Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with advertisers on this site. Trying to consume less sugar? About 75 percent of American adults are, according to a survey from the International Food Information Council. But that doesn't mean they're ready to give up sweet flavors. "We are biologically programmed to like sweet things," says Nicole Avena, Ph.D., an assistant professor of neuroscience at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. Replacing sugar with low-calorie sweeteners, such as aspartame, stevia, and sucralose, is one way people attempt to solve this conundrum, but some studies suggest that they might not be better for you than sugar . Where does that leave people who don't want to go cold turkey on sweetness? Here's a look at how our bodies respond to sugar and low-cal sweeteners. Cravings Explained Our first food breast milk or formula is sweet, and humans have evolved to equate sweet tastes with safety, Avena says. For our early ancestors, sweet flavor indicated that a food was OK to eat (bitter foods were more likely to be harmful) and contained calories important for survival at a time when calories were hard to come by. Throughout life, we reinforce this preference. Whether it's cake at a birthday party or ice cream after a bad day, sweet foods are used to celebrate and soothe. Cues in our environment can cause our brains to release the chemical dopamine. "That can trigger a desire to have the food so we feel good," Avena says. Combine these tendencies with our modern food environment, where sweet foods are everywhere and even savory ones, such as tomato sauce and salad dressing, may contain added sweeteners and you see why kicking sugar is difficult. Humans no longer have to forage for calories, but "our diet is so oversweetened, and we're drawn to eat pretty much everything," Avena says. The Health Toll Sugar Takes "Sugar is a completely nonessential part of our diets," says Kimber Stanhope, Ph.D., R.D., a research nutritional biologist in the department of molecular biosciences at the University of California, Davis. The health risks of getting too much added sugars  those added to foods, not the sugars naturally present in foods are pretty well-established. For starters, added sugars equal empty calories, providing few if any nutrients. The weight gain that results from consuming excess calories from any source increases the risk of type 2 diabetes , high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, certain cancers, and more. And too much added sugar may be harmful even if it doesn't cause you to put on pounds. It's also linked to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, fatty liver, and other diseases, Stanhope says. People who ate 25 percent or more of their daily calories in the form of added sugars were more than twice as likely to die of heart disease over the course of 15 years as those who got less than 10 percent of calories from added sugars, regardless of their weight, according to a study published in JAMA Internal Medicine. That's why several health authorities advise limiting intake. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans says added sugars should make up no more than 10 percent of your daily calories. That's about 10 teaspoons (40 grams) for someone eating 1,600 calories. The American Heart Association's recommendation is even lower about 6 teaspoons (25 grams) for women and 9 teaspoons (38 grams) for men. Currently, counting added sugars in your diet isn't easy, because the Nutrition Facts labels on foods list only total sugars, which includes the natural sugars in foods such as fruit. That will change next January when new regulations for the Nutrition Facts label will go into effect. Manufacturers will have to list both. Low-Cal Sweetener Effects In advance of those changes and to appeal to health-conscious consumers, many food companies are cutting back on sugars in products, according to the market research firm Euromonitor. But that doesn't always mean they're making them less sweet. Manufacturers have long used low-calorie sweeteners to deliver the sweet hit consumers crave without the sugars or calories; think diet soda and low-cal yogurts. But combining sugar substitutes with sugar in products is an approach manufacturers are using more and more to formulate lower-sugar products and list low added-sugar content on labels without compromising on the sweetness. This strategy is used even in foods you don't think of as sweet, such as whole-grain English muffins and vegetable juices. There's no question that low-calorie sweeteners provide a sugary flavor without the calories of sugar. But the latest evidence suggests that might not lead to a positive effect on health or weight. Most recently, a major research review published in BMJ found that the evidence that sweeteners aid oral health, blood sugar levels, or other health problems is extremely limited. While the Food and Drug Administration considers low-calorie sweeteners safe for consumption, some scientists say we don't have the data to exclude potential harms. Another recent study published in the journal Stroke found that women 50 and older who drank 24 or more ounces (two cans) of diet soda a day were 23 percent more likely to have a stroke than those who drank less than 12 ounces a week. Previous research has linked low-calorie sweeteners to possible heart problems, type 2 diabetes, and potentially harmful changes in the gut microbiome. As for weight loss, results of studies have been mixed; some have linked low-calorie sweeteners with weight gain . "If used appropriately, they can be an effective aid for weight management," says Richard Mattes, Ph.D., R.D., director of the Ingestive Behavior Research Center at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind. But experts say the types of low-calorie sweeteners may have less in common with each other than many studies have accounted for, and that more research is needed. "Everything about them is different, so why do we think we can lump them together?" says Mattes, who is studying how a variety of low-calorie sweeteners behave in the body. Curbing a Sweet Tooth Regardless of how different sweeteners affect our bodies, consuming them regularly may play a role in how you eat overall. When people take in less salt and fat, they have what's called a hedonic shift in other words, they come to prefer foods that have less salt and fat in them. The research on sugar is evolving, but experts say it's reasonable to think that sweetness, regardless of the source, would keep us fancying those sweet flavors. "We get accustomed to a certain level of sweetness," Mattes says, "and that becomes our preferred level." What's more, popular sweet foods  soft drinks, energy drinks, sports drinks , desserts such as cake and cookies, fruit drinks, candy, and dairy desserts  don't promote health. Lower-calorie versions of those foods score points for having fewer calories but they aren't nutritious. Cutting back on sweeteners altogether may be your best bet to minimize dependence, Avena says. But there are exceptions. When a little sweetener makes you more likely to eat nutrient-dense foods  say, oatmeal instead of a doughnut for breakfast it may be worth it. "If you weren't going to eat the oatmeal without the sugar, you'd be doing yourself a favor," Mattes says. The key, regardless of the sweetener, is not to go overboard. Sugar substitutes may also be helpful as a stepping stone on the way to a more healthful diet, especially in regard to drinks. "The goal isn't to get people to switch from sugar to diet [drinks]," says Vasanti Malik, Sc.D., a research scientist in the department of nutrition at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. "It's to get people to switch from sugar to water, but diet [drinks or foods] might be an intermediate way to help them." Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization that works side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. CR does not endorse products or services, and does not accept advertising. Related Video: Viola Davis Talks About Diabetes Documentary 'A Touch of Sugar' (Provided by ABC)


Matt LaFleur and the Green Bay Packers welcomed the Houston Texans for a pair of joint practices on Monday and Tuesday at Ray Nitschke Field. The practices featured live 11-on-11 work, one-on-one drills for offensive and defensive linemen, red zone and two-minute periods and special teams scrimmages. Here are six quick takeaways from the joint practices: 1. Packers are huge up front on defense It's staggering to see how big the Packers are along the defensive line, regardless of the personnel on the field. Mike Pettine can get size and length on the field in almost every defensive package. The most intriguing looks will come on passing downs. Za'Darius Smith, Preston Smith, Rashan Gary, Kenny Clark, Montravius Adams, Kyler Fackrell and even Kingsley Keke provide Pettine with an array of options and combinations. There were snaps against the Texans that had the two Smiths, Gary and Clark on the field together. This is a big, physical front that will set the tone for the entire defense. And if it all clicks, it could be a dominant force. 2. Za'Darius Smith is a game-changer It's hard to fully appreciate the presence of Za'Darius Smith until you see him in action live. He's both physically imposing and physically dominant. And he's not just a bull in a china shop; he's technically refined and positionally versatile, with the ability to play any spot in the defensive front on passing downs. You'd need three or four hands to count how many times he either bull-rushed an offensive lineman backward or used a quick move to gain leverage and beat a block during one-on-one drills and team periods against the Texans. Smith looked like the best player on the field at times on Tuesday. He is going to be a game-changing player for Pettine and the Packers. Packers linebacker Za'Darius Smith (55) during a joint training camp practice with the Houston Texans at Ray Nitchske Field Tuesday, August 6, 2019, in Ashwaubenon, Wis. 3. Danny Vitale is a legit weapon What began as a fun little story about a jacked-up fullback has quickly evolved into the early stages of what looks like a breakout season for a unique player in the perfect scheme. Vitale can do a little bit of everything, whether it's lead blocking in the run game, pass protecting for Aaron Rodgers, handling carries as a running back or running routes and making plays as a receiver at every level of the field. He's not only going to make the team, but he's going to play. A lot. Judging by how often he got the football during team periods against the Texans, and the number of plays he's made throughout camp, it wouldn't be surprising if he handles 50-75 touches in 2019. Matt LaFleur had a clear plan for Vitale when he took the Packers job, and the fullback has made the absolute most of the opportunities. Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) takes a snap during a scrimmage at a joint training camp practice with the Texans at Ray Nitchske Field Monday, August 5, 2019, in Ashwaubenon, Wis. 4. Shrug emoji There's no other way to describe the Packers offense overall. While the offense struggled both days, and especially Tuesday, Aaron Rodgers made it clear that they ran next to nothing schematically against the Texans. It was frustrating for the quarterback to stash all the new plays and schemes and run a vanilla offense against a live opponent, which explains why he was so happy to be done with the joint practices. The offense is a work in progress, as Rodgers and LaFleur have both admitted, but it's tough to know exactly where it is and how it'll operate until the real games start. The preseason probably isn't going to provide many more answers. One thing is sure: Rodgers is excited and confident in the scheme, and that means much more in the long term than the end results of a vanilla scheme in a joint practice. 5. Who is the backup QB? DeShone Kizer ran the No. 2 offense while Tim Boyle handled all the third-team reps, but it's still unclear if the Packers have a legitimate backup quarterback behind Aaron Rodgers. While more physically talented, Kizer continues to struggle with decision-making and protecting the football. On Monday, he threw an ugly interception right to Texans linebacker Dylan Cole. Boyle is less erratic but also far more inexperienced and indecisive. LaFleur and the Packers really need one of the two to step up and play well during the preseason. The backup quarterback competition looks like a mess. 6. Turner, Jenkins shine The Packers appear to have added two legitimate offensive linemen to the mix this offseason in Billy Turner and Elgton Jenkins, who both produced dominant stretches of one-on-one play during the two practices. They are both big and powerful and capable of moving people off the spot. Turner put at least one defensive lineman on the ground each day in team periods. Jenkins was terrific in one-on-one drills. Turner looks locked in as the starter at right guard, but it wouldn't be surprising if both are starting by the end of the year. MORE: ESPN's Molly Qerim walked off set after Max Kellerman said Kobe's on his 'all-NBA worst team' 6 quick takeaways from Packers' joint practices with Texans 'Hard Knocks' with Raiders: Winners and Losers from Episode 1 Brett to Bryant? Kicker Maher might be Cowboys weakest link, for now Sergio Llull 'not closing the door' on Rockets, NBA


The race for the Premier League title looks set to go all the way down to the wire, with plenty of drama still to play out. Week 37 may be lacking in Big Six matchups but there are still plenty of intriguing matchups to watch, which we'll look at below. [MORE: JPW's Premier League picks ] Can Rafa Benitez stop Liverpool? Newcastle v. Liverpool, 2:45 p.m. ET, Saturday, on NBCSN [ STREAM ] The title hopes are out of its control, but Liverpool must continue to win its final two remaining league games to keep any hope of winning its first Premier League crown. Standing in its way this week is former Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez, who still maintains property in the area and reportedly still holds fond feelings for the club. Will Benitez put the final nail in the coffin for Liverpool's Premier League hopes, or have his team let Liverpool come away with a massive away victory, keeping the pressure on Manchester City. Once again, Man City plays after Liverpool, so they'll know that a win will either seal the title or just put them back on top by one point. Back to @premierleague action on Saturday. 💪 Up the Reds. 👊🔴 pic.twitter.com/qxYH57oMK8   Liverpool FC (@LFC) May 2, 2019 Brendan Rogers rematch with Manchester City Manchester City v. Leicester City, 3 p.m. ET, Monday, on NBCSN [ STREAM ] If Newcastle presents a challenge for Liverpool, the similarly, Leicester City, even at the Etihad Stadium, is a challenge for Pep Guardiola and Man City. Brendan Rodgers ' side is coming off a rousing 3-0 win over Arsenal, though the Gunners were quite poor defensively. Youri Tielemans has been terrific and Jamie Vardy has come to life under Rodgers after struggling to find regular playing time under Claude Puel . Manchester City though has won 12 straight games in the Premier League, and are making their own luck, winning by some of the finest margins   29 millimeters worth of space in its last game. Wolves can lock down seventh place Wolverhampton Wanderers v. Fulham, 10 a.m. ET, Saturday, on NBCSN [ STREAM ] The race for seventh place has been a wild one in the last few weeks. However, finally, after Wolves win last weekend at Watford, Nuno Espirito Santo 's side can put itself in position to play in Europe next season, one year after coming up from the Championship. With a Wolves win over Fulham, the club will secure the seventh position and should Watford lose in the FA Cup final, Wolves will be heading to the UEFA Europa League.


Kawhi Leonard 's representatives plan to meet with Lakers owner Jeanie Buss and former president of basketball operations Magic Johnson next week when free agency begins, Brad Turner of the Los Angeles Times tweets . The meeting will likely take place in Los Angeles, Turner adds. A Yahoo Sports report on Thursday revealed that Leonard planned on meeting with both L.A. teams along with Raptors and this seems to firm up some of those plans. The Lakers opened up a max $32MM salary slot for the Finals' Most Valuable Player by agreeing to trade Moritz Wagner , Isaac Bonga , and Jemerrio Jones to the Wizards as part of the Anthony Davis trade . Additionally, Davis has agreed to waive his $4MM trade kicker. The Lakers are hoping to secure Leonard or Kyrie Irving to form an imposing superstar trio with Davis and LeBron James . James and Davis are planning to be part of the formal pitch to Leonard, Sam Amick of The Athletic tweets . The presence of Johnson, rather than GM Rob Pelinka, at the proposed meeting is a little curious. Johnson infamously ripped Pelinka in a TV interview after resigning his post, though Johnson did praise Pelinka for pulling off the Davis trade.


Gallery by photo services Flyovers, fireworks, tanks and President Donald Trump   Interested in what's happening in the nation's capital to celebrate Independence Day ? Here's a viewer's guide to the festivities: An American Celebration   Mount Vernon: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. George Washington's home is hosting an all-day, turn-back-the-clock celebration. The ticketed event includes Revolutionary-era military reenactments, a wreath-laying ceremony at Washington's tomb and made-for-daytime fireworks over the Potomac River. Highlights will be posted to the Mount Vernon website . Visionary Pets on Parade   American Visionary Art Museum: 9 a.m. A parade of costumed pets and their human companions will descend on Baltimore in a show of patriotism. Animals of all types - from dogs and cats to tortoises and goats - are typically adorned in red, white and blue for this fan-favorite event. ABC News' local affiliates are expected to cover the event and post highlights online. (MORE: July 4th fireworks donor lobbied President Trump on tariffs and won a reprieve) Declaration of Independence Reading Ceremony   Constitution Avenue Steps: 10 a.m. - 11 a.m. The National Archives is hosting a dramatic reading of the Declaration of Independence outside of where the original document is on display. Costumed interpreters will portray important historical characters including John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, John Hancock and George Washington. The reading ceremony will be live streamed from the U.S. National Archives Facebook and YouTube Channel at 10 a.m. EDT. Marlins vs. Nationals   Nationals Park: 11:05 a.m. Celebrate America's birthday with America's favorite pastime as the Washington Nationals take on the Miami Marlins. The annual Independence Day game is the third in a Patriotic Series between the two teams and will feature patriotic uniforms and themed giveaways. The game airs on the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network and its affiliates at 11 a.m. EDT. National Independence Day Parade   Constitution Avenue NW from 7th Street to 17th Street NW: 11:45 a.m. - 2 p.m. A procession of marching bands, giant balloons, elaborate floats, military units, drill teams and more will parade down Constitution Avenue in this annual event. Expect to see Revolutionary-era garb and novelty wigs among flag-waving spectators in red, white and blue. The parade will be live streamed from the National Independence Day Facebook at 11:45 a.m and posted on the National Independence Day YouTube Channel at 5 p.m. EDT. (MORE: Trump defends cost of July 4th 'Salute to America' event despite extra millions expected) Salute to America   Lincoln Memorial: 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. / Gates open at 3:30 p.m. Grounded helicopters, osprey, and M1 Abrams tanks will surround President Trump as he delivers his inaugural July 4th address "to honor each of the nation's five service branches," according to the U.S. Department of Interior. The Navy's Blue Angels will perform a flyover and other military demonstrations are expected. There will be performances by the Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps, the U.S. Army Band ('Pershing's Own'), the Armed Forces Chorus, the U.S. Marine Corps Silent Drill Team, and more. Catch "Salute to America" on ABC News Live. A Capitol Fourth Concert   West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol: 8 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. / Gates open at 3 p.m. John Stamos is hosting the annual musical salute with star-studded performances by Carole King, Vanessa Williams, Vanessa Carlton, Colbie Calliat, the National Symphony Orchestra and more, with a special appearance from the Sesame Street Muppets. "A Capitol Fourth" airs at 8 p.m. EDT on PBS and the American Forces Network. (MORE: Tanks, fighters readied for Trump's July 4th celebration but taxpayer cost not being disclosed) Fireworks Display   National Mall: 9:07 p.m. - 9:42 p.m. The day's celebrations culminate with a colorful 35-minute fireworks display over D.C.'s iconic skyline and reflecting pool   and it's shooting to be the biggest display the district has ever seen. In case of inclement weather, it will be postponed or cancelled. Viewers can text JULY4DC to 888777 for automatic updates. Catch the fireworks display on ABC News Live.


WASHINGTON   For two decades, through Columbine, Virginia Tech, Newtown, Orlando, Las Vegas and the rest, mass shootings have provoked only scant action in Congress. Now, after horrific back-to-back massacres this weekend, people in both parties agree that one man could change that: Senator Mitch McConnell. As President Trump urged national unity in the face of "racist hate" without endorsing broad gun control measures, Democrats and a handful of Republicans called on Monday for Mr. McConnell, the majority leader, to bring up legislation to require gun buyers   including those on the internet and at gun shows   to go through background checks. Mr. McConnell, nursing a fractured shoulder from a weekend fall at home in Kentucky, made no commitments. After consulting with advisers and fellow Republicans, he issued a statement Monday evening saying that he had asked three top committee chairmen "to engage in bipartisan discussions" about how to address gun violence "without infringing on Americans' constitutional rights." "Senate Republicans are prepared to do our part," he said. Sign Up For the Morning Briefing Newsletter But just what "our part" is, was unclear. One of Mr. McConnell's longtime advisers, J. Scott Jennings, said Monday that Mr. McConnell was positioned to lead a process in Congress that could "achieve a solution that, at a minimum, comforts the nation." "People want something to happen," he said. "I don't think people want mass confiscation of guns, but they do want something to show responsiveness." With Congress in recess, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senator Chuck Schumer, the Democratic leader, demanded that Mr. McConnell bring back the Senate   something he is highly unlikely to do   to consider a House background checks bill, which passed in February . While some House Democrats want Ms. Pelosi to call back the House to consider additional legislation, such as an assault weapons ban, Democratic leaders want to keep the pressure on Mr. Trump and Mr. McConnell. After a conference call with House Democrats on Monday, Ms. Pelosi sent them a "Dear Colleague" letter saying two committees would hold hearings on domestic terrorism and gun violence. "The president and Mitch McConnell have to feel the public sentiment on this," Ms. Pelosi told Democrats during the call, according to an aide. "We have a golden opportunity to save lives." In the Senate, some of Mr. McConnell's Republican colleagues were speaking up. Senator Susan Collins of Maine, who faces a tough re-election race next year if she runs again, said she had "long supported closing loopholes in background checks." Senator Mike Braun, a freshman from Indiana, said any bipartisan legislation to address gun violence must include stronger background checks and "red flag" laws, which were cited by Mr. Trump and would allow the temporary confiscation of firearms from people deemed a danger to themselves or others. Senator Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, one of the committee chairmen called into action by the majority leader, vowed, "I am ready to do more, especially on background checks, to identify those who shouldn't have guns." And Senator Patrick J. Toomey of Pennsylvania convened a conference call with reporters to announce that he was reviving his background check measure, which failed in the Senate in 2013 . He said he spoke Monday morning to Mr. Trump, who expressed "a very constructive willingness to engage on this issue," and also to Mr. McConnell, whose comments he would not characterize. "My view is, if we have enough support in the Senate, then we ought to have a vote, and I intend to do everything I can to persuade Senator McConnell if that's necessary," he said. "It's important to me that we get that vote." At 77, Mr. McConnell, who is running for re-election in 2020, has cast himself as the "grim reaper" for liberal legislation. Ms. Pelosi and Mr. Schumer have repeatedly called the Senate a "legislative graveyard," and around the country, Mr. McConnell has become a target for liberals   as reviled by the left as Ms. Pelosi is on the right. On Monday, he was being pilloried on social media with the hashtag #MassacreMitch   a twist on #MoscowMitch , the moniker that critics used to assail him for blocking election security legislation. His campaign came under attack on two fronts. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Democrat of New York, demanded an explanation for a photograph that appeared on Twitter of young men wearing "Team Mitch" T-shirts appearing to choke a life-size cardboard cutout of her. And Amy McGrath, Mr. McConnell's likely Democratic opponent, complained that the campaign had tweeted a photograph of a mock graveyard depicting tombstones with her name and the name of Merrick B. Garland, whose Supreme Court nomination Mr. McConnell blocked. The McConnell campaign said it did not produce the gravestones, which were photographed at Fancy Farm, a Kentucky political picnic, as a spoof of a newspaper cartoon that Ms. McGrath herself had circulated. But Ms. McGrath upbraided the campaign for "nasty and personal" attacks   a message that was picked up by Gabrielle Giffords, the former congresswoman who was grievously wounded in a mass shooting in Tucson in 2011, and is now an advocate for gun safety laws. "I am appalled that in this divisive political climate   a climate where gun violence fueled by hate is on the rise   Mitch McConnell is joking about the death of his current and former opponents and a federal judge," Ms. Giffords said in a statement. "The nation is turning to Leader McConnell right now for leadership, and this is the furthest thing from it." Gun violence   and how to address it   has been one of the most intractable and divisive issues in Washington; the last time the lawmakers voted to restrict gun ownership was 1994, when Congress passed an assault weapons ban. Even gun control advocates acknowledge that this weekend's mass shootings in Texas and Ohio are unlikely to produce quick congressional action. Still, some Republican strategists say they sense a shift in sentiment in their party. "There clearly seems to be a consensus developing on both sides of the aisle for universal mandatory background checks," said Whit Ayres, a Republican strategist. "And the door may be opening a bit more for a ban on military-style assault weapons and magazines." With the National Rifle Association, the nation's most powerful gun lobby, in disarray amid a string of lawsuits and internal upheaval , some Republicans who favor tightening gun laws say now is the time to act. But Mr. McConnell, who wants to maintain the Republican majority in the Senate, is well aware that voters in rural hunting states   including his own   would not look kindly on any restrictions on gun rights. Al Cross, the director of the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues at the University of Kentucky, said Mr. McConnell was unlikely to push for them. "Six words," Mr. Cross declared. "We love our guns in Kentucky." And Mr. McConnell is unlikely to act without the approval of Mr. Trump, whose own statements on gun violence have been all over the place. In an early morning tweet on Monday, Mr. Trump called for "strong background checks," but tied them to an immigration law overhaul. In a speech from the White House a few hours later, he did not mention background checks, but instead called for red flag laws. Conservatives quickly seized on the idea. Senator Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina and a close ally of Mr. Trump, said after the speech that he and Senator Richard Blumenthal, Democrat of Connecticut, had agreed on a plan to use federal grants to help states enact red flag laws. He said he had spoken with the president about the proposal, "and he seems very supportive." Nicholas Fandos and Emily Cochrane contributed reporting.


Look, hairy lipsticks or not, there's no denying that Jaclyn Hill has been going through it. The beauty blogger's been dealing with weeks of backlash since her Jaclyn Cosmetics nude lipstick launch was trashed after customers found bumps, hair, and random weird balls in the product. She ended up having to issue a total recall, posted several apology videos, and even left social media for a while. And now Jaclyn is back on Instagram and dealing with people commenting on her weight, which is obviously extremely not okay. But the beauty vlogger has hit IG in response, basically telling trolls to leave her TF alone. "I have gained 20 pounds in the last 7 weeks," Jaclyn began her post. "I'm being transparent with you guys, because I have been getting lots of comments about my weight. I have never been this insecure about my physical appearance in my life. Sweatpants are literally the only thing that fits me right now & I've had to go up 2 sizes in my jeans." She added that her boyfriend "tells me how beautiful I am every single day & still picks me up and makes me feel like the most special girl in the world," and that trolls will just have to mind their own business and back off. "You're going to notice in my future videos.... my face is bigger, my arms are bigger, my entire body is bigger," she ended her post. "But you'll just have to deal with it, cause this is me❤."


Compound interest might be the most powerful force in the universe, but FOMO can't be far behind, especially as it relates to bitcoin. We've seen the "fear of missing out" contribute to a nosebleed rise in the price of bitcoin before, and Fundstrat's Thomas Lee believes we're about to see it play out again   but even more pronounced. The outspoken bitcoin backer told clients this week the world's top cryptocurrency could ride a wave of FOMO all the way up to $40,000 "within a few months," thanks to better transparency and a breach of the psychological $10,000 barrier. He pointed to Grayscale Bitcoin Trust as a great way to partake in a rally that would be most welcomed by the crypto bulls who had to suffer through a 74% drop in the price of bitcoin last year. "Bottom line: Crypto winter looks over," Lee said. "Investors need to overweight bitcoin. And a good way to gain exposure is via GBTC." After touching on a December low of $3,194.96, bitcoin was approaching $9,200, at last check   hovering near levels not seen in more than a year. Facebook's rollout of its Libra digital coin has also provided a tailwind, as it is seen as a potential step toward more widespread adoption of cryptocurrencies by mainstream finance. Read: Why bitcoin hasn't gone to zero and is now closing in on $10,000


Jalen Rose and Chris Webber haven't been on the closest of terms in recent years. But that might change, now that fellow Fab Five member Juwan Howard is the head coach of Michigan basketball . Rose, now an analyst at ESPN, was asked what Howard's hiring would do to the "complicated" relationship he shares with Webber. "It squashes any drama or any beef because we're not going to bring that to Ann Arbor's campus with Juwan Howard as our head coach," Rose said Thursday morning on ESPN's "Get Up." "The one thing that we both know is his success turning around the University of Michigan is first and foremost about him and about the players that he's going to influence. Then it's about us being there to support him, not being drama, not being splintered, not giving any indication of dysfunction. More: How U-M's abnormal coaching search led to Juwan Howard "We're going to move as a family and we're going to do what we can to build on what John Beilein has established in Ann Arbor." "It squashes any drama or any beef. Because we're not going to bring that to Ann Arbor's campus with Juwan Howard as our head coach."   @JalenRose pic.twitter.com/qswW9cSQT8   Get Up (@GetUpESPN) May 23, 2019 ESPN reporter and fellow Michigan alum Adam Schefter also made an appearance on "Get Up" and continued the discussion with Rose. "Any time you grow up for public consumption like we've done, people have got a chance to see us at our highest of heights and our lowest of lows," Rose said. "And they've seen some discord. I just got to acknowledge this on national television. Those days are over. More from Albom: Michigan's hiring of Juwan Howard not about former glory "There will not be any disrespect to the program, there will not be any sideshows, there will not be any friction among the Fab Five. We're about to all come together like Voltron and make sure we do what we gotta do to put us back on top of the map." "Hold on, you're telling me that the hiring of Juwan Howard is going to bring you and C-Webb together?" Schefter responded. "Yes, absolutely," Rose said. "No doubt about it." Here's @JalenRose on @GetUpESPN , saying that the hiring of Juwan Howard is bringing back together him and @realchriswebber . As it should be. Fab Five reuniting for greater good. pic.twitter.com/E0DM7tH23V   Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 23, 2019 During U-M's coaching search, which began last week when Beilein left to take the job with the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers, Rose and Webber both made it clear that their preferred candidate was Howard. Rose commented on his former teammate's candidacy multiple times on ESPN's "Jalen and Jacoby" show, while Webber discussed the topic during Game 2 between the Milwaukee Bucks and Toronto Raptors of the Eastern Conference Finals on TNT. "It would be great for the whole university, bring everyone back together," Webber said. Webber, whose relationship with former booster Ed Martin came under scrutiny and eventually helped lead to the forfeiture of all victories from Webber's two seasons at Michigan, the removal of two Final Four banners from Crisler Center and his disassociation from U-M, has publically held himself at a distance from the school and the Fab Five. More: Juwan Howard hiring resonates with one top 2020 recruit He chose not to attend a reunion and didn't participate in ESPN's "30 for 30" documentary on the Fab Five, which aired in 2011. Last June, Rose's comments on Webber's return to Michigan as Jim Harbaugh's honorary captain for a football game indicated there were still hard feelings between the two former teammates. "I'm elated by this news," Rose said on "Get Up" last June. "I'm not surprised by this news and, respectfully, it's calculated, because he understands that he is a Hall of Fame-level player. And he has to turn around the thoughts of a lot of media members who didn't select him. So, to me, I see this as the first step of him reigniting his Hall of Fame candidacy for public consumption." Webber made his return to Ann Arbor this past November for Michigan football's game against Penn State, where he served as honorary captain. It was his first trip back to Michigan since his disassociation clause ended in 2013. Later, he commented that the experience gave him "goosebumps and chills, and definitely some watery eyes." Webber, who took the field for a coin toss in a blue No. 4 football jersey , received a warm welcome from fans. Webber did not meet with the basketball team or attend the team's exhibition game the night before the Penn State football game. Last summer, Webber said on "The Dan Patrick Show" he would like to have a full reunion with his Fab Five teammates at Michigan . "There's nothing I would want more than that," Webber said. "I think that we're on the right path for that. I think there has to be conversation, organically. People were pushing it for money because of that (ESPN) doc, but you have to be sincere, address and then move forward because all the other stuff is still going to be there. "For the fans, for myself, for my family, hopefully I think it's something we're working toward." Contact Orion Sang at osang@freepress.com . Follow him on Twitter @orion_sang . Read more on the Michigan Wolverines and sign up for our Wolverines newsletter . This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Jalen Rose: Juwan Howard hiring squashes any Fab Five beef


Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi has been ruled out of the club's quick visit to the United States for a pair of preseason matches against Napoli in Miami and Michigan. The club confirmed a grade one calf strain for the Argentinian, suffered in his very first training session back from extended leave. Messi was given extra time to rejoin the squad as did many other international stars that participated in summer tournaments. The news comes just days after Messi was suspended for three months by CONMEBOL for disparaging comments he made about the federation in the wake of Argentina's elimination from the Copa America this summer. That will see him also miss games in the United States, with Argentina set for friendlies against Chile and Mexico in Los Angeles and San Antonio. Messi remained quite healthy last season making 50 appearances for the club, but he has had muscle problems in the past, most notably suffering a string of tears in 2012 and 2013 that has seen Barcelona take a cautious approach with its superstar ever since. Thee miss will be a big loss for U.S. fans hoping to attend the matches and see Messi play, but also for the "Barca Fest" to be held in Miami on Tuesday, with several unconfirmed first-team players set to attend alongside musical performers and other fan events. Barcelona begins its regular season against Athletic Bilbao next weekend. Follow @the_bonnfire


The state Senate on Wednesday moved Illinois a step closer to joining the 10 other states that have legalized recreational marijuana for adults. With a bipartisan 38-17 vote, senators sent the House a measure that would allow residents age 21 and older to legally possess 30 grams of cannabis, 5 grams of cannabis concentrate or 500 milligrams of THC contained in a cannabis-infused product. Nonresidents could possess 15 grams of cannabis. The bill also creates a licensed cultivation and dispensary system while directing Gov. J.B. Pritzker, a proponent of legalization, to pardon people with past convictions for low-level pot possession. Pritzker encouraged the House, which now takes up the measure, to take "decisive action." "Illinois is poised to become the first state in the nation that put equity and criminal justice reform at the heart of its approach to legalizing cannabis, and I'm grateful that the Senate has taken this important step," Pritzker said in a statement. Medical marijuana growers would get first shot at retail market in Illinois under proposal to legalize recreational sales » Sen. Heather Steans, a Chicago Democrat who has been a longtime leader of efforts to legalize cannabis, said the two years of negotiation and study that went into crafting the legislation resulted in a bill that "makes sense here for Illinois" and will establish "the new gold standard for doing this in the right social justice way." "Prohibition simply does not work," Steans said. Sen. Jason Barickman of Bloomington, one of three Republicans who voted in favor the bill, said that cannabis use is "largely a personal choice" and that he was satisfied the legislation met "the primary role of government to adopt safeguards to protect minors and safeguards to protect the public when an individual's use puts others in harm's way." In the House, a majority of representatives signed on as co-sponsors of a resolution calling for more deliberation on the issue. But those signatures came long before the latest version of the proposal was unveiled late Tuesday night. To win some Republican support in the Senate, sponsors made key changes. The bill would restrict homegrown plants for personal use to those who are licensed patients in the state's medical marijuana program. They would be entitled to have five plants per household. The bill would allow employers to maintain a "zero tolerance" policy for cannabis in the workplace and would create a task force through the Illinois State Police to examine ways to enforce DUI laws involving marijuana use. To allow for pardons and expungement, Pritzker's office said the state police would identify past convictions for up to 30 grams, including possession and manufacturing and intent to deliver, as long as such convictions are not associated with a violent crime. After local state's attorneys have an opportunity to object, the state's Prisoner Review Board would make a recommendation to the governor on whether to issue a pardon. If a pardon is issued, the attorney general would seek expungement of the related records in court. For cases involving up to 500 grams possession, local state's attorneys can ask a court to vacate those convictions as can individuals, represented by legal aid. Pardon and expungement procedures in earlier legislation had caused concern among some Republicans who otherwise had been willing to support the measure. They contended that previous legislation created an unconstitutional pardon and expungement procedure because it would have been authorized by lawmakers who do not have that power. Reaching an agreement to tone down the expungement provisions opened the door to negotiating on other issues, such as employer protections and measures to address law enforcement concerns, said Barickman, who signed on as a co-sponsor. While the negotiations succeeded in removing some opposition to the bill, some who fought against it haven't gone as far as endorsing legalization. Strengthened protections for employers who want to ensure drug-free workplaces helped convince the Illinois Chamber of Commerce to drop its opposition, President and CEO Todd Maisch said, but the chamber remained officially neutral on the legislation. The compromise bill preserves many other provisions that supporters say are designed to help rectify the disparate impact the war on drugs has had on minority communities. It would create a social equity program to help minority business owners enter the marijuana industry, including through grants and loans. It also establishes a grant fund to help pay for programs in communities disproportionately affected by the war on drugs. The proposal would set the licensing fee for the largest cultivators at $750,000, up from $500,000 in the initial proposal. Police oppose marijuana legalization in Illinois, but want a bigger cut of the proceeds if law passes » Steans said legalizing marijuana is expected to generate $57 million in general revenue in the coming budget year and $30 million for a cannabis business development fund. That's far less than the $170 million Pritzker projected in his spending plan, but Steans said budget negotiators aren't counting on any of that revenue. After paying for regulatory expenses and costs related to the expungement process, marijuana revenue would be divided among a number of areas. The largest share, 35%, would go into the state's general fund; 25% would go to community grants; 20% to mental health and substance abuse programs; 10% to pay down the state's backlog of unpaid bills; 8% to support law enforcement; and 2% for public education. Opponents to legalization are now gearing up for a fight in the House. State Rep. Marty Moylan, a Democrat from Des Plaines who sponsored the resolution to slow the legalization process, said it should be delayed until the summer to allow lawmakers time to understand what's in the bill. "They're trying to ram it down our throats at the last minute," he said. "They're presenting it real late so we have a hard time finding out what's in it." Omari Prince, state director for Smart Approaches to Marijuana-Illinois, a coalition opposing legalization, said passage is not inevitable. "Legalized and commercialized marijuana will negatively impact everything from our public safety to the health of our citizens," Prince said in a statement. "We've seen in every other state that those who benefit off marijuana are wealthy investors and big business, not ordinary citizens." With the legislature facing a Friday scheduled adjournment deadline, the Senate also voted 44-6 to send the House a bill that would significantly expand the boundaries of the area in which the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority , the agency that oversees McCormick Place and Navy Pier, levies a 1% restaurant tax. The tax currently is collected downtown, but the expanded area, which would include parts of the North, Northwest and South sides, was designed to bring in more money from trendy restaurants in areas such as Wrigleyville, Logan Square and Hyde Park, McPier CEO Lori Healey said during a committee hearing Wednesday. The agency expects to bring in an additional $10 million in annual revenue from the expanded boundaries, she said. "Because Chicago is now the restaurant capital of the world - we host the James Beard Awards - what we tried to do was to increase these boundaries to the modest extent possible to really pick up all the cool new restaurants that all of our conference attendees want to go to," Healey said. If approved in the House and signed by Pritzker, the bill would lead to the partial teardown of the aboveground portion of the McCormick Place Lakeside Center and the construction of a new facility over Martin Luther King Drive. The legislation also would change the agency's formal name to the Metropolitan Public Exposition Authority and increase its bonding authority by $600 million, to $3.45 billion. Chicago Tribune's Robert McCoppin contributed. rap30@aol.com dpetrella@chicagotribune.com jmunks@chicagotribune.com


Barcelona city council has ruled that women are allowed to swim topless in any of its municipal indoor or outdoor pools because of the laws over 'gender dress'. The council issued a statement confirming the situation as a result of a complaint lodged by the campaign group 'Mugrons Lliures' of Catalonia. Protesters claimed one woman was told to cover up and wear both parts of her bikini but said this was against the law. City leaders have now agreed. The authority has ruled that the pools of Barcelona must not discriminate if a woman wants to swim topless because men do the same and they cannot differentiate between bikini bottoms and swimming trunks. The council has sent a reminder to all sports centres from the Office for Non-Discrimination (OND) reminding them that 'topless' must be allowed in all its spaces, because not doing so would represent a 'discriminatory' practice when setting dress standards based on gender. Deputy Mayor Janet Sanz stressed that this practice has never been prohibited in municipal swimming pools and what the OND has done has been to remind the centres. The goal is that 'all women who want to do 'topless' can do it' normally in municipal centres, whether public or private. 'The Mugrons Lliures entity presented a complaint to the OND, which argued that the regulations that regulate clothing based on gender are discriminatory, so it recommends that municipal centres with swimming pools withdraw any regulations that prohibit the 'topless' in their spaces,' she said . Mugrons Lliures said some centres had put restrictions on bathing or in specific areas of the installation by internal regulations. Any centre which does not comply could now face a fine. The recommendation, based on a legal report, makes no distinction about indoor or outdoor swimming pools. Mugrons Lliures, which had complained to the Ombudsman last year about the discrimination, said it was delighted at Barcelona's announcement and expects the norm to now apply across the country. RELATED VIDEO: Fun things to do in Barcelona (Provided by: Travel + Leisure)


The Super Final for the Le Mans Esports Series takes place this weekend at Le Mans, and you can watch the whole event live on Motorsport.tv. From 20,000 competitors, 10 three-driver teams qualified and they will be joined by two wildcard teams. Watch the Le Mans Esports Super Final on Motorsport.tv The drivers compete across nine races over a 24-hour period prior to the real-life race, with the opening race kicking off at 11am local time on Friday June 14, and the finale concluding 24 hours later at 11am on Saturday June 15. A share of the $100,000 prize pool and a place on the real-life Le Mans podium awaits the winners. Super Final race timetable Race Day Time (UK) Race length Cars Circuit 1 Friday 10:00 2h 60s prototypes Pre 90 Le Mans 2 Friday 12:25 2h Ford vs Ferrari Pre 90 Le Mans 3 Friday 14:50 3h Modern prototypes Silverstone 4 Friday 18:20 2h Group 5 Pre 90 Le Mans 5 Friday 20:45 2h Group C Modern Le Mans 6 Friday 23:10 3h Modern GTE Spa 7 Saturday 02:35 2h 2000s prototypes Modern Le Mans 8 Saturday 05:00 3h Modern prototypes Sebring 9 Saturday 08:30 1h30 Modern GTE Modern Le Mans


The Rangers received yet even more terrible news on the prospect front Tuesday, as 2016 first-rounder Cole Ragans will undergo the second Tommy John surgery of his young career, per a team announcement. Ragans underwent Tommy John surgery last March but re-tore the ligament in his right elbow and will now miss a second season of development. The Rangers have already lost 2018 second-round pick Owen White and 2018 fourth-rounder Mason Englert to Tommy John surgery this season, thus wiping out the 2019 campaigns for three intriguing young prospects within the team's minor league ranks. Ragans ranked as the team's No. 10 overall prospect, per MLB.com , while White checked in at No. 12 and Englert sat at No. 23. Some more news and notes out of Arlington… Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News examines the struggles of both Rougned Odor and Nomar Mazara thus far in 2019. It's been a catastrophic season for Odor, who entered play today with an almost unfathomable .137/.212/.253 batting line through 105 plate appearances. Mazara, meanwhile, is in a substantial funk that has dropped his overall line to .227/.287/.417 through yesterday's game. Odor's struggles have gotten to the point where an optional assignment almost has to be considered as a means of getting him back on track. He's signed through the 2022 season but has yet to consistently produce at the big league level. He had a similar run of poor results in 2018 before snapping out of his slump and catching fire for much of the summer, and some work in the minors could help to clear his head and point him in that direction. Mazara likely has a longer leash given his more consistent track record and the need to evaluate him heading into his next arbitration raise. Even if the organization decides it best to shop Mazara this winter, demoting him would tank his trade value, so it seems best to allow him to continue trying to sort things out at the MLB level. It's worth noting, of course, that as of this writing both Mazara and Odor have a pair of hits in tonight's game. Shelby Miller 's hold on a spot in the rotation would appear to be tenuous, at best. Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram wrote yesterday that the organization's plan was to keep Miller in the rotation but cap him at 70 pitches per start, but he wasn't even able to last that long in tonight's outing against the Royals. Kansas City jumped all over Miller on Tuesday, clobbering him for eight runs on seven hits and two walks with one strikeout in just 1 2/3 innings. Grant tweeted shortly thereafter that Miller seemed likely to be moved to the bullpen in favor of the younger Ariel Jurado , who has a 3.57 ERA through 22 2/3 innings in Triple-A and has fired off 9 2/3 scoreless innings out of the big league bullpen. Texas signed the 28-year-old Miller to a one-year deal this offseason in hopes that he could rebuild some stock and perhaps turn himself into a trade chip, but he's allowed 31 earned runs in 29 1/3 innings with more walks allowed (23) than strikeouts recorded (20).


The Hammond Fire Department responded Tuesday night to an apartment fire. Firefighters responded to the scene around 7:18 p.m. Smoke was seen from a two-story apartment complex on Woodstone Drive. The fire was contained to an upstairs bedroom, according to the Hammond Fire Department. The fire remains under investigation. READ MORE: Apartment complex catches fire in Hammond CHECK OUT WDSU: Get all the New Orleans news you need. With the latest New Orleans weather, sports and stories from around the state, WDSU is your news leader.


A mother accused of locking her three young children in a bedroom so she could go drinking at a bar has been arrested in dramatic bodycam footage. Liz Yomaris Torres Rivera was arrested in Cleveland, Ohio last month when she suddenly returned home from the nearby bar only to find police already there tending to the children. Police said a neighbor had called them on May 19 to report hearing Rivera's children - aged 2, 3 and 5 - crying non-stop. Bodycam footage obtained by Fox 8 showed the officer kicking down the door of the home and following the cries of the children. The three young children were found locked in a bedroom, according to officers. 'Can you have EMS come check out three toddlers? No adult. They were locked in their room,' an officer could be heard saying as he called for backup. As the officers were checking the children were okay, Rivera surprised them by suddenly showing up. 'What's going on?' Rivera could be heard saying on the bodycam video. An officer responds: 'You weren't worried about the kids when you locked 'em in the bedroom and you took off, were you?' Rivera was asked if she had been drinking after an officer said he smelled alcohol on her. 'Smell like you've been drinking. Coming from a bar. Where were you at? Benny's?' the officer asked. She replied: 'Yeah.' Rivera was placed in handcuffs and begged to see her children as she was led away by officers. Police noted that the home smelled and was filled with trash and bugs. They also said it 'felt about 90 to 95 degrees inside'. Rivera, who has been charged with child endangerment but is pleading not guilty, claims she left the children in the care of a 'supposed friend'. The three children are currently being cared for by a relative.


RALEIGH, N.C.   The Latest on a Republican primary election for a still-vacant North Carolina congressional seat (all times local): 8:50 p.m. Republicans in North Carolina have chosen state Sen. Dan Bishop as their party's nominee in a special congressional election ordered after a ballot fraud scandal marred last year's race. Voters on Tuesday selected Bishop as the Republican nominee to face Democrat Dan McCready in September in the 9th Congressional District election. McCready faced no primary opponent. Bishop topped the vote in the 10-candidate field. Bishop sponsored legislation in 2016 voiding anti-discrimination protections for LGBT people. The legislation was known as the "bathroom bill" and drew national attention. Bishop is a Charlotte attorney. He loaned his campaign $250,000. The state elections board had ordered new elections after finding last year's contest tainted when Republican Mark Harris used a political operative who improperly handled mail-in ballots. Harris seemed to narrowly beat McCready after November's votes were counted but opted not to run again. ___ 7:30 p.m. Votes are being counted in the Republican primary as a North Carolina congressional district tries again to fill a vacant seat in Washington after last year's election was tainted by ballot fraud. Polls closed Tuesday evening in the state's 9th Congressional District primary, called to select which GOP candidate will face Democrat Dan McCready. He had no primary opponent. If voters don't select the favorite among 10 Republican candidates, a runoff will be held in September. The special election was required after the state elections board found last year's contest was tainted when Republican Mark Harris used a political operative who improperly handled mail-in ballots. Harris narrowly led after November's votes were counted, but he opted not to run again. ___ 1:40 a.m. Republicans are deciding who should carry their banner into a high-profile congressional race in a North Carolina district lacking a delegate in Washington because last year's election was tainted by ballot fraud. Republican and unaffiliated voters in the 9th Congressional District cast ballots Tuesday to decide which GOP candidate will face Democrat Dan McCready. The general election will be Sept. 10 if one candidate collects more than 30 percent of the votes in Tuesday's primary. If no one tops that milestone, that September date will be used for a runoff between the top two Republicans and the general election will be Nov. 5. The special election was required after the state elections board found last year's contest tainted when Republican Mark Harris used a political operative who improperly handled mail-in ballots.


Baseball players rarely, if ever, convince an umpire to overturn a call at the plate. But Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera got lucky with one particular umpire: a Florida judge who this week agreed to cut his child support payments to an ex-mistress after the MVP player cried foul. Under an amended final judgement, Cabrera will now pay $14,000 a month in child support to the woman he secretly fathered two children with, instead of the $20,000 a month that was originally ordered in March. That may sound like chump change for a man who makes $30 million a year. But Cabrera got frugal during the case and scored some points with the judge, who tweaked his original order to Cabrera's liking. Cabrera doesn't have to pay nearly $90,000 in back child support under the new order   the judge concluded he was up to date. Nor does he have to pay off the woman's nearly $1 million home that he helped her buy, as was originally ordered. Now he only has to pay her $6,776 mortgage every month   though he can choose to pay off the entire balance to be released from liability. Cabrera also doesn't have to pay for the children's college education, which their mother had asked for, but Cabrera protested. The former Triple Crown winner, however, didn't walk off scot-free. Rather, his affair in the end will cost him more than $5 million when you factor in 18 years of child support, house payments, health costs for the kids, schooling, tutoring, travel, property taxes and attorney fees   all of which the judge ordered Cabrera to take care of. Against Cabrera's wishes, the judge also ordered him to to take out a $5 million life insurance policy to benefit both children until the youngest child turns 18. The girl is now 4; the boy 6. The amended final judgment was handed down Wednesday after Cabrera contested the judge's $20,000-a-month child support order , calling it "grossly inflated" and a "windfall" for the mother, Belkis Rodriguez, who in 2017 filed a paternity suit that outed the affair. Before she sued the first baseman, Rodriguez was getting $12,000 a month in child support. Nearly two years later   and along with her $200,000 in legal fees that Cabrera was ordered to pay   she ended up with $2,000 more a month. Cabrera, who has long portrayed Rodriguez as an opportunist trying to cash in on his wealth, argued that $13,000 a month is more appropriate and sufficient for the children's needs. Rodriguez asked for $25,000-$30,000 a month. Under Florida's child support guidelines, Rodriguez was entitled to up to $137,000 a month given Cabrera's $30-million annual salary. But the judge didn't go for that, saying an amount that big would be "unjust" and "inappropriate" because it "exceeds the 'needs' of the children and it would be considered palimony." "This is a paternity case, not a divorce case," Orange County Circuit Judge Alan Apte wrote in his order, which also addressed a sticking point in the case: Are Rodriguez's children entitled to the same standard of living as the three children Cabrera has with his wife. Rodriguez argued they were. So did the judge. "The court finds that the parties' children should have the same opportunities as the opportunities that the father provides to his three other children that he and his wife share," Apte wrote. That means Cabrera's children with Rodriguez will get vacations and birthday parties equal to what his children get, under the court order. They will also have a nanny, tutoring, annual passes to Disney World and Sea World, a big house with a swimming pool to live in, and a Range Rover to be driven in, the judge concluded. Related content: Miguel Cabrera child support case: Do kids need dad more than money? Miguel Cabrera's mistress gets mansion and $12K a month in child support   and wants more Over the last two years, the case turned into a legal slugfest between a celebrity athlete and a Venezuelan woman who lived paycheck to paycheck until she met Cabrera. The millionaire baseball player bought her a flower shop, fathered two children with her and took care of them for years, but left them high and dry when his wife discovered the affair, she has claimed. According to court documents, Cabrera didn't just take care of his secret family, but pampered them with trips to Europe, a mansion in a gated community, a Range Rover, lavish birthday parties and trips across the country to see his baseball games. This lifestyle lasted until April 2016, when Cabrera's wife filed for divorce (she later changed her mind). Four months later, Rodriguez sued Cabrera for child support and outed their relationship. Rodriguez's lawyer, Terry Young, has blasted Cabrera in court documents, describing him as an absentee father who is trying to cheat his children with Rodriguez out of financial support they're entitled to under the law. Young called Cabrera's request for a lower child support payment "petty." "The court made quite clear that its emphasis was on the standard of living of the father's other children (from his marriage) and providing them with an opportunity-for-opportunity standard of support." wrote Young, arguing his client has single-handedly raised the children. "The father has effectively discontinued all contact with the minor children. In fact, he did not even call the minor son on his recent birthday," Young has argued. As for Cabrera's contention that Rodriguez asked for too much, Young said: "These minor children have done nothing wrong and certainly deserve the appropriate support from their father as Florida law requires." Contact Tresa Baldas: tbaldas@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @Tbaldas. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Tigers' Miguel Cabrera convinced judge to cut child support payments


Jacoby Brissett made a trip to Bill Belichick's office on Sept. 2, 2017. It got awkward. Belichick informed Brissett the New England Patriots were trading the young quarterback, a third-round pick in 2016, to the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for receiver Phillip Dorsett. Belichick and the Patriots were sticking with Tom Brady and Jimmy Garoppolo at quarterback (for the time being), and needed help at receiver. "Yeah, [Belichick] said that, at the time Julian [Edelman] had gotten hurt and we were looking for receivers. And that was pretty much it," Brissett told the hosts of "Pardon My Take" on a podcast published on July 17. "I just froze sitting in front of him. I wasn't talking. He wasn't talking. He told me why, so I just got up and left." That's it? "[Belichick] was like, 'Alright, good luck.' And I was like, 'Alright I guess. I don't know what the hell is going on right now.' And then I had to get on a flight and go to Indy," Brissett said. When asked if they have spoken since that conversation, Brissett said that they saw each other at The Kentucky Derby this year, and "it was all good." Still, that's a long span of zero communication, especially considering the fact that Belichick regularly texts Garoppolo , who is now with the San Francisco 49ers. But the trade has worked out well for Brissett, who is now one of the most desirable backups in the NFL. He had a solid season in 2017 when Andrew Luck missed time with a shoulder injury. Brissett finished that season 3,098 passing yards, 13 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He could be a sought-after free agent, if he hits the open market next offseason when his contract expires in 2020. MORE: See the dramatic final hand of 2019 WSOP Main Event that won Hossein Ensan $10 million Baker Mayfield swings and misses with attempted rip of Giants fans VIDEO: Hossein Ensan Wins 2019 World Series of Poker News: Cowboys' $100 million men underpaid, and more dangerous in 2019 The top 100 players in the NFL today


If you're an investor in Boeing , you have to be pretty satisfied with the way shares traded on earnings. It's far from a barn-burning rally, with shares up about 1.6% to $380 a share. That said, however, the stock isn't down on what many would consider not-so-good news. Consider this: Boeing's earnings of $3.16 a share missed estimates by 3 cents and declined 13% year over year. Revenue of $22.9 billion missed expectations by $140 million and declined 2.2% year over year. Management pulled its prior full-year guidance thanks to issues surrounding the 737 MAX, with new guidance coming at some point in the future. Finally, Boeing suspended its buyback, a pause the company initiated in mid-March. If Boeing stock can rally on that type of quarter, could it suggest that shares already have bottomed? Trading Boeing Stock Above is a two-year weekly chart of Boeing stock. While a daily chart will show the breakdown from the 737 MAX situation, a longer-term look can help to see the larger levels out there. In this case, the way BA stock holds up in the low $360s is quite impressive. While Boeing stock is well off its highs near $440, down about 13.5% at the moment, many would argue that the stock should be down even more. The 737 MAX was the fastest-selling plane for Boeing. The grounded fleet -- which management expects to get back into the air in July -- has caused worry, while the crashes have created a PR nightmare. That doesn't even count the eventual lawsuits. Combined with a top- and bottom-line miss, pulled guidance and suspended buyback, and it's quite reasonable to argue that Boeing stock should be trading lower, not higher on the day. But that action is exactly why Boeing should have bulls grinning. When a stock trades higher on bad news, it could mean a bottom is in place. While it would have been encouraging to see BA's bottom marked by a big flush and quick reversal, this less painful development isn't all bad. So what now? While $362.50 support has buoyed Boeing stock, it's hard to deny that shares have been trending lower. To negate that trend, we first need see Boeing close above its 10-week moving average. If it can, that opens the door to a run at $400, which has twice swatted shares back down into recent support. Above the 10-week moving average and $400 opens the door to $420, which would fill the gap from the 737 MAX incident in March. On the downside, the obvious level to watch is recent support near $362.50. If this level gives way, a flush down to the 200-day moving average and 50-week moving average at $358 is likely and a bounce is possible. But below that and a decline into prior range is certainly possible. The bottom line: Watch recent support and the 10-week moving average. This article was originally published by TheStreet .


Special counsel Robert Mueller's report poses a test for vulnerable Senate Republicans running for reelection, forcing them to decide how far to distance themselves from President Trump heading into 2020. Mueller declined to pursue charges of conspiracy, illegal coordination or obstruction of justice, but much of his report reflects poorly on the president and reveals there are several more federal investigations that have yet to wrap up. While House Democrats will need to decide how hard to go to attack Trump in the wake of the report and whether to pursue a politically-charged impeachment process, Senate Republicans have to figure out how far to go to defend the president. "I think Republicans should avoid doing a victory lap. The main thing here was, 'Were the Russians involved in the Trump campaign?' Beyond that, the president's got to defend his own conduct," said Vin Weber, a GOP strategist. "Republicans should be talking about other things, like the economy." Asked what Republicans should do if asked directly about Trump's conduct, Weber said, "That's a tough one," adding, "I would probably deflect a little bit by saying this - we've all gotten used to this being a different kind of president from a different kind of background who conducts himself differently than previous presidents, and beyond that it's his problem, not mine." Some expect Republicans to wait to see how the highly anticipated report plays with their constituents back home over the two-week holiday recess. "Are Republicans privately unhappy with some of Trump's actions in the report? Yes of course. But the majority of Republicans are not going to go after the president on this because he has not been charged with a crime," said another Republican strategist who requested anonymity. The strategist said it would make sense for Senate Republicans in more competitive races to be critical of Trump. "It wouldn't be wise for them to be backing the president when there are a lot of moderate voters out there, but that doesn't mean they have to condemn him either," the strategist added. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has remained tight-lipped about Mueller's findings since issuing a statement Thursday that simply said he was looking forward "to carefully reviewing the report." The strongest criticism so far has come from Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah), who is not up for reelection but has been trying to position himself as a Republican counterweight in the Senate since taking office in January. Romney said in a statement Friday he was "sickened at the extent and pervasiveness of dishonesty and misdirection" detailed in Mueller's report "by individuals in the highest office of the land, including the president." He also said he was "appalled" about evidence that Trump's campaign advisers "welcomed help from Russia - including information that had been illegally obtained." Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), who is up for reelection in a state Hillary Clinton won in 2016, told Maine Public Radio on Friday that she was disturbed by Trump's several attempts to fire Mueller as described in the report, calling it "an unflattering portrayal of the president." Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), who is also on the ballot in a state that went for Clinton, has sought to put the focus on Russia instead of Trump. "Now that the report is public, it's time for Congress to move forward and get to work on behalf of the American people. The report also confirms what we already know, Russia interfered in our election. I will keep up the pressure on the Putin regime and pursue additional sanctions - they cannot go unpunished," Gardner said in a statement. Sen. Martha McSally (R-Ariz.), another top Democratic target next year, hasn't said anything to criticize the president since the report's release Thursday. Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio), a fellow member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said in a statement that "a number of actions taken by the president or his associates" were "inappropriate." But he emphasized there was "no conspiracy or collusion to violate U.S. law between Russia and the Trump campaign" and urged Congress to work on legislation to prevent Russia from interfering in future elections. Ross K. Baker, a professor of science at Rutgers University, who has held multiple Senate fellowships, predicted that Republican lawmakers will stick to mild criticisms of Trump to avoid angering his many fans in the GOP base. "They make a pragmatic decision that people have already made up their minds about Donald Trump and anything they could add by way of censure isn't going to make any difference and probably will damage their political fortunes," he said. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), who sparred with Trump during the 2016 Republican presidential primary and who has publicly disagreed with some of Trump's policies as president, issued a statement Friday that looked beyond the president's conduct and instead focused on Russia. Rubio, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations panel, said he would focus on legislation to deter Russia from future interference. He also criticized Democrats for viewing the special counsel's investigation as a partisan opportunity. GOP strategists say Democrats are in a tougher position because the factions of the liberal base will be pressing hard for impeachment proceedings, a tactic that backfired on House Republicans in 1998 after they impeached Bill Clinton. Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) advised last month against trying to impeach Trump, arguing it would divide the country and that "he's just not worth it." But Democratic leaders are already seeing growing calls from progressives to take a more aggressive approach. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) on Friday became the first Democratic presidential candidate to call for the House to initiate impeachment proceedings against Trump, citing "the severity" of the president's "misconduct" as outlined in Mueller's report. That could force Republicans into a tougher position than they might normally be of having to vocally defend Trump. "The Democrats are going to pursue this relentlessly," said Ron Bonjean, a Senate Republican strategist, who predicted there could be a backlash. "They do it at their own peril because every day they go by that they pursue this is a day they're not working on their own agenda," he said. "Most Republicans have circled the wagons based on the initial Mueller four-page [summary] and want to move on now that everything has been released." "The challenge is that the Democrats will continue to harp and go after this but it could boomerang against them," he added. ]]>


Kevin Knox , the Knicks' first-round pick last season, is lobbying for R.J. Barrett to get that designation this year, relays Marc Berman of The New York Post . Knox, who attended Game 4 of the NBA Finals with a small Knicks contingent, may be on hand tomorrow for Barrett's workout in New York. They have faced each other before as high school opponents in Florida. "If we get the opportunity (to be teammates), I think we'd jell really well,'' Knox said. "He's a great player. He can pass well, score the ball well. I think we'd complement each other.'' Barrett is generally considered the third best player in the draft and the likely selection for the Knicks with the No. 3 pick. It's also possible that Knox and Barrett could be teammates with the Pelicans if both are included in a trade for Anthony Davis . There's more today from New York: It appears Kemba Walker won't be the solution for the Knicks' backcourt, according to Ian Begley of SNY.TV . Rival executives tell Begley they don't believe Walker will consider New York if he decides to leave Charlotte. The three-time All-Star recently said that the Hornets are his "first priority" in free agency. They have the ability to offer Walker a five-year supermax deal worth up to $221.3M, while other teams will be limited to four years at $140.6M. The Knicks have become so "brazen" in their belief that they are landing Kevin Durant that other free agents are getting upset, writes Joe Vardon of The Athletic . He states that the organization is behaving as though a deal is already in place, even though Durant has strongly denied making a decision, and the Warriors seem resigned that he will be gone after the playoffs. New York should try to avoid giving up Mitchell Robinson in a trade for Davis, states Zack Rosenblatt of NBA.com . The second-round pick had a remarkable rookie season, averaging 2.4 blocks per night in 66 games. Rosenblatt sees Robinson as a perfect complement to play alongside Davis if the Knicks can make a deal happen without him.


The Royals have designated reliever Brad Boxberger for assignment and reinstated left-hander Eric Skoglund from the restricted list, Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com reports. Boxberger was one of the Royals' most notable pickups during a modest offseason for the rebuilding club. The Royals gave the former Padre, Ray and Diamondback $2.2M with the hope he'd revive his career. Instead, Boxberger stumbled to a 5.40 ERA/4.65 FIP with 9.11 K/9 and 5.74 BB/9 in 26 2/3 innings. In the process, the 31-year-old's average fastball velocity fell to 90.2 mph, down from the 92-93 range in his younger days. At his best, Boxberger recorded a 2.37 ERA/2.84 FIP with 14.47 K/9 and 2.78 BB/9 in 64 2/3 innings with the Rays in 2014. Boxberger came back the next season to log worse numbers, yet the right-hander still made the AL All-Star team and led the league in saves (41). But injuries helped limit Boxberger's effectiveness over the next couple seasons, which led Tampa Bay to trade him to Arizona prior to the 2018 campaign. The Boxberger acquisition didn't work out for the Diamondbacks, however. Boxberger registered a 4.39 ERA/4.55 FIP and 5.4 BB/9 in 53 1/3 innings last year, thus offsetting an 11.98 K/9 and a 46.1 percent groundball rate. The D-backs non-tendered Boxberger over the winter, and now he may return to free agency just a few months after catching on with the Royals. They still owe him approximately $1.14MM. Skoglund, 26, is back after serving an 80-game suspension for performance-enhancing drugs, though he'll report to Triple-A Omaha for now. The 6-foot-7 Skoglund got his first significant look as a major leaguer in 2018 and put up a 5.14 ERA/5.06 FIP with 6.3 K/9 against 2.44 BB/9 across 70 innings (14 appearances, 13 starts).


If you've spent much time in a Tesla , you've probably found yourself at a Supercharger station, and that also means you've probably been stuck waiting for a charger to become available. The problem is that many people try to charge their cars fully at a Supercharger, and that can take awhile. The Supercharger does most of its best work up until the vehicle battery reaches an 80% charge, and then things get a bit more fiddly. To help alleviate some of the waits at busier Supercharger stations, it started limiting maximum charge to that magic 80 percent number, according to a report published on Friday by Electrek . This change will affect just 17% of all the Supercharger stations in the US, so if you live in someplace that's less densely populated, you shouldn't expect any changes. If you live someplace like Southern California or the Bay Area, however, like old Zimmy says , the times they are a-changin'. Those changes could be good though, because Tesla estimates that by enforcing these limits, it should increase those stations' throughput by 34%, and that means way less time spent in your car waiting like a dork for a charger to open up. What about if you're doing a road trip in your Tesla and you need more than an 80% charge to get to your next stop? Fear not -- the big T has you covered. If you're on a trip, the station will let you charge to the amount needed to hit your next charging stop. If your nav's final destination is the Supercharger station, though, you're out of luck, and the 80% cap still applies. Tesla didn't immediately respond to Roadshow's request for comment. Follow MSN Autos on Facebook and Twitter


Hanging out and taking selfies on the beach is hardly an unusual pastime for a 13-year-old girl. But Megan Pagnini never expected a day at the shore to turn into the nightmare of being attacked by a sea lion . The teen was in Pismo Beach, California, along the state's central coast, last Friday evening when her and a friend walked down to the water after dinner. (MORE: Sea lion rescued after being caught in plastic) "I was at the water, I was just playing around, jumping -- having fun," Pagnini told "Good Morning America" in an interview airing Friday. "And I was taking silly pictures, when all of a sudden, it came out of nowhere and bit my leg." The "it" she was referring to was a very angry sea lion. The animals are common in the region, and Pagnini said she thought nothing of the animals swimming in the area. (MORE: Sea lion attacks and injures woman in San Francisco) "I thought they were just so cute and little and mostly just like little like beans that were just swimming around being cute," she said. "I thought they were just the most adorable little things. They're just the puppies of the sea. "And now I think they're really scary. I don't want to get near one or see one ever again." In video her friend was filming at the time of the attack, Pagnini is seen playing in the shallow water when she suddenly shouts and grabs her leg. "I just thought to just scream and try to get help because I didn't even know what was happening," she said. "My brain couldn't really process it." Pagnini suffered a deep gash to her leg and was rushed to the emergency room. They kept the wound dressed with bandages, while dead tissue was removed Thursday and the wound was finally stitched up, she said. "It's very unusual to have a sea lion attack on a human," Todd Tognazzini, patrol captain for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, told ABC News. "There are many thousands of surfers that use the water every day in California; there are many people who go into the water and this type of event is extremely unusual." Tognazzini said the animal tested positive for domoic acid poisoning. Domoic acid is produced by algae and accumulates in the shellfish and small fishes consumed by sea lions. It can cause neurological damage, and the strange behavior seen in the sea lion that attacked Pagnini, he said. (MORE: 2 swimmers in San Francisco bit by sea lions 24 hours apart) "We knew that the girl had been transported to the hospital, so our concern was whether the animal was gonna cause harm to someone else," Tognazzini said. "Our officer spotted what he believed to be the correct animal, it was behaving very strange, it actually exited the water and was in a state of stupor. It was biting sticks along the beach and actually worked its way up to a lifeguard tower on the beach, and it's metal, and it bit the base of the lifeguard tower." He called the attack "a complete anomoly," and said, "There was nothing this young lady could have done to stop this from happening."


The leftover personnel from Mike Maccagnan's tenure as Jets general manager did little to impress the new regime that they play for. Eighty-one of the players on New York's roster at the beginning of the Jets' 2019 preseason opener were either drafted, signed or traded for by Maccagnan. Many of them, such as Sam Darnold, Jamal Adams and Robby Anderson, are in good standing with New York's new regime and are in no danger of being moved anytime soon. However, there are plenty of Maccagnan players among Gang Green's depth chart who are fighting for their jobs. Kicker Chandler Catanzaro missed two PATs in the first half of New York's loss to the Giants on Thursday night. Maccagnan thought it wise to get Catanzaro on the cheap instead of re-signing Pro Bowler Jason Myers. Nickel cornerback Parry Nickerson got beat underneath for a touchdown catch. Maccagnan picked him in the sixth-round of the 2018 NFL draft. Derrick Jones, who has struggled to transition from wide receiver to cornerback, got beat routinely throughout the night. Maccagnan selected him as a project in the seventh-round of the 2016 NFL draft. Cornerback Kyron Brown and safety Santos Ramirez failed to communicate and allowed Daniel Jones to throw his first NFL touchdown pass in the second quarter. Both were Maccagnan undrafted free agent signings. Sense a trend here? The players Maccagnan brought in were not up to snuff playing in a situation where they cannot afford to make a single mistake. Joe Douglas is not tied to any of these players. If he doesn't like what he sees, he will part ways with them without much of an issue. Thursday night surely was not a good first impression for the Maccagnan holdovers. As Maccagnan's players continue to struggle, it cements the fact that he missed on signings and draft picks more often than he hit. Yes, Maccagnan did make some good moves in his time as general manager. If it weren't for him, Darnold would not be under center and in a position to become one of the game's better quarterbacks. Le'Veon Bell and C.J. Mosley would also likely be elsewhere. However, you don't win in the NFL with only big-time signings. It's easy to throw around money in order to attract elite free agents. It's not easy evaluating the lower ranks of the league. Adding quality depth pieces is the key to succeeding and how a general manager's tenure can be defined. The ones Maccagnan brought in have not exactly earned him the reputation of a GM who frequently found diamonds in the rough and players who could contribute in reduced roles. It looks like the Jets finally have a general manager who has what it takes to fill out a roster from top to bottom, not just at the top. Either way, as Maccagnan's players continue to flop, they not only hurt their chances of remaining with the Jets, but reinforce that New York made the right call going in a different direction in the front office. MORE: Browns mob touchdown scorer who slept outside a gym during tryouts D'Angelo Russell Q&A: Warriors' new backcourt is 'like a video game' 3 Raiders who need to have big performances in Week 1 of the preseason Duke Johnson trade: what they're saying around the NFL Matt Nagy can't stop gushing about Bears RB David Montgomery


Five prominent Browns players did not participate in Wednesday's OTA practice session. The players are not required to be at the voluntary workouts. From various media reports, these Browns did not take the field on Wednesday at the team's practice facility in Berea. WR Odell Beckham Jr. WR Antonio Callaway RB Duke Johnson DE Myles Garrett DE Olivier Vernon The two defenders, Garrett and Vernon, were both participants on Tuesday; the picture here was taken at that practice. Beckham has not been seen at the facility since before the first day of practice last week. Johnson continues to stay away after making a trade demand earlier this offseason. MORE: Jim and Pam from 'The Office' square off in the Stanley Cup Final Packers rookie Darnell Savage impresses with intelligence early at OTAs Roundup: Stranger Things Returning July 4th; Blues Make Stanley Cup Final; U.S. Intercepts Russian Bombers Off Coast of Alaska Stephen Carlson: What the Browns are getting in their new WR NBA Free Agency 2019: The top players


Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez blasted White House adviser Ivanka Trump for attending the Group of 20 summit in Osaka, Japan, taking to Twitter to note "being someone's daughter actually isn't a career qualification." "It hurts our diplomatic standing when the President phones it in & the world moves on," she added. "The US needs our President working the G20. Bringing a qualified diplomat couldn't hurt either." Ivanka's attendance at the Group of 20 summit in Osaka, Japan and at a hastily-arranged private meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, sparked heightened criticism. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories . Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez blasted White House adviser Ivanka Trump for traveling to Asia to meet with world leaders alongside her father. "It may be shocking to some, but being someone's daughter actually isn't a career qualification," the congresswoman tweeted on Saturday night. "It hurts our diplomatic standing when the President phones it in & the world moves on. The US needs our President working the G20. Bringing a qualified diplomat couldn't hurt either." Ocasio-Cortez and others, including former US ambassadors, have criticized President Donald Trump for elevating his eldest daughter to some of the most influential positions in his White House. Ivanka's attendance at the Group of 20 summit in Osaka, Japan and at a hastily-arranged private meeting between the president and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, sparked sharp criticism. Ocasio-Cortez and others pointed to a video of Ivanka jumping into a discussion at the G20 with several world leaders, including Theresa May, the outgoing prime minister of Britain, and Christine Lagarde, director of the International Monetary Fund, as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Emmanuel Macron, the president of France, stood by and listened. Ivanka and her husband, Jared Kushner, have both received scrutiny for their influential, public-facing roles in the Trump administration. "Ivanka Trump is not on the National Security Council - she is not an adviser on the issues being discussed," Michael McFaul, a former ambassador to Russia under President Barack Obama, told the New York Times . "So her presence undermines the professional look of the Trump delegation, both to other countries and to national security professionals in the Trump administration." Read more: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez condemns Joe Biden for 'waxing nostalgic' about working with racist segregationists Others argued that having the child of a president play diplomat makes it appear as though the US is being run by a royal family. "It looks to the rest of the world like we have a kind of a constitutional monarchy," Christopher Hill, a former US ambassador to South Korea who oversaw negotiations with North Korea under President George W. Bush, told The Washington Post . It may be shocking to some, but being someone's daughter actually isn't a career qualification. It hurts our diplomatic standing when the President phones it in & the world moves on. The US needs our President working the G20. Bringing a qualified diplomat couldn't hurt either. https://t.co/KCZMXJ8FD9   Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) June 30, 2019 Ivanka Trump appears to be trying to get involved in a talk among Macron, May, Trudeau and Lagarde (IMF head). The video is released by French Presidential palace. pic.twitter.com/TJ0LULCzyQ   Parham Ghobadi (@ParhamGhobadi) June 29, 2019 "God bless America and God bless each and every one of you for being out here and for everything that you do and your sacrifice and your service." @IvankaTrump speaks to troops at Osan Air Base in South Korea. pic.twitter.com/W1liLBmQRZ   The Hill (@thehill) July 1, 2019 Several prominent defenders of the administration hit back at Ocasio-Cortez over her criticism of Ivanka. "Phoning it in @AOC is wasting your time on Twitter while destroying jobs in NY," Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who recently resigned as White House press secretary, tweeted on Sunday. "@realDonaldTrump & @IvankaTrump actually created millions of new jobs and continue to make the US stronger on the global stage but thank you for reminding Americans everyday why they elected Trump." In a statement to the Times, a White House spokeswoman called criticism of Ivanka's video-taped discussion with foreign heads of state "absolutely pathetic."


The Day in Sports: Saturday, July 6, 2019 Tennis: Wimbledon Serena Williams (USA) celebrates match point during her match against Julia Goerges (GER) on day six at the All England Lawn and Croquet Club. MLB: Colorado Rockies at Arizona Diamondbacks Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Robbie Ray (38) throws the ball against the Colorado Rockies during the first inning at Chase Field. England v Sweden - FIFA Women's World Cup 2019 - Third Place Play-Off - Stade de Nice 7/6/2019 - Sweden players celebrate at the end of the FIFA Women's World Cup Third Place Play-Off at the Stade de Nice, Nice. (Photo by PA Images/Sipa USA) *** US Rights Only ** MLB: Kansas City Royals at Washington Nationals Washington Nationals outfielder Victor Robles (16) slides under the tag of Kansas City Royals catcher Cam Gallagher (36) in the second inning at Nationals Park. MMA: UFC 239-Avila vs Kianzad Julia Avila (red gloves) fights against Pannie Kianzad (blue gloves) at T-Mobile Arena. Tennis: Wimbledon Harriet Dart (GBR) in action during her match against Ashleigh Barty (AUS) on day six at the All England Lawn and Croquet Club. MLS: Seattle Sounders FC at Columbus Crew SC Seattle Sounders defender Gustav Svensson (4) plays teh ball over the back of Columbus Crew SC midfielder David Guzman (9) at MAPFRE Stadium. MMA: UFC 239-Shahbazyan vs Marshman Edmen Shahbazyan (red gloves) fights against Jack Marshman (blue gloves) at T-Mobile Arena. PGA: 3M Championship - Third Round Bryson DeChambeau shoots from the trap on the 12th hole during the third round of the 3M Championship golf tournament at TPC Twin Cities. MLB: New York Yankees at Tampa Bay Rays Tampa Bay Rays center fielder Tommy Pham (29) steals second base as New York Yankees second baseman Gleyber Torres (25) leaps for the ball during the eighth inning at Tropicana Field. MMA: UFC 239-Gadelha vs Markos Claudia Gadelha (red gloves) fights against Randa Markos (blue gloves) at T-Mobile Arena. MLS: Houston Dynamo at FC Cincinnati Sam the Bald Eagle from the Cincinnati Zoo flies during the National Anthem prior to the game of the Houston Dynamo against FC Cincinnati at Nippert Stadium. MLB: Philadelphia Phillies at New York Mets New York Mets left fielder Dominic Smith (22) is tagged out at third base trying to stretch a double into a triple by Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Maikel Franco (7) during the third inning at Citi Field. MMA: UFC 239-Vera vs Hernandez Marlon Vera (red gloves) after his win against Nohelin Hernandez (blue gloves) at T-Mobile Arena.


ST. LOUIS (AP) Carlos Correa launched his first career grand slam and drove in five runs. Paul Goldschmidt homered for the sixth game in a row. But after Correa and the Houston Astros beat Goldschmidt and the St. Louis Cardinals 8-2 on Saturday, it was another hit that attracted all the attention. With Houston holding a seven-run lead in the eighth inning, Yairo Munoz went hard into second base on a grounder to break up a double play. Munoz slid through the bag and took out Correa, spiking the star shortstop's right elbow in the process. ''It was a brutal slide,'' Astros manager AJ Hinch said. ''You're supposed to hold the base. He's not holding the base, there's not a mechanism to really get an automatic double play if he can't try to turn a double play. It's an unnecessary slide, he didn't need to go all the way through the base and hit Carlos. The slide rule fails again. It didn't protect Carlos there.'' Hinch said the umpires told him an automatic double play was not an option since Correa made no attempt to throw to first base. Correa, activated from the injured list Friday after recovering from a broken rib, had numbness in his fingers immediately after the collision. He finished the inning, but was lifted for pinch-hitter Aledmys Diaz in the ninth. ''My fingers got numb, so that's when I stated to worry at first, but right now I feel great,'' Correa said. ''I should be good for tomorrow. . I know him (Munoz). I don't think he would try to play to hurt me. It didn't look clean, but I don't think he would try to take me out and try to get me hurt.'' Goldschmidt tied a Cardinals record with Matt Carpenter and Mark McGwire for consecutive games with a home run. St. Louis had won six in a row before this loss in an interleague matchup of division leaders. ''It's an impressive feat,'' Cardinals manager Mike Shidlt said. ''That's who he is, what he's capable of, and just goes out, takes good at bats and lets his talent work.'' Gerrit Cole (12-3) improved to 7-0 with a 1.87 ERA since June 1. He struck out seven, raising his major league-leading total to 212, and allowed four hits in seven innings. Goldschmidt's 24th homer was a solo drive in the fourth and accounted for the only run off Cole. ''My command was just not really there today but we did a good job of missing in good spots and mixing pitches,'' Cole said. ''I thought they did put some good swings on balls, some of the contact worked in our favor in especially regards to keeping the pitch count down and getting a few double plays and getting some quick outs, saved a few bullets for some situations were maybe we could get a little cute kind of around the zone with runners in scoring position.'' Correa's opposite-field blast drive to right off Michael Wacha blew open the game in the third and was the Astros' major league-leading 10th grand slam this season. Wacha was brought in to face Correa after starter Daniel Ponce de Leon walked the bases loaded. Ponce de Leon (1-1) went 2 1/3 innings, his shortest career start and the third straight in which he failed to last past the fourth inning. He walked four and struck out none. Correa added an RBI single in the first as the Astros won for the eighth time in their last 10 games. George Springer drove in two with a triple in the eighth and Yuli Gurriel extended his hitting streak to 15 games. Correa's homer was the lone run Wacha allowed through 4 1/3 innings of relief. He struck out five and walked none. ''I felt good throughout the whole night,'' Wacha said. ''I felt like I was throwing strikes and quality strikes down in the zone, getting ahead of guys. I just wish I could have that one pitch back.'' CRYSTAL ANNIVERSARY Members of the Cardinals' 2004 team were on hand to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the franchise's 16th National League pennant. That club went 105-57 and defeated the Astros in seven games in the NLCS before being swept by the Boston Red Sox in the World Series. HOT TICKET The attendance was 46,518, the 13th sellout of the season at Busch Stadium. TRAINER'S ROOM Astros: RHP Ryan Pressly (right knee soreness) is day to day. ''Everybody's got to work through something,'' Pressly said. ''I'm in the training room getting treatment and I've got all the faith in my training staff to get me right.'' Cardinals: OF Dexter Fowler is day to day and was not in the starting lineup after leaving Friday's game in the eighth inning after fouling a ball off of his left foot. INF Jedd Gyorko (back strain, right wrist) will begin a rehabilitation assignment with Triple-A Memphis on Tuesday. UP NEXT Astros: LHP Wade Miley (8-4, 3.18) will pitch in the finale of a three-game series at St. Louis on Sunday. Miley is 2-3 with a 4.41 ERA in six career starts against the Cardinals. Cardinals: RHP Dakota Hudson (10-4, 3.61 ERA) will make his first career appearance against the Astros. In his last start, Hudson became the first Cardinals rookie to notch 10 wins in a season by game No. 100 since Shelby Miller in 2013. --- More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports