"We know where we are." The statement has become a daily staple of Red Sox manager Alex Cora's media sessions, a refrain with an implied sense of urgency. The season affords no more time for the Red Sox to struggle if they want to mount a push for the postseason; Cora's ritualistic claim of locational awareness is meant to acknowledge that fact. Yet increasingly, the more significant matter is not whether the Red Sox know where they are but instead if this is who they are. Are the 2019 Red Sox destined to be remembered as a team with extraordinary talent that, one year after emerging as one of the most unstoppable steamrollers in modern baseball history, instead sputtered its way through a year of constant reversals? BOX SCORE: RAYS 9, RED SOX 4 This week confronted the Red Sox with a stinging slap of reality. Any self-assurance suggesting the inevitability of a run toward October gave way quickly with a four-game losing streak punctuated on Thursday night by a 9-4 loss to Tampa Bay , the finale of a three-game sweep at the hands of a Rays team that currently has possession of the postseason berth that the Red Sox are trying to grab. The Red Sox followed one of their best weeks of 2019 (the 5-1 stretch against the Rays and Yankees) with one of their worst (four straight losses against the same two teams). The net effect of such back-to-back stretches was telling: A 5-5 mark that represented a failure to move the needle. "I think it might be probably the most disappointing losses of the season so far," said Xander Bogaerts, despondent even after he'd hit two homers. "It's a crucial time and a time when we need a win. "We're not in April or May. You can lose a couple and [say], 'Aw, we're going to go on a nice run later on.' Later on is almost there." "Losing three games against these guys and one against the Yankees, teams that we're chasing, that's why it hurts that much more." It is hard to believe that less than a week ago, the Red Sox were emboldened. A third straight decisive victory against the Yankees   the team's fifth win in six days against its most formidable competition in the AL East   created the impression that finally, the 2019 Red Sox were ready to take flight. "We proved to the world that we have a chance to be the best team in baseball," said pitching coach Dana LeVangie . "We showed everyone." Five days, four losses, and one inactive trade deadline later, the Red Sox showed something else. Through 110 games, they are a team that has proven incapable of a steady, upward trajectory, too often getting in their own way, too often incapable of taking advantage of the tantalizing opportunities in front of them. Thursday's loss amplified those impressions, a pile of ugly. Starter Andrew Cashner and catcher Sandy Leon got into a fender bender on a swinging bunt that produced the first Rays run of the game. Cashner crossed up Leon on a slider for a passed ball. Christopher Gasper: Complacency a familiar tune these days at Fenway Park Leon later looked like an overwhelmed hockey goalie trying to keep the comets out of the hand of Darwinzon Hernandez in front of him. Rafael Devers lost a catchable foul popup in the twilight sky and let it drop on the railing of the Rays dugout. Michael Chavis couldn't turn a difficult but not impossible double play that could have ended the sixth inning; Tampa Bay went on to plate three runs and turn a 4-3 advantage into a 7-3 romp. "We didn't execute," lamented Cora. "We'll talk to them. We'll address it because that can't happen. We've got to be better . . . The effort has to be there every day. You're going to go through slumps, through struggles, but there's a few things you can control and it's the effort. There are a few things that, effort-wise, it didn't look good." Very little that the Sox have done this year against the Rays in Fenway has looked good. Amazingly, Tampa Bay won for the eighth time in nine games while visiting Boston this year   a shocking imbalance that has done a great deal to put the two teams in their respective positions, with Tampa Bay becoming the first visitors since the 1966 Orioles (8-1) to win eight games at Fenway in a season. The Sox continued their offensive struggles in pivotal situations, going 1 for 11 with five strikeouts with runners in scoring position. In the nine games at Fenway against the Rays this year, Sox batters hit .148 with 35 strikeouts in 93 plate appearances (a 37.6 percent strikeout rate). But foremost, the Red Sox pitching continued to get pounded   a recurring theme not just against Tampa Bay but the league. The staff has allowed 32 runs during the four-game losing streak, desperate but unable to find someone to stop the mounting embarrassment of ugly losses. A payroll of more than $240 million and a league-best offense is being wasted by a pitching staff that has allowed a shocking 570 runs (5.2 per game)   138 more than the Rays (3.9). "It is concerning," Cora said of the team's pitching. "I've been talking about this the whole time. We need to get better and it sounds like I've said the same thing for 100 days. We trust the group, we trust these guys, but we have to execute. We can talk about adjustments, attacking guys, but at the end we have to go out and do it . . . It started as a great homestand and it didn't finish that way. We've got a big challenge coming up this weekend and if we're going to be involved in whatever talk for the playoffs, it better start [Friday]." They will try to look forward, Mitch Moreland said, instead of back at what just transpired. But the missed opportunity in the rearview mirror might be nausea-inducing. A stretch against the Yankees and Rays that had seemed less than a week ago like a building opportunity now feels more like a last chance as a 14-game stretch between the Sox and the two AL East teams they're chasing nears its conclusion. As the Red Sox head to Yankee Stadium for a four-game weekend set, they are clinging to the vestiges of contention, their fingers slipping on a frayed rope. But, of course, the Red Sox don't need any of that said. After all, they know where they are. Alex Speier can be reached at alex.speier@globe.com . Follow him on twitter at @alexspeier . Related slideshow: The 2019 MLB season (Provided by imagn)


The 2019/20 season is nearly upon us and with it comes FIFA 20 and a whole host of new Ultimate Team ratings to debate. Inter have been involved in a huge number of transfer sagas already this summer and their squad could look totally different by the time August rolls around. With I Nerazzurri already making some important additions to their squad in the form of Diego Godin and Matteo Politano, their FIFA 20 squad will certainly be exciting. Here's how they could be rated when the game is released. Roberto Gagliardini Position: Defensive Midfielder FIFA 19 rating: 78 Predicted FIFA 20 rating: 79 An injury hit season for the Italian but he still managed five goals in 19 league games from central midfield. Has competition for places in his position but has done enough to earn a slight increase in rating. Andrea Ranocchia Position: Centre Back FIFA 19 rating: 76 Predicted FIFA 20 rating: 75 This lad has been around for ages, and still has a contract with Inter until 2021! However, with Stefan de Vrij, Milan Skriniar, Miranda and Diego Godin all already fighting for the two, possibly three central defensive positions under Antonio Conte, how many games he'll get next season is hard to tell. Will probably get a slight decrease. Daniele Padelli Position: Goalkeeper FIFA 19 rating: 74 Predicted FIFA 20 rating: 73 Played one game in the cup last season. It turns out Samir Handanovic is a good goalie, so Padelli's had to make do with bench warming. Dalbert Position: Left Back FIFA 19 rating: 76 Predicted FIFA 20 rating: 75 Featured sporadically throughout the 2018/19 season, with Kwadwo Asamoah starting most games at left back. A wee decrease is to be expected for the Brazilian. Antonio Candreva Position: Right Midfielder FIFA 19 rating: 81 Predicted FIFA 20 rating: 79 Mainly appeared as a substitute last season, scoring once in the league from 18 appearances in total. Has been floating around the 80 and 81 ratings in the last few years but may drop into the 70s when FIFA 20 is released. Samir Handanovic  Position: Goalkeeper FIFA 19 rating: 88 Predicted FIFA 20 rating: 89 After playing in every Serie A game last season and only conceding 33 goals, it's fair to say Handanovic had an impressive season. Although already rated at 88, a small increase is the least the Slovenian number one deserves. Kwadwo Asamoah  Position: Left Back FIFA 19 rating: 79 Predicted FIFA 20 rating: 80 Asamoah had a solid season at San Siro, securing a regular place in the starting XI in his first season with Inter. He may not have set the Italian league alight but a starting left back at a club the size of Inter should at least be rated in the 80s. Marcelo Brozovic Position: Defensive Midfielder FIFA 19 rating: 80 Predicted FIFA 20 rating: 82 Brozovic was part of the Croatia team that made it all the way to the World Cup final in 2018 and he carried his great form into the 2018/19 season. A rating of 80 is far too low for a consistent and important part of Inter's set-up, so Brozovic's rating should increase. Borja Valero Position: Centre Midfielder FIFA 19 rating: 81 Predicted FIFA 20 rating: 78 Valero had a disappointing season and is now firmly in the latter years of his career. The 34-year-old may only see his ability decline from now on in, leading to largely decreased ratings. Stefan de Vrij Position: Centre Back FIFA 19 rating: 84 Predicted FIFA 20 rating: 84 De Vrij was crucial at the heart of Inter's defence last season and will be expected to help Inter finish in the top four again in the intense fight for Champions League qualification in Italy. The Dutch centre back remains the same standard that he was at in the previous season. Danilo D'Ambrosio Position: Right Back FIFA 19 rating: 76 Predicted FIFA 20 rating: 78 Mirroring his left back partner Asamoah, D'Ambrosio had a good season for Inter and deserves recognition for it. The Italian should also see his position switch to right back from the left hand side that he was previously attributed to. Joao Mario Position: Centre Midfielder FIFA 19 rating: 81 Predicted FIFA 20 rating: 81 The ex-West Ham player failed to blow the Premier League away and it seems that the pattern continued with his Serie A performances. A fairly uneventful season should see his rating stay the same. Lautaro Martinez Position: Striker FIFA 19 rating: 79 Predicted FIFA 20 rating: 81 Although he played second fiddle to Mauro Icardi for most of the season, Martinez has huge potential and will likely be offered more more opportunities next term with Icardi expected to be moved on. Grabbing six goals in just 13 league starts should see the Argentinian's rating increase. Radja Nainggolan Position: Centre Midfielder FIFA 19 rating: 85 Predicted FIFA 20 rating: 85 Where Nainggolan plays his football next season is still in question, having been told alongside Icardi that he is not wanted at Inter. Judging on his similar standard of performances in the last couple seasons his rating should remain at 85. Ivan Perisic Position: Left Midfielder/Winger FIFA 19 rating: 86 Predicted FIFA 20 rating: 86 The Croatian star has been previously linked with Premier League clubs, most notably Arsenal . He wasn't the most prolific for Inter last season but was still integral to their efforts that led them to fourth in Serie A. A case could be argued for his rating decreasing or staying the same. Miranda Position: Centre Back FIFA 19 rating: 85 Predicted FIFA 20 rating: 82 Miranda was kept out of the side by a strong centre back pairing and seems to be past his best. Much like Valero, age will be the cause of the Brazilian's decreasing ratings. Matteo Politano  Position: Right Midfielder FIFA 19 rating: 80 Predicted FIFA 20 rating: 82 An impressive loan spell for Politano has led to Inter making the deal permanent for £18m. A switch from left to right and an increase in his ratings is to be expected. Diego Godin Position: Centre Back FIFA 19 rating: 90 Predicted FIFA 20 rating: 90 There is no doubt that Diego Godin is still one of the best centre backs in the world and will be a sensational signing for Inter. With De Vrij and Skriniar both still at the club competition for places will be fierce. At 30 Godin still has a few years left to play at the top of his game and so his rating remains the same. Mauro Icardi  Position: Striker FIFA 19 rating: 87 Predicted FIFA 20 rating: 86 Icardi's 2017/18 campaign was always going to be hard to beat and he struggled to reach the same heights last season as he did a few years ago. A small decrease to his rating is to be expected but there is no doubt he is still a world class striker. Milan Skriniar  Position: Centre Back FIFA 19 rating: 85 Predicted FIFA 20 rating: 86 Skriniar formed a formidable centre back pairing with De Vrij and if Inter manage to keep hold of the two defenders they will hope to close the gap to second place Napoli . At only 24, Skriniar is both one for the future and the present and should be rated highly. Matias Vecino Position: Defensive Midfielder FIFA 19 rating: 80 Predicted FIFA 20 rating: 80 A relatively unassuming season for Vecino, who got on with his business while not grabbing the limelight. The 27-year-old is in his prime years and seems to be performing the best he can, keeping his rating the same. Valentino Lazaro Position: Right Midfielder FIFA 19 rating: 75 Predicted FIFA 20 rating: 77 Having had an impressive season at Hertha BSC, Lazaro joined Inter for a fee of £19.8m. Lazaro received a mid-season upgrade and this should be continued into FIFA 20.


Rep. Duncan Hunter's wife, Margaret   facing a slew of federal criminal charges along with the California Republican lawmaker over allegations of diverting more than $250,000 in campaign funds to personal use   is set to plead guilty Thursday in federal court in San Diego. The move is a serious blow to Hunter, a six-term congressman who was indicted last August along with his wife. Hunter, a former Marine and the son of a long-term GOP lawmaker, has maintained his innocence. Hunter refused to answer questions about his wife's potential plea deal during House votes on Wednesday. Hunter won reelection in November in the heavily Republican district despite the criminal charges, as did Rep. Chris Collins (R-N.Y.), who is under indictment on charges of insider trading. Federal prosecutors allege that over a seven-year period, from 2009 to 2016, the Hunters "illegally used campaign money to pay for personal expenses that they could not otherwise afford. The purchases included family vacations to Italy, Hawaii, Phoenix, Arizona, and Boise, Idaho; school tuition; dental work; theater tickets; and domestic and international travel for almost a dozen relatives." A brief entry in the federal court docket in San Diego said Margaret Hunter was scheduled for a change-of-plea hearing, although there was no immediate confirmation of which of the 60 felony charges would admit to or whether she would testify against her husband. A shift in plea is often part of a deal to cooperate with prosecutors in exchange for testimony against other defendants, but an attorney for Duncan Hunter declined to speculate Wednesday on whether such a plea bargain had been hammered out. "We are aware of Mrs. Hunter scheduling a hearing to change her plea," said Greg Vega, a defense lawyer for Duncan Hunter. "At this time, that does not change anything regarding Congressman Hunter. There are still significant motions that need to be litigated, specifically the Speech or Debate Clause of the U.S. Constitution." The Speech or Debate Clause prevents lawmakers and aides from legal action over legitimate legislative activities, and it is often invoked in corruption cases involving members and senators. When the Hunters were indicted last summer, they both asserted their innocence in response to charges that hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign funds were spent on an Italian vacation, groceries and video game charges. In public comments, however, Hunter quickly seemed to shift blame to his wife, emphasizing that her role running his campaigns left her to oversee what was paid out. "She was also the campaign manager, so whatever she did, that'll be looked at too, I'm sure," Hunter said on Fox News shortly after the indictment. "But I didn't do it. … I didn't spend any money illegally." A spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's Office in San Diego, which is handling the case against the couple, declined to comment Wednesday. Lawyers for Margaret Hunter did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Hunters were jointly set to face a jury trial in September. Melanie Zanona contributed to this report.


All the hype and positivity the Cardinals gained coming out of the NFL draft and the national curiosity about how first-year head coach Kliff Kingsbury's season might play out took a major thumping on Thursday with news that eight-time Pro Bowl cornerback Patrick Peterson will be suspended for the first six games of the year for violating the NFL's performance-enhancing drug policy. ESPN's Adam Schefter was the first to break the news , initially reporting that Peterson would be suspended for the first eight games of the 2019 season, which he then clarified would only be six games, according to league sources. Schefter also reported that Peterson had dropped his apparent appeal of the suspension . The NFL later made its official announcement of Peterson's suspension. "Patrick recognizes how disappointing this is for everyone in the organization as well as our fans," the Cardinals said in a statement. "As we all do, he understands that regardless of intent he is ultimately responsible for everything he puts in his body. Our coaching staff and our players are now aware that we will have to play the first six games without Patrick and they understand they have to rise to the challenge that it presents." This is Peterson's first suspension, and the six-game ban for a player's first violation stems from a positive test plus an attempt to manipulate or mask the result. The NFL did not specify what illegal substance Peterson is alleged to have used, but the suspension will cost Peterson, a three-time All-Pro, $4 million in lost salary and end his franchise-record streak of Pro Bowl appearances. Players cannot go to the Pro Bowl after a season in which they served a PED suspension, under NFL rules. Had Peterson been eligible and been named to the NFC roster, he would have joined Hall of Famers Barry Sanders and Jim Brown as the only players in league history to make the Pro Bowl nine times before turning 30. Additionally, in accordance with NFL rules, Peterson during his suspension cannot: Visit the Cardinals' facility. Attend or watch practice. Have contact with team personnel. Exchange game plan, playbooks, plays or video from an electronic device such as a computer or cell phone. Be involved in football-related activities or conversations with teammates away from the facility, including workouts. Be a spectator in the stands at home or away games. Attend any team or league news conferences. Peterson is allowed to participate in offseason and preseason practices and games, which means he can report to training camp in late July and also partake in the Cardinals' first round of OTAs which begin on Monday at the team's Tempe training facility. After the regular season begins, Peterson won't be allowed to return to the team until Oct. 14 following the Cardinals' Week 6 game against the Atlanta Falcons. Are you a sports fan? Stay in the know. Subscribe to azcentral.com today . Peterson was unavailable for comment and did not make any statements through social media on his Twitter or Instagram accounts. However, he is scheduled to hold a VIP Welcome Party Thursday night in Scottsdale ahead of his fourth annual celebrity golf tournament on Friday to benefit his Patrick Peterson Foundation for Success. Thursday night's event is scheduled to include media availability with Peterson at around 6:15 p.m. A contact person with the event did not immediately return an email asking if the Welcome Party was still on or if Peterson will still meet with reporters. Peterson did not attend voluntary team workouts late last month because he reportedly was upset with something someone in the front office had said to him. When asked last Friday if he thought Peterson would attend the team's upcoming OTA session, Kingsbury said: " I'm not sure about OTAs. Everything is voluntary. " Peterson, 28, has started all 16 regular-season games each year he's been in the league. He has 387 career tackles to go along with 23 intercepted passes. With their best cornerback now unavailable until Week 7, when they play at the New York Giants on Oct. 20, Kingsbury, General Manager Steve Keim and defensive coordinator Vance Joseph will use the remainder of offseason workouts and training camp to determine who the starters now will be at the corner positions. Before the Peterson news broke, veteran free-agent addition Robert Alford was set to be the starter on the other side of Peterson. Alford now will likely step into Peterson's role of covering the opposing team's best wide receiver, with rookie Byron Murphy competing for the other starting role along with veteran additions Tramaine Brock Sr. and Josh Shaw and holdover David Amerson. Murphy, a Scottsdale Saguaro product, was the team's second-round draft pick out of Washington and was rated by the Cardinals as the fifth-best prospect in the entire draft. Schefter also reported the Cardinals had been aware of Peterson's pending suspension, and he implied that Arizona used the 33rd overall pick on Murphy in the draft because of it. "He has everything you look for in a corner in our opinion   feet, movement skills, tremendous ball skills for a corner," Keim said after the draft. "He's a guy that gets his hands on a lot of balls. He's been coached well by a friend of mine, Jimmy Lake, up there at the University of Washington. Local kid, so we had a chance to spend a lot of time with him. "Love the passion, love the intensity. The fact the he was teammates in the past with two guys that we're very high on in Christian Kirk and Budda Baker certainly went a long way. He certainly fits that mold." Last season, Peterson requested a trade from the Cardinals after Arizona's slow start to the season. He later recanted and apologized to fans during the pro-am at the Waste Management Phoenix Open . But just before the start of voluntary veteran minicamp ahead of the NFL draft, Peterson posted several cryptic messages on his social media accounts . In one post on Instagram, Peterson wrote "I see where we stand!" In another, he shared a photograph of him and several of his former teammates who were let go by the Cardinals with the caption: "My boys told me to watch out for the snakes in the long grass! #savageSZN." A source close to Peterson told The Republic 's Kent Somers the star cornerback was upset over something said to him by someone from the team's management said to him .Peterson, a three-time First Team All-Pro, finished the 2018 season with 54 total tackles, two intercepted passes, one sack and one fumble recovery. Peterson is under contract through the 2020 season and was set to earn $11.2 million in 2019. His contract will cost the Cardinals $12.5 million in 2020. Have an opinion on the Arizona Cardinals? Reach McManaman at bob.mcmanaman@arizonarepublic.com and follow him on Twitter @azbobbymac . Listen to him live every Tuesday afternoon between 2-5:30 on AM 1060/SB Nation Radio on Calling All Sports with Roc and Manuch and every Wednesday afternoon between 1-4 on Fox Sports 910-AM on The Freaks with Kenny and Crash. News and information you can trust. Start your online subscription . Cardinals minicamp recap: Patrick Peterson's absence This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona Cardinals' Patrick Peterson suspended first 6 games of season


Oakland Every (hot) dog has its day   July 17, to be specific. If you're at a loss for ideas to mark this all-American happening, Hoodline can help you ketchup. We crunched the numbers to find Oakland's top hot dog destinations   the places that really cut the mustard   using both Yelp data and our own methodology. 1. Rosamunde Sausage Grill Topping the list is Rosamunde Sausage Grill - Oakland . Located at 911 Washington St., Swans Marketplace (between 10th and Ninth streets) in Jack London Square, the beer bar, which offers hot dogs and more, is the highest-rated hot dog spot in Oakland, boasting four stars out of 438 reviews on Yelp. 2. Kasper's Hot Dogs Next up is the Dimond's Kasper's Hot Dogs , situated at 2551 MacArthur Blvd. (between Laguna and Wilson avenues). With four stars out of 57 reviews on Yelp, the spot to score sandwiches and hot dogs has proven to be a local favorite. 3. Park Burger Glenview's Park Burger , located at 4218 Park Blvd. (between Edgewood and Glenfield avenues), is another top choice, with Yelpers giving the spot to score hot dogs, burgers and salads four stars out of 398 reviews. 4. Happy Dogs Happy Dogs , a breakfast and brunch and traditional American spot that offers hot dogs and more in Foothill Square, is another go-to, with four stars out of 40 Yelp reviews. Head over to 10601 MacArthur Blvd. (between Myers Street and 106th Avenue) to see for yourself. This story was created automatically using local business data, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


MIAMI (AP) The Marlins were ahead on the scoreboard and closing fast in the standings when the Giants finally came up with a couple of big hits to end a skid. Brandon Crawford delivered a tiebreaking two-run double in the eighth inning, and San Francisco broke a seven-game losing streak by rallying past Miami 3-1 Thursday. ''You go through these things, and there's no question a win does a lot for a club,'' San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy said. The Giants averted a series sweep against the team with the National League's worst record, and left town 2 1/2 games ahead of Miami. ''That was the goal coming into today - break the streak,'' Crawford said. ''It will be a happy flight.'' San Francisco's Tyler Beede, recalled before the game from Triple-A Sacramento, allowed one run in six innings to lower his ERA in four appearances to 7.82. ''What a great start,'' Bochy said. ''We needed it in the worst way.'' Beebe earned another start next week at the Mets, Bochy said. Three relievers completed a seven-hitter. ''We won a game we needed to win to get over that hump,'' Beede said. The Giants, who won with six hits, trailed 1-0 in the seventh when Crawford doubled and scored on a single by Mike Yastrzemski, who earned his first career RBI. With the score 1-all, Adam Conley (1-5) walked pinch hitter Buster Posey in the eighth. Brandon Belt followed with a broken-bat single, and Evan Longoria walked to load the bases. Crawford greeted Wei-Yin Chen with a ground-rule double for a 3-1 lead. It was a heady moment for the Giants, who were outscored 62-20 during their losing streak. ''We're sputtering a little bit, and it was good to see Craw deliver,'' Bochy said. ''That's what we're used to.'' Crawford hiked his average to .215. Reyes Moronta (2-4) worked a scoreless seventh, and Will Smith pitched a perfect ninth for his 13th save. Sandy Alcantara pitched six innings, singled home the Marlins' lone run and departed with a 1-0 lead. He worked around two hits, five walks and a hit batsman. ''I feel good, but also feel bad,'' he said. ''The bases on balls were a problem.'' TIRED TEAMS? Marlins manager Don Mattingly said the weekday game after a night game was part of a trend, where quick turnarounds lead to flat performances. ''You're seeing nowadays just not a lot of juice either side,'' Mattingly said. TRAINER'S ROOM Marlins 1B Neil Walker (strained right quad) pulled up running out a groundout in the sixth inning, left the game and is day to day. ''We don't know how severe it is,'' Mattingly said. ''The way he kind of pulls up tells you it's going to be a little bit.'' ROSTER MOVES Before the game the Marlins recalled RHP Jeff Brigham from Triple-A New Orleans and optioned RHP Elieser Hernandez to New Orleans. OF Isaac Galloway cleared waivers and accepted outright assignment to New Orleans. UP NEXT Giants: LHP Drew Pomeranz (1-5, 6.45) is scheduled to start Friday when the Giants begin a three-game series in Baltimore. Pomeranz lasted just 2 2/3 innings in his most recent outing, when San Francisco lost to Arizona 18-2. Marlins: LHP Caleb Smith (3-2, 3.05) is scheduled to take the mound Friday at San Diego to start a six-game trip. Smith has allowed one run in 12 1/3 innings in two starts against the Padres. --- More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports --- Follow Steven Wine on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Steve-Wine.


Editor's note: The opinions in this article are the author's, as published by our content partner, and do not necessarily represent the views of MSN or Microsoft. The Senate Appropriations Committee approved legislation last week that would exacerbate the border crisis . House Democrats have somehow managed to produce a legislative proposal that is even worse than the Senate effort. We still have thousands of illegal immigrants pouring across our border every day. Our Border Patrol and ICE agents are short staffed, under-equipped, and if either the Senate or House Democrat bills become law, they will further have their hands tied in trying to bring our southern border under control. Human traffickers, controlled by criminal cartels, will have more opportunities to exploit our laws and our border insecurity. Both bills actually stimulate, expand, and enshrine catch-and-release policies. WHITE HOUSE THREATENS VETO ON HOUSE BORDER BILL House Republicans, led by Congressman Mike Rogers, R-Ala., have introduced a bill (H.R. 3056) that will actually provide ICE with additional funding for detention beds   one of the most critical needs for both humanitarian and security purposes. Border Patrol's detention facilities designed to hold about 4,000 are holding more than 19,000. ICE's facilities are also spilling over, having a deficit of nearly 10,000 beds at the present time. The Senate bill reduces the president's request for ICE funding for beds for both families and adults by more than half, and actually prevents beds that are needed for mothers and children from being purchased. The Senate provides about $239 million for medical expenses and transportation for the detained illegal aliens, but not nearly enough for ICE personnel and detention resources. The Senate also focuses on monitoring ankle bracelets instead of detention, which has been shown to be an utter failure for tracking the hundreds of thousands of illegal border-crossers we are releasing into the American interior. The Senate gives money for new facilities but makes use of that money so restrictive that no facilities will be built for almost a year   too late to address the immediate crisis. The result will be that an additional half a million illegal aliens will be released into the country. The House Democrats provide money for tents and trailers while illegal migrants are processed, but there will be no place for them to go afterward because there is no room in the ICE facilities. The result will be that virtually everyone illegally crossing our border will continue to be released. This fact is not lost on the human trafficking cartels that currently control our southern border. As we have seen, women and children will be exploited, and illegal migrants will continue to flood into the U.S.   even from places as far away as Africa and Asia. Both bills perpetuate sanctuary city policies by reimbursing state and local governments for costs incurred in dealing with homeless illegal aliens. Here's another whacky idea promulgated by these proposals: taxpayer funding for lawyers for illegal aliens. We give illegal aliens the same due process citizens and legal residents of the U.S. receive before we can remove them from the country. We already have nearly 1 million people with active removal orders; these people have received their day in court. About a million more are wandering around waiting for their turn to go to court   most won't show up. No other country in the world would stand for this type of invasion of migrants from every corner of the world. We are funding their legal bills instead of the men and women who are trying to enforce our laws and secure our border. The Senate and House Democrat proposals are both disasters. They are irresponsibly bad. As one Border Patrol agent told me, both bills complete the human smuggling cycle. The cartels bring illegal aliens to the U.S. border. Without adequate facilities to detain the incoming illegal aliens, Border Patrol agents transport them to churches and NGO's, who assist the illegal aliens in finding and communicating with family members in the U.S. Those family members are often illegally in the country themselves. The families then finish paying the smuggling fees charged by the cartels. The U.S. government, with taxpayer money, then reimburses the NGO's for assisting illegal aliens who become ensconced in the country. Most illegal aliens will abscond from future court hearings meant to determine whether they are legally present in the country. These bad pieces of legislation must be defeated and replaced with H.R. 3056, sponsored by Mike Rogers, which will provide the funding needed to continue responding to the border emergency without perpetuating it. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE BY REP. ANDY BIGGS


Chelsea's run to the Europa League final has seen them put on some great performances, including the round-of-32 meeting with Swedish side Malmo. With a 2-1 lead from the first leg, the Blues returned to Stamford Bridge and put on a real show, storming to a 3-0 victory. The build up to the game was full of excitement for Chelsea fans, and KIA played a huge part in making it so special for two lifelong supporters. Ahead of the game, KIA told die-hard Blues Ton and Hugo that they had been chosen for a special tour of Stamford Bridge, but left them guessing what their incredible surprise could be. Not only did Ton and Hugo have the chance to get a hands-on view of the stadium, but they got to do so alongside club icon Eidur Gudjonsen, who went to surprise the two stunned fans at a nearby cafe. How's that for a dream day out? The two could not believe that they had been given such an astonishing opportunity, and quickly used the time to quiz Gudjohnsen on some of his favourite moments in Chelsea blue. The former Iceland international did not hesitate to take a trip down memory lane with the supporters, reminiscing about famous memories like his side's sublime 4-2 win over Barcelona back in 2005. Once the talking was over, it was time to get down to the main event - the tour. KIA's mission is to bring fans closer to their clubs, and it does not get much closer than pitch side, as Gudjohnsen escorted Ton and Hugo on their own personal tour of the pitch and the dressing rooms, as well as talking them through some of his memorabilia in the club museum. The fans were eager to admit that they were living their dreams by walking out the tunnel at Stamford Bridge alongside someone like Gudjohnsen, who was clearly delighted to share his vast wealth of Chelsea knowledge. Moments such as his famous bicycle kick against Leeds United were the topic of discussion, as Ton and Hugo reflected on how they were given the chance to spend a day with somebody who represented a huge part of their childhood. Opportunities like this are once in a lifetime, and it was all thanks to KIA, who are doing all they can to give fans the chance to connect with their clubs like never before. KIA empowers all fans regardless of club or age. Become a hero and join the exciting experience with KIA in the UEFA Europa League!


It may not be a big deal at all. But given Luke Kuechly 's history, it's worth noting until we know whether it is or isn't. Via the team's official website, the Panthers' middle linebacker is not practicing today , a day after he was pulled out of practice. Panthers coach Ron Rivera said yesterday the team was just being cautious after Kuechly got caught in a pile, and didn't get into any specifics about what body part might have been impacted in said pile. Kuechly's had multiple concussions, and the team has always (correctly) taken a conservative approach with him. And again, we don't know if he was hit in the head in that pile or not. The Panthers are giving multiple other players veteran days today, including Cam Newton , Greg Olsen , Christian McCaffrey , Kawann Short , Daryl Williams , and Matt Paradis .


MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO)   A man is dead after drowning in Louise Lake in rural Longville, Minnesota Tuesday. According to the Cass County Sheriff's Office, a possible drowning was reported at 3:25 p.m. on Louise Lake. Upon arrival, responders found a deceased man in the water near a fishing boat. The man, whose identity is being withheld pending family notification, was pronounced dead at the scene. The investigation continues.


Houston Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins got a makeover early Wednesday morning. Or, at least his Instagram account did after someone hacked it. Ig hacked. Be back up soon   Deandre Hopkins (@DeAndreHopkins) June 5, 2019 The account currently features nothing but pictures of a Turkish model named Kardelen Toprak, who has her own page that isn't quite as popular (1,500 followers). . @DeAndreHopkins IG got hacked pic.twitter.com/g3Zk14VK2K   Sportsnaut (@Sportsnaut) June 5, 2019 Everyone's looking for their 15 seconds of fame. While this move certainly gained Kardelen some exposure, in the end we're betting this move will backfire.


Prominent civil rights leader the Rev. Jesse Jackson said Sunday that Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) established her fellow Democratic presidential opponent Joe Biden to be "on the states' rights side of history," during this week's Democratic primary debate. Jackson made the remark to Politico in an interview published Sunday, referring to Harris's remarks calling out the former vice president over his previous stance on busing black students to majority white schools. Jackson said Harris "established Biden on the states' rights side of history," which "cannot stand the test of time." "He's for voluntary busing, I'm for court-ordered busing - well, everyone's for voluntary busing," Jackson told the outlet. Jackson explained that Biden's opposition to federally mandated busing was part of a larger debate over the federal government's role in resolving institutional racism. "The federal government had to order the abolition of slavery, the federal government had to order the right to vote, they had to order the desegregation of schools and jobs and contracts. So 'voluntary' assumes that those who are oppressive have some will to move based on moral values, and that does not happen." But Jackson added that Biden had done "a lot of good things." The civil rights activist had previously said Biden was on the "wrong side of history." Harris on Thursday night accused Biden of being opposed to busing those students and also criticized recent comments he made about working with segregationist senators. She noted that she personally benefited from such busing. Biden has previously received criticism for saying that there had been "civility" when he worked with segregationist Sens. James Eastland (D-Miss.) and Herman Talmadge (D-Ga.) in the 1970s. The former vice president and his campaign have stressed Biden's efforts to combat discrimination while in office, including his support for the Voting Rights Act, claiming Harris "mischaracterized my position across the board." Biden's campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Jackson's remarks.


The young couple were found on a secluded sliver of shoreline north of Jenner, Calif., zipped into sleeping bags that they had rolled out on the gray sand. Each had been killed by a single shot, fired at close range. Their Bible lay close by, just out of reach of the Pacific Ocean's pounding surf. The discovery confounded deputies from the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office, whose helicopter crew had been answering an unrelated call on Aug. 18, 2004, when they spotted the bodies. Lindsay Cutshall, 22, and her fiance, Jason Allen, 26, had no ties to the area , and authorities were hard-pressed to come up with reasons anyone might want to kill them. The couple, who were both from the Midwest, had been spending the summer working as counselors at Rock-N-Water, a Christian summer camp at the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. Planning to return home in a matter of weeks so they could be married, they had set off together on a weekend road trip up the California coast. Subscribe to the Post Most newsletter: Today's most popular stories on The Washington Post Police quickly ruled out the idea that their deaths could have been a murder-suicide, and there was no evidence that either of the pair had been robbed or sexually assaulted. Until Monday, when the couple's killer, Shaun Michael Gallon, was sentenced to three consecutive life sentences in prison without the possibility of parole, the motive for the double murder remained a mystery. Though the 40-year-old didn't speak on his own behalf, attorneys painted a picture of a deeply tormented man wrestling with his inner demons, according to the San Francisco Chronicle . In 2001, Gallon took "too large a dose of LSD and was never the same after that," his public defender said, adding that mental health issues appeared to have driven him to commit "senseless" murders. As he drove up Highway 1 on that fateful night in 2004, prosecutors said, Gannon was feeling "upset at his own life." He decided to pull over and climb down the bluffs to the beach. There, he saw the sleeping strangers, who he thought were homeless people. At that moment, Gallon reportedly told investigators, he "snapped," and went back to the car for his gun. "I was gonna kill them out of spite," he said. The self-described survivalist had been on the radar of Sonoma County law enforcement for years, racking up convictions for crimes like illegally hunting abalone and shooting a man with a bow and arrow. On Facebook, he posted unintelligible rants about spaceships, rape fantasies and conspiracy theories, showing off a homemade spear and posing with arrows that he crafted by hand. One family friend, unsettled by his enthusiasm for killing animals, voiced suspicions that he might be behind the murder, and told authorities that Gallon had cruelly harpooned a seal and shot a calf. Gallon often blamed his erratic behavior on his bad experience with LSD, telling detectives that he had planned to move to Oregon to start a family until "one day this guy comes up and gives us a bottle of acid and then . . . everything like . . . exploded," according to records obtained by the Santa Rosa Press Democrat . Multiple psychologists who evaluated him over the years described him as paranoid, and one theorized that he was already beginning to show signs of mental illness before he ever took the drug. In 2004, his father sought help, fearing that Gallon would hurt his brother, the paper reported. That same year, Cutshall and Allen were found dead on Fish Head Beach. Police have speculated that the road-tripping couple tried to get a room at a nearby motel on Aug. 14, 2004, only to find that there were no vacancies. Both loved the outdoors and had some camping gear with them, so they opted to spend the night on the beach instead. Before they went to sleep, they jotted down a message in the visitor log, praising God for the incredible sunset they had witnessed and the perfect two days they had spent together. "As I stir this Mac & Cheese," Allen wrote , "I think to myself what a wonderful life." Family members became concerned when Cutshall didn't call home on that Sunday, like she usually did, the Zanesville Times Recorder reported . Then, the camp informed them that the couple hadn't shown up for work. Three days later, the helicopter found their bodies. Both were fully clothed. Their aging red Ford Tempo was parked exactly where they left it, none of their belongings were missing, and Cutshall was still wearing all her jewelry. "It's just absolutely senseless," Cutshall's father told the Chronicle . "They were two innocent people, with no enemies, having an enjoyable weekend together before their marriage." Cutshall, a native of Fresno, Ohio, and Allen, who came from Zeeland, Mich., met at a Bible college in West Virginia. Both were deeply devout Christians planning to devote their lives to youth ministry. Their violent deaths shocked the tiny, fogbound village of Jenner, which is located some 77 miles of San Francisco, and, for some, brought back memories of the Zodiac killer. "Those questioned include everyone from a local who lives in a van adorned with photos of sunsets, to a 21-year-old drifter from Wisconsin cited for skateboarding in nearby Fort Bragg, to tourists who dine on racklet of elk and creme brulee at the River's End restaurant," the Chronicle reported at the time. Police looked for clues everywhere, even analyzing graffiti left on driftwood, and entertained the possibility that the couple had been killed by a hitchhiker or someone angered by their fervent Christianity. Within days of the killing, Gallon emerged as a suspect after deputies found him wandering another beach in the area, dressed in a camouflage jumpsuit, according to the Press Democrat . The loaded gun he was carrying turned out to be stolen, and police arrested him on weapons charges. In Gallon's apartment, police found a five-gallon tub filled with matchsticks, bullets, lead pipes, fuse cords, clumps of hair and blood. Dead animals were stashed throughout the house   a shark had been chopped into pieces and placed in the refrigerator, and a wild turkey was stuffed in a trash can. But they didn't find the unusual Marlin .45-caliber rifle that had been used in the campers' murder. After being booked into jail, Gallon had called his father and asked him to dispose of his guns, according to the records obtained by the Press Democrat. David Gallon would later tell detectives that he had agreed because he feared his son "was not stable." In 2013, after confronting his son with a flier about the missing murder weapon, the father committed suicide. Throughout the years, detectives kept returning to Shaun Gallon as a suspect , the paper reported. They found a dead hawk in a box in his freezer and weapons buried in his front yard, but nothing that linked him to the murder. Gallon continued to deny that he had anything to do with the couple's deaths, and refused to take a polygraph test. Meanwhile, authorities came across countless false leads. In 2009, when a "drifter" named Joseph Henry Burgess was killed in a shootout in the Jemez Mountains in New Mexico, police revealed that he had been a top suspect in the camp counselors' murder, and was also suspected of killing another unmarried couple who were found dead in sleeping bags on the beach in British Columbia in 1972. Though authorities theorized that disapproval of unwed couples who spent the night together had driven him to kill, and his fingerprints matched the Canadian murder scene, they weren't able to link his DNA to evidence recovered from the California beach. Then, in 2017, Gallon was arrested on a charge of killing his younger brother with an AR-15. In interviews with detectives, he blamed his brother, Shamus, for holding onto a grudge from childhood, according to the Press Democrat. He also decided to get something else off his chest: He was responsible for murdering the young couple who had been found dead on Fish Head Beach nearly 13 years before. Gallon directed the detectives to a soda can that he had stashed in a blackberry bush on the side of the road, which contained the spent shell casings that he had picked up before leaving the murder scene. During his confession, he blamed the couple for their own deaths, saying there was a sign at the beach that explicitly prohibited camping. Gallon, who also admitted that he had tried to kill an acquaintance with an improvised package bomb that left one woman with serious injuries, pleaded no contest to the three counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder last month, which allowed him to avoid the death penalty for the consolidated charges. His attorney said Monday that he has expressed remorse, writing that the murders made him "feel wretched inside" and "there's not a day that goes by that I have not thought of what I've done." At his sentencing hearing on Monday, he remained silent. "He doesn't have to face the wrath of a piddling little father," Chris Cutshall said , pointing at his daughter's killer. "He has to face the wrath of God." More from Morning Mix: His brother died in Newtown. Now, he's running for office while backing Trump and gun rights. Nancy Pelosi was rebuked for calling Trump's tweets racist. She can thank Thomas Jefferson and the Brits. A barefoot woman scaled the face of Mount Rushmore, officials said. She almost made it to the top.


The wreck of an Australian ship sunk by a Japanese submarine in World War Two has been found after 77 years, officials say. The SS Iron Crown, a naval freight ship, was hit by a torpedo off the state of Victoria in 1942, killing 38 people. Its five remaining crew members survived. The ship sank within 60 seconds of the attack in Bass Strait. Maritime archaeologists called the find "an event of national significance". A search team from the Australian National Maritime Museum located the shipwreck about 100km (62 miles) off Victoria. Measuring about 100m (330ft) long, the ship was found upright and "relatively intact" about 700m below the ocean surface, officials said. Its bow, railings and anchors were also found in place. The team used sonar devices and a drop camera to scour the seabed and map the site. Peter Harvey, a maritime archaeologist for Heritage Victoria, said it was the only ship to have been sunk by a torpedo in the state's waters. It had been transporting ore from South Australia to New South Wales when it was attacked. The five survivors were rescued from the water by another ship. "Locating the wreck after 77 years of not knowing its final resting place will bring closure for relatives and family of those that were lost at sea," Mr Harvey said. Its oldest surviving crew member died in 2012. George Fisher told historians in 2003 that the attack had been "one of the saddest" events of his life, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported. The wreck's exact whereabouts have not been revealed in order to protect the site. Authorities said they planned to hold a memorial service at


Curious just how far your dollar goes in Sacramento? We've rounded up the latest rental offerings via rental sites Zumper and Apartment Guide to get a sense of what to expect when it comes to finding a rental in Sacramento if you've got a budget of $1,300/month. Take a look at the listings, below. (Note: Prices and availability are subject to change.) Hoodline offers data-driven analysis of local happenings and trends across cities. Links included in this article may earn Hoodline a commission on clicks and transactions. 7928 La Riviera Drive (College-Glen) Listed at $1,300/month, this 964-square-foot two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment is located at 7928 La Riviera Drive. The building boasts on-site laundry, parking and secured entry. In the unit, you can anticipate hardwood flooring, a dishwasher and a balcony. When it comes to pets, both meows and barks are welcome. Look out for a $400 pet fee. Walk Score indicates that the area around this address is car-dependent, is convenient for biking and has a few nearby public transportation options. (See the complete listing here .) 1300 G St. (Mansion Flats) Next, there's this one-bedroom, one-bathroom located at 1300 G St. It's listed for $1,295/month for its 535 square feet of space. The building offers assigned parking. In the unit, there are a dishwasher, high ceilings and a walk-in closet. Cats and dogs are not permitted. The rental doesn't require a leasing fee. According to Walk Score's assessment, this location is quite walkable, is a "biker's paradise" and has good transit options. (Check out the complete listing here .) 1224 V St. (Richmond Grove) Here's a one-bedroom, one-bathroom at 1224 V St. that's also going for $1,295/month. When it comes to building amenities, anticipate on-site laundry and outdoor space. The unit boasts carpeting and air conditioning. Good news for animal lovers: Both dogs and cats are permitted here. The rental doesn't require a leasing fee. Walk Score indicates that the area around this address is friendly for those on foot, is easy to get around on a bicycle and offers many nearby public transportation options. (See the full listing here .) 411 22nd St. (New Era Park) Next, check out this one-bedroom, one-bathroom that's located at 411 22nd St. It's listed for $1,295/month. In the unit, you'll get hardwood floors and a dishwasher. The building features on-site management and limited parking. Animals less than 25 lbs. are welcome. Future tenants needn't worry about a leasing fee. Per Walk Score ratings, the area around this address is friendly for those on foot, is great for biking and has some transit options. (See the complete listing here .) 2222 P St. (Midtown - Winn Park Capital Avenue) Located at 2222 P St., here's a one-bedroom, one-bathroom that's listed for $1,295/month. In the unit, you can expect carpeting, air conditioning and a dishwasher. The building boasts on-site laundry, secured entry and on-site management. Pets are not welcome. There isn't a leasing fee associated with this rental. According to Walk Score's assessment, the area around this address is quite walkable, is great for biking and offers many nearby public transportation options. (Check out the complete listing here .) This story was created automatically using local real estate data, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


We continue our training camp previews for the Indianapolis Colts by taking a look at one of the players in the cornerback room with the most to prove. Name: Nate Hairston Position: CB Height: 6-foot-0 Weight: 185 Age: 25 Year Drafted: 2017 (fifth round) Background A fifth-round pick with the Colts in 2017 out of Temple, Hairston was considered to be a project when he first arrived. However, he quickly emerged on the scene in a depleted cornerback room to be a bright spot his rookie season working mostly from the slot. When Year 2 rolled around, Hairston began the campaign as a starter in the secondary but was benched during the Week 8 win against the Oakland Raiders following a blown coverage. His season would essentially end after that as he saw no more than six defensive snaps in any game during the second half. In 13 games (seven starts), Hairston had 30 tackles (25 solo) and one pass defended in 2018. 2019 Outlook The third-year cornerback will be fighting for a roster spot when training camp commences in a week. With an influx of new, young talent to the room, Hairston must take the momentum from a strong spring performance and make it translate into training camp and the preseason. Though the entire cornerback room is up for grabs, Hairston is competing for one of the depth roles. He's going against rookie Marvell Tell, Chris Milton, and Jalen Collins for one of the final spots on the roster. Bottom Line It's putting it lightly to say this is a crucial time for Hairston. He has the chance to show that the 2018 campaign is behind him, but he will have no shortage of competition from equally-hungry players vying for the same role he is. Hairston is certainly one of the players with the most to gain at training camp. MORE: Ranking the Packers' position groups from weakest to strongest Tiger Woods grimaced after his opening tee shot and golf fans started panicking Baker Mayfield believed the Patriots would trade up to draft him The top 100 players in the NFL today Roundup: Hustlers Trailer, El Chapo Getting Supermax Prison, Dan Patrick on Ben Simmons


PHOENIX   ISM Raceway's president, Julie Giese, has been selected by Sports Business Journal for recognition this fall in their ninth annual "Game Changers: Women in Sports Business." This distinction highlights women in the industry who have played key roles in their respective fields and are recognized as executives who have brought new approaches and ideas to sports business, who have been out front on significant projects and programs and who are leaders and mentors to other women in sports business. "Julie's leadership in the redevelopment of Daytona International Speedway and ISM Raceway has not only helped transform NASCAR's fan experience, but has set a new benchmark," stated Jim France, NASCAR Chairman and CEO. "We look forward to witnessing Julie's continued evolution as a significant contributor to the future of motorsports." RELATED: Buy tickets for ISM Raceway's 2019 Playoff elimination tripleheader Giese was named president of ISM Raceway in October 2018 after previously serving as the Managing Director of Business Operations for International Speedway Corporation's (ISC) Design & Development where she worked tirelessly on the design and project management of ISM Raceway's $178 million modernization project. Prior to this, she spent 12 years overseeing consumer marketing, branding, creative, advertising, digital, public relations and event entertainment for Daytona International Speedway, playing a leading role in the Daytona Rising project. "Julie is one of the most dedicated and motivated individuals I have ever worked with and this honor is incredibly well deserved," stated Joie Chitwood III, ISC COO. "She has proven time and again that she is a game changer from her work at Watkins Glen International, Daytona International Speedway and now leading the facility and team as president at ISM Raceway." Giese and the other honorees will be featured in the September 16 issue of the Sports Business Journal and will be recognized at the "Game Changers: Women in Sports Business" conference on September 17 in New York City. RELATED: Tickets on sale for 2020 title weekend ]]>


Ready to get to know the freshest new spots in Minneapolis? From a Mexican spot to a pizza joint, read on for a rundown of the newest businesses to land around town. Don Raul Don Raul is a Mexican spot that recently opened at 4953 Xerxes Ave. South in Southwest. This spot specializes in seafood entrees. You'll find shrimp, sea bass, scallops and more on the menu . Look for the Langosta, which features citron lobster, cilantro, avocado, yellow tomatoes and more. There are also lamb and duck entrees available as well as tacos. With five stars from three reviews on Yelp, the newcomer is receiving positive attention. Yelper Conrad L. wrote , "The food was absolutely fantastic. We started with the nopales and ceviche and loved them both. Next, it was the taco course with both duck and steak tacos. The food was full of flavor, texture and delight." Frenchies Modern Nail Care Wander over to 95 S. Fourth St. in Downtown and you'll find Frenchies Modern Nail Care , a new chain nail salon. The menu of offerings here includes manicures, pedicures and more. The Deluxe Mani features a hot towel wrap along with an extended massage. Frenchies Modern Nail Salon also accommodates birthday parties and bridal showers. With 3.5 stars from four reviews on Yelp, the new arrival is getting a mixed response from patrons but it's still early days. Yelper Lisa S. wrote , "I love this place. It is a bit more expensive than your typical nail salon. I saw Olivia for a basic manicure and a classic pedicure, and she did an amazing job." Giulia Giulia is a traditional American and Italian spot, offering pizza and more, that recently opened its doors at 215 S. Fourth St. in Downtown. This spot specializes in wood-fired pizza. In the mood for something different? Try the clam pizza. If you're not in the mood for a pie, you'll find items such as kale salad and pasta dishes on the menu as well. Giulia also offers a variety of small plates and cocktails. With a four-star rating out of eight reviews on Yelp so far, Giulia has made a promising start. Yelper Lisa D. wrote , "This is a great oasis late night in the middle of Minneapolis! The salami pizza was excellent. I want to try the rest of the menu." 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.


U.S. women's national team manager Jill Ellis has chosen the squad she thinks is capable of repeating as Women's World Cup champions and that includes the return of a pair of veterans who figured to be on the outside looking in. Ellis has revealed her final 23-player roster for this summer's competition in France, where the U.S. will look to win a record fourth title and re-cement its status as the best in the world. She has been working with a large nucleus for some time but still had room for a pair of final-cut surprises. Right back Ali Krieger, the 2015 Women's World Cup champion who had just made her return to the team for the first time in two years during last month's camp, ultimately earned a ticket to France. The same goes for midfielder Morgan Brian, a key to the 2015 title team who battled injury and inconsistency during the four-year cycle yet wound up beating out others like Andi Sullivan and McCall Zerboni for a place on the plane. The U.S. team will be led by a cast of veterans including Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe, Becky Sauerbrunn, Julie Ertz and Tobin Heath, while players who didn't participate in 2015 like Crystal Dunn, Lindsey Horan, Rose Lavelle and Mallory Pugh will all look to make their mark on the biggest stage. "Selecting a World Cup team is a long process, and I want to thank the players the ones that made the final team and the ones that didn't for all of their hard work over the past two and a half years," Ellis said in a statement. "They all pushed each other in every training session and every game and challenged the coaches to make some tough decisions. These 23 players have been through adversity and success, and it's a group that has the talent, confidence, experience and desire to help us win the World Cup." The U.S. women will play three more friendlies before departing for France: May 12 against South Africa at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif.; May 16 against New Zealand at Busch Stadium in St. Louis; and May 26 against Mexico at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J. Upon getting to France, they'll prepare for a group stage that includes matches against Thailand (June 11), Chile (June 16) and Sweden (June 20). Here's a closer look at the USWNT's 2019 Women's World Cup squad: GOALKEEPERS Adrianna Franch (Portland Thorns), Ashlyn Harris (Orlando Pride), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars) Naeher steps into the large void left behind by Hope Solo and is expected to be the starter in France, backed up by Harris and then Franch. The latter, who has been NWSL's Goalkeeper of the Year the last two seasons, beat the Houston Dash's Jane Campbell for the third goalkeeper spot. Both Naeher and Harris were Solo's backups in 2015, so while they don't have World Cup experience on the field, they've at least gone through the motions on the grand stage before. DEFENDERS Abby Dahlkemper (NC Courage), Tierna Davidson (Chicago Red Stars), Crystal Dunn (NC Courage), Ali Krieger (Orlando Pride), Kelley O'Hara (Utah Royals), Becky Sauerbrunn (Utah Royals), Emily Sonnett (Portland Thorns) The preferred starters are expected to be Dunn, Sauerbrunn, Dahlkemper and O'Hara, though the latter's recent ankle injury should have Krieger and Sonnett on notice. The defense was the USWNT's strength in 2015, posting five clean sheets in seven matches and only giving up three goals total en route to winning the title, but it's a unit that faces major questions entering France after some uneven performances in recent friendlies and the SheBelieves Cup. A 3-1 loss to France, 2-2 draws against England and Japan and a 5-3 win over Australia teams who are all considered to be contenders this summer have raised questions regarding the rearguard. Chicago Red Stars defender Casey Short is the one likely impacted most by Krieger's inclusion, and, at 28, she may have missed her last chance to go to a World Cup. MIDFIELDERS Morgan Brian (Chicago Red Stars), Julie Ertz (Chicago Red Stars), Lindsey Horan (Portland Thorns), Rose Lavelle (Washington Spirit), Allie Long (Seattle Reign), Samantha Mewis (NC Courage) Brian's inclusion is quite surprising, given her multiple omissions from recent camps and the SheBelieves Cup. Ellis is clearly going for experience and potential over the reality of the situation that Brian may not be in position to produce the performances expected of her. On the other hand, she is likely more of a depth piece this time around and one that will be counted on for smaller segments of matches and not the entirety of them. When at her best, she's world-class; it's just a matter of whether that version will be present in France. Meanwhile, Ertz, Horan and Lavelle have emerged as Ellis's preferred starting trio, though Mewis has also proven her value in the holding midfield spot, which could allow Ertz to play in central defense where she starred in 2015 if necessary. Zerboni and Sullivan are the ones who wind up missing out with the more experienced Brian and Long getting the calls. FORWARDS Tobin Heath (Portland Thorns), Carli Lloyd (Sky Blue FC), Jessica McDonald (NC Courage), Alex Morgan (Orlando Pride), Christen Press (Utah Royals), Mal Pugh (Washington Spirit), Megan Rapinoe (Seattle Reign) The starting trio of Heath, Morgan and Rapinoe makes for one of the world's most feared attacking combinations and will spearhead the USA's effort. There's ample depth, with Lloyd, the 2015 hero and Golden Ball winner, itching to make a contribution; Press proving her worth in the most recent friendlies; and Pugh poised for a breakout on the world stage. The World Cup will be the fourth for Lloyd, making her the ninth U.S. player to maintain that level of longevity. Did the U.S. really need to bring a seventh forward at the expense of depth in midfield or defense? We'll surely find out. McDonald adds another more direct element as a No. 9 should the U.S. require a different look.


Browns fans are understandably optimistic about the upcoming NFL season. With Baker Mayfield, Myles Garrett and a promising 5-2 finish to 2018, Browns GM John Dorsey didn't just sit back and relax. Dorsey's offseason aggressiveness earned Cleveland the top spot in ESPN's ranking of NFL offseasons by team. The Browns were the only team to earn an "elite" ranking from the NFL Nation poll of team beat writers at the network. Adding Odell Beckham Jr., Sheldon Richardson, Olivier Vernon and Kareem Hunt (among others) earns the Browns the offseason accolade: The Browns placed a priority on surrounding budding franchise quarterback Baker Mayfield with more weapons, connecting on the blockbuster trade for All-Pro wideout Odell Beckham Jr. from the New York Giants. GM John Dorsey also took a chance by signing running back Kareem Hunt, who could make a significant impact down the stretch after he serves an eight-game suspension. They also wanted to provide their defensive cornerstone, end Myles Garrett, with additional help up front. It's fantastic the Browns are getting respect for Dorsey's strong push to win right away. But other teams that captured offseason "wins" weren't able to carry it over into when the wins actually matter. That's the trick for Kitchens & Co. At least the Browns have the abundance of talent to make it happen. MORE: LaVar Ball made a tasteless mid-interview remark to ESPN's Molly Qerim NBA Free Agency 2019: The top players Report indicates Matthew Stafford played with a broken back in 2018 Four Most Overrated NBA Free Agents Javon Wims worked with starters during Bears offseason practices


West Ham have seen an initial £18m bid for Barcelona midfielder Andre Gomes turned down by the Catalan giants. The 25-year-old spent last season on loan at Goodison Park, representing Marco Silva's Everton 27 times in the Premier League, impressing with his touch and ability to dictate proceedings from the middle of the park. West Ham have had an £18m bid for midfielder Andre Gomes rejected by Barcelona, Sky Sports News understands.   Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) May 27, 2019 Early on Sunday morning, The Times reported that Manuel Pellegrini's West Ham had made the first move to sign him on a permanent basis, lodging an £18m bid for his services. That bid would appear to have been down, though, with Sky Sports  reporting that Barça have rebuffed the Hammers advances to bolster their creative midfield options for next season. Barça are thought to value Gomes at around twice that amount, having cost an initial €35m plus €20m in performance related add-ons when he joined in 2016. He still has two years remaining on his deal at Camp Nou, but it's likely a sale will be sanctioned if their asking price is met. The Hammers have already made a series of enquiries for Gomes, but this bid is their first significant move to ward off interest from rivals Tottenham, and Everton - who are keen to make Gomes' stay on Merseyside a permanent one. When asked about the Portuguese midfielder earlier this season, Everton boss Silva said: "We have to do everything to sign" [Gomes]. I know all the rumours around, but the most important thing is what comes from Andre and what comes from our club, our board, is also important. "He didn't have nothing new for me to say now. I am 100 per cent sure when something is decided in his mind I will be one of the first people to know and this is the most important thing." I'd happily break the bank for Andre Gomes. He's a top, top midfielder and would slot into our team with ease. I still remember him absolutely bossing us at the London Stadium. #WHUFC #COYI   West Ham Fan Zone (@WHUFCFZ) May 26, 2019 Tottenham have also long shown an interest in the Portuguese, with the need for a player of Gomes' ilk being all the more necessary following Mousa Dembele's departure in January. The Hammers , meanwhile, need added competition in a midfield that boasts Mark Noble, Declan Rice and Jack Wilshere, but lacks energetic box-to-box engine men.


The transformation is complete. On Friday afternoon, Precious Achiuwa, a top 15 prospect in the Class of 2019, announced that he has committed to play his college basketball at Memphis, joining one of the best recruiting classes in the country and affirming that Penny Hardaway will enter the 2019-20 season with a preseason top 10 team. Achiuwa, one of the top combo-forwards in the class and the kind of athlete that will make him an attractive player to NBA GMs, joins No. 1 player James Wiseman and fellow four-star prospects D.J. Jeffries, Lester Quinones, Boogie Ellis, Damion Baugh and Malcolm Dandridge in Penny's first real recruiting class as Memphis head coach. The Tigers also add Rayjon Tucker, arguably the nation's top grad transfer and a potential NBA player in his own right. As we wrote earlier this week, Penny is building an absolute monster in Memphis .


At long last, we have an update on the Kawhi Leonard free agency saga and the update is ... there is no update. Or at least there won't be today, according to Cris Carter, who's become an unlikely go-to source for developments on Leonard over the past few days. The Pro Football Hall of Famer used to share an agent with Leonard , so there's reason to believe he's somewhat connected to Leonard and his camp, who it sounds like want it known that they're still deliberating on their options: Breaking news: After very impressive meetings with the Toronto Raptors and others yesterday, reigning NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard and his team haven't made a decision and there won't any announcement TODAY. Enjoy the 4th of July #KawhiWatch   Cris Carter (@criscarter80) July 4, 2019 What does this mean for Lakers fans? Well, for starters, it means that the fans and writers in United States will be able to enjoy their Fourth of July barbecues without having to check their phones every five seconds. Will that stop us from doing it? Probably not, but at least it's an option now! Unfortunately, it also means that the Lakers will have to wait at least another day to hear back from Leonard, which coincidentally means another day will go by without Los Angeles making an impact signing. Meanwhile, almost every other team and free agent will go about their business as usual. Given how lackluster the remaining free agent pool is, waiting another day could hurt the Lakers, but if the end result if a big three of Leonard, Anthony Davis and LeBron James , it's hard to argue it wasn't all worth the risk. If they don't get a commitment from Leonard when this is all said and done, though, Rob Pelinka is going to need to get creative with the way they build the roster around James and Davis . Did I read somewhere that Monta Ellis and Amar'e Stoudemire are trying to make a comeback? For more Lakers talk, subscribe to the Silver Screen and Roll podcast feed on iTunes , Spotify , Stitcher or Google Podcasts . Here is a list of every free agent credibly connected to the Lakers so far. Related slideshow: NBA offseason moves (Provided by imagn)


The Three Mile Island nuclear plant, site 40 years ago of the worst ever US nuclear accident, is to shut down in September, its owner announced on Wednesday. Exelon Generation had been seeking subsidies from Pennsylvania lawmakers to keep the money-losing facility open, but the company said that would apparently not happen in time. "We don't see a path forward for policy changes before the June 1 fuel purchasing deadline for TMI," Kathleen Barron, an Exelon senior vice president, said in a statement. Exelon said Three Mile Island Generating Station Unit 1, located in Middletown, Pennsylvania, will shut down by September 30. The energy company had warned two years ago that it may be forced to shut the plant down in the absence of assistance from the state legislature. Three Mile Island had a license to continue operations until 2034. "Today is a difficult day for our employees, who were hopeful that state policymakers would support valuing carbon-free nuclear energy the same way they value other forms of clean energy," said Bryan Hanson, another Exelon senior vice president. Nuclear facilities have been under pressure for years from competition from electricity generated from other cheaper sources such as natural gas. The March 28, 1979 partial meltdown at Three Mile Island remains the worst nuclear accident in US history although it pales in comparison to the disasters at Chernobyl and Fukushima in 1989 and 2011 respectively. The meltdown registered a five on the International Nuclear Event Scale that peaks at seven, the rate given to the Chernobyl and Fukushima disasters No one died at Three Mile Island and no one was seriously injured but the accident sparked nationwide concern about the safety of nuclear power and put the brakes on construction of new reactors.


It's hard to spice up USB hubs when they're practically ubiquitous. Sony's solution? Make it indispensable to pro photographers. The company's newly announced MRW-W3 hub is billed as the "world's fastest" UHS-II SD (and microSD) card reader, supporting read rates up to 300MB/s. Whether or not it lives up to the boasts, it should easily transfer your camera's giant RAW photos and 4K videos. This isn't a one-trick brick, either -- it's meant to handle many of your laptop's other needs while you're on the road. The hub supports 100W power delivery to handle monitors and other particularly demanding peripherals. You'll also have USB-C and USB-A connectors to connect devices new and old, not to mention HDMI output for video up to 4K at 30 frames per second. Even the case is resilient, with IP68 dust and water resistance as well as an aluminum "wave" design that improves grip and reduces scratches. Sony will sell the MRW-S3 sometime in the fall alongside new SF-M Tough SD cards (in 64GB, 128GB and 256GB capacities) that can take advantage of the hub's speeds. The tech giant hasn't provided a price, but that might not be an obstacle. If you own a high-end mirrorless or DSLR camera that can seriously tax the fastest card readers, the price of the USB hub will seem trivial by comparison. Sony


The latest rankings from Football Outsiders breaks down all 32 teams by their talent pool of players under age 25. Published via ESPN , the Football Outsiders' No. 1 team really wasn't much of a surprise. The Cleveland Browns! C'mon, who else was it really going to be? The list is headlined by four players labeled as "blue chip": Baker Mayfield, Myles Garrett, Kareem Hunt and Denzel Ward. That leaves off David Njoku, Nick Chubb, Rashard Higgins and the rookie class that includes the impressive Greedy Williams. All will be under 25 as of September 1, their cutoff date. The concluding sentence of the lengthy breakdown of the abundance of young Browns talent says it all, "They might not be the favorite to win the upcoming Super Bowl, but they will be the best-positioned team to make runs in each of the next five seasons if they can correctly balance their new talent's disparate personalities." The list is top-heavy with AFC teams, so the competition will be tough. But the Browns have the best group of talent under age 25. MORE: A furious Chris Davis had to be held back from Orioles manager Brandon Hyde 'He's a circus catch guy': Rookie WR Jakobi Meyers is a converted QB standing out at Patriots camp Roundup: Bella Hadid and The Weeknd Appear to Split Again, Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame Class Packers rookie Darrius Shepherd standing out to Matt LaFleur, Aaron Rodgers Deadline passes as Elliott loses accrued season, fines reach $500K


With the summer transfer window well underway, Everton must now look to improve their current squad ahead of the new season. The Toffees finished last season in eighth, three points off a European spot which would've seen them qualify for the second qualifying round of the Europa League. They also endured early exits in both domestic cups, being knocked out after two rounds in both the FA Cup and Carabao Cup. Having permanently signed midfielder Andre Gomes , Marco Silva has already begun to prepare for the upcoming season. However, there is certainly a lot more work to be done over the next six weeks, before the transfer window closes on 8 August. Here's our look at where Silva's Everton need to improve in order to secure a European finish in next season's Premier League . New Centre-Back Everton are in desperate need of centre-backs, as they could lose up to three this summer. Phil Jagielka and Ashley Williams were released at the end of the season, while standout player Kurt Zouma - who was on a season-long loan from Chelsea  - looks likely to return to London. While Zouma could sign permanently with the Toffees, this transfer window will still see them without Jagielka and Williams. Everton have a centre-back partnership to rely on for the new season in Michael Keane and Yerry Mina, but when it comes to backup it remains scarce. Therefore, Everton need to start planning as to how to cope next season in defence, with or without Zouma. They must sign new backup defenders who can easily come in for both Keane and Mina, while also providing enough squad depth and experience for Silva's side. Experienced Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford had an excellent season in goal for Everton, as he kept the joint-third most clean sheets in the Premier League  with 14. While he is a solid choice in goal for the Toffees, his new deputy Jonas Lossl, who just joined from Huddersfield , may prove to be problematic. If Everton are to really challenge for a European finish, they need a better backup goalkeeper than one who just got relegated from the top flight. Maarten Stekelenburg is the other option among Silva's ranks, but at 36 years old his best days are surely past him. As England's number one, Pickford can be up to the standards of European football. But if the Toffees want to compete for and in Europe, then they need to think about buying another experienced goalkeeeper who can serve well in Pickford's absence. New Backup Right-Back Another position to arrange a new backup player is elsewhere in defence, at right-back. Jonjoe Kenny will spend next season on loan at Schalke , meaning that the 22-year-old will need to be replaced for the near future. Seamus Coleman 's performances last season were top class, as he appeared 31 times for the Toffees. However, with the Irishman needing backup and approaching the twilight of his career at 30 years of age, it would be wise to have another experienced defender available. Kenny seemed like the perfect option, but now that he is off to Germany for a year, Everton must wisely invest in his absence. Whether they will resort to a youngster or an older, more experienced player is hard to know, but they must be able to fill in for Coleman when necessary. An Established Striker Throughout the 2018/19 season, goalscoring wasn't necessarily a problem for Everton. They were the eighth highest scorers in the Premier League on 54 goals, with Bournemouth  the only side outside of the top six to be above the Toffees in the rankings. Nevertheless, the problem stems with where the goals are coming from. Although Richarlison and Gylfi Sigurdsson deserve credit for finishing as joint-top goalscorers with 14 goals apiece, they are both attacking midfielders who play behind the actual striker in Silva's setup. On the other hand, recognised strikers Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Cenk Tosun managed a combined 12 goals all season. Everton need to be able to rely on a striker with goalscoring instinct, one similar to the likes of Wayne Rooney to be able to produce the goals for the Toffees.


Kentucky landed their first commitment in the Class of 2020 over the weekend, as B.J. Boston, a five-star prospect from Georgia, announced that he will be playing his college ball for the Wildcats. Boston committed after visiting the Kentucky campus. Duke was initially considered to be the leader for the 6-foot-6 wing, and he was also considering Florida, Auburn and Oregon. Boston recently transferred to Sierra Canyon, the same high school in Southern California that Bronny James, Zaire Wade and fellow five-star recruits Ziaire Williams, Amari Bailey and Terren Frank. A top ten prospect in the class, Boston is thought to be a potential lottery pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. He has the size and a plus wingspan, and while he isn't the most explosive prospect, he is a fluid driver with excellent body control and the ability to finish around the rim. He averaged 22.8 points on the EYBL circuit this spring, and if he can find a way to improve on his three-point stroke   he's a good free throw shooter but shot under 25 percent from three in the EYBL   then he has a chance to be a good player in the long-term. Kentucky is one again going to be looking to put together a large class. Tyrese Maxey and Kahlil Whitney both look like they are going to be one-and-done players while Ashton Hagans and E.J. Montgomery both have the potential to be a first round pick after this season. Nate Sestina is a senior, and Nick Richards is coming off of a spring where he declared for the draft. Throw in the likes of Johnny Juzang and Keion Brooks, and there are plenty of guys that will keep NBA scouts in and around Kentucky games all season long. Kentucky is in the mix for quite a few five-star prospects in the class, but as of today, N'Faly Dante and Joshua Christopher look to be the most likely to end up in Lexington.


Bandit is a gorgeous Great Dane puppy who loves playing tether-ball with his buddy, Argus. Despite being the size of a small horse, Bandit is 10 months old at the time of this video, and far from being full grown. These two dogs are inseparable and they have an incredible time playing with their tether-ball game. As soon as the ball is released, they take turns biting at it, jumping for it and chasing it in circles as they run around the pole. Amazingly, they don't knock each other down. Few things bring a smile to our faces as big or as quickly as happy dogs. To see animals playing and showing complete joy is a beautiful thing. An enormous puppy like Bandit is even more endearing. But as playful as Bandit is, he also has a very serious job to do. Bandit is a service dog for a young lady named Danielle. She is autistic and faces several challenges, including serious anxiety. Bandit is specially trained to help her deal with this anxiety and distract her when she has trouble managing the symptoms. He recognizes her behaviors and uses his special skills to shower Danielle with love and affection at just the right times. Bandit brings her comfort when she needs it most, companionship throughout the day, and he helps her in many other ways. Bandit is a very well loved member of his family by the other dogs and by his people. Great Danes are a highly intelligent breed and they are fiercely loyal. Known for their protectiveness, as well as their trustworthiness, most people who have the good fortune of having a Dane say they have fallen completely in love with the breed. Danes are adorably clumsy as they grow, majestic and graceful as they reach maturity, and dignified in their golden years. The only downside to having a Great Dane is that they, like other giant breeds, have a lifespan that is usually shorter than most dogs. Those who have them get to love them for a shorter period of time, but certainly no less so. Bandit is a wonderful and gentle soul who shows us all what true happiness looks like.


Retired running back Tiki Barber had a near-Hall of Fame career with the New York Giants, ultimately calling it quits with 22 franchise records in tow, including most rushing yards (career and season) and most 100+ yard games (career and season) to name just a few. For over a decade, it appeared as if those records were safe and would remain safe for quite some time. However, when Saquon Barkley arrived on scene, it became obvious that each of those marks were in danger. Now, one season into Barkley's career, and Barber is already preparing to say goodbye to each and every one of his records. "If he stays healthy and he stays here, in New York, my records don't have a chance," Barber told NJ Advance Media . With a revamped offensive line now in place, Barber believes Barkley will take his game to the next level, likening him to an Adrian Peterson version 2.0. "He can be one of the greatest ever," Barber said. "Physically, he's a freak. I'll parallel him to Adrian Peterson. When I first met Adrian, I looked at his muscular and body structure and was just in awe. His muscles were popping out of his skin and Saquon is the same way. That portends a durability. "When you pair that with a passion and desire to be great, you get an Adrian Peterson. Saquon is the same type of player, but he's much better, because he's so versatile. Adrian couldn't catch the ball out of the backfield or line up as a wide receiver. Saquon can do that at a very high level." The ever-humble Barkley has likely given no thought to breaking Barber's records, but there's no doubt he'll take the vote of confidence and support from one of the Giants' all-time greats. MORE: Clint Bowyer furiously punched Ryan Newman after NASCAR's All-Star Race Tracy Walker is set up to be the next Lions' breakout star Did the Raiders steal the best fullback in the 2019 NFL draft? Kyle Rudolph could be a late offseason acquisition Cowboys need Jermaine Whitehead getting 1st team reps, could play a role in Wilks' defense


HOLTON, Mich. - A couple touring homes in West Michigan says they've made some unsettling discoveries in the home of a Muskegon Police officer. Rob and Reyna Mathis say they've been looking for a home for over a month now. They have looked at homes in Sterling Heights, Grand Rapids, Hudsonville and Muskegon. The couple thought they found the perfect home in Holton, a community north of Muskegon. The house they toured with their realtor is owned by a Muskegon Police officer. Mathis says there were three Confederate flags, two in the garage and one on the dining room table. "It was so disturbing to me," Rob Mathis said. Mathis, who is black and an Army veteran, shared the experience on a Facebook post which has been shared more than 1,000 times with more than 900 comments. He confessed to joking to himself that he was walking through a Ku Klux Klan member's home. When the couple and their realtor got to the bedroom, they claim to have discovered a Ku Klux Klan application framed on the wall. Mathis says the walk-through was immediately cut short and he and his wife pulled their offer. "I said 'oh my God, let's go and get out of here right now,'" Rob Mathis said. "I was just angry, and my daughter started asking questions and she's only 12," Reyna Mathis added. Rob Mathis did not name the officer in the post, however a number of Facebook users did. County tax records show the home belongs to a Charles Anderson, who is currently employed with the Muskegon Police Department. According Muskegon Director of Public Safety Jeffrey Lewis, Anderson has been placed on administrative leave. Anderson has been on the force for more than 20 years, according to previous reporting. In 2009, Anderson fatally shot Julius Johnson, a 23-year-old black man, after Johnson ran from a traffic stop. Anderson testified in court that Johnson wrestled away his radio and baton, beating him in the face with the objects. The officer was treated at the hospital for serious head injuries. Johnson's sister, Tunisia Phillips was convicted of lying to police about the shooting. She told investigators she heard her brother beg for his life, but prosecutors determined she did not arrive to the scene until after the shooting. Phillips spent three months in jail. The Muskegon County Prosecutor at the time, Tony Tague, ruled the shooting was in self-defense. Chief Lewis said inquires to look into the integrity of the post and the accusations against Anderson are both underway. Lewis says it needs to be determined if Anderson has violated any city employment policies. Until then, Anderson will remain on administrative leave. "I think that's a step in the right direction, to find out what's going on for this individual," Rob Mathis said. "I hope for the community, if his intentions aren't good, he does not need to be a police officer," Reyna Mathis added. "We, and all minorities, are in harms way if that's the case." 13 ON YOUR SIDE was unable to reach Officer Anderson for comment. Those attempts to hear from him included a visit to his home. ►Make it easy to keep up to date with more stories like this. Download the 13 ON YOUR SIDE app now . Have a news tip? Email news@13onyourside.com , visit our Facebook page or Twitter .


An investigation is underway after Northern Irish driver Paul Conn lost his life in an accident during a 500 Motor Racing Club of Ireland meeting at Kirkistown on Saturday. Conn, who was a trained doctor away from the track, was contesting the second Roadsports race of the event at the Northern Irish circuit at the time of the crash. He had earlier won the opening Roadsports race of the day in his Crossle 47S. The meeting was abandoned following the accident. In a statement, the club said: "It is with regret that we at the 500 Motor Racing Club of Ireland have to confirm that the competitor who tragically lost his life in the second Roadsports race at our meeting was our member and friend for over 20 years, Dr Paul Conn. "Paul was from Lisburn. He joined our club in 1996 and during the intervening years he campaigned his Crossle 47S with increasing success. "In 2018 he seemed to reach a new level of skill and he began to trouble the established top echelon of drivers in Roadsports, winning in the second race of the May meeting. "Yesterday he had already won the first Roadsports race, against top opposition, and was on course for a repeat in the second race when he had an accident opposite the control tower, on the front straight. "Because of the location of the incident, our doctors and the Order of Malta personnel were in attendance almost immediately but, unfortunately, Paul succumbed to his injuries at the scene. "Once again, we offer our sincere condolences to Paul's family, friends, colleagues and team. He will be sorely missed."


ST. CLOUD   It's not easy to make a grilled cheese taste good and fit the state's strict nutritional value guidelines for schools. That's why over 800 nutrition professionals from districts all across the state gathered in St. Cloud this week to brainstorm new menu items and discuss issues in the industry. The Minnesota School Nutrition Association hosted the 63rd annual state conference this week at the River's Edge Convention Center. The conference offered learning sessions with topics ranging from whole-grain meal options to self-defense in the lunchroom. Jayme Steinbach, the food director at Sartell-St. Stephens school district, said the best part of the annual conference is the opportunity to network with nutrition professionals from other districts statewide. "From new menu ideas to challenges in the industry, we aren't in competition with each other," said Steinbach. "As schools, we really work together to make each other better." On top of the educational sessions, the MSNA hosts a vendor exhibit with a 150 industry partners. At the exhibit on Tuesday, almost all of the vendors brought a new menu item to introduce to the food directors and buyers. This year there was a big push for ethnic foods, local options and creative alternatives for allergies and nutritional value. As of 2018, the US Department of Agriculture implemented relaxed regulations for schools regarding milk, whole grains, and sodium requirements. The regulation rollback lets administrators choose what is best for their students' health, while also considering the effect wasted food has on their schools' budgets. This policy rollback has made it easier for districts to continue to serve healthy options students will want to eat. Amy Thering, MSNA president, said the changes could be as small as offering white rice instead of brown rice. "Students see the brown rice and they won't even try it. They just throw it away," she said. "The objective is to serve food students will like, but also make sure they're eating right." The MSNA signed a contract to host the annual conference in St. Cloud at the River's Edge Convention Center for the next five years. Thering said the central location of St. Cloud brings in more nutrition professionals each year than previous venues in other parts of the state. This article originally appeared on St. Cloud Times: Schools get creative with school lunches after regulation rollback


Martin Shkreli on Friday sued two directors and the ex-general counsel of his former biopharmaceutical company Retrophin, accusing them of using fraud to oust him as head of the firm in 2014. Shkreli's lawsuit, filed in federal court in Manhattan just days after he was sent to a new prison, names as defendants Retrophin board chairman Gary Lyons, former company CEO Stephen Aselage, and the firm's former top lawyer Margaret Valeur-Jensen. Shkreli's lawyer for the lawsuit, Edward Kang of Philadelphia, declined to comment on the suit. A spokesman for Retrophin declined to comment. Shkreli gained national infamy in 2015 after his other drug company, now known as Phoenixus AG, hiked the price of its drug Daraprim by more than $5,000. The medication is used to treat a parasitic infection found in pregnant women, babies and HIV patients. Two years later, a jury convicted him of several crimes related to his operation of two hedge funds, and to Retrophin, the company he created as the funds were collapsing financially. Shkreli was sentenced to seven years in prison. Since last year, he had been doing his time in the low-security prison in Fort Dix, NJ. But two months ago he was transferred to a federal jail in Brooklyn, New York, after The Wall Street Journal reported in March that he was still helping to "call the shots" at Phoenixus with the help of a contraband cell phone at Fort Dix. This week, Shkreli was transferred to another low-security prison, in Allenwood, Pennsylvania.