The company that makes the annual Best Colleges rankings said that the University of Oklahoma gave "inflated" data on its alumni giving rates for two decades. U.S. News & World Report, which produces the coveted Best Colleges rankings, said Oklahoma would be listed as unranked in its 2019 edition because of the false data, which stretched back to 1999. For the 2019 Best Colleges rankings, the university originally said its two-year alumni giving rate was 14% but later informed U.S. News that the correct number is 9.7%, the magazine said. The false data affected Oklahoma's placement in the national universities, best value schools, top public schools, best colleges for veterans and A-plus schools for B students rankings and lists, U.S. News said. The rankings are based largely on data provided by the universities, such as graduation rates, class sizes and standardized test scores of students. Alumni giving rates make up 5% of the rankings formula because "giving measures student satisfaction and post-graduate engagement," U.S. News writes in its methodology . Last year, the University of Oklahoma was ranked 97th in the Best Colleges survey, and the school touted that placement as the first time it had been ranked among the top 100 universities and colleges. "This recognition marks a truly historic moment for the university," then-President David Boren said at the time. In a statement, OU said that it discovered the "misreporting of donations" in 2018 and provided the updated information to U.S. News immediately afterward. "We appreciate the work of U.S. News and World Report and continue to have pride in the top rankings of several of our programs including our Masters of Business Administration, online bachelor's and graduate programs, specifically in Criminal Justice, Nursing and programs for veterans," said Joseph Harroz Jr., the interim OU President. "Rest assured, our University has learned from this occurrence and is working toward the goal of achieving future rankings for 2020 and beyond that reflect OU's excellence and academic success." Oklahoma is not alone in this type of data issue. Last year, U.S. News said that the Fox School of Business at Temple University had "significantly overstated" the number of new entrants to the 2016-2017 class who submitted GMAT scores, which resulted in it receiving a higher ranking. The Best Colleges rankings have long been criticized by higher education experts. Stephen Joel Trachtenberg, former president of George Washington University, has called them a "racket" and said schools feel pressure to game the rankings. "Just as athletes use steroids and gambling happens at Rick's, colleges and universities succumb to their own set of pressures, including the desire to be on top in the rankings," he wrote in a 2012 opinion piece for CNN. The announcement of the false data comes amid a rocky transition for the University of Oklahoma's leadership. Boren, who had led the school since 1994, retired last year amid an investigation into sexual harassment claims, CNN affiliate KOCO reported . His replacement, James Gallogly, retired May 12, and the university named Harroz, dean of its College of Law, as interim president last week. Lauren Brookey, the school's vice president of marketing and communications, said the university has retained the law firm Jones Day to conduct an independent investigation into the Boren allegations.


The Cincinnati Bengals turned some heads with fans when first-round pick Jonah Williams lined up at left tackle to start rookie minicamp. Fans should expect more of the same when OTAs begin Monday. The Bengals have been adamant since the draft that additions like Williams give them a chance to put their best five on the field. They won't figure out what that lineup exactly is unless they experiment in May. "We have the flexibility to give us the five best players where ever they fit. It's going to be really hard to know that until we put pads on. The pads are always the great equalizer," offensive coordinator Brian Callahan said, according to Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com. "Monday is not a foreshadowing of week one in September. We're going to mess with a bunch of different combinations. Where we start on Monday could very well be where we start come September. It could very well not. A lot of football between now and then." Williams at left tackle caused some noise because the spot normally belongs to Cordy Glenn, the guy the Bengals traded for last year to fix that exact spot. But things change quickly in the NFL. If Williams ends up doing well enough to nail down a starting role, Glenn will have to shift to a guard spot or perhaps right tackle. With all 91 players in town starting Monday, it will still be interesting to see who lines up where and how they perform, especially with a free agent like John Miller and a promising rookie like guard Michael Jordan also in the mix. Callahan is right though - May is May and pads don't go on until August. MORE: NCSA: Five common recruiting myths This photo of Kyler Murray led to more speculation about his height Patriots will prove Super Bowl LIII shutdown defense was no fluke NBA Free Agency 2019: The top players Phil Simms: Daniel Jones 'fits what Pat Shurmur wants'


A temporary annex office of the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration in Columbia will provide hundreds of appointments per day for drivers who need to update their documents with the state to comply with the federal REAL ID law, officials announced Monday. Part of a large-scale effort to assist millions of drivers through the process of submitting the required documents to the agency , the Columbia Annex is the second temporary space the agency has opened. It has also hired additional employees and extended hours at many of its locations. The 3,200-square-foot annex, a few doors down from the Columbia MVA branch at 6490 Dobbin Road, has created 20 new jobs and adds 11 customer-service stations, according to the MVA. It will be open for appointments only until May 2020, the MVA said. The hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays except Thursday, when the office is open until 6:30 p.m. The offices are open 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays, for driver's license services only, including REAL ID compliance. MVA Administrator Chrissy Nizer said her agency is focused on its customers and "innovative ways to make their experience simple and efficient." You might need to update your Maryland driver's license soon. Here's why, and what you need to do. » "I encourage citizens to look up your REAL ID status , and if necessary, collect your documents and make an appointment to come see us in Columbia or a branch nearest to you   we'll see you within 15 minutes, guaranteed," she said in a statement. What's required? One proof of age and identity , such as an original or certified copy of your U.S. birth certificate or a valid, unexpired U.S. passport. (If your current legal name is different from what is listed on these documents, you will also need to provide a government-issued marriage certificate, divorce decree or other court document(s) to explain the name change.) One proof of Social Security , such as an original Social Security card, W-2 form or SSA-1099 (displaying your name and entire Social Security number). Two proofs of Maryland residency , such as an insurance card, vehicle registration, credit card bill, utility bill, bank statement, or mail from a federal, state or local government agency. (They must display your name and Maryland residential address, and be from two separate organizations.) The federal REAL ID law , passed in 2005, set federal security standards for identification, such as driver's licenses. It goes into effect on Oct. 1, 2020   at which point non-complying driver's licenses will not be accepted as a form of identification for use at airports or federal buildings. Maryland began collecting the required documents from new drivers and out-of-state transplants as part of the licensing process in July 2009, and it has required those documents from drivers renewing licenses since January 2018, to comply with federal law. More than half of the state's 5 million licensed drivers have not filed the required documents with the MVA. Digital license plates could be coming to Maryland » cmcampbell@baltsun.com twitter.com/cmcampbell6


Here's what you need to know about what's happening in Pittsburgh. 'I was falsely accused.' Pittsburgh cop was fired, then reinstated. Now he's suing. Robert C. Kramer alleges that Pittsburgh police conducted a reckless investigation of a road rage incident in which he was involved. Read the full story on Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . Pittsburgh lawmakers to introduce hate crime legislation Just outside the Tree of Life synagogue in Squirrel Hill, state Democratic lawmakers announced a package of bills Thursday to address a nationwide increase in hate crimes. Read the full story on WESA . KDKA Investigates: Pittsburgh educators flew to Miami at district expense, took trip to Cuba without school board approval KDKA has learned that the Pittsburgh Public Schools superintendent and four administrators took an all-expenses-paid trip to Cuba last month without the approval of the school board. Read the full story on CBS Pittsburgh . Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger says he plans to play at least three more seasons According to reports, Big Ben will play in the Steel City for at least three more seasons. Read the full story on CBS Pittsburgh . This story was created automatically using data about news stories on social media from CrowdTangle , then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


San Francisco Heritage announced today that one of its properties, the landmark Doolan-Larson residence, has officially been named a national treasure by the National Trust For Historic Preservation . The designation places the Doolan-Larson home on a list of other Northern California notables in need of protection, including the bridges of Yosemite Valley, Monterey's Cooper Molera Adobe and Guerneville's Pond Farm. Receiving "national treasure" status will allow the Doolan-Larson residence, which presides over the northwest corner of Haight and Ashbury streets, to begin its evolution into what the National Trust has called "a center for the interpretation and preservation of Haight-Ashbury's many contributions to America's countercultural legacy." It will serve as a museum of hippie-era art and artifacts, preserving the story of San Francisco's counterculture and offering a permanent window into that period of the city's history. The museum makeover will be part of a renewed effort to preserve the building, which was first constructed in the early 1900s and donated to the city by its owner, fourth-generation San Franciscan Norm Larson, upon his death last year . The National Trust has secured a $150,000 grant, which will be used for new roofing and an exterior restoration. Formerly known as "The Evelyn," 557 Ashbury St. is a wood-frame building originally built in 1903 as a family residence. In the wake of the 1906 earthquake, it was lifted off the ground for the construction of a row of ground-floor shops, with the upper levels converted to apartments. One of those shops was eventually home to Mnasidika, Peggy Caserta's landmark 1960s store specializing in "hippie wear." Caserta, who flew in from New Orleans for yesterday's announcement ceremony, lays claim to being the person who told Levi Strauss to widen its jeans' hems into bell bottoms. Larson purchased the building in 1985. Over the following three decades, he meticulously restored it, adding custom wood detailing, frescoes, and Art Deco fixtures, and stripping the walls down to their original plaster, which still bears the cracks of the 1906 earthquake. The house, which is also on the National Register of Historic Places, is still decorated and laid out as Larson lived in it until his death , from the rug and art collection down to the flowers in their vases and his Christmas stocking hung by the fireplace. The attic still has Larson's music collection, daybed, Chinese silk screens and Moroccan lanterns staged as he used them, and is equipped with a sound system for the music-listening parties he used to host upstairs. According to SF Heritage, the Doolan-Larson home is the only building in San Francisco that's been preserved specifically for its connection to the Haight's countercultural heyday. While it's early days, SF Heritage's Nancy Gille said its next incarnation would honor both Larson's presence and his loving restoration of the building, while also making it available as a cultural resource to the public. The planned renovation will also incorporate the efforts of the Haight Street Art Center , which preserves the history of the era through its poster art. "As we envision the future of this site, we will be guided by [Larson's] deep commitment to community and ensuring the ideals of the counterculture continue to resonate with future generations," said SF Heritage president Mike Buhler in a statement. We'll keep you posted on what's next for the building as it undergoes renovations.


Kyrie Irving pledged to re-sign with the Celtics then even made a commercial about getting his No. 11 retired by Boston. Enes Kanter : ☘🇹🇷 pic.twitter.com/ZDzIiheEXu   Kerem Kanter (@KeremKanter) July 1, 2019 Ian Begley of SNY: Enes Kanter is finalizing two-year deal with the Celtics worth $10 million, league sources tell SNY. Player option in Year 2.   Ian Begley (@IanBegley) July 1, 2019 That looks like Kanter will get the room exception, which will be worth $9,772,350 ($4,767,000 next season, $5,005,350 the following season). I really hope Kanter wears No. 11 for the Celtics. That'd fit his trolling persona so well. Most importantly to Boston, he helps on the court. The Celtics badly needed a starting center after losing Al Horford to the 76ers and trading Aron Baynes to the Suns. Kanter is a talented offensive player who'll score inside while Kemba Walker , Jayson Tatum , Jaylen Brown and Gordon Hayward lead the attack from the perimeter. The big question: Will Kanter hold up well enough defensively? This is a signing worth making. But with Kanter's defensive issues, consider this another reason (behind Kyrie Irving leaving) the Celtics won't contend for a title next year despite remaining quite good.


Earlier this week, women on Twitter were shocked to discover a new thing in common: a single, standout freckle on the center of the wrist. More than 12,000 people responded to the original Twitter post identifying this phenomenon, sharing their own photos of their matching freckle. But why do so many people seem to have this same mark   and why there, on the center of the wrist? For answers, TIME turned to Dr. Joyce Park , a board-certified dermatologist in the Bay Area. Dr. Park agreed that the viral conversation was pretty funny   but suggested it can be easily explained by sun exposure. "Freckles are basically areas of the skin where you have more pigment or melanin deposition from UV radiation," she says. "The forearms, the wrists and the hands are really common spots to get that exposure. If you think about it, when you're driving, that side of your wrist and hand are just constantly being exposed to sunlight, even if you're wearing sleeves." Another factor? We often forget to put sunscreen on that particular area, she notes. Other freckle-prone areas: the face, shoulders and back of the neck for those with short hair. But New York City dermatologist Dr. Joshua Zeichner had a slightly different take on the phenomenon. "What we are actually seeing in these photos are moles or 'beauty marks,'" Dr. Zeichner suggests. "These spots are harmless overgrowths of pigment producing cells, causing small brown spots on the skin." Because they're so common, he says, almost everyone has "at least one mole on the arms," so the fact that so many people have one on their wrist doesn't come as a surprise. Sun exposure may play a role in making these marks look darker, too, but moles can appear anywhere on the body. Both Dr. Park and Dr. Zeichner urge everyone to pay attention to freckles and moles, however, in case they become cancerous. It's always smart to get a full body skin check regularly. And Dr. Zeichner suggests an "ABCDE rule" to evaluate: Pay attention to any asymmetry, border irregularity, non-uniform color, diameter larger than a pencil tip eraser, or evolving size, shape or color. And Dr. Park's main tip: "Sunscreen is always a great idea," she says; it's good to reapply every few hours with a broad-spectrum formula. So of course the so-called freckle "phenomenon" has some pretty simple explanations. But at least everyone on Twitter has found something to bond about. ladies..... u got a freckle on the middle of ur wrist or is this a myth lmao pic.twitter.com/VpwkkeWKTj   aaryn ✰ (@aarynwhitley) May 22, 2019


The Best of the 2019 French Open French Open Naomi Osaka (JPN) in action during her match against Victoria Azarenka (BLR) on day five of the 2019 French Open at Stade Roland Garros on May 30, 2019. French Open Victoria Azarenka (BLR) in action during her match against Naomi Osaka (JPN) on day five of the 2019 French Open at Stade Roland Garros on May 30, 2019. French Open Clay coming off the shoes of Naomi Osaka (JPN) during her match against Victoria Azarenka (BLR) on day five of the 2019 French Open at Stade Roland Garros on May 30, 2019. French Open Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) reacts during his match against Kei Nishikori (JAP) on day four of the 2019 French Open at Stade Roland Garros on May 29, 2019. French Open Kei Nishikori (JAP) in action during his match against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) on day four of the 2019 French Open at Stade Roland Garros on May 29, 2019. French Open Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) in action during his match against Hugo Dellien (BOL) on day four of the 2019 French Open at Stade Roland Garros on May 29, 2019. French Open Sloane Stephens (USA) in action during her match against Sara Sorribes Tormo (ESP) on day four of the 2019 French Open at Stade Roland Garros on May 29, 2019. French Open Madison Keys (USA) in action during her match against Evgeniya Rodina (RUS) on day three of the 2019 French Open at Stade Roland Garros on May 28, 2019. French Open Alexander Zverev (GER) in action during his match against John Millman (AUS) on day three of the 2019 French Open at Stade Roland Garros on May 28, 2019. French Open Naomi Osaka (JPN) in action during her match against Anna Schmiedlova (SVK) on day three of the 2019 French Open at Stade Roland Garros on May 28, 2019. French Open Alexander Zverev (GER) in action during his match against John Millman (AUS) on day three of the 2019 French Open at Stade Roland Garros on May 28, 2019. French Open Yoshihito Nishioka (JPN) reacts during his match against Mackenzie McDonald (USA) on day three of the 2019 French Open at Stade Roland Garros on May 28, 2019. French Open Serena Williams (USA) competes during a match against Vitalia Diatchenko (RUS) on day two of the 2019 French Open at Stade Roland Garros. French Open Serena Williams (USA) competes during a match against Vitalia Diatchenko (RUS) on day two of the 2019 French Open at Stade Roland Garros on May 27, 2019. French Open Novak Djokovic (SRB) competes during a match against Hubert Hurkacz (POL) on day two of the 2019 French Open at Stade Roland Garros on May 27, 2019. French Open Frances Tiafoe (USA) removes his shirt during a change of ends during his match against Filip Krajinovic (SRB) on day two of the 2019 French Open at Stade Roland Garros on May 27, 2019. French Open Rafael Nadal (ESP) in action during his match against Yannick Hanfmann (GER) on day two of the 2019 French Open at Stade Roland Garros on May 27, 2019. French Open A general view during the Rafael Nadal (ESP) and Yannick Hanfmann (GER) match on day two of the 2019 French Open at Stade Roland Garros on May 27, 2019. French Open Filip Krajinovic (SRB) in action during his match against Frances Tiafoe (USA) on day two of the 2019 French Open at Stade Roland Garros on May 27, 2019. French Open Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) in action during her match against Veronica Kudermetova (RUS) on day two of the 2019 French Open at Stade Roland Garros on May 27, 2019. French Open Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) reacts during his match against Maximilian Marterer (not pictured) on day one of the 2019 French Open at Stade Roland Garros on May 26, 2019. French Open Venus Williams (USA) in action during her match against Elina Svitolina (UKR) on day one of the 2019 French Open at Stade Roland Garros on May 26, 2019. French Open Elina Svitolina (UKR) in action during her match against Venus Williams (USA) on day one of the 2019 French Open at Stade Roland Garros on May 26, 2019. French Open Venus Williams (USA) in action during her match against Elina Svitolina (UKR) on day one of the 2019 French Open at Stade Roland Garros on May 26, 2019. French Open Roger Federer (SUI) hits the ball during his match against Lorenzo Song (not pictured) on day one of the 2019 French Open at Stade Roland Garros on May 26, 2019. French Open Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) hits the ball during his match against Maximilian Marterer (not pictured) on day one of the 2019 French Open at Stade Roland Garros on May 26, 2019. French Open Roger Federer (SUI) enters the court for his match against Lorenzo Song (ITA) (not pictured) on day one of the 2019 French Open at Stade Roland Garros on May 26, 2019. French Open Garbine Muguruza (ESP) in action during her match against Taylor Townsend (USA) on day one of the 2019 French Open at Stade Roland Garros on May 26, 2019. French Open Taylor Townsend (USA) in action during her match against Garbine Muguruza (ESP) on day one of the 2019 French Open at Stade Roland Garros on May 26, 2019. French Open Garbine Muguruza (ESP) in action during her match against Taylor Townsend (USA) on day one of the 2019 French Open at Stade Roland Garros on May 26, 2019.


In a win for defense hawks, the House Budget Committee is set to vote Wednesday night on an amendment that would add $2 billion to the Overseas Contingency Operations fund and strike provisions requiring that the money be offset. After more than a day of uncertainty   Would they add money in the Budget Committee? Would they not? Do it on the floor? In the Rules Committee?   Republicans on the House Armed Services Committee may finally be getting the extra dollars they pushed for. The Budget Committee is slated to vote during the marathon markup session on Indiana Republican Todd Rokita 's amendment that would bring OCO funding up to $96 billion from $94 billion. Defense hawks had warned Budget Chairman Tom Price , R-Ga., that the Pentagon spending levels he had been proposing imperiled the resolution's chances for adoption. When Price refused to take the warnings to heart, saying such an amendment couldn't pass out of his committee, the hawks banded together. They threatened to sink the budget on the floor . And in the end, after Majority Whip Steve Scalise and chief deputy whip Patrick T. McHenry contacted Republicans on the panel and proved the amendment could pass, it appears Price gave in. Of course, adoption of the amendment is not guaranteed. It's unclear whether any Democrat will vote for the amendment. (No Democrat is expected to vote for the budget, either in committee or when it comes to the floor next week.) But without the defense amendment, the budget resolution's adoption seems doubtful. The amendment is still not ideal for lawmakers frustrated with defense spending caps established by the Budget Control Act of 2011. But they are willing to compromise, sources told CQ Roll Call, figuring that the extra OCO money was better than nothing. An earlier agreement seemed to be in place Tuesday night, but by Wednesday morning, plans had changed. Price, who originally didn't want to increase defense spending for fear he would alienate fiscal conservatives, once again suggested that an amendment with the OCO funds couldn't pass out of his committee. While leaders and members sorted it out, the markup was pushed back. Eventually, they started around 11 a.m., recessing later in the afternoon to allow Republicans on the Budget panel to huddle in the Capitol and discuss a way forward. Meanwhile, Democrats were kept out of the loop, and when Republicans later joined their colleagues back in the hearing room, they were tight-lipped on what decisions, if any, had been made. Following an afternoon series of votes, CQ Roll Call confronted Price about whether his panel would take up the amendment. He said he couldn't say because they were in the middle of the markup. "And I don't have a clear path as to what our final move will be," he added. When CQ Roll Call asked him how he felt about Scalise and McHenry going behind his back to check whether committee members would vote for additional money for OCO   after Price told leadership that the votes weren't there   Price said, "We're in the middle of a markup, so that's what I'm focused on." When CQ Roll Call pressed again on that point, whether he felt any animosity toward leadership, Price wouldn't go there. "As I said, we're in the middle of a markup, so," he said, trailing off. If the defense amendment is adopted, it perhaps exacerbates an already brewing battle between two competing factions in the House Republican Conference: The defense hawks and the fiscal hawks. Rep. Mick Mulvaney , R-S.C., who is not on the Budget Committee, said Wednesday he was already on the fence, given the initial OCO allocation. "You can't just wave a magic wand and say OCO is going to solve all our problems; in fact, it's gonna make it a lot worse," Mulvaney told reporters. "I would almost rather have discussions about raising taxes than continue to run up the deficit. "I want to defend the nation," he continued, "but I think if we think it's important to break the current law, then we should pay for it, and not make our kids pay for it. That's the debate we're having right now." While Republicans debate that topic, Democrats are arguing the entire budget makes irresponsible cuts to domestic spending and uses the OCO account, which is not subject to sequestration, as a slush fund to add money to defense. "If you're going to go down this road," Budget ranking Democrat Chris Van Hollen of Maryland said of adding money to the OCO account, "you should do it in an upfront way. What they're doing is using the war fund account as a slush fund." "And I actually think it's outrageous that they're playing games with national security funding," Van Hollen told CQ Roll Call Wednesday afternoon. "Do it straight up if you're going to do something like that." Related: Threatening Revolt, Defense Hawks Win Budget Concession GOP's Post-Ryan Budget: Price Outlines Spending Plan (Video) DHS Funding Battle Reveals a Republican House Divided The 114th: CQ Roll Call's Guide to the New Congress Get breaking news alerts and more from Roll Call in your inbox or on your iPhone .


Video by WXIN-TV Indianapolis An Indiana man is behind bars, accused of attempting to kidnap a 6-year-old girl from her grandparents' home. According to WTHR , Benjamin Dillon, 37, faces a slew of charges including counts of burglary, intimidation and resisting law enforcement. Witnesses told WTHR that Dillon kicked his way into a Lebanon apartment in the middle of the night. The girl's grandparents, Martin Roth and Patricia Roth, reportedly fought him off and kept him away from the girl until police arrived. The Roths told officers that Dillon, who they had never seen before, told them he was "taking the child." "I was sound asleep in my bedroom and this guy came kicking in and said, 'You have my daughter,'" Patricia Roth told Fox 59. "I was nervous, very nervous. I was shaking so bad." A police report states that officers found Dillon outside "shirtless and very agitated, insisting there was a little girl in the apartment being raped" and "that the little girl was his daughter." Officers shocked Dillon with a Taser but it had no effect. When finally handcuffed, officers said he "then kept kicking us and screaming." The man was taken to the Boone County Jail. The 6-year-old girl was very frightened, but unhurt. "I wouldn't want him walking back in my apartment again. He will regret it the next time," Patricia Roth said. Dillon attempted to clarify the incident in a jailhouse phone call with WTHR. "I was under the impression that maybe my daughter might be over there in that apartment complex," he said. Dillon denies threatening to take the 6-year-old girl and even denies kicking in the Roth's door. While jailed on bonds totaling $75,000, Dillon said he's enrolled in a substance abuse treatment program. READ MORE: Report: Grandparents fought off man who tried to abduct 6-year-old girl CHECK OUT WPTZ: Get the latest Plattsburgh and Burlington news of the day. See the stories making headlines, and get the latest weather report online, anytime.


Jurgen Klopp has opened up on his connection to Liverpool in both a political and emotional sense since taking charge of the side in 2015. The German coach is a much-loved figure, not just among Reds supporters, for his engaging and heart-on-the-sleeve approach to the game, and revealed he and the club are intertwined in more than just a contractual sense. Three days to go...  #UCLfinal pic.twitter.com/VEJd3QftjF   Liverpool FC (@LFC) May 29, 2019 Speaking in a lengthy interview with The Independent ahead of his side's Champions League showdown with Tottenham on Saturday, the 51-year-old spoke in depth about his own morals and values, as well as the bond he shares with the club he took to within a whisker of winning the Premier League title with this season. One such example of the close-knit relationship he shares with Liverpool is the equal love both he and the city have for the sport, and their shared desire for trophies.. "What I knew was the importance of football in the city," he said. "That was something I fancied. The size of the club. The chances that I saw there. The potential. That's what I liked. [..] we have, as we know, only one life. So make the best of it. Not only silverware. That's obviously the main target. But between the start and the silverware, there must be a lot of good moments together. And we've had them." The ongoing political situation in the United Kingdom is one that has reverberated among the entirety of Europe. Conversations about Brexit have been taking place across the continent, with Klopp claiming his personal views coincide with those of the city of Liverpool , something he was unaware of. 3⃣ days to go to the #UCLfinal and the Estadio Metropolitano is   Which European stadiums are the most impressive looking? 樂 pic.twitter.com/pAQQukdwLi   UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) May 29, 2019 "I had no clue about the political situation in Liverpool. I don't think you really think about that when you sign for a club in Europe," he added. "You come to another democratic country - fine. Around the Brexit vote, I heard then that Liverpool had a similar opinion to mine."


Montae Nicholson always flashed hints at big upside and those continue to have him looking like a probable starting safety next to Landon Collins next season. But Washington Redskins head coach Jay Gruden wants to see something specific from Nicholson first: fluid communication. "The big thing with Montae is getting the communication down with Landon and whoever the other safety is," Gruden said, according to NBC Sports' Ben Standig . "Communication is critical for those guys and the more work they get and the more situations we can put them in, red zone, third down, first and second down, all that good stuff, the better they are going to be." Nicholson didn't see the time on the field he might of last year because the Redskins ended up trading for Ha Ha Clinton-Dix in the middle of the season. Injuries didn't help. But this summer? Nicholson seems like the favorite, provided he can outperform guys like sophomore Troy Apke. Given Nicholson's natural abilities aren't going anywhere, should he tackle this one outlined goal from Gruden, he shouldn't have any problems eventually winning the starting gig. MORE: Steve Kerr opens up on decision to play Kevin Durant: 'The Achilles came as a complete shock' NBA trade rumor rankings: Rockets on the move? Davante Adams on Packers rookie S Darnell Savage: 'We got a steal' Lakers reportedly make Ball and Ingram available for AD, Pelicans want Kuzma Floyd Allen grateful for dream of making Texans and uses it to inspire others


Automobile contributor and championship-winning pro race-car driver Andy Pilgrim puts a lot of cars on the NCM Motorsports Park road course in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Recently, though, he had an amusing experience while turning laps around the challenging 3.2-mile, 23-turn circuit in a 755-hp 2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 . As he brakes from 148 mph to set up his entry into Turn 1, an operator from General Motors' OnStar emergency-assistance service is heard on the line. The system was apparently triggered back in the tight S-turns entering the front straight after its virtual brain fired a signal to say all is not right and Pilgrim must need help. To our driver's credit and demonstrating just one of the differences between top professional racers and good track-day amateurs he never lifts or loses concentration, dispatching the OnStar rep and continuing on his merry hot lap. That is, until he flicks the Corvette into the left-hand Turn 13 at 90 mph, at which point we again hear another call from a concerned OnStar operator. On this go around, Pilgrim needs a bit more time to convince the safety delegate everything is just fine and that she can hang up, but once again he keeps the ZR1 dancing on the edge as he engages in conversation, attempting to explain the circumstances and the fact that, no, he hasn't put the Chevy on its roof. Finally, as Pilgrim crosses the start/finish line to complete the lap in a solid time of 2:07.45 and hits the brakes, a third OnStar rep is again on the horn, whereupon the bemused driver is able to more calmly explain he was merely having some fun around a closed course. Watch it now: Chevy engineers were unable to find a solution or offer a definitive explanation for the calls, but it seems reasonable to conclude that a particular combination of speed, g load, yaw angle, and longitudinal and lateral acceleration/deceleration rates can trick the system into believing the vehicle has been in a crash or that its driver is auditioning for a seat with the factory-backed Corvette Racing team. Even more odd, Chevy insisted to us that it in all its miles of ZR1 track testing, it has only heard of this scenario when Pilgrim is the driver behind the wheel, and only when he's flogging the car at the NCM track. It definitely makes for a funny onboard video. But it's also a good demonstration of the ZR1's extreme performance capabilities, as well as the fact OnStar and its representatives really will be there in a flash to help if you ever do find yourself in real trouble. [Images shot at Road Atlanta, but, hey, it's also a yellow ZR1 on a track.] Research the Chevrolet Corvette on MSN Autos | Find a Chevrolet Corvette near you Follow MSN Autos on Facebook and Twitter


There's a brand-new seafood restaurant and bar in town. Located at 7 Washington Blvd. in Venice, the new arrival is called The Pier House . The Pier House provides handcrafted cocktails and seafood dishes, such as oysters on the half shell, poached shrimp and king crab legs. According to the business' Facebook page , "The Pier House is an upscale yet casual restaurant and bar in Venice, CA with a coastal California style seafood program for one of the few beachfront experiences in Venice Beach." The fresh addition has proven popular thus far, with a 4.5-star rating out of nine reviews on Yelp. Angela M., who was among the first Yelpers to review the new spot on August 4, wrote, "We had the pleasure of having a sunset view and a view of the kitchen where we witnessed all the talent, teamwork and thoughtfulness that created every bite we enjoyed. The food is delicious." And Stephanie G. wrote , "Super cute new spot... Modern, laid-back beach vibe. Smaller bar, but plenty of table seating. Really friendly service. The menu is seafood heavy, new American twist, with a little Latin feel." Swing on by to take a peek for yourself: The Pier House is open from 10:30 a.m. midnight on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday and 10:30 a.m. 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. Want to keep your finger on the pulse of new businesses in Los Angeles? Here's what else opened recently near you . This story was created automatically using local business data, then reviewed and augmented by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


DENVER, CO   Denver drivers are the 83rd safest drivers out of the 200 largest cities in America, according to Allstate's annual "best drivers" report. The report, released Tuesday ahead of the dangerous July 4th holiday, ranks cities based on crash frequency using the insurance giant's internal claims data. Drivers in Denver landed just ahead of Pheonix, Arizona on the list and behind Bakersville, California. Fort Collins is the 7th safest driving city, Colorado Springs ranked 13th and Lakewood ranked 39th. Meanwhile, Brownsville, Texas, drivers were crowned the nation's safest for the second consecutive year, averaging about 15 years between crashes, according to the report. That's far more than the national average, which is about 11 years between crashes. Data on the number of hard-brakes for Brownsville drivers per 1,000 miles wasn't available. The insurer said it found hard-braking correlates with crash frequency. Cities where drivers don't hard-brake as often tend to see fewer property damage claims. On the flip side, Baltimore, Maryland, drivers were dubbed the least safe in the nation, with the average crash claim filed about every four years. Baltimore drivers also hard-brake more than 30 times every 1,000 miles, far more than the national average of 19. Below are the 10 cities with the least safe drivers, according to Allstate. Baltimore Washington, D.C. Boston Worcester, MA Glendale, CA Los Angeles Springfield, MA Providence, RI Alexandria, VA Oakland, CA Allstate said its researchers scrutinized reported property damage claims from January 2016 to December 2017. A collision referred to any auto crash resulting in a property damage claim. Hard-braking data, which was not available for multiple cities, was based on customers who voluntarily participated in Allstate's so-called "Drivewise" program in 2016 and 2017. Ken Rosen, the company's chief claims officer, said in a news release that the report aims to make roads safer and "ultimately save lives." "Each of us needs to ask how we can do our part in our day-to-day lives and for our communities," said Rosen. "And beyond that, this country needs to come together to address pressing safety issues, such as rebuilding our roadway infrastructure to reduce risky conditions on America's roads." Patch national staffer Dan Hampton contributed to this report.


It'll still be without pads, but things will start feeling a little more like football this week. With nine OTA practices down, the Dallas Cowboys are set to embark on a three-day minicamp before packing their bags and jetting off to Oxnard in July. And, as has been the case for this entire offseason, the focus looks to be on the team's offense. Specifically, will the changing of the guard within the coaching staff will be enough to ignite a high-octane offense that would appear to be chock full of playmaking weaponry? ESPN's Todd Archer, in his minicamp preview , points out, "Coordinator Kellen Moore is not transforming the Cowboys' offense, but is making some changes, especially in its motions and formations. The goal is to get to a point where the Cowboys can run multiple plays out of the same looks and avoid predictability." "For a first-time coordinator, every practice matters," Archer writes, "and Moore has gone through a lot of the installation already so they can be ahead of the game as the summer moves on." Coach Jason Garrett echoes the idea that the bulk of the scheming has already happened conceptually, and that now it's about tweaking it in real life. "A little bit of review," Garrett is quoted as saying on the team's website , "kind of go back through things in all three phases of our team. We'll get away for a little bit and come back to training camp and do it all over again." Archer notes that "everything has looked solid between Moore and Dak Prescott, but these final three practices of the offseason will be at a different tempo than the OTAs." Prescott, for one, sounds ready to turn things up a notch, telling reporters that the hard work he and his teammates are immersed in is only making them better. Dak Prescott on what the Cowboys accomplished over the last 3 weeks of OTAs and hope to accomplish during minicamp next week: "The whole 'iron sharpens iron' has come alive more than ever during these OTAs." pic.twitter.com/UCqLFNMahH - Jon Machota (@jonmachota) June 6, 2019 It's about players taking small steps to help each other improve. And it can be something as seemingly unimportant as who sits where during meetings. In a recent profile of wide receiver Amari Cooper , USA Today's Jori Epstein highlights how the three-time Pro Bowler has switched seats to be next to his quarterback during Moore's installation meetings. "Cooper and Prescott discuss immediately the nuances of executing a particular play or route," Epstein writes. "'Don't worry if I take this release against the press,' Cooper tells Prescott, for example, 'because I'll end up outside the defender and win.'" "Finishing off the right way," Prescott emphasized last week after OTAs. That's a mentality the entire offense looks to embody from here on out: every practice, every play, every drive, every game. If they're able to do that more often than not, the Cowboys could well be one of the teams in a position to finish off the 2019 postseason the right way. MORE: NHL fans weren't impressed with Mike Milbury's questions for Pam from 'The Office' Roundup: Chris Pratt and Katherine Schwarzenegger Get Married, Chicago Poop Vandal, Johnny Manziel Talks XFL Sleeping on Patriots WR Demaryius Thomas would be a huge mistake WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling impressing staff going into Packers minicamp Bears believe Clinton-Dix is an upgrade over Amos


Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said on Thursday that Saudi Arabia   and not Iran   is to blame for sowing instability in the Middle East, and accused the Trump administration of turning a blind eye to Riyadh's "malign" actions. Speaking to reporters at Iran's U.N. Mission in New York, Zarif also proposed what he called a "substantial" diplomatic offer in which Iran would agree to permanent and enhanced inspections of its nuclear program in return for a permanent lifting of U.S. sanctions. The proposal will likely be rejected by the Trump administration, which has demanded the regime agree to a list of concessions, including giving up uranium enrichment and halting its support for proxies in the region/ It has imposed harsh oil and banking sanctions on Iran, and on Thursday added sanctions against alleged "front" companies accused of procuring material for Iran's nuke program. Hours after Zarif's briefing with reporters, President Donald Trump said the USS Boxer   a U.S. Navy amphibious assault ship   had destroyed an Iranian drone that had flown within 1,000 yards of the warship and ignored calls to stand down. The drone was "threatening safety of the ship and the ship's crew" and "was immediately destroyed," Trump said. Zarif said the U.S. had singled out the wrong country by painting Iran as the culprit fueling chaos and conflict in the Middle East and North Africa. Saudi Arabia, he said, was the main "source of malign activity." Zarif asked why the U.S. penalizes Tehran instead of Riyadh, citing a litany of alleged Saudi activities, including civilian casualties from Saudi-led air raids in Yemen, promoting a renegade general in Libya, the alleged kidnapping of Lebanese prime minister Saad Hariri in 2017, and last year's killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. "You support Saudi Arabia to bomb the hell out of the Yemenis, Why do you complain against us?" Zarif said. "You supported them while they had the prime minister of Lebanon in custody. Why do you complain against us? What's the malign behavior?" "Okay, we are involved in Lebanon and Syria and Iraq," he acknowledged, but argued that Iran is "always on the right side," while alleging the Saudi kingdom is trying to stir up trouble in nations that are afflicted by civil wars. "Are we involved in Libya? Are we involved in the Sudan?" he asked. The Trump administration says Iran has backed militant proxies in Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen and elsewhere for years that have carried out violent attacks on civilians and undermined governments, while backing a brutal regime in Syria led by Bashar al Assad. The administration has defended its strong ties to Saudi Arabia, saying the country is a crucial counterweight to Iran and a loyal ally. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has condemned the killing of Khashoggi but said last year that the "kingdom is a powerful force for stability in the Middle East." Since Washington tightened oil sanctions on Iran in April, the two countries have entered into a tense showdown around the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for the world's oil shipments. Zarif was asked if he had the shape of an agreement in mind that could end the standoff and that leaders in both countries could support. "As a diplomat, I have to always think about alternatives. That's my job. But it is not my job to make those alternatives public because otherwise, I would not be able to uses those alternatives," he said. "I have several." Zarif outlined one which he described as "a substantial move." He suggested that Iran and the other parties to the 2015 nuclear accord, known as the JCPOA, could simply move up the date of a key provision that was originally planned to enter into force in 2023. Under the terms of the deal, the U.S. agreed to end all sanctions in return for Iran agreeing to what's known as the "additional protocol," requiring a full disclosure of Iran's nuclear history and an agreement to permit surprise international inspections anywhere on Iranian territory. "In October 2023, we are supposed to do two things," Zarif said. "Iran is supposed to ratify the additional protocol and the United States Congress is supposed to lift the sanctions. If he wants more for more, he can lift the sanctions. He has said he will take any measure to Congress. Fine! Lift the sanctions and you'll have the Additional Protocol." President Trump, he said, could agree to that "tomorrow." The foreign minister told NBC News on Monday in an interview that he believed prudence prevailed when Trump chose not to retaliate against Iran after it shot down a U.S. drone in the Gulf. Zarif told NBC Iran was ready to enter into negotiations with the United States if Trump lifted an array of sanctions he has imposed since 2017. Trump pulled Washington out of the nuclear deal last year. The agreement between Iran and world powers curtailed Tehran's nuclear program in return for an easing of U.S. and international sanctions. Dan De Luce reported from Aspen, Colo.


San Francisco 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman says he isn't too worried about rookie Nick Bosa's recent flap with his social media posting, because it will only become an issue if Bosa turns out to be a bust. The 49ers selected Bosa with the second overall pick in last month's draft, but before the former Ohio State defensive end was drafted he had to answer questions about his social media activities, including calling former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick "a clown" for protesting the national anthem. "One thing about football is that nobody really cares what you say if you can play," Sherman told The Sacramento Bee . "At the end of the day, I think a guy that has played with African Americans his whole life, not saying he can't be racist, but they know how to maneuver around African Americans." Sherman says he is worried about Bosa's production and if he can be a good teammate. "When you're at Ohio State, it's not like Ohio State's an all-white school. So I don't think that's going to ever be an issue," Sherman said,. "I think, at the end of the day, your beliefs are your beliefs ... but when you're in the building and you're a football player and you're a teammate, you handle yourself accordingly. And I think he understands that." The 49ers are hopeful that Bosa's arrival in San Francisco can help a defense that struggled in 2018, giving up 27.2 points a game with a league low seven takeaways. Related slideshow: 2019 NFL draft: The top picks (Provided by imagn)


Mike Pompeo , the U.S. secretary of state, on Sunday confirmed reports that President Trump sent North Korea's Kim Jong Un a letter that was described by Kim in foreign reports as "excellent." The White House has maintained that it continuing dialog with Pyongyang. Kim has sent Trump a birthday letter earlier this month. Last February, Trump and Kim met in Vietnam for a summit that was largely viewed as a failure. Trump abruptly walked out at the time and said he was unwilling to agree to Kim's terms of lifting all sanctions without securing a meaningful commitment to denuclearization. Trump has used sanctions as a major tool in his international diplomacy and not just limited to North Korea. He just announced "major" new sanctions for Iran after Tehran's provocative attack on an unmanned naval drone and alleged attacks on two oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. "I can confirm the letter was sent," Pompeo said. He did not elaborate what was in the note, but North Korea's state-run news agency reported that Kim is "seriously" contemplating its contents. GET THE FOX NEWS APP Analysts told the AP that the gesture of sending letters is part of North Korean efforts to present Kim as a legitimate international statesman who is reasonable and capable of negotiating solutions and making deals. Because of the weight of formality they provide, Kim might see personal letters as an important way to communicate with leaders of countries the North never had close ties with, they say. The Associated Press contributed to this report


A suicide car bomber struck near the entrance of Kabul's international airport on Monday during the peak lunchtime period, officials said, warning that heavy casualties were expected. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, which follows a wave of lethal bombings in the Afghan capital on Friday as the insurgency escalates after a bitter power transition within the Taliban. "The explosion occurred at the first checkpoint of Kabul airport," said deputy Kabul police chief Sayed Gul Agha Rouhani. Kabul CID chief Fraidoon Obaidi said the explosion was caused by a suicide car bomb, and heavy casualties were feared. Smoke billowed from the scene of the explosion. An AFP photographer saw pieces of charred flesh strewn around the checkpoint, where passengers undergo the first round of body checks before entering the airport. Ambulances with wailing sirens rushed to the area and were seen removing bodies. The blasts on Friday struck near an army complex, a police academy and a US special forces base, killing at least 51 people. They were the first major attacks since Mullah Akhtar Mansour was named as the new Taliban chief in an acrimonious power transition after the insurgents confirmed the death of longtime leader Mullah Omar. The wave of violence underscores Afghanistan's volatile security situation amid a faltering peace process. The first face-to-face talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban took place last month in the Pakistani hill town of Murree, aimed at ending the 14-year insurgency. The Taliban distanced themselves from a second round of talks that were scheduled for the end of July after the announcement of Omar's death. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani discussed initiating another round of talks in a telephone call Sunday to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, a senior official in Islamabad told AFP without elaborating. Experts say insurgents are stepping up attacks as Mansour tries to distract attention from internal rifts over his leadership.


ATLANTA   There are signs of a bad restaurant that are pretty obvious: Nasty smells, grimy tables or unkempt employees are all red flags for a dining spot you want to avoid. But sometimes the problem is harder to spot, such as food stored at improper temperatures or unclean kitchen equipment. And some commercial kitchens are spotless, with every safety rule followed, and customers well-cared for. Do you know how clean your local coffee shop, restaurant or school kitchen is? Look through these recent food safety inspections from around the Atlanta area courtesy of Patch. Click on the links below to see details from recent inspection reports for area restaurants. Abdullah The Butcher- Westend 854 OAK ST ATLANTA, GA 30310 June 25, 2019 Score: 82, Grade: B Anh's Kitchen 855 PEACHTREE ST STE 2 ATLANTA, GA 30308 June 20, 2019 Score: 91, Grade: A Barbecue Kitchen 1437 VIRGINIA AVE ATLANTA, GA 30337 June 20, 2019 Score: 88, Grade: B Barcelona Wine Bar 1085 HOWELL MILL RD STE C1 ATLANTA, GA 30318 June 21, 2019 Score: 100, Grade: A Blake's On The Park 227 10TH ST NE ATLANTA, GA 30309 June 25, 2019 Score: 91, Grade: A Bree's Port Bar and Grille 349 DECATUR ST SE STE E ATLANTA, GA 30312 June 24, 2019 Score: 91, Grade: A Capital City Club Rest 7 JOHN PORTMAN BLVD ATLANTA, GA 30303 June 25, 2019 Score: 76, Grade: C Casi Cielo 6125 ROSWELL RD ATLANTA, GA 30328 June 21, 2019 Score: 100, Grade: A China Cafeteria 3613 MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DR SW ATLANTA, GA 30331 June 25, 2019 Score: 70, Grade: C Chipotle Mexican Grill 1745 PEACHTREE ST NE STE H ATLANTA, GA 30309 June 20, 2019 Score: 100, Grade: A Cousins Maine Lobster 3393 PEACHTREE RD NE STE 3052 ATLANTA, GA 30326 June 20, 2019 Score: 93, Grade: A Desi Spice Indian Cuisine 931 MONROE DR NE STE C-202 ATLANTA, GA 30308 June 20, 2019 Score: 81, Grade: B Einstein Bros. Bagels 1789 HOWELL MILL RD ATLANTA, GA 30318 June 21, 2019 Score: 81, Grade: B El Taco Veloz II 5670 ROSWELL RD ATLANTA, GA 30342 June 20, 2019 Score: 84, Grade: B Fat Matts Rib Shack 1811 PIEDMONT RD NE ATLANTA, GA 30324 June 20, 2019 Score: 98, Grade: A Garden Parc 792 CASCADE AVE ATLANTA, GA 30310 June 25, 2019 Score: 100, Grade: A Get Fruity Cafe 3707 MAIN ST ATLANTA, GA 30337 June 25, 2019 Score: 51, Grade: U Gyro King 5841 ROSWELL RD STE 101 ATLANTA, GA 30328 June 24, 2019 Score: 91, Grade: A Hankook Taqueria 1341 COLLIER RD ATLANTA, GA 30318 June 24, 2019 Score: 91, Grade: A Hecter's Kitchen 17 JESSE HILL JR DR SE ATLANTA, GA 30303 June 25, 2019 Score: 75, Grade: C Hungry Cherub 2970 PEACHTREE RD ATLANTA, GA 30305 June 20, 2019 Score: 98, Grade: A JCT Kitchen (Ford Fry) 1198 HOWELL MILL ATLANTA, GA 30318 June 20, 2019 Score: 86, Grade: B Kabob Land 3137 PIEDMONT RD ATLANTA, GA 30305 June 25, 2019 Score: 91, Grade: A Lastor tas Locas 5841 ROSWELL RD STE 5 ATLANTA, GA 30328 June 25, 2019 Score: 89, Grade: B Longleaf Restaurant 1345 PIEDMONT AVE NE ATLANTA, GA 30309 June 21, 2019 Score: 91, Grade: A McDonalds 526 PONCE DE LEON AVE ATLANTA, GA 30308 June 20, 2019 Score: 80, Grade: B MeMezz Restaurant 3657 MARTIN LUTHER KING. JR., DR STE B ATLANTA, GA 30331 June 25, 2019 Score: 71, Grade: C Piedmont Driving Club 4405 CAMP CREEK PKWY ATLANTA, GA 30331 June 21, 2019 Score: 70, Grade: C PiJiu Belly 678 10TH ST NW ATLANTA, GA 30318 June 21, 2019 Score: 96, Grade: A Poor Calvin's 510 PIEDMONT AVE NE ATLANTA, GA 30308 June 25, 2019 Score: 74, Grade: C Silver Restaurant & Lounge 2040 SYLVAN RD ATLANTA, GA 30310 June 20, 2019 Score: 100, Grade: A Subway 2418 BOLTON RD NW ATLANTA, GA 30318 June 24, 2019 Score: 72, Grade: C Subway 1825 PIEDMONT RD NE ATLANTA, GA 30324 June 20, 2019 Score: 88, Grade: B The Chattahoochee Grill 6345 POWERS FERRY RD ATLANTA, GA 30339 June 24, 2019 Score: 96, Grade: A The Independent 931 MONROE DR NE STE 205 ATLANTA, GA 30308 June 20, 2019 Score: 72, Grade: C The Lawrence 905 JUNIPER ST STE A ATLANTA, GA 30309 June 25, 2019 Score: 86, Grade: B The Melting Pot 754 PEACHTREE ST NE ATLANTA, GA 30308 June 24, 2019 Score: 92, Grade: A Tuk Tuk 1745 PEACHTREE ST STE Y ATLANTA, GA 30309 June 20, 2019 Score: 98, Grade: A Waffle House 2264 CHESHIRE BRIDGE RD ATLANTA, GA 30324 June 25, 2019 Score: 98, Grade: A White House Restaurant 3172 PEACHTREE RD NE ATLANTA, GA 30305 June 20, 2019 Score: 100, Grade: A


A wise man has said, "Once is an accident, twice is a trend. Four, five, or six times is a clear indication of a strategic shift in overall policy." (I may have added the last part.) It has become more and more clear and obvious over the past year or so that the NFL, reeling from sharp reductions in TV viewership during the 2016 and 2017 seasons, has decided to take a kindler and gentler approach to player discipline, in order to ensure that as many great players as possible are available to play in NFL regular-season and postseason games. The change happened at some point after the Ezekiel Elliott case, which entailed (in my opinion) a Keystone cops investigation and a kangaroo court proceeding aimed at justifying that which the league office wanted to do: Suspend Elliott for six games. Those wheels were put in motion before the election-induced ratings drop of 2016 was followed by the unexpected anthem-induced additional ratings drop of 2017, and the end result was the team that has become the top TV draw in the NFL spending 37.5 percent of a season without the straw that stirs its drink. As ratings plummeted in 2017, someone at the league office apparently did the math regarding the impact of not having great players on the field versus the impact of letting great players play despite off-field baggage. The pendulum initially swung hard in the direction of taking a hard line with players after the elevator video emerged in the Ray Rice case. The Commissioner spent a couple of weeks genuinely concerned that he could lose his job in the uproar that ensued, and Roger Goodell undoubtedly resolved at that point that he would never, ever be accused again of going too easy on a player who misbehaves. That trend continued until Elliott's suspension, which was followed by an all-out effort by Cowboys owner Jerry Jones to get rid of Goodell. Forced to choose between an assault on his job by a mob of outsiders and an assault on his job by one of his 32 bosses, and concerned about the very real impact on ratings of star players not playing, Goodell has now nudged the pendulum in the other direction, far more subtly and gradually than it moved in 2014. It started with the league's unspoken lenience for chronic substance-abuse policy violators like Josh Gordon , Martavis Bryant , and Randy Gregory . Although the trio currently is suspended, the league could have tossed each of them out of the sport early in 2018 under the clear terms of the policy. Instead, they each got extra chances until new suspensions were imposed, and the new suspensions weren't for a minimum of one year (as they should have been). Indeed, there's a chance that all three will be playing again this year. Why? Because no one cares about marijuana anymore, and no one will complain that the league is letting guys who smoke pot play football. The dynamic also has affected the league's application of the Personal Conduct Policy. The investigation of multiple incidents involving then-Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt was in mothballs before video of him pushing and kicking a woman in the hallway of a Cleveland hotel emerged. Elliot, despite video showing him confronting and possibly shoving a 19-year-old security guard and notwithstanding Elliott's status as a prior offender (which supposedly is a big deal under the Personal Conduct Policy), wasn't punished. Now there's Hill, who escaped any and all punishment with the league issuing a statement that doesn't even address the menacing remark that prompted the Chiefs to send him away from the team's offseason program. Two years ago, Hill wouldn't have been so fortunate. Now, as the league tries to build on momentum from 2018 TV numbers fueled by an offensive explosion about which the NFL privately bragged to reporters on a near-weekly basis, it's better for the league to have Hill on the field than it is for the league to not have Hill on the field. Sure, there will be complaints and objections, maybe even a loosely-organized protest. But the potential impact on the league's business from letting Hill play is smaller than the potential impact on the league's business from not letting him play, and that's ultimately all the league cares about. Football is business. They say "football is family" because it's good for business to say "football is family," but football is business. The NFL got into the business of policing the private lives of players for P.R. purposes. The NFL enhanced those efforts in the face of strong objections to the NFL's failure to be aggressive enough with players who got in trouble away from work. Now, business interests require an approach that entails the application a deeply flawed in-house justice system (a system that isn't about justice at all) in a way that enhances business. That's why Hill wasn't suspended, and that's why players in similar situations will receive similar treatment, unless and until the league's business interests once again compel a more aggressive approach to discipline. At that point, the pendulum will swing again, back in the direction of imposing overly strong punishments.


MILWAUKEE   Milwaukee police are investigating two separate shooting incidents that happened late Tuesday night, June 25. Four people were injured as a result of the shootings. Police say around 10:30 p.m. three people, a 25-year-old man, 26-year-old man and a 40-year-old woman, walked into a local hospital suffering from non-life threatening gunshot wounds. Responding officers determined that the shooting occurred near 47th and Center around 10:30 p.m. Shooting near 47th and Center in Milwaukee Circumstances that led to the shooting are still being investigated. MPD is seeking a suspect regarding the shooting. Police say around 11:20 p.m.a 33-year-old man walked into a hospital with a non-life threatening gunshot wound. A preliminary investigation revealed that the victim was shot in the area of 34th and Hadley. Events leading up to the shooting remain under investigation and Shooting near 34th and Hadley in Milwaukee MPD continues to search for a suspect.     ©2019 WITI-TV, Milwaukee Visit WITI-TV, Milwaukee at www.fox6now.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.


If your heart sinks every time you open up your laptop at the thought of sluggish performance, broken shortcuts, and a mess of files and folders this is the guide for you. We'll talk you through some of the ways you can tidy up your Windows or macOS laptop, and reduce those feelings of frustration. Ditch unnecessary apps Programs take up storage space on your laptop, mean more work for the operating system, and generally contribute to the computer's clutter so you definitely don't want to be installing any more than you absolutely have to. Try taking an audit of the applications you've got installed and remove any you no longer need. If there are programs you're not sure about, uninstall them and see if you miss them. Remember a lot of apps can now be run through a browser  office suites, email clients, music players which can help reduce the strain on your laptop's resources. To uninstall an app on macOS, you can either drag it down to the Trash from the Applications folder in Finder, or click and hold its icon in Launchpad, and then click the small cross that appears. Though please note: Many of Apple's own built-in apps can't be removed. If you're on a Windows device, you need to open up the Settings screen (via the cog icon on the Start menu), then choose Apps and Apps & features . Select the program you want to get rid of, then pick Uninstall to remove it from your system. Back up to the cloud As with programs, having too many files hanging around makes life more difficult for your laptop's OS and for you (when you need to hunt for a particular file). If you pay for storage on a service like OneDrive, iCloud, Google Drive or Dropbox, you can leave your files up in the cloud and remove the local copies automatically downloading them only when you need them. This is best for files you don't access very often. It's also a good idea to have another backup somewhere else like an external hard drive or another computer just in case something happens to the copies in the cloud. For OneDrive on Windows, right-click the OneDrive icon in the Windows notification tray and choose Settings . Under the Settings tab you'll see a Save space and download files as you use them option turn it on to have your files stored on the web until you need them. You can manage this for individual files and folders in the OneDrive folder by right-clicking on them and choosing Clear space (online only) or Always keep on this device (online and offline). In iCloud on macOS, open the Apple menu then choose About This Mac : Switch to the Storage tab, then choose Manage , and Store in iCloud to choose to keep the bulk of your photos, videos and messages on the web. You can also choose System Preferences and iCloud , then Options next to iCloud Drive to find the Optimize Mac Storage box this means local copies of older files besides photos and messages are deleted when your Mac starts to run out of room. Dropbox offers a similar sort of feature called Smart Sync, though it's only available if you're on a Professional or Business plan it lets you pick out individual files and folders and set them as online only or local and online. However, on any Dropbox plan you can remove local folders once they've been synced to the cloud by choosing Sync and Selective Sync from the Preferences dialog. Google Drive has this selective sync feature too once a folder has been synced to the web, you can remove the local copy and keep the files online (though obviously then future changes aren't synced). From the Preferences dialog, click Google Drive then Sync these folders only to make your picks. If you'd prefer Google Drive only sync files when you absolutely need them you can sync using the Google Drive File Stream app instead. This will automatically upload any files you drop into the Drive folder, and download on demand when you need them. Clean out your files Even after you've backed up and uploaded your important files to the cloud, you're likely left with a load of junk that's not doing much except taking up room. Maybe you've got a pile of stuff on your desktop gathering virtual dust: We'd recommend moving it all to a junk folder directly off your desktop for a quick clean-up, then going through the files and shortcuts in it and removing what you don't need. It's likely quite a lot. Remember you can pin shortcuts for files and folders and programs to the Start menu or the Dock for easy access you don't need to have all this clutter taking up room on your desktop too. The Desktop Stacks feature introduced in macOS Mojave can help tidy things up too: Click a blank part of the desktop, then choose View from the menu and Use Stacks . Both Windows and macOS give you a bit of a hand when it comes to getting rid of redundant junk files. On macOS, click the Apple menu then About This Mac , Storage , and Manage : If you choose Reduce Clutter from the next dialog you'll see some suggestions for files you can get rid of. Windows has a tool called Storage Sense: Open the Settings pane (via the cog icon on the Start menu), then choose System , Storage , and Configure Storage Sense to get it up and running. You can select what gets deleted, and how often, and even delete backups of previous versions of Windows if they're taking up too much room on the local drive. A variety of third-party tools will try and do the same job for you, though they vary in terms of their effectiveness and are often bundled with suspect extras. We still like the free Wise Disk Cleaner for Windows, which is thorough and safe to use, while CleanMyMac is a good bet for macOS it'll cost you $35 but it does the job in terms of keeping your Mac feeling like it did on day one (and you can test it for free). Even with all these tools to help though, sometimes you just have to trawl through the files and folders that have built up on your local storage and delete the ones that aren't needed anymore or way out of date. It's a chore but put a podcast or a Spotify playlist on and it won't take as long as you think. There's a lot to be said for taking the time to organize your digital stuff properly too: While we can't offer you a magic shortcut for getting all your music, movies, and documents in the right place, we can tell you that the time you'll save by having everything neatly arranged will be more than the time it takes you to do it. We can give you a final quick tip for photos, if you're using Google Photos or thinking about using it. If your laptop is wheezing under a mass of badly organized pictures and videos, upload them all to Google Photos (you can just drag and drop them into your browser): Google's AI magic will sort them by date, tag all the people and pets in them, and even recognize and reject duplicates for you. Tidy up your browser Don't neglect your browser either, which is probably where you spend a lot of your computing time: If this particular piece of software becomes sluggish and slow, then it can absolutely have an impact on how pleasurable it is to use your laptop. The same principles we've already talked about apply here too. For a start you want to remove all the extensions and add-ons you're not actually using, and which are taking up precious system resources when your browser should just be concentrating on rendering webpages. You can also try clearing out temporary files, cached files, and cookies from your browser: In Chrome you can open up the Settings option from the program menu, then click Advanced and Clear browsing data to get rid of junk data you don't actually need ( Cached images and files is a good option to select). Firefox offers similar options if you go to Preferences from the browser menu and then choose Privacy & Security : Click Clear Data to get rid of cached data that isn't essential to the browser's operation, and if you want, cookies as well . The process is a bit more involved in Safari, because first you need to enable the Develop menu: Open the Safari menu, then choose Preferences , and tick Show Develop menu in menu bar under Advanced . Open that menu, and you'll find an Empty Caches button on it. Cookies and other website data can be managed via Manage Website Data under Privacy in the Preferences pane. Finally, the brand new version of Microsoft Edge keeps cache and cookie options under the Settings entry on the app menu: Click Privacy and services , then Clear cookies, history, passwords, and more to find the options you need to do a bit of a browser spring clean. Some sites might load slightly slower on the next visit or ask you to sign in again, but it's worth it to keep on top of the bloat building up in your browser.


Video by WXMI-TV Grand Rapids The hundreds of Republicans who gathered for the "squash Amash" rally outside the Michigan congressman Justin Amash's downtown Grand Rapids office on Friday left nothing in doubt as they spoke about the man they feel betrayed their party by calling for Donald Trump to be impeached. "Pathetic", "lightweight loser", "a joke" and the phrase uttered with perhaps the most derision: Rino, or "Republican In Name Only". "He's out of his mind, absolutely out of his mind," said Grand Rapids resident Carol Noordhoek, who voted for Amash in the past, but said she "absolutely will not" vote for him in 2020. Wayne Weller, from nearby Grandville, echoed that: "He's so far out there that he's a Democrat." Even with the venom directed toward Amash, the event was also somewhat festive. It was Flag Day, Donald Trump's birthday and the anti-Amash protesters sang Happy Birthday to Trump as they waved flags, waved inflatable rhinos and a pro-Trump float circled the block. The mass protest was the latest   and most highly visible   wave of blowback against Amash since the 39-year-old libertarian-leaning Republican declared on Twitter that Trump engaged in impeachable conduct by obstructing justice during the Robert Mueller investigation. It was also the latest sign that dissent in Trump's Republican party is not to be tolerated and that those who break ranks will bring down the ire of the party machine, the White House itself and Trump's fervent supporters. Amash has been the lone sitting Republican congressman to call for Trump's impeachment, and his political career   at least in his own party   is now very much in question. In the days following his tweet, several Republicans announced that they would challenge Amash for his seat in 2020. A poll released this week by the Michigan political news outlet MIRS put one of those challengers, thepro-Trump state congressman Jim Lower, up by 16 points in a hypothetical head-to-head match-up. Amash's impeachment stance predictably drew the president's hostile attention too. "Justin is a loser who sadly plays right into our opponents hands!" Trump tweeted. This week, the Trump administration suggested it may support an Amash challenger in the primary, and the Republican National Committee is considering the rare step of backing an incumbent's opponent. Last week, the billionaire DeVos family, of which the education secretary, Betsy Devos, is a part, announced it would cut off financial support for Amash. The mega donors have directly contributed $300,000 to his campaign throughout his career. That news came just as Amash announced his resignation from the conservative House Freedom Caucus that he co-founded several years ago. He faced criticism from the group, though it stopped short of forcibly removing him. However, if Amash is fazed by the blowback, he isn't publicly showing it, and he isn't new to the pressure of being at odds with party leadership. He landed in office when Republicans and the Tea Party took control of Congress in the 2010 midterms, and like many of those who were part of that wave, he hasn't always played by Republican leadership's rules. While Republicans generally vote with the party about 95% of the time, Amash has only done so about 62% of the time throughout his career. He recently broken with Trump on the border wall, the Saudi Arabian war, tariffs and loosening firearm regulations. When Donald Trump Jr trash talked on Twitter this week Amash zinged the president's son. "See you soon Justin… I hear Michigan is beautiful during primary season," Trump Jr tweeted. "If it's what you say I love it especially later in the summer," Amash responded, quoting a 2016 email Trump Jr sent ahead of the Trump Tower meeting in which a Kremlin-linked lawyer offered dirt on Hillary Clinton. Moreover, Amash says he has more support than his party is aware of. He told the Detroit News that some of his Republican colleagues privately said they agree with him, but he declined to name them. He also told the outlet this week he was "confident" of his re-election chances. At a recent town hall on the issue , Amash stressed Congress's "duty to keep the president in check". "I believe in the people I represent," he said. "I believe the people are smart enough to figure out what's going on … The president did much worse than I did in this district." Meshawn Maddock, one of the organizers of the Grand Rapids protest, dismissed that idea. "We can't ignore this   he's directly attacking the president," Maddock said. "He's a libertarian. Actually he just needs to stop running as a Republican and come out as a libertarian." Amash may do just that. There are rumors that Amash will seek the Libertarian party's 2020 nomination, which he did not rule out at a recent town hall. Were he successful in seeking the party's nomination, he could potentially do serious damage by siphoning Republican votes from Trump in a state that the president won by only 10,000 votes. "I've said many times, I don't rule things like that out," Amash said. "If you're fighting to defend the constitution, if you find a way to do that that's different and maybe more effective, then you have to think about that." But those who gathered in Grand Rapids were convinced Amash was living out his final days in politics. "If President Trump were here today, he would say 'Justin, you're fired!'" Maddock told the protesters to loud cheers.


The Steelers are adding another candidate for playing time in their post- Antonio Brown receiving corps. Mike Garafolo of NFL Media reports that the Steelers are signing Johnny Holton . Holton was cut by the Eagles last week. Holton signed with the Eagles in January after spending the last three years in Oakland. He had 11 catches for 252 yards and three touchdowns in 31 games spanning the 2016 and 2017 seasons, but only saw action in one game last year. Holton also saw frequent work on special teams with the Raiders. Holton will be the 11th receiver on the 90-man roster in Pittsburgh. With JuJu Smith-Schuster , James Washington , Donte Moncrief , Ryan Switzer , Eli Rogers and third-round pick Diontae Johnson at the top of the list, it may be an uphill climb for others to find spots.


MIDDLETOWN, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP)   New Jersey regulators have denied permits for a pipeline expansion project. The Northeast Supply Enhancement Project would expand the Transcontinental gas pipeline that extends from Texas to the northeast coast. The proposed underwater 23-mile pipeline would carry natural gas from Pennsylvania to New York, traveling under the Raritan Bay in New Jersey. New York state regulators rejected the proposal in May . Both New York and New Jersey regulators cited environmental and water quality concerns. Web Extra: Read the New Jersey DEP's letter explaining their decision (.pdf) The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection rejected the permits without prejudice, meaning the Oklahoma-based energy company Williams can reapply. Williams Companies says it will re-adjust plans and re-apply. Proponents say bringing more natural gas into the area is desperately needed and would lower energy bills, while environmentalists say it will damage Raritan Bay by stirring up tons of contaminated particles now resting on the bottom and covered by sand. (© Copyright 2019 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)


Kevin Shattenkirk 's time in New York has not gone as well as he or the Rangers had hoped. Two years into his pricey contract, he found himself a healthy scratch at times last season. Not surprisingly, Larry Brooks of the New York Post reports that the Blueshirts tried to trade the 30-year-old earlier in the season while being willing to retain 50% of his contract, but had limited interest. While Shattenkirk has never been known as a defensive dynamo, he had been a consistent point producer, notching at least 43 points in five of the six seasons before signing with New York. (The one season he didn't was the lockout-shortened campaign.) However, that level of production hasn't followed him; Shattenkirk had just 28 points in 2018-19, the lowest of any full season he has played. New York has Neal Pionk and Anthony DeAngelo returning for next season on the right side, while Brendan Smith -- whom Brooks notes is a buyout candidate -- is also on the roster. The recently acquired Adam Fox just put pen to paper on an entry-level deal and could very well push for a roster spot right away. That could very well push Shattenkirk outside of the lineup on a regular basis, which should only increase their efforts to move him. Shattenkirk has two years remaining on his contract that carries a $6.65 million Average Annual Value although the salary is lower than that in each season. While Shattenkirk hasn't fit in well at all with the Rangers, a team could show some interest this summer, depending on how things go on the trade market or in free agency. Even if that happens, it appears that GM Jeff Gorton will be selling quite low to do so, a rough turn of events for their prized free agent signing just two years ago. Related slideshow: Best of 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs (provided by imagn)


Manny Machado received a share of boos during his return to Dodger Stadium on Tuesday night. Machado played 82 games for the Dodgers last season (including playoffs) after being acquired by Los Angeles in a trade with the Orioles. He decided to sign with the San Diego Padres in free agency and returned this week to Dodger Stadium for the first time with his team. He received some boos for his first at-bat: Manny Machado greeted by boos, although Franmil Reyes' homer had already irked the home crowd. pic.twitter.com/FTVNaN8Lyh   Jeff Sanders (@sdutSanders) May 15, 2019 Machado later reminded the Dodgers of what they let go. He crushed a two-run home run to deep left field in his second at-bat off Clayton Kershaw, his fourth homer against the Dodgers on the season and second off Kershaw. Manny Machado moonshot? MANNY MACHADO MOONSHOT #FriarFaithful | @Padres | @MLBONFOX pic.twitter.com/u6PSsTBpw3   FOX Sports San Diego (@FOXSportsSD) May 15, 2019 Machado will trade the boos for homers any day. He's up to nine blasts this season, with nearly half coming against his former team. Related slideshow: The 2019 MLB season (Provided by imagn)


New York Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton left Tuesday's game against the Toronto Blue Jays, with the cause believed to be getting his hand unintentionally stepped on . That doesn't appear to be the case anymore. The team announced that Stanton will undergo an MRI tonight for a left knee contusion, sustained during his slide into third base in the bottom of the first inning. #Yankees say Stanton left game with a right knee contusion and will undergo an MRI this evening   Bob Klapisch (@BobKlap) June 26, 2019 Not the news that the Bronx Bombers and their fan base wanted to hear, especially after Stanton returned just last week. Stanton's season has seen plenty of road bumps and pit falls. In the opening days of New York's 2019 campaign, Stanton hit the injured list with torn biceps. The slugger's rehab stint only grew larger, after developing a strained left shoulder and a left calf strain. Giancarlo Stanton left tonight's game with a right knee contusion. He will undergo an MRI tonight.   New York Yankees (@Yankees) June 26, 2019 Fans were just getting used to their new "Murderer's Row," which included Stanton, Aaron Judge, Edwin Encarnación, and Gary Sánchez. Now, it appears that has hit yet another stop, something the 2019 Yankees are all too accustomed to hearing. For now, the Yankees will wait with bated breath to see if another injured list stint looms for Stanton. Related slideshow: The 2019 MLB season (Provided by imagn)


Alex Albon says he was forced to fight Formula 1 championship leader Lewis Hamilton during the latter stages of the 2019 German Grand Prix, and it ultimately cost him several positions. The Toro Rosso driver stayed out of trouble during the chaotic middle part of the race to run fifth, which became fourth when Renault's spun off on lap 40 of 64, bringing out the safety car. At that point to close onto Albon's tail. Read Also: Hamilton says German GP was "like Snakes and Ladders" German GP: Verstappen wins crazy race, disaster for Mercedes Hamilton had reported that his tyres were in poor condition, but Mercedes viewed a pitstop as an action of last resort since the world champion would have to serve a five-second penalty for an earlier infraction. It was therefore make-or-break time for Albon when the race restarted. "To be running fifth for most of the race - and it was a genuine fifth - I think our pace was really where we were," he said. "Actually, the first thing that put us out of play was that I was almost forced to fight with Lewis. I didn't really want to, but he made a mistake and I thought, 'OK, he's not really in my race,' and I was more worried about Carlos behind. "But I was like, 'OK, here we go, we're going to end up battling.' And I lost a couple of positions there." Albon capitalised on a slip by Hamilton at Turn 3 immediately after the restart to get a run on the Mercedes down to the hairpin, but couldn't make the move stick and lost out to Sainz and Alfa Romeo's . "I didn't want to overtake him [Hamilton] but I was kind of caught in a position where I had to try it," said Albon. "And we lost a bit of ground and the guys on better tyres undercut us quite severely." Racing Point's stopped just as the safety car peeled off before the restart. This enabled Stroll and Kvyat to run second and third behind race leader once the rest of the field made their stops, and paved the way for Kvyat's remarkable podium finish. But it left Albon having to fight past Magnussen and defend from the other Red Bull of in the final stages, ultimately finishing sixth. "To be honest, it's a weird feeling," said Albon. "It's a slightly disappointing sixth position. "It's one of those things, there's no-one to blame, it's just - I think the guys at the back knew they could risk it, and it worked."


Denver Broncos offensive lineman Nico Falah is expected to be placed on injured reserve after suffering a season-ending Achilles injury at practice Monday. The injury happened on Day 1 of the team's organized team activities. Falah (6-4, 301 pounds) entered the league as an undrafted free agent out of USC with the Tennessee Titans last year. After failing to make the Titans' 53-man roster, he signed with the New York Jets' practice squad. Denver signed Falah off New York's practice squad last year and he spent the final 10 weeks of the season on the Broncos' active roster. He is yet to appear in a regular season NFL game. Falah tweeted Monday that he's keeping a positive mindset. Positive mindset only. https://t.co/tvD9zienbR - Niccs (@NicoFalah) May 14, 2019 Had he not suffered an Achilles injury, he likely could have won the team's backup center job this summer. The only true center currently on the team's roster is undrafted free agent Ryan Crozier. Denver is expected to have guards Connor McGovern, Dalton Risner, Sam Jones and Austin Schlottmann spend time at center this season. At the moment, McGovern appears to be the favorite to win the starting job. After placing Falah on injured reserve, the Broncos will have an open spot on the 90-man offseason roster. MORE: This video from behind the bench might be the best view of Kawhi Leonard's buzzer-beater NBA Free Agency 2019: The top players Report: Chicago Bulls could offer top-6 pick for Lonzo Ball in trade Steelers looking mediocre in Peter King's latest NFL power rankings Report: Chargers expected to have joint practice with Rams


BALTIMORE (WJZ)   Several Maryland state parks are no longer admitting new people after reaching capacity on Memorial Day. According to Maryland State Parks, North Point, Point Lookout are filled to capacity as well as the Patapsco Avalon area. Point Lookout State Park is now closed and no more cars may enter. We will retweet when the Park is open. #pointlookout #pointlookoutsp Point Lookout ahora está llena y no pueden entrar más autos. Vamos a retwittear cuando el parque está abierta.   Maryland State Parks (@MDStateParks) May 27, 2019 Sorry, the Patapsco Avalon area is full & no more people may enter. We will tweet as soon as the park opens. #PatapscoSP   Maryland State Parks (@MDStateParks) May 27, 2019 North Point State Park is currently filled to capacity and is closed to new visitors. We will send out another tweet once we reopen.   Maryland State Parks (@MDStateParks) May 27, 2019 Several parks also were filled to capacity Sunday and the same issue happened last year on Fourth of July.


The Callaway Epic Forged irons might raise eyebrows with their price, but what really should garner attention for is how they pursue new kinds of distance with a face made of a stainless steel that has been around the game for half a century. Rather than trying to justify its $300-a-stick price point by using some bizarro super metal alloy recently added to the periodic table, the Epic Forged makes its case for a bigger ticket with a more direct push: proven materials, intense engineering and the kind of distance in an iron set that makes sense through the entire bag. The key to this performance rests in new thinking about how Callaway's proven wraparound cupface piece could be further developed. Instead of the relatively common approach of a face insert made of a flat forged or pressed sheet of metal, the Epic Forged irons benefit from face topology, the unique variable thicknesses that move from thick to thin and back to thick again to optimize trajectory and spin for ideal distance. In all, there are four different face designs on the Epic Forged irons, said Scott Manwaring, Callaway's director of iron design. "We spent a lot of time trying to exceed the performance of 17-4 and we chased this to the bitter ends of the world," Manwaring said. "We could have delivered a sexy material story, but with what we were able to learn from changing the topology profile, 17-4 would deliver the sexy performance story." What also fuels that performance story is how the Epic Forged irons borrow the suspended tungsten weighting first seen in the super game improvement Big Bertha irons to use in the long and middle irons. So not only do the Epic Forged irons build a more sophisticated face design than Callaway's popular players distance Apex irons , they also deliver the Big Bertha's kind of extra game-improvement iron type launch thanks to a tungsten slug wrapped in urethane filled with microspheres. That base improves feel and allow the face to flex at the same time. These game improvement irons actually use more tungsten than the super game improvement Big Bertha irons to lower the center of gravity (CG) further for distance-creating launch and spin where it's needed depending on the loft of the iron. The system of tungsten in thermoplastic urethane microspheres frees up the design to allow the weighting to be positioned uniquely for each iron. It's the first time that system has been used in one of the company's forged irons. "As you gain control of that topology you get to choose where you want to have launch angle and spin and where you want to focus on speed and launch angle, where you might want to have speed and spin. So with the 3-4-5 irons you want to weight it towards distance and your 8-9-P you might want to weight it more towards stopping power." The mix of club-specific tungsten and face designs as well as constructions allows the Epic Forged to feature the strongest lofts in the Callaway family of irons. That includes a 27-degree 7-iron, which is six degrees stronger than some comparable irons. Manwaring said the strong lofts create a platform for ball speed, but the other elements make sure that speed works in concert with launch and spin. It creates new possibilities for an old but reliable material like 17-4 stainless steel, Manwaring said. "There's a reason cavity back irons evolved to be what they were," he said. "It's driven by getting the CG position right. We genuinely believe that the ability to lower the CG at the same time as adding speed gives us access to stronger lofts in a way that don't play as strong as some other people's strong lofts. "You can say it's a 3-iron based on the specs, but when we see average golfers hit these clubs, the quality of the shot and the potential for miss is actually closer to their 5-iron. It's amazing that people still hit that 5-iron that well, but we've done all these technology enhancements and that lets them hit it better than they hit their 3-iron. So they start to associate it as a 5-iron because that's the quality of shot they've seen with their 5-iron." The Epic Forged irons feature a body and hosel forged from 1025 carbon steel to further enhance feel. The tungsten weight is higher and closer to the face (through resistance welding) in the short irons to provide further control of launch and spin, but the face cup design runs all the way through the pitching wedge for the first time in a forged iron for Callaway. Completing the luxury package is a high-end focus on shafts. The stock offering will be the Aerotech Steelfiber FC, with the Mitsubishi Tensei AV Silver in graphite. The Epic Forged irons will be available at retail ($300 per club, 5-iron through A-wedge) Aug. 2. Click here for more information. See the video.


eBay plans to launch a site-wide Crash Sale on July 15, the same day that Amazon plans to kick off its two-day Prime Day mega-sale. eBay promises deals will offer discounts of up to 80% on a variety of products, including items from Apple , Garmin and Samsung , among others. One might be forgiven for concluding eBay is calling it a Crash Sale because it plans to crash Amazon's Prime Day party, but it's more likely that eBay is mocking Amazon, suggesting its servers will crash during the sale, as they did last year . "eBay is primed to deliver exactly what shoppers want during this year's crash (sale)," Jay Hanson, COO of Amazon Americas, said in a statement. "July has become a massive shopping season, and our summer sales include blockbuster deals that will not disappoint." With the announcement, eBay is first retailer to launch a head-to-head counter sale to Amazon's annual monster sales event. It's probably a safe bet that this won't be the only challenger to Amazon's sale, which typically sets one-day sales records each year. Amazon said Monday its sale will start on July 15 just after midnight Pacific Time and run for 48 hours, the longest Prime Day sale ever, up from 36 hours the year before. But unlike Amazon, eBay is planning three weeks of deals, culminating with its Crash Sale. Kicking off during the first week of July, eBay's July 4th Savings will feature up to 85% off kitchen appliances , camping gear and robotic vacuums . Its Hot Deals for Hot Days sale will feature new deals offering 80% off products each day, including smart home devices and other home appliances.


In western New York, folks have heard all the problems about the region. It's too cold. It snows all year. There's nothing to do. Other places don't have a state tax. This perception overwhelms the narrative of the area. It supposedly impacts a professional athlete's decision to sign as a free agent with the Buffalo Bills. Even the greatest quarterback in Bills history wasn't interested in moving north after he was drafted. (As we know, he eventually came around on his love for the area). For a time, veteran linebacker Lorenzo Alexander felt the same way. However, his tune changed too as he stripped back some of the cliches about Buffalo while hanging around the team's facilities on Friday while reporters were in Orchard Park getting a look at rookie minicamp. "I was probably one of those guys at one point," Alexander said to 13WHAM-TV in response to the negativity that some have about Buffalo. "It's ignorance because you have never been up here… I'm a California guy. The only thing is cold." Alexander referenced the glory days of the franchise, too. "I remember the four Super Bowls." He tempered this with, "and it was snowing." "That's what you associate it with until you get up here, live in the city, meet the people. You realize the wealth of resources, of human resources, it's just a great community, family-oriented," Alexander added. "They have a lot of things to do, too. We had Jay-Z, Ariana Grande, Justin Timberlake, just to name a few concerts. I mean, Hamilton was here at Shea's in the Theatre District." He also referenced our friends to the north. "Toronto's not too far away, Niagara Falls, so there's a lot to offer in this community to do as well as the people here and I think you just have to come here to experience that," Alexander said. Alexander has shared what many in western New York already know. In addition, this offseason shows that free agents are scared away from the region by weather or other half-hearted arguments against the area. It's apparent that the Buffalo management has impressed free agents, as the team lured several players to the area during the initial signing period. It doesn't hurt that many view the job that Brandon Beane and Sean McDermott have done as positive. MORE: Most bizarre and incredible catches by fishermen in past decade Steph Curry's Game 6 win keeps parents Dell and Sonya from splitting up NBA Free Agency 2019: The top players Kyrie Irving 'has had discussions' about playing for the Lakers Riley Ridley was one of the best value picks from the 2019 NFL draft