Entire communities are suffering trauma, individually and collectively. An epidemic of gun violence in Connecticut and nationwide, racial bias and cultures of police brutality have inflicted trauma on communities of color that seem difficult to heal from, experts and community members say. Less than three weeks ago, Stephanie Washington, 22, and Paul Witherspoon III, 21, were fired upon by Hamden and Yale police . Days later, Anthony Jose Vega Cruz died at the hands of police gunfire after officers pursued him on Silas Deane Highway in Wethersfield. Across the country police and other violence traumatizes people who directly experience it, who witness it and those who are close to the victims. Trauma cements when an unanticipated danger that a person can't prepare for is suddenly realized, said Steven Marans, a psychoanalyst and professor of psychiatry at the Child Study Center and Department of Psychiatry at the Yale University School of Medicine. Common fears   loss of life or love, bodily harm, loss of control over how one thinks or acts   that reside in people become real when these fears are suddenly and helplessly realized. "There's a convergence between shared human fears and a sudden unanticipated realization of them," Marans said. In a traumatic situation   an assault, shooting, rape, car accident  a person is experiencing a high level of sudden stress, without being able to manage it. "We're left with being helpless in a situation of danger," Marans said. "The extent is enough that we're not able to have usual methods of fleeing or fighting. We become immobilized and our methods in our brains are severely compromised." Social justice organizer Barbara Fair said she was naturally inclined to protest the April 16 shooting of Stephanie Washington the day it happened, but when she and her daughter were in the midst of it, they found themselves reliving their own trauma. Fair's daughter was allegedly dragged out of her car by police in 2016 during a traffic stop and Fair was allegedly wrongfully arrested on the New Haven Green during a protest in 2017 in which officers grabbed her from behind and were ordered to take her to the ground. Fair said her experience was different from Washington's in that Fair and her daughter weren't shot, but "we still got abused and nobody admitted they did anything wrong." When Fair thinks about how long it will be before Witherspoon and Washington heal from the trauma of that night, she reflects on how long it has been since she was arrested and she still breaks down from the pain of it after therapy. Although Fair has been a social justice activist her whole life, since her arrest she has stayed away from demonstrations until this shooting, which is when she realized she was still healing. "This community has put away a lot of trauma," she said. "We've buried it so we can continue on with our lives." In the April police-involved shooting in New Haven, officers Devin Eaton and Terrence Pollock, of the Hamden and Yale police departments, respectively, fired at the car Witherspoon and Washington were in. Washington was shot, but is recovering. The incident remains under investigation by Connecticut State Police. While a store clerk who called 911 to report what he alleged appeared to be an attempted robbery involving Witherspoon, the clerk later retracted his contention that a gun was shown. No charges have been filed against Witherspoon. Translated trauma The traumatic experiences of individuals can be felt in others and extend to younger children in families who have experienced trauma directly. Physical proximity to the traumatic incident matters in how it makes an impact on a person, but it matters more if the person who was traumatized was somebody who a young person relied on, Marans said. Untreated trauma in a parent can be translated to a child through the parent's messaging about the self, the world, safety and danger. "When there's been a failure of recovery and people are left feeling vulnerable, it can have an impact on the way we relate to each other," Marans said. "It's a common human phenomenon. The areas we're most vulnerable to are the areas that reflect our earliest experiences and they can stay with us and shape the ways we act in the present." People who haven't overcome their trauma are at greater risk for PTSD, depression, struggling in school, and having difficulty with relationships, and these outcomes can have a lasting impact in the shaping of kids, Marans said. "If a parent's thinking that danger is lurking around every corner that can be impressed upon a child," Marans said. The ripple effect of not recovering from trauma can be extensive, Marans said. When parents' experiences with trauma translate to young children, inter-generational trauma manifests by the children adopting the worries or behaviors of their parents, Marans said. Historical Trauma Genocide, slavery, forced relocation and destruction of cultural practices on a large scale experienced by shared communities are all forms of historical trauma, which carries cumulative emotional and psychological wounds across generations, according to the University of Minnesota Historical trauma was first applied to Holocaust survivors but has since been recognized in numerous colonized indigenous groups throughout the world, including African Americans. The violence suffered in many black communities, the ways children are taught to behave, the mass-incarceration of black people and the unpunished or under-punished killings of African Americans are part of the effects and evolution of historical trauma, said David Canton associate professor of history and director of the Africana Studies Program at Connecticut College and a resident of Hamden. "There's so much stuff that African people have endured in this country and unless you can really resolve and heal from that, it goes in your DNA and the DNA of the next generation," Fair said. Canton said it's played out when African Americans have run-ins with police or see police around and their bodies tense up just seeing the red and blue lights. "You feel your body tense or heart rate going up, making sure you're going the right speed, that you're signaling," he said. "You try the best you can because you know that pull over may lead to issues. I know it's rooted in history in an idea that black people are fundamentally criminal." That fear for one's life then gets taught and learned and relived every generation. "On the micro daily level these things are going through your head and that you'll be assumed guilty," Canton said. "There's a massive amount of cynicism and skepticism." Canton said Hamden is a microcosm of these ideas and outcomes because everybody has been socialized to respond with fear at the sight of a black man, which was rooted in society after slavery and used to justify mistreatment of African Americans. He said a double standard exists when a white person commits a crime, because there the individual is blamed, but when a black person commits a crime, the entire race is indicted. "We're spinning this wheel because (you) don't want to get to the heart of the issues," he said. "We don't have these conversations consistently. Once people realize that we need to have these conversations things can change." Fair said communities reel with pain after shootings, such as the one Washington and Witherspoon suffered, but their pain is rarely resolved. "When I talk about the trauma the community will feel, it's because we constantly have to see this happening to us and 99 percent of the time the police will be exonerated," Fair said. "Part of the healing starts with the person who hurt you admitting they did wrong and that almost never comes from police so the communities and victims almost never get healing." Suffering vicariously When Fair watched the video from the body camera worn by Eaton and heard the screams of the person who is presumably Washington, it triggered anxiety and anger in her because it sounded so similar to her daughter. "It does something to your psyche to see this happening over and over again with the same results most of the time," Fair said. Don Sawyer, Quinnipiac University's associate vice president and chief diversity officer, said even if somebody hasn't experienced a traumatic situation firsthand, watching an incident, such as the shooting of Washington, on the news or social media is damaging to people. "The people who weren't in the car but saw the video experience trauma and this trauma is cumulative," he said. "It doesn't matter if the person gets shot somewhere else, the people who identify with those victims experience it vicariously and it starts to have physical manifestations. They start to get anxiety and panic when these things haven't happened to them." Sawyer said he doesn't watch graphic videos anymore for that reason. "The level of the trauma that you see, it get's heightened if you identify with the victim in that video," he said. It also impacts people's mental health and affects the way they interact with law enforcement, he said. An officer in New Haven may have done nothing to a person but because they've had a violent encounter with police elsewhere, they are triggered, he said. By viewing violence, the images can reinforce and trigger stress as it does for Fair. "Of course you absorb it," she said. "It's our humanity that we feel like it's happening to us. There's lots of videos I see on Facebook and after a while you can't keep looking at this stuff happening." Marans said when he works with families in trauma intervention, identifying immediate stressors is critical for recovery. "If the danger still exists then how can we ever recover?" he said. "If the danger continues it's no wonder the emotional deregulation continues." Marans said people can, with recognition, understanding and help, recover from trauma it doesn't need to be everlasting. "Because we've come to talk about trauma as one thing and it lasts forever, something perpetuated inadvertently, is the idea that if one can never recover, there's a sense of hopelessness," Marans said. "And if you're feeling hopeless, it's hard to see that there's any light at the end of the tunnel. Marans said the most important element for trauma victims, is for people to discover ways of helping themselves "so they can feel in as much control as any of us can ever feel."


Office of Aging Expands Heat Emergency Plan.


The Chicago Blackhawks are on the hunt for a defensive upgrade, and Scott Powers of The Athletic (subscription required) reports on at least one name they have inquired about. In a new column on all things Blackhawks, Powers notes that the team recently spoke with the Columbus Blue Jackets about Ryan Murray though it "doesn't appear a deal is getting done." While they may not end up with Murray, the talks are just another indication that Chicago will be trying to find a solution to their blue-line problems this summer. The team allowed the second-most goals in the NHL last season with 291   only behind the Ottawa Senators' 301   and failed to get a ton of offensive production from anyone other than Erik Gustafsson and Duncan Keith . While Gustafsson's 60-point season was obviously a huge and welcome surprise, the team obviously needed an upgrade if they want to get back to playoff contention. Some of that will come from within, but there also may be some effective defensemen on the market this summer. The team is finally in a position where they aren't squeezed too tightly by the salary cap, and can add some skill on the back end to help take some pressure off the aging Keith and Brent Seabrook . Murray, 25, might be exactly what the Blackhawks are after. Originally selected second overall in 2012, Murray has shown a strong ability at both ends of the rink but hasn't been able to stay healthy the last several seasons. In 2018-19 he recorded 29 points in 56 games, which would have put him third on the Blackhawks blue line even with the shortened year. Powers suggests that draft picks and prospects might be enough to get a deal done with Columbus given their lack of future assets after going all-in this season, but nothing seems imminent at this point.


Manchester United have been tipped to try and sign Tottenham Hotspur centre-back Toby Alderweireld this summer, but in doing so could potentially be going over the head and against the wishes of manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Alderweireld has a £25m release clause in his current Spurs contract that becomes active this summer and United have long been linked with a move for the Belgian. It makes him an affordable choice, but a story earlier this week suggested that Solskjaer would prefer to give existing centre-backs Victor Lindelof, Chris Smalling, Phil Jones, Marcos Rojo and Axel Tuanzebe an opportunity to prove themselves in pre-season, and for the primary focus ahead of the 2019/20 campaign to be on signing a new right-back instead. A new story from The Sun also makes the point about Solskjaer wishing to keep his centre-backs, with the Norwegian apparently keen to coach them into form rather than start afresh. Yet the tabloid also claims that United are 'refusing to rule out' an approach for Alderweireld and will decide whether to go ahead with an approach at some point next week, even though, as the headline alleges, '...Solskjaer doesn't want to sign him'. The general consensus in recent weeks and months is that the United boss has been eyeing young talent that can grow and develop at Old Trafford and serve the club long-term - the kind of thing he experienced firsthand during his own playing days. Even with an affordable price tag, Alderweireld, at 30 years of age, does not fit the profile of player that United are thought to be looking for. Assuming there is any truth to the stories, it could already be the second time that Solskjaer has been overruled on transfers this summer following recent claims that his request to sell Anthony Martial, a player whose attitude has been under particular scrutiny, was allegedly denied because co-owner Joel Glazer is a big fan of the Frenchman, likening him to Pele.


Your alarm clock rings at 6 a.m. on Nov. 26   wait, what? That's right, you sadly haven't forgotten that months ago you signed up to run a race before your Thanksgiving feast, which would generally be fine except that it directly conflicts with the more recent and arguably more crucial Thanksgiving tradition of drinking with high school frenemies who are in town for the season. But you did it. You paid money to run in the cold, perhaps wearing a costume of a bird you'll later devour. And so did tens of thousands of other people who choose to partake in the yearly Turkey Trot. That's because it's the most popular holiday for running ! (Perhaps it's no coincidence that it's the same day most people consume a traditional feast containing the same calories as 15 hot fudge sundaes .) In 2013, Runner's World reported that "a massive growth in turkey trots has propelled Thanksgiving Day to the top spot as the most popular holiday for road racing," using data from non-profit Running USA. In 2012, there were 490 Thanksgiving-day races, versus 290 in 2008. And in 2012, there were more than 858,000 finishers   up 155% from 2008. (The No. 2 holiday is the Fourth of July, and No. 3 is New Year's Eve/New Year's Day.) Turkey Trots are no ordinary road races. Many donate funds to charity, offer cash prizes for winners and encourage goofy costumes. So how did it all begin? The Buffalo Turkey Trot is widely considered as the first race of its kind, and it's still run at 9 a.m. on Thanksgiving just as it was for the first time in 1896. That's the year Henry A. Allison beat out five other all-male runners in a 5-mile unpaved race in Buffalo, N.Y., according to the YMCA Buffalo Niagra . The event   thankfully now on paved roads and also accepting women   gets more than 14,000 participants yearly. Several other races have been in operation for more than a century and boast long histories. Many communities host small running events, and several races in cities like Dallas and Sacramento, Calif., attract tens of thousands. Thanksgiving is also popular for those who choose to run alone. According to data tracked by fitness app RunKeeper and reported to Runner's World last year, 19.7% of mile-trackers logged runs on Thanksgiving, versus the usual 12.1% (data that does not necessarily come from road races).


The adult sister of a 9-year-old boy who is charged with killing their mother says he has mental health problems and that he probably just "snapped" on the day of the shooting. Reagan Martin told M Live.com that she doesn't know how the boy got access to a gun. The 23-year-old, who has a different last name than her mother and brother, says hunting rifles are usually locked up in the home in southern Michigan's St. Joseph County. She also says she believes her brother wanted to scare their mother, not kill her. "My mom would not want him to be labeled a murderer," said Martin. "Her whole world revolved around him." Police say the boy killed his 51-year-old mother at their home on Monday. The Associated Press is not identifying the mother because to do so would identify the child. Martin says her brother was adopted in 2016 but has lived with the family since he was very young. She told The Detroit News that the boy had a rough upbringing. "But she took him in to care for him as her own," said Martin. "She had been trying to reach out for help by his family doctor ... who blamed her for (these) issues." Related video: 9-year-old boy is charged with the murder off his mother (Daily Mail) Martin said her mother tried to reach out to county mental services but her insurance did not cover the appointments. "My mother('s) death lays in the hands of people failing to educate in mental issues and failing to listen when helped is being begged for," she said. Martin said things had dramatically worsened in the last two weeks after the boy's medication had changed. He started "hitting, kicking and throwing stuff," she said. Martin said her mother was a nurse up until a few years ago when she determined she should stay home with her son. "I'm angry, don't get me wrong," Martin said. "But he's my little brother and he needs help. I hope he gets it." READ MORE: Sister: 9-year-old boy accused of killing mother likely just 'snapped' CHECK OUT WPTZ: Get the latest Plattsburgh and Burlington news of the day. See the stories making headlines, and get the latest weather report online, anytime.


Real Madrid's pre-season woes continued on Tuesday as Tottenham defeated Zinedine Zidane's men 1-0 in the Audi Cup semi-final at the Allianz Arena thanks to Harry Kane's solitary strike. Spurs were the sharper team throughout, demonstrating higher fitness levels and more cohesive pressing from the start before edging ahead on the scoresheet. Their breakthrough came, however, courtesy of a calamitous defensive error from Real, with Kane squeezing the ball past Keylor Navas after Marcelo played the striker through on goal in an attempt to keep Eden Hazard's misplaced pass in play. Real Madrid had their share of the chances - most notably with a Rodrygo goal disallowed for offside - but they were second best and have much to improve on heading into the new La Liga season. Check out our breakdown of the game below. Real Madrid Key Talking Point Oh dear. Real Madrid - fresh off the back of a disastrous season in 2018/19 - have made a similarly woeful start to their preparations for the upcoming campaign, with this their third loss in pre-season, having also been defeated by Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid. Again, Real lacked the required fitness levels, sharpness and, surprisingly, technical quality to compete. Real Madrid are expected to challenge for the league, having signed Hazard, but on this showing, Barcelona will not fear another Ronaldo-less season from Los Blancos. Player Ratings Starting XI: Navas (6); Carvajal (5), Ramos (5), Varane (5), Marcelo (5); Modric (5), Kroos (6); Vazquez (4), Hazard (5), Rodrygo (7); Benzema (6).  Substitutes: Valverde (5), Vinicius Junior (6), Isco (5). STAR MAN - 18-year-old Rodrygo was the pick of the bunch for Los Blancos, causing the Spurs defence problems with his pace and direct dribbling, and was unlucky to have mistimed his run slightly when he snuck the ball into the net from an offside position. The summer signing from Santos outperformed Real Madrid's big money arrival Hazard, who showed glimpses of quality but looked off the pace overall, with question marks surrounding his fitness levels. Kubo and Rodrygo are way too good for Castilla.   Kiyan Sobhani (@KiyanSo) July 30, 2019 Did not see it much, but Rodrygo attacking in transition looks really fun. Nothing else really happening. Vazquez has been bad on the ball. Modric and Varane's touches are off. Tottenham press really set the tone early in not allowing the ball-carriers any comfort.   Kiyan Sobhani (@KiyanSo) July 30, 2019 Tottenham Key Talking Point Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino will be pleased with his side's display, most notably due to the performances of his entire squad and not just his star players. Spurs have been criticised in the past for relying too heavily on the likes of Kane and Christian Eriksen, with the squad deemed too thin to compete on all fronts. Against Real, however, the entire team performed to a good level, with important players such as Dele Alli, Lucas Moura and Moussa Sissoko only required off the bench, while Erik Lamela also showed his worth to the Spurs faithful. Player Ratings Starting XI: Gazzaniga (7); Foyth (6), Alderweireld (7), Vertonghen (7), Rose (7); Winks (7), NDombele (7); Lamela (8), Eriksen (6), Son (7); Kane (7). Substitutes: Lloris (6), Walker-Peters (6), Sanchez (6), Tanganga (6), Georgiou (5), Skipp (6), Sissoko (6), Moura (6), Dele (6), N'Koudou (6), Parrott (6). STAR MAN - Lamela certainly helped his chances of starting Tottenham's opening Premier League fixture against Aston Villa with a dazzling first half display. With Son Heung-min suspended for the first two matches, the Argentine looks to be competing with Lucas Moura for the spot alongside Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen. The winger has underwhelmed since signing for Spurs in a £30m deal from Roma in 2013 but showed his worth on Tuesday, displaying deft touches on the half turn and precise through balls as he caused Luka Modric and Toni Kroos problems between the lines. Erik Lamela, when fully fit, is a top player but some Spurs fans are too spoilt for whatever reason to see it.   LP ☬ ✈ (@thfclp__) July 30, 2019 Lamela casually dribbled past Ramoe, Varane and Kroos as if they're not even there. New low.   A. (@KaizerT8) July 30, 2019 Erik Lamela is playing a blinder, the #thfc attacker just successfully dribbled past player after player. #AudiCup   Hotspur Related (@HotspurRelated) July 30, 2019 Looking Ahead  The winner of Bayern versus Fenerbahce later on Tuesday now awaits Tottenham, who will contest the Audi Cup final on Wednesday evening. Real will face the losers of the aforementioned game, before a trip to Austria to face Red Bull Salzburg on Wednesday next week.


On the surface, Sean McVay and Wade Phillips are almost nothing alike. McVay is a fiery 33-year-old with only two years of coaching experience. Phillips is a calm, cool and collected 72-year-old who got his first coaching job before McVay was even born. Yet, as different as they might be, they combine to give the Rams one of the best coaching duos in the NFL. They balance each other perfectly, with McVay being more of the rah-rah leader while Phillips brings an even-keeled approach to coaching. It may not seem like much of a factor, but McVay appreciates having a calming presence like Phillips on his staff because it keeps things in perspective for him. "That's something that has definitely helped me, where I'm always struggling with the balance," McVay told Alden Gonzalez of ESPN . "Watching the way that he's been able to sustain such a high level over a course of time; I think you're seeing why - because he enjoys it, he really has fun with it, and he doesn't take it too seriously. He'll never forget that it's a game." Phillips is always quick to crack a joke to the media or end a press conference with a witty comment. He never takes anything more seriously than he should, always appreciating the moment when possible. That's something McVay admits he struggles with, saying Phillips is "a good measuring stick." Even when Phillips was a head coach, he was rarely seen getting heated on the sideline or screaming at players the way some coaches do. Now even later in his career, Phillips has found other ways to get his point across to players. "It's always been a challenge to me," Phillips said. "I'm not a holler guy, so I've gotta do it a different way. I gotta tell them that I'm disappointed in them, and it's gotta mean something." According to Gonzalez, Phillips "fully intends on coaching beyond this coming season," which is great news for McVay and the Rams. He's as experienced as coaches come and has seen every look an offense can possibly show. Having him in L.A. is important to McVay in more ways than one and the young coach isn't afraid to admit it. MORE: Max Kellerman doubles down on Tom Brady take, says QB is a 'game manager' Danny Green: 'This is the time where I need to maximize the dollars on the longest amount of years that I can do' Vegas Sportsbook moves up Lakers title odds due to Kawhi Leonard rumors Francis Ellis Fired from Barstool Sports [UPDATE] Are Giants a legitimate worst-to-first candidate?


Sunderland's Adam Johnson could feature in Saturday's Premier League clash at Stoke City just two days after being charged with three offences of sexual activity with a child under 16 and one of grooming. Johnson is available for selection after the club decided not to re-impose the suspension to which he was subject following his initial arrest last month. Sunderland manager Dick Advocaat will make a decision on whether or not to involve the 27-year-old England international at the Britannia Stadium after discussing the situation with him to ascertain his state of mind. "He's in the squad, yes. I will consider him for selection, otherwise he would not be in the squad," Advocaat said. "He still has to come in, but in principle if he feels okay, then he will be a member of the squad." Advocaat's club may feel they cannot afford to make a moral judgement on Johnson as they are sitting only one point above the Premier League relegation zone. Asked if it was a difficult situation for him to deal with as a coach, Advocaat said: "No, because the club made a statement about it and I stay behind that, and we will wait and see what the future will bring." That statement revealed that Sunderland had not changed their position on Johnson, who has been used as a substitute in the last three games after the suspension they initially imposed was lifted. It said: "Following yesterday's (Thursday) statement from Durham Constabulary, the club recognises that the formal legal process must take its course and whilst our position remains unchanged, we will keep the matter under review. "The club will not be making any further comment."


FARMINGDALE, N.Y.   After dusting the Masters champion by 17 shots, after setting a new 36-hole major scoring record and after cracking open a seven-stroke lead at Bethpage Black, Brooks Koepka wasn't satisfied. Spotting his swing coach, Claude Harmon III, while on his way to the scoring tent, Koepka told him: "We're going straight to the range. I'm not hitting it that good." He could have fooled the rest of the field here at the PGA. Koepka followed up his course-record 63 with a stout 65 Friday, the beginning of what feels like another coronation. At 12-under 128, he set the mark for the lowest 36-hole score in major championship history. And he joined Henry Cotton (1934 Open) as the only players since 1900 to lead by seven or more shots at the halfway point of a major. Historic stuff, and, um, he's not hitting it well? "This probably sounds bad," Koepka said afterward, "but today was a battle." PGA Championship: Scores | Full coverage Yes, such a battle that Koepka once again led the field in strokes gained: tee to green. Such a battle that he ranked fourth in driving distance, at 307.7 yards. Such a battle that he hit 10 of 14 fairways and 15 greens   better stats, in fact, than during his flawless 63 in the opening round. But, sure: "I didn't strike it that good. I was leaking a few to the right." At least Koepka was true to his word. After finishing his media obligations, there he was, back on the range with Harmon and caddie Ricky Elliott, pounding away on his nuclear driver. It was a brief session, less than a half hour, and he departed with a smile. All good here. On Saturday afternoon, Jordan Spieth will have the unenviable task of going head-to-head with King Koepka, and even the fellow three-time major winner admitted that he can't plan on Koepka ever coming back to the field. There's a reason for that: Koepka is now a combined 67 under in the majors since the 2016 PGA   a whopping 24 shots better than any other player during that stretch. "All major championships are a good fit for Brooks," Harmon said. "He likes the situation. He likes being under pressure." And he's learned, through experience, a valuable lesson. Before the final round of last year's PGA, Koepka and Harmon were having breakfast when the TV commentators discussed how some of the pursuers   including Tiger Woods and Justin Thomas   could put pressure on the leader. Hearing that, Koepka said, "The only person who can put pressure on me is me. Pressure is self-inflicted." That day at Bellerive, he stayed in his own bubble, withstood Woods' birdie binge and fired a 66 of his own to capture his third major in his past six starts. Watching Tiger taught Koepka not to watch Tiger Here at Bethpage, Woods didn't give the rowdy New York fans much to cheer about   he missed the cut, by one   but Koepka wouldn't have noticed anyway. Koepka watched Woods' ball flight and listened to the contact to make his own club selections   but that's about it. He was intensely focused on his own game, nothing else. And so it didn't even register that Koepka blew the newly minted Masters champion off the map. Maybe Woods wasn't feeling his best. Maybe he was rusty after more than a month away. Still: Koepka beat Woods by 17 shots. He could have spotted him four shots a side ... and still won. Woods' caddie, Joe LaCava, wasn't on the bag for his boss' prime, but to him, the similarities were striking. "It does remind me of the same kind of deal," LaCava said. "Destroy the par 5s, and then make more birdies than the other guys can because you're hitting one or two less clubs into the longish par 4s." Said Woods: "He's got 9-irons when most of us are hitting 5-irons and 4-irons, and he's putting well. That adds up to a pretty substantial lead, and if he keeps doing what he's doing, there's no reason why he can't build on this lead." For Woods, post-Masters rest did amount to rust And so Koepka's main challenger over the weekend isn't Spieth, or Adam Scott, or even his fellow bash brother, Dustin Johnson. It's Koepka himself. On the many occasions Woods staked himself to such a massive lead, he wanted to step on his opponents' necks, grow the advantage, make it a demoralizing blowout. "Brooks is in the same vein, for sure," Harmon said. Thus the early-evening range session. "He wants to make sure he can get this thing in a good position so that he's ready for the next two days," Harmon said. "Let me tell you, the last thing he's thinking right now is that this thing is over. He never thinks like that." Funny, because everyone else is.


March to the beat of your own drummer using this orange dream. Sometimes you want to be really different in all the right ways. Choosing this 2011 Big Dog Pitbull is a great way to do that, thanks to a unique look and feel. It really stands out in a sea of Harley Davidsons, Hondas, Suzukis, etc. without compromising what you really want. This bike is being offered to a lucky future owner through V Fine Motor Cars . With a fairly customized look, this cruiser is ready to impress. The fiery orange paint and pinstriping on it are amazing, along with chrome on the wheels, exhaust, and more. Pull-back handlebars really add to the athletic appearance of this ride, while analog instruments show this bike is all about keeping things simple. Power comes via a 1916cc air-cooled, four-stroke, V-Twin motor. Everything is routed to the massive cast-aluminum rear wheel through a six-speed manual transmission. A two-into-two exhaust system puts out a nice, deep tone when this bike accelerates, which is exactly what you'd expect from such a machine. While you're certainly going to look cool and enjoy plenty of performance on this motorcycle, all that doesn't come at the expense of comfort. Details like a sprung seat and forward-mounted foot controls make it entirely possible to take the Pitbull on a longer road trip, so you're not just confined to short jaunts around town. Based out of Wichita, Kansas, Big Dog Motorcycles makes semi-custom bikes. The company started out in 1994 but unfortunately had to close its doors in 2011, but has recently fired up operations again. The Pitbull line started in the late 1990s and was a mainstay in the brand's lineup until 2011. Since this brand is more niche than Harley Davidson and others, you're not likely to see other guys rolling around on this bike that often, so it's a unique ride. More Motorcycles 2016 Harley-Davidson Sportster SuperLow XL 883L Is Great For Beginners And Veterans 2018 Suzuki GSX250R Has Only 4 Miles


Now that the Stanley Cup Final is reaching its halfway point it is time for our weekly look at the race for the Conn Smythe Trophy. After their convincing 7-2 win in Game 3, the Boston Bruins enter Monday's Game 4 ( 8 p.m. ET, NBC; Live Stream ) with a 2-1 lead in the series and a chance to take complete control before it shifts back to Boston later this week. A win on Monday would give the Bruins a commanding 3-1 series lead, something that only one team has ever squandered in the history of the Stanley Cup Final (just as a reminder, it was complete madness took an insane sequence of events for that to happen ). So, obviously, Monday's game is pretty significant. With the Bruins holding the lead in the series (as of this publication) they have most of the top leaders in the race. But the Blues still have their contenders, too, if they are able to come back and win. Let's take a look at where the rankings currently stand. [ NBC 2019 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFF HUB ] 1. Tuukka Rask , Boston Bruins. He was the favorite entering the series and nothing has really changed through the first three games to knock him out of that spot. Rask has played every minute of the playoffs for the Bruins and is still maintaining a .939 save percentage through the first 20 games. It is only the seventh different time in NHL history that a goalie has played in at least 20 playoff games and had a save percentage higher than .935. It is the second time that Rask has done it, making him the only goalie in NHL history to have that claim. 2. Brad Marchand , Boston Bruins. He hasn't been as dominant through the first three games as he was in the earlier rounds, but a point-per-game average while playing a Stanley Cup Finalist is no small accomplishment. He has a strong chance to finish the playoffs as the leading scorer in the league. In almost any other year that would make him a slam-dunk winner for the Conn Smythe if his team wins. Only reason he is not the favorite right now is because his team's goalie is having an historically good postseason. 3. Vladimir Tarasenko , St. Louis Blues. He is not going to finish with the best overall numbers in the playoffs, and he may not even be the leading scorer on the Blues, but if they manage to come back in this series and win three of the next four games Tarasenko is probably going to play a huge role. Given that he has a point in eight of the past nine games and had an eight-game point streak that ran throughout the entire Western Conference Final and the first two games of the Stanley Cup Final he is going to stand out. Recency bias is a thing, and if you have your best and most productive games in the final two rounds, you are probably going to get the award if your team ends up winning. 4. Patrice Bergeron , Boston Bruins. After a quiet start to the Stanley Cup Final Bergeron and his line finally erupted in Game 3. He has two three-point performances in the past four games and is still a force all over the ice despite a little bit of a slump in Games 1 and 2. The Bruins' power play has been one of their biggest assets in the playoffs and nobody has done more to drive that than Bergeron with a league-leading seven power play goals. Before this season he had just seven postseason power play goals in his entire career. 5. Torey Krug , Boston Bruins. His hit in Game 1 will be replayed on Bruins highlight reels for years to come, especially if they end up winning the series, but that is not what brings him into the Conn Smythe race. It's the fact he is one of the biggest game-changers the Bruins have on the blue line. In his 346 minutes of 5-on-5 ice time this postseason he is cruising along with a 55 percent Corsi rating while the Bruins are outscoring their opponents by a 14-8 margin. Individually, he is up to 16 total points (two goals, and a league leading 14 assists) in 20 games and has three multi-point games. That includes a four-point effort (the first ever for a Bruins defender in Stanley Cup Final history) in their Game 3 win on Saturday night. 6. Jaden Schwartz , St. Louis Blues. He was going to cool off eventually because let's face it, no one consistently scores on a quarter of their shots for an extended period of time. But he is still the Blues' leading goal-scorer and point-producer and has single-handedly been the difference between winning and losing in at least three games for the Blues this postseason. More Blues-Bruins Game 4 The Wraparound: Blues look to flip the page Blues vs. Bruins: Three keys to Game 4 of Stanley Cup Final Stanley Cup Final: Sean Kuraly breaking through for Bruins   Adam Gretz is a writer for Pro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports . Drop him a line at phtblog@nbcsports.com or follow him on Twitter @AGretz .


Bayern Munich are prepared to pay Gareth Bale's wages to take him on a season-long loan from Real Madrid this summer. The Welshman is thought to be heading for the exit door at the Santiago Bernabeu after losing his place under Zinedine Zidane, although his high transfer fee and wage demands have scared off more than a few sides. However, one side who are ready to commit to Bale are Bayern who, according to The Sun , are ready to shell out all of Bale's £350,000-a-week earnings to bring him to the Bundesliga next season. With Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery leaving the club this summer, Bayern are on the lookout for a crop of new wingers to guide them into the future. They have already signed Alphonso Davies, whilst Chelsea 's Callum Hudson-Odoi and Manchester City 's Leroy Sane have been targeted in recent months. Their interest in the former has faded after his Achilles injury, whilst president Uli Hoeness also admitted that a move for Sane was unlikely as Bayern were unprepared to meet City's "insane" demands. That appears to have now turned the Bundesliga champions' attention to Bale, who is expected to be available for the right price this summer. Manchester United and Tottenham have both been linked with the 29-year-old, but neither will lodge a bid as they fear the overall cost of the deal would be completely ludicrous. Bayern and Real have previously done business of this nature, with James Rodriguez recently returning to the Bernabeu after spending two years on loan in Germany. Rodriguez needed the move to reignite his stalling career, and the same can be said for Bale, who regularly found himself on the bench after Zidane returned to Madrid. He started just two of Real's last seven games, with Zidane preferring the likes of Brahim Diaz, Lucas Vazquez and Marco Asensio . Game time in Madrid appears as though it will be hard to come by for Bale, so a switch to Bayern could prove too good to turn down.


From magnificent log cabins to modern wooden masterpieces, these timber-clad properties are charming, cozy and stylish. These wooden homes have real wow-factor From magnificent log cabins to modern wooden masterpieces, these timber-clad properties are charming, cozy and stylish. Whether you're sheltering from the snow in Aspen or seeking shade in the tropical climes of Hawaii, there's a whole host of rustic residences on the market right now. Get back to nature and step inside these incredible homes crafted from wood. Modern barn conversion, Norfolk, UK: $779,000 This four-bedroom modern barn conversion sits at the end of an idyllic tree-lined lane in Bressingham, Norfolk, in the east of England. Nestled in a verdant garden, it's the work of architect Andrew Hughes and backs onto an old moat. Clad in rough-sawn larch, with a roof made from clay tiles and corrugated tin, it's on the market for $779,000. Modern barn conversion, Norfolk, UK: $779,000 The stylish single-story home is arranged in an L-shape with an open-plan kitchen and dining room. The high-pitched roof leaves the interior spaces feeling airy and bright, while large areas of glazing open out onto the patio and outside dining area, creating a modern indoor-outdoor floor plan. Modern barn conversion, Norfolk, UK: $779,000 A wood-burning stove set into a block partition wall zones the contemporary main living area. Behind this divider, you'll find a separate wing of the house containing a guest bedroom and en-suite bathroom. Decorated in neutral white with pops of pink and yellow, this unique property makes the perfect stylish family home. Modern barn conversion, Norfolk, UK: $779,000 Rounding up the living spaces, the home's bespoke kitchen features Carrara marble tops and polished industrial-style concrete tiles underfoot. Elsewhere, the master bedroom is large and luxurious and comes complete with an en-suite bathroom, glazed doors and a deck that hangs over the scenic moat. Modern mountain retreat, Colorado: $15 million This brand new three-bedroom home in Aspen, Colorado is the perfect modern mountain home for a family. With nearly 5,000 square feet of living space, ski-in access from the slopes and a two-car garage, the contemporary design offers a dramatic contrast to the mountainous surroundings. Modern mountain retreat, Colorado: $15 million The lower level features an impressive family room with expansive windows and a warming, start-of-the-art fire that sits beneath the TV. A sleek marble chimney breast and wood-paneled ceiling complete the chic modern scheme. Modern mountain retreat, Colorado: $15 million There's no shortage of features to keep the whole family busy in this luxurious hideaway. The stylish games room, complete with table tennis court and bar, is the perfect place to relax and unwind after a day on the slopes. Modern mountain retreat, Colorado: $15 million The sociable kitchen is sleek and modern, featuring an unusual light fitting over the dining table and a kitchen island with bar seating. With all three levels serviced by a elevator, you'll want for nothing in this deluxe home   there are even two outside decks that face north and south so you can enjoy the sun all year round. Edinburgh Road, East Lothian, UK: $858,000 Longlisted for RIBA's House of the Year in 2017, Edinburgh Road sits next to the ocean on the western edge of Musselburgh in Scotland. Designed to blend into its natural surroundings, the home was built directly into the existing sea wall and features a beautiful larch-clad exterior. Edinburgh Road, East Lothian, UK: $858,000 With an open-plan layout, pitched roof and dramatic double-height ceiling, the living area includes a cozy log burner at one end of the room and a modern kitchen at the other. Glazed sliding doors lead outside to the courtyard and fill the 2,000-square-foot space with natural light. Edinburgh Road, East Lothian, UK: $858,000 Alongside the dining table, a 19-foot-long cinematic window frames breathtaking views of the ocean. Natural and industrial textures sit side by side throughout the modern interior   here, the polished concrete window sill contrasts with the home's warm wood flooring. Edinburgh Road, East Lothian, UK: $858,000 A small galley corridor leads through to the guest bedroom, with the master bedroom located next door. This luxury suite features a generous walk-in closet, plus an en-suite wet room. The third and final bedroom sits at the far end of the house. Luxury log home, Colorado: $2.3 million This magnificent log ranch in Silverthorne, Colorado sits on 20 private acres of land with access to the Blue River, one of the most scenic fishing areas in Colorado. With five bedrooms and five bathrooms, you won't be short of space inside this wooden marvel either. Luxury log home, Colorado: $2.3 million The living area includes double-height floor-to-ceiling windows that look out over the stunning rural landscape. Packed with quirky rustic features, we particularly like the tree trunk mantel which sits over the home's statement stone fireplace. The property also comes with a wet bar that's perfect for entertaining on cold winter evenings. Luxury log home, Colorado: $2.3 million Complete with wood-clad ceilings and log-lined walls, the kitchen has a traditional, cozy aesthetic. The sizeable room comes with stylish granite countertops and stone flooring, while a large archway creates a smooth flow between the rest of the living spaces. Luxury log home, Colorado: $2.3 million This wooden residence isn't short on charm and could offer a large family the perfect mountain escape. There's an abundance of outside space to enjoy here too. Nestled in the grounds you'll find a hot tub, built-in barbecue, fire pit and a separate dog yard. Mid-century modern house, Kent, UK: $2 million Set on a dramatic sloping plot, this five-bedroom home in Kent in southeastern England was built in the 1980s but remodeled in 2017. Some of the new additions include internal Crittall-style windows and doors, underfloor heating, a slate roof and larch cladding to the upper level. The living area has also been extended to make space for a private gym. Mid-century modern house, Kent, UK: $2 million Inside, the home's lower ground level is tucked away beneath the slope of the hill. The entrance hallway leads through to a large modern kitchen which is arranged around a central island with Corian worktops and state-of-the-art appliances. The kitchen spills out onto a decked balcony which features breathtaking views of the valley and beyond. Mid-century modern house, Kent, UK: $2 million Located next to the kitchen, the living room has warm wide oak floorboards and an exposed brick wall for an industrial touch. Facing out onto the valley, the space is full of natural light, while a contemporary wood-burning stove offers a cozy touch come the colder months. Mid-century modern house, Kent, UK: $2 million The eastern end of the house is occupied by two bedrooms, both with en-suite bathrooms. The master suite is located on the lower ground floor with its own private dressing room, bathroom and a large balcony. At the front of the house sits the private office, which is accessed by glazed bi-fold doors that lead out to the driveway. Red Mountain home, Colorado: $21.9 million This newly remodeled home located in the desirable Red Mountain ski resort in Colorado comes complete with five bedrooms, open living spaces and contemporary decor. The sleek exterior is clad in both refined and weathered wood and features a large three-car garage. Red Mountain home, Colorado: $21.9 million The main living room is spacious and minimalistic, with vaulted ceilings and panoramic mountain views through the expansive windows. The property also comes jam-packed with luxury amenities including a wine cellar, billiards room and a wet bar   perfect for those who love entertaining. Red Mountain home, Colorado: $21.9 million Our favorite space has to be the state-of-the-art kitchen, which features a dramatic mountain mural in a white and gray palette. Scandi-inspired and effortlessly chic, we love the dark wood cabinetry and architectural pendant lighting across the breakfast bar too, while potted cacti centerpieces on the dining table complete the modern wilderness scheme. Red Mountain home, Colorado: $21.9 million Located on the main living level, the master bedroom is decorated in a calming palette of soft gray and white, paired with light wood tones. Hints of fur add opulence to the stunning luxe-meets-Scandi decor. Black wooden home, Isle of Wight, UK: $1.1 million Located on the site of an old orchard in the seaside village of Totland on the Isle of Wight, this four-bedroom detached house is clad in Siberian larch wood and was inspired by local fisherman's huts. The back cladding creates a stand-out façade for this two-story home which really pops against its verdant setting. Black wooden home, Isle of Wight, UK: $1.1 million The interior draws the natural landscape inside, framing views of the surrounding fruit trees and idyllic rolling gardens. The ground floor contains an open kitchen, dining space, large living room, study and guest bedroom which all offer direct access outside. Pivoting doors offer a flexible floor plan and help to create more intimate rooms when required. Black wooden home, Isle of Wight, UK: $1.1 million Throughout, the decor combines natural materials and industrial touches, mixing warm-toned woodwork and Douglas Fir paneling with concrete finishes and brick walls. The kitchen is a perfect example of this with its timber units, modern appliances and gray slab flooring. Black wooden home, Isle of Wight, UK: $1.1 million In the dining area, the striking brick chimney has been coated in a concrete slurry that extends outside to the exterior façade. Elsewhere, you'll find three bedrooms on the first floor, while the landing has been designed as an extra play space for children. Wooden townhouse, New York: $12 million This traditional clapboard house sits in the heart of the West Village in New York. Originally built in 1822, the charming historic home is the oldest remaining wood-frame property in Greenwich Village. Wooden townhouse, New York: $12 million The interior features original woodwork, rough-hewn beams, wide pine floorboards, brick flooring and grand spacious rooms that feel warm and welcoming too. While it may be a period property, it's fitted out with plenty of modern-day conveniences including air conditioning and an elevator. Wooden townhouse, New York: $12 million The huge eat-in kitchen features a giant hearth with an oversized Viking range and a walk-in pantry. Space is in no short supply here   below the main level there's a full-height basement which houses a library, recreation space and laundry room. Wooden townhouse, New York: $12 million Situated on the second floor, the master suite features a large bedroom, a five-piece en-suite bath and a large sunny sitting room with a feature fireplace. Up on the top floor, you'll find two king-sized bedrooms, each with a walk-in closet and en-suite. And if all this wasn't enough, the house also hides a secret tunnel that was once a direct passage to Chumley's, the famous Prohibition-era speakeasy. Tropical villa, Hawaii: $1.9 million Based on the country houses of 16th-century Japan, this lakefront home in Hawaii is located in a serene rural setting. With several koi ponds and even a small waterfall, the wooden villa is a thoroughly zen escape from the outside world. Tropical villa, Hawaii: $1.9 million Inside, the home is spacious and light with wraparound windows, rustic beams and airy pitched ceilings. The tranquil living space has a modern wood-burning fireplace and breathtaking views out towards the sea. Tropical villa, Hawaii: $1.9 million Set out over one level, the tropical property has 2,224 square feet of living space with two bedrooms and two bathrooms. The master suite has its own private deck that looks out over the lush gardens. Tropical villa, Hawaii: $1.9 million Overall, the dwelling has 1,350 square feet of veranda that wraps around the whole home so you're never far from the great outdoors. And if that wasn't enough, there's also an artist's studio located in the villa's verdant grounds. Forest home, Trancoso, Brazil: $1.9 million Surrounded by the dense Atlantic Forest, this incredible wood home was built from reforestation material and is 100% sustainable. The exterior is clad in Mashrabiyas panels that give the design an unusual architectural aesthetic, while the outside area features a stunning deck and pool that sit among the treetops. Forest home, Trancoso, Brazil: $1.9 million The interior features a sprawling open floor plan framed by wooden beams, with glass panels zoning off the distinct living areas. Decked out in white soft furnishings with blue accessories and plenty of foliage, the main reception room is a tranquil space to kick back and unwind. Forest home, Trancoso, Brazil: $1.9 million The rustic wood kitchen is open-plan and features a relaxed bench-style table that's illuminated by pendant lighting. There's also a formal dining spot at the end of the room which is perfect for larger gatherings and dinner parties. Forest home, Trancoso, Brazil: $1.9 million With six bedrooms and over 8,500 square feet of interior, the property offers a stunning space to reconnect with nature and escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Outside, the garden was landscaped with native forest plants, and there's also an automatic irrigation system to make grounds maintenance easy. This tropical wooden home is ticking all of our boxes   when do we move in?


Sunday's Game 7 between the Portland Trail Blazers and Denver Nuggets was not a pretty one. The Nuggets, who had relied on Portland's inability to hit a jumper for the entirety of the first quarter, never were able to capitalize on an early 17-point lead. Slowly but surely, it dribbled away from the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference playoffs until the Blazers crept back into the game. By halftime, Portland had cut the gap to just nine points. Then, with 12.1 seconds left on the clock at the end of the third quarter, CJ McCollum hit a floater to briefly put Portland ahead, 71-70. It was a shot that would foreshadow how the fourth quarter would go. McCollum, who scored a total of 37 points on 17-of-29 shooting to go with nine rebounds, was Portland's hero. His face steely and flat, Portland's "other" guard kept scoring and making impact plays. 🤚 🏀 @CJMcCollum on the chase down block, "I just went up and got it like my guy Bron, shoutout @KingJames ." 💪 #RipCity   Chris Burkhardt (@CBurkhardtNBCS) May 12, 2019 A layup with eight minutes left. A rebound with seven minutes left. A chase down block with 4:44, then a recovery four seconds later to contest a Torrey Craig 3-pointer that would have cut the lead to one. Another skying rebound with 4:09. A pull-up 16-footer with 2:57. A second at 1:25. Then finally, the dagger that sealed the game. Save for which side of the floor it came from, it was a move that mirrored Michael Jordan's shot over Bryon Russell in Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals. With Craig guarding, McCollum got Craig to put on skates one more time for the signature bucket with 12.4 seconds left. "I told coach 'flatten it out and I'll get us a bucket."   @CJMcCollum AND HE DID EXACTLY THAT. pic.twitter.com/fhm3c0zyPw   Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) May 12, 2019 For the Nuggets, it was a lesson that perhaps only the young can learn. That is, how to close out in the biggest moments. Jamal Murray went 4-of-18, scoring 17 points. Paul Millsap struggled similarly   a testament to Terry Stotts' decision to put Zach Collins on him in Game 6   shooting just 3-of-13. Nikola Jokic scored 29 points to go with 13 rebounds, but had just two assists. In Portland, as fans rejoiced, it was the payoff the Trail Blazers had been waiting for since their first-round sweep at the hands of the New Orleans Pelicans last season. It came in odd fashion, too. Damian Lillard , who looked timid all game, used Denver's concentration on him to his advantage in the final quarter. Instead of letting the Nuggets force the ball out of his hands, the Blazers star instead purposefully deferred. To McCollum, to Evan Turner , to Enes Kanter … to anyone who was in position to make the right play. Turner, who hadn't had a made field goal since Game 2 and who had just two baskets all series leading into Sunday, came up big. The Blazers' point-forward guarded Millsap and Jokic while scoring 14 points off the bench for Stotts. Turner was impactful, including six free throws in the fourth quarter. No bigger were the two that Turner sank with eight seconds to go, the last of which pushed Portland's lead to four. "I told you."  CJ after dropping 37 in Game 7 pic.twitter.com/MQqT9Jl9sN   NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) May 12, 2019 In their second-straight series ending with a Game 7, Denver played uneven down the stretch. They gave Portland several chances to stop their eventual run, which the Blazers did. Despite the obvious advantage of the Nuggets' defensive strategy against Portland, it was the visiting team that was able to counterpunch in a way that pushed the more experienced team to the next round. The Trail Blazers are heading to the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 2000. Sunday will be huge in Rip City, as will Monday morning, all the way until Tuesday when they'll meet the Golden State Warriors in Game 1. For the Nuggets, it will be a chance to learn from their mistakes, and regroup, and try again next year. The Blazers beat the Nuggets, 100-96, in Game 7.


It's one of the best times of the year for sports fans, and that means it's time to make your plans around the NBA Finals, which begin on May 30. As patrons head into Sacramento bars to watch the NBA Playoffs, average daily revenue at local pubs is $1,052 on days when games are played, a 6.7% increase compared to an average day, according to an analysis of transactions at 3,500 local bars by Womply , a provider of CRM and online review management software for small businesses . That sales increase is driven by a 4.84% increase in transaction volume and a 0.91% increase in purchase price. At local restaurants in Sacramento, average daily revenue is $1,514 during the NBA Playoffs on days when games are played, a 3.14% increase over a typical day, according to an analysis of transactions at 42,000 local eateries by Womply. That sales increase is driven by a 4.36% increase in transaction volume and a 0.82% decrease in purchase price. To help you snag the best stool in town, Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top options for sports bars, using both Yelp data and our own methodology. 1. Mackenzie's Sports Bar & Grille Topping the list is MacKenzie's Sports Bar & Grille . Located at 3645 Fulton Ave., Haggin Oaks Golf Complex in Del Paso Park, the sports bar is the highest-rated sports bar in Sacramento, boasting four stars out of 12 reviews on Yelp. 2. Pizza Rock Next up is Downtown's Pizza Rock , situated at 1020 K St. With four stars out of 1,921 reviews on Yelp, the sports bar, which offers pizza and more, has proven to be a local favorite. 3. Clubhouse 56 East Sacramento's Clubhouse 56 , located at 723 56th St., is another top choice, with Yelpers giving the sports bar, which offers burgers and more, four stars out of 256 reviews. 4. Hilltop Tavern Hilltop Tavern , a dive bar and sports bar in East Sacramento, is another go-to, with four stars out of 129 Yelp reviews. Head over to 4757 Folsom Blvd. to see for yourself. 5. Cheaters Sports Bar Over in East Sacramento, check out Cheaters Sports Bar , which has earned four stars out of 85 reviews on Yelp. You can find the sports bar and dive bar at 3221 Folsom Blvd. This story was created automatically using local business data, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


Richard Petty is celebrating his 82nd birthday on July 2. Born in Level Cross, Petty has become one of the biggest legends NASCAR has ever seen. Nicknamed "The King," Petty's accomplishments on the track have set the highest bar for the racing world. Seven championships, 200 wins, and an induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Off the track, Petty and his family continue to give back to the community through the Petty Family Foundation. The foundation helps provide the tools necessary to empower those who help others. Richard and his family's area of focus for making a positive long-term impact include Victory Junction, Randolph Community College, Operation North State, Foundation Fighting Blindness, Disaster and Hardship Relief, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Hospice of Randolph County, Ricky Proehl P.O.W.E.R of Play Foundation, local youth athletic programs and veterans organizations. READ MORE: Racing legend Richard Petty is turning 82 CHECK OUT WXII: Get the latest Greensboro, High Point and Winston-Salem news of the day. Catch the top stories, sports and weather from the team at WXII12.


No one is doubting Rose Lavelle anymore. But 16 years ago, when the U.S. Women's National Team's breakout star of the World Cup was in third grade at St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic School outside of Cincinnati, her teacher Lisa Neubauer grew concerned when Lavelle appeared to be dedicating too much time toward soccer. "I said to her mom, Janet, 'It's not like she's going to grow up to be a professional soccer player,'" Neubauer told the Washington Post recently. "She was very bright, and she was good in all of her classes," Neubauer told the Post. "Missing school at that young of an age really wasn't that big of a deal, but I was just worried that she was going to have gaps because she wasn't here that much." Lavelle has since proven her wrong, and Neubauer is happy to eat her words. NYPD INVESTIGATION: Megan Rapinoe posters vandalized with homophobic slurs The 24-year-old netted the second goal, a dazzling strike with her left foot, in the 69th minute of the U.S. team's 2-0 victory over the Netherlands in the Final on Sunday. It was her third goal of the tournament and a continuation of a career that has blossomed into stardom . Lavelle enjoyed a standout prep career at Mount Notre Dame High School before moving on to the University of Wisconsin and turning pro in 2017, when the Boston Breakers took her with the No. 1 overall selection. A few months after the draft, Neubauer bumped into Lavelle's parents at a restaurant. "I said, 'Yep, I'm eating my words,'" Neubauer told the Post. "And then I offered to buy them a drink." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: USWNT star Rose Lavelle's teacher once said she wouldn't go pro


Watch the CBSN Originals documentary, "A Climate Reckoning in the Heartland," in the video player above. The full hour special premieres on CBSN Sunday, July 28, at 8 p.m., 11 p.m. and 2 a.m. ET. Walking over soggy lifeless crops, Brett Adams, a fifth generation Nebraska farmer, paused to catch his breath. Under the dark grey clouds of the Midwestern spring, he was forced to come to terms with an alarming reality: 80% of his farmland was under freezing floodwater. In March 2019, record-breaking floods inundated America's breadbasket, a region that's also a key exporter of corn and soybeans to the world. Much of the Midwest was overwhelmed with floods as a result of torrential rains, frozen ground unable to absorb more water, heavy snowmelt, and a series of extreme weather events that culminated in a major winter storm described by meteorologists as a " bomb cyclone ." "Winter was colder than normal, overall. We also had a wetter-than-normal winter as well as fall, so the soils were at or near saturation," Nebraska State Climatologist Martha Shulski said. The floods damaged public infrastructure and led to the loss of crops, livestock and the evacuation of thousands of people from their homes. Nebraska's governor said that in that state alone alone, the cost of damage has surpassed $1.3 billion. "I lay around at night and think about it, you know, and try to estimate how much these grain bins are going to cost to replace, how much corn I had in them that's now laying in the water that's ruined... how much, if any, of it's going to be salvageable," Adams said. Like many farmers in the area, Adams's land runs along the Missouri River, the longest waterway in the U.S. The storms breached levees that were built decades ago to protect the areas along the banks. Much of the flood-prevention infrastructure was built 70 years ago, but over the last three decades, the region has seen about an 8% increase in precipitation. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the federal agency responsible for the management of the country's levee systems, say they've seen record runoff in the past 15 years. This historic flood has made it clear that unpredictable weather patterns are getting more extreme . After massive flooding in 2011, the Corps had to repair five breaches. So far in 2019, they are dealing with 50. "Our current goal is to close all the breaches by March of 2020," said Matthew Krajewski, the Readiness Branch Chief of the Army Corps of Engineers. However, if the Corps were to update the levee to newer engineering standards   to help it withstand the rising flood levels predicted in the coming years   they would need funding approval from the U.S. Congress. A recent report by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) found that the U.S has seen the wettest 12 months on record, with an average of 38 inches of rain falling from July 2018 to June 2019. Adams put it in personal terms. "When I was a kid," he said, "an inch of rain, or an inch and a half of rain, was a big deal. Now it's like we get four- or five-inch rains all the time, or six-inch rains, even. That was unheard of." "I'm not a climate change guy, as far as climate change, global warming, or any of that stuff," Adams said. "But have I seen the weather change in, say, my 20-year farming career? Absolutely." In response to these troubling changes, some farmers in Nebraska are considering new solutions to keep their businesses afloat. One of those farmers, Graham Christensen, travels the country discussing a green farming initiative called regenerative farming. Regenerative farming advocates say their practices foster healthier soil and can support a wider variety of crops, providing more opportunities for farmers to profit. The soil can also absorb more water, lessening the impact of floods. "If everybody was utilizing more regenerative practices based on increasing soil health, this flood wouldn't have been so damaging," Christensen said. "We're working against the ecosystem instead of with it." Modern agriculture and food production aren't just impacted by climate change   they also contribute to it. According to the EPA , more than 8% of all U.S greenhouse gas emissions in 2017 came from the agriculture sector. While some farmers in conservative parts of the country may be reluctant to define increasingly extreme weather as climate change, Christensen says with each storm, more attitudes start to change. "There's more and more people every day that are drawing the connection to that   'No, I've never seen this, my parents have never seen this, and my grandparents have never seen this,'" Christensen said. "So every time stuff like this happens, you see more folks that are more opened up to some of these concerns around the climate that we're talking about."


Don't bet on seeing a Harriet Tubman $20 bill anytime soon. The redesigned bill bearing Tubman's face, which was supposed to debut next year, will not be coming out for nearly a decade, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said. Planning started years ago to have Tubman replace former President Andrew Jackson on the $20 bill. Tubman, who was born into slavery and became a noted abolitionist and political activist, would be the first black woman to have her face on U.S. currency. The new bill was scheduled to be released in 2020 to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote. But Mnuchin said Wednesday that it won't be happening under the Trump administration. "It's not a decision that is likely to come until way past my term, even if I serve the second term for the president," Mnuchin told the House Financial Services Committee. "So I'm not focused on that for the moment." Mnuchin said a redesign of the bill's security features will still come out in 2020. But the issue of changing how the bill looks "most likely" won't come up again until 2026, he said, and the new $20 bill won't be printed until 2028. Mnuchin did not explain why the Tubman bill won't be produced on his watch. He also did not state whether he personally supports seeing Tubman on the money. "I've made no decision as it relates to that," he said. Democratic Rep. Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, who grilled Mnuchin about the Tubman plan, tweeted after the hearing: "People other than white men built this county. And Sec Mnuchin agrees, yet he refuses to update our #currency." People other than white men built this county. And Sec Mnuchin agrees, yet he refuses to update our #currency . #HarrietTubman #MarianAnderson & #EleanorRoosevelt are iconic Americans & its past time that our 💵 reflects that. #RepresentationMatters | https://t.co/nJmhiktHPm pic.twitter.com/hKQSR3Gl8P   Rep Ayanna Pressley (@RepPressley) May 22, 2019 Mnuchin's predecessor in the Obama administration, Jack Lew, oversaw a 10-month process in which the public suggested hundreds of people whose portraits could appear on U.S. bills. He said that process "inspired" him to put Tubman on the $20 bill. The Treasury Department announced in April 2016 that it would work on getting the new bill out "as quickly as possible." President Trump said during the 2016 campaign that he did not support putting Tubman on the 20, calling the plan "pure political correctness." He suggested instead having Tubman on "the $2 bill" or "another bill." Mr. Trump has expressed admiration for President Andrew Jackson, who was a slave owner, and had a portrait of him put in the Oval Office.


Remember the first five picks of last year's draft? 1. Suns: Deandre Ayton 2. Kings: Marvin Bagley 3. Hawks (to Mavericks): Luka Doncic 4. Grizzlies: Jaren Jackson Jr. 5. Mavericks (to Hawks): Trae Young A year later, and those same five players comprise the All-Rookie first team. Here's the full voting (first-place votes, second-place votes and voting points in parentheses): First team Luka Doncic, DAL (100-0-200) Trae Young, ATL (100-0-200) Deandre Ayton, PHO (95-5-195) Jaren Jackson Jr., MEM (60-39-159) Marvin Bagley III, SAC (56-44-156) Second team Shai Gilgeous-Alexander , LAC (40-58-138) Collin Sexton , CLE (39-54-132) Landry Shamet , LAC (3-79-85) Mitchell Robinson , NYK (3-71-77) Kevin Huerter , ATL (1-43-45) Also receiving votes: Mikal Bridges , PHO (1-29-31); Kevin Knox , NYK (0-22-22); Josh Okogie , MIN (1-10-12); Jalen Brunson , DAL (0-10-10); Allonzo Trier , NYK (0-10-10); Rodions Kurucs , BRK (0-9-9); Wendell Carter Jr. , CHI (0-7-7); Miles Bridges , CHA (1-4-6); Bruce Brown , DET (0-2-2); Harry Giles III, SAC (0-2-2); Mo Bamba , ORL (0-1-1); Aaron Holiday , IND (0-1-1) This is only the second time the top five picks all made the ensuing All-Rookie first team. The other: 1984-85, when the top five picks were: 1. Rockets: Hakeem Olajuwon 2. Trail Blazers: Sam Bowie 3. Bulls: Michael Jordan 4. Mavericks: Sam Perkins 5. 76ers: Charles Barkley I don't think voters erred by favoring bigger-name players this year. I had the same first-team picks . My only quibble: I would've put Mikal Bridges and Jalen Brunson on the second team over Kevin Huerter and Collin Sexton. Sexton made incredible strides during the season, but focusing on that obscures his awful start in what I think should be a full-season assessment. His box plus-minus (-5.2) is the worst ever for an All-Rookie teamer since Adam Morrison in 2007 (-5.5). But if Sexton continues on the track he showed within the season, nobody will view him as another bust. This is an impressive rookie class, led by Doncic. This will be the first of many honors for several of these players.


A coast-to-coast hiking and biking trail is almost a reality. The proposed Great American Rail Trail , a multi-use trail that will run across multiple states, has been in development for several years. Today, the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) unveiled in a statement its preferred route for the trail, which will connect more than 125 existing trails and 90 trail gaps over 3,700 miles between Washington, D.C., and Washington State. Originally envisioned in the 1980s, the RTC has been conducting a route assessment for the last 12 months, analyzing more than 34,000 miles of multi-use trails across the country and working with more than 200 local partners and 50 state agencies to plan the route. The proposed preferred route is planned to be one continuous route (or over 80 percent continuous) and entirely off-street, made up of almost all existing trails. "When defining the preferred route of the Great American Rail-Trail, we sought a cross-country route that would provide the highest-quality experience while delivering significant economic and social benefits to the communities it connects," said Liz Thorstensen, vice president of trail development at RTC, in a statement. The trail itself runs through 12 states including Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, and Washington State, plus Washington D.C., According to the RTC, nearly 50 million people living within 50 miles of the trail will be able to find new opportunities to explore the great outdoors once the trail is complete. The 3,700-mile trail will consist of 1,961 miles of existing trails and 1,782 miles of identified gaps (sections of trail in need of development to fully connect the Great American into one single route). These trail gaps also pose more opportunities for connecting trails in the future. From the sound of it, it's sure to blow some of the best trails in the U.S. straight out of the water once complete. Plus, the RTC predicts that the Great American Rail Trail could potentially bring significant economic benefits to communities along the trail. "[The Great American Rail Trail] magnifies on a grand scale the benefits that trails have delivered to communities for decades," said Ryan Chao, president of RTC. "Whether bridging gaps within and between communities, creating safe walking and biking access to jobs, transit, shopping and green space; or serving as recreation for cyclists, runners and casual daily explorers, this will be America's trail." At the moment, Washington D.C. and Maryland are the only parts of the trail that are 100 percent complete. The RTC predicts the trail completion is still "decades away," but the whole of the trail is 52 percent complete. The RTC has planned projects and initiatives to start making the Great American Rail Trail a reality. In addition to working with local and state partners, the organization is striving to reach one million pledges from outdoor lovers to help complete the massive trail project. On May 8, the RTC will be hosting live events along the preferred route, which will also be broadcast live on the organization's Facebook page and on its website from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. EST. More information on the trail, live events, and how to make a pledge can be found on the Great American Rail Trail website . WATCH: The biggest mistakes hikers make when they get lost on a trail


The Action Network specializes in providing sports betting insights/analytics and is a content partner with NASCAR. Check out more NASCAR betting analysis here. NASCAR heads to Daytona International Speedway for its annual Independence Day weekend tradition, the Coke Zero Sugar 400. Saturday night's race features the second race run under the new superspeedway rules package. The first, at Talladega, produced fantastic racing similar to traditional restrictor plate races of the past. I expect the same for Daytona, where the draft should play a large role, keeping cars packed tightly together. These racing conditions always lead to fear of the "Big One" where multiple cars   sometimes numbering in the double digits   are taken out in one major accident. The draft and the potential for calamity make longshot value quite relevant at Daytona. Ignore practice times when handicapping a superspeedway race   the draft renders practice irrelevant. Instead, look for drivers who have good superspeedway history and may be undervalued by the market. RELATED: Updated odds for Daytona | Full schedule for Daytona Only one driver can win, but multiple longshots have chances at top-three, top-five and top-10 finishes. Let's get into the best futures bets for tonight's Coke Zero Sugar 400. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (+2000) to Win William Hill is offering a generous price on Stenhouse, a two-time superspeedway winner. Stenhouse is an incredibly aggressive driver who likes to lead these types of races. Stenhouse led twice at Daytona and three times at Talladega this year, confirming his drive to be out front. In 2019, outside of superspeedways, Stenhouse has been strong at the races where the draft matters most   1.5-mile tracks at night or with low tire wear. Now we're at a race where the draft plays the ultimate role. It's reasonable to bet Stenhouse down to +1500 to win. Aric Almirola (+2200) to Win Both of Almirola's Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series wins came at superspeedways. He won the 2014 edition of this race, and was leading last year's Daytona 500 coming to the checkered flag before contact with Austin Dillon. Almirola hasn't had quite the season he had last year, finishing in a worse position in nine of his 17 races, while currently residing 11th in the point standings. However, Almirola led 27 laps at Talladega but finished only ninth as the Chevrolet team strategy placed its cars in a better position to dominate the end of the race. I'd bet him down to +1600. Erik Jones (+3000) to Win Jones currently sits outside of the playoff picture at 17th in the point standings. I believe his subpar performance is driving his long odds at MGM properties. However, Jones is a fantastic superspeedway racer with a win-or-go-home record in these races. He's either crashed out or finished inside the top nine in every superspeedway race of his Cup career except one. Not only are his playoff hopes on the line, but his future at Joe Gibbs Racing is in doubt. This race might just be the antidote Jones needs in a year of uncertainty and struggle. There's value here down to +2500. Other Futures Bets Here are other futures bets I like for the Coke Zero Sugar 400. I will add to these as more lines become available. Corey LaJoie top-10 finish (+700) ]]>


Typically, Washington Redskins head coach Jay Gruden is the subject of hot-seat speculation. Gruden, after all, has been coach of the Redskins since 2014 and has more than eight wins in a season once with a single NFC East win and playoff berth to boot. But Pro Football Talk's Darin Gantt has suggested it should perhaps go in the other direction, as he said on the Redskins Talk Podcast (h/t Ryan Homler of NBC Sports Washington): "I have always come down of the side, maybe, of guys who are doing more with less. I think Jay has done a pretty good job keeping things in the middle….When things get sideways a Jim Zorn can lose control in a hurry. I feel like Jay just got sort of a steady hand on the wheel." Maybe this is part of the thinking within the Redskins front office, which hasn't blinked much when it comes to Gruden's job status despite most recently only going 7-9 over the last two seasons. And indeed, Gruden has had to deal with plenty of adversity while serving as head coach. Over those past two seasons, few rosters have been plagued with more injuries. Still, most coaches wouldn't be afforded the same leash and one has to think Gruden remains firmly on the hot seat in 2019 - especially if his roster remains relatively healthy and things don't start trending in an upward manner. MORE: Yasiel Puig starts rare 9-5-6 double play with laser-beam throw LeBron James Boasts About '300 Mil Later' After Rich Paul Klutch Sale to UTA Lions pre-camp roster projection leaves many spots unclaimed Bobby Portis Q&A: 'I love being underrated' Colin Kaepernick trains with Odell Beckham, Jr. and Deshaun Watson at UCLA


Audi Sport has released a shadowy teaser of six upcoming RS performance models, which could possibly debut at the 2019 Frankfurt auto show. Based on what we're seeing in this shot, there's a wide variety of models coming. Recently, we found out during the media launch of the 2019 Audi Q3 that we won't get the coupe-like Sportback variant or the potent RS Q3, which are the third and fourth vehicle from the left. That's two down, but what about the rest? The rightmost vehicle is the RS Q8, which is the most likely to come to North America thanks to our insatiable SUV cravings. One other very likely candidate is the second vehicle from the left, which is clearly the RS 7. We've had that model since its inception, and the new one is likely to return packing the same 563-hp 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 with a 48-volt mild hybrid system as the recently revealed 2020 S8 . Research Audi on MSN Autos What about the last two vehicles? Unfortunately, they're likely never coming here because those are two wagons, and Americans are well-known for their distaste of low-slung, long-roofed vehicles with a hatch. The first vehicle from the left is the coveted RS 6 Avant while the second to the last from the left appears to be another forbidden fruit: the next RS 3 hatchback. Like the S8, the RS 6 will likely sport a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 while the RS 3 should get a 400-hp 2.5-liter turbo-five. For now, the RS 7 and RS Q8 are likely the only RS-badged Audi vehicles we'll get in the U.S., but that could change. With the next generation Audi A3 arriving soon, a third RS model could come to the U.S. in the form of the RS 3 sedan . Source: Audi Follow MSN Autos on Facebook and Twitter


You don't need to be a brain specialist to notice certain differences in images of a healthy older person's brain compared to that of someone with dementia. Narrowed, depleted folds on the brain's surface, the presence of blotchy plaques, twisted fibers and significant shrinkage are clearly visible. What you can't see is how brain changes like these affect how people's minds work. In a program from the National Press Foundation and funded by AARP, "Understanding the Latest on Dementia Issues," journalists heard from a spectrum of dementia experts, including researchers, gerontologists, family caregivers and a brilliant engineer who described her personal journey with early-onset Alzheimer's . In addition, a leading neuroscientist detailed how normal brain aging is very different from changes arising from dementia and not something to be feared. While some presentations were sobering, others were reassuring   and all highlighted just how complex dementia and brain aging are. Here are a few takeaways: Dementia Brain Changes Protein plaques and tangles infiltrate the brain in Alzheimer's. For more than a century, scientists have been staining brain sections with silver to visualize the amyloid plaques and tau tangles that are Alzheimer's hallmarks. Beta-amyloid, a product of protein breakdown, clumps together and disrupts brain cell function. Tau, another protein, forms tangled threads that interfere with communication between brain cells. "A nice, healthy young brain has none of these plaques and tangles," says Dr. R. Scott Turner, director of the memory disorders program and a professor of neurology at Georgetown University. "Whereas, as you get older, they accumulate in the brain." People with normal cognition may have a little amyloid and tau in their brains. However, he says, as you get more and more of these abnormal protein deposits, it causes loss of brain cells (or neurons), brain dysfunction and eventually progressive dementia that leads to death. Hippocampus involvement affects memory. Alzheimer's typically first affects the hippocampus, a part of the brain that's highly involved in memory formation. That's why, he explains, "the first thing to go with Alzheimer's is making a new memory   old memories are fine." Then, as the disease continues to spread, it "affects more and more of the cortex.". The cortex is the thin, outer layer of the brain. Inability to make new memories causes many problems. "You forget things, you lose things, you spend more time looking for things," Turner says. "You repeat questions. You have more difficulty doing your job or doing your tasks at home. It takes a lot longer to do things." As the disease progresses, other abilities worsen . "It affects language and visuospatial skills, executive function, reasoning, insight   all the higher cognitive domains." Alzheimer's disease shrinks the brain. An MRI imaging slide presented by Turner showed a stark contrast in brain size between normal and Alzheimer's brains. "We know that you lose one-third of your brain by the time you come to autopsy," Turner says. "One-third of your brain weight is gone from the atrophy, the neuronal loss, the white-matter loss with Alzheimer's." A cross-section view of the Alzheimer's brain revealed atrophy   shrinkage   in the areas affecting language, memory and judgment. Dementia progresses in stages. Everyone experiences mild cognitive changes as they age, Turner notes. With dementia , people show increasing signs of decline over several phases that can last for many years. The preclinical stage is the silent phase during which brain changes occur without measurable symptoms or detectable test results. In this phase, Turner says, the patient knows something's wrong but the doctor doesn't. With mild cognitive impairment , the person and their family are concerned by these changes, and at least one cognitive domain, such as attention, executive function, memory or language, is significantly impaired. However, people can still go about their daily activities. As people pass through moderate to severe phases, dementia increasingly interferes with their everyday abilities. Of course, many factors contribute to dementia development. Genetics play a major role. Alzheimer's risk rises, in part, depending on whether you have any copies of the ApoE4 gene, and how many. Another gene called TREM2 is being studied for its role in inflammatory action in the brain. Other genetic connections exist. Recent disappointments in large clinical trials of Alzheimer's drugs have scientists looking at other potential pathways in dementia development. The goal is to find more effective treatments for the disease. Studies should target dementia much earlier in the process by including more participants who have mild cognitive impairment, Turner says. Ideally, long-term prevention trials would recruit normal participants who don't have dementia at all but face a higher risk. Normal Brain Aging When it comes to comparing the normal, healthy brains of older and younger adults, younger brains do function differently in some ways   although not necessarily always better. It's actually a "wonderful" time to be old, says Darlene Howard, a professor emerita at Georgetown University whose research focuses on changes in cognitive and neural systems during aging. The "gray tsunami," with a larger proportion of people ages 65 and older in the population than ever before, is helping drive a host of changes. Increased political clout and camaraderie, emerging technology like smart homes, better hearing aids, improved cataract surgery, universal access like ramps for everyone from parents pushing strollers to people with walkers and a society that's more accepting of diversity all represent advantages for elders, Howard says. Fresh perspectives on the aging brain are also emerging. Decades of research from Howard and her peers offer encouragement. Their results counter traditional thinking about what's lost or preserved, what gets worse or improves and what's inevitable versus avoidable as you get older. As for normal brain aging compared to dementia effects, she says, "They're very different beasts." These are some current findings on normal brain aging: There is very little loss of neurons, or brain cells, with aging, contrary to what was previously believed. Older brains operate differently than younger brains in some ways. Cognitive loss is selective. "It isn't that everything goes," Howard says. "Some components do decline, just in the course of getting older. But others don't   in fact, some even improve." Among people in the same age group, individuals differ a lot in how aging affects their brain performance. For instance, some people have better processing speed and memory function than their same-aged peers. Processing speed declines in normal aging. If dividing a group of adults into those over and under 40, Howard says, "We would find that if we asked you to hit a brake when a stop sign came up, the older group would probably be slower than the younger. We can also measure mental speed, which is typically slower in older groups than in younger." Most kinds of new learning and memorizing also decline. "New learning is learning things so you can remember them for later, like new names and faces," Howard says. "It gets harder   not impossible, just harder." Learning new languages or motor skills also becomes more difficult. Working memory can have glitches. "You walk into a room and you have a purpose," Howard says. "At least you had a purpose. And then you get into the room and you have no idea." Word finding and word retrieval take longer. "Typically, it isn't that you lost the word," Howard says. "You just wait for a while. But when you don't need it, there it will be." With Alzheimer's, by contrast, the issue is much starker, she adds: "You get to the point where the words aren't there at all." Vocabulary is spared, and in some ways, improved. In her own studies, similar to others around the country, Howard says, "When you give vocabulary tests where you give the definition, our older participants who came into our lab always did better, on average, than our Georgetown undergrads. You've had more chance to learn more words and you don't forget their meanings." Problem-solving and decision-making aspects stay constant or actually get better. Experience helps when nuanced situations arise. In studies, Howard says, "If you give people interpersonal problems, the kind of things that advice columnists write about, older people, on average, give better solutions to those." Financial decision-making abilities are mixed. It's harder for some older adults   such as a widowed person whose spouse handled all the household finances   to suddenly pick up these skills, says Peter Lichtenberg, a Wayne State University psychology professor. On the other hand, he says, "crystallized intelligence," which calls upon previous learning and experience, helps many older people keep their financial houses in order. Certain components of financial decision-making improve. Younger adults are more likely to fall into the trap of "temporal discounting" when it comes to decisions like building savings for the future. "Temporal discounting is when you value an immediate reward higher than you do a delayed reward," Howard says. That kind of bias toward immediate gratification tends to decline in old age. The brain may adapt to its own aging. Howard described an MRI-based study showing that when given certain tasks, younger adults usually activate only one hemisphere of the brain. "Give the same task to older people and you see bilateral activation," Howard says. In many studies, she says, older people with this bilateral brain activation do better at tasks than older adults with one-sided activation. The theory: Perhaps older adults who perform well are those who adapt to changes in the brain. Growth continues to occur. "What we know is that throughout life, it turns out, we can grow new blood vessels (angiogenesis)," Howard says. "We can grow new connections among neurons (synaptogenesis). Indeed, something we didn't know until fairly recently   we can grow new neurons throughout life (neurogenesis)." How to Preserve Brain Function Everyone wants to know what they can do to preserve their lifelong brain function. Howard points to research on "the various and sundry techniques that have been looked at for promoting healthy cognitive and brain aging." Computer-based brain games, social engagement, diet, physical exercise, lifelong bilingualism, meditation, yoga, taking on new learning like photography or quilting, teaching and practicing reasoning skills, and addressing attitudes toward aging have all been studied. Physical exercise , it turns out, "is the best-documented, by far, if you look at the literature," Howard says. "We know it works. It's not that others don't   we just don't have the evidence." Aerobic exercise appears to improve cognitive areas such as working memory and executive function more than anaerobic exercise such as stretching and toning. Brain-training games, however, aren't backed by much evidence. Perhaps, Howard suggests, that's because when people are doing online brain exercises, they aren't moving their bodies and they aren't interacting with other people. Gallery: 40 Habits to Reduce Your Risk of Dementia After 40 (Provided by Best Life)


Gareth Southgate named his final 23-man squad on Monday for next month's UEFA Nations League competition taking place in Portugal. The tournament will see England play the Netherlands in a semi-final game on 6 June, before playing either a final or third-place play-off with Portugal or Switzerland. Southgate had initially named a long squad of 27, but has now whittled it down to the required 23 before the contest begins. What this has meant, however, is that a number of big names have missed out, as well as several promising youngsters who were hoping to force their way into the side. Let's take a look at those who can feel most hard done by with their omission from the England squad. James Maddison After joining Leicester City from Championship side Norwich City last summer, Maddison immediately made a name for himself in the Premier League with a number of standout performances for the Foxes early on. For most of the season, Claude Puel's side were struggling to find a consistent run of results in the league, but the Englishman's form never wavered. Over the course of the campaign, the Foxes midfielder ranked sixth on the list of big chances created in the Premier League, with Ryan Fraser the only player outside the top six above him. Instead of a place in the senior squad, Maddison has been included in England Under-21 squad for the European Championships next month, which will be of some consolation to the former Norwich man. Nevertheless, he can count himself unlucky not to be heading to Portugal given the season he has had. Aaron Wan-Bissaka At the age of 21, Aaron Wan-Bissaka has shown himself to be an old head on young shoulders with his relentlessly consistent performances for Crystal Palace this season. Since breaking into the team last season, the Eagles youth product has barely put a foot wrong. The 21-year-old ranks third in the Premier League on tackles made this season and is the highest placed defender on the list. Added to that, he comes in at second in the rankings for most interceptions made in the 2018/19 campaign. At such a young age, Wan-Bissaka is performing at a level beyond his years and can consider himself harshly done by to be omitted from Southgate's squad. However, the right-back is another player who has been included in the Under-21 squad for this summer's tournament, so it is clear that he is part of the England manager's future plans. Nathan Redmond Redmond has seemingly spent his entire career on the fringes of the England setup and has once again missed out after being included in the initial 27-man squad. The Southampton winger has come on leaps and bounds under new boss Ralph Hasenhuttl this season, with all six of his goals and all four of his assists this season coming after the Austrian's appointment in December. The 25-year-old has really matured under his new coach and has clearly made an impression on Southgate. Redmond can count himself a little unlucky that the Three Lions are so well stocked in his position, as the Southampton man would probably have to displace one of Raheem Sterling, Jadon Sancho or Jesse Lingard to get a look in. Kieran Trippier 'But he's been rubbish for Spurs this season,' you cry. Well, it hasn't been the right back's best campaign, that's for sure. But Trippier has been part of a Tottenham Hotspur side who have reached the final of the Champions League for the first time in their history. Added to that, the former Burnley man was one of England's best players at last year's World Cup, and his ability to find the head of Harry Maguire from corners proved a real threat. The Spurs man is a little unlucky that right-back is one England's strongest positions, and that the emergence of Trent Alexander-Arnold means he has slipped down the pecking order. That said, he appears to have a good relationship with Southgate and the door to the squad will remain open. James Ward-Prowse Five years ago, the thought of leaving a ball-playing, goalscoring midfielder like Ward-Prowse out of an England squad would have been unthinkable. So perhaps it is a testament to the development of English players that the Southampton man misses out on the Nations League squad. Having initially been called up to the long 27-man squad, the 24-year-old was one of four players to be cut on Monday. His ability from dead ball situations has been a real asset to his club this season and, along with Redmond, is a player who has come into his own under Hasenhuttl. With seven goals to his name, Ward-Prowse has had his most prolific season in the Premier League. Harry Winks Winks missed the final part of the season with a groin injury, following an impressive campaign up until that point. However, the Tottenham man has returned to training and is set to feature in his side's Champions League final against Liverpool on Saturday. Yes, Southgate may be resting Winks, but his teammate Harry Kane has also recently returned to training following a lengthy injury, yet the striker *has* been included in England's squad. That said, there are already eight of the squad who are joining their teammates later than everybody else due to their participation in European finals. Southgate may have opted to leave Winks out to prevent rushing preparation for the semi-final against the Netherlands any more than is necessary