Superformance developed the Future GT Forty by adding modern features to its MkI GT40. This includes the aero package consisting of a front splitter, dual canards (the front winglets ahead of the front wheel opening) and a detachable rear wing all created from carbon fiber. For maximum handling, this car is also fitted with Wilwood six-piston brakes, HRE center lock wheels (18 inches front, 19 inches rear) and Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires. The wide body kit provides enough space for massive 345-series rear tires, which offers over a foot of contract tread to lay down some serious rubber! Hillbank, a certified dealer of Superformance, currently has this Future GT Forty listed for $250,000, but you can also make an offer on eBay . Read More... This Continuation Superformance Daytona Is Exquisitely Accurate Superformance To Produce 50th Anniversary GT40 MKI


Police have identified a woman who was found dead earlier this week in the middle of a street in a Boston neighborhood. Brenda Lee Keller, 57, of Boston, was found at the corner of Hiawatha and Fottler roads in Mattapan at 3:22 p.m. Thursday. Police are asking the public to help them identify what they called "a vehicle of interest" in connection with they are now calling "an ongoing vehicular homicide investigation." At the time of the incident, police said a motor vehicle was seen traveling on Hiawatha Road in the direction of Blue Hill Avenue. The vehicle was described by police as a black sedan with windows that appeared to be tinted. Police said the driver, who was last seen walking away from the scene toward Tennis Road, is described as a black female with a heavy build and long hair wearing a white shirt and black pants. Police sources initially called the case a hit-and-run Thursday before backing off those reports several hours later. Police said anyone with information is urged to contact police homicide detectives at 617-343-4470. READ MORE: Police identify woman found dead in Boston; officials seek vehicle of interest CHECK OUT WCVB: Get the latest Boston news, weather and sports online, anytime. Stay in the know with Boston's news leader   WCVB.


The Saints have signed defensive tackle Sylvester Williams , according to a team announcement. The former first-round pick auditioned for the Saints way back in October and showed enough during this month's rookie minicamp to earn a deal. Williams was an All-American at North Carolina, which helped him become a first round pick of the Broncos back in 2013. Williams spent the first four years of his career with Denver, but didn't have his fifth-year option picked up. He signed a three-year pact with the Titans, but was released after just one year . After stops in Detroit and Miami, he'll try to get back on track in New Orleans. Between Miami and Detroit, Williams appeared in 14 games last season, including four starts. He's managed to be a decent run-stuffer in the past, and is still only 30. The Saints had one of the league's best defensive lines and run defenses last year, but standout defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins tore his Achilles right at the end of the year, so Williams could offer some value as a depth addition.


It might be the amortentia talking, but I am in LOVE with this romantic Harry Potter wedding shoot - I can't get over that cake! Alohomora! This Romantic Harry Potter Wedding Shoot Has the Flying Key to My Heart It might be the amortentia talking, but I am in LOVE with this romantic Harry Potter wedding shoot - I can't get over that cake! Shot by Lindsay Rozelle of Luckybird Photography at Nazareth Hall in Grand Rapids, OH, this Hogwarts-inspired wedding looks like something straight out of my personal Mirror of Erised. From the gilded patronus cake and the floating keys to the groom's golden snitch boutonnière and the absolutely magical decor reminiscent of the Great Hall, this stunning shoot makes me want to apparate straight into every photo. See the spellbinding pictures ahead, and gather some inspiration for your own Harry Potter-themed wedding along the way. Vendors: Dress Store: Belle Amour Bridal // Floral Designer: In Bloom Flowers & Gifts // Event Designer: Elite Events // Event Venue: Nazareth Hall // Bakery: So Many Somethings//Makeup Artist: Jeanne Hooven Makeup Artist // Photographer: Luckybird Photography // Submitted via Two Bright Lights


Charles A. Babbitt Jr. filmed a group of swimming reef manta rays moving through the sea in the island Oahu, in Hawaii.


PEBBLE BEACH   It's not easy to get here. The road from Monterey is twisty and steep, curling through a forest of giant trees. I'm thinking no one would want to live here, remote, removed, on the edge of the world, lost even to Californians. And yet. Yet I look through the forest, to the tops of trees, and houses are perched there, perilously it seems, teetering on hillsides where trees have been taken down by landslides. And then we descend to the peninsula's flatland. And to the Pebble Beach Golf Links. Where all is forgiven. Robert Louis Stevenson called the Monterey Peninsula "the most felicitous meeting of land and sea in creation." No inkstained wretch should argue with the creator of the murderous Mr. Hyde. Still, "felicitous" is too dainty a word to describe the good work done here by, y'know, the ultimate golf architect, God. How about miraculous? It's all breathtaking, astonishing, and pretty damn special. The folks in charge of the United States Open golf tournament do many things well, and the thing they do best is bring their ultimate competition to the Pebble Beach Golf Links, the ultimate golf course. Maybe some places demand more of a player; Oakmont comes to mind. Maybe some places speak more to history; Augusta. No place, it says here, does all that while sending its players to the edge of the known world way past Gilroy, just south and west of Salinas and onto the greatest stage in golf. We've all seen the Jack Nicklaus 1-iron collide with the flagstick at Pebble Beach's 17th for a kick-in birdie that helped him win 1972 U.S. Open, the third of his four Open championships. That shot is such a piece of history that it is irrevocably tied to Pebble Beach, as if the place itself enriched Nicklaus's record. The truth is the opposite. That Open was the first that the U.S. Golf Association dared bring to removed, remote Pebble Beach. Nicklaus already was the best ever. So his 1-iron into a stiff breeze off the ocean gave Pebble Beach its first piece of Open immortality. It is also part of why Nicklaus wrote, "If I only had one more round to play, I would choose to play it at Pebble Beach." After Nicklaus came Tom Watson in 1982 (that called chip-in at the 17th!), Tom Kite in '92, Tiger Woods in 2000 (by 15 shots!), and Graeme McDowell in 2010. If, as one USGA executive director, Sandy Tatum, once said, the Open does not intend to "embarrass" the great players but to "identify" them, that list of champions shows that Pebble Beach has well played its role in the process. Pebble's return to the Open rotation nine years after McDowell's victory it's also coming back in 2027 may also gladden hearts of the USGA administrators who have come in for some heat of late as the 2015 champion Jordan Spieth noted in a press conference Tuesday: "I think recent history (for the USGA) was just kind of a bit unlucky. One golf course played a lot easier [Erin Hills, 2017]. You had a rules thing [Dustin Johnson, Oakmont, 2016], and some greens that ended up not the way that they were supposed to be [Chambers Bay, 2015]. I don't know necessarily if all the blame goes to one place, or a number of places, or there shouldn't be any blame. If we're going to look at 2015, I was playing the best going in, and so was Dustin and [Jason] Day, and look at the leader board on Sunday. Maybe it wasn't ideal conditions, but it didn't separate who was playing the best that week. Same with DJ playing the best at Oakmont, he winds up winning. Big picture, you still had the right champions every single time." And now they come not to a place unknown, not to Erin Hills or Chambers Bay, but to a place called felicitous and breathtaking and "one of the most amazing pieces of property in the world" (Spieth, Tuesday). They come to Pebble Beach, a property sanctified by Nicklaus and Watson and beatified by Woods, and we'll see if Brooks Koepka can add to the history. Victory would be Koepka's third straight in the Open. That trifecta has been done, but only once, and a lot has happened since Willie Anderson came over from Scotland and did it in 1903, '04, and '05. By the way, Robert Louis Stevenson was also Scottish. He was 29 years old in 1879 when he walked the beaches of the Monterey Peninsula. Brooks Koepka is also 29. Make of that what you will. Check out Golf Digest Schools for the best in video golf instruction WATCH: GOLF DIGEST VIDEOS See the video. The Visual Evolution of Pebble Beach


Thursday night's matchup between the New York Giants and Washington Redskins will kick off Week 3 in the 2015 NFL season. The " Monday Night Football " clash featuring the Kansas City Chiefs and Green Bay Packers bookends the week, with 14 other games to be played on Sunday. Here are five players poised to fill up the stat sheet in Week 3: WR Odell Beckham, Jr., New York Giants The Thursday night game could produce fireworks from OBJ, especially if last season is any indication. In his one matchup with Washington in 2014, Beckham caught 12 passes for 143 yards and three touchdowns. He hauled in seven passes for 146 yards and one score last week. The guy now has 10 games with at least 90 receiving yards over his last 11 contests. The only problem with him is truly identifying what it means to have a "big performance." Beckham is raising the bar every week. QB Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks Seattle will welcome the defensively challenged Chicago Bears to the Pacific Northwest for the Seahawks' home opener. Chicago has allowed a league-high 79 points (13 more than Oakland's 66) in 2015, and much of the damage has been done through the air. Opposing quarterbacks are completing almost 75 percent of their passes against the Bears, with seven touchdowns and just one interception. Chicago also doesn't have a sack this season. Wilson should carve the Bears up. QB Nick Foles, St. Louis Rams While Ben Roethlisberger has the unfortunate task of facing the Rams' front four, Foles gets a chance to play one of the worst passing defenses of the early season. Pittsburgh has allowed almost 290 passing yards per game, with six touchdowns and no interceptions. Both Tom Brady and Colin Kaepernick two polar opposite quarterbacks posted big numbers against the Steelers' rebuilding defense. Expect Foles to play well, especially if the Rams finally get first-round running back Todd Gurley into the fold. RB Latavius Murray, Oakland Raiders Derek Carr is the ticket in Oakland, but don't sleep on Murray. He's slowly revving up, and there's a lot to like about his Week 3 matchup in Cleveland. No team has allowed more rushing yards than the Browns, who are giving up 160 per game to start 2015. Even the Swiss Army knife Dexter McCluster managed to nearly break 100 against Cleveland last week. Week 3 seems like a good bet for Murray's first big game of this season. WR Randall Cobb, Green Bay Packers Cobb has probably been licking his chops while watching what Emmanuel Sanders did to the Chiefs defense in Week 2. The small but slippery Sanders caught eight passes including two scores in Denver's come-from-behind win. The 5'10" Cobb is a similar style of receiver. He's also the No. 1 target for Aaron Rodgers, who is once again playing at an MVP level. The Chiefs defense has allowed at least 220 yards and two touchdowns to receivers in both games this season. Cobb should help make that 3-for-3.


The Bears kicker competition took another turn this offseason, as the team announced Wednesday morning they waived Chris Blewitt following a minicamp practice that saw each kicker on the roster miss a 42-yard field goal in consecutive fashion. #Bears roster update: We have waived kicker Chris Blewitt. - Chicago Bears (@BearsPR) June 12, 2019 The University of Pittsburgh product was signed in early March after the team held a group tryout at Halas Hall. Blewitt participated in their rookie camp following the draft and was one of three kickers to emerge from the eight-man competition and last through team organized activities and minicamp. Blewitt's release leaves recently acquired former Oakland Raiders kicker Eddy Pineiro and former Alliance of American Footbal kicker Elliott Fry as the only two left in the competition. The team may still explore other options at the position. Former Atlanta Falcons kicker Matt Bryant remains a free agent, and San Francisco 49ers kicker Robbie Gould continues his holdout and request for a trade. MORE: Most bizarre and incredible catches by fishermen in past decade NBA trade rumor rankings: Rockets on the move? Packers rookie CB Ka'dar Hollman impressing early with press coverage Chris Jones, Chiefs front office must overcome obstacles to reach contract extension With QB in place, Jets GM Joe Douglas won't ignore the trenches


The Atlanta Braves have announced a pair of roster moves in advance of tonight's series opener against the Washington Nationals. Atlanta recalled RHP Kyle Wright from Triple-A Gwinnett and announced that he will start tonight's game. In addition, the team also reinstated outfielder Ender Inciarte from the injured list. The #Braves today recalled RHP Kyle Wright from Triple-A Gwinnett and returned OF Ender Inciarte from his major league rehabilitation assignment and reinstated him from the 10-day injured list. Wright will start tonight's game against the Nationals.   Atlanta Braves (@Braves) July 18, 2019 To make room on the active roster, the Braves optioned right-handers Bryse Wilson and Huascar Ynoa to Triple-A Gwinnett. Atlanta will go with a seven-man bullpen at least for now. As we explored earlier, Wright was scratched from his scheduled start on Wednesday. Starting him tonight will allow both Julio Teheran and Mike Soroka to gain an extra day's rest. Teheran will start on Friday with Soroka slated to go on Saturday. Optioning Wilson would suggest that it will likely be Kevin Gausman who gets the nod on Sunday which will require another roster move.


DETROIT   Hey, bae: It's time again for a curated list of words and phrases that those with a linguistic skill set wish they could hurl into the polar vortex. The 40th annual List of Words to be Banished from the Queen's English for Misuse, Overuse and Uselessness includes "bae," most commonly used as a term of endearment, along with "curated," ''skill set," ''takeaway" and "polar vortex." The latter refers to the frigid Arctic blast that gripped the nation last winter. The list, released Wednesday, consists of a dozen terms compiled by northern Michigan's Lake Superior State University based on submissions received throughout 2014 from members of the public. It joins an archive of more than 800 entries created in 1976 by a former public relations director who started with phrases that annoyed him and his friends. There's nothing binding about this tongue-in-cheek decree, even if the people behind the nominations would ban the words if they were the kings   or queens   of speech. "A pretentious way of saying 'selected,'" said Kristi Hoerauf of San Francisco, in support of her proposed banishment of "curate/curated." ''It's enormously overused." Other words on the list include "hack," ''foodie," ''swag" and "cra-cra" as a stand-in for crazy. Also submitted for sanction are "enhanced interrogation," ''friend-raising" (a prelude or alternative to a fund-raising campaign) and the suffix "-nation," used to make words such as "Packer Nation" or "Cubs Nation." "I'm not aware of any team or mascot that has the carrying capacity to be a nation," submitted Kelly Frawley of Waunakee, Wisconsin, despite her devotion to college and professional sports in her state. Some words take their sweet time making this Hall of Semantic Shame: "Swag," for instance, is a perennial nominee that finally made the list this year. Jeff Drake of Saint Albans, West Virginia, said swag is "neither useful nor fancy," whether describing droopy clothing or a "free gift," a term that was banned in 1988. Then there's the call to ban "bae," which might not make Pharrell Williams too, um, happy. The multitalented entertainer dropped a single in 2014 called "Come Get it Bae." Sometimes, phrases can rise and fall rapidly and without ever invading the broader lexicon, often staying largely within conversations among younger people. "Bae" is an example of a word that some feel deserves to disappear, while others will be surprised to know it even exists, said Tom Pink, a spokesman for the university and list. Years from now, Pink said, people may wonder why some words were included. "People will say, 'Bae? What's that?'" he said. ___ Online: http://www.lssu.edu/banished/ ___ Follow Jeff Karoub on Twitter: http://twitter.com/jeffkaroub. His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/author/jeff-karoub


The Day in Sports: Saturday, June 29, 2019 Boston Red Sox v New York Yankees - MLB London Series - Match One - London Series 6/29/2019 - The Duke and Duchess of Sussex receive presents for their son Archie as they meet players of the New York Yankees as they attend the Boston Red Sox vs New York Yankees baseball game at the London Stadium in support of the Invictus Games Foundation. (Photo by PA Images/Sipa USA) *** US Rights Only ** Italy v Netherlands - FIFA Women's World Cup 2019 - Quarter Final - Stade du Hainaut 6/29/2019 - Italy's Alia Guagni (left) and Netherlands' Shanice van de Sande battle for the ball (Photo by PA Images/Sipa USA) *** US Rights Only ** MLB: Chicago Cubs at Cincinnati Reds Cincinnati Reds right fielder Yasiel Puig (66) is restrained by home plate umpire Mark Wegner (right) after Puig was hit by a pitch by Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Pedro Strop (46) during the eighth inning at Great American Ball Park. PGA: Rocket Mortage Classic - Third Round Ryan Armour hits out of a green side bunker on the 18th hole during the third round of the Rocket Mortgage Classic golf tournament at Detroit Golf Club. Soccer: Womens World Cup-Italy at Netherlands Netherlands defender Stefanie van der Gragt (3) celebrates her goal scored against Italy in a quarterfinal match in the FIFA Women's World Cup France 2019 at Stade du Hainaut. MLB: New York Yankees at Boston Red Sox General view of the field during the seventh inning of the game between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees at London Stadium. The New York Yankees won 17-13. MLB: Washington Nationals at Detroit Tigers Washington Nationals pitcher Jonny Venters (39) delivers a pitch during the fifth inning against the Washington Nationals at Comerica Park. Soccer: CONCACAF Gold Cup-Haiti at Canada Haiti goalkeeper Jhony Placide (1) celebrates with defender Andrew Jean Baptiste (16) after defeating Canada in quarterfinal play in the CONCACAF Gold Cup soccer tournament at NRG Stadium. MLB: New York Yankees at Boston Red Sox Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, before game between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees at London Stadium. MLB: Philadelphia Phillies at Miami Marlins Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Scott Kingery (4) misses to make a catch after a single by Miami Marlins third baseman Neil Walker (18) in the seventh inning of the game at Marlins Park. MLS: Montreal Impact at Atlanta United FC Atlanta United forward Justin Meram (14) reacts after scoring his second goal of the match against the Montreal Impact during the second half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. MLB: Kansas City Royals at Toronto Blue Jays Toronto Blue Jays catcher Danny Jansen (center) is greeted by team mates at home plate after hitting a walk off two run home run against Kansas City Royals in the ninth inning at Rogers Centre. NASCAR: Camping World 300 NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Cole Cluster (00) reacts after winning the Camping World 300 at Chicagoland Speedway. MLB: Cleveland Indians at Baltimore Orioles Baltimore Orioles outfielder Keon Broxton (9) dives to make a catch against the Cleveland Indians in the sixth inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Soccer: CONCACAF Gold Cup-Haiti at Canada Haiti forward Herve Bazile (7) celebrates after being fouled against Canada during the second half during quarterfinal play in the CONCACAF Gold Cup soccer tournament at NRG Stadium. MLS: Orlando City SC at Columbus Crew SC Columbus Crew SC fans before the game against the Orlando City at MAPFRE Stadium. MMA: UFC Fight Night-Minneapolis-Whitmire vs Ribas Emily Whitmire (red gloves) fights Amanda Ribas (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Target Center. MLB: Los Angeles Dodgers at Colorado Rockies Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. MLB: Pittsburgh Pirates at Milwaukee Brewers Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Josh Bell (55) is tagged out by Milwaukee Brewers catcher Yasmani Grandal (10) while trying to score in the first inning at Miller Park. MMA: UFC Fight Night-Minneapolis-Menifield vs Craig Alonzo Menifield (red gloves) fights Paul Craig (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Target Center.


Former Florida linebacker Rayshad Jackson will graduate transfer to UNLV, the player has announced. "I would like to announce that I am finishing my last year of eligibility as a grad transfer at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas," he wrote in an iPhone note posted to his Twitter account on Saturday. "Go REBELS!" #ForeverFlorida @unlvfootball @CoachTSkip @CrisGarcia99 @UNLVSanchez pic.twitter.com/FbBlSyeRzD   Rayshad Jackson (@SpaceGhost_11) June 22, 2019 A former 3-star recruit out of Miami, Jackson redshirted in 2015, then saw his playing time steadily increase in his three seasons on the active roster: nine games as a special teamer and reserve linebacker in 2016, 11 games with 14 tackles in '17, and then a perfect 13 appearances with three starts as a redshirt junior last fall. Jackson collected 36 tackles, one pass breakup, three quarterback hurries and 0.5 tackles for loss. Rather than see if he can climb the mountain to becoming a full-time starter as a fifth-year senior, Jackson elected to move on last month. As a graduate transfer, Jackson will be eligible to play immediately, and Tony Sanchez 's bunch will expect him to do just that. UNLV finished No. 118 nationally in yards per play and No. 120 in scoring defense en route to a 4-8 season in 2018.


CHARLESTON, S.C. - There's a grandstand to the right of the 11 th tee box at Country Club of Charleston that sits in the shade. If there's a place to be during the steamy 74 th U.S. Women's Open, that's it. Seth Raynor's Reverse Redan is the kind of par 3 that stops you in your tracks. "I feel like that hole, anything can happen," said 2018 U.S. Women's Open champion Ariya Jutanugarn. And it has. Sam Snead once carded a 13 on the hole and Ben Hogan said it needed "about five sticks of dynamite." Beth Daniel grew up at Country Club of Charleston and would go for the top shelf if she had the perfect club in her hand. Otherwise, she laid up to avoid disaster. That's right, she laid up on a par 3. "I hit it short left, right over there," she said, "into the slope, rolls down and give yourself a chance to make par. Worst you're going to do is bogey." The tee box on the 11 th is built up because it served as a cannon mount in the Civil War. "If you think about it," said Daniel, "it protected the mouth of the river so they couldn't escape. They were either stuck in the harbor or they had to go out to the ocean." Emma Talley watches her tee shot from No. 11 during the 2013 U. S. Women's Amateur at Country Club of Charleston. (Golfweek File) Stacy Lewis looked at Monday's practice round tee sheet and signed up to play alongside Emma Talley, the 2013 U.S. Women's Amateur champion. Talley played nine rounds of competitive golf here the week she won. "I'm no dummy," said Lewis as she made her way to the 11 th tee. The official yardage on the 11 th this week is 172 yards. Talley never came up short during the Women's Amateur. The target, she said, is the left side of the tower behind the green. "You basically try to land in the same spot every day," said Lewis, "which is 5 to 7 over the top of the ridge and you take what you get from there. Over the back is fine." While other players, including Talley, hit balls from the bottom of the severely sloped green, Lewis went straight to the top and spent her extra time out of the right greenside bunker and behind the green. "I'm not gonna hit it there," she said of being short. Speaking of those grandstands, it's better to get a drop from them than be short in the right greenside bunker. The left greenside bunker could spell catastrophe. "It's kind of weird to think about missing a green on a par 3," said Pressel, "where you have your best opportunity to make an up and down, but you definitely need a different mindset going into that hole." Inbee Park had trouble carrying the ridge on No. 11 and then trying to stop the ball. "I kind of have to look kind of into the hill, like last two, three yards of it," she said, "and then try to jump it up from there. But the greens are actually firm enough that even if we hit into those hills, it kind of jumps up unless like you hit it too far below it." It should make for must-see theater this week. "I think, like any other hole, we'll watch hole locations, we'll watch firmness," said senior managing director of championships John Bodenhamer. "I can guarantee you the players are thinking about where they want to miss it, and that isn't left." https://compass.pressekompass.net/compasses/golfweek/is-brooks-koepka-the-games-best-golfer-r MORE: Kyle Busch was so frustrated during Coke 600 that he told Joe Gibbs he quit Report: The Celtics are no longer the favorites to sign Kyrie Irving Four potential Khris Middleton landing spots in free agency Draymond Green to LeBron James' 14-Year-Old Son: "I'm at Your F--king Neck This Summer" Interior pressure will still power Packers' pass rush in 2019


Video by CBS Los Angeles In their first home game since pitcher Tyler Skaggs' passing on July 1, the Angels threw a combined no-hitter in Anaheim vs. Seattle. It was the first combined no-no in California since Orioles at A's on July 13, 1991, the same day Skaggs was born, according to STATS . Before his teammates, Taylor Cole and Felix Pena, took the mound both wearing Skaggs' No. 45 along with the rest of their team the former Los Angeles ace's mom threw a perfect strike on the first pitch of the game. Mike Trout then blasted a first-pitch fastball for a home run, launching the ball a fitting 454 feet over the centerfield fence. The two-time MVP noted after the game that the Angels scored seven runs in the first and finished with 13 runs. "Tyler's birthday is 7/13. Tomorrow," Trout said, per assembled media. "They'd tell you to rewrite this script to make it more believable if you turned this in." He continued: "I'm speechless. This is the best way to honor him." "This was definitely for him and he was definitely watching over us tonight." @MikeTrout joined @KellyNash on #QuickPitch after the @Angels no-hitter. pic.twitter.com/bhda4LhydM   MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) July 13, 2019 Cole and Pena finished the night having faced and held hitless 28 batters. Saturday morning would have marked Skaggs' 28th birthday. The 13 0 victory stood as the 11th no-hitter in Angels history and the first since Jered Weaver blanked the Twins on May 2, 2012. "This is all for him," Pena said in Spanish during an interview after the game. "I feel like we have an angel looking down on us." A no-no just hours before what would have been Tyler Skaggs' 28th birthday. You can't script this. For Tyler. pic.twitter.com/wxiXIsYlfE   MLB (@MLB) July 13, 2019 Skaggs' teammates, Angels fans and players throughout MLB alike were moved by the no-hitter. I'm still speechless. Love you Swaggy. #45 #WereNasty https://t.co/COa2svYjFN   Andrew Heaney (@Heandog8) July 13, 2019 I still have chills about tonight!! This game is beautiful and Swaggy was with us every step of the way!! #WereNasty   Justin Anderson (@janderson_22) July 13, 2019 Thank you Skiggs #45 https://t.co/RBnMk02ON2   Cam Bedrosian (@Cam_Bedrock) July 13, 2019 That wasn't coincidence #45 😇   Andrelton Simmons (@Andrelton) July 13, 2019 much love ❤   Kenley Jansen (@kenleyjansen74) July 13, 2019 Thinking of all of you @Angels . What a tribute. #45 https://t.co/LPllTZAs1r   Kenley Jansen (@kenleyjansen74) July 13, 2019 Absolutely incredible!! It is bigger than baseball. Meant to be. #skaggs45 #nohitter @Angels   Justin Verlander (@JustinVerlander) July 13, 2019 Wow. What a beautiful tribute. #45 pic.twitter.com/BVSvAWTYQn   Obi-Sean Kenobi Doolittle (@whatwouldDOOdo) July 13, 2019 Amazing. https://t.co/9pih1vleQu   Obi-Sean Kenobi Doolittle (@whatwouldDOOdo) July 13, 2019 Amazing #45   Alex Bregman (@ABREG_1) July 13, 2019 Incredible night in Anaheim! Brings chills #45   Randal Grichuk (@RGrich15) July 13, 2019 This is unbelievable. The baseball gods. Love this! https://t.co/TUQA9QCPFw   Marcus Stroman (@MStrooo6) July 13, 2019 What an unbelievable night. By far the most special game I have ever been apart of. Still can not wrap my mind about the events tonight. So emotional and touching watching Debbie throw a strike right down the middle,… https://t.co/9b0vj3a7jX   Kole Calhoun (@KoleCalhoun) July 13, 2019 This is crazy. #riptyler #angelsinthefield https://t.co/StMPfcNr7s   Derek Holland (@Dutch_Oven45) July 13, 2019 Baseball Gods and @TylerSkaggs37 was pitching and watching !!! GodBless the @Angels team !!! #rip45 #wow !!!!!!   Yonder Alonso (@YonderalonsoU) July 13, 2019 This is special We all love you 45 ❤ https://t.co/eXzg5VvsP3   Jack Flaherty (@Jack9Flaherty) July 13, 2019 What happened tonight in LA.... UNBELIEVABLE. Wow. God is good. 🙏🏼 #ForTyler #45   James McCann (@JamesMcCann34) July 13, 2019 Amazing @Angels .. So much bigger than baseball #45   James Kaprielian (@JamesKaprielian) July 13, 2019 #45   Carson Kelly (@carskelly) July 13, 2019 Wow @Angels #45   Jhoulys Chacín (@Jhoulys45) July 13, 2019 What a night in Anaheim.#45   eduardo jose escobar (@escobarmaracay) July 13, 2019 I think everyone who stayed up to watch this gave a fist pump on every out in the 9th. Special doesn't even begin to describe this game. https://t.co/c7FPeYIxEc   Zach Davies (@ZDavies3) July 13, 2019 Goosebumps #45   Taijuan Walker (@tai_walker) July 13, 2019 Felicidades a los @Angels por esta victoria, estos son los días más difíciles cuando entras al clubhouse y Tyler no está ahí, pero estaría orgulloso de ustedes 🙏🏽❤. Congrats @Angels for this win, Tyler would be proud of you guys   Odrisamer Despaigne (@despa40) July 13, 2019 I'm at a loss for words right now watching the ending the @angels game. In our minds and our hearts 45 🙏🏻🙏🏻   Daniel Robertson (@DanielRob99) July 13, 2019 Same! https://t.co/46Bc0qYfbw   Zac Rosscup (@ZRosscup) July 13, 2019 No words! What a night for the @Angels honoring Tyler Skaggs. #RIP45   Rob Whalen (@RobWhalen38) July 13, 2019


(Bloomberg) -- Uber Technologies Inc., responding to a European crackdown on offshore tax havens, created a $6.1 billion Dutch tax deduction that will help the company reduce a chunk of its global tax bill for years to come. San Francisco-based Uber generated the outsized deduction before its initial public offering in May because it moved some of its offshore subsidiaries to different countries as a result of new European Union rules governing multinational companies. The $6.1 billion deduction came through an increase in the value of intellectual property that Uber transferred between its offshore subsidiaries, according to the company's first quarterly filing. When an intangible asset increases in value, so do the tax deductions that come with its use over time. "It's safe to say that Uber will not be paying any taxes for the foreseeable future," said Robert Willens, an independent tax and accounting expert in New York. That $6.1 billion will be a cushion should the company ever turn a profit, allowing the ride-hailing company, which has offices and subsidiaries in the Netherlands, to winnow down the Dutch portion of its future global tax bill. The windfall is only applicable to the company's tax bill in the Netherlands, a tax-reducing hub favored by multinational corporations. But it will certainly lower the company's overall global tax bill if it becomes profitable. Meanwhile, the company can use its U.S. losses to lower its U.S. tax bill. Uber isn't the only U.S. company that has moved operating units around the world in response to Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development rules. The OECD requires multinational companies to justify the business purpose of their offshore operations. Low-tax countries like Singapore, Ireland and the Netherlands are becoming more desirable than no-tax Caribbean havens such as Bermuda. Uber's windfall was created last March when it pulled intellectual property out of a paper entity in Bermuda with no employees and put it into a Dutch entity that's ultimately controlled by a holding company in Singapore. The Dutch entity has dozens of other Uber entities under it, according to Netherlands Chamber of Commerce documents. Read More: U.S. Companies Flee No-Tax Caribbean Havens After EU Crackdown But the size of the tax savings took experts by surprise. Willens, the tax expert, called the $6.1 billion deduction "unusual" relative to Uber's roughly $73 billion market value. Another independent tax and accounting expert, Frank Vari in Boston, said he was "surprised" that the deduction was "that large." The benefit reflected the lofty value that Uber had given its IP when it moved its subsidiaries to new locations. An Uber spokesman said the shuffle was made to "meet the demands" of "the new global tax environment." He referred to the OECD rules that aim to prevent technology and pharmaceutical companies from using paper companies to whisk profits earned in high-tax countries to low-tax and no-tax ones. The spokesman, who asked not to be named, citing company policy, added that the shuffle also marked an end to Uber's use of a different tax strategy, known as "Double Dutch." That structure, which involves Dutch entities with no employees that funnel profits to havens, has been popular with multinationals in recent years and is now in the cross-hairs of European regulators. Technology companies have always worked hard to keep their tax bills low. Amazon.com Inc.'s relatively small annual profits have allowed the e-commerce giant to shrink its tax payments while re-investing in new projects. That strategy has been a recipe for high growth and low tax payments. In the U.S., Uber has tallied operating losses of more than $10 billion over the last three years. Those losses will allow it to cut down its future U.S. tax bills. As of the end of last year, it reported U.S. net operating losses for future use of $5.1 billion for federal purposes and $4.4 billion for taxes in the states in which it operates. In its second-quarter report filed Thursday, Uber posted a $5.2 billion net loss amid sales that fell short of estimates and costs for stock-based compensation during its public offering. Those losses, which reduce taxable income, would allow it to save around $1 billion in federal tax and around $220 million in state taxes, or a total of around $1.2 billion, Willens said. They're in addition to the $6.1 billion Dutch buffer. Before President Donald Trump's 2017 tax law, companies could fully carry losses back two years and forward 20 years. Now, they can't be carried back, and can offset only 80% of taxable income. The $6.1 billion Dutch benefit will reduce Uber's final Dutch tax bills by that precise amount, and has no expiration date. "It's even better" than the U.S. losses, Willens said. Uber referenced the shuffle in its filing, saying that it undertook "a series of transactions resulting in changes to its international legal structure, including a redomiciliation of a subsidiary to the Netherlands and a transfer of certain intellectual property rights among wholly owned subsidiaries." Uber's moves signal how the Republican tax law, which cut the corporate rate to 21% from 35%, failed to encourage companies to bring IP and profits back to the US, because companies can still pay lower taxes by keeping certain entities overseas. Tax rates in the Netherlands and Singapore fall well below the new 21% US rate. The Netherlands has a top corporate rate of 25%, though income from intangible property, like royalties and licensing fees, can be taxed at 7%. Singapore's corporate rate is 17%, though some companies can winnow that down through incentives and other measures. Uber's Netherlands-based IP is tied to royalties, licensing and trademarks that underpin its business in 63 countries as of last year's end. For now, Uber will have to wait to use its new benefit. Because of thorny accounting rules that require U.S. companies to be conservative in their profit forecasts, Uber doesn't think it will generate enough profits in the near future to actually use the $6.1 billion benefit, according to the spokesman, who cited the company's quarterly filing. But once Uber turns a profit, the deduction will kick into action, Willens said. "I'm sure Uber feels that it will eventually become profitable and be in a position to 'realize' its cushion, Willens said. Vari called Uber's shake-up of its legal form "sophisticated. These structures take a lot of time and money to construct and are often considered proprietary." The Uber spokesman said the company "remains committed to openness and transparency with tax authorities around the world, staying faithful to both the letter and intent of the laws in the many jurisdictions where we operate." (Updates with Uber earnings in 15th paragraph.) --With assistance from Yoolim Lee. To contact the reporters on this story: Lynnley Browning in New York at lbrowning4@bloomberg.net;Eric Newcomer in San Francisco at enewcomer@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Wendy Benjaminson at wbenjaminson@bloomberg.net, ;Mark Milian at mmilian@bloomberg.net, Jon Morgan For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com ©2019 Bloomberg L.P.


We've sent people to space for decades   but we're only beginning to learn what that means for human health. The human body has evolved, for hundreds of thousands of years, to thrive on the surface of the Earth. But what happens when you take such an earthbound body and put it in the weightlessness of space? Things get weird. Astronauts commonly report diminished eyesight upon their return home, possibly because the eyeball changes shape in space and tissues surrounding the optic nerves become swollen. Without the constant tug of gravity, bones become more brittle and muscles atrophy. Now there's momentum to send humans into space farther and longer than we've ever been before, subjecting our bodies to even more of this strange environment. The White House has tasked NASA with the (hasty) mission of returning to the moon by the year 2024, and establishing a more permanent human presence there. The plan involves a permanent "lunar gateway," a space station to orbit the moon. Those efforts could lay the groundwork for an eventual crewed mission to Mars, which would place astronauts in space and on the red planet for years. Gallery: Apollo 11's lunar landing mission (Microsoft Pictures) And there are even more far-fetched dreams incubating. Tech titans Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk have both stressed that humans ought to become an interplanetary species. "We are going to build a road to space," Bezos said at a recent event unveiling a moon lander design for his rocket company, Blue Origin. "And then amazing things will happen." All these grand ideas, potential missions, and dreams of a long-term human presence in space depend on one thing: that our feeble human bodies can handle it. But the truth is, no one knows what happens to a body when it spends more than a year in space, or more than a year living on the surface of the moon. What we do have is several very important, untested, and unresolved questions on what happens to the human body in space   and how we can protect the brave people who venture out there. Here are three of the biggest unknowns and the biggest risks. 1) How does the human body respond to radiation in space? This week marks the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing. But since the Apollo program ended in the 1970s, human beings haven't ventured very far out from our home planet. The International Space Station is just 254 miles above the surface and is largely protected from the worst of cosmic radiation (streams of subatomic particles that spread through space like shotgun shot traveling at superfast speeds) by the Earth's magnetism. The moon is nearly 240,000 miles away and offers no such protection. Neither does Mars. "Radiation doses accumulated by astronauts in interplanetary space would be several hundred times larger than the doses accumulated by humans over the same time period on Earth, and several times larger than the doses of astronauts and cosmonauts working on the International Space Station," physicists working with the European Space Agency reported in 2018. When NASA sent the Curiosity Rover to Mars, it found that the one-way trip alone would expose unshielded astronauts to an extra 0.3 sieverts of ionizing radiation, equivalent to 24 CAT scans. That's 15 times the annual radiation limit for workers at nuclear power plants, but not fatal. (For context, one sievert is associated with a 5.5 percent increase in cancer risk; eight sieverts can kill.) The effects of this radiation   and how to mitigate them during spaceflight   aren't entirely known. The only astronauts to have spent much time outside the protective bubble of Earth's magnetism were the Apollo astronauts. "There weren't any genomics study done on astronauts in those days," says Andy Feinberg, a Johns Hopkins epigenetics researcher who worked on the recent NASA "Twin Study," which tracked astronaut Scott Kelly and his twin brother, Mark (who served as an on-the-ground control), for a year in space. "It's going to be very important to have an extended period outside of near-Earth orbit habitation by astronauts, for a long period of time," he says, in order to study the effects of radiation on their genes. NASA maintains a Human Research Roadmap that outlines the knowns and unknowns (the known ones) of risks to the human body in space. The list of gaps is currently very long. And many of them involve exposure to radiation   either in the deep reaches of space, or on the surface of the moon, which offers no protection from cosmic radiation. For instance, on the road map, NASA reports it's still working to determine the dose limits of radiation an astronaut can receive before getting seriously sick, and determining what, overall, this radiation does to an astronaut's immune system. It also doesn't know the probability that an astronaut will be sterilized (made unable to have children) in spaceflight. They don't know how much radiation contributes to bone loss. Does radiation in space cause or worsen neurological diseases? That's another gap. 2) Is there an upper limit for the amount of time a person can spend in space? In 2015, NASA sought to increase their understanding of the risks of spaceflight by sending astronaut Scott Kelly up there for an entire year   double the length of the typical mission. Because of the mission, Kelly now holds the American record for number of consecutive days in space. Aboard the space station, Kelly took part in 10 research projects in what NASA is calling the "Twin Study," ranging from testing his cognitive abilities to assessing how changes to his genes are expressed. The study is hard to draw conclusions from; after all, it had a subject pool of one. But some results raise new questions. When Scott Kelly returned to Earth after spending a year on the ISS, he wasn't quite himself. For a year and a half afterward, he scored lower on tests of his cognitive abilities   tests that he actually improved on while in space. "It's hard to concentrate when you're not feeling well," Kelly told the New York Times. His doctors don't really know why he had such a long time recovering his mental capabilities. There are "so many things," that could contribute to it, says Mathias Basner, a University of Pennsylvania psychiatrist who led Kelly's cognitive testing. There's the higher radiation exposure, but also just living in an isolated environment could play a role, he says. Plus, it might be mentally taxing going from a microgravity environment to a full-gravity environment on Earth. "It takes some time for the brain to adapt to the [space] environment, and apparently it also takes some time to adapt back to the gravity environment," he says. "There are 20 things going on at the same time" that could all result in changes in cognition. Gallery: Buzz Aldrin - The astronaut's life in pictures (Microsoft Pictures) Researchers also don't know what it means for the future: On a trip to Mars, an astronaut will, after nearly a year-long voyage in space, have to descend to the surface of Mars. It won't be ideal for that astronaut to set foot on Mars and have her thinking become clouded. The overall lesson: There are many stressors in the space environment. They all impact the body and mind in hard-to-understand ways. And again, the twin study was just a year long. What happens to the human body in space on a two-year mission, a three-year mission? We don't know. There are some clues, and concerns, that things just get worse for astronauts. One intriguing finding in the twin study was that changes the researchers noted in Kelly's genome and epigenome (markers on our genes that develop in response to environmental stressors) occurred in the last six months of the mission. What the researchers don't know is whether those changes would continue to accelerate if the mission was extended beyond a year. They also don't know exactly what those genome changes mean for health. Mostly, they appear to be a general indicator of stress. But would researchers see even more   perhaps dangerous   changes if he were to stay longer? "We don't know what the maximum is," Lindsay Rizzardi, a Johns Hopkins biologist who studied Scott Kelly's genome for the twin study, says. There could be an upper limit for the amount of time a human body can spend in space. To find out, we'll have to send up more astronauts for a year mission or longer. Including Kelly, only six humans have spent more than 340 consecutive days in space. 3) How does the human mind cope with the isolation and loneliness of space travel? This may be the biggest, most potentially unsettling unknown. On the NASA Human Research Roadmap, one of the listed knowledge gaps is "identify[ing] psychological and psychosocial factors, measures, and combinations thereof that can be used to compose highly effective crews for autonomous, long duration and/or distance exploration missions." That is, how do we make sure crews won't kill each other on a long, cramped voyage? The biggest unknown, potentially, is the risk to psychiatric health. A trip to Mars could take place aboard a ship smaller than the International Space Station, potentially with fewer people on board. What's more, there would be delayed communications with Earth as the astronauts travel farther and farther away. It will be a long, lonely, cramped journey with bad food, poor sleep, and unnatural light. What happens to people's minds in those conditions when they last for years? Basner has also studied what happens to the brains of people who've had to stay the winter confined in Antarctica   a perhaps similarly isolating experience. "You can actually see functional and structural changes in the brains of the people overwintering," he says. "We have seen [brain] volume loss, basically widespread across the brain" in reaction to the stress. These changes are reversed after the winter ends. But it's unknown what brain changes might take place in the isolating, stressful conditions of deep space. And for that matter, we're not sure how to treat them. "Astronauts are going to experience psychiatric problems, because they're human," Feinberg says. And not only does NASA need to figure out all the ailments that may befall the human mind in space, but it also has to learn how to cope with them. Perhaps the scariest risks are unknown It could be possible that the human body and mind simply cannot withstand living in space indefinitely. There may be an upper limit for the amount of time we spend there. Whatever the case, we know any long-term mission to the moon, or Mars or beyond is going to be dangerous. It may push the human body to a new limit. But the only way we're going to find out how to mitigate those risks is for astronauts to continue to undergo rigorous evaluation like in the Scott Kelly twin study. They're going to have to spend long, lonely hours on the moon or in some place beyond low Earth orbit, and do tests on their bodies, brains, and genetics themselves (they won't necessarily be able to ship back samples down to Earth for analysis). There's a lot to yet discover. Another research gap: NASA scientists would like to know how toxic moon dust is to breathe in. As the Apollo astronauts found out, moon dirt gets on everything, and irritated their noses and lungs. Scientists would also like to know if the negative effects of low gravity are mitigated on the surface of the moon or on the surface of Mars, both of which have less gravity than Earth. Heck, they'd also like to know if medicines to treat kidney stones work in space. There's so much to learn. "The greatest unknowns, and perhaps the most dangerous," says J.D. Polk, NASA's chief medical officer, "are those we have not considered or are unaware of, colloquially termed the 'unknown unknowns.'" How do we find them? We venture out farther than before.


It has become a cliche of this campaign: A White House hopeful pauses from a speech to invite beleaguered university graduates to shout out the size of the debt they carry -- as if competing in an auction -- and the numbers bellowed from the crowd spiral upward. In a nation where student loan debt has reached a staggering $1.6 trillion -- more than double the amount just a decade ago -- the call-outs are potent political theater. The promise of free college has catapulted from the fringe in 2015, when Sen. Bernie Sanders muscled the idea into presidential politics, to an urgent place in the race this year. Even President Trump is trying to get in front of it. But the debate over college affordability involves difficult issues of equity, class privilege and how best to target government spending. It has divided Democratic presidential hopefuls and created a gap between the candidates and those on the front lines of college affordability, many of whom have mixed feelings about vows to make a four-year degree free. The presidential candidates are loudly joining the free college conversation after some 20 states -- including California -- have launched their own initiatives. Many higher education scholars see a serious shortcoming in every one of those plans: They tend to give the most benefit to Americans who need a boost the least. "It is hard to do stuff to make higher education cost less that is universal without tilting those benefits to higher-income people," said Matthew Chingos, vice president of education data and policy at the Urban Institute. Moreover, many of the plans being discussed in the campaign fail to put a priority on the biggest problems that lower-income students grapple with -- principally living costs. The politically tidy story told on the stump about young college graduates and their debts has little to do with some of the biggest reasons a college degree remains inaccessible to many Americans, experts in the field note. "A lot of the plans being rolled out," in the campaign and in statehouses, "are focusing on students on the higher end of the economic spectrum, who are not facing the most dire circumstances," said Mamie Voight, vice president of policy research at the Institute for Higher Education Policy, a Washington-based think tank. Related video: Where the 2020 Democrats stand on free college and student loan cancellation (provided by The Washington Post) Longtime veterans of the fight for college access are pleased by all the candidate attention, but can't help but bristle at how they have framed the issue. Using university alumni with student debt in the six figures as campaign props can particularly exasperate the experts, who note that six-figure borrowers often have graduate or professional degrees that position them well in the economy. Borrowers carrying $5,000 or less of student debt are twice as likely to have dropped out and defaulted. "It takes additional political will to stand up and say, 'We are going to target dollars in the way they most need to be targeted,'" Voight said. Only a third of American adults have a four-year degree. And while the cost of a four-year college has risen sharply, people with those degrees still earn significantly more on average than people without. White voters without college degrees have been drifting away from the Democratic Party. The candidates most focused on winning back that group are not embracing free four-year degrees for everybody. Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, for example, has said the nation can't afford it. Pete Buttigieg, mayor of South Bend, Ind., told a group of college students in Boston in April, "I have a hard time getting my head around the idea of a majority who earn less because they didn't go to college subsidizing a minority who earn more because they did." The current Democratic leader in polls, Joe Biden, has been focusing on making community college accessible and free -- a proposal that would provide more of its benefit to lower-income students and one that President Obama pushed in his second term. Since he joined the race, there have been no echoes of Biden's musings while vice president that four-year degrees at public institutions should be paid for entirely by government. But most of the other top-tier candidates, many of whom hope to appeal to millennial generation voters, are pushing a vision much more expansive -- and costly -- than Biden's. They have leapfrogged even the ambitious proposal that Sanders first unveiled four years ago, when he pushed the idea of free tuition at all public universities. The $47-billion annual price tag of the Sanders plan is intimidating. But the proposal several candidates have backed, one put forward initially by Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawaii, would go much further and cost much more. Central to Schatz's plan is the recognition that low-income students need a lot more than free tuition, for which many already qualify under existing government programs. The big barrier for many students is the cost of living. In California, for example, tuition accounts for less than half of the $34,500 annual cost of attending a UC school. The Oakland-based Institute for College Access and Success found that low-income students often spend more at the state's community colleges than at UC campuses, because in community colleges, they have less access to grants for nontuition expenses. The total out-of-pocket cost of attending UCLA for an economically disadvantaged student is $8,800. The net cost for that same student at Santa Monica College is $15,700, according to the group. Schatz's plan for "debt-free college" would provide low-income students money for living expenses. Several of the 2020 hopefuls have supported the idea, including Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.). Schatz is unapologetic about his measure's whopping price tag -- $90 billion the first year alone. "This is not just a macroeconomic question, it is almost a question of national identity," Schatz said in an interview. "This is the first generation that is being put in a position in which it is not always smart to pursue a four-year higher-education degree. We are a wealthy society." Warren has laid out a detailed proposal for how it could all work in practice -- a plan that tries to account for the needs of the most economically disadvantaged students, enable every American to attend public college "without paying a dime in tuition and fees" and, in addition, allow 42 million Americans who already have graduated and who have household incomes under $250,000 to wipe out up to $50,000 of student debt. When she did, some liberal economists responded coolly, questioning whether the plan was the fairest and smartest way to spend so much money -- an estimated $1.25 trillion over 10 years. "Regressive, expensive, and full of uncertainties" is how Adam Looney, director of the Brookings Institution Center on Regulation and Markets, characterized Warren's debt-forgiveness framework. In a blog post, he noted that only a third of the subsidy would go to families with incomes under $68,000. "There is a real disconnect between the political conversation and the policy conversation," said Lanae Erickson, senior vice president for social policy and politics at Third Way, the center-left advocacy group. "The political conversation often focuses on the problems of the type of upper-middle-class people who work on these presidential campaigns. The policy experts are more worried about the folks on the lower end of the income spectrum." Schatz disagrees. "There is no reason for colleges and universities to bury their kids in debt," he said. "We didn't used to do it this way. Others countries don't do it this way. It is not some function of capitalism that is necessary. We just have a backward system." Reforming that system is part of the Schatz plan. It seeks to keep down costs at public universities by requiring states to match the federal dollars. The idea is that obligation would give states an incentive to control costs. But the price tag for the federal government is still big. Schatz suggests that rolling back the Trump tax cuts would more than cover the bill, but some of the candidates supporting his bill already have other plans for that money. That leaves candidates struggling with how big a program voters will be willing to back. "There are a million ways to talk yourself out of something," Schatz said. "But we have a massive student debt crisis, and people across the country are demanding we do something about it. "The idea that people will vote against Democrats because we are doing too much to help young people sounds to me like a Republican talking point." Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.


Can they even cram more awesomeness into a single SUV? There are few vintage off-road vehicles which will cause quite the same stir as this 1968 Ford Bronco . It makes a strong statement from the moment you first lay eyes on it, thanks to an almost electric paint job and some bold modifications. Just as interesting are a few key modern updates that overall don't change the original character of this SUV. First off, that lime green paint is in excellent shape and alone will turn plenty of heads. Black fender flares and a hood scoop emblazoned with "Boss 302" as a callback to the legendary Mustang add to the high-impact effect. Chrome side mirror caps and polished alloy wheels keep everything from getting overly dark, which is a nice touch versus just going with blacked-out everything but the paint. Some accessories add to the trail-ready looks of this rig, like the bright red farm jack mounted behind the spare tire on the back, full roll cage, brush guard with four KC lights and a winch mounted on it, plus a nice two-row LED light bar mounted over the windshield. More American Rides: Bruiser Conversions Honcho Step Side Is A Cool Custom Jeep Pickup 1969 Buick Riviera Puts Fine American Styling On Display Plenty of extra goodies have been added to the interior. A modern sound system allows you to listen to tunes in style. Corbeau seats in the front and rear directly address comfort. The fact the front seats have five-point safety harnesses just demonstrates this is a ride intended to take on some extreme, risky trail runs. There's also a fire extinguisher mounted to the roll cage, which you hopefully never have to use but will be grateful for if you do. Powering this beast is a 289ci V8 for plenty of torque. A three-speed manual transmission keeps everything pure and simple, plus it gives you superior control on a trail. Knobby mud terrain tires help ensure all that power keeps you moving forward instead of the wheels spinning uselessly on a trail. From 1966 to 1996 the Ford Bronco was a preferred vehicle for outdoorsmen and off-road enthusiasts. Especially coveted today are the first generation models, like this 1968 Bronco. Values will only continue to climb as Ford launches a new generation of the Bronco soon. Fusion Luxury Motors is offering this excellent off-roader to add to your collection.


A snake attempted to steal a rainbow trout from a fisherman at Crooked Creek in Virginia.


Pete Alonso announced on Tuesday that he will donate a portion of any winnings earned from his participation in the Home Run Derby to two charities near and dear to his heart. The New York Mets first baseman is enjoying a breakout campaign in his first year in the big leagues, one highlighted by how the phenom is on pace to shatter Aaron Judge's record for home runs in a rookie season. Alonso, who has already bashed 28 home runs before the All-Star break, previously indicated he would be honored to take part in the Home Run Derby should an invitation be extended. To no surprise, Major League Baseball has since reached out to the young power hitter, meaning Alonso will be among the players taking part in the event next Monday at Progressive Field. Now, with his spot in the Derby confirmed, Alonso announced his plan to donate part of any winnings to two military-centric charities. "We grew up in a military background, both my grandpas," Alonso said after the Yankees' 4-2 loss to the Mets, via the New York Post . "We have a real important [emphasis] on the people who take care of human life and are selfless in that regard. They put themselves in the line of duty, whether that be overseas or here trying to protect us civilians in New York or around our country." Alonso indicated he will donate 5% of any winnings to both the Wounded Warrior Foundation, which provides assistance to injured veterans, and Tunnel to Towers, an organization that helps military and first responders. Alonso added he has the "utmost respect" for the selfless individuals the two charities serve, calling them "my true heroes," adding he simply wants to show his "respect and gratitude." Major League Baseball announced ahead of the season a significant increase to the Derby's purse, which now stands at $2.5 million, with the winner pocketing $1 million. A good showing by Alonso at the event certainly would raise a lot of funds for the two worthwhile causes. Related slideshow: 2019 MLB season (Provided by imagn)


The last time we heard about Amari Cooper 's contract, the sides were at a stalemate. The Cowboys receiver didn't offer much of an update Wednesday. "I don't know," Cooper said, via Calvin Watkins of TheAthletic.com. "I'm just waiting it out, and we'll see what happens. I haven't talked to [my agent] in a minute. I don't like talking about the contracts with him. It's one of those things that will naturally happen." Cooper said he will "handle" his business on the field and let agent Joel Segal handle his contract talks with the Cowboys. He is unconcerned about getting a deal done before the season starts. "It don't really matter to me," Cooper said. Cooper has no reason to be in a rush. He has a guaranteed salary of $13.924 million in 2019 and either will become a free agent or receive the franchise tag in 2020 barring a long-term deal. The Cowboys remain confident in getting a long-term deal with Cooper, one of several big-name players the team wants to extend. After the Raiders traded Cooper last October, he caught 53 passes for 725 yards and six touchdowns in nine games with Dak Prescott and the Cowboys.


When last we heard from Broncos defensive lineman Derek Wolfe , he was praising new coach Vic Fangio as a leader . Now, Wolfe is praising Fangio's defensive scheme. "Falling in love with the defense actually," Wolfe told reporters on Thursday. "Last time I felt this was when I was first introduced to Wade [Phillips'] defense. I almost feel like I was born to play this defense. I was telling my wife that last night. She was like, 'You know, it's your contract year, where are we going to be?' This and that. I feel like I was born for this defense, so I don't think we have anything to worry about." So what does he like about the Fangio defense? "It's just, alignment-wise, it's like it's old-school defense where you line up and you beat the guy in front of you," Wolfe said. "We're going to be moving. You beat him, beat him, beat him, and then next thing you know we're slanting somewhere and moving around and misdirecting. As far as the pass-rush game goes, we have some really fun pass-rush games that are just different. Things that aren't just me setting things up for everybody else. It's actually a little bit of the opposite. I can actually get to get back there and make some plays and vice-versa. Taking guys like me and Von [Miller]. How many guys in the league have been working for eight years, working right beside each other for eight years? The kind of chemistry that him and I have, they could just mix and match so many different things because a lot of the times we just use hand signals and just looks. He looks at me a certain way and I know he's like, 'Hey, go.' I'm like, 'All right, I'm going to hit this B-gap.' There's no way for an offensive lineman to be preparing for that. Then when we have all this other extra stuff that we have its going to really switch things up." Wolfe explained that the secondary will have to play less man coverage, reducing the pressure they'll face. "Now linebackers are in coverage," Wolfe said. "Outside linebackers are in coverage. Some of the things are like the D-line has to get there this time. It's on you guys. The responsibility is spread around. It's not just being put on one person or one guy or on group on the defense. It's very team-oriented defense." It's invigorating to just read about it. It's hard not to look forward to watching it. Unless you play offense for the Raiders, Chargers, or Chiefs.


Mayor Bill Peduto sat alongside business, nonprofit and education leaders at Carnegie Mellon University in April to talk about the role that cities can play   in basically, saving the planet. The panel discussion focused on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, 17 areas to be accomplished by 2030, including no poverty; zero hunger; gender equality; decent work and economic growth; and sustainable cities. "There's been an amazing shift over the past 10 years in the role of cities in addressing major issues, whether climate change or [the] refugee crisis," Mr. Peduto said. "Organizations, maybe not federal governments, understand that solutions lie at the local level." Cities have been flexing their muscles. Albuquerque, N.M., raised the minimum wage to $8.20. Georgetown, Texas, only buys renewable energy. Minneapolis mandates paid sick leave for businesses with six or more employees. Cuyahoga County, Ohio, voted last week to ban plastic bags. And dozens of cities are refusing to aid federal law enforcement on matters of immigration, becoming so-called "sanctuary cities." Law and municipal government experts say that cities "sticking their tongue out" at state and federal government is nothing new. Others see a trend that is wasting taxpayer money as cities like Pittsburgh take bold political stances that end up in drawn-out legal battles. While jockeying between levels of government is characteristic of a federalist system, critics argue that state power over cities is settled law. Pittsburgh's progressive agenda Since taking the reins in 2014, the Peduto administration has prioritized networking with other cities, joining up with the Rockefeller Foundation's 100 Resilient Cities. Mr. Peduto attended the U.N. climate conference in Poland in December; in April, he spoke on gun reform at the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Ohio. But several items on his progressive agenda have been challenged. Pittsburgh currently is mired in lawsuits over restrictions on firearms and requiring businesses to offer paid sick leave and landlords to accept federal low-income housing vouchers. "I stood up and said wait a minute, City of Pittsburgh, you don't have the authority," said the Apartment Association of Metropolitan Pittsburgh's Jim Eichenlaub. His organization won two lower court rulings against the city's ordinance that told landlords they had to accept federal Section 8 vouchers. The city has appealed the ruling to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. Meanwhile, the state's highest court has yet to rule on the city's paid sick leave ordinance; it heard arguments in the fall of 2018 . The city invited several more legal challenges in April when it passed three gun-control ordinances. Council members Corey O'Connor and Erika Strassburger wrote the laws in conjunction with the mayor's office, just seven weeks after a gunman killed 11 people at the Tree of Life synagogue. Local, state and national gun-rights groups, including the National Rifle Association, filed multiple lawsuits, pointing to Pennsylvania law that prohibits local governments from regulating firearms. Mr. Peduto vows that the city will take the fight all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court . "We go through these periods in which cities choose to make political statements by adopting laws that they should know full well they do not have the authority to adopt," said Joseph Sabino Mistick, Duquesne University law professor and former Allegheny County and City of Pittsburgh employee. "We're seeing that quite a bit in Pittsburgh. They are political statements, ideology statements. From a common sense point of view, some of them are quite appealing, but they, in many cases, are just not legal," he said. "… When they do that, it's not without consequences and cost to the taxpayers." (The city maintains it's receiving pro bono legal representation from the national gun-control advocacy group Everytown for Gun Safety.) But state power over cities   established in a late 19th century "practical and longstanding" ruling, commonly referred to as Dillon's Rule   isn't going away any time soon, Mr. Mistick said. A 1907 case called Hunter v. City of Pittsburgh, which decided a debate over the joining of Pittsburgh with what was then Allegheny City, is still cited as a landmark case upholding the legal framework. If Mr. Peduto or city council want change on firearms, family leave or a whole other host of issues, they should be "knocking on doors" in Harrisburg, Mr. Mistick said. A trend? So is city action on hot-button issues a trend? Yes and no, experts say. "In a lot of ways in the history of U.S., this actually has been going on from the very beginning," said George Dougherty, a University of Pittsburgh public administration professor. Before World War II, the federal government was limited in scope, and "it was the New Yorks and Chicagos and New Orleans of the world that brought about substantial changes ... that made cities a lot cleaner. Public health became a focus, and the leaders in that really were cities," he said. It's not odd for them to take the lead, he said. Think: LGBTQ protections. "What is odd and interesting is that now cities are beginning to flex more muscle in taking on issues that have been defined as federal in the past 30 or 40 years," he said. A popular argument from proponents for local action is that gridlock in Washington is pushing cities to act. Another argument is that the trend is not so much in cities taking action, but in the "rapid adoption" of preemptive legislation, as Lauren E. Phillips details in a 2017 Columbia Law Review article. "Largely supported by organizations like the National Rifle Association" in the 1980s, Ms. Phillips writes, "almost all states now preempt local gun regulation." In the first quarter of 2017, roughly 20 states introduced preemption bills prohibiting local employment regulations in a reaction to cities raising the minimum wage and mandating paid sick leave. Specifically, she cites an Ohio preemption law banning local governments from moving the needle on minimum wage just six months before Cleveland was to hold a public vote on the issue. According to local reports Thursday, the Ohio state Legislature has already introduced a bill that would preempt any local bans on plastic bags. Arguments for city influence Activists and elected officials point to growing urban centers as justification for a larger role in American, and global, decision-making. The U.N. predicts 68% of the world population will live in urban areas by 2050. Immigration and environment are existential issues, city advocates say. "Defending our borders, issues of citizenship and so forth are clearly federal responsibilities," Mr. Dougherty said. "However, the way the federal government has dealt with it creates a lot of local problems." Cities for Action, a coalition of 175 cities   to which Mr. Peduto's name is signed   advocates for pro-immigrant federal policies and ways to manage immigration at the local level, including civics education and municipal ID programs. While they're some of the biggest economic engines, cities also have the biggest carbon footprints. "Our studies show that about 70% of greenhouse gas emissions can be attributed to cities," said David Miller, former Toronto mayor and North American director for C40, a network of cities committed to reducing emissions. "If cities control those levers, their action can make a direct impact." Municipal governments often have direct control over buildings, transportation and solid waste, he said. "I just came from Tokyo where a group of cities were meeting to present on the positions the G20 should be taking to help solve issues of climate and equality," Mr. Miller said. "That wouldn't have been possible 20 years ago." Those possibilities are why Pittsburgh City Councilwoman Strassburger said she's in the camp of cities "being a hotbed of innovation." "There's a lot to be learned by pushing boundaries at the local level," she said. Ashley Murray: 412-758-6603, amurray@post-gazette.com or on Twitter @Ashley__Murray


Welcome to the PHT Morning Skate, a collection of links from around the hockey world. Have a link you want to submit? Email us at phtblog@nbcsports.com . • Blues win first Stanley Cup by bottling Bruins. ( NBC Pro Hockey Talk ) • Ryan O'Reilly wins Conn Smythe Trophy. ( NBC Pro Hockey Talk ) • Berube helped Blues find identity after early-season struggle. ( NBC Pro Hockey Talk ) • Blues latest team erased from Stanley Cup drought list. ( NBC Pro Hockey Talk ) • Zach Sanford keeps late dad's memory at heart during Stanley Cup win. ( NBC Pro Hockey Talk ) • Blues finally deliver Stanley Cup to St. Louis. ( NBC Pro Hockey Talk ) • Jay Bouwmeester finally gets his Stanley Cup. ( NBC Pro Hockey Talk ) • Bruins, Blues factor into top Game 7 moments in playoff history. ( NBC Pro Hockey Talk ) • Bruins' Marchand calls Game 7 loss 'by far' worst of career. ( NBC Pro Hockey Talk ) • Blues fan Laila Anderson gets moment with Stanley Cup. ( NBC Pro Hockey Talk ) • Blues fans fill Busch Stadium, Enterprise Center for Game 7 watch parties. ( NBC Pro Hockey Talk ) • NBA legend Charles Barkley pulling for Blues in Game 7. ( NBC Pro Hockey Talk ) • Blues' worst-to-first, Stanley Cup reversal unlike anything in NHL history. ( Sportsnet ) • If Phil Kessel stays in Pittsburgh, who goes? ( TSN.ca ) • Corey Perry to the Edmonton Oilers? There's some sense in it. ( Edmonton Journal ) • Cassidy and Berube deserve more credit for getting their teams to Cup final. ( Montreal Gazette ) • I don't really care about hockey. But St. Louis, my city, needed this Stanley Cup run. ( Washington Post ) And if you're interested in watching some videos this morning, we got you covered: Game Highlights: Link Pietrangelo Interview: Link O'Reilly wins Conn Smythe: Link O'Reilly Interview: Link Binnington Interview: Link Blues hoist Cup: Link Berube Interview: Link Maroon Interview: Link Bouwmeester Interview: Link Tarasenko Interview with family: Link Parayko celebrates with Laila, interview: Link Scott Billeck is a writer for Pro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports . Drop him a line at phtblog@nbcsports.com or follow him on Twitter @scottbilleck


It was never supposed to happen like this. The 2018-19 season for the Golden State Warriors was supposed to be a perfect swan song. With the addition of center DeMarcus Cousins to their already loaded roster of All-Stars, the Warriors were presumed to win another title, complete their vaunted three-peat, allow Cousins and Kevin Durant to leave riding high on good memories, and the people of Oakland to have one last celebration before the team moves to San Francisco. Unfortunately, it was not the storybook ending many in the NBA expected. The argument between Draymond Green and Kevin Durant, the questions about the future of Green and Klay Thompson's futures in the Bay Area and the nagging questions about Durant's impending free agency all put a heightened sense of pressure and stress on this Warriors team. It became apparent that all of the negativity had an effect. At various points in the season, the Warriors just did not look like they had the fire in them to get that coveted ring. But as always, the Warriors came together when the playoffs rolled around. Green dropped 23 pounds to get ready for the team's playoff run. Cousins reminded everyone of the talent he had before the Achilles injury. Young role players such as Quinn Cook, Alfonzo McKinnie and Kevon Looney proved they could provide the depth necessary to make a deep Finals run. When the playoffs began, Golden State's mental toughness had to be tested even more when players started to wilt physically. Cousins, Durant, Thompson, Andre Iguodala and Looney all missed games with serious injuries but fought through - showing commitment to not only themselves, but their teammates and the Golden State organization as well. Despite all the setbacks around them, Golden State found a way to prevail and make it to a fifth-straight NBA Finals. Although injuries continued to derail Golden State, the Warriors fought until the very end, succumbing to the Toronto Raptors in a Game 6 that was one for the ages. Since becoming a superteam, the knock on the Warriors was that it was too easy for them - that they had no motivation to win the title. This postseason, however, they showed the fire of a team that had everything to prove and nothing to lose. They did it for Durant and Thompson, who put everything on the line for the chance to taste glory once more, and paying for it with potentially career-altering injuries. They did it for Cousins, who was in his first playoff appearance of his nine-year career, sacrificing future money for the opportunity to win a NBA championship while recovering from a torn Achilles and, subsequently, a torn quad. They did it for Looney, who played through a broken collarbone and transformed himself into a valuable piece for the organization in front of fans' eyes. And they did it for Iguodala and Livingston, the two veterans who have provided so much to the team and community both on and off the court. Most importantly, they did it for the people of Oakland - the fans who stood by them for so long, through the highs and the lows. They were consistently some of the loudest and most passionate fans in the NBA, making Roar acle Arena one of the most feared places to play in the NBA. Although the team came up short, they showcased their grit and their heart, transforming (albeit briefly) back into the lovable upstarts that first gained popularity in 2015. So what does the future hold for Golden State? It will be almost impossible to keep the team as constructed. According to ESPN's Bobby Marks, keeping everyone will cost the team around $250 million including luxury tax payments per year. There will be many different people who will speculate what Golden State needs to do to return to the NBA Finals as quickly as possible, whether it be make trades, sign free agents or draft the next homegrown star. But that is not what this article is about. This era of Golden State Warriors basketball changed the NBA. Whether you were with them or against them, this team had a significant impact on the great game we love: basketball. The Warriors changed the way the game is played and racked up the following accomplishments along the way: Three-time NBA champions (2015, 2017, 2018) Five consecutive NBA Finals appearances 73-9 NBA regular-season winning record (2016) Stephen Curry: three-time NBA champion, two-time league MVP, five-time NBA All-Star, five-time All-NBA Klay Thompson: three-time NBA champion, five-time NBA All-Star, two-time All-NBA, one-time All-Defense Kevin Durant: two-time NBA champion, two-time Finals MVP (2017, 2018), five-time All-Star, three-time All-NBA Draymond Green: three-time NBA champion, two-time Defensive Player of the Year, three-time NBA All-Star, two-time All-NBA, five-time All-Defense Andre Iguodala: three-time NBA champion, one-time Finals MVP (2015) As the Warriors move on from the wonderful time they spent in Oakland, let's take a moment to appreciate the beauty of their achievements these last five years because we may never see anything like this again. MORE: What the Lakers' new roster looks like with Anthony Davis NBA Free Agency 2019: The top players Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger on Antonio Brown: 'He made me a better quarterback' Is Jabrill Peppers the Giants' biggest x-factor in 2019? Heading into training camp: Logan Thomas is a top-3 TE Related slideshow: 2019 NBA Finals (provided by imagn)


KANSAS CITY, Mo.   The attorney for Tyreek Hill sent a letter to the NFL on Thursday disputing claims made by the wide receiver's fiancee of child abuse, offering a point-by-point response to an a secret recording of them that was made public last week. In the four-page letter, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press, attorney N. Trey Pettlon also said Hill was willing to cooperate with the league's investigation. The Chiefs suspended Hill indefinitely shortly after KCTV aired a recording last week in which Hill and Crystal Espinal discuss injuries to their 3-year-old son. The next day, prosecutors in Johnson County, Kansas, reopened an investigation of Hill that had been closed just 48 hours. "(Hill) categorically denies he has ever 'punched' his son in the chest or anywhere on his body, or otherwise touched him in the chest in a mean-spirited manner," Pettlon wrote. Video by Sports Illustrated ___ More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL


"I didn't agree to pay for their meal, Allison. I'm not gonna do it," I said. This might have been the most tense moment my best friend and I ever had. We'd been traveling for three months and our last stop was in Spain, where she offered to pay for dinner for our host and his brother. I freaked out. At that point neither of us had steady jobs, just some savings, which we were rapidly depleting due to our travels. So when I took a look at the $90 bill, it was overwhelming. But paying was the right thing to do. She knew it. I knew it. And they'd both been such a delight to stay with. This was the only way we could show our appreciation. Here's the thought that held me back, though: "I can't afford it!" This is the most common financial phrase I hear and a money block I always look out for in my coaching clients . I've heard them use this phrase to justify not spending money on a fitness class, a website for their business, or a virtual assistant. Related video: Budgets are the No. 1 thing keeping you from getting rich (provided by CNBC) Maybe you've used it as an excuse to not travel, not go out to dinner, or not start investing. But the phrase itself keeps you small, limits your potential for financial growth, and keeps you circling in an emotional state of 'I have no money.' It scrunches you down to fit the money situation you're already in, versus expanding your range for your ideal financial situation. But there's a way to change this perspective. Instead of saying, "I can't afford it," try using this empowered money statement instead: "I'll be able to afford that soon. Here's what I can afford right now." This phrase gives you agency over your money situation and makes buying decisions a real choice instead of a limitation. It feels so much better to say too because it opens a door to an opportunity versus closing it in your face. The idea of being able to afford something soon also allows you to envision where you want to go and what you want your future financial situation to look like. With proper planning and clarity on where you're headed, it's possible to bring that vision to life. So if I could go back in time, I would tell myself, "OK, I might not be able to afford paying for their full meal, but I can definitely afford to cover the tip." Because when you say you can't afford something, what you really mean is that you're scared you won't have enough for something else. I was afraid I wouldn't have enough money to get home, enough for an emergency, or enough to pay for meals if I got stranded in the airport. But that fear wasn't logical. I could have covered the $10 tip, no problem. But I chose not to. So my friend ended up paying the entire bill by herself. And it's one of my only regrets from that trip. The lesson? If you can't afford something, do what you can. So if you can't afford to eat out, try this: "I can't afford to go out to eat every day, but I'll go chill with friends and get a drink." "I can't afford to start investing" could turn into, "I can't invest $500 a month right now, but I can start with $75 a month." "I can't afford to travel" might be rephrased as: "I can't afford to go to Europe for the summer, but I've heard Mexico is amazing and I can definitely afford those flights." There is always a way to afford some version of what you want. And it's up to you to decide what that looks like. So do yourself a favor and stop saying "I can't afford it," not because you truly can't but because it'll keep you stuck in the same financial situation. Focus on what you can do with your money. Life was never meant to be dictated by finances. Just guided by it.


The flurry of post-draft NFL power rankings are flowing out, and ESPN's offering doesn't think too highly of the Detroit Lions. The Lions check in at No. 24 of the 32 teams, with a projected win total of 7 and a playoff likelihood of just 17.4 percent. Much like GM Bob Quinn and the Lions themselves, the analysis here spends tremendous focus on the tight end position. It was listed as "where the team improved the most" from 2018: By adding T.J. Hockenson (first round) and Isaac Nauta (seventh round) along with signing Jesse James and Logan Thomas in free agency, the Lions might have an entirely new position group in 2019. The combination of Hockenson and James, who are expected to make the team, gives Matthew Stafford two big, reliable options in the short-to-medium passing game he didn't have last season. Detroit finished with the 8th-worst record in 2018, so placing them at No. 24 maintains the status quo. MORE: Most bizarre and incredible catches by fishermen in past decade This is how the Boston Celtics head into the offseason Roundup: Denver Decriminalizes Magic Mushrooms, Howard Stern Book Details, Fox Sports Gambling App Wyatt Ray: What the Browns are getting in their new OLB Risk & Reward of N'Keal Harry


Video by Associated Press US President Donald Trump kicked off a state visit to Britain Monday by branding London's mayor a "loser" before heading for lunch with Queen Elizabeth II, following delicate comments about Brexit. Trump's plane had not even touched down when he tweeted that Sadiq Khan, who has been highly critical of the red-carpet welcome laid on for Trump, had done a "terrible job" running London. The president called the mayor a "stone cold loser", adding: "Kahn reminds me very much of our very dumb and incompetent Mayor of NYC, (Bill) de Blasio, who has also done a terrible job - only half his height. "In any event, I look forward to being a great friend to the United Kingdom," he added. Queen Elizabeth II was scheduled to welcome Trump and his wife Melania to Buckingham Palace later Monday, where they will be treated to a guard of honour, a private lunch and a glittering banquet. But beneath the pomp and ceremony, Britain is in turmoil with Prime Minister Theresa May due to step down within weeks over her handling of her country's exit from the European Union. Trump weighed in on the divisive issue of Brexit, declaring before he arrived that Britain's former foreign minister Boris Johnson would make an "excellent" choice to succeed May. In a round of British newspaper interviews, he also recommended her successor walk away from talks with Brussels, refuse to pay Britain's agreed divorce bill and leave the EU with no deal. The UK-US "special relationship" was already under strain over different approaches to Iran, the use of Chinese technology in 5G networks, climate change, and Trump's personal politics. Labour's Khan has led opposition to the three-day visit, writing a newspaper article on Sunday in which he compared the US leader to European dictators from the 1930s and 1940s. Slideshow by photo services "Donald Trump is just one of the most egregious examples of a growing global threat," Khan wrote. His spokesman called Trump's tweets "childish" and "beneath the president of the United States". - Baby Trump blimp - Huge protests are being organised in London, with organisers crowdfunding a bright orange "baby Trump" blimp depicting the US leader in a diaper -- aiming for an even larger version than the one flown during his visit last year. The leaders of Britain's main opposition parties and the speaker of parliament are boycotting the state banquet on Monday night. In an effort to brush past the controversy, May and Trump are expected to emphasise the wider benefits of their old alliance when they hold talks at Downing Street on Tuesday. On Wednesday, they will join other world leaders in the English port of Portsmouth to commemorate 75 years since the D-Day landings, which changed the course of World War II. "Our relationship has underpinned our countries' security and prosperity for many years, and will continue to do so for generations to come," May said ahead of the visit. - No-deal Brexit - May announced her resignation last month after failing to get her Brexit deal through parliament and twice delaying Britain's EU departure. She will formally quit as her Conservative party's leader on Friday, but will stay on as caretaker prime minister while her successor is chosen. Three years after the referendum vote for Brexit, Britain remains divided. Trump recommended the new government make a clean break with the EU if necessary, adding that there was "tremendous potential" for Britain to trade with his country after Brexit. Causing more potential embarrassment for May, Trump said he might also meet with Johnson and pro-Brexit leader Nigel Farage during his UK visit. "They want to meet. We'll see what happens," he told reporters before he left the United States. - Strained special relationship - May was the first foreign leader welcomed to the White House after Trump's election victory in November 2016, but their relationship has not always been rosy. They have clashed over Trump's migration policies, while Britain still backs the Iranian nuclear deal and the Paris climate accord, both of which Trump has abandoned. Washington has also been putting pressure on Britain to exclude Chinese tech giant Huawei from its 5G network over security concerns, suggesting it might harm intelligence-sharing. Trump's first official visit to Britain last year was overshadowed by criticism of May's approach to Brexit, as well as large demonstrations. He is not expected to meet Prince Harry and his American wife Meghan Markle, after saying her previous criticism of him was "nasty".


Every team needs to improve, and the Jets are no exception. After an incredibly lackluster 4-12 season in 2018, the Jets head into 2019 with a lot of changes. The implementation of Adam Gase's new offense, coupled with the additions of Le'Veon Bell, Jamison Crowder and Kelechi Osemele, will make Sam Darnold's odds of positive development that much better. On the defensive end, the Jets retained much of their young core of playmakers and added some studs in C.J. Mosley and rookie defensive lineman Quinnen Williams. Gregg Williams' vociferous coaching style could produce a good product or completely tank the Jets' mediocre defense. With all that considered, here are four statistical areas where the Jets must see improvement in 2019. (Danielle Parhizkaran - NorthJersey.com) Run defense Pass rush remains an obvious hole on the Jets roster, but the team's run defense in 2018 was among the worst in the league. The Jets gave up 126.3 yards per game, which was 26th in the NFL. There were stretches in 2018 where the Jets' run defense soared - against the Lions in Week 1, the Dolphins in Week 9 and the Texans in Week 15 - but for the most part, Todd Bowles could not find a way to stop teams from running the football. Gregg Williams could be the man to turn this sore stat around, though, with Mosley running the show in the middle of the defense and the line attacking from all sides. (Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports) Turnovers Giving the ball away is the easiest way to finish with a losing record, and the Jets were one of the most turnover-prone teams in the NFL in 2018. Rookie quarterbacks rarely have mistake-free seasons, and Darnold was no exception. He threw 15 interceptions and the Jets as a team lost 30 total fumbles - good for fourth-most in the league. That, coupled with a -10 turnover differential, is a huge reason why the Jets need to cut back on the giveaways quickly. Darnold's numbers should improve with another year of practicing under his belt, and the Jets are hoping Le'Veon Bell won't fumble as much as he did the two seasons before he took a year off. (Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports) Third Down conversions The Jets just couldn't stay on the field in 2018, and part of that was because they couldn't extend drives on third down. New York only converted 32.2 percent of their attempts and the Jets' drives rarely lasted longer than two minutes. A lot of the third-down conversion issues are at the hands of the coach and quarterbacks, meaning Darnold's relationship with Gase must be strong heading into next season. That, plus smarter decisions by Darnold, will should lead to more touchdown drives than field goals and/or punts. (Steven Senne-AP) Passing yards per game In a passing league, the gunslingers win games. That couldn't be said for the Jets, though, who threw for only 197.8 yards per game - 25th in the NFL. That minimal passing effort typically led to low-scoring offensive performances for the Jets, which will need to be a huge part of Gase's restoration project in Year 1. Darnold is the key to this, and the Jets gave him more weapons to play with for his second season. Gase's offense typically includes a lot of passing, and the Jets will need to be aggressive to stay competitive in games. MORE: UFC fighter Ben Askren had an excellent response to getting knocked out in 5 seconds Expected starting lineup for Lakers with LeBron James at point guard Three Potential Trade Destinations for Russell Westbrook Honor thy father: Quinn Cook signed with Lakers for good reason Five years later, looking at the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft


When the spring workouts come to an end Thursday, Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck will be one of the players that failed to log reps during the team activities over the past month. While the 29-year-old was held out of both OTAs and mandatory minicamp due to a calf strain, Luck told reporters Tuesday he's been throwing "significantly" despite the lower body injury. He expects to be fully ready for training camp. Despite the calf limitations, Andrew Luck says he's been throwing "significantly" and has no doubts he'll be ready to go for training camp. - Zak Keefer (@zkeefer) June 11, 2019 The Colts have taken every precaution to make sure Luck doesn't aggravate the calf injury to the point where participation in training camp could be jeopardized. Head coach Frank Reich said Tuesday he expects Luck ready for the first day. If there was any concern with Luck's calf injury-there shouldn't have been-the fact that he's been throwing while dealing with it should alleviate any worries about the health of the face of the franchise. Of course, it won't matter until he suits up for training camp on the first day, but Luck doesn't seem concerned at all that this will be a long-term issue. MORE: How Kevin Durant's injury could affect his free agency Watch as jury convicts former NFL player Kellen Winslow Jr. of raping homeless woman How Kevin Durant's Achilles injury alters Kyrie Irving's free agency News: Do Cowboys have best group of QBs across the entire league? Kevin Durant Has a $31.5 Million Player Option; Will Warriors Offer Him Supermax Contract?