As airlines fight to claim ownership of the " world's longest flight operator " title, Emirates is heading the opposite route in the distance stakes. The Dubai-based airline has just announced plans to launch the world's shortest flight on the world's biggest commercial plane -- the double-decker Airbus A380 . Two daily A380 flights between Dubai and Muscat International Airport are scheduled to take to the skies on July 1. The distance between the two cities is just 340 kilometers (211 miles). Fun fact: That's shorter than the length of all the wiring in the A380, which, according to plane manufacturer Airbus, would stretch over 500 kilometers if laid out end to end. The new flights will break Emirates' own record. The airline previously operated the world's shortest scheduled A380 service , between Dubai and Doha -- a distance of 379 kilometers (235 miles). However, Emirates canceled all fights to Doha in 2017 due to the ongoing diplomatic row between Qatar and the UAE. A seamless 'all A380' journey The airline says the flights will offer long-haul travelers heading to and from Muscat via Dubai a seamless 'all A380' journey. Emirates has been flying to Oman since 1993, but its three daily services to Muscat are all serviced by Boeing 777-300ER jets. "The introduction of the A380 services to Muscat means more of our customers will have the opportunity to experience our industry-leading products onboard, and will also enhance choice and travel preferences as they plan their journeys," said Sheikh Majid Al Mualla, divisional senior vice president of Emirates' Commercial Operations Centre, in a statement. The morning flight, EK 862, will depart Dubai at 8:25 a.m., arriving in Muscat at 9:40 a.m. The return flight, EK 863, will depart Muscat at 11:15 a.m., arriving in Dubai at 12:25 p.m. Later that day, EK 864 will depart Dubai at 4:10 p.m. and will arrive in Muscat at 5:25 p.m. EK 865 will leave Muscat at 7:05 p.m., arriving in Dubai at 8:15 p.m. The two A380 Muscat flights will offer Emirates' usual three-class configuration, with 429 seats in Economy Class on the lower deck, as well as 76 flat-bed seats in Business Class and 14 First Class Private Suites on the upper deck. Want more time to enjoy the journey? Emirates also operates the longest non-stop flight on an A380, between Dubai and Auckland, New Zealand. That journey takes about 16 hours. End of an era Fans of the A380 were saddened in February when Airbus announced plans to halt production of the jets following huge cuts in orders. Since Airbus' first delivery to Singapore Airlines in 2007, more than 230 A380s have rolled off the assembly line in Toulouse, France. More than 100 of these are flown by Emirates, making it the world's largest operator of the super-jumbo. Airbus will deliver its last A380 orders in 2021. As the world's largest commercial plane, the A380 typically carries around 550 passengers on two full-length levels, though has the capacity to hold up to 850 travelers. Measuring close to 73 meters in length, it has a range of 8,478 nautical miles. The double-decker was developed at a cost of $25 billion. It's made up of about four million individual parts produced by 1,500 companies from 30 countries around the world.


By Frank Pingue (Reuters) - The United States' World Cup triumph on home soil in 1999 was a watershed moment for the sport but midfielder Julie Foudy had hoped it would help the women's game grow at a much faster pace. The third edition of the tournament was held in the U.S. in massive stadiums for the first time and new heights were reached for attendance, media coverage and television audiences. "It was a chance for us to show the United States and the world what a women's sporting event should look like," Foudy, who went on to become U.S. captain from 2000 to 2004, told Reuters in a telephone interview. "We knew that there was still a resistance to supporting young girls playing sports and participating in sports so if we could give an example of why it's so important then we wanted to run with that opportunity." The U.S. beat China 5-4 on penalties in the final, which was goalless after extra time, in searing temperatures in front of more than 90,185 fans at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California -- still a record attendance for a women's soccer game. That 1999 victory captivated the nation and was supposed to serve as a lift-off point to a bright future of professional women's soccer leagues, greater exposure and generally more of everything for women across the entire sports spectrum. While progress was made over the next 20 years, gaps remain, including one that convinced the current U.S. team to sue the U.S. Soccer Federation for gender discrimination in the lead-up to their World Cup defense in France next month. The 48-year-old Foudy, twice a World Cup winner and Olympic gold medalist who is currently a writer and commentator for ESPN, said she was beyond surprised that in this day and age there was even a need for such a dispute. "And frustrated. And tired," she added. "It's exhausting to keep fighting that fight and especially (for them) to do it right before a World Cup to launch that battle, but it meant that much to them that they felt they needed to do it. "But you look back and say, didn't we show 20 years ago that this (winning the World Cup) is something that has the potential to create a wonderful market for women's soccer." 'GOOD SIGN' Foudy, who hosted a one-hour ESPN special that aired last week called "The '99ers, Reunited" and featured five of her former team mates, said more countries had since stepped up their efforts to support the women's game and that will be easy to see at next month's World Cup. "It's the first (World Cup) where I've been able to count the number of potential winners on more than one hand, which is a good sign," said Foudy, who predicts either the U.S. or France will lift the trophy. "There are countries out there who have put the money in and are investing and now they are seeing the returns of a potential World Cup-winning team. But it's been slow for sure." Foudy said a number of countries have embraced the women's game since her team's 1999 triumph and pointed specifically to France and England, the latter having been wished good luck ahead of this year's tournament by Britain's Prince William. But Foudy suggested other countries need to be pushed to support the women's game and she did not understand why any would hesitate to invest more for what she felt was a large return. "You still get to this day countries that constantly say, 'oh my gosh, I am surprised by the reaction by my country to the women's game,'" said Foudy. "It's like, when are we going to stop being surprised? When it really is the global game and it's simple things. It's low hanging fruit supporting girls playing and there's a large return (on a small investment). That's the thing that just gets me." (Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto; Editing by Ken Ferris)


Aston Villa manager Dean Smith is not messing around with his side's fate in the Premier League. The Villans have added a wealth of talent this summer while holding onto Jack Grealish , and now have two more notable names in the frame. [ MORE: Guardiola hails KDB ] One looks like a near certainty, with The Birmingham Mail reporting that Douglas Luiz of Man City is already with Villa in the United States ahead of a $20 million move. The 21-year-old Luiz has spent the last two seasons on loan at Girona, and improved in playing time and performance in the second season. The same outlet says Egyptian star Mahmoud "Trezeguet" Hassan is nearing a move to Villa Park. Trezeguet is 24, has 41 caps for Egypt and is currently on the books for Turkish side Kasımpaşa. Trezeguet's four shots per game was second in the Turkish Super Lig last season, and he piled up nine goals and nine assists before adding another goal and assist for Egypt in its ill-fated hosting run at the Africa Cup of Nations. Luiz would be more of an eye toward the future, even at almost double the cost of Trezeguet (though Sky Sports says the incentives could eventually take the total through the roof). The latter could be an immediate and significant contributor to Villa's fight to reestablish itself as a PL mainstay. Follow @NicholasMendola


Incomes are jumping in these states. Did yours make the list? 13 States Where Residents' Income Has Grown Fastest Combined personal income is on the increase in 49 states, according to data from the Pew Charitable Trusts.  Over the past year, this key economic indicator recorded widespread gains, rising in all states except Rhode Island as of the fourth quarter of 2018,  Pew reports . Combined personal income reflects multiple forms of income received by all residents, not just paychecks. For example, it includes Social Security benefits, employers  contributions to retirement plans and health insurance, and benefits from government programs like Medicare. But which states saw the most dramatic increase in combined personal income during 2018? To answer that question, Pew analyzed data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, a division of the U.S. Department of Commerce. Expansion of personal income over the past year was widespread across the country, not in any one region, Pew found. In fact, Pew s analysis found that personal income totals have bounced back in all states since 2007, the start of the Great Recession, but have grown at far different rates since that benchmark. Following are the 13 states that saw the biggest increases in combined personal income over the past year. We have ranked them based on those increases. 13. Tennessee Growth rate of combined personal income over the past year : 2.8% Annual growth rate of combined personal income since the fourth quarter of 2007 : 2.2% Over the past couple of years, Tennessee has seen its median household income grow at a rate that beats the growth in other states in the Southeast . Gov. Bill Haslam credits the income growth to the establishment of higher-paying jobs becoming available in Tennessee. The state's unemployment rate is also low: 3.2% as of April   compared with 3.6% for the nation as a whole. 12. Minnesota Growth rate of combined personal income over the past year : 2.8% Annual growth rate of combine personal income since the fourth quarter of 2007 : 1.9% In Minnesota, a number of areas saw above-average income growth in 2018. For example, Grant County saw the best income growth rate at 4.2%, according to SmartAsset. The unemployment rate is also relatively low in Minnesota: 3.3% as of April, compared with 3.6% nationwide. Related: The Shortest Path to an Amazing Retirement 11. Florida Growth rate of combined personal income over the past year : 3.0% Annual growth rate of combined personal income since the fourth quarter of 2007 : 1.9% Earnings in two industries in particular contributed the most by far to the increase in personal income that the Sunshine State experienced last year, according to data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, a division of the U.S. Department of Commerce. The construction industry as well as the professional, scientific and technical services industry each accounted for 0.47 percentage points of the increase in Florida's personal income in 2018. 10. Texas Growth rate of combined personal income over the past year : 3.4% Annual growth rate of combined personal income since the fourth quarter of 2007 : 2.8% Even though the Texas economy continues to grow at a solid pace, the Dallas Fed warns that the recent expansion is starting to slow, due in part to the slower growth in the manufacturing sector. Related: 12 Ways Retirees Can Make Money Without Un-Retiring 9. Nevada Growth rate of combined personal income over the past year : 3.5% Annual growth rate of combined personal income since the fourth quarter of 2007 : 1.5% Nevada continues to have a relatively low unemployment rate, at 4% as of April 2019 . The leisure and hospitality industry accounts for the greatest number of jobs in Nevada as of April. It's followed by a category that includes trade, transportation and utilities jobs 8. Colorado Growth rate of combined personal income over the past year : 3.5% Annual growth rate of combined personal income since the fourth quarter of 2007 : 2.7% While not the biggest industry in the state by a long shot, the Kansas City Fed recognizes that the marijuana industry contributed to about 5.4% of employment growth in Colorado between January 2014, when its use was legalized in the state, and 2018. The pot industry has resulted in more than $6.5 billion in sales since 2014, and tax revenue grew by almost 8% in 2018 . 7. Utah Growth rate of combined personal income over the past year : 3.6% Annual growth rate of combined personal income since the fourth quarter of 2007 : 3.0% Utah continues to show economic strength, according to a report from Wells Fargo , due to a young and educated workforce and the fact that business, labor and government work well together in the state. Jobs in areas such as cloud computing, software development, aerospace and life sciences are part of the state's economic growth. 6. Arizona Growth rate of combined personal income over the past year : 3.7% Annual growth rate of combined personal income since the fourth quarter of 2007 : 1.7% Arizona's current expansion looks to be continuing, according to economic analysis . In fact, the state is expected to add more jobs over the next couple of years, and the median household income in Arizona is rising faster than the national average. 5. Iowa Growth rate of combined personal income over the past year : 4.0% Annual growth rate of combined personal income since the fourth quarter of 2007 : 1.5% With a super-low unemployment rate of 2.4% as of April, it appears that Iowans can find work if they wish. Trade, transportation and utilities, along with government service, are among the job categories with a high level of employment. 4. West Virginia Growth rate of combined personal income over the past year : 4.1% Annual growth rate of combined personal income since the fourth quarter of 2007 : 1.2% West Virginia was the only state that didn't see a tumble in combined personal income after 2007; it alone avoided any calendar-year drop during the 18-month Great Recession. In the past year, the state has seen a solid spike in income, due in part to higher coal prices in a state known for its coal mining. 3. Washington Growth rate of combined personal income over the past year : 4.2% Annual growth rate of combined personal income since the fourth quarter of 2007 : 2.9% Washington's place on this list stands out, as it is the only state to have ranked among the top three states for combined personal income growth in each of the past four quarters. Additionally, Washington is one of the states with the fewest decreases in personal income since 2007, only dropping in 2009. Related: 6 Novel Investing Tools to Make Money and Make a Difference 2. South Dakota Growth rate of combined personal income over the past year : 4.4% Annual growth rate of combined personal income since the fourth quarter of 2007 : 1.8% Even though personal income spiked 4.4% last year, the tough farm economy is weighing on the economy in South Dakota, according to the Minneapolis Fed . However, there are some areas of the state where there is still growth, like Sioux Falls and Rapid City. 1. North Dakota Growth rate of combined personal income over the past year : 4.4% Annual growth rate of combined personal income since the fourth quarter of 2007 : 3.3% North Dakota has been seeing strong income growth since the recession, although incomes took a hit for three years due to falling oil prices in 2014 and 2015. Much of North Dakota's income growth since the recession   and in 2018   can be attributed to drilling technologies that have resulted in an oil boom in the state. Has your income grown? Let us know by commenting below or on our Facebook page . It's not the usual blah, blah, blah. Click here to sign up for our free newsletter.


Hackers have stolen over $40 million worth of bitcoin from Binance, one of the world's largest cryptocurrency exchanges, the company said Tuesday. Binance said the hackers ran off with over 7,000 bitcoin and used a variety of attack methods to carry out the "large scale security breach" which occurred on Tuesday. They also managed to get some user information such as two-factor authentication codes, which are required to log in to a Binance account. The cryptocurrency exchange was able to trace the stolen bitcoin to a single wallet, it said. "The hackers had the patience to wait, and execute well-orchestrated actions through multiple seemingly independent accounts at the most opportune time," Binance said in a statement. "The transaction is structured in a way that passed our existing security checks. It was unfortunate that we were not able to block this withdrawal before it was executed. Once executed, the withdrawal triggered various alarms in our system. We stopped all withdrawals immediately after that." Binance said the theft occurred from the company's so-called "hot wallet," which accounts for about 2% of its total bitcoin holdings. A wallet is a digital means of storing cryptocurrency. A "hot wallet" is one that is connected to the internet as opposed to a "cold" one which stores digital coins offline. Deposits and withdrawals on Binance's platform will remain suspended but trading will be allowed. Binance also warned that "hackers may still control certain user accounts and may use those to influence prices." However, the company said that it will cover the incident "in full" and no users' funds will be affected. The hack comes after a recent rally in bitcoin. The price of the digital coin is about 9% higher over the past week.


NEWPORT, R.I. (AP)   The first female leader of the U.S. Naval War College says she's humbled by her selection as college president and looks forward to serving in that role. Rear Adm. Shoshana Chatfield, a helicopter pilot who heads a military command in Guam, was named as the 57th president Friday. Navy Secretary Richard Spencer called her a "historic choice." Rear Adm. Jeffrey Harley was removed as president Monday after The Associated Press reported he was under investigation for questionable behavior and more than a year after the initial complaint was filed. Chatfield told the AP in a statement Saturday it has been an honor serving with the service members and civilians at Joint Region Marianas, and a privilege working with Guam's governor and community. She's looking forward to serving the Navy, faculty and war college students in Rhode Island.


A Minneapolis man is accused of robbing Target stores across the Twin Cities armed with a machete. Abdikadir Ayanle Ali, 32, was charged via warrant in Ramsey County District Court Tuesday with four counts of first-degree aggravated robbery in connection with the stealing spree, according to the criminal complaint. He also faces aggravated robbery charges in Hennepin County, authorities say. Ali walked into the Target Express on Ford Parkway in St. Paul last Nov. 10 and flashed a machete before fleeing the store with nearly $650 worth of stolen merchandise, the complaint said. Five days later, he returned to the store with the machete and used it to cut security straps from nearly $2,000 worth of items before he placed them in a laundry bag and took off, charges say. Staff at that store reportedly saw Ali's conduct but chose not to confront him because he was armed with the machete. Two weeks later, authorities say Ali used the machete to cut five cell phones valued at nearly $900 from the display rack at a Target on University Avenue in St. Paul's Midway area. Then he brought a knife back to the Target Express on Ford Parkway Dec. 23 when he stole another $415 worth of merchandise, authorities say. Investigators used surveillance videos to identify Ali as the suspect in the various thefts, which include five incidents in Ramsey County and seven in Hennepin County, according to the complaint. After his arrest, Ali confessed to robbing the Midway Target at least 10 times, as well as other locations, saying he stole the machete from Walmart to aid him in the crimes because he knew the weapon would "intimidate" anyone who tried to stop him, according to the complaint. He said he never used the machete to directly threaten any one though, adding that he committed the robberies to support his methamphetamine addiction and that he should have known better, the complaint said. No attorney was listed for Ali in court records. Related Articles Man wounded in shooting after stolen car crashes in St. Paul's Payne-Phalen area Farmington man followed woman home, grabbed and groped her, charges allege Mall of America suspect told police he went there intending to kill someone, charges say Charges tossed in N.D. drug bust; suspect with 125 pounds of pot was headed to Stillwater Three males in ski masks rob former student at gunpoint, UMN police say


It has been called a "physical oddity," a behemoth relic of a bygone Golden Age of Greenville's economy that would not be built today if the community were trying to create a large-scale convention center. Textile Hall. Palmetto Expo Center. Carolina First Center. TD Center. Today it's branded simply as the Greenville Convention Center, and despite its sheer size, in a sense it operates out of sight, out of mind. And at a loss. Now, with money pledged behind a new, modern downtown conference center along the Reedy River , the 340,000-square-foot convention center has been cast as outdated   and questions about its future grow even more pointed after Greenville County recently considered moving Family Court and other services into a portion of the center. What is its role in Greenville's modern transformation into a metropolitan city? Should it stay open, considering it requires an average $500,000 per year in taxpayer subsidy to operate? And what would happen if it truly were relegated to history and torn down? Civic and business leaders don't have a clear answer. The convention center, they say, is what it is   a massive place built and abandoned by the textile industry, bailed out by the city and now used as a public asset the best it can, whether through trade shows, corporate meetings, graduations or at times as an emergency headquarters. It awaits an uncertain fate, but not imminently. The new downtown conference center   portrayed as an arts center that could attract a higher-end clientele that Greenville currently isn't in the mix for   has popular backing, but full funding hasn't been secured. Exactly how else the convention center could be used is evolving, though those who work somewhat behind the scenes say the center is far more active than the public might think. "This will be a decision for a couple of years from now," Greenville Mayor Knox White said. "In the immediate term, for the next several years, everything will move along as it is. But when you have a conference center downtown, say, in four or five years, we'll be faced with a decision." Relic of the textile heyday It was decision time in 2001. What was then known as the Palmetto Expo Center was on the verge of being taken over by the bank. The center's leadership asked for money, and the city bought it for $6.75 million. Ever since then, the challenge has been how to make use of the tens of thousands of square feet available in exhibit and meeting space   an issue that has become more acute in recent years as downtown has become a globally recognized destination and the convention center, tucked away upon a hill off North Pleasantburg Drive, is on the outside looking in from more than three miles away. There was a time when the convention center served as an international focal point. The Southern Textile Exposition had come to Greenville in 1915 at the old Piedmont and Northern Railroad warehouse on West Washington Street. Two years later, a new exposition center was built by influential local engineer J.E. Sirrine. By World War II, Greenville had become known as the "Textile Capital of the World," and in 1964 the current exhibition space was built as Textile Hall next to the Greenville Downtown Airport for convenience and was expanded two years later. In 1993, the conference center was dedicated and named after James H. Woodside, who was instrumental in the growth of the facility. By the time the city stepped in, the center was facing an identity crisis that remains to this day   the legacy of a place created by a private entity for the sole purpose of showing off the textile industry, then closed for the year and re-opened when time came around for the expo again. "It's an oddity because of it's birth," said Chris Stone, president of VisitGreenvilleSC, the brand name for the local convention and visitors bureau. "It just morphed into what it is today. You would never build that in today's world. Generally, we don't need the size facility that it is." In 2016, a consultant hired by the city to study the feasibility of a convention center located downtown dealt a crushing blow to the perception of the old center, even as the consultant concluded that there wasn't enough land downtown to support a big enough replacement. The convention center was too large compared to Greenville's market size. The exhibit space is interrupted by a series of columns, which modern spaces avoid. The ballroom is an expansive space enclosed by temporary walls of fabric. Convention centers generally need to be connected to a hotel. In 2016, the closest hotel, the aging Phoenix Inn, closed and was later demolished. The consultant's suggestion: Close the center as soon as possible and take the money and begin plans to create a conference center through construction of a large-scale hotel. However, one major question was left unanswered. What would the community do without it? Operating under the radar In a region covering Georgia, the Carolinas and Tennessee, only the Atlanta Convention Center at AmericasMart and the Georgia World Congress Center have more exhibition space than Greenville's 280,000 square feet. The exhibition space is where the face of the Greenville Convention Center is most prominent. The consumer shows: Boats. Home and garden. Guns. Cars. Dogs. Comic-Con. The popular Newspring Church holds services in the ballroom, though that arrangement will soon change as the church finds a permanent home. These are the events open and presented to the public as the basic goings-on of the center. The perception from the outside is that of a behemoth that is dark and empty on most days of the calendar when the trade shows are done, said John Wilusz, who has served as the center's general manager through the SMG management firm since the city took over ownership. The management firm, Wilusz said, will hold itself accountable for one criticism: The GCC doesn't do a good job of informing the public about how extensively the facility is used. Or that its financial viability has improved. "We tend to not run around and say, 'We had our best year ever last year,'" Wilusz said. "Right now, we're in good shape and for the most part have been for a while." For the most part, convention centers aren't money makers, said Heywood Sanders, a University of Texas at San Antonio professor who wrote "Convention Center Follies," a book that calls into question the financial wisdom in investing in more centers. The $500,000 subsidy for the Greenville Convention Center is "not an unusual figure and is to be expected," Sanders said. "There is a certain value to having a big public space available," he said, "but that value has to be placed in the context of what you're willing to do. Only a tiny handful of convention venues make money." The ones that do make money, he said, make their profit in either consumer shows that don't bring out of town guests to hotels or in finding new revenue streams by conducting business ancillary to convention activity. Often, convention centers have to discount rates to draw events, or in some cases, pay for users, Sanders said. Chicago's convention center   McCormick Place, the largest convention center in North America   loses "literally tens of millions of dollars as a convention center," Sanders said, but it uses profits from two publicly owned upscale hotels to balance losses. The Washington State Convention Center in downtown Seattle is subsidized by revenue from the 1,000-space parking garage it runs. Not listed on the Greenville Convention Center website are the corporate meetings and club events, Greenville Tech graduations and large-scale political rallies. "The public doesn't really know this stuff is going on," Stone said. "They're just soaked up as guests in our community. This is where the facility plays a very strong role in ways that are largely unknown." The center is responsible for at least 18,000 room nights in Greenville, Stone said. There are the conferences and clubs and trade shows. The Eastern Apiculture Society (beekeepers). Clemson University Men of Color. Alpha Kappa Alpha. South Carolina United Methodist Conference. National Corvette Restorers Society. Southeast Summer Expo outdoor apparel trade show. Then, there is the periodic emergency situation, most notably in 2005 when the Carolina First Center, as it was known then, hosted scores of Hurricane Katrina evacuees. Local industry giants Michelin, BMW and Synnex Corporation keep their corporate meetings in Greenville at the convention center. For Synnex, there are other options such as Charlotte that might fit better, but staying local is a point of pride, said Bob Stegner, the company's senior vice president of marketing in North America, who booked the center to accommodate 2,000 people for its spring conference. The challenge, Stegner said, has to some degree been a lack of hotels within walking distance, but more so is the location outside of downtown. Across the country, communities losing money on convention centers are desperately trying to stop the losses by subsidizing the cost of building "convention hotels" such as the one suggested in Greenville by the city's consultant. "I don't care if you throw up a Ritz Carlton right next to it, everyone's going to want to go downtown," he said. "We're an anomaly." Still, Stegner said the company wants to keep the event in its hometown and is willing to rent buses from Asheville to accommodate shuttling back and forth. The center serves a purpose that no other space in Greenville can, he said, whether a downtown conference center were to built or not. "It's the only place large enough to host that many people," Stegner said. "If they were to close the convention center, we'd have nowhere to go." The waning influence of the convention center as a downtown location gains momentum, he said, is breeding uncertainty and lack of confidence as organizations make plans now for the years ahead. "It's become more serious now," Stegner said. "It's critical to us to find out what's going to happen to the convention center. At some point, I've got to make a decision to stick with it or cut bait." A unique space The future of the center took a turn this spring when Greenville County considered a little more than 100,000 square feet of exhibit space for the relocation of Family Court and other social services as the county prepares its County Square government headquarters for redevelopment. The county concluded, however, that it would have had to spend $53 million to convert the space into offices and even then the ceilings would have been low with little natural light for workers. While the proposal fell through, it provided insight for the city to consider how the center can be used in the years to come, the mayor said. In this case, the city learned that one of two exhibit halls can be closed and sold, White said. The city has been looking for ways to fully use the center and has long sought more county financial interest in its future. "It becomes a very viable sale opportunity to get that off our backs," White said. "It's more sellable than we realized." One reason the county moved away from converting the exhibit hall was because the exhibit space is a significant asset to the area, County Council Chairman Butch Kirven said. "The exhibition space is important to Greenville County and the region," Kirven said. "We need to keep that going, and that's part of the problem with the county using it to convert to office space." The exhibit hall in question is used less frequently than the main hall, but the space can potentially generate $125,000 in revenue in a year with minimal cost and help attract large-scale events like Bassmasters, the rare event that takes up the entire space but also has the greatest economic impact, Wilusz said. "There will come a time when you wish you had it," Wilusz said. "And I think it will be more than once that you wish you had it." The price of keeping that option open is what amounts to millions in continued operating and capital expense, which comes exclusively from the city's tourism-related tax funds. A $22 million renovation in 2008 helped update the center. Capital investment along the way has helped the center try to keep up with competition, though sometimes in piecemeal fashion, evident in how carpet from one section to another abruptly changes from modern to outdated. The capital expenses can be jarring. The city is budgeting next year $1.35 million for investment that will include a little more than $800,000 to replace the escalator system. A place for both? The overall fate of the center   in the most-extreme case, demolition   likely won't be determined anytime in the near future. The downtown conference center, expected to cost at least $100 million to build, has significant backing but the funding hasn't entirely been secured. The state Legislature recently earmarked $5 million to pledge to the center's development on 7 acres of land on the Reedy River owned by prominent developers Bo Aughtry and Phil Hughes, who created RiverPlace. The two are willing to donate the land in exchange for future economic development opportunities, including a new hotel that would connect to the conference center. The conference center would house art collections from two prominent museums   the Greenville County Art Museum and Bob Jones University Museum & Gallery. The plan would require the city and the county to each come up with $26 million. White said the city could use money currently set aside to pay debt on the creation of Falls Park, which is soon to expire. Kirven said he believes funding for the center would have his council's support. But the money isn't for certain. The original plan called for the state to also provide $26 million. The downtown center would serve a different purpose than the convention center. Above the art museum space would be 68,000 square feet of meeting space that would cater to a different set of clientele not interested in what the convention center has to offer. In all of it, the question looms: Can the convention center as it is today coexist with a downtown conference center? There is at least one example of an old center coexisting with a new one downtown, Sanders said. The I-X Center in suburban Cleveland was built as a World War II bomber plant and later transformed into a convention center. The Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland opened in the downtown area in 2013 and the two operate independently. "It's not common, but it's possible," Sanders said. DJ Rama, president and CEO of Auro Hotels, believes the convention center is too valuable to give up, though he admits to having no clear answer on how keeping both open will look in the future. "All I know is there is a value to the Pleasantburg center because you can't replace the cost of building that today," Rama said. "You can't replace that real estate or massive square footage." Auro owns the Hyatt Regency downtown, which provides more meeting space than any hotel in Greenville. The company, once known as JHM Hotels, also owns the dual-brand Residence Inn and SpringHill Suites downtown and the upcoming AC Hotel in the Camperdown development. The company's other Greenville hotel, the Greenville Marriott that it owns at Pelham Road and Interstate 85, represents a presence outside downtown. The convention center, Rama said, serves a purpose for those hotels on the periphery on Haywood and Roper Mountain roads, where the convention center clientele is generally less concerned with the downtown experience and the costs associated with it. "It is helping suburban hotels, because the groups the center is attracting are very price sensitive," Rama said. The convention center's future should rest on how it fits into an event market years away, he said. "Our job is to find new businesses and not cannibalize the existing hotels in Greenville that already have meeting space," Rama said. "We don't do anything until the conference center opens up downtown and matures and stabilizes. The last thing we want to hear is that we opened the conference center and we demolished the convention center and then we can't attract these groups in our conference center because we don't have exhibition space." The notion of the convention center as somehow connected with downtown is outdated, Stone said. Instead of straining to draw that connection, Stone said, the convention center should be considered in the context of its closer surroundings   essentially a one-mile circumference that would allow it to serve as a central piece of the future development of Haywood Road and Pleasantburg Drive and Laurens Road. "What does that area want to become?" Stone said. "How can this asset help this neighborhood transition to its next phase? The notion here is to create corridors where there's life and activity. Eventually, you find a landing spot and either decide to make a move or do something else." Follow Eric on Twitter @cericconnor This article originally appeared on The Greenville News: Greenville's old convention center faces uncertain future


You'll save big on your next theme park adventure with these simple hacks. Theme Park Savings Between roller coasters, kiddie rides and waterpark fun, theme parks are a fun-filled destination. But the cost of admission, food, drinks and souvenirs can add up fast. Before you head out to enjoy the best theme parks this year, try these clever hacks to keep more money in your pocket. Buy Tickets Online When it comes to theme park tickets, buying in advance can pay off. Parks like Legoland, Universal Orlando, Cedar Point and Carowinds charge less for their tickets if you buy them online ahead of time. Rather than showing up with your credit card in hand at the gate, look up the theme parks in your state to see if they sell discounted tickets online. Look for Free Activities Every amusement park has add-ons that leave you digging deeper into your wallet. Skipping the arcade, photo passes, and character experiences can cut down on the total cost of your trip, but looking for free activities can stretch your dollar even further. Even Disney World has free activities around the parks that won't cost you a dime. Go During the Off Season Theme parks can raise prices during peak summer months and big holidays like Christmas and New Year's. But this is the perfect chance to cash in on the savings by planning a visit during the offseason . Not only can you save money this way, but you'll avoid the crowds and long wait times for your favorite rides when you skip the busiest times of the year. Don't Buy Bottled Water Theme parks are popular in the summer, but even cooler months can leave you dehydrated from walking around the park and waiting in long lines. Rather than spending up to $3.00 or more for a bottle of water, bring in your own H2O. You'll cut costs and do the environment a favor when you pack a bottle and refill it throughout the day. Pack a Lunch Considering a family of four can spend a fortune on meals and snacks throughout the day, you might want to consider bringing your own food the next time you visit a theme park. Most parks allow soft-sided coolers and bags, and packing a lunch and a few snacks can stretch your travel budget . Carpool to Save on Parking When planning your amusement park adventure, one expense you might forget is paying for parking. You might not think it's a big deal, but parking fees at Disney World start at $22 and go all the way up to $45 per day just to park your car. But if you ride a free airport shuttle or take an Uber, you can skip the high parking fees altogether. Consider Booking a Package If getting to the amusement park will include airfare or a hotel stay, you could get a better deal by bundling the costs together. If you compare the prices of buying the tickets individually, you'll know how much you could save by booking a package. Also, keep in mind that flights to theme park destinations fill up fast, so don't wait too long if you want the best selection. Plan for the Weather Planning for the weather and bringing rain ponchos and sweatshirts when visiting amusement parks can save you big bucks over buying them after you get there. Even if you're trying to escape the cold , you might run into a crazy weather pattern or a pop-up rain shower when you least expect it and your wallet will thank you. Get Discount Prices for Kids This theme park hack is perfect for parents and is a fantastic way to make lasting memories and save money at the same time. Most theme parks have discount prices for kids and saving $10 or more on tickets for ages 10 and under isn't unusual. If you're traveling with a toddler , check the prices carefully. Some popular theme parks offer free admission up to age 2 or 3. Cash In on Theme Park Rewards You might know about earning rewards from your favorite credit cards, but theme parks like Six Flags are rolling out membership rewards programs , too. Racking up points for free drinks, meals and discounts on admission is an awesome opportunity to cash in whether you're a frequent or occasional visitor. Look for Ticket Upgrade Options When visiting an adventure park, one day isn't always enough to pack in everything you want to do. Luckily, parks can offer ticket upgrade options to add extra days or access to multiple parks without having to pay full price. If you're looking for more time to explore the rides and activities in the park, this money-saving hack is for you. Save More with CityPass If your destination includes multiple theme parks like you'd see in California or Orlando, buying individual tickets can be hard on the budget. But there's no reason to skip any of the fun when you can bundle admission to multiple parks with CityPass . Plus, your CityPass can offer additional shopping and dining discounts, too. Redeem Credit Card Rewards Credit card rewards are the perfect companion to score deals on theme park admission. Earning cash back from a rewards credit card is an excellent way to reduce the amount you pay out of pocket, and you might earn bonus cash back when you use your credit card for travel and entertainment purchases while you're there, too. Stay at a Hotel On-Site If your theme park adventure includes an overnight stay, sometimes booking a room on-site or with a hotel partner will get you perks like early admission and free transportation to the park. And that can mean shorter lines for your favorite rides at Universal Studios and not having to pay extra to park your car. Buy Souvenirs Later While some things are worth splurging on when you're visiting a theme park, t-shirts and trinkets are often left to collect dust after you return home. If you've got your eye on an expensive souvenir at the theme park, consider looking for a similar memento away from pricey tourist areas to save money. Follow Parks on Social Media Following your favorite theme parks on social media is another money-saving option for an unforgettable summer trip . Whether you're on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, watch for flash sales and seasonal discounts on tickets and dining plans. Deals can pop up all the time, and you can save more by checking in throughout the day while you're at the park, too.


It's more expensive with fewer choices but makes up for it with additional content. Cadillac feels lost. In the last year, the luxury brand has ousted its CEO, said it'd cut the CT6 from its lineup because sedans are bad now, raised CT6-V pricing, announced it'd lead GM's electric vehicle efforts, extended CT6 production by six months because sedans are good again sort of, rejiggered its V-Series brand down market, and announced hotter V-Series CT4 and CT5 sedans in the future. That's a rollercoaster ride Cedar Point would be happy to have. All those ups and downs lead us to today where Cadillac is raising prices for the CT6 for the 2020 model year. Research the Cadillac CT6 on MSN Autos | Find a Cadillac CT6 near you According to Cars Direct , Cadillac is trimming trims and engines, but not price. The brand will offer three trim choices, down from seven: Luxury, Premium Luxury, and Platinum. Gone are the CT6's turbocharged 2.0- and 3.0-liter turbocharged engines leaving the 3.6-liter V6 and twin-turbocharged 4.2-liter V8 as the only two options. All three trims get a price bump; however, Cadillac is offering more content for the money. Cadillac Makes Changes To CT6: Cadillac CT6 Drops Another Engine, Only Two Left Cadillac CT6 Drops 2.0L Turbo Engine, Now Only Available As AWD The entry-level 2020 CT6 Luxury is $3,500 more expensive than the outgoing model because Cadillac is including the Driver Awareness & Convenience Package that adds automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, forward collision alert, and more. This makes the entry-level CT6 $8,500 more expensive than the cheapest 2019 model. The 2020 model will start at $59,990. The Premium Luxury trim sees the most substantial price jump   $11,900   going from $63,590 for 2019 to $75,490 in 2020. However, Cadillac packs it with a ton of new content that makes it $2,500 cheaper than a similarly-equipped 2019 model. The Premium Luxury trim receives Super Cruise, the Rear Seat Package, and the Comfort & Technology Package. The Rear Seat pack adds quad-zone climate control, dual USB ports, and rear seat infotainment screens. The other pack adds a 12.0-inch reconfigurable instrument cluster, automatic ventilated front seats, rear camera mirror, and more. Cadillac's Future: Cadillac V-Series To 'Go Out With A Bang' Before Switch To EVs 2021 Cadillac Escalade Reportedly Has 'Huge' Touchscreen The CT6 Platinum, with the twin-turbo 4.2-liter Blackwing V8, will get a $700 price jump to $97,490. Cadillac makes the once optional $700 20-inch Platinum-grade wheels for 2019 not so optional for 2020. Research the Cadillac CT6 on MSN Autos | Find a Cadillac CT6 near you Cadillac reshuffling the CT6 makes sense for a sedan with an uncertain future. Fewer options should make manufacturing cheaper as GM figures our what to do with the CT6 and the Cadillac brand going forward. The CT6 might not be around much longer; however, Cadillac is doing its best to give customers the greatest value possible   even if it's more expensive than last year.


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 New York City bars to watch the NBA Playoffs, average daily revenue at local pubs is $1,167 on days when games are played, a 1.5% 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 2.68% increase in transaction volume and a 0.95% decrease in purchase price. At local restaurants in New York City, average daily revenue is $1,438 during the NBA Playoffs on days when games are played, a 4.14% 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 3.25% increase in transaction volume and a 0.68% increase 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. Stan's Sports Bar Topping the list is Stan's Sports Bar . Located at 836 River Ave. in Concourse Village, the sports bar is the highest rated sports bar in New York City, boasting four stars out of 130 reviews on Yelp. 2. Bar-Coastal Next up is the Upper East Side's Bar-Coastal NYC , situated at 1495 First Ave. With four stars out of 268 reviews on Yelp, the sports bar has proven to be a local favorite. 3. East End Bar & Grill The Upper East Side's East End Bar & Grill , located at 1664 First Ave. (between 86th and 87th streets), is another top choice, with Yelpers giving the sports bar four stars out of 165 reviews. 4. The Horse Box Over in the East Village, check out The Horse Box , which has earned four stars out of 95 reviews on Yelp. You can find the sports bar at 218 Ave. A. 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.


The operator of a San Francisco art gallery who is suspected of dousing a homeless woman with water has posted what appears to be a defiant confession on social media. The June 22 incident in the Mission District has sparked local outrage and led to a police investigation. A post from the Facebook account of Don Soker   his actual name   casts the incident as his exasperated attempt to get a hostile transient to move farther from the entrance to his business. A widely circulated 10-second clip shows a bald, older man dumping a bucket of water from the roof of a two-story brick building onto a tent and assorted belongings about six feet from a wooden door. It's not clear whether a homeless person is among the belongings or standing nearby. "I was told by a visitor to my business that she was harassed by the woman camping directly next to the building door," Soker's post states. "When I asked her to move I was roundly cursed. Forget calling police or 311 so what's so bad about a cold shower on a hot day? "Also I have never done this before and she simply moved down to the next building," he added. Soker did not respond to an email or phone call from The Times, but KPIX-TV reported Soker had denied involvement when the San Francisco station interviewed him two days earlier. "I don't know who it was," the station quoted Soker as saying. "Probably it was some people from the place next door who were doing some work on the roof … because they also had access to it." At the time, KPIX-TV agreed to Soker's request not to be identified, but unfolding developments prompted the station to disclose his identity. The landlord of the property and a maintenance person told the station that no work was underway on the roof at the time of the incident. Soker responded briefly by text to an inquiry from a writer for the San Francisco Examiner. "Sorry but this thing has gotten completely out of hand and I'm not going to contribute to any more political correct bs," Soker reportedly messaged the writer. Soker is a longtime figure in the local arts scene, having operated a gallery for more than 40 years. Exhibitions at Don Soker Contemporary Art frequently appear in cultural listings, and the quality of the displays has generated positive write-ups for the artists with whom he works. On his Facebook page, Soker notes that he is married, from Toledo, Ohio, and studied at Sonoma State and at Miami University. On his page, there appears to be no acknowledgment of the dousing   the posts relate to art events, striking images and observations, for which he typically receives positive feedback. But now critics of his alleged actions have started to fill up the timeline. His apparent disclosure was a response in a thread on the page of Spike Kahn, who identifies herself as the founder and director of Pacific Felt Factory arts center. In a Thursday Facebook post, Kahn directly accused Soker, an accusation that resulted in condemnations of Soker by other commenters. When Soker apparently responded, he first took on Kahn: "Not to put too fine a point on Kahn's oligarchic sins of omission on reverse gentrification but the complainants and she live in expensive buildings with security that prevents homeless encampment." He then explained his actions, which prompted furious responses. Local news reported that the Coalition on Homelessness demanded an apology and more. "Mr. Soker not only needs to give a public apology but also should pay damages to the women he terrorized with water buckets," said Jennifer Friedenbach, director of the coalition. "Having yourself and your gear soaked with water when you don't have a home to get warm and dry is no joke." Soker   or someone posting from his page   responded twice more Friday evening: "Look out this is just what is needed. A confrontation between the former liberal, now socially accepted wealthy gentrificated locals and against those locals who were unable to achieve such a level of hypocrisy." Soon after, there's a post from Soker downplaying the seriousness of the incident: "It was on the tent if you watch the video." howard.blume@latimes.com @howardblume


CHICAGO   A snapshot of the Bears' kicking competition Wednesday was a familiar picture of a team still deep in its search for a reliable one. During practice at Halas Hall, coach Matt Nagy concocted late-game situational team drills that concluded with a game-winning field-goal attempt from 40-45 yards for Eddy Pineiro, Elliott Fry and Chris Blewitt. Only Blewitt connected. Pineiro and Fry each missed after successful tries that didn't count. The defense iced them with a timeout   similar to the sequence that transpired with Cody Parkey in the playoff loss to the Eagles. The kickers are expected to meet with media Wednesday. Meanwhile, Nagy insisted his concern about the kicking search doesn't spike with specific misses. "There's a lot of time ahead of us," Nagy said. "A couple guys missed today, and there have been misses in the past. But if they're making every one, too, I can't say flip side that I'd be feeling (positive). You just don't know. This is something we've just got to all work together and talk through." Indeed, reporters glean only snapshots during practices that are open to media. At this stage of the offseason program, that equates to once per week, although the team practices three or four times per week. In other words, media don't see every situation on which this trio is being judged. And, to be clear, Pineiro and Fry connected on other attempts during practice Wednesday. All of that reinforces Nagy's point that the competition won't be decided on one practice. Or even this spring. Preseason games will determine whether the Bears have their kicker on the roster or must revert to searching outside the team. At this stage of the competition, the three kickers are aiming to earn an opportunity in preseason games. It would not be surprising if the Bears trimmed the competition to two before they report to Bourbonnais in late July, but Nagy on Wednesday left open the possibility of a more unconventional approach. "That's a very important position for us right now," he said. "So we're going to be delicate with it and make sure that whatever we do, we talk about it and we decide, 'OK, is this the best thing to do?' "If we need to bring three to camp, we'll bring three to camp. If it's two or if it's one, we're trying to just let this thing happen and keep creating situations. None of it is going to happen right away, so the time that we have with them we've got to use." Meanwhile, players on offense and defense are monitoring the competition, if not obsessing over it. It was a bit ironic Wednesday to see some defensive players celebrate the last-second misses. Those were instinctive cheers, after all, because the defense won those drills. But ultimately, the Bears need a kicker who makes those kicks under much more pressure than a May practice. "The best guy is going to win, and we're just out here supporting our teammates," quarterback Mitch Trubisky said. "So every time there's a play, we expect it to be a positive play; it's a kick, we expect it to be made. We're just pushing these guys and bringing them into our family, embracing it. "Once we take care of it, it won't even be a thing."     ©2019 Chicago Tribune Visit the Chicago Tribune at www.chicagotribune.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Related slideshow: The No. 1 pick the year you were born (provided by Yardbarker)


Some people like to get away on vacation, while others like to truly escape. if you count yourself among the latter, then you might want to book a plane ticket to Tanzania immediately. At the Manta Resort , a single hotel room is the ultimate treat for lovers of solitude and the sea. That's because here, your nearest neighbors are more than 800 feet away and your ocean views are, hands down, the best on the entire property. The resort's Underwater Room is a floating three-floor vessel anchored to the seafloor off the coast of Pemba Island. Guests who book the unconventional stay are whisked away by boat to their personal paradise, where they can bask in seclusion during their trip with little interaction other than a concierge stopping by to deliver gourmet meals and drinks as requested. Related: This Tiny Floating Home in the Florida Keys Is Our New Dream Rental: Quiet time on board can be spent on one of three decks, each with unique vantage points. The main landing deck includes an open-air lounge area and bath, while just above, a top-floor sundeck provides a place to catch rays by day and stargaze by night. If you can stop yourself from drifting off to sleep under the night sky, the room's bedroom lies on the bottom floor, 13 feet below sea level with views of marine life floating by. And because the room is located within a marine sanctuary, views out the bedroom's wraparound windows are never dull. A reef just below attracts schools of fish during the day, but nighttime is when the real curiosities come out. According to the website , guests just might be treated post-sunset to a glimpse of a squid passing through or an octopus or Spanish dancer attaching itself to the pod's glass panes. Ready to attach yourself to some new vacation plans? The Underwater Room is available to book for an all-inclusive rate of $1,700 per night with a three-night minimum. And if sleeping with the fishes is a little out of your comfort zone, you can also dine elsewhere around the world in a subaquatic restaurant or enjoy a massage in an underwater spa . Sign us up!


When you are the guy who follows the guy, it is easy to fail. You might think "the guy," in this case, is Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster. He is the one taking the title as the top target in the Steelers' passing offense with Antonio Brown gone. But no, we are talking about Diontae Johnson. The rookie is "the guy" because he was drafted with one of the picks the Steelers got for Brown and plays a very similar style of football. But have no fear because after one practice in pads, it seems he is destined for greatness. Yes, I'm being facetious but nevertheless, early returns have been overwhelmingly positive. All you need to do is go to Twitter and search his name to see the outpouring of positive feedback about Johnson. In particular, his route running has drawn rave reviews. Johnson's ability to get in and out of breaks without having to downshift and making quick cuts was one of the staples of his game in college. It's important to temper any enthusiasm. James Washington had a very strong training camp last year and disappeared during the regular season. Johnson is healthy for the first time since becoming a Steeler and in great shape. We will remain cautiously optimistic he will be ready to have an impact when the season starts. MORE: MLB Trade Deadline Rumors: Latest on Noah Syndergaard, Trevor Bauer, and More Trevor Bauer angrily fired a baseball over the centerfield wall before being pulled from game Heinz and Steelers could be parting ways Tom Brady disobeys Bill Belichick at practice, and suffers the consequences Peter King compares Eagles QB Carson Wentz to Tom Brady


The highway is closed between the Glen Rock and Shrewsbury interchanges, according to the fire company. Savannah Osgood Shawn Martin Carmelo Huertas Darius Mitchell Ryan Wendell Geneva Parker Jensey Curet Khalic Cross Alex Ackerman Shana Abbott Misty Redlich Daniel Adkins Jessica Baumann Justin Powell Damian Banks Cassandra Bazemore Leah Weidman Horace Duncan Ralph Killen Lonnie Wise Lonnie Wise Meghan Wise Meghan Wise Michael Pagan Michael Pagan Jr. Dequan Gaines Dequan Gaines Robert Coleman Robert Coleman Dom Lewandowski Dominic Lewandowski David Bittner David Bittner William Herd III William Herd Thomas Weckesser Thomas Weckesser Lucas Wright Lucas Wright Ryan Wood Ryan Wood Kevin Finnie Kevin Finnie Kevin Whitmire Kevin Whitmire Paul Witherspoon Paul Witherspoon Johnathan Faulk Johnathan Faulk Tiffany Garrison Tiffany Garrison Matthew Gisiner Matthew Gisiner Anthony Kintchen Anthony Kintchen Akil Hhogan Akil Hogan


Arsenal target Joachim Andersen has admitted 'it could be time' to seek a new challenge as his rumoured exit from Sampdoria grows increasingly likely. The Danish centre-half was one of the standout performers for the Serie A side last season, as they secured a top-half finish for the first time since 2015. A central defender is high on the list of priorities for Unai Emery, who saw his side concede four goals in the Europa League final and miss out on the Premier League top four for the third consecutive season. Andersen has been linked with a move to Arsenal , as well as north London rivals Tottenham , and in no uncertain terms told Goal that he is a wanted man across the continent - and that he is eager to seek new pastures. "It could be time for me to further my career," he said. "I have loved my time in Sampdoria   the fans, the president, the staff, the players, the city   but maybe it's time to move on to develop further. There are a number of interested clubs from Europe's biggest leagues who are discussing with my agent and I'll be making a decision shortly together with my family and my agent." While the former Twente defender expressed his desire to play at the top level, he did take time to thank his current employers for the contribution they had made to his career since joining the Serie A outfit in 2017. "It's very important to me that Sampdoria can also benefit from an eventual transfer. It's not all about me," he added. "I have so much to thank this great club for. Without Sampdoria, I wouldn't have had the opportunities I have had to this point."


Matt Millen underwent successful heart transplant surgery in December, after months of waiting as his health declined. Millen had to step away from his broadcasting duties last year for obvious reasons, and while he was able to call the Penn State spring game, his full return was still up in the air. Now we know that Millen will indeed return to his duties as an analyst for Big Ten Network alongside Kevin Kugler, starting with the opening week of the season. That's from Big Ten Network president Francois McGillicuddy at Big Ten media days in Chicago. Big Ten president Francois McGillicuddy announces great news Matt Millen will be back in the booth this fall with @kevinkugler Great to hear again   Eric Edholm (@Eric_Edholm) July 18, 2019 Hello from Big Ten Media Days in Chicago. Some good news to share: Matt Millen's recovery from a December heart transplant is ahead of schedule and he's expected to be back in the BTN booth Week 1 after calling Penn State's Blue-White game. pic.twitter.com/VbiMidg9R8   Greg Pickel (@GregPickel) July 18, 2019 McGillicuddy noted that Millen's recovery is ahead of schedule, too, via the Centre Daily Times : "In what is probably the best news of the day, we are extremely thankful to welcome Matt Millen back to the broadcast booth his fall," McGillicuddy said Thursday during Big Ten media days at the Hilton Chicago. "In typical Matt fashion, his recovery has been ahead of schedule," McGillicuddy added. "And he'll be ready to join his partner Kevin Kugler in the booth for Week 1. "He was able to join us for the Penn State spring game in April, and I can't tell you how thrilled our entire team was to see him back on his feet and talking football." This is obviously tremendous news. Hopefully Millen's recovery continues to progress as well as it has so far, and it'll be good to have him back on BTN. [ Centre Daily Times ] The post Matt Millen will return to Big Ten Network booth this season after successful heart transplant appeared first on Awful Announcing . Related slideshow: Ranking the 10 best college football mascots (provided by For The Win)


"We won't talk more, all we know is MONEY! Hurry up!" This was the ransom note that confronted Baltimore officials on 7 May when hackers crippled government computers with a virus, taking the systems hostage. The ongoing cyber-attack has halted real estate transactions and shut down websites for processing water bills and other services. The horrors of ransomware   where cybercriminals break in, lock up computer data, then demand payments to restore access   have increasingly hobbled cities and municipalities across the globe in recent years. The crisis in Baltimore, where officials have refused to pay the $76,000 bitcoin ransom, follows similar incidents in Atlanta , Newark , San Diego and Los Angeles . What terrifies me is if it happens on a large scale Jeff Kosseff, cybersecurity expert of US Naval Academy These cyber intrusions are expected to continue disrupting ill-prepared local governments and public services, with devastating financial impacts and potentially life-threatening consequences, experts warned. Any agency that depends on digitized records could be at risk, including emergency services, water utilities and other infrastructure, healthcare services, voting systems and public education. "We have an exponentially increasing problem," said Katie Moussouris, founder and CEO of Luta Security, which helps businesses and governments work with hackers to identify vulnerabilities. "We don't have an exponentially increasing workforce. If we don't see cities and towns … start pouring a bunch of resources into hiring more people, we are going to see it happening over and over again." Stolen National Security Agency tool The mess in Baltimore has attracted particularly intense international scrutiny following a New York Times report suggesting the cybercriminals used a malware component that originated with the National Security Agency (NSA). The NSA allegedly lost control of the tool, called EternalBlue, in 2017, enabling hackers to paralyze vulnerable towns and cities across the country. Security experts hope Baltimore's ongoing crisis motivates municipalities to take these threats seriously. Baltimore leaders have estimated that the attack could cost at least $18.2m, from lost and delayed revenue and costs to restore infected systems. The mayor, Bernard "Jack" Young, has said the city would not pay the ransom, though at one point , he hinted he was was considering paying it to "move the city forward". City agencies are especially ripe targets because they often maintain databases of vital and sensitive information while having constrained information security budgets and inadequate technological safeguards. "Municipal governments and hospitals … just don't have the top cybersecurity out there, and the criminals know this," said Jeff Kosseff, assistant professor of cybersecurity law at the US Naval Academy. "You can see loss of life happening if the hospitals are not able to function … What terrifies me is if it happens on a large scale." Disruptions to the functioning of ambulances, rescue squads, fire stations, waste collection and other services could all have serious human consequences, he said. When a massive cyber-attack hit the state of Colorado last year, the first step was to shut down 2,000 infected government workstations. The next task was more complicated: figure out if people's lives were in danger. "That day one was brutal," said Deborah Blyth, Colorado's chief information security officer, recounting the ransomware that afflicted the state transportation department and quickly sparked fears of harmful disruptions to traffic operations: "Right away, it was impossible to even understand the scope." 'Some victims decide paying out is cheapest option' In the coming years, cybercriminals will just repeat their attempts across governments until they find one that is vulnerable, said Tyler Moore, a University of Tulsa cybersecurity professor. "Attackers have found a playbook that is working." It's a playbook that remains profitable. That's because some victims choose to pay, despite ethical concerns about capitulating to ransom demands and despite the fact that there's no guarantee of restored access. In some cases, paying bitcoins may be a cheaper and quicker resolution. One report suggested that cyber-attackers have collected millions in ransom in recent years. Even if major cities view Baltimore as a wake-up call and adopt reforms, "It wouldn't shock me to see smaller cities roll the dice," said Hannah Quay-de la Vallee, senior technologist with the Center for Democracy and Technology. She said she was also concerned about educational institutions that have major budget challenges and systems with crucial personal data, such as students' medical information and allergies and individual special needs plans. The frustrating reality for information security leaders is that the technical solutions are known and easy to implement, if there is funding: cities have to update their systems with available security patches and maintain effective data backups . Without patches, hackers can break in and demand money, and if officials don't have the data stored elsewhere, they have to choose between paying ransom or rebuilding systems. "Those who are unwilling to pay the price to upgrade systems and people … are going to pay the price one way or the other," said Alan R Shark, executive director of Public Technology Institute, which provides consulting services to governments. Baltimore made the right decision refusing to pay, but the crisis could drag on for months as a result, said Avi Rubin, a Johns Hopkins computer science professor. "They don't have a lot of the data … They are going to face a real challenge building up all the systems organically from scratch." In the Colorado attack, the malware hit the transportation department's business services, but ultimately did not spread to road and traffic operations. Thousands of workers were, however, forced offline , which meant the state had to communicate with employees by leaving printed handouts on their desks and scheduling conference calls, said Blyth. The state eventually brought in the national guard to help. Colorado has since adopted a range of new practices to prevent future attacks, said Blyth, adding that officials have thought through worst-case scenarios: disruptions to healthcare, prisons, emergency communications, traffic safety, fire departments. "What if it was a broader impact   affecting multiple of those services at once?" she added. Despite the challenges, Blyth remained confident that refusing the attackers' demands was the right call. "We would not even think about paying the ransom. We didn't want to contribute to what we knew was criminal behavior." Follow Guardian Cities on Twitter , Facebook and Instagram to join the discussion, catch up on our best stories or sign up for our weekly newsletter


Apartment hunting on a budget can be difficult. So what does the low-end rent on a rental in Business District look like these days   and what might you get for the price? According to Walk Score's assessment, the neighborhood is somewhat walkable, is fairly bikeable and has a few nearby public transportation options. It also features median rents for a one bedroom that hover around $1,950, compared to a $1,917 one-bedroom median for Irvine as a whole. A look at local listings for studios and one-bedroom apartments in Business District via rental sites Zumper and Apartment Guide paints a picture of what budget-minded apartment seekers can expect to find in this Irvine neighborhood. Read on for the cheapest listings available right now. (Note: prices and availability are subject to change.) Hoodline offers data-driven analysis of local happenings and trends across cities. Links included in this article may earn Hoodline a commission on clicks and transactions. 35 Via Lucca Here's a studio apartment at 35 Via Lucca, which, at 525 square feet, is going for $1,891/month. The unit comes with a walk-in closet, a balcony and a dishwasher. The building provides a package service and a swimming pool. For those with furry friends in tow, know that cats and dogs are allowed on this property. The rental doesn't require a leasing fee. (See the full listing here .) 2552 Kelvin Ave. Next, there's this 719-square-foot living space with one bedroom and one bathroom at 2552 Kelvin Ave., listed at $1,879/month. In the unit, expect to find a dishwasher, a fireplace, carpeted floors and in-unit laundry. Amenities offered at the building include a residents lounge and outdoor space. Good news for pet lovers: dogs and cats are welcome, albeit with a $500 pet deposit. The rental doesn't require a leasing fee. (See the listing here .) 3395 Michelson Drive Finally, check out this 640-square-foot studio apartment at 3395 Michelson Drive, listed at $1,945/month. The building features gated access and a fitness center. Inside the dwelling, you'll find a walk-in closet, hardwood flooring and in-unit laundry. Pets are welcome. But, be prepared for a $750 pet deposit for dogs and a $300 pet deposit for cats. (Here's the listing .) This story was created automatically using local real estate data from Zumper and Apartment Guide , then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


If Chad Kelly ends up making the Colts ' roster this year, he's going to have sit out the first two weeks of the season. The NFL announced on Friday that Kelly has been suspended two games for violating the league's personal conduct policy. Kelly's suspension stems from an incident in October when he was arrested in Denver on suspicion of first-degree trespassing. The bizarre incident took place on the same night that Kelly had attended Von Miller's Halloween party. According to a police report from the arrest, Kelly stumbled into the house of someone he didn't know and proceeded to sit on their couch, which was especially alarming to the people living there, because they were also sitting on the couch. Kelly, who was dressed as a Cowboy, was also mumbling "incoherently." Kelly eventually left the house when one of the residents started hitting him with an aluminum vacuum tube. At the time of his arrest, Kelly was playing for the Broncos , but the team decided to cut him less than 24 hours after he was charged. The case was eventually closed in March when Kelly decided to plead guilty to one misdemeanor charge of second-degree criminal trespassing. After the arrest, Kelly had a tough time finding NFL work, but he did eventually find a job on May 20 when the Colts decided to sign him . Kelly actually has a connection with the Colts, which might have had to do with the team's decision to sign him. Kelly's uncle is Pro Football Hall of Famer Jim Kelly, and during his career in Buffalo, Jim Kelly spent nine seasons (1986-94) as a teammate of Colts coach Frank Reich. The younger Kelly has had some serious off-the-field troubles dating back to college and he seems to realize that he might not get many more chances if he doesn't make things work in Indy. "At the end of the day, you have to put in enough work for [the Colts] to trust you ," Chad Kelly said earlier this week, via ESPN.com. "It's going to take some time, of course, because there's been things that have happened in the past. But I'm up for the challenge to prove to these guys that I'm dedicated to this." The 25-year-old seems to have finally realized that he's going to have to make some changes in his life if he wants to succeed in the NFL. "In order to change your ways, you have to cut some things out," Kelly said. "You can't be hanging around the same people. You can't be doing the things that you thought you could get away with. I'm thankful for this opportunity, but I know in order to gain the trust of others, I have to show over time that this is who I am. This is who I truly am." The former "Mr. Irrelevant" has been in the NFL since 2017 when he was selected with the 253rd and final pick in the NFL Draft. After spending his rookie year on injured reserve, Kelly returned in 2018 and played exactly one snap for the Broncos before being released in October, and he's a long shot to make the Colts roster. The Colts only carried two active quarterbacks in 2018 -- Andrew Luck and Jacoby Brissett -- which means Kelly will likely be competing with Phillip Walker for the third spot. Walker has been with the Colts since 2017, and has spent each of the past two season's on Indy's practice squad.


Winning a Super Bowl requires great coaching, a talented roster and strong work ethic. The Los Angeles Rams showed last season that they possess all three, making it all the way to Super Bowl LIII where they came up just short against the Patriots. Entering 2019, they still have Sean McVay at the helm, a deep roster and the drive to get even better, once again making them championship contenders. But how does their overall talent compare to other teams in the NFL? Gil Brandt of NFL Media recently ranked the 10 most talented teams in football and not surprisingly, the Rams made the list. It would've been criminal to leave them out of the top 10, but Brandt is confident enough to put them in the top five. He ranked the Rams fourth behind only the Eagles, Cowboys and Bears - all NFC contenders who the Rams will likely have to beat to win it all. Here's part of what Brandt had to say about the Rams: Arguably no team in the NFL has better long-term personnel vision than the Rams . As an example: Seeing that the 2019 draft and free-agent classes would be light in receiver and cornerback prospects, they moved aggressively on the trade market in 2018, acquiring receiver Brandin Cooks and cornerbacks Aqib Talib and Marcus Peters . Using trades rather than free agency to address these needs also allowed L.A. to collect extra compensatory picks this year. Of course, the Rams have done well in the draft (the collection of homegrown talent includes Aaron Donald , Todd Gurley , Jared Goff , Cooper Kupp , Rob Havenstein , Joseph Noteboom , Brian Allen and Michael Brockers) and in free agency (the signings of left tackle Andrew Whitworth and receiver Robert Woods couldn't have gone much better than they did). Brandt also complimented Snead for the work he's done building the roster and working in harmony with his coaches. He likes the cap-savvy moves Los Angeles made to part ways with Alec Ogletree and Mark Barron, while also adding affordable veterans such as Eric Weddle and Clay Matthews. Behind the Rams on the list are the Patriots (No. 5), Chiefs (No. 7) and the Saints (No. 8). Many view the Saints as the top team in the conference, boasting a wealth of talent on offense and defense, as well as a future Hall of Fame quarterback. MORE: The NBA should be embarrassed about all the wrong hats being worn at the draft The 2019 NBA draft pick by pick Roundup: Toy Story 4 Worth the Wait; Slack is Back, Lil Nas X Here to Stay For the Win sends RB Leonard Fournette to Chiefs in blockbuster trade scenario Nat Berhe still has love for the Giants


Canton, Ohio added several busts to their collection earlier this month as they inducted a new group of Hall of Famers into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The Miami Dolphins have added a new bust of their own to a totally different kind of collection. The Dolphins announced this morning that they've come to terms and signed former first-round draft pick Robert Nkemdiche. Nkemdiche was cut recently by the Arizona Cardinals, just three years after the organization used a top-30 pick (29th overall) on the athletic defensive lineman. And while it wasn't necessarily the biggest surprise when Nkemdiche got his pro career off to a slow start, he never materialized in the way the Cardinals had hoped. Instead, it took Nkemdiche two and a half years to find any traction at all. And while his run in 2018 was promising - he had 4.5 sacks and 22 run stuffs in 10 games (6 starts) and 426 snaps - it wasn't enough to keep the Cardinals invested after an ACL tear cost Nkemdiche the end of his 2018 season and put him behind for 2019. Former first-round pick gets a fresh start in Miami. Nkemdiche has logged only 760 total snaps, 22 pressures, and 27 defensive stops (22 in 2018) across three seasons in the NFL. https://t.co/T7CKH0Shpm - PFF (@PFF) August 8, 2019 Nkemdiche comes to the Dolphins as an athletic marvel whose resume is littered with red flags. He entered camp out of shape this summer, which could be understanding considering his rehab - but he's had several brushes with the law too, including an arrest on June 6 of this year after being pulled over with an active traffic warrant against his name. Consider this Nkemdiche's second chance. The Dolphins have willingly handed out several of them in hopes that their team culture and locker room environment can keep players on the straight and narrow while the staff adds to their technique and performance on the field. Nkemdiche will start the preseason on the active Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list, meaning the Dolphins can activate him at any time. MORE: A furious Chris Davis had to be held back from Orioles manager Brandon Hyde Where did Jakobi Meyers come from? 6 quick takeaways from Packers' joint practices with Texans Eagles land at No. 32 in ranking of best talent under age 25 in NFL Roundup: Bella Hadid and The Weeknd Appear to Split Again, Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame Class


The 2019 fate of one of Tennessee's two Power Five additions this offseason, while the SEC school awaits a decision on the other. When Deangelo Gibbs left Georgia for Tennessee in January of this year , it was widely thought that the highly-touted 2017 signee would be forced to sit out the 2019 campaign to satisfy NCAA transfer rules. Thursday, after exhausting the appeals process, UT confirmed that Gibbs will be forced to sit out the upcoming season as the NCAA denied a waiver that would've granted the player immediate eligibility. "Deangelo knew that [having to sit out the 2019 season was a very real possibility] when he came here, and he [still] came here, because he believed in the coaching staff and his future development," head coach Jeremy Pruitt said according to the Knoxville News Sentinel . A four-star member of UGA's 2017 recruiting class, Gibbs was rated as the No. 4 safety in the country; the No. 6 player at any position in the state of Georgia; and the No. 49 recruit overall on 247Sports.com 's composite board. After playing in six games as a true freshman, Gibbs missed most of the last half of the 2017 regular season as well as UGA's run to the national championship game because of unspecified issues. He also didn't participate in spring practice last year as he wasn't enrolled in classes, although he returned to the university in mid-May and enrolled in summer classes . This past season, Gibbs, the cousin of current Vols safety Nigel Warrior, played in seven games for the Bulldogs. During spring practice this year, Gibbs split time between the defensive secondary and wide receiver. According to Pruitt, his football staff will use this season to determine on which side of the ball Gibbs will line up next year. As for the other Power Five transfer, Aubrey Solomon, Gibbs stated that the program is still awaiting a decision on an eligibility waiver. Not long after transferring from Michigan , the defensive lineman landed at Tennessee in late December of last year. Related slideshow: Coaches preseason Top 25 poll (provided by USA Today Sports)


WARNER SPRINGS, Calif.   A couple missing for two weeks were found Sunday in a remote part of San Diego County with the elderly husband dead and his wife severely dehydrated, after surviving on just rain water and some food, authorities said. Cecil Knutson, 79, Dianna Bedwell, 68, were found near a Boy Scouts camp on the Los Coyotes Indian Reservation near Warner Springs, sheriff's Lt. Ken Nelson said. Knutson's body was near a white car and Bedwell was inside the vehicle, he said. They were last seen leaving the Valley View Casino in Valley Center, about 25 miles west of the wilderness camp, on May 10. Authorities said the two were planning on going to their son's home in the Palm Springs area for a Mother's Day dinner but they didn't show up there or return to their home in Orange County. They were driving a 2014 White Hyundai Sonata when they visited the casino. Bedwell, who was airlifted to a hospital in serious condition, told investigators they were looking for a shortcut when they got lost and stuck on a rugged road, Nelson said. Their disappearance led to several ground and aerial searches of the back country. On Sunday afternoon, several people in off-road vehicles found the couple. Bedwell said she survived on rain water and some food that was in the car. Nelson said investigators had a "very limited" conversation with Bedwell, and weren't able to ask how or when Knutson died. The two were apparently diabetic, he said. "It would be difficult for someone in good health to survive being in the wild for that long, let alone someone like her," Nelson said. "It's close to a miracle that she survived." Knutson and Bedwell were both retired school bus drivers and were married for more than 25 years, the Orange County Register reported. ___ Information from: The San Diego Union-Tribune, http://www.utsandiego.com


Shawn Harris has not returned to Mount Vernon police headquarters since his arrest there last week. But that doesn't mean he's not working as police commissioner. In a pair of letters Wednesday, Harris directed Chief Richton Ziadie to strip Richard Thomas of his mayoral security detail and remove the two officers posted outside the mayor's office during the ongoing stalemate between Thomas and Andre Wallace over who is mayor. He also ordered a crackdown on police overtime and threatened Ziadie with disciplinary action, including possible dismissal, if the chief did not follow Harris' directives. PORCARI: Mount Vernon city counsel indicted THOMAS: Mount Vernon mayor Richard Thomas pleads guilty MOUNT VERNON: All the Mount Vernon news you need Police officials, led by Ziadie, have refused to recognize Harris' authority since he was appointed by Wallace and sworn in as commissioner on July 15. Harris was not allowed into headquarters that evening. And when he tried to get into the commissioner's office the following morning, he was arrested on a felony trespass charge and held for more than nine hours. The District Attorney's Office is still weighing whether to file any criminal charge against Harris. Conducting business at the diner Meanwhile, he is staying away from headquarters on his lawyer's advice, holding meetings with Wallace in the city council office or sometimes at a diner in Fleetwood. Wallace, the city council president, was sworn in as acting mayor on July 10. The council had determined that Thomas forfeited the mayor's job two days earlier when he pleaded guilty to misdemeanors related to his misuse of campaign funds in 2015. ARREST: New police commissioner taken into custody TIMELINE: Who exactly is mayor of Mount Vernon? But Thomas has ignored a council resolution ordering him to vacate the mayor's office and he has retained control of that office with the help of the police guards outside. He insists he is still mayor by virtue of the fact that his plea agreement with state prosecutors called for him to resign but not until Sept. 30. He had no control over a second council resolution, which called for Comptroller Deborah Reynolds to stop paying Thomas' salary. Thomas got his paycheck last week, but it only covered up to the day Wallace was sworn in and Reynolds said he will not be paid again. Neither Ziadie nor Thomas' spokesman, Lou Migliore, returned messages seeking comment. Wallace sent Migliore a letter yesterday suspending him as the city's water commissioner. Thomas' police commissioner, Robert Scott, has been unavailable but Wallace said he has been returned to his former rank of lieutenant. Ziadie did write to Gov. Andrew Cuomo this week bemoaning the confusion in City Hall and seeking his "guidance and assistance in restoring order to our government." "I now find myself in the predicament where two individuals claim to assert lawful authority as mayor and are acting at odds with each other," he wrote. "No police department can properly operate under these conditions and I cannot allow public safety services to be hampered or disrupted in any way." He cites a section of the charter that Thomas relies on to mean that only the governor can remove a mayor. But he also misinterprets another section to mean an acting mayor cannot make appointments or terminate anyone for 60 days. That section clearly sets that timeframe for instances when the mayor is absent or disabled, but not in the event of a vacancy like the council believes occurred. Harris' two orders Harris ran the police department for nearly three years, first as acting commissioner and for 14 months as commissioner, before Thomas dismissed him four months ago. He was notified of the dismissal on March 15, the same day he wrote a letter to Corporation Counsel Lawrence Porcari complaining that the deputy commissioner, who Harris had dismissed the previous month, Joseph Spiezio, was still in possession of department IDs and a badge and driving around in a city-owned SUV. Thomas claimed he dismissed Harris two days earlier. He insists it resulted from policy disagreements and had nothing to do with Harris' dismissal of Spiezio, a businessman with no law enforcement experience who was a key campaign adviser to Thomas. One letter from Harris to Ziadie directed the chief to end the security detail for Thomas and provide it for Wallace instead. The mayoral detail includes two detectives and a pair of city SUVs. "As a courtesy, you shall notify former Mayor Richard Thomas that he will no longer be provided the protective services of the Mount Vernon Police Department," Harris wrote. The other letter cited records from the comptroller that the police department has already depleted its budgeted overtime for the entire year by more than 150%. Harris directed Ziadie to come up with a recommendation for reducing overtime by Friday. Harris ordered that all non-emergency overtime must be approved by him; no special event requiring a city permit will be approved until payment is made for police coverage; and all payroll forms must be reviewed and approved by him before they are submitted to the comptroller. He said one example of unnecessary overtime was the deployment of the two officers outside the mayor's office, a practice which began on July 11 and has continued for 16 hours a day ever since. Harris said the one officer the department has always kept at the main entrance to City Hall is sufficient for "access control and a safe environment" for those who work at and visit the building. "Providing an additional two uniformed personnel to sit outside the Mayor's Office is a waste of manpower which can be utilized more efficiently for public safety," he wrote. "Therefore I am directing you to end the assignment of police personnel "sitting" outside the Mayor's Office effective immediately." Twitter: @jonbandler This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Police commissioner Shawn Harris orders end to Thomas mayoral security


Fully restored, and Chevy 350 powered, this classic SUV begs to be driven. I'm a huge fan of Chevrolet's K5 Blazer, but clean examples are becoming harder and harder to find. Luckily, this 1971 Chevy K5 Blazer received a nut-and-bolt rotisserie restoration, making it one of the cleanest examples of a K5 on the market. Dirt Road USA of Laguna Hills, California offers this Blazer for sale. The specialty shop mainly deals in on off-road vehicles, but K5 Blazers are its specialty, which absolutely makes this Chevy even more enticing of a deal. As stated earlier, this truck received a thorough restoration, and it shows. The "Medium Blue" exterior paint color is bright and the paintwork was professionally done, while all of the body panels and gaps are flawless. The white top and exterior chrome are new, and the top features new hardware, which is very hard to find. Last but not least, even the undercarriage received attention, with a black paint finish that replicates how this Chevy left the factory. The lovely blue theme continues to the interior, where the seller mentions that things are in concours quality condition. After looking through the photos, I'm inclined to agree   the blue vinyl seats and carpet are nearly flawless, as is the center console. Additionally, this K5 features the factory radio system, and a handful of other convenience features, such as power disc brakes, locking front wheel hubs, power steering, and a rear seat. Under the hood, you'll find a 350 cubic-inch V8 engine, which was the largest powerplant offered on the first-generation K5. The engine pairs to an automatic transmission and a 4-wheel-drive system, with the seller noting that the truck runs and drives as if it is new. This K5 is practically new, and when considering that the modern-day Blazer is a unibody crossover, it makes this restored 4x4 even sweeter. Could you see yourself driving around in this blue Blazer? Read More... - Orange Off-Roader: 1972 Chevy K5 Blazer - 1972 Chevrolet K5 Blazer Is A Perfect Resto-Mod Off-Roader


During his first two months as Ukraine's leader, former comedian Volodymyr Zelensky has not yet done anything that would affect ordinary lives, but has completely changed the style of the country's presidency. The 41-year-old has played a twofold game, underlining that he is a man of the people while attacking the traditional political class that he has denounced as corrupt. Here is a recap of his most unusual moves as president ahead of Sunday's elections when Ukrainians will elect a new parliament. - Kisses and selfies - During his inauguration on May 20, Zelensky arrived at Ukraine's parliament from his nearby home by foot. He gave high-fives to people who lined the streets of Kiev, and even jumped up to kiss a friend on his forehead. During his inaugural speech, he announced the dissolution of parliament and early elections which are to be held on Sunday. He also called on officials not to hang his photographs in their offices. "The president is not an icon, he is not an idol," he said. "Hang photographs of your children and look them in the eye when you make your decisions." - Informal dress code - Unlike previous Ukrainian presidents who wore formal suits, Zelensky often appears at meetings without a tie and sometimes without a jacket -- even when it comes to high-ranking foreign guests. During a meeting with German and French foreign ministers in May he appeared in a dark shirt with rolled-up sleeves. Zelensky wore a blue shirt under a bulletproof vest during his first visit to the frontline in eastern Ukraine, where Kiev is fighting pro-Russia separatists, in contrast to his predecessor Petro Poroshenko who always wore a military uniform when visiting the war zone. - Running through a fountain - During a recent visit to Mariupol, Zelensky surprised crowds by running through a park fountain with children in the summer heat. He did so in front of surprised residents, then jumped into a car and drove away. - Relocating presidential offices - In June, Zelensky announced a controversial plan to move the presidential administration from a hulking Soviet-era building in central Kiev to a multifunctional complex that holds exhibitions and forums. The president has told AFP that he was "very uncomfortable" in the building where all Ukrainian presidents previously worked and once said that a terminal inside Kiev's Boryspil airport would be a good place for his office. - Cancelling military parades - This month Zelensky made a surprise decision to cancel the Independence Day military parade planned for August -- one of the country's key events since the beginning of a war with Russia-backed separatists in the east that has claimed around 13,000 lives. Instead he promised to allocate 300 million hryvnia (more than 10 million euros) as awards to Ukrainian soldiers. - Shouting at officials - The new president is already known for publicly bashing bureaucrats. During a meeting in mid-July he shouted at an official in a crowded room after finding out about his "criminal past" on the internet. "Get out of here, you bandit," Zelensky shouted. More recently he asked an official: "Why do you treat people like cattle?" and made him publicly promise to resign. Analyst Volodymyr Fesenko believes that the president's behaviour is popular among voters and has contributed to his rising approval ratings. - Tesla instead of a bike - As a comedian, Zelensky played a fictional president in the TV series "Servant of the people" in which he rides a bike to work. As a candidate, he constantly criticised government officials for their expensive cars and motorcades. But soon after his inauguration Zelensky acknowledged that he cannot ride a bike to work for security reasons. "What do you mean? I will be shot dead," he told a group of journalists including AFP. Zelensky has also posted a video in which he addresses Ukrainians while driving a Tesla. He continues to use the presidential plane, though he promised to take regular flights.