Scammers smell opportunity -- and cheat older Americans out of a staggering $36.5 billion each year. Spot these 10 scams before they ruin your retirement It's a sad fact that when you're older, con artists put a target on your back. That's because seniors are more likely to have substantial savings , own their homes and have excellent credit. Many were raised to be polite and trusting. Retirees also may be lonely or experiencing cognitive decline. Scammers smell opportunity -- and cheat older Americans out of a staggering $36.5 billion each year, a 2015 study from True Life Financial found . 1. Medicare scams Fraudsters love manipulating the Medicare system. Posing as representatives of the government health care program, they may call or email older people to fish for personal information that they can use to commit identity theft. Other scammers set up mobile units at fairs and churches and offer "free" screenings or exams. They obtain your Medicare information, submit bills for the services, pocket the money and skip town. When it's time to see your doctor for your annual exam or screenings, Medicare will deny your claim and say you've already had your covered services during the year. 2. Prescription drug schemes When seniors search the internet for affordable prescriptions, they wander right into an online bazaar offering counterfeit drugs for all manner of ailments, including heart problems, cancer, diabetes and Alzheimer's. It's a booming marketplace: Federal agents now pursue four times as many investigations into bogus medications each year as they did in the 1990s, the National Council on Aging says. At best, counterfeit products won't do anything at all for you. At worst, they could put your health or even your life at risk. Phony treatments have been known to contain paint, antifreeze or other harmful substances. Obtain medicines only from doctors, or from sources they approve. 3. Natural disaster scams Almost immediately after a devastating tornado, flood or other natural disaster, fraudsters go to work to take advantage of sympathetic seniors and other kind strangers who want to help. You may be inundated with calls from bogus charities in the days following a disaster. Never give out your credit card number or other sensitive financial information to people who contact you out of the blue. If you'd really like to provide assistance, contact a reputable charity. Pick up the phone to call in with your donation, or give money on the official website. 4. Bereavement rip-offs Some lowlifes target mourners. Scammers comb the obituaries for the names of survivors. Then, they call or show up at funerals to exploit relatives by claiming the deceased owed them money. Grieving seniors also can be preyed upon by disreputable funeral homes aggressively selling unnecessary services. For example, hucksters might imply that a pricey casket is necessary even for a cremation   which is not true in any state. When you lose someone and need to make arrangements, take a friend along with you to visit funeral homes. And ask to see detailed price lists, because facilities are required to give those upon request. 5. Telemarketing scams Telemarketing calls aren't just annoying, but they also can be scammy   especially when an elderly person answers. Con artists convince seniors that they represent charities. They collect good-faith deposits to track down large sums of money their victims are supposedly owed. They'll trick a retiree into wiring funds by claiming a family member is in the hospital and needs money. Don't fall for threats, aggressive sales pitches or offers that sound too good to be true. And never provide personal or financial information to someone who calls you. The Federal Communications Commission recommends that if you have caller ID and don't recognize a number, don't answer. Anyone who really knows you will leave a message. 6. Internet fraud Cyber thieves use realistic pop-ups to warn you that your computer has been compromised. If you click, you'll be urged to purchase fake anti-virus software. Also beware of what are called phishing emails, which look just like alerts from your bank , credit card company, energy provider or favorite online retailer. Most phishing emails ask you to follow a link and update your account information   for the scammers. Or, you may get emails that appear to be from the IRS demanding back taxes. Phishing emails tend to look alarming. Misspelled words, capital letters and excessive use of punctuation are common. Simply delete them. You can pinpoint the source of a link by hovering your mouse arrow over it without clicking on it. If it's phony, it will contain an unfamiliar name or look like gobbledygook. Just trash the email. 7. Sweepstakes and lottery scams These rip-offs target seniors by phone or through the mail. You might receive a call announcing that you've won a large sum of money or some other prize. All you have to do is provide personal information and a credit card number to claim it. Or, a legitimate-looking check shows up in your mailbox with a notice that you've won a big prize. So, you deposit the check and think about how you'll use the money once it clears. Meanwhile, you get a congratulatory phone call   from the scammer, asking for credit card information to pay taxes or fees on your prize. And in a few days, the check bounces. No legitimate contest operates that way. 8. Granny scams Scammers know there's a good chance their elderly targets are grandparents. The call goes something like this: "Hi, Grandma. Guess who this is." "Anna?" "Yes. Can you send money to Western Union? I'm behind on my rent. Please don't tell Mom and Dad. They'll be so mad that I bothered you." This scheme has been around a while, but the Federal Trade Commission says a new twist has seniors increasingly mailing large amounts of cash   typically around $9,000   to people claiming to be their grandkids. The FTC says don't act on emotion but try to call the grandchild on your own. Or, see if you can check out the story with someone else in the family, not necessarily "Mom and Dad." 9. Investment fraud Con men and women know that seniors want to grow their retirement savings . They usually call or send unsolicited emails pitching stocks they say have phenomenal returns. Before you invest in anything, verify the information you were given by checking the company's financial statements. You can call your state securities regulator, or check the EDGAR database on the Securities and Exchange Commission's website. "Remember that a fraudster does not want you to think too much about the investment because you might figure out the scam," the SEC says, on its website. 10. Homeowner scams Scam artists know that many older people own a very valuable asset: their own homes. Don't fall prey to swindlers looking to capitalize on the substantial investment you've made to put that roof over your head. Be wary of anyone who pressures you to get a reverse mortgage and stands to benefit if you do. Watch out for home repair outfits that contact you directly and offer to arrange financing, and be careful when supposed county assessors offer to reassess your property for a sizable fee. Report fraud when it happens. Usa.gov has a list of scams broken down by category, with links or phone numbers so you can notify the proper agency. Stay safe! Follow us on Twitter: @moneywisecom


A report last month indicated that Packers safety Josh Jones was missing from the team's voluntary offseason workouts because he wants a trade to another team. Jones is at this week's mandatory minicamp, but didn't practice on Tuesday because of a hamstring issue. He also didn't comment on whether he's looking for a trade and directed questioners to General Manager Brian Gutekunst. Gutekunst said the team is still weighing its options. "I think it's more about what our team desire is and right now we're kind of working through that," Gutekunst said, via PackersNews.com. "But he's a very talented player. He's shown that on the field at times. We'll go along and see where it goes." The Packers signed Adrian Amos and drafted Darnell Savage in the first round, so Jones's easiest path to playing time this season would likely come with a different team.


There's a little something for everyone coming up on the events calendar this week. From a model casting to a tribute concert to The Smiths, here's a lineup of options to help you get social around town. 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. Soar The Runway 2019 Model Casting Call Part2 From the event description: Chonté Níchol & Watch Me Soar Inc presents the Soar The Runway 2019 "The ReBirth"Model Casting Call Part2 on Saturday, July 27. Ladies that are ages 16 and up are welcome , a headshot is required, models must wear 4' heel, at minimum, wear All black leggings/ straight legged jeans and a tank top or fitted tee. Men ages 16 and up are also encouraged with a headshot, must wear all black t-shirt and pants or jeans. When: Saturday, July 27, 12-5 p.m. Where: Fisher Building, 3011 E. Grand Blvd., lower level Admission: Free Click here for more details, and to get your tickets WRBG Book Club at Source Booksellers with Glory Edim From the event description: Join Well Read Black Girl Book Club at Source Booksellers for a great conversation. This event will definitely be a highlight during our 30th year in bookselling in Detroit. Glory Edim is a cultural programmer and the founder of Well-Read Black Girl (WRBG), a Brooklyn-based book club and online community that celebrates the uniqueness of Black literature and sisterhood. The book club/celebration will focus on Wayward Lives: Beautiful Experiments, Intimate Histories of Social Upheaval by Saidya Hartman. When: Saturday, July 27, 6-7:30 p.m. Where: Source Booksellers, 4240 Cass Ave., #105 Admission: Free Click here for more details, and to get your tickets The Smiths United From the event description: The Smiths United play Small's in Hamtramck for the first time ever as they perform a set of classic Smiths' songs, as well as music from the Morrissey catalog. Bedbugs & Ballyhoo (Echo and the Bunnymen) join them for a night of music. New guitarist ,Tom will also be performing. When: Saturday, July 27, 8 p.m.-Sunday, July 28, 1 a.m. Where: Small's, 10339 Conant St. Admission: $12 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.


Most great sports documentaries must address a fundamental question from the onset and handle the balance with great care. How much does the audience already know about the topic at hand, and how much should they be brought up to speed on the fundamentals? That's where director Jason Baffa succeeds most in "Loopers: The Caddie's Long Walk," a new 80-minute ode to golf's unsung heroes that will appeal to golf nuts and novices alike. There's just enough background to get everyone caught up to speed and invested in the stories that follow. Narrated by Bill Murray and featuring stunning visuals from iconic courses stateside and beyond, "Loopers" is most memorable when its focus is honed on individuals. There's some interesting overall insight on the evolution of caddies from a group of rag-tag troublemakers to professionals capable of earning seven figures, as we see with a later look at Jordan Spieth's caddie Michael Greller. Perhaps most compelling is the study of those left behind at Augusta National once the Masters did away with a rule that players must use local caddies. We see how Willie "Pappy" Stokes served as the caddie master and created a training ground of sorts for Augusta's all-black caddie contingent. We hear from several of these caddies armed with an immense knowledge of the intricate twists and turns at Augusta. It's astutely noted that Fuzzy Zoeller was the last player to win his Masters debut in 1979 with caddie Jariah Beard, four years before players were first allowed to bring their own full-time caddies. Exploring the relationship between Nick Faldo and female caddie Fanny Sunneson is another highlight. Admittedly tough to work for given his icy exterior, it's explained how this rare male-female team worked so well thanks to Sunneson's unmatched work ethic, patience and ability to connect with her player. That's the message "Loopers" continues to hammer home throughout the film - a caddie's job isn't really about giving yardages or raking bunkers. A successful caddie needs to make that personal connection to bring out the best in their player, whether it's someone they'd choose to hang out with outside the ropes or not. That's why "Loopers" is at its best exploring those personal relationships, painting a clear if not glorified picture of the caddie trade in the process. Watch one of the trailers here: 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


The courtside incident in Game 3 of the NBA Finals between Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry and Warriors minority owner Mark Stevens led to questions about player safety during games. Lowry dove out of bounds to save a loose ball and fell amongst the fans. As the Raptors guard got up and found his footing, Stevens pushed him and made derogatory comments, Lowry said, according to ESPN. Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green gave props to Lowry for how he handled the situation and also noted that players in the league are vulnerable to fans on the sidelines: Any time you're in a situation where you can do no right, like in defending yourself, you're vulnerable. So if a fan says whatever they want to you and then you say something back, you're fined. If Kyle was to then hit back, a lot more than a fine would have then happened to Kyle. Green and other members of the Warriors think a team's ownership group should be held to a higher standard, the same way players in the league are: When you're speaking of players, we are held to a different standard. Coaches are held to - anybody in the NBA circle, you're held to a different standard. So I think it's no different when you start talking of anybody in any ownership group in the league. You're held to a different standard. You can say it's unfair or not, like whatever your opinion is on it, whether you're one way or the other, that's just the reality of it. We're all held to a different standard, and that's not going to change. The NBA handed Stevens a one-year ban from attending Warriors games and participating in team activities and he was fined $500,000. Warriors coach Steve Kerr agreed Stevens' behavior was inappropriate and he would personally apologize to Lowry and the Raptors on behalf of Golden State. In March, Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook was racially taunted by a fan in a game against the Jazz in Utah. That fan received a lifetime ban from Vivint Smart Home Arena. Westbrook did yell back at the fan and was fined $25,000 for retaliating. It's true what Green says: If players protect themselves physically or verbally against fans, it comes at a cost. But events in the last few months seem to show that the league is interested in holding everyone in the arena to a high standard of appropriateness, with player safety as the top priority. MORE: Most bizarre and incredible catches by fishermen in past decade Sleeping on Patriots WR Demaryius Thomas would be a huge mistake What does Kevin Durant want in free agency? Eagles safety Deiondre' Hall making waves in bid for roster spot 6 things we learned from Browns mandatory minicamp


Deutsche Bank, once a superstar in Europe, is now a disaster. Germany's biggest lender is rapidly slashing jobs, it's losing a ton of money and the stock is trading near all-time lows. Many of Deutsche Bank's problems are self-inflicted. It's been badly mismanaged. Deutsche Bank never fully cleaned up its crisis-era balance sheet. Restructuring efforts fell short. And its countless legal black eyes haven't helped matters. But Deutsche Bank's struggles have also been amplified by something the 149-year-old lender never imagined, mostly because it had never happened before in modern history: negative interest rates. In 2014, the European Central Bank wanted to boost the sluggish economy but interest rates were already at zero. The unconventional decision to take them into negative territory was aimed at encouraging growth and avoiding deflation, but it meant banks were charged a fee for parking their reserves with the central bank. The ECB's extreme policies may have injected some life into Europe's sleepy economy, in turn giving Deutsche Bank and other lenders a boost. However, negative rates are also crushing the profitability of all banks, Deutsche Bank included. And this unorthodox policy   one that the ECB is on the verge of doubling down on   is making it awfully difficult to revive the champion of Germany's banking system. "Negative interest rates have been another nail in the coffin," said Claus Vistesen, chief eurozone economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics. Although all banks in the eurozone have been subject to the ECB's extreme policies, Deutsche Bank's business model, and precarious balance sheet, made it particularly susceptible to this pressure. Negative rates didn't cause Deutsche Bank's troubles, Vistesen said, but they "absolutely" magnified them. Very destructive It's no secret that negative rates are an outright tax on banks. Under normal times, lenders earn interest when they keep excess reserves at the central bank. But under negative rates, it's the opposite: The central bank charges banks interest for sitting on that cash. The goal is to encourage lending   but in practice it has squeezed lending profitability, also known as net interest income. "The business model of running a bank with negative rates is very destructive," said Jeffrey Sherman, co-portfolio manager of the DoubleLine Core Fixed Income Fund. Lately, Deutsche Bank's share price has dropped almost in tandem with bond yields, which have recently tumbled even deeper into negative territory. There has been a strong correlation of 0.85 between Deutsche Bank stock and German 10-year yields over the past year, according to Sherman. Goldman Sachs analysts said in a recent report that sharp declines in interest rates beginning in 2014 corresponded with a "substantial" decline in net interest income at eurozone banks, relative to where estimates were in 2014. Mass job cuts, sinking stock price Deutsche Bank has made just one annual profit since 2014. The bank announced plans earlier this month to eliminate 18,000 jobs as part of a new effort to stem the red ink. Deutsche Bank's NYSE-listed stock topped out at $124 in May 2007, in the dawn of the global financial crisis. Although some big banks have failed to return to their all-time highs, many have at least come close. Deutsche Bank, on the other hand, is trading at $8, or more than 90% below its pre-crisis highs. Most of those losses occurred well before ECB chief Mario Draghi launched negative rates in June 2014 in a push to accelerate Europe's economy and prevent deflation. But the numbers aren't pretty after that either. Deutsche Bank's stock has plunged 77% since the ECB announced negative rates. "You're basically kicking a wounded animal while it's down. Negative interest rates have simply annihilated European banks," said Danielle DiMartino Booth, CEO and chief strategist for Quill Intelligence and a vocal critic of modern central bank policy. Counterproductive policy? The Euro Stoxx Banks Index, a basket of eurozone lenders, is down by more than 40% since the ECB ventured into negative interest rates. While the eurozone enjoyed a growth spurt in 2017, the economy has slowed significantly of late, in part because of global trade tensions and demographic challenges. Draghi, the outgoing ECB chief, warned last week that the eurozone's economic outlook is getting "worse and worse." "Monetary policy in Europe has been spectacularly unsuccessful," said David Kelly, chief global strategist at JPMorgan Funds. "These negative rates are counterproductive. They are slowing the European economy down." Kelly noted that Europe's economy depends more on bank lending than America's because the European capital markets aren't as deep. "The banking industry cannot flourish on negative rates," he said. "And that is acting as a drag on the entire European economy." Would things be even worse without negative rates? To be sure, there have been benefits from the ECB's policies. Negative rates, along with massive asset purchases, have helped lift the stock market and made it easier for companies to borrow. That has likely helped bolster confidence among households and businesses to go out and spend. Vistesen also said that negative rates have boosted credit growth among European households. He pointed to cheap mortgage rates in Spain and Italy and improved home prices. And proponents of the ECB's extreme stance on rates argue that the European economy would be in even worse shape without negative rates. Higher unemployment and loan losses would surely be a negative for the eurozone banks, Deutsche Bank included. But that's impossible to prove. No one knows for sure how the economy would have acted in a different environment. Some argue that allowing the economy to fall into a recession could be healthy, even if it's painful. That's what happens in business cycles. Downturns shake out the weaker companies, leaving more room for the healthier ones. Negative rates do the opposite, keeping so-called "zombie" firms alive. "What's wrong with a recession?" asked Sherman. "Capitalism says that things that are ill-advised should go to zero." Deutsche Bank is especially vulnerable to further rate cuts Banks are now bracing for the ECB to go even deeper into negative territory. Draghi said last week an "ample degree of monetary accommodation is still necessary" to boost inflation and "softening" global growth. The German Banking Association put out a statement warning that the ECB's plan to "intensify its ultra loose" stance is a "repeated and heavy burden on banks, financial stability, savers and companies." Deutsche Bank is especially at risk. A rate cut of just 0.2 percentage points would wipe out 42% of Deutsche Bank's estimated 2019 earnings, according to Goldman Sachs. That's by far the most of any eurozone bank in the firm's coverage universe. Goldman Sachs said the banks most at risk from negative rates are ones that have a substantial balance of retail current accounts and a low level of recurring profitability. Deutsche Bank checks both boxes. ECB seeks to soften the blow Deutsche Bank Chief Financial Officer James von Moltke told analysts last week that the bank is "highly cognizant of the headwinds" from further rate cuts. Legal restrictions limit the ability of banks to pass on negative interest rates to retail clients, although they have passed on some of the cost through fees. "We have been imposing deposit fees and account fees now for some time," von Moltke said. "That's just a process that needs to continue for us and the industry." In terms of corporate clients, Deutsche Bank said it is working hard to "make sure that we have passed on negative rates wherever we can." Although banks rarely charge negative interest rates to clients, Deutsche Bank signaled that may have to change. The good news is that the ECB has signaled a willingness to try to "mitigate" the fallout from negative interest rates. The central bank's staff are drawing up a tiered system for reserves that would exempt some deposits from the most punitive rates. The Bank of Japan has a system where most deposits up to a certain level avoid the lowest rates. The Swiss National Bank, another central bank with negative rates, also has a tiered system to ease the pain on banks. Goldman Sachs said a tiered system would be a "critical" part of any further rate cuts by the ECB. "Without it, an extremely challenging operating environment becomes worse," it said.


A Massachusetts woman charged with murder after the remains of three babies were found in her so-called squalid "House of Horrors" was found not guilty of second-degree murder. Judge Janet Kenton-Walker announced her decision Thursday in the case of 35-year-old Erika Murray, of Blackstone. In issuing her ruling, Kenton-Walker said while the evidence provides a finding that the baby lived for a few days and that Murray cared for the baby, Murray's failure to call for help or perform CPR was not proven to be the cause of the baby's death. Murray was found guilty of two counts of assault and battery on a child causing substantial bodily injury and two counts of cruelty to animals. "In reaching my decision, I considered only the evidence presented in this courtroom," Kenton-Walker said. "I have to decide this case only on the evidence and the law. Emotion and sympathy played no part in the decision I had to make." The judge found Murray not guilty of two counts of reckless endangerment of a child, saying the defendant suffered from a mental condition that prevented her from recognizing the deplorable conditions inside the home and the effect the conditions would have on her children. Murray's attorney argued that his client is mentally ill and that there's no evidence she caused the baby's death. A psychiatrist who testified on behalf of the prosecution said he concluded Murray did not suffer from a mental illness. READ MORE: Woman charged in baby's death in 'House of Horrors' case found not guilty of murder CHECK OUT WMTW: Stay informed with the latest Portland news and weather from the team at WMTW. Browse the newest Portland, Maine, news stories and stay in the know.


Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer were placed in the same half of the draw for the French Open on Thursday meaning the two longtime rivals could meet in the semi-finals. Second seed Nadal is chasing a 12th title in Paris while 2009 champion Federer, seeded three, is playing in the tournament for the first time since 2015. Nadal starts against qualifiers in the first two rounds while 37-year-old Federer, bidding to become the oldest Grand Slam title winner of all time, faces Italy's Lorenzo Sonego, ranked at 73. Top seed and world number one Novak Djokovic starts his campaign against Poland's Hubert Hurkacz, the world number 43. Djokovic, the 2016 champion, is bidding to become only the second man in history to hold all four Slams at the same time. Only Rod Laver, who swept to calendar Slams in 1962 and 1969, has previously achieved the feat. If the seedings work out for the quarter-finals, then 15-time major winner Djokovic would face Germany's Alexander Zverev who has still to get past the last eight at a Slam. Fourth seed Dominic Thiem, the 2018 runner-up to Nadal, would face Argentine eighth seed Juan Martin del Potro while Federer would meet Stefanos Tsitsipas, the Greek who stunned him at the Australian Open in January. Nadal, who won his first title of 2019 in Rome last weekend against a weary Djokovic, is seeded to face Japan's Kei Nishikori in the last-eight. In the women's draw, top seed Naomi Osaka, bidding for a third successive Grand Slam title, opens against world 92 Anna Karolina Schmiedlova of Slovakia. However, either 2017 champion Jelena Ostapenko or two-time major winner and ex-world number one Victoria Azarenka await in a tricky second round for the 21-year-old Japanese star. Three-time champion Serena Williams, chasing a record-equalling 24th major, begins against Vitalia Diatchenko of Russia. Williams, seeded 10, has played just one clay court match this year. She could face Osaka in the quarter-finals in a rematch of their stormy 2018 US Open final where the Japanese star triumphed while the American suffered a spectacular meltdown. Defending champion Simona Halep, seeded three, plays Australia's Ajla Tomljanovic in her first round match. Venus Williams, unseeded this year, begins against ninth seed Elina Svitolina of the Ukraine. Williams, 38, down at 52 in the world rankings, was runner-up to Serena in 2002. Second seed Karolina Pliskova, the champion in Rome last weekend, starts against Madison Brengle of the United States. If the seedings prove an accurate indicator, Osaka would face Australia's Ashleigh Barty in the quarter-finals, Halep would meet two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova, 2018 runner-up Sloane Stephens would tackle Madrid champion Kiki Bertens while Angelique Kerber of Germany would be Pliskova's last-eight rival. Kerber is attempting to complete the career Grand Slam with a French Open title.


Since before training camp began, the Texans went back and forth with Cleveland over a trade for running back Duke Johnson, according to persons familiar with the deal. Johnson became expendable because Nick Chubb earned the starting job last season, and Kareem Hunt will be eligible when his eight-game suspension ends. Once coach Bill O'Brien knew the trade could be consummated, he waived running back D'Onta Foreman on Sunday and made the trade four days later. Johnson, an excellent receiver, has to pass a physical in Houston before the deal can be completed. He missed the Browns' past nine practices with a hamstring injury. He never missed a regular-season game in four years with the Browns. Once Johnson is cleared to play, he'll join the team and become the backup behind Lamar Miller. To get Johnson, 25, O'Brien traded a fourth-round pick that could escalate into a third-rounder if Johnson is active for 10 games this season. One reason the Texans were willing to part with a third-round pick is because they could get a pair of compensatory selections in the third round. As it stands today, the Texans are plus-three in the compensatory formula. If Kareem Jackson (Denver) and Tyrann Mathieu (Kansas City) stay healthy and play well for their new teams, the Texans could be awarded third-round compensatory picks for them. The 5-9, 210-pound Johnson figures to get a lot of playing time behind Miller if he stays healthy for a fifth consecutive season. Beginning in 2015, his first season with the Browns after being drafted in the third round from the University of Miami, he's caught 61, 53, 74 and 47 passes. His average per catch has been 8.8, 9.7, 9.4 and 9.1 yards. By comparison, Miller had 25 catches and a 6.5-yard average in 2018 when he had to spend so much time helping protect quarterback Deshaun Watson. Miller took a beating and missed 2½ games. With Johnson giving him a breather and playing in passing situations, Miller shouldn't get banged around so much. With Chubb as the starter as a rookie and being so productive for the improved Browns, Johnson carried only 40 times but averaged 5 yards a carry. As a receiver who's averaged 57.7 receptions and 9.2 yards a catch in his career, Johnson should be a nice addition to Watson's passing game that includes receivers DeAndre Hopkins, Will Fuller and Keke Coutee as well as tight ends Jordan Thomas, Jordan Akins and Kahale Warring.


It's only the preseason, but there is plenty at stake both on and off the field. Throughout August, players will be duking it out as they fight for a spot on their respective team's 53-man roster. Off the field, fans have the opportunity to make a little extra money if they pick winners. Betting on the preseason is an inexact science, as it's tough to tell what the backups will do once the starters depart after the first quarter. However, points spreads, over-unders and money lines are still out there to be bet on. The Jets are favored by 1.5 points over the Giants in Week 1 of the preseason. The over-under for total points scored is currently set at 33.5. Plenty of variables will be at play on Thursday. The Jets are 25-24-1 all-time against the Giants in the preseason, but will be without both Sam Darnold and Le'Veon Bell. The Giants are also 5-2-1 over their last eight games against the spread, while the Jets ended last season on a 2-7-1 downward spiral. MORE: A furious Chris Davis had to be held back from Orioles manager Brandon Hyde Where did Jakobi Meyers come from? 6 quick takeaways from Packers' joint practices with Texans Eagles land at No. 32 in ranking of best talent under age 25 in NFL Roundup: Bella Hadid and The Weeknd Appear to Split Again, Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame Class


Apartment hunting on a budget can be frustrating. So what does the low-end rent on a rental in Rittenhouse look like these days   and what might you get for your money? Per Walk Score ratings, the neighborhood is a "walker's paradise," is very bikeable and is a haven for transit riders. It also features median rents for a one bedroom that hover around $1,695, compared to a $1,495 one-bedroom median for Philadelphia as a whole. A look at local listings for studios and one-bedroom apartments in Rittenhouse, via rental sites Zumper and Apartment Guide , offers an overview of what budget-minded apartment seekers can expect to find in this Philadelphia neighborhood. Take a look at the cheapest listings available right now, below. (Note: prices and availability are subject to change.) Hoodline offers data-driven analysis of local happenings and trends across cities. Links included in this article may earn Hoodline a commission on clicks and transactions. 2216 Walnut St. Next, there's this 360-square-foot apartment at 2216 Walnut St., listed at $995/month. In the unit, which comes furnished, expect to find air conditioning. Cats and dogs are not welcome. The building features a fitness center, on-site laundry and secured entry. (See the listing here .) 1521 Pine St. This studio apartment, situated at 1521 Pine St., is listed for $1,025/month. Inside, you're promised air conditioning, hardwood flooring and a dishwasher. Neither cats nor dogs are welcome. Future tenants needn't worry about a leasing fee (See the listing here .) 2118 Walnut St., #3M Then, at 2118 Walnut St., #3M, you'll find this studio apartment going for $1,175/month. In the unit, look for hardwood flooring and high ceilings. Building amenities include on-site laundry and storage. Hairball alert: cats are welcome. (Check out the complete listing here .) 2101 Chestnut St. Finally, there's this 465-square-foot studio space at 2101 Chestnut St. It's being listed for $1,200/month. In the apartment, expect to find hardwood flooring and a walk-in closet. Cats and dogs are not permitted. When it comes to building amenities, expect garage parking and a fitness center. There's no leasing fee required for this rental. (Here's the full listing .) 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.


MIAMI (CBSMiami)   There was a heavy Miami-Dade police presence at Baptist Hospital Saturday afternoon. For hours, police had two entrances blocked-off and yellow crime scene tape blocking off large area. Police said a man used a gun to take his own life just before 2 p.m. Saturday. It happened in the parking lot area near a fountain at the hospital on Kendall Drive near Southwest 87th Avenue. The hospital was placed on lockdown. It's unclear if that impacted anyone on the way for an emergency. Investigators didn't say how long the lockdown lasted. During the active investigation, a spokesperson for the hospital sent CBS4 a statement. "Miami-Dade Police Department is on Baptist Hospital campus due to a previous incident. The hospital is open for care as usual including the emergency department," Marketing Manager Georgi Morales Piplin said. SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFELINES Miami-Dade County: 305-358-HELP (4357) Broward County: 2-1-1 or 954-537-0211 National Suicide Prevention: 1-800-273-8255 or visit suicidepreventionlifeline.org .


Former North Carolina player Nassir Little expressed some frustration with his former coaching staff Thursday regarding his inconsistencies at UNC. Little, who averaged 9.8 points and 4.6 rebounds for the Tar Heels in 2018-19, told reporters at the NBA Combine he struggled with inconsistency because Roy Williams' staff never clarified what "exactly what my role was, especially on offense. "It created a lot of hesitancy, which wasn't really allowing me to play like myself," Nassir said ( via the Charlotte Observer ). MORE: Top 50 NBA Draft prospect rankings Little, despite being ranked as the No. 3 overall prospect in the class of 2018 according to 247Sports' Composite rankings , came off the bench as the Heels' sixth man. He did switch up his role depending on what look UNC ran, alternating between small forward and power forward. That showed on the court; Little had 18 games of double-digit scoring outputs throughout the season, including in Carolina's first two games of the 2019 NCAA Tournament, in which he averaged 19.5 points on 17-of-24 shooting. But he also had 18 games in which he failed to break out of single digits, including in UNC's final game of the year, a 97-80 loss to Auburn in the Sweet 16 in which Little scored just four points after suffering flu-like symptoms. On one hand, it's understandable for Little   mocked to go No. 12 overall to the Charlotte Hornets by Sporting News   to attempt an explanation for his freshman struggles. In so doing, he lets teams know that, if you give him a clear, defined role, you can reasonably expect better play, or at least increased scoring output. Still, it does seem odd to shift the focus of your struggles to your coaches, especially when you made little to no mention of it during the season. It could be a calculated risk by Little, or it could just be him answering a question honestly. Either way, he at least knows what he wants when he moves up to the NBA. Related slideshow: Best photos of NCAA Championship (Provided by imagn)


GENEVA, June 26 (Reuters) - Iran will speed up enrichment of uranium after a deadline given to European countries to prevent this ends on Thursday, the spokesman for Iran's Atomic Energy Organization said on Wednesday, according to the IRIB news agency. "The deadline of the Atomic Energy Organization for passing the production of enriched uranium from the 300 kilogram border will end tomorrow," the organization's spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi said. "With the end of this deadline, the speed of enrichment will speed up." The Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council said on Tuesday that the Islamic Republic will take new steps to reduce its commitments under its nuclear deal with world powers on July 7. (Reporting By Babak Dehghanpisheh; Editing by Toby Chopra)


Michigan Speedway will host the NASCAR Xfinity Series, the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and the ARCA Menards Series this weekend. on Friday. The schedule is subject to change. All times at Eastern Daylight Savings Time (EDT). Gander Outdoors Truck Series schedule Texas Motor Speedway Thursday, June 6 3:05 p.m. - 3:55 p.m., Truck Series practice (No TV) 5:05 p.m. - 5:55 p.m., Truck Series practice (No TV) Truck Series practice (No TV) Friday, June 7 5:35 p.m., Truck Series qualifying (TV: NASCAR.com) 9 p.m., Truck Series Speedycash.com 400 race (TV: FS1) Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series & Xfinity Series schedule Michigan International Speedway Friday, June 7 1:05 p.m. - 1:55 p.m., Xfinity Series first practice (TV: NASCAR.com) 2:05 p.m. - 2:55 p.m., Cup Series first practice (TV: NASCAR.com) 3:05 p.m. - 3:55 p.m., Xfinity Series final practice (TV: Fox Sports 2 - FS2 - Tape Delayed until 4 p.m.) 4:05 p.m. - 4:55 p.m., Cup Series final practice (TV: Fox Sports 1 - FS1; Radio: Motor Racing Network - MRN - Tape Delayed until 5 p.m.) 6 p.m. ARCA Series race (100 laps - 200 miles) (TV: FS1) Saturday, June 8 10:35 a.m., Xfinity Series qualifying (TV: Fox Sports 2 - FS1) 12:05 p.m., Cup Series qualifying (TV: FS1; Radio: MRN) 1:30 p.m., Xfinity Series LTi Printing 125 race (125 laps - 250 miles) - Green flag 1:46 p.m. (TV: FS1; Radio: MRN) Sunday, June 2 2 p.m., Cup Series FireKeepers Casino 400 race (200 laps - 400 miles) - Green flag 2:10 p.m. (TV: FS1; Radio: MRN) From the editor, also read: Greg Biffle returns to NASCAR Trucks: "I certainly want to win"


Allen Iverson stopped by the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia Wednesday night to support the 76ers as they defeated the Pistons, 94-83. While talking with Malik Rose and Marc Zumoff during their telecast, he couldn't help but rave about Thunder guard Russell Westbrook. MORE: Sources: Spurs may target Gasol | Celtics making playoff push | George to attend USA camp "I'm the biggest Westbrook fan I think there is," Iverson said. "He reminds me so much of myself as far as his heart, laying it on the line night in and night out. Just bringing it every single night." Iverson also boasted about his son, Deuce, who apparently is turning out to be quite a basketball player. "He's better than I was when I was 17," he said. Westbrook will have to keep bringing it every night as both Kevin Durant (right foot) and Serge Ibaka (right knee) continue to recover following surgery.


As Apple and Amazon compete for a greater share of consumer dollars and attention, they also have a particularly intimate business relationship: Apple is spending more than $30 million a month on Amazon's cloud, according to people familiar with the arrangement. Apple's cloud expenditure reflects the company's determination to deliver online services like iCloud quickly and reliably, even if it must depend on a rival to do so. As Apple's top product, the iPhone, approaches market saturation, the company has begun pointing more to online services as a key contributor. Recently, the company stopped disclosing unit sales for iPhones and other hardware products, and started disclosing the profit margin for its services business, which includes the iOS App Store, AppleCare, Apple Pay and iCloud. Apple also introduced new subscription services for video and magazines last month. People use more than 1 billion Apple devices each month, and accordingly, Apple has considerable computing and storage requirements. The company is investing heavily to build out its own infrastructure: In December, Apple announced plans to spend $10 billion on data centers in the U.S. in five years, with $4.5 million of it coming in the next two years. The company also depends on smaller third-party cloud providers. But it also relies on the big cloud providers, including Amazon Web Services and Alphabet subsidiary Google . Microsoft has also provided cloud tools to Apple in the past. The company has said in the past that it uses AWS for iCloud storage, but has not disclosed whether any other Apple services use AWS or other third-party clouds. A growing AWS footprint In a February job posting , Apple said it was looking for someone who could "lead and architect our growing AWS footprint." Indeed, that expenditure is on track to expand. At the end of March, Apple's spending was on track to average more than $30 million per month in the first quarter of 2019. That would be more than 10 percent higher than the same period last year, according to two people familiar with the spending. If Apple's AWS use stays at those levels for the rest of 2019, its annual spending would exceed $360 million. Apple spent approximately $350 million in 2018, one of these people said. The expenditures are likely to continue for the foreseeable future. In the past few months Apple signed an agreement that includes a commitment to spend at least $1.5 billion on AWS over the course of five years, a source said. In the most recent fiscal year Apple had $30.94 billion in operating expenses. AWS is a major part of Amazon's business. In 2018 AWS delivered $25.66 billion in revenue, or 11 percent of Amazon's total annual revenue , and nearly 59 percent of Amazon's operating income. At these rates, AWS would be picking up more revenue from Apple than from several other companies, including Adobe, Capital One, Intuit, Lyft, Pinterest and Snap, based on public filings and a report in The Information . For the sake of comparison, Lyft has agreed to pay AWS at least $300 million for cloud services through the end of 2021, while Pinterest said it has committed to spending at least $750 million on AWS in a six-year period that ends in mid-2023. That works out to an average of $100 million per year for Lyft and $125 million per year for Pinterest. Snap has committed to spending $1.1 billion on AWS through the end of 2022, at least $150 million of that in 2019. Amazon has an increasing amount of money that customers have committed for the use of services in the future, primarily tied to AWS. At the end of 2018 there was $19.3 billion worth of commitments for contracts with original terms that last longer than a year, Amazon said in a filing . Apple declined to comment. Amazon did not respond to a request for comment.


Americans are getting their passports - and using them. In the last three years, there have been a dramatic increase in Americans applying for passports. In 2017 and 2018 , over 21 million passports were issued to Americans - and the number is expected to rise this year. According to two studies - our fellow countrymen, long mocked for only traveling domestic, are using their documents and expanding their horizons internationally. Luxury travelers - those who spend over $3,000 a trip - are setting their sights for summer travel on emerging destinations all over the world, according to a new study from global luxury travel network Virtuoso® . The study was based on $49.5 billion in bookings and show European countries continue to be most popular, while the fastest-growing locales point to a desire for culturally immersive experiences. The scenery and diversity of national parks appeal to families and adventurers alike when the temperatures warm up. History, culture, cuisine and abundant luxury offerings make Europe a preferred option for upscale travelers. Notably, Spain moves up three places from last summer, as it offers better value compared to other spots in Western Europe. The Virtuoso Top 10: The most popular destinations for the summer of 2019 according to bookings. United States Italy United Kingdom France Greece South Africa Spain Germany Ireland Netherlands Meanwhile, the study notes, "following a trend first spotted in spring 2019, Chile continues its upswing in popularity by offering a variety of terrain from the Atacama Desert to the Lake District to the Andes Mountains to wine valleys. India and the Philippines are among the more exotic destinations luring visitors with their ability to deliver on the authenticity so desired by luxe travelers. Kenya offers outstanding safari opportunities as well as the wildebeest migration in the Maasai Mara, UNESCO World Heritage Sites and beaches. Travelers looking for sun and sand are escaping to Caribbean destinations such as Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. Pop culture tourism is fueling interest in Singapore, the setting for the hit film 'Crazy Rich Asians.'" The countries experienceing the largest year-over-year percentage increases in summer bookings are: Chile (+410%) India (+173%) Puerto Rico (+149%) Philippines (+129%) Belgium (+111%) Kenya (+89%) Egypt (+76%) Singapore (+73%) Costa Rica (+67%) Dominican Republic (+58%) On the economic end of the scale, an Airbnb survey also suggests Americans want to experience life on foreign shores: The top trending destinations Airbnb guests are heading to this summer - based on percentage growth in bookings during the same time last year*:- are Valenciennes, France (704%) Changsha, China (695%) Matsudo, Japan (476%) Marigot, St. Martin (467%) Wuhan, China (454%) Dorado, Puerto Rico (449%) Vieques, Puerto Rico (425%) Río Grande, Puerto Rico (416%) Yeosu, South Korea (408%) Bragg Creek, Canada (382%) So, fellow Americans - go forth and travel!


What better way to celebrate a birthday than with a delicious, home-cooked meal? Here are 35 birthday dinner ideas to get you started. 1. Moules-Frites (Mussels and Fries) Sure, it's not a round-trip ticket to Paris, but it's definitely the next best thing. Don't skimp on the lemon-herb aioli…or the white wine. Get the recipe 2. Whole Roasted Chipotle Chicken A surefire way to impress? Roast a whole bird. Ina and Jeffrey Garten would be so proud. Get the recipe 3. Pomegranate-Sumac Chicken with Roasted Carrots But if you don't want to roast an entire chicken, marinate just the legs in buttermilk, sumac and pomegranate molasses for a sheet-pan dish that's easy and delicious. Get the recipe 4. French Onion Brisket Brisket and birthdays are a match made in heaven. This one features caramelized onions for a modern twist. Get the recipe 5. Chrissy Teigen's Cheesy Chicken Milanese If you're going all out, who better to lend a hand than Chrissy Teigen and her crispy, indulgent chicken? Get the recipe 6. Cheater's Spicy Sausage Pizza with Burrata All we want on our birthday is a creamy puddle of burrata and a fork. Get the recipe 7. Perfect Meatballs with Cherry Tomato Sauce They're even better than reservations at a fancy Italian restaurant. Get the recipe 8. Fried Chicken BLT with Jalapeño Honey This sandwich needs no introduction. Make it for the comfort-food obsessed guy or gal in your life. Get the recipe 9. Flank Steak Tacos with Cucumber Salsa One year older? That means you can eat one more taco than last year. Get the recipe 10. Cheater's Slow-Cooker Beef Bourguignon Trust us, no one will know it took only ten minutes to put together. Happy birthday to you . Get the recipe 11. Sticky Asian Meatballs with Udon Noodles Nothing against regular spaghetti and meatballs, but you can eat those on any old Tuesday. Get the recipe 12. Lobster Risotto A birthday is just the excuse you were looking for to make this dish, isn't it? Get the recipe RELATED: 17 Easy Risotto Recipes Anyone Can Make 13. The Ultimate Chicken Potpie Love is assembling and baking a chicken potpie from scratch (and telling absolutely no one you used store-bought puff pastry). Get the recipe 14. Easy Skillet Linguine with Trumpet Mushroom 'Scallops' These "scallops" have a secret: They're actually mushrooms, sautéed until delightfully golden and crisp. Get the recipe 15. Turkey Roulade with Cherry and Sausage Stuffing Birthdays are kind of like holidays, right? And that calls for a holiday-worthy meal. Enter the turkey roulade. Get the recipe 16. Slow-Cooker Korean Short Rib Tacos These fall-apart-tender ribs only taste like you stood by the oven all day. The secret? Your trusty slow-cooker. Get the recipe 17. Cheater's Sicilian-Style Pizza with Jalapeños and Honey We got you a gift…in the form of cheese pulls and pepperoni cups. You're welcome. Get the recipe 18. Gnocchi Mac and Cheese Our two favorite pasta dishes wrapped up in one? Aww , you shouldn't have. Get the recipe RELATED: 27 Sides That Make Mac and Cheese a Meal 19. Pistachio-Crusted Pork Tenderloin with Apple and Escarole Salad This is not your mother's pork tenderloin. (Sorry, Mom.) Instead of dry and bland, it's tender, delicate and practically melts in your mouth. Get the recipe 20. Pomegranate-Maple Glazed Lamb Chops These lamb chops have all the celebratory vibes, but are as easy to cook as chicken. We won't tell if you won't. Get the recipe 21. Pan-Roasted Chicken with Shallots and Dates If we could eat only one dish for the rest of forever, this caramelized and sweet roasted chicken skillet just might be the one. Get the recipe 22. Cheater's White Wine Coq au Vin Julia Child-level flavor without all the fuss. Get the recipe 23. Skillet Steak with Asparagus and Potatoes With a dish this impressive (that's also surprisingly foolproof), we might never go back to restaurant steak again. Get the recipe 24. Pork Scallopini with Lemon, Capers and Radicchio Twenty minutes and five ingredients means you can make a homemade dessert, too. Get the recipe 25. Skillet Gnocchi with Sausage and Broccoli Rabe They'll probably ask if you spent all day making this. Just nod and say yes. Get the recipe 26. Cheater's White Pizza with Béchamel Sauce Some nights call for salad. This is not one of those nights. Get the recipe 27. White Risotto with Corn, Carrots and Kale If you're looking to give someone a hug in a bowl, look no further than this veggie-packed risotto. Get the recipe 28. Smoky Eggplant Pasta with Pounded Walnut Relish, Mozzarella and Basil Don't be surprised if this one gets requested again next year. You can thank the rustic eggplant sauce, not to mention all that cheese. Get the recipe 29. Salmon and Fennel Dinner Salad Don't be fooled by the name: This roasted-salmon dish is hearty, filling and downright luxurious. Get the recipe RELATED: 50 Salmon Recipes to Make for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner 30. Ina Garten's Baked Pasta with Tomatoes and Eggplant A cozy, cheese-laden baked pasta from the Contessa herself? Don't even bother with a separate present. Get the recipe 31. Whole-Wheat Feta Tart with Caramelized Onions and Herbs If you can't eat a pie made of two different types of cheese on your birthday , when can you? Get the recipe 32. Cheater's Skillet Paella You make the paella; we'll bring the wine. Everyone else is on gift duty. Get the recipe 33. Cacio e Pepe Simple can also mean showstopping, and we have proof. Get the recipe 34. Foolproof Cheater's Confit Tonight's the night to go out of your way and find duck legs. We promise it's worth it. Get the recipe 35. Ultimate Cheese Plate with Roasted Grapes It's their party and they can eat charcuterie for dinner if they want to. Get the recipe RELATED: 8 Ways to Celebrate Your Birthday This Year (That Don't Involve a Bar)


There are two paths the Mets can go down following their surprising trade for the Blue Jays' Marcus Stroman, and only one of them represents a step forward for a franchise that often looks like it's running in place . Rumored to be shopping Noah Syndergaard, New York has instead zigged when everyone else expected a zag in acquiring Stroman on the surface, a go-for-it-now move despite the team's record (50 55) and playoff position (dead in the division, six out of the second wild-card). But even as fans were reacting to Stroman's arrival on Twitter, reports surfaced that the Mets are still envisioning a Syndergaard trade , which would be a decidedly backward move in the face of Sunday's big deal. The loudest conversation in baseball leading up to Wednesday's trade deadline has centered on Syndergaard, the imposing righty amid a down year a 4.33 ERA and 94 ERA+ but possessing some of the best raw stuff of any pitcher in the league. But despite that and the fact that he's under team control through 2021, general manager Brodie Van Wagenen and his front office are apparently taking offers on Syndergaard, for reasons that are hard to understand (if they're even visible). Perhaps this is a case of a team and a player being a poor match for one another, or maybe Van Wagenen thinks the big Texan's results will never quite match his repertoire or reputation. (That the list of teams most interested in or linked to Syndergaard includes some of the game's most forward-thinking franchises like the Astros, Yankees and Twins suggests that, if the Mets can't figure out how to turn his potential into production, maybe the problem lies with them.) But the most likely reason for the Mets to shop Syndergaard is what he would bring back: a ransom of prospects, more than any other player on the market right now could. (His only competition in that vein is the Indians' Trevor Bauer , who brings his own unique set of complications to any would-be buyer.) That stance became all the more understandable the further the Mets slid out of the wild-card race , making it look like the focus for Van Wagenen, after his misguided offseason moves, was to reset and try again with an eye on 2021. The Stroman trade complicates that line of thinking. For starters, to get Stroman, the Mets had to give up a pair of pitching prospects, including their top one, Anthony Kay. Neither Kay nor the second player departing, Simeon Richardson Woods, is a superstar in the making, but they're still two potential pieces who could have helped down the road and were sacrificed for someone who's here to produce now. On top of that, Stroman may not be in Queens for long. Next season is his last before he hits free agency, and though the Mets could very well have designs on convincing the Long Island native to stick long-term with his hometown team, the safer bet is to assume he's there only through 2020. Regardless of whether Stroman decides to re-up with the Mets past next season, he's an addition who makes the team better now. That being the case, it doesn't make much sense to turn around and weaken the team by dealing away Syndergaard, especially since that opens up a hole rotation depth that the Stroman trade seeks to close. Not to mention that Stroman is older, more expensive, not as good and closer to free agency, making him a poor one-for-one replacement. So why move Syndergaard? The strategy if you can call this inscrutable deadline maneuvering that is best understood in light of what the Mets have been for the last decade under the ownership of Fred and Jeff Wilpon. This is a team that has long refused to spend or maintain the kind of payroll you would expect (if not demand) of a franchise in one of the biggest media markets in the entire world. The goal or at least the reality isn't to win no matter the cost; it's to compete within the narrow boundaries of what the team chooses to afford. The Wilpons want a contender, but they don't want to pay that price. They want to be the Yankees on the Marlins' budget and that's where trading Syndergaard comes into play. There's no argument to be made, barring a ludicrously huge return, that dealing Syndergaard improves the Mets' roster or their chance at a World Series title this season or next (or in '21). But the major league-ready prospects New York would get back for him will cost far less per season than he will (and be better than the ones just traded away). And with Stroman now in place to soak up the innings lost by trading him, the team is somewhat more cost efficient while still nominally a contender. The end result of that, though, is a firm cap on the team's potential; you've effectively assembled a roster that, unless you get 90th-percentile breakthroughs from young talent or previously average players, will never win more than 85 games. Granted, in the crowded National League, that's enough to stay in the wild-card hunt through the summer and, with enough breaks, nab a playoff spot. But taking the step from there to a true World Series favorite requires a bigger payroll than the Wilpons can seemingly stomach. It means trading for Stroman and keeping Syndergaard and adding some more help as well, not playing a convoluted game of musical chairs where you try to compete and rebuild to win and cut costs at the same time. There are no half measures, but that's what dealing Syndergaard after getting Stroman would be, and it's all the Mets have ever known under the Wilpons. No one but Van Wagenen knows which direction the Mets are going with regards to Stroman, Syndergaard and everyone else. But if the deadline comes and goes with Syndergaard on another team, then New York will have once again chosen the road its fans already know far too well and one that will in all likelihood lead them right back to this exact same point. Related slideshow: The 2019 MLB season (Provided by imagn)


Plus: An "Amazon's Choice" label isn't necessarily an indication of a high-quality product. Protesters in Hong Kong are finding novel ways to avoid surveillance and identification. As hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of protesters have filled the streets of Hong Kong in recent days to protest a proposed bill that would permit the extradition of Hong Kong citizens to mainland China, they've organized on an unprecedented level to deter government identification and punishment. "Protesters used only secure digital messaging apps such as Telegram and otherwise went completely analogue in their movements: buying single-ride subway tickets instead of prepaid stored-value cards, forgoing credit cards and mobile payments in favor of cash and taking no selfies or photos of the chaos," the Washington Post reports. The protesters' coordinated efforts reflect growing concerns that China's government will wield its vast surveillance powers against Hong Kong residents, as it already does on the mainland. [ Shibani Mahtani / Washington Post ] [Want to get the Recode Daily in your inbox? Subscribe here .] An "Amazon's Choice" label isn't necessarily an indication of a high-quality product. Products labeled as "Amazon's Choice" that appear in search results on the e-commerce giant are not guaranteed to be the best choice among the myriad options for sale on the marketplace. In fact, Amazon does not directly choose these products at all; rather, they are marked with "a label automatically awarded to listings by an algorithm based on customer reviews, price, and whether the product is in stock," BuzzFeed News reported. A survey of items with this designation revealed several that were plagued with customer complaints, including a baby thermometer, a security padlock, and a breathalyzer. [ Nicole Nguyen / BuzzFeed News ] A law enforcement contractor bragged it can unlock any iOS device. The Israeli forensics firm Cellebrite, which markets some of its services to law enforcement agencies around the world, said on Friday that a new version of its "Universal Forensic Extraction Device" product has the ability to unlock all iOS devices and many difficult-to-crack Android devices. Wired reports this is the first time a company has publicly claimed such wide-ranging capabilities. "The move signals not only another step in the cat and mouse game between smartphone makers and the government-sponsored firms that seek to defeat their security, but also a more unabashedly public phase of that security face-off," Wired wrote.[ Andy Greenberg / Wired ] Amazon's chief technology officer says it's not the company's job to determine how its controversial facial recognition tech is used. In an interview with the BBC, Amazon CTO Werner Vogels shared a perspective mirroring what Amazon Web Services' CEO Andy Jassy has also said to address wide-ranging concerns about its Amazon Rekognition software's potential to enable civil rights abuses. "This technology is being used for good in many places. It's in society's direction to actually decide which technology is applicable under which conditions," Vogels told the BBC. He went on to call for policymakers to make decisions regulating Rekognition and compared the technology to a steel mill, which has the potential to create both baby incubators and guns. Last week, while being interviewed onstage at Recode's Code Conference, Jassy compared Rekognition to other things with good and bad applications, such as email and a knife. [ Dave Lee / BBC ] Top Stories from Recode Why women in tech are being Photoshopped in instead of hired. It's been five years since tech companies began releasing diversity reports. Not much has changed. [ Rani Molla ] Big Tech needs regulation, but DC must go to school before it goes to work. Here's what the government needs to do before it starts regulating Google, Facebook, and Twitter. [ Jeff Berman ] This is Cool A 40,000-year-old, remarkably preserved wolf head was found in thawed permafrost in Siberia. Recode and Vox have joined forces to uncover and explain how our digital world is changing   and changing us. Subscribe to Recode podcasts to hear Kara Swisher and Peter Kafka lead the tough conversations the technology industry needs today.


It's a very simple premise: Hit "your longest drive" on No. 18 and win a specialty cocktail named the Horseshoe Nail. But wait, nobody said what "your longest drive" means. Longest ever? Longest of the day? Longest in your mind only Who cares? Nobody is measuring, and the bartender won't ask for pesky quantifiers. I reminded myself to not overthink it and just enjoy the downhill tee shot to the wide, firm and funneling fairway of No. 18 on the Hankins Course that leads to the clubhouse bar, Egan's Hideout, at the Retreat and Links at Silvies Valley Ranch. Designer Dan Hixson fashioned two reversible courses that opened in 2017 at the remote Silvies Valley. The 18-hole Hankins Course and 18-hole Craddock Course have a combined 27 greens, nine of which are shared. The property also features a nine-hole par-3 course and an unlikely seven-hole short course named McVeigh's Gauntlet - complete with a team of goat caddies that have become social media stars - atop eastern Oregon's high-desert hills. Egan's Hideout at Silvies Valley Ranch features a Western vibe with long views and a specialty drink players can earn with a long drive on No. 18 of the Hankins Course. (Silvies Valley Ranch) It's a lot of wide-open golf, and the dry setting creates an equally wide-open thirst. A sign posted on the 18th tee of the Hankins Course reminds players to swing for the fences to earn their Horseshoe Nail on the par 5 that drops some 100 feet toward the green. Those well-earned drinks - and probably quite a few that aren't so well-earned - are served in an open-air combination of pro shop and bar, where guests rest their sandy feet and relax with a 20-mile view of surrounding hills and mountains. A patio is suspended off the back of the cabin-like structure, a minimalistic Western building with wooden decor and wide rolling doors that let the outside in. The signature Horseshoe Nail has a lot more bite to it than do the well-trained goat caddies. The drink includes whiskey and Drambuie and is garnished with a square nail and crabapple from the only fruit tree on the 140,000-acre working ranch. There are plenty of other options on the drink menu, but the Horseshoe Nail comes with bragging rights. The resort features a new spa with an indoor pool and a communal dining room at the main lodge that serves gourmet, ranch-to-table Western cuisine plus 110 scotches and 50 whiskeys. There's even a beer tree, adorned with neon signs and a cooler full of canned coolness, up on McVeigh's Gauntlet. But as the sun sets and the stars pop out of a night sky unpolluted by ground light, there's no better place than the elevated Egan's Hideout. The air is crisp, the desert is serene and the conversation flows as easily as the drinks. Even if you didn't really hit your longest drive on No. 18. Gwk ( Note : This story appears in the June 2019 issue of Golfweek . ) https://compass.pressekompass.net/compasses/golfweek/will-tiger-woods-make-the-cut-at-the-mem-0QTj MORE: Five potential Chris Paul trade destinations This 'Jeopardy' contestant failing to beat James Holzhauer to buzzer sums up his epic run Seahawks Sue Former Second-Round Pick Malik McDowell Over Signing Bonus Steve McLendon's speech shows why Jets wanted him back Geronimo Allison looks like favorite to be Packers slot WR


SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - PG&E Corp said in court papers on Wednesday that it "strongly disagrees" with a suggestion in a Wall Street Journal article that the company knowingly deferred maintenance on equipment that caused California's Camp Fire, the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California's modern history. PG&E filed the papers to answer an order by U.S. District Judge William Alsup demanding the power provider respond to the article, which reported PG&E did not upgrade parts of its electrical grid that it was aware could spark wildfires. "PG&E strongly disagrees with the WSJ article's suggestion that PG&E knew of the specific maintenance conditions that caused the Camp Fire and nonetheless deferred work that would have addressed those conditions," the company said. San Francisco-based PG&E said the article's implication that delayed planned maintenance that could have averted November's Camp Fire is based on a misunderstanding of that work on a transmission line and tower. "The purpose of that work was not to identify and fix worn or broken parts, such as the hook on the transmission tower that failed and caused the Camp Fire to ignite," PG&E said. "Rather, the purpose of that work was to address the clearance between transmission line conductors and from transmission line conductors to the ground," PG&E said. PG&E also said it "denies the generalized assertion that it repeatedly failed to perform the necessary upgrades to prevent failures on its transmission lines." A Wall Street Journal spokesman told Reuters by email the newspaper was reviewing PG&E's court papers. Alsup on July 10 demanded PG&E give him a "fresh, forthright statement owning up to the true extent of the Wall Street Journal report" published that day. The article reported PG&E delayed maintenance and improvements on aging power-lines and towers in recent years. According to the article, PG&E was aware in 2017 it needed to improve maintenance and replace equipment to avoid failures causing fires following a historic drought in California. A failure of one PG&E power line in November caused the Camp Fire, which killed more than 80 people and destroyed the town of Paradise. Alsup is overseeing PG&E's probation stemming from its conviction over a deadly 2010 natural gas pipeline explosion. He has been pressing PG&E for answers on its safety measures in response to massive wildfires in 2017 and 2018 that forced the company into bankruptcy in January in separate proceedings in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in San Francisco. (Reporting by Jim Christie; Editing by Leslie Adler, Grant McCool and Cynthia Osterman)


As the debate over facial recognition software heats up, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan took to social media last week attempting to quell concerns that city police would be using the technology for neighborhood surveillance. While more than $1 million was spent in 2017 on facial recognition software, a definitive sounding tweet sent from Duggan's account last Monday seemed to spell out that Detroit police were not and would not be using the technology. "Let me be clear: there will be no facial recognition software used with live stream video by the (Detroit Police Department). That's not what we're doing, and that's not ever what was intended," Duggan tweeted, linking to a six-minute video of him speaking on the subject. The tweet and subsequent video seemed to shut down any notion that the department was using facial recognition software, a technology which has been widely criticized for issues ranging from privacy overreach to high-error rates, specifically when used on black and brown individuals. But experts say Duggan's carefully scripted language is disingenuous, with the deception hinging on the term "live stream video." What the mayor is actually saying is the city is not using the technology on live stream video but rather still images taken from videos   a distinction which those studying the technology say doesn't actually mean much. "In all my experience with facial recognition the way the process and programming works is that it takes a still image from the video. I'm not knowledgeable of any facial recognition software that's taking real video," said Daniel Lawrence, a senior research associate in the Urban Institute's Justice Policy Center. "It's taking a still from a video." Others who say they are aware of the two types of technologies say trying to differentiate between the two is disingenuous and a distraction. "Face recognition on live video is indeed considered the most invasive form of tracking. But non-live video use of face recognition is still immensely problematic," said Alvaro Bedoya, the founding director of Georgetown Law Center on Privacy & Technology, whose colleagues in May published a report detailing Detroit's 2017 purchase of facial recognition software from South Carolina-based company DataWorks Plus   a purchase of a plan that does have "live stream video" abilities. The Free Press asked city officials why more than $1 million was spent on a product with a function that it doesn't plan to use   officials have not responded. "The software was not purchased because of the live streaming facial recognition feature" said police department spokeswoman Sgt. Nicole Kirkwood. "But because it allows the Detroit Police Department to electronically match still images of violent crime suspects gathered during investigations to DPD mug shots, Michigan State Police mug shots and the Michigan Sex Offender Registry. Prior to purchasing this software, this process had to be done manually by a person physically going through mug shot books." "If the software identifies a potential match, that image has to receive two independent approvals. The image is first reviewed by the DPD crime analyst who identified the match, then a second crime analyst much agree that both images match. Finally, a supervisor must confirm that the images match. Images are only sent to detectives for further investigation after all three steps have taken place." Bedoya, former chief counsel to the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Privacy, however, points out that even putting aside the contract question, the distinction the mayor is making distracts from the bigger issue: Facial recognition software is being used. And the way it's being used   still images   still has issues. "All of the bias issues of face recognition were all detected on systems that perform face recognition on still video," Bedoya said, pointing out that two of the most discussed studies on facial recognition shortcomings   one on gender from MIT , and one testing the accuracy on members of Congress   all dealt with still photo images. "Even if the mayor doesn't use the real-time system he bought," Bedoya continued referring to the $1 million contract with DataWorks, "he is still proposing to use a face recognition system on African American residents on whom the technology is likely to fail." "If I take a photo of you entering a cancer clinic, an AA meeting, or a couples therapist, it doesn't matter if I have video of you, a single still image is all I need to embarrass you and violate your privacy. The idea that the city is using this technology at all, let alone without any kind of court oversight, is highly problematic." Since May, when Georgetown published its report dealing with Detroit, facial recognition software has been the center of remarkably intense debates in the City   discussions so heated that they seemed to reach their apex last week when a member of the Detroit Board of Police Commissioners was arrested at a meeting where the technology was being discussed. At the center of the debate seems to be a general confusion over whether or not the technology has been used already, and if it will continue to be used in the future. Last month, the police commissioners was asked to vote on a new policy directive detailing guidelines for using the technology. At the last minute the directive was pulled by the Detroit Police Department and no vote occurred. According to Gregory Hicks, the board's secretary, a new vote has not been scheduled. "We are still awaiting the Chief to submit the revised proposed directive," Hicks wrote in an email Monday. The directive's mere existence, however, raised a host of questions: If facial recognition software has already been in use for at least a year and a half, what guidelines are currently in the place, and why was this not voted on earlier? The Free Press reached out to the mayor's office to find out what guidelines are already in place, but the administration has not provided the information. Dataworks Contract by on Scribd Language games and a capitalization on general confusion around the technology have been a core feature of the City's surveillance initiatives, according to Eric Williams an attorney working with the ACLU on a committee opposing the city's surveillance tactics. "Because they keep breaking it up   just traffic cameras, just Green Light participating businesses, just Green Light corridors   you can't comprehend," said Williams, pointing to the fact that the facial recognition conversation being held with the police board revolved around the "Neighborhood Real-Time Intelligence Program," a new $9 million initiative that Duggan announced in March at his State of the City address, that would use local and federal traffic modernization funds to put high-definition cameras at various intersections in the neighborhoods. In Williams view, the names of the various surveillance programs serve to confuse the public about what is really going on, and how wide of a network exists. For all intents and purposes, the public-facing push to ramp up surveillance in Detroit began in January 2016 when DPD launched Project Green Light. Starting with eight gas stations, the program has participating businesses pay for and install surveillance cameras on their property that feed directly to DPD's Real Time Crime Center. Additionally, as part of the program, businesses commit to ensuring they have robust lighting and a green light outside of their vicinity to let customers know they are a part of the program. Today, more than 500 businesses   including churches, schools, and pharmacies   are a part of the program. There are also two "Green Light Corridors" and one public housing property signed on to be part of the program. Up until this spring it was accepted   though not widely broadcast   that facial recognition technology was being used on camera feeds connected to Project Green Light businesses. In fall 2015, right before the launch of Project Green Light, Detroit's Office of Contracting and Procurement was working on a request for proposal for "Facial Recognition Software solutions" to be utilized by DPD's Real Time Crime Center (live video feeds) and investigation personnel (static images). In July 2017, the city entered into a three-year, $1,045,843, contract with South Carolina-based facial recognition software company DataWorks Plus, which pitched FACE Watch Plus in its bid for the contract. "FACE Watch Plus tracks face images from live video surveillance, processes the images, then searches your database and alerts you when a match/hit has been made," the proposal explained. "It detects faces within surveillance footage in real-time, then uses cutting-edge facial searching algorithms to rapidly search through your agency's mugshot or watchlist database for positive matches." The contract explained that the purchase of facial recognition licensing, software and equipment was for "Project Green Light Locations." When the Free Press visited the Police Department's Real Time Crime Center in January 2018, and asked about Project Green Light and facial recognition software, Craig conceded that the department was using facial recognition software. "We have facial recognition software, from the system we can go in   we're in the process, that's still evolving, it's still early. We use the state system, so if we needed, or we had a suspect, we can apply facial recognition once it's here. We capture the images here in [the] real time crime [center]," the police chief said, later brushing aside questions about facial recognition technology being used on petty crimes and misdemeanors. "Anytime we use facial recognition, we're talking about violent crime; this is not anything to do with something that   I really wouldn't want it used that way, we simply don't have time to use it that way. What we do use it for is if we're going after a violent felon. Someone who maybe kidnapped a child." In recent months, however, the city has walked back this connection completely saying that while the contract states that the goal was to use facial recognition software in conjunction with Project Green Light, this never ended up happening. "We'll use Green Light cameras, so that may be where some of the confusion is," Craig said at a press conference last month. "But we'll use cameras from any source, not just Green Light. The facial recognition software was never going to be installed in the cameras themselves; that would be cost-prohibitive, and there'd be no need to do it anyway, since we'll use footage from those cameras, along with other cameras." The statement   facial recognition technology wasn't part of Green Light because the physical cameras don't have the technology embedded within   is according to critics like Williams a language game and an attempt to play on the public's confusion with how the technology works. "The city itself doesn't really make a distinction between these cameras internally. I think part of the reason they describe these programs as distinct when they're talking to the public is if people really realized the extent of police surveillance in the city they would be mortified," said Williams, pointing out that the issue is not whether facial recognition software is being used in conjunction with a specific program, or if its being used on real-time cameras versus still images, but rather that it's being employed at all. As Craig even conceded, the Green Light cameras may not have facial recognition technology within them, but at the Real Time Crime Center they can be fed thru the DataWorks software. The malleable statements around the technology and seeming word-games was at the heart of the Georgetown report, which noted that nowhere on the Green Light website was the use of face recognition, real-time face surveillance, or any kind of automated face analysis technology mentioned. The lack of public input and general confusion is a problem according to academics watching from the sidelines   especially when considering the fact that nationally, beyond Detroit, the technology is currently being questioned. In May, San Francisco became the first major city to ban police use of the technology, citing several of the concerns Williams and other critics of the software have raised. "We have an outsize responsibility to regulate the excesses of technology precisely because they are headquartered here," Aaron Peskin, the city supervisor who sponsored the bill, told the New York Times. In recent weeks legislators on Capitol Hill have also been debating the use by the FBI. "No elected officials gave the OK for the states or for the federal government, the FBI, to use this," said Representative Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) said during a hearing before the House Committee on Oversight and Reform in May. "There should probably be some kind of restrictions. It seems to me it's time for a time-out." Facial Recognition Directive 307.5 by Allie Gross on Scribd In Detroit it seems unclear what's even being used or not used   and who has given these approvals. The confusion, according to Tom Ivacko, associate director of the University of Michigan's Center for Local, State and Urban Policy, will likely come to a head. "It is not clear that these issues should even be decided at the local level, when such fundamental American rights are at risk," Ivacko wrote in an email. "As noted in the recent report by Georgetown's Center on Privacy and Technology, even with good policies and practices, facial recognition technology may introduce exactly the risk that the U.S. Supreme Court found unconstitutional in Carpenter v. United States - that "a person does not surrender all Fourth Amendment protection by venturing into the public sphere "Because of these kinds of concerns, an earlier 2016 report by Georgetown called for state legislatures to regulate this technology, rather than leaving it to local governments. This seems like an issue destined for the U.S. Supreme Court at some point, but in the meantime and at a minimum it should be the subject of extensive public debate." Contact Allie Gross at AEGross@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @Allie_Elisabeth . This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Duggan denies Detroit police use of live facial recognition software


WARSAW, Poland   A new documentary revealing new cases of pedophilia by priests has deeply shaken Poland, one of Europe's most Roman Catholic societies, eliciting an apology from the church hierarchy and prompting one priest to leave the clergy. "Just Tell No One," a film paid for through crowdfunding, was released on YouTube on Saturday and by Monday had more than 8 million views. After the premiere, the primate of Poland thanked the film's creators, brothers Tomasz and Marek Sekielski, for their "courage." "I apologize for every wound inflicted by the people of the Church," Archbishop Wojciech Polak said. The Apostolic Nuncio to Poland, Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio, expressed his sympathy on behalf of himself and Pope Francis. "The pope is very concerned and we express sympathy and solidarity," he said. Among others in the Polish church, the reactions were mixed. Leszek Slawoj Glodz, Archbishop of Gdansk, said he has better things to do than watch the film. But Jacek Prusak, a Jesuit priest, called the church "a home for a herd of wolves in clerical collars." He said Sunday that "a judgment over these wolves in clerical collars is coming. Actually, it is happening already." Most Poles identify as Catholic and attachment to the church is powerful. Poles credit the church with keeping the language and culture alive during more than a century of foreign rule and for backing Solidarity. The late Polish pope, John Paul II, who is now a saint, is revered both as a moral authority and for his opposition to communism. But like many other countries, Poland has been forced recently to reckon with the pedophilia in its ranks as victims and their advocates have been breaking old taboos by speaking out. In March, Poland's church authorities said they had recorded cases of 382 clergymen who abused 625 victims under the age of 18 since 1990. The film presents new evidence that known pedophiles were transferred between parishes. One of those featured is Franciszek Cybula, who was the priest of Lech Walesa from 1980-1995, during a time when the shipyard electrician founded the anti-communist Solidarity movement and after the fall of communism was president. "I am so surprised that I do not know what to say," Walesa said. "If I, as a Catholic, had known, would I allow such a thing? No way." The film opens with a 39-year-old woman, Anna Misiewicz, returning to a parish in Topola, a village near Krakow, to confront an elderly priest who had molested her when she was about 7. Fearful and wearing a hidden camera, Misiewicz tells the priest how his abuse still gives her nightmares and keeps her from sleeping at night. When she reminds him that he had kissed her and used her hands to masturbate, the priest admits his wrongdoing against her and other girls. He expresses remorse and blames the devil. "I know I shouldn't have don't it, shouldn't have touched or kissed you. I know I shouldn't have. Some stupid passion," the priest tells her. He is identified only as Father A. and his face is blurred in the film because he hasn't been convicted. The film also alleges that Dariusz Olejniczak, a priest who had been sentenced for molesting 7-year-old girls, was allowed to continue working with young people. On Sunday, he resigned from the priesthood. The film has also prompted politicians from across the political spectrum to call for tougher actions to fight pedophilia. The leader of the conservative ruling party, Jaroslaw Kacyznski, vowed to make the sexual abuse of children punishable by up to 30 years in prison.


Peyton Manning has attended Broncos practice twice this offseason and he's spoken with new quarterback Joe Flacco each time. "It's cool," Flacco said after practice on June 4. "I don't really know Peyton that well, so it's still cool for me. He's still a guy that I grew up watching play. Now I'm on the same football field as him. I really don't lose sight of that." Manning, 43, retired from the NFL in 2016 after winning a pair of Super Bowls during an 18-year career. Denver players appreciate when he stops by practice. "Shoot, it's still Peyton Manning," Flacco said. "I'm still watching him on Nationwide commercials or whatever he's doing - just like you guys are - sitting there laughing. Any time I get a chance to talk to him and do those kind of things is pretty neat." Manning has been linked to several general manager openings in the NFL but the ex-QB seems content in retirement. He attends every Broncos home game and has remained close to the game without having any of the stress associated with playing for or managing a team. It's hard to imagine Manning taking an NFL job anytime soon. MORE: Warriors injury report: The latest on Klay Thompson and Kevin Durant Giants' Daniel Jones quickly destroying critical narratives 5 Trade Options for Yankees After Missing on Dallas Keuchel Report: New Orleans likely to trade Anthony Davis to Celtics These five upcoming NBA free agents hurt themselves in the playoffs


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. Nearly every claim made by Donald Trump and his allies in the Republican Party about Volume 1 of the Mueller Report that copious volume that deals with accusations Trump or his campaign conspired with the Kremlin has been false. Trump and his advocates say Mueller found no evidence of conspiracy? That's not true. They say Mueller found no evidence of coordination? Also false. Mueller found no evidence of collusion? False. Mueller considered the facts from every angle but couldn't establish any conspiracy between Trump or his campaign and Russian nationals? False. Mueller made a final determination on whether law enforcement could establish the exceedingly narrow band of conspiracy he investigated? Nope. Volume 1 of the Mueller Report says none of these things, yet because so few in American media have read or understood the complexities of the volume, most Americans don't realize the Mueller Report's dirty, if depressingly open, secret: Volume 1 contains a lot of harrowing information about the actions of Trump and his campaign, but offers virtually no final conclusions about any of these actions. So how is this possible? How is one of the most historically important documents ever produced by the U.S. Department of Justice so woefully misunderstood? The overarching answer is that Mueller didn't investigate what most Americans think he did, and wasn't able to draw inalterable conclusions on the narrow (non-obstruction) topics he did pursue over the nearly two years of his investigation. First, Mueller clearly reported that he didn't consider the notion of "collusion" at all because it's a "lay" (non-legal) term. So anyone in the White House or Congress who tells Americans the report speaks to "collusion" issue isn't telling them the truth. Second, Mueller was explicit in writing that he only considered one potential act of "conspiracy" or "coordination" (two terms he treated as interchangeable): whether Trump or anyone on his campaign conspired (a) with one of two Kremlin-sponsored entities, either Russian military intelligence (the GRU) or the Internet Research Agency (a Russian troll factory), and (b) did so as part of the "election interference" efforts undertaken by these two organizations. In simpler terms, Mueller considered whether Trump or anyone on his team knew about Russian hacking or the Russian pre-election propaganda campaign beforehand, and took discrete steps to aid one or both of these foreign attacks on America's infrastructure. The strange thing is that no one accused Trump of doing what Mueller investigated. Indeed, no evidence has ever emerged nor has anyone claimed that any evidence exists indicating that Trump or his team knew about the Russian hacking in advance, knew about the Kremlin's disinformation campaign in advance, or funded or supported either campaign on the front end. The most over-the-skis claim ever made on this score appears in the so-called "Steele dossier," which document, produced by the former Russia desk chief for MI6, reports not as fact, but raw intelligence requiring vetting that at least one Trump aide may have helped pay for the Russian disinformation campaign over a year after it was already underway. It's for this reason that Mueller picked his language so carefully in Volume 1 of his report: he didn't say that there was "no" evidence of a before-the-fact Trump-IRA or Trump-GRU conspiracy, but rather that the evidence before him revealed numerous troubling Trump-Russia contacts but couldn't yet "establish" that narrow (never-alleged) form of conspiracy beyond a reasonable doubt the very highest standard of proof in the U.S. criminal justice system. Because Republicans have systematically dissembled regarding this finding for so long never contending, even momentarily, with its complexities, at least not in public it's a near-certainty that even the most cautious, meticulous, and honest Republican questioner who appears on television when Mueller testifies before Congress will slip up and falsely say Mueller drew a final conclusion on a Trump-IRA or Trump-GRU conspiracy: namely, that no such conspiracy could ever be alleged. But even that's not true. On pg. 10 of Vol. 1 of the Mueller Report, Mueller records all the obstacles placed in the path of his investigation by witnesses in the Trump-Russia case, many of them connected to Trump: they refused to be interviewed; when interviewed, they asserted privilege; when subpoenaed for documents, they fought those subpoenas; when successfully interviewed, they often lied or misled; when interviewed and then subpoenaed for documents, they often withheld some or all of the requested evidence; and when they neither lied nor withheld evidence, it was sometimes because they'd already destroyed the evidence sought by the special counsel's office. Indeed, the effort to stymie Mueller's determination of a narrow issue whether Trump or his campaign conspired, before the fact, with the GRU or IRA was so advanced, so pervasive, and so successful that Mueller early in Vol. 1 issues a caveat to his readers: Vol. 1 is just the evidence he was able to get under the circumstances. Indeed, Mueller reports in Vol. 1 that the evidence withheld from him might well have shed "new light" on the evidence he'd already found, or even be (or lead to) new evidence that would itself significantly alter his conclusions. So Mueller can't even say his findings on the conspiracy question (or the sliver of that question he considered) are "final," and in fact he underscores in Vol. 1 that they're very much contingent: that is, any new information might well amend them, and dramatically. Even in those rare instances in which Mueller issues a conclusion of sorts in Vol. 1 for instance, in declining to charge Manafort with conspiracy to defraud the U.S. for in mid-campaign giving proprietary data and strategic intelligence to a man he knew was a GRU agent; or, in saying that Donald Trump Jr. didn't have the requisite knowledge of federal law to understand that soliciting campaign donations from a foreign power and then concealing the solicitation was illegal have been roundly disagreed with by many former federal prosecutors. And we'll never know whether Manafort might in fact have been charged with conspiracy had he not cut a deal with federal prosecutors and then reneged on it after the certainty of him serving many years in federal prison had been established. At that point, Mueller's prosecutors had little appetite left for bringing new indictments. In other words, even Mueller's few hard-and-fast conclusions on the "conspiracy" question none of which touch on Trump, nor could they, as Trump refused to be interviewed face-to-face after publicly promising such an encounter are considered open for debate. And since Mueller says he plans to stick to his report in testifying before Congress, there appears to be no chance, in the short term, that Americans will gain clarity on what Vol. 1 really signifies besides offering up a series of troubling facts about the Kremlin's easy infiltration of the Trump campaign (and the campaign's willingness to participate in and even seek out that infiltration). Until the U.S. counterintelligence community releases its findings to Congress and perhaps, given how secretive such an eventual report will be, even after that point Americans will remain in the dark about what Mueller found or was capable of finding with respect to the bevy of conspiracy or conspiracy-related offenses Trump has been accused or widely suspected of committing: a list that includes aiding and abetting, bribery, money laundering, and conspiracy with non-governmental Russians and governmental and non-governmental persons from several other foreign governments (including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Israel). As America prepares to watch the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence question Robert Mueller about Vol. 1 of his report, only one thing is for certain: the GOP, in the absence of much conclusive content in Vol. 1, will continue to tell voters what it wishes were true. And many in American media, lacking either the information or background on Vol. 1 to contest the Republicans' disinformation, will let them continue to say what they like, whether accurate or honest or not. The views expressed in this article are the author's own. Seth Abramson is Assistant Professor of Communication Arts & Sciences at the University of New Hampshire and author of Proof Of Collusion (Simon & Schuster, 2018.) On Twitter @SethAbramson Related Articles Of Course Trump Can Win in 2020 | Opinion We're Running Out of Time Congress Must Launch Impeachment Inquiry Now | Opinion Sign up to our newsletter and get Newsweek stories delivered to your e-mail