NATIONAL HARBOR, MD   The 92nd annual Scripps National Spelling Bee is here, and one Baltimore student is competing this year. He's among 20 Maryland spellers vying to become the nation's preeminent speller as 560 children from all 50 states participate. Preliminary multiple-choice tests were held Monday, May 27. Onstage spelling competitions will be held all day Tuesday and Wednesday, with finalists competing Thursday, May 30. No more than 50 spellers will advance to the finals Thursday. The event is held at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland. The champion will receive a $50,000 prize. Here is the contestant from Baltimore: Henry Turner Age: 12 Grade: 6th Speller number: 165 Town: Baltimore School: Friends School of Baltimore Fun fact: He's been an origami enthusiast since he was seven years old. Interested viewers can watch every word Wednesday on the Watch ESPN app. Finalists will begin spelling on stage at 10 a.m. Thursday, and this part of the competition will air live on ESPN 2. After the field is narrowed down to roughly a dozen finalists, ESPN will air the spelling bee finals live Thursday night. Patch national staffer Dan Hampton contributed to this report.


Italian airline Alitalia has apologized for a promotional video that featured an actor in blackface portraying former US President Barack Obama. The video was made as part of an advertising campaign for the flag carrier's new Rome-Washington route, and was posted on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. The airline has removed the video and apologized after receiving complaints. "Alitalia deeply apologizes for the offense caused by the promotional video on our Washington route," tweeted Alitalia. "It has since been removed. For our company, respect for everyone is mandatory, it was never our intention to hurt anyone and we will learn from what has happened." Blackface refers to darkening one's complexion using paint or makeup. In the United States, the racist practice has its roots in 19th century minstrel shows but it also appeared in Europe. The use of blackface in the video produced a backlash on social media. "This @Alitalia video showcasing a silent blackfaced "Obama" is reprehensive on so many levels: racism, extreme provincialism, willful ignorance of facts, lack of historic knowledge," tweeted one user. "When your social media/ marketing team has no idea about the state of the world today. And the award goes to... @Alitalia," tweeted another. The controversy is the latest in a string of race controversies that have landed major brands in hot water. In February, Italian fashion house Gucci apologized and discontinued a sweater that social media users said resembles blackface because of its design. That same month, singer Katy Perry's eponymous fashion brand also pulled two shoe designs after criticism that they featured racist imagery. And in December 2018, luxury fashion house Prada withdrew products from its Pradamalia line after images surfaced of some merchandise depicting monkey-like figures with black faces and large red lips. RELATED VIDEO: Airline apologizes to family after teen put on wrong plane (via ABC News)


If Rob Gronkowski isn't spiking footballs for the New England Patriots at the beginning of the season, there's a good chance he won't be spiking late in the season, either, according to NFL analyst and former Detroit Lion Andre Fluellen. The legendary tight end appears to be basking in the speculation surrounding his retirement. During a role-playing segment on The Rich Eisen Show , Gronkowski was asked if he'd consider returning to football if he received a phone call from Patriots quarterback Tom Brady asking him to come back to the team. "Call me when you get to the playoffs," Gronkowski cracked. What was likely a punchline to a playful segment stirred up a media storm of multiple analysts openly searching for real meaning behind the comment. It simply proved there are a bunch of people still out there not ready to concede that Gronkowski is done with football. But what if he wasn't joking? What if Gronkowski really was willing to come out of retirement if Brady picked up the phone? On NFL Total Access, Fluellen argued that coach Bill Belichick would be the one to intervene if the future Hall of Famer opted to return in the middle of the season. He was even snazzy enough to use an X-Men reference to explain his reasoning. "One of my favorite movies is X-Men, and I remember Mystique protecting Magneto from taking a weapon and he would have lost his powers," said Fluellen. "She lost her powers. She tried to go back with him, and Magneto said, 'You're not one of us anymore, you can't come with us.' Bill Belichick is Magneto. He's not letting Gronk come back in the middle of the season to mess up what they have going on. It's not going to happen." . @RobGronkowski : "Call me when [the @Patriots ] are in the playoffs." Is a comeback in the works? (via @NFLTotalAccess ) pic.twitter.com/Hc5h7fgzJG - NFL (@NFL) July 6, 2019 It's a bit of a stretch to say Gronkowski will have lost his powers in less than a year of making one of the game-winning plays of Super Bowl LIII, especially if he's still working out and staying in shape. An often forgotten fact is Belichick calling up running back Steven Jackson off the couch to come play with the Patriots near the end of the 2015 season. Jackson appeared in two playoff games and even rushed for a touchdown before permanently retiring. So Belichick isn't opposed to looking to the past for help when it's really needed. Not to mention Gronkowski has more Super Bowl rings than Mystique. A handful of metal is something Belichick and Magneto could both appreciate, especially if it helps them achieve their goal of world domination. (Insert evil laugh.) MORE: UFC fighter Ben Askren had an excellent response to getting knocked out in 5 seconds Five potential Russell Westbrook trade destinations WATCH: Jorge Masvidal Knocks Out Ben Askren in Five Seconds Baker Mayfield and Emily Wilkinson tie the knot Watch: Luke Kuechly breaks down film on Saquon Barkley for 'All or Nothing'


With additional evidence, a jury likely would not have convicted a Cincinnati man who has been on death row for more than two decades, a federal judge said in overturning that conviction. Genesis Hill was 19 years old when he was convicted, in 1991, of aggravated murder in the death of his infant daughter, Domika. Hill was sentenced to death. But new evidence, including an affidavit from the forensic pathologist who testified at Hill's trial, points to Domika's death being accidental, not a homicide, according to an opinion by U.S. District Judge Edmund Sargus Jr. Sargus directed the state, within 180 days, to either grant the 46-year-old Hill a new trial or release him from prison. The Ohio Attorney General's Office has filed a motion to stay Sargus' April 24 decision and intends to appeal. The appeal process is expected to take several years. A key factor in Sargus' decision: Amy Martin, the Hamilton County deputy coroner who performed Domika's autopsy, made "significant revisions to the expert opinion she offered at trial." In a March 2016 affidavit, Martin said based on new scientific literature she now believes Domika's head injuries were more consistent with the infant being crushed in a fall and were not "inflicted impacts." The 6-month-old girl died after suffering three skull fractures. Domika's head injuries, Martin said, were "very consistent" with statements by Hill's attorney that Hill had fallen off a retaining wall while holding the infant   "in such a way that his knee crushed Domika's head." The pattern of the skull fractures, she added, was "much less consistent with direct blows to the head usually seen in abusive head trauma." Martin also noted in her affidavit that she was "dismayed" after reviewing closing arguments by a Hamilton County assistant prosecutor. The prosecutor asserted that Domika was "shaken very violently," but Martin said that "was not an accurate summary of (her) testimony." SUPPORT LOCAL JOURNALISM: Subscribe today Sargus's opinion also focused on a police report that was withheld from Hill's attorneys during the 1991 trial in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court. An investigator for Hill obtained the report from Cincinnati police several years after the trial. It "cast significant doubt," the opinion says, on the credibility of Hill's girlfriend, Domika's mother, who was the prosecution's key witness. The report "gives rise to a reasonable suspicion" that not only did she know Domika was dead, according to the opinion, but she also knew where the body was   before being found and during a time when she was "purporting to search for her missing daughter." The opinion says the report also indicates Hill's girlfriend "actively undertook to place the blame for the baby's death" on him. According to court documents, Hill's girlfriend claimed she was at her Mount Auburn home with Domika all night, but a bartender testified that she was at a local bar that evening. Hill, who lived down the street, admitted going to the home that night. He said he left after his girlfriend didn't respond when he whistled at her bedroom door. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Judge orders new trial or release of Cincinnati man on death row


Anaheim's weather report has light rainfall ahead for the next week, starting on Sunday, according to drone-powered weather forecasting service Saildrone . Sunday's forecast shows the highest possibility of rain at 87 percent, with expected rainfall of 0.11 inches. The immediate forecast also has mild temperatures in store for today. Temperatures will make way for warmer weather on Thursday, which will reach a high of 71 degrees. Skies will be partly cloudy today and cloudy tomorrow. Winds are expected to reach a modest high of 14 miles per hour on Monday, while today and tomorrow will continue to be calmer. 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.


Citywide Curious just how far your dollar goes in San Francisco? We've rounded up the latest rental listings via rental site Zumper to get a sense of what to expect when it comes to hunting down housing in San Francisco if you don't want to spend more than $2,300/month on rent. Take a look at the listings, below. (Note: prices and availability are subject to change.) Hoodline offers data-driven analysis of local happenings and trends across cities. Links included in this article may earn Hoodline a commission on clicks and transactions. 839 Leavenworth St., #206 (Lower Nob Hill) Here's a studio apartment at 839 Leavenworth St., #206, that's going for $2,295/month. The building offers assigned parking. Pet lovers are in luck: cats and dogs are allowed. The rental doesn't require a leasing fee. Walk Score indicates that this location is extremely walkable, has some bike infrastructure and is a haven for transit riders. (Check out the complete listing here .) 1025 Sutter St. (Lower Nob Hill) Next, check out this 292-square-foot studio that's located at 1025 Sutter St. It's also listed for $2,295/month. In the unit, you'll get hardwood floors and a dishwasher. The building offers an elevator, on-site laundry and secured entry. Cats and dogs are not allowed. The rental doesn't require a leasing fee. According to Walk Score's assessment, the area around this address is extremely walkable, is quite bikeable and boasts excellent transit options. (Take a look at the complete listing here .) 890 Bush St. (Nob Hill) Located at 890 Bush St., here's a studio that's listed for $2,295/month. In the unit, you can expect hardwood floors, stainless steel appliances and a dishwasher. The building boasts on-site laundry, an elevator and additional storage space. Feline companions are permitted. There isn't a leasing fee associated with this rental. Per Walk Score ratings, the area around this address is extremely walkable, is fairly bikeable and boasts excellent transit options. (Check out the complete listing here .) 184 Funston Ave. (Inner Richmond) Listed at $2,290/month, this studio is located at 184 Funston Ave. In the single-family home, you can expect hardwood floors and a walk-in closet. Building amenities include on-site laundry. Pets are not welcome. Per Walk Score ratings, this location is a "walker's paradise," is convenient for biking and boasts excellent transit options. (See the complete listing here .) Better dentistry does exist Not all dentists in San Francisco provide you with the same experience, which is why we make your life easier by rewarding you with a $50 gift card for visiting one of the top rated dentists in your area on Opencare. Don't believe us? Opencare is also proud to offer a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee™, so if your new dentist doesn't live up to the hype, we'll also reimburse you up to $100 to cover your appointment costs! Click here to book an appointment and claim your $50 reward → 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.


A new fitness center is going up in one Maine community as part of AARP's 60th anniversary. To celebrate this milestone, it is building a fitness park in each state. The community receiving this fitness park in Maine is Bangor. The older we get, the harder it is to stay active. "The older I get the more I sit, though," Bangor resident, George Burgoyne said. He's staying active by volunteering to build this park. He says this is great for the city of Bangor. "Bangor's growing, I can remember it in the 60s when everything was torn down," he said. But also great for the people that live here. "The healthier people are, the less medical bills they have, the better they feel so it's a win, win," he said. AARP representatives say Bangor was chosen because of its commitment to being a livable community for people of all ages. "Bangor is one of the communities where we're really focused and working towards the age friendly process to be more livable," Lori Parham of AARP Maine said. Not only is there going to be a new park on Broadway in Bangor, there is going to be fitness classes. Parham says those classes will be kind of like crossfit. "So it's not just putting the park in place but it's ensuring that folks that want to use the park can come out, learn how to use the equipment appropriately," she said. Keeping our bodies active while we age, helps with our minds too. And doing it in a community setting is also positive. "It's also about social isolation. It's about getting out of your house, being part of your community, being part of your neighborhood," Morie Smile, with AARP's national office said. AARP will hold an official ribbon cutting on Friday.


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The number of Americans filing applications for unemployment benefits was unchanged last week, suggesting the labor market remains on solid footing despite slowing economic activity. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits were unchanged at a seasonally adjusted 218,000 for the week ended June 1, the Labor Department said on Thursday. Data for the prior week was revised to show 3,000 more applications received than previously reported. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast claims would be unchanged at 215,000 in the latest week. The Labor Department said no states were estimated. The four-week moving average of initial claims, considered a better measure of labor market trends as it irons out week-to-week volatility, fell 2,500 to 215,000 last week. The claims data has no bearing on May's employment report, which is scheduled for release on Friday. According to a Reuters survey of economists, nonfarm payrolls likely increased by 185,000 jobs in May after surging by 263,000 in April. The pace of job growth is well above the roughly 100,000 needed per month to keep up with growth in the working age population. The unemployment rate is forecast to be unchanged near a 50-year low of 3.6 percent. Sustained labor market strength is seen supporting growth amid signs that economic activity is slowing after a temporary boost from volatile exports and inventory accumulation in the first quarter. Manufacturing production and home sales slumped in April, and consumer spending increased moderately. The Atlanta Federal Reserve is forecasting gross domestic product rising at a 1.3% pace in the second quarter. The economy grew at a 3.1% annualized rate in the January-March quarter. Thursday's claims report also showed the number of people receiving benefits after an initial week of aid rose 20,000 to 1.68 million for the week ended May 25. The four-week moving average of the so-called continuing claims slipped 1,000 to 1.67 million. (Reporting by Lucia Mutikani Editing by Paul Simao)


We?re turning to updated versions of our old favorites, like mac and cheese, tomato soup and pancakes. They have everything we love about the classic recipes, with a little extra sophistication. Jalapeño and Avocado Mac and Cheese Our kid selves would have balked at all the green in our mac and cheese. But as adults, we love the contrast of spicy jalapeño and creamy avocado. Get the recipe Crispy Baked Chicken Tenders Chicken nuggets are basically only acceptable under the age of 12. But these chicken tenders  with a few grown-up ingredients like cayenne pepper and sesame seeds are for everyone. Get the recipe Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta with Chicken Meatballs Coterie member Gaby Dalkin took one of our all-time favorite dinners and kicked it up a notch. Her creamy, sun-dried tomato sauce will make you swear off the jarred stuff forever. Get the recipe Blackberry-Peach Grilled Cheese Why use Kraft singles in your grilled cheese when you can have fontina, Emmentaler and goat cheese? We also recommend ditching the white bread in favor of this crisp sourdough. Get the recipe French Toast Sticks We have fond memories of eating frozen French toast sticks while watching Saturday morning cartoons. This update is a little more sophisticated (think: honey-vanilla syrup for dipping) but we won't blame you if you switch on the Looney Tunes anyway. Get the recipe Salted Caramel and Chocolate Rice Krispie Treats We're of the opinion that salted caramel and chocolate have the potential to make anything better, and Rice Krispie Treats are no exception. (Plus, they pack up fabulously for a potluck or cookout.) Get the recipe Vegan Sloppy Joes We're a little more health conscious these days, which means amping up the plant-based proteins. But that doesn't mean giving up our favorite dishes. This Sloppy Joe recipe subs in lentils for beef, and we promise, you'll never know the difference. Get the recipe Paleo Air-Fryer Fish Sticks Fish sticks are undeniably retro, but this version is about as modern as it gets it's made in the air fryer and uses tapioca starch and almond flour to keep it totally Paleo-friendly. The good news is that the end result is as crispy and comforting as we remember. Get the recipe Pizza with Butternut Squash Sneaking in an extra veggie in place of marinara sauce definitely would not have flown with us when we were kids. But now, we love the surprising sweetness it brings to our pies. Get the recipe No-Churn Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Mint chip has been a big favorite since the days we chased after the ice cream truck. This grown-up version features real mint instead of the artificial stuff, and homemade chocolate chips to take it over the top. Get the recipe Smoky Tomato Soup Coterie member Maria Lichty jazzes up this classic tomato soup with roasted red peppers and smoky paprika. You'll want to eat it with fancy grilled cheese , of course. Get the recipe Lemon Ricotta Pancakes with Blueberry Sauce Everyone should have a go-to pancake recipe, and this is ours. The ricotta keeps the pancakes extra fluffy, and we love the classic combination of lemon and blueberry. Get the recipe Espresso Chocolate Chip Cookies Turns out that a sugar rush has nothing on a caffeine rush. These cookies combine the two for the perfect afternoon pick-me-up. Get the recipe Boozy Lemonade Granita When we were kids, we always craved a cool glass of lemonade on a hot day. Not much has changed, except that now we like to blend it with ice and spike it with vodka or gin. Get the recipe Ultimate Chicken Noodle Soup Just like Granny used to make, except that this version has a little serrano chile for heat and a runny poached egg on top. We promise: It will cure whatever ails you. Get the recipe RELATED: 24 Old-School Recipes Your Italian Grandma Used to Make


WOBURN, England - Gordon Brand Jr. was his typical self two weeks ago at the Open Championship at Royal Portrush. "What do you know?" he said as he sat down to breakfast in the media center. "The usual: nothing." "No change there, then," Brand replied. "I don't know why I even ask you anymore. You're as useless as ever." Brandie, as he was known to his friends, liked a bit of banter, actually a lot of banter, and could give it as well as take it. "And I suppose you're a font of all knowledge?" "No, same as you," he replied. "I know nothing too." "That's probably why we're sitting together." "Yup," he said. Hard to believe this likeable guy has departed to that great clubhouse in the sky at age 60. He looked fit as the proverbial fiddle at Portrush while working as an on-course color commentator for The Open Radio. Born in 1958 in Kirkcaldy, Scotland, Brand knew how to play the game and play it well. You only had to listen to club on ball to know this guy was as pure a ball striker to play the Euro circuit in the 1980s and '90s. He won eight times on the European Tour, and twice on the European senior circuit, the Staysure Tour. He played in two Ryder Cups, appearing in the victorious 1987 team at Muirfield Village, and the 1989 team that retained the trophy at The Belfry with a 14-14 draw. He was popular with everyone on Tour: players, journalists and officials alike. No surprise that tributes came pouring in through Twitter on the news of his death. "Heartbroken to hear of the passing of Gordon Brand Jnr one of my dearest friends for over 40 years, I will miss you RIP," tweeted Sam Torrance, Brand's Ryder Cup partner. Justin Rose added: "So sad… I remember watching him play as a kid for the first time at the @BMWPGA and getting his signed golf ball on the 18 th hole. #RIPGBjnr." Thomas Bjorn chipped in, "When I came on Tour in 1996 this was one of the men that helped me understand what it was all about. A great man, a great friend, that has left us way too early. Thank you Junior for everything. RIP." Fellow Scot Ken Brown took time out to remember Brand while working as an on-course commentator at this week's $4.1 million AIG Women's British Open at Woburn. "Great player, great guy and so, so sad to hear of his passing," said Brown, who played with Brand on the victorious 1987 European Ryder Cup team. "He loved a laugh and a good story and was great company. Can't believe he's gone." This writer can't believe he's gone either. The breakfast conversation was one of several I had during the Open Championship, one of too many to mention over the years. My fellow Scot revelled in taking the mickey out of me every chance he got. Not just me, but many others too. Yet while he was one of the most affable and approachable players I dealt with during my career, he didn't suffer fools gladly. Brandie wasn't afraid to speak his mind when something was amiss, like the Spanish tournament when he took a popular local pro to task for being, shall we say, a little lax with the rules. Said player was disqualified after Brand reported him, and local galleries booed the Scot for the final two rounds as a result. "Was it worth it?" I once asked him. "Absolutely," he said. "You've got to play the game the way it's meant to be played, otherwise why play?" Brandie played the game the way it was meant to be played. He lived his life the way it was meant to be lived, not taking himself or others too seriously but glad to be making a living doing something he loved. R.I.P. Brandie. https://compass.pressekompass.net/compasses/golfweek/the-pga-tour-season-ends-aug-25%2033 MORE: Baker Mayfield's sassy response to Jets' trash talk won over the Browns offensive line Winners and losers from first week of Raiders training camp Packers coach Matt LaFleur sidelines Josh Jones after practice fight Roundup: Why Whitney Cummings Left Roseanne, MLB Trade Deadline Grades, Hulk Hogan Big WWE Role? Instant observations from Day 7 of Patriots training camp


It's the grandaddy of modern music festivals and it's still going strong. Book your trip to Chicago from Aug. 1-4 for this year's Lollapalooza . Headline acts include The Strokes, Childish Gambino and Ariana Grande, but over 170 acts from all over the world will play the festival's eight stages. Offstage look for plenty of food and drinks, merch and kid-friendly offerings, along with space for visual arts. The festival plays out in Grant Park, nestled in the Windy City's Loop overlooking Lake Michigan and convenient to the city's vast cultural and culinary offerings. Whether you're ready to book your trip now or just wondering what it would cost, take a look at these forthcoming flights between Phoenix and Chicago, which we pulled from travel site Skyscanner . We've also included popular hotels, restaurants, and attractions in Chicago, to round out any visit. (Prices and availability are current as of publication and subject to change.) Hoodline offers data-driven analysis of local happenings and trends across cities. Links included in the articles may earn Hoodline a commission on clicks and transactions. Flight deals to Chicago The cheapest flights between Phoenix and Chicago are if you leave on Aug. 1 and return from Illinois on Aug. 7. Delta currently has roundtrip, nonstop tickets for $247. If you fly out of Phoenix on Aug. 1 and return from Chicago on Aug. 6, Sun Country Airlines can get you there and back for $312 roundtrip. Top Chicago accommodations To plan your accommodations, here are some of Chicago's top-rated hotels, according to Skyscanner, that we selected based on price, proximity to things to do and customer satisfaction. The Palmer House a Hilton House (17 E. Monroe St.) If you're looking for an inexpensive place to stay, consider The Palmer House a Hilton House . The hotel has a 4.5-star rating on Skyscanner, and rooms are currently available for $92. The hotel is within walking distance of the best attractions the city of Chicago has to offer, like Millennium Park, Grant Park, Lake Michigan, the Art Institute of Chicago, the theater district and the Magnificent Mile. The James Chicago (55 E. Ontario St.) There's also the 4.9-star rated The James Chicago , which has rooms for $116/night. The James Chicago is centrally located on the corner of Rush and Ontario, steps from Chicago's famous Michigan Avenue shopping district, Millennium Park and renowned museums. The Raffaello Hotel (201 E. Delaware Place) A third option is The Raffaello Hotel . With a five-star rating on Skyscanner, the hotel is one of the most luxurious in the city. Rooms are currently listed for $99/night. Set in the heart of Chicago, this hotel is close to the Hancock Building, Water Tower Place and the Tribune Tower. Local restaurant picks If you're looking to snag a bite at one of Chicago's many quality eateries, here are a few popular culinary destinations from Skyscanner's listings that will help keep you satiated. Giordano's (730 N. Rush St.) If you're looking for a local favorite, head to Giordano's , which has an average of 4.3 stars out of 113 reviews on Skyscanner. "It's tasty and within walking distance from hotels and parks," wrote visitor Ulani. "I got cheese curds, which were yummy. The minestrone soup was chock-full of veggies and tasty. The pizza, as always, was crisp on the crust and ooeey-gooey inside." The Signature Room at the 95th (875 N. Michigan Ave.) Another popular dining destination is The Signature Room at the 95th , with 4.5 stars from 65 reviews. The Signature Room at the 95th, atop the John Hancock Center, offers diners a 360-degree skyline view, with floor-to-ceiling windows. Enjoy a lunch buffet Monday through Saturday, in addition to the à la carte lunch menu. Dinner is served nightly and features seafood, steaks and chops. "I love this place for the food and the awesome views of Chicago," wrote reviewer geminitraveller. "The classy and cozy ambiance is perfect for a romantic date. It's an expensive place but worth the spend for the unforgettable experience." The Purple Pig (500 N. Michigan Ave.) Also worth considering is The Purple Pig . A collaboration among four top chefs, the Purple Pig specializes in "cheese, swine and wine." "Every dish was delicious," wrote Maggie. "The fried pig ear came with fried kale, the cheesy broccoli was unique with the tangy cheese sauce, the bone marrow didn't have much bone marrow but came with lots of buttery brioche bread, and meatballs." Ghirardelli Ice Cream & Chocolate Shop (830 N. Michigan Ave.) Finally, there's Ghirardelli Ice Cream & Chocolate Shop . "I love the Ghirardelli ice cream and chocolate selection," wrote Celeny. "The ice cream is the perfect treat for warm summer days." Featured local attractions Not sure what to do in Chicago, besides eat and drink? Here are a few recommendations, provided by Skyscanner. Millennium Park (201 E. Randolph St.) First up is Millennium Park , which is a large public park and is the most famous section of Grant Park. It is home to most of the park's highlights, including the Cloud Gate sculpture, nicknamed The Bean. The park is considered one of the largest green roofs in the world, as it was built on top of parking garages and a railroad yard. "I love Millennium Park in all seasons," wrote visitor Marcia. "My child enjoys going there for movies and dancing events. It's worth going to check out." The Art Institute of Chicago (111 S. Michigan Ave.) The Art Institute of Chicago is another popular destination. It is most famous for its Impressionist and Post-Impressionist collections. Some of the more notable works include Monet's "Haystacks," Toulouse-Lautrec's "Moulin Rouge" and Edward Hopper's "Nighthawks." "It's a simple, quiet indoor space for all ages to relax after shopping or visiting the park," wrote visitor Ulani. "Kids can take part in free workshops, draw, build, read and create a unique journey map for a self-guided museum tour." Willis Tower (233 S. Wacker Drive) Finally, consider checking out Willis Tower . The skyscraper, formerly known as the Sears Tower (a name which is still commonly used), is actually nine square buildings bundled together; an engineering strategy to help the 110-story structure resist Chicago's infamously high winds. When it finished construction in 1974, it was the world's tallest building at 1,451 feet. "There are great views of the city and on a clear day you can see out across Lake Michigan," wrote visitor Yvonne. This story was created automatically using flight, hotel, and local attractions data, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


Flight attendants know more about the ins and outs of air travel than anyone. Here are some secrets that might help you. Second only to pilots , flight attendants are the savviest frequent flyers out there. You may think you know a thing or two about dealing with long flights and how to find cheap tickets , but no one knows the ins and outs of air travel and airline service better than the people who get paid to do it. From dealing with ridiculous passenger complaints to having to resolve all kinds of issues , your flight attendant has quite a bit of knowledge that they're usually more than willing to share. There may be some information, however, that they're less likely to volunteer, but it's useful all the same. Learn how to better navigate the nerve-wracking and often exhausting experience that is air travel with these 24 things your flight attendant won't tell you. Avoid using the call button as much as possible If you don't want your flight attendant to hate you , you should avoid using the call button unless you've had an accident at your seat, such as a spill, or if you have a genuine emergency. If you need something like water or a pillow, try to wait until a flight attendant passes by. Try to handle your own issues first You may very well have the misfortune of irritating passengers sitting near you , but unless you feel immediately unsafe, it's best to try to resolve things yourself before pulling a flight attendant into it. If someone is kicking your seat or causing too much of a disturbance, try to ask them nicely to stop before asking a flight attendant for help. It's illegal to bring your own alcohol on board It's much easier to get drunk at a higher altitude, so it's essential that the flight crew be aware of how much you've had to drink, as well as have some degree of control over it. Serving drinks is only a small part of the job, but it's an important one, as flight attendants would have no way to regulate how much you consume if you were to drink from your own bottle. Drunken passengers can cause quite a bit of mayhem , so this is just as much for your safety as it is for others. They might tamper with your drinks If you ve had a bit too much to drink, your flight attendant reserves the right to cut you off. In order to enforce drink limitations without a fuss, however, some flight attendants have been known to serve a lighter pour when more is requested. First class security isn't always monitored Airport security can be quite the hassle , but it can be more bearable if you know what you're doing. One important thing to keep in mind is that first class lines at security are set up by airlines and not the TSA. If you're a coach passenger, they're a great way to get through the lines quicker, although you should use your discretion. Some airports are more strict than others about enforcing the rules here, and it's more likely to work when there's a rush in the lines as TSA is more concerned with actual security than which line you're in. They get paid less than you think There's a lot more to being a flight attendant than simply serving passengers, and the job is a lot less glamorous than its reputation. While veteran employees may eventually see a better wage, the average flight attendant's annual salary is just about $36,000 with some of the flight crew getting paid as little as $20,000. However, most flight attendants are paid hourly and the hours only count once they're in the air, so even those numbers may be generous. Your headphones are used Blankets, pillows, and headphones are all often sanitized and then repackaged for more passengers to use. If that still sounds a little too gross for you, remember to pack your own pair in your carryon . Lights and windows are for your safety, not comfort Cabin lights aren't adjusted just to suit the flight crew's mood   they're actually a safety measure. During takeoffs and landings at night, lights are dimmed in order to help passengers' eyes adjust to the dark in case they need to evacuate the plane. Your flight attendant may also request that you lift up your window shade for the same reason ; if there's an emergency, you'll be able to see what's going on in order to get yourself to safety. Open window shades also help rescuers see inside the plane in order to better assess the situation. Placing your pets in cargo is a terrible idea It's important to take all the proper precautions when traveling with your pet , and one of the most important precautions would be to avoid cargo travel at all costs. Extreme temperatures and poor ventilation in the cargo hold have been responsible for multiple pet deaths, and noise is completely unregulated down there, which may also cause harm. If you must travel with your pet, pay extra to carry them onto the flight with you or consider taking a drive instead. You can get an upgrade   if you know how to behave Flight attendants have the power to upgrade passengers  seats, but they don t do it very often. Be kind and ask politely for an upgrade if you want one, but also be understanding of the possibility that there may not be one for them to give. Upgrades can only be done after the airplane s doors close, and there aren t always enough seats, or even first-class or business-class meals, to accommodate more passengers. Flight attendants may also be reluctant if their airline requires paperwork to explain the move. Being rude to check-in staff can get you a bad seat The flight crew aren't the only people who can affect your in-flight experience . Check-in staff have a roster of where each passenger sits as well, and they can seat you right next to the bathroom or near a bunch of small children if you annoy them enough. A shorter skirt indicates a more senior flight attendant Flight attendant appearance is quite strictly regulated by airlines, down to the lengths of their skirts. After a flight attendant is done with their probationary period, however, the dress code gets relaxed a little and hemming in the skirt a bit is allowed. You can hand them snacks too With a busy schedule that often involves rushing from gate to gate, flight attendants don t always have time to grab good or healthy snacks for long flights . It may seem unorthodox, but returning the favor and giving snacks to your flight attendant is not only allowed but highly appreciated. If you'd like to tip, ask a few times Most airlines discourage tipping the flight crew, but they don't outright ban it. Many have instructed their employees to turn down the first attempt at tipping, so make sure you ask once or twice more. If you'd rather not go through the back and forth with your flight attendant, you can also consider leaving the tip in an envelope on your seat before you leave, either writing what it is on the envelope or letting a crew member know. Bring a pen with you if you're traveling overseas In addition to a viable passport , you want to always remember to bring a pen when flying abroad. You will most likely have to fill out a customs form upon landing, and scrambling for a pen might hold you up. The flight crew may pass out some forms during the flight, but they may not have enough writing utensils, so it's always a good thing to be old school and remember to bring a pen along with your electronics. Your tray tables are disgusting With so many flight delays, maintenance checks, and other interruptions and disruptions, sanitation can often fall by the wayside and your airplane may not be as clean as you d hope . Unfortunately, flight attendants often don t have the time to disinfect these bacteria-ridden trays, so you may want to bring your own sanitary wipes to get the job done yourself. Your electronics can kill you While most passengers understand that they have to turn off their cell phones in order to prevent radio interference, many have wondered about why electronics such as laptops and iPads are ordered shut down and stowed away during takeoff and landing. It's actually an important flight safety measure; electronics are potential projectiles and, at hundreds of miles per hour, they can cause serious damage if not secured properly. Avoid baggage fees by bringing your luggage to the gate With more baggage restrictions, it is becoming more and more common for gate agents to request that passengers check in their carry-ons, especially if the flight is full. You can even sneak a bag that's slightly bigger than the dimension limits past your check-in staff, at which point a gate agent may "force" you to check it in since it won't fit in your overheard compartment. You can bring more onto the plane than you realize Most airlines only allow one carry-on suitcase and one personal item, such as a purse, backpack, briefcase, or laptop bag, for each passenger. What you may not realize, however, is that there are many items that don't fall into the "personal item" category and therefore are totally exempt. In addition to food or drink, this includes, umbrellas, hats and jackets   which means you should definitely consider a jacket with impressive pocket space . You're considered heavier during the holiday season The flight crew has to keep track of the weight and balance on a flight as a safety measure, and in the wintertime, each passenger is presumed to be 20 to 30 pounds heavier than in the summer. This is generally due to heavy winter coats being taken into consideration, as well as heavier luggage full of presents and leftovers being taken home . Oxygen masks don't contain a lot of oxygen In the case of an emergency or sudden decompression, should the oxygen masks fall out from the compartment above your seat, it's important to know that they only hold a limited amount. This amount is meant to be enough to allow passengers to breathe as a pilot gets down to a safer altitude, but flight attendants have a portable oxygen tank that they can bring with them throughout the cabin and use to provide more oxygen as needed. They can get into locked bathrooms if needed Whether you're in trouble because you're doing something you're not supposed to do or incapacitated and in need of aid, flight attendants have the ability to unlock an airplane bathroom from the outside in seconds if need be. There's apparently a latch underneath the "occupied" sign that allows them to do so. Don't order coffee or tea A recent study has confirmed this , but flight attendants have known for it for ages. The coffee and tea on board is made using the same hot water you find in the bathroom sinks, and none of it meets hygiene standards, as the water tanks it comes from is not cleaned anywhere near enough. If you'd like some water on board, ask for bottled rather than tap. You can ask for extra snacks If there's enough left after everyone else has been served, there's actually no limit to how many snacks you can enjoy on board . It's advised that you ask nicely, with a please and thank you, as flight attendants do have full discretion over airplane food .


In Chicago's Ukrainian Village, the landmarked St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church at 921 N. Hoyne Avenue has been transformed into nine high-end condo units known as The Revival . Though located in a famously Ukrainian neighborhood, the old church was completed in 1905 by a congregation of German immigrants. Notable architects Henry Worthmann and John Steinbach designed the Gothic Revival style building which later went on to house a Seventh Day Adventist Church before hitting the market . Regency Development Group purchased the property for $1.1 million in 2013, DNAinfo reported at the time. The company originally planned to convert both the church and adjacent St. John School building into a 19-unit condo development known as The Belfry. Regency divided the property into two pieces and focused on the church portion. The conversion has taken some time to complete, partly due to the site becoming a Chicago landmark . The designation required a careful renovation of the 114-year-old structure's masonry and stone exterior and historical stained glass. Inside, older architectural details such as arched windows and exposed brick wall meet contemporary residential finishes. The three- and four-bedroom condos are priced between $579,000 and $1.3 million and include stainless appliances, European style cabinets, oak flooring, custom lighting, and garage parking. The units are on the market now, according to @properties which already sold a handful of residences in the old church. The Revival is the latest example of Chicago's older religious buildings finding new life through adaptive reuse. Recent and notable projects include the conversion of Uptown's Agudas Achim Synagogue into rental units, a performing arts and event space headed to the West Loop's Church of the Epiphany , and a plan to turn Noble Square's St. Boniface Catholic Church into condos.


Liverpool forward Sadio Mane has said that he would 'exchange' his Champions League winners medal to lift the Africa Cup of Nations trophy with Senegal for the first time in the country's history. The forward has enjoyed a sensational year so far, joint-winning the Premier League Golden Boot with 22 goals and lifting the Champions League. Now in Egypt for the Africa Cup of Nations, Mane's Senegal are among the favourites to be crowned continental champions - a feat they have never previously achieved, with the Lions of Teranga only making it as far as the semi-finals in previous editions. Lifting the cup in Cairo on 19 July would cap an incredible and potentially career-defining year for Mane, but all of his accolades so far, it seems AFCON would rank the highest. Speaking to France Football (via GFFN ), Mane said: "It is up to us to achieve something great. Of course, we are one of the favourites, we cannot hide from that. But this standing is not enough to go all the way. "Winning with my country, which has never won the Africa Cup of Nations, that would be magnificent. I am even ready to exchange a Champions League to win an Africa Cup of Nations. The return to Dakar would be extraordinary. This is my biggest and craziest dream." Senegal won their tournament opener 2-0 against Tanzania without captain Mane - who was suspended - and his Champions League medal may not need to be put up as collateral if Aliou Cisse's side maintain their form. In the same interview, Mane also revealed that growing up in Senegal he had little encouragement from his family when it came to football. He added: "Nobody liked football in my family. My mother would chase me every time she saw me playing football. I had to leave the shadow of the palaver tree to find myself in full sunshine. "It was hard for me because I felt a bit lonely. I did not understand why I was not allowed to live my dream."


SAN FRANCISCO  Former Colorado governor John Hickenlooper found a way to stand out at a crowded gathering of California Democrats: He denounced "socialism," and got booed. "If we want to beat Donald Trump and achieve big progressive goals, socialism is not the answer," Hickenlooper said at a Saturday afternoon session of the state party's annual convention. As the jeering grew louder, Hickenlooper added: "You know, if we're not careful, we're going to end up reelecting the worst president in American history." Subscribe to the Post Most newsletter: Today's most popular stories on The Washington Post Hickenlooper's presidential campaign had previewed the remarks hours before he spoke. The Coloradan, who was a geologist and a brewer before entering politics, has repeatedly argued for Democrats to embrace and reform capitalism. In a May op-ed for the Wall Street Journal, he wrote that he was "running to save" the "only economic system that can support a strong middle class." In an interview, Hickenlooper said he had spoken "inartfully," and that he did not mean to single out any of his opponents, though Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is the only self-identified "democratic socialist" seeking the White House. "We've got to clearly show that we reject socialism," Hickenlooper said. "We've got to do that because Republicans will try to make us into socialists even if we're not. If we're not willing to draw a bright line and say we're not socialists, we could quite possibly reelect this president." Some in the audience disagreed with Hickenlooper's thinking. Jonathan Tasini, a labor activist who endorsed Sanders in 2016 and published a book about the senator's ideas, said that Hickenlooper had effectively talked his way out of the 2020 race. Hickenlooper had also been booed for saying that Democrats should not "[remove] private insurance from over a hundred million Americans," a reference to Medicare-for-all legislation. "Every single presidential candidate who came into this hall was treated with respect," Tasini said. "He red-baited us and got down in the mud, and I think it finished him." Hickenlooper's allies saw it differently, speculating that the cold reception at a convention dominated by liberal activists would help distinguish the governor to moderate Democratic voters. Asked how the booing might play on Fox News, which has devoted hours of coverage to the rise of socialists inside the party, Hickenlooper said it would help. "I think what it says is that we are having that discussion as Democrats, and my hope is that we will clearly say, a result of those broadcasts, that Democrats are not socialists," he said. Other Democrats have taken opportunities to distinguish themselves from the party's left flank. Sen. Michael F. Bennet (Colo.), who joined the race last month, told one of his New Hampshire audiences that he had stood and applauded during the State of the Union, when President Trump said that America would "never be a socialist country." "I was the first person out of their chair," Bennet said. "Bernie was right behind me, and he was kind of grimacing . . . [but] what I was trying to do was not allow the president to disqualify Democrats. In my part of the country, when you call somebody a socialist, or when they call themselves socialists, it makes it harder for them to get elected." david.weigel@washpost.com


Rendell, who published more than 60 books, was best known for her psychological thrillers, which delved into the criminal mind. Her works were also adapted for television by the successful series "The Ruth Rendell Mysteries." Rendell's publisher, Penguin Random House, made the announcement shortly after her passing on Saturday morning. "Ruth was much admired by the whole publishing industry for her brilliant body of work," said Gail Rebuck, chair of Penguin Random House UK. "An insightful and elegant observer of society, many of her award-winning thrillers and psychological murder mysteries highlighted the causes she cared so deeply about," she said. Publisher Jean-Claude Berline, the French editor of her upcoming book, said that Rendell was "the last grande dame of the police thriller" after P.D. James' death in 2014. The artist as a detective Rendell's first book "From Doon with Death," published in 1964, introduced her career-spanning character Chief Inspector Reginald Wexford. In an interview with UK periodical The Guardian, Rendell explained that her beloved character was a reflection of herself. "I don't get sick of him because he's me. He's very much me," she told The Guardian. "He doesn't look like me, of course, but the way he thinks and his principles and his ideas and what he likes doing, that's me. So I think you don't get tired of yourself." A career spanning five decades Rendell became a member of the House of Lords in 1997 following then Prime Minister Tony Blair's recommendation. She was awarded four Gold Daggers and a Diamond Dagger from the Crime Writer's Association, one of England's most prestigious literary associations. She also wrote several suspense and psychological novels under the pseudonym Barbara Vine in order to avoid being pigeon-holed as a writer. Her books, spanning a five-decade career, were translated into 25 languages. ls/jil (AP, AFP, dpa)


A federal judge on Tuesday rejected an attempt by President Trump to stave off a lawsuit alleging that he is in violation of the Emoluments Clause. Judge Emmet Sullivan turned down a motion from the Department of Justice (DOJ) for an appeals court to review his previous rulings that the lawsuit, brought forward by roughly 200 Democratic members of Congress, can advance. DOJ lawyers had argued that an appellate court should re-examine the rulings, saying that if the higher court found that the members of Congress did not have the power to sue the president, the lawsuit could be dismissed. They also claimed that if the appeals court sided with their definition of the Emoluments Clause in the lawsuit, the complaint could be significantly narrowed. Sullivan, a Clinton appointee, wrote that "the President has failed to meet his burden of establishing 'that an immediate appeal from the order may materially advance the ultimate termination of the litigation.'" He rejected much of the DOJ's legal reasoning, finding that the cases they cited as examples of where a review by an appeals court was necessary were not similar enough to this lawsuit. The Democrats first filed the lawsuit in 2017, alleging that Trump was in violation of the Constitution by continuing to profit from foreign businesses while he is in office. But the Justice Department, which is representing Trump in the lawsuit, has argued that Trump needs to be directly receiving profits or gifts from foreign governments in exchange for actions he takes as president in order to be in violation of the Emoluments Clause. That clause requires congressional approval of any gifts received by the president from foreign governments. Sullivan also noted in the order that there is an abbreviated schedule in place for filings on the lawsuit, meaning that he could be prepared to make a ruling in about six months.


LOS ANGELES   Mick Cronin knows about all the skepticism. News reports that he wasn't UCLA's first choice as a new head coach. Message boards that balk at his lack of NCAA tournament success at Cincinnati. Pundits who believe his grit-over-flair style won't win over a hard-to-satisfy fanbase. "You know what? It doesn't matter. I don't give a (expletive) about that (expletive)," Cronin told USA TODAY Sports. The 47-year-old isn't the censoring type, and he has no plans to sugarcoat anything   to the media, unrelenting boosters or his players   in this new high-pressure job, which he acknowledges has national title-or-bust expectations. "The noise is louder here," Cronin says, "just like it's louder at Kentucky, louder at North Carolina and louder at Duke. It's a (blue-blood). I deflect criticism and focus on the job. I stay oblivious to it on purpose, and it's liberating. If you want your players to block it out, you have to live it yourself." Cronin is two months into a dream job on a coaching trajectory that began as a junior varsity high school coach at Woodward (Ohio) High School   when a then 21-year-old Cronin would drive single-parent kids home and scrape up car change for the 5-for-$5 deal at Arby's along the way. "As much as I want to win it all here, and I'm in Beverly Hills and all that, it's not going to change who I am as a man and what I'm about," Cronin says. "That's what my players will see in me   not the coach who's on TV yelling at his players, the one who cares about them individually and collectively. The one who will be honest with them and have their back." Cronin sits in an empty office with bare walls and a previous coach's furniture. In one breath he informs assistant coach Michael Lewis (who followed him from Cincinnati along with associate head coach Darren Savino) that's he's nearing a close on a new home to live in as a single parent with his 12-year-old daughter, Samantha. In another breath, he's spitballing an idea to his office assistant about a barbeque for the entire athletic staff to grow camaraderie. He pinballs from topic to topicabout the future, as if he didn't just sign a six-year contract for one of the hardest jobs in America. "Obviously, my goal is to turn this into a winning program, always competing for (Pac-12) conference championships and then winning national championships," Cronin says. "But how it looks on the outside   that this is an impossible job to please the fans   trust me when I say I'll go 10 times harder on myself if I can't win. This idea that I'll feel like we have to win because everybody else wants us to win is a fallacy. We're the ones who are doing this every damn day, who are moving our families across the country. As much as fans want certain things, they don't want it more than we do as coaches and players." Although his tunnel vision is on the 2019-20 season, Cronin admits to googling "UCLA coach" quite often   for the one whose statue resides outside Pauley Pavilion as a symbol of the greatness from 10 national championships. "John Wooden sure as hell wouldn't be looking at message boards or blogs to see how people felt about him or his program," Cronin says with a smirk. "And I won't either." Wooden's towering legacy has made decent coaching tenures   Steve Alford led UCLA to three Sweet 16 appearances in five-plus seasons before a December firing   seem unworthy. Cronin replaced Alford as the 10th full-time coach in Westwood since the late Wooden was on the sidelines from 1948 to 1975. There's been plenty of winning in the years since Wooden retired   the Hall of Famer's nine predecessors won 70% of their games while reaching six Final Fours and winning one national title. But the last five UCLA coaches have all been fired for not meeting expectations, including the program's second-winningest coach   Ben Howland   who led the Bruins to three consecutive Final Fours from 2006 to 2008. Cronin sees Wooden's shadow as more of a gift than a curse, however. "I caught an interview where Coach Wooden was asked about the pressures of those who were following in his footsteps," Cronin says. "He said only the guy who immediately proceeded him (Gene Bartow) would have to deal with that. For anybody else, it's something they have to reconcile within themselves. If they can't do that, it's their own mistake. I think I've come to this program knowing who I am, what I can do and really everything else I've done leading up to this has got me here." Cronin knows his 13-season resume at Cincinnati   which included a .670 winning percentage and top-three finishes in all six of the Bearcats' seasons in the American Athletic Conference   was missing a deep NCAA tournament run (his Bearcats advanced past the first weekend once, in 2012, despite nine consecutive appearances and being seeded sixth or higher five times). But he says he often tells former players and aspiring coaches to "never let someone else define your success." "I'm not a sentimental guy," Cronin says of his tenure leading the Bearcats. "I'm a life's a journey kind of guy. I feel like I did everything I was hired to do (at Cincinnati) except take them to a Final Four or win a title. In my business, you can't live by that. For years, (Virginia) caught no breaks and then bang, they win it all. You put yourself in a position to win a title, and that's what you can control. "At Cincinnati, I felt like I raised the Titanic. It was dead in every aspect. Not only was it buried, it was buried beneath the greatest conference   the 16-team Big East. In six years we went from last to playing for the title (in 2012). When you're coaching in a league that's like the NBA every night, it's like the world is caving in on you. ... Coaching in that league, when you've got Syracuse, Connecticut, Louisville, Georgetown, Pitt ... that prepared me for this chapter I'm in now." Except this next chapter will see UCLA play in a Pac-12 Conference that last season ranked last among power conferences in the NCAA's new metric, the NET. UCLA lost to mid-major Liberty, an outcome that ultimately prompted Alford's firing before a 17-16 finish. Cronin inherits a team with an interesting mix of returning and incoming talent. Among the players who are looking to turn a new chapter are redshirt sophomores Jalen Hill and Cody Riley, two of the players involved in a shoplifting incident in China that drew national attention and led to former guard LiAngelo Ball leaving the team. One area Alford excelled in was recruiting   hauling in three consecutive top-five recruiting classes to Westwood ('16, '17 and '18), according to Rivals, during his tenure. Cronin says he expects to coach a mix of chip-on-their-shoulder players who develop into All-Americans as he did at Cincinnati along with the five-star talent. "We tried to recruit five-star guys at Cincinnati. We just never got them," Cronin says. "Obviously, I came here for a lot of reasons. The recruiting is easier. The real reason is there's a better chance to cut the nets down that you don't have at other places. "I've always been about keeping your eye on the ball or you're not a good hitter. That's a little harder to do here, but I'm going to do everything in my power to get the job done." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: UCLA coach Mick Cronin on skeptics: 'I don't give a (expletive) about that (expletive)'


It's starting to make a lot more sense now why Lane Kiffin suspended FAU's starting quarterback Chris Robison for spring practice. As reported on by the Palm Beach Post , records obtained by the paper show that Florida Atlantic investigated the signal-caller back in early December after he was accused of sexual battery. No charges were ever filed in the case however and the woman involved in the accusation, also a fellow student, later agreed with Robison that the "the encounter was consensual and that she did not want to press charges." "We don't really discuss details on them, but it is what it is," Kiffin said in March when describing Robison's suspension from the team for an internal matter . "We're always trying to help kids grow and mature and hold kids to a high standard." Robinson was named co-CUSA freshman of the year last season after throwing for over 2,500 yards and 12 touchdowns for the Owls as the starter for all but one game. It's unclear if he has returned to the team since spring practice concluded and the school did not make Kiffin or Robison available to the Post for comment. In the redshirt sophomore's absence, Indiana transfer Nick Tronti and redshirt freshman Cordel Littlejohn took most of the reps on offense during FAU's 15 spring practices. This isn't the first time that Robison has been involved in a serious incident at FAU or elsewhere either. He dismissed by Oklahoma after a violation of team rules shortly after being arrested for public intoxication and went through " a day-to-day suspension" last spring after similarly violating team rules with the Owls. FAU opens their 2019 season at Ohio State on August 31. Related slideshow: Ranking the 10 best college football mascots (provided by For The Win)


As part of her investigation into sexual abuse by Catholic clergy, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced Friday criminal sexual conduct charges against five priests in Michigan. "Some of these clergy ... preyed on young children," Nessel said at a press conference of the five men who were priests at the time of the abuse. She said the five cases were the "tip of the iceberg" as investigators continue to track down hundreds of tips of abuse by Catholic priests. In some of the incidents, the Catholic priests mixed their sexual activity with references to Catholic beliefs or committed the acts during Catholic rituals such as Confession, according to allegations in affidavits. In some cases, the priests plied children with drugs such as cocaine, marijuana and alcohol before sexually assaulting them, allege prosecutors and police. In one case, a priest is accused of threatening to kill his victim if the boy reported the abuse. Deputy Solicitor General Ann Sherman, who is helping with the investigations, said that some Catholic Church officials have disturbing views on sexual abuse of children. "I am deeply disturbed by what we have discovered," Sherman said at the press conference. "I'm also disturbed by some attitudes of the hierarchy in the church ... who demonstrated a serious misunderstanding of sexual assault." In one case, a priest "explained that the child victim needed to simply admit that he teased, enticed, gave permission for the abuse to occur," Sherman said. "This attitude is the horrific. Sexual abuse is never the fault of the victim and it can never certainly be that the sexual abuse of a child is the child's fault." Nessel was joined by Deputy Solicitor General Ann Sherman, who said, "It is my hope, as a Catholic and a public servant, that we can bring all predators to justice, creating a path toward healing for the victims of the sexual abuse scandal and underscoring the need for the Catholic Church to be transparent and to report sexual abuse to appropriate law enforcement." According to Nessel, the five charged are: ► Timothy Michael Crowley , 69, of the Lansing Diocese, was charged in Washtenaw County with four felony counts of Criminal Sexual Conduct (CSC) in the first degree, and four felony counts of CSC in the second degree. Crowley, who once was a priest at St. Thomas Rectory in Ann Arbor, was arrested Thursday in Tempe, Arizona. Crowly is accused of fellatio and sexual penetration with a 10-year-old boy, plying him with alcohol and cigarettes. He threatened to kill the boy if he reported the incidents, said the affidavit. "On multiple occasions, Crowley provided JOHN DOE with cigarettes and alcohol and forced JOHN DOE to watch pornography depicting homosexual sex," read the affidavit. "Crowley would masturbate himself in JOHN DOE's presence." While serving as an altar boy, the boy would stay the night with Crowley in his bed, according to the affidavit. "On at least one occasion, Crowley forced JOHN DOE's head down onto Crowley's penis, causing Crowley's penis to penetrate JOHN DOE's mouth," said the affidavit. "On one occasion at either St. Anthony or St. Thomas, Crowley told JOHN DOE that if JOHN DOE told the nun or his parents about the abuse, Crowley would kill him," read the affidavit. In a statement , the Diocese of Lansing said that an allegation was made in 1993 against Crowley, "who was removed from ministry in the Diocese of Lansing by Bishop Kenneth Povish. At that time, Crowley was serving as pastor of St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, Ann Arbor. The Archdiocese of Anchorage later appointed Crowley as their chancellor, despite the Diocese of Lansing warning the archdiocese of these allegations." The Anchorage archdiocese removed him from ministry in 2002 and was defrocked. "In 2002, the Diocese of Lansing shared information with the Washtenaw County Prosecutor's office regarding Crowley; the prosecutor was unable to bring charges," said the Diocese of Lansing. ► Neil Kalina , 63, Archdiocese of Detroit, was charged in Macomb County with one felony count of criminal sexual conduct in the fourth degree. Kalina, who was a priest at St. Kiernan Catholic Church in Shelby Township, was arrested Thursday in Littlerock, California. On at least four occasions, a boy between the ages of 12 and 14 "spent the night with Kalina in the rectory at St. Kieran's," said the affidavit. "On each occasion, Kalina provided John Doe with cocaine or marijuana, which John Doe ingested." "On at least two occasions, when John Doe was twelve years old, John Doe woke up to discover Kalina with his hands down John Doe's pants, fondling his genitals," said the affidavit. The incidents happened again when the boy was 13 or 14, according to the allegations. In a statement, the Archdiocese of Detroit said that Kalina "was ordained in 1981 for the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME), which is a religious order that operates separately from the Archdiocese of Detroit. He left active ministry in 1993." "The allegation against him was brought to the Archdiocese of Detroit in 2017," said the Archdiocese of Detroit. "Per our agreement with the Macomb County Prosecutor's Office, we turned over the complaint to the Shelby Township Police Department. In addition, we turned over the complaint to the PIME religious order." ► Vincent DeLorenzo , 80, Lansing Diocese, was charged in Genesee County with three felony counts of criminal sexual conduct in the first degree and three felony counts of criminal sexual conduct in the second degree, a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. DeLorenzo was a priest at Holy Redeemer Church in Burton and was arrested Thursday in Marion County, Florida. On many occasions, DeLorenzo would first pray and then insert his finger into the anus of a boy under the age of 13, penetrating him digitally, said an affidavit. "In 2002, DeLorenzo admitted to sexually abusing a minor boy in the 1980's," said an affidavit. "The Catholic Church placed him on restricted ministry, but still allowed him to remain within the Catholic Church. In a statement, the Diocese of Lansing said it received a complaint in 2002 against DeLorenzo of sexual abuse involving a minor. The bishop then removed him from ministry and reported the complaint to the Genesee County prosecutor. "The diocese has requested that Rev. DeLorenzo be laicized (defrocked) and is awaiting a decision from Rome," said the Diocese of Lansing. Since 2002, there have been eight complaints made against DeLorenzo, said the diocese. The diocese said it forwarded May 2018 allegation to the county prosecutors and Burton police, and a Jan. 2019 allegation to the state Attorney General. ► Patrick Casey , 55, Archdiocese of Detroit, was charged in Wayne County with one felony count of criminal sexual conduct. Casey, who was a priest at St. Theodore of Canterbury Parish in Westland, was arrested Thursday in Oak Park, Michigan. He also has served in Canton. According to an affidavit, Casey is accused of engaging in sexual acts, including oral sex, with a man in his 20s whom he was counseling during Confession. One day in 2013 during the Confession, ,"Casey approached John Doe and told him to stand up. Casey then began massaging John Doe's genitalia before performing oral sex on him," said an affidavit. The two talked about their struggles being gay and having suicidal thoughts at times. In a statement released after the charges were announced, the Archdiocese of detroit said the allegation against Casey "was brought to the Archdiocese in 2015. The complainant was an adult at the time of the alleged incident. We removed Casey from ministry at that time and entered into the canonical process appropriate for this allegation. That process remains ongoing and is pending in Rome." He's currently restricted from representing himself as a priest, said the Archdiocese. ► Jacob Vellian , 84, Kalamazoo Diocese, was charged with two counts of Rape, a maximum sentence of life in prison. Vellian was a priest at St. John the Evangelist Parish, Benton Harbor, and now lives in Kerala, India. Nessel said they're seeking his extradition from India. According to an affaidavit, Vellian penetrated with a finger a girl under the age of 16 in the 1970s. During one incident, said the affidavit, Vellian touched the girl's "breasts underneath her bra and clothing, explained that he was praying for her, and was 'trying to fill [her] soul with the Holy Spirit.'" The affidavit says Vellian fondled and penetrated the girl's vagina before her 16th birthday several times before she was 16. During one occasion, Vellian touched her "breasts underneath her bra and clothing, explained that he was praying for her, and was 'trying to fill [her] soul with the Holy Spirit,'" said the affidavit. In a statement on the allegations against Vellian, the Diocese of Kalamazoo said it "learned today that a former visiting priest from the Archeparchy of Kottayam, India, of the Syro-Malabar Church, who served in the diocese in the early 1970s for one year, was charged by the Michigan Attorney General. We have fully cooperated with this ongoing investigation and will continue to do so." It urged people with information on the case to contact the state Attorney General's office. In addition to the charging of five priests, state officials suspended last week the professional educationally limited counselor's license of Lawrence Ventline, a priest with the Archdiocese of Detroit, and the Attorney General has filed an administrative licensing complaint against him, said Nessel. An abuse allegation was made against Ventline, but he has not been charged. The Archdiocese of Detroit said the allegation against Ventline "was brought to the Archdiocese in 2016. Per our agreement with the six-county prosecutors in the Archdiocese, we turned over the complaint to the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office. Since 2016, the Archdiocese of Detroit has worked with the Oakland County Sheriff's Office, the local police department and the individual who reported abuse against Ventline. While restricted from ministry, Ventline is prohibited from representing himself as a priest, wearing clerical attire, exercising any form of church ministry." In an emailed statement, Ventline said a "false claim" was made against him by a "demanding" anonymous person. He said police dismissed the case against him two years ago and notes that he was not charged. The allegation was included in the material collected by the Attorney General's Office in the fall of 2018. In a statement, the Archdiocese of Detroit said it "deeply regrets the pain inflicted upon victim-survivors, and offers continued prayers for their peace, healing and pursuit of justice. We continue to cooperate fully with all civil authorities, in the hope that these partnerships may pave the way toward a future of greater trust and transparency. We remain committed to preventing sexual abuse against anyone   especially children and vulnerable adults." Nessel cautioned that the men charged are "innocent until proven guilty by a court of law." Nessel urged people who are victims or may have information about abuse to contact them. She was joined by several attorneys on her staff pursuing justice for victims. "We are your voice," Nessel said during the press conference on Friday. "We are here for you." "We will continue to investigate each and every tip that we receive," she said. Nessel said her office is reviewing hundreds of thousands of pages of documents and have received 450 tips. She said they have reviewed so far only about 5 to 10 percent of the information they have received. Contact Niraj Warikoo:nwarikoo@freepress.com, 313-223-4792, Twitter @nwarikoo To file a complaint The Attorney Genera's tip line is 844-324-3374, or visit mi.gov/clergyabuse to file a complaint or report a tip. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: 5 Catholic priests charged in Michigan sex abuse investigation


The Baltimore Ravens officially started their 2019 training camp with the veterans reporting to the Under Armour Performance Center today. While it's generally considered one of the easier days of training camp, it's a time when everyone has to pass Baltimore's notoriously difficult conditioning test and physical. First-round pick, wide receiver Marquise Brown, passed his conditioning test. First-round pick @Primetime_jet has passed the conditioning test, but still needs to be cleared from his foot injury in order to practice. pic.twitter.com/zbn1lGSTlE - Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) July 24, 2019 While Brown still has to be medically cleared to practice, it's a positive sign that he's closer to getting on the field. Brown has been rehabbing from surgery to repair a Lisfranc injury in his foot. The rookie missed out on the NFL scouting combine and his Pro Day after having surgery back in February. Still, the Ravens selected Brown with their No. 25 overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft with the expectation he'd be ready for training camp . Brown wasn't the only one to pass his conditioning test on Wednesday. Defensive tackle Michael Pierce also passed and earned some rave reviews from fellow defensive lineman Brandon Williams. Williams says that Michael Pierce looks great, passed the conditioning test and is "ready to go." - Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) July 24, 2019 Pierce earned the ire of coach John Harbaugh during Baltimore's mandatory minicamp, being removed from practice for poor conditioning . At the time, Pierce chalked it up to lifting too much and not enough time working on his cardio. "Throughout the offseason, I tend to lift more than run," Pierce told WNSP-FM radio , per ESPN's Jamison Hensley . "Being a noseguard, I want to be strong or whatnot. I, honestly, just mismanaged my running a little bit." Pierce and Brown are both expected to be major contributors on the Ravens' defense and offense respectively, if not outright starters. With both passing their conditioning tests, they should be able to hit the practice field quickly and earn valuable practice time to hone their abilities. With the team counting on them this year, this is some really good news to start training camp off properly. MORE: Mike Trout's perfect 98.6 MPH throw to home plate had everyone in awe Jalen Rose: Don't Be Surprised if Anthony Davis Winds Up With the Bulls Packers GM explains reasoning for releasing DL Mike Daniels What might Kostas Antetokounmpo bring to the Lakers on offense? Why Mike Daniels should be on every potential playoff team's radar


CHICAGO (AP) Ryan Cordell took a deep breath at the plate after reading the sign from Chicago White Sox third base coach Nick Capra. Then he locked in and executed perfectly. Yolmer Sanchez raced home from third base with the tiebreaking run on Cordell's suicide squeeze in the eighth inning, and the White Sox topped the Toronto Blue Jays 4-2 Thursday night for their fourth win in five games. With runners at the corners and the infield in, Cordell bunted to the first base side. Toronto reliever Derek Law (0-1) threw to catcher Danny Jansen, but Sanchez slid under the tag to give Cordell his second RBI of the game and Chicago a 3-2 lead. After twice getting signs for a safety squeeze and taking a ball when he could swing away, Cordell said Law's low pitch was just what he was looking for. ''I've had a couple of them now, safeties, not the suicide squeeze, so it was a little different,'' Cordell said. ''Fortunately I got a decent pitch to put the bat on the ball. ''When I got to first base and looked in and see the dugout going nuts, that's a real exciting thing.'' Charlie Tilson then scored on Leury Garcia's sacrifice fly. Tilson was originally ruled out on Billy McKinney's throw, but the call was overturned following a replay review. Kelvin Herrera (1-2) pitched around two walks in a scoreless eighth to get the win. Alex Colome tossed a perfect ninth for his ninth save in nine chances, completing a two-hitter. Welington Castillo also drove in a run for Chicago. Freddy Galvis hit a solo shot for his sixth homer and first in more than a month, but the Blue Jays lost for the fourth time in five games as their offense continued to sputter. Toronto entered with a major league-worst .216 batting average. ''It's been a struggle for our offense. Can't explain it,'' manager Charlie Montoyo said. ''But the positive side is that (Marcus) Stroman gave us a chance. He was outstanding.'' Stroman permitted two runs (one earned) and seven hits through six innings, striking out six. He hasn't won since April 19 and was hit hard in his previous three outings, giving up 12 earned runs over 14 1/3 innings. White Sox starter Dylan Covey allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits and a pair of walks in 5 2/3 innings in his best outing this season. After giving up Galvis' homer and Brandon Drury's single to start the second, the right-hander retired 12 straight until Eric Sogard walked leading off the sixth - and came around to tie it at 2 with an unearned run. Covey entered with a 5.91 ERA and was roughed up for four runs in 4 2/3 innings at Toronto last Friday when he walked five. ''For me today it was just to attack the zone and not let walks beat me, ''Covey said. ''Just throw strikes, pound the (strike) zone and let the defense play.'' The White Sox jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first on Castillo's RBI single with two outs. Galvis led off the second with his drive to right-center. Chicago went back ahead 2-1 in the fourth when Nicky Delmonico scored from third on Cordell's infield single Toronto pushed across a run without a hit in the sixth to tie it at 2 and chase Covey. Sogard scored from third with two outs when third baseman Yoan Moncada fielded Randal Grichuk's sharp grounder, but threw wide to first for an error. Evan Marshall entered and got Galvis to ground out. BLUE JAYS MOVES Toronto recalled INF Richard Urena and optioned struggling OF Teoscar Hernandez to Triple-A Buffalo. In 39 games with the Blue Jays, Hernandez hit .189 with three homers and 15 RBIs. Since May 1, he was batting just .114 (4 for 35). Urena started the season with the Blue Jays and entered Thursday hitting .313 in 11 games during two stints with Toronto this year. ROCK AND ROLL McKinney smacked hard into the left field fence catching Sanchez's drive in the fourth, then somersaulted forward, landed on his feet and threw back to the infield in one motion. TRAINER'S ROOM Blue Jays: Clayton Richard (right knee stress fracture), one of four Toronto starters on the injured list, threw a bullpen. Before the game, Montoyo said Richard might make his Blue Jays debut in Chicago on Saturday, but afterward announced the left-hander would first make a rehab start in the minors. Montoyo didn't yet know where. Toronto acquired the 35-year-old lefty and cash from the Padres for OF Connor Panas last December. White Sox: SS Tim Anderson was held out of the starting lineup for rest, but was available off the bench. ... LHP Manny Banuelos, who left Tuesday's loss to Cleveland in the fifth inning with a left shoulder strain, had a ''clean'' MRI according to manager Rick Renteria and is day-to-day. There is a chance Banuelos won't miss his next turn in the rotation. UP NEXT Toronto RHP Aaron Sanchez (3-4, 3.75 ERA) faces Chicago RHP Ivan Nova (2-3, 6.29) on Friday. Sanchez has lost three straight, with a 6.35 ERA during that stretch. Nova has won his last two starts, yielding only two runs in 13 innings. --- More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports


Cowboys defensive tackle Antwaun Woods burst onto the scene in 2018, his third year in the league and first with Dallas. He became the nose tackle they had been looking for, a plus-run stuffer who has the ability to also help collapse the pocket around the quarterback in passing situations. He enters 2019 as a pending free agent, working to secure his long-term future in the league. He isn't waiting on that big pay day to starting giving back to his community however. The father of two posted pictures from his first annual Antwaun Woods Community Day in Los Angeles, where he organized an event that will only continue to grow in stature. 1st Annual Community Day was a success. 500+ people coming together in one of the most dangerous parts of Los Angeles (The Jungles)! My first time giving back to the Community that I was born and raised in was everything I imagined it to be. pic.twitter.com/y3pIUnCAl6 - Antwaun Woods Sr. (@AntwaunWoods_) July 8, 2019 Growing up in the Jungles has made me to the man I am today. I am a product of my environment. I am a representative of those going through the day to day struggles of the HOOD. Because I come from those same struggles and am here to spread LOVE to show YOU it's possible. pic.twitter.com/VbcKsx8oSG - Antwaun Woods Sr. (@AntwaunWoods_) July 8, 2019 So thanks to everyone who came out and had a good time on the 4th of July with ya boy! This was the 1st of many! Stay tuned for next year at JIM GILLIAM PARK! pic.twitter.com/oFKuF9Meuk - Antwaun Woods Sr. (@AntwaunWoods_) July 8, 2019 Great look, big fella. MORE: UFC fighter Ben Askren had an excellent response to getting knocked out in 5 seconds Five potential Russell Westbrook trade destinations WATCH: Jorge Masvidal Knocks Out Ben Askren in Five Seconds 6 Chiefs could find themselves on the roster bubble NFL Analyst: Bill Belichick wouldn't let a late Rob Gronkowski return mess up the team


In the fourth shooting in La Puente in just six days, a man was injured by gunfire after a fight broke out at the Valley Inn motel early Wednesday, authorities said. Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies from the City of Industry station responded at 2 a.m. to the 13000 block of Valley Boulevard and found one man with gunshot wounds, said Lt. Rick Rector. The man, who has not been identified, was taken to a hospital in stable condition, authorities said. Rector said he will be arrested after he is released from the hospital, noting that a second man has already been arrested in connection with the shooting. Investigators say the latest shooting is not gang-related, but officials say at least some of the attacks in the last several days have been, according to Deputy Marvin Crowder, a spokesman for the Sheriff's Department. Wednesday's shooting appears unrelated to others in the area, Crowder said, but the increased gunfire has left the small community on edge. On Monday afternoon, one man was killed after being shot in the torso in the 15400 block of Temple Avenue, sheriff's officials said. Less than 24 hours earlier, a man died after being shot at least once in the upper torso in a triple shooting in the 400 block of Tonopah Avenue. Two other men were injured in that shooting, one struck twice in the upper torso, and the other in the hand. Both were taken to a hospital. Deputies described the shooters as two men driving a silver or dark-colored SUV. And on Friday night, 31-year-old David Peter Juarez died after being shot several times, including in the back. Deputies found Juarez on a sidewalk in the 100 block of North Winton Avenue, officials said. Another 22-year-old man was injured in the same attack. All three shootings happened within five miles of each other. The city on Tuesday confirmed suspicions that gang activity may have something to do with the string of killings. "Over the past week the city and the adjacent unincorporated county area of La Puente have experienced an increase in gang-related activities," the city said in a statement. "The city, along with the Sheriff's Department and surrounding law enforcement agencies have taken immediate steps to address the recent incidents." City officials said the annual Fortunato Jimenez Independence Day Celebration on Wednesday will continue as planned. The event is scheduled for 5 to 9 p.m. A town hall is scheduled at 7 p.m. July 10 to discuss steps being taken to mitigate gang activity in the area. Sheriff's officials confirmed that the City of Industry station has increased patrols in the area. The department's gang investigations unit is working on some of the shootings, but Crowder was not certain which ones. "We're doing everything we can at this point," Rector said. alejandra.reyesvelarde@latimes.com Twitter: @r_valejandra


Woods missed the cut at the 101st PGA Championship at Bethpage Black in New York, finishing the second round with a three-over-par 73 to follow up on his opening round two-over 72 on Thursday.


Helmut Marko says the death of his "constant companion" three-time Formula 1 champion Niki Lauda is made "all the more painful" by their close friendship. Lauda, who was Mercedes' non-executive chairman, passed away on Monday night aged 70, after battling health issues for almost a year. Red Bull motorsport advisor Marko says he first met his fellow Austrian "around 1968" and the two followed each closely through their racing careers and later when they moved into non-driving roles. "I knew he was not in a good condition, but still, when the news comes, it's a blow," Marko told Austrian TV channel oe24.TV in a telephone interview. "Throughout my racing career Niki was my constant companion. Both on the driving side and in management. "There have been so many experiences, so many shared actions and shared funny events. And then this. "That's just hard. There is no one in the whole Formula 1 scene who can even get close to him in terms of personality, humour and straightforwardness." Marko said he had visited Lauda in hospital in Vienna last year, and admitted he was "horrified" when he saw him but recognised the ex-Ferrari and McLaren driver was "still full of optimism and there was still power in his voice". He said that he and Lauda spent time together following the death of Jochen Rindt, the posthumous 1970 world champion, even though "there was a fight to be his successor". Read Also: Obituary: Niki Lauda, 1949-2019 Remembering Lauda: The comeback king who always spoke his mind Giorgio Piola's key cars of Niki Lauda's awesome F1 career Marko claimed he had a preliminary contract with Ferrari before his F1 career was ended prematurely when a stone pierced his helmet while driving for BRM in the 1972 French Grand Prix and permanently blinded his left eye. He said that indirectly led to him helping Lauda negotiate his own deal to move to Ferrari, where he won two world titles. Marko said: "He first took over the BRM cockpit and then the Ferrari seat. We drove to Modena together, he asked me to accompany him to negotiate his first contract with Enzo. "I thought to myself, 'Niki will inherit all this, is that fair?' But on closer analysis I was out anyway, and then I much prefer it is an Austrian who gets into all this than anyone else. "There's no trace of bitterness or envy. Perhaps at the beginning, but from the logic I realised 'I can't change it anyway, and then it's better, it's Niki'. From then on we were always in contact in some way." Marko hailed Lauda's conduct away from F1, highlighting his behaviour in the aftermath of the fatal crash his airline suffered in Thailand in 1991. He hailed Lauda's "meticulousness and stubbornness"   which Marko said was "typical of him"   and how he "proved to a global corporation like Boeing that it was not his fault, or that of the pilots, but that it was a design flaw". Marko said that when Lauda was still attending grands prix last year before falling ill "we had breakfast together at every grand prix". "We looked outside the box, beyond the small-minded," said Marko. "The most important thing for us was always the attractiveness of the sport." Marko described Lauda as a "real family man", "one of the great Austrians" and a "good, generous person". Asked if they were true friends, Marko said: "Yes. You could say so. It is all the more painful now."


SALISBURY, Mass.   For sale: waterfront property with sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean. Waves erode beach regularly. Flooding gets worse every year. Saltwater damage to lawn. Asking price: anyone's guess. Some research suggests rising sea levels and flooding brought by global warming are harming coastal property values. But other climate scientists note shortcomings in the studies, and real estate experts say they simply haven't seen any ebb in demand for coastal homes. So how much homeowners and communities should worry   and how much they should invest in remedies   remains an open question. Nancy Meehan, 71, is considering putting her coastal condo in Salisbury up for sale this year, but she worries buyers will be turned off by the winter storms that churn the seas beside the summer resort town. Her home has been largely spared in the nearly 20 years she's lived there, she said, but the flooding appears to be worsening along roads and lower properties. "All my life savings is in my home," Meehan said of the four-bedroom, two-bathroom condo, which she bought for $135,000. "I can't lose that equity." Nearby, Denis Champagne can't be sure that rising seas are hurting his waterfront home's value. The three-story, four-bedroom home has views of a scenic marsh, has been renovated and is blocks from the ocean   yet was assessed at only around $420,000. "Do I feel that it should be worth more than that?" Champagne said recently in his sun-soaked living room. "I mean, I'm biased, but where can you find this for that price   anywhere?" A drop in home values could shatter a community like Salisbury, which relies almost exclusively on beachfront real estate taxes to fund schools, police and other basic services, researchers warn. And, they say, families could face financial ruin if they've been banking on their home's value to help foot the bill for pricey college tuitions or even retirement. "People are looking at losing tens of thousands of dollars of relative value on their homes," said Jeremy Porter, a data scientist for the First Street Foundation, an advocacy group that seeks to raise awareness about sea level rise. "Not everyone can sustain that." Still, home prices in coastal cities have been rising faster than those of their landlocked counterparts since 2010, according to data provided by the National Association of Realtors. And waterfront homes are still generally more expensive than their peers just one block inland, said Lawrence Yun, the association's chief economist. "The price differential is still there," he said. "Consumers are clearly mindful that these climate change impacts could be within the window of a 30-year mortgage, but their current behavior still implies that to have a view of the ocean is more desirable." A nationwide study by the First Street Foundation suggests climate change concerns have caused nearly $16 billion in lost appreciation of property values along the Eastern Seaboard and Gulf Coast since 2005. The study singles out Salisbury as the hardest-hit community in Massachusetts. Coastal homes there would be worth $200,000 to $300,000 more if not for frequent tidal flooding and powerful coastal storms, the study suggests. Champagne's property, for example, would be worth about $123,000 more, according to Flood iQ , a property database the group has developed. In another recent study , researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder's School of Business found coastal properties most exposed to sea level rise sold, on average, for 7 percent less than equivalent properties the same distance from shore but not as threatened by the sea. And in Florida's Miami-Dade County, higher-elevation properties are appreciating faster than lower ones as companies and deep-pocketed buyers increasingly consider climate change risks, a study in the publication Environmental Research Letters found last year. The three studies are laudable because they attempt to quantify what the insurance industry and federal government had long suspected: that climate change is having tangible harm on home values, said S. Jeffress Williams, a scientist emeritus with the U.S. Geological Survey in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, who wasn't involved with any of the research. But Williams and other researchers note the First Street Foundation study uses sea-level rise predictions from the Army Corps of Engineers that are more dire than figures from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which usually provides the go-to numbers for such studies. The other two studies largely rely on data from Florida, which is so low and highly developed that in many ways it is an outlier, unaffiliated researchers point out. They also focus only on single-family homes, leaving out huge numbers of condos, high-rises and other multi-family properties. In Salisbury, real estate broker Thomas Saab insists something is happening with home prices but is not sure whether climate change is behind it. Two clients in the otherwise strong real estate market, he said, were recently forced to lower their asking prices by tens of thousands of dollars when prospective buyers voiced concerns about storm damage and risks. "Do I worry prices are coming down? Sure," Saab said. "Fewer buyers are willing to take the risk. People don't want to live through nor'easter after nor'easter with no protection." He argues there's a simple solution: Invest in sturdy seawalls as Hampton Beach, the lively resort town just over the border in New Hampshire, did generations ago. "We can overcome any kind of rising seas if you just let us protect our properties," Saab said. "Who cares about the climate change? You build a seawall and this whole discussion goes away." ___ Follow Philip Marcelo at twitter.com/philmarcelo.