Novak Djokovic has warned Roger Federer that he is coming for his records ahead of their Wimbledon final on Sunday. Djokovic, the reigning champion and world No 1, has eased through to his sixth SW19 showpiece and victory over eight-time winner Federer would give him his 16th grand-slam title. That would take him to just four behind the Swiss and at five years his junior, few would back against him going well past Federer's total. Another record in his sight is the most weeks at world number one, another milestone Federer holds with 310. The Serbian is currently on 260, but if he continues to dominate the men's game he could have surpassed that by this time next year. And the 32-year-old admits he is 'looking to make history'. 'I don't see this as my job or as my work,' he said. 'I've done enough in my career so I can, you know, stop tennis, professional tennis, at any time. But I don't do it for those reasons. 'My first reason is because I really enjoy it. I still do. I have support from my family. Of course, I am looking to make history in this sport. 'Of course, I would love to have a shot at as many grand-slam titles as possible. Those are probably the top goals and ambitions. Next to that is the historic number one, which is not so far away.' This will be the fourth time Djokovic and Federer have met in a grand-slam final and the 48th they have gone head-to-head. Federer, who had to beat his greatest rival Rafael Nadal in the semi-final to reach what is his 12th showpiece, knows there are not many secrets in each other's game. 'It's the same like going into a Rafa match,' he said. 'I think the moment you've played somebody probably more than 15 times, especially in recent years also a few times, there's not that much more left out there. 'I'm excited about the game against Novak. We've played each other so, so much. I don't mind that, I think it's more of a clear game plan. 'Especially we had a great match against each other in Paris just recently. I hope we can back it up from there.' One thing Federer will have in his favour is the unwavering support of the Centre Court crowd and that is something Djokovic will have to accept. The Serbian lost his cool in his semi-final against Roberto Bautista Agut when the crowd were cheering in the Spaniard's favour and former British number one Tim Henman thinks that could be a factor in the match. 'Federer's got to play even better but I think the crowd will have a really big part to play,' Henman said on the BBC. 'We saw even against Bautista Agut, Djokovic gets a little bit frustrated. The crowd will be massively on Federer's side. 'I think if Federer can get off to a good start, he has a chance. Djokovic is the favourite. I'm going to say Djokovic to win but I'll go five sets.' Read more Related Slideshow: Best of 2019 Wimbledon Championships (Provided by imagn)


Make the most of your outdoor space with fun, functional structures and comfortable furnishings that are sure to turn your backyard into something special. The following article is paid advertising created in partnership with LP Outdoor Building Solutions. Its facts and opinions are those of BobVila.com. Get ready to spend more time outside! Come summer, you want to be outside as much as possible gardening, grilling, tinkering, and just taking it easy. But even the most inviting backyard can use a little boost and a few upgrades to make the great outdoors even greater for you and your family. If you yearn to turn a so-so backyard into your own personal paradise, check out these outside-the-home improvements you can tailor to your passions and favorite pastimes. Once you've made the most of your little piece of heaven on earth, you'll be loving outdoor living like never before! 1. Start with a shed. The key to creating an outdoor space that you'll want to use all the time by day and night, in all kinds of weather is a sturdy, attractive little structure to serve as your home-close-to-home. At its most basic, a shed provides shelter, storage, work surfaces, and seating; beyond that, you can customize it to suit your interests. Whether you decide to create a chic, comfy "she shed," an awesome adjunct to your grill, a well-equipped workshop, or a playhouse for the kids, it's important to start with a shed that's soundly built of top-quality materials and sits on a solid foundation. Look to LP® Outdoor Building Solutions® for the goods from LP ProStruct® Flooring with SmartFinish®, the only flooring product specifically warranted for shed use, to reflective LP ProStruct® Roof Sheathing with SilverTech® that brightens the shed's interior while keeping it comfortable. And, thanks to the company's innovative SmartGuard® treatment process, you can count on its siding and flooring to boast extra strength, durability, and resistance to fungal decay and termites. 2. Deck it out. Decks are among the most popular outdoor additions homeowners make these days, according to a recent survey conducted by the architecture and design website Houzz. Whether outside a house or a shed, a deck abutting either increases functional space, enhances the look of the structure, and helps integrate it with the rest of the yard. Putting in a deck is the perfect weekend project for a DIYer with good carpentry skills. Size it appropriately for its intended uses, frame it out with 2x6's, and build it from pressure-treated lumber. 3. Do it up right. Furniture and other decor let you turn your patio and shed into highly personal spaces where you can feel relaxed and at ease. Consider how you'll be using the space before you plan the furnishings. For instance, if you'll be hosting book club meetings, plan on plenty of comfy seating around a coffee table. If you'll be using the shed as an office, focus on a desk and good lighting. A shed constructed of rugged, weather-resistant materials will keep furnishings safe, but be reasonable don't fill your shed with family heirlooms and overstuffed furniture. Instead, opt for easy-care canvas, wicker, plastic, metal, jute, and similar materials that will fare best if you ever need the extra seating for a bonfire or outdoor barbecue. 4. Put in pavers. Create a pathway from the backdoor of your house to your shed with versatile pavers. You can even use them to make a small patio. They're economical, attractive, and strong, able to handle heavy traffic with minimal maintenance. If you want to take this on as a DIY project, you'll need to mark the perimeter, remove grass and soil, and add paving base and sand before laying the stones, cutting them as necessary with a masonry saw. 5. Plant a container garden. Colorful blooms around your outdoor structure will bring a smile to your face, help your shed blend in with your landscaping, and make you more inclined to spend time out there. Container gardens are a simple way to spread color near your shed, and while store-bought pots and planter boxes work well, offbeat containers like washtubs, crates, buckets, and even old sinks add whimsical flair and are easy to come by. The possibilities are as limitless as your imagination! 6. Add an awning. An old-fashioned awning gives an outdoor structure a quaint appearance and provides welcome respite from the summer sun. The shade it provides makes it more comfortable and convenient to move things in and out of your shed in warm weather. Also, together with insulating materials like the LP ProStruct® Roof with SilverTech® , an awning can help keep the shed interior cooler. When planning a new shed, ask your builder to include awnings over the door and windows (particularly the west-facing ones) to reduce solar gain. 7. Beautify with an arbor. An arbor is a lovely way to lend color, fragrance, and texture to your yard. This tall, arched structure typically has two sides and a roof that provide support for vines and other climbing plants. Once it's covered with flowers and foliage, an arbor also creates a level of privacy. Consider placing an arbor wherever you want a green screen between your yard and your neighbor's. Though arbors are usually constructed of wood, you can find some constructed from other materials, including stone, vinyl, or metal, that will suit any style. 8. Brighten the night. An outdoor fireplace can stretch backyard living into nighttime hours and chillier weather. There are ample options: a traditional arched-box fireplace faced with stone or brick, a generous round stone fire pit for larger social gatherings, and even small, portable models. Before you get your heart set on an outdoor fire feature, research local building codes, and as you plan, keep the size of your yard and the prevailing wind direction in mind. 9. Make a statement. While sheds are the most versatile and practical of outdoor living additions, other types of structures can lend grace and glamour to your space. For instance, pergolas and gazebos are fanciful yet not impractical because they provide shade and privacy. Both are popular garden structures, but they have crucial differences. Pergolas are square or rectangle, with open crossbeams above, while gazebos are rounded or octagonal, with a closed roof. Both offer charm aplenty! Start building sooner rather than later. If these great ideas for the great outdoors have inspired you to upgrade your landscape in exciting new ways, you're probably eager to get started. The best place to begin? Go to LPShed.com to contact a local shed dealer who can help you set up the ultimate custom-tailored outdoor living environment for your family.


Less than six months after 'Happy' Henry Shenk purchased The Accomac Inn , the historic restaurant is back on the market. According to John Birkeland of ROCK Real Estate, Shenk is dealing with health issues and will not be able to see the project through. The 16,502-square-foot building has undergone a series of renovations since Shenk purchased it in December, said Birkeland. The Accomac went back on the market before Memorial Day weekend. The building, furniture and accompanying 7.9 acres of property is listed for sale at $530,000 . The liquor license is not for sale, Birkeland said. "This is a rare opportunity, a second chance [for the property]," Birkeland said. The Accomac closed in Nov. 2018 had been on the market for nearly a year before Henry Shenk purchased it for $1 million in Dec. 2018. This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Accomac Inn: Historic restaurant in Hellam Township up for sale again


The source of your brittle nails could be your daily routine. The source of your brittle nails could be your daily routine. Click through the gallery above to learn how to treat them better. Leaving polish on too long While it might seem harmless to leave chipped polish on your nails, it's definitely healthier to remove it. 'The danger with keeping your nail polish on too long is that the pigment in the nail polish can soak into the top few layers of the nail and dry it out,' foot specialist Joy Rowland, DPM, told Cleveland Clinic . Keep this in mind especially for toenail polish, which many women slap on and forget about until their next pedicure. Dr. Rowland recommends avoiding back-to-back polish appointments. Instead, let nails breathe for a week or two between manis. These are the things your manicurist is secretly thinking about you . Not washing hands thoroughly While we know you're washing your hands several times a day, are you using a technique that reaches your nails? Neglecting your nails in the hand-washing process could allow bacteria to accumulate underneath, leaving the tips of your fingers prime candidates for infection. Wash hands with a clean nail brush at least once a day. Here's how to file nails so they never peel or break again . Using nails as tools This list of no-nos is extensive. Never use your nails to open cans of soda or soup (use a spoon instead), pick at packing tape, unscrew a nail, scrape off price tags (try a penny), or complete any other task for which a tool has already been invented. This is how to go about chores without ruining your manicure . Washing dishes without gloves 'Nails swell in water, which leads to chipped nails and weakened nail beds,' Butter London Global Colour Ambassador Katie Jane Hughes told TODAY . Also, dish detergent could dry out skin and nails. Throw on a pair of cleaning gloves to protect your hands, especially if you want to protect these 14 easy nail art designs you can do yourself. Cleaning without gloves While you don't want your housecleaning gloves to be the same as your dish-washing ones, you will want a pair for each. Exposure to cleaning products could dry out our nails. Hint: Alcohol-based cleaners are the worst offenders. Leaving nails unprotected in winter Guess what? More gloves! When the air is dry and the temperature drops, protect your nails with a cozy pair of gloves. To add moisture to the mix, apply hand cream just before slipping them on. Skipping your veggies Your nails reflect the foods you eat. So if you make a habit of choosing bad ones, don't expect picture-perfect nails. Foods high in iron (eggs, spinach, red meat, etc.) can strengthen nails. For an extra boost, add two tablespoons of flaxseed oil to your breakfast each morning. These are the foods to eat for pretty nails .


Europe is experiencing yet another heat wave : Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands have seen record-high temperatures. At least 10 people have died. In June, parts of France, Spain, and Germany also experienced record-breaking hot days . During that heat wave, 13 people died across Europe. Satellite images showed vast areas of the Arctic engulfed in flames this week. These events can be linked to the warmer temperatures and drier conditions that climate change brings. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Thursday was Paris' hottest day in recorded history. The thermometer in the French capital hit 108.6 degrees Fahrenheit (42.6 degrees Celsius). Locals hopped into the Trocadéro fountain across from the Eiffel Tower, and cyclists in the Tour de France donned vests made of ice . Belgium also experienced record-breaking heat - over 105 degrees Fahrenheit (40.5 degrees Celsius) - and temperatures in the Netherlands soared above 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius) for the first time ever. All told, more then 10 people have died during Europe's recent heat wave, which comes on the heels of a similar heat wave in June that claimed at least a dozen lives. In the US, meanwhile, a heat wave on the East Coast last week put 147 million people under a heat advisory or excessive heat warning. At least four people died . On top of all that, the Arctic is burning . The wildfires razing the northernmost parts of Russia and Greenland are big enough to see from space. Individual wildfires and heat waves can't be directly linked to climate change, but accelerated warming increases their likelihood. France's national weather agency has estimated that the number of heat waves in the country doubled in the past 34 years and will probably double again by 2050. In the US, the average number of heat waves in 50 major cities has tripled in the last 60 years or so, according to the US Global Change Research Program . "Monthly heat records all over the globe occur five times as often today as they would in a stable climate," Stefan Rahmstorf of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research told the Associated Press in June. "This increase in heat extremes is just as predicted by climate science as a consequence of global warming." Slideshow by photo services In other words, yes, this summer's deadly extremes are part of a trend, and it's only going to get worse. Climate change, by the numbers For perspective, let's look at some numbers. Last month was the hottest June ever recorded in Earth's history , with temperatures nearly 20 degrees Fahrenheit above average. July looks like it's on track to be the hottest month ever recorded, period . This year overall is on pace to be the third hottest on record globally, according to Climate Central . Last year was the fourth warmest, behind 2016 (the warmest), 2015, and 2017 . Last year was also the very hottest year on record for the world's oceans . This graphic from NASA depicts the warming trend quite clearly. Scientists have also reported unprecedented melting in both Arctic and Antarctic glaciers . The Greenland ice sheet is losing ice six times faster than it was in the 1980s. Ice melt at the South Pole has increased six-fold, too. Why climate change leads to more heat waves When greenhouse gases (emitted by the burning of fossil fuels like oil, gas, and coal) enter the atmosphere, they trap more of the sun's heat on the planet, causing Earth's overall surface temperatures to rise. As the Earth warms, severely hot days happen more frequently. Think of our planet's temperature range as a bell curve: Climate change shifts that entire curve towards the higher end of the temperature spectrum. The center of the curve may only move slightly, but that still puts a large chunk of potential days into the extreme range. "So you know, a warming of 1 degree Celsius, which is what we've seen thus far, can lead to a 10-fold increase in the frequency of 100 degree days in New York City for example," climate scientist Michael Mann told the New York Times . Slideshow by photo services Climate change made the European heat wave of 2003 - which killed 15,000 people in France alone - twice as likely , and it's made heat waves like the one Europe suffered through last year five times more likely . If carbon emissions continue unabated, most of the US could see 20 to 30 more days every year with temperatures above 90 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists . "We have a new normal," Ahira Sánchez-Lugo, a climatologist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, told Time Magazine . "Just in the 21st century, we've set a new global world temperature record five times." Wildfires, too, are made worse by climate change On Wednesday, Pierre Markuse, a satellite photography expert, posted images online showing wildfires in the Arctic. Colossal pillars of smoke were visible from space above Russia, Alaska, and Greenland. The Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service said its team has observed more than 100 intense and long-lasting fires in the Arctic Circle since the start of June. Again, climate change is almost certainly playing a role. Hot and dry conditions in the Northern Hemisphere, which the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has called "unprecedented," have created ideal conditions for wildfires in the Arctic. "Climate change, with rising temperatures and shifts in precipitation patterns, is amplifying the risk of wildfires and prolonging the season," the WMO wrote . This is because warming leads winter snow cover to melt sooner, and hotter air sucks away the moisture from trees and soil, leading to dryer land. Decreased rainfall also makes for parched forests that are prone to burning. In the western US, the average wildfire season is 78 days longer than it was 50 years ago, likely due to climate change, the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions reported. Fires are getting bigger, too. A recent study found that the portion of California that burns from wildfires every year has increased more than five-fold since 1972. Twelve of the 15 biggest fires in the state's history have occurred since the year 2000. Large wildfires in the US now burn more than twice the area they did in 1970. "No matter how hard we try, the fires are going to keep getting bigger, and the reason is really clear," climatologist Park Williams told Columbia University's Center for Climate and Life . "Climate is really running the show in terms of what burns." Scientists agree that the only way to meaningfully combat climate change is to curb greenhouse emissions. "This is the biggest crisis humanity has ever faced," Greta Thunberg, a 16-year-old climate activist, told United Nations secretary general António Guterres last year. "First we have to realize this, and then as fast as possible do something to stop the emissions and try to save what we can save."


KIRYAS JOEL, NY   A school student was killed Tuesday in a Kiryas Joel school when a piece of furniture fell on her. Village public safety officials said the 7-year-old child attended an all-girls school. The incident, which happened at the Bais Rochel School around 2:30 p.m., is being investigated by the state police, according to MidHudson News. The child was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern, and she was pronounced dead. Find and "Like" Hudson Valley Patches' Facebook Pages .


A rotating cast of girls would sit around Jeffrey Epstein's waterfront mansion, drinking milk. To Alfredo Rodriguez, Mr. Epstein's butler in the mid-2000s, that was one reason he suspected that his boss was engaged in sexual activities with underage girls. At times, Mr. Rodriguez later told a Florida police detective in a sworn statement, he was instructed to dispense hundreds of dollars to the girls after they performed massages for Mr. Epstein; at other times, Mr. Rodriguez gave them "tips" in the form of iPods and jewelry. Manhattan federal prosecutors last month charged Mr. Epstein , 66, with sex trafficking of girls as young as 14, and details of his behavior have been emerging for years. Sign Up For the Morning Briefing Newsletter But a cache of previously sealed legal documents, released on Friday by a federal appeals court, provides new, disturbing details about what was going on inside Mr. Epstein's homes and how his associates recruited young women and girls, including from a Florida high school. The documents   among the most expansive sets of materials publicly disclosed in the 13 years since Mr. Epstein was first charged with sex crimes   include depositions, police incident reports, photographs, receipts, flight logs and even a memoir written by a woman who says she was a sex-trafficking victim of Mr. Epstein and his acquaintances. The documents were filed as part of a defamation lawsuit in federal court that Virginia Giuffre brought in 2015 against Ghislaine Maxwell, Mr. Epstein's longtime companion and confidant . Ms. Giuffre and Ms. Maxwell settled the lawsuit shortly before the trial was to begin in 2017. The Miami Herald and other media outlets petitioned the court to have the lawsuit documents unsealed. The request was initially denied, but an appeals court ordered them released last month, just days before Mr. Epstein was arrested on sex-trafficking charges . He has pleaded not guilty. Mr. Epstein, a financier with opulent homes , a private jet and access to elite circles , had been dogged for decades by accusations that he had paid dozens of girls for sexual acts in Florida. He previously avoided federal criminal charges in 2008 after prosecutors brokered a widely criticized deal that allowed him to plea to solicitation of prostitution from a minor and serve 13 months in jail. About 2,000 pages of the materials were posted online by the appeals court on Friday, providing a high-definition glimpse inside what federal prosecutors have said was Mr. Epstein's long-running sex-trafficking operation. The fullest account is provided by Ms. Giuffre, who claims that Mr. Epstein forced her into being a "sex slave." In a sworn deposition, she said she first met Ms. Maxwell, the daughter of the British publishing magnate Robert Maxwell, and Mr. Epstein in the summer of 2000, when she was 16. At the time, Ms. Giuffre was working as a masseuse at the spa at Donald J. Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort, where her father was a maintenance worker. She said she was sitting outside the locker room, reading a book on massage therapy, when Ms. Maxwell approached her. She said she knew someone who was looking for a traveling masseuse. "If the guy likes you, then, you know, it will work out for you. You'll travel. You'll make good money. You'll be educated," Ms. Giuffre recalled Ms. Maxwell telling her. Ms. Giuffre took the job. Ms. Maxwell trained her on how to give erotic massages, and Ms. Giuffre soon began providing them to Mr. Epstein at his mansion in Palm Beach, Fla. Before long, she said, she was being flown on Mr. Epstein's private Gulfstream jet to perform sexual services on Mr. Epstein's acquaintances, including politicians and high-powered businessmen . The word "massage" became code for "sex," she said in the 2016 deposition. "My whole life revolved around just pleasing these men and keeping Ghislaine and Jeffrey happy," she said. "Their whole entire lives revolved around sex. They call massages sex. They call modeling sex." Ms. Maxwell's depositions provide, for the first time, a glimpse at her perspective. She denounced Ms. Giuffre, saying that "everything Virginia has said is an absolute lie." Lawyers for Ms. Maxwell were out of the country and unavailable for comment on Friday, their office said. In court papers, the lawyers painted Ms. Giuffre as a troubled woman with a history of substance abuse and a turbulent personal life. They said her allegations shifted and became more lurid as she sought to sell her story to the media and publishers. Ms. Giuffre had said she wrote her recollections of her experiences in a journal, but burned it in a bonfire that she and her husband built in their Titusville, Fla., backyard in 2013, according to court papers. Back at Mr. Epstein's Palm Beach home, partially shielded from view by a large hedge, it was hard for workers to miss what was happening. John Alessi, a maintenance worker there from 1990 until about 2001, said he saw about 100 female masseuses at various times in the house. After massages, Mr. Alessi said in a deposition, he occasionally found sex toys in Ms. Maxwell's bathroom in the mansion. He said he put gloves on, rinsed the instruments and placed them in a closet. Mr. Rodriguez, Mr. Epstein's butler, had a similar recollection. In July 2006, he told a Palm Beach police detective in a sworn statement that after girls gave massages to Mr. Epstein, Mr. Rodriguez would go into his bedroom to wipe down vibrators and sex toys and then stash them in a wooden armoire near Mr. Epstein's bed. On occasion, Mr. Alessi said, he drove Ms. Maxwell from one Palm Beach spa to another, where she left her business cards in order to recruit massage therapists for Mr. Epstein. Ms. Maxwell recruited Johanna Sjoberg in 2001 on the campus of Palm Beach Atlantic College, where she was a student. Ms. Sjoberg said in a deposition that Ms. Maxwell dangled a job as a personal assistant. She figured she could make some quick money answering phones for Mr. Epstein. But that was not what the job entailed. Once at Mr. Epstein's mansion, Ms. Sjoberg said, she was told to perform sexual massages on Mr. Epstein   and was punished when he did not have an orgasm. Around the mansion, massage tables were ubiquitous, even in outdoor spaces and in guest rooms, where Mr. Epstein would send women to service houseguests. "A massage was like a treat for all the guests at Mr. Epstein's home," Mr. Alessi said in an affidavit. Mr. Rodriguez, the butler, told a Palm Beach police detective, Joseph Recarey, that he suspected the girls were underage in part because their eating habits reminded him of his daughter, who was in high school. "Rodriguez stated they would eat tons of cereal and drink milk all the time," according to a report Detective Recarey filed. Mr. Rodriguez died in 2015. Also among the unsealed materials was an Amazon shipping document that shows a book on "erotic servitude" and a "Workbook for Erotic Slaves and Their Owners," both of which were delivered to Mr. Epstein at his Palm Beach home. Lawyers for Mr. Epstein did not respond to requests for comment. The documents traced the investigation conducted by the Palm Beach Police Department, led by Detective Recarey. With the help of the local sanitation department, investigators sifted through Mr. Epstein's trash, which yielded written phone messages, sometimes leading the police to potential victims. Detective Recarey, who retired in 2013 after more than two decades on the force, said in a 2016 deposition that he interviewed about 30 girls who were sought to give massages. Some of the girls were terrified and tearful as he interviewed them. A number of the girls, including one who was 15 at the time, said they were brought to Mr. Epstein's Palm Beach house and told they could make money by modeling lingerie for him, according to reports that Detective Recarey filed and that were unsealed. Once at the mansion, a chef would prepare the girls a meal. Then they would be escorted upstairs to the master bedroom. Mr. Epstein, clad in a towel, often would request a massage of his feet and calves. He would touch the girls while masturbating under his towel. They were generally paid $200 per visit. Mr. Rodriguez told Detective Recarey, who died last year, that he was a "human A.T.M.," required to always have at least $2,000 on hand to pay the women and girls. Once, Mr. Epstein instructed him to deliver a dozen roses to one of the girls at her high school after a drama performance. Reporting was contributed by Mike Baker, Steve Eder, Michael Gold, Kirsten Danis, David Enrich, Amy Julia Harris, Frances Robles, Jessica Silver-Greenberg and Ali Watkins. Reporting was contributed by Mike Baker, Steve Eder, Michael Gold, Kirsten Danis, David Enrich, Amy Julia Harris, Frances Robles, Jessica Silver-Greenberg and Ali Watkins.


The Colts didn't have quarterback Andrew Luck on the practice field Tuesday, but they did get one of his top targets some work. When the Colts announced last month that tight end Eric Ebron had groin surgery, it wasn't clear if he'd be back on the field before the end of the offseason program. We got the answer on Tuesday when the team started minicamp. Ebron was on the field practicing for the first time this spring and Zak Keefer of the Indianapolis Star reports he was running routes at full speed during the session. Ebron's return to the field wasn't the only good development for the Colts on the health front as they wind down their offseason work. They also got defensive lineman Jabaal Sheard back on the field for his first work of the spring.


BMW intends to axe half of its powertrain variants for its new modular platform that arrives in 2021. In a speech about BMW's first quarter financial results, company boss Harald Krüger dropped some details about the company's future through the end of 2022. While the announcements were largely positive, there was bad news from the 3 Series Gran Turismo because Krüger said: "There will be no successor." The announcement didn't come as an utter shock because BMW exec Klaus Frohlich already heavily hinted at the model's demise . Last year, he suggested that buyers "want to sit a little more upright" and that the 3 Series GT's niche was "under pressure from SUVs." The vehicle's odd aesthetic combination of a sedan and a wagon didn't fit into the brand's lineup, especially when a separate four-door and estate already existed. While one model is going away, the BMW iNext electric crossover is on the way, and Krüger offers a few more details about it. While the road-going version arriving in 2021 has Level 3 autonomous capability, but the boss also says there would be a pilot fleet of 500 iNexts for testing Level 4 and 5 autonomous driving BMW pledges the iNext to have a driving range of 373 miles (600 kilometers). On the inside, it has an array of digital screens for controlling all of the cutting-edge tech that's allegedly onboard. Krüger also discussed making BMW product development faster and more efficient. By 2024, greater use of digital simulations would allow the company to build 2,500 fewer prototypes for new vehicles. The company also intends to cut 50 percent of the current drivetrain variants in the transition to its new modular platform starting in 2021. Research the BMW 3 Series on MSN Autos | Find a BMW 3 Series near you Follow MSN Autos on Facebook and Twitter


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President Donald Trump's repeated attacks on Sen. John McCain have made it difficult for his daughter, Meghan McCain, to heal following the death of her father last August, she said Thursday. McCain was responding to reports that the White House Military Office asked lower-level US Navy officials about keeping the USS John McCain, named for the late senator's father and grandfather, out of view during Trump's trip to Japan last weekend. "It's impossible to go through the grief process when my father, who's been dead 10 months, is constantly in the news cycle because the President is so obsessed with the fact that he's never going to be a great man like he was," Meghan McCain, a co-host of ABC's "The View, said in an emotional statement at the top of Thursday's show. "It's a bizarre way to do this. It's a bizarre way to grieve. It's a bizarre way to say goodbye to my dad." She added, "The President's actions have consequences. And when you repeatedly are attacking my father and war heroes, it creates a culture in the military where people are clearly fearful to show my father's name in one way or another. And that, I think, is what has started this chain of events and actions." One Navy official clarified to CNN Thursday morning that the discussion included obscuring the ship or moving it, which was not practical because the ship was under repairs at the time. The ship ultimately was not moved nor was anything done to obscure McCain's name. Trump said he wasn't aware of the discussions, though he said the officials were "well-meaning." The reports underscore Trump's extraordinary and bitter personal feud with McCain , with whom he frequently sparred when the Arizona Republican was alive and even after he passed away from brain cancer in August. McCain also warned that Trump's attacks on the late senator are "putting people in the military in horrific situations because they're fearful of their jobs." "If, God forbid, you're a sailor on this ship, you think there's going to be some kind of retribution, and I think it's horrible," she said. "I think it's bad for Americans and I think we really have to look at the kind of culture that's being put in place." On Wednesday night, McCain, responding to a Wall Street Journal report about the ship incident, wrote in a tweet that Trump is "a child who will always be deeply threatened by the greatness of my dads incredible life." McCain has frequently criticized the President, perhaps most notably during her father's funeral last year , where she contrasted her father's "greatness" with "cheap rhetoric from men who will never come near the sacrifice he gave so willingly, nor the opportunistic appropriation of those who live lives of comfort and privilege while he suffered and served." "The America of John McCain has no need to be made great again, because America was always great," she said, a thinly veiled reference to Trump's 2016 campaign slogan.


Shares of aerospace and defense contractor Northrop Grumman (NOC) rose an impressive 31% in the first six months of 2019 according to data provided by S&P Global Market Intelligence . That easily outpaced the roughly 17% gain in the S&P 500 index . The overall advance came in two broad steps, with Northrop starting the year on a strong note, cooling in March, and then taking off again in April. The two distinct advances were largely driven by earnings news. That said, when the broader market swooned in late 2018, Northrop Grumman took a bigger hit, losing over a quarter of its value in the final months of the year. That capped off a pretty bad 2018 for the stock, which lost around 20% for the 12-month span, but was off a hefty 32% from its early-year highs. So it had more ground to make up from that decline, which partly explains the strong early-year showing in 2019 when Wall Street started moving in a more positive direction. That set the stage for the company's fourth-quarter 2018 earnings, released in January, which only edged past analyst revenue projections but blew past earnings expectations by nearly $0.50 a share . That performance clearly pleased investors, which sent the shares up on the news, with a 12.5% advance in January alone . Northrop Grumman's outlook for 2019 , however, was a bit modest, with a 5% sales growth projection falling short of analyst expectations. And while the company explained that operating margins would likely remain near historical highs, that will basically leave them roughly flat year over year. The thing is, management has a habit of underpromising. So investors appear to have taken the outlook with a grain of salt. When the company reported first-quarter earnings in April, sales were up 22% with earnings per share advancing roughly 6%. That earnings figure was notable because net earnings advanced just 3%, with the per-share figure pushed higher by a massive stock buyback program completed early in the year. That buyback will help boost earnings through the rest of the year, as well. Segment operating margins, meanwhile, improved by 50 basis points year over year -- a good start and definitely better than the mid-10% range offered by management at the start of the year. Shortly after that solid first-quarter showing, Northrop announced a 10% dividend increase. Investors were obviously pleased with the company's results. Also notable, however, has been the defense company's new contract wins. Northrop was able to grow its backlog of work to be completed by 7% in the early months of 2019. That means a solid future is ahead. All of this news, meanwhile, fits well with the broader defense sector, which has performed well this year and is benefiting from increased investor interest. In fact, while Northrop's stock had a good first-half run, the stock of some peers, like Lockheed Martin, did even better. Now what In the first half of 2019, Northrop Grumman bounced back strongly from a rough 2018. The company's financial and operational results have generally backed up that run. However, it's important to note that even if the aerospace and defense contractor beats its financial projections it still isn't going to be a growth stock. And at this point, the price-to-sales ratio, price-to-book-value ratio, and price-to-cash-flow ratio are all above their five-year averages. It's true that the price-to-trailing-earnings ratio is below its longer-term average, but that's offset by the fact that its price to forward earnings is above the five-year average. Put simply, after a solid advance in early 2019, Northrop doesn't look particularly cheap. Reuben Gregg Brewer has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy . SPONSORED: 10 stocks we like better than Northrop Grumman When investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has quadrupled the market. David and Tom just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy right now ... and Northrop Grumman wasn't one of them. That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys. See the 10 stocks .


Bills tight end Tyler Kroft now has company on the injury list. According to a report first from NFL reporter Dov Kleiman , the Bills have placed running back Frank Gore on the non-football injury list and offensive lineman Jeremiah Sirles on the PUP list. Along with Sirles, Kroft was also placed on the PUP list, however, his injury (broken foot) was previously reported on during spring practices. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport has since confirmed the report on Gore. Gore, 36, had a foot injury at the end of the 2018 season while with the Dolphins. Due to the non-football designation, Gore's injury is likely new, though. Sirles limped off the field during spring practices earlier this offseason. One thing I noticed at today's bowling event, was that O-lineman Jeremiah Sirles was in a boot and using a scooter. He reportedly limped off the field during Tuesday's practice and didn't return. #Bills pic.twitter.com/1ae0di6xvn - Bradley Gelber (@BradleyGelber) June 8, 2019 MORE: Francisco Lindor's one-handed HR should be evidence of MLB's juiced baseballs Lakers' Quinn Cook Q&A: 'It feels like this team has been together a while' Brooks Koepka Calls Out J.B. Holmes Following Disastrous Final Round at The Open 6 rookies who could surprise at Patriots training camp Odell Beckham rips Giants again: Fans came to see me, not them


HOUSTON (AP) Jordan Morris scored in the 59th minute in the Seattle Sounders' 1-0 victory over the Houston Dynamo on Saturday night. The goal was quite unusual as Morris, who now has five goals, was alone in the box with several defenders as Harry Shipp sent in a cross from the right. Morris moved under defender AJ Delagarza, leaving the ball for Aljaz Stuna to clear. Struna failed to get any effort on the ball and Morris was able to get to it and flick it over his own head. He turned and beat goalkeeper Tyler Deric to the ball, nudging it toward the far post. Maynor Figueroa overran the play and the soft roller went behind him and off the post. The Dynamo pleaded for a foul call on the undercut. Stefan Frei had three saves for his seventh shutout for Seattle (11-6-5). The Sounders moved into second place in the Western Conference. Houston (9-10-3) outshot Seattle 15-7, and Deric had no saves. The Dynamo also lost 1-0 in Seattle in May.


Maurice Jone-Drew has set the bar high for Le'Veon Bell as he makes his return to the NFL. Jones-Drew ranked Bell third on his list out of all 32 starting running backs in the league. With that, he sees Bell returning to the player he was with the Pittsburgh Steelers. "Looking forward to seeing Bell back on the field after a year off," Jones-Drew said . "With positive reports on Bell coming out of Jets' minicamp, I'm expecting the fresh veteran back to be a nightmare for defenses. The last time Bell played a full season (2017) he was an absolute game-wrecker: 321 carries, 1,291 rush yards, nine rush TDs; 85 receptions, 655 receiving yards and two rec. TDs. Adam Gase should be licking his chops as we speak." Not only does Jones-Drew have high expectations for the former All-Pro running back, but so do the Jets. They made quite the investment when they signed him to a four-year $52.5 million contract in March, making him the second-highest paid running back in the league behind Todd Gurley. The Jets need Bell to perform like the second-highest paid running back in the league in 2019 in order for the offense to succeed. New York hasn't had a 1,000-yard rusher since Chris Ivory did it in 2015. If Bell plays well, opposing defenses will be keyed in on him, which will open things up for the rest of the offense. Adam Gase is going to have to figure out ways he can use Bell to the best of his ability. Coming off of a holdout season, there should be no limitations on him this upcoming season. MORE: Brooks Koepka has a perfectly good explanation for texting snafu with Tiger Woods Bobby Portis Q&A: 'I love being underrated' 5 possible landing spots for former Cowboys WR Dez Bryant Manny Pacquiao Tops Keith Thurman, Proves He's Still Got It NFL preseason prices major turnoff to Canadian fans


Four more rank-and-file Democrats called for opening an impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump on Sunday, inching lawmakers closer to a significant symbolic milestone: a majority of all House Democrats. Though the steadily climbing total may not move Speaker Nancy Pelosi off of her resistance to opening a formal impeachment inquiry, Sunday's burst of support suggests momentum behind the effort is growing and accelerating. More than a dozen Democrats   including Rep. Katherine Clark (D-Mass.), a member of Pelosi's leadership team   have newly signaled their support since former special counsel Robert Mueller testified to Congress on Wednesday. The four who issued their support on Sunday, all from Washington state, bring the total number of House Democrats who have publicly said they'd vote for an impeachment inquiry to 107   11 shy of a majority of the Democratic Caucus   with backers of an inquiry promising there are more waiting in the wings. The lawmakers received a significant endorsement a short time later from Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, the third highest-ranking Democrat in the Senate and a close ally of Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. Murray said in a statement that "as we have learned more about the gravity of the potential threats to our democracy identified in Special Counsel Mueller's report, it has become clear the House should begin proceedings to determine whether the President's actions necessitate impeachment." Clark's public call on Friday was the exclamation point in the House, but two other notable moves came that day when Reps. Mike Levin (D-Calif.) and Chris Pappas (D-N.H.) announced they supported an impeachment inquiry, as well. Both are among Democrats' most vulnerable members seeking reelection, the so-called frontliners whom the House Democrats' campaign arm is working to defend. Five others in that group have previously endorsed an impeachment inquiry. Pelosi's resistance to an impeachment inquiry is not likely to be vulnerable to the math of the Democratic Caucus   she has also argued that such a move would be unnecessarily divisive and likely to fail in the Republican-controlled Senate, strengthening Trump's hand ahead of the 2020 election. Rather, she has urged a focus on the House's myriad investigations of Trump's conduct, business relationships and personal finances   some of which are tied up in court battles with Trump's personal lawyers. Those probes, she has said, could form a more complete picture before considering impeachment. But Pelosi on Friday also endorsed a new Judiciary Committee effort to go to court and seek access to Mueller's secret grand jury evidence. In its petition to a federal judge in Washington, D.C., which was issued by the House general counsel, the committee argued that it was already investigating whether to recommend articles of impeachment against Trump. Democrats who support an inquiry have also privately argued that reaching a majority of the caucus would be a turning point in their efforts, coaxing more reluctant lawmakers off the sidelines and ramping up pressure on Democratic leaders. Though Mueller at times struggled with his command of his report last week, his testimony has proven to be a flashpoint for Democrats teetering on the brink of backing an impeachment inquiry. He affirmed that his 22-month investigation uncovered that the president had repeatedly tried to obstruct his inquiry, and he noted that Trump could theoretically be vulnerable to prosecution after his term ends. Democrats have pointed to both exchanges as they've announced their positions. Separately, the prospect of pro-impeachment crowds packing the seats at Democratic town halls   as well as progressive groups threatening to launch paid media campaigns   may help motivate fence-sitting Democrats to declare their support. The four Washington state Democrats who announced Sunday were Reps. Derek Kilmer, Kim Schrier, Suzan DelBene and Denny Heck. Other Democrats who have announced support for impeachment inquiries since Mueller testified: Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.), the chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman   who may have helped loosen up the flood of support from neighboring Washington lawmakers   as well as Reps. Ann Kuster (D-N.H.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Andre Carson (D-Ind.), John Garamendi (D-Calif.) and Lori Trahan (D-Mass.).


The Eagles clearly value Brandon Graham , as they gave him a three-year, $40 million contract this offseason. But for all he's done for them, he's never been to the Pro Bowl or had a double-digit sack season (topping out at 9.5 in 2017), and he wants to change that in his 10th season. "This year, it's a double-digit (sack) year," Graham said, via Mike Kaye of NJ.com. "That's my goal. Go ahead and let them know I've still got a lot in the tank ." "My goal is to finish out this contract and be a three-time Pro Bowler." While he hasn't put up huge numbers, coach Doug Pederson calls the 31-year-old Graham "the heart and soul of the team." He'll need to play a significant role this year, after the retirement of Chris Long and the trade of Michael Bennett. They brought back Vinny Curry to go with 2017 first-rounder Derek Barnett , but Graham will need to deliver on his goal, or come close.


Liverpool chairman Tom Werner has hinted that the club will look to extend Jurgen Klopp's contract in the near future. It's been an outstanding season for Liverpool under the German, having come within a whisker of the Premier League title. Klopp, whose current contract runs until 2022, has also led the Reds to the Champions League final for the second season in a row, and will hope to secure Liverpool's sixth European Cup by beating Tottenham on Saturday. Video: Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp poses with club executives (Reuters) Speaking to the Liverpool Echo, Werner said: "We don't really want to discuss his [Klopp's situation publicly, especially so close to the final. "But I think you know that we think the world of him. We have already extended his contract once. All I can say is that it's obviously important that he stays for as long as he likes. Gallery: The greatest second-leg comebacks in European football history (FourFourTwo) We believe that he's committed to Liverpool." It's safe to say the feeling is mutual. Klopp recently spoke of his emotional connection to the club, and rubbished reports linking him with Italian champions Juventus.  Liverpool have come along way since Fenway Sports Group (FSG) completed its £300m takeover in 2010, and Werner has pointed to the signing of Klopp as a turning point. The American added: "We are extremely proud of what the whole team at LFC have accomplished. When I say 'we', I'm talking about John [W. Henry, principal owner], Mike [Gordon, FSG president] and I. "Obviously, it starts with Jurgen and his outstanding leadership. That's critical to everything that we've achieved this year." With Liverpool having gone from the brink of administration to becoming one of the world's leading clubs again under FSG's ownership, rumours of the group looking to cash in on the Premier League side crop up frequently. However, Werner has set the record straight. "Every time those rumours come up we bat them down. I hope people now know that we are focused on continuing the progress of this club. We have no intention of selling. We have reached a position where I think the club is in the best shape it's been for a very long time. "We have always said that our desire is to win silverware and we're hungry to touch that trophy in Madrid." MSN UK are Empowering Happiness for mental health awareness month. Find out more about our campaign and the charities working to stop people falling into crisis here .


Yankees left-hander James Paxton said he felt some discomfort in his left knee during an extended spring training start Friday. The 30-year-old veteran, who hasn't pitched since May 3 because of inflammation around his MCL, pitched four innings in the outing, striking out seven and giving up only one hit. "I felt it a little bit, but I still was able to make my pitches, which is what I wanted to see,'' Paxton said (via the AP ). "If I come in (Saturday) with more pain than I had walking in today, then we'll have to do something. But if I come in (Saturday) and it feels the same as it did walking in today, then that's just how I'm going to have to pitch for right now." Yankees manager Aaron Boone told reporters Friday night that the club would know more Saturday about Paxton's condition. Paxton had a cortisone shot May 4. "The reports were that he threw the ball really well. Stuff was good, execution was good," Boone said. "Threw almost 60 pitches. I spoke with him, actually a little while ago. Still had a little discomfort in there, but he was able to execute his pitches. "What we've seen in his bullpens, he's been throwing the ball well, it's coming out well. So, the big thing for Pax is going to be tomorrow. How does he come in? How does he respond to going out there and throwing all his pitches?" What happens if Paxton is still hurting Saturday? "I'm not sure,'' Boone said. "Those are conversations we'd have at that point." Paxton is 3-2 with a 3.11 ERA and 1.19 WHIP in seven starts. The Yankees' starting rotation has been just as banged up as the rest of the club this year. Ace Luis Severino has been sidelined all season with arm troubles, and the team put veteran CC Sabathia (knee) on the injured list Thursday. Despite all the injuries, the Yankees are a surprising 32-17 and lead the Rays by 2 1/2 games in the AL East. Related slideshow: 2019 MLB season (provided by imagn)


President Trump has personally and repeatedly urged the head of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to award a border wall contract to a North Dakota construction firm whose top executive is a GOP donor and frequent guest on Fox News, according to four administration officials. In phone calls, White House meetings and conversations aboard Air Force One during the past several months, Trump has aggressively pushed Dickinson, N.D.-based Fisher Industries to Department of Homeland Security leaders and Lt. Gen. Todd Semonite, the commanding general of the Army Corps, according to the administration officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive internal discussions. The push for a specific company has alarmed military commanders and DHS officials. Semonite was summoned to the White House again Thursday, after the president's aides told Pentagon officials   including Gen. Mark Milley, the Army's chief of staff   that the president wanted to discuss the border barrier. According to an administration official with knowledge of the Oval Office meeting, Trump immediately brought up Fisher, a company that sued the U.S. government last month after the Army Corps did not accept its bid to install barriers along the southern border, a contract potentially worth billions of dollars. Subscribe to the Post Most newsletter: Today's most popular stories on The Washington Post Trump has latched on to the company's public claims that a new weathered steel design and innovative construction method would vastly speed up the project   and deliver it at far less cost to taxpayers. White House officials said Trump wants to go with the best and most cost-effective option to build the wall quickly. "The President is one of the country's most successful builders and knows better than anyone how to negotiate the best deals," White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said in an email. "He wants to make sure we get the job done under budget and ahead of schedule." Fisher's chief executive, Tommy Fisher, has gone on conservative television and radio, claiming that his company could build more than 200 miles of barrier in less than a year. And he has courted Washington directly, meeting in congressional offices and inviting officials to the Southwest desert to see barrier prototypes. Even as Trump pushes for his firm, Fisher already has started building a section of fencing in Sunland Park, N.M. We Build the Wall, a nonprofit that includes prominent conservatives who support the president   its associates and advisory board include former White House adviser Stephen K. Bannon, Blackwater USA founder Erik Prince, ex-congressman Tom Tancredo and former Kansas secretary of state Kris Kobach   has guided an effort to build portions of the border barrier on private land with private funds. The first section is expected to be unveiled soon. Fisher-branded equipment and workers were visible this week preparing the site outside El Paso, within feet of the International Boundary Monument No. 1, placed in 1855 at the beginning of the effort to delineate the Mexican border. The stretch, part of which is on private land owned by a brick company, is the only area in the region without a barrier, in part because it crosses rugged terrain. Scott Sleight, an attorney for Fisher, said in a statement Thursday that Fisher Industries is committed to working with the federal government to secure the border and has developed a patent-pending installation system that allows the company to build fencing "faster than any contractor using common construction methods." "Fisher has invited officials of many agencies and members of Congress to demonstrate what we believe are vastly superior construction methods and capabilities," Sleight said. "Consistent with the goals President Trump has also outlined, Fisher's goal is to, as expeditiously as possible, provide the best quality border protection at the best price for the American people at our Nation's border." Jared Kushner, the president's son-in-law, has joined in the campaign for Fisher Industries, along with Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), an ardent promoter of the company and the recipient of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from Fisher and his family members, according to campaign finance records. Cramer, in an interview Thursday, said the Trump administration has shown a great deal of interest in his constituent's company. "He always brings them up," Cramer said, noting that he spoke with Trump about Fisher twice   once in February and again on Thursday. Each time, Trump said he wanted Fisher to build some of the barrier, Cramer said. Cramer said Trump likes Fisher because he had seen him on television advocating for his version of the barrier: "He's been very aggressive on TV," Cramer said of the CEO. "You know who else watches Fox News?" Cramer asked. Trump's repeated attempts to influence the Army Corps' contracting decisions show the degree to which the president is willing to insert himself into what is normally a staid legal and regulatory process designed to protect the U.S. government from accusations of favoritism. They also show how a private company can appeal to the president using well-placed publicity and personal connections to his allies   and the president's willingness to dive into the minutiae of specific projects. But Trump's personal intervention risks the perception of improper influence on decades-old procurement rules that require government agencies to seek competitive bids, free of political interference. A senior White House official explained Trump's advocacy for Fisher Industries by saying the president was told the company was cheaper than others and could build the wall faster. The official said that Trump would prefer another company if he learned it could do the work cheaper and faster than Fisher has promised. The official said Trump had not told Semonite he must award the contract to the company but had repeatedly brought up Fisher Industries as an option because he sees the process as too expensive and too slow. Trump wants to see hundreds of miles of border barrier completed within the next two years. Trump has taken an intense interest in the border barrier project, expressing frustration with the pace of progress on a structure he views as key to his reelection campaign. Several administration officials have said the president requires frequent briefings from his staff and has given specific but shifting instructions to Semonite and DHS leaders on his preferred tastes and design specifications. Most recently, the president has insisted the structure be painted black and topped with spikes, while grumbling to aides that the Army Corps contracting process is holding back his ambitions. At the White House meeting Thursday, he said he doesn't like the current design for the wall's gates, suggesting that instead of the hydraulic sliding gate design, the Army Corps should consider an alternative, according to an administration official: "Why not French doors?" the president asked. Trump also dismissed concerns about cost increases and maintenance needs associated with applying paint to the structure, insisting the barrier be black, the administration official said. He also wants the flat steel panels removed from the upper part of the fence, which he considers unsightly, preferring sharpened tips at the end of the steel bollards. The Department of Homeland Security did not respond to requests for comment. The Army Corps, with a reputation for rectitude, discipline and impartiality, is the designated contracting authority for the border barrier project, developing specifications, awarding contracts and ensuring legal and regulatory compliance. "The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers goes to great lengths to ensure the integrity of our contracting process," said Raini W. Brunson, a spokesperson for the Army Corps, who referred questions about Trump's conversations with Semonite to the White House. The president ordered the reassignment of defense funds to the barrier project after Democrats denied his request for $5 billion. Instead, the agreement to end the government shutdown included $1.4 billion for the barrier. Since then, with Trump promising to build 400 miles of fencing by next year, the Pentagon has pledged to provide at least $2.5 billion more. Fisher Industries was one of the six companies that built border wall prototypes outside San Diego in 2017, but the company's concrete design did not afford the see-through visibility that DHS officials wanted. While many of the companies declined to discuss their prototypes with reporters, Tommy Fisher was an eager booster for his plan, criticizing the steel bollard design and professing that a more expensive concrete version would be better. When Fisher began promoting a steel version of the barrier that he said could be installed faster and cheaper, the Army Corps said the design did not meet its requirements and lacked regulatory approvals. "The system he is proposing does not meet the operational requirements of U.S. Customs and Border Protection," an official said. DHS officials also told the Army Corps in March that Fisher's work on a barrier project in San Diego came in late and over budget. Fisher Industries has alleged improprieties with the border wall procurement process and sued the government on April 25. Fisher this week told radio listeners in North Dakota that he was using private donations to build a section of border wall to show off his superior construction methods, which involve using heavy equipment to hold steel panels in place as they are anchored into the ground. He said he knows Trump will be impressed. "The Corps said it couldn't be done, but now the Border Patrol has seen it," Fisher said of his construction project in an interview Wednesday on "The Flag," a show on North Dakota's WZFG News. "They've been out each day, and the proof's in the pudding, and after that, it's going to open up a whole new narrative about how border security should be handled, who should construct it, and the border agents will finally get what they deserve. And we'll prove it in a half-mile stretch where they said it couldn't be done." Collecting private donations, We Build the Wall has raised $22 million for the cause. The group has announced a raffle for a "wall reveal ceremony" it said will be attended by its "MAGA All Star board of advisors." "Witness history made on completion of the first privately funded section of the border wall!" it says. Cramer said Fisher is working with We Build the Wall. The group did not respond to a request for comment. Trump has repeatedly brought up Fisher Industries after hearing about the company in early 2019, administration officials said. In an earlier meeting with military and DHS officials in the Oval Office, Trump said that the government was getting ripped off by current contractors   and that Fisher could do it for less than half the price and with concrete. "The president got very spun up about it," said one person with direct knowledge of the meeting. Officials from the Army Corps and DHS then met with Kushner several times to explain why Fisher wasn't the best deal. Kushner was intimately interested in the cost of the wall and why other companies were being chosen over Fisher, administration officials said. Trump repeatedly told advisers that Fisher should be the company, administration officials said, and he has remained focused on the cost of the wall and how slow its progress has been. Army Corps of Engineers officials evaluated Fisher's proposal and said that it didn't meet the requirements of the project   and that the proposal was cheaper because it wasn't as high-quality, or as sophisticated, in their view. Finally, officials, including then-DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, went into the Oval Office this spring and explained that Fisher could bid but that the company's proposal needed to change. Nielsen and Semonite separately explained that the president could not just pick a company. Nielsen did not respond to a request for comment. Trump remained frustrated, saying that Fisher said it could build the barrier cheaper and faster. "He said these other guys were full of s---," an official said. Fisher was added to a pool of competitors after the Army Corps came under pressure from the White House, administration officials said. On Tuesday, after Semonite was called to a meeting with Cramer on Capitol Hill, the senator posted a photograph of the encounter to Twitter, saying he had "discussed border wall construction" with Army Corps leaders. Cramer said he was glad the president is so involved in the process. Trump was elected to cut through Washington's entrenched bureaucracy, he said. "Good for him. It's why he is the president of the United States. He knows a thing or two about building big projects," Cramer said. "This is why he's president." Cramer said that he has long known the Fisher family and that he is not advocating for the company because its ownership has donated money to his campaigns. "I was doing it before they were a financial contributor," he said. "For no other reason than the fact that he's a constituent of mine." Cramer said he had gone down to the border to see Fisher's "show and tell" demonstration. The senator said he has discussed the company with Semonite, acting defense secretary Patrick Shanahan, White House acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney and others. Tommy Fisher and his wife gave more than $10,000   the maximum allowable contribution   to Cramer in 2018 as he ran for Senate, campaign finance records show. Fisher was Cramer's guest at Trump's State of the Union speech in February, and the CEO said he shook the president's hand afterward. Trump backed Cramer last year in his campaign to unseat Democrat Heidi Heitkamp. During his Senate run, Cramer appeared in a social media video at Fisher headquarters in North Dakota, driving an excavator. "Here at Fisher Industries in Dickinson ND, I tested just how easy it is install a panel of wall myself," Cramer wrote on Twitter. nick.miroff@washpost.com josh.dawsey@washpost.com


Kyle Busch tied a NASCAR Cup Series record with his performance at Dover International Speedway on Monday. With his 10th-place finish in the Gander RV 400 , Busch earned his 11th consecutive top 10 to start the year   something only Morgan Shepherd (1990) has done to begin a given season. Busch's Joe Gibbs Racing teammate, Martin Truex Jr., won the race . Yet the NASCAR Cup Series points leader was enraged after the race, and the culprit was the rules package NASCAR has implemented for 2019; a package that has impacted some races this season more than others. "The package sucks," Busch said after the race, via Frontstretch's Dustin Albino. "No f ing question about it. It's terrible. All I can do is b  about it and fall on deaf ears and we'll come back with the same thing in the fall." The rules package used for the Dover race included the base for 2019 of a taller spoiler, a longer front splitter and a wider radiator pan; it did not include the smaller tapered spacer used to reduce horsepower at oval tracks longer than 1.2 miles, nor did it feature aero ducts that aim to increase downforce. MORE: Schedule for rules packages at all 2019 Cup Series races During Monday's race, many drivers could be heard on scanners complaining about an inability to pass ... even though the data presented below does not back up such a senitment when Monday's race is compared to the previous five spring races at Dover. Good News: Monday's race featured the second most green flag passes and the third most quality passes in the last 6 years. That included really good first and second stages. Bad News: The margin of victory was the highest in 6 years and the third stage was a parade. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/0AxcOm27tT   Apex Off (@ApexOff) May 6, 2019 Kevin Harvick, who finished fourth Monday, also criticized the package and the quality of racing it produced at Dover. "Here's the hard thing about the package," Harvick said , via NASCAR Home Track's Davey Segal. I think that NASCAR's tried to accomplish a lot of things with one particular package, but you look at how the cars drive behind each other and from a driver's standpoint, it's hard to race them. Anywhere." Added Bob Leavine, owner of the Leavine Family Racing No. 95 Toyota Camry driven by Matt DiBenedetto, via Twitter : "Let me second @KyleBusch statement, this package sucks. Has nothing to do with where he finished."


Despite numerous recent delays in the groundbreaking of construction of the New York Islanders future 19,000-seat arena in the Belmont Park area, the Islanders got some good news on Sunday. Empire State Development hopes to approve the final environmental impact statement next week, according to David Winzelberg of the Long Island Business News . The project has been held up due to the environmental report, but Empire State Development has scheduled a meeting of its board of directors and seek "authorization to accept and approve" it. The approval of the final environmental impact statement should be the final step to beginning the construction of the $1.18 billion plan to build the Islanders new arena, a 250-room hotel and a 435,000 square-foot retail village onto the Belmont property. On a separate note, however, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo was also scheduled to be on Long Island Monday to announce a new railroad station at the Belmont project, but has postponed that appearance. The Boston Herald's Marisa Ingemi wonders if this might be the right time for the Boston Bruins to seriously consider moving defenseman Torey Krug. With a number of restricted free agents they must deal with, including an incredibly pricey one for Charlie McAvoy as well as contracts for Brandon Carlo and Danton Heinen, the team might want to free up some money. Throw in some of their holes on offense and their depth on defense, moving Krug might make some sense. The 28-year-old is on the final year of his contract and will likely get a significant raise from his $5.25MM current salary. Will Boston want to commit to a 29-year-old long-term? The Athletic's Joe Yerdon (subscription required) writes that while the hiring of Jason Botterill two years ago hasn't resulted in immediate success for the Buffalo Sabres, the same can't be said for the team's AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans. Since Botterill and Randy Sexton took over in May of 2017, the two have put quite a bit of effort into rebuilding their AHL affiliate, which has now made the playoffs two years in a row after missing the playoffs for three straight years before that. That has been evident once again this week when the team added a number of top AHL talent, including forwards Jean-Sebastian Dea, Curtis Lazar and C.J. Smith, defenseman John Gilmour and goaltender Andrew Hammond. The belief is that Botterill believes that AHL success should only add that needed depth that can eventually help the NHL squad as well.


As part of the implementation of the new Rules of Golf going into place in 2019, the USGA and R&A also revised the regulations on green-reading materials, reducing their allowable size and the amount of information they can provide. For the most part, this change had not impacted competitive golf unlike the bevy of questions regarding ball drops, caddie alignment and the like. That is until now. On the eve of the NCAA Women's Championship at The Blessings Golf Club in Fayetteville, Ark.,, rules officials informed competitors that the official yardage book handed out to coaches and players was in fact non-conforming, creating an interesting rules issue as the first round was set to begin on Friday. The story was first reported on Thursday by Golfweek's Beth Ann Nichols . The issue was that the size of the greens on 10 of the 18 holes inside were too large under the new regulations. Rule 4.3a/1 states that these detailed green maps must not exceed a ratio of 1:480, or 3/8 inch for every 5 yards. The official yardage book depicted the greens slightly larger. "It's 1/16 off," Arkansas head coach Shauna Estes-Taylor told Golfweek . "It's less than a freckle." RELATED: A comprehensive guide to the new Rules of Golf Teams were searching for alternative conforming books to use. Some coaches told Golfweek they were thinking covering up the greens in the original yardage book The NCAA made a statement, "The NCAA Women's Golf Committee was made aware of an issue regarding some green diagrams in the tournament yardage book. By mid-afternoon, yardage books with conforming green diagrams were available." Explore Golf Digest All Access, with more than 30 video series to improve your game WATCH: GOLF DIGEST VIDEOS See the video. 9 Major Host Courses That You Can Play


Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann has been tipped by reports in Spain to join Paris Saint-Germain this summer, turning down Barcelona over fears that the squad do not want him at Camp Nou. The Frenchman was heavily linked with a move to Barcelona last summer, but opted to turn their interest in him into a Hollywood drama by publicly rejecting the Blaugrana in his own documentary. However, after announcing his departure from Atletico, links to Barcelona have resurfaced. 路♂ pic.twitter.com/q7pYFah5Nc   Antoine Griezmann (@AntoGriezmann) May 30, 2019 Griezmann himself recently admitted that he already knows where he will be playing next season, and Sport suggest that he will be at PSG. The Frenchman is said to fear that key members of Barcelona 's squad, as well as the fans, are against signing him after the way he acted last summer, and he does not want to walk into a hostile environment. They add that Griezmann has already met with PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi to negotiate the deal, with the Parisians eager for him to replace Edinson Cavani in their dynamic forward line. Cavani has been tipped to leave PSG this summer as Thomas Tuchel looks to create a more mobile trio, involving both Kylian Mbappe and Neymar . If he does leave, the Ligue 1 giants will need a prolific replacement, and many have suggested that that could be Griezmann. Barcelona are thought to be prepared to pay his €120m release clause on July 1, but Griezmann is now said to believe that a switch to Camp Nou may not be in his best interest. The Blaugrana are yet to see any real indication from Griezmann that he is prepared to commit his future to them so, given his reservations, Barcelona have already started looking elsewhere for attacking reinforcements. They are considering moves for Valencia's Rodrigo and PSG's Neymar, whilst they are also thought to have opened negotiations with Manchester United over a €100m deal for Marcus Rashford .


No need to feel sorry for Brian Gaine being out of a job. The former Houston Texans general manager is back on his feet with the Buffalo Bills. The AFC East club announced Tuesday they are bringing back Gaine as a senior personnel advisor. Gaine was originally with the Bills in 2017 as vice president of player personnel after being director of player personnel for the Texans from 2014-16. Gaine got the short end of the stick when the Texans thought they had an opening to bring another New England Patriots front office member into the fold with director of player personnel Nick Caserio. Instead, after firing Gaine, the Patriots slapped tampering charges on the Texans. It was only after Texans chairman and CEO Cal McNair read language in Caserio's contract that owner Robert Kraft made available that Houston relented. Nonetheless, the Texans have been without a full-time general manager since firing Gaine on June 7, the Friday before mandatory minicamp. Prior to stints with Houston and Buffalo, Gaine started out as a scout for the New York Jets from 1999-2004. In 2005, he spent the next three seasons working for the Dallas Cowboys as the director of pro scouting. When coach Bill Parcells came out of a one-year retirement to take the Miami Dolphins general manager gig, Gaine joined him and stayed in the organization through the 2013 in a variety of personnel and front office roles, including assistant general manager from 2012-13. MORE: NBA trade rumor rankings: What's up with CP3? The 21 dumbest ideas in NFL history VIDEO: Steve Austin Cut a Killer Promo at WWE Raw Reunion The Twins pulled off a beautiful triple play against the Yankees and fans loved it Tim Duncan is returning to the NBA, Warriors coach Steve Kerr is here for the jokes


CHICAGO (CBS)   Chicago police are asking for help identifying a boy found running across Garfield Boulevard near West Englewood and Back of the Yards on Tuesday morning. Police said the child, who appears to be 4 years old, was seen running across Garfield Boulevard near Seeley Avenue around 7 a.m. A boy who appears to be about 4 years old was found running across the street near Garfield and Seeley on July 2, 2019. Police said his first name is Miguel or Medill, and he speaks Spanish and limited English. (Source: Chicago Police) He speaks Spanish, and only limited English, and told police his name is Miguel or Medill. Anyone who recognizes the boy should call 911 or contact Area South Special Victims Unit detectives at 312-747-8274.


The Detroit Lions ' defensive line got a little bit stronger on Tuesday morning. Defensive tackle A'Shawn Robinson returned to training camp, and appeared to be a full participant during the team's fifth practice. Robinson reported to camp initially, according to the team, however he had not been present at any of the team's first four practices. Head coach Matt Patricia noted on Friday that Robinson was excused for " a personal matter. " Robinson's return comes at a good time for the Lions, as many of their interior defenders suffered injuries recently. Da'Shawn Hand is "day-to-day" according to Patricia , but was sport a pretty hefty brace on his left arm. Damon Harrison Sr. remains on the Non-Football Injury list. John Atkins also suffered an injury during Sunday's practice, but was back out there on Tuesday. Robinson is coming off a career year for the Lions, tallying 49 tackles, 1.0 sacks and a near-elite PFF grade: A'Shawn Robinson was oh so close to an elite overall grade this past season   still, he had an awesome year in 2018 pic.twitter.com/S3WeXUxokS   PFF (@PFF) March 19, 2019 Robinson declined to speak to the media after practice, so the reason for his absence is still unknown.


You may temporarily get away with treating your toilet like a garbage can, but sooner or later you'll end up with an expensive plumbing bill. Toilets were designed to do only one thing: Dispose of human waste and toilet paper. Even so, many people are tempted to use them to get rid of various things. Clogged toilets are caused by everything from discarded food to cat litter. In addition to damaging your plumbing, some items can harm the environment if they find their way into the ecosystem. Following are things you should never flush down your toilet. 1. Cigarette butts You may think cigarette butts are small enough to pass through your plumbing without causing problems. But they can stop up your pipes because, unlike toilet paper, they don't dissolve in water, says Stephany Smith, a plumber at the Fantastic Services property maintenance company in London. So, empty your ash tray in the trash bin. It's not the usual blah, blah, blah. Click here to sign up for our free newsletter. 2. Tampons and sanitary napkins The cotton used in tampons and sanitary napkins wasn't meant to be flushed down toilets, says Glenn Gallas, the vice president of operations at Mr. Rooter Plumbing. "The cotton in these items can easily snag and grab on just about anything," he tells Money Talks News. In addition to harming your own plumbing, such products can clog up the waste disposal system down the line, he notes. Cotton then must be removed from the waste stream by workers and sent to landfills. Tampon maker Tampax notes that while its products biodegrade in landfills, flushing tampons is not the best way to dispose of them. It's better for the environment to put them in the trash. 3. Cooking oil and grease It's always a mistake to attempt to dispose of cooking oil or grease in a toilet. These substances will "wreak havoc in your plumbing system," says Smith. Alex Berezow, vice president of scientific affairs for the nonprofit American Council on Science and Health, explains to Money Talks News: "Cooking oil absolutely clogs pipes because it solidifies as it cools." 4. Stringy materials Hair, dental floss, thread and string can cause a mountain of troubles if flushed down the toilet, Smith tells Money Talks News. That's because they don't easily dissolve in water. If flushing hair down the toilet becomes a habit, sooner or later you can expect "a massive ball" of debris to form in your pipes, Smith adds. When cleaning hair from your bathtub drain, resist the impulse to drop it into the toilet. 5. Cat litter Cat litter contains more than your cat's waste, says Gallas. "It also has clay and sand, which are extremely troublesome," he says. Cat litter is designed to absorb moisture and create clumps, which can turn into large clogs once they enter your pipes. The only safe place to dispose of cat litter is the trash. Cat litter can create clogs even it is labeled as flushable, reports The New York Times . Related Slideshow: 14 Toilet Problems You'll Regret Ignoring (Provided by: Reader's Digest) 6. Medicines Wastewater treatment plants aren't designed to filter out medicines. So, drugs that are flushed down toilets eventually may enter rivers, streams and lakes, reports The New York Times. "While prescription medication, over the counter medication, and other substances don't necessarily mess up your pipes, the ingredients in pharmaceuticals can pose dangers to your water supply," says Gallas. "Instead, dispose of medications responsibly, through your local pharmacy or medication disposal program." 7. Wet wipes One of the easiest ways to clog your toilet and sewer lines is to flush wet wipes. Even if they are promoted as flushable, Smith doesn't recommend putting them in your toilet. Wet wipes have created clogs in aging sewage systems in some U.S. cities, Gallas says. That's because they don't disintegrate as quickly as toilet paper. 8. Food Some foods   such as pasta, noodles, rice, grits and bread   absorb water and expand after you drop them into a toilet, says Smith. They are likely to form blockages in pipes. To play it safe, never put food of any kind in your toilet. 9. Contact lenses Many contact lenses are disposable. But if you flush them down the toilet, they won't biodegrade easily, The New York Times reports. Some may end up polluting waterways. Have you ever flushed something inappropriate down your toilet? What was the outcome? You can share your experience or thoughts with us by commenting below or on our Facebook page . Related Video: How to Unclog a Toilet Every Time (Provided by: The Family Handyman)


A third horse has died at Del Mar Racetrack less than two weeks into its summer season, the Associated Press reported Wednesday. The fatality, the second for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, was only acknowledged after an inquiry by the Los Angeles Times . Third horse dies at Del Mar Bowl of Soul, a 3-year-old filly, injured her right hind fetlock, the hinged joint above the hoof , during training on Monday. Jockey Joe Talamo told the Los Angeles Times he felt her leg act differently and quickly held her in place so she wouldn't move. Bowl of Soul was euthanized, officials told the Times and AP . Said Baffert via the L.A. Times : "She was working well and she was coming into the turn and went to switch leads when she suffered a rare twist of a hind ankle. You just can't predict these tings happening. You work so hard to keep them healthy. It's so tough on everybody. The horse had not raced at Del Mar and Baffert told the Times he planned to run her this weekend. She won her first race at Santa Anita on May 27 and finished second in a race June 23, the final day at a track that had 30 horse deaths this season . Second horse dies from Baffert's barn Two horses collided in a freak training accident on the second day of the season at Del Mar. Charge A Bunch threw his jockey and turned sharply during a training session, colliding with Baffert's horse, Carson Valley. Carson Valley threw his trainer, who was taken to the hospital and diagnosed with a bruised lower back. The horses reportedly died on impact . Del Mar was one of the safest race tracks in 2018, according to the Equine Injury Database . There were three fatalities in 3,812 starts. The site's statistics do not include training fatalities. Del Mar introduced new safety measures in early July similar to those used at Santa Anita. There is a five-member panel that reviews medical, training and racing records of every horse and medication rules were extended. Deaths in horse racing took a renewed focus with the issues at Santa Anita and other reports followed. A report earlier in July put the east coast in the conversation; it found 10 horses died within nine days at four race tracks across New York. The report found 50 horses died since Jan. 2 in New York, including 21 at Belmont Park. Belmont is one of the deadliest tracks with 436 deaths since 2009. More from Yahoo Sports: Saints, WR Thomas agree to record-breaking extension Patriots preview: Bet against the champs at your own risk Tribe trades Bauer to Reds, acquires Puig in three-team deal Puig involved in huge brawl moments after trade announced


The thing to remember about a debate involving 10 presidential candidates is that it isn't a debate. It is better to think of the back-to-back Democratic presidential debates Wednesday and Thursday as speed dating, where there's only a fleeting moment to make a good impression. "The problem is one of math," said Alan Schroeder, author of "Presidential Debates: Fifty Years of High-Risk TV." Between the introductions, moderator chatter and commercial breaks, he said, each candidate "will probably only speak for around five to 10 minutes" during the two-hour throw downs. With that little time, said Rachel Paine Caufield , author of "The Iowa Caucus," "it's hard to envision this as much of a debate. There are too many voices, and they have similar ideas. "What I'm watching for is whether there is any one candidate who captures the divide in the Democratic Party between the coastal liberals and the labor liberals from the Midwest," said Caufield, a professor of political science at Drake University in Iowa. "The party is struggling how to marry those two groups into a coherent coalition. If there's a candidate who can do it naturally and with a coherent message, that person will stand out." The first 10 candidates tussle Wednesday, when Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren will be the main attraction as the only candidate in the top tier of most polls. Thursday night features most of the top polling stars of this early phase of the campaign, including former Vice President Joe Biden, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, California Sen. Kamala Harris and Mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Ind. Both two-hour debates are being held in Miami at 6 p.m. PDT. Here are some things to watch for: Will anyone   or everyone   take on Biden? Despite Biden's recent campaign controversies , Caufield doesn't think anyone will seek to make a popular former vice president look bad right out of the box. There's plenty of time for that, with 11 more Democratic debates scheduled before the nominee is crowned next July. Instead, she predicted, the candidates will throw shaded comments his way such as, "'It's time for a new generation.' Or, 'We need fresh ideas.' Or, 'We can't keep investing in the myth of compromise.'" Biden, a two-time failed presidential candidate and mediocre debater, will probably try to remain above the fray. Perhaps he'll rip off a zinger similar to the one he aimed at then-GOP presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani in a 2007 Democratic debate   that the former New York mayor needed just three things to form a sentence: "a noun, a verb and 9/11." "But those were rare moments," Schroeder said. "Most of the time he was a peripheral candidate in debates." Will Sanders adapt to the new world? Sanders, whose selling point is that he remains consistently on message, will need to be more nimble. In 2016 he was usually the only one on stage with Hillary Clinton, and the only one advocating Medicare for all and free public college tuition. Now several candidates do. "Now he's a front-runner and he's going to have to answer for a lot of his plans," said Elaine Kamarck , author of "Primary Politics: Everything You Need to Know About How America Nominates Its Presidential Candidates." If Medicare for all is passed, said Kamarck,"how does he explain taking away people's private health insurance? Or how about when he said he would allow (convicted Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev) to vote from prison?" Does Harris go into full prosecutor mode to revive her campaign? While videos of Harris grilling Republicans like Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh went viral, "I don't think being prosecutorial works being in a primary debate with 10 people," Schroeder said. "This is a venue where every second of air time is precious." "Her challenge is to have her voice heard in a way that it differentiates her," Caufield said, noting that Harris has stayed flat in the polls. "She's struggling to do that now." Is Mayor Pete for real? Buttigieg's intellect and even-keeled persona gave him an early boost in the polls. But at 5-foot-9 and with a youthful 37-year-old visage, Buttigieg may struggle to establish gravitas standing next to the 6-foot-tall, 76-year-old Biden. "The more interesting optic isn't height, it's the age difference   he's half Biden's age," Schroeder said. When Biden debated 2012 GOP vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan, 26 years his junior, Ryan "looked like a kid in trouble with Dad for stealing the car." Buttigieg's "challenge is not to melt away on a debate stage," Caufield said. "He has to talk to rise in people's opinion. But that's hard to do when there's so many people vying for attention. We haven't seen him in a position where he has to assert himself among many much more experienced political voices." Plus, Buttigieg is dealing with his first major challenge of the campaign   his handling of t he controversy around a white police officer fatally shooting a black man in South Bend. Will John Hickenlooper go after Sanders? It's very likely, given that the former Colorado governor previewed his attack earlier this month at the California Democratic Party convention when he said "socialism is not the answer"   and was booed by the Sanders-friendly delegates. Going after the democratic socialist Sanders could put Hickenlooper on the map and set him up as the go-to centrist in the field should Biden falter, Kamarck said. "That's always the temptation for people who are polling low, is to throw a bomb, and Bernie would be a natural target," Schroeder said. "But if Hickenlooper actually does that, I'd hate to be reading his Twitter feed afterward to see how Bernie's supporters respond." Is Warren in a good spot? Warren will be the only candidate in Wednesday's lineup in the upper tier of polls, but that could be a mixed bag. "She's the star of that group. And that would not be the case if she were in the second night," Schroeder said. "If she does well, she owns 24 hours of coverage to herself before the second debate starts." On the other hand, Kamarck said, it might hurt her because "she's not being compared to the other (top-tier) candidates that she's battling with." Can Beto recapture his magic? Former Texas Rep. Beto O'Rourke's poll numbers have tanked since his rock star debut, and Caufield doesn't think the debate is where he'll rekindle his flame. "When you see him in a relaxed setting, he's a ball of energy. Always moving. Enthusiastic," she said. "But when you put in him a suit on a debate stage, not so much." O'Rourke reminds Schroeder of "(Barack) Obama, in that he needs to be alone on a stage. Obama was really bad in most of his early debates. But he got better." Candidates like Washington Gov. Jay Inslee who have made a single issue their focus (climate change, in his case) might have a better chance of standing out in a crowded field, "because people will identify your name with the issue," Schroeder said. "And younger voters will remember his name because that's an important issue to them." How will the rest of the candidates get noticed? "That's where you might get some craziness," Kamarck said. "Somebody who is on life support already might try a gimmick. Some kind of line that gets repeated over and over. That's the tried-and-true tactic for people who have fallen way behind. "But really, what is (New York Mayor) Bill de Blasio doing in this race anyways?" Kamarck said. "It's absurd." Joe Garofoli is The San Francisco Chronicle's senior political writer. Email: jgarofoli@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @joegarofoli