NEW YORK (AP) -- Andy Ruiz Jr. had six weeks to prepare for the fight of his life. He'll have a lifetime to celebrate one of boxing's biggest heavyweight stunners. A massive underdog just like Buster Douglas, Ruiz knocked down British champion Anthony Joshua four times -- four! -- and the final two in the seventh round proved the decisive blows. Ruiz, the first heavyweight of Mexican descent to win a heavyweight title, capped one of boxing's epic upsets to win Joshua's shares of the heavyweight championship Saturday night at Madison Square Garden. "I just feel so good, man," Ruiz said. "This is what I've been dreaming about, this is what I've been working hard for. I can't believe I just made my dreams come true." Ruiz etched his name in heavyweight lore by TKO at 1:27 in the seventh round to become the surprise champ in a bout that had shades of Douglas' upset over Mike Tyson for the heavyweight title in 1990. Ruiz barely was on anyone's heavyweight radar when he was summoned as a replacement to fight the undefeated Joshua in front of a packed Garden. Considered a joke by fans, all Ruiz did was dominate the British champion and used a TKO to turn his life and the heavyweight division upside down. The 270-pound heavyset heavyweight knocked down Joshua twice in the third round and did it two more times in the seventh before referee Mike Griffin ended the fight. Joshua was woozy and seemed to stumble toward the wrong corner after the final blow. Ruiz stepped in after fighting on April 20, when he stopped Alexander Dimitrenko. Jarrell Miller's failed drug tests sent the challenger to the sideline and paved the way for Ruiz's unexpected title shot. Ruiz (33-1, 21 KO's) seized the opportunity and made boxing history to win the WBA/IBF/WBO/IBO championships. He raised his arms in celebration and jumped around the ring as his corner quickly mobbed him and a wild celebration kicked off. "I've got that Mexican blood in me," he said. "Talking about the Mexican style? I just proved it." The true shock might have been that the Garden was packed on a Saturday night for a fight few expected to be competitive. Yes, Ruiz is up there with Douglas and Hasim Rahman for who-can-believe-it wins, but casual sports fans don't even know the names of most boxing champions -- consider, instead of pay-per-view parties, this card was streamed by DAZN. When ring announcer Michael Buffer announced the name of the judges "should this fight go the distance," fans laughed at the ridiculous possibility as Ruiz was an ultimate underdog. Joshua (22-1, 22 KO's) and Ruiz were both knocked down in an electrifying third round that had the sellout crowd of 20,201 howling with each heavy hit. Joshua knocked down Ruiz early in the round and the promise of an early finish seemed horizon. Ruiz, his trunks a bit too low for his portly frame, came right back and used an overhand right that rocked the champ and sent him to the canvas. Joshua recovered only to get pummeled in the corner. Ruiz knocked him down again in the final ticks of the round as fans in a disbelieving Garden crowd screamed "Oh my God!" Again, Joshua beat the count but the bell saved the Brit from a going a second longer in his weakened state. Had it not been a championship fight, perhaps Griffin would have stopped the bout. Alas, for Joshua, it went on. Ruiz, whose father, a native of Mexico, got him into the gym when he was 6 and had his son in bouts a year later, shook up the boxing world. Johsua was the fan favorite and had all the hype for his first fight in the United States. "If it wasn't for my dad, I wouldn't be here," Ruiz said. NBA star Kyrie Irving and rapper Meek Mill were among the celebrities in the house expecting Joshua to roll to a win and set up more ambitious, lucrative bouts against the likes of Tyson Fury, Deontay Wilder and a few other potential opponents. "Sorry I let my fans down, sorry I let my supporters down," Joshua said. Ruiz made some new ones. "It is never over until it's over with the Mexicans. God bless them. Congrats Andy Ruiz," former UFC champion Conor McGregor tweeted. Wilder, owner of the WBC crown, decided to give Luis Ortiz a rematch. Ortiz battered Wilder for parts of their fight in early 2018 before running out of gas and getting knocked out. Wilder tried to steal the headlines this week when he announced his rematch with Fury was set for 2020. Wilder and Fury fought to a split draw in December in Los Angeles, with Wilder retaining his WBC heavyweight title after knocking down his British challenger twice. Joshua instead heads toward a likely rematch against Ruiz later this year. Fans booed when Ruiz was shown on the big screen holding a personalized Knicks jersey. He walked out to his press conference wearing the jersey -- his coronation complete, a table full of championship belts all for him. "My life is going to change," he said. "I don't have to show them no more."


One of the key refrains of the NBA stretch run is that the Washington Wizards have shown their true selves. A team too thin on the wing to survive an injury, a team too overmatched in terms of strategy to beat good opponents, and a team with a completely underwhelming coach. After a brilliant start, the Wizards have skidded to the point where they might just end up as the No. 6 seed. What's interesting is that one of the Wizards' chief rivals as early-season East darling -- the Toronto Raptors -- have quietly fallen off in much the same fashion. This chart shows teams' net ratings before and after the estimated midway point of the season, January 16. As you can see, the Wizards and Raptors are two of three teams who were above average in the first half and have been below average thus far in the second half. The data is via NBA.com and is through Saturday's action. The Suns are the other team falling from good to mediocre. The league's biggest divers are the Nuggets and Kings , two middling West teams who fell completely off the table around the midway point. That, combined with a big improvement in Utah, is affecting the lottery race. Here's a list showing the top risers and fallers. This is *really* not going to help Rajon Rondo , is it? In net rating since the midway point, the Pacers actually rank No. 7 and the Jazz No. 9. The former is attempting to make the playoffs while the latter is well out of the race. But the improvement bodes well heading into the offseason and next year. The Sixers' gains also look promising, especially considering the team traded away Michael Carter-Williams and K.J. McDaniels . Nerlens Noel is a big difference-maker. We talk too much about the Cavaliers already, so just suffice it to say: yep. They've also had a better net rating than the Warriors and Hawks in the second half of the season. They have figured it out.


Mayor Bill de Blasio is in the hot seat for not attending a solemn ceremony for a memorial dedicated to those who died from toxic exposure at Ground Zero. CBSN New York's Marcia Kramer reports. Cbsn New York political reporter Marcia Kramer has the story.


Giants righty Johnny Cueto has been on a relatively aggressive timetable in his effort to work back from Tommy John surgery. He's still on track for a possible return to the majors this September, as Kerry Crowley of the Bay Area News Group reports . The 33-year-old Cueto was turning in good results last year when he went down, making it through 53 frames of 3.23 ERA ball. But his velocity was down and the peripherals painted a different picture. His outlook soured quite a bit more when it was determined he'd require a replacement ulnar collateral ligament last August. Expectations will be modest, but there's still quite a bit at stake here for the San Francisco organization. Cueto is earning $21M annually through the 2021 season, with a $5M buyout due thereafter on a $22M club option. It's tough to imagine he'll be worth anything close to his annual salary moving forward, but every bit of contribution will help the club to stomach its already-fixed financial commitment. Cueto is still working out at the Giants' Arizona facility, so he'll hop over to Chase Field for a 'pen session while the club is in town. If all continues to go well, says Crowley, Cueto could embark upon a rehab assignment in August and be back in the bigs for the final month of the season. That would represent a fast-tracked, though hardly unprecedented return . While the Giants won't have much to play for, seeing him in action could at least help with the offseason planning.


These SUVs May Be Small, but They Are Mighty Affordable These SUVs May Be Small, but They Are Mighty Affordable Whether you're a city slicker looking for something compact to whip around town, or a family looking to upgrade from a sedan, a small SUV might be the right fit for you. As crossovers and small SUVs rise in popularity, manufacturers are offering more and more variety in this segment. This March, you could lease a hybrid SUV with a high-end interior, a small SUV with big off-road chops, or an SUV that comes standard with all-wheel drive. We've compiled a list of the best deals this month for small SUVs. This list is packed-full of compact and subcompact SUVs with affordable price tags. Keep in mind that the deals on the following slides are contingent upon locality, so be sure to check with your local dealer to see if the deal is available in your area. Read on to discover which small SUV is the right fit for you. 2019 Honda CR-V Lease Deal: $249 per month for 36 months with $2,399 due at signing The Honda CR-V is our No. 1-ranked compact SUV . It has a comfortable and spacious interior with a surplus of cargo space (75.8 total cubic feet). It also boasts a smooth ride and good fuel economy. The CR-V was named our 2019 Best Compact Car for the Money because of its exemplary combination of quality and value. This deal applies to the LX trim, comes with an annual mileage limit of 12,000, and expires on April 1. 2019 Mazda CX-5 Lease Deal: $235 per month for 36 months with $2,499 due at signing The CX-5 is tied with the CR-V for the top spot in our compact SUV rankings . It's also a finalist for the 2019 Best Compact SUV for the Money award. This compact crossover has sporty handling, a powerful engine, and a smooth ride. The CX-5's interior is also attractive and appointed in higher-end materials than many others in the class. Mazda is offering this lease deal with the Sport trim and front-wheel drive. This offer has a total mileage limit of 36,000 and expires on April 1. 2019 Subaru Forester Lease Deal: $265 per month for 36 months with $2,065 due at signing Also tied for the No.1 spot in our compact SUV rankings, the Subaru Forester is the only SUV in this segment that comes standard with all-wheel drive. On top of that, the standard all-wheel drive doesn't affect its fuel economy   it has some of the best fuel economy estimates in the class. The Forester also performs well in terms of handling. It's composed on the road and has minimal body roll. This lease offer has 12,000-mile-per-year limit and expires on April 1. 2019 Hyundai Kona Lease Deal: $229 per month for 36 months with $2,399 due at signing The Kona is our top-ranked subcompact SUV and our 2019 Best Subcompact SUV for the Money award winner. The Kona's interior is refined and comes with a plethora of standard features, including a rearview camera, Bluetooth, a 7-inch touch screen, Apple CarPlay , and Android Auto . This offer is valid on the Kona SE. It has a yearly mileage limit of 12,000 and expires on April 1. 2019 Kia Niro Lease Deal: $179 per month for 36 months with $3,652 due at signing The Kia Niro sits near the top of our subcompact SUV rankings . It stands out in the crowd for its top fuel economy. Its hybrid powertrain earns some of the best fuel economy in the class: 52 mpg in the city and 49 on the highway. On top of its excellent fuel economy, the Niro has an upscale interior with a user-friendly infotainment system and modern features like voice control, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Kia is leasing the Niro LX with a payment of less than $200 per month this March. This deal comes with a yearly mileage limit of 12,000 and expires on April 1. 2019 Subaru Crosstrek Lease Deal: $245 per month for 36 months with $1,999 due at signing The Crosstrek ranks near the middle of our subcompact SUV rankings. It has one of the nicest interiors in the class, but it is lacking in the performance department. The interior is well-built and features a user-friendly infotainment system. Although it's the only SUV in the subcompact class that comes standard with all-wheel drive, it falls short in both handling and acceleration. This Crosstrek deal has an annual mileage limit of 12,000 per year. Get to your local dealer before it expires on April 1 to learn more. 2019 Toyota RAV4 Lease Deal: $239 per month for 36 months with $2,999 due at signing The Toyota RAV4 was completely redesigned for 2019 and now sits midpack in our compact SUV rankings. It's not a particularly sporty vehicle, but it's plenty comfortable. It offers a smooth ride and a lot of interior space. It also comes equipped with top safety equipment (including Toyota's Safety Sense package with adaptive cruise control and lane keep assist). Toyota is offering the redesigned RAV4 this March for less than $250 per month. It comes with a yearly mileage limit of 10,000 and expires on April 1. 2019 Ford Escape Lease Deal: $169 per month for 24 months with $3,739 due at signing The Ford Escape ranks No. 6 among compact SUVs and is a well-rounded vehicle with a lot to offer. It delivers good fuel economy, several fun-to-drive engine options, and engaging handling. The Escape also comes with solid predicted reliability and safety ratings. Unfortunately, it will cost you a bit more at the pump. You can get the 2019 Escape SE with all-wheel drive and a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine this March for less than $200 per month. This offer has a total mileage limit of 21,000 and expires on April 1. 2019 Buick Encore Lease Deal: $199 per month for 39 months with $4,953 due at signing Buick's smallest SUV, the Encore , packs an upscale feel in a small and affordable package. This subcompact SUV boasts a much nicer interior than many of its rivals and comes equipped with a long list of standard features (like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth). On top of that, the Encore's infotainment system is easy to use. Buick is offering the Encore Preferred with front-wheel drive for less than $200 per month this March. And if you are a current lessee of a 2012-model-year-or-newer non-GM vehicle, you can save even more by only having to put $2,019 down. This offer has a total mileage limit of 32,500 and expires on April 1. 2019 Honda HR-V Lease Deal: $209 per month for 36 months with $2,399 due at signing The Honda HR-V currently ranks No.6 in our subcompact SUV rankings. It has one of the largest cargo holds in the class (58.8 total cubic feet) and plenty of room for passengers. The interior is also nicely appointed, although you won't find as many features as in other rivals. The HR-V earns good fuel economy, so you'll save a bit fueling up. This deal is specific to the HR-V LX with an automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. Honda is offering it until April 1 and it comes with a mileage limit of 12,000 per year. 2019 Jeep Renegade Lease Deal: $229 per month for 36 months with $4,449 due at signing The Jeep Renegade is one of the only SUVs in the class that can easily go from dropping the kids off at soccer practice to driving through the backwoods. The Renegade may not rank near the top of our subcompact SUV rankings, but its unique off-roading capability sets it apart. And despite its off-road chops, the Renegade is actually a pleasant city driver. It offers a smooth ride and easy-to-use creature comforts, like a modern infotainment system. You can get the Renegade Latitude with four-wheel drive this March for just over $200 per month. This offer comes with an annual mileage limit of 12,000 per year and expires on April 1. 2019 Cadillac XT4 Lease Deal: $359 per month for 36 months with $4,560 due at signing If you're looking to upgrade to a luxury vehicle, the all-new XT4 is a great option this month at an affordable price. It ranks near the top of our luxury subcompact SUV rankings . It offers a powerful turbocharged engine while still boasting good fuel efficiency. And although it may be small, it offers plenty of passenger space to spread out. This March, you can get the XT4 Premium Luxury model for less than $400 per month. And if you're a current owner or lessee of a 1999-model-year-or-newer non-GM vehicle, you'll only owe $3,560 at signing. This deal has a total mileage limit of 30,000 and expires on April 30. More Shopping Tools From U.S. News & World Report To learn more about these SUVs, visit our new SUV rankings . If you're ready to buy, check out our new car lease deals and purchase deals pages . Our Best Price Program can also save you money by getting you a prenegotiated price from a dealer near you. On average, buyers have saved more than $3,000 off MSRP using the Best Price Program. In addition to savings off sticker price, getting the best interest rate on your car loan can save you thousands. Compare rates from up to four lenders with myAutoloan to get the best deal. 12 Best Small SUV Leases in March 2019 Honda CR-V Lease Deal: $249 per month for 36 months 2019 Mazda CX-5 Lease Deal: $235 per month for 36 months 2019 Subaru Forester Lease Deal: $265 per month for 36 months 2019 Hyundai Kona Lease Deal: $229 per month for 36 months 2019 Kia Niro Lease Deal: $179 per month for 36 months 2019 Subaru Crosstrek Lease Deal: $245 per month for 36 months 2019 Toyota RAV4 Lease Deal: $239 per month for 36 months 2019 Ford Escape Lease Deal: $169 per month for 24 months 2019 Buick Encore Lease Deal: $199 per month for 39 months 2019 Honda HR-V Lease Deal: $209 per month for 36 months 2019 Jeep Renegade Lease Deal: $229 per month for 36 months 2019 Cadillac XT4 Lease Deal: $359 per month for 36 months


Oakland Curious just how far your dollar goes in Oakland? We've rounded up the latest rental listings via rental sites Zumper and Apartment Guide to get a sense of what to expect when it comes to finding a place in Oakland if you've got a budget of $2,600/month. Take a peek at what rentals the city has to offer, 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. 3300 Kempton Ave. (Oakland Ave/ Harrison St) First, there's this one-bedroom, one-bathroom unit situated at 3300 Kempton Ave. It's listed for $2,545/month. Building amenities include an elevator, on-site laundry and assigned parking. Also expect to find a balcony, granite countertops and a dishwasher in the unit. Neither cats nor dogs are welcome. There isn't a leasing fee associated with this rental. According to Walk Score, the area around this address is friendly for those on foot, is relatively bikeable and has good transit options. (See the complete listing here .) 245 Lee St. (Adams Point) Next, check out this one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment that's located at 245 Lee St. It's listed for $2,583/month. The building features garage parking, on-site laundry and outdoor space. You can also expect hardwood flooring, granite countertops and stainless steel appliances in the apartment. Pet owners, inquire elsewhere: This spot doesn't allow cats or dogs. Walk Score indicates that this location is extremely walkable, is convenient for biking and offers many nearby public transportation options. (Check out the complete listing here .) 459 23rd St. Located at 459 23rd St., here's a 403-square-foot studio apartment that's listed for $2,599/month. The listing promises a mix of hardwood floors and carpeting, granite countertops and stainless steel appliances in the studio. On-site laundry is listed as a building amenity. Pet lovers are in luck: Cats and dogs are allowed. The listing specifies a $500 pet fee. Walk Score indicates that this location has excellent walkability, is great for biking and has excellent transit. (Take a gander at the complete listing here .) 5725 International Blvd. (Lockwood Tevis) Listed at $2,600/month, this 1,007-square-foot one-bedroom, one-bathroom abode is located at 5725 International Blvd. The building features assigned parking and on-site laundry. In the unit, you can anticipate central heating and large windows. Hairball alert: Cats are welcome. According to Walk Score's assessment, the area around this address is quite walkable, is relatively bikeable and has good transit options. (Take a look at the complete listing here .) Working with a tight budget? Here are the cheapest rentals recently listed in Oakland . 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.


Coast Guard officials said they have suspended their search for a missing scuba diver in Lake Michigan. Just before 1:30 p.m. Friday, the Coast Guard was called to a scene 20 miles off the Milwaukee Lake Michigan shoreline for a woman who had surfaced unresponsive, after scuba diving for about an hour. The woman was later pronounced dead. She was part of a four-person scuba crew on a chartered scuba boat. One man is still missing, two other divers were not hurt, the Coast Guard said in a statement Saturday morning. "They were doing CPR at the time, they pulled her on board the boat. We launched our 45-foot response boat from Milwaukee and a helicopter launched from the air facility in Waukegan," said Executive Petty Officer Alexander Hill from the Milwaukee Coast Guard office. Officials are not releasing information about the deceased or second missing diver until family is notified. They did confirm that missing diver is a man, and that he had a submersible vehicle with him. Divers use motorized submersible vehicles to get to a specific location deep underwater, like a shipwreck, which are popular diving tourist attractions in Lake Michigan, according to the Milwaukee Coast Guard office. "(The helicopter is) going to be running search patterns, looking for anything they can see on the water, floating gear, obviously a person. The dive boat is doing the same thing. Right now they're on scene, they haven't moved, they're staying there as the center point to mark where everybody was over the wreck ," Hill said. Coast Guard and police crews searched 237 square miles collectively over 20 hours and decided to suspend the search Saturday morning until they get any new information, according to the Coast Guard. The Milwaukee Police Department is investigating. READ MORE: Woman dead, man missing in Lake Michigan scuba diving incident CHECK OUT WISN: Get the top Milwaukee news weather and sports. With the day's biggest stories and ones you may have missed, our Wisconsin news team has you covered.


Tech 3 rider Hector Garzo topped MotoE's qualifying simulation in Valencia, the last test before the championship's maiden race at the Sachsenring. The championship adopted a superpole format for qualifying, with each rider getting just once chance to set their top times. In the simulation, Garzo was the last man to enter the track and the Spaniard, who has four Moto2 races under his belt from the last two years, set a time of 1m40.594s. He beat Eric Granado (Avintia) by just 0.025s, the Brazilian rider setting his time right before Garzo. The duo dominated the trial with Niki Tuuli (Ajo) ending up nearly eight tenths slower. Aprilia MotoGP test Bradley Smith, who is the SIC team's sole rider in MotoE, and last year's Avintia Ducati rider Xavier Simeon completed the top five. The field's only female rider Maria Herrera (Angel Nieto) was seventh, narrowly outpaced by her teammate, 2011 125cc champion Nicolas Terol. Former MotoGP star Sete Gibernau (Pons) was 12th, the 46-year-old 1.805s off the pace. Garzo's pole time was two seconds slower than Jorge Martin's Moto3 pole position at the Valencia circuit two years ago, the last qualifying in dry conditions. MotoE will hold a race simulation on Wednesday ahead of the season opener at the Sachsenring in July. The Valencia test marked the first time the bikes had hit the track since the fire that destroyed the series' entire fleet of Energica Ego machines at Jerez in March . It began on Monday with two open test sessions, in which Garzo also set the fastest time, a 1m41.743s, followed by Granado and Tuuli.


The Mercedes-Benz G-Class is a tough old broad, able to make quick work of Schöckl and sand dune alike. But for every one Geländewagen you'll find living it up in a mud bog, there are probably 20 parked at some posh shopping center in Miami or Southern California. These days, the G is as much (if not more of) a luxury lifestyle icon as it is a formidable off-road brute. Research the latest from Mercedes-Benz on MSN Autos Thankfully, the 2019 G550 brings improvements that strengthen its appeal at both ends of that spectrum. 2019 Mercedes-Benz G550: What's old is new again Modern classic First, let's start with what hasn't changed: dat curb appeal. Viewed from the side or rear three-quarter, you could be forgiven for mistaking the 2019 G550 for its predecessor, especially in the unimaginative shade of Iridium Silver pictured here. (Fun fact: The G550 is available in your choice of 24 different exterior paint options, giving it one of the most diverse color palettes of any Mercedes-Benz model -- second only to the AMG G63 , natch.) The G's visual changes are more obvious up front, where the round headlamps are outlined by LED daytime running lights. Brush guards are available for either the upper or lower fascias. They come in chrome or, if you spec the $5,370 Night Package with AMG Line, black. The G550 rolls on either 19- or 20-inch wheels, the former of which are seen on this test car, wrapped in Detroit-in-January-friendly Pirelli Scorpion winter tires. Yet despite casting a striking resemblance to its forebear, all but two parts of the exterior are actually new. Only the door handles and spare tire cover carry over unchanged from the last-generation G. And if you've ever had the pleasure of opening or closing the door of a G-Wagen, you know that the very specific click of the chunky door handles are paramount to a proper G-Class experience. A big luxury upgrade The G's exterior may be an exercise in anachronistic restraint, but the interior is anything but. Fully updated and packed with modern luxury and tech, the G550's cabin is one of Mercedes' finest. Everything here is new, save the passenger-side dashboard grab handle and the three differential lock buttons in the center stack (more historically accurate G-Wagen stuff). Every touchable surface is lined with the finest materials, and the seats are cushy and supportive, offering a commanding view out the upright windshield and down the flat hood. Two aluminum tweeters flank either side of the shallow dashboard and are meant to mimic the placement of the turn signals at the end of the bonnet. More metal outlines the stylized air vents, nicely complementing the carbon-fiber trim on the center console. I'll admit I'm not the biggest fan of bright red leather, but I think it totally works against the silver exterior of this G550 test car. ("The mantra was that an ordinary exterior must have a sexy interior," a former Mercedes rep told me.) Because the 2019 G550 is almost five inches wider than its predecessor, front and rear passengers enjoy more shoulder and elbow room than before. Headroom, meanwhile, remains plentiful, and the G550's sunroof is finally a glass piece with a sunshade, rather than the one-piece roof panel from the previous generation. Thanks to the G's 2.1 inches of additional length and a bench that's positioned further back, rear passengers enjoy an extra 6 inches of legroom in the 2019 G550 -- a welcome improvement. The more generous back-seat accommodation impedes slightly on cargo space but there's still a wealth of capacity behind the tailgate, even if its side-hinged design is tough to use when you're backed into a garage or tightly parallel parked. Old tech is good tech The G-Class gets a big tech update for 2019, though it doesn't benefit from the latest MBUX infotainment system that you'll find in the A-Class sedan . Instead, you get the most recent iteration of COMAND , housed on a 12.3-inch screen in the center of the dash. You can operate the infotainment system either via the large touchpad on the center console or the rotary knob found underneath, or with the thumbpad on the right side of the steering wheel. COMAND works as well here as it has in every other recent Mercedes -- the menus are a little tough to manage at first, but there's a wealth of customization options within. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and a Wi-Fi hotspot are also along for the ride. Tick the $850 digital instrument cluster option box and you get a second 12.3-inch display that serves as the gauge cluster. Leave this option off, and a fixed-dial setup is standard. Seeing as you're already spending at least $124,500 on a G550, I can't imagine needing to skimp on this relatively affordable option. But on the other hand, with its six-figure price tag, I'm not sure why Mercedes doesn't just offer the dual-screen setup as standard equipment. The new G-Class gets a ton of advanced driving aids, too, and happily, they aren't optional extras. Every G550 comes with Mercedes' Distronic adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot assist, active brake assist, traffic sign recognition, parking assist, rear cross-traffic alert and more. It even has trailer sway control, should you want to put the G550's 7,700-pound tow rating to use. Just as capable, but nicer to drive Driving aids aside, the biggest improvement to the G's behind-the-wheel demeanor is its more modern steering system and suspension geometry. Yes, the archaic, recirculating-ball steering of the old G is gone, with a new, electromechanical setup in its place. It doesn't offer any sort of uncharacteristically sharp turn-in or wealth of sports car-like feedback -- the G550 still steers like a G550 -- but combined with the independent front suspension, the G feels more stable from behind the wheel. There's a lot less play in the steering wheel and a better sense of what's happening at road level. More than anything, the G550 just feels easier to control. There's certainly no shortage of available power, after all, the G550 uses the same 4.0-liter, twin-turbocharged V8 engine you'll find under the hood of many Mercedes-AMG cars. Here, the lovely V8 puts out 416 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque, the latter of which comes on strong at 2,000 rpm. There's the slightest bit of lag just before you dig into the meat of the engine's power band, but when you do, you'll feel a punch of thrust and an intoxicating growl -- a reminder that while the G550 itself isn't a product of AMG, its engine surely is. Impressively, Mercedes says this 5,551-pound, box-shaped G550 can accelerate to 60 miles per hour in just 5.6 seconds. That's only 0.3 seconds slower than the 516-horsepower AMG G63. The nine-speed automatic transmission will happily keep the V8 on boil when you're digging into the throttle, and will just as eagerly jump into its top gear when you're cruising in an effort to eke out maximum fuel economy. Of course, with EPA-estimated ratings of 13 miles per gallon city, 17 mpg highway and 14 mpg combined, you won't be winning any eco awards in this big boy. Should you venture off road -- and in a G-Class, you really ought to -- you'll find the G550 can handle just about anything you can throw at it. The 2019 model can ford 27.6 inches of water and can handle a 45-degree incline, all while the massaging, heated seats put your back and butt at ease. For a full take of the G's incredible off-road prowess, I recommend reading my earlier account from the hills of France , or reviews editor Emme Hall's take in the sand dunes outside of San Diego . How I'd spec it Even if you never tick a single option box, at $124,500, not including $995 for destination, the G550 is nicely equipped. The majority of the available options concern exterior and interior styling, and just how plush you want the cabin to be. Since I'm using hypothetical dollars here, and because I'm fancy as hell, I'm spending $6,500 for the dark green "Designo Olive Metallic" paint, and adding the $5,370 Night Package with AMG Line styling, which gets me 20-inch wheels, a sport exhaust (roar!) and black exterior accents, including the brush guard. Inside, I want Designo Espresso Brown leather and metal accents, must-haves if I'm checking the $12,200 Exclusive Interior Package Plus that also includes Nappa upholstery, rapid-heating front seats, cooled seats and more. The $250 heated steering wheel is a must, the no-cost black seat belts replace the tacky red ones of the aforementioned AMG pack and I want the $850 digital instrument cluster because analog gauges are so last millennium. I could option the $1,400 adaptive suspension, but really, in an SUV like this, it doesn't make much of a difference. All in, I'm looking at $151,815 for my ideal, Beverly Hills-spec G550. Actually, wait, a properly SoCal spec would be the AMG G63. Back to the configurator... Nuthin' but a G thang The 2019 Mercedes-Benz G550 is an expensive proposition, and it isn't for everyone. It's not the most spacious SUV at this price, and while the new version has made great strides in on-road handling, it's still more truck-like than just about anything else in the luxury space (except, maybe, a Lexus LX 570). But admit it, you want one. I want one. There's nothing else on the market quite like the G-Class, and whether you're buying it to cruise boulevards or climb mountains, it'll handle anything you can throw at it -- and then some -- with incredible comfort and capability. Originally published Jan. 24. Update, June 21: Adds video. Follow MSN Autos on Facebook and Twitter This was originally published on Roadshow.


The Red Sox addressed their rotation Saturday with the addition of veteran right-hander Andrew Cashner , whom they acquired from the AL East rival Orioles. There had been a need for another starter in Boston, which has lacked a true complement to Chris Sale , David Price , Eduardo Rodriguez and Rick Porcello for most of the season. The role was supposed to go to Nathan Eovaldi , one of the many heroes of Boston's 2018 World Series-winning campaign, but the right-hander has seldom pitched since re-signing on a four-year, $68 million contract over the winter. Eovaldi underwent surgery on his pitching elbow in late April, three weeks into the season, and his recovery has taken far longer than Boston anticipated. Now, with just two and a half months left in the season, the Red Sox don't believe Eovaldi has enough time to stretch back out as a starter. Therefore, Eovaldi will return as a closer   a decision the playoff-contending Red Sox hope will give them a legitimate Craig Kimbrel successor for the rest of 2019. And Eovaldi, 28, is finally on the verge of rejoining the club. Eovaldi could slot into Boston's bullpen "within about a week," assuming the short rehab stint he embarks on early next week goes well, president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said Saturday (via Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com ). Eovaldi sputtered out of the gates this year before his surgery, pitching to a bloated 6.00 ERA/7.10 FIP with 6.86 K/9 against 4.71 BB/9 in four starts and 21 innings. But Eovaldi held his own over a much larger sample size a year ago, and he brings a 97-mph fastball to the table that could play up in short outings this summer. If it does, Eovaldi would add a much-needed end-of-game solution to a maligned bullpen that has as many blown saves as saves (18). Boston's relief corps hasn't been a statistical disaster on the whole, although its 12th-place K/BB ratio, 13th-ranked FIP and 16th overall ERA are hardly indicative of a dominant unit. The Red Sox, including their bullpen, took an 11-2 beating at the hands of their 2018 World Series foes   the Dodgers   on Saturday. While the Sox are a respectable 50-42, they're currently a game and a half out of a wild-card spot and nine back in the AL East after rolling to 108 wins a season ago. Nevertheless, with Cashner and Eovaldi set to join Boston's starting staff for most of the second half, Dombrowski suggested Saturday he could pass on further pickups before the July 31 trade deadline. "We might (stand pat)," Dombrowski said, who later remarked ( via Cotillo ), "We like how our club looks, but we've liked how our club looks for a long time." In regards to his team's bullpen, Dombrowski pointed to Eovaldi's imminent return and the recent activation of Steven Wright from an 80-game PED suspension as reasons for contentment. Of course, that was before the Dodgers trounced Wright for three earned runs on three hits in a third of an inning Saturday. The knuckleballer has now surrendered at least one earned run in three of six appearances since his activation and has yielded six ER on 11 hits (including three homers) in 6 1/3 frames on the season. Despite Wright's struggles, if we're to believe Dombrowski, the righty may be someone Boston leans upon down the stretch in lieu of outside help. Even if Dombrowski wants to make more additions to his pitching staff or anywhere else, however, there's a question of how much more money he'll be able to spend. The Red Sox are running an estimated luxury-tax payroll upward of $245 million after trading for Cashner, per Jason Martinez of Roster Resource . Exceeding the highest threshold, $246 million, would subject the Red Sox to the harshest penalties   a 75% tax on every dollar spent over the limit and a 10-spot fall for their top 2020 draft pick. Also of great relevance: Owner John Henry said two weeks ago the franchise is " not going to be looking to add a lot of payroll" this summer. With two-plus weeks left before the deadline, we'll find out soon if Henry sticks by that statement. Related slideshow: The 2019 MLB season (Provided by imagn)


When you sit down at a restaurant and the waiter asks "still, sparkling, or tap?" you realize you already have a lot of water options and you haven't even opened up your menu. But those three choices are just the tip of the iceberg that is the booming "specialty water" industry. Now, you can walk into Whole Foods or even your gym and find tons of souped-up waters promising elixir-like benefits. How do you choose?! (Related: These New Products Turn Basic Water Into a Fancy Health Drink ) "The key element is water , which most people are still under-consuming' despite all the varieties out there," says Kristine Clark, Ph.D., R.D.N., an associate research professor in the College of Health and Human Development at Pennsylvania State University. Will any particular one make you stronger, faster, better? TBD. At the very least, though, they'll help you reach your daily H2O quota. Hydrogen Water Find it in: HFactor , HTwo , Dr. Perricone Hydrogen Water Brands claim water with extra hydrogen gas dissolved in it can neutralize cell-damaging free radicals, increase energy production, and ease inflammation. "But the science doesn't validate the added cost," says Melissa Majumdar, R.D., a bariatric dietitian for the Brigham and Women's Center for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery and a spokeswoman for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. (Related: Everything You Need to Know About Hydrogen Water ) Plus, your body doesn't actually need more hydrogen, says Abbie E. Smith-Ryan, Ph.D., an associate professor and the director of the Applied Physiology Laboratory in the department of exercise and sport science at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. "Part of why we fatigue during exercise is because of hydrogen build-up , which causes your muscles to stop contracting," she says. Any benefits you feel from hydrogen water are likely due to the fact that you're simply hydrating more. Oxygenated Water Find it in: O2 , Oxigen The logic behind marketing water with extra O2 as a way to help your body process toxins or recover faster makes sense: "The more oxygen we have, the better we can breathe, and the greater the nutrient delivery in the blood," explains Clark. "Hypothetically, with more oxygen in the blood, we could perform to a greater standard." (Related: Is Canned Oxygen the Key to Post-Workout Recovery? ) But drinking oxygen doesn't get those extra molecules into your bloodstream, where they do their work. And "there's no research to support hydrogen water's 'benefits,'" says Majumdar. You'd be better off drinking beet or tart cherry juice , which are proven to increase blood flow and circulation. Alkaline Water Find it in: Essentia , evamor Metals and impurities have been removed from alkaline water via microfiltration, reverse osmosis, and ultraviolet exposure processes, to make it less acidic. Proponents say it can regulate your body's pH levels, which is important for making your enzymes and muscles work better, says Smith-Ryan. But your body does that naturally. "Having some water is not going to modify that pH," she says. "Your body is too strong of a regulator." (Related: What's Up with Crystal-Infused Water? ) While one study did show that high pH water reduced blood viscosity (or made blood flow more efficiently) by 6.3 percent compared to 3.36 percent with standard purified drinking water, Clark calls that number statistically insignificant meaning, you're not going to notice a difference. Electrolyte Water Find it in: smartwater Sodium, potassium, and chloride are all ionized minerals that conduct electrical currents in the body. You lose them when you sweat, which is why you see electrolyte-enhanced drinks at aid stations during races. "Athletes who are exercising for over an hour should be consuming extra electrolytes," says Majumdar. "They're going to help you retain fluid and also increase thirst, so you keep drinking." But the average person doesn't need to be chugging electrolytes all day when you over-consume them, "you just sweat them out or excrete them," says Smith-Ryan. And while most enhanced waters are calorie-free, electrolyte-rich sports drinks often have other additives, like flavoring and carbohydrates. (Keep that in mind if you're cutting out added sugars.)


Four people were killed and a statue of the Virgin Mary was destroyed in an attack on parishioners during a religious procession in Burkina Faso, church officials told CNN on Wednesday. Unidentified armed men, who on Monday stopped a group of worshipers during a Catholic parade in the remote village of Zimtenga, in the Kongoussi area of the country's northwest, set children free but killed four adults. They then burned a statue of the Virgin Mary, Paul Ouédraogo, president of the Episcopal Conference of Burkina Faso and Niger told CNN. Monday's attack came a day after six people, including a priest , were killed by gunmen who opened fire on worshipers in a Catholic church in Dablo in the central part of the country. "We will not be bogged down by the religious attacks," said Cardinal Philippe Ouédraogo at an ongoing conference of Catholic bishops in the capital, Ouagadougou, on Tuesday. Christians have recently come under attack across the northwest African country, which is facing a growing terrorist threat. In April, five churchgoers, including a pastor, were killed in a deadly attack by armed men in Silgadji town. Escalating attacks by armed Islamist groups have forced tens of thousands to flee their villages this year, Human Rights Watch said in a recent report. French forces last week freed four hostages, including an American and South Korean, in a rescue operation in Burkina Faso that saw two soldiers killed. The US in February said it might send additional military advisers as well as intelligence and surveillance assets such as drones to Burkina Faso to help fight the uptick in terrorism attacks in the country. Violent incidents in the country linked to the local affiliates of al Qaeda and ISIS rose from 24 in 2017 to 136 in 2018, according to the Africa Center for Strategic Studies .


Here's what you need to know about what's happening in Houston. Naked man jumps on car and exposes himself near Sam Houston High School CAUGHT ON VIDEO: A man approaches the woman's car, then presses himself against the windshield and begins fondling himself. Read the full story on ABC13 Houston . Man shot in the head in possible NW Houston road rage incident Police responded to a shooting call on Streamside Drive near West Gulf Bank just after seven Sunday morning. Read the full story on ABC13 Houston . Man killed in forklift accident in southeast Houston Houston police did not give any details on how the accident happened. Read the full story on KHOU . Houston councilman 'considering' running for mayor after campaign website leaked Although the city council member has not made a final decision, he says he should be making one soon. Read the full story on ABC Houston, KTRK . Houston's public transit system considering rail extensions HOUSTON (AP) - Houston's proposed rail expansion could get bigger. Metropolitan Transit Authority officials are still modifying the agency's long-term plan that's projected to begin with $7.5 billion in improvements, the Houston Chronicle reported. Read the full story on MySanAntonio . This story was created automatically using data about news stories on social media from CrowdTangle , then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


Tony Bennett's first offseason as a national champion coach has come with benefits on the recruiting trail. His first season at Virginia after winning the title, however, will bring challenges. Five players who helped Virginia beat Texas Tech to capture the first basketball title in school history are gone, and that's four more than expected. Center Jack Salt graduated, and guards De'Andre Hunter, Ty Jerome and Kyle Guy declared for the NBA draft. Seldom-used Marco Anthony transferred. Recruiting was already well underway before the Cavaliers won it all, but Bennett said Wednesday the result ''certainly can't hurt and I think it has helped. It validates a lot of good stuff that's happened in the past.'' Virginia hopes the spoils of those improvements are evident quickly in incoming freshmen guard Casey Morsell, big men Justin McKoy and Kadin Shedrick and junior college shooting guard Tomas Woldetensae. Virginia opened its summer practice period on Tuesday, and Bennett said he's not sure just yet who will be ready to contribute. ''Everyone will have ample opportunity, the newcomers, so to speak,'' he said. ''To say who, you just don't know. ... There are some opportunities out there. So it's the returners and we can go down the list of the guys we brought in, but I think they're excited about the opportunity. ''There's always a learning curve any time you go from whether it's high school to college or junior college to college or coming from a redshirt to being eligible. ... Going up a level and playing in the ACC, for any of these guys, there's the challenge of the physicality and the level of talent and the speed.'' Woldetensae, a left-handed shooter, averaged 17.3 points per game and shot 47.6 percent from 3-point range last season at Indian Hills Community College. ''We thought we needed to add some experience and a quality player on the perimeter and when he was mentioned and we did our homework and watched film and all those kinds of things,'' he said. ''His personality came out as a young man of character and we always start there. He seemed wanting to challenge himself at a very high level.'' The Cavaliers were delighted that Mamadi Diakite decided to come back for his senior year after testing the professional waters. And they added senior transfer Sam Hauser, who averaged 14.9 points and 7.2 rebounds last season at Marquette. Hauser will be eligible to practice with the team, but won't be able to play until 2020-21. Bennett's offseason included numerous speaking engagements, recruiting, talking to NBA scouts about his players and some time to decompress. He also checked an item off his bucket list when, with his father, longtime college coach Dick Bennett, he played Augusta National Golf Club, home of The Masters. That, he said, ''was amazing.'' Now, it's back to work. ''I'm grateful for the busy-ness of it,'' he said of the offseason. ''It means something good happened.'' --- More AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/Collegebasketball and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25


KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) Johnny Russell had a hat trick and Sporting Kansas City beat the Seattle Sounders 3-2 on Sunday to snap a seven-game winless streak. Nicolas Hasler took it away from Seattle's Handwalla Bwana near midfield and then led Yohan Croizet with a low pass to the right corner of the area. He won a battle with Kim Kee-hee and fed Russell for the finish from the top of the box to open the scoring in the 29th minute. Then, seconds into first-half stoppage time, Russell weaved through three defenders and side-netted a left-footer to make it 2-0. Kelvin Leerdam stopped, turned 360 degrees to avoid a defender and raced to the corner of the 6-yard box, where, as defender Kelyn Rowe and goalkeeper Tim Melia converged, tapped it to Raul Ruidiaz for the empty-netter in the 63rd minute. Rowe tapped it to Russell at the top of the box where he bent a first-timer inside the post in the 68th. Leerdam headed home a corner kick by Nicolas Lodeiro in the 71st to cap the scoring. Sporting Kansas City (3-4-5) won for the first time since March 30. Seattle (7-2-5) had its six-game unbeaten streak snapped. --- More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/apf-Soccer and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports


The NFC West has a talented group of safeties in 2019. The Arizona Cardinals added D.J. Swearinger and the L.A. Rams added Eric Weddle. The San Francisco have a number of players who are in the mix for the starting jobs. In all, there are eight starting jobs. Who are the top five in the division? No. 5: Budda Baker, Cardinals Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports Baker has been solid in the roles he has played, in the box and in the slot. He has been a volume tackler and can blitz and play the run. He will be playing more in deep coverage this year, which he prefers. However, his one flaw is catching the ball and he has not yet had an interception in his career. He is on the verge of becoming a household name. View embedded content No. 4: Bradley McDougald, Seahawks Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports With no Earl Thomas or Kam Chancellor in the back end, the Seahawks are very pleased with McDougald. He makes plays at the line scrimmage and in coverage. He had three picks and three forced fumbles, as well as four tackles for loss. View embedded content No. 3: D.J. Swearinger, Cardinals Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports Swearinger has bounced around the league and has not ever been a Pro Bowler, but he is right there at that level, perhaps a little below. He plays well against the run and makes plays in the passing game, having intercepted 11 passes in the last three season. He is a ferocious hitter and a leader. View embedded content No. 2: Eric Weddle, Rams Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports If this is a career rating, Weddle is clearly the best in the division. However, his numbers declined in 2018, as he had no interceptions, broke up fewer passes than any year in his career and did not force a fumble. He is still a great player and his presence will improve the Rams defense, but he isn't the best right now. View embedded content No. 1: John Johnson, Rams Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports Johnson was one of the biggest surprises of the division. In his second season, he had 118 tackles, four interceptions and broke up 11 passes. he was not a Pro Bowler but, combined with Weddle in 2019, he should get the attention he warrants for his play. Listen to the latest from Cards Wire's Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio . View embedded content MORE: Poker player argues over dealer chip counting error during crucial all-in hand at WSOP Main Event Colts ranked No. 1 in NFL future power rankings The NFL made roughly $16 billion in revenue last year Future looks bright for the Steelers according to ESPN Trysten Hill may be crowning point on Cowboys star-studded defense


MLB hitters have collectively struck out in 22.9% of their plate appearances entering play Thursday. If that rate holds, it will break a record set in 2018, which broke a record set in 2017, which broke a record set in 2016, which broke a record set in 2015, and so on for every season dating back to 2008. There's a lot to it. Some of it, certainly, is that strikeouts became somewhat destigmatized for offensive players right around the same time they became more valued, paradoxically, for pitchers. But anyone insisting the problem with Major League Baseball is that all these hitters are selling out for power and abandoning the subtle art of slap hitting needs to watch this pitch Rays reliever Jose Alvarado threw on Thursday and explain exactly what Rowdy Tellez was supposed to do about it: How is that even possible? Alvarado's two-seamer was speeding down the freeway then realized it was about to miss its exit and took a sudden left turn across two lanes without signaling. I can't take credit for this notion because I've seen it presented elsewhere, somewhere I can't find right now, but it has been theorized that the league-wide surge in strikeouts and the league-wide surge in home runs both relate to the outrageous things MLB pitchers can now make baseballs do. Big-league hitters will seldom cop to guessing on pitches, but it's probably the only way anyone's ever going to hit something like that. If Alvarado's triple-digit offering was a four-seamer instead of a two-seamer and stayed true on the inside corner, Tellez might have hit it to the moon. Tellez would go on to draw a walk in the plate appearance. All four Blue Jays that faced Alvarado reached base, allowing Toronto to tie the game, but the Rays would come back to win the game in the 11th, 4-3. By ERA (and it's still a small sample, granted), Alvarado is currently the eighth best pitcher on the Tampa Bay Rays' staff. Baseball players are too good at baseball . MORE: Five potential Chris Paul trade destinations Kyle Busch was so frustrated during Coke 600 that he told Joe Gibbs he quit Roundup: NFL Owners Want 18-Game Season Again, Alex Trebek Cancer Near Remission, Israel Redoing Election 5 things we'll be watching at Lions week 2 of OTAs Report: The Celtics are no longer the favorites to sign Kyrie Irving Related slideshow: The 2019 MLB season (Provided by imagn)


Authorities rescued a Texas 8-year-old Sunday after a vigilant duo saw the Fort Worth Police Department's description of the car suspected in her kidnapping and went hunting for it, police said. Standing in front of the WoodSpring Suites in the suburb of Forest Hill, a beaming Buddy Calzada, spokesman for the Fort Worth police, told reporters that the pair, who he described only as members of a local church, found the grey Ford Five Hundred in the hotel parking lot. "As you can see, there is a smile on my face. I'm here to report that Salem has been found safe," he said. Salem Sabatka was taking a walk with her mother Saturday night in Fort Worth when a car approached them and a man snatched her, police said. Her mother tried to jump into the vehicle to save her daughter, but the man shoved her and sped away, CNN affiliate KTVT reported. Authorities issued an Amber Alert and posted photos of Salem and the Ford Five Hundred to social media. The churchgoers saw the posts, found the vehicle and called it in to police. Officers determined in what room the car's owner was staying, breached the door and found Salem, Calzada said. "They're our heroes tonight, I'll tell you that," he said of the churchgoers. He declined to identify the pair, citing the ongoing investigation, but said he would like to introduce them to the public in coming days. The 51-year-old accused of taking Salem faces charges of aggravated kidnapping, Calzada said. He is not related to the girl, he said. Salem appeared calm and unharmed, according to officers, Calzada said. She was taken to a local hospital and has been reunited with her family. For hours after she was reported missing, several law enforcement agencies, including Homeland Security, searched for the girl. CNN's Sheena Jones contributed to this report.


The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series makes its return to Pocono Raceway for the second of two races in 2019. Kyle Busch won the season's first race at the "Tricky Triangle." Busch, Kyle Larson and William Byron were the only drivers to reach double-digits in both laps led and fastest laps. Notably, Larson wrecked his car in practice and despite qualifying in 29th, he will start at the rear of the field. Chase Elliott (crash, backup car) and Bubba Wallace (engine change) will also head to the rear after 23rd and 26th place qualifying efforts, respectively. Every week I build a statistical model for the race. Traditionally, these metrics are the most predictive of Pocono race results during the Gen-6 era (2013-present): Pocono driver rating (last eight races) Flat track quality pass percentage (last eight races) Year-to-date quality pass percentage Practice times Qualifying position Using these data points, I've found three value bets to win today's Gander Outdoors 400. *All odds as of 11:00 p.m. ET on Saturday. A quick explainer on the odds below: A $100 wager on +1200 would profit $1200. Joey Logano +1200 Logano ranks third in my model behind co-favorites Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick, but is currently listed as the sixth-most likely driver to win at the Westgate and seventh-most likely at Caesars properties. Logano's price is likely dampened by the fact that his track history isn't stellar, but if we take a deeper dive, he actually has some very strong track history points in his favor. In the first Pocono race this year, Logano had the fifth-best quality pass percentage, the sixth-best percentage running in the top 15 and finished seventh. Back in 2014, when the aerodynamic package was most similar to this year's package, Logano had a third-place finish in the second Pocono race, and had the third-best quality pass percentage and was running up front most of the race until his engine let go on lap 150. Logano was inside the top five in both five- and 10-lap average in final practice, less than 0.3 mph off the leaders in both metrics. Starting from the second position, Logano should have the all-important track position and a premium pit stall. Additionally, Logano has two wins in the bag which means his strategy will simply be to race for the win, instead of worrying about accumulating stage points. There is value on Logano as long as you can get him at +1000 or longer. Denny Hamlin +1500 MGM is notably slow to adjust its NASCAR odds after practice and qualifying, and they haven't adjusted Hamlin's odds from his 15-1 opener despite an incredibly strong showing this weekend. Hamlin was fourth in five-lap average, and second in 10-lap average in final practice. In the first Pocono race just eight weeks ago, Hamlin had the third-fastest average green-flag speed, behind only Kyle Busch and Erik Jones, before finishing sixth. He also finished fourth and ninth in 2014 under a similar aerodynamic package. Importantly, Hamlin won at Pocono four times prior to the track's repave in 2011, including a sweep of the 2006 races when the track surface was in its 12th year after its 1995 repave. The track surface is now nine years old. To see how egregious the MGM line is, just look at the Westgate SuperBook, where Hamlin is listed at +800. However, seven drivers have shorter odds than Hamlin at MGM. Between the aerodynamic package, the practice times and the track age, Hamlin shakes out fourth in my statistical model among all drivers. I'd bet him down to +1200. Kyle Larson +5000 Earlier in the week I bet Larson at +2200 on the heels of his strong showing at the "Tricky Triangle" earlier this year. Larson also finished fifth in the first Pocono race during his rookie campaign in 2014. However, a crash in practice relegated him to his backup car and only 10 total laps in final practice, pushing his odds down to +5000 at William Hill. He was only 24th in practice, and qualified only 29th, creating the impetus for his plummeting odds. Since he's starting in the rear, look for his team to make some strategic moves to get him track position. Strategy plays come with a wider range of outcomes, but since we're only concerned about the win on this bet, we can discount the additional downside in favor of potential upside from a strategic call. This is definitely a long-shot bet on an extremely talented driver, but I like a small play here. Larson has won five times in 203 career Cup races, about one in 40. However, Pocono is in the top-third of his tracks if you compare his driver rating year-by-year at each track to his season-long performance. As such, I like betting him down to +4000. ]]>


Tesla's Standard Range cars are no longer available to order, while the Long Range is now the base trim and sees a big discount. Ludicrous Mode is now standard on Performance trims. White is the only no-cost paint. Tesla is dropping the base models (again), except this time, the prices aren't increasing as they did in January. Consistent with Tesla's frequently adjusted pricing and product availability, the latest changes that quietly appeared on the Tesla website this week dropped two cheaper models of the Model S and Model X. The Standard Range cars are gone, and the Long Range cars now the base trim are each down $8010. That means that, for just a couple grand more than the base models that were still being made last week, the Model S is finally at eye level with gasoline-powered luxury cars, at least in estimated EPA range. The 370-mile Model S (up from the Standard Range's 285) costs $81,190. The 325-mile Model X (up from the Standard Range's 250) is $86,190. Consider that earlier this year, both cars in P100 trim cost near $100,000 for batteries this big. Ludicrous mode is now standard on the Performance trims it was $20,000 before. Both Performance trims on the Model S and Model X cost $990 more than last week with the same range (345 miles and 305 miles, respectively). The Model S Performance is $101,190; the Model X Performance can be yours for $106,190. Also of note is that Tesla's configurator now gives you an explicit choice, without clicking into a popup, to view the actual price of the car you're buying instead of the theoretical and entirely misleading number that factors in fuel savings and incentives. Of course, if you prefer that number, you can still view it. White is now the only no-cost exterior paint among five choices. Tesla's "full self-driving computer" is included on every car, but activating it is a $6000 option when ordered today and "likely to increase over time" if you buy after delivery. You still can't use it right now. When Elon Musk deems it ready, you can expect him to beam the magic signal over the Tesla information superhighway. Be sure to check back regularly, as one thing that's certain is that Tesla prices will change again. Research the Tesla Model S on MSN Autos | Find a Tesla Model S near you


Pac-12 revenue fell by $12 million in 2018 to $497 million because the conference could not make up for lost Rose Bowl revenue from when the game hosted a College Football Playoff semifinal after the 2017 season. Payouts to Pac-12 member schools rose 5% to $31.3 million each as conference distributions included money held back from Rose Bowl payments in the previous two years. The Pac-12's Rose Bowl revenue dropped from about $36 million in each of the seasons during which the conference's champion participated in the game to about $14 million when it hosted the CFP. The Rose Bowl hosts a national semifinal every third year. After its spring meetings concluded Monday, the Pac-12 released its latest financial records and announced its university presidents had approved three measures: - Standardizing nonconference schedules in men's basketball to avoid weaker opponents; - Eliminating the year of lost eligibility for athletes who transfer within the conference; - Extending by five years the $3.6 million in annual funding to the conference's Student-Athlete Health & Well-Being Initiative. The portion of funding that goes to on-campus mental health services will increase to $1.1 million. The scheduling change comes after a couple of poor seasons by the Pac-12 in men's basketball. The conference has placed only three teams in the NCAA Tournament field in each of the last two seasons, the fewest among Power Five leagues. To give the conference an overall boost, the Pac-12 will now require its schools to beef up nonconference schedules. Using the NCAA Tournament selection committee's NET metric, Pac-12 teams will be required to play nonconference opponents whose combined five-year average ranking is 175 or better. The Pac-12 schools will not participate in so-called buy road games, where it plays at an opponent's home court without a future return game scheduled. The plan also calls for eliminating regular-season games against non-Division I competition and road games versus nonconference opponents with a five-year average of 200 or worse in the NET rankings. The schedule standardization sets modest goals for Pac-12 schools. Commissioner Larry Scott said only occasionally have Pac-12 schools had nonconference schedules that would not have met the 175 average ranking. ''But this was something our schools felt strongly about we should establish as a standard,'' Scott said. Earlier this month, the Pac-12 voted to increase the number of conference games its men's basketball teams play to 20 per season. The elimination of the loss of eligibility for transfers does not affect the NCAA's year-in-residence rule for most transfers. Athletes who transfer within the Pac-12 will still be required to sit out a season in cases when the NCAA rule applies. As for the Pac-12's financial news, it was not surprising. The conference continues to lag behind its Power Five competitors in revenue as the Pac-12 Networks produce modest returns in comparison to the SEC's and Big Ten's networks. The Southeastern Conference reported payouts of $43.7 million per school earlier this year and the Big Ten has reportedly distributed up to $54 million to its members. The Pac-12 is seeking an investor to purchase equity in the conference's media rights, hoping to inject hundreds of millions in revenue. Colorado chancellor Philip DiStefano said there has been ''significant interest in some of the most respected companies investing in this space.'' ''While we can't publicly say the company's names, we can say it's a diversity of organizations ranging from traditional players to technology companies,'' DiStefano said. ''While we had a robust discussion today of the pros and cons of such a deal, we did not make any final decisions.'' --- More AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/Collegebasketball and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25 Related slideshow: Best photos of NCAA Championship (Provided by imagn)


After scaring everyone two weeks ago with my predictions of the dangers you will face in cyberspace in 2016, it only seems fair to provide you with a guide to some of the steps you should take to protect yourself from identity theft in the new year. Here are a few things you can do to protect yourself from identity theft. 1 . Never give personal information to anyone who contacts you by phone, text message or email unless you have confirmed that the request is legitimate. Caller ID can be fooled to make it appear that a call is legitimate and emails and texts can be sent from hijacked accounts or addresses that may appear legitimate, but are slightly different from the real email address or phone number. 2 . Sign up for the Federal Do Not Call list at donotcall.gov to avoid telemarketing calls. Here is the link to sign up for the Do Not Call List. donotcall.gov It is important to remember, however, that the Do Not Call List does not apply to charities so you still may receive telephone calls from people collecting on behalf of legitimate charities, however, you can never be sure when you receive a call purporting to be from a charity whether it is legitimate or not so never give personal information or credit card information over the phone to someone who calls you soliciting for a charity. If you are feeling charitably inclined, go to the real website of the charity where you can safely make your donation. 3 . Consider opting out of pre-approved credit card offers. These can be stolen from your mailbox by identity thieves who can then apply for credit in your name. You can opt out of these offers by going to optoutprescreen.com . 4 . Check your credit report at each of the three credit reporting agencies, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion at least once a year. Often people first become aware of becoming a victim of identity theft when they find fraudulent charges on their credit report and the earlier you become aware of the problem, the easier it is to fix. Because federal law provides the right for you to get a free copy of your credit report from each of the three major credit reporting agencies annually, you should stagger your requests to each of the credit reporting agencies so that you get one report every four months. Get your free credit reports at annualcreditreport.com . 5 . While the credit reporting agencies and others tout the use of fraud alerts on your credit reports as a way to help protect you from identity theft, the truth is that fraud alerts by which someone issuing credit in your name is supposed to notify you before issuing credit in your name are not terribly effective and there is no penalty for a company issuing credit to someone in your name without notifying you even if there is a fraud alert on your credit report. A far better choice is to put a credit freeze on your credit report. This will prevent someone from accessing your credit report for purposes of obtaining credit even if they have your Social Security number. Here is a link to a previous column I wrote about credit freezes that explains how to get one. 6 . Limit your use of your debit card to use at ATMs. Don't use it for retail purchases because the law provides much more protection from liability when your credit card is illegally used than when your debit card is fraudulently used. In addition, even if your debit card company provides for zero liability, your bank will freeze the bank account you have tied to your debit card while they investigate any fraudulent use of your debit card, which can be tremendously inconvenient. 7 . Get an EMV chip credit card, if you don't already have one and if the places you shop still haven't switched over to card processing equipment for the new cards, tell them that they should do so soon. Your shopping will be safer when everyone is using these new cards. 8 . Use a strong unique password for each of your accounts. This is particularly important because if you use the same password for all of your accounts, you are more susceptible to identity theft if your password is stolen in a data breach at one of the companies with which you do online business. Having a strong, easy to remember password is not as difficult a task as it may seem. Start with a phrase, such as IHate2 UsePasswords. This is a good combination of capital letters, small letters and a number. Now make it even stronger by adding a couple of symbols such as exclamation points at the end so it now reads IHate2 Use Passwords!!!. This is now your basic password which you can customize for each account by adding a few letters to identify the particular account, such as Ama for your Amazon account so your Amazon password would read IHate2Use Passwords!!!Ama. 9 . Security questions are an important part of your online safety. Armed with the answer to your security questions, a hacker can change your passwords and take over your online accounts. Unfortunately, the answers to common security questions, such as your mother's maiden name can be found with little effort by an identity thief. Sometimes, you may unwittingly provide that information yourself on social media where you may provide more information to the public than you realize. The key then is to make your answer to your security question nonsensical. So instead of the answer to your mother's maiden name being "Jones," change it to something like "Grapefruit." No identity thief will guess it and it is silly enough for you to remember. These are a few of the things you should be doing to protect yourself from identity theft and scams in 2016. In my next column I will give you more tips. Steve Weisman is a lawyer, a professor at Bentley University and one of the country's leading experts in scams and identity theft. He writes the blog scamicide.com , where he provides daily update information about the latest scams. His new book is Identity Theft Alert. --- Watch this: Americans Still Struggle With Low Wages--And the US Labor Department Knows It


All report their health has greatly improved since having the implants removed. At an FDA hearing on the safety of breast implants , women who have implants, and those who got them removed, shared testimonies about the side effects they faced after surgery . Many of the women talked about the combination of symptoms they had, like nausea, vomiting, constant fatigue, and inflammation, referring to the sickness as "breast implant illness." Breast implant illness isn't recognized by the medical community, but women continue to share their stories on social media in hopes of finding others like them. Five women in a breast implant illness support group on Facebook shared their stories with INSIDER. For years, women have complained about the symptoms they've dealt with after getting breast implants, like rashes, low energy, inflammation, vision problems, and decreased libidos. The harsh reality of their experiences culminated in March when the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) called for a hearing about the safety of breast implants. At the hearing, women who currently have breast implants and those who previously had the devices shared testimonies about the aforementioned side effects they faced after getting plastic surgery. Many of the women referred to their various symptoms as "breast implant illness." Breast implant illness isn't a disease recognized by the medical community, there is no diagnostic test for it, and many plastic surgeons deny the illness exists, but women continue to share their stories on social media in hopes of finding others like them and getting the recognition and help they need. One of the most popular social media outlets is the Facebook group Breast Implant Illness and Healing by Nicole , which has over 79,000 members. In the group, women talk about their symptoms, plans to remove their implants, and for those who have had their implants removed, the ways it has changed their lives. These are the stories of five women in the group. Lonna Edwards said that for 11 of the 13 years she lived with the saline implants inside her, she felt ill. "I am 100% failed by a totally botched approval system for medical devices and blatant lack of manufacturer tracking and failures in event reporting," Edwards said in her testimony. "As a result, I have endured a profound and unforgivable loss of meaningful life." For 10 years, she had ongoing flu symptoms, but every time a doctor would test her for the flu it would come back negative. Edwards also experienced recurrent sinus infections, migraines, tingling sensations, and vertigo. The numb feeling in her neck and right shoulder didn't go away after Edwards got her implants removed, but the slurred speech and tremors she experienced have disappeared. Racheal Blaze had Allergan saline implants for 12 years. In February, she had them removed, and noticed her many symptoms start to subside. "I was severely sick for eight years and almost died twice," Blaze told INSIDER. Her symptoms included blurred vision, hair loss, chronic infections, constant muscle aches, strokes, lesions, and full-body rashes. In total, Blaze said she had about 60 symptoms that affected her health. As a result, she formed two Facebook support groups, The Midwest Chapter of Breast Implant Illness and Understanding Breast Implant Illness for Spouses . "I'm back to being a mom, girlfriend, friend, family member, and a huge advocate," she said. Blaze is also helping to plan a march in the Chicago area, where she lives. The event is meant to bring women who have experienced breast implant illness together to raise awareness about the dangers of implants. Michelle Rendon had her breast implants removed in October 2018 after seeing 11 different specialists over the years for various health issues. "I was 28 years old and had a pill box with more prescriptions than most grandmas," Rendon said. In 2016, she could hardly get out of bed and had to stay in the dark to prevent debilitating headaches. Rendon said she could only be on her feet for 10 to 20 minutes at a time, limped whenever she walked, and had zero appetite. She recalled a time when her hospital bills were more than her rent, even with the help of insurance. "My quality of life was zero, and I continuously wondered how I'd ever keep finding the will to go on that way," she said. Now that Rendon has had her implants removed, she can walk up to three miles at a time. Brooke Atkinson decided to get implants after having three children. "Little did I know that I had just made one of the worst decisions of my life." After getting implants, she noticed her health began to decline. She gained weight despite working out and eating less than 1,200 calories daily (experts generally recommend people eat 1,200 calories per day at a minimum). Doctors ran tests, but couldn't pinpoint the cause of her sudden weight gain, which in the end totaled 60 pounds. She also had inflammation all over her body, vision problems, early menopause, rashes, and ear ringing. It wasn't until Atkinson saw women testifying in the March FDA hearings that she realized her symptoms could be due to her breast implants. Atkinson had her explant surgery - the procedure used to take breast implants out of the body - in April, but already notices positive health changes. "The inflammation in my face went away immediately," she said. Christin Quiette had her implants removed in 2017. Before that, she couldn't muster enough energy to get out of bed. "I actually wrote letters to my girls and made a will because I thought I was dying and didn't know why. I just knew I was going to die," Quiette said. She saw lots of doctors, including neurologists and endocrinologists, but no one could diagnose her. At one point, Quiette was told she had symptoms of Hashimoto's, a type of thyroid disease, but that diagnosis has proven false. "My anxiety, rage, and depression skyrocketed these last four years. After explant, that changed," she said. Quiette also said her sex drive, energy levels, and back pain have all improved since having her implants removed.


Self-driving cars may ultimately prove safer than having a human behind the wheel, but they're already getting into accidents. The Associated Press is reporting that four of the 48 self-driving vehicles licensed to operate on California roads have gotten into minor fender-benders since the state began issuing permits in September. Two of those accidents allegedly happened with the vehicles in self-driving mode; the others are being blamed on human error. Three of the cars were Lexus SUVs that are part of Google's intensive self-driving tests near the company's Mountain View headquarters. Delphi Automotive owns the vehicle involved in the fourth accident. The specific details around each incident aren't being revealed, since California law allows for collision reports to remain private. But according to the AP's source, none of them were severe crashes and each occurred at speeds of under 10 mph. Google blames these incidents on "human error and inattention." Delphi's self-driving Audi was "moderately damaged" after it was suddenly broadsided by another vehicle while waiting to turn left at a light. It was not in self-driving mode at the time. And in a statement, Google admitted that its Lexus SUV fleet has so far been involved in "a handful of minor fender-benders, light damage, no injuries, so far caused by human error and inattention." Google operates 23 Lexus vehicles that have been retrofitted with its autonomous driving sensors and other technology. Each contains security features like a kill switch that instantly disables the self-driving system. They are far more conventional than Google's own design for a self-driving car. But since this exciting concept remains so new to many, critics believe that companies pushing the cause of self-driving cars should share full details around any accident with the public and lawmakers. Google has now been involved in a total of six crashes when you include the three it quietly reported last year, spanning from when it began testing autonomous driving through May 2014. (The company told us most of those happened when its own cars were rear-ended by inattentive drivers.) Five other companies with similar permits told the AP they've so far avoided accidents on the road, and other states that allow self-driving tests (Nevada, Michigan, and Florida) reported no incidents. Google seems to believe that the occasional accident is inevitable with all the driving its cars are doing; so far Google's fleet has traveled "the equivalent of over 15 years of typical human driving," according to a statement it gave the AP.


Looking to up your appreciation of the arts? We've rounded up four artsy events around Los Angeles this week that will scratch your cultural itch, from a play to a musical. 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. The Play That Goes Wrong From the event description: What would happen if Sherlock Holmes and Monty Python had an illegitimate Broadway baby? You'd get "The Play That Goes Wrong," Broadway and London's award-winning smash comedy. When: Tuesday, July 9, 8 p.m. Where: Center Theatre Group Ahmanson Theatre, 601 W Temple St. Price: $30 Click here for more details, and to get your tickets Avenue of the Stars   From Paris to Beverly Hills From the event description: Sofitel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills is thrilled to host "Avenue of the Stars   From Paris to Beverly Hills," an exclusive avant-premiere show by the artists of the French National Team of Performing Arts of the project Révélation des Etoiles (Revealing the Stars)... to kick off the World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA). Be part of this unique party full of colors and emotions inspired by the biggest movies and legends from French and American cinema. Take part in breathtaking performances incorporating the biggest French songs of today and yesterday with a special tribute to Michel Legrand, Charles Aznavour and Edith Piaf. Directed by famous French stage director, actor and composer Oscar Sisto, this unforgettable evening will showcase the best performances France has to offer by the talents of the National Delegation and will be an opportunity for the francophone and francophile community of L.A. to meet the team. When: Thursday, July 11, 7-10 p.m. Where: Sofitel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills, 8555 Beverly Blvd. Price: Free Click here for more details, and to get your tickets Rose Abdoo & Rose Abdon't From the event description: After a lifetime of being asked "What are you?" Rose Abdoo is ready to answer the question in her hilarious and unique show: Rose Abdoo & Rose Abdon't. Drawing on characters from her childhood and her career in show business, Abdoo will have you wondering, "Why does skin color or having an unusual last name even matter?" Rose is known for her television role as Gypsy in "Gilmore Girls" and Gypsy and Berta in Netflix's "Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life." Other notable TV appearances include "Better Things," "Bless This Mess," "Curb Your Enthusiasm," "Scandal," "The Middle," "Parenthood," "Monk," "Grace & Frankie," "The Comeback," "Veep" and "Strangers With Candy." Rose is an alumna of Second City Chicago and a recipient of L.A. Weekly's Female Solo Performer of the Year award. Film appearances include "The Guilt Trip," "My Best Friend's Wedding" and George Clooney's Oscar-nominated "Good Night, and Good Luck." When: Thursday, July 11, 8-9:30 p.m. Where: Dynasty Typewriter, 2511 Wilshire Blvd. Price: $15 Click here for more details, and to get your tickets LA Phil: "Falla & Flamenco" From the event description: Spanish composer Manuel de Falla's "El Amor brujo" has everything a great flamenco needs   Andalusian gypsies, tragic romance, fiery passion ...and a ghost that just won't go away. Now, the LA Phil, maestro Paolo Bortolameolli and dancer-choreographer Siudy Garrido (from NBC's "World of Dance") bring this hot and steamy work to the Bowl, where you can hit The Wine Bar by a.o.c. to toast the performance with a Spanish red. When: Thursday, July 11, 8 p.m. Where: Hollywood Bowl, 2301 N. Highland Ave. Price: $17 - $24 Click here for more details, and to get your tickets Freaky Friday The Musical From the event description: When an uber-organized mother and her spontaneous teenage daughter magically swap bodies, they have just one day to put things right. Masquerading as each other, they must work together to solve the mystery of how to break the spell. By spending a day in each other's shoes, Katherine and Ellie come to appreciate one another in a way they never could have imagined. In the end, both learn the true power of love and the strength of the bond between a mother and daughter in this heartfelt and hilarious adaptation. When: Thursday, July 11, 7 p.m. Where: California State University Northridge, 18330 Halsted St. Price: $12 Click here for more details, and to get your tickets Parking in Downtown LA can be tough, especially during popular events. To find free or cheap parking and to book parking in advance, see this map of Downtown LA parking from SpotAngels. And to get there by public transportation, check the LA Metro website for nearby stations and schedules. This story was created automatically using local event data, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


Frenkie de Jong will wear the number 21 shirt at Barcelona this season, as La Masia graduate Carles Alena switches to number 19. The Dutchman occupied the squad number throughout his four-year association with the Amsterdam side, and wearing it, he earned himself iconic status, helping his side to an Eredivisie title and a Champions League semi-final before leaving for a club-record fee. Keen to carry it with him as an homage to his days in the Dutch capital, the number was already occupied by Alena upon his arrival at Camp Nou, but it seems as if the 21-year-old was happy to adjust to accommodate. 2⃣1⃣ @DeJongFrenkie21 1⃣9⃣ @Carlesale10 👉 https://t.co/NTDmBc4zUI pic.twitter.com/E4gRWUYVws   FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) July 15, 2019 As per a club announcement , Alena has taken the number 19, which was held by Kevin-Prince Boateng last season, in order to free up 21 for De Jong, The midfielder becomes the ninth player to don the number 21 since permanent squad numbers came into effect in 1995, with esteemed names such as Luis Enrique and Lilian Thuram having made it famous during their playing careers. Alena, meanwhile, takes the number that one Lionel Messi wore prior to inheriting the number ten from Ronaldinho, while it was also famously worn by Patrick Kluivert, another Ajax alumnus. In other Barcelona squad numbering news, Antoine Griezmann will wear the number 17, while incoming goalkeeper Neto takes 13.


MINNEAPOLIS, MN   Two University of Minnesota wrestlers were arrested over the weekend and are accused of criminal sexual misconduct, according to media reports. Gable Steveson, 19, a nationally-ranked heavyweight wrestler for the Gophers, and teammate Dylan Martinez, 21, were taken into custody on Saturday and are awaiting the possibility of formal charges. Steveson's father, Robert, confirmed his son's arrest to KSTP-TV. Steveson is an Apple Valley native and a four-time state champion at Apple Valley High School. During his freshman season at the University of Minnesota, he went 35-2 at 285 pounds, placing second at the Big Ten tournament and third at the NCAA Championships. Martinez came to the Gophers from Fresno City College in California, KSTP reported . Both men were arrested at different locations Saturday night. Steveson was arrested at a home on 26th Avenue Southeast in the Como neighborhood of Minneapolis, and Martinez was taken into custody at the home on 14th Avenue Southeast. The arrests happened after a 911 call was placed Friday and police responded to the 14th Avenue Southeast address about a possible criminal sexual conduct incident. In a statement, a University of Minnesota athletics department official said, "We are aware of a situation involving two of our student athletes and are in the process of gathering more information. These students have been suspended from all team activity pending further information. Federal and state law precludes any further details at this time." Both men were booked and remain in the Hennepin County Jail. The Hennepin County Attorney's office has until noon Tuesday to make a charging decision. Christa Groshek, a lawyer for the Steveson family, told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune Steveson was "shocked" by the arrest and is cooperating with police.


The early bird gets a promising linebacker talent for many years to come. The Dallas Cowboys have a talented group of youngsters that are going to be so fun to watch for years to come. But for that to happen, these players will need to be signed to a second contract as the rookie deal for many of these young stars are set to expire. Players like Dak Prescott , Amari Cooper , and Ezekiel Elliott are at the forefront of those discussions, but there are some other guys that are soon to follow. And now there are reports that the Cowboys have begun negotiations for Jaylon Smith . I was told by a source yesterday that the #Cowboys are beginning contract talks on Jaylon Smith. No, this doesn't leapfrog him ahead of more pressing matters (Dak, Amari, Byron, Zeke). No, it doesn't mean it'll land in 2019. However, weird to start now knowing he's RFA in 2020.   Patrik [No C] Walker (@VoiceOfTheStar) May 17, 2019 Patrik Walker of 247 Sports finds it a peculiar to start negotiating with Smith this soon, considering he's under contract real cheap for the next two seasons. And he's not alone. *whispers* - Giving Jaylon Smith a contract extension two years before he can hit the FA market seems like a not great idea.   Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) May 18, 2019 Smith is set to make $1.3 million in 2019 where he'll then hit the free agent market. But because he missed the entire 2016 season from injury, he'll only have three accrued seasons, making him a restricted free agent next offseason. The Cowboys could then slap a first-round tender on him, keeping him on the team in 2020 for the low cost of $4.4 million. So the obvious question many ask is - why not wait until later before giving up the dough? The answer - money. You've heard the expression, "you have to spend money to make money," and the Cowboys proactive approach to Smith's situation could end up saving them quite a bit of money in the long run. Let's say, for example, the Cowboys believe Smith is as good as Luke Kuechly. You can debate whether that's his value, but they both registered about the same amount of tackles last season over a full 16-game season. One side will tell you that Kuechly is a proven commodity, while the other side will tell that Smith is only 23 years old. They're both right. Kuechly brings home an annual average salary of $12.3 million. He's not the top paid linebacker as both Kwon Alexander ($13.5 M/year) and C.J. Mosley ($17 M/year) have signed more recent deals. If Smith were to hit the free agent market, an annual salary of $13 million seems pretty reasonable. But why would the Cowboys agree to that when they have him for real cheap for two more years? If you add up Smith's $1.3 M (2019) + $4.4 M (2020) + 4 x $13 M (2021 thru 2025), that equals a grand total of $57.7 million over a total of six years. That equates to an annual salary of $9.6 million. That seems like a great deal for a young up-and-coming linebacker that still hasn't reached his full potential. If Smith continues to trend up, his asking price when he hits free agency will look more like Mosley's contract, especially considering how much the market will increase by 2021. An annual price of $9.6 million for a player like Smith could end up being a value mirroring the great train-robbery of Tyron Smith back in 2014. The Cowboys knew what they had in Tyron early and jumped at the opportunity to lock down one of the game's future top left tackles in the game. What a steal that was. But for this to be a great deal, you have to believe that Smith is going to be a great player. You have to feel good about the type of person he is. Is he a hard worker? Does he stay out of trouble? Is this guy passionate about winning? The answer is yes, yes, and you betcha! While he's at the top of the chart when it comes to high character, what about his ability? Is he moving well laterally? Is he durable? Can he get by without that AFO brace to help him with his drop foot? The answer is yes, yes, and you betcha! The vast improvement Smith made from 2017 to 2018 was really quite impressive. We can talk about Leighton Vander Esch playing Sean Lee out of starting job, but let's be real - Smith had a part in that, too. The dynamic duo has basically established themselves as the team's new linebacker threat and it's quite the threat indeed. Vander Esch was an All-Pro in just his rookie season, and Smith made a strong push for the Pro Bowl . So, now if you are convinced that it's a good deal for Dallas, a new question surfaces - why would Smith agree to that? The answer - money. (The answer is always money) If Smith agreed to a five-year, $60 million extension, about half of that is going to be guaranteed money. And that includes about $20 million in signing bonus that will be new money in Smith's bank account right now. So, rather than waiting until 2021 before that load of cash shows up, Smith instantly becomes very rich. That's a very big deal for a guy who just a few years ago many thought wouldn't have a career in the National Football League. Great things happen in you have a clear eye view and the absolute resolve to do everything it takes to get there. And it certainly doesn't hurt that he was one of the most talented college prospects before his injury. If it still seems premature for the Cowboys to address this right now, just remember - the team did something similar with La'el Collins a couple years ago. Rather than letting him finish out his rookie deal and slapping a tender on him for an additional year, the Cowboys gave him an extension. It may have seemed like they were frivolous with their money or were just doing him a solid after an unfortunate occurrence damaged his draft stock through no fault of his own. Well, you could say that type of thing happened to Smith as well, only the circumstances were different. LC's contract shows up as an annual salary of $7.7 million, but when you look closer, the Cowboys actually gave him $18 million over a three-year span, equating to just $6 million per year. That sure seems like a discount price for a reliable starting right tackle. The Cowboys know what they have in Smith. They took a risk on him and it paid off, and if he can be a big part of their future, it could go down as one of the best gambles Jerry Jones has ever made. Sure, they can wait, but that's only going to cost them more money in the long run. If they have doubts about him as a player, then waiting absolutely is the right move. But they don't. He's good. Really good. And if you know you got something good, it's good business to lock him down for the long haul. If you lock up talent early before they become ridiculously expensive, you become a real winner. Oikos yogurt is a real winner. pic.twitter.com/kJcWeCADEU   Dan Rogers (@DannyPhantom24) May 18, 2019