The Mets were seemingly exploring all options as both buyers and sellers leading up to the trade deadline, including the possibility of signing Zack Wheeler to an extension and (presumably then) trading Noah Syndergaard . The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal had the original report about the Mets' interest in extending Wheeler, and in a longer piece (subscription required), Rosenthal notes that Mets GM Brodie Van Wagenen actually did broach a long-term deal with Wheeler's agent. However, "the conversations failed to progress," and Wheeler is still on track to reach free agency after the season. It isn't any surprise that the two sides didn't link up, if for no other reason than it's rare to see a pending free agent sign a midseason extension. Usually, such deals are completed before Opening Day (or perhaps shortly into April) in the player's final season under contract. With over two-thirds of the season in the books, however, it likely would've taken a real sweetheart of an offer from the Mets to convince Wheeler to forego his shot at the open market, particularly since he stands to land a rich deal. MLBTR's Tim Dierkes recently slotted Wheeler fourth in his latest power ranking of the 2019-20 free agent class. If anything, Wheeler's stock has only risen since the trade deadline. The right-hander has tossed 15 shutout innings over his last two starts, continuing his career-long trend of pitching better in the second half of the season. For all of 2019, Wheeler has a 4.20 ERA, 9.62 K/9, 46.3% grounder rate, 4.26 K/BB rate, and .297 xwOBA over 139 1/3 innings, with ERA indicators (3.44 FIP, 3.74 xFIP, 3.93 SIERA) hinting that he is outperforming his actual ERA. Even before his two post-deadline starts boosted his numbers, Wheeler was still generating a lot of trade interest, though no team was prepared to meet the Mets' "high, high expectations" (as one team official told Rosenthal) placed on any trade offer for Wheeler, Syndergaard or any other player who might have been available. The asking price was high enough even to deter teams who might have been willing to overpay for Wheeler   one rival executive tells Rosenthal that his club was prepared to make a "stupid" offer to add him to their rotation before the deadline. As Rosenthal notes, this "stupid" offer (and possibly other offers from other teams) would likely have given the Mets more in return for Wheeler than the compensatory draft pick they'd be in line to receive if Wheeler signed elsewhere this winter after rejecting a qualifying offer. Like so many other free agents in recent years, Wheeler's market could be somewhat impacted by a qualifying offer (a one-year deal in the range of $18M+), though the odds are good right now that he'd reject the QO in search of a longer-term contract. The Mets ended up being buyers rather than sellers at the deadline, adding Marcus Stroman from the Blue Jays and holding onto the rest of their starting staff. At the moment, it's hard to argue with results, as New York was already on a hot streak going into the deadline that has now extended to a run of 13 wins over their last 14 games. If the Mets did plan to make a playoff push, however, Rosenthal wonders why Stroman ended up being the only move, as the club didn't address other needs (i.e. relief pitching, center field) and also traded another starter in Jason Vargas to the Phillies, another team in wild card contention. It's possible the Mets could be active on the August waiver wire, though Rosenthal also wonders if the $206M luxury tax threshold could have been a consideration   Roster Resource has the Mets' luxury tax number at just under $203.22M.


Looking to get some fresh air? From a walking food tour to a bus tour of celebrity homes, there's plenty to do when it comes to travel and outdoor activities coming up in Los Angeles this week. Read on for a rundown. Hoodline offers data-driven analysis of local happenings and trends across cities. Links included in this article may earn Hoodline a commission on clicks and transactions. Food Tour of Downtown Los Angeles From the event description: Savor the sights, sounds and flavors of Los Angeles on this fun food tour. Your knowledgeable tour guide will lead you on a leisurely three-hour walking adventure through this extraordinary downtown area, sharing stories of the city's early settlers, Hollywood's heyday, architectural background and the transformation of L.A.'s culture and food scene. Along the way you'll get to enjoy tastes from unique eateries, including the best bakeries, authentic ethnic restaurants and renowned establishments currently creating a buzz in the foodie universe   six stops in all. By the end of the tour, you'll be able to impress your friends with your vast knowledge of the city and its hidden culinary gems. When: Saturday, July 13, 11 a.m. Where: Sidewalk Food Tours of Los Angeles, 545 S. Olive St. Price: $48 Click here for more details, and to get your tickets Hollywood's Haunted Walking Ghost Tour From the event description: What makes Hollywood so weird? Is it the culture, the people or something supernatural? Honestly, it's everything, which makes this neighborhood so wonderfully kooky and endearing. Grab your cameras, ghost gear and otherworldly curiosity for a walking tour packed with haunted locations and scary stories in Los Angeles. Step into the shoes of the fallen stars of Hollywood and peer into the grisly fates that fame and fortune had in store for them. When: Saturday, July 13, 7 p.m. Where: Sweet! Hollywood, 6801 Hollywood Blvd. Price: $17.50 Click here for more details, and to get your tickets Star Homes Tour at Hollywood Star City Tours From the Hollywood Star City Tours deal description: Customers can experience the life of movie stars by touring the frequently visited places and their homes. Notable sights include stars' homes, from past icons to today's hottest celebrities [from] TV, music, YouTube and sports; the Hollywood Walk of Fame; the Chinese Theatre; the Hollywood Sign; and the Sunset Strip. Where: 6720 Hollywood Blvd., Central LA Price: $30. More deals available. Click here for more details, and to take advantage of this deal Parking in Downtown LA can be tough, especially during popular events. To find free or cheap parking and to book parking in advance, see this map of Downtown LA parking from SpotAngels. And to get there by public transportation, check the LA Metro website for nearby stations and schedules. This story was created automatically using local event data, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday is fast tracking a challenge to President Trump's use of military funds for the construction of a border wall. The Supreme Court last week ruled that the allocation of the $2.5 billion to the southern border could proceed while litigation plays out. That decision came after the Trump administration asked for a temporary pause on lower court injunction that blocked officials from tapping some of the diverted Pentagon dollars for border wall construction. A challenge to the move, from the Sierra Club and other groups, will now have a hearing in November, the Northern California court announced Thursday. Dror Ladin, a staff attorney with the ACLU's National Security Project, said after the Supreme Court's ruling that allowing the border wall project to move forward would be harmful. "Border communities, the environment, and our Constitution's separation of powers will be permanently harmed should Trump get away with pillaging military funds for a xenophobic border wall Congress denied," Ladin said. Trump declared a national emergency earlier this year to reallocate the military funds for the border wall, a project which the president has long promised. That move followed a 35 day-long partial government shutdown over border security funding. House Democrats sued after the emergency declaration, claiming that only lawmakers can allocate federal funding under the Constitution. But U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden in D.C., a Trump appointee, found that the lawmakers did not have the standing to bring forward the suit. That ruling is currently being appealed.


For the most part, the Chargers roster is set. They may make a few more moves, but this is the team they will roll with into training camp. With 118 days until the first game of the season, there's plenty of time to speculate about who will and will not make Los Angeles' 53-man roster. Here are our very early projections for the team's Week 1 roster against the Colts. Offense Position Starter 2nd 3rd 4th QB Philip Rivers Tyrod Taylor Easton Stick RB Melvin Gordon Austin Ekeler Justin Jackson FB Derek Watt WR Keenan Allen Travis Benjamin WR Mike Williams Dylan Cantrell WR Artavis Scott TE Hunter Henry Virgil Green Daniel Helm LT Russell Okung LG Dan Feeney Chris Brown C Mike Pouncey Scott Quessenberry RG Michael Schofield Forrest Lamp RT Sam Tevi Trey Pipkins Notes Tyrod Taylor remains the Chargers No. 2 quarterback even with the arrival of Easton Stick. The team elects to move on from Cardale Jones. Travis Benjamin wins the No. 3 wide receiver role. Artavis Scott and Dylan Cantrell are the fan favorites to win the job, but the coaching staff ultimately gives it to Benjamin, who has the experience over the other three. Undrafted free agent Daniel Helm is the name to watch for. The Chargers are looking for more pass-catching tight ends, and he may be the best out of the bunch. Helm has already flashed during rookie minicamp . The Chargers will be looking for depth players on the interior part of the offensive line. Chris Brown is another undrafted free agent who comes with experience and production at USC that could earn a backup job. Forrest Lamp will be fighting for a starting role at tackle and guard after he received very little playing time in 2018. Even though he'd be an upgrade over Tevi or Schofield, the coaching staff ultimately rolls with last year's offensive line. Trey Pipkins could backup Russell Okung at left tackle, but I believe they slot him behind Tevi to start his professional career. Defense Position Starter 2nd 3rd 4th LDE Joey Bosa Isaac Rochell NT Brandon Mebane Justin Jones T.Y. McGill DT Jerry Tillery Damion Square Cortez Broughton RDE Melvin Ingram SAM Uchenna Nwosu Emeke Egbule MIKE Denzel Perryman Jatavis Brown WILL Thomas Davis Kyzir White Drue Tranquill CB Casey Hayward Brandon Facyson CB Trevor Williams Michael Davis SLOT Desmond King FS Nasir Adderley Adrian Phillips Jaylen Watkins SS Derwin James Rayshawn Jenkins Notes Jerry Tillery should be able to immediately start at the three-technique. Cortez Broughton could earn anywhere from 10-15 during his rookie campaign depending on his development in training camp and preseason. One of the bigger question marks surrounds Justin Jones and where he will play this upcoming season, whether that be as a nose tackle or three-technique. I believe he is best suited as a NT where he will backup Brandon Mebane, but he should receive a fair amount of snaps. Thomas Davis will likely start at the WILL. Jatavis Brown, Kyzir White and Drue Tranquill all have the ability to play inside, but Brown has more experience playing as the MIKE when Perryman has gone down due to injuries. Trevor Williams should win his starting job despite missing the majority of the 2018 season due to an injury. Williams is a bit more superior than Michael Davis, and this will certainly be a year for him to bounce back. Nasir Adderley will win the starting free safety job over Jaylen Watkins and Rayshawn Jenkins. I believe Jenkins is best suited as a strong safety. Even though Adrian Phillips is slotted as Adderley's backup on this depth chart, Phillips will likely see his playing time as the team's dime linebacker. He should earn quite a bit of snaps just like in his breakout 2018 campaign. Special Teams Position Starter 2nd 3rd 4th PK Michael Badgley P Tyler Newsome PR Desmond King Travis Benjamin KR Desmond King Austin Ekeler LS Mike Windt MORE: 'The Bachelorette' 2019 cast guide: Meet all 30 men NBA Free Agency 2019: The top players Video confirms reports of Chris Paul's attempt to sabotage Steph Curry Lots of chatter within NBA about potential LeBron-for-Simmons swap Dak Prescott's accuracy, aggressive quantified ahead of new deal


Hong Kong -- Crews were out in Hong Kong on Tuesday, cleaning up after a poignant anniversary spiraled into chaos and violence. CBS News correspondent Ramy Inocencio reported that the Chinese enclave woke up a more divided city than ever. Demonstrators stormed Hong Kong's main government office building on Monday, many of them arguing that that Chinese central government is taking away the unique freedoms they enjoy as a semi-autonomous territory. Hundreds of angry young protesters broke into the Hong Kong Legislative Council building and spray painted anti-government slogans on the walls and defaced the city's official symbol. It came on the 22-year anniversary of the day on which Beijing retook control of the city from British colonial rule. They occupied the legislative chamber for almost three hours, demanding to be heard by a government they don't trust, and that they say doesn't listen to them. While the protesters have been condemned by many for the chaos, Inocencio said many others are blaming Beijing and China 's ruling Communist Party. The protesters have been demanding for weeks the complete withdrawal of proposed legislation that could let Beijing extradite anyone from Hong Kong into mainland China's opaque justice system. They also want the city's top leader, Chief Executive Carrie Lam, to resign. After midnight, riot police swept into the area around the legislature, firing several rounds of tear gas and clashing with protesters. About 50 people were injured. In a pre-dawn news conference, Lam condemned the violence and called for a return to normalcy in Hong Kong. But for many, the chaos on Monday was the culmination of years of mounting anger, and their concerns have still not been answered. "I think this is a wakeup call both for Carrie Lam and the central government," Hong Kong Legislative Council Member Michael Tien told CBS News. "They need to understand that behind that is something much more fundamental, much more of a higher order." The Communist Party in Beijing said Tuesday that it stands behind the government in Hong Kong, and it called for the "criminals" behind the previous day's unrest to be prosecuted. There were no immediate reports of arrests.


The Raptors got their first win ever in the NBA Finals with a 118-109 victory over Golden State in Game 1. Pascal Siakam was fantastic and Kawhi Leonard was good even if he wasn't at his best. Toronto now leads the series 1-0. Game 2 is scheduled to tip off Sunday. Here are three takeaways from the Raptors' Game 1 win Golden State forgot about Pascal Siakam Every single team in the NBA knows who Kawhi Leonard is and what he can do. And in every series Leonard has played in this postseason, opponents have schemed in every way possible to slow him down. And give Golden State credit in Game 1, they did just that, truly limiting what the 2014 NBA FInals MVP could do by trapping him and double teaming him every chance it got. But the Warriors seemingly forgot about Pascal Siakam. They knew he was there, don't get us wrong, but in double teaming Leonard all night long and committing so much attention to the forward, they allowed Siakam to go one-on-one with just about everyone on the court including Draymond Green in the post. Normally that makes sense. Put your best defender on one man while you devote two other great defensive players on another. But Siakam had Green's number all night long. He scored 32 points on 14-of-17 shooting and dominated Green, getting to the bucket in the paint. He had 14 points in the third alone. Jheez that was smooth, @pskills43 pic.twitter.com/8F8ihyDgNN   Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) May 31, 2019 Golden State can't come out in Game 2 with such a lackadaisical approach on Siakam. He'll dominate them the same way he did in Game 1 if it does that again. Danny Green kept shooting The Eastern Conference finals were an absolute struggle for Danny Green. He missed his last nine 3-point attempts in the series and went 4 of 23 from beyond the arc (15.3 percent). But despite his struggles, he never second-guessed himself. "I want to make shots. Trust me, I'm trying," he said. "But at the same time, you've got to be positive, stick with what you know and be confident in yourself. Confidence goes a long way in this league." Well he kept on shooting into Game 1 of the Finals and it paid off as he took a shot less than 45 seconds in. He missed that shot but he kept shooting and he hit his next one less than a minute later. That carried over to the rest of the game and he finished up hitting 3 of 7 from long range in this game and scored 11 points. SHOOTERS SHOOT pic.twitter.com/yr5izM7gVb   Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) May 31, 2019 That's the most 3-pointers he has hit since Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. Green kept shooting and it paid off. Warriors have to make Kawhi Leonard work on defense Making Kawhi Leonard work on offense is easy. When he has the ball, trap him, double team him, dirty up the area around his feet and put pressure on him. But the Warriors let him do nothing on defense in Game 1 and it showed. Leonard was allowed to play off of Andre Iguodala, and on occasion did the same thing against Draymond Green and he never really looked like he had to work on that end. And Golden State was content to go away from him, which is fine, because he's one of the best defenders in the NBA, but it might not be best for the long run. MORE : NBA Finals 2019: Draymond Green explains how Warriors adjust without Kevin Durant As a result he was fresh on offense. Now, this has to be pointed out, he wasn't great in Game 1 offensively. He finished with 23 points on 5-of-14 shooting while most of his scoring came from the free-throw line as he went 10 of 12 from there. This was not Leonard's best night, and some of that has to do with what the Warriors did. But can Golden State expect nights like that from Leonard throughout this series? It really, really shouldn't, because if it does, Leonard will go off for 40 on them. So the Warriors need to be proud of slowing him down offensively in Game 1, but they can't expect for him to be slowed down like that going forward if they don't tire him out on the defensive end, too. Related slideshow: 2019 NBA Playoffs (Provided by imagn)


The 2019 Toulon Tournament is an international competition held every year in the Provence region of France, traditionally consisting of Under-22 national team squads. In this edition of the competition, Under-22 teams will be competing, although France, Portugal, England and Republic of Ireland will be fielding Under-18, Under-19, Under-20 and Under-21 sides, respectively. With all of the young talent on display in France, there are bound to be a few youngsters who break out and make a name for themselves in the tournament. Former stars of the competition include Thierry Henry (1997), James Rodriguez (2011) and Ruben Loftus-Cheek (2016). Let's take a look at eight youngsters you need to keep an eye on. Paulinho Country: Brazil Club: Bayer Leverkusen At only 18 years old, Paulinho is already taking some serious strides in his career, making 21 appearances for Leverkusen in 2018/19 and even chipping in a goal in the Europa League. The Brazilian winger is full of tricks and loves running at opposing defences to make the back-four extremely uncomfortable. Paulinho made the move from his home country to Germany back in 2018 after the Bundesliga side shelled out approximately £16m for his services. Reece James Country: England Club: Wigan Athletic After winning Wigan Athletic 's Player of the Year award it may be tough to call Reece James a potential breakout star. Still just 19 years old, James looks poised to replace Cesar Azpilicueta at Chelsea's right-back spot when the Spaniard decides it's time for him to hang up his boots. James didn't appear in England's 2-1 defeat to Japan in the first match of the competition but when he gets on the pitch he will cause problems for opposing teams with accurate crossing and solid defending. Eduardo Aguirre Country: Mexico Club: Santos Laguna While Mexico elected to send last season's tournament MVP Diego Lainez to play in the Under-20 World Cup in Poland, 2018's top goalscorer Eduardo Aguirre will be making his second appearance in as many years. Aguirre scored an eye-catching seven goals in last year's competition, scoring four goals more than everyone else to win the golden boot. In the semi-finals against Turkey last year, the 20-year-old Mexican international scored a hattrick to propel his side into the final against England. Matheus Cunha Country: Brazil Club: RB Leipzig 20-year-old Brazilian forward Matheus Cunha is already making waves in the Bundesliga with RB Leipzig. Bought for approximately £13m back in 2018, Cunha made 39 appearances in all competitions for the German side, bagging nine goals and an assist. Cunha possesses a ridiculous amount of pace and can easily skip by most of the defenders he comes up against. The 20-year-old showed off his skills by scoring one of the goals of the season against Leverkusen. Case of the Mondays? Just play this Matheus Cunha goal on loop. Forever.  pic.twitter.com/OafeknCdYR   FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) April 8, 2019 Tatsuya Ito Country: Japan Club: Hamburger SV Tatsuya Ito is a tricky left-winger for Hamburger SV in the Bundesliga 2 and has already managed to break into the first team. The 21-year-old started his country's first game of the tournament, in which they beat England 2-1. While Ito still has a way to go to become a star in Europe, he currently represents one of Japan's many young talents coming through the ranks. Arthur Zagre Country: France Club: Paris Saint-Germain Host nation France elected to go with just Under-18 eligible players for this season's competition, giving some of their young prospects a chance to impress. Arthur Zagre has been coming through the ranks at PSG since 2013, and at the age of just 17 made the bench for three senior Ligue 1 games late in the season. Zagre was an unused substitute for the French in their first match against Qatar but given time at his preferred left-back spot, the 17-year-old is sure to shine amongst his peers. Joe Willock Country: England Club: Arsenal 19-year-old midfielder Joe Willock is one of the most exciting young talents coming through the Arsenal system. Willock played in three Europa League matches for the Gunners this season, including the final against Premier League rivals Chelsea. If Willock can make a solid impression throughout this tournament, he could become a more regular feature in the Arsenal lineup next season. Wendel Country: Brazil Club: Sporting CP Wendel left his home country of Brazil to test himself in Portugal in 2018, leaving Fluminense to join Sporting CP for around £6.5m. In Brazil's first match of the competition, the 21-year-old came on for the final 25 minutes of the match, scoring his side's third goal in the 85th minute. After an impressive three-assist display against Qarabag in the Europa League back in November, Wendel was brought into the first-team squad for the remainder of the campaign, appearing in all but one of Sporting's final 20 matches.


Gov. Gavin Newsom is seeking the Trump administration's help in responding to the the 7.1 earthquake in Southern California that on Friday damaged roads, sparked fires and caused numerous injuries. Newsom was being briefed by emergency officials Saturday morning about the earthquake , the second in two days to hit near the town of Ridgecrest in the Mojave Desert. "I offer my heartfelt support to those affected by tonight's earthquake near Ridgecrest," Newsom said in a statement. Newsom said he asked for a presidential emergency declaration to activate federal help to respond to the quake. He also said the State Operations Center is activated "to its highest level" to coordinate the emergency response. The Federal Emergency Management Agency is assisting California with its response, officials said at a news conference Saturday morning. As of early Saturday morning, there were no reports of deaths from the earthquake, but officials said there were injuries from "falling debris," although they did not provide an exact number. Newsom declared a state of emergency for Ridgecrest in Kern County, where thousands were left without power as night fell and 911 operators were overwhelmed with calls for medical assistance. Newsom also declared a state of emergency in neighboring San Bernardino County. The declarations of emergency let the state to bring in additional crews to help local emergency responders and set up shelters on fairgrounds and state owned property. Newsom cited "significant damage" from the earthquake to roads, water lines and gas lines, which have in turn sparked numerous fires. The 7.1 quake Friday, which was felt as far as Sacramento, came a day after a 6.4 magnitude quake hit the same area Thursday.     ©2019 The Sacramento Bee (Sacramento, Calif.) Visit The Sacramento Bee (Sacramento, Calif.) at www.sacbee.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.


Princess Diana died almost 18 years ago, but her final wishes were never known publicly… until now. A new British website called Probate Search has revealed not only Diana's will, but 41 million other wills dating back to 1858. Diana's will, naturally, is among the most interesting. According to the "Today" show , Diana left close to $30 million to her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry. She also instructed that her mother, Frances Shand Kydd, should be consulted about the boys' education in the event of her death. "She wanted to make sure [her children] were showered with love,'' Robert Jobson, author of "The New Royal Family,'' told "Today." "That's something she really agonized over when she split from Prince Charles. I think this will reflects that.'' Diana and Prince Charles divorced in 1996 when both William and Harry were teenagers. Diana's iconic wedding dress, which features thousands of pearls and a 25-foot train, was also left to her sons. Other items, including paintings and a clock, were bequeathed to Diana's 17 godchildren. Her will also instructed that $80,000 tax-free should be left to her butler and confidant, Paul Burrell. The new British site also features wills from other famous Brit's, including Winston Churchill and George Orwell. The site requires a subscription fee of $15.


Joe Gibbs Racing and Team Penske have combined to win 12 of the first 13 points races of the season, leading to the question of if anyone can beat them and will it happen today at Pocono Raceway. Joe Gibbs Racing drivers have won the past three Pocono races. Kyle Busch has two wins and Martin Truex Jr. won this race a year ago when he was at Furniture Row Racing. Team Penske driver Ryan Blaney won this race in 2017 while driving for the Wood Brothers. Here's all the info you need for today's event: (All times are Eastern) START: Lt. General Giovanni Tuck, U S Air Force Joint Staff, Lt. General Todd Semonite Commander Army Corp of Engineers & Major General Andrew Schafer, Commanding General 28th Infantry, PA National Guard will give the command to start engines at 1:49 p.m. The green flag is scheduled to wave at 2 p.m. PRERACE: Garage opens at 9 a.m. The driver/crew chief meeting is at noon. Driver introductions begin at 1:15 p.m. The invocation will be given by Monty Self of Motor Racing Outreach at 1:42 p.m. Technical Sergeant Chris Whiting, USAF, Security Forces, Dover AFB, Delaware, will perform the National Anthem at 1:43 p.m. DISTANCE: The race is 160 laps (400 miles) around the 2.5-mile track. STAGES: Stage 1 ends on Lap 5 0. Stage 2 ends on Lap 1 00 . COMPETITION CAUTION: Lap 20 TV/RADIO: F S1 will broadcast the race at 2 p.m. Coverage begins at 12:30 p.m. with NASCAR RaceDay. Motor Racing Network will broadcast the race. M RN's coverage begins at 1 p.m. SiriusXM NASCAR Radio will carry M RN's broadcast, which is also available at mrn .com. FORECAST : wunderground.com calls for cloudy skies with a high of 68 degrees and a 15% chance of isolated thunderstorms for the start of the race. The threat of thunderstorms increases as the race progresses. LAST TIME: Martin Truex Jr. won this race a year ago, finishing ahead of Kyle Larson and Kyle Busch. In the July race, Kyle Busch won and was followed by Daniel Suarez and Alex Bowman . TO THE REAR: Matt DiBenedetto (engine change) STARTING LINEUP: Click here for starting lineup


MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Sylvia Fowles set a WNBA record with her 157th career double-double and the Minnesota Lynx pulled away in the second half to beat the Phoenix Mercury 75-62 on Sunday night. Fowles finished with 14 points and 13 rebounds for her fourth consecutive double-double and broke Lisa Leslie's mark of 156 set from 1997-2009. Odyssey Sims led Minnesota (10-7) with 15 points and Napheesa Collier had 14 points, 11 rebounds and three steals. Danielle Robinson and Stephanie Talbot added 13 points apiece. Fowles scored on a putback of a miss by Sims to make it 36-35 at halftime and the Lynx led the rest of the way. Yvonne Turner hit a 3-pointer to pull Phoenix (7-8) within three late in the third quarter but Fowles and Sims answered with back-to-back layups, Collier converted a 3-point play to close the period before Robinson scored the first seven points of the fourth to make it 62-46 with 7 1/2 minutes to play. DeWanna Bonner led the Mercury with 27 points and Brittney Griner scored 12. Diana Taurasi, who made her season debut on Friday night after recovering from offseason back surgery, did not play Sunday. She scored five points in 16 minutes Friday in a loss at Connecticut, but tweaked her back and was examined by the team's trainer after the game.


Add Nate Burleson to the list of analysts who believe Houston Texans receiver DeAndre Hopkins is the best wideout in the game today. The NFL Network analyst, regularly seen on "Good Morning Football," penned his top-10 list of the best receivers in the NFL for 2019. Burleson was not shy about adding the two-time All-Pro to the top of the list. "Madden" isn't the only one who's high on Houston's WR1. He's my top wideout based on a combination of things: A) His catch radius is out of this world; B) he high-points the ball to win contested catches; and C) Deshaun Watson is nearly two years removed from his ACL injury, so the quarterback's renewed mobility will allow him to extend plays and make life quite difficult for defensive backs attempting to plaster receivers. And that's just the beginning. The 6-foot-1 wideout isn't the fastest player on the field, but he's mastered the art of body positioning and knows how and when to attack the ball. Not to mention, Hopkins just had the most receptions without a drop in a season (115) since Pro Football Focus started charting drops in 2007. With a freakish skill set and a talented, young QB, it feels like Hopkins is just getting started heading into Year 7. The former 2013 first-round draft pick, in some ways, is just getting started. In his rookie season, quarterback Matt Schaub, who had led the Texans to the playoffs the previous two seasons (okay, maybe not 2011, but Schaub wasn't exactly a schlub - that's the point), spent a little time with Hopkins in 2013 before succumbing to injury. 2014-15 was a quarterback carousel that featured Ryan Fitzpatrick, Ryan Mallett, Case Keenum, Brian Hoyer, T.J. Yates, and Brandon Weeden. Throw in 2016 with Brock Osweiler and Tom Savage, and then 2017 with just seven games with quarterback Deshaun Watson before the Savage/Yates show filled in a midseason replacement, and it is safe to say Hopkins has not had quality quarterback play. Therefore, it is safe to say he is just getting started. MORE: Behind the scenes with new-look Nets: 'We got stars without mortgaging everything'' Bear bites woman in tent at Yellowstone, prompts action Jayson Tatum's bold predictions for the 2019-20 season The Lions say Good Bye to Theo Riddick, but he won't be forgotten Greg Robinson's technical progress evident in Browns camp


Astros righty Collin McHugh has been demoted to the bullpen, manager A.J. Hinch told reporters Saturday. Hinch on McHugh headed to bullpen pic.twitter.com/obFoJhuAkw   Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) May 11, 2019 Houston will call up top prospect Corbin Martin to make his MLB debut Sunday against the Rangers to take McHugh's place in the rotation. McHugh gave up 24 earned runs in his last four starts for the Astros in 18 innings pitched (12.00 ERA). He found a niche in the bullpen for Houston last season posting a 1.99 ERA in 58 appearances (72 1/3 innings pitched). So while the move is a demotion for McHugh, it's also a move Houston can live with as it has had some struggles getting to Ryan Pressly and Roberto Osuna at the back end of the pen. Will Harris has been very good, but Josh James, Framber Valdez and Hector Rondon have had their struggles so McHugh could give the team some help in middle relief. As for Martin, the 23-year-old righty out of Texas A&M is the Astros' No. 5 prospect and No. 73 in all of baseball, according to MLB Pipeline. He spent time as both a reliever and starter for the Aggies but has truly excelled in the starting rotation in the minors for the Astros. This season he has a 1.48 ERA in 24 1/3 innings pitched for the Round Rock Express (despite offensive numbers skyrocketing in Triple-A due to the change to the MLB ball), and in his MILB career he is sporting a 2.31 ERA in 179 innings pitched with 193 strikeouts. Martin has truly embraced the Astros' strategy of using all of his pitches in any count and has taken a step on the mound after posting ERAs of 5.47 and 3.80 in his final two years with the Aggies. Martin is also a Houston native who pitched for Cy Ranch in high school. And just a fun fact, Cy Ranch could have two pitchers taken in the top five rounds of the MLB draft this season in JJ Goss and Matthew Thompson. Related slideshow: 2019 MLB season (provided by imagn)


It led the annual Monrovia Days parade for 2019. It's always refreshing to see a true driver's car at the head of a parade, like this 1974 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am SD-455 . This car shocked and awed enthusiasts as well as automotive publications like Car and Driver when it came out, the final roar of American muscle at the end of the golden age. And with very few made, seeing one in person is just that much more a treat. At least you can see this one in action in the video below. Once the video launches into the parade and the music cuts, you're able to hear that 455ci V8 rumbling like an unruly beast. That engine made for the fastest production Firebird to date, at a time when emissions restrictions seemingly killed the fun for American muscle. GM found a loophole in the laws by using a 455, which was grandfathered in after passing the initial emissions tests, blessing enthusiasts with one more hard-hitting car. To make things even sweeter, the car comes with a nice 4-speed manual transmission. You also get to see the car doing harder acceleration on public roads away from the parade. Unfortunately, some music is overlaid, so you can't just listen to the sweet song of that engine revving and the exhaust crackling aggressively. Still, it's loud enough to drown out a fair amount of the music. If Pontiac was offering such an amazing treat, why were only 212 made? Thanks to a perceived lack of demand, the powers-that-be decided to make the 455 Super Duty engine by hand off the assembly line. That ballooned costs and restricted production numbers, which is why you don't see these Trans Am SD-455s rolling around everywhere today. The owner of this car is George Panossian, who also owns All-Brite Custom Auto Body Repair in Monrovia, California. More Pontiacs 1977 Pontiac Trans Am Special Edition Y82 Bandit Is A True Survivor 1962 Pontiac Catalina Packs A Built 421 Super Duty


The New England Patriots' ratings are in for "Madden NFL 20," and the team looks impressive. Despite roster turnover, the Patriots boast an impressive group, with Tom Brady headlining the team at 96 overall. But he's hardly their only standout in terms of ratings. If you'd like to check out the ratings for the team's top players, you can find them here . Here are a few takeaways from what Madden put together. Tom Brady (96) is the second-best quarterback in the game behind Patrick Mahomes (97). Mahomes' 2018 season was unbelievable, even if his sample size is supremely small. Stephon Gilmore (94) is the second-best cornerback in the game. Jalen Ramsey (96) is No. 1. Interestingly, Richard Sherman is third at 93 overall - that might be a bit high for him. But Gilmore's spot just below Ramsey seems about right. How in the world do you go about rating receiver Josh Gordon? He's considered the second-best receiver on the Patriots at 82 overall. But of course, we don't know if he'll actually be on the Patriots in 2019 - or any NFL team, ever. He has struggled with mental health and addiction issues, which have kept him off the field due to suspensions. As a result, he's barely played in recent years. But in 2018, he was sensational despite having little time to pick up New England's complicated offense. Gordon had 40 receptions for 720 yards and three touchdowns during 11 games with the Patriots. If he can get back on the field, that rating may well rise. Madden is bullish on newcomer and defensive end Michael Bennett, who is projected to be the Patriots' third-best defender and seventh-best player overall. Bennett (85) arrived as a replacement for defensive end Trey Flowers, who joined the Detroit Lions during free agency. Flowers is an 87 overall. Julian Edelman got the props he deserves. He shares an 89 overall rating with the likes of the Chargers' Keenan Allen and the Cowboys' Amari Cooper. The game has Edelman rated higher than former Patriots and current Rams wideout Brandin Cooks. It's interesting to see that James White (86) is considered the best running back and one of the best players on the Patriots, with Sony Michel (84) following closely in-tow. There's no doubt that White is one of the league's best pass-catching backs. But he's in the same rating range as David Johnson (87) and Dalvin Cook (85). White has his shortcomings between the tackles, and may not be quite as well-rounded as Madden is making him out to be. And maybe Jason McCourty's 85 rating exceeds his performance last season. He was really good, but was limited enough for the Patriots to replace him with rookie J.C. Jackson, who was the No. 2 starter for most of the second half of the season. Jackson is somehow a 75, which makes him the fourth-best cornerback on the Patriots. That's too low. Receiver Demaryius Thomas and tight end Ben Watson aren't washed up yet, according to Madden. They both come in with an 82 overall ratings. It will be interesting to see if Thomas, who is recovering from his second Achilles injury, and Watson, who nearly retired this offseason, can fit that billing. MORE: Michael Bisping's cageside reaction to Urijah Faber's stunning KO was too good Three Potential Landing Spots for Chris Paul Carson Wentz lands behind Baker Mayfield in a ranking of the 11 best QB's in NFL Trysten Hill may be crowning point on Cowboys star-studded defense NBA Depth Charts


Drew Sample, by far the Cincinnati Bengals' most polarizing draft pick this year, continues to change the narrative by doing one simple thing - playing well on the field. Sample earned some rave reviews coming out of rookie minicamp and to start OTAs he might have done something even better. Catch the eye of A.J. Green. Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com noted Sample is one of many young guys benefitting from Zac Taylor's approach, which Green was quick to point out: Not only did Williams run with the ones, but second-rounder Drew Sample got enough snaps for wide receiver A.J. Green himself to observe, "The young tight end looked real good today." Sample was always going to get plenty of run with Tyler Eifert and Mason Schreck still working their way back from injury. Whether Sample would capitalize on the chance was a different conversation. But Taylor and his staff liked the Washington product enough to make him a second-round pick after trading down, which earned them a hefty dose of criticism because Sample was mostly viewed as a blocking-first candidate. From the sounds of it, Sample is already making everyone pay attention by living up to some of the belief Taylor had in him. All of the comments coming out of OTAs so far refer to Sample's impressive catches in drills. And when A.J. Green speaks on pretty much anything, it would be wise to listen. MORE: 7 reasons the Warriors are winning another title no matter who they play in the Finals Injury to Reuben Foster could help Chiefs, Redskins strike a deal Browns players quickly start recruiting freshly cut DT Gerald McCoy Magic Johnson confirms rumor that Lakers want to sign Kyrie Irving Matt Nagy surprises Bears with 'Monday Funday' ahead of OTAs


Without a doubt, Rodney Hudson was the Raiders' best offensive linemen last season. In fact, you can make a case that he was the best player on Oakland's roster. But where does he rank among the best at his position? In a recent article by Doug Farrar at the Touchdown Wire , he ranked the top-11 centers in the NFL. Hudson finished second, just behind Jason Kelce of the Philadelphia Eagles. Here is what Farrar had to say about Hudson and his ranking: Throughout his time with the Chiefs and Raiders, Hudson has put up more than enough tape to establish himself as the premier power center in the league. At 6-2 and 300 pounds, Hudson may be "undersized," but he certainly doesn't present himself like that on the field. And he's an outstanding pass protector as well, allowing just five total pressures and no sacks in 1.042 total snaps last season. With his freakish upper-body strength, Hudson is expert at getting his hands on any defender, and he can throw guys around who outweigh him by 30 to 40 pounds. And with his quick feet, he can transition seamlessly from defender to defender in zone schemes. In pass protection, he backpedals quickly, keeps his head on a swivel and strikes out against interior defenders with power and accuracy. Hudson is a free agent after the 2019 season, and the Raiders would be wise to start contract negotiations sooner than later. Oakland has invested a lot into their offensive line over the past few years, including spending multiple high picks on offensive tackles and making free agent Trent Brown the highest paid offensive lineman in NFL history. They were able to do this because they know they have one of the best interior offensive linemen in the entire NFL in Hudson. Look for him to have another All-Pro caliber season in 2019. MORE: Tom Brady took a selfie with his friend, Peyton Manning, and NFL fans had some great jokes NBA trade rumor rankings: The latest on Bradley Beal Roundup: Donald Trump Subreddit Quarantined, Kevin Love Gets Expensive Steve Austin Pendant, Tristan Thompson Buys New Mansion Everything to know about Tyreek Hill's meeting with NFL investigators News: Taco doesn't want recognition while Cooper, Elliott want smoke


The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are letting go of one of their best defensive players. Six-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Gerald McCoy will be looking for a new team, as the Bucs are going to release him . He was due to make $13 million in 2019. He has had at least six sacks every season since 2012. The Cardinals could certainly use him on the defensive line, as it is one of the areas on the team with the least proven depth. However, they are unlikely going to be in the running for the services of the 31-year-old DT. He is still one of the more dynamic interior defenders in the league and will likely command a solid contract, especially with the interest most assuredly there will be. The Cardinals have only $6.4 million in salary cap space after signing their draft picks, according to the NFLPA report. The technically have another $3.88 million they can use because of the six-game suspension to Patrick Peterson, but that still only puts them at just more than $10 million total. That might technically be enough room to sign him but it would leave them with virtually no flexibility the rest of the year. McCoy has played in a 4-3 defense his entire career. Arizona has gone back to a 3-4 scheme. He is 31 years old. The Cardinals might want him but likely do not want to sign him to a multi-year deal or for that much money. McCoy will certainly find a new team. It just probably won't be with the Cardinals. Listen to the latest from Cards Wire's Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio . View embedded content MORE: 7 reasons the Warriors are winning another title no matter who they play in the Finals Injury to Reuben Foster could help Chiefs, Redskins strike a deal Magic Johnson confirms rumor that Lakers want to sign Kyrie Irving Roundup: Great White Shark Tracked; James Holzhauer Wins Again; Donald Trump's Accounting Firm Browns players quickly start recruiting freshly cut DT Gerald McCoy


Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has revealed he is jealous of Premier League runners up Liverpool's supporters. Given Madrid's recent and historical achievements, Perez has nothing to be jealous of in terms of success on the field. Instead, it is the support Liverpool have from their fans which has made Los Blancos' president feel this way. Prior to the latest campaign, Real won the Champions League for three consecutive years before Zinedine Zidane announced his departure from the club. As much as Liverpool have enjoyed a more successful season, earning 97 points and securing a Champions League final spot against Tottenham , it's too soon to start thinking Madrid are no longer the elite club they once were. Thus, Perez is only jealous of the fan support, a far cry from the hostile atmosphere often experienced at the Bernabeu. The Real president remembered a 2014 Champions League group stage match in which Real defeated Liverpool at Anfield. He said during an interview on Onda Cero : "Cristiano (Ronaldo) once said: 'Why do they whistle?'. We can't whistle. The players belong to us, there has to be a complicity with them. "They're great professionals and they don't deserve it. I can't side with that part of the fan-base that boos its own players. "People were applauding in Anfield when we beat them 3-0. I envy that kind of atmosphere and that which we have the best. There are journalists who only go to Madrid in the satisfaction of seeing us lose." "I ask some of our fans not to give us lessons in Real Madrid , not to tell us who we have to sign or who we shouldn't."


The Cowboys need depth in the offensive line with three players out, including All-Pro right guard Zack Martin . An MRI on Martin's back revealed nothing serious, only irritation to a disc. He is expected to miss a week. "I think we have a good way of handling things ," Martin said this weekend, via Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram . "I think our training staff obviously has a lot of experience with those type injuries. So they have a plan set in place and I'm just following what they're telling me to do." The Cowboys also are without offensive linemen Cody Wichman, who injured his lower left leg Friday, and Connor McGovern, who still is working his way back from a pectoral injury. Thus, offensive lineman Brian Wallace was among the players the Cowboys had in Oxnard for workouts Monday, according to Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News . Wallace started at right tackle for Arkansas before going undrafted in April. He signed with Washington, which cut him recently, and worked out for the Seahawks last week. The Cowboys also had workouts with safety Tyvis Powell and cornerback Channing Stribling. The Texans had Powell on their 90-player roster only a week. Powell, 25, has played 18 games with one start in his career with the Seahawks, 49ers, Colts and Browns. He has 14 career tackles and a forced fumble. Stribling, 24, has spent time with five teams since arriving in the NFL as an undrafted free agent out of Michigan in 2017. He has never played in a regular-season game.


After leaving the University of Georgia and turning pro, Keith Mitchell knew he needed to make some changes in his fitness regimen to compete with the world's best on the PGA Tour. Mitchell turned to trainer Randy Myers after moving to Sea Island, Ga., for help. The two put in the hours of work in the gym at the Sea Island Performance Center and it paid off - Mitchell won his first PGA Tour title at the Honda Classic in March. When asked about his "Inner Circle," the people who provide a team of helping hands during the journey in professional golf, from a caddie to a trainer, from an equipment rep to a swing coach, Mitchell didn't hesitate in his account on the importance of his trainer. "He's been with me really since the day I turned pro," Mitchell told Golfweek . "I knew I had some deficiencies in my golf swing. … Randy was really able to target those to really become more flexible in certain areas and more powerful in others." Follow along this season as Mitchell and other PGA Tour stars reveal who's in their "Inner Circle" and how that support translates into success on the course. MORE: Here are the 27 'Jeopardy!' clues James Holzhauer has gotten wrong NBA Free Agency 2019: The top players Things Don't Sound Good Between James Harden, Chris Paul, and the Rockets New Packers OLB coach raves about rookie Rashan Gary 49ers LB roles change with new defensive front


The Tampa Bay Buccaneers received mostly universal praise for their first-round selection of linebacker Devin White in the 2019 NFL Draft, but their next selection in round two was met with more than a few raised eyebrows. The Bucs opted to take Central Michigan cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting with the 39th overall pick, ahead of some other notable players like Greedy Williams. But, Murphy-Bunting - Jameis Winston's cousin , mind you - is looking every bit the part of a promising young corner. We'll get to see him in action on Friday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers, perhaps even getting an up-close look at him versus Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster. While some other rookies might be intimidated going up against a star like that, Murphy-Bunting doesn't seem like the type of guy who would be fazed for long, especially when he's been making big plays in practice. Here's an observation from Bucs staff writer Carmen Vitali from the team's recent practice, where Murphy-Bunting got the best of a receiver he was defending. "Rookie cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting had great coverage on wide receiver Chris Godwin in the back of the end zone in the same red zone period. Godwin caught the ball but Murphy-Bunting made sure he couldn't stay in bounds." A rebuilding defense needs a strong cornerback, and the Bucs may have found just that in their young rookie. MORE: Bubba Wallace calls out Kyle Busch after spinning him: '(Expletive) him' Quick hits, observations from Packers' first joint practice with Texans Rookie Tony Pollard making presence felt in Ezekiel Elliott's absence 40 Under 40: Sports Media Talents 2019 Chargers 53-man roster projection: Mid-training camp edition


As Democratic presidential hopefuls come down to the wire for their first debate, a Microsoft News horse-race poll confirms one leader ahead of a tightly packed field. Joe Biden carries a 20 percentage point advantage among Democrats and independents over a closely matched second-tier of candidates -- Elizabeth Warren, Pete Buttigieg, Kamala Harris, Bernie Sanders and Cory Booker. But let's not get ahead of ourselves. Now, for a grain of salt This poll does not predict an outcome. It's a national snapshot of favorability, and primaries and caucuses are state-by-state votes. This poll was taken May 15 to June 17, and the Iowa caucuses are Feb. 3 -- people often change their minds before voting, and that's months away. Still, comparing this result to a second poll after the June 26-27 debates should provide insight into whether the candidates were able make any headway. Methodology The Microsoft News Poll uses online, opt-in surveys to produce statistically valid results. In this poll, responses from more than 190,000 people were collected and analyzed by polling firm CivicScience to model how demographic groups answered each question. Candidates were omitted if the margin of error produced a value less than zero. Answers were then projected onto the true distribution of those demographic groups. The method is as accurate as traditional polling methods. Learn more about our polls. Editor's note: Poll figures were updated to correct incorrect weighting of the data. Because of the change, Bernie Sanders is now ranked above Kamala Harris, although again noting that it's too early to draw conclusions from poll data on the candidates.


WORCESTER   The city administration has negotiated a tax-relief deal with the new owner of the historic and long-vacant Mission Chapel on Summer Street, to allow for its conversion into seven market-rate apartments. The tax-increment exemption plan, which is subject to City Council approval, will provide Fresh Turf, LLC, with a property tax savings of about $83,200 over the eight years of the deal, translating into $10,400 per year. The tax savings is equal to a 40% exemption on the additional property taxes that will result from the anticipated increase in the valuation of the property. The city assessor has projected that the value of the property will increase to $1.323 million when the $4.1 million project is completed. The developer will continue to pay full taxes on the current assessment ($274,500) of the property and taxes on 60% of the increased valuation. The property taxes to be received by the city as a result of the project are estimated at $124,876 over the eight-year period of the tax deal, according to Michael E. Traynor, the city's chief development officer. The city administration is also asking the City Council to designate the Mission Chapel, at 205 Summer St., as a Housing Development Certified Project. In addition to being able to provide local real estate tax relief, such a designation will make the project eligible for a state investment tax credit, according to Mr. Traynor. He said the developer is applying for a tax credit of $860,000. City Manager Edward M. Augustus Jr. said he is pleased to be able to recommend support of a long-awaited redevelopment project for the Mission Chapel. "The property has not had an active use for over 25 years although a handful of developers have earnestly pursued projects and dozens more have expressed interest in the property," Mr. Augustus wrote in a report that goes before the City Council Tuesday night. "For several reasons, past interest has not materialized in a viable project." The manager said the redevelopment of the Mission Chapel building will build upon recent development in the Washington Square area, including the Homewood Suites, the Edge at Union Station, a second hotel in the planning stages, and increased activity and utilization of Union Station. Fresh Turf, LLC is an affiliate of Boston-based Traggorth Companies, a real estate advisory firm with expertise in repositioning underutilized, historic properties. It acquired the property in early May. Mission Chapel is one of the oldest church buildings in Worcester and one of the oldest buildings in the downtown. It has not had an active use since the early 1990s It was built in 1854 by Ichabod Washburn, a Worcester industrialist. The property was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. The 8,268-square-foot brick building was last used as the Second Baptist Church from 1960 to 1993, when the property was taken through eminent domain by the Worcester Redevelopment Authority to make way for the planned "Medical City" urban renewal project, now known as St. Vincent Hospital. But it ended up not being needed for the project and, as a result, was able to escape demolition. According to Mr. Traynor, the seven apartments to be created in the building include four one-bedroom units, two two-bedroom units and one large three-bedroom unit that will be 2,450 square feet. He said the large unit represents the creative preservation and reuse of the main chapel. Mr. Traynor said the developer anticipates beginning the project during the fall of 2020, with a goal of completing it in the summer of 2021. He said a key to financing the project will be receiving the historic tax credits. He added that the remaining project financing is being sourced through the developer's equity and debt financing. "This proposed project meets the objectives of the Housing Development Incentive Program and is aligned with the city's economic development agendas," Mr. Traynor said. "The project will preserve the historic building and provide greater stewardship for the property into the future." The project has already received letters of support from the Worcester Historical Commission and Preservation Worcester. In addition, the Worcester Redevelopment Authority board voted last month to release the deed restrictions for Mission Chapel so it can be converted for a residential use. Mr. Traynor said the developer has agreed to adhere to the applicable provisions of the city so-called "TIF Policy," which extend to the construction activities of Housing Development Incentive Program projects. He added that the developer will also be meeting with the Worcester Jobs Fund Oversight Committee to discuss efforts to solicit pricing and selected contractors for the project.     ©2019 Telegram & Gazette, Worcester, Mass. Visit Telegram & Gazette, Worcester, Mass. at www.telegram.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.


SAN FRANCISCO (AP)   The killing of a woman at a sightseeing pier has brought criticism down on this liberal city because the Mexican man under arrest was in the U.S. illegally, had been deported five times and was out on the streets after San Francisco officials disregarded a request from immigration authorities to keep him locked up. San Francisco is one of dozens of cities and counties across the country that do not fully cooperate with federal immigration authorities. The city goes so far as to promote itself as a "sanctuary" for people in the country illegally. In a jailhouse interview with a TV station, Francisco Sanchez, the 45-year-old repeat drug offender arrested in the shooting Wednesday of Kathryn Steinle, appeared to confirm that he came to the city because of its status as a sanctuary. Prosecutors on Monday charged Sanchez with murder as San Francisco Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi strongly defended his office's release of Sanchez and pointed the finger back at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. He said the federal agency should have issued an arrest warrant for Sanchez. "ICE knew that he had been deported five times," Mirkarimi said. "You would have thought he met a threshold that he required a court order or a warrant. They did not do that." The case has prompted a flurry of criticism from ICE officials, politicians and commenters on social media, all of whom portrayed the slaying as a preventable tragedy. "Most of the blame should fall squarely on the shoulders of the San Francisco sheriff, because his department had custody of him and made the choice to let him go without notifying ICE," said Jessica Vaughan, director of policy studies at the Washington-based Center for Immigration Studies, which wants tougher immigration enforcement. Rep. Bob Goodlatte, the Virginia Republican who chairs the House Judiciary Committee, blamed sanctuary practices and the Obama administration, saying: "The tragic murder of Kate Steinle once again underscores the need to end these reckless policies." Mayor Ed Lee issued a statement saying city policy was never intended to protect "repeat, serious and violent felons." He asked for federal and local agencies to review what happened. California Attorney General Kamala Harris, a former San Francisco district attorney who is running for U.S. Senate, cautioned that when it comes to immigration, "our policy should not be informed by our collective outrage about one man's conduct." Many other San Francisco politicians stayed quiet as mourners held a late morning vigil at Pier 14 on the downtown waterfront, where the 32-year-old Steinle was gunned down Wednesday, seemingly at random, during an evening stroll with her father and a family friend. She had recently moved to San Francisco. While many cities have scaled back cooperation with ICE, few have gone as far as San Francisco. For more than two decades, San Francisco has been considered a sanctuary for people in the U.S. illegally. The city's sanctuary law prohibits city employees from helping federal authorities with immigration investigations or arrests unless required by law or warrant. That said, the ordinance does not prohibit local law enforcement from informing ICE that they've arrested someone in the country illegally for a felony offense or who has prior felony convictions. In 2013, Mirkarimi's office started turning over fewer people under arrest to federal immigration authorities for deportation. Mirkarimi on Monday stood behind the city's sanctuary law as a way to fight crime and promote trust. His office routinely ignores such federal immigration requests unless backed by an active warrant. He said ICE was aware of San Francisco's policy. Earlier this year, Sanchez was released from federal prison   where he had served a sentence for re-entering the country after deportation   and turned over to the Sheriff's Department on an outstanding drug-related warrant. The San Francisco district attorney's office declined to prosecute what authorities said was a decade-old marijuana possession case, and Sanchez was freed on April 15. Before he was set free, ICE had filed a so-called detainer with San Francisco authorities, asking to be informed if they intended to let him go, ICE spokeswoman Gillian Christensen said. But she said ICE was never notified. "We're not asking local law enforcement to do our job," she said in a statement. "All we're asking is that they notify us when a serious foreign national criminal offender is being released to the street so we can arrange to take custody." In the past 21 months, immigration authorities have issued more than 230,000 detainers, according to ICE. Since January 2014, law enforcement agencies around the country have failed to honor about 17,000 detainers, 61 percent of them in California, ICE said. Sanchez has been deported five times, most recently in 2009, and has seven felony convictions, four involving drug charges, according to ICE. From jail, Sanchez told a KGO-TV reporter in a mix of Spanish and English that he found the gun wrapped in a T-shirt while sitting on a bench at the pier. "So I picked it up and ... it started to fire on its own," Sanchez said, adding that he heard three shots go off. Asked if he came to San Francisco because of its sanctuary status, he said yes. "I only want to say that if the court wants to find me guilty, I wouldn't get mad," Sanchez said during the interview, in which he appeared confused and spoke incoherently at times. The American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California supports sanctuary protections, saying people are more willing to cooperate with police if there's no fear of deportation. Julia Harumi Mass, a senior staff attorney with the organization, called the details of this case exceptional and put the blame on ICE. "It is still unclear why the federal government turned over someone who is known to be deportable to the city of San Francisco, knowing that San Francisco is one of the oldest sanctuary cities in the country," she said. ___ Lisa Leff and Paul J. Elias in San Francisco contributed to this report.


Learn about the first hole at Bethpage Black, host of the 2019 PGA Championship.


Our comrades over at Touchdown Wire seem to never sleep and work just as hard as we do at Jags Wire. One of their latest articles that has caught the eyes of many is a post where they looked around the league for the 45 worst first-round picks since 2010 . Of course, every team had at least one player on the list, but the Jags sadly had six. Those players were Blaine Gabbert, Justin Blackmon, Luke Joeckel, Blake Bortles, Dante Fowler Jr. and Leonard Fournette. In starting with Gabbert, there aren't many Jags fans out there who would dispute him making the list. Additionally, former coach Jack Del Rio recently revealed that he didn't even know Gabbert was going to be the Jags first-round pick in 2011, and that he didn't even grade the Missouri quarterback as a first-round pick. He started in 27 of 48 games and was 5-22 in the process, while finishing his career as a Jag with a completion percentage of 53.3 (414-of-777) for 4,357 passing yards 22 touchdowns and 24 interceptions. As most are aware, Blackmon's off-the-field issues are what kept him from filling his potential. He was supposed to be Gabbert's No. 1 receiver, however, he only played in 18 games and caught 93 passes in the process. Like Blackmon, Joeckel is no longer in the league. He last had a run with the Seattle Seahawks in 2017, but hasn't received much interest since. He was current general manager Dave Caldwell's first-ever selection as the Jags' head man, however, most would agree the second overall pick of 2013 could've been better used. Instead, he could've had offensive tackle Lane Johnson, who has been a solid offensive lineman for the Philadelphia Eagles. Bortles is a player who didn't live up to his selection either, but I'd definitely say Derrick Harvey should've made the list over him. The Jags at least got a run to the AFC Championship out of Bortles, although he never developed into the veteran quarterback most hoped for. He ultimately exited Jacksonville with 73 starts, which is great, but he also had a career completion percentage of 59.3, threw a whopping 75 picks and had a record of 24-49. Fowler is also a player who didn't live up to his selection, but he certainly didn't deserve to make the list over Harvey. Harvey may have finished with more career starts for the Jags (32), but Fowler finished with almost double the amount of sacks (14) as Harvey, who only had eight. Additionally, Fowler missed his rookie season with an ACL tear so it's possible his career with the Jags took a hit as a result, while Harvey was healthier but less productive in getting to the quarterback. As for Fournette, the verdict is to be determined on him. However, his first two seasons have been a mixed bag. He had a 1,000+ yard season as a rookie and aided the Jags to become the No. 1 rushing attack, but he's also missed nearly a full season (13 games) between injuries and disciplinary actions. Additionally, he hasn't had a season where he's averaged four yards per carry or more, so that is something that will need to be addressed this season, too. In a nutshell, it would appear 2019 is a make or break season for his future as a Jaguar and he has a chance to break the trend of bad first-round selections by the current regime. MORE: MLB world pays respects to Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs, who died Monday at age 27 Stephen A. Smith: 'Andre Iguodala is planning on joining the Lakers' 2019 NBA Summer League Rosters What the Heck is Going On With the Jimmy Butler Sign-and-Trade? [UPDATED] Lacob: 'No player will ever wear No. 35 for the Warriors again'


Just as many people won't leave home without applying sunscreen , others actively shun it over worries about what's in the bottle. Ingredients that protect skin from ultraviolet rays have raised concerns about their impact on human health and the environment. Some fear the chemicals are getting into the body and could disrupt the hormone system, affecting how reproductive and thyroid hormones act. Then, there's uneasiness about people not getting enough vitamin D. Some communities are also banning certain sunscreens that could be harmful to coral reefs . So what's a person to do? Medical societies are clear: Keep wearing sunscreen. Claims that sunscreen ingredients are toxic or a hazard to human health have not been proven, the American Academy of Dermatology noted . The potential risk of not using sunscreen far outweighs the risks of using it, advised Dr. Len Lichtenfeld, deputy chief medical officer of the American Cancer Society . But concern about the products continues to come up when dermatologist Dr. Adam Friedman sees patients, so he said his approach is to focus on the facts. "The fact is ultraviolet radiation causes skin cancer. There's no disputing this… everybody should be using sunscreen from a skin cancer perspective," Friedman, professor and interim chair of dermatology at the George Washington School of Medicine and Health Sciences, told TODAY. "The safety issues that have been raised are mostly based on cell line data and animal data, not actually human data. Personally, I'm offended if I'm compared to a cell itself, because there's a very big gap between going from a petri dish to the human system." There are two types of sunscreen: chemical   which absorbs into the skin and then absorbs the sun's rays. physical or mineral   which sits on top of the skin and deflects the sun's rays. In February, the Food and Drug Administration said the two main active ingredients used in mineral formulations   zinc oxide and titanium dioxide   should be declared as "generally recognized as safe and effective" for use in sunscreens. It also asked the industry for additional information about 12 other active sunscreen ingredients currently available in the U.S.   including those widely-used in chemical formulations such as oxybenzone and avobenzone. The agency said it needed more safety data before it could declare them "generally recognized as safe and effective." "This request for additional data does not mean that the FDA has concluded that these 12 ingredients are unsafe," Dr. Theresa Michele, director of the FDA's division of nonprescription drug products, told Consumer Reports . "The goal here is to get the data and validate the safety and effectiveness of all these ingredients." Health%20&%20Wellness The agency also proposed declaring two ingredients   PABA and trolamine salicylate   as not meeting the "safe and effective standard" because of safety issues. The Environmental Working Group , a non-profit watchdog that's been warning about sunscreen chemicals, called the FDA's proposals "a big step toward cleaning up a largely unregulated industry." What to know about sunscreen chemicals: EWG has been particularly concerned about oxybenzone , recommending that people avoid formulations with this active ingredient. That may be hard to do since almost two-thirds of non-mineral sunscreens contain the chemical, according to the group's database. Oxybenzone has been detected in much of the U.S. population and in breast milk, EWG warns. The American Academy of Pediatrics advises parents that they "may want to" choose a sunscreen without oxybenzone because the ingredient may have hormonal properties. Friedman noted that has never been proven in humans. Rats that were fed oxybenzone showed changes in uterine size, but a 2011 study found that to get the equivalent levels the animals were exposed to, a woman would have to apply sunscreen every day to a quarter of her body for 277 years. "A lot of these concerns, while I'm not trying to discount them, in order to say this is real, you need scientific evidence and we just don't have that," Friedman said. "Let's say you measure some oxybenzone in blood, breast milk and urine   how does that translate to actual disease? That's the part that's missing. Just because it's there doesn't mean that amount has any negative consequences." What to know about getting enough vitamin D: The body needs vitamin D and can manufacture it when the skin is exposed to the sun. So there's concern products that block the sun's rays are interfering with an important health mechanism . Still, Friedman advised against intentionally going out into the sun even briefly without sunscreen, noting it takes minutes of unprotected sun exposure between 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to elicit damage to cellular DNA, which could lead to skin cancer. "If you had someone put vitamin C in a cigarette, would you smoke to get your vitamin C?" he asked, citing his favorite analogy. "It's just not worth the risk." It's better to get vitamin D from dietary sources, Friedman advised. What to know about environmental damage: In February, Key West officials banned the sale of sunscreens with oxybenzone and octinoxate after researchers said the chemicals can harm coral reefs. The industry fought the ban , noting more studies were needed to prove the link. Hawaii passed a similar law last year. Both bans go into effect on Jan. 1, 2021. There's no question sunscreens are getting into the water, but Friedman wondered whether that translates to having a biological effect. "In labs, it's been shown that these ingredients can bleach coral," he said. "But the amounts used in the lab are much, much, much higher than what's actually out there in the real world. And it doesn't account for all the other horrible things going on in our environment that could be bleaching the coral." Bottom line: Use sunscreen, Friedman said. The best type is the one you'll use again and again, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Just make sure it offers broad-spectrum (UVA and UVB) protection, has an SPF of 30 or higher and is water-resistant. Friedman recommended sunscreens that use both chemical and mineral blockers for the best protection. Video: Sun protection myths and facts: A T-shirt is NOT better than sunscreen


The Giant surprisingly didn't keep safety Landon Collins after the 2018 season. Even more surprisingly, they traded receiver Odell Beckham Jr., only months after signing him to a long-term deal. "Was I shocked with Odell?" Collins told NJ.com. "No, honestly, not. They felt like he was a problem the whole time . Ever since Odell stepped into the league with them, they felt like he was a problem, I felt like from the outside." In this case, the "they" is the front office. The players felt differently. "We loved him," Collins said of his teammates. "Odell is my brother. He is not that kind of guy, or what people think he is about or what the organization did. I don't know why." Collins' perception makes the decision to sign Beckham and then to trade him even more confusing. They could have traded him before signing him to a long-term deal. They also could have left him finish his rookie contract, applied the franchise tag, and traded him from under the tag, like the Chiefs did with Dee Ford and the Seahawks did with Frank Clark . Of all the bizarre decisions the franchise has made in the past few years, the decision to pay more than $20 million to a player about whom the front office was ambivalent at best is by far the most confusing. Especially if they could have gotten compensation close to what they received from the Browns (first-round pick, third-round pick, and safety Jabrill Peppers ) without having to give Beckham so much money. Meanwhile, why did the Giants have a problem with Beckham in the first place? He never created any issues away from the field, and he always produced at a high level. He ultimately wasn't happy in New York, possibly because he sensed the organization's hesitation toward him. All in all, it was a strange chapter for the Giants. If Beckham thrives in Cleveland or elsewhere, it will make New York's failure to make things work with Beckham even more strange. Related slideshow: Offseason report card for every team (Provided by Yardbarker)


Newcastle United will have to pay £18m in compensation if they want potential target Sergio Conceicao, of Porto, to replace the outgoing Rafael Benitez as manager. Newcastle owner Mike Ashley has never paid compensation for a manager, however this will have to change if he wishes to land the Porto man. Benitez's contract expires at the end of the week and to many Newcastle fans' bemusement, his contract will not be renewed as the two parties could not agree on a new deal. Consequently, the Magpies are on the hunt for a new manager and Sky Sports have reported that Porto's Sergio Conceicao is "interested" in the job. He has managed Porto for two seasons, winning the league title in his first, but Porto were just pipped by Benfica last term. Sky claim that the manager would "fit the profile of manager" and Newcastle appear to be considering Conceicao as part of a large list of potential replacements. However, the £18m compensation fee as reported by the Newcastle Chronicle , will be a stumbling block. Porto manager Sergio Conceicao is interested in the soon-to-be vacant Newcastle United job, Sky Sports News understands.   Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) June 27, 2019 Rafael Benitez won the Championship with Newcastle, before securing a 10th and 13th place finish in the Premier League. The club face great difficulty in replacing him, especially considering the success he achieved in such difficult circumstances. Apart from Conceicao, Newcastle are rumoured to be looking at Eddie Howe, Mikel Arteta and Jose Mourinho - to name a few. Newcastle will want a suitable replacement and Conceicao may just be the man. However, Mike Ashley will have to stump up a hefty fee if he wishes to land the Porto man.


The Dolphins have brought in a new linebacker. The team announced on Friday that they have signed Nick Deluca to their 90-man roster. DeLuca was signed by the Titans after going undrafted out of North Dakota State in 2018, but wound up on the Jaguars practice squad in the regular season. He was promoted to the active roster in October and wound up playing in nine games before the year was out. DeLuca had 12 tackles, a sack and a forced fumble in those appearances. Jerome Baker , Raekwon McMillan and Kiko Alonso front the linebacker group in Miami. Quentin Poling , Mike Hull , Chase Allen , Tyrone Holmes and fifth-round pick Andrew Van Ginkel join DeLuca as options to fill out the roster behind them.


The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday gave the go-ahead for a lawsuit by consumers accusing Apple Inc of monopolizing the market for iPhone software applications and forcing them to overpay, rejecting the company's bid to escape claims that its practices violate federal antitrust law. Apple shares were down about 5% after the justices, in a 5-4 ruling, upheld a lower court's decision to allow the proposed class action lawsuit to proceed. The plaintiffs said the Cupertino, California-based technology company required apps be sold through its App Store and extracted an excessive 30 percent commission on purchases. Conservative Justice Brett Kavanaugh, an appointee of President Donald Trump, joined the court's four liberal justices to rule against Apple and wrote the decision. Apple shares were trading down $10 at 187.13 by late morning. The company, backed by the Trump administration, argued that it was only acting as an agent for app developers, who set their own prices and pay Apple's commission. Apple had argued that a Supreme Court ruling allowing the case to proceed could pose a threat to e-commerce, a rapidly expanding segment of the U.S. economy worth hundreds of billions of dollars in annual sales. The dispute hinged in part on how the justices would apply a decision the court made in 1977 to the claims against Apple. In that case, the court limited damages for anti-competitive conduct to those directly overcharged rather than indirect victims who paid an overcharge passed on by others. Explaining the ruling from the bench, Kavanaugh said the 1977 precedent was "not a get-out-of-court-free card for monopolistic retailers," an apparent allusion to the popular board game Monopoly. Noting that they pay Apple - not an app developer - whenever buying an app from the App Store, the iPhone users who brought the case said they were direct victims of the overcharges. Apple said the consumers were indirect purchasers, at best, because any overcharge would be passed on to them by developers. Developers earned more than $26 billion in 2017, a 30 percent increase over 2016, according to Apple. "Leaving consumers at the mercy of monopolistic retailers simply because upstream suppliers could also sue the retailers would directly contradict the longstanding goal of effective private enforcement in antitrust cases," Kavanaugh said. Dissenting from the decision, conservative Justice Neil Gorsuch, said that the decision is "not how antitrust law is supposed to work" because it gives a green light to the exact type of case that the court has previously prohibited. Gorsuch also was appointed by Trump. A spokeswoman for Apple could not immediately be reached. The plaintiffs, including lead plaintiff Robert Pepper of Chicago, filed the suit in a California federal court in 2011, claiming Apple's monopoly leads to inflated prices compared to if apps were available from other sources. They were supported by 30 state attorneys general, including from Texas, California and New York. Apple, which was also backed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce business group, had sought to dismiss the case, arguing that the plaintiffs lacked the required legal standing to bring the lawsuit. After a federal judge in Oakland, California threw out the suit, the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals revived it in 2017, finding that Apple was a distributor that sold iPhone apps directly to consumers.


Detroit will see a return of last week's light rainfall through Tuesday, according to the seven-day forecast from drone-powered weather service Saildrone . Today's forecast shows the highest possibility of rain at 97%, with expected rainfall of 0.42 inches. The next few days will also bring warm temperatures, expected to persist through Sunday. The weather will bring a high temperature of 85 degrees today. Skies will partly clear up on Wednesday, remaining partly cloudy through Thursday. Winds will reach a modest high of 15 mph today, with daily top speeds in the single digits the rest of the week. This story was created automatically using Saildrone's local weather forecast data, then reviewed by an editor. We also incorporate historic weather data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


20,000-Mile Update The main issue many of our editors have with our long-term 2019 Mercedes-Benz E450 wagon is that they don't get to drive it as often as they'd like. More so than any other long-termer in our fleet, this delectable Benz has been in high demand since it arrived. Those staffers who heretofore had been out of luck in properly experiencing the E-class are just getting the opportunity to snag a night in it as its odometer passes the 20,000-mile mark, and they have some things to say. Research the Mercedes-Benz E-Class on MSN Autos | Find a Mercedes-Benz E-Class near you Copy editor Beth Nichols was thrilled to finally get her chance in the E-class wagon . She mostly gushed over the car but did find a nit to pick: after setting up her seating position, she noticed that the steering wheel partly obscured the gauge cluster. She then admitted this was a "first-world problem," given the otherwise sumptuous atmosphere that pervades the E450's cabin. Driving the E-class was worth the wait for assistant online editor Daniel Golson, too. He was quite complimentary overall but did dispute the way we spec'd our E wagon. While opining that we should have chosen the Luxury Styling appearance package with its hood ornament and extra chrome, for a more traditional look, he also lamented that the 2019 E450 is not available with the Piedmont Green Metallic paint offered on the 2018 E400 wagon (ours is finished in Lunar Blue Metallic). Taking the ungratefulness a step further, he then expressed sadness that the United States is denied the inline-six-powered AMG E53 wagon that our neighbors in Canada are lucky enough to get. Given that Mercedes does offer U.S. buyers the privilege of buying the 603-hp AMG E63 S , we're thinking that the next time he's fortunate enough to drive our E450, Golson needs to call up the 1969 Rolling Stones hit, "You Can't Always Get What You Want," which would surely sound great on the E450's Burmester audio system. After his turn in the E450, print director Tony Quiroga offered some sage advice that almost seemed targeted at the AMG-hungry Golson. "For those who don't get the appeal of a Benz, drive this car. Still don't get it? Wait a few years, mature, and there's no doubt this car and its slightly lazy dynamics will make perfect sense." We don't want to jinx anything, given what happened to our last E-class wagon , but this E450 has seen smooth-if somewhat costly-sailing through the first half of its test. At a 20,000-mile scheduled-maintenance visit, our dealership performed an oil change, replaced the cabin air filter, rotated the tires, flushed the brake fluid, replaced the wiper blades, and inspected the car. This rang up a bill of $704, more than double that of the E450's 10,000-mile service. Months in Fleet: 8 months Current Mileage: 20,640 miles Average Fuel Economy: 22 mpg Fuel Tank Size: 21.1 gal Observed Fuel Range: 460 miles Service: $957 Normal Wear: $0 Repair: $0 Damage and Destruction: $0 10,000-Mile Update Our long-term 2019 Mercedes-Benz E-class wagon brings a sense of occasion to our daily lives. We feel special whenever we drive this classy E-class, and the practical aura that its longroof body adds to the equation only makes it easier to enjoy. With a hair over 12,000 miles on its odometer, our drivers have repeatedly praised its front-seat comfort as well as its solid sense of straight-ahead on longer treks, including jaunts from Ann Arbor to Chicago and back. And because this Mercedes projects such elegance and affluence, we also tend to reserve the E-class for our most special outings. When assistant buyer's guide editor Eric Stafford needed a car for a trip to northern Michigan to propose to his girlfriend, the E450 was the obvious choice (and if you're wondering, she said yes). Stafford reported that he and his fiancée "enjoyed every minute spent in it," though we're sure the excitement of the engagement contributed somewhat to this impression. The car's height-adjustable air springs came in handy for the happy couple as they navigated unplowed snowy roads, as did its 4Matic all-wheel-drive system and Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 tires. The only issue they encountered was with the car's passive-entry function, which can be inconsistent, sometimes requiring the driver to manually unlock the doors with the key fob. Another driver noticed that the system seems to be very sensitive to where the key is on your person when reaching to open the door, noting that the door unlocked more reliably with the key in a front pocket as opposed to a back pocket or in a purse. Another logbook commenter found storage cubbies to be lacking, as filling the front cupholders with cups blocks the usefully sized bin located behind them. Nothing more significant has befallen the E450, with its only dealer visit being its 10,000-mile service, which included an oil change and several inspections for a fairly steep $253. Our average fuel economy has stayed consistent at 22 mpg, which matches the EPA's combined estimate. The large 21.1-gallon fuel tank means that we can easily go 450 miles between fill-ups, and 500-plus-mile stints are within reach at highway speeds-our record so far is 521 miles on a single tank. Months in Fleet: 5 months Current Mileage: 12,006 miles Average Fuel Economy: 22 mpg Fuel Tank Size: 21.1 gal Observed Fuel Range: 460 miles Service: $253 Normal Wear: $0 Repair: $0 Damage and Destruction: $0 Introduction When we received the first of our long-term Mercedes-Benz E-class wagons , we said that it "may just be the most well-rounded new car on the market." But not long after our 2018 E400 4Matic wagon arrived at C/D HQ, Mercedes-Benz announced an even better version: the 2019 E450 4Matic wagon, which brought a few welcome tweaks including a more powerful V-6 engine. So maybe fate was at work when a moving truck took our E400 out of commission in the parking lot of a Buffalo Wild Wings. That loss was assuaged when Mercedes-Benz showed up with a shiny new 2019 E450 wagon as a replacement. And we're now so enamored with the new wagon that we've almost forgotten what happened to its predecessor. Quicker and better equipped, this particular E450 is an evolutionary improvement over an already excellent E-class wagon that didn't need much improving. The 33 extra horsepower and 15 additional lb-ft of torque from the E450's twin-turbo 3.0-liter V-6 help hustle it to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds and a through the quarter-mile in 13.4 seconds, each an improvement of 0.2 second over the E400. The E450 also surpasses the E400 in cornering grip (at 0.91 g) and braking (stopping from 70 mph in 152 feet), thanks to a staggered set of Dunlop Sport Maxx RT2 summer tires versus the other car's square set of all-seasons. (We've since swapped out the E450's Dunlops for a $1230 set of Mercedes-spec Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 tires for the cold-weather season.) Oh, and did we mention that the E450 wagon is a lot more expensive? After conservatively optioning our E400, we threw caution to the wind this time and embraced the E-class's luxurious nature. At $89,175, the as-tested price is nearly $12,000 higher. Among many new options, a $2250 Driver Assistance package adds adaptive cruise control and numerous other driving aids, an $850 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster modernizes the dash, and the $4900 Designo interior option transforms the cabin with a delightful combination of Saddle Brown and Macchiato Beige nappa leather. A set of $198 winter floor mats from WeatherTech is already in place to protect the light-colored carpets. There are few greater pleasures in autodom than sinking into those massaging nappa leather seats, resting your arm on the heated armrest, and relaxing into a cosseting drive home after a long day at work. Comments in the E450's logbook have been overwhelmingly positive so far, describing the car as "delectably beautiful" and "lovely all the way around." We're really hoping that this E-class wagon goes the 40,000-mile distance-and we'll make sure to keep this lovely vehicle far away from any Buffalo Wild Wings parking lots. Months in Fleet: 2 months Current Mileage: 4080 miles Average Fuel Economy: 22 mpg Fuel Tank Size: 21.1 gal Fuel Range: 460 miles Service: $0 Normal Wear: $0 Repair: $0 Damage and Destruction: $0


D'Angelo Russell is bringing to the Bay Area a skill set the Golden State Warriors haven't legitimately had over the course of their five straight NBA Finals appearances. The Warriors acquired Russell in a sign-and-trade this offseason on a four-year max deal worth $117 million. The move came shortly after Kevin Durant agreed to sign with the Brooklyn Nets, but Russell's arrival brought on speculation as to whether the Warriors would eventually trade him. Marc Stein of The New York Times reported earlier this month that "it's just a matter of when" in terms of the Warriors trading Russell. But on Monday, Warriors general manager Bob Myers said the team did not "sign (Russell) with the intention of trading him." Myers spoke about how the Warriors want to see how Russell fits with the team and they also want to see how he fits when Klay Thompson returns from his ACL injury. Despite questions of fit, Russell, 23, is one of the best young talents in the league. And though he can't shoot like Stephen Curry or Thompson, he can consistently drive into the lane and score. Russell averaged 12 drives per game last season, per NBA.com's player tracking data. Curry ranked first on the Warriors last season in drives, averaging 7.7. Curry isn't average at getting to the rim - he shot 62.1% from within less than five feet last season on a total of 253 attempts. But finishing at the rim and in the lane isn't his game; it's not why he's a future Hall of Famer. Shooting threes is Curry's specialty and with Russell being one of the best downhill guards in the league, the Warriors' offense could look different, yet still effective, as they head into this new era. In 2018-19, Russell shot 271 field goals from within less than five feet. That's not too much more than Curry but the difference between the two guards lies in their shot distribution within the midrange area. Russell took 223 shots from within 10-14 feet last season; Curry had 52 shots from that area. https://streamable.com/e/w8gyr Russell and Curry have the potential to be a solid fit in the backcourt while Thompson is recovering. What's intriguing about the duo is that Curry could be used as more of a spot-up shooter, with Russell running point. Russell, who was a first-time All-Star in 2018-19, is coming off his best professional season to date. He averaged career highs in points per game (21.1) and assists (7.0). As one of the best playmakers in the league, Russell's ability to drive into the lane and create for others could add a new element to Golden State's offense. With Durant gone and Thompson out with an injury, the offensive burden will fall on Curry and Russell. Still, the Warriors could still have one of the most formidable backcourts in the league. Though Russell had the fifth-highest usage percentage last season (31.1), he also ranked 15th in assists. He sets up his teammates well, especially off the pick-and-roll. D'Angelo Russell in playmaking action The video below starts with Russell taking advantage of a high ball screen set by Ed Davis. Davis doesn't roll hard to the rim, but Russell used his savvy ballhandling skills well. He faked a pass to take attention away from him, and because he is such a skilled passer, even the threat of a pass allows him to flourish off screens. In the second part of the video, Russell read the middle of the floor well, as did Jarrett Allen. Former Los Angeles Lakers center Tyson Chandler didn't pick up Allen as he drifted to the middle of the lane and Russell had an easy lob to Allen for the dunk. The last portion of the video consists of a pick-and-roll between Russell and Allen. As Russell came off Allen's screen, he drew attention from Deandre Ayton and Anthony Melton. Ayton worried too much about Russell here and didn't drop to cover Allen. This resulted in Allen capitalizing on an easy alley-oop. https://streamable.com/e/nqxh5 This type of playmaking for the Warriors most often came from Curry and Draymond Green, even during the team's Finals runs. In four out of the past five seasons, each has ranked in the top two in assists. The only time they weren't both the team's leaders in assists was the 2018-19 season in which Curry ranked third. As Russell comes into the picture, Curry will have space to attempt catch-and-shoot threes and Russell will be able to get the ball to him. For this duo to work, though, Curry is going to have to play Thompson's spot-up shooter role. Thompson ranked fourth in the NBA for catch-and-shoot threes last season (6.1) and he shot 40.1% from deep on them. Last season, Curry ranked second in catch-and-shoot three-point attempts, averaging 6.7 per game on 44.6 percent. Having an added playmaker in Russell, who can consistently attack the rim, is going to be different for the Warriors. They haven't had a player like him before. And while he might fit differently compared to what they're used to, the Warriors have the potential to remain competitive in an elite Western Conference next season. MORE: See the dramatic final hand of 2019 WSOP Main Event that won Hossein Ensan $10 million Baker Mayfield swings and misses with attempted rip of Giants fans VIDEO: Hossein Ensan Wins 2019 World Series of Poker News: Cowboys' $100 million men underpaid, and more dangerous in 2019 The top 100 players in the NFL today


In search of a new favorite karaoke spot? Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top karaoke spots around Seattle, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of where to venture next time you're looking to sing your heart out. 1. Talarico's Pizzeria Topping the list is Talarico's Pizzeria . Located at 4718 California Ave. SW (between South Erskine Way and Alaska Street) in West Seattle, the lounge and karaoke spot, which offers pizza and more, is the highest-rated karaoke spot in Seattle, boasting four stars out of 706 reviews on Yelp. 2. Rock Box Next up is Capitol Hill's Rock Box , situated at 1603 Nagle Place. With four stars out of 466 reviews on Yelp, the bar and karaoke spot has proven to be a local favorite. 3. The Hideout The Hideout , a lounge and karaoke spot in First Hill, is another go-to, with four stars out of 268 Yelp reviews. Head over to 1005 Boren Ave. to see for yourself. 4. Marco Polo Bar & Grill Over in Georgetown, check out Marco Polo Bar & Grill , which has earned four stars out of 208 reviews on Yelp. You can find the dive bar, karaoke and traditional American spot at 5613 Fourth Ave. South (between Findlay and Orcas streets). 5. Waterwheel Lounge Finally, there's Waterwheel Lounge , a Ballard favorite with four stars out of 148 reviews. Stop by 7034 15th Ave. NW to hit up the dive bar, karaoke and breakfast and brunch spot next time you want to sing your favorite song. This story was created automatically using local business data, then reviewed and augmented by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.