A humanitarian aid volunteer who gave food, water and other supplies to undocumented migrants that crossed the US southern border into Arizona is facing up to 20 years in federal prison. Scott Warren, 36, of Ajo, Arizona, was arrested by US Border Patrol agents on January 17, 2018, along with two undocumented men: Kristian Perez-Villanueva of El Salvador and Arnaldo Sacaria-Goday of Honduras. Prosecutors charged Warren with three counts of harboring and conspiring to harbor illegal aliens. His trial began Wednesday at the US District Courthouse in Tucson. Warren is a volunteer for No More Deaths - an aid group that leaves potentially life-saving supplies for migrants traversing Arizona's desolate Sonoran Desert after they have crossed the US border from Mexico. He's one of at least five No More Deaths volunteers to be prosecuted by federal law enforcement officials since the Trump administration began arresting the southern border humanitarian activists in 2017. The two migrant men Warren was arrested with showed up at No More Deaths' base of operations in Ajo, known as 'the Barn,' as Warren was arriving back from a grocery store, according to Tuscon.com . The men said they'd only consumed sports drinks and a burrito during their grueling two-day trek across the desert region. Warren cooked them a meal, gave them clothes and let them reside at the Barn for three days before US Border Patrol agents arrived and arrested all three of them. No More Deaths has said Warren's arrest was federal authorities' response to the aid group releasing a video showing border patrol agents destroying water jugs that the activists had left for migrants. They point out that Warren was arrested mere hours after the video was released. US Attorney Nathaniel Walters said Warren's case 'is not about humanitarian aid,' but rather about whether or not Warren 'intended to violate the law,' by shielding Perez-Villanueva and Sacaria-Goday from border patrol agents. 'No More Deaths is not on trial. Scott Warren is,' Walters said. Warren's defense attorney, Gregory Kuykendall, told the court his client is a 'law-abiding, life-giving Good Samaritan,' who 'never gave [the migrant men] anything besides basic human kindness.' Warren's supporters, including his parents Mark and Pam, hosted a rally outside the courthouse. 'We were crushed to learn that he was facing serious federal charges that could result in his incarceration for many years,' Mark Warren told the crowd. 'We had always been concerned, worried as parents about his work in a dangerous and tumultuous region. We just never imagined that one of the great dangers he faced was from our own government.' US Border Patrol agents John Marquez and Brendan Burns told the court they began surveillance of Warren at the Barn for the first time on the day of his arrest. They said they were looking for two suspected undocumented migrants who had been spotted wandering around a local gas station. Surveillance video showing Perez-Villanueva and Sacaria-Goday buying sports drinks, food and cigarettes at the gas station and hanging out in a cafeteria area was shown to the court, according to the Tucson Sentinel . Burns told the jury that while he was surveilling the Barn, he saw Warren pointing out landmarks to the migrant men that would help them avoid Border Patrol checkpoints. Burns said the he and his fellow agent radioed for backup before raiding the facility and arresting the suspects. Warren's attorney, Kuykendall, seized on the agents' testimony that descriptions of Perez Villanueva and Sacaria-Goday were given to them by other agents who arrested another migrant man a day prior. 'They matched their description? Or they matched the description of two brown people?' the attorney asked. 'In my experience, they were other-than-Mexican... In my mind, these could possibly be them,' Marquez replied. 'You didn't know anything about them other than, they were not Mexican, isn't that true?' Kuykendall responded. Marquez replied no, according to the Tucson Sentinel. Warren's trial is scheduled to resume at 2.30pm on Monday. The bodies of more than 3,000 migrants have been found in the southern Arizona desert since 2001, according to data collected by the Arizona Open GIS Initiative . Temperatures in the 100,000 square-mile region can reach as high as 125 degrees in the daytime during summer months. There were 127 migrants found dead in the desert in 2018. Migrant deaths in the region have skyrocketed since 2000 when the remains of just one border crosser were recovered, according to the Arizona Republic . Most who are found are never identified so they can be returned to their families. 'People are dying right on the edge of our town. That's what drives me to act,' Warren' told the New York Times during a recent interview. 'The government is responsible for the crisis of death and disappearance... If you stop people from putting water in the desert, that's going to make the desert even more deadly.'


When the Red Line launches on Sept. 1, Indianapolis residents will have to get used to a new system running through downtown. But they won't have to use the new ticketing system quite yet. Interstate closures: How to navigate the I-65, I-70 closures That's because riding the Red Line and the rest of the IndyGo bus system will be free through September. "This is to encourage people to ride the Red Line and help those whose routes will be impacted by Red Line transfers to make it the least cumbersome as possible to ride," said IndyGo spokeswoman Lauren Day. She said people will essentially be able to walk on the buses and take them for free throughout the IndyGo system. Riders will also see extended hours of service, and every route will begin running everyday. Bryan Luellen, IndyGo vice president of public affairs, said the free rides are a gesture to the the public for its patience during construction. This is also an opportunity to educate riders. More Red Line: Here's what riders can expect from Red Line electric buses and stations "For people unfamiliar with using transit, there can be a perception that it's confusing to figure out," he said. "Free rides (will) remove one barrier that we have control over." Volunteers will be assigned to the 28 Red Line stations for opening week to answer questions and explain the new MyKey ticketing vending machines, so riders will know how to use them come October. Support our journalism If you enjoy stories like this, please support the work of IndyStar reporters and visual journalists by becoming a subscriber today. Get unlimited digital access here! The new account-based system allows riders to purchase reusable tap cards and refill them with funds via the MyKey mobile app, or at station kiosks, the transit center, online or over the phone. Each bus will have a MyKey reader where users can tap their cards on the screen for local routes. At rapid transit stations, riders will tap or scan at validators on the platforms before boarding. Riders will still be able to pay with cash on the bus. Kellie Hwang is a reporter at IndyStar. Contact her at 317-444-6032 or kellie.hwang@indystar.com. Follow her on Twitter: @KellieHwang. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Red Line will be free to ride for first month


NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- A New Jersey police officer charged with murder in the death of his estranged wife says he "blacked out" upon finding out his wife was with a boyfriend in her bedroom, according to a court affidavit acquired by WNBC . The document says that Newark police Lt. John Formisano called the Jefferson home of his estranged wife, which whom he was going through divorce proceedings, around 11 p.m. on July 14. He spoke with his wife, who Morris County officials identified as Christine Formisano. She told her boyfriend, who was in the residence with her, that she saw a light, and realized her estranged husband was outside. Christine Formisano left the house, locking the bedroom door behind her, and her boyfriend, identified as T.S., heard her say, "he's got a gun" and "call 911" before Formisano fired any shots. Formisano, 49, proceeded to break down the bedroom door and repeatedly shoot the boyfriend in the thigh, abdomen, arms and hand. Christine left her home and tried to get into a neighbor's home for help with her serious injuries. Police discovered Formisano in a parking lot in Livingston with his car with a handgun in the trunk. Formisano's two children, both under the age of 10, were in the residence when the shooting happened. The Morris County Sheriff's Office said in a release that emergency personnel then went to the home to recover the children and the two victims. The children were unharmed and the boyfriend was taken to Morristown Medical Center Trauma Hospital with life-threatening injuries and is currently recovering. Christine was discovered dead close by. Formisano is a 24-year police veteran. He's been charged with murder, attempted murder, two counts of endangering the welfare of a child and weapon possession. "The Newark Public Safety Department is deeply saddened by the family tragedy involving Newark Police Lt. John Formisano," Newark Public Safety Director Anthony F. Ambrose said in a statement, "Our foremost concern, of course, is for the couple's two children who have lost their mother and for the family of the victim." Like 1010 WINS on Facebook and follow @1010WINS on Twitter to get breaking news, traffic, and weather for New York City.


PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. - This could be Ernie Els' last U.S. Open. The USGA gave him a special exemption for a second consecutive year, making Pebble Beach his 27th championship appearance. And while Els has won two U.S. Opens, the family will be talking about this one for quite some time as the World Golf Hall of Famer tees it up at Pebble Beach with nephew Jovan Rebula in the field. The pair have played practice rounds together every day since Sunday and dine together each night. "I would never in my wildest dreams have thought that I'd still be playing," said the 49-year-old Els, "and, two, he'd be playing with me at a U.S. Open. It's fantastic." Rebula earned his spot in the field when he won the 2018 British Amateur, becoming the first South African to win the title since 1966. The Auburn senior played in both the Masters and the Memorial this spring. His mother, Carina, is Els' sister. "This whole last year has kind of been me just sitting on cloud nine," said Rebula shortly before teeing off Wednesday alongside 2010 U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell, Shane Lowry and Uncle Ernie. Rebula, 21, stands 6-foot-3, inching toward 6-foot-4, and hopes to fill out like his uncle. He's a well-mannered, well-spoken, engaging young man who treasures any time spent with Els. U.S. OPEN: TV info | Live stream | Tee times | Odds "The more I get to spend time with him now the more I realize what a big deal he is," said Rebula. "It's not necessarily what he does on the golf course that fascinates me - it's the person that he is. It's his cool and calm demeanor. He's always willing to help anyone out. That's more the aspect that I respect and admire about my uncle." Auburn coach Nick Clinard first watched Rebula compete at the IMG Academy Junior World and was impressed with his beautifully rhythmic swing. "He looks like a young Easy," said Clinard, who back then had no idea the two were related. Els actually won Junior World, beating Phil Mickelson in a playoff. Rebula learned the game from his grandfather, Els' father, and has never had a formal swing coach. Els has given him pointers along the way, though Rebula says his swing is mostly a natural movement. He's especially grateful for his uncle's help on how to think. Clinard considers Rebula's mental game to be his strongest asset, calling him a humble guy who never lets the game define him. A strategic player who has a fifth gear (i.e. an extra 20 yards) if needed, Rebula's short game is especially strong. Els calls him an old-school player - fairways and greens. "He's starting to hit it past me," said Els, "finally." Rebula won the 2019 SEC title in a four-hole playoff and will compete in an all-Auburn pairing for the first two rounds alongside Jason Dufner and Patton Kizzire. He was actually playing golf with Dufner back at Auburn last week just before the tee times were announced. Kizzire was the first to text him the news. It will be a comfortable pairing for Rebula, who expects to hear "War Eagle" from outside the ropes. Els knows all about Auburn's traditions having attended the Iron Bowl with Rebula over Thanksgiving break. "I'm pretty sure he had a great time," said Rebula. "He was up in the boxes with Bo Jackson and all the greats of Auburn." As for this week, Els' expectations for his own game are fairly low, though his back feels better. There is hope, he said, especially at a place like Pebble, which has always been special to him. Els tied for second at the 2000 U.S. Open at Pebble, saying he felt like a sideshow to Tiger Woods, and came in third here in 2010. He hopes to have a great week in his own way. After all, this could mark the end of an era. And with Rebula, the beginning of a new one. "He's got what it takes to be able to play out here," said Els. "There's no question." https://compass.pressekompass.net/compasses/golfweek/what-will-the-winning-score-be-at-the-20%2033 MORE: Jordan Spieth gets crushed for blaming caddie after two straight bad shots at U.S. Open Top of Packers WR depth chart takes shape following minicamp Report: Lonzo Ball 'most important' piece of Anthony Davis deal NBA trade rumor rankings: Rockets on the move? Why the Patriots trading Nick Caserio isn't out of the question


In 1944, just weeks after the most famous polio victim in America, President Franklin Roosevelt, died, a polio epidemic broke out in Hickory that lead to a massive response. The city built an ad hoc hospital and brought in experts from Harvard and Johns Hopkins to quell the disease   it worked. Four years later, Guilford County had to fight its own battle against the disease. "In 1948, when the polio epidemic hit, Guilford County came together and raised about half a million dollars - that's the equivalent of almost five million dollars in today's dollars - and they did that in three months," said Anne Parsons, an assistant professor at UNC-Greensboro and its director of public history. "And they used that money to build this full hospital that served 143 beds at a time, children at a time. That, to me, is a powerful story about how a community can come together and really try to address a major crisis that it faces." In the year of the Hickory epidemic, there were 56 cases of polio in Guilford County, not quite epidemic level but certainly concerning. By the time Bill Tankersley entered that hospital the county had built, about five years later, it was in full force. "6,200 children in Guilford County had the polio symptoms, so their parents were home with them, knowing that they had polio and didn't know what was going to happen to them because it took about three weeks for the polio to run its course," remembers Tankersley. "So you can imagine the fear that created in the parents." Now, all these years later, Parsons' team at UNCG is helping lock that history in with exhibit work and an historical marker that will be dedicated on June 15. "This is a deeply painful event for many people and their families," Parsons said. "And it's important for us to remember it and mark this site to heal from that. And it's also a place of pride where a community came together and it's something for us to remember. Sometimes it can be hard to remember places that are out of sight and out of mind because they're painful. And, as a historian, I really believe that it's important for us to commemorate them." It was a tough place to be, the Central Carolina Convalescent Hospital. "When you were in here, you didn't have polio. You had the damage that had been done by the polio," said Tankersley, who went through rigorous but essential rehabilitation at the hospital. "Yeah, in the sense that it performed a great service for the community," remembers Tankersley. "I don't know what would have happened to me, if I hadn't gone through that intense rehab. I don't know whether I would've recovered. I, basically, had a normal childhood after I came out." See the other iconic American movement that developed a connection to the hospital after the polio epidemic was eradicated in this edition of the Buckley Report.     ©2019 WGHP-TV, Greensboro Visit WGHP-TV, Greensboro at www.myfox8.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.


(Bloomberg) -- Want the lowdown on European markets? In your inbox before the open, every day. Sign up here . At the heart of Chief Executive Officer Christian Sewing's turnaround plan for Deutsche Bank AG is a contrarian bet: that he can cut spending on technology while gaining ground on the competition. Even with the digital revolution in finance accelerating, Deutsche Bank expects to trim its annual outlays on tech to 2.9 billion euros ($3.3 billion) in 2022 from a peak of 4.2 billion euros this year. "Deutsche Bank would probably love to be spending more on technology, but they need money for other parts of their restructuring," said Pierre Drach, managing director of Independent Research in Frankfurt. "It's pretty much impossible for European banks to catch up with the Americans at this stage." Sewing's team says it's made progress in fixing information networks that his predecessor called " antiquated and inadequate ." Years of expansion left it with systems that couldn't communicate with each other and didn't adequately track its business. The bank, which has spent almost $18.5 billion on legal settlements and fines since 2008, has also suggested that the past breakdown in controls stemmed in part from weak systems. The 4.2 billion euros Deutsche Bank has budgeted this year to maintain and modernize its systems represents a fraction of the $11.5 billion JPMorgan Chase & Co. shells out. "You have to spend to win" with new technologies, Jamie Dimon, the bank's CEO, said Tuesday. The gap is set to widen as the German chief executive wants to cut technology costs by almost a quarter. European banks, meanwhile, are forecast to increase tech spending at a 4.8% annual rate through 2022, according to the consulting firm Celent. "We continue to invest in IT to serve clients better, become safer, more efficient and better controlled," Senthuran Shanmugasivam, a Deutsche Bank spokesman, said in response to questions from Bloomberg. "Despite our smaller footprint, our investment plans in 2019 are broadly unchanged as we reallocate resources to our core businesses." It's all part of a retrenchment Sewing announced last week to exit equities sales and trading and eliminate 18,000 jobs. Deutsche Bank aims to cut adjusted costs to 17 billion euros in 2022 from 22.8 billion euros last year; the share of technology expenses would remain stable over that time period. The company can modernize systems while spending less, for example by moving most of its applications to the cloud, according to Frank Kuhnke, who oversees its technology. He said Deutsche Bank has already cut the cost of crunching data by more than 30% since 2016 even as it increased computing capacity by about 12% a year to meet regulatory demands. Still, Deutsche Bank needs "to make a further step change in embracing technology," Sewing told analysts last week. New Hires The CEO has brought in new talent to do that. Bernd Leukert, who left the management board of software company SAP SE earlier this year, will start in September. Neal Pawar will join as chief information officer from AQR Capital Management the same month. Hiring outsiders hasn't been a panacea in the past. Kim Hammonds, a former Boeing Co. executive, spent about four and a half years rebuilding the bank's systems only to be ousted in 2018 after reportedly calling the bank "the most dysfunctional company" she'd ever worked for. Deutsche Bank expects its retrenchment from businesses to allow it to focus on its core operations. It will also save about 300 million euros by 2022 by shedding almost 5,000 external IT contractors and replacing them with internal staff at a lower cost. The integration of consumer lender Postbank will avoid duplication of expenses. The digital revolution is upending all aspects of finance -- from taking deposits to bond trading, a traditional Deutsche Bank strength. Citigroup Inc. has created a fintech division to invest in debt-market technologies while Spain's Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA has created a unit to automate trade processes and generate intelligence from data. Dutch bank ING Groep NV has used artificial intelligence to win 20% more bond trades and cut costs. Cutting tech costs is also notoriously difficult. A three-year initiative announced in 2012 failed to stop technology spending from ballooning 44% by 2015. That was the year that then-CEO John Cryan said he would reduce the number of operating systems from 45 to four in 2020. Deutsche Bank still has 26, Sewing told investors in May. He kept the goal of eventually cutting them to four, but says the lender will need to run 10 to 15 systems for the foreseeable future. "Everyone knows that Deutsche Bank's systems are a mess and I think they will have to end up spending more," said Drach. "The fact that their new technology head hasn't come on board yet gives them a good narrative for increasing the ultimate amount." To contact the reporter on this story: Nicholas Comfort in Frankfurt at ncomfort1@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Dale Crofts at dcrofts@bloomberg.net, James Hertling, Giles Turner For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com ©2019 Bloomberg L.P.


It's always a special moment when Obi Wan Lefty and his young padawan Bryson DeChambeau are in the same room together. Whether it be a cocktail party, science fair, Nobel Prize Ceremony, or merely an evening at the opera, The Brains, as Phil Mickelson and DeChambeau will henceforth be known, always put on a good show. Last year in preparation for the Ryder Cup, they showed off their tantalizing eyebrow game, wooing French femmes from Normandy to Nice... https://twitter.com/PhilMickelson/status/1044955619122270209 After resisting the romantic advances of practically all of continental Europe, The Brains then went their separate ways, Phil to Vegas for a duel with his old nemesis and Bryson to the Middle East, where the desert air density turned him into the hottest golfer on the planet. A summer to forget soon followed, however, and we began to wonder if we would ever see the dynamic duo together again. Thankfully on the eve of the FedEx Cup Playoffs with the Presidents Cup looming a couple exits up the old golf highway we finally have our answer: Heck freakin' yes we will. View the Instagram photo. Ranking No. 1 and No. 3 overall in our inaugural ranking of the PGA Tour's content kings , The Brains more than live up to their reputation with their comeback opus, turning a novelty t-shirt into an inside joke wrapped inside a Da Vinci Code riddle. But because we here at The Loop are sympathetic souls who don't want to see you eating by yourself in the cafe all semester, we dropped Phil's tee into the trusty Google translator for you. It reads: Do you understand now?


According to Gallup, 46 percent of Americans do not feel prepared for retirement. Despite a booming economy, this number is much higher than it was before the Great Recession of 2008. If you're wondering whether or not you're prepared to hang up your boots, here are some things to consider before you decide if you're ready for retirement. Here's why you are not ready for retirement According to Gallup , 46 percent of Americans do not feel prepared for retirement. Despite a booming economy, this number is much higher than it was before the Great Recession of 2008. If you're wondering whether or not you're prepared to hang up your boots, here are some things to consider before you decide if you're ready for retirement. You have too much debt Forty percent of retirees cite debt as a top priority, according to a report from the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies . This should be a wake-up call to anyone who might be considering retirement when they still have outstanding credit card bills to pay. You may not keep your head above water with a lower retirement income. You're struggling to pay the bills Retirement planners and experts sometimes refer to the "70 percent rule," which stipulates that you should plan to live on 70 percent (or sometimes 80 percent) of your pre-retirement income once you retire. If you're struggling to pay your bills now, then you should consider whether it's possible to maintain your standard of living without that active income. You have unexpected health costs Once you reach retirement age, it's possible that you or your spouse may experience health complications that will make it difficult to retire on time. A study from Fidelity Investments says that the average healthy 65-year-old couple will spend $260,000 in retirement, but that number could be much higher for someone with a complication. You don't enjoy being alone When you retire, the built-in social network at your job will no longer be there every day. In other words, you might feel lonely, and loneliness can affect your health in retirement, according to the AARP . You may want to consider meeting new people or reconnecting with old friends before you decide to quit your job for good. You have no retirement plans Many retirees put money away for travel in their old age, while others have meticulously planned their finances for the event. If you haven't even thought about what you would do if you no longer had to work, then you can probably work for a few more years while you figure things out. You haven't prepared financially Forty-six percent of Americans don't expect to live comfortably when they retire, according to Gallup . This statistic reflects the growing inequality in the country, despite a booming economy. Not surprisingly, seniors who expect to have the most trouble in retirement are those who make the least amount of money. None of your friends have retired A study cited in the Chicago Tribune shows that retirees have a hard time making new friends. Retirement will give you a lot of free time, but what good is that if you don't have anyone to spend it with? If your friends aren't ready to retire yet, consider holding off on retirement for a few years. You're still healthy! A 2014 study by Merrill Lynch found that people who choose to retire early often cite health as their reason for leaving the workforce. For many people, retirement isn't so much a choice as a necessity. If you've reached retirement age but still feel fit as a fiddle, there's no rush to give up your career. You think you might return to work According to Forbes , so-called "unretirement" retirees returning to their careers is becoming more common as life expectancies and financial uncertainties grow. It can be difficult to find a new job as an older worker, so it may be best to consider whether you need to retire at all if you think you'll end up back at the office. You still have dependents As people put off marriage longer and young people take longer to enter the workforce in earnest, parents are finding it hard to fully retire while they're still taking care of children and dependents, according to Forbes . It may be best to wait until they've found a new career before you give up your main source of income. You don't have savings According to CNBC , 21 percent of Americans don't have any money saved for retirement. As more baby boomers reach 65, the rate of seniors living in poverty is growing, according to the Atlantic . As a result, more and more seniors are working low-wage jobs to supplement their Social Security payments. You have only one source of income According to a study by the Investment Company Institute , 43.6 percent of American families invest in mutual funds to supplement their savings and Social Security. If you only have one source of income and no investments in retirement, then you may have a tough time making ends meet. You bought a big house If you bought a house that's beyond your means, you're not alone. A high-end "McMansion" could cost $100,000 annually to maintain, according to a certified financial planner interviewed in the Wall Street Journal . If home maintenance and mortgage payments are weighing you down, consider downsizing your home before you make any retirement plans. Your investments didn't pan out In the Great Recession of 2008, 401(k) funds lost more than 20 percent of their value, according to CNBC . While retirement investments are supposed to be protected from market corrections, they aren't immune, and a bad year in the stock market can leave you struggling to find a way to retire. You might live longer than you expected When the retirement age was set many, many years ago, humans simply weren't expected to live as long as they are now. Although life expectancy has dropped slightly in recent years, according to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , Americans are still living much longer than their grandparents. You claimed Social Security too early Americans can claim Social Security as early as 62, but it's not always wise to do so. The earlier you claim your Social Security, the less your monthly payout will be, according to the Social Security Administration website . Make sure those payments are going to match your needs down the road before you opt in to Social Security. You were laid off before retirement age If you find yourself laid off (or fired) before retirement age, it may be tough to find a new job and make up for lost time before you reach the age of 65. Older workers have a more difficult time finding new careers than younger competitors for the same positions. According to the New York Times , it takes over 52 weeks for an older worker to find a new career after an unexpected job loss. You didn't prepare with an IRA One way to prepare for retirement is to put money into an individual retirement account (IRA), which allows you to defer income taxes on your savings until your retirement, according to CNN . Without an IRA, your retirement savings will be more heavily taxed, which could leave you with a shortfall when you give up your career. You might spend more than you expect According to The Motley Fool , recent retirees actually spend more money during their first few years of retirement than they did when they were working. You'll have many more opportunities to spend money with a job to keep you busy, so put together a budget before you make the decision to retire. You like your job too much The best reason to put off retirement is because you're simply not ready to leave your job. If you love your career and it makes you happy, why bother retiring? According to Gallup , more people work into their retirement years out of choice than out of necessity. If work gives your life meaning, then don't feel the need to give it up!


Like all NFL teams, the Chargers' top priority during the preseason is keeping their starters healthy. Quarterback Philip Rivers , for instance, played in only two of the Chargers' four preseason games last year, and threw just seven passes in each of them. But this preseason, Rivers may play even less. Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn said today that he has evaluated the strategy used by Rams head coach Sean McVay last preseason, when many of the Rams' top players   including quarterback Jared Goff , running back Todd Gurley and receivers Robert Woods , Brandin Cooks and Cooper Kupp   didn't play at all. Lynn said that after evaluating that strategy, he concluded that he might be better off keeping some players out of the preseason entirely. With NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell saying that four preseason games are unnecessary , coaches are proving his point by keeping players off the field.


The names Brian Simmons and Takeo Spikes aren't thrown around lightly when it comes to the Cincinnati Bengals. Yet Spikes himself has had some high praise for sixth-round pick Deshaun Davis . As for third-round pick Germaine Pratt, Bengals coaches are already seeing starter-caliber potential: But the Bengals believe they've upgraded with Davis' toughness and instincts and third-rounder Germaine Pratt's size and speed with a Simmons-esque 6-3, 240 pounds and 4.57 40-yard dash. Lukabu says Pratt is right on schedule for a third-rounder expected to contribute heavily, if not start. When he lined up Pratt last weekend, he saw why he recommended him so highly. "Smart. Downhill and he's got that burst of speed," Lukabu said. Spikes came off the board at No. 13 in the 1998 draft and the Bengals followed up with Simmons at No. 17. Simmons was a force, sticking in Cincinnati until 2007 and totaling 544 tackles, 24 sacks and 11 forced fumbles and interceptions over the course of his career. So yes, mentioning Pratt in the same breath as Simmons is a big deal. He's been receiving plenty of praise before this, as one expert had him tabbed as the Bengals' most impactful rookie and Bengals coaches have explained how he compares to Devin White and Devin Bush . Pratt did end up falling to the third round but it is clear his blend of abilities and upside has him pegged as an instant contributor. If he starts even flirting with Simmons-type play, it is hard to imagine he won't end up as the best player from the team's 2019 class. MORE: 2019 Preakness Stakes post positions and odds Did the Raiders steal the best fullback in the 2019 NFL draft? AFC Quarterback depth charts ranked Don't expect Browns to use more than 2 LBs very often Four potential Tobias Harris landing spots in free agency


Because nothing is over until we say it is. Justin Williams remembers 2014 fondly. Zdeno Chara , Patrice Bergeron , and Tuukka Rask all remember 2010, not so fondly. The odds aren't favorable that a team can rally from a 3-0 deficit in the playoffs, but those four players are proof that while it's a difficult task, it's not impossible. The Hurricanes have staved off elimination once already in these playoffs. It's time to do so again. Twenty-seven other teams wish they were in this position. Whip out every motivational quote in your arsenal. "Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?" - Sen. John Blutarsky "Do not go gentle into that good night." - Dylan Thomas "Don't give up. Don't ever give up." - Jim Valvano "You get to the end of the toothpaste and you can always squeeze a little bit more." - Rod Brind'Amour (via Justin Williams) "It's not over until it's over." - Jaccob Slavin "Do, or do not. There is no try." - Yoda " This is your time. Now go out there and take it." - Herb Brooks "Why. Not. Us." - Jon Chase Game Notes The Hurricanes have a 14-12 all-time record (including Hartford) when facing elimination. They have gone 7-1 in their last eight elimination games, including a 2-0 record this postseason. Tonight's game marks the fifth time in franchise history that the Hurricanes trail a best-of-seven series 3-0. They have won Game 4 twice, the most recent against the New Jersey Devils in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals in 2001 (overtime game-winning goal scored by Rod Brind'Amour). The Bruins come into tonight's game on a six-game win streak, which is their longest since 1978. They are 14-6 all time in Game 4 in a best-of-seven series in which they lead 3-0. Sebastian Aho (3g, 4a) is riding a five-game points streak. Rod Brind'Amour said Curtis McElhinney will "probably" get the start in net tonight. McElhinney made 29 saves on 31 shots in the 2-1 loss in Game 3 on Tuesday. Bruins forward Chris Wagner , who scored their first goal Tuesday, was injured blocking a shot during the third period of that game and is out indefinitely. He will be replaced in the lineup by Noel Acciari . The Hurricanes did not practice yesterday, but held media availability: [ Justin Williams and Jordan Staal ] [ Jaccob Slavin ] [ Rod Brind'Amour ]. Storm Advisory When a team is down 3-0, it's handy to be able to turn to a player with experience overcoming that deficit, and the Canes happen to have one. [ NHL.com ] Despite the 3-0 hole, the Canes still believe in themselves. [ Sportsnet ] Remembering a 3-0 playoff series comeback from 2010, with a few faces familiar to this series who were on the losing end. [ WRALSportsFan ] The Carolina Panthers RAISE UP for Game 3 (lots of photos). [ CH.com ] A day in the life of a celebrity pig. [ N&O ] Former voice of the Hurricanes Chuck Kaiton joins Craig Custance on The Full 60 podcast to discuss the Canes incredible run and to reminisce about some of the greats behind hockey broadcasts. [ The Athletic $ ] In Charlotte, confidence continues to grow among the tight-knit, leadership-driven Checkers. [ Checkers.com ] During long playoff runs, NHL players tend to forget what's going on in the outside world. [ AP ] Arrive early. Wear Black. Get Loud. Take Warning.


Word earlier this week was that the Buccaneers and defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh were finalizing a contract that would bring Suh to Tampa for the 2019 season. Reports like that are often followed closely by an announcement from the team, player or both that a contract has been signed. There's been no such announcement in this case, but the reason for the delay in sealing the deal doesn't appear to be related to any change of heart. Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports that Suh told the team he was leaving on a previously scheduled trip and that signing on the dotted line would have to wait for his return. Suh's Instagram story includes pictures is filled with photos from visits to vineyards in Bordeaux, France. It's not known when Suh will be back from sampling the local product, but it does seem the planned addition to the roster in Tampa is still on. Related slideshow: 2019 NFL draft: The top picks (Provided by imagn)


Bears cornerback Duke Shelley was the final 2019 sixth-round pick without a contract, but his deal is now done. The Bears announced that Shelley signed his four-year pact with the team on Thursday. The signing leaves the Bears with their entire draft class under contract. Shelley became a starter during his freshman year at Kansas State and led the team in interceptions last year despite missing five games with a leg injury. At 5'9″, he'll likely be competing for time as a slot corner although special teams is often the route to early playing time for late-round picks. There are now 15 unsigned 2019 draft picks and only one of them   Vikings seventh-round long snapper Austin Cutting   was drafted after the third round.


LOS ANGELES (AP) LA Galaxy forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been suspended two games by Major League Soccer's disciplinary committee for his conduct during last weekend's game against New York City FC. The league said Friday that Ibrahimovic's actions against NYCFC goalkeeper Sean Johnson constituted violent conduct. Ibrahimovic was bumped in the back by Johnson following a missed shot in the 87th minute of a 2-0 loss Saturday. Ibrahimovic grabbed Johnson by the neck with his right hand before both players fell. It is the second time the former Sweden star has been fined for on-field since he joined the league last year. He received a red card and was suspended in a match last season for slapping a Montreal player on the side of the head. Ibrahimovic is second in scoring with nine goals in 10 MLS games. --- More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/apf-Soccer and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports


Curious just how far your dollar goes in Fenway? According to Walk Score, this Boston neighborhood has excellent walkability, is great for biking and boasts excellent transit options. Data from rental site Zumper shows that the median rent for a one bedroom in Fenway is currently hovering around $2,500. So, what might you expect to find if you've got a budget of $2,100/month? Read on for a roundup of the latest rental listings, via Zumper and Apartment Guide . (Note: prices and availability are subject to change.) Hoodline offers data-driven analysis of local happenings and trends across cities. Links included in this article may earn Hoodline a commission on clicks and transactions. Symphony Road and Hemenway Street Listed for $2,050/month, this studio apartment is situated at Symphony Road and Hemenway Street. Amenities offered in the building include assigned parking and on-site laundry. You can also expect to find central heating, hardwood flooring, high ceilings and a renovated kitchen in the unit. Pets are not permitted. Expect a broker's fee equal to one month's rent. (See the complete listing here .) 113 Norway St. Next, listed at $2,050/month, this 550-square-foot one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment is located at 113 Norway St. Pets are not welcome. Look out for a broker's fee equal to one month's rent. (Take a look at the complete listing here .) 59 Burbank St. Finally, there's this one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment situated at 59 Burbank St. It's listed for $2,100/month. In the apartment, you'll find hardwood flooring. The building offers on-site laundry. Neither cats nor dogs are permitted. The listing specifies a broker's fee equal to one month's rent. (Take a gander at the complete listing here .) This story was created automatically using local real estate data, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


For many people, health care insurance is a luxury   and often, even those who have it can't afford to actually use it. Dr. Stacey Denlinger calls such individuals the "functionally insured." They're people who have insurance but who choose not to use it because of prohibitive costs for primary care or medication. "Essentially these people are pretty functionally uninsured because they carry insurance but they are not using it because they can't afford to pay the office visits," Denlinger said. "They're carrying some kind of high-deductible insurance plan that is causing them to avoid seeing the doctor for medical conditions." Denlinger and Dr. Patrick Rohal are hoping their new practice, Covenant MD in Emigsville, can help bridge the gap between affordable primary care and pricey insurance plans. "The problem with that is it is hard to do really good primary care in 15 minute increments and you're trying to guide patients through things like diabetes, high blood pressure, even depression," Rohal said. "Sometimes it takes a lot longer in the visit. If we had the time, we'd make much better use of the visit." Rohal developed the idea in the mid-2000s after reading about a similar primary care unit in Raleigh, North Carolina in a medical journal. Both Rohal and Denlinger previously worked in facilities where they were in charge of over 2,000 patients. They noticed a substandard level of attention in the doctor-patient relationship on top of the burden of navigating insurance markets, which often dictate where an individual can receive treatment and how much it will cost. Related: Restaurant life: Poverty, no healthcare & why no one says 'I want to be a server for life' "You're seeing your doctor, not a random urgent care doctor who has already seen 40 people that day and is just walking in to take care of it," Denlinger said. "Practices like this are the catalysts for those conversations to develop." In January 2016, Rohal opened Covenant MD in Lancaster. The facility used a simple method: flat monthly fees for primary care and a stronger focus on the doctor-patient relationship. "For a family of five, for about the price of cable, they can buy comprehensive primary care for the entire family," Rohal said. The skinny on costs: $75 initiation fee for each household $40 per month for ages 18 and under ($20 if parent/guardian is already enrolled) $60 per month for ages 19 to 44 $70 per month for ages 45 to 64 $85 per month for ages 65 to 99 $1 per month for centurions Rohal had no intention of opening a second clinic, but following a series of conversations with Matthews International , Rohal opened the York location in January 2019 as a near-site clinic for over 400 of the company's employees. According to Rohal, the company wanted to provide better health care alternatives. Many of those initial referrals from Matthews were the "functionally insured," Denlinger said. "That clearly is a field where you have the working unhealthy, and eventually something will give. And those people will suffer some catastrophic illness that could put them out of work permanently." More: 'It's horrifying to think about:': How can schools combat sudden cardiac arrest? More: Over $50 million in investments, WellSpan continues to expand central PA footprint "They (Williams Intl.) decided to help us out with the buildout for this space and the overhead until we get in the black," Rohal said. In April, the York office opened to the public. Covenant MD aims to provide a one-stop shop for essential primary care and streamline any referral or medication needs. Denlinger serves as the sole physician at the location and sees approximately five to six clients a day. Rohal is currently looking to board a second physician as memberships pick up. On-site Denlinger said she can provide initial assessments, vaccinations, bloodwork and splinting of acute orthopedic injuries. With the monthly memberships, clients have unlimited visits. Via Covenant MD's on-site pharmacy, she can also prescribe medications. The office purchases and stocks the pharmacy, which results in a lower upfront cost for patients. This includes insulin for diabetes. According to Denlinger and Rohal, the office is currently receiving some nongeneric expensive medication samples from drug companies for diabetes medications, which means free or cheap insulin costs in the short term. "A lot of them are coming from their prior office and their utilizing old medications that work for a period of time," she said. "Because we are able to get samples from drug companies and can use saving cards to try and keep them on the best medication that has the benefits of reducing cardiovascular disease and A1Cs ... and those patients are not paying for those medications when we're sampling them from here." If a client needs an X-ray or imaging or a referral, Covenant MD has a working relationship with OSS Health and UPMC and will accept cash-paying patients. Usually an X-ray referral costs around $45, Denlinger said. For specialist care referrals, the York office is currently expanding its network for offices that accept self-pay prices. The Lancaster office has an established relationship with OSS Health, Rohal said. Help the York Daily Record continue to provide in-depth reporting like this. Find our latest subscription options and special offers here. With the referrals, if a client is insured, he or she can still use their deductible if they choose to do so. And for preventive procedures such as mammograms or colonoscopies, Denlinger recommends using coverage if applicable. "Just being here for a short period of time, I can tell you this model is needed in York," Denlinger said. The goal for Covenant MD is to be an alternative for individuals who have high co-pays or who cannot afford lab or medication for illness without cutting into their deductibles said Rohal. "Your car insurance doesn't pay for your gas, or it doesn't pay for your oil changes, you don't have to suffer through your network and how to network gas stations, and yet we do that with health insurance and paying for primary care," Rohal said. "I think we have a great start in the market here as far as thinking outside the insurance box." Covenant MD has three physicians, including Denlinger and Rohal, and a nurse practitioner between the Lancaster and York locations. Covenant MD is located at 2811 N. George St. and is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Covenant MD in York offers flat monthly primary care, health care fee


From a music industry meet and greet to an event to learn about changes in store for community schools, there are plenty of activities in Baltimore this week. Read on for a rundown of ideas for how to fill your calendar. Hoodline offers data-driven analysis of local happenings and trends across cities. Links included in this article may earn Hoodline a commission on clicks and transactions. I AM MENtality Summer Friendraiser From the event description: Come out to learn more about the organization's mission, vision and plan of action. When: Saturday, July 27, 2-6 p.m. Where: 2601 N. Howard St. Admission: Free Click here for more details, and to get your tickets DJ/Artist Producer Meet and Greet From the event description: Meet with industry executives, DJs and producers to discuss song placements, presentation and more. When: Saturday, July 27, 4-7 p.m. Where: 900 S Carey St. Admission: Free Click here for more details, and to get your tickets YK Fight Party From the event description: Watch hometown's Gervonta Davis vs. Ricardo Nunez. When: Saturday, July 27, 10 p.m.- midnight Where: Annex Lounge, 1818 Maryland Ave. Admission: Free Click here for more details, and to get your tickets BEE Community Schools Cookout From the event description: Learn about what changes are coming down the line for community schools. We'll provide the food, you bring your ideas and questions. When: Sunday, July 28, 1-3 p.m. Where: Miller's Court, 2601 N. Howard St. Admission: Free Click here for more details, and to get your tickets Natural Night Out featuring Jahiti From the event description: A night of natural food and wine and featuring Jahiti of Brown FISH on acoustic guitar. When: Sunday, July 28, 5-8 p.m. Where: Orion Club, 1101 Fillmore St. Admission: $5 Click here for more details, and to get your tickets This story was created automatically using local event data, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


Many popular beliefs about travel aren't true. Travel experts bust the big airport myths. Domestic airlines transported 823 million passengers in 2016, according to the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Most travelers who pass through the nation's airports harbor certain ideas about them and flying   some of which are true, and some are false . For example, the belief that air travel can be dehydrating   that's true. Humidity levels in the cabin are usually less than 20 percent, whereas in the home they're often higher than 30 percent, according to the World Health Organization. But another popular belief   that airlines will cancel a flight if there are only one or two passengers   isn't true. Click through to uncover the biggest airport rumors you shouldn't believe. Myth 1: Booking a round-trip air ticket is cheaper than two one-way airfares. Most people assume they can save more money on airfare by buying a round-trip ticket rather than buying two one-way tickets, but this is not always the case. "Travelers may be able to find a better deal and more convenient flight times by booking two one-way tickets, on the same airline or different," said Kristina Portillo, founder of travel and wellness website Business Travel Life. "The airlines often show the most expensive or most popular flight times first when booking a roundtrip, but booking one-way will unbundle the ticket price for each direction," she said. "This is not always true, but it is worth taking the extra time to find out." Myth 2: Flight delays are not eligible for compensation. Delays are typical airport mistakes for which compensation is a pipe dream   except for when you are eligible. Airlines that fly just in the U.S. are not required by law to provide compensation for flight delays, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. However, airlines flying within Europe are subject to EU laws that do require passengers to be compensated for delays. Millions of air passengers yearly are eligible for compensation in Europe alone, according to Eve Buechner, founder of airfare refund website Refund.me. Worldwide, an estimated $7 billion in potential compensation money for delays, cancellations, re-routings and missed flights remains unclaimed. Only 2 percent of air passengers file a claim, and 90 percent of air passengers are unaware they have the right to claim for flight delays, she said.  Passengers are protected under EU law when flying on any flight from and to Europe, as long as the flight is operated by an EU-registered airline and code-share flights   for example, they booked American Airlines, but the flight is operated by British Airways,  Buechner added. Myth 3: Airlines will cancel flights with only a few passengers. One of the biggest airport myths is that airlines cancel flights if there are only a few passengers. The assumption is that it's not worth the cost to the airline to operate the flight. This is not actually the case, said travel agency owner and former airline employee Anthony Klang of Cruise Planners. "What seems to be forgotten is that the aircraft is needed elsewhere," said Klang. "As a 3-million-mile butt-in-seat flyer, I have been on jet flights with as few as eight people and one of two people on a commuter flight." Klang said that there is one instance in which a flight might be canceled. "If an airplane is having a mechanical issue and there is an aircraft that is lightly booked, while the canceled flight is heavily booked   the airline may cancel the lighter-booked flight since that means less people to re-accommodate," he said. Myth 4: You can only bring one or two bottles of wine through customs. Many people believe that there is a limit on the amount of alcohol that can be brought into the U.S. when arriving from another country: two to three bottles of wine, for example, or a bottle of scotch. In fact, this is only the duty-free limit, and there is no limit if the alcohol is for personal consumption. Duty, however, is expected to be paid per bottle over the duty-free limit of one liter, according to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Paul Budny is a managing partner of Lazenne, a European firm that sells travel accessories for wine lovers. "In theory, travelers are subject to duties that range from 35 cents to $2 per bottle, but in practice, no one gets charged this by border control because it's too small of an amount for customs officers to do paperwork," he said. Myth 5: The cost of flights goes up every year. It's a popular travel myth that flight costs go up every year, but that's not always the case. For example, travel industry revenues increased in 2016, but not because of an increase in flight prices. In 2016, the average airfare was $349, down from $382 in 2015, according to the most recent data from the BTS. The reason for the drop was "because of low oil prices and airline capacity growth," said Tom Spagnola, senior vice president of supplier relations for travel booking website CheapOair. Yet revenue for online travel bookings in 2016 was $564 million, up from $496 million in 2015, according to Statista. Thanks to the convenience of technology, mobile apps and the accessibility of online brands, travel revenue increased by about 14 percent in 2016. It's time to book that vacation. Myth 6: Your pets will enjoy their flight. You might think that flying your pet is not a big deal ; pets fly safely all the time in temperature-controlled cargo holds. In reality, the experience might be far from stress-free. Airlines do their best to keep your pet safe during a flight, but some things will be upsetting to most animals.  One thing I cannot stress enough is how your pets are treated,  according to one airport fueler s account in Thought Catalogue.  While your airline will take the best possible actions, some things cannot be avoided, like the noise on the ramp. I cannot stand out there without ear protection. Imagine your pet sitting out there waiting to be loaded onto the plane being exposed to the same amount of noise I am. Please, people, think twice before flying your pets.  Myth 7: You'll get a big pay-out if you're bumped off a flight. Some passengers are quite happy to be bumped, anticipating hefty compensation for giving up their seat. But check the payout before you commit, because it might be less than you expect. Voluntary bumping typically happens if a flight is overbooked and you volunteer to vacate your seat. Involuntary bumping happens without your approval. However,  Airlines won t bump a first or business class passenger or ones who pay higher fares,  said Benét J. Wilson, an aviation and travel journalist. If the airline can t get you to your destination within one to four hours of your original arrival time, by law you can get up to $675 for a U.S. destination with a short delay, and up to $1,350 for a delay of more than four hours, according to the U.S. DOT. The payouts are typically less for voluntary bumping. Although in 2017, Delta raised its cap to $2,000 in air vouchers for passengers who volunteer to get bumped, Time reported. But the law does not require compensation for volunteers who get bumped, and you re competing with other volunteers who will likely agree to get bumped for a much lower price. Myth 8: Dressing up will score you an upgrade to business class. Sadly, dressing the part probably will not get you an upgrade to business or first class . The more important factors are whether the flight is oversold, in which case there is more chance of an upgrade, plus your status as a frequent flier, according to Business Insider. For a flight from Chicago to Tokyo in August 2017, an economy-class ticket started at $1,187, a business-class seat was $2,795 and a first-class seat was $11,197, according to a Skyscanner search. Airlines can't afford to give away thousands of dollars in preferred seating no matter how expensive your suit. "Dressing up does not mean you will score an upgrade into first/business class," said Wilson. "Airlines have really tightened up on upgrades, and will reserve them for their best passengers." Myth 9: You can get an upgrade at the check-in or the gate. If you re considering wily ways to get an upgrade, such as arriving early for a flight or sobbing at the check-in desk   think again. Unless you have elite status or have paid a higher fare, upgrades are difficult to obtain. Without frequent-flier status or an expensive ticket, you are unlikely to be upgraded, according to Wilson. However, she said,  If a flight is oversold and you volunteer to be bumped, you can negotiate for an upgrade as part of your compensation.  Myth 10: Airlines will reimburse you for the value of your lost luggage. Passengers made more than 1.7 million claims of mishandled baggage in 2016, according to the BTS. Most bags can be tracked and found, and most airlines will have your bags delivered wherever you are staying. Airlines will reimburse you, but only for "some" of the value of your lost luggage. However, airlines typically will not be responsible for valuables, such as jewelry or money, according to travel blog Smarter Travel. Such items should either be left at home or packed in your carry-on. "Just because an airline loses your luggage, it doesn't mean they will pay for what you lost," said Wilson. On domestic flights, the compensation limit is $3,500 per passenger. Myth 11: Some airports are dangerous for landings. Some airports have a reputation for being dangerous during landings. Chicago Midway International Airport, New York's LaGuardia Airport and San Diego International Airport are among the scariest airports for landing, according to Airfarewatchdog. However, there are no "dangerous airports," according to Patrick Smith, a pilot and New York Times bestselling author. "An airport might be challenging for pilots depending on the length of the runway or the surrounding terrain," he said. "Mountains can complicate arrival and departure patterns because of the nearby peaks, and airports such as LaGuardia in New York are known for their short runways." Myth 12: Your bags will be checked through to your destination. Your bags are typically checked to your destination for flights within the U.S. But this is not the case if you are flying internationally and change planes in the U.S. Travelers arriving from foreign destinations must clear customs and, if they have another flight, collect and re-check their bags. This is not the case in other parts of the world. "It's a shame that American airports cannot, for whatever reasons, recognize the 'in transit' concept," said Smith. "It's an enormous hassle, unheard of in most of the world. And it costs our airlines millions of annual customers." Myth 13: WiFi access is a piece of cake. With so many business travelers waiting for planes, you d think that airports would provide good WiFi access. Well, don t plan on it, unless you are lucky enough to take advantage of the club lounge free WiFi and pre-boarding cocktails. Although some airports provide free WiFi, such as Las Vegas, Seattle and Boston, travel blog IndependentTraveler stated that  free of charge: doesn t mean  free and easy.  The service can be unreliable, and there might be a limit to the length of time you can use the service before having to pay.  For pay-per-use WiFi, you might be charged $8 to $10 a day, and hourly rates are not often an option, according to IndependentTraveler.  Many terminals do have WiFi access, but it s often expensive and cumbersome   few things in life are more irritating than those credit card payment pages,  said Smith.  It should be everywhere, and it should be free.  Myth 14: The radiation from security body scanners is dangerous. People who travel frequently might be wary of airport security scanners because they give off radiation. However, security scanners at airports deliver very small amounts of radiation, only 0.00002 milli Sieverts (mSv), according to Imperial College London. Compare that to a regular CT scan for health purposes, which gives off around 10 mSv. To put this in perspective, drinking three glasses of water a day for a year would expose an individual to around 0.00045 mSv, almost five times more than a scan at the airport, according to CBS News. People are exposed to radiation every day. Myth 15: Body scans are invasive, and TSA pat-downs are required. The airport myth that everybody must receive a TSA pat-down is debunked by the U.S. Senate. The Senate stated that only passengers who set off the metal detector or the full-body scanner are subject to a pat-down. The Senate said that security is "designed to be thorough," and this is probably one of people's least-favorite aspects of air travel . The pat-downs are done by a same-gender officer, and a traveler can request that it be done in private with a travel companion if they so desire. Additionally, the X-ray machines that were introduced in 2008, and criticized for their invasive and revealing images, were removed from all airports in 2013, according to USA Today. Myth 16: Ventilation systems harbor cold and flu viruses. A common myth is that air ventilation systems on planes harbor germs and viruses. The air on planes is recycled, and the thought of sharing the air with others who are coughing and sneezing might be disconcerting. However, cabin air filters capture up to 99.9 percent of bacteria and viruses, according to Business Insider. Travelers should actually be more concerned about eating surfaces in airports and planes. Tray tables harbor around 2,155 colony forming units (CFUs) of bacteria, the highest amount of bacteria found by a study on plane and airport cleanliness, according to a study by travel website TravelMath. Compare this to the average household toilet, which has around 172 CFUs. Experts suggest not eating anything that has touched the tray table directly, washing your hands often and using hand sanitizer, according to MSN. Myth 17: Summer travel is subject to fewer delays. Snow storms cannot cancel and delay flights in the summer. However, there are more flight cancellations in the summer because of weather at this time of year, according to expert resource site Bottom Line Inc. Thunderstorms and tropical storms are more common, and disrupt airline schedules just as much as winter storms. Additionally, airlines do not have to compensate travelers for delayed or canceled flights as a result of bad weather. Most weather delays occur in May, June and July, and about one in six people can expect to be delayed, according to ABC News. The good news is that pilots can avoid thunderstorms, sometimes flying hundreds of miles to avoid them, and buffers are added to flight times to allow for circumnavigation, just in case. Myth 18: Budget travel means sacrificing quality. Many people assume that if you buy a budget holiday package or a discounted air ticket, you are buying something of poorer quality. This is not the case. Companies offer discounted flights and holiday packages when demand is low to try to increase their revenues during off-seasons. In fact, you could be getting a superior travel experience with a discount . "Budgeting often means making trade-offs between various factors, like price and quality," said Benjamin Glaser, features editor of DealNews. "But budget travel could even be more enjoyable in some instances: Visiting destinations during off-peak seasons means fewer crowds, better accommodations and maybe more interactions with locals." Myth 19: Traveler's checks are a must for foreign travel. Traveler's checks were a popular way to spend money abroad before ATMs were so prolific, and you can get your money back if you lose them. But they are also inconvenient. Typically, they can only be exchanged at a bank or a currency exchange at the airport, which is a pain if find yourself in the middle of the British countryside. An ID is required when cashing the checks, and carrying your passport or driver's license is an added risk. "Your bank probably has domestic and international partners that allow you to use their ATMs for low or no fees," said Glaser. "Stick to these bank ATMs and take out just enough cash as you need. Keep an eye on your statement. If any fraudulent activity appears, report it immediately. You are not responsible for any fraudulent charges." Myth 20: You have to obtain a visa on arrival. A visitor's visa for foreign travel can mean in-person application at the nearest embassy and interminable waiting. However, top destinations in the world   such as Australia, Cambodia, India, Kenya, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Turkey and Uganda   now welcome travelers with eVisas. EVisas save time at airport arrivals; you simply use a different line at the airport immigration area. Customs and immigration halls can be congested. "This is especially true for India and Turkey," said Ivan Botero, online travel specialist for passport and visa service iVisa. "We heard from a work colleague who arrived in India with an eVisa, but a few people from the group opted for a visa on arrival. Those with an eVisa cleared customs in less than 30 minutes, but the others waited for over two hours, and those on the bus had to wait for a few people who did not have their visas ready before arrival."


Editor's note: The opinions in this article are the author's, as published by our content partner, and do not necessarily represent the views of MSN or Microsoft. Google's recent demonetizing of commentator Steven Crowder's YouTube channel, and ongoing shenanigans such as Pinterest and YouTube recently suppressing pro-life content, has resurrected the question of how to take on Big Tech. Twitter should let the banned Conservative Voices back onto their platform, without restriction. It's called Freedom of Speech, remember. You are making a Giant Mistake!   Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 9, 2019 Perhaps, however, we on the right, bound by our unwavering love of the right to free speech, are going about this the wrong way. Just as there is an already well-established DMIC (Democrat Media Industrial Complex), there's also a CMIC (Conservative Media Industrial Complex). Thanks in large part to the internet, the CMIC has gained strength in the last decade in particular. Today, however, tens of thousands of political content creators live in fear that what they produce, whether on a commercial or personal level, will be subject to Big Tech's arbitrary and baffling speech standards. I am not looking to put tech companies out of business. What I am looking to do, and what I hope CMIC personalities will consider, is to leverage the free market principles our side claims to hold so dear. There is an untapped opportunity for those who have built immensely visible and influential brands within the CMIC to operate as their own YouTube, where freedom of speech and opinions will thrive, rather than be subjugated to authoritarian-minded arbitration. Much of the current situation is due to self-inflicted errors. We in the CMIC think on a one-dimensional level. We have our little niche. We're territorial. We talk to the same people, have the same guests on our programs, and too seldom promote up-and-coming content creators who have narratives that hundreds of millions would benefit from hearing or watching. Democrats and the DMIC, however, control the vast majority of what most Americans refer to as the "media." Unfortunately, the DMIC is usually several steps ahead of us. They won't share their audience wealth to you and me, but they'll happily redistribute benefits amongst themselves, with the ultimate goal of eliminating our rights. What is conservative media afraid of? Criticism from Democrats and the DMIC? We get that no matter what we do. It also shouldn't be fear of losing popularity. If we unequivocally reject Marxism and are good at what we do, we shouldn't worry about losing market share only gaining it. The generals who win wars are victorious because they know how to best select and then motivate their soldiers. Conservative media has always struggled, even in the Trump era, with selling and marketing. Our mindset has long been (gulp) very "Democrat-y," in that we've been okay with losing as long as we were right. The Trump disruption within the GOP was mostly due to his bold assertion that America First should not only win but should expect to win big . The American First position should always fight, because the goodness and freedoms of America are worth preserving, even at a high cost. For this reason, I publicly pitched the president and his family on the idea of forming their own Trump-branded suite of internet browsing, digital, and social media offerings. Trump's 2020 campaign manager, Brad Parscale, is an expert at using new technology for political campaigns, but what I suggested will require additional brainpower and know-how. The Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission will soon begin an antitrust probe of the tech giants, to gauge to what degree they hold monopolistic power. However, the federal government will have several challenges in any attempts to regulate entities like YouTube, Google, Facebook, and Twitter. The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution specifically prohibits the government from abridging speech. Not so with private enterprise. However, can a private tech company remove a video, or a podcast, or an article from its platform for any reason? We may soon have to confront the question if tech companies are subject to the same public accommodation laws as any business. Was the recent blanket-banning of Alex Jones and Louis Farrakhan by several tech companies the legal equivalent of a business saying: We simply refuse to serve certain customers? Before the passing of the 1965 Civil Rights Act, Democrat segregationists denied service to blacks based on personal or political beliefs as well as government-mandated Jim Crow laws. Are we seeing a return to this style of refusal-of-service? Some would argue the Constitution's Commerce Clause provides a legally viable avenue to regulate Big Tech. The Commerce Clause has been, in the opinion of some legal scholars, twisted and warped far beyond its first meaning, and it has now been employed in a host of cases and scenarios. However, the clause's original intent was to grant Congress authority to regulate commerce interstate. We must remember that our use of a tech company's platform isn't truly free. Our personal, invaluable data is exchanged for use of the platform. However, this transaction is mutually agreed upon, arguably rendering the relationship contractual. If this is the case, and if a piece of content isn't clearly inciting violence, then is the tech company in breach of a contract if our material is removed? The market for free-market content creation and production has never been more ripe for the picking. As gargantuan as the Big Tech companies are, they don't own the internet. I will not defend the type of censorship, demonetization, or deplatforming that has been perpetrated on Crowder, Dennis Prager, and many other conservative content creators. However, if our fallback stance is a sort of "woe is me" victimization, our defeat is guaranteed. Conservatives prattle on ad nauseam about how Democrats always stick together. It's true. Why don't we try that for a change? Democrats and the DMIC always focus on beating our side into submission. They're constantly playing chess, while we naively stick to playing checkers. Within the CMIC, I rarely see or hear any constructive calls to action against our opposition. I implore esteemed CMIC pundits to consider leading the charge to build up our winning army. The fight to reform our republic back to the country our founders envisioned is going to be long and arduous. And it's just getting started.


Ian St. Clair and I broke down what Flacco's big arm can do for the Broncos anemic offense. The eye-popping story from the first day of Denver Broncos minicamp was Von Miller claiming Joe Flacco threw a football 80 yards. 80. Yards. Impressive? Absolutely. Necessary? Maybe. On the MHR Radio Podcast ( iTunes, Spotify, and Stitcher ), Ian St. Clair asked what it means. Initially, the response is, "neat," but how will that translate to success on the field. Arm strength is one of those things that can give quarterbacks a certain advantage, but it might not be the most important trait. The history of the NFL is littered with huge arms. Guys who could throw from their knees at the 50 yard line and split the uprights ( Kyle Boller ). That being said, recent Broncos history is littered with guys who might not be able to do that from the 20. Perhaps that is why there are some enlarged eyeballs when Flacco shows off his arm. Overthrowing receivers 70 yards down field, and chucking it 80 yards while rolling to the right are impressive, but how does that make the offense better? Broncos Country has been subjected to three seasons of weak armed quarterbacks who seemed incapable of throwing the ball downfield. Case Keenum and Trevor Siemian seemed to have a penchant for throwing the ball 3 yards when the offense needed 4. It doesn't look like that will be an issue for Flacco. Joe Flacco's arm strength is cool, but @AdamMalnati16 & I think it gives a possible key to the #Broncos offense. On the @MileHighReport Radio Podcast, we also dive into what allows Fangio's defense to play so fast & Chris Harris Jr. @ApplePodcasts : https://t.co/0lAoGlD3X2   Ian St. Clair (@IanStClair) June 5, 2019 The other aspect of Flacco's arm strength that should make fans happy? This will stretch the field. Defenses will have to game plan for more than just stacking the box, or stopping a dink and dunk offense. Courtland Sutton will benefit from a little bit of that Flacco chuck and pray style, and Noah Fant should find success in the middle of the field. Flacco's best season in the NFL was in an offense that was almost identical to the offense that Rich Scangarello will run in Denver. He has already said the terminology is identical. Flacco seems comfortable. It looks like he has the weapons around him to be successful. So, what does throwing the ball 80 yards mean for Denver? In my opinion, something that has been lacking in Broncos Country ... Points. MHR Radio is now on iTunes, iHeartRadio, Google Play , Spotify, Stitcher , TuneIn and anywhere else you get your podcasts. Please subscribe to the one that fits your fancy, and also rate and review what you hear.


Myles Garrett has quickly proven worthy of being the No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. In his first two seasons, the Browns defensive end has already posted some impressive results: 75 tackles, 20.5 sacks, 4 forced fumbles and a Pro Bowl berth. Garrett is now established alongside some lofty company. According to Pro Football Focus, Garrett has been one of the best in the NFL over the last two seasons at rushing the passer. Their charting eliminates screens and play-action fakes, showing a truer sense of pass rush ability on straight passing plays. Look at the names up there around Garrett: Khalil Mack, Von Miller, Cam Jordan, Demarcus Lawrence, Joey Bosa. Garrett already belongs as one of the top pass rushers in the NFL, and he accomplished that despite being limited by former defensive coach Gregg Williams. Under new coordinator Steve Wilks, the NFL had better beware of the full impact of Myles Garrett. MORE: Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson roast Drake in tunnel after Game 2: 'You weren't talking tonight!' John Ross, DeSean Jackson sound game for an NFL's fastest player race Raiders WR Tyrell Williams named 'breakout star' of OTAs Report: Suns, Bulls offering lottery picks for Lonzo Ball Matthew Stafford's decline in air yards per attempt in 2018 is striking


When the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT Trackhawk launched we were stunned that it featured both the 707-horsepower Hellcat engine and all-wheel drive. But SRT has one-upped itself with a custom Durango for the One Lap of America motorsports event. It's called the Dodge Durango SRT Pursuit   nicknamed "Speed Trap"   and it has the 797 -horsepower Hellcat Redeye engine, and it still has all-wheel drive! Besides the 90-horsepower advantage over the stock Trackhawk, the Durango SRT Pursuit race SUV gets improved handling via concept lowering springs and 11-inch wide wheels with 305-mm wide tires that are shared with the Challenger Hellcat Widebody . It has improved stopping ability from 15.75-inch brake rotors up front with 6-piston calipers, and 13.78-inch rotors with four-piston calipers. This is the same kind of setup as the Trackhawk uses. Oddly enough, Dodge left the factory heated and cooled front seats, but removed the two rear rows of seats for weight savings. The Durango also gets a roll cage and racing harness. The finishing touches include a cat-back exhaust and the low-profile police light bar and paint scheme. Research the Dodge Durango | Find a Dodge Durango near you Now before you ask, there don't appear to be plans to put a Redeye-powered Durango into production. With that being said, the company clearly has the capability to mate that engine to an all-wheel-drive system, and it would be hard to imagine the company not capitalizing on that. Even if the powertrain didn't make it to a Durango, it would seem like a great complement to the existing Grand Cherokee Trackhawk, or even an updated version of it. Hint, hint, wink, wink, FCA . Dodge Durango SRT Pursuit packs the 797-horsepower Hellcat Redeye engine originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 May 2019


WIMBLEDON, England (AP)   Simona Halep's Wimbledon championship has lifted her from No. 7 to No. 4 in the WTA rankings, and runner-up Serena Williams moved up to No. 9, her best placing since returning to the tour last season after having a baby. Coco Gauff's magical run from a wild-card entry in qualifying all the way to the fourth round at the All England Club allowed her to move into the WTA's top 150 on Monday. The 15-year-old American rises to No. 141 from No. 313. Another big jump came from Barbora Strycova. The 33-year-old became the oldest first-time Grand Slam semifinalist in the professional era before losing to Williams and moved up 22 places to No. 32. Strycova is No. 1 in the doubles rankings after winning that event at Wimbledon. French Open champion Ash Barty remains at No. 1 in singles. Wimbledon men's champ Novak Djokovic stayed atop the ATP rankings. Rafael Nadal is No. 2 and runner-up Roger Federer is No. 3. ___ More AP Tennis: https://www.apnews.com/apf-Tennis and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports


A motorcyclist was killed in a York County crash on Thursday. What we know - The victim has been identified as Tyler Beaverson, 32, of Dover Township. - The crash happened around 9 p.m. in Dover Township in the area of Conewago Road. - The coroner said the motorcycle was traveling at a high rate of speed before it "impacted a truck." - Beaverson died at the scene. - The condition of the truck driver is not yet known. READ MORE: Motorcyclist traveling at high rate of speed before fatal crash, coroner says CHECK OUT WGAL: Stay in the know with the top stories of the day. Get all the latest Harrisburg, Lancaster and York news, weather and sports from the WGAL News Team.


Mikko Korhonen is one third of the way to becoming Finland's most successful golfer after winning the $3.4 million Volvo China Open. The Helsinki native earned his second European Tour title when he defeated France's Benjamin Hebert at the first hole of a sudden death playoff. Korhonen birdied the first extra hole after he and Hebert finished tied on 268, 20-under. It is Korhonen's second victory following last year's Shot Clock Masters. He is just three wins behind Mikko Ilonen, Finland's most successful golfer. "It's an amazing feeling," Korhonen said. "I don't know how I did it. But it's probably the putter that was my winning formula this week. I made lots of putts from outside 15-20 feet this week. I made a birdie on 17 and gave myself a chance to win it on 18 but I didn't manage to do that." LEADERBOARD: Volvo China Open Korhonen stood on the 17 th tee in a three-way tie for the lead with Hebert and former Indiana standout Jorge Campillo, winner of last week's Trophée Hassan II . Korhonen edged ahead with a birdie, while Hebert followed him with a birdie on the final hole. "I was happy to get into the play-off," Korhonen said. "It was my first time in a play-off and I had nothing to lose. I just had to make birdie. Winning a golf tournament is never easy. It was a battle all day as everyone was making putts and I had to stay patient and do the same. It's great to have this second win in the bag and I'm delighted." The victory earns the Finn a place in the PGA Championship at Bethpage Black next week. His check for approximately $500,000 moves him to 17 th on the European money list from 98 th . Hebert was looking for his first European Tour win after six European Challenge Tour victories. "It has been a good week," Hebert said. "I'm happy though, finishing second. I missed the wedding of one of my cousins this week, so it was very important for me to have a good week here. "Looking at the way I played, I'm happy. Mikko played great today and he didn't make any mistakes and putted well." The Frenchman's consolation is a check for $332,000 to move to 25 th on the European order of merit. Campillo couldn't find a birdie over the final two holes to join the playoff. The former Big Ten Golfer of the Year has now finished in the top three in five of his last six appearances. He took home $187,000 to move to second on the European points list. MORE: Boxing fans had so many complaints about DAZN during Canelo Alvarez-Daniel Jacobs fight Four potential Nikola Vucevic landing spots in free agency Giants' Reggie White Jr. doesn't care whose No. 13 he's wearing Lions gave OT Ryan Pope the biggest UDFA guaranteed deal News & Notes: Jones $7.5M gift, Cowboys E-sports brand, Gregory update


Like it or loathe it, there's a certain stereotype that comes with being a middle child. But what's it really like to be a middle-born, and does birth order affect personality at all? We separate fact from fiction... Like it or loathe it, there's a certain stereotype that comes with being a middle child. In pop culture, TV shows from Malcolm In the Middle to The Simpsons play on the idea of what it's like to be a middle-born   they're usually portrayed as the family misfit, isolated between the oldest and youngest children. But what's it really like to be a middle child, and does birth order affect personality at all? We separate fact from fiction... MYTH: 'Middle child syndrome' is real and lasts for life The theory claims that middle-borns feel neglected between the privileged firstborn and the spoiled youngest, and tend to stay bitter about it. However, research now suggests that middle children actually react well to different family dynamics, and develop traits that help them succeed in life. FACT: Middle children are becoming rarer According to New York Magazine, the majority of families during the 1970s had four or more children. The average family size has decreased since then, with nearly two-thirds of women having just one or two kids   meaning the number of middle children is declining. MYTH: Middle children tend to underachieve Being the middle-born usually comes with a different set of expectations. Whereas parents usually have a clear set of goals for their first child, middle children are left to their own devices; this lack of expectation has been said to foster an underachieving mindset. However, this is not always the case. Freedom to make their own way in life can result in a successful career   just on their own terms. FACT: Most US presidents were middle children A commonly held myth is that the majority of presidents were firstborn. In fact, 52% were middle children   a list containing some of the most famous presidents in history from George Washington and Abraham Lincoln to JFK. According to professor of psychology Dr. Catherine Salmon, this fallacy came about because older sisters were often overlooked. FACT: Middle children are negotiators As a result of being in the middle of sibling disputes, many middle kids develop skills of diplomacy, negotiation and resilience. As psychologist Frank Sulloway notes,  Middle-borns are the most willing to wheel and deal    the very traits which would make them good presidents, no less. MYTH: Middle-children are wallflowers Stuck between the eldest and the youngest, middle-borns are often stereotyped as being the more reserved sibling. In fact, a 2003 study published by Human Nature states that in general, middle children have a more positive view of friendship. As they tend to rely on relationships outside of their parents for emotional support, they can grow up to be much more sociable. FACT: Many inspiring and successful people are middle children Nelson Mandela, Bill Gates, Martin Luther King Jr., Michael Jordan, Charlotte and Emily Bronte are among the well-known middle-borns who have been trail-blazers in their respective fields. FACT: Middle-borns often seek out the opposite role to the firstborn The personality traits of middle children often depend on the firstborn. As psychologist Kevin Leman states,  Once a role is filled by the firstborn, the second-born will seek out a role that's completely the opposite.  This makes their characteristics much harder to define. MYTH: Birth order automatically determines personality: Birth order can have some influence over personality trait, but it isn't the defining feature. 'For middle children, some things may be easier, but you aren't necessarily slotted into that role for the rest of your life,' says Salmon. A host of factors influence the way we interact with others   so don't feel like you're stuck in the middle! Birth order can have some influence over personality trait, but it isn't the defining feature. 'For middle children, some things may be easier, but you aren't necessarily slotted into that role for the rest of your life,' says Salmon. A host of factors influence the way we interact with others   so don't feel like you're stuck in the middle!


Cruise-ship passengers used to tip workers in cash, but in recent decades, most cruise lines have begun adding gratuity charges to passengers' bills. Doing so can be convenient for passengers, but the shift has been harmful for some workers, maritime lawyer Michael Guilford told Business Insider. Most cruise lines distribute the gratuity charges among a number of workers, including some, like laundry workers, who previously didn't receive tips, Guilford said. But some workers, like room stewards, have seen their overall pay decrease because they now earn less in tips than they used to, Guilford said, and some workers who began receiving tips after the shift to automatic gratuity have seen no change in their overall pay because their base salaries have decreased by the amount they now receive in gratuity. Guilford said he's spoken with hundreds of cruise-ship employees both before and after cruise lines moved to automatic gratuity, and those who received cash tips reported much higher tip-based income than those Guilford has spoken with since the shift, suggesting that the overall amount of money spent by passengers on tips has decreased. "I had crew members come in here saying they were making X when they were getting cash tips and are now making significantly less than X because they've gone to this new tipping program," Guilford said. RELATED VIDEO: 5 Things You Should Never Do On a Cruise (via Buzz60)


I. THE FUSE When Goran Dragic declared on Wednesday that he had lost trust in the Phoenix Suns , his team had a few options. Reportedly (and understandably) livid at the inconvenient timing of the pronouncement, Suns management could have called Dragic's bluff and held his rights while attempting to deal Isaiah Thomas . The offseason addition of Thomas, a lightning bolt scoring guard, had set things wrong with Dragic as IT2's presence reduced the Slovenian's role in a contract year. While Thomas was in some ways insurance against Dragic's potential 2015 free agency flight, Thomas' presence made that flight more likely. The pose from the Suns was that the team would not acquiesce to Dragic's demands unless a deal made sense for the franchise. So when the point guard's list of acceptable partners came out, starring the asset-poor Lakers , Knicks and Heat , we all understood that to mean that one side was going to end up really unhappy on Thursday evening, and that side would probably be Camp Dragic. After all, Dragic was third team All-NBA last season, and is just 28 years old. The Heat, Lakers and Knicks had point guards they could trade, but no one with any realistic potential of someday equaling Dragic. In that view, all looked hopeless: the Suns would either call the bluff and hold on to Dragic or ship him somewhere he didn't want to be. Unless there was a Plan C, one that involved flipping Phoenix's plentiful other assets for a hot young point guard who could slide right up next to Bledsoe and Markieff Morris . II. THE EXPLOSION So there was, and his name was Brandon Knight. Suns GM Ryan McDonough lit the fuse, took cover and blew the deadline into a million pieces. Knowing that Dragic was willing to sign a long-term deal in Miami, the Heat lobbed plenty of assets -- including two future first-round picks, one of which is an unprotected 2021 selection, which is crazy -- at the Suns. With that treasure trove in hand, the Suns made their best asset -- the Lakers' protected first-round pick -- available in a deal for Knight. Milwaukee's in the playoff race and trying to build an arena with public funding, though. The Bucks probably wouldn't have dealt Knight for even that pick. The Suns needed help translating the pick into a real player. There just so happens to be a team that is glad to snatch up potential lottery picks in exchange for young players: the Philadelphia 76ers . And those Sixers happened to have something the Bucks would want in a cheaper young point guard with promise: Michael Carter-Williams . Most teams would resist trading reigning Rookies of the Year for future draft considerations. The 76ers are not most teams. GM Sam Hinkie continues to follow his blueprint, and continues to give zero whits about what anyone else thinks. That commitment to the process allowed the Suns to make their moves, which allowed Miami to retool and add a third star. III. THE AFTERMATH Philadelphia made some other Very 76ers Moves around the MCW deal, trading K.J. McDaniels for a pick and taking on a pick to eat JaVake McGee's salary for 18 months. They are moves that will reinforce both sides of the great Hinkie debate. Fans will laud the addition of another potentially great pick and critics will rip the commitment to losing. (The best part: Hinkie, the man at the center, doesn't participate in the debate at all except to throw kerosene on it at the deadline and draft each year.) Miami didn't quite mortgage its future for Dragic, but trading an unprotected pick six years out is rather daring. Seven months after losing LeBron James in free agency, team boss Pat Riley has resuscitated a Big Three of sorts, pending Dwyane Wade's health. This isn't a Finals team, but if things break properly an upper-level East team is going to get mighty nervous when it draws the Heat. And next year, Miami will be gunning for the Cavaliers . But no team had more at stake entering Thursday than the Suns, and no team detonated its roster quite like Phoenix. At the end of the day, the Suns had traded the Dragic brothers and Isaiah Thomas, the Lakers' pick, Tyler Ennis and Miles Plumlee for Knight, four future first-round picks and some roster chaff. Somehow, the Suns traded away five players -- three of whom played major roles -- while improving the team's long-term outlook and maintaining its viability in the West playoff race. That shouldn't be possible, and perhaps time will render McDonough's haul less impressive. Regardless, the gambit will forever be remembered as incredible in its pure explosive power.


Martin Ødegaard looks set to continue his development away from Real Madrid, with the Norwegian youngster poised to join Real Sociedad on a two-year loan deal. Prior to his departure, however, Real president Florentino Perez will insist that the highly rated prospect will sign a contract extension until 2023, putting to bed speculation that the 20-year-old could leave permanently this summer. The 20-year-old impressed on loan at Vitesse Arnhem last season, scoring 12 goals, and his fine form had attracted the eye of a number of top European clubs. His performances also fuelled rumours that Ødegaard may try and manufactured a permanent move away from Real , in search of regular first-team football. Ajax and Bayer Leverkusen were both interested, but Marca are now reporting that Ødegaard will be plying his trade for La Real for the next two seasons. Ødegaard made headlines in 2015, when Real Madrid paid over £2m for his services despite the prodigy only being 16 years old. Since signing, the midfielder has struggled to make an impact on the Los Blancos first team and has relied on loan moves to gain experience. An uneventful spell at Heerenveen proceeded this season's exploits at Vitesse, where Ødegaard showcased his creative flair by finishing third on the Eredivisie assist table with 12. Ødegaard will add to an already impressive group of creative options at Real Sociedad, that includes former Manchester United starlet Adnan Januzaj as well as Brazilian striker Willian José. His arrival may also spell the end of La Real's pursuit of FC Nordsjaelland youngster Andreas Skov Olsen, which will be welcome news for Mauricio Pochettino and Tottenham Hotspur .


Chris Sale was mediocre again, Brandon Workman gave up three runs in 1/3 of an inning and the Yankees swept the Red Sox in an early season two-game series. Boston was 6-13 on April 17 following a championship campaign in which it won 108 games and never faced an elimination game in the playoffs. It was a gut punch to the Red Sox, their fans and every single pundit who picked Boston to repeat. The players themselves were stunned as this was like nothing they faced in 2018. "I just think teams were excited to play against us man, and every time they played against us they showed up big time," shortstop Xander Bogaerts told Omnisport in an interview on behalf of Aruba.com this week. "They wanted to beat us extra bad." Possibly the most difficult part of the first half to deal with was the consistency of the Red Sox lineup. Through 90 games this season Boston leads MLB in multiple offensive categories including runs, hits, batting average and on-base percentage. The calling card of the 2018 World Champions has remained the same. The difference has been the pitching rotation which has featured a Chris Sale who has fought to find his form from previous seasons as well as his velocity and injuries to big-name starters David Price and Nathan Eovaldi. That has resulted in a compromised pitching staff which sits middle of the pack in just about everything. Boston has been forced to play from behind and make up for lack of consistency among its pitchers and that has resulted in plenty of ups and downs. Red Sox Offensive Stats Stat Red Sox MLB rank Batting average .272 T-1 On-Base Percentage .345 1 Hits 874 1 Runs 509 T-1 Red Sox Pitching Stats Stat Red Sox MLB rank ERA 4.59 17 FIP 4.10 25 Batting average against .250 15 Quality starts 33 T-18 It's something 2018 MVP candidate J.D. Martinez says the Red Sox weren't quite ready to deal with. "We didn't have that adversity (in 2018)," Martinez told MassLive.com at the All-Star Game in Cleveland this week. "We didn't have those ups and downs. Those are the ones that wear you out. Those ups and downs, those are the ones that grind you out mentally. "When everyone's cruising, like it was last year, that was easy. It was fun. That was just a roll. You knew somebody that night was going to get a big hit. You knew you were going to win the game somehow. Going to the ballpark with that attitude took so much pressure off our shoulders. It was just different." Boston has had to fight for every single win in 2019. That fighting has paid off with a bounce back from a poor start as it now sits at 49-41 (good for third in the AL East) following that 6-13 start by going 43-28 the rest of the way. They truly took every team's best shot, just like Bogaerts said, and it appears the Red Sox are starting to learn how to roll with the punches. Bogaerts truly believes the team is starting to adjust and expects a much better second half. MORE : MLB trade rumors: Yankees, Red Sox looking to acquire Mets' Zack Wheeler | Red Sox's Chris Sale (3-8) sounds off on 'absolutely embarrassing' first half | Red Sox president Dave Dombrowski: Starting rotation not 'what we expected or hoped' "We kind of collectively as a team, we kind of got hot and went on a nice little run," Bogaerts said. "But the second half's going to be big for us, we're going to play with a lot of passion coming off of a few days off and we know we're starting at home so we should have the upper hand." The Red Sox start off the second half of their season against the Dodgers at 7:10 p.m. ET on Friday.