Australia on Monday launched a major education campaign to encourage its residents, particularly those travelling overseas, to get vaccinated against measles as a sudden spike in cases amid a global resurgence causes alarm. Measles -- an airborne infection causing fever, coughing and rashes that can be deadly in rare cases -- was declared officially eliminated from Australia by the World Health Organisation in 2014. In developed nations including Australia however, the growing anti-vaccine movement has seen a reemergence of the disease. The announcement by Health Minister Greg Hunt came as a spate of cases hit Australia's most populous state, New South Wales, with the latest infection alert on Sunday involving two people who holidayed in the Philippines. Hunt said there were 83 measles cases so far this year, compared to 103 for all of last year and 81 for 2017. "I am concerned about the recent increases in measles cases in Australia and want to make sure our community is well protected against this very serious disease," Hunt said in a statement. He warned that due to changing vaccine schedules for Australians born between 1966 and 1994, some people may have received only one dose of vaccine, instead of two, making them more susceptible to infection. Promotional materials including videos were being developed by the Australian Academy of Science to raise awareness about the need to be fully vaccinated, he added. Some 93.5 percent of two-year-olds in Australia have received two doses of measles vaccine.


Sunday's Copa America final between Brazil and Peru is a contest replete with history, one that carries the weight of two veteran managers looking to turn their respective players into champions for the first time in their tenures. It's also a rematch of the most lopsided game in this year's competition. While Brazil's inclusion in the title game may not be that surprising (the host nation is undefeated and has yet to concede a goal), Peru's most definitely is. Less than two weeks ago, it suffered a 5-0 destruction at the hands of the Seleçao and slipped into the knockout stage as a third-place finisher. Ricardo Gareca's side found a way to rebound, though, and thanks to an impressive change of character, resilience against Uruguay in the quarterfinals and a resounding victory against Chile in the final four, it now finds itself in the Copa America final for the first time in 44 years. Beating Brazil is a bigger mountain to climb, though. Even without Neymar, it's a squad filled with talent, experience and attacking pedigree, capable of breaking an opponent's strategy in a heartbeat. Given what happened in their June 22 meeting, what reason is there to believe Sunday will be any different for Peru? Let's begin with the obvious sentiment. Brazil, the five-time World Cup and eight-time Copa America champion is the obvious favorite, and given the local support, it hopes to take advantage of a packed Macaranã (at full capacity it fills 87,000), where the majority will be Brazilian fans. "Now I will truly become the coach of the national team,'' Tite joked after the Seleçao beat rival Argentina 2-0 in the semifinals . The 58-year-old manager has not coached at the stadium since taking over the role in 2016 after Peru's elimination of Brazil in the group stage of Copa America Centenario spelled the end for Dunga and hopes this iconic ground serves as inspiration for this team. "Players always say that you only become a footballer if you played at the Maracanã. It's the same thing for the coach," Tite said. Venue aside, this is a final Brazil, whose last Copa America title came in 2007, knows it has to win. Beating Argentina at the place where it was humiliated by Germany 7-1 in the 2014 World Cup semifinals soothed an existing wound but it didn't fully heal it. A trophy on home soil is the only true medicine. Aside from relying on key players such as Gabriel Jesus, Roberto Firmino, Philippe Coutinho and Arthur, Tite will also be hoping some more magic from captain Dani Alves, who, at 36, rolled back the years against Argentina and delivered his best performance of the competition. Alves, who took the captain's armband from Neymar prior to the start of Copa America, has seen it all during his career and is currently a free agent after recently leaving PSG. No male player in the history of the game has won more trophies (42 for club and country) than the right back, and he will be looking for one more on Sunday. A key absence will be Willian, as a hamstring injury rules him out. The winger mainly served as a substitute during the tournament and scored the last dagger against Peru in the commanding victory. Even without Willian, Brazil has enough weapons to cause problems, and nobody knows this better than Gareca. "I don't know how to beat Brazil, I don't have an answer for that right now, but I do know we have players who can find the answer." Gareca said, speaking to the press after the 3-0 win over Chile , arguably his best win with Peru. "When you reach a final, you want to win it. That will be our mentality." Gareca is the definition of an old school manager, embodying the personalities of a respected, long-serving professor at an Ivy League university and a military sergeant. He never gets excited about a victory and is always realistic about an objective. Much like his compatriot Marcelo Bielsa, his press conferences tend to be long and didactic lessons but never with the intent to patronize. The key takeaway is that under his watch, Peru has not only improved in strategy, it has also learned how to rise from adversity. Peru's biggest enemy has always been Peru itself, as players often fall into mental traps, allowing their emotions to take over and their opponents, no matter the quality, to take advantage. It happened against El Salvador earlier this year and quite clearly, against Brazil in the group stage. Right after the game against Brazil, Gareca took the blame for the loss, but the players knew that the humiliating defeat was on them, and almost immediately the squad changed its mindset. Training became a place to not just physically improve, but also mentally. Teammates became closer, worked harder and became more communicative. Mistakes were no longer down to an individual. This team, for better or worse, would rise or fall as one. Goalkeeper Pedro Gallese's confidence was severely dented after he conceded one of the worst goals in the tournament against Brazil, but ever since that game, he has become a different player. He has always been an athletic goalkeeper, but now he is a leader, overseeing his defenders and taking control of every dead-ball situation. Against Uruguay, the entire team finally realized Gareca's biggest lesson: possession is not as important as control. It took the competition's most successful side in history to penalties, and there, not one Peruvian missed. Gallese saved Luis Suarez's spot kick, and La Blanquirroja made it to the last four. Against Chile, the team's biggest foe and the competition's two-time reigning champion, Peru allowed its opponent to keep the ball and be physical, allowing pace and quick one-two counterattacking to take over the game. Goals from Edison Flores, Yoshimar Yotun and Paolo Guerrero the latter of which finished off a brilliant team move sealed the win and historic return to the final. Nevertheless, Brazil remains the favorite and seeing as it has its own demons to exorcise, Tite's side will be extremely motivated, hoping to celebrate in front of its own people and reclaim its place atop South America's hierarchy. If Peru has any chance of spoiling that narrative, it has to implement everything it learned from the 5-0 loss, introduce itself as a brand new opponent and not allow the magnitude of the moment to take over.


In 2013, the Rams were blown away by the blazing speed of Tavon Austin and used the No. 8 overall pick draft to secure him. In 2016, the Rams inked him a four-year, $42M extension, making him the 12th highest-paid wide receiver in the NFL at the time. Today, Austin finds himself on the Cowboys' roster bubble. Austin still possesses game-changing speed, but injuries continue to hold him back. Last year, a groin pull limited him to just seven games in which he caught eight passes for 140 yards and two touchdowns, which more or less sums up his career to date   Austin put up a DeSean Jackson -type yards per catch average, but couldn't stay on the field. Austin also holds appeal for his ability to play out of the backfield and serve as a slippery returner, but both roles seem to have been filled in Dallas. The Cowboys tapped Memphis product Tony Pollard in the draft to play as the change-of-pace back behind star Ezekiel Elliott and return kicks. Meanwhile, newcomer Randall Cobb is slated to be the Cowboys' main slot receiver. Wide receivers Amari Cooper , Michael Gallup and Cobb are locks for the roster and Allen Hurns isn't far behind in the pecking order. That leaves one, or possibly two, WR spots on the 53-man roster, and Noah Brown and Jon'Vea Johnson both seem to have a leg up on Austin, who was limited in OTAs and minicamp. The Cowboys re-upped Austin on a one-year deal in the spring, but the pact includes just $500K guaranteed. Unless Austin can quickly prove that he is healthy and ready to make an impact, he'll likely be released in the coming weeks.


Antonio Brown is an inspiration. Sure, he's a classic diva wide receiver. He'll demand the football from quarterback Derek Carr and coach Jon Gruden, and if he doesn't get enough touches, that alone could cause friction in the locker room. And he would be correct to be upset - he's a supremely skilled, Hall of Fame-caliber wide receiver. But my goodness, does he work hard. He spent some of his time on vacation in Hawaii catching footballs from a JUGS machine, illuminated by what appear to be golf cart headlights, according to his Instagram account. Here's part of the footage, courtesy of The Mercury News' Matt Schneidman. Notice Brown took his Raiders helmet with him to the Aloha State. Antonio Brown, everybody pic.twitter.com/FU05GOLe1H - Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) June 26, 2019 Brown has already impressed onlookers with his work ethic during organized team activities and minicamp, and even on vacation, he still has the look of a player who wants to equal or surpass the achievements of Hall of Fame WR Jerry Rice. Leading up to a monumental season for the Raiders, Brown can inspire others with his desire for greatness, especially the three first-round draft picks that are supposed to be the foundation of the franchise as it moves to Las Vegas in 2020. Brown could hang his cleats up now and still be enshrined in Canton, but instead, he's honing his craft outdoors after the sun has set while on holiday - and every Oakland Raider should take note. MORE: Four potential DeMarcus Cousins landing spots in free agency Mystery of fish caught with wedding ring attached solved Report: Nets likely to sign Kyrie Irving to 4-year, $141 million deal Roundup: Illinois Legalizes Recreational Marijuana; Trump Threatens Iran; San Francisco Bans E-Cigarettes Bears Pro Bowler Akiem Hicks reflects on his fallout with Saints


Gymnast Katelyn Ohashi may have gone viral for her joy-filled floor routines as a star gymnast at UCLA, but over the last year, she's proved that her power goes far beyond what she can do on the floor. In a wrenching op-ed for NBC News following the NCAA Championships, Katelyn revealed that, as a young gymnast on track for the Olympics, she "correlated misery with greatness." The pressure to be the best broke her down, mentally and physically. She was riddled with injuries, and her body image deteriorated. "I was told that it was embarrassing how big I had become ," she said in an emotional Player's Tribune video last year. "I was compared to a bird that couldn't fly." It wasn't until she stepped down from elite gymnastics and set her sights on college competition that she rediscovered her joy. But the path back to self-love wasn't linear. "I think everyone is on this constant journey to truly love themselves and everything about their body," she told POPSUGAR. "And I feel like it's so normal to have days where you feel confident, and other days where you feel uncomfortable and just literally don't even want to look in the mirror." She said it's about finding a balance, "learning to embrace everything that you don't love about your body." The body-shaming epidemic in sports , and women's sports especially, is all the more painful because of how it twists athletes' relationships with their bodies, driving them to doubt and be ashamed of the very vehicle of their power. It's something Katelyn is actively fighting against. "One thing that sport has allowed me to discover is that my body does things that not everyone can do," she said. To be criticized for her body, for the strength that has earned her perfect 10s and mesmerized millions , would lead many people to frustration and even anger. But Katelyn has no animosity for people who have body shamed her. She said simply, "I can't let it affect me. Half the people that are saying these things probably can't do double back flips and twists and things like that, so I just have to be really grateful. And I think we should all be extremely grateful for what we're given." Hearing body-shaming comments "makes me feel like I want to reach out and give them a hug," Katelyn told POPSUGAR. "I feel like it's so easy to love. People like that, you never know what they're going through. You just want to help them." Now graduated from UCLA, Katelyn is in the midst of a whirlwind summer that sees her speaking at events like POPSUGAR Play/Ground , debuting a new partnership with Gatorade's Beat the Heat hydration program (including a hilarious commercial with a Serena Williams cameo!), and preparing for one final competition, the all-female Aurora Games at the end of August. It'll be one more chance to cheer for her iconic floor routine and to watch her spread joy, confidence, and her fearless message far and wide.


GREENWICH   After he was arrested at his Queens apartment in connection with the death of a 24-year-old woman whose body was found in Greenwich, Javier Da Silva was charged with a federal crime that carries a sentence of death or life in prison. Authorities in Greenwich and New Rochelle, N.Y., are now letting the federal authorities manage the continuing investigation, and its prosecution of Da Silva. "It's in their hands," Greenwich Police Lt. John Slusarz said Thursday of the case. "It's been transferred to federal custody." Since the case involved kidnapping, it was taken over by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by the U.S. attorney's office. After the kidnapping and murder of the toddler son of Charles Lindbergh in 1932, a crime that shocked the nation, kidnapping became a federal crime. A new law empowered federal agents to pursue kidnapping cases, on the assumption that state and local authorities were hamstrung by jurisdictional complications that came up when kidnappers crossed state lines. The criminal statue that Da Silva was charged with is "kidnapping resulting in death." It can be punished by death, though death penalties are extremely rare in the federal system. One of the best known federal inmates to face the death penalty was Timothy McVeigh, who was executed by lethal injection in 2001, at the Federal Correctional Complex in Terre Haute, Ind., after he was convicted in the 1995 bombing of the federal office building in Oklahoma City that killed 168 people. New York State placed has a moratorium on capital punishment in 2004. The last execution was in 1963. In 2012, then-Gov. Dannel Malloy signed a bill making Connecticut the 17th state to abolish the death penalty. The state's last execution was in 2005, in an unusual case, when Michael Ross was executed by lethal injection after giving up his appeals. Two seasoned defense lawyers, Susanne Brody and Jason Ser, were appointed to handle Da Silva's case this week. The two public defenders have years of experience in the federal court system, according to their professional biographies. According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Da Silva had overstayed his visa and was not in the country legally at the time of the killing . "A citizen of Portugal, (he) entered the U.S. May 8, 2017, through the Visa Waiver Program; however, he failed to leave the United States within the required timeframe," said a statement from ICE. Da Silva also held a passport from Venezuela. In the murder of Valerie Reyes, 24, federal authorities have accused Da Silva of committing the crime that began at her apartment in New Rochelle. According to the criminal complaint, Reyes was killed Jan. 28 or Jan. 29 , and she was reported missing by her family on Jan. 30. Her body was found by a town worker on the morning of Feb. 5, stuffed in a suitcase with her hands and feet bound, about 15 feet of the side of Glenville Road in Greenwich. Reyes' mouth was covered with tape and she had suffered a head wound. The two had dated back in 2017. Federal authorities have released only a minimal account of the killing, without releasing specifics about the case, a timeline of events or how Reyes died. Her mother, Norma Sanchez, was told of the arrest the day before her daughter's funeral . "I have so many questions," Sanchez said of the lack of details offered by police. The state medical examiner said Thursday it was not releasing information about the cause of death. Greenwich Police Capt. Robert Berry said this week, "There are a lot of loose ends that need to be tied up." rmarchant@greenwichtime.com


(Reuters) - Apple Inc will ask developers to position a new "Sign on with Apple" button in iPhone and iPad apps above rival buttons from Alphabet Inc's Google and Facebook Inc, according to design guidelines released this week. The move to give Apple prime placement is significant because users often select the default or top option on apps. And Apple will require apps to offer its button if they want to offer options to login with Facebook or Google. Apple unveiled its login button on Monday, emphasizing users' privacy and also introducing a feature that randomly generates an email address to avoid revealing the person's true email. Many consumers choose to sign in to independent apps using their accounts from Google or Facebook because it saves the trouble of having to create and remember separate user names and passwords for dozens of different apps. But the login buttons can send some data back to their makers about the user's app habits. Apple's software chief Craig Federighi said during a keynote address on Monday that Apple was seeking to give users a more private option and developers a way to offer a fast one-step login without sending their user's data to another company. In a press release about updates to its App Store review guidelines, Apple said its login button "will be required as an option for users in apps that support third-party sign-in when it is commercially available later this year." Apple's guidelines do not appear to impose requirements on apps that have their own dedicated login system and do not use third-party buttons from Google or Facebook, such as apps from game maker Nintendo Co Ltd. Apple's button also works on websites. Its use will not be required because Apple does not hold review power over websites the way it does apps on its own store, but Apple's guidelines still ask it to be given top placement if it is used. Apple declined to comment further beyond its executives' public remarks on Sign in with Apple. Facebook and Google declined to comment on the move, though Google said it does not require use of Google's login button for apps in its Play Store on Android devices. Apple's suggestion to developers to place its login button above rival buttons is part of its "Human Interface Guidelines," which are not formal requirements to pass App Store review. But many developers believe that following them is the surest way to gain approval. Apple's guidelines to developers around login tools come as developers and rivals have alleged that some of its App Store practices, such as taking a commission of up to 30% of sales made through the store, are anticompetitive. United States antitrust regulators are also laying the ground for a potential antitrust review of Apple and other major technology companies, Reuters reported Monday. In an interview with CBS News that aired on Tuesday, Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook said it was "fair" for regulators to scrutinize Apple given its size but said the company is not a monopoly in any of the markets it operates in. (Reporting by Stephen Nellis in San Francisco; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)


Seattle will see a return of last week's warm temperatures in the coming days, according to drone-powered weather forecasting service Saildrone . Temperatures will reach a high of 73 degrees on Friday, then turn milder from Monday to Tuesday. The coming days will also see partly cloudy skies, due to stick around through Saturday. Skies will become mostly cloudy beginning on Sunday. Winds will stay fairly calm over the course of the week, with only a light breeze of 5 mph on Saturday. 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.


Dodge is arguably the last company around specializing in old-school muscle cars. Outside of a few models like the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid and the new e-Torque offerings in the Ram 1500 and Jeep Wrangler , FCA as a whole seems behind the ball when it comes to green or electrified powertrains. That might change over the next few years, as Tim Kuniskis, head of passenger cars at FCA, told Automotive News that he sees the future of performance to be electrified. At the reveal of the Dodge Charger Hellcat Widebody a few weeks back, Kuniskis said "the absolute future is electrification of these cars." What form this takes or how soon this all might happen is unclear, but changes are likely coming. Kuniskis said the electrified models could be anything from pure battery-electric vehicles to plug-in hybrids to e-axles. FCA's e-torque system already works with the company's Hemi V8 in the Ram 1500, so, if there's room in the engine bay, we imagine it would be pretty easy to adapt the mild-hybrid system for other V8-powered vehicles. One thing to note is that FCA just inked a new deal with ZF . The latter will supply a new 8-speed automatic transmission for longitudinal front-engine cars that will work with both rear and all-wheel drive vehicles. FCA already uses a version of the ZF 8HP automatic, but the big thing to note is that the new transmission has a small electric drive unit built in. If this new transmission is as ubiquitous as the current one, you might find electrified versions of Alfa Romeo and Maserati products as well as those from Dodge, Jeep and Ram. This seems in line with what was announced in last year's five-year plan. Dodge performance could be electrified, new hybrid transmissions coming originally appeared on Autoblog on 2019-07-08


DETROIT (AP) The Detroit Tigers are celebrating the 35th anniversary of their 1984 World Series team this weekend. Thanks to the Washington Nationals, the Tigers were also provided with memories of their two most recent World Series clubs. Anibal Sanchez, a member of Detroit's 2012 World Series team, beat his former team for his third win in four starts, Juan Soto hit his 14th home run of the season and the Nationals defeated the Tigers 3-1 on Friday night. Sanchez (4-6), who went 46-49 for the Tigers from 2012-17, was facing his old team for the first time. He allowed six hits and struck out eight in six innings. Sanchez got the start for Detroit in Game 3 of the 2012 World Series against the San Francisco Giants and said coming back to a place where he enjoyed success was an emotional day. ''It definitely is a place that I haven't been for a while,'' Sanchez said. ''You see the uniform but they are the enemy, this team. In the end, it's another team that you have to face.'' In five starts since returning from the injured list on May 29, Sanchez is 4-0 with a 2.29 ERA. ''When he keeps the ball down, he's really, really good,'' Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. ''His pitch count was a little up but he was adamant that he could go out and go finish the sixth inning. ''We got him up to 105 pitches. That was the most this year.'' Fernando Rodney, the closer for Detroit's 2006 World Series club, pitched the ninth and recorded his first save of the season. Recalled from Triple-A Fresno on June 25, Rodney, 42, is 18th on the career saves list with 326. ''Baseball for me is opportunity,'' Rodney said. ''Some people think I'm too old for the league.'' Soto opened the scoring in the second inning with a 418-foot solo homer into the right-field seats. ''It's really fun when you hit homers like that,'' Soto said. ''You want to see where the ball is going to land.'' Daniel Norris (2-7), who took the loss, said the pitch to Soto was a mistake. ''I slipped and threw it right down the middle and he hit it out of the stadium,'' Norris said. Adam Eaton's two-out single in the fifth scored Victor Robles to make it 2-0. Howie Kendrick's RBI double scored Soto in the eighth. Nick Castellanos accounted for Detroit's run in the bottom of the fifth with his eighth homer of the season, a 436-foot drive to center. Castellanos has hit safely in 30 of his last 34 games. Norris left the game after five innings due to cramping in the groin in the area where he underwent surgery early last season. ''After the fifth, they told me I was done,'' Norris said. ''I wanted to stay in, and I felt like I could've navigated through it.'' The Nationals have won four straight and at 41-40 moved above .500 for the first time since they were 9-8 on April 18. The Tigers have lost eight in a row. Detroit scored one run for the third straight game. The Tigers are last in the major leagues with 266 runs scored. TRAINER'S ROOM Nationals: The Nationals reinstated 1B Ryan Zimmerman from the 10-Day Injured List. Zimmerman missed 53 games with plantar fasciitis in his right foot. Tigers: Detroit placed RHP Spencer Turnbull (right shoulder fatigue) on the 10-day IL. UP NEXT Nationals: RHP Austin Voth (0-0) goes Saturday in the second game of this series. Tigers: Lefty Gregory Soto (0-2) was recalled from Triple-A after Friday's game and will start.


I-10 the Katy Freeway was shut down early Monday after a deadly crash, reported Houston police. The crash happened at about 2:44 a.m. on the inbound lanes at Studemont. As of 5:20 a.m. all inbound lanes had reopened. MAP: View Houston Traffic conditions Police said the driver of a Jeep appeared to crash into the barrier at the start of an HOV lane. The Jeep rolled multiple times, and the driver was ejected from the crash. The driver died at the scene. There were no other injuries or fatalities reported. ALSO POPULAR ON KHOU.COM Pilot identified in small plane crash at Katy community center Immigrant families hunker down at home, but no sign of widespread ICE raids Predator in the classroom: Brittany Zamora sentenced to 20 years for sexually abusing student


Sorrow waited, sorrow won It's hard to overstate how abysmal the Mariners have looked in the past month and a half. Once 13-2, they have plummeted to a 24-33 record, going 11-31 in their last 42 games. For context, that's a .261 win percentage, which is worse than any team has done since the Philadelphia Athletics in 1919. With the Mariners looking so gosh-darn awful, it's seemed to take a Herculean effort just to scratch out a win, while even the slightest miscue has meant certain defeat. With the perceived necessity of playing perfectly looming over the beginning of every game, this was a less-than-ideal way to begin tonight's. With that, the Mariners lost. Not really, but why not? They would score four over the rest of the game, but a defensive failure that themed the entirety of the team's season put the team in a hole from which it could not recover. It was atrocious to watch. Future Core of the Team member Marco Gonzales pitched poorly, giving up six more runs over four innings. Daniel Vogelbach struck out twice. Kyle Seager went hitless, negating his solid start in his first few games back. Even if you don't care about the winning, and you enjoy baseball for the sake of baseball, you might want to watch literally any other baseball team. If there is to be one saving grace of this season, and if there was to be one saving grace of this game, it's going to be the experience of enjoying the coming of age of a group of young prospects. J.P. Crawford , Shed Long , Daniel Vogelbach , and several other players have the chance to stake their respective claims in the team's future. If you believe Jarred Kelenic, they'll be staking their claims in a 2022 World Series roster . So with that in mind, it's 11-3 after five innings. The Mariners won't be winning, and they won't be winning anything meaningful any time soon. Let's just enjoy the future. Let's just... Oh no. JP Crawford just twisted his ankle pretty badly in that rundown. He's hurting.   Ryan Divish (@RyanDivish) May 29, 2019 I know that even just 50 games is a small sample size, much less one bad outing. But after watching Marco struggle as much as he did tonight, and after watching Shed Long make baserunning miscues, and after watching Mallex Smith 's 3-for-5 night raise his average to... .194, and after watching J.P. Crawford almost twist his foot off his leg like it was a Troll Doll's head, being sold the future does not assuage my concerns. Being served the future makes me extremely nauseous. Watching the Mariners, in the grim reality of the Here and Now, is often an outlet for distraction as much as raw entertainment. Unfortunately, the Mariners seem to be mirroring the reality of the Here and Now. On nights like these, so too does their future.


BOSTON   At 21, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev is about to become the youngest, most notorious inmate on federal death row. After convicting the Russian immigrant last month in the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, a jury on Friday voted to sentence him to death for his role in the worst terrorist attack on U.S. soil since Sept. 11, 2001. But the legal battle over his case is certain to drag on for years before any execution is carried out. For now he remains in the custody of U.S. marshals in Boston. After sentencing, he will be turned over to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons and eventually deposited at the death house in Terre Haute, Ind., on the banks of the Wabash River. From there, over the next 10 years or more, his defense team will wage the final fight for his life. His current defense lawyers, led by widely known anti-death penalty advocate Judy Clarke, failed to persuade jurors to spare Tsarnaev from death row. The next legal battle will be with a new team of appellate lawyers who will try to win, at a minimum, a new hearing on whether life with no parole is the more appropriate punishment. "It will be a very slow, torturous process," said Charles Ewing, a University at Buffalo law professor. Interviews with several attorneys and experts on capital litigation suggest there is little chance Tsarnaev will see his conviction set aside. In March, on the first day of his trial, Clarke conceded to the jury that Tsarnaev placed one of the two pressure-cooker bombs near the finish line in April 2013 that helped kill three people and injure more than 260 others. He and his older brother, Tamerlan, later shot to death an MIT police officer. But experts say Tsarnaev does have a reasonably good chance of getting the death sentence set aside, based largely on his lawyers' repeated requests to move the trial out of Boston. The defense contended for months last year that the Boston community was too deeply scarred and that no local jury could give him a fair and impartial trial. The judge refused to hold a hearing on the matter, and an appellate court declined to intervene. The Tsarnaev appellate team also may have a shot at vacating the death sentence if they can show the judge did not properly instruct the jurors, specifically in not telling them that if they deadlocked it would not result in a new trial. A deadlock would have meant a life sentence, but some jurors may not have understood that. "The best would be to get him a new punishment phase," said John Blume, a Cornell University law professor and director of the school's Death Penalty Project. "There have been other cases that sometimes produce a death sentence because some jurors were leaning toward life and the other jurors beat them up (verbally) and said, 'If we don't do this, if we don't do our duty and give him death, another jury will have to listen to this brutal, gory testimony.'" Tsarnaev's appellate lawyers also could challenge the constitutionality of the death penalty and question whether his trial attorneys performed effectively. Because this is a federal death penalty case, an appeal is automatic. It begins with an initial request to the judge for a new trial. It ends when the execution date is near, with a plea for commutation from the president. A sentencing hearing is expected within about two months, and because the judge cannot reduce the sentence, much of that proceeding will be courtroom theater. Prosecutors said they are reviewing lists of survivors and relatives of the dead to choose which ones will offer victim-impact testimony. Tsarnaev, who did not testify at his trial and has shown no public remorse, would have one last opportunity to speak. According to the Death Penalty Information Center, a Washington-based policy group that tracks capital punishment, there were 61 inmates on federal death row as of March 24. Since the reinstatement of the federal death penalty in 1988, 74 defendants have been sentenced to death, and three have been executed. Through legal appeals, another 10 have been transferred off death row. Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh was convicted in 1997 and executed in 2001. He had a short time on death row because he dropped all appeals and asked to be put to death. The last federal execution was in 2003, when decorated 1991 Gulf War veteran Louis Jones Jr. was executed for killing a young female recruit. Three inmates   members of a violent Richmond, Va., street gang   have been on death row since 1993, another sign of the slow process from the courtroom to the death chamber. The process is filled with legal appeals, psychological examinations, DNA testing, the search for new evidence and other twists as defense lawyers try anything to keep their clients from that final trip to the chamber.


If you've been looking to add some variety into your food life, a bevy of new dining and drinking options are premiering on South Main for Memphians who like to eat and drink local. The Puck Food Hall will feature 10 locally owned food and beverage purveyors under one roof, allowing customers to sample items from multiple vendors and consume them on site at 409 S. Main St. or take them to go. It will be open for breakfast, lunch, happy hour and dinner Tuesday through Saturday with brunch hours on Saturday and Sunday, starting next week. Tiffany Iriana Hofscher, the managing partner of the food hall, said the concept was a take on the European-style food halls seen on the other side of the Atlantic. She described the environment at the food hall as chef-driven, with a focus on "really excellent quality food." It also could provide an easy option for people with picky eaters in their family or friend group who often find themselves in never-ending discussions about what restaurant would have food everyone would like. "This is kind of the perfect place to eat if you're dining with a group," Iriana Hofscher said. "Everybody can get something that they want and still all sit together." She said she hopes to see the food hall develop into both a neighborhood hangout for people who live or work on South Main and a foodie destination that draws visitors from around the Memphis area. Puck Food Hall's name was drawn from the "enduring Shakespearean imp on the building's facade" and "draws on the building's history as a grocer and purveyor of Puck Brand products" in the 1900s. The space will host 10 locally owned concepts offering everything from craft cocktails to gelato to organic salads. Several of them have already started operating as renovations to the building continue, including City Block Salumeria butcher and deli, Mexican food purveyor Venga, DoughJo pizza and Wok'n Memphis, which serves American Chinese food. Iriana Hofscher said part of the goal of the food hall was to give the local food and beverage entrepreneurs space to develop, so they can "take the next step with their business." There will also be a kitchen for the rotating "chef in residence," which will provide a short-term space for local chefs to test out new concepts, she said. All the vendors have committed to using locally sourced ingredients   food grown within Tennessee or in a 275-mile radius from Memphis   for at least 10% of their menu offerings, increasing that proportion as possible. The vendors have also committed to ensuring that within three months of opening, 20% of all to-go materials will be reusable, recyclable or compostable, food hall developers said in a release. The vendors are also required to produce at least one weekly special, which is at least 50% local ingredients. "It was incredibly important to feature the rich options we have in this area and leave as little waste as we can," Iriana Hofscher said in an interview. Dianne Terrell, co-founder of 275 Food Project, which promotes an equitable local food economy and is a partner in the food hall, said diversity was also a focus of the venture. "Four of our concepts are owned by people of color, two by women," she said in a statement. "That did not happen by accident. We have been and will continue to be very intentional in our recruitment." Terrell and co-founder Heather Jamerson also own radical, one of the vendors at Puck Food Hall. Puck Food Hall will have its grand opening, which will give the public the chance to meet the people behind the project, at 5:30 p.m. May 30. Corinne Kennedy is a reporter for the Commercial Appeal. She can be reached via email at Corinne.Kennedy@CommercialAppeal.com or on Twitter @CorinneSKennedy. If you go Where: 409 S. Main St. Hours: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Closed on Mondays. More info: puckfoodhall.com This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis restaurants: Puck Food Hall to focus on local, sustainable vendors


In search of a new favorite Japanese spot? Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top Japanese restaurants around Washington, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of where to satisfy your cravings. 1. Perry's Restaurant Topping the list is Perry's Restaurant . Located at 1811 Columbia Road NW (between North Biltmore Street and North Mintwood Place) in Adams Morgan, the sushi bar and restaurant is the highest-rated Japanese restaurant in Washington, boasting four stars out of 613 reviews on Yelp. 2. Daikaya Ramen Shop Next up is downtown's Daikaya Ramen Shop , situated at 705 Sixth St. NW, Floor 1. With four stars out of 2,888 reviews on Yelp, the spot to score ramen has proven to be a local favorite. 3. Toki Underground The H Street Corridor's Toki Underground , located at 1234 H St. NE (between North 12th and North 13th streets), is another top choice, with Yelpers giving the spot to score ramen and more four stars out of 2,135 reviews. 4. Reren Chinatown's Reren , an Asian fusion and Chinese restaurant that offers ramen and more, is another high-traffic go-to, with four stars out of 1,633 Yelp reviews. Head over to 817 Seventh St. NW (between North H and North I streets) to see for yourself. 5. Sakuramen Over in Adams Morgan, check out Sakuramen , which has earned four stars out of 1,519 reviews on Yelp. You can find the Asian fusion and Korean spot, which offers ramen and more, at 2441 18th St. NW (between North Columbia and North Adams Mill roads). This story was created automatically using local business data, then reviewed and augmented by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


LAS VEGAS   Between plummeting to No. 14 in the 2018 NBA Draft and being ruled out for the 2019 Summer League with a knee strain, Michael Porter Jr. inked five Hebrew letters on his left wrist. His given name in the ancient language, printed as מִיכָאֵל on his arm, loosely translates in English to "who is like God?" It's a rhetorical query, implying no person is akin to a deity. Mortality and the sheer vulnerability of flesh and bone are ample evidence to support that claim. And there may be no supremely talented 21-year-old better acquainted with the limitations of a human body than the Nuggets' rookie swingman. "I wish I could be out here playing," Porter Jr. says, en route to his suite in one of The Strip's swanky hotels. "They wanted to be precautionary with me." He's returned to the expansive room to grab a change of clothes for Denver's afternoon shootaround, having already sweat through a black Puma Basketball t-shirt and red, slim-fit joggers. A curving line is shaved into the side of his faded haircut, accompanying an equally curvy, bright smile. Optimism emerged as a staple for Porter Jr. throughout his trying redshirt NBA season, despite the unfavorable circumstances. He learned shortly after the Nuggets scooped him with the last lottery selection Denver had no intention of playing the former No. 1 prospect in his class during the 2018-19 season as he rehabbed a broken back that cost his lone season at Missouri. "It was so heartbreaking, but you know, looking back, it was part of my process," he says. Hence the new tattoo. He's quick to note perhaps the most famous recent NBA redshirt success story. Spending a full calendar on the sidelines, observing the world's premier basketball league from the inside, can function like discovering the answers to a test a day in advance. "Same thing happened with Ben Simmons," Porter Jr. says. "You get a whole year off to see what the league's like, when you start playing, you have a huge advantage over other rookies." Blake Griffin poses another starry example. Porter Jr. harbors another edge. When Sacramento closely examined him for the No. 2 pick in last June's draft, the Kings' team psychologist engaged the curious prospect in a three-hour evaluation, testing for aptitude and personality. His composite score graded amongst an elite percentile in Sacramento's extensive database littered with the results of students from Yale and Harvard. In kind, Porter Jr. approached this past campaign as much a student as a player. Denver's coaching staff emphasized the importance of establishing routine. Porter Jr. observed Isaiah Thomas and Paul Millsap's travel habits, how veterans ice their ailing limbs on team flights and manipulate their bodies into slumber after waging on-court battle an hour earlier. He began stashing a blender in his luggage to more efficiently concoct nutritious smoothies on the road. On the court, the Nuggets simulated game situations for Porter Jr. as often as possible. "All of that kind of encompasses that player development program for him," says Denver assistant coach John Beckett. The Nuggets' staff quizzed its youngster in myriad read-and-react scenarios, where Porter Jr. had to decide if he would shoot or drive. "Once he drives, is it going to be a floater or a reverse layup? Can he finish strong with a dunk?" Beckett says. "He needs those type of reps." Despite his inactivity, the Nuggets guided Porter Jr. to establish a gameday routine as well. He'd arrive at the arena roughly three hours before tip-off, change into gear and activate his rehabilitating body. After ample time on the training table, Beckett and the rest of Denver's player development staff ran Porter Jr. through a pregame shooting regimen. He'd retreat back to the locker room, ice and receive a massage before joining teammates at the chapel. Porter Jr. would have preferred watching Denver's games from the team's film room, just as Kevin Durant lingered backstage during Golden State's postseason run. The tease of sitting courtside, only inches of hardwood separating a player from the game he loves, can prove unbearable especially as Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray emerged as transcendent, rising superstars leading a powerhouse. Porter Jr. joked with Thomas and Jarred Vanderbilt for reprieve on the end of Denver's bench. The trio formed a supportive group of rehabilitating Nuggets. Vanderbilt, a fellow 2018 draftee, worked his way back from an ankle injury. Thomas, of course, struggled to return from a nagging hip issue that cost him nearly all of the past two seasons. The latter set the tone inside Denver's training room, as all three jockeyed for bluetooth control of the speaker system. "I got to see him every day attacking rehab," Porter Jr. says. "I didn't want to rehab a lot of days. When one of us would have a tough day, one of us would encourage the other one." Perhaps the most challenging afternoon arrived the date Porter Jr.'s younger brother Jontay tore his ACL and MCL in October , only adding to a lengthy family history. The boys' older sisters both medically retired due to multiple knee surgeries. A vicious narrative quickly emerged online: The Porters just can't stay healthy. "You gotta take breaks from social media and just really focus on you," Porter Jr. says. Denver's staff helped hone Porter Jr.'s attention toward envisioning himself in Michael Malone's whirring offense. His isolation-heavy style, shimmying and shaking as a high school star before unfurling step-back jumpers, won't necessarily blend with Murray and Jokic's high-screen action. "We're trying to get him to understand shot selection and time and score," Beckett says. "A shot that you take in the first quarter might not be good when there are two minutes left in the fourth." Defensively, few elite grassroots superstars are schooled in the intricacies of pick-and-roll coverage. At the NBA level, a weak-side defender stationed along the baseline must jolt into the paint to tag the rolling rival big man, and then burst back out to his primary assignment. If that foe is a gifted shooter, the defender must then run his opposition off the three-point line. And Denver's coaches don't believe the responsibilities end there. "Make multiple efforts, come back in the play and make a rearview contest," Beckett says. "All those little things like that we're trying to get him to understand." Porter Jr. has passed those tests so far with flying colors, just as he giggled during a draining Sacramento questionnaire so many prospects moan throughout. The most encouraging element may be his affinity for the grind. "The energy that he has is like infectious. It gets everybody else going," Beckett says. "Very rarely do I have to tell him to go game speed. There's a lot of guys that you have to coach on the effort part." Now, the experimental start to his professional career has nearly come to a close. Porter Jr. felt comfortable enough to play in Las Vegas if Denver's medical team was willing to greenlight the rookie. Should he emerge as a legitimate second unit scorer one with the upside of a bonafide flamethrower Porter Jr. could morph into an intriguing factor atop the loaded West. In a conference suddenly ruled by superstar duos, Denver's own dynamic pairing remains as staunch a partnership as any Los Angeles (times two), Houston and Utah be damned. The Nuggets added Jerami Grant in a stealthy supplemental move. Bol Bol arrives as another low-cost, high-upside gamble one season after Porter Jr.'s trial. If you take the Missouri product's word for it, that gambit has already spit out one positive result. "I'm ready to play," he says. "And soon." Related slideshow: 2019 NBA offseason moves (Provided by imagn)


DJ Uiagalelei cannot drive a car, at least not legally. He doesn't have a driver's license and has no immediate plan to get one. When he's not playing baseball or football, DJ battles his little brother Matayo and cousins in Fortnite. He and his brother are sneakerheads, with at least 80 pairs of shoes between them, all either size 13 or 14. DJ's favorite food is chicken nuggets the frozen kind and DJ's size, 6'4", 240 pounds, he inherits from his father's Samoan roots. DJ's mom has carried eight children, six of them as a surrogate mother, and DJ's dad Big Dave, they call him is a bodyguard who's worked security for celebrities like Chris Brown, Rihanna and DJ Khaled. There is something else you should know about DJ: He's the No. 1-ranked quarterback in the 2020 class and is verbally committing to either Oregon or Clemson on Sunday. "Sometimes we will be driving," says DJ's mother, Tausha, "and he'll say things like, 'It's really happening, Mom.'" It seems like just yesterday that Big Dave learned about his 10-year-old son's arm strength while the two threw rocks into a lake near their home. A few years later, DJ was winning a throwing competition against 2018 five-star Justin Fields by tossing a football beyond the boundaries of the competition. "It hit the goal post," says Jason Negro, his coach at St. John Bosco Preparatory School. Negro has more stories about Uiagalelei's immense arm strength. Sometimes, when frustrated with his kickers during practice, Negro has DJ throw kickoffs. Uiagalelei's arm strength spans sports. He's got a screaming 95 mph fastball that could land him in the first round of the MLB draft. Greg Biggins, a longtime recruiting reporter on the West Coast who now works for 247Sports, calls his arm "generational" and the strongest he's seen from a high school player since JaMarcus Russell. His arm is so powerful it overshadows the other skills that have produced this stat line as a two-year starter: 68% completion mark, more than 6,000 yards passing, 77 touchdowns and just nine interceptions. Uiagalelei is incredibly accurate and athletic out of the pocket for his size. Biggins compares him to Ben Roethlisberger with Cam Newton athleticism. On the run, "He's scary," Biggins says. Highlight videos show a player the size of some high school tackle throwing deep touchdowns and bowling through defenders on QB keepers. "I had heard about him in the seventh grade," Biggins says. "There was talk. 'No way he's going to be able to stay at quarterback. He's going to put on weight and play offensive line!'" Uiagalelei isn't the first star quarterback with options to play both football and baseball , and he's not the first teenage Polynesian quarterback with soaring college expectations . But have you ever heard of a five-star Samoan quarterback and blue-chip right-handed pitcher who's the size of a defensive end? "He's a unique individual," says Negro, a head coach for 17 years in the cradle of quarterbacks that is the Los Angeles metro area. "He breaks the mold." Uiagalelei is savvy for a kid who turned 18 two weeks ago, so savvy that he's created a patented line for any question regarding his sports preference. He likes football during football season, he says, and he likes baseball during baseball season. He likes baseball enough that, if he does attend college (most expect he will), DJ plans to play it there. All of the 30 schools that offered him a football scholarship agreed to allow him to play baseball, and that includes what many believe to be his favorite: Clemson. His potential arrival at Clemson would be well timed. He doesn't mind sitting a year behind Trevor Lawrence, who'd be eligible for the 2021 draft as a junior. If this all works out, it would be another stunning recruiting catch for Clemson a fourth quarterback signee ranked in the top four at the position in four years. This one might be the best, but it's certainly the biggest. "Big Dave" Uiagalelei is ... big. "He's, like, 6'4", 400 pounds," DJ says. "Everybody sees him and is like, 'Hey, Big Dave! Big Dave!" Dave is a first generation American, his mother and father moved from the Samoan Islands to Hawaii and then to the mainland in 1985 when Dave was 12. Dave and his three big-bodied brothers all played football at Mt. San Antonio College, a junior college about 25 miles inland of Los Angeles. Mt. SAC, as it's known locally, is a special place for DJ. Not only did his father and uncle play there, but two of his uncles coached on the staff, and he grew up attending games with a sideline pass. While other Southern California kids dreamed of being a Trojan or Bruin, DJ dreamed of being a Mountie. The school means enough to him that his publicized list of finalists is a trio: Oregon, Clemson and … Mt. San Antonio College. Everyone realizes the Mounties' inclusion is for sentimental purposes only. "He knows he can't just settle for junior college," Tausha says. That's the route her husband took. There are Mt. SAC legends about Big Dave, a mauler of a left tackle who helped lead the Mounties to the 1997 junior college national championship. Dad has shown son film of his playing days, and DJ says Big Dave could have played in the pros. "He just didn't like to work out," DJ says. "He says he was one of those people, lazy and didn't like to work. He had a tryout with the Eagles as a center. He told them, 'I'm a left tackle,' and didn't go.'" If Big Dave has taught his son and namesake (DJ stands for David John) anything, it is to take a different path: work, focus, grind. But there are moments when DJ takes a turn as the voice of reason, like the drive back from a game during DJ's sophomore season. Despite being the better player, DJ was stuck behind a senior starter who had led St. John Bosco to a state title the year before. "Sometimes my son is more of an adult than me," Big Dave admits. "He says in the car, 'Dad, don't say anything it's going to make it harder for me.' I sit there and say, 'Damn, my kid is smarter than me.'" That sophomore season ended fine for Big Dave's son. Coaches inserted DJ in the fifth game of the season, with the Braves down by 10 points in the middle of the fourth quarter. He marched them to consecutive touchdown drives for the victory, ultimately replacing the team's starter Re-al Mitchell but not without some awkwardness. The Netflix reality show QB1 had embedded with Mitchell during that season and wanted to shift focus from Mitchell (who is now a quarterback at Iowa State) to Uiagalelei, who was just 16, but coaches were against it. "The family and DJ handled that really well," Negro says. "They were incredible." Those who know Uiagalelei well are not surprised by his humble attitude in such a sticky situation. He's serious and intense, mature beyond his years. Matayo calls his brother boring, but that's only because he's too adult-like. The two brothers, four years apart, are vastly different despite being nearly the same size. At 14, Matayo already has major conference scholarship offers and is poised to play defensive end/tight end at St. John Bosco. He is 6'3", 230 pounds. DJ, Big Dave and Matayo combine to weigh about 900 pounds and average around 6'4". Just imagine those three walking into a restaurant with their mother. "People stop and stare," Tausha says. For the family, DJ's announcement day on Sunday is a long, deep sigh of relief, an end to the taxing recruiting process for their eldest son. DJ is committing on, of all days, his mother's birthday. "He's a momma's boy," Big Dave chuckles. He was a grandma's boy, too. Judi Bryson, Tausha's mother, lived with the family for years while fighting multiple sclerosis. DJ called her Mammee. She passed two years ago. On the field after a score, DJ often pats his chest and points toward the heaves, gestures meant for two recipients: God and Mammee. He's following in the footsteps of his idols in the game: fellow Polynesians and former Oregon quarterbacks Marcus Mariota and Jeremiah Masoli, as well as former USC running back Reggie Bush, the reason DJ wears No. 5. He once told a USC recruiter that if the school would hire Bush as its head coach, he'd commit. "He'd be great in today's game," DJ says of Bush and the shotgun-based spread offense infiltrating the NFL. "He'd thrive." Will DJ? Maybe one day. For now, his focus is on spring football practice, and when it's not, he'll battle his brother in Fortnite, eat chicken nuggets and be a kid who just so happens to be the top-rated prep player at his position. "It's cool. I don't think too much about it. I'm just a regular kid trying to play football," he says, "but some days you realize … 'Oh wow. I'm the No. 1 quarterback.'"


Looking to check out the freshest new spots in Little Havana? From a gym to a dessert shop, read on to see the newest spots to open in this Miami neighborhood. Churromania 1417 S.W. Eighth St. Churromania is a spot to score desserts and more. Churromania serves Mexican churros and other sweet treats. On the menu , look for ice cream, smoothies, churro dogs and other desserts. Yelp users are excited about Churromania, which currently holds four stars out of two reviews on the site so far. Yelper Daphnie M. wrote , "The churros are made fresh and have various options of how they serve it, whether sweet or savory. At the grand opening, I sampled the regular Churros and ordered a small size of the regular Churros." Planet Fitness 775 S.W. Eighth Ave. Planet Fitness is a gym. This gym-chain features small group training sessions, free fitness training and personalized exercise programs. Planet Fitness currently holds three stars out of three reviews on Yelp, indicating fair reviews. Yelper Ana G. noted , "The facility is nice and clean. The staff is very friendly and caring." Planet Fitness is open 24 hours every day. Sala'o Cuban Bar & Pescaderia 1642 S.W. Eighth St. Sala'o Cuban Bar & Pescaderia is a Cuban spot offering fresh seafood and more. This new restaurant serves authentic Cuban and Caribbean fare, with menu items ranging from raw oysters and fish sandwiches to steaks and pork chops to desserts like timba, fanguito and fruta bomba. With a four-star Yelp rating out of 13 reviews on Yelp, Sala'o Cuban Bar & Pescaderia has been getting positive attention. Sala'o Cuban Bar & Pescaderia is open from 11 a.m. 11 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, and 11 a.m. midnight on Friday and Saturday. This story was created automatically using local business data, then reviewed and augmented by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


After withdrawing from this year's PGA Championship, including Tuesday night's Champions Dinner, due to a nagging right-wrist injury, Justin Thomas remained in the metropolitan area for an MRI, according to Golf Channel's Tim Rosaforte. The 2017 PGA Champion also received consultation with a hand specialist at the Hospital for Special Surgery and went through two-a-day rehab sessions. PGA Championship: Tee times | Full coverage Some good news did come for Thomas, who was given clearance to begin chipping and putting while still rehabbing his injured wrist. Thomas hasn't played since finishing T-12 at the Masters last month, pulling out of the Wells Fargo Championship two weeks ago, citing the same wrist injury.


The Douglas County Sheriff's Office said a citizen tip led law enforcement to a wanted suspect who had been on the run for the past two years. Rodney Washington had been on the county's "Most Wanted" list for a series of felony theft warrants for a 2015 case, according to the Douglas County Sheriff's Office. The 43-year-old was also wanted for crimes out of Lakewood and Denver. Washington had been missing for two years, but a tip from a citizen led investigators to an address off Cherokee Street in Denver, where he was taken into custody Tuesday morning, the sheriff's office said. He is currently being held in the Douglas County Sheriff's Office Detention Facility. According to the online inmate log, no bond has been set. Washington is slated to appear in court on June 10. SUGGESTED VIDEOS | Local stories from 9NEWS


The garage door rolls up as a black Nissan Versa pulls into the air-conditioned service center on a scorching June day. A woman gets out of the sedan, hands her keys off to a technician and walks over to a lounge with plush seats, four large TVs and a coffee bar stocked full of complimentary drinks, fruit and pastries to wait for her oil change. This is the new Central Houston Nissan, the latest and largest Nissan dealership in the country, a sprawling facility spanning 162,500 square feet on 16 acres off the 610 Loop near NRG Stadium. The two-story dealership, which will mark the completion of its five-year, $50 million expansion with a grand opening celebration Wednesday night, was designed to woo customers in the Houston's hyper-competitive car market. "We've got to be able to wow our customers," Fernando Somoza, Central Houston Nissan's president and managing partner said during a media tour Wednesday. "We want to give them a whole different experience." Car dealerships   known for stale coffee, vending machines and stark waiting rooms   are getting multimillion-dollar makeovers as competition heats up for ever-demanding buyers amid dwindling new vehicle sales. Dealerships across the country are installing multiple lounges, children's play areas, coffee and doughnut shops and new technologies to draw buyers and keep them coming back. On HoustonChronicle.com: Group 1 Auto expands online car buying platform To be sure, luxury auto dealers have long offered posh amenities and white-glove service to satisfy their high-end customers. But now, mass-market dealers, such as Central Houston Nissan, are starting to offer similar features and services. Designed by Kirksey Architects and built by Harvey Construction, the new Nissan dealership features three lounges with TVs and quiet work areas, two well-stocked coffee bars, a children's play area with tablets and an enclosed, climate-controlled car drop-off, pickup and service center with 60 bays. "We know it's hot as hell in Houston this time of year," Somoza said as he walked across the service drive, cooled by large fans and air-conditioners. "All of this is part of Nissan's new generation design. We just exceeded it to the next level." The dealership boasts several eco-friendly features, including LED lighting, vegetable-oil filled hydraulic lifts and work stations with exhaust pipes and piped oil. At the coffee bars, customers are given paper cups, instead of styrofoam. Central Houston Nissan is planning to replace water bottles and other disposable wares with non-plastic options, Somoza said. In addition, the business is mostly paperless. The sales and financing departments use large table-sized tablets, called DocuPad, to sign mountains of paperwork digitally. On HoustonChronicle.com: Car sales plunge in April amid rising prices, interest rates Central Automotive Group, which owns Central Houston Nissan and other dealerships in Houston and Austin, hatched plans in 2013 to expand Nissan's presence here. Some 30,000 vehicles are sold annually across all dealerships inside the 610 Loop, more than are sold in some states in a year, Somoza said. The Houston company had revenue of $150 million in 2018, and is on track to hit $165 million in revenue this year, Somoza said. Nissan, which has a 6 percent market share in Houston, sells vehicles from a $14,000 Kick crossover SUV to a $116,000 GT-R sports car that can go from 0 to 60 miles per hour in a mere 2.9 seconds. Central Automotive Group bought property adjacent to Central Houston Nissan, including a Motel 6, Joe's Crab Shack and a Kelsey-Seybold office, to more than triple the acreage of the longtime Nissan dealership. The company opened a used car showroom featuring 50 reconditioned vehicles, a body and paint shop and a photo studio for online car listings -- in addition to the new Nissan showroom and service center on the site. Central Houston Nissan, which sold about 6,000 new and used vehicles last year, is looking to sell 6,700 vehicles this year, Somoza said. Nissan sales are up 4 percent so far this year, driven by sales of Sentra, Altima and Rogue, he added. "Houston is a big market and we want to grow it," Somoza said. "To grow it, we've got to have a big footprint." paul.takahashi@chron.com twitter.com/paultakahashi


Falcons owner Arthur Blank has yet to deliver a Super Bowl to the city of Atlanta, but his relentless dedication to making the franchise a winner is what makes him one of the best owners in all of sports . Blank made some headlines earlier this week when NBC Sports' Peter King suggested that the Falcons owner is unsatisfied with the way things are going. "I keep hearing owner Arthur Blank is getting restless," King wrote in his NFL power rankings piece , in which he had the Falcons ranked No. 17. It's certainly understandable to expect more out of a team that's had one of the most talented rosters in the league over the past few years. But Blank wanted to clarify the report, saying it was somewhat taken out of context, according to this tweet from ESPN's Chris Mortensen: Falcons owner Arthur Blank says report that he's getting "restless about Falcons" is somewhat out of context. His response via text: "Not at all. Off base…I am always restless to be better. Good is the enemy of great." - Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) May 14, 2019 Blank insists that he was not referring to the current status of the Falcons and that he was simply referencing his overall mindset as an owner to always strive to be better. Unless Atlanta has a disastrous 2019 season, both head coach Dan Quinn and general manager Thomas Dimitroff should be safe. MORE: Knicks fans had the saddest reactions to missing out on Zion Williamson 2019 NBA Draft: Full Order Of Picks NBA Free Agency 2019: The top players 49ers may have monster in rookie WR Jalen Hurd NBA Draft Lottery results: Celtics stay at 14 but get good news


After a mostly disappointing tenure with the Jaguars, who made him the No. 3 overall pick of the 2014 draft, Blake Bortles was released by Jacksonville in March and caught on with the Rams a week later. Los Angeles has Jared Goff entrenched as its starting QB, but Bortles expects to become a starting signal-caller in the NFL once again, as Kevin Patra of NFL.com writes. Of course, one wouldn't expect Bortles, 27, to say anything different. He understands he will serve as Goff's backup in 2019, but as a five-year starter, a former first-round draft pick and a collegiate standout, his competitive fire is still burning. But if he does get another opportunity to start in the NFL, he is going to have to fight for it? In that sense, landing with the Rams was probably the best possible scenario for Bortles. L.A. head coach Sean McVay has a reputation as a quarterback whisperer, and if Bortles can put together some quality tape this preseason, it's certainly possible a team with an uncertain QB situation in 2020 would give Bortles a chance to compete for a starting gig. Bortles is already impressed with McVay. He said to Patra: "Seeing how (McVay) coaches, how all the other coaches coach and how the guys are receptive and take it, I've never seen anything like it." Bortles added: "At the same time, I also expect to be a starter in this league again, and I know it's not going to be here in L.A. So I'm trying to just better myself. … And if I get an opportunity to play, great. If not, then I spent a year learning from McVay, and being around a really good organization." Bortles will make $1M with the Rams this year, a far cry from the $5.5M in base pay he was due to collect from the Jaguars.


Calling it "an assault on the honor of this country," Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg on Sunday said "there is no question" that Donald Trump faked an injury to avoid serving in the Vietnam War. "There is no question, I think to any reasonable observer that the president found a way to falsify a disabled status, taking advantage of his privileged status in order to avoid serving," the mayor of South Bend (Ind.) told ABC's Martha Raddatz on "This Week with George Stephanopoulos." "You have somebody who thinks it's all right to let somebody go in his place into a deadly war, and is willing to pretend to be disabled in order to do it," he said. "That is an assault on the honor of this country." Buttigieg, who served as a Navy intelligence officer in Afghanistan, first accused Trump of using his "privileged status to fake a disability" on Thursday in an hourlong interview with The Washington Post. Trump was exempted from military service five times at the height of the Vietnam War. He received four draft deferments for his time in college and one medical deferment for having bone spurs. In testimony before Congress, former Trump attorney Michael Cohen said of the medical deferment: "Mr. Trump claimed it was because of a bone spur, but when I asked for medical records, he gave me none." He also criticized the Trump administration's decision to send more than 1,500 military personnel in an effort to deter Iran. Buttigieg told Raddatz "escalation is the last thing we need in the Middle East right now." Referring to his own military experience, Buttigieg slammed Trump's consideration of granting pardons for some service members who have either been accused or convicted of war crimes. One of those who has been mentioned for a possible pardon is a former Navy SEAL named Eddie Gallagher, who stands accused of murdering an ISIS prisoner and indiscriminately shooting at civilians. "The idea that being sent to war turns you into a murderer is exactly the kind of thing that those of us who have served have been trying to beat back for more than a generation," Buttigieg said. "For a president, especially a president who never served, to say he's going to come in and overrule that system of military justice undermines the very foundations, legal and moral, of this country," he said.


When the Las Vegas NFL MVP odds came out this time last year, you could have made a small fortune betting on Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahones, who was an extreme longshot to win the award. Will Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky see a similar result come early February? Caesars Palace in Las Vegas released their 2019 NFL MVP odds and Mahomes is the favorite to take home the hardware for a second straight season, followed closely by quarterbacks Tom Brady , Carson Wentz , and Phillip Rivers. Now up in Nevada #NFL MVP Odds from @CaesarsEnt @CaesarsPalace pic.twitter.com/I9vMWKFq6j - Alan Berg (@PercentBerg) June 14, 2019 Meanwhile, Trubisky is one of the longshots, listed at 75/1, behind players such as quarterbacks Lamar Jackson and Kirk Cousins , and running back Saquon Barkley (all 60/1) for example. Trubisky's odds are tied with quarterbacks Derek Carr , Matthew Stafford , Sam Darnold , and Kyler Murray, running back Todd Gurley , and wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. Fans can look at Trubisky's odds in three different ways: It's yet another slight to the third-year pro who showed growth last season, but may not reach "elite" status anytime soon. He has great value for gamblers and very well could break out and reward those who make a play on him. Vegas odds don't matter when it comes to NFL success and non-gambling fans shouldn't concern themselves with a casino's odds. Whether you gamble or not, it's curious Trubisky is more of a longshot than a few NFL players. Quarterback Jameis Winston (60/1) lost his starting job multiple times last season, running back Le'Veon Bell (50/1) hasn't played a down since January, 2018, and while quarterback Baker Mayfield had quite the start to his NFL career, is he worthy of having the fifth-best odds to win at 9/1? If you're one to bet on the NFL, Trubisky is a nice play to possibly make some cash if he makes a jump in his third season. Otherwise, it's a good indicator to see where the elite players stand in the eyes of Vegas insiders going into the 2019 season. MORE: NBA fans honored Drake's 'make a meme out of this' request, and the results are hilarious Four Most Overrated NBA Free Agents NBA Free Agency 2019: The top players Report indicates Matthew Stafford played with a broken back in 2018 Javon Wims worked with starters during Bears offseason practices


The price of admission to the top luxury car brands in America. First Lap of Luxury When car shoppers move upmarket for a new luxury vehicle, often the brand carries as much significance as the car itself. And as buyers seek the amenities and refinements required of a luxurious ride, many subconsciously evaluate and appreciate the status of owning a prestigious marque. With any car purchase, eventually the consideration turns to ultimate value and sticker price. That said, even the most exclusive marques have a least expensive offering for consideration   an easier entry into the brand. Everything is relative, of course   the entry-level Rolls-Royce may be beyond the means of most shoppers, but it is still several hundred thousand dollars less than higher-level models. Here's a look at the "entry-level" models from luxury brands available in America today. 2019 Acura ILX Base MSRP: $25,900 The lowest priced model offered by Acura, the ILX anchors a lineup that reaches as high as $62,000 for the flagship RLX Sport Hybrid, or even a healthy $157,500 for the exotic NSX. The small sedan receives a major redesign for the 2019 model year, and actually has a starting price $2,200 less than the outgoing version. Sporting a new Acura signature Diamond Pentagon grille with 7-element jewel-eye LED headlights, the ILX looks more upscale, aligning it better with the rest of the Acura lineup. The updated ILX also has a new decklid, LED taillights, and updated wheel designs. Inside, a unique dual screen display features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The ILX also comes standard with the AcuraWatch suite of advanced safety tech that includes automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist. Research the Acura ILX on MSN Autos | Find an Acura ILX near you 2019 Alfa Romeo Giulia Base MSRP: $38,295 The Alfa Romeo brand has expanded to three models with the introduction of the Stelvio crossover, but Giulia remains the least expensive route into the Alfa lineup. A proper sport sedan, the Giulia is available with rear- or all-wheel drive and can sprint to 60 mph in around 5 seconds, thanks to its standard 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine producing 280 horsepower and 306 lb-ft of torque, teamed with a quick-shifting 8-speed automatic gearbox. Even the base-level Giulia comes well equipped, featuring standard leather seats, a 6-way power front seat, dual-zone climate control and a 6.5-inch color display with an 8-speaker audio system featuring HD Radio and Bluetooth streaming. Also included are 17-inch aluminum wheels, run-flat all-season high-performance tires, Brembo 4-wheel disc brakes, bi-xenon headlights and LED running lights and taillights to give the Giulia a premium look. Research the Acura ILX on MSN Autos | Find an Acura ILX near you 2019 Audi A3 Sedan Base MSRP: $32,500 Audi s entry-level luxury car originally arrived in the U.S. as a 2006 model in 4-door hatchback configuration only, but in 2015 Audi changed the A3 lineup to include a sedan and cabriolet. The A3 carries the styling cues of higher-end Audi models, and is available with the brand s signature quattro all-wheel-drive system. Premium standard features on the A3 include a panoramic sunroof, xenon headlights, a 12-way power driver s seat, leather trim, dual-zone climate control and a high-end audio system. Audi also offers the A3 with the brand s the innovative virtual cockpit, as well as a suite of advance driver-assist technology. Research the Audi A3 Sedan | Find an Audi A3 near you 2019 Bentley Bentayga Base MSRP: $165,000 A few years ago, the thought of a Bentley SUV seemed rather farfetched, but in 2017 the famed British marque introduced the powerful Bentayga   the luxury marque s first SUV. For 2019, the Bentayga is available with a V8 powertrain that drops the price below all other Bentley offerings   still not inexpensive, but this is a Bentley. And as a Bentley, this luxury SUV comes very well equipped with soft leather-trimmed seats, Eucalyptus veneer trim, a high-resolution touchscreen display with Apple CarPlay / Android Auto as well as a 60 GB hard drive, voice control and navigation. Bentleys are known for performance as much as luxury, and this  base-level  Bentayga certain performs thanks to the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine that delivers 542 horsepower. In addition to delivering a throaty exhaust note, the V8 moves this large SUV to 60 mph in a mere 4.4 seconds, on the way to a top speed of 180 mph. Research the Bentley Bentayga on MSN Autos 2019 BMW X1 Base MSRP: $34,950 As SUVs continue to gain in popularity, it s not that surprising that the entry into the BMW lineup would be a crossover. The revised second-generation BMW X1 premiered in 2016 with updated styling and many new features. The smallest of BMW s three crossovers dubbed Sports Activity Vehicles, the X1 design bears a strong resemblance to the larger models while offering more cargo capacity and interior room than its predecessor. For the U.S. market, X1 is offered exclusively with a 228-horsepower version of BMW s turbocharged 2.0-liter engine, combined with an 8-speed Steptronic automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard   xDrive intelligent all-wheel drive adds $2,000 to the base price. Research the BMW X1 | Find a BMW X1 near you 2019 Cadillac XT4 Base MSRP: $34,795 An all-new model from Cadillac, the XT4 is the luxury carmaker s first entry into the very popular premium compact crossover segment. The XT4 is easily recognizable as a Cadillac with its signature vertical headlight treatment and familiar grille, as well as tall taillights at the rear. Even the base-level Luxury trim is well equipped with standard features that include leatherette-trim, power front seats, dual-zone climate control, an HD rearview camera, two USB ports (one type A, one type C), an 8-inch display screen and an AM/FM stereo with seven speakers as well Apple CarPlay / Android Auto connectivity. The XT4 comes with front-wheel drive; all-wheel drive is available across the board for an additional $2,500. Research the Cadillac XT4 on MSN Autos 2019 Genesis G70 Base MSRP: $34,900 Genesis spun off as an entirely new brand for the 2017 model year, launched by parent company Hyundai to move its clientele upscale. The luxury brand now offers three models with the new G70 introduced for 2019. Earlier this year the G70 was named the North American Car of the Year. It may be the entry-level model in the Genesis lineup, but the G70 comes very well equipped with features such as power front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, pushbutton start, an 8-inch color touchscreen display, Android Auto / Apple CarPlay connectivity, an HD radio, 18-inch wheels and a rearview camera. Genesis also offers the G70 with the latest advanced safety tech as standard equipment across the board. This includes forward collision avoidance with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control with stop and go, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot collision warning, rear cross-traffic alert, high-beam assist and driver attention warning. Research the Genesis G70 on MSN Autos | Compare prices on Genesis models near you 2019 Infiniti QX30 Base MSRP: $30,250 Infiniti entered the premium compact crossover market two years ago with the introduction of the all-new QX30. With a low roof and sleek lines, the QX30 features familiar Infiniti styling, fitting in well as the entry point of the Infiniti lineup. The QX30 is available with front-wheel drive or Infiniti s Intelligent all-wheel-drive system. Powering the QX30 is a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine producing 208 horsepower, teamed with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. Standard equipment on the base-level QX30 includes Bluetooth connectivity, dual-zone climate control, multiple USB ports, a rearview camera and 18-inch alloy wheels. Research the Infiniti QX30 on MSN Autos | Find an Infiniti QX30 near you 2019 Jaguar E-PACE Base MSRP: $38,600 Like many of the luxury brands listed here, Jaguar s least expensive entry is a crossover. Introduced last year, the E-PACE styling mimics the brand s larger F-PACE albeit in a much smaller package. Available in a number of trim levels, all E-PACEs come with LED headlights, all-wheel drive, JaguarDrive control with selectable drive modes, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a 10-inch TouchPro touchscreen and 17-inch alloy wheels. Power comes from a 2.0-liter Ingenium 4-cylinder engine producing 246 horsepower and 269 lb-ft of torque, teamed with a ZF 9-speed automatic transmission. The advanced all-wheel-drive setup features a torque-vectoring system that distributes torque between the front and rear axles based on driving conditions. Research the Jaguar E-Pace | Find a Jaguar E-Pace near you 2019 Land Rover Discovery Sport Base MSRP: $37,990 The Land Rover Discovery was sold in America until 2004 when it was rebadged as the LR3. No matter its name, the SUV was boxy and although very capable still felt a bit old school. A few years ago, the Discovery name came back   this time on a thoroughly modern SUV with styling that aligns with the rest of the Land Rover lineup, and capability deserving of the Discovery name. Discovery Sport has seating for seven occupants and carries many premium features such as an 8-inch touchscreen and head-up display. As expected, the Discovery Sport has impressive off-road capabilities   more than 8 inches of ground clearance, class-leading approach and departure angles, the ability to wade through almost 2 feet of water and climb a 45-degree incline. Research the Land Rover Discovery Sport | Find a Discovery Sport near you 2019 Lexus UX Base MSRP: $32,000 Lexus joins the growing compact luxury crossover market with the all-new UX. The UX is the first Lexus vehicle to use the brand s Global Architecture   Compact platform, providing the new crossover with a rigid structure and low center of gravity designed to deliver both agile handling and improved ride comfort. The exterior styling is similar to the larger NX and RX models but more aggressive, with a large spindle grille that dominates the front view. The UX is offered with a choice of two powertrains: a 169-horsepower 2.0-liter engine sending power to the front wheels, or a fourth-generation hybrid drive system with total system output of 181 horsepower. The hybrid uses the Lexus E-Four all-wheel drive system that adds an additional electric motor at the rear axle. Research the Lexus UX on MSN Autos 2019 Lincoln MKC Base MSRP: $33,995 The MKC is Lincoln s premium 5-passenger crossover that shares a platform with the Ford Escape but carries its own styling, powertrain and features. In fact, the MKC is wider and longer than the Escape and has a unique clamshell rear hatch. The least expensive model in the Lincoln lineup, the MKC has a choice of two engines: a 2.0-liter EcoBoost unit producing 240 horsepower, and a new 2.3-liter EcoBoost that generates an impressive 285 horsepower. The standard equipment list is substantial, including such items as power heated front seats, SYNC with MyLincoln Touch on an 8-inch LCD display screen, a premium audio system with nine speakers, active noise control and a rearview camera. This 2019 model year is the last of the MKC   will be replaced by the all-new Corsair, expected to arrive in showrooms this fall. Research the Lincoln MKC | Find a Lincoln MKC near you 2019 Maserati Ghibli Base MSRP: $74,980 Maserati added a second sedan below the flagship Quattroporte in 2016 with the introduction of the new Ghibli. Smaller, lighter, and more dynamic than the Quattroporte, the Ghibli s exterior styling clearly ties in with the rest of the Maserati lineup, while interior appointments include leather sport seats, high-gloss trim, a high-end audio system and   of course   the traditional Maserati clock with blue face. Power options range from a twin-turbo 345-horsepower V6 engine to the Ghibli S Q4 with its 424-horsepower engine and all-wheel drive. Research the Maserati Ghibli on MSN Autos | Find a Maserati Ghibli near you 2019 Mercedes-Benz A-Class Base MSRP: $32,500 Mercedes has one of the widest-ranges of luxury vehicles on the market. At the upper levels reign the ultra-luxurious and powerful AMG models exceeding $200,000, and now at the other end of the scale resides the all-new A-Class. The diminutive 4-door sedan has a sporty stance with short front and rear overhangs, and is easily recognizable as a Mercedes-Benz with the familiar grille and center-mounted large central star logo. It may be an entry-level sedan, but the A-Class comes well equipped with power front seats, dual-zone climate control, a panorama roof, LED interior lighting, and dual 7-inch displays. The A-Class also features MBUX, the brand s new natural-language voice control system. Research the A-Class on MSN Autos 2019 Rolls-Royce Ghost Base MSRP: $314,400 From the  everything is relative  department, the entry-level model in the Rolls-Royce lineup starts right around $300,000. Compared to the $530,000 long-wheelbase Phantom, the Ghost is quite a bargain. Rolls-Royce has long been the benchmark for luxury automobiles, and this still holds true for the Ghost. The hand-built sedan is swathed in five coats of paint that take seven days to apply, with an additional five hours of hand polishing. Inside, wood veneers match perfectly and the leather seats are hand stitched. The twin-turbo 6.6-liter V12 engine provides more than adequate power and the intelligent air suspension delivers an impressively smooth, quiet ride. Research the Rolls-Royce Ghost on MSN Autos | Find a Rolls-Royce Ghost near you 2019 Tesla Model 3 Base MSRP: $39,500 The all-new Model 3 joined the Tesla lineup last year, fulfilling the automaker s promise of the long-awaited  affordable  electric sedan. With styling similar to the larger Model S, the Model 3 comes with a 240-mile range and respectable performance   it can run to 60 mph in 5.3 seconds. For an additional $10,000, a longer-range battery is available that increases total range to 310 miles. Standard features include a 15-inch touchscreen display, dual-zone climate control, Bluetooth connectivity, LED exterior lighting, a backup camera and a suite of advanced safety technology with collision avoidance and automatic emergency braking. Research the Tesla Model 3 on MSN Autos | Find a Tesla Model 3 near you 2019 Volvo XC40 Base MSRP: $33,700 Volvo also joins the premium compact crossover market with the all-new XC40. The XC40 has many of the same styling cues as the two larger Volvo SUVs   most notably the signature "Thor's Hammer" headlights. However, the XC40's grille juts out at the bottom with a more expressive style than the flatter XC60. At the rear, taillights feature the same vertical treatment as the XC60 and XC90, but the smaller model really stands out from the others thanks to its two-tone paint. Even the base-level XC40 Momentum comes well equipped with leather seat trim, an 8-way power driver's seat, automatic climate control, a rearview camera, a power tailgate and 18-inch alloy wheels. A 9-inch vertical touchscreen display, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 250-watt AM/FM/HD audio system with 8 speakers and Bluetooth streaming are also standard on all XC40s. Research the Volvo XC40 on MSN Autos