At long last, it would appear that the Democratic presidential field is set -- at least for now . But as the 23 Democrats attempt to differentiate themselves on issues like health care , climate change, education and whether President Donald Trump should be impeached , they nearly all have one thing in common: their position looking up to the current front-runner, former Vice President Joe Biden . Biden continues to perform relatively strongly in recent polls , while the second-tier of candidates grows increasingly jumbled. While Sen. Bernie Sanders has occupied the second spot for much of the cycle, improving performances by Sen. Kamala Harris, Sen. Elizabeth Warren and South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg seem to indicate that voters are plenty willing to hear out those newer to the national political conversation. Michael Bennet (D) The Colorado senator released his plan to combat climate change Monday, which sets a 2050 goal for the U.S. to reach net-zero emissions, calls for the expansion of zero-emission energy options for American households and businesses, and -- among other initiatives -- includes a pledge to host a global climate summit in the first 100 days of a Bennet presidency. Next Thursday, Bennet will take part in a CNN town hall in Atlanta. Joe Biden (D) At a campaign rollout rally in Philadelphia last weekend, Biden defended his bipartisan outlook on governance, pitching his experience of working across-the-aisle and arguing that it isn't too late to unite Americans across the political spectrum. Biden brought in over $2 million through a pair of fundraising events in Miami and Orlando this week, showing a willingness to engage with big money donors from which much of the Democratic field has shied away. The former vice president's campaign took part in a back-and-forth with North Korea after an opinion piece was posted on the website of KCNA -- the North Korean news agency -- said Biden was "misbehaving" and criticized him as someone "who likes to stick his nose into other people's business and is a poor excuse for a politician." Biden's campaign responded saying "it's no surprise North Korea would prefer that Donald Trump remain in the White House." Cory Booker (D) The New Jersey senator issued a plan to "protect reproductive rights" Wednesday in which he pledged to create a "White House Office of Reproductive Freedom" if he is elected. It would coordinate the advancement of "abortion rights and access to reproductive health care " across his potential administration. Booker was scheduled to take part in an MSNBC town hall in Iowa Thursday, but it was rescheduled so he could remain in Washington for Senate votes. He'll still travel throughout the Hawkeye State this weekend, with 11 stops across four days, extending into Monday. Steve Bullock (D) Bullock's first week as a presidential candidate included an NPR interview , during which he played up his ability to win over voters in his red home state of Montana. "I'm probably the only one in the race that actually won in a Trump state. I mean, I got reelected in 2016. Donald Trump took Montana by 20 points. I won by four. Twenty-five to 30% of my voters voted for Donald Trump," Bullock said, while pointing to his ability to work with Republicans to expand Medicaid, invest in education and pass campaign finance legislation. After spending three days in Iowa last week, the Montana governor returns to the state next Tuesday for four events. Pete Buttigieg (D) Buttigieg garnered a number of headlines for his performance in a Fox News town hall last weekend, renewing the debate over whether it is beneficial for Democratic candidates to appear on the news network often criticized for its conservative bent. During his appearance, which was criticized by Trump on Twitter, the South Bend, Indiana mayor took aim at a pair of the network's right-wing commentators, arguing that Tucker Carlson and Laura Ingraham were "not always there in good faith," pointing specifically to their views on the ongoing immigration reform debate. After stops in Florida, New York and Washington, D.C. this week, Buttigieg will campaign over the weekend in New Hampshire, with events in Londonderry, Exeter and Keene on Friday and Saturday. Julian Castro (D) As the Democratic field railed against the abortion restrictions passed by legislatures in numerous states, the former Housing and Urban Development secretary promised to appoint a cabinet comprised solely of pro-choice people, saying that the issue transcends any one executive branch department. In an MSNBC interview, he also criticized current HUD Secretary Ben Carson for mistaking the housing abbreviation R.E.O., for Oreo cookies during a Tuesday hearing. "This is a classic case of 'it would be funny if it weren't so sad,'" he said . Castro appeared on "Late Night with Seth Meyers" Thursday morning where he responded to criticism that either he or former Rep. Beto O'Rourke could make a greater political impact by challenging Republican Texas Sen. John Cornyn next year. "I think Beto would be a great Senate candidate," he joked. Bill de Blasio (D) Quinnipiac University's latest poll showed dire results for de Blasio's candidacy, with a net approval rating of minus-37 among Democrats and an overall net approval rating nearly twice as bad as Trump's. De Blasio made his first campaign stop in Iowa last Friday where he toured an ethanol plant with former Governor of Iowa, Tom Vilsack. He did not shy away from bashing Trump during the visit and said, "Time and again, when there's an opportunity to help the biofuels industry grow and to create jobs in places like rural Iowa, the Trump administration has favored big petroleum companies and that has to end." John Delaney (D) The former Maryland congressman rolled out a climate action plan with a $4 trillion proposal on Thursday. The central aspect of his plan is a fee on carbon emissions which he says will reduce them by 90% by 2050. "We have to act on climate and we have to act now," Delaney said in a statement. "We need a real plan to hit our goals and we have to listen to actual scientists. This is a real plan that all Americans can support. It is full of new ideas and massive investments in innovation that will both deal with climate change and create jobs in the heartland and all across our country." Delaney, however, is not among the slate of Democratic contenders backing the Green New Deal to replace fossil fuels with renewable energy sources. Tulsi Gabbard (D) Gabbard, an Iraq War veteran, continued to push her campaign's focus on foreign policy. In an interview with George Stephanopoulos on ABC's "This Week," she said Trump is "leading us down this dangerous path towards a war in Iran." She further cautioned that a war in Iran "would actually undermine our national security, cost us countless American lives, cost civilian lives across the region, exacerbate the refugee crisis in Europe and it would actually make us less safe by strengthening terrorist groups like ISIS and al-Qaeda." "As president, I will end these counter-productive and wasteful regime change wars, work to end this new Cold War and nuclear arms race, recognizing how wasteful and costly these are," she said. Kirsten Gillibrand (D) Gillibrand unveiled a plan on Wednesday termed the "Family Bill of Rights" to invest heavily in maternal and child health, paid family leave and universal pre-kindergarten. This proposal is part of Gillibrand's focus on women, children and families. She is also working to position herself as the most outspoken proponent of abortion rights within the Democratic field. On Tuesday, she spoke at a rally with other Democrats to protest the new abortion restrictions that states such as Alabama and Georgia have passed. She said in a later interview with NPR, "I think President Trump and these very extreme Republican legislators around the country, they are taking this country in a direction that it does not want to go." She added, "I believe that if President Trump wants a war with America's women, it's a war he will have and it is one he will lose." Kamala Harris (D) The California senator rolled out a bill to address racial discrepancies in maternal health care Wednesday, calling for investment in training to reduce bias among health professionals and the early identification of high-risk pregnancies. On "The Late Show" Wednesday night, Harris accused Trump of holding the nation's infrastructure "hostage," after the president abruptly ended a White House meeting on the issue with Democratic leaders earlier in the day in response to the party's efforts to continue investigations into him. John Hickenlooper (D) The former Colorado governor pushed back against calls for candidates like him to run for the Senate instead of the presidency, telling ABC News Chief Anchor George Stephanopoulos that he'd be a "difficult candidate as a senator." "I've spent my whole life putting teams together both as an entrepreneur in the private sector, but also as a mayor and as a governor. And by building those teams, we've been able to bring people together and do the big progressive things that people said couldn't be done," Hickenlooper said Sunday on "This Week." "That's the only way we're going to ... be able to bring some common sense to Washington," he added. Jay Inslee (D) The Washington governor's push for a 2020 debate focused on climate change continued to pick up steam this week, with Sen. Elizabeth Warren adding her voice to the proposal. "Yes! We need to do everything we can to save our planet," Warren tweeted, joining Inslee, other candidates and climate groups asking for a debate focused entirely on the issues of global warming. "We have barely a decade to defeat climate change. And whether we shrink to this challenge, or rise to it, is the central question of our time -- and it deserves a full DNC debate," Inslee wrote back in April. Amy Klobuchar (D) Klobuchar, who's attempted to position herself as a moderating voice in the crowded Democratic field, joined protesters on the steps of the Supreme Court this week following a wave of anti-abortion bills making their way through states like Alabama and others. "I think one of the things I've seen in my state is that there are people that hold their own individual beliefs. … But they don't believe that that means you put those beliefs on other people. And that is exactly what this president is done," the Minnesota senator said. Seth Moulton (D) Moulton, an Iraq War veteran, announced a plan this week to encourage young Americans to serve their country. Speaking on ABC's "This Week," the Massachusetts representative called the proposal "the kind of forward-looking policy that I think we need to meet the challenges of a changing world, to address climate change, to bring broadband to rural communities and to say to America we need a common mission." "If you invest in America then America will invest in you." Moulton told ABC News Chief Anchor George Stephanopoulos. Beto O'Rourke (D) The failed 2018 Senate candidate continued his campaign reboot this week following a number of recent polls . He appeared on CNN for a town hall , where he called for impeachment proceedings against Trump to begin. "We should begin impeachment proceedings against Donald Trump. Not something that I take lightly," the former Texas congressman said. "If we do nothing because we are afraid of the polls, or the politics or the repercussions in the next election , then we will have set a precedent for this country then in fact, some people, because of the position of power, and public trust that they hold are above the law," he added. Tim Ryan (D) Ryan, who was once anti-abortion but flipped his stance a few years ago, called for bipartisan solutions to address women's reproductive rights this week. "I met women for the first time in my life that had an abortion," Ryan said at a protest on the Supreme Court steps on Tuesday. "I met women who had to deal with very difficult, complicated circumstances in their pregnancies. And over time, because of the courage of the women who came into my office and who wanted to help craft legislation, I changed my position. And I came to realize that it is stories of the women, it is the courage of these women, especially in the last couple of weeks, who have stood up bravely and told their stories and told your stories." Bernie Sanders (D) The Vermont senator rolled out a comprehensive education plan last weekend that would halt federal funding for charter school expansion, set a teacher pay floor at $60,000 and provide universal free lunches, among other investments. At a South Carolina event announcing the plan, Sanders drew a connection between education reform and social injustice, noting that changes to public education in recent decades have disproportionately affected African-Americans and increased school segregation. In a CNN interview on Wednesday, Sanders expressed his strongest support yet for an impeachment inquiry, saying that if Trump "continues to not understand the Constitution of the United States" and blocks further subpoenas of staffers and former aides, "it may well be time for an impeachment inquiry to begin." Eric Swalwell (D) The California representative joined seven other 2020 Democratic hopefuls on the steps of the Supreme Court Tuesday, along with protesters voicing their support to counter anti-abortion bills sweeping across state legislatures. Swalwell also appeared on former President Barack Obama staffers' podcast "Pod Save America," arguing that Democrats shouldn't dismiss Trump voters and spoke about his parents supporting the president. Elizabeth Warren (D) The surging Massachusetts senator continued her marathon of policy introductions which have defined her campaign so far. This time she offered up a platform aimed at protecting women's reproductive rights, on the heels of a wave of new state laws that dramatically restrict abortion. Warren's plan would "block states from interfering in the ability of a health care provider to provide medical care, including abortion services," according to her policy rollout. The senator also had a viral moment over the week when she responded to a Twitter user who asked the "I-have-a-plan-for-that" candidate for help with relationship advice. "DM me and let's figure this out," Warren replied. The senator apparently went on to call a number of Twitter users asking for advice. "Guess who's crying and shaking and just talked to Elizabeth Warren on the phone?!?!?" one user tweeted . Bill Weld (R) Still the sole Republican challenging Trump in the Republican primary, Weld revved up his attacks on the president. "I celebrate that America has always been a melting pot," Weld said at the speaking event . "It seems he would prefer an Aryan nation." Speaking to ABC News after the event, Weld said his comments were more the result of where the president is headed. "It's not just that I'm feeling more like going on the attack, it's also that the president is moving to a deeper level of irresponsibility," Weld told ABC News. Marianne Williamson (D) The spiritual-adviser and best-selling author made her case for the presidency on ABC News' "The Briefing Room," arguing that she's not just running to "elevate a conversation." "It's important that I absolutely be prepared to win and that I make the effort to win," Williamson told ABC News Senior Washington Reporter Devin Dwyer. "I'm not here just to elevate a conversation. We need to elevate this country" Andrew Yang (D) Yang was the subject of an extensive Politico Magazine profile on Monday, that examined his candidacy and ability -- thus far -- to gain a relatively substantial following through non-traditional media interviews, while pushing his signature universal basic income plan while cautioning about the economic dangers of automation. His historic candidacy -- Yang is one of the first Asian-American presidential candidates in U.S. history -- was further examined in a New York Times story that noted his unabashed embrace of his identity to stand out in the crowded presidential field.


Back in 1978-79, a young Barack Obama was a guard on the Punahou High School basketball team in Hawaii, a team that went on to win the state championship. Obama went on to have a distinguished career… just not in basketball. However, the 44th president never lost is love for the game, playing pick-up games with his cabinet and others in Washington D.C., and he still attends NBA and college games. Also, he is working with the NBA on its efforts to expand the game in Africa . I've always loved basketball because it's about building a team that's equal to more than the sum of its parts. Glad to see this expansion into Africa because for a rising continent, this can be about a lot more than what happens on the court. https://t.co/lghcLaUN9a   Barack Obama (@BarackObama) February 16, 2019 Now, Obama's No. 23 high school jersey is up for auction , if you have some serious cash burning a hole in your pocket. The current bid is $26,000, but that number is expected to reach six figures by the time the bidding ends on Aug. 10. This is a real game-worn jersey (there are replicas that have been available for a while), according to Heritage Auctions. How did they get it? From Heritage Auctions: It was fortuitously rescued from being discarded when the new varsity jerseys arrived on campus only because our consignor Peter Noble, three years behind Obama at Punahou, had worn the same number "23" jersey while on the junior varsity team. It's a cool piece of memorabilia, if you have a lot of extra cash just lying around.


House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn has apologized to Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer for his comments about the lack of diversity among their top staff that stirred furor within the upper ranks of leadership. Clyburn's swift efforts to recant his criticism of his fellow Democratic leaders are the latest in a string of recent verbal missteps in which the No. 3 House Democrat has been forced to walk back contentious remarks. Earlier this month, Clyburn had retreated from his comments suggesting that an impeachment inquiry was inevitable. Weeks before that, Clyburn came under fire by some in his own party for appearing to diminish the Holocaust. On the latest controversy, the South Carolina Democrat told reporters Thursday morning that his comments were not directed at his fellow leaders' offices, but to the caucus as a whole. "Our staffs are fine, the whole caucus is not fine," he said, in an apparent contradiction of his comments to the Wall Street Journal, when he specifically mentioned both Pelosi and Hoyer. "All I'm saying is that if you need 90 percent of African American votes, in order to get 50 percent of the total vote, then you ought to allow your staff to be reflective of those congressional districts. That's all I said," Clyburn said after exiting a whip's meeting, where the issue did not come up. "Diversity, to me, means more than hiring one African American," he added. Pelosi and Hoyer were quick to dispute Clyburn's characterizations of their staff, in which Clyburn charged that the two longtime Democratic leaders were not prioritizing diversity hiring. He said that "tokenism is all right with" them. Both offices made clear that a majority of their hires were women, people of color or LGBT individuals. "I'm disappointed," Hoyer told POLITICO on Thursday morning, adding that a majority of his congressional aides   70 percent   do represent diverse groups. "I think he's wrong." Pelosi confirmed Thursday that she and Clyburn also discussed his comments: "We had a conversation. He apologized," Pelosi said. Pelosi's spokesman, Drew Hammill, said the speaker has also been committed to diversity with her own office. "Speaker Pelosi's office is, without rival, the most diverse office on Capitol Hill. Speaker Pelosi has always believed in the importance of leading by example," Hammill said. In Pelosi's combined personal and leadership offices, 84 percent of staff are women, people of color or LGBT individuals. Forty-eight percent of her staff are people of color. The trio of lawmakers has served in the top three Democratic leadership slots together for more than a dozen years. Clyburn has long been an ally of Pelosi but tensions between the South Carolina Democrat and Hoyer flare up from time to time. The two men faced off for minority whip in 2010 and there were rumblings last fall that Clyburn was going to challenge Hoyer again for the No. 2 leadership post. Congressional offices have long been criticized for lagging in diversity. A 2018 report found out only about 14 percent of all top House staff are people of color, far less than the 38 percent of the overall U.S. population. That figure started to tick up after Democrats took back the House, rising to 20.9 percent this year. Top Democrats, led by Pelosi, created a House diversity office as one of their first acts in the majority this year, which is focused on broadening the backgrounds of staffers on Capitol Hill. In a statement to POLITICO, Clyburn acknowledged that Democrats in Congress "are making strides to address these issues," specifically crediting Hoyer and Pelosi for the House Democratic Diversity Initiative. But he also said more could be done. "Many young people of color, however, still feel that our pace is too slow, and I do believe there is still much work that needs to be done to make sure Congressional offices reflect the makeup of Congressional districts and the Democratic electorate," Clyburn said.


A scene from "Cosi fan Tutte," this year's production by Mill City Summer Opera (photo by Dan Norman) Facing a challenging move and the quiet departure of its artistic director, Mill City Summer Opera announced two new appointments Monday. Cory Johnson has been named executive director after two years as the opera's development director. There will also be a new artistic advisor, Eric Einhorn. The announcement did not mention that the opera was parting ways with Crystal Manich, who was appointed artistic director less than a year ago, Manich, a Pittsburgh native who is a well-regarded young stage directo r but had not previously served as an artistic director, directed this summer's production of Mozart's "Così fan Tutte," "I elected to not seek contract renewal as the company investigates new venues and enters a new artistic chapter," she wrote in an email to the Star Tribune. "I look forward to following Mill City Summer Opera's future success." The new leadership team's priority will be managing the opera's move away from its namesake base at the Mill City Museum on the Minneapolis riverfront, where it has presented opera outdoors in the ruins of the old Washburn A mill each summer since 2012. The Minnesota Historical Society, which operates the museum, opted not to extend the opera's contract . The company's new home will be Paikka , an event space located in the renovated Vandalia Tower complex in St. Paul's Midway. No detailed information on the 2020 season has yet been made available. Johnson's brief is to provide "fundraising, strategic and fiscal leadership," according to an email issued by the organization. Einhorn, who co-founded the New York City-based On Site Opera, specializes in the type of site-specific productions that Mill City Summer Opera has brought to the Twin Cities for the past eight seasons.     ©2019 the Star Tribune (Minneapolis) Visit the Star Tribune (Minneapolis) at www.startribune.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.


COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) South Carolina faces another showdown, one perhaps to show who's got control of the Southeastern Conference. The second-ranked Gamecocks (25-1, 13-0 SEC) face No. 6 Tennessee (23-3, 13-0) on Monday night with the league championship clearly on the line. The winner doesn't clinch a crown, just takes a huge step in pursuit of the title in the final week of regular-season play. For South Carolina, a victory could mark a significant, seismic shift about where the power of the SEC may lie the next few years. Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley has only beaten Tennessee once - South Carolina ended the Lady Vols' 40-game series win streak in 2012 - yet believes her team could make a serious statement about remaining on top with a victory. ''I do think it's a statement game,'' Staley said. ''If you want to play with the big girls, you've got to beat the big girls. And Tennessee has been the champions of our league for a very long time.'' The Lady Vols have won 16 SEC championships since the league first sponsored women's basketball, including three of the previous five years. South Carolina won its first crown last season despite losing its lone meeting with Tennessee last year. So two weeks after floundering and losing the No. 1 spot with an 87-62 loss at then-second ranked Connecticut, South Carolina will again try and prove it's a power to be reckoned with in the SEC and beyond. The Gamecocks are in the midst of a landmark season, trying to join the ranks of the five SEC programs who've won champions with perfect records in league play. Tennessee's accomplished that nine times, the last one coming in 2011 - and the only one to go 16-0 since the league expanded its SEC schedule to 16 games the past six years. It won't be Tennessee at full power with the absence of leading scorer and rebounder Isabelle Harrison, who tore an ACL last week and is gone for the season. ''I think people have written us off,'' Tennessee coach Holly Warlick said. ''That's all I've heard is Izzy's out and we're pretty much done, but this is a solid team. They've worked really hard to get to the level they're at. I think we're all excited to get there and play the game.'' The Lady Vols don't surrender ground easily. Warlick said her players aren't thinking about titles, seedings or where they make rank in the national picture. ''They're just thinking about playing South Carolina and they're the underdog and they want to take care of business,'' Warlick said. ''I don't have to use a lot of motivation tactics this game.'' Neither do the Gamecocks, all who came to South Carolina because of Staley's vision of Tennessee-style dominance. ''Growing up, you always wanted to be a part of a program as such,'' Welch said. ''To be able to feel like we're able to build a program here, of that caliber, it's very important.'' Yet for all the success South Carolina's had the past few years - four straight years of 25-or-more wins, three consecutive NCAA tournament trips, last year's first-ever SEC title - Tennessee has remained a Rocky Top difficult to scale. With the Gamecocks flying high from clinching the SEC title last February, they stumbled badly in a 73-61 loss at Tennessee. Staley, the Gamecocks coach since 2008-09, is 1-8 all-time against the Lady Vols. In fact, South Carolina's lost 19 straight at home to Tennessee, a streak of futility that stretches to 1980. Staley hopes the Gamecocks, who lead the country this season in average attendance at 12,177 per game, have the kind of raucous, nerve-ratting atmosphere on Monday night that Tennessee and Connecticut have used to great effect the past few decades. ''What we've been able to accomplish and the fans that come out and support us, we are doing what Tennessee does to so many, which is create a home-court advantage and make it virtually impossible for people to win on their home court,'' Staley said. --- AP Sports Writer Steve Megargee contributed to this report from Knoxville, Tennessee


Reddit has "quarantined" its subreddit "The Donald," the most popular section of its site for supporters of President Trump because of what it said were "threats of violence against police and public officials." The subreddit has previously been embraced by Trump and his circle   in 2016, then candidate Trump held an "ask me anything" session on the forum. And The_Donald plays a central role in the online Trump-supporting world, with topics and memes often going viral there before they trend on Twitter, Facebook, and other platforms. Trump himself has tweeted at least one meme made by a user of The_Donald and Trump's current campaign manager said in 2016 that he visits it every day. The quarantine means that people visiting The_Donald will see a warning message before accessing the subreddit and its posts will not appear in Reddit search. "The reason for the quarantine is that over the last few months we have observed repeated rule-breaking behavior in your community," Reddit staff wrote to the volunteer moderators of The_Donald on Wednesday. "Most recently, we have observed this behavior in the form of encouragement of violence towards police officers and public officials in Oregon," Reddit added. While Reddit has a team of moderators on staff, The_Donald, like other subreddits, is mostly moderated by volunteers, in this case Trump supporters. The alleged threats made against police in Oregon appears to have been related to the standoff over a state senate vote on a climate bill there. In a statement provided to CNN, a Reddit spokesperson said, "We are clear in our site-wide policies that posting content that encourages or threatens violence is not allowed on Reddit. As we have shared , we are sensitive to what could be considered political speech, however, recent behaviors including threats against the police and public figures is content that is prohibited by our violence policy. As a result, we have actioned individual users and quarantined the subreddit." Moderators of The_Donald argued on Wednesday that Reddit had set an "impossible standard" for the community to maintain, and that it was "a reason to kill us before the 2020 election."


The fourth and final men's major championship of the season, the British Open, will remain last among the four biggest tournaments in terms of prize money. We're still pretty sure the winner won't mind. On Friday, the R&A announced modest increases to both the overall purse ($10.75 million) and first-place payout ($1.935 million). Last year's prize pool totaled $10.5 million with winner Fracesco Molinari earning $1.89 million. RELATED: Our best 13 bets to win the 2019 British Open Earlier this month, Gary Woodland won $2.25 million from a $12.5 million prize pool for his U.S. Open victory at Pebble Beach. Brooks Koepka earned $1.98 million from an $11 million pool at the PGA Championship, and Tiger Woods took home $2.07 million from a total of $11.5 million at the Masters. The Players Championship, the PGA Tour's flagship event, like the U.S. Open, also offered a $12.5 million prize pool with Rory McIlroy claiming a $2.25 million check. The payouts at all four of this year's majors as well as at the Players are record highs. Here's a look at all the payouts for the 2019 British Open, which will take place at Royal Portrush July 18-21: RANKING: Introducing the "content kings" of the PGA Tour WATCH: GOLF DIGEST VIDEOS See the video.


But you must hurry as the bidding will end soon. An interesting car is up for sale on Bring A Trailer . It's a custom hand-built roadster, designed and built by the seller for four years and was reportedly completed in 2006. The 2006 Hammond Roadster, as the seller calls it, has a silver molded fiberglass body with a removable black soft-top and tonneau cover. The whole body was built over a period of two years, mounted over a painted custom steel tube space frame with front and rear clamshells. It sits on coilover suspensions and 17-inch rims with traction control and ABS. Of note, there are some paint chips declared. Beyond the polarizing exterior, the Hammond Roadster was built using parts from a damaged 2002 Chrysler 300M, including the 3.5-liter V6. There are no output numbers declared but if we're to take the donor car, the EGG engine from the 300M is rated at 255 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. A four-speed automatic transmission sends the power to the rear wheels. Inside, the Hammond Roadster comes with black sport seats with red inserts and Corbeau racing harnesses. Grey carpeting can be seen on the floor but we can't help but feel a bit uneasy with the legroom on the passenger side based on the photos. With that said, the steering wheel seems a bit huge for the layout, considering that it's also inherited from the 300M. The car is also equipped with roll hoops and roll bars for safety. If you like what you're seeing here, you need to decide quickly since the bidding ends in two days as of this writing. You can head on over to Bring a Trailer website and register in order for you to bid for this one-of-a-kind roadster before time runs out. Source : Bring a Trailer MSN Autos on Facebook and Twitter


Phil Dawson is calling it a career. On Thursday, the kicker announced that he is retiring from the NFL at the age of 44. Dawson was the second-oldest player in the NFL last year, behind only Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri . With the Cardinals, Dawson made 5-of-8 field goals and sank all of his extra points before going down with a hip injury. Prior to that, Dawson spent most of his career with the Browns and also spent four years with the 49ers. Fittingly, his retirement press conference will take place in Cleveland, where he kicked for 14 seasons. Dawson leaves the game with a Pro Bowl nod (2012) and a lifetime FG completion rate of 83.8%. His hip will get some well-deserved rest after 526 career attempted field goals and 305 career games.


While the playoffs are well underway, many teams have already started their offseason planning. What storylines await around the NHL in what is shaping up to be a busy offseason? Next up in our Offseason Keys series is a look at the Anaheim Ducks. Through the first half of the season, things were looking good in Anaheim. Goaltender John Gibson was playing at an elite level, and while sustaining it wasn't likely, the Ducks eventually had to start scoring, right? That didn't happen. Instead, they went into a tailspin, one that firing coach Randy Carlyle did little to solve. As a result, GM Bob Murray will have a lot on his plate this summer. Here are some of the things they need to accomplish. Hire a head coach After Murray took over for Carlyle in mid-season, he made it clear he had no intention of being in the role on a long-term basis. Anaheim is in the market for a new head coach. It has been speculated that Dallas Eakins, the bench boss for the Ducks' AHL affiliate in San Diego, is a contender for the position and the fact that the Gulls are in the playoffs will likely drag out this search. In the meantime, Murray needs to decide if he wants an inexperienced coach (Eakins has 113 games of head coaching experience in the NHL) or a veteran. While there are young players in the system with promise, this is still a veteran-laden team built to win now. From that standpoint, a more experienced coach makes sense. However, there aren't a lot of experienced head coaches on the market at the moment. Philadephia this week hired two that were available as assistants. Dave Tippett, an advisor in Seattle, is the most prominent option available, and Tampa assistant Todd Richards could be in the mix, but after that the list is short. There are, however, some intriguing first-time options available. Sheldon Keefe (Toronto) has been suggested as a candidate for several spots over the past couple of years. He recently signed an extension but it does contain an NHL out clause. Mike Vellucci (Carolina) has had two straight strong seasons at the AHL level and has a lengthy background at the junior level as well. Brad Shaw (Columbus) is in the mix for Ottawa's head coach position and has 13 years of coaching experience at the NHL level, which could get him some consideration here. Given that shaking up the core of the Ducks' roster is going to be difficult, finding the right coach could be the most important move this offseason. It looks like it's going to be a while before it's made. Free up cap space The Ducks have nearly $73M tied up in 16 players for next season, per CapFriendly , and even though the potential exists for center Ryan Kesler ($6.875M) and forward Patrick Eaves ($3.15M) to be headed for LTIR given the question marks surrounding their ability to play again, there still isn't a lot of flexibility for Murray. One player that's going to likely see his name come up in trade discussions is center Adam Henrique . His new five-year contract with a $5.825M AAV and a partial no-trade clause comes into effect July 1, and his first full season with the Ducks wasn't great. He didn't have a huge impact offensively and may be better served in a third line role than on a second unit. If that's the best role for Henrique in Anaheim, the Ducks are going to be overpaying him considerably. And given some of the bloated contracts on their books (in particular, winger Corey Perry and center Ryan Getzlaf have two years left at $8.625M and $8.25M, respectively), Henrique may be one of the more movable players. Given the Ducks' offensive struggles this season, there is clearly a need to shake up the forward group. To do that, at least one big contract will need to be moved. There is help coming from the Ducks' prospect pool, but those players are a year or two away. Add an impact defenseman Considering the Ducks have spent the past couple of years dealing impact defenders away in Sami Vatanen , Shea Theodore and Brandon Montour , this may seem a little strange on the surface. However, beyond a solid top three in Cam Fowler , Hampus Lindholm and Josh Manson , there are a lot of question marks. Between Brendan Guhle , Jacob Larsson and Josh Mahura , there are quality young players in the mix that should be regular NHL players as soon as next season. However, their NHL ice time has been restricted thus far on the bottom pairing. If no changes are made to the Ducks' back end, one of those three is going from a split NHL/AHL season to a full-time spot in the top four. While one of those players should be able to step into that void down the road, it would be risky to count on any of them to jump in just yet. The good news: With that group nearing readiness for full-time NHL duty, the Ducks don't have to shop at the top end of the market. A short-term veteran stop gap is really all they need. If the Ducks do wind up moving one of their pricier forwards, it wouldn't be surprising to see them target this type of player in return. That would certainly solidify the defense, provide a nice bridge to the younger core, and if things go off the rails again, then that blueliner would make for an intriguing trade chip closer to the trade deadline.


Two middle school girls in Avon Park, Florida, allegedly plotted to kill other students they had placed on a "hit list." The two students were taken into custody at Avon Park Middle School at the end of the day Wednesday, the Highlands County School Board said. A teacher had informed law enforcement of a plan to harm others off campus. Both girls are facing charges of conspiracy to commit murder and conspiracy to commit kidnapping, NBC affiliate WFLA reported Thursday. A parent of one of the targeted students told WFLA that the two girls had a "hit list" of 10 students, which was made up of seven girls and three boys. A spokesperson for the Highlands County Sheriff's Office and local prosecutors did not immediately respond to requests for comment from NBC News.


BB&T and SunTrust Banks announced Wednesday that the two banks will merge to become Truist. Truist will be the sixth-largest U.S. bank holding company serving more than 10 million households in the United States. "With the merger of equals, our goal is to create a bold, transformative organization that delivers a smarter and easier client experience through technology and human connection," said BB&T Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Kelly S. King, who will serve as the chairman and CEO of the combined company. "True to the heritage of both companies, Truist will reflect what we stand for   a shared belief in building a better future for our clients and communities." "Truist is a brand name representative of two mission- and purpose-driven companies coming together to serve our clients as a true financial partner," said SunTrust Chief Executive Officer Bill Rogers, who will be president and chief operating officer of the combined company until he succeeds King as chief executive officer in September 2021. "As part of our relentless pursuit to create a better experience, we're making a commitment to always look forward, pursue what's next and strive to do more to further financial well-being for everyone." The two companies partnered with Interbrand, a global brand consultancy, to lead in the development of the new name and brand identity. The company said its brand development process prioritized input from BB&T associates, SunTrust teammates and clients. Through focus groups and analytical research, these stakeholders shared their expectations and aspirations for the new brand, which led to the name revealed Wednesday. Additional brand elements, such as the logo, typography and visual identity will be revealed at a later date. The combined holding company will be named Truist Financial Corp. and the combined bank will be named Truist Bank. While the new names will be effective upon completion of the merger, clients will continue to be served post-closing under the BB&T and SunTrust brands for the near future. Over time following the closing, both the BB&T and SunTrust brands will be transitioned to the Truist products and services. In the coming months, shareholders of both BB&T and SunTrust will vote on the proposed merger of equals. Shareholders of BB&T will also vote on the new holding company name. The merger is expected to close in the third or fourth quarter of 2019, subject to satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including receipt of regulatory approvals and approval by the shareholders of each company. BB&T and SunTrust remain separate and independent companies until the transaction closes. READ MORE: BB&T, SunTrust announce merger to become Truist CHECK OUT WYFF: Get the latest Greenville news and weather. For live, local, late-breaking Greenville, SC, news coverage, WYFF is the place to be.


A young woman was outraged after finding a pig locked inside a scorching hot car. Miranda Lamendola found the pig in the parking lot of a shopping mall in Jacksonville, Florida. The temperature was very hot that day, so the 25-year-old said she called 911 for help. She said an officer eventually broke the car window and pulled the pig to safety. The car's owner was arrested for animal cruelty, and Animal Care and Protective Services now has custody of the pig.


The announcement of who will be the next Los Angeles Lakers head coach is having the roll out of an album in the early stages of the internet era. Leak after leak has indicated that the Lakers will soon hire Ty Lue has their head coach but their have still not been reports of an official contract offer . And now we have another leak surrounding Lue, this one coming from an unlikely source: his birthday cake. Some rumors surfaced on twitter of the cake but TMZ did a little extra digging to confirm that yes , it had a Lakers logo. via TMZ Ty laughed when the cake was brought out - but we're told he never really said anything to dispute the insinuation he's gonna be the next coach of the Lakers. Most everyone in the Lakers orbit is assuming this is a done deal, but nothing is officially done until Lue signs on the dotted line. The other top candidate for the job, Monty Williams, took himself out of the running by accepting the job with the Phoenix Suns on Friday. Lue coached LeBron James for nearly three seasons in Cleveland, which included an NBA Championship and three straight trips to the NBA Finals. Lue has a 128-83 (.607) record as a head coach. MORE: Most bizarre and incredible catches by fishermen in past decade Rookie Darrius Shepherd could surprise as slot WR, returner option for Packers NFL.com's Adam Rank awards Raiders best draft in 2019 Ex-NFL QB David Carr compares N'Keal Harry to Larry Fitzgerald Biggest steal of the Chargers' 2019 draft class


Long Beach is due to turn warm in the coming days, according to drone-powered weather forecasting service Saildrone . Temperatures will reach a high of 78 degrees on Sunday and Monday. The immediate forecast also has partly cloudy skies in store for today. Skies will become mostly cloudy starting on Saturday, remaining mostly cloudy through Sunday. Winds will remain fairly calm throughout the week, with the highest speeds on Monday 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.


Apartment hunting on a budget can be . So what does the low-end rent on a rental in Afton Oaks / River Oaks Area look like these days   and what might you get for your money? According to Walk Score's assessment, the neighborhood requires a car for most errands, has some bike infrastructure and has good transit options. It also features median rents for a one bedroom that hover around $1,460, compared to a $1,200 one-bedroom median for Houston as a whole. A look at local listings for studios and one-bedroom apartments in Afton Oaks / River Oaks Area via rental sites Zumper and Apartment Guide offers an overview of what budget-minded apartment seekers can expect to find in this Houston neighborhood. Take a look at the cheapest listings available right now, below. (Note: prices and availability are subject to change.) Hoodline offers data-driven analysis of local happenings and trends across cities. Links included in this article may earn Hoodline a commission on clicks and transactions. 2150 Westheimer Road This one-bedroom, one-bathroom residence, situated at 2150 Westheimer Road, is listed for $924/month for its 670 square feet. The unit features a dishwasher. Building amenities include assigned parking, a fitness center, and on-site laundry. Good news for animal lovers: both dogs and cats are welcome here. Future tenants needn't worry about a leasing fee. (See the complete listing here .) Westheimer Rd Kirby Drive Here's a one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment at Westheimer Rd Kirby Drive, which, at 670 square feet, is going for $999/month. The building features on-site laundry. The apartment also comes with a mix of hardwood floors and carpeting, a dishwasher and a walk-in closet. Both cats and dogs are welcome. Look out for a broker's fee equal to one month's rent. (See the full listing here .) 4515 Briar Hollow Place Check out this 629-square-foot one-bedroom, one-bathroom condo at 4515 Briar Hollow Place, listed at $1,050/month. Amenities offered in the building include a fitness center, garage parking and a swimming pool. The listing also promises air conditioning in the condo. Cats and dogs are not allowed. The rental doesn't require a leasing fee. (Here's the listing .) 2350 Westcreek Lane This one-bedroom, one-bathroom dwelling, situated at 2350 Westcreek Lane, is listed for $1,100/month for its 630 square feet. The listing promises a dishwasher, hardwood flooring and in-unit laundry in the residence. Both cats and dogs are welcome. (See the listing here .) 1919 Post Oak Park Drive Over at 1919 Post Oak Park Drive, there's this 642-square-foot one-bedroom, one-bathroom dwelling, going for $1,195/month. Expect to see a hardwood flooring, in-unit laundry and a walk-in closet in the unit. When it comes to pets, both meows and barks are permitted. (View the listing here .) This story was created automatically using local real estate data, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


In May, Roger Goodell said the NFL would not interfere with the Kansas Department for Children and Families' Tyreek Hill investigation, indicating the league would interview the Chiefs wide receiver "whenever we have permission to." It is unclear if the Kansas DCF's investigation has concluded, but if it has not, the news about NFL investigators meeting with Hill represents a reversal and, per Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk , perhaps an acknowledgement by the league that something needs to transpire on this front by the time the Chiefs report to training camp July 23. While the investigation is likely covering the bruises and welts that appeared on the body of Hill's 3-year-old son, Florio notes Hill's history of violence, and the comment his fiancee needing to worry about more possible violence , will almost certainly result in a Hill suspension. Ravens cornerback Jimmy Smith was suspended four games in 2018 for threatening and the mother of his child and "engaging in emotional abuse." With audio evidence having surfaced in this case, and Hill not being punished for his admitted 2014 violence against Crystal Espinal, that would seem to be the baseline for his potential punishment. Here is the latest out of the AFC: John Harbaugh has committed to Patrick Onwuasor returning as a starting linebacker for a revamped Ravens defense, but the 12th-year HC has not made a decision on C.J. Mosley 's successor. While former UDFA Chris Board has impressed , Harbaugh indicated a committee is the likely post-Mosley plan. Harbaugh said ( via Ryan Mink of BaltimoreRavens.com ) that Board will probably join 2018 fourth-rounder Kenny Young and hybrid safety Anthony Levine alongside Onwuasor in sub-packages. Young led the trio with 381 linebacker snaps last season; Board played just 21. Onwuasor may be the best bet for the young defender who signs a Ravens extension, per Jeff Zreibec of The Athletic ( subscription required ). With emerging sack artist Matt Judon perhaps in line to continue a trend of edge rushers pricing themselves out of Baltimore and nose tackle Michael Pierce coming to Ravens minicamp at least 25 pounds overweight, in Zreibec's view, the Ravens preventing their top inside linebacker from following Mosley out of Maryland seems logical. A former UDFA, Onwuasor has started 26 games. He graded as Pro Football Focus' No. 40 linebacker last season. Devin Funchess has put together an inconsistent career thus far and went through most of the Colts' offseason program without working with Andrew Luck , who was sidelined with a strained calf. But Frank Reich said ( via Kevin Bowen of 107.5 The Fan ) he is "very encouraged" by Funchess' route-running for a player his size and with his overall progress in his system. Reich lobbied early for Funchess in March, and the former Panthers target will almost certainly play a big role for the Colts this season. Another AFC free agent signing, Brian Poole , looks aimed toward a big role in his first AFC season. The Jets have used the former Falcons slot cornerback both inside and outside this offseason, Brian Costello of the New York Post notes . Gang Green did not bring in a proven outside starter opposite Trumaine Johnson , and Morris Claiborne remains a free agent. While another corner will have to step up to join the duo in nickel sets, Poole appears set for a steady gig in New York.


An ex-employee of a Mississippi campground, fired last month after pulling a gun on a black couple , was arrested Tuesday, the Oktibbeha County Sheriff's Office said. Ruby Nell Howell, 70, of Starkville is charged with threatening exhibition of a weapon, according to a news release. Howell turned herself in Tuesday morning and was released on a $500 bond, the sheriff's office said. She is scheduled to be in court June 25. Video of the confrontation showed Howell on May 26 approaching Franklin and Jessica Richardson, along with their dog, as the couple sought a picnic spot and possible cabin on Oktibbeha County Lake near Starkville. Wearing a shirt bearing the logo of Kampgrounds of America, which runs the site, Howell is seen in the video holding a handgun by her side. Jessica Richardson says Howell asked them to leave because they didn't have a reservation. "This lady literally just pulled a gun because we out here and didn't have reservations for a lake we didn't even know we had to have reservations for," she says in the video, which was shared widely on social media. "That's what the office is for up there, ma'am," Howell responds. "We didn't know, ma'am," Franklin Richardson tells her. Adds his wife, "We didn't know. The only thing you had to do was tell us to leave. We would have left. You did not have to pull a gun." Howell puts the gun in her shorts pocket, telling the couple, "Well, I'm just telling you you need to leave because it's under private ownership. Y'all just can't be out here." Days after the video went viral, Kampgrounds of America said it does not condone the use of firearms on its properties. "The incident involved a campground employee and two persons seeking to access a lake via the campground's private property. Unfortunately, the campground employee felt it necessary to display a firearm during the interaction with the two individuals and their dog," it said, explaining that the employee had been fired. Kampgrounds of America describes itself as the world's largest system of "open-to-the-public campgrounds." It operates more than 500 sites in the United States and Canada. Threatening exhibition of weapons is punishable by up to three months in prison and a maximum fine of $500.


John Ollin, 69, feels like he failed his wife. The couple lived in their Des Moines home for 11 years, until a basement wall collapsed during strong storms on June 22 , leaving the home uninhabitable. The Ollins are looking at $26,300 worth of damage, not including a broken water heater, furnace, washer and dryer. They are close to losing all they have and don't expect help from their home insurance or government aid. Both are on disability; their income is about $1,100 a month. Both have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, and John Ollin uses a wheelchair. Kelli Ollin's symptoms are milder, but she spends her day taking care of her husband. "I'm devastated. I'll be married for 30 years next month, and she's my everything. She's kept me alive the last few years. Without her I wouldn't be here now," John Ollin said. "When I'm in the hospital, she doesn't leave my side. She's by me 24/7. "And now I feel I've let my wife of 30 years down." You couldn't see the street from the Ollins' front door as rain poured down that evening. Parts of Des Moines got 4 inches. They didn't hear a thud when the wall came down. Kelli went to check on the laundry at 10 p.m. and was shocked to see the washing machine had traveled 15 feet. They immediately smelled gas and called 911. Dispatchers told them to leave the home immediately. Kelli Ollin frantically grabbed their essentials and their four small dogs, while John Ollin sat in his wheelchair in the torrential rain. Days later, the basement remained filled with scattered bricks and 2½ feet of muddy water. The couple now is staying with their son, Kody, who already has a full house with a wife and four children in a two-bedroom apartment. John Ollin said to his son, "Children shouldn't have to board up their parents." His son responded, "That's what family is for." Challenges abound with each possible solution Ollin has insurance through Allstate, which he said told him, "No homeowner's policy covers a wall collapsing." He said the damage was not classified as flood or storm damage. Ollin said they had previously repaired a few minor cracks in the wall. The couple got some money from the Red Cross. He used it to purchase a building permit and a dumpster, but now he needs money for materials and skilled workers. Family and friends have worked on cleaning the basement every day since the wall fell. When temperatures climbed, they worked nights, staying up until 2 a.m. over the weekend. The Ollins have six adult children, and all have offered to help, but none has experience restoring a basement wall. John Davis, deputy director of Polk County Emergency Management, said no other homeowners have reported serious damage from the storm   and that's bad news for a lone household when it comes to federal, state and local programs. The Federal Emergency Management Agency, for example, offers individual assistance, but a disaster declaration based on many damaged properties is required to activate that program. Polk County and the city of Des Moines provided assistance after last summer's flash flooding, when nearly 1,200 homes were inspected. Other programs come with income requirements and often are restricted to certain types of damage. The couple said their home is paid off, but they won't even think about selling it. Both were raised with a distrust of credit, John Ollin said. They pay cash for everything, including their insurance, which they pay in person every month. Their lack of any credit history could make getting a loan difficult. Ollin said he has only had a couple of loans, which they struggled to pay off when his health started to deteriorate. On top of his current health issues, Ollin was treated for prostate cancer a few years ago. Insurance coverage of home damage can be complex "Why do I pay this money for homeowner's insurance when they don't do nothing?" John Ollin said. "I don't understand." The last time Ollin talked to his agent before the storm, he asked the agent if there was anything else he needed covered. The answer was no. An Allstate spokeswoman said neither she nor the agent could speak directly about a customer's case. "A standard homeowner's insurance policy typically does not cover floods, earthquakes, sewer backups or damage that occurs from a lack of maintenance," Tonya Robinson said. "We do recommend folks talk to their insurance agent to find out what their options are to protect them from these types of perils." We tell Iowans' stories like no one else. Join today to support local journalism. Chance McElhaney, communications director at the Iowa Insurance Division, said each policy, even within the same company, is different. The way water enters a home during a storm or flood could change coverage, likely making the way the wall fell crucial. If the wall fell because of flood damage, a policy without flood coverage wouldn't cover it. Even with flood coverage, McElhaney said floodwaters that come through a window might be covered, while floodwaters that come in through a storm drain might not. McElhaney recommends that people regularly assess their policies with their agents, as risks and assets change. He also emphasized reading through insurance documents, even though a 60-page policy can be daunting. McElhaney said those outside of flood-prone areas can get flood coverage, but it's a personal choice. "Sometimes those are the hardest-hit areas   the place that maybe isn't in the flood map, but it still gets hit," McElhaney said. "Anywhere in Iowa can flood. We're in a plain. So it's something people should at least look at." People can find a licensed agent or file a complaint with the Iowa Insurance Division on their website. The Iowa Insurance Division can double-check if a policy is being correctly followed. 'I don't know what we are going to do' The Ollins were in their previous home for 13 years and had to move to a one-story home once John Ollin started using a scooter. "When we moved from there to this other house, it was a relief because we were going to be able to own it, it was going to be ours," Kelli Ollin said. "And it's just devastating, because I don't know what we are going to do or where we are going to go from here." As John Ollin continues to tell his wife he's failed her, Kelli Ollin responds, "This is just another stepping stone." The couple said they've had their share of bad luck over the past 30 years. Through numerous health issues, major home repairs and other surprises, the one constant is the couple's support for each other. Ollin said she keeps thinking about how many times she was in the basement that day, working on laundry. The floor could've collapsed beneath them, or the gas they smelled could have caused an explosion. "I have my husband, I have the dogs," Kelli Ollin said. "He keeps telling me that he failed me. It wasn't his fault. It's not his fault. I just don't want to lose him through all of this." A fundraiser has been started for the Ollins via Facebook. Danielle Gehr is a breaking news reporter at the Des Moines Register. She can be reached by email at dgehr@dmreg.com, by phone at 515-284-8367 or on Twitter at @Dani_Gehr. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Disabled Des Moines couple has $26K worth of damage, little help after storm


The Kansas City Chiefs have assembled quite the roster for the 2019 season. General manager Brett Veach has managed to secure several players well below market value too. Here's a look at six of the best bargain contracts the Chiefs currently have on the roster. QB Patrick Mahomes Average Salary : $4.1 million per Spotrac This one is pretty obvious, right? Any time you have the NFL's MVP on their rookie contract it's going to be considered a bargain. The same can be said of most players on their rookie contract, so Mahomes will be the sole player on a rookie deal that we highlight here. Even if Mahomes faces statistical regression during the 2019 season, he's widely regarded as one of the best players in the NFL, and the Chiefs have him under contract through 2021 at a very affordable price. There are currently 29 quarterbacks in the NFL who make more average annual salary than Mahomes. I'm not so sure there are two better quarterbacks in the NFL right now, let alone 29. Continue… RB Damien Williams Average Salary : $2.5 million per Spotrac Williams was a pleasant surprise in 2018. I don't know if it says more about the running back position or more about Williams that he was so well-prepared to take over after spending most of the season as a third-string back. I'm beginning to think there was a reason that Ryan Tannehill wanted Adam Gase to get Williams on the field more often in Miami. The Chiefs were smart to extend Williams during the season. Had they waited to extend him, his price would have gone up as his performance soared through the postseason. There are currently 35 running backs in the NFL that make more average salary than Williams right now. I'd be surprised if half of those running backs had a better season than Williams in 2019. Continue… OL Andrw Wylie Average Salary : $525,000 per Spotrac Wylie stepped up in a big way for the Chiefs in 2018. He filled in at right guard once Laurent Duvernay-Tardif went down with injury. His performance earned him the Chiefs' Mack Lee Hill award for best first-year player or rookie. Wylie figures to be the Chiefs starter at the left guard spot now that Duvernay-Tardif has returned and Cameron Erving is dealing with a shoulder injury. He's also versatile enough to play either tackle position, that's an incredibly valuable trait to have. When all is said and done, Wylie might be the biggest bargain contract on the Chiefs roster right now. He's the 133rd ranked OT in terms of average salary and would be the 142 ranked OG . Continue… C Austin Reiter Average Salary : $2.2 million per Spotrac When injuries struck the Chiefs' offensive line in 2018, Reiter was another player that stepped up to the plate. He started four games at center after injuries took out two different backup centers. Reiter is even more of a bargain when you consider the Chiefs' former starting center, Mitch Morse, is now the second-highest paid center in the NFL. The Chiefs have Reiter for less than 33 other centers in the NFL, and if he turns out to be a quality starter this season, he'll certainly be a bargain. Continue… DE Alex Okafor Average Salary : $5.9 million per Spotrac Okafor is one of the players receiving some high praise through the padless portions of the offseason program. I don't think that Chiefs coaches were expecting this type of performance out of him. He's potentially making a push for the starting job opposite Frank Clark. If Okafor lands that starting job, he'll be on one of the bet bargain deals in the NFL. If he can manage 10 sacks per season, they'll be singing Veach's name in the upper decks of Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs could potentially one of their starting defensive ends locked up for three seasons on a contract that is dwarfed by 44 other contracts at the position . Continue… CB Bashaud Breeland Average Salary : $2 million per Spotrac Breeland is another case where the Chiefs may have landed themselves a defensive starter for well below the market value. Currently Breeland figures in as a starter in both the base defense and sub packages. There are currently 80 cornerbacks in the NFL that are paid more than Breeland. His pay is far from indicative of Breeland's talent, though. He decided to bet on himself after a tough pair of seasons. As for performance in 2019, Breeland will have a full offseason to get up to speed with the Chiefs. He didn't have that luxury with the Packers just a season ago. So he'll likely be better prepared to make an impact in Kansas City come the start of the season. MORE: 8 players the Lakers can get for a minimum deal if they sign a third superstar Danny Green: 'This is the time where I need to maximize the dollars on the longest amount of years that I can do' Vegas Sportsbook moves up Lakers title odds due to Kawhi Leonard rumors Francis Ellis Fired from Barstool Sports [UPDATE] Randall Cobb: No offer from Packers during free agency


The Twins announced Friday that they have placed slugger Nelson Cruz on the 10-day injured list. Righty Cody Stashak was called up to take the open roster spot. Cruz was diagnosed with a wrist strain after leaving Thursday night's game in the middle of a plate appearance. There's no indication to this point as to how long Cruz may be sidelined. This isn't the first time this year that Cruz has experienced an issue in that particular joint. He spent three weeks on the IL for a similar injury earlier this season. It's tough news for a Minnesota club that is trying to hold off the charging Indians in the AL Central. Cruz has been on a nearly unbelievable tear at the plate, slashing .333/.429/.900 with 16 home runs in his past 25 games (106 plate appearances).


SAN DIEGO - Jack in the Box completed a $1.3 billion refinancing on Monday, taking on additional debt to boost working capital and potentially fund share buybacks. The San Diego fast-food chain previously announced the refinancing plan after exploring strategic options, including the possible sale of the company. The strategic review was initiated when activist investors, including New York based Jana Partners, took ownership stakes in Jack in the Box. Last fall, the company inked a standstill agreement with Jana. As part of the deal, Jack in the Box agreed to add two new board members identified by Jana. In exchange, the activist pledged not to mount a proxy fight for control of the company. The company's board then embarked on a seven-month strategic review, which wrapped up this spring. The restaurant chain's board said it was no longer seeking a buyer and would move ahead with refinancing instead. Jack in the Box's senior executives were traveling and not available to comment. According to a June 28 filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Jack in the Box expects net proceeds of the refinancing to be about $1.27 billion - after deducting transaction fees. The bulk of that will go toward repaying about $1.04 billion of existing senior debt, according to SEC filings. That leaves the remainder for general corporate purposes and possible share repurchases, which could potentially boost the company's earnings per share. Jack in the Box has been pivoting recently toward an "asset-lite" business model. It sold its Qdoba Mexican fast food chain in 2018. In addition, it has converted 313 company owned locations into franchise outlets over the past three years. Now, only 137 of the company's 2,241 restaurants are corporate owned and operated. The restructuring has caused tension with some Jack in the Box franchisees, who claim the company has cut expenses too much, particularly in marketing. The National Jack in the Box Franchisee Association, which represents owners of roughly 2,000 franchise restaurants, has called for new leadership, including the ouster of Chief Executive Lenny Comma. Jack in the Box sold three blocks of notes in the private securitization with interest rates of 3.98% on $575 million in debt, 4.5% on $275 million and 4.97% on $450 million. The notes come due in August 2023, August 2026 and August 2029, respectively. The company plans to pay interest on the debt from adjusted earnings, which are forecast at $265 million this year but which are expected to rise to about $300 million in coming years, according to the company. The refinancing also allows Jack in the Box to borrow up to $150 million in a revolving credit facility. Jack in the Box's shares ended trading Monday at up 4 cents at $81.29 on the Nasdaq exchange. Visit The San Diego Union-Tribune at www.sandiegouniontribune.com


80 million people in the United States deal with hair loss related to aging or genetics, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. But hair loss can also be a symptom of a larger medical issue a person may have, like hypothyroidism or lupus. Here's how you can tell if your hair loss is a sign of something more serious. Hair loss is often inevitable. In most cases, it occurs due to aging and depends largely on genetics. This type of hair loss is called androgenetic alopecia and affects an estimated 80 million people in the United States, both men and women, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Other times, however, hair loss is a symptom of a larger medical issue. Medication or a systemic illness can sometimes be the cause of hair loss, dermatologist Dr. Jerry Shapiro told INSIDER. In these cases, the hair loss is accompanied by other symptoms, like rashes, lack of energy, or muscle aches that just won't go away. Here are the signs that suggest your hair loss could be more serious than aging or a genetic predisposition. You're losing eyelash or eyebrow hair. "If you notice hair loss on other parts of the body [besides the scalp], something more is going on," Dr. Shapiro said. If you lose hair from your eyebrows or eyelashes, it could mean you have a serious form of the autoimmune condition alopecia. Unlike androgenetic alopecia, other types of the condition like alopecia areata or alopecia universalis can cause hair loss in greater quantities and in areas of the body besides the scalp, according to Healthline. That's because the body mistakes the hair follicles as dangerous and attacks them, causing the hair to fall out of the follicles on various parts of the body. Other autoimmune conditions that could cause non-scalp hair loss include thyroid disease and lupus. Doctors can use blood work to determine the exact cause of hair loss. You feel sluggish all the time. Hair loss accompanied by a lack of energy could mean you're malnourished or not getting enough of the essential nutrients your body needs . If a person doesn't get enough zinc, for example, they may experience diarrhoea, severe weight loss, and hair loss as side effects, in addition to feeling sluggish. Being generally malnourished can also lead to hair loss. The best way to ensure you're getting the nutrients you need is to eat a balanced diet with lots of fresh produce, healthy fats like nuts, protein, and water, according to Healthline. If you think you're malnourished, speak to your healthcare provider about potential solutions like working with a dietitian. Your muscles ache. When thinning hair and muscle aches occur simultaneously, it's possible you have hypothyroidism, a type of hormonal autoimmune hormone imbalance. At first, a person with hypothyroidism could show no symptoms, but as their body deals with the hormone imbalance, they may notice fatigue, weight gain, muscle aches, and hair loss , according to the Mayo Clinic. Hypothyroidism is treatable. If you are diagnosed with the autoimmune disease, a doctor can prescribe medications that replace the hormones your body cannot make on its own. Your nails feel brittle. Iron deficiency, which is considered a type of anemia, happens when the body can't produce enough healthy red blood cells. If a person lacks them, they may experience side effects like brittle nails and hair loss, Dr. Shapiro said. I ron deficiency can also make a person feel constantly tired and weak. Other symptoms include chest pain and cold hands and feet, according to the Mayo Clinic. Iron supplements can help treat the condition, but a doctor might also ask what medications you're taking since some antibiotics can interfere with iron absorption . You're taking medication for high blood pressure or high cholesterol. Medications for lowering cholesterol like simvastatin and atorvastatin often come with hair loss as a side effect, according to Dr. Shapiro. The chances of this are rare, with just 1% of people who take statin-based medications reporting hair loss , according to Harvard Medical School. Blood pressure medications that are also beta blockers have been known to cause hair loss, although doctors are still unsure about the exact mechanism at play. It's up to you and your health care provider to weigh the options before stopping or starting a medication that could be potentially related to hair loss. "People have to see their doctors to determine if [the hair loss] is medicine-related, then they may want to stop, but other times they may not," Dr. Shapiro said. You have a rash on your face or body. Lupus, like hypothyroidism or an iron deficiency, is an autoimmune disease with hair loss as a common symptom. Also, lupus can cause full-body rashes as a response to organs becoming inflamed , according to the Mayo Clinic. Oftentimes, these rashes will come and go and are referred to as "flares." Other lupus symptoms include dry eyes and joint pain, so if you notice any of these effects, you should see your doctor. Related Video: Can Wearing a Hat Contribute to Baldness? (Provided by Time)


The Milwaukee Brewers and New York Mets entered their game Saturday night at Miller Park ranked last and next-to-last in pitching in the National League, respectively. Somebody forgot to tell the hitters. In what became an exercise   and a very long one   in offensive futility, the Brewers finally put an end to the madness when Ryan Braun singled in two runs in the bottom of the 18th to win the game, 4-3. It was Braun's career-high sixth hit of the game. BOX SCORE: BREWERS 4, METS 3 (18) The rest of the Brewers had a total of five hits. With both offenses bogged down, the Mets finally broke through for a run in the top of the 18th on Jeff McNeil's RBI single with two down, putting the Brewers in must-score position. They had not scored a run since the third inning, and could no longer take a pass. New York reliever Chris Flexen made it easier for the Brewers by issuing three walks in the bottom of the 18th to load the bases and bring Braun to the plate. He ripped an opposite-field single to right, scoring the runs that finally settled the game. The marathon was the longest ever played at Miller Park in terms of innings, and for the longest time, it was a frustrating one for the Brewers, who had nine chances at a walk-off victory and failed. They went 14 innings without scoring a run after pushing two across in the third. Both teams used all of their position players and every available relief pitcher. Brewers starting pitcher Jhoulys Chacin was warming up in the bullpen when the game ended. The Brewers seemed to have a prime opportunity to win the game in the 17th when Braun led off with a booming double to left-center. But, after the Mets intentionally walked Ben Gamel, pitcher Taylor Williams struck out trying to bunt and the inning fizzled as Hernan Perez flied out and Lorenzo Cain grounded out. The Brewers took a 2-1 lead into the ninth inning but Mets first baseman Pete Alonso led off with an opposite-field home run off reliever Junior Guerra to tie the game. Guerra pitched a perfect eighth and came out for a second inning with closer Josh Hader unavailable after going two Friday night. Left-hander Gio Gonzalez made his second start since signing with the Brewers, both of them coming against the Mets. After allowing eight hits and two runs over five innings last Sunday in New York, he was stingier this time, surrendering only three hits and one run over 5 1/3 innings while walking none and striking out seven. Gonzalez had little room for error because Mets starter Zack Wheeler, the pitcher whom the Brewers thought they had acquired in the Carlos Gomez trade in July 2015 that was aborted by New York after a verbal agreement, also was throwing the ball well. Wheeler went seven innings, allowing only six hits and two runs while striking out 10. The Mets struck first, scoring a run in the second off Gonzalez after two were down with none on. Wilson Ramos smacked a single to right and came around to score when speedy Amed Rosario lined a triple into the gap in left-center. Wheeler put down the side in order over the first two innings before the Brewers got to him for two runs in the third. Gamel led off with a single and moved to second on a wild pickoff attempt by Wheeler, and was still on second base with two down when Lorenzo Cain punched an RBI single to right. After Eric Thames drew a walk, Mike Moustakas went down and got a low splitter and lined it into the right-field corner for a run-scoring double that gave the Brewers a 2-1 lead. The Brewers' offense then went into a long dormant state, putting up little resistance against Wheeler and New York's bullpen. From the fifth through 12th innings, they put only one runner beyond first base, that coming in the ninth. The Brewers had a chance to break through in the 13th but it fell apart after a base-running blunder. With two on and one out, Thames got picked off first base after inexplicably making a break for second, and the inning fizzled. Another opportunity arose in the 14th when Braun legged out a double to right with one down off right-hander Robert Gsellman. But Gamel struck out for the fourth time and pinch-hitter Manny Pina went down swinging as well. FIVE TAKEWAYS YELICH INCHES CLOSER: Christian Yelich was out of the starting lineup for the fifth consecutive game after tweaking his lower back last Sunday in New York but appeared very close to starting again. "He's doing good," manager Craig Counsell said. "When he's ready to go, he'll be back in there. I think he's really close." Close enough to pinch-hit in the 10th inning and fly out to center field on the first pitch he saw. RECONSTRUCTING THE LINEUP: With Yelich out of his customary No. 2 spot in the lineup, Counsell has been using first baseman/outfielder Eric Thames in the two-hole, followed by hot-hitting Mike Moustakas and Yasmani Grandal. Travis Shaw and Ryan Braun, who have struggled to get going out of the chute, have batted in the lower half of the lineup. "Christian makes every lineup better," Counsell said. "But we're doing fine. I like this lineup. Eric Thames has done a nice job… Having said that, we want 'Yeli' in the lineup for sure." NELSON TO PITCH SUNDAY: Jimmy Nelson will make a minor-league rehab start Sunday for Class AAA San Antonio as he resumes his comeback from shoulder surgery in Sept. 2017. Nelson originally was slated to make that first outing for the Missions the previous Sunday but left the club to go to Houston for the premature birth of twin daughters. The Brewers are taking a start-by-start approach to accessing Nelson's progress toward returning to major leagues. GUERRA'S FATHER PASSES AWAY: The father of Junior Guerra passed away in Venezuela after a long illness. Guerra recently left the club to return home to be with his father and pay his final respects and say his goodbyes. He will remain with the team now. "Junior went on bereavement on the last road trip and this was the reason for it," Counsell said. "It was his wish to see his father when he was alive. That was important to him and I'm so happy he made that decision. For him, it was the right thing to do." GONZALEZ TAKES A SPILL: Gonzalez did a belly flop at first base taking a low flip from Thames on a grounder by Wheeler with two down in the fifth and lay sprawled on the ground for a few moments. But he recorded the out and was helped off with a big smile on his face. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Brewers 4, Mets 3 (18): Ryan Braun settles marathon of futility with two-run single to win it Related slideshow: 2019 MLB season (Provided by imagn)


News of Carson Wentz 's new contract in Philadelphia raised immediate questions regarding the contract eventually to be given to Rams quarterback Jared Goff , who was taken one spot in front of Wentz in the 2016 draft. But Wentz's deal has more immediate relevance to a quarterback drafted far later than the first two selections. The Cowboys selected Dak Prescott with the 135th pick in the 2016 draft, behind Goff, Wentz, Paxton Lynch (No. 26), Christian Hackenberg (No. 51), Jacoby Brissett (No. 91), Cody Kessler (No. 93), and Connor Cook (No. 100). Prescott has started 48 of 48 regular-season games, and he has led the Cowboys to the playoffs twice. This year, the Cowboys beat the Seahawks and quarterback Russell Wilson before losing to the Rams and Goff. Prescott also has a 3-2 record against Wentz. Because Prescott wasn't a first-round pick, his contract expires after the 2019 season. Which puts him in line for the franchise tag in February, barring a long-term deal. The Cowboys have been trying to get Prescott to sign a new contract, but the Cowboys have said they want him to accept a team-friendly deal . Aiding the argument is the fact that being the quarterback of the Cowboys has real value, from increased exposure (Dallas games always generate huge ratings) to enhanced endorsement deals to a potential path to a post-playing career in the broadcast booth. If Wentz, who has never played in a playoff game because he has suffered season-ending injuries in consecutive Decembers, has a value of $32 million per year in new money, what is Prescott worth? Is he worth the four-year, $128 million extension that Wentz received? If so, that would put Prescott under contract for five years and $130 million, an average at signing of $26 million per year. But would that be enough for Prescott? A five-year, $130 million contract would still put him behind the likes of Jimmy Garoppolo and Kirk Cousins in total value at signing. The problem for the Cowboys and Prescott comes from his low contract-year salary. To get to $30 million per year in total value at signing, Prescott would need a four-year, $148 million extension. That would result in a new-money average of $37 million per year, a new record high by $2 million per year. So how about $28 million per year in total value at signing, like Kirk Cousins? That would require a four-year, $138 million extension. Which would equate to a new-money average of $34.5 million   just behind Wilson at $35 million annually. The Cowboys surely aren't interested in making that kind of an offer. Should Prescott be penalized because the rookie wage scale sticks him at $2 million for 2019? Should the Cowboys rip up the current deal without regard to what Prescott is due to make and replace the obsolete contract with one that better reflects his current value? If the Cowboys won't do it, Prescott could choose to hold firm, refusing all team-friendly offers and playing the Kirk Cousins franchise-tag game, making roughly $25 million for 2020 and roughly $30 million for 2021 before forcing the Cowboys to choose between paying him $43.2 million for 2022 or letting him become a free agent. That would be $98.2 million for three years, an average of $32.7 million per year. But then Prescott would undoubtedly hit the open market, while still only 29 years old. The real question is whether Prescott will be willing to say "no" to the best offer the Cowboys put on the table, choosing instead to carry the injury risk on a year-to-year basis. It's one thing to want this number or that number in the abstract. That all changes when the team presents the player and his agents with a giant pile of life-altering money, forcing the player to choose between getting paid a lot now or getting paid (or not paid) a lot more later.


After having to wait a couple weeks to officially acquire him, the Timberwolves have officially signed Jarrett Culver to his rookie contract, tweets Darren Wolfson of SKOR North. The team tweeted out photos of Culver putting pen to paper. Minnesota agreed to acquire Culver in a draft-night trade with the Suns, parting with Dario Saric to move up from No. 11 to No. 6 for the Texas Tech swingman. Because Phoenix required cap room to absorb Saric's salary, the two teams had to wait until after the July moratorium to finalize the deal. Culver, who declared for the draft after his sophomore season, averaged 18.5 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 3.7 APG and 1.5 SPG with a .461/.304/.707 shooting line in 38 contests last season for the Red Raiders, leading the team to an appearance in the national championship game. On his first NBA contract, Culver is projected to earn about $5.8M in his rookie season and $26.4M if he plays out the full four-year deal. As our list of draft pick signings show, 24 of 30 first-rounders have now officially signed their rookie contracts, including every player selected in the top 12.


Read on for the most recent top news you may have missed in Chicago. Lake Michigan has swallowed up 2 Chicago beaches this summer. Lake Michigan is nearing a monthly record for the third month in a row. Forecasters don't expect July to break the all-time record, but above average precipitation has still had a major impact on the shoreline of Chicago. Read the full story on Chicago Tribune . 'Six,' the sold-out musical at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, is heading to Broadway "Six" is headed to Broadway. Read the full story on Chicago Tribune . Chicago Furniture Bank helps fill empty homes The Chicago Furniture Bank is helping families at risk for homelessness furnish their empty homes. Read the full story on ABC Chicago, WLS . Chicago food cart vendors celebrate tamale makers's license after lengthy wait It's been a struggle for the Street Vendors Association of Chicago. Read the full story on Eater Chicago . Itch-inducing news for Chicagoans: City ranked among 10 worst in country for bugs that can spread disease Chicago makes it onto a lot of lists. The latest one is not only creepy-crawly, but suggests Chicagoans are among those at highest risk of West Nile virus and Lyme Disease. Read the full story on Chicago Tribune . This story was created automatically using data about news stories on social media from CrowdTangle , then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


The Indianapolis Colts wore full pads again on Sunday at the Grand Park Sports Complex in Westfield as the first week of training camp practice came to a close. If you couldn't make it to the fourth training camp practice or simply want a recap of Sunday, here's how it went down on July 28 for the Colts: Andrew Luck returned following a rest day It appears Andrew Luck has his pads and is ready for today. - Jake Arthur (@JakeArthurNFL) July 28, 2019 A few other important guys returned as well Jack Doyle, T.Y. Hilton and Anthony Castonzo are all back today as scheduled as well. #Colts - George Bremer (@gmbremer) July 28, 2019 RBs get some work in keeping the pads low pic.twitter.com/nzp4gPnYH1 - Jake Arthur (@JakeArthurNFL) July 28, 2019 Devin Funchess continues winning in contested catches #colts Devin Funchess continues to make tough catches vs right coverage - Mike Chappell (@mchappell51) July 28, 2019 Parris Campbell beats Jalen Collins for a red-zone TD Not often a guy creates this amount of separation in this part of the field. Hello, Parris Campbell. pic.twitter.com/OpC4HxydM7 - Kevin Bowen (@KBowen1070) July 28, 2019 Rookie CB Marvell Tell gets an INT in 1v1 work Marvell Tell jumps the route for the interception, pass intended for Penny Hart. - Indy SportsOne (@IndySportsOne) July 28, 2019 Speaking of red zone highlights in 1v1 Other red-zone highlights: Nate Hairston had a nice INT, and undrafted rookie Ashton Dulin made a leaping TD catch. #Colts - George Bremer (@gmbremer) July 28, 2019 Luck was inconsistent in 7-on-7s Much more inconsistent start for Luck today. He's 5-11 in first 7-on-7 work. TD to Deon Cain. INT by Rock Ya-Sin on a pass that deflected off Krishawn Hogan's hands. #Colts - George Bremer (@gmbremer) July 28, 2019 Rock Ya-Sin had two picks 7v7 Not one but two picks for rookie Rock Ya-Sin today in practice. He's *always* around the ball. - Zak Keefer (@zkeefer) July 28, 2019 Ben Banogu continues showing flashes of potential LeRaven Clark has struggled against Ben Banogu. Rookie pass rusher has given him fits - Joel A. Erickson (@JoelAErickson) July 28, 2019 Cornerbacks dominating Day 4 Couple takeaways from today's ongoing Colts practice: 1. I LOVE this group of corners. They are deep, talented, athletic and opportunistic. They continue to shine. 2. Parris Campbell is a much more advanced route runner than he should be at this stage. Possible star. - Stephen Holder (@HolderStephen) July 28, 2019 Second-round rookies get attended to Parris Campbell with his right leg wrapped, looks like his day is done. Rock Ya-Sin has been down for about 5-10 minutes on the sideline with his right cleat off. He hobbled off after a team drill rep. - Kevin Bowen (@KBowen1070) July 28, 2019 Chad Kelly showing some life at training camp Chad Kelly coming to life. A couple of nice throws downfield. One to Nyheim Hines and another to Krishawn Hogan. Even threw in a little jump throw at the end. #Colts - George Bremer (@gmbremer) July 28, 2019 Rock Ya-Sin returned Now Rock Ya-Sin is back in action on the field - Joel A. Erickson (@JoelAErickson) July 28, 2019 Darius Leonard is playing fast…shocker Back-to-back plays blown up by Darius Leonard. Ran across the field to break up a third-down pass to Nyheim Hines on the sideline. Then shut down a pass to T.Y. Hilton at the line of scrimmage. #Colts - George Bremer (@gmbremer) July 28, 2019 The Colts wrap up Week 1 of training camp and will have Monday off before returning Tuesday morning. MORE: LeBron was so pumped about Bronny's championship-sealing dunk Packers impressed with Rashan Gary's effort early at training camp Emmanuel Butler starting to steal the show at Saints training camp 49ers rookie WR Jalen Hurd part of 2 practice scuffles Tom Brady disobeys Bill Belichick at practice, and suffers the consequences


LSU unveiled a lavish new locker room for its football team last week, complete with arcade games, a high-tech ventilation system and sleeping pods inspired by first-class air travel. It cost $28 million. It's very nice. Setting The Standard pic.twitter.com/d7QUJfKL6M   LSU Football (@LSUfootball) July 22, 2019 The renovations were made courtesy of funds raised by the Tiger Athletic Foundation and a $1 million donation from Kansas City Chiefs safety and former Tiger Tyrann Mathieu. Backlash toward spending While players on the hype video appeared stoked, others were not. Carolina Panthers safety and former Tiger Eric Reid blasted the spending on facilities for players who don't get paid . Professors were irked , pointing to educational facilities that need attention. Some students shared the sentiment, loathing having "to beg" for funding for campus upgrades. Campaign for new library One LSU alum looked to capitalize on the attention surrounding the locker room launching a GoFundMe page to raise money for the dilapidated campus library . Ambitious goal for library Ginger Gibson Burk launched the campaign on Thursday. From the GoFundMe page : We all love our football team. We are proud of the work they do every day to represent our school. We are happy that donors stepped forward to provide them world-class facilities. Now its time the rest of us step forward to provide a world-class facility for the entire student body. The idea appears to be to contrast the willingness of donors to shell out hordes of cash for a locker room to school facilities that have been neglected. The goal of the campaign? $20 million. As of the time of this post created 10 hours after the creation of the GoFundMe page, the campaign had raised $1,527. More from Yahoo Sports: Kawhi discusses decision to sign with Clippers Colts preview: Indy quiet in offseason but still potent Report: Titans give record extension to S Byard Yankees great Rivera defends support of Trump Related slideshow: Ranking the 10 best college football mascots (provided by For The Win)


Washington announced it signed offensive tackle Adam Bisnowaty on Thursday. The team waived offensive tackle Chidi Okeke in a corresponding move. Bisnowaty, 25, has played one career regular-season game, seeing action in a 2017 game for the Giants. The Giants made him a sixth-round draft pick in 2017. The team waived him out of the preseason, but he returned to the practice squad and ended up earning a late-season promotion to the 53-player roster. He also has spent time with the Lions, Panthers and Vikings, including a stint on Minnesota's practice squad last year. The Vikings cut him May 8. Okeke signed with Washington on April 30 as an undrafted rookie out of Tennessee State.


Trump administration adviser Lynne Patton said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's bid to raise money for re-election off his "Cocaine Mitch" moniker isn't funny or appropriate. "It's almost like making drugs cool, and they're not," Patton said in a Friday interview with Bold TV . "Not to sound like Nancy Reagan, but drugs are not cool, just so you know." Patton, an administrator in the Department of Housing and Urban Development, said McConnell's embrace of the nickname is insensitive to people suffering from drug addiction. Patton has openly discussed her struggle with substance abuse and addiction. "I think depending on what day it is, whether or not Mitch McConnell is a friend of the president, but as somebody who has personally struggled with cocaine addiction, I don't think that that is funny or appropriate, I wouldn't endorse that on any side of the aisle," Patton said. McConnell's re-election campaign tweeted Thursday that it had its biggest fundraising day after offering to sell "Cocaine Mitch" red t-shirts on the Kentucky Republican's campaign website. The website urges supporters to "join the 'Team Mitch Cartel'" by purchasing the $35 shirts, and donating up to $2,800 per election. Former U.S. Senate candidate Don Blankenship, a West Virginia coal executive, started the "Cocaine Mitch" moniker in a campaign ad. The nickname refers to debunked allegations that drugs were found aboard a commercial cargo ship owned by the family of McConnell's wife, Elaine Chao, the secretary of the Transportation Department.