Boston Bruins captain Zdeno Chara was at the team's practice, on the ice, Thursday ahead of Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final. Chara left Game 4 early after taking a puck to the face from short range off the stick of St. Louis Blues forward Brayden Schenn early in the second period. Chara turned the puck over, and moments later, Schenn's shot caught him in the mouth after the puck appeared to deflect off Chara's stick. The 6-foot-9 defenseman went down in pain, and blood was all over the ice. "At this point in the playoffs, everyone has injuries and there are challenges that you have to overcome to play. I'm not different than any player on either team," Chara said in written answers to on Thursday. Chara was back on the ice Thursday for the morning skate before Game 5. He was wearing a helmet that has a full face shield. "You don't think about (further injury). You think about playing. You don't go into a game thinking you might get hurt," Chara said. "He's an incredibly tough man. He's willing to play through anything. It shows so much character in him," Brad Marchand said of Chara. Boston defenseman Matt Grzelcyk, who was in concussion protocol, was also at practice. Bruins Coach Bruce Cassidy said Chara and Grzelcyk availability for Game 5 would be "game-time decisions." READ MORE: 'Everyone has injuries:' Zdeno Chara at Bruins' practice before Game 5 CHECK OUT WCVB: Get the latest Boston news, weather and sports online, anytime. Stay in the know with Boston's news leader   WCVB.


Sugar is kind of like your fave reality TV show: You know you should consume it in moderation, it's just about everywhere, and you'll probably never quit it entirely. Okay, admittedly, sugar is a bit worse for your health-the sweet stuff has been linked to increasing rates of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. But in the rush to avoid sugar (and carbs, too!), many people are shunning fruit. So...should you? First things first-fruit is good for you. The fear of sugar and carbs has created massive confusion, says Lauren Harris-Pincus, RDN, founder of Nutrition Starring YOU and author of The Protein-Packed Breakfast Club . "Yes, [fruit] turns to sugar, but so does every other carb we eat at the end of the digestive process," she says. "It's a matter of what that food provides nutritionally, and fruit is very nutrient dense." Plus, the sugar found in fruit is different from your standard sweeteners like agave, honey, coconut sugar, maple syrup, or granulated sugar, according to Harris-Pincus. These sources of added sugar have a high glycemic index, meaning that they are digested and absorbed lightening fast by your body. Think: How quickly your blood sugar spikes when you nosh on candy. "When it comes to sugar in fruit, it's a bit different because of the fiber and other health benefits," says Harris-Pincus. The fiber slows down the processing of sugar, and helps your body absorb it more gradually. (This means that fruit generally has a lower glycemic index.) There are some cases when you do have to pay a little more attention to the type of fruit you eat. For example, if you are a person with diabetes, Harris-Pincus says you need to keep a tighter rein on your blood sugar levels. In that case, you need to be a little more picky, and choose nutrient-rich fruit with lower carbs and sugar. Same goes for anyone on a special diet, like keto . Otherwise, don't fear fruit. "Since all fruit contributes vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals, and antioxidants to our diets, we should consume them daily," says Harris-Pincus. "Just monitor the portion sizes, and consume them with a source of protein and fat to temper the glycemic response-like the famous apple and peanut butter combo." Since there's no nutrition label on produce, check out this list of 13 high-sugar fruits, according to the USDA. (P.S. These fruits have crazy-low sugar counts .) 1. Lychees Sugar: 29 grams per cup serving This tropical fruit packs a serious sugar punch. Here's why it's okay to consume in moderation, though: It also gives you 136 milligrams of calcium, superseding your daily recommended intake of 75 milligrams. Per 1 cup : 125 cal, >1 g fat (>1 g sat), 31 g carbs, 29 g sugar, 2 mg sodium, 2.5 g fiber, 1.6 g protein. 2. Mango Sugar: 23 grams per cup Mangoes are a quintessential summer fruit. They're also a very high-sugar fruit. By providing over a third of your daily vitamin A quota, though, that serving also helps to keep your eyes healthy. Per cup : 99 cal, >1 g fat (>1 g sat), 25 g carbs, 23 g sugar, 2 mg sodium, 2.6 g fiber, 1.3 g protein. 3. Cherries Sugar: 20 grams per cup of pitted cherries With that much sugar per serving, no wonder it's so easy to pop them like candy. Fortunately, they may also help you sleep better at night. Other benefits of cherries include cancer-fighting antioxidants and recovery-promoting potassium. Per cup of pitted cherries : 97 cal, >1 g fat (>1 g sat), 25 g carbs, 20 g sugar, 0 mg sodium, 3.2 g fiber, 1.6 g protein. 4. Apple Sugar: 19 grams per medium apple It may surprise you that a medium apple (three inches in diameter) has 25 grams of carbs. That's partly because it's a high-fiber fruit. Apples are also rich in antioxidants like vitamin C, which help keep your immune system humming. Per medium fruit : 95 cal, >1 g fat (>1 g sat), 25 g carbs, 19 g sugar, 2 mg sodium, 4 g fiber, >1 g protein. 5. Oranges Sugar: 17 grams per one large orange While there's a good amount of sugar in one orange, it's also dripping with antioxidants like vitamin C (more than your daily dose in just one fruit!) and minerals like selenium. P.S.: Opt for the whole fruit over juice. The fiber will help slow down the absorption of sugar. Per one large fruit : 86 cal, >1 g fat (>1 g sat), 22 g carbs, 17 g sugar, 0 mg sodium, 4 g fiber, 2 g protein. 6. Pears Sugar: 17 grams per one medium fruit If you're looking for a mid-day snack, nosh on a pear. Not only will the high-sugar fruit satisfy your sweet tooth, it will keep you full longer, thanks to the six grams of fiber per medium fruit. You'll also get a healthy dose of vitamins and minerals. Per one medium fruit : 101 cal, >1 g fat (>1 g sat), 27 g carbs, 17 g sugar, 2 mg sodium, 6 g fiber, >1 g protein. 7. Kiwi Sugar: 16 grams per one cup of sliced kiwifruit The little fuzzy green fruit looks so unassuming, but one cup of sliced kiwi contains 16 grams of sugar. That said, you'll also get nearly three times your daily recommended dose of vitamin C and nearly a full dose of vitamin K. Per one cup : 110 cal, >1 g fat (>1 g sat), 26 g carbs, 16 g sugar, 5 mg sodium, 5 g fiber, 2 g protein. 8. Pineapple Sugar: 16 grams per cup of pineapple chunks While tropical fruits like pineapple tend to be sticky sweet, one cup serves up 131 percent of your daily vitamin C needs, and 76 percent of your daily manganese needs. It's also super-hydrating, making it perfect for warm weather months. Per cup : 82 cal, >1 g fat (>1 g sat), 22 g carbs, 16 g sugar, 2 mg sodium, 2 g fiber, >1 g protein. 9. Grapes Sugar: 15 grams per cup Sorry to break it to you...but grapes def count as a high-sugar fruit (that's why they're so delicious). The red kind are also rich in antioxidants, though, and both red and green pack a fiber punch. Note: In raisin form, the grapes' sugar is concentrated in a smaller package-just like with any dried fruit. "It's much easier to eat a larger portion, too. Think of 12 to 15 grapes versus 12 to 15 raisins. They both contain the same amount of sugar," says Harris-Pincus. So, if you have a soft spot for dried fruit, use it as an accent for your salad or trail mix, not the main attraction. Per cup : 97 cal, >1 g fat (>1 g sat), 25 g carbs, 20 g sugar, 0 mg sodium, 3.2 g fiber, 1.6 g protein. 10. Bananas Sugar: 14 grams per medium fruit Bananas get a bad rep as a sugar-laden, calorie-packed fruit. But they also have a good amount of fiber and a ton of potassium and magnesium, along with other inflammation-fighting antioxidants. Per medium fruit : 105 cal, >1 g fat (>1 g sat), 27 g carbs, 14 g sugar, 1 mg sodium, 3.1 g fiber, 1.2 g protein. 11. Pomegranates Sugar: 12 grams per 1/2 cup of pomegranate seeds The tiny, jewel-like seeds from a pomegranate are delightfully sweet and tart. But that's not the reason pomegranate is considered a super fruit: It's packed with antioxidants, which keep your immune system in check and inflammation at bay. Per 1/2 cup : 72 cal, 1 g fat (>1 g sat), 16 g carbs, 12 g sugar, 2 mg sodium, 4 g fiber, 1 g protein. 12. Figs Sugar: 10 grams per large whole fig Figs seem luxurious for a reason: They're high in sugar and in calories per serving (kind of like candy). Unlike candy, though, figs come with hearty doses of fiber and potassium. Per large whole fig : 47 cal, >1 g fat (>1 g sat), 13 g carbs, 10 g sugar, 1 mg sodium, 2 g fiber, >1 g protein. Video: Are Fruits and Veggies the Fountain of Youth for Women? (The Doctors)


Your body does a whole lot of work to fight back against the sting. This Is What Happens to Your Body When You Get Stung by a Bee If you've ever been stung by a bee , you likely recall the nasty side effects that followed the sting like the pain, redness, and swelling at the site of the attack. When we get a bee sting, our bodies do a whole lot of work to fight against the bee's venom and in nearly all cases, our immune systems provide an impeccable line of defense. (Only 90 to 100 individuals die every year from allergy-related bee sting complications, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .) To peel back the curtain on the relentless systems that keep your body in check when you're stung by a bee, check out the following steps that'll make you feel just a bit safer the next time a bee flies your way. And for more information on your body's natural defenses, dive into The Best Ways to Bulletproof Your Immune System . Bee venom spreads immediately and quickly. It's important to understand that a bee's venom is water-soluble, meaning that it dissolves in water. This proves to be bad news for humans, considering most of the human body is made of water  60 percent , to be exact which therefore allows the venom to spread more quickly. Your body's white blood cells fight back. After a bee sting, your body's first line of defense comes in the form of white blood cells that arrive to fight off antigens in the bee's venom, according to Wake Forest University's Dr. Buddy Marterre , MD, who's also a beekeeper. As this war wages on in your body, redness, swelling, heat, and pain may occur at the site of the sting. And for more bug bite symptoms to look out for, check out 17 Signs Your Bug Bite Is Something Serious . The bee releases melittin into your body, which stimulates pain receptors. Upon injecting its stinger into your skin, the bee releases a chemical called melittin into your body. Melittin is cytotoxic, which means that it destroys red blood cells immediately upon entering the body by breaking up their membranes, according to chemistry expert Suendues Noori of CurioCity . On top of that, the melittin stimulates your body's pain receptors. "It contributes to itching and swelling, and is the primary cause of the sting's pain," according to Marterre. Your body releases histamine, causing swelling. To help your immune system fight the spreading of venom, melittin triggers your body to produce histamine, according to the National Center of Biotechnology Information . This histamine helps your body fight off an infection, and it's also what causes the swelling. "Histamine dilates blood vessels, makes them leaky, and activates the endothelium (or lining of the capillaries). This leads to local edema (swelling), warmth, redness, and the attraction of other inflammatory cells to the site," Marterre explains. And for more bugs to beware of, check out The 50 Most Dangerous Bugs in America . Your blood pressure drops. With the bursting of the red blood cells at the site of the sting comes the eventual expansion of your blood vessels. This subsequently can cause your blood pressure to drop significantly, according to Marterre. Your nerve tissue is damaged. Three percent of bee venom is comprised of the protein apamin, which, when injected into your body, destroys nerve tissue. According to Marterre, apamin is "unique to bee venom and is a neurotoxin, [meaning] it is toxic to nerve conduction." And for other insects that like to bite, here are 15 Genius Ways to Outsmart Mosquitoes This Summer . Your kidneys work overtime. Once a bee's venom damages cell tissue in the body, it's the kidney's job to eliminate this damaged tissue in order to keep the body healthy and ready to face further traumas. However, you shouldn't worry about your renal function: The only time that the kidneys may be damaged from a bee sting is when the person affected is stung multiple times, as this can present an overabundance of damaged cell tissue for the kidneys to repair. Still, as a 2016 study published in the journal Annals of African Medicine notes that "acute renal failure (ARF) following bee stings is an uncommon complication." Your heart and adrenal glands are stimulated. The proteins present in bee venom including apamin and melittin stimulate the heart and adrenal glands to work harder in order to push the infection out of your body, according to Mayo Clinic . In turn, this can cause your pulse to speed up. The proteins also cause the adrenal glands to produce cortisol that's the hormone most commonly associated with stress  in order to protect the body from further infection. Your immune system can overreact. In the most serious and rare bee sting cases, the immune system can overreact to the sting, causing a life-threatening allergic response called anaphylaxis, according to the Mayo Clinic . Symptoms range from minor inconveniences (like hives and itching) to severe issues (like loss of consciousness). And for more potentially fatal encounters, here are the 30 Most Deadly Animals on Earth . You're not in the clear for days. Though delayed responses to bee stings are incredibly rare, they usually occur in those with a weak immune system, as the body's defenses are not able to coordinate a proper response to the sting. "The reaction is sometimes delayed by as much as six days and therefore requires immediate transportation to an emergency room and hospitalization," Marterre notes. While symptoms of this delayed response vary, they range from inflammation of the brain, nerves, blood vessels, and kidneys, to the possibility of a serum sickness which can cause a rash, fever, or joint pain , according to Dr. Melissa Conrad Stöppler , MD. And for other signs to be wary of, here are 17 Allergy Symptoms You Need to Stop Ignoring . To discover more amazing secrets about living your best life, click here to follow us on Instagram!


You can leave your umbrella at home through Friday, but light rainfall is in the forecast for Seattle over the weekend, according to the seven-day forecast from drone-powered weather service Saildrone . Saturday's forecast shows the greatest possibility of rain at 86%, with expected rainfall of 0.30 inches. The coming days will also see warm temperatures, due to last through Wednesday. Temperatures will reach a weekly high of 74 degrees on Tuesday and Wednesday. Skies will be cloudy through Friday, turning partly cloudy Tuesday and Wednesday. Winds will stay light throughout the week, with only a light breeze of 6 mph today. This story was created automatically using Saildrone's local weather forecast data, then reviewed by an editor. We also incorporate historic weather data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


The battle over white-supremacist and extremist content online surged into the tangled pipelines of the Web on Monday as jockeying among rival tech firms knocked the 8chan message board and other hate sites offline. It was unclear how long they'd stay unavailable to their followers as several players in the little-seen world of Internet service firms dug in to prevent the sites' reappearance. Subscribe to the Post Most newsletter: Today's most popular stories on The Washington Post Abandoned by its key partner Cloudflare for its "lawlessness" in the wake of the El Paso mass shooting, 8chan briefly disappeared from the Web early Monday before reappearing with the help of a sympathetic ally: BitMitigate, whose cybersecurity services also helped keep the neo-Nazi site Daily Stormer online after Cloudflare dropped it in 2017. But by Monday afternoon, both 8chan and the Daily Stormer plunged into darkness when Voxility, a tech firm that has leased servers to BitMitigate, announced that it would no longer provide those services. The site for Vancouver-based BitMitigate was also dropped offline. It's "totally against our policy," Maria Sirbu, a Voxility executive, told The Washington Post. "As soon as we were notified ... we proceeded with (completely) removing" the company from their network. She said Voxility was making a "firm stand" and urged that many other Internet authorities should take more action in "keeping the Internet a safer place." Shortly after noon, Ron Watkins, 8chan's administrator, said that the site was down and that it looked like its content-delivery network, provided by BitMitigate, was "under attack." Minutes later, he said that BitMitigate had instead been "deplatformed for hosting 8chan." The war drew attention to the role played by the Internet's hidden infrastructure in deciding what ideas and content can circulate online. Most of the key players in Monday's fight are unknown to consumers, but they run some of the critical elements supporting the modern Web. BitMitigate is owned by another company, Epik, a firm based outside Redmond, Wash., that bought the service earlier this year. Epik, a hosting and domain-name firm that gained notoriety after backing the far-right site Gab, has loudly criticized what it calls "digital censorship" and "organized efforts to de-platform and incapacitate practitioners of lawful free speech." Epik chief Rob Monster wrote Monday that the company had not solicited 8chan's business but was now helping manage some of the site's technical needs and was further evaluating whether to offer it other services, including a defense against cyberattacks."We enter into a slippery slope when we start to limit speech that makes us uncomfortable," Monster wrote. Related video: How 8chan became a platform for mass shooters (CBS News) The services provided by Cloudflare and BitMitigate form a key element of the Internet's hidden backbone, helping sites boost their speed and stay online. They also help guard against vigilante strikes such as distributed denial of service, or DDoS, attacks, in which hackers flood a site with traffic to knock it offline. For 8chan, a site that has attracted no small number of online enemies through its years of promoting racist, sexist and offensive content, those services have helped ensure its survival. The site is largely independent from the other advertising, hosting and technical giants that help form the infrastructure of other websites, and who can sometimes exert pressure on objectionable clients. BitMitigate's rules offer wide leniency to its clients: "We leave law enforcement to the experts and will not stop service to any of our clients unless by final court order," the company says in its terms of service. The site has held itself up as a bastion of free-speech protections for sites too objectionable for others to support. BitMitigate is a "non-discriminatory" provider of "bulletproof DDoS protection with a proven commitment to liberty," the company says on its Twitter account. But online data show that BitMitigate has only a fraction of the server capacity of Cloudflare. Its dependence on renting from providers such as Voxility to help stay afloat, tech experts said, makes it vulnerable to pushback from other companies that may disagree with its indirect support of extremist speech. Three mass shootings this year, including the El Paso massacre on Saturday, began with the gunmen distributing hate-filled screeds on 8chan, which has become a notorious refuge for some of the Web's most vile content. The site faced a firestorm of public criticism on Sunday, including from founder Fredrick Brennan, who told The Washington Post that the site was a haven of "domestic terrorists" and needed to be shut down. On Sunday night, the site saw its service terminated by Cloudflare, whose chief Matthew Prince said the site had proven to be a "cesspool of hate." 8chan's administrators began moving the site to BitMitigate's service, posting alerts calling the rocky service that users were experiencing during the transition "just a bump in the road" and that posters could expect minimal downtime as the servers updated around the world. The site's "nerve center," which shows the board's active threads, included a message: "The heartbeat of 8chan is strong." Some 8chan posters voiced fear and resignation over what they said was the site's imminent demise. One board leader encouraged readers to migrate to a new refuge on a sister site "due to prevailing conditions of general reactionary rampancy and the unfavorable present conditions of this site." But many other 8chan posters said they were defiant against what they described as another attack in the online culture wars. "I am skipping work tomorrow to sit on MS PAINT all f---ing day to create a red pill for normies," wrote one poster, referring to a driving principle of the site's most extremist "politically incorrect" board: creating memes that are so shocking or persuasive they will convert mainstream audiences to their side. "WHEN 8CHAN GOES OFFLINE, EVERYONE'S GOING OUTSIDE AND SHOOTING," another poster wrote. Those posts, and all others on 8chan, were minutes afterward knocked offline.


Samantha Cerio , the Auburn University gymnast who famously broke both knees during a collegiate competition in April, is opening up about her injury and life after the career-ending fall. In a new interview with ESPNW , the 22-year-old graduate recalls dislocating both of her knees and tearing ligaments in both during her first floor exercise pass at the NCAA Regional Semifinal in Baton Rouge. "I was in disbelief that some people found enjoyment in watching the video and being able to post it: 'Oh my gosh, look at what this girl did,' laughing at it," Cerio said. "You go from this very high moment of seeing college gymnasts go viral for floor routines and getting 10s everywhere to a very stark difference when someone gets injured, and it's not something people are used to seeing in the sport." Cerio's injury was arguably one of the worst in her sport, something many viewers did not expect could happen, according to the athlete. "People see us in leotards, they see us in makeup and done up and doing all these crazy incredible flips. And yeah, it's dangerous, but do people really get hurt in it? That's why it was taken a different way," she said. "You see basketball games where people get hurt or football games where players will get hurt," Cerio shared. "It's horrible altogether, but when you think of football and basketball, you think, 'OK it happens all the time in that sport,' but when you have something in gymnastics and someone gets injured like that, it's like, 'Oh my gosh, I didn't know people in that sport got hurt like that.' " In addition to focusing on her recovery, Cerio was also concerned with her unassisted walk down the aisle to wed husband Trey Wood at Alabama's Fairhope Yacht Club, just two months after. RELATED: Gymnast Samantha Cerio Walks Down the Aisle After Breaking Both Knees in Horrific Injury Following surgery, Cerio moved around in a motorized scooter and had large braces on her legs as she rehabbed her mobility and strength. Though everyday activities   such as getting out of bed and taking a shower   proved difficult, she prioritized physical therapy in order to walk again. And first up was her Auburn graduation. Thanks to knee-strengthening exercises that targeted her quad muscles, calves and hamstrings, Cerio was able to walk with crutches across the graduation stage four weeks after her injury. "That was something I wasn't expecting, and I had a lot of people afterward who were like, 'Good job, I'm so happy you were able to do that, you're amazing, thank you for doing this,' " Cerio said of the raucous reaction she received from the crowd. "It wasn't just those that graduated. It was everyone. It was Auburn. It was the fact that the people of Auburn were able to see I was able to make this accomplishment and recover well," she continued. "Their support is amazing, and it's so cool to see how a community can band together and uplift people." RELATED: Auburn Gymnast Who Broke Knees Says She Has 'Many Positive Things Coming Up': A 'Small Setback' Further hard work in rehab, as well as precision and focus, helped Cerio accomplish her No. 1 goal. "Walking down the aisle was something that really made the wedding day that much sweeter," she revealed to ESPNW. "I'm really stubborn and want to accomplish goals that I set for myself, and I don't know if our friends and family were all that surprised, but it was something that definitely helped make the wedding day even better." Video by Sports Media Group Cerio, who was an aerospace engineering major, lined up a job at Boeing before she graduated in May.


With each passing year, the "British Open Open Championship is the best major" crowd screams louder and louder. And while I grew up loving the Masters more than any golf tournament on the calendar, I'm beginning to feel myself leaning more and more in the Open's direction. The Masters signals the beginning of golf season, the U.S. Open, with all its faults, is still a demanding test that has provided much more excitement in recent years than it gets credit for, and the PGA is, well, it's the PGA (truth hurts). The Open, however, stands alone. The historic links, the weather, the style of play, the 90-second pieces NBC does as coverage lead-ins with some guy with a British accent narrating a scene at a nearby bar with b-roll of Guinness being poured and fish being fried you really can't beat it. RELATED: This Nike mini-doc will have you emptying the bank account on Rory McIlroy at Royal Portrush For those who don't make the trip, it's the most unique viewing experience of the year in golf, particularly for the East Coasters. Sorry for the East Coast bias, but there is a reason that every major television event is catered to the Eastern Time zone. We're better than you, and we know it (I kid, I kid). But the Open literally can't cater to us, instead forcing viewers to rise up in the wee hours of the morning to watch major championship golf. This is, in my opinion, one of the Open's best qualities. There is nothing like watching a major with the smell of bacon wafting in the air and a cup of hot coffee steaming in your face. You could always fry up bacon as the leaders come down the back nine at Augusta, but that's savage behavior, and it's not the same. With all that said, it's tough to navigate your viewing schedule and get enough sleep to not be dead by Sunday. Do you stay up all night and power through? Do you set your alarm for 4 a.m. and miss some early featured groups? Do you keep your normal schedule and risk missing an early-morning 64 from Phil Mickelson? It's overwhelming. We came up with a step-by-step guide to watching first-round coverage that will help you catch all the best action and get an adequate amount of sleep. For the full television schedule, click here . (All times ET, because, see above.) 1:30 a.m. - Watch Darren Clarke hit the opening tee shot If you've read anything about the history of Northern Ireland, Royal Portrush, or why the Open returning after 68 years means so much (this Golfweek piece by Northern Ireland's own Eamon Lynch is a good place to start), then you're aware of how special a moment this will be. For Clarke, it probably won't rival the opening tee shot he hit at the 2006 Ryder Cup at the K Club just after his wife had passed away, but it'll be close. Clarke not only calls Portrush home, but calls Royal Portrush his favorite course in the world. You don't want to miss this. 2 a.m. to 5 a.m. - Sleep If you can fall asleep after getting all jacked up, now is the time. Feel free to get three solid hours in your bed, but your best bet is crashing on the couch so when you wake up, you don't even have to flip the TV or find the channel because coverage is already on (I'm aware of how lazy this sounds). Trust me, you're not missing much in this coverage window, save for a front-nine 32 from Phil, which doesn't seem promising judging by Mickelson's own words. RELATED: Apparently, this storm shelter is very much in play at Royal Portrush 5:09 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. - Rory! Rickie! Bryson! And more! Put the bacon on, get the coffee up and strap in. This is when the action will get real HOT. Rory McIlroy begins his quest for a second Open Championship at 5:09 a.m., and it'll be must-see TV if he gets it rolling early on a course he once shot 61 in competition in 2005. You've also got the end of Mickelson's round in this window, as well as Sergio Garcia, Henrik Stenson and Ian Poulter getting their rounds underway. Immediately following Rory is the group of Rickie Fowler, Hideki Matsuyama and Kevin Kisner, and as all these guys make the turn, Justin Thomas, Brooks Koepka, Tommy Fleetwood and Jordan Spieth will be getting started. Five-plus strong hours of coverage right here. Don't be afraid to get some first-round matchup bets in, because nothing says "action" like living and dying with every shot at 6:30 a.m. ET. This is why, as much as I loathe soccer, I wish I could get into it. Betting on and watching a game in its entirety before the rest of the world wakes up is an ELECTRIC way to start the day. 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. - Power nap For those of you with a "real job" that requires your "full attention" in an "office environment," well, this entire guide is probably not for you. Power-napping at the desk is definitely frowned upon. But for the rest of us rotten millennials reading this post on our mobile devices who get to WFH (translation for the old heads out there: work from home), we're going to need this two-hour nap to be ready for another full-coverage window. Because that coverage window features … 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. - TIGER! You'll actually catch the very beginning of Tiger's round in that first window (he's off at 10:10 a.m. ET), and if he rolls in a birdie or two early, call off the power nap. If he gets off to a slow start though, you're going to need the extra two hours, especially because he's off much earlier on Friday morning. When you wake back up, he could be in the middle of a birdie binge, in which case you won't even need that 2 p.m. coffee with all that adrenaline pumping. Also, everybody will be on the course at 12:30 p.m., and the afternoon wave boasts just as much action as the morning: Justin Rose and Tony Finau will be coming down the back nine, as will Jason Day and Dustin Johnson. Jon Rahm, Patrick Cantlay and Matt Kuchar will be in the group directly behind Tiger, and you'll see the finishes of Spieth, Koepka & co. 5 p.m. - Take a shower you filthy couch potato Don't need to elaborate further. 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. - Sleep Not only should you get to bed early for Friday's coverage, but also so you don't catch a cold. Didn't your mother teach you anything? A 7 p.m. sharp bed time gets you a full eight hours if you wake up at 3 a.m., at which point Spieth, Koepka and Thomas will all be kicking off early morning coverage. Two hours later, Tiger pegs it at 5:09 a.m. ET. With a full eight hours, there will be no power nap required, just you powering through 13 hours of second-round coverage. Is this the best viewing schedule ever created? That's for you to decide. Enjoy the Open everybody! RELATED: Assessing every player's chances of contending at Royal Portrush See the video.


The Nets are heading into the most crucial offseason under general manager Sean Marks. The franchise is armed with cap space, owns a bevy of draft selections (No. 17, 27 and 31 overall picks) and has young talent on hand, all parts that make Brooklyn a reportedly desirable destination for marquee free agents. Michael Scotto of The Athletic examines what strategy the Nets should take with their picks. Attaching a draft selection to Allen Crabbe in order to shed his $18.5M salary via trade makes sense, especially if the team intends to pursue two maximum-salary free agents. Without making moves like this, the Nets only project to have roughly $30.4M in salary cap space, as our Salary Cap Digest shows. Here's more from the Atlantic Division: Oregon's Bol Bol is a name to keep an eye on for the Nets, Scotto adds in the same piece. Bol, who is getting attention from the Cavs at No. 5 overall, could drop out of the lottery because of medical concerns. Brooklyn could find itself with a similar opportunity to the one it had in 2017 with Caris LeVert . Jarrett Culver (Texas Tech) has met with the Knicks. Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News relays. Culver, who reportedly is on the Hawks' radar, is a top-10 prospect, and New York owns the No. 3 overall pick. North Carolina's Cameron Johnson and Purdue's Carsen Edwards could be options for the Sixers in the first round, Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer writes. Philadelphia owns the No. 24 overall pick in addition to four second-rounders.


This is not the end of the Golden State Warriors, so to speak. Despite losing, some would say surprisingly, to the Toronto Raptors in six games in the NBA Finals , Golden State will almost certainly remain one of the league's best teams. But the loss is still the end of a very specific version of the Warriors   a team that, no matter what opponents threw at them, seemed invincible   and the NBA as a whole. Five years is a long time to rule the league, after all. All it took to end the Warriors' quest for three consecutive titles were devastating injuries to stars Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson and the transcendent play of Toronto's noiseless star Kawhi Leonard, who has ended basketball empires before. Though sterling performances from Raptors guards Kyle Lowry and Fred VanVleet to close out the series in Oakland came in handy, as well. Until Toronto took Game 3 and Game 4 on the Warriors' home court   in convincing fashion   there seemed to be something inevitable about the NBA for the last five years. The league was more captivating than ever with its outsized personalities, off-season drama, and high level of play on a nightly basis. But, in the end, most fans knew the Warriors would come out on top. And, perhaps, if Durant had been healthy at the beginning of the series, or at least hadn't ruptured his Achilles' in the first quarter of his Game 5 return, or Thompson had not sat out Game 3 with a hamstring injury or, worse still, torn his ACL in what could have been a career-defining Game 6, that would have been the case again this year. It wasn't, though. And now, two of the Warriors' three biggest stars   both of whom face an off-season of free agency   are dealing with significant, long-term injuries. The Raptors are the league's new champions and they deserve every bit of it (injuries are a part of the game). But the league, for the last half decade, has been defined by the Warriors, a marvel of a basketball team that completely altered the way the other 29 franchises approach the game of basketball. Of course this isn't the first time the Warriors have lost in the Finals; LeBron James heroically led the Cleveland Cavaliers to victory over Golden State in 2016, but that felt much less final, a setback on the path to domination. That off-season, the Warriors took a breath, signed Durant   much to the chagrin of fans everywhere outside of the Bay Area   and barely broke a sweat, avenging their loss. Then they ran it back in 2018, looking even more dominant. Before Game 5, the biggest question the Warriors faced was whether Durant would return, or sign a lucrative contract elsewhere   perhaps with either of the New York or Los Angeles franchises. The superstar might still do that, but while the ruptured Achilles' he suffered in the first half of Game 5 was devastating for Durant, the Warriors, and the league, it does provide one bit of clarity. Wherever Durant signs this offseason, he'll likely miss most, if not all, of next season. Coupled with the news of Thompson's ACL, in the moment, at least, the Toronto series feels like the end of an era. Steph Curry will be back, along with Draymond Green and, while he might not play until later in the season, if at all, it's still reasonably safe to expect Thompson to re-up with Golden State. But the Warriors were always more than just those three, even before Durant. They were a deep, well-rounded bunch, reliant on a juggernaut bench to pick things up when their stars needed a breather. This year, against Toronto, the team felt thinner, older. At one point, early in the fourth quarter of Game 6 when the game was tight, Golden State fielded a lineup consisting of Green, a hobbled DeMarcus Cousins, an aging Shaun Livingston, Quinn Cook, and Jonas Jerebko. It just wasn't the same team. The Warriors weren't just injured; at times they seemed tired, beaten down. The legacy of their greatness during this run will be etched in stone, but today, they're no longer beyond reach. Now, as the Warriors face that uncertain future, there is a chance for something special to happen in the NBA   parity. It's never really happened before. The league has always been home to dynasties, sometimes even beholden to the whims of a single player, whether it be Bill Russell, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, or LeBron James. That hasn't made the league less exciting , nor has the Warriors' dominance. But now it's not clear from where the next dynasty will emerge, and that could create one of the most fascinating and unique eras in NBA history. Teams have gotten smarter and deeper, and talent is more widely dispersed throughout the league than at any point in recent memory. In the Eastern Conference, the Raptors, of course, are the champions, but they could lose Leonard to free agency and some of their other stars, namely Kyle Lowry and Marc Gasol, are declining as they age. The Milwaukee Bucks just won 60 games and employ this year's likely MVP, Giannis Antetokounmpo, but the playoffs showed they are probably in need of one more high-level offensive weapon. The Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers have talent at every position, but haven't quite put it all together yet. Maybe the real potential heirs to the throne are the New York Knicks, who are reportedly still expected to target Durant and other free agents this offseason. But a lot needs to go right for that to happen. The West is even more confounding. The always-improving Denver Nuggets nearly stole home court advantage from the Warriors this year already, a healthy Jusuf Nurkic could help Portland improve on their conference finals appearance, and the Houston Rockets might try, once again, to revamp their roster to get over the hump. The Utah Jazz, Los Angeles Clippers, San Antonio Spurs, and Oklahoma City are all playoff teams who could be better next year, and, like the Knicks, LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers could swoop in and snag a prime free agent or pull off a blockbuster trade that turns them into instant contenders. There are a lot of decisions to be made, the now-nebulous futures of Durant and Thompson, notwithstanding   the free agencies of Leonard and Kyrie Irving chief among them, as well as the potential trade destination for Anthony Davis. All of them could tip the league's tenuous equilibrium. Still, it's difficult to remember the last time it felt like so many teams had a chance in the NBA. I've already mentioned 14 teams, and that's before counting the Indiana Pacers, who are coming off back-to-back successful seasons, or the bright-looking futures of the Atlanta Hawks, Dallas Mavericks, Sacramento Kings, Orlando Magic, and New Orleans Pelicans, who will likely lose Davis, but gain phenom Zion Williamson with the first pick in the upcoming draft. Before their first title in 2015, Curry and Co. had only made it as far as the second round of the playoffs. The subsequent era of dominance has been captivating for fans and undeniably changed the league and the sport forever. But, maybe, just maybe, the NBA is now headed toward something new again. An era defined more by questions than certainties.


Sometimes it's good to be a late bloomer. When summer begins to wind down, you don't have to ditch your gardening gloves for the season. Many annuals and perennials (which come back every year) offer plenty of color throughout late summer and autumn. In fact, a lot of plants are at their best when temperatures are cooler. Plus, the days remain long enough to get outside to enjoy your garden! Check your USDA Hardiness Zone to make sure those seeds will thrive in your location, then plant these best fall flowers for a stunning autumn landscape. 1) Chrysanthemum These long-lasting blooms come in every color of the rainbow! Technically, they're perennials, but when planted in the fall, it's too late for them to get established in time to survive the winter. Enjoy as annuals, or plant earlier in the year if you want them to come back. USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 9 Try these varieties: Hillside Pink Sheffield, Yellow Quill Mammoth SHOP NOW 2) Aster These are a classic fall flower with daisy-like blooms in shades of purple, blue, and pink. Some varieties of this native perennial bloom earlier in the season, so read the plant tag to make sure you're getting a fall bloomer. USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 8 Try these varieties: Raydon's Favorite, Sapphire Mist SHOP NOW 3) Heuchera Also called coral bells, these perennials have teeny-tiny flowers in midsummer. But the real attraction is their frilly foliage that stands out in sun or shade. Ranging from inky-black (yes, black!) to deep burgundy to peachy-orange and everything in between, this stunning plant offers color until first frost. USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 9 Try these varieties: Black Pearl, Cherry Truffles SHOP NOW 4) Sedum This sturdy perennial is tough-as-nails. Large clumps of succulent foliage showcase clusters of flowers in autumn, gently fading to subdued tones. It's also a fast grower that's easy to divide to make more plants. USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 9 Try these varieties: Autumn Joy, Lemonjade SHOP NOW 5) Pansy / Viola These charming flowers with tiny cheerful "faces" come in every color you can imagine. They prefer cool weather and are treated as annuals, though some new varieties will survive winters in mild climates. USDA Hardiness Zones: 7 to 9 Try these varieties: Cool Wave Violet Wing, Anytime Sugarplum SHOP NOW 6) Calendula These cheery flowers, also called English or pot marigolds, attract butterflies and have a long bloom time from planting to hard frost. They're annuals, but they drop their seeds, so they will "replant" themselves next year. USDA Hardiness Zones: 7 to 11 Try these varieties: Lady Godiva Yellow, Lady Godiva Orange SHOP NOW 7) Daisy This classic daisy with white petals and a yellow center is an easy-to-grow perennial that brightens gardens from summer to late fall. Butterflies love it! Some types are the very last to bloom in the garden in cold climates, typically all the way into late October. USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9 Try these varieties: Montauk, Becky SHOP NOW 8) Ornamental Cabbage and Kale Maybe it seems weird to say cabbage or kale is pretty, but don't knock it until you've seen these gorgeous annuals. These plants boast beautiful blue-green frilly leaves and deep pink or purple rosette centers. They're incredibly cold-hardy, withstanding light frosts and surviving well into winter in mild climates. USDA Hardiness Zones: 7 to 11 Try these varieties: Chidori, Color Up, Osaka SHOP NOW 9) Japanese Anemone Not as well-known as you'd think for such a lovely flower, this graceful perennial with arching stems and tons of papery blooms shines from late summer to fall. It's gorgeous when mass-planted. USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 9 Try these varieties: September Charm, Fall in Love Sweetly SHOP NOW 10) Russian Sage This perennial has silvery-green foliage and lacy blue flowers that bloom from mid-summer to mid-fall. It tolerates hot, dry areas, too, and hummingbirds adore it! USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 9 Try these varieties: Denim 'n Lace, Blue Steel SHOP NOW 11) Sweet Alyssum This darling low-growing annual fills baskets, window boxes and containers with fragrant blooms that will withstand several hard frosts. It's typically the last annual to succumb to the cold. USDA Hardiness Zones: 9 to 11 Try these varieties: White Knight, Snow Princess SHOP NOW 12) Caryopteris Technically a shrub, this plant (also called bluebeard), sports bright purplish blue blooms that bees, butterflies and hummingbirds gravitate to. It offers vibrant color in the late summer to mid-fall landscape, but it will die back to the ground in cold climates before reappearing in spring. USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 11 Try these varieties: Beyond Midnight, Petit Bleu SHOP NOW


France has the lowest levels of trust in vaccines globally, according to the world's biggest survey on public attitudes toward health and science, which was published on Wednesday. A third (33 percent) of French people do not agree that immunization is safe, and it is also the only country where a majority (55 percent) believe science and technology will reduce the total number of jobs available, according to the poll of more than 140,000 people across 144 countries. The survey of people aged 15 and older was devised by Wellcome, a British medical charity, and conducted by Gallup World Poll between April and December 2018. It found that people living in high-income countries have the lowest confidence in vaccines, a result that ties in to the rise of the anti-vaccination movement, in which people refuse to believe in the benefits of vaccinations or claim that the treatment is dangerous. An estimated 169 million children missed out on the vital first dose of the measles vaccine between 2010 and 2017, according to a UN report issued in April. In the US alone, the number of cases of the disease this year has exceeded a thousand, according to the latest official figures. "I think we expected that general trend, because where we have seen that skepticism and concern about vaccines, that tends to be in more developed countries," Imran Khan, Wellcome's head of public engagement, who led the study, told AFP. "But I think the extent of the difference is surprising and some of those numbers were really startling." Globally, 79 percent of people agreed that vaccines are safe and 84 percent said they were effective. On the other end of the spectrum from France, Bangladesh and Rwanda had the highest levels of confidence in vaccines, with almost 100 percent in both countries agreeing they were safe, effective and important for children to have. The lowest confidence levels in relation to vaccines were in Western Europe where more than a fifth (22 percent) of people disagree that vaccines are safe, and in Eastern Europe where 17 percent disagreed that vaccines are effective. "I guess you could call it the 'complacency effect,'" said Khan. "If you look at those countries in our survey which have very high rates of confidence in vaccines, places like Bangladesh and Egypt, these are areas where you do have more infectious disease. "Perhaps what you see is the people in those countries can see what happens if you don't vaccinate." He added this contrasts with more developed countries where, "if you don't get vaccinated, you're still less likely to catch that infection, and if you do get infected, you might not become as unwell or might not die, because we've got quite good healthcare systems in place." France was also the only country in the survey where most people believed science and technology would reduce jobs. "Although much more research is needed to understand why this might be the case, the sluggish performance of the French economy over the last few years may be one factor that contributes to this sentiment," the report said. - Gender gap - The report also found a global gender divide in self-reported levels of knowledge of science. Globally, 49 percent of men worldwide say they know "some" or "a lot" about science, compared to 38 percent of women. The gender gap existed even when men and women reported equal levels of science attainment, and was widest in the Northern European region. "What's likely to be going on there is men are more confident or overconfident for the same level of knowledge, or equally we can say that women are under confident," said Khan. Wellcome said it hoped its findings would provide governments a baseline to monitor how attitudes change over time and help inform policy, particularly in regards to immunization, with recent measles outbreaks demonstrating herd immunity can no longer be taken for granted.


WASHINGTON   International worries that the Trump administration is sliding toward war with Iran flared into the open Tuesday amid skepticism about its claims that the Islamic Republic poses a growing threat to the U.S. and its allies in the Persian Gulf and beyond . The U.S. military rebutted doubts expressed by a British general about such a threat. President Donald Trump denied a report that the administration has updated plans to send more than 100,000 troops to counter Iran if necessary. But Trump then stirred the controversy further by saying: "Would I do that? Absolutely." The general's remarks exposed international skepticism over the American military build-up in the Middle East, a legacy of the 2003 invasion of Iraq that was predicated on false intelligence. U.S. officials have to date not provided any evidence to back up claims of an increased Iranian threat even as an ally general took the extraordinary step of publicly challenging the Trump administration. "No, there's been no increased threat from Iranian-backed forces in Iraq and Syria," said Maj. Gen. Chris Ghika, a senior officer in the U.S.-backed coalition fighting the Islamic State group. Ghika, speaking in a video conference from coalition headquarters in Baghdad, told reporters at the Pentagon that the coalition monitors the presence of Iranian-backed forces "along with a whole range of others because that's the environment we're in." But he added, "There are a substantial number of militia groups in Iraq and Syria, and we don't see any increased threat from any of them at this stage." Late in the day, in a rare public rebuttal of an allied military officer, U.S. Central Command said Ghika's remarks "run counter to the identified credible threats" from Iranian-backed forces in the Mideast. In a written statement, Central Command said the coalition in Baghdad has increased the alert level for all service members in Iraq and Syria. "As a result, (the coalition) is now at a high level of alert as we continue to closely monitor credible and possibly imminent threats to U.S. forces in Iraq," the statement said. At the White House, Trump, who has repeatedly argued for avoiding long-term conflicts in the Mideast, discounted a New York Times report that the U.S. has updated plans that could send up to 120,000 troops to counter Iran if it attacked American forces. "Would I do that? Absolutely," he told reporters. "But we have not planned for that. Hopefully we're not going to have to plan for that. If we did that, we'd send a hell of a lot more troops than that." Reinforcing Trump's denial, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said at a joint news conference in Sochi with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, "We fundamentally do not seek war with Iran." A Trump administration official said a recent small meeting of national security officials was not focused on a military response to Iran, but instead concentrated on a range of other policy options, including diplomacy and economic sanctions. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations. Lavrov said Pompeo told him that a potential deployment of 120,000 U.S. troops to the Mideast was only a "rumor." Lavrov said the international community needs to focus on diplomacy with Iran, including on the potentially explosive issue of Iran's nuclear program, which is constrained by a U.S.-brokered deal in 2015 that Trump has abandoned. U.S. Iran envoy Brian Hook told reporters traveling with Pompeo in Brussels that the secretary of state shared intelligence on Iran with allies since "Europe shares our concerns about stability in the Gulf and the Middle East." What the Europeans do not share, however, is Washington's more aggressive approach to Iran. "We are very worried about the risk of a conflict happening by accident, with an escalation that is unintended really on either side but ends with some kind of conflict," British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt told reporters in Brussels. "What we need is a period of calm to make sure that everyone understands what the other side is thinking," Hunt said. Last week, U.S. officials said they had detected signs of Iranian preparations for potential attacks on U.S. forces and interests in the Mideast, but Washington has not spelled out that threat. The U.S. has about 5,000 troops in Iraq and about 2,000 in Syria as part of the coalition campaign to defeat the Islamic State group there. It also has long had a variety of air and naval forces stationed in Bahrain, Qatar and elsewhere in the Gulf, partly to support military operations against IS and partly as a counter to Iranian influence. Gen. Ghika's comments came amid dramatically heightened tensions in the Middle East. The U.S. in recent days has ordered the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group to the Gulf region, plus four B-52 bombers. It also is moving a Patriot air-defense missile battery to an undisclosed country in the area. As of Tuesday, the Lincoln and its strike group had passed through the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait in the Red Sea, but officials would not disclose their exact location. Tensions rose another notch with reports Sunday that four commercial vessels anchored off the United Arab Emirates had been damaged by sabotage. A U.S. military team was sent to the UAE to investigate, and one U.S. official said the initial assessment is that each ship has a 5- to 10-foot hole in it, near or just below the water line. The official, who was not authorized to publicly discuss details of the investigation, said the early interpretation is that the holes were caused by explosive charges. The official on Tuesday acknowledged seeing some photographs of the damage to the ships, but those images have not been made public. The official also said that the team is continuing to conduct forensic testing on the ship damage and that U.S. leaders are still awaiting the final report. The team's initial assessment is that the damage was done by Iranian or Iranian-backed proxies, but they are still going through the evidence and have not yet reached a final conclusion, the official said. ___ AP Diplomatic Writer Matthew Lee and AP writer Zeke Miller contributed to this report.


Interested in exploring the freshest new spots in Los Angeles? From a Middle Eastern spot to a sushi bar, read on for a rundown of the newest spots to open for business recently. Mizlala Mizlala is a Middle Eastern spot, offering falafel and more, that recently opened at 5400 W. Adams Blvd. in West Adams. This is the restaurant's second LA location. On the menu, look for kefta pita, chicken shawarma and sides like sumac fries and crispy broccoli. Q's Chicken Now open at 13550 Roscoe Blvd. in Panorama City is Q's Chicken , a chicken shop. The restaurant is a limited-run pop-up. According to its website , it specializes in "hand-breaded all-white meat fried chicken nuggets, fried chicken sandwiches, crispy french fries, homemade dipping sauce and [its] special yuzu slaw." Nekter Juice Bar Head over to 20209 Rinaldi St. in Porter Ranch and you'll find Nekter Juice Bar , a spot to score juice, smoothies and acai bowls. On the menu, look for The Sublime juice with lime, orange, parsley, kale, spinach and cucumber, or order the Turmeric Sunrise smoothie with pineapple, mango, coconut butter, coconut water, lime and turmeric. View the menu here . Cute Pan Now open at 21150 Ventura Blvd. in Woodland Hills is Cute Pan , a breakfast and brunch spot, offering sandwiches and burgers. Try the red velvet waffle, topped with fresh strawberries, premium white chocolate, powdered sugar and whipped butter for brunch. And for lunch, order the chicken chipotle sandwich with Swiss cheese, avocado, lettuce and chipotle sauce on a brioche bun. Oyabun Oyabun is an izakaya and sushi bar, offering seafood and more, that recently opened its doors at 3060 W. Olympic Blvd., Suite 150 in Harvard Heights. On the menu, look for appetizers like the spicy tuna crispy rice and fried gyoza, as well as grilled skewers, special rolls and both special and premium sashimi. This story was created automatically using local business data, then reviewed and augmented by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


Climate change is believed to be connected to human health risks, and chances are you've already experienced some of the effects of rising temperatures. Skyrocketing populations of disease-carrying insects and bacteria, extended allergy seasons, and dangerous heat waves have been reported all over the globe, and they may be linked to Earth's changing climate. Rising Temperatures In 2014, the Caribbean Islands, Latin America, and the United States saw an outbreak of Chikungunya   a disease that is usually found hundreds of thousands of miles away in Africa and Asia. By April 2015, the World Health Organization attributed over 1,379,788 suspected cases and 191 deaths to a virus that had no business even being in the Western part of the world. And, while global warming cannot be confirmed as the direct cause for the Chikungunya outbreak in the South Atlantic, scientists agree that rising temperatures are likely to accelerate the spread of the virus' main vessel of transportation: mosquitoes. According to a 2015 report, just a temperature change of a few degrees is enough to extend the active season of these virus-carrying bugs by months and increase their geographical spread by up to 30 percent. Unfortunately, mosquitos don't just carry Chikungunya, they are also the main carriers of other "exotic" diseases that are quickly becoming part of the American vernacular, such as dengue fever and the West Nile virus. Warmer winters have also caused spikes in tick populations, lengthened the amount of time they can survive, and widened their habitat. Scientists have confirmed that these growing tick populations are the direct cause of death for over 60 percent of moose calves in North America, and some suspect they may play a role in increasing incidences of Lyme disease in humans. We Can't Dismiss Climate's Role It's not just bugs that are thriving better in these rising temperatures, certain vegetation are reaping the benefits of longer warm seasons, particularly the pesky ragweed. According to The New York Times , in the U.S., the ragweed now blooms for two to three weeks longer than it did only a few decades ago. Chances are you have noticed the results of this extended flowering if you happen to suffer from seasonal allergies. Doctors report that allergy symptoms, such as sneezing and watery eyes, are now lasting well into the fall. These increasing temperatures are altering the marine environment as well. Rising temperatures off the coast of Alaska allowed the bacteria Vibrio parahaemolyticus to move further north than it normally does, Slate reported. This extended bacterial habitat is believed to have contributed to human food poisoning incidences involving contaminated oysters. Also, warmer temperatures off the coast of Peru in the early 1990s brought an unusually high amount of plankton to the area. Researchers from the University of Colorado have suggested these increases in plankton, created by strange weather patterns, stoked the perfect conditions for the cholera epidemic of 1991 and 1992. While scientists may be able to link certain health risks to a specific weather event, proving that these risks are a result of climate change is near impossible. "I don't think we can dismiss the role of climate. But can we say there is a direct causal link? No, we can't. It's more complex than that," Mary H. Hayden, a scientist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colo., told The New York Times. There is one climate factor that most researchers can agree with: Earth's temperatures are rising, and when temperatures soar, so do death tolls. A heat wave in Pakistan earlier this summer led to more than 3,000 hospitalizations and nearly 700 deaths. While heat wave-related deaths have declined in the U.S. and other first-world countries, it's not because these areas are cooler, but rather because there is more access to air conditioning and shelter from the elements, NBC News reported. All The Proof We Need Although it's likely we will never have concrete evidence linking increasing temperatures to negative effects on human health, many governments are still taking action to quell human impact on the environment. The European Parliament has pledged an unprecedented $243 billion toward climate projects . In the U.S., President Barack Obama made it clear that with or without evidence, he believed that the link between atmospheric conditions and illness was clear, and under his leadership the U.S. reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by eight percent . Although he's nearing the end of his term as president, Obama launched a series of administrative actions in April 2015 that "will allow us to better understand, communicate, and reduce the health impacts of climate change" to ensure that America's environmental efforts continue.


MADISON, Wis.   The Wisconsin Assembly passed a so-called born alive anti-abortion bill Wednesday that President Donald Trump has touted, a move that comes as conservatives across the country push to end the constitutional right to abortion. Democratic Gov. Tony Evers has promised to veto the measure, which was one of four anti-abortion bills up for passage in the Republican-controlled Assembly. The GOP-majority Senate would also have to approve the bills before they would head to Evers, but it didn't have a vote scheduled as of Wednesday. Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald said he anticipates floor votes in his chamber in June. The moves in Wisconsin come as anti-abortion politicians and activists feel emboldened by the addition of conservative justices to the U.S. Supreme Court. They hope to ignite legal fights and eventually overturn the landmark 1973 decision Roe v. Wade that legalized abortion. Alabama lawmakers on Tuesday night approved a bill that would ban nearly all abortions. And Missouri's Republican-led Senate was taking up a bill Wednesday that would ban abortions after the eighth week of pregnancy, which is similar to so-called fetal heartbeat laws enacted by Mississippi, Kentucky, Ohio and Georgia. "It's kind of chilling what's happening nationally, including Wisconsin," Democratic Assembly Minority Leader Gordon Hintz said at a news conference. Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and bill sponsor Majority Leader Jim Steineke wouldn't say if they would support a six-week abortion ban like what was approved in Alabama. Hintz called the "born alive" bill a distraction being pushed by Republicans to change the conversation away from popular items in the governor's budget that the GOP opposes, such as Medicaid expansion. Wisconsin already bans abortions 20 weeks after fertilization, except in cases in which the mother's life is in danger. This is well before the generally accepted age of viability, which the Supreme Court said in Roe v. Wade is between 24 weeks and 28 weeks. Wisconsin also has a law passed in 1849 that bans abortions and would take effect if Roe v. Wade is overturned. The bill before the Wisconsin Assembly on Wednesday addresses the extremely rare occurrence in which a baby is born alive during a failed abortion attempt. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recorded just 143 instances nationwide in which live births resulted from at least 9.3 million abortion attempts between 2003 and 2014. There is no comparable data in Wisconsin because state officials don't track it. Wisconsin Right to Life, which supports the bill, said it hasn't heard of any cases in Wisconsin since the Wisconsin State Journal reported in 1982 that two babies survived abortion attempts in Madison and later died. According to the CDC, only 1.3% of abortions take place after 21 weeks, and these often involve either severe fetal anomalies or conditions that endanger the mother. When anomalies are so severe that a newborn would die soon after birth, a family may choose what's known as palliative care or comfort care. This might involve swaddling the newborn in a blanket and allowing the baby to die naturally, without medical intervention. Under the bill, abortion providers would be required to care for babies that survive an abortion. Failure to do so would be a felony punishable by up to six years in prison and a provider convicted of killing such a baby would face life in prison. Doctors insist the bill is a solution in search of a problem. They and other opponents say babies are almost never born alive during failed abortion attempts and in the rare instances when they are, doctors are already ethically and legally bound to try and keep them alive. Evers has said he will veto the bill because current criminal penalties would apply to providers who won't care for or kill abortion survivors. Debate over the bill went on for a little more than half-an-hour on the Assembly floor. Democrats kept veering away from the bill to criticize Republicans for erasing provisions in Evers' budget that would have expanded Medicaid coverage to tens of thousands of Wisconsin residents. Rep. Debra Kolste, a Janesville Democrat, said the bill is based on "false facts and false premises." Steineke told Democrats the bill wasn't anti-abortion, but about saving the life of a baby after it is born alive unexpectedly. He said the goal was to remove "any gray area" in the law to make explicit that doctors must do everything possible to save the life of the child. "How are you going to explain this when you go back home?" he asked Democrats. "You're not willing to specify the exact conditions under which a doctor has to provide care? Good luck." During an April rally in Green Bay, Trump said it was shocking that Evers would veto the bill. Trump has made his support for "born alive" bills a staple of his rallies, accusing doctors of executing babies who survive a failed abortion. Evers responded by saying it is "blasphemy" and "horrific" for Trump to say that doctors in the state want to execute babies. The Assembly was also voting on three other abortion-related bills. The others would cut off Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood, prohibit abortions based on the fetus' race, sex or defects and require providers to tell women seeking abortions using the drug mifepristone that the process may be reversed after the first dose. ___ Follow Scott Bauer on Twitter: https://twitter.com/sbauerAP


Pastor Jareb Collins offered a message that carried special meaning during a recent weekly service. "The most important thing is that you continue to pursue Christ through the process and allow him to guide you through it." It was among several thoughts offered to congregants May 12 by Collins, who leads Desert Hope Church in Maryvale, in preparation for the church's impending closure. It was the third-to-last Sunday service at Desert Hope, which opened in 1983 in west Phoenix and once served as Arizona's flagship Wesleyan church. The church had several hundred attendees at its weekend services in those days, but that number has in recent years dwindled to a little more than 20 regular congregants. So, the church will close its doors by the end of May, after a final Sunday service this weekend. For more stories that matter, subscribe to azcentral.com . In an open letter posted to the church's website early this year, Collins said the district decided to permanently close Desert Hope after he announced his resignation effective May 31. He said his decision to resign came when he realized that no matter how hard he tried, he would not able to forge meaningful connections with the community enough to significantly boost attendance. Collins became pastor about two years ago as part of a last-ditch effort by the Pacific Southwest District of the Wesleyan Church to save Desert Hope after its previous pastor retired, he said. The district believed having a younger pastor at the church might help it appeal to a younger demographic than its current congregation, which is largely at or near retirement age, Collins said. On top of an age gap between Desert Hope's congregation and the surrounding area, Collins said the church has not been able to appeal to the largely Hispanic population in the Maryvale area of west Phoenix and has grown in the years since the church opened. The area was more than three-fourths Hispanic in 2018, according to data from the Arizona Department of Health Services . "When people visit a church, they come through the door and there are a couple of questions that they ask - do I see people like me? Is this a place where I feel like I'll fit in?" he said. "As hard as we might try to create a positive, warm impression or environment that people will feel comfortable in, there are still a lot of times people are gonna walk in and say, 'You know, I don't really see anybody that looks like me and I wonder why that is?'" Collins, throughout his tenure, encouraged congregants to reach out to their neighbors and invite them to come to the church, hoping those ties would help it build credence with the community. "The most important thing that a church needs to understand is that people are not going to trust you because you're the church," he said. "They're going to trust somebody based on personal relationships." Church growth elsewhere The global Wesleyan church has just under 140,000 members throughout 1,557 churches in North America, according to its website . Though Desert Hope is being shuttered, the Wesleyan Church at large has planted 209 churches in North America within the last year. The Wesleyan movement began in 18th century England with priest John Wesley, who urged Christians to "commit to a life of holiness and the study of God's Word," according to the church's website. Wesley proclaimed the Bible as being the only guideline for Christian faith and practice, subsequently forming a tenant of the modern Wesleyan Church. His understanding of scripture prompted him to become active in social justice movements. He championed medical care for the poor, prison reform and argued against slavery. The Wesleyan Church was also one of the first denominations in the United States to ordain women. Its website says the denomination's history of advocacy for oppressed groups is why it has attracted followers around the world regardless of nationality, race, language or culture. That history, though, hasn't appeared to resonate with the Maryvale community. 'Hopes that it would revitalize' Judy Berner has been attending the church since around the time it opened in the early 1980s and described the church during its peak as being "full of life" and "vibrant" with several Sunday services and a wide array of small groups for various age groups. Though Berner said it was hard to ignore the droves of people leaving the church over the years, she still hoped things would turn around. "I had hopes that it would revitalize," she said. "If you get enough people to make it viable, we'd still be here as long as the doors were open." Berner was baptized in the church's sanctuary in 1996. She recalled the coldness of the water in the horse trough that was used as a baptismal pool in those days. It was just one of many happy memories Berner will take with her after nearly 40 years of being a member of Desert Hope. "I praise the Lord for all the good stuff that's happened in here," she said. "My mom used to come here with me, so it was a really great thing with her." Berner's mom died in the late 1990s, but Berner remained active in church leadership throughout the years. Her work with Desert Hope included roles as church treasurer and board member at one point. Though she helped with finances and other logistics in her official capacity, Berner said what she cherished most was connecting with her fellow congregants. She often made cards for people celebrating birthdays, anniversaries and other life events. That sense of community has remained intact as numbers have dropped and is what Berner said she'll miss most about Desert Hope. "Everybody's like family," she said. "We had more family before, but even what's left is still like family." There are no other Wesleyan churches within a short distance to Desert Hope, which is located near 59th Avenue and Thomas Road. A church website lists 15 locations in Arizona, including Desert Hope. Other Valley locations are in Apache Junction, Scottsdale and Tempe, with the rest in communities outside the Phoenix metro area. For Berner, the distance means she'll not only have to leave Desert Hope but also the denomination she's been affiliated with since the 1960s. It's a reality that she said is hard to accept. "I may avoid the street," she said, of having to pass by the closed church. "I won't be coming by to see what's happening." Going forward in faith Glen Covey is a relatively new member of the church, having only started attending about a year and a half ago after his wife died of Alzheimer's Disease. He met with both Collins and his wife, Sarah, and attended several sermons before deciding that Desert Hope was a good fit. "You can feel the presence of the Lord here and that's very important to me," he said. Unlike Berner, Covey said he was surprised when Collins announced the church would be closing its doors for good. RELATED: At AZ Catholic Church, abuse scandal brings frustration, but faith is strong "I had mixed emotions about it," he said. "I felt the Lord led me here (but) he's given me a suggestion or two for going to different churches." He said he's also been asking fellow congregants where they're heading after the closure in hopes of remaining connected with his newfound church family. "They're all A-1 people as far as my book goes," he said. "I just thank the Lord that I had the opportunity to come and be here the length of time that I was and I know the Lord will lead my path to where I should be next." That spirit of thankfulness for decades of positive memories and lifelong connections, as well as the knowledge of how many efforts were made to save the church, is what Collins said he hopes everyone will leave with after the final Sunday service. "When I leave it will be with a clear conscience before God to say I did all that I could do," Collins said. "I prayed, I fasted, I read, I wept, I worked, I sweat, I did everything I could do and my challenge is that each and every one of us can stand before the Lord and say the same thing because our commitment to personal discipleship didn't waver." Officials with the Pacific Southwest District of the Wesleyan Church did not respond to several requests for comment about the decision to close Desert Hope. Reach the reporter at bfrank@arizonarepublic.com or follow her on Twitter @brieannafrank . Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral today. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Desert Hope Wesleyan Church in Maryvale area closing its doors


Curious just how far your dollar goes in Philadelphia? We've rounded up the latest rental listings via rental sites Zumper and Apartment Guide to get a sense of what to expect when it comes to scoring an apartment in Philadelphia if you don't want to spend more than $1,100/month on rent. Take a look at the listings, below. (Note: prices and availability are subject to change.) Hoodline offers data-driven analysis of local happenings and trends across cities. Links included in this article may earn Hoodline a commission on clicks and transactions. 7900 Lindbergh Blvd. (Eastwick) Listed at $1,005/month, this 830-square-foot one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment is located at 7900 Lindbergh Blvd. The apartment features carpeting. When it comes to pets, both meows and barks are allowed. According to Walk Score, the surrounding area is moderately walkable, is convenient for biking and has good transit options. (See the complete listing here .) 5500 Wissahickon Ave. (East Falls) Next, there's this studio apartment located at 5500 Wissahickon Ave. It's listed for $1,007/month for its 455 square feet. In the unit, you can expect a dishwasher, hardwood flooring and in-unit laundry. Pet lovers are in luck: cats and dogs are permitted. There's no leasing fee required for this rental. Walk Score indicates that this location is very walkable, is somewhat bikeable and offers many nearby public transportation options. (Check out the complete listing here .) 600 Red Lion Road (Bustleton) Here's a 715-square-foot one-bedroom, one-bathroom unit at 600 Red Lion Road that's going for $1,010/month. You can expect to see carpeted floors, a dishwasher and a walk-in closet in the unit. Amenities offered in the building include on-site laundry. If you've got a pet, you'll be happy to learn that cats and dogs are permitted. There isn't a leasing fee associated with this rental. According to Walk Score, the surrounding area is somewhat walkable, has some bike infrastructure and has some transit options. (Take a look at the full listing here .) 9951 Academy Road (Morrell Park) Next, check out this 650-square-foot one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment that's located at 9951 Academy Road. It's listed for $1,010/month. The building features a fitness center, outdoor space and additional storage space. For those with furry friends in tow, know that cats and dogs are welcome on this property. According to Walk Score's assessment, this location is somewhat walkable, is quite bikeable and has some transit options. (See the complete listing here .) 1229 Chestnut St. (Washington Square) Located at 1229 Chestnut St., here's a studio apartment that's listed for $1,015/month. The building features a door person, an elevator and a fitness center. Cats and dogs are not allowed. There's no leasing fee required for this rental. According to Walk Score's assessment, this location has excellent walkability, is convenient for biking and is a haven for transit riders. (See the complete listing here .) Working with a tight budget? Here are the cheapest rentals recently listed in Philadelphia . 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.


On Monday, a number of tax hikes went into effect in Illinois. While state leaders said the extra revenue is necessary for schools and road projects, many Illinois residents said all it means to them is having to pay more for gas an cigarettes. RELATED: New Illinois laws to raise gas and cigarette taxes The Phillips 66 gas station in West Alton is the last gas station in Missouri before crossing the Mississippi River into Alton, Illinois. On Monday evening, the line for the pumps almost reached the main road. "I'm a regular," Sterling Hudy, an Illinois resident, said. "But this is more dramatic. All of my neighbors, everyone is coming over now." Illinois doubled its gas tax from 19 cents per gallon to 38 cents per gallon. On Monday, Phillips 66 in West Alton sold regular gas for $2.49 per gallon, while the location in Alton sold regular gas for $2.99. "19 cents times 20 gallons is a lot of money," Hudy said. "I'm retired. A fixed income. Social security. Every dollar counts." The lines inside of the gas station were also long on Monday, with many people stocking up on cigarettes before crossing the river. Illinois increased its tax on cigarettes by $1 per pack. "A dollar a pack and $10 for a carton," a man told 5 On Your Side. "A carton over here is like $40. A carton in Illinois is $76. You smoke a carton a week? Do the math." Illinois also raised the minimum age to purchase tobacco products to 21 from 18. The owner of the Phillips 66 in West Alton said his store is usually busy on the first of the month, but he said the crowd on Monday was double what he would usually see. More local news: RELATED: Blue lobster donated to St. Louis Aquarium gets a name fit for a champion RELATED: Creve Coeur Camera going out of business RELATED: 'He was always a nice, nice person' | Neighbors trying to make sense of veteran's murder


MADISON - Gov. Tony Evers thwarted Republicans with a series of budget vetoes Wednesday that steered an additional $87 million toward schools, canceled plans for a new prison and restored state funding for Milwaukee's child welfare system. In acting on his first state budget, the Democratic governor also scaled back funding to enforce work requirements in the state's food assistance program. And Evers scotched a budget provision aimed at appeasing a GOP lawmaker that would have allowed Tesla to sell its electric vehicles directly to consumers. Wednesday's actions marked the most aggressive use of vetoes by a Wisconsin governor in more than a decade. That's because Democrats and Republicans now share power after years of one-party control, first by Democrats and then for an extended run by Republicans. Evers kept an income tax cut for the middle class that both he and Republicans wanted, but wiped out GOP plans to lower vehicle registration fees for some truck owners. Evers retained Republican plans to raise other vehicle fees. In all, Evers' 78 vetoes were a reminder that Wisconsin gives its governors some of the most sweeping executive powers in the country and allows them to hold the upper hand in budget standoffs. Wisconsin governors can strike out words and numbers, allowing them to structure parts of the state's spending plans in ways lawmakers never intended. Subscribe to our On Wisconsin Politics newsletter for the week's political news explained. In a 65-page veto message, Evers wrote that he strongly considered vetoing the entire budget because he did not think Republicans allocated enough money for schools. He decided against that option because he had pledged he "would put politics aside to get things done," he wrote. "Unfortunately, this budget that I have now signed is, in many ways, insufficient," he wrote. "This is, in large part, due to the unfortunate lack of interest by some Republicans in the Legislature to work together and engage in constructive, bipartisan dialogue, and instead devoting far too much time to huffing and puffing. … I believe the people of our state would have been better off in this budget if we could have found more common ground, even if it meant each of us not getting everything we wanted." In a veto that is likely to draw some of the heaviest Republican criticism, Evers shifted an extra $87 million to schools. That brings the total increase to schools to nearly $600 million over two years. Evers, a former state schools superintendent, made funding for K-12 education a centerpiece of his campaign for governor last year. With his budget vetoes, he was seeking as much additional money for schools as he could find because Republicans gave them far less than the $1.4 billion he sought. Even before he issued his vetoes, Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald of Juneau expressed outrage on Twitter at the idea of using a veto to "skirt legislative intent" and boost spending on schools. It's amazing to me that a coalition group like the Wisconsin Association of School Boards   that wants to be perceived as non-partisan in the Capitol   is encouraging the governor to skirt legislative intent with a veto.   Scott Fitzgerald (@SenFitzgerald) July 2, 2019 Evers used his veto powers to restore $14 million to Milwaukee County for child welfare services. County officials said the money was essential, while Republicans said they believed the state was paying more than it should for child welfare services in the state's most populous county. Evers also vetoed a part of the budget that would have provided $5 million to initiate plans to replace the 121-year-old Green Bay Correctional Institution. Building a new prison could ultimately cost more than $300 million. Evers reduced funding for work requirements and drug screening for people who participate in the FoodShare program. Evers tried to get rid of the work requirements entirely in his initial budget, but lawmakers wouldn't allow him to do that. By lowering funding, Evers will make the state's enforcement of the work requirements and drug screening less robust than what Republicans wanted. Evers said he would prevent people who have children from losing their FoodShare benefits if they don't meet the work requirement. Republicans say the work requirement will help ease people off of FoodShare, but Evers views it as a thinly cloaked way to prevent poor families from getting nutrition. Evers changed a part of the budget affecting new lockups that are meant to replace Lincoln Hills School for Boys, the troubled juvenile prison north of Wausau that officials plan to close in 2021 . Some of the new facilities would be run by the state and others by counties. Republicans tried to transfer $25 million meant for the state facilities to the county facilities, which would leave no funding for the state facilities. Evers kept the money for the state facilities. In addition, Evers took $22 million meant for other projects that he said should go toward building the replacement facilities for Lincoln Hills. That change will need final approval from the state Building Commission, which is jointly controlled by Republicans and Democrats. He also took steps to shift $15 million meant for a proposed new regional crisis center in northern Wisconsin to help pay for an expansion of the Mendota Juvenile Treatment Center, which houses Lincoln Hills residents with mental health issues. The governor used his veto powers to provide $10 million in subsidies to establish charging stations for electric vehicles. The stations would be funded using money from a national court settlement with Volkswagen over fraudulent practices with emissions control equipment. Under the settlement, the funds must be used to reduce emissions. Another $15 million in settlement money would be used to buy more fuel-efficient buses. Republicans wanted all the settlement money to go to buses instead of charging stations. Evers also vetoed a section of the budget that would have prevented the state from spending more on annual security for his lieutenant governor, Mandela Barnes, than it did for Republican Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch during her last year in office. Republicans put that measure into the budget in response to reports that Barnes' security costs have greatly exceeded Kleefisch's. Evers has said he believes the State Patrol's security team should have free rein to determine how much protection state officials should have. Evers also struck out a part of the budget that would require the state to conduct a review of security at the state Capitol. The state was to get help from the Madison Police Department for the study, but Republicans who added the study to the budget did not consult with the department about it in advance. With another veto, Evers spiked GOP plans to spend $2.5 million to study implementing tolling or other mileage-based fees on vehicles. Evers called the study unnecessary after years of research on how to fund roads. Evers also blocked a budget measure that would limit the ability of local governments to oversee quarries. In 2017, then-Gov. Scott Walker vetoed a similar proposal . Lower income taxes, higher property taxes The $81.7 billion budget reduces the state's lowest two income tax brackets. When coupled with other legislation backed by Evers and Republicans, the budget would reduce income taxes on average by $75 per person in 2019 and by $136 in 2020. Evers wanted a deeper income tax cut   $216 per person on average   but also wanted to raise taxes on manufacturers and capital gains. Republicans in February passed a similar income tax cut, but Evers vetoed it . He said then that any tax cuts should be considered as part of budget deliberations and should include the higher taxes for manufacturers. Under the budget, property taxes on a home valued at $167,000 would go up $55 in 2019 and $45 in 2020. Challenges ahead for next budget The budget will make it more difficult to balance the state's next spending plan in two years, especially if the economy goes into recession between now and then. That's because the budget Republicans wrote will leave $123 million in the state's general fund by June 2021   enough to fund the state's operations for just two days. The budget spends hundreds of millions of dollars more in 2021 than the state is expected to receive in revenue through taxes and other sources, according to an analysis released this week by the nonpartisan Wisconsin Policy Forum. "After making progress in recent years compared to other states, Wisconsin would likely return to its past status as a state with a smaller-than-average financial cushion," the analysis said. More for schools Evers' campaign for governor focused heavily on increasing spending for schools and changing the way state funds are distributed to them by giving more to schools that have more students living in poverty. But the budget he ultimately approved doesn't accomplish much of what he wanted. While spending increases for schools, the education budget doesn't keep pace with inflation and Evers' proposal to change the school funding formula was removed by Republican lawmakers. The spending plan gives an additional $58 million to University of Wisconsin schools for their programs, which is about half of what Evers wanted. Evers and Republicans agreed on providing about $1 billion to the UW System for building upgrades and new construction on campuses. The budget keeps in place a freeze on in-state tuition that started in 2013. Evers supports the freeze but has said campuses need more taxpayer money to keep up with rising costs. The budget Republicans sent Evers put $588 million in new state funding toward health-care programs over the next two years. Republicans rejected Evers' plan to take an additional $1 billion in federal funds through the Affordable Care Act to make BadgerCare Plus available to 82,000 more people and free up $324 million in state money. To help pay for roads, the budget increases the title fee people pay when they buy vehicles by $95, from $69.50 to $164.50. It also raises the annual registration fee by $10 for cars (from $75 to $85) and $25 for many light trucks (from $75 to $100). Republicans planned to cut the registration fee for light trucks weighing 8,000 pounds or more, but Evers used vetoes to keep them at their current level ($106 or $155, depending on weight). Evers initially sought to raise the gas tax by nearly a dime a gallon over two years, but Republicans rejected that idea. They also threw out Evers' plan to increase fees on semis by 27% to pay for roads. Tesla provision dropped To help secure the budget vote of GOP Sen. Chris Kapenga of Delafield last week , Republican leaders added the last-minute amendment changing how Tesla sells its vehicles. Kapenga has sponsored such legislation and asked for it to be tucked into the budget. He owns a business that sells salvaged Tesla vehicles and Tesla parts, but he has described the company as primarily a hobby and said allowing Tesla to sell vehicles directly to consumers would not improve his bottom line. Kapenga voted for the budget, which passed the Senate 17-16 . Evers torpedoed the Tesla provision with a veto. WISCONSINEYE: Watch Sen. Chris Kapenga's full news conference Sweeping veto powers Evers had the ability to veto the entire budget, but doing so would have sparked a fight with Republicans lawmakers that likely would have lasted months. In the meantime, schools and health-care programs wouldn't get any increases. No governor has vetoed an entire budget since the state adopted its current budgeting system in 1931. Evers acted on the budget two days after the July 1 start date of the two-year budget cycle. The last budget was delayed by three months because Republicans who controlled state government at the time couldn't agree on how much to spend on highways. Evers' vetoes were not as creative as some of those issued by Republican Gov. Tommy Thompson and Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle. Evers doesn't have as much flexibility as those two governors did because voters over the years have amended the state constitution to curtail the veto powers of governors. Thompson was able to use the "Vanna White veto"   named for the "Wheel of Fortune" hostess   to remove letters from words to create new words. He and Doyle were able to use the "Frankenstein veto" to string together parts of two or more sentences to create a new sentence. Make your voice heard. Find and contact your representatives. Contact Patrick Marley at patrick.marley@jrn.com. Follow him on Twitter at @patrickdmarley . Contact Molly Beck at molly.beck@jrn.com . Follow her on Twitter at @MollyBeck . Our subscribers make this coverage possible. Subscribe to the Journal Sentinel today and get a special offer at jsonline.com/deal. Top Headlines: Gov. Evers uses vast veto power to raise school spending another $87 million A lifetime of musky fishing: nighttime operations and occasional fish CPR Driving to Illinois? New 'hands-free' law takes effect to decrease distracted driving Plan your Summerfest with our interactive schedule FOLLOW THE JOURNAL SENTINEL: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Tony Evers' vetoes boost Wisconsin school spending by $87 million


From rainbows to flames and everything in between, take a look at all the paint schemes Jeff Gordon competed with through the years. Jeff Gordon raced a number of special paint schemes on the No. 24 car over the course the course of his 23-year full-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series career. From rainbows to flames and everything in between, take a look at all the schemes over the years. Year: 1994 Track: Daytona International Speedway Year: 1997 Track: Charlotte Motor Speedway Year: 1998 Track: Charlotte Motor Speedway Year: 1999 Track: Las Vegas Motor Speedway (Xfinity Series) Year: 1999 Track: Charlotte Motor Speedway Year: 1999 Track: Indianapolis Motor Speedway Year: 1999 Track: Homestead-Miami Speedway Year: 2000 Track: Daytona International Speedway Year: 2000 Track: Charlotte Motor Speedway Year: 2000 Track: Indianapolis Motor Speedway Year: 2001 Track: Rockingham Speedway Year: 2001 Track: Richmond Raceway Year: 2002 Track: Daytona International Speedway Year: 2002 Track: Talladega Superspeedway Year: 2002 Track: Daytona International Speedway Year: 2003 Track: Charlotte Motor Speedway Year: 2003 Track: Daytona International Speedway Year: 2004 Track: Talladega Superspeedway Year: 2004 Track: Daytona International Speedway Year: 2004 Track: Kansas Speedway Year: 2004 Track: Atlanta Motor Speedway Year: 2005 Track: Talladega Superspeedway Year: 2005 Track: Daytona International Speedway Year: 2006 Track: Las Vegas Motor Speedway Year: 2006 Track: Charlotte Motor Speedway Year: 2006 Track: Daytona International Speedway Year: 2006 Track: Auto Club Speedway Year: 2007 Track: Las Vegas Motor Speedway Year: 2007 Track: Texas Motor Speedway Year: 2007 Track: Talladega Superspeedway Year: 2007 Track: Charlotte Motor Speedway Year: 2007 Track: Michigan International Speedway Year: 2007 Track: Daytona International Speedway Year: 2007 Track: Atlanta Motor Speedway Year: 2007 Track: Auto Club Speedway Year: 2008 Track: Atlanta Motor Speedway Year: 2008 Track: Talladega Superspeedway Year: 2009 Track: Daytona International Speedway Year: 2009 Track: Talladega Superspeedway Year: 2009 Track: Auto Club Speedway Year: 2009 Track: Charlotte Motor Speedway Year: 2010 Track: Atlanta Motor Speedway Year: 2010 Track: Las Vegas Motor Speedway Year: 2010 Track: Texas Motor Speedway Year: 2010 Track: Dover International Speedway Year: 2010 Track: Richmond Raceway Year: 2010 Track: Charlotte Motor Speedway Year: 2010 Track: Atlanta Motor Speedway Year: 2011 Track: Daytona International Speedway Year: 2011 Track: Charlotte Motor Speedway Year: 2012 Track: Dover International Speedway Year: 2012 Track: Daytona International Speedway Year: 2012 Track: Bristol Motor Speedway Year: 2012 Track: Charlotte Motor Speedway Year: 2012 Track: Homestead-Miami Speedway Year: 2013 Track: Daytona International Speedway Year: 2013 Track: Daytona International Speedway Year: 2013 Track: Talladega Superspeedway Year: 2013 Track: Dover International Speedway Year: 2013 Track: Charlotte Motor Speedway Year: 2013 Track: Michigan International Speedway Year: 2014 Track: Daytona International Speedway Year: 2014 Track: Sonoma Raceway Year: 2014 Track: Daytona International Speedway Year: 2014 Track: Indianapolis Motor Speedway Year: 2014 Track: Dover International Speedway Year: 2014 Track: ISM Raceway Year: 2014 Track: Texas Motor Speedway Year: 2015 Track: Las Vegas Motor Speedway Year: 2015 Track: Kansas Speedway Year: 2015 Track: Michigan International Speedway Year: 2015 Track: Pocono Raceway Year: 2015 Track: Bristol Motor Speedway Year: 2015 Track: Martinsville Speedway Year: 2015 Track: Homestead-Miami Speedway