June 23 (Reuters) - FedEx Corp said on Sunday an operational error prevented a Huawei Technologies package from being delivered to the United States, just weeks after the U.S. delivery company said an error led to the Chinese firm's packages being misdirected. "The package in question was mistakenly returned to the shipper, and we apologise for this operational error," FedEx told Reuters in an emailed statement. A company spokeswoman confirmed that the package was U.S. bound but declined to say what it contained. China's Global Times newspaper said in a tweet http://bit.ly/2ZB6isY later that FedEx is likely to be added to China's 'unreliable entities list' due to the incident. Amid a bruising trade dispute between Washington and Beijing, China threatened late in May to unveil an unprecedented hit-list of "unreliable" foreign firms, groups and individuals that harm the interests of Chinese companies. Huawei, the world's biggest telecoms gear maker, is at the center of the U.S.-China trade dispute. China's commerce ministry and FedEx did not respond immediately to a request for comment on the likelihood of the company being added to the 'unreliable' list. Global Times is published by the ruling Communist Party's People's Daily. China launched an investigation into FedEx earlier this month over Huawei parcels delivered to the wrong address, without giving details about the deliveries in question. China's state news agency Xinhua had said back then that the investigation into FedEx over misdirected mail should not be regarded as retaliation against the U.S. company, amid the trade spat. The United States and China have been engaged in a trade dispute for months on issues such as tariffs, subsidies, technology, regulations and cyber security, among others, with Washington putting Huawei on a blacklist last month citing national security. "FedEx can accept and transport all Huawei products except for any shipments to listed Huawei entities on the U.S. Entity List," the company said on Sunday. On Friday, the U.S. Commerce Department said it was adding several Chinese companies and a government-owned institute involved in supercomputing with military applications to its national security "entity list" that bars them from buying U.S. parts and components without government approval. Huawei, which said it was reviewing its relationship with FedEx after the mishandling of its packages earlier, did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on Sunday. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman)


Porsche has built and tested an engine that would have been Formula 1 compatible and formed the basis of a 2021 entry had it committed to joining the world championship. The German manufacturer was known to be considering an F1 programme, its first for almost three decades, as it joined the process establishing new engine rules for 2021 and beyond. Read Also: Mercedes would welcome Porsche to F1 "sandpit" in 2021 When Porsche produced a bigger F1 flop than Honda However, Porsche's F1 prospects ended when the parent Volkswagen Audi Group opted to cancel its World Endurance Championship/LMP1 project in favour of a Formula E entry, and the prospect of simplified and cheaper F1 engines stalled. Porsche's head of motorsport Fritz Enzinger told Motorsport.com that prior to its exit from LMP1   which it had dominated with a two-litre, four-cylinder engine   Porsche had started work on a six-cylinder engine that was F1 compatible. "In 2017 there were signals from Formula 1 that the regulations were to be changed and that energy recovery from the exhaust gases [the MGU-H] was no longer required," he said. "As of 2017, Porsche was a member of the FIA Manufacturers Commission and was involved in the discussions about the future drive strategy in Formula 1 from 2021 and represented at the meetings. "On the one hand we took part in these working groups. On the other hand the guys developed a six-cylinder for the WEC in parallel. Of course, we thought about what would have to change if the engine were to be used in Formula 1. Such things can be done in two ways." Porsche had a 40-person team from its LMP1 project to develop the six-cylinder engine. In 2017 it became clear this would not be used for a WEC programme because Porsche committed to leaving that championship once the rules shifted and the series failed to find a replacement for Porsche's sister brand Audi. Though a move to FE, where Audi was also present, was an "obvious idea", Enzinger said the six-cylinder engine concept was still pursued because an F1 engine without the MGU-H would "also be interesting for a super sports car". "At the end of 2017, we received a concrete order from our parent company to further develop a highly efficient six-cylinder engine, despite its LMP1 withdrawal," he said. "Not only on paper, but actually as hardware and with the idea that this engine will be put to the test in 2019. That was the order from the board to us." Porsche has not competed in F1 since its failed engine programme in 1991 with the Footwork team. Enzinger said its six-cylinder engine "is complete and running on the test bench" as a team of "20 to 25 technicians" use it "for analyses and further orders with regard to series relevance". "The possible use for this six-cylinder engine was completely open," he said. "If it had been decided to send Porsche 2021 to Formula 1, we would have made it the way we did in 2018." Alex Caffi, Footwork FA12 Porsche Photo by: LAT Images


FAIRFAX, Va. (AP)   Hundreds of people held vigil outside the National Rifle Association's headquarters in Virginia for the dozens slain in mass shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio. Gun control groups including March for Our Lives organized Monday's "Vigil for Remembrance and Change," which sought to honor the dead and call for stronger gun laws. The back-to-back weekend shootings cost a total of 31 lives and left more than 50 people wounded. Vigil attendees held moments of silence punctured by the recitation of victim names, including those gunned down in Chicago and the 13 black transgender women killed so far this year. Democratic Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton joined the crowd in decrying political inaction. The NRA has said it wouldn't take part in "politicizing" the shootings, but would work to find solutions.


As Frank Lampard closes in on becoming the new Chelsea manager, the 41-year-old will have the tough task of getting his squad ready for the 2019/20 Premier League season. The new Blues manager heads back to London with just one year of managerial experience under his belt. He faces a tough task at the Europa League winners, having lost their star man Eden Hazard to Real Madrid for an initial €100m - money he can't use to invest in the team due to the current transfer ban. It seems he will get time to make things in his own image at Stamford Bridge, with reports suggesting he need only avoid a relegation fight to get a second season. Here are six things Lampard must do to ensure the building of a new chapter for Chelsea. 1. Keep Hold of Callum Hudson-Odoi The 20-year-old is now a key part of the first-team at Stamford Bridge and could be the best player to come through the youth set-up since John Terry. Hudson-Odoi will have a big part to play under Lampard, especially with Hazard leaving for Real Madrid. Bayern Munich remain keen on the youngster and are said to go back with a bid in another attempt to lure him to the Allianz Arena. Hudson-Odoi wants reassurances over his game time, but would be given the freedom to express himself under Lampard. Keeping hold of the youngster would be a massive plus. 2. Have a Clear Structure From Cleaner to Assistant Manager Whenever an old manager departs there are always one two of the previous staff that remain in their positions. Lampard must clear the decks and start from scratch. There must be a clear vision from him, agreed with the owner, and that message has to run through the club - from the cleaner right the way up to the assistant manager. Jody Morris will be his right-hand man, with Chris Jones also forming part of his coaching team as first-team fitness coach. Carlo Cudicini is expected to remain as a technical coach and Claude Makélélé could also arrive as first-team coach. Shay Given could be brought in as goalkeeping coach, meaning Henrique Hilario's future could be in doubt. Petr Cech is to become sporting director and would assist Lampard with transfers moving forward as well as other decisions. 3. Give the Loanees & Youngsters the Opportunity Chelsea have a number of loan players and highly rated Academy players amongst their ranks. Lampard has worked with midfielder Mason Mount and centre back Fikayo Tomori at Derby and both could be given their opportunity. The likes of full-back's Jay Dasilva who spent last season on-loan at Bristol City and Reece James at Wigan, respectively, could also be given the nod. Ethan Ampadu, who has been used sparingly by Conte and Sarri and youngsters Jake Clarke-Salter and Trevor Chalobah will no doubt be assessed over pre-season and could feature in Lampard's plans. Tammy Abraham should be brought back and will no doubt be given the chance to impress. 4. Play N'Golo Kanté in His Preferred Role Chelsea have a number of players in the first-team who could well be sold. Marcos Alonso, Jorginho, Danny Drinkwater, Davide Zappacosta, Marco van Ginkel as well as the out-of-favour Michael Hector, Tomáš Kalas, Baba Rahman, Tiémoué Bakayoko, Victor Moses Jamal Blackman, Kenneth Omeruo and Michy Batshuayi could all be moved on. Kanté was used further forward by Sarri to allow Jorginho to sit in his preferred holding role. The Frenchman wasn't as effective as he is from just in front of the back four, where he usually sniffs out the danger. By moving the midfielders above on, the 28-year-old could move back into his previous role, which would then allow the likes of Ross Barkley, Ruben Loftus-Cheek or Mason Mount to bomb forward in the attacking position. 5. Show The Players He's The Man in Charge We have seen it on too many occasions where managers are left as the scapegoats in the modern game. Jose Mourinho at Manchester United for example. Lampard must show his crop of players who is boss right from the off. To get the best out of his players they all need to work as one group and nobody is bigger than the club. Lampard must ensure cool heads and clamp down on any player who isn't willing to put the effort in. By doing so, he will have a group of hungry players who will want to play for him, rather than a set of individuals. This is something he must act upon immediately. He has a tough game against Manchester United at Old Trafford on the opening day of the season and must do all he can to win, just like Jose Mourinho did when he took Chelsea there in his first game in charge in 2004. 6. Change Roman Abramovich's Expectations There is no question, the appointment of Lampard will be no quick fix at Stamford Bridge. It may take the Europa League winners a couple of seasons before they next win a trophy, let alone think about winning the Premier League or Champions League. Lampard will have to draw up and outline a plan to Abramovich. The Chelsea owner has a track record of hiring and firing managers and this has resulted in Antonio Conte and Maurizio Sarri's departures in recent times. The new Chelsea boss needs time to develop and implement his style of play. Trophies will no doubt then arrive. Abramovich's expectation has to be surpassed to allow Lampard to build a new dynasty.


A giant sinkhole swallowed a minivan whole in Virginia, sending the car plummeting 20 feet below ground. Astonished onlookers watched   and recorded video   as a sinkhole opened up on a Dale City, Virginia, street Thursday night. Footage of the incident, posted on Facebook by Oscar Galdamez , shows the entire back end of the red Dodge Caravan already disappeared into the sinkhole, while the car appears to be hanging off the edge of the sinkhole, secured only by its front bumper. 'Whoever owns that car is getting a brand new ride,' a woman can be heard saying in the video, just moments before the weight of the car rips the bumper off and the whole vehicle falls into the sinkhole. The car wound up crumpled and smashed by concrete and dirt about 20 feet down into the hole, according to WUSA 9 . Fortunately the car had been parked and empty when the sinkhole opened. A tow truck pulled the minivan out of the muddy hole it was in late Friday afternoon, authorities told Prince Williams Times , as officials reported that it would take a considerable amount of time to fix the sinkhole and patch up the road. The Virginia Department of Transportation believes that the more than one inch of rain that fell on Dale City within a 24 hour period Thursday resulted in a nearby creek overwhelming the storm drain, leaving water to rush beneath the road. That water then washed away soil beneath the road, leading to the destabilization of its asphalt surface. Nearby homes are said to be safe as they are located far enough away from both the sinkhole and the creek, officials said, while also warning residents to stay away from the area because the ground around the sinkhole is still unstable and could keep collapsing. 'Don't assume the concrete or the asphalt is going to hold you, especially if it rains again,' VDOT spokesperson Ellen Kamilakis said. Read more


Denver's current housing inventory has some homebuyers pushing sellers on price and inspection repairs. "Homebuyers are flexing some muscle in a way they haven't been able to in recent years," said Lane Lyon, a licensed Realtor and managing broker at Coldwell Banker. Increased housing inventory is the reason many buyers are being a bit more nit-picky when it comes to home purchases in the Denver area. Lyon said the number of available homes and condos is more than 20 percent higher compared to last year. Buyers are shopping around and taking longer to make a decision in many cases which is resulting in more days on market for sellers. Lyon suggested that sellers price their homes correctly, make repairs and make sure their homes show well. "When buyers see projects, they see dollar signs," Lyon said. Despite buyers being more picky, Lyon said it's still a good time to sell your home. "This is still Denver, Colorado." Lyon added the increased inventory can be good for sellers who need to find a replacement home. Up until recently, many homeowners were reluctant to sell out of fear they'd be unable to find a new one. SUGGESTED VIDEOS | Local stories from 9NEWS


A dozen teenagers in matching burgundy school uniforms crane their necks toward a floor-to-ceiling display inside the National Museum here in Benin City. "Does anyone know what this is?" asks Abigail Zaks-Ali. The tour guide doesn't turn around as she begins to explain the photograph behind her. She doesn't have to. She knows this story by heart. The photo shows three white men sitting on stools, decked out in the white linen uniform of the 19th-century colonial explorer in Africa. Two have cigarettes dangling cavalierly from their lips. The third, his pith helmet casting a shadow over his face, is beaming. In front of them, scattered like old toys, are dozens of metal relief sculptures. More statues are jumbled behind them in haphazard piles. "Those are our artifacts you see," Ms. Zaks-Ali says. "These men took them to London and then sold them for a very low price." The students nod in recognition. They have grown up with this story: the story of the British soldiers who arrived here in 1897, promising to negotiate; the story of the white men who instead torched the kingdom of Benin and carried away thousands of its precious artworks to pay for their expedition. "You see how these men are smiling?" Ms. Zaks-Ali asks, finally turning to face the photograph. "They're proud of what they took from us." A continent away, in the British Museum in London, dozens of reliefs like those in the photo are suspended in rows from floor to ceiling. The room is dark, and spotlights illuminate the rust-colored plaques and intricately crafted figures protruding from them. A few people wander through the room. One young woman takes a selfie in front of the reliefs. Few stop to read the text on a panel beside them, which explains how the works were looted. It is titled "The Discovery of Benin Art by the West." When a report commissioned by French President Emmanuel Macron recommended late last year that the French government begin returning African art taken during the colonial period, it injected a sense of urgency into an enduring debate engulfing much of the museum world: Who should be the caretaker of Africa's cultural heritage   the Africans who created it, or the Europeans in whose museums it has long been displayed? It's a debate that has been happening in various forms since the era of African independence five decades ago. And perhaps nowhere has it played out more prominently than in the case of the famous Benin bronzes, plundered in 1897 and eventually scattered to museums and private collections across Europe. More than any other set of artworks, the bronzes made African art visible to Europeans, igniting widespread interest by scholars, artists, and the public. But in Nigeria and elsewhere in Africa, they have also become a kind of shorthand for colonialism's violent reign   and its lingering influences. "These bronzes are more than art," says Ikhuehi Omonkhua, the chief exhibition officer of the National Museum in Benin City. "Keeping them abroad is like holding our ancestors hostage." But now, some of the bronzes may be on their way home   temporarily. Since 2010, museum curators from Europe and officials from Nigeria have been working quietly on plans to return the items, on loan, to the city from which they were taken more than a century ago. The story of the bronzes may be   depending on whom you ask   either a road map or a cautionary tale on what the great former colonial powers should do with their appropriated treasures. It illustrates not only the complicated practical questions raised by repatriation, but deeply moral ones about how societies deal with the violence in their past. When European explorers arrived at the coast of what is now southwest Nigeria in the 15th century, they found an eager trading partner in the wealthy African Kingdom of Benin. The kingdom (not to be confused with the modern-day country of Benin) was soon trading slaves and goods such as palm oil, rubber, and ivory for guns and other European commodities. That give-and-take relationship held steady until the late 19th century, when London began pushing to incorporate the territory into the fledgling British Empire. At the time, the kingdom's oba , a hereditary king, was Ovonramwen Nogbaisi, and his palace was the administrative and religious heart of the monarchy. The kingdom's highly skilled artisans produced thousands of metal and ivory plaques and sculptures depicting people and events to adorn the palace and for use in ancestral altars. Though the metal pieces are usually referred to as bronzes, they were largely made from brass. To the British, the oba was a perpetual irritation, obstinately refusing to recognize their flimsy control of the region. And so in December 1896, British Consul General James Robert Phillips led a small expedition to the oba 's palace. The purpose, he claimed, was to talk trade with the monarch. But in reality, he intended to overthrow him. "I have reason to hope that sufficient Ivory may be found in the King's house to pay the expenses in removing the King from his Stool," Phillips had written to the British Foreign Office the year before. Historical accounts of what happened next   and why   differ, but one thing is clear: Soldiers from the Benin Kingdom attacked the British party, killing eight soldiers. In retaliation, the British stormed the kingdom with thunderous force. In February 1897, their troops burned large swaths of Benin. They forced the oba into exile and shipped much of his wealth   nearly 3,000 brass and ivory figures that had been his personal possessions   to London. There, some artifacts were given to the British Museum, while hundreds more went up for auction. Of those, some ended up in private hands, but most found their way into museums in Germany and other European countries, as well as the United States. In Benin, the theft of the bronzes became a symbol of everything Nigerians lost to British colonialism, a story passed from generation to generation like a parable. "We grew up knowing that our people were massacred and our art was stolen," says Kingsley Inneh, head of the bronze-casters guild in Benin City. "It was something that was lodged in our memories from a very young age." Meanwhile, Nigeria had its own museums to think about. In the aftermath of the country's brutal civil war with the breakaway Republic of Biafra in the 1960s, Nigerian authorities poured money into the development of cultural institutions, hoping they could do something independence had not: unify the country. "This museum and many others were built to show us that our history was shared," says Mr. Omonkhua, of the museum in Benin City. But a lot of that history wasn't there. While the museum in Benin did have a few bronzes, its collection was paltry in comparison to what was on display in Europe. The two largest collections are in the British Museum, which holds around 900 pieces from Benin, and the Ethnological Museum in Berlin, soon to be part of the Humboldt Forum, which possesses around 530 pieces. And as Nigeria plunged into economic free fall in the late 1980s, its museums became a target for art thieves. The most infamous break-in came in 1994, when robbers stole artifacts worth about $200 million. For curators like Mr. Omonkhua, who had spent their careers evangelizing about the value of museums, the losses were devastating. Even worse, he says, is the way they became a symbol of Nigeria's carelessness with its own history. If Nigerians couldn't protect the contents of their museums, the argument went, why should European institutions entrust them with more objects? The first time Abdulkerim Oshioke Kadiri visited the British Museum, in 2008, the acting director general of Nigeria's National Commission for Museums and Monuments was astounded. Even though he had toured dozens of museums in Nigeria, he had never seen so many Benin bronzes in one place. "I saw how my people were being appreciated" by the world, he remembers. "I was amazed at how well [the bronzes] were cared for and displayed." But his pride was quickly stifled by another emotion: loss. "The naked fact is that these were stolen from us," he says. "They shouldn't be here. They didn't arrive freely." Most Nigerians, he knew, would never have the resources to stand where he did, in a museum in London, and look at their own history. Western curators have long deployed a range of arguments to keep it that way: that countries of origin don't have the museum infrastructure required to keep the artifacts safe, to adequately care for them, or to offer access to the public. That it is not always clear to whom the artifacts should be given   the people they were taken from or the nation-state that exists now? That the public interest served by eminent museums, and how they help people understand the world, outweighs the claims to restitution. Chris Spring, who was curator of the Africa galleries at the British Museum until last year, says it would be positive to see loans of royal Benin works to Nigeria and possibly returns of certain pieces. "But in this day and age, in this multicultural society, a total repatriation of all those objects would almost be an act of vandalism in its own right," he says. "It would be depriving so many millions of people of the knowledge of those extraordinary histories." For Nicholas Thomas, director and curator of the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology in Cambridge, the question is a complicated one. In his office at the museum, which holds around 168 objects likely taken during the 1897 expedition, he acknowledges that arguments about conservation can sound like excuses to avoid restitution. "But it isn't just an excuse," he says. "There are plenty of cases where, despite the dedication of local museum staff, they don't have the resources to manage material in the way that they would like." The Benin bronzes also illustrate how the ownership of artifacts can get complicated. The reliefs and sculptures were the personal property of the oba when they were stolen   so many might consider his descendant and current oba , Ewuare II, the rightful owner. But because the place they were taken from is now part of the state of Nigeria, the government there also claims them. Neither of the two museums in Europe with the largest collections of Benin bronzes has received an official request for restitution of the objects; one European curator suggested a disagreement over who they belong to could be part of the reason. Even when returns are requested, the decision in some cases is not up to the museums at all: The British Museum Act of 1963 prohibits an institution from disposing of objects in its collection except in very limited circumstances, meaning any effort to repatriate objects would require government action. Similarly, French law considers the collections of national museums "inalienable," prohibiting their removal. Other museums and countries have different legal frameworks and processes for dealing with their treasures. To Jürgen Zimmerer, a history professor at the University of Hamburg who studies colonialism, all of these concerns are irrelevant, because the issue is not a practical one but a moral one. "The question is, do you keep objects which are stolen, or not?" If the answer is no, then there is nothing to do but return them, he says. "The idea that only Europe can keep objects safe is at the core of the colonial ideology, of the colonial gaze. We acquired these museums by looting, subjugating, even killing other people, and it requires a complete decolonization of our museum landscape or our knowledge landscape and people are refusing to do that." That means, he says, objects should return home even if the museums they are returning to aren't as grand as the ones they are leaving behind. The National Museum in Benin City, for instance, has only three small galleries, and they are subject to the whims of a mercurial electrical grid. But the museum's humble exhibits are carefully tended, and its staff brim excitedly with facts and figures as they shuttle tour groups through the round building. "It's a paradox, isn't it?" says Mr. Omonkhua. "They don't see us as intelligent enough to take care of our own history. They said we were monkeys, that we were not smart enough, and yet they valued the art produced by these monkeys and put it in their best museums." In 2007, Barbara Plankensteiner, then the curator of the Weltmuseum Wien, the museum of ethnology in Vienna, organized a monumental exhibition on the Kingdom of Benin that brought together hundreds of stunning artifacts. Three years later, she facilitated a dialogue with the goal of finding a way to make those treasures accessible to people in Nigeria, as well. The effort, which became known as the Benin Dialogue Group, brought curators of European museums that hold collections of Benin works together with members of the Benin royal court, Nigerian museum curators, Nigerian government officials, and officials of Nigeria's Edo State. From the outset, it was clear the group would not address the ownership of the bronzes. Instead, it would seek to bring them back to Nigeria through loans. The progress was slow. By 2015, participating museums had still not signed a "memorandum of understanding" introduced two years earlier. Finally, last year, the group settled on a solution that managed to overcome the myriad hurdles: It announced plans to build a new museum in Benin City and fill it with some of the most iconic artifacts from the Benin Kingdom, from both European and Nigerian museums. The Benin Royal Museum will be developed by Edo State and the royal court, with the support of the Nigerian National Commission for Museums and Monuments. European museums have pledged to contribute artifacts from their collections of Benin bronzes, on a rotating basis. The museum is scheduled to open in 2021. The decision was celebrated in Europe, with headlines proclaiming the return of the looted treasures. But to some Nigerians, it felt a little like a slap in the face. "You can't loan someone something that you stole," says Emmanuel Inneh, a bronze caster in Benin City. Officials are more circumspect. "We are anxious that our people should have access to their history in whatever way," says Prince Gregory Akenzua, a member of the royal court and dialogue group. "We haven't surrendered our demand for restitution. But we will participate in any effort to make these objects available to our people." Others see getting the art on loan as better than having nothing in their display cases at all. "You have to be realistic," says Folarin Shyllon, a professor of law at the University of Ibadan and a member of the dialogue group. "Half a loaf," he says, "is better than no loaf at all." European curators view the loans as the beginning, not the end. "I think we all understand in the group that it's a minimum, and it's a first step," says Jonathan Fine, curator for the collections from West Africa at the Ethnological Museum in Berlin and a dialogue participant. Just a few months after the group's announcement, developments in France undermined the idea that loaning looted art back to the countries it was stolen from was an appropriate way to deal with the past. After declaring in 2017 that he wanted to see the "temporary or definitive restitution of African cultural heritage to Africa," President Macron commissioned a report to plot a road map for doing so. In December the authors, Senegalese economist Felwine Sarr and French historian Bénédicte Savoy, recommended that France immediately begin repatriating objects obtained without consent during colonial rule, if countries ask for them back. They dismissed the idea of long-term loans. Perhaps most shockingly, they proposed turning around the burden of proof: Instead of demanding countries prove the objects were stolen, France should have to prove they were not stolen if it wants to keep them, they said. That pushes the debate into radical new territory. While it is widely acknowledged that the Benin bronzes were looted, there is disagreement or uncertainty over thousands of other objects in European museums. Professor Zimmerer, who is a member of a committee coming up with new guidelines for German museums, says the change is necessary. "A colonial context is a context of injustice," he says. The imbalance of power, he notes, was so pervasive that even transactions that seemed fair may not have been. "Not every object is stolen, not every object is acquired illegally, but the assumption is that a majority of them are, and this should be the starting point of our deliberations." Curators reject the idea that most of the objects in their museums were acquired unfairly. "The debate has unfortunately generated a sense that these collections are really only about one thing and that is colonial appropriation," says Mr. Thomas. "Whereas I think the collections have incredibly complex stories, and there is a lot of the material that reached museums in Europe through local agency, through indigenous agency." He cites as examples objects that were diplomatic gifts or the "historical equivalents of today's tourist souvenirs." And he says that contrary to widespread perceptions, many museum curators do want to grapple with colonial history and work toward collaborative solutions. No one expects the French report to lead to the emptying out of museums across Europe. Even those who advocate restitution don't want to see all African art returned. Professor Zimmerer points out that many museums could return large numbers of artifacts without even affecting their galleries: The British Museum displays just over 100 of the 900 Benin objects it has. The Berlin Ethnological Museum displays about 50 percent of its Benin artifacts. In the meantime, people in Benin City are hardly waiting around for their history to be returned. Down the road from the oba 's palace, wedged between mechanics' garages, dental clinics, and used clothing stores, are the workshops of the city's current generation of bronze casters. More than 100 men work along this narrow stretch of Igun Street, meticulously casting and recasting scenes from Benin's history. It is a process that has changed little over the centuries. "We are the journalists of Benin," says Mr. Inneh, the head of the bronze-casters guild, a hereditary organization that has long been the only supplier of statues to the monarchy here. "Before writing, this was the way we recorded events." Important people and events in the history of the kingdom are cast again and again, as a way of preserving history. "All we are saying is that these are ours," says Mr. Inneh. "They were taken by force and now we want them back." This article was written by Ryan Lenora Brown and Kristen Chick from Christian Science Monitor and was legally licensed through the NewsCred publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@newscred.com.


After not competing in a game since May 8, Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant worked his way back onto the court for a win-or-go-home Game 5 in the NBA Finals against the Toronto Raptors. He scored 11 points in 12 minutes, giving his team not only an offensive lift but a morale boost. In the second quarter, however, Durant stepped down awkwardly, tweaking the right calf originally injured in the Warriors' semifinals series with the Houston Rockets. He was helped off the court by general manager Bob Myers and teammates Andre Iguodala and Stephen Curry. At halftime, Doris Burke reported that non-essential people were being kept out of the locker room due to the "raw emotion" Durant was experiencing at the heartbreaking turn of events. Burke reported that Durant will not return and is scheduled for an MRI on Tuesday. Steph and Andre Iguodala walked with KD all the way back to the locker room as he appeared to have re-injured his leg. #NBAFinals pic.twitter.com/htgWzPJIU4 - NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) June 11, 2019 When Durant went down, the Toronto crowd cheered in a show of poor sportsmanship and classlessness. The Warriors were amazing with Durant on the floor, leading by double-digit scoring. But the Toronto Raptors closed the gap to within a three-point deficit. At halftime, the Warriors were up by just five points, but led by Stephen Curry's 23 first-half points. Draymond Green, flooded with emotion after Durant's exit, some questionable foul calls by the refs at the Warriors' expense as well as some bad possessions, picked up his sixth technical foul. Seven techs in the Finals means automatic suspension, adding another obstacle to the Warriors' already-heavy pile of burdens. Ramona Shelburne of ESPN reports Durant left the arena on crutches and in a walking boot. Durant just left on crutches with a walking boot. - Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) June 11, 2019 MORE: How Kevin Durant's Achilles injury alters Kyrie Irving's free agency Kevin Durant breaks silence on his Game 5 Achilles injury: 'I'm hurting deep in the soul' Watch as jury convicts former NFL player Kellen Winslow Jr. of raping homeless woman News: Do Cowboys have best group of QBs across the entire league? Kevin Durant Has a $31.5 Million Player Option; Will Warriors Offer Him Supermax Contract?


Quick Take Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand has not proposed giving Social Security benefits to "illegal aliens," as a popular meme claims . She wants to overhaul the immigration system to give individuals in the U.S. illegally a way to become citizens and collect benefits after paying into Social Security. Full Story At a campaign stop in Davenport, Iowa on March 19, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, one of 23 people who have announced they are seeking the Democratic nomination for president, answered a question on immigration. A woman in the crowd asked: "Would you please talk a little about immigration   what you've done, what you see   both broadly, the DREAMers, the people detained at for-profit prisons, separated children, and the asylum seekers?" Gillibrand took about five minutes for her answer and, halfway through her remarks (at the 19:43 mark of the Facebook live video ), she said: "So, what will I do? I have a lot of ideas. First: we need comprehensive immigration reform. If you are in this country now, you must have the right to pay into Social Security, to pay your taxes, to pay into the local school system, and to have a pathway to citizenship. That must happen." Shortly after she made that statement, it was spun by conservative pundits. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, for example, characterized it this way during an appearance on Sean Hannity's Fox News show: "If a person comes here illegally… let's not only give them grandma's Social Security, let's toss in a car." He went on, "I hope Kirsten Gillibrand has to go out and talk to people in their 70s, who can barely afford food, and tell them that they're going to not get their Social Security raised because we're going to be giving it to people who broke into this country illegally." That interpretation of Gillibrand's statement was then cemented in a meme that's been circulating on Facebook and says: "Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand says that she wants to give Social Security benefits to illegal aliens." That's not what Gillibrand said. She called for "comprehensive immigration reform" and said that people in the U.S. illegally "must have the right to pay into Social Security" and pay their taxes. In fact, many immigrants who are in the country illegally already pay taxes and pay into Social Security, although they don't have access to the benefits. According to the IRS, taxpayers who didn't have Social Security numbers   and instead filed with an Individual Taxpayer Identification number   paid $23.6 billion in federal taxes in 2015. Some also file taxes using either an illegitimate or a fraudulent Social Security number. According to a 2013 report from the Social Security Administration, 2.5 million immigrants in the country illegally paid taxes using a false Social Security number in 2010. That year, immigrants in the country illegally contributed a net total of $12 billion to the Social Security program, the report says. Gillibrand's campaign spokeswoman, Meredith Kelly, clarified the candidate's statement for us through email. "Senator Gillibrand simply made a factual statement: undocumented immigrants already do pay into Social Security and income taxes, but get none of the benefits that they would as citizens," Kelly wrote. "Under her plan for comprehensive immigration reform, they would have a pathway to earn their citizenship and those benefits that they already pay into. This is deliberate misinformation that has already been debunked." Editor's note: FactCheck.org is one of several organizations working with Facebook to debunk misinformation shared on social media. Our previous stories can be found here . Sources Gillibrand, Kirsten. Davenport, Iowa campaign stop   video . Facebook. 19 Mar 2019. Wulfsohn, Joseph. " Mike Huckabee blasts Gillibrand plan to extend Social Security to illegal immigrants ." Fox News. 21 Mar 2019. Kelly, Meredith. Spokeswoman, Gillbrand 2020. E-mail sent to FactCheck.org. 16 May 2019. " INDIVIDUAL TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS (ITINs): IRS Processes Create Barriers to Filing and Paying for Taxpayers Who Cannot Obtain Social Security Numbers ." Internal Revenue Service. Goss, Stephen, et al. " EFFECTS OF UNAUTHORIZED IMMIGRATION ON THE ACTUARIAL STATUS OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY TRUST FUNDS ." Social Security Administration. April 2013. The post Meme Distorts Gillibrand's Immigration Idea appeared first on FactCheck.org .


Smoking weed sure is fun and it's slowly becoming legalized! Which pretty much makes it the best leisurely pursuit out there, with no repercussions, to boot! No. Wrong. That's incorrect. Now science (damn you, science!) says that there is, in fact, a no-good, very bad consequence to smoking the good stuff, and it has to do with your erection. Studies show that erectile dysfunction is three times more common among those who use cannabis on a daily basis, says Playboy ( via Cosmopolitan ) this despite that fact that marijuana users often report feeling increased sexual stamina. " Animal studies have found that cannabis has an inhibitory effect on certain receptors inside the erectile tissue of the penis," says Playboy 's Dr. Justin Lehmiller, who specializes in sex education and research. While these studies haven't been practiced on human subjects yet, it does indicate that, from a physiological standpoint, weed doesn't necessarily get us randy. Truth be told, there are a lot of variables at play here the strain of marijuana, each individual user's personal and unique reaction to narcotic substances that could ultimately create a dizzying array of different results. But knowing that you could be making yourself three times more likely to experience ED should be a wake-up call to most guys. Hey, blunt news isn't always good news.


The U.S. women's soccer team won its fourth World Cup title July 7   and celebrated in style with a ticker tape parade in New York. USA women's soccer player Megan Rapinoe (C) and other team members celebrate with the trophy in front of the City Hall after the ticker tape parade for the women's World Cup champions on July 10, 2019 in New York. - Tens of thousands of fans are poised to pack the streets of New York on Wednesday to salute the World Cup-winning US women's team in a ticker-tape parade. Four years after roaring fans lined the route of Lower Manhattan's fabled "Canyon of Heroes" to cheer the US women winning the 2015 World Cup, the Big Apple is poised for another raucous celebration. The U.S. women's soccer team captains' Alex Morgan, left, and Megan Rapinoe celebrate at City Hall after a ticker tape parade, Wednesday, July 10, 2019 in New York. The U.S. national team beat the Netherlands 2-0 to capture a record fourth Women's World Cup title. Members of the World Cup-winning US women's team take part in a ticker tape parade with their trophy for the women's World Cup champions on July 10, 2019 in New York. - Tens of thousands of fans are poised to pack the streets of New York on Wednesday to salute the World Cup-winning US women's team in a ticker-tape parade. Four years after roaring fans lined the route of Lower Manhattan's fabled "Canyon of Heroes" to cheer the US women winning the 2015 World Cup, the Big Apple is poised for another raucous celebration. United States women's soccer team forward Carli Lloyd (10) celebrates with the trophy on the float during the ticker-tape parade for the United States women's national soccer team down the canyon of heroes in New York City. USA women's soccer player Megan Rapinoe kisses the trophy in front of the City Hall after the ticker tape parade for the women's World Cup champions on July 10, 2019 in New York. - Tens of thousands of fans are poised to pack the streets of New York on Wednesday to salute the World Cup-winning US women's team in a ticker-tape parade. Four years after roaring fans lined the route of Lower Manhattan's fabled "Canyon of Heroes" to cheer the US women winning the 2015 World Cup, the Big Apple is poised for another raucous celebration. Members of the World Cup-winning US women's team take part in a ticker tape parade for the women's World Cup champions on July 10, 2019 in New York. - Tens of thousands of fans are poised to pack the streets of New York on Wednesday to salute the World Cup-winning US women's team in a ticker-tape parade. Four years after roaring fans lined the route of Lower Manhattan's fabled "Canyon of Heroes" to cheer the US women winning the 2015 World Cup, the Big Apple is poised for another raucous celebration. The crowd of fans is reflected in Carli Lloyd's sunglasses as she poses with the World Cup trophy. The U.S. Women's National Soccer Team celebrate their fourth World Cup win with a ticker tape parade down the Canyon of Heroes on Wednesday, July 10, 2019, in New York. The U.S. women's soccer team, Megan Rapinoe center, celebrates at City Hall after a ticker tape parade, Wednesday, July 10, 2019, in New York. The U.S. national team beat the Netherlands 2-0 to capture a record fourth Women's World Cup title. Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe, and Allie Long celebrate during the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team Victory Parade and City Hall Ceremony on July 10, 2019 in New York City. Members of the World Cup-winning US women's team take part in a ticker tape parade for the women's World Cup champions on July 10, 2019 in New York. - Tens of thousands of fans are poised to pack the streets of New York on Wednesday to salute the World Cup-winning US women's team in a ticker-tape parade. Four years after roaring fans lined the route of Lower Manhattan's fabled "Canyon of Heroes" to cheer the US women winning the 2015 World Cup, the Big Apple is poised for another raucous celebration. Julie Ertz celebrates during the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team Victory Parade and City Hall Ceremony on July 10, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) (l-R) President of the USA Soccer Federation Carlos Cordeiro, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, his Wife Chirlane McCray, Megan Rapinoe, Allie Long, and Alex Morgan celebrate during the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team Victory Parade and City Hall Ceremony on July 10, 2019 in New York City. Alex Morgan celebrates with the trophy while riding on a float during the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team Victory Parade down the Canyon of Heroes on July 10, 2019 in New York City. The team defeated the Netherlands 2-0 Sunday in France to win the 2019 Womens World Cup. USA Soccer Federation President Carlos Cordeiro, Megan Rapinoe, and Allie Long celebrate during the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team Victory Parade and City Hall Ceremony on July 10, 2019 in New York City. Members of the World Cup-winning US women's team take part in a ticker tape parade for the women's World Cup champions on July 10, 2019 in New York. - Tens of thousands of fans are poised to pack the streets of New York on Wednesday to salute the World Cup-winning US women's team in a ticker-tape parade. Four years after roaring fans lined the route of Lower Manhattan's fabled "Canyon of Heroes" to cheer the US women winning the 2015 World Cup, the Big Apple is poised for another raucous celebration. United States midfielder Allie Long and United States defender Ali Krieger celebrate during the Women's World Cup championship parade and celebration for the U.S. Women's National Team at Canyon of Heroes. Megan Rapinoe celebrates during the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team Victory Parade and City Hall Ceremony on July 10, 2019 in New York City. United States forward Megan Rapinoe and United States forward Alex Morgan celebrates with the trophy during the Women's World Cup championship parade and celebration for the U.S. Women's National Team at Canyon of Heroes. United States midfielder Julie Ertz celebrates during the Women's World Cup championship parade and celebration for the U.S. Women's National Team at Canyon of Heroes. United States forward Megan Rapinoe celebrates with the trophy during the Women's World Cup championship parade and celebration for the U.S. Women's National Team at Canyon of Heroes. United States forward Megan Rapinoe celebrates with the trophy during the Women's World Cup championship parade and celebration for the U.S. Women's National Team at Canyon of Heroes. United States forward Megan Rapinoe and United States forward Alex Morgan celebrate during the Women's World Cup championship parade and celebration for the U.S. Women's National Team at Canyon of Heroes. United States forward Megan Rapinoe celebrates with the trophy during the Women's World Cup championship parade and celebration for the U.S. Women's National Team at Canyon of Heroes. US soccer president Carlos Cordeiro, United States forward Megan Rapinoe, United States forward Alex Morgan cheer during the Women's World Cup championship parade and celebration for the U.S. Women's National Team at Canyon of Heroes. United States forward Megan Rapinoe and the United States Women's National Team celebrate during the Women's World Cup championship parade and celebration for the U.S. Women's National Team at Canyon of Heroes. United States forward Megan Rapinoe celebrates with the trophy during the World Cup championship parade and celebration for the U.S. Women's National Team in New York. Member of the U.S. women's soccer team, including Megan Rapinoe, rear left, and Alex Morgan, right foreground, stand on a float. Megan Rapinoe with the U.S. women's soccer team walks onto a float before the start of the parade along the Canyon of Heroes. Soccer fans line the parade route near Battery Park in New York. U.S. women's soccer team player Rose Lavelle, center, celebrates while standing with teammates on a float. New York City mayor Bill de Blasio speaks about equal pay before the parade.


Philadelphia should be fairly dry this coming week, according to the seven-day forecast from drone-powered weather service Saildrone . The best chance of rain is expected on Thursday at 68 percent, with the possibility of light rainfall of 0.57 inches. The coming days will also see warm temperatures, forecast to last through Thursday. The weather will bring a high temperature of 89 degrees on Monday. Skies will be partly cloudy today and Saturday and mostly cloudy on Sunday. Winds will remain fairly calm in the course of the week, with the highest speeds on Tuesday at just 10 mph. 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.


We've all been warned not to drink and drive. We've been taught that alcohol use and driving don't mix well. But how long does alcohol stay in your system? Should you worry about driving, say, the morning after a night out with friends? We asked an expert to explain just how long it takes your body to rid itself of alcohol. For starters, we'll give you a refresher on what happens to your body when you drink . You've probably heard that alcohol use depending on how much you drink can harm your liver. But you may not have been warned about just how much stress you put on this vital blood-filtering organ after even just a few hours of partying. "When you get alcohol in your blood, it passes through the liver, and the liver breaks it down," explains George Koob, PhD, director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, a division of the NIH. The main job of your liver is filtering blood that's flowing from your digestive tract to the rest of your body. In the process of breaking down the alcohol you consume , your liver encounters toxins. Heavy drinking can make your liver fatty and cause scarring that can eventually restrict blood flow. This can cause liver cells to die and, consequently, halt liver function . RELATED: 7 Ways to Keep Alcohol From Ruining Your Diet So, how long does alcohol stay in your system? Individuals metabolize alcohol at different rates. In general, Koob says most people can break down half a drink every hour. He also explains it in terms of your blood alcohol content (BAC). "If you're at 0.08, if you don't drink anymore, in two hours you'd probably be [at] about 0.05," he says. So, that translates to your BAC lowering at about 0.015 an hour. (In the US, your blood alcohol content is calculated as a percentage of the grams of alcohol you've consumed per every 100 milliliters of your blood.) A Breathalyzer measures your BAC by calculating how much alcohol is in the air you blow onto it. For reference, you can get a DUI if you drive while having a BAC of 0.08 or higher. If you weigh 160 pounds, four drinks can put you there . Again, keep in mind that people's bodies react differently to alcohol. All the averages you hear when it comes to alcohol use are just that. What happens to your friend when she has four drinks might not be exactly what happens to you if you try to drink as quickly as her. Now that you know how long it takes a person (on average) to metabolize alcohol, you might wonder how long it takes for your body to completely rid itself of the drug. According to addiction treatment network American Addiction Centers, " Alcohol is detectable for up to 6 hours in blood; about 12-24 hours in breath, urine, and saliva; and up to 90 days in hair." So just because you've endured the hangover doesn't mean someone can't tell that you partied over the weekend if they get ahold of a hair sample. For reference, a small glass of red wine has around 1.5 units of alcohol. (One unit of alcohol is eight grams or 10 milliliters of pure alcohol.) A pint of strong beer has around 3, and a small shot of tequila has about 1. You'll be doing your body a favor if you keep count of how many units you've consumed while you're hanging out at the bar. If you keep count, you'll know when it's time to slow down and stop. RELATED: 4 Warning Signs You're Dependent on Alcohol, According to an Expert


The base-prototype Extreme E electric off-road SUV has been launched at the Goodwood Festival of Speed by series founder Alejandro Agag and chairman Gil de Ferran. The ODYSSEY 21 has been built by Spark Racing Technology and features a battery supplied by Williams Advanced Engineering. XE is hoping to attract major manufacturers, which will be operated by ABB FIA Formula E and hold events in areas of the world that have been damaged by climate change. Read Also: Extreme E abandons plan to keep winner secret Competing manufacturers will be able to tweak the look of the ODYSSEY 21 by changing bodywork areas including the engine cover, front and rear bumpers, side skirt, and lights to resemble their road-going SUV models. Manufacturers will also be able to develop certain areas of the car's powertrain, although non-works squads can compete using the base package. The ODYSSEY 21 has a stated peak power output of 400kW (550bhp), 1650kg weight and 2.3m width. XE states it will accelerate from 0-62mph in 4.5 seconds, at gradients of up to 130%, and Spark technical director Theophile Gouzin said its performance level will surpass "the power and torque of World Rally Championship and rally raid cars". "Straight out-of-the-box in season one, the ODYSSEY 21 and its performance is going to be very impressive, exceeding the power and torque of World Rally Championship and rally raid cars," Gouzin said in an XE statement. "The numbers are mind-blowing, really. We've innovated in several areas, for example; the wheels are some 940mm. Wheels that size have never been utilised in anything other than two-wheel drive racing cars before. "Using them means we get the benefits of increased traction and traversal ability along with huge suspension travel. "Usually, it's either one or the other   smaller wheels, larger travel, or large wheels, smaller travel. We've gone for both with the ODYSSEY 21. "The torque and power density from the powertrain is also a breakthrough. "We're getting huge figures from a small package, which means lighter weight, space savings and ultimately improved economy." The first XE season is set to get underway in January 2021, with a first championship taking in events in the Arctic, the Himalayas, the Sahara desert, the Amazon rain forest and an island in the Indian Ocean. Testing of the ODYSSEY 21 will begin in September, with the 12 cars that will enter the first season being delivered by Spark in March 2020, with group testing following later next year. "The Extreme E-SUV ODYSSEY 21 is unlike anything else in motorsport," said Agag. "The cutting-edge technology our industry-leading partners have employed in its design and construction has resulted in a stunning car, capable of the highest performance in the toughest and most varied environments on the planet." XE has also announced its first broadcast partner for its live events, which will differ from the documentary series the championship is producing around the action to highlight the environmental issues in the areas it is set to race. Read Also: Extreme E series unveils event format, 2021 launch date Fox Sports will screen the first three XE seasons in North America.


These 9 Ron Swanson quotes are a testament to a life well lived.


The U.S. Women's National Team avoided a rematch against Sweden, and it's thanks to the hard work by the Netherlands midfielders and attackers. Jackie Groenen's 99th minute goal proved to be the difference as the Netherlands defeated Sweden, 1-0 after extra time in the semifinals, advancing to Sunday's final against the USWNT. It had been a stalemate for most of the match, with Sweden soaking up pressure and the Netherlands struggling to break down the Swedish defensive and midfield blocks in front of them. #WWCTelemundo : ¡Valió la pena la espera! 😱⚽ @Jackie_10_ , con un derechazo desde fuera del área, abrió el marcador para #NED en tiempos extra 😎💥. Mira toda la jugada ➡ https://t.co/vzPctm6eaC pic.twitter.com/7wkUkrcuhY   Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) July 3, 2019 This story will be updated . Just stunning. #NEDSWE 🇳🇱🇸🇪 pic.twitter.com/bMdJmZU0WE   FIFA Women's World Cup (@FIFAWWC) July 3, 2019


Sean McVay tried something bold last year and didn't play the Los Angeles Rams' starters for a single snap during the preseason - with a few exceptions. Other teams have scaled back certain players' reps, but what McVay did was more or less unprecedented. Considering the Rams were able to avoid any preseason injuries and made it all the way to the Super Bowl, it's safe to say it worked out pretty well. The Rams have been dropping hints for a while now that the plan is going to be somewhat similar in 2019. We got even more confirmation of that Friday, when general manager Les Snead appeared on an episode of ESPN's The Sedano Show . Specifically, Snead talked about Todd Gurley and the steps the team is taking to preserve him for the regular season. "We're not going to run him at all during OTAs," Snead said. "We're definitely not keeping score in May so we're doing things to continue getting his knee and the quads and all the things around him in the best possible shape and as fresh as possible so when we do go to Carolina - because I doubt we see Todd in the preseason, along with a lot of our starters." It sounds like Gurley will be treated like all the other starters during the preseason, although Snead did make it clear he'll be handled with extra precaution before then. It was also interesting to hear Snead mention Gurley's quads, because most of the discussion has centered solely around his knee up until now. Gurley's knee and overall health have been clouded in mystery ever since the season ended, and we still don't have much clarity. There have been conflicting reports about the seriousness of his injury and the team is being very tightlipped. Gurley has been in L.A. for OTAs but he hasn't participated in any team drills or on-field work. He's only been working behind the scenes, while also training on his own. The Rams haven't put him in front of the media since OTAs began, so he hasn't answered any questions yet. That's surely part of the reason he's been staying out of the spotlight, but he'll have to hold a presser at some point. It was revealed on Wednesday that Gurley was planning on playing at a lighter weight next season, perhaps to reduce the pressure on his knees. MORE: NBA fans had so many memes for Steph Curry's exchange with Drake Four potential Clint Capela trade destinations Could Raiders rookie DE Maxx Crosby start over Arden Key in 2019? Giants get a chuckle: Odell Beckham already in hot water in Cleveland Hogan on leaving Pats: 'They moved on'


The Baltimore Ravens are all about late free-agent signings. The Ravens love the lower cap hits the second wave of free agency brings and how they don't impact the compensatory pick formula. So when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers cut defensive tackle Gerald McCoy , Baltimore came running. Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reported the Ravens were one of just a few teams on McCoy's short list. The other included the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals. It's an interesting move for the Ravens since they have a pretty deep defensive line led by Brandon Williams. Baltimore applied a second-round tender to defensive tackle Michael Pierce this offseason and have Willie Henry still on his rookie deal. The Ravens also selected Daylon Mack in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL draft and signed undrafted free agent Gerald Willis. Even with all that talent on the defensive line, Baltimore would love to have McCoy's ability to generate pressure. In nine seasons with the Buccaneers, McCoy has 54.5 sacks. In just the last three years, McCoy has taken the quarterback down 19 times and hit the quarterback 59 times. The big question is just how much McCoy would cost. Tampa wasn't willing to pay McCoy $13 million for 2019 and couldn't find a trade partner . That should mean McCoy will come at a relative bargain but with the league's love for defenders that can get after the quarterback, it might still be a costly signing. According to the NFLPA , the Ravens have $14.65 million in available cap space right now. While that should be enough to sign McCoy, it would leave Baltimore woefully thin financially. The Ravens could look to trade or cut some players in an effort to free up some more space or lock McCoy into a long-term deal where they could spread out the cap hit until later. MORE: Alex Trebek had a classic response to James Holzhauer's 'two dimes' wager NBA Free Agency 2019: The top players New Packers OLB coach raves about rookie Rashan Gary Lamar Jackson says he didn't know Ravens were installing new offense Things Don't Sound Good Between James Harden, Chris Paul, and the Rockets


The Houston Texans didn't leave Green Bay with a W in the win-loss column, but the preseason bout was an excellent experience for young players. The youngsters caught head coach Bill O'Brien's eye. He said in the postgame press conference, ""I think that all of those guys, just from the sideline, until I watch the tape, but just from the sideline, everybody played hard." Though the Texans lost, O'Brien noted that "everybody competed." Specifically, young players. However, just because young players competed doesn't mean that they all got off scot-free. O'Brien will spend time in the film room to help progress his younger roster members' games. Said O'Brien: "There's obviously going to be things off of the film that we'll correct." Nonetheless, O'Brien "thought the guys played hard." Preseason wins and losses don't matter. It's meaningless football in place for those younger players to develop and see NFL experience. But, it does help if they stayed competitive throughout; as if one can do so then, they should be able to when games start to account. O'Brien agrees, telling the media, he said, "We were in the game right until the end. Guys were fighting, battling, trying to keep us in the game, and I think that's good to see." Those same young players O'Brien is seeing compete will be back in Houston for Thursday's week two preseason game against the Detroit Lions. MORE: Browns mob touchdown scorer who slept outside a gym during tryouts Good, bad and ugly from Packers' preseason-opening win over Texans Antonio Brown is Up to His Old Tricks Again in Oakland Duke Johnson trade: what they're saying around the NFL D'Angelo Russell Q&A: Warriors' new backcourt is 'like a video game'


LANSING (WWJ) - Entrepreneurs in 19 cities including Detroit, Hamtramck and Pontiac will be getting help in setting up marijuana businesses. The Michigan Marijuana Regulatory Agency on Thursday announced a Social Equity Program this morning, which is designed to encourage participation in the marijuana industry by people who live in the 19 cities selected as a result of marijuana-related convictions and poverty rates. The program will allow those setting up businesses in one of the cities to receive up to 60-percent off the application fee, the initial license fee, and future renewal fees. The communities include: Albion, Benton Harbor, Detroit, East Lansing, Ecorse, Flint, Highland Park, Hamtramck, Inkster, Kalamazoo, Mt. Morris, Mt. Pleasant, Muskegon, Muskegon Heights, Niles, Pontiac, River Rouge, Saginaw and Ypsilanti. MRA Director Andrew Brisbo puts a new #SocialEquity program on the table for people in 19 communities who want to get in the recreational #marijuana business. I'm live and local on @WWJ950 at 11:30. Listen live https://t.co/rjkMApPyfq pic.twitter.com/2HnFRWr8tr -- Vickie Thomas (@VickiethomasWWJ) July 18, 2019 "A lot of work has gone into the development of this program and we are proud of the results," MRA Executive Director Andrew Brisbo said in a statement. "I believe that our Social Equity Program will lead the nation in accomplishing the social equity objectives that Michigan voters assigned us last fall when they passed the adult-use marijuana proposal." Section 8 of the Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana Act (2018) requires the MRA to develop "a plan to promote and encourage participation in the marijuana industry by people from communities that have been disproportionately impacted by marijuana prohibition and enforcement and to positively impact those communities." Over the last several months, the MRA solicited input from stakeholders in work groups and an online survey to help determine the most important criteria the MRA should use to identify disproportionately impacted communities and the most important services that should be offered. The input also helped determine which criteria should be used to identify individuals who qualify for the services as well as what services the MRA should offer to the qualifying individuals. From the results, the MRA developed a Social Equity Program that identifies communities as eligible using marijuana-related convictions and poverty rate. Counties in which the total number of marijuana-related convictions exceeded the average marijuana-related conviction rate for the state were selected. From that group, communities were selected in which 30% or more of the population live below the federal poverty level. Reduced Fees Participating in the Social Equity Program allows qualifying applicants whose marijuana establishments will be located in disproportionately impacted communities to benefit from a reduction of up to 60% off the application fee, the initial license fee, and future renewal fees, which will be calculated as follows for qualifying applicants: 25% reduction for those who have been a resident of one of the 19 disproportionally impacted communities for the past five years An additional 25% reduction if the individual holding majority ownership have been a resident of one of the 19 disproportionally impacted communities for the past five years AND have a marijuana-related conviction An additional 10% reduction if the individual holding majority ownership have been a resident of one of the 19 disproportionally impacted communities for the past five years AND were registered as primary caregivers for at least two years between 2008 and 2017 Social equity representatives will confirm eligibility for participation in this program through acceptance of several forms of documentation.


Looking to get shredded for beach season but running on limited time? Don't stress out about not having hours on end to exercise as the weather slowly turns for the better-you can get the work you need done in the time it take to watch your favorite TV show. Michael Piercy, C.S.C.S. , creator of The Men's Health 30-Minute Shred , has spent the past 20 years training time-strapped clients. In the process he learned how to whittle a workout down to its essentials, eliminating the need for extra long workouts every day. Here's proof: This half-hour program will whip you into shape in record time. Download Today Directions Warm up with a 6-minute mix of jumping jacks, inchworms, and high knees. Then do exercises 1A, 1B, and 1C as a 10-minute circuit, completing as many rounds as possible (AMRAP). Rest 1 minute; then do 2A, 2B, and 2C as an 8 minute AMRAP circuit. For the last 6 minutes, do 5 to 8 burpees (with a twist: In a pushup position, pull your right foot outside your right hand, then back, then repeat on the other side) each minute. Do this workout twice a week. Need a set of dumbbells to get your shred on? Check out our favorite adjustable options, which range from 5 pounds to over 100 . 1A. Traveling Dumbbell Swing Hold a dumbbell by its head at your hips. Swing it down through your legs. Now drive your hips forward and swing the weight up. Step both feet to the left and assume a shoulder-width stance; repeat the swing. Step to the right and repeat. That's 1 rep; do 15. 1B. Pushup to Shoulder Tap Do a pushup. Pause as you straighten your arms. Maintaining a high plank, slowly lift your left hand off the ground and tap your right shoulder. Return your left hand to the ground. Do another pushup, and then tap your left shoulder with your right hand. That's 1 rep; do 12. 1C. Plank to Side Plank Start in a plank position, forearms on the ground. Lift your right hand and reach for the sky, rotating your torso into a right-side plank. Hold for 1 second in the side plank; then return to the forearm plank position and repeat the move on your left side. That's 1 rep; do 5. 2A. 180-degree Squat Jump Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent. Hinge your hips back and bend your knees. In one motion, jump and rotate your body 180 degrees to the right, landing with knees slightly bent. Repeat, rotating 180degrees to the left. That's 1 rep; do 15. 2B. Alternating Renegade Row Start in a high plank position, your feet shoulder-width apart and hands gripping 15-pound dumbbells. Pull the left dumbbell up to your upper abs (elbow behind your rib cage). Return to the starting position. Repeat the sequence with the right dumb-bell. That's 1 rep; do 6. 2C. Side Plank with Dumbbell Reach Start in a right-side plank, your left hand holding a 5-pound dumbbell, reaching for the sky, feet either stacked or split. Rotate the plank downward, moving the weight under your torso; don't let it hit the ground. Return to the starting position. That's 1 rep; do 5 reps per side.


UCLA sophomore forward Shareef O'Neal "could've died" if doctors had not discovered a heart condition, his mother, Shaunie O'Neal, said in the season premiere of her VH1 show, 'Basketball Wives,' on Wednesday night. According to Shaunie, Shareef, whose father is Shaquille O'Neal, was forced to sit out last season after getting diagnosed with a right anomalous coronary artery, a congenital condition that can cause heart failure and sudden cardiac death when undiagnosed. "An artery that just grows in the wrong place," Shaunie said on the show. "He was born with it. He could have died from it. They let us know Shareef needed open-heart surgery. That made my heart break." Shareef underwent open heart surgery in October and was cleared to return in March. UCLA did not disclose the details about Shareef last season. "When you go from just not doing anything to try to playing basketball, stop-and-go contact, full workouts, it's almost like zero-to-60," new UCLA head coach Cronin told ESPN . "He's obviously got monitors all over him. Obviously, if he wasn't cleared, he wouldn't be out here. It's just a matter of getting his wind back up and his strength. He lost 25 pounds. That'll come. "He's just working through it all. But he's been great. Really impressed with his skill level."


Manchester United chief executive Ed Woodward is ready to meet Leicester's £80m evaluation of centre back Harry Maguire, to complete the club's second transfer of the summer, following on from the £15m capture of Daniel James. United have been competing for Maguire's signature with local rivals Manchester City, but Woodward's desperation to sign the England international has propelled them to frontrunners. According to the Sun , the executive is now willing to match Leicester's £80m asking price, which would surpass the world record fee (for a defender) Liverpool paid Southampton for Virgil van Dijk in January 2018 by £5m. Ideally, the Red Devils could reach this valuation by including Eric Bailly and/or Marcos Rojo in the deal, though it is not yet known whether Brendan Rodgers is amenable to such an arrangement. And the big spending wouldn't stop there, with Woodward also readying a £350,000-a-week contract for the 26-year-old centre half. However, it's not just pay cheques that make the club believe they can land the defender, with assistant coach Mike Phelan's relationship with the player a major plus. United are insisting that Pogba isn't for sale, but should they let the player leave and reinvest? 廊 https://t.co/PYt1AmdHgp   90min (@90min_Football) June 17, 2019 Phelan worked with Maguire at Hull, as both assistant and manager, during the period when he was breaking into the side. It is understood the pair have maintained a good relationship in the intervening years, a factor United hope can push him to make the switch to Old Trafford. Despite the many rumours surrounding his future, for his part, Maguire is yet to officially ask the Foxes for a move, and is reticent to do so considering the chance the club took on him back in 2017 when they bought him for £17m.


It's got floor-to-ceiling windows and is open 24 hours Fresh off of a nationwide worker strike against bad labor practices, McDonald's has now opened its biggest New York City location yet in Times Square. The fast food chain unleashes a glossy, three-story new location today at 1528 Broadway, at West 45th Street, that will be open 24 hours. It's part of the company's efforts to revamp more than 8,000 restaurants across the country to be more digital, a $10 billion investment called " Experience of the Future. " The Times Square outpost is a "flagship"   presumably an easy way for a wide swathe of people to try and see the new model, which features digital kiosks and mobile ordering. As such, the company's going hard on making this location a particularly flashy version of the burger chain. The location seats more than 170 people and encompasses more than 11,000 square feet. All three of the floors include floor-to-ceiling glass walls for, as a press release boasts, "spectacular views" of Times Square. And there's a huge billboard on top of the property that the company claims is the third biggest one in Times Square. This location will also be one of the places that will be serving specialties from international outposts of McDonald's, such as a stroopwafel McFlurry from the Netherlands and the cheesy bacon fries from Australia. It starts on June 5 for a limited run. It hasn't been the greatest month for McDonald's, though. After years of poor labor practice and sexual harassment allegations, anger toward the chain fueled up even more last week with a strike in 13 cities across the country. Celebrities such as Padma Lakshmi and politicians such as Elizabeth Warren to Bernie Sanders have joined in protests. Employees raised 25 new incidents of sexual harassment, alleging that staffers as young as 16 face behavior such as groping and sexual propositions, as well as retaliation for complaints. In response, McDonald's CEO said the company has been working on its policies and is encouraging franchises to do so as well. Eater has requested more info from the company.


CHICAGO   A man who spent decades working to keep neighborhood kids out of gangs lost his life in a shooting Friday night in East Garfield Park. On his daily walk to the neighborhood store near Kedzie and Walnut around 7:30 p.m. Friday, 52-year-old Henry "Hank" Daniel was passing an alley when someone pulled out a gun and fired. Henry was hit three times and died a short time later at a nearby hospital. For a Chicago neighborhood that sees more than its fair share of shootings and homicides, this one really hurt, neighbors say. Describing him as a "pillar" of the community, some said he was like a "safe haven" for many, always willing to lend an ear. Carl Norington, Henry's father, said he came to East Garfield Park in '59 and never left, and his son stayed too. They both tried to look after the neighborhood. "Everybody knows us as the family, he would talk to young people like I do to encourage them to do things... just something to keep them out of the streets," Norington said. Quincy Parker met Henry when he was just 13. "If he had some knowledge [he'd] point you in the right direction, or carry you all the way through to your goal," Parker said. No stranger to violence himself, Parker was shot eight times 11 months ago. Since then, he's been trying to live like his friend. That includes volunteering at Breakthrough Urban Ministries, where Henry brought people to help them find activities and jobs that kept them off the streets. "I want people to say some of things I'm saying about Henry, I want people to say the same thing about me," Parker said. Henry's father hopes more people in Chicago will take his son's message to heart. "'You can't solve anything by using a gun, only create problems,' that was his motto," Norington said. Henry leaves behind six kids and 10 grandkids. No one is in custody, but police do have some surveillance video that may help them find their suspect. ___ (c)2019 WGN-TV, Chicago Visit WGN-TV, Chicago at www.wgntv.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.


There are plenty of reasons to pay off your mortgage early   chief among them being the thousands of dollars in interest you stand to save. At the same time, there also are benefits to not paying off a home loan ahead of schedule. Which approach is better for you depends on your financial situation and goals. If any of the following situations applies to you, you may benefit from sticking to your mortgage payment schedule and using any extra cash for other purposes. 1. You lack emergency savings Financial ups and downs are inevitable. The best way to ensure you can cover an unexpected expense or weather a job loss   without having to take on new debt   is to set aside some spare cash as an emergency fund. "If you don't have any emergency savings, work on that before paying off your mortgage, as the extra equity doesn't benefit you like cash does," says Pamela Horack, a certified financial planner with Pathfinder Planning in Lake Wylie, South Carolina. "If you need new tires on your car, you can only spend cash." For help fixing that issue, check out " 9 Ways to Build an Emergency Fund When Money's Tight ." It's not the usual blah, blah, blah. Click here to sign up for our free newsletter. 2. You want extra liquidity Paying ahead on your mortgage locks your extra cash in one place. In other words, by using extra cash to pay down your mortgage faster, you effectively convert a liquid asset (cash) into an illiquid asset (home equity). Once you do that, you have only two choices for getting money out of a home: Sell it or borrow against it. During the housing bubble, Money Talks News founder Stacy Johnson found himself glad he had kept a good chunk of change in the bank. He was able to use it to buy the house next door cheaply and flip it for a big profit. He explains : "Theoretically, I could have borrowed against my house to raise the cash, but I probably wouldn't have. Because I had the cash and it wasn't earning much, I did something with it that earned a lot. In short, having money in the bank can really be an advantage if you're planning to use that money." 3. You can earn a better rate by investing If you have extra cash to pay off a mortgage with a low interest rate but know you could earn a higher rate of return by investing that cash, it is best to stick out your mortgage. Related: 4 Little-Known Ways to Earn Far More Interest on Your Money "If you make a higher yield from your investments than your mortgage interest rate, you will likely be much better off in the long haul," Abel Soares III of Hui Malama Advisors in Honolulu tells Money Talks News. 4. You want to lower your taxes If you invest extra cash in a tax-advantaged account such as a 401(k) or individual retirement account (IRA), you have another reason not to funnel the funds into your home loan: lowering your current or future tax bill. "Paying off a mortgage early competes with priorities that can help lower taxes, such as funding a 401(k) plan up to the maximum amount," says Patrick Whalen, a certified financial planner at Whalen Financial Planning in Los Angeles. A mortgage payment can also lower your taxes because mortgage interest payments are tax-deductible. But due to the significantly higher standard deductible that took effect in 2018   a result of tax reform   fewer homeowners are likely to benefit from deducting interest . 5. Your mortgage is a hedge against inflation A mortgage with a fixed interest rate can be a hedge against inflation, Whalen tells Money Talks news. This is because the amount of the mortgage payment is the same every month, but the value of the payment falls over time due to inflation. Andy Tilp, a certified financial planner at Trillium Valley Financial Planning in Sherwood, Oregon, explains it this way: "As all your homeowner costs   such as maintenance, utilities, repairs, property tax, etc.   rise each year with inflation, the mortgage payment stays flat, assuming a 30-year fixed rate. Thus, in 30 years, what seems like a large payment now will seem relatively much smaller." 6. Your job is uncertain If you think you will be leaving a job and it may take some time to find another one, you'd best hold off on paying ahead on your mortgage. You might need that money to get by until your job situation settles out. 7. You have high-interest debt If you are also paying off debt that has a higher interest rate than your mortgage   such as credit-card debt or student loans   it is technically better to put any extra funds toward that debt instead of your mortgage. The debt with the higher interest rate is costlier. The sooner you pay it off, the more money you will save on interest over time. Did you pay off your home loan early, or are you sticking to the payment schedule? Let us know why by commenting below or on Money Talks News' Facebook page .


LOS ANGELES   A blowout at a Los Angeles natural gas well in 2015 that led to the largest-known release of methane in U.S. history was the result of a corroded pipe casing, safety failures by a utility and inadequate regulations, according to an investigation report released Friday. Southern California Gas Co. failed to investigate previous well failures at the Aliso Canyon storage field and didn't adequately assess its aging wells for disaster potential before the Oct. 23, 2015, blowout, the report released by the California Public Utilities Commission said. The disaster led to stricter state regulations and improved policies that would have addressed most of the causes, the report found. Robert Bea, an engineering professor at the University of California, Berkeley, said the report shows the blowout was a "predictable and preventable disaster" and likened it to oil spills, a dam spillway collapse and deadly wildfires he said were due in part to failures by regulators. "Collectively, we seem to be using 'reactive risk mismanagement': Patch and Pray, Watch it Fail, Fix it Fast, Return to Business As Usual As Soon As Possible," Bea said. "Several of my colleagues who live in other countries have called this approach as 'stuck in stupid.'" The blowout lasted nearly four months and was blamed for sickening thousands of Los Angeles residents, who moved out of their Porter Ranch homes to escape a sulfurous stench and a medley of maladies including headaches, nausea and nose bleeds. Blade Energy Partners, which conducted the yearslong investigation, said the company should have been able to plug the leak sooner. SoCalGas has spent more than $1 billion on the blowout with the majority going to temporarily relocate 8,000 families, according to filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The utility still faces more than 390 lawsuits on behalf of approximately 48,500 people. Residents who live nearby the gas storage field continue to complain about health problems and many, along with some environmental groups, want the facility shut down. "This root cause analysis highlights gross negligence by SoCalGas and the failure to conduct basic inspections to determine safety of a highly dangerous operation," Alexandra Nagy, director of Food & Water Watch California, said in a statement. "Nothing short of the immediate shut down of Aliso Canyon will protect residents from harm." The field   the largest of its kind in the West at the time of the blowout   stores natural gas in retired oil wells, some dating to the 1940s. It injects gas more than a mile underground into the porous reservoir where crude was once found. The report criticized inadequate regulations at the time, which allowed the company to inject and withdraw gas into the field through an internal pipe and the casing that surrounded it. The casing was originally designed as a safety barrier for oil production, but was being used to pump greater volumes of gas in and out of the field under high pressure. It was that type of casing that ultimately ruptured due to corrosion from water and microbes. Gas seeped up through the earth and eventually blew a gaping crater around the well. Seven attempts to plug the well were tried over weeks, but none worked. The report said workers failed to conduct proper modeling tests in advance of the so-called kill attempts and didn't use dense enough fluid and at a high enough rate to accomplish the task. The report also said the company lacked systems to protect wells from corrosion and surveillance to monitor them in real time. Investigators found there had been 60 casing leaks before the incident that presented risks to safety and the environment but investigations into their causes were never conducted. "Furthermore, external corrosion on production casing had been identified in several wells," the report said. "Based on the data reviewed by Blade, no investigation of the causes was performed, and, therefore, the extent and consequences of the corrosion in the other wells was not understood." Regulations also failed to require inspections of the thickness of casing walls and those tests were not routinely conducted by the utility. The well that ruptured was on a list of 20 old wells the company identified in 1988 to determine their condition. Over a two-year period, however, the well was not among the seven tested, which found corrosion on five had worn away 20% to 60% of the wall thickness of their casings. SoCalGas in a press release said the report showed it was in compliance with state regulations at the time of the blowout and it touted its safety enhancements since. New requirements put into place by state regulators after the blowout led to many of the wells being overhauled and updated and many being sealed. The field is also not allowed to operate at full capacity. Two state regulatory agencies, the CPUC and the Department of Conservation's oil and gas division, will use the findings to produce reports of their own that could lead to fines. SoCalGas reached a $120 million court settlement with the state attorney general. It was convicted in Los Angeles Superior Court of failing to quickly report the leak to state authorities and agreed to a $4 million settlement with the Los Angeles County district attorney.


Vikings coach Mike Zimmer is considered one of the better coaches in the NFL, despite his team failing to make the playoffs last season In a recent head coach power ranking piece over at NFL.com , Zimmer ranks 10th, and first among coaches in the NFC North. In five years as coach, Zimmer holds a 47-32-1 record and has made the playoffs twice, making the NFC Championship in 2017. Zimmer's a defensive-minded coach and his defense has always been above-average per Pro-Football Reference, while his offense has been below average in three of five seasons - including last season, the first of Kirk Cousins' time in Minnesota. Of course, as an NFL head coach, you're responsible for everything. There's a lot of pressure on Zimmer as we head towards the 2019 season. The Vikings were considered Super Bowl favorites by many, and disappointed with an 8-7-1 record, failing to make the playoffs. The Vikings extended Zimmer's contract to the 2020 season, but if the team fails to make the playoffs again, we'll see if the finally season is fulfilled. MORE: Dan Le Batard delivers impassioned rebuke of racist 'send her back' chant despite ESPN rules Dan Le Batard Rips Trump and 'Send Her Back' Chants Report: Celtics want to sign Tacko Fall, bring him 'in the fold' What are realistic expectations for the Bears in 2019? NBA Free Agency 2020: The top players


Pacific Gas & Electric's key lenders have offered a $30 billion plan to pull the utility out of bankruptcy -- and give the tarnished company a new name.


Broncos running back Phillip Lindsay spent the offseason rehabbing the wrist injury that forced him to miss the final game of his rookie season, but it won't be long before he's able to move on to a longer list of activities. The feeling around the team at the end of the offseason program was that Lindsay would be set to go once the team got to training camp. Players begin reporting to camp in a few days and Lindsay said that he'd give himself a green light to do everything in practice. "In my mind I'm ready . I'm 100 percent," Lindsay said, via Mike Klis of KUSA. Lindsay allowed that the plan formulated with coaches and the medical staff may call for a gradual resumption of all activities, but it doesn't sound like there will be much reason to keep Lindsay under wraps much longer.


The Steelers have loads of work to do this offseason, but it may pale in comparison to the load the offense will have to carry, if the Steelers' alleged assumption is correct. ESPN's John Clayton reported Wednesday the Steelers expect the NFL to hand down a two-game suspension for All Pro running back Le'Veon Bell. Bell and ex-Steelers RB LeGarrette Blount were arrested in August, Bell for DUI as well as marijuana possession. The pair were on their way to the airport to catch a flight to Philadelphia for the team's preseason game against the Eagles. Blount has already received a sentence of community service, which he has successfully completed. Bell's DUI charge, under the league's new conduct policy, is likely to fetch a two-game suspension. It hasn't been confirmed, and it isn't set for the start of the season, necessarily, but it does appear to be heading down that path. We've also speculated the NFL would love to send Pittsburgh to New England to take on the defending champion Patriots in Week 1. With Blount active for the home team, and Bell nowhere near the game, fans crying foul will certainly be the topic of conversation. The Steelers are 19-9 in games in which Bell has played since joining the team as a second round pick in 2013. They are 0-4, including 0-1 in the playoffs, when he doesn't play. Bell became the only player in league history to have over 2,200 yards from scrimmage without fumbling, a mark he achieved in a first team All Pro season, his second in the league.


The number of crime incidents in Dallas saw an overall increase last month for the third month in a row, according to data from CrimeoMeter , which collects data from police agencies and validated sources. Incidents rose by 3.4%, from 11,175 in June up to 11,557 in July. This month's increase in crime incidents puts the monthly total at about 15% below the same month a year ago. Crime trends often contain recurring patterns, based on seasons and other local events, making a year-over-year comparison most relevant. Theft and auto theft led the most recent uptick in crime reports. Theft rose from 2,142 reported incidents in June to 2,302 in July, and has grown by 151 incidents since July of last year. Auto theft incidents went up from 833 to 889 for the month, or a 6.7% increase. Auto theft reports are up even more from a year ago. While somewhat smaller categories, there was also a notable percentage increase last month in arson, from eight incidents per month to 14, and in alcohol-related offenses, from 464 up to 504. Both arson and alcohol-related offenses have decreased since the same month last year. Among the few types of offenses that saw a downturn last month, domestic offenses decreased from 108 to 77. Assault incidents fell from 827 to 797, and drug-related offenses went down from 215 to 206. Domestic offenses and assault incidents have seen an overall upward trend since the same time last year. When it comes to crime patterns in different areas of the city, South Boulevard-Park Row Historic, Oak Lawn and Preston Hollow saw the largest increase from June to July. West End Historic District, Lake Highlands and Dells District also saw considerable percentage increases in crime offenses for the month, although they continue to have lower overall crime levels. Over the past year, crime has gone up the most in Reunion District, and has had the biggest decline in Northeast Dallas. Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays saw the most crime incidents last month. The largest increase from the previous month occurred on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, while incidents on Saturdays, Sundays and Fridays fell. Comparing times of day, late morning, late afternoon and midday saw the most crime last month on average each day. To report a crime in progress or life-threatening emergency, call 911. To report a non-urgent crime or complaint, contact your local police department. Head to CrimeoMeter to get free local crime alerts in your area. This story was created automatically using local crime data, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about our data sources and local crime methodology. Got thoughts about what we're doing? Go here to share your feedback.


Couldn't catch the local high school baseball scores last week? Get back in the game with our roundup of the latest boys varsity baseball results in and around Philadelphia, powered by data from high school sports source MaxPreps . (Hoodline offers data-driven analysis of local happenings and trends across cities. Details like game dates, times, scores and team records are based on data provided by MaxPreps and may be subject to change; the latest up-to-date information is available at the links below.) Roman Catholic scores 12 runs, overthrows Archbishop Carroll For an exciting start to the week, on Monday, Radnor's Archbishop Carroll Patriots hosted the Roman Catholic Cahillite for a varsity matchup. The Roman Catholic Cahillite walked away with a 12-2 win . The Archbishop Carroll Patriots recorded seven hits, while the Cahillite recorded 12. The Cahillite hitone home run to bring their total to 4 this season. The loss brought Archbishop Carroll's conference record to 8-5, while Roman Catholic's record rose to 11-2. Archbishop Ryan squeaks past La Salle College Monday also saw Wyndmoor's La Salle College Explorers battle the Archbishop Ryan Raiders at home. The Archbishop Ryan Raiders snuck past the Explorers to claim a 1-0 victory . Although they lost, the La Salle College Explorers got seven hits, while Archbishop Ryan got four. The loss brought La Salle College's conference record to 11-2, while Archbishop Ryan's record rose to 7-6. Constitution scores 11 runs, cruises past Tacony Academy Charter On Wednesday, the Tacony Academy Charter Lions visited the Constitution Generals . They drove home disappointed: the team fell to the Constitution Generals in a frustrating 11-0 loss . To add insult to injury, the Tacony Academy Charter Lions had zero hits all game, while the Generals had nine hits. The Constitution Generals hit one home run to bring their total to four this season. The win brought Constitution's record to 13-3, while Tacony Academy Charter's record fell to 12-3-1. Thomas A. Edison unseats George Washington Also on Wednesday, the Thomas A. Edison Owls visited the George Washington Eagles . They drove home satisfied: the Owls cinched a 9-5 victory . The loss brought George Washington's record to 6-9, while Thomas A. Edison's record rose to 12-2. Springside Chestnut Hill Academy triumphes over Perkiomen On Thursday, the Springside Chestnut Hill Academy Blue Devils traveled to Pennsburg to face off against the Perkiomen Panthers . The Springside Chestnut Hill Academy Blue Devils out-smarted the Panthers 11-4, to walk away with the win . The loss brought Perkiomen's record to 7-4, while Springside Chestnut Hill Academy's record rose to 12-7. Olney flattens Philadelphia Academy Charter Friday saw the Olney Trojans defeat the Philadelphia Academy Charter boys team by a score of 11-1 at home. The win brought Olney's record to 11-7, while Philadelphia Academy Charter's record fell to 10-4. Frankford overthrows Prep Charter Friday also saw the Frankford Pioneers defeat the Prep Charter boys team by a score of 21-0 in a playoff game. The win brought Frankford's record to 14-3, while Prep Charter's record fell to 10-6. Springside Chestnut Hill Academy prevails over William Penn Charter On Friday, May 17, the Springside Chestnut Hill Academy Blue Devils faced off against the William Penn Charter Quakers . The Blue Devils ultimately beat the Quakers 5-0. The win brought Springside Chestnut Hill Academy's conference record to 8-2, while William Penn Charter's record fell to 3-7. Roman Catholic hangs on against Archbishop Carroll Saturday brought a new round of high school contests, with the Roman Catholic Cahillite hosting the Radnor Archbishop Carroll Patriots in a playoff game. The Cahillite snuck past the Archbishop Carroll Patriots for a 5-4 win . The win brought Roman Catholic's record to 13-6-1, while Archbishop Carroll's record fell to 16-8. King's Christian scores 11 runs, strikes out New Foundations Saturday also saw Cherry Hill's King's Christian boys team battle the New Foundations boys team at home in a playoff game. The King's Christian boys walked away with a win , beating the New Foundations team soundly, 11-1. The win brought King's Christian's record to 20-11, while New Foundations' record fell to 9-5. This story was created automatically using local sports data, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.