Sen. Bernie Sanders will offer a robust defense of his democratic socialist political philosophy Wednesday amid growing clamor from centrist Democrats that some of his proposals on health care and climate change play into the hands of President Trump. The defense will be offered in a speech at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., that has been billed by the Sanders campaign as an opportunity for the White House hopeful to explain democratic socialism in its historical context. Sanders   and Democrats writ large   are facing fire from Trump , who has turned "socialism" into an attack line and charged that the Democratic presidential field has embraced an agenda being driven by the party's liberal-wing. The president has attempted to pin the label on Democratic opponents on Twitter and warned Americans about "new calls to adopt socialism in our country." But Sanders is expected to push back against that criticism, charging that Trump just supports a different kind of socialism. "While President Trump and his fellow oligarchs attack us for our support of democratic socialism, they don't really oppose all forms of socialism," Sanders will say, according to excerpts of his speech released by the Vermont senator's presidential campaign. "They may hate democratic socialism because it benefits working people, but they absolutely love corporate socialism that enriches Trump and other billionaires." More: Trump looks to pin 'socialism' label on Democrats ahead of 2020. Will it stick? Sanders stands alone among the field of nearly two dozen major Democratic presidential candidates to identify as a "democratic socialist." The 2020 candidates, by and large, support policies to expand health care coverage, raise taxes on the rich, offer student-debt forgiveness and hike the minimum wage. But some in the Democratic field part ways with Sanders on his calls for Medicare-for-All, a policy which would upend the private insurance system by expanding Medicare to cover every American, and his embrace of the Green New Deal, an ambitious proposal to curb climate change championed by fellow democratic socialist Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. CBO weighs in: 'Medicare for All' system could be complicated, potentially disruptive, say budget analysts An intra-party debate Sanders has faced pointed criticism in recent days from several Democrats trailing in the polls . They say an embrace of democratic socialism will lead to certain defeat in November 2020. "We must be progressive, but also pragmatic," Hickenlooper said in a speech before a gathering for Iowa Democrats Sunday. "We need a dreamer, but also a doer. We must present a bold vision for the future, but we also must acknowledge that the most effective charge Republicans can level against us is 'socialism.'" Both Hickenlooper and fellow 2020 candidate John Delaney faced jeers earlier this month at the California Democratic Party's annual convention   a gathering of party activists and delegates   for their criticism of policy ideas that Sanders is embracing. Delaney, as well as 2020 candidate Sen. Michael Bennet , have argued against Sanders' Medicare-for-All pitch, saying it will lead to millions of Americans who prefer to keep private insurance coverage being pushed from their plans. "Senator Sanders' Medicare-for-All plan makes for a good talking point but is in fact bad policy and bad politics," said Delaney, a former U.S. House member from Maryland. Sanders in past public comments has described his views on democratic socialism as centered on creating a decent standard of living for all Americans. He made a speech in November 2015, months before the start of the 2016 primaries and caucuses, in which he explained his democratic socialist beliefs were not shaped by Marxism or an abolition of capitalism. In his speech Wednesday, Sanders plans to nod to Franklin D. Roosevelt's 1944 State of the Union remark that "true individual freedom cannot exist without economic security and independence." "Now, we must take the next step forward and guarantee every man, woman and child in our country basic economic rights   the right to quality health care, the right to as much education as one needs to succeed in our society, the right to a decent job, the right to affordable housing, the right to a secure retirement and the right to live in a clean environment," Sanders will say, according to the excerpts of the speech. "We must recognize that in the 21st century, in the wealthiest country in the history of the world, economic rights are human rights." Sanders stands in second place in nearly all national and early-state polls behind former Vice President Joe Biden. In recent weeks, he has seen his support slip slightly, while backing for Sen. Elizabeth Warren, of Massachusetts, and South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg has risen. Iowa Poll: Joe Biden leads, followed by Sanders, Warren and Buttigieg He has offered some of the hardest jabs among Democratic hopefuls against Biden, dismissing the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination for offering "middle of the road" prescriptions on big issues like health care and income inequality. But Biden, who has sought to bill himself as a centrist unifier, and other top tier candidates have yet to take on Sanders directly. Other Democratic candidates have attempted to delicately distance themselves from democratic socialist label, even while finding some common ground on policies with Sanders. Warren, who like Sanders has sought to frame herself on the trail as a progressive champion of working people, said during a March interview with the writer Anand Giridharadas at the annual South by Southwest conference in Austin that she was not a democratic socialist. She told the writer that she believed there was "enormous amount to be gained from markets" but that "markets without rules are theft." "Markets have to have rules. They have to have a cop on the beat," she added. Buttigieg on the campaign trail has charged that Trump and Republicans have tried to brand Democratic ideas as "socialist" to disparage ideas, but that the term has lost the negative connotation for younger Americans who did not grow up during the Cold War. "A lot of people are throwing around these words like socialism, right?" B uttigieg said last month while campaigning in Iowa . "Mostly because they think it's a kill switch on a Democratic idea like the Affordable Care Act, conceived by conservatives and invented by Republicans. And as soon as a Democratic president said we ought to do it, well, that's socialism." Trump vs. Biden: Septuagenarian rivals try to demonstrate vigor in head-to-head stops How do voters feel? Americans today are more closely divided than they were earlier in the last century when asked whether some form of socialism would be a good or bad thing for the country. While 51% of U.S. adults say socialism would be a bad thing for the country, 43% believe it would be a good thing, according to a Gallup poll published last month . That marks a sharp contrast with a 1942 Roper/Fortune survey that found 40% describing socialism as a bad thing, 25% a good thing and 34% not having an opinion. "Most voters care less about what you call yourself and more about what you're going to do for them," said Neil Sroka, a spokesman for liberal group Democracy for America. "That at its core is what most people on the left side of spectrum are focused on and what most voters are going to care about." Still, Jim Kessler, executive vice president at the center-left think tank Third Way, said that socialist tag, if it stuck, could be damaging. Kessler noted the track record of candidates endorsed by the Sanders-aligned group, Our Revolution, during the 2018 midterm election. The group endorsed 35 candidates for gubernatorial, Senate and House races, but their candidates won just five of those races. "We have never elected a national Democrat to the White House who is far to the left," Kessler said. "Walter Mondale won one state. George McGovern won two. We are whistling past the graveyard if we think that's changed." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bernie Sanders to defend democratic socialism in face of attacks from right and left


While Kim Kardashian West often preaches about practicing safe sun, the star accidentally forgot her SPF on a recent outing. Although the 38-year-old beauty mogul has a lengthy skincare regimen , accidental sunburns can still sometimes happen, which Kardashian West wasn't afraid to admit to her fans on social media. The star, who recently launched a very in-demand KKW Beauty Body Foundation collection , revealed that she used her new formula to mask the redness and burn line. "Sun Burns! UGHHHH I haven't had this happen in years but thank goodness I had my body make up with me last week!" Kardashian West captioned a video shared on her Instagram. In the video clip, Kardashian West wears a plunging tank top that showed her prominent sunburn line across her breasts. RELATED PHOTOS: All Your Burning Beauty Questions, Answered! "Okay guys so I got a major sunburn. So [makeup artist] Mary [Phillips] is going to put on my body makeup. I'm going to do shade medium," she said as Phillips applied the product on her chest. Kardashian West said the burn happened because she was outside most of the day but forgot to apply SPF to her décolletage. "I had no idea. I was out all day and did not put sunscreen on. That is crazy. I haven't had a burn like that since like Mexico," she said. Once the KKW Beauty Body Foundation was applied, her skin looked airbrushed and bronzed. Kardashian West's concept for the product came from her ongoing struggle with psoriasis . "I've learned to live with and not be insecure of my psoriasis, but for days when I want to just cover it up I use this Body Makeup," she said. Kardashian West added, "My formula is so creamy and buildable and has a smooth satin finish. It builds easily for a more full coverage if needed." The star also tested it out on her 85-year-old grandmother Mary Jo "MJ" Campbell 's arms to conceal veins . "My grandma MJ asked me about my Body Makeup and wanted me to come over to help cover her veins," Kardashian West wrote in a lengthy caption underneath the videos. "North & I went straight to her house & showed her exactly how to use it & I love how happy she is with the results!" She added, "My body foundation really evens out and corrects your skin tone and conceals veins and bruises," she added, before concluding, "My formula is super creamy, hydrating and long-lasting!"


Retired Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens has died at the age of 99, ABC News has confirmed. "Retired Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, John Paul Stevens, died this evening at Holy Cross Hospital in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, of complications following a stroke he suffered on July 15. He passed away peacefully with his daughters by his side. He was 99 years old," the Supreme Court confirmed. Stevens was nominated to the high court by Republican President Gerald Ford in 1975 and retired in 2010 after serving more than 34 years on the court. He is survived by his children, Elizabeth Jane Sesemann and Susan Roberta Mullen, nine grandchildren: Kathryn, Christine, Edward, Susan, Lauren, John, Madison, Hannah, Haley, and 13 great grandchildren. His first wife Elizabeth Jane, his second wife, Maryan Mulholland, his son, John Joseph, and his daughter, Kathryn, preceded him in death. Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. released a statement through the Supreme Court following the death announcement. "On behalf of the Court and retired Justices, I am saddened to report that our colleague Justice John Paul Stevens has passed away. A son of the Midwest heartland and a veteran of World War II, Justice Stevens devoted his long life to public service, including 35 years on the Supreme Court. He brought to our bench an inimitable blend of kindness, humility, wisdom, and independence. His unrelenting commitment to justice has left us a better nation. We extend our deepest condolences to his children Elizabeth and Susan, and to his extended family," the statement read. (MORE: Trump slams former justice's call to repeal Second Amendment) Despite being put on the bench by a Republican, Stevens became a hero to liberals voting to limit the use of the death penalty, uphold affirmative action, broaden the core holding of Roe v. Wade and argue for a strict separation of church and state. But Stevens might be best known for his dissent in Bush v. Gore, the controversial Supreme Court decision that halted a recount of Florida ballots and cleared the way for George W. Bush to take the presidency. "Although we may never know with complete certainty the identity of the winner of this year's presidential election, the identity of the loser is perfectly clear," Stevens wrote at the time. "It is the nation's confidence in the judge as the impartial guardian of the rule of law." Stevens was active in legal and political discourse to the very end. In May, he gave an interview to the Wall Street Journal, giving this assessment of our politics today: "I think there are things we should be concerned about, there's no doubt about that," he says, parrying requests for specifics. Eventually, he allows, "The president is exercising powers that do not really belong to him. I mean, he has to comply with subpoenas and things like that." Stevens also penned an op-ed published in The New York Times in March 2018 calling for action to end gun violence. Stevens called for a repeal of the Second Amendment to the Constitution in order to weaken the National Rifle Association's ability to "stymie legislative debate and block constructive gun control legislation." President Donald Trump dismissed Stevens' call to repeal the Second Amendment. "The second amendment will never be repealed," Trump tweeted at the time. "As much as Democrats would like to see this happen, and despite the words yesterday of former Supreme Court Justice Stevens." Speaking at Washington University School of Law in 2016, Stevens was asked what about his legacy. His reply: "I did the best I could." Earlier this year he released his third book - an autobiography - "The Making of a Justice, Reflections on My First 94 Years." Reflecting in the book on the 2000 Bush v Gore decision, he writes, "I remain of the view that the Court has not fully recovered from the damage it inflicted on itself." Stevens was known as a keen tactician on the court. Because he was the senior justice on the liberal side of the bench, he had the authority to assign cases when the chief justice was voting on the other side. Stevens used this authority strategically, sometimes assigning himself the big decisions, but other times working with an undecided justice hoping to bring him or her to his side of the argument. He once told law professor Jeffrey Rosen, "In all candor, if you think somebody might not be solid...it might be wiser to let that person write the opinion." Stevens' rise to the High Court Shortly after graduating from the University of Chicago in 1941, Stevens joined the Navy and served as a code-breaker in WWII, for which he was awarded a bronze star. After the war, Stevens attended Northwestern Law School with funds from the G.I. Bill, after which he served as law clerk to Justice Wiley Rutledge of the Supreme Court during the 1947 term, the court said in a statement. Stevens was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 1949. From 1970-1975, Stevens served as a judge in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Upon his retirement from the Supreme Court in April 2010, then-President Barack Obama hailed Stevens as an "impartial guardian of the law." "Justice Stevens has courageously served his country from the moment he enlisted the day before Pearl Harbor to his long and distinguished tenure on the Supreme Court," the president said. "During that tenure he has stood as an impartial guardian of the law. He's worn the judicial robe with honor and humility. He has applied the Constitution and the laws of the land with fidelity and restraint." Stevens on the issues Abortion: Stevens was not yet on the court when Roe v. Wade, the opinion that legalized abortion, was decided, but he later voted to reaffirm its core holding in Casey v. Pennsylvania. Affirmative Action: In 2003, he voted to uphold the admissions policy of the University of Michigan Law School which took race into consideration in its admissions process. Stevens told an audience at Fordham College in 2006, "With respect to the constitutionality of affirmative action, we have learned that justifications based on past sins may be less persuasive than those predicated on anticipated future benefits." Death Penalty: During his career on the high court, Stevens came full circle on the issue of the death penalty. In 1976, he voted to reinstate the use of the death penalty but 32 years later, he dropped a bombshell: he had come to believe the death penalty was unconstitutional. In Baze v. Rees (2008) he wrote: "I have relied on my own experience in reaching the conclusion that the imposition of the death penalty represents the pointless and needless extinction of life with only marginal contributions to any discernible social or public purposes." Before this revelation, he wrote Atkins v. Virginia (2002), which ended the death penalty for mentally retarded criminals, and voted to strike down the death penalty for juvenile offenders. Campaign Finance: Stevens authored a withering dissent in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, a 5-4 decision that invalidated decades old federal legislation restricting corporate spending in poltical campaigns. Stevens read his dissent from the bench shredding the majority's reasoning, saying "at bottom, the Court's opinion is thus a rejection of the common sense of the American people, who have recognized a need to prevent corporations from undermining self government since the founding, and who have fought against the distinctive corrupting potential of corporate electioneering since the days of Theodore Roosevelt." Gay rights: In 2003, Stevens assigned Justice Anthony Kennedy to write Lawrence v. Taylor, the landmark gay rights case striking down a criminal ban on gay consensual sex. In his opinion, Kennedy relied heavily on a dissent Stevens had written years earlier in an opinion upholding an anti-gay law. Internet: In Sony v. Universal Studios, he wrote the decision that found consumers do not violate federal copyright law when they tape TV programs with their video cassette recorders. Flag Burning: Stevens didn't always express a liberal view in his opinions. In 1989, Stevens, who won a Bronze Star in World War II, wrote a strong dissent in a decision that upheld a protester's right to burn the American flag. Stevens said, "Sanctioning the public desecration of the flag will tarnish its value -- both for those who cherish the ideas for which it waves and for those who desire to don the robes of martyrdom by burning it." National Security: In Rasul v. Bush, Stevens struck a blow to the Bush administration's take on executive power when he said that federal courts have the jurisdiction to hear challenges to foreign nationals being held in Guantanamo Bay. "In national security cases under the second Bush administration, Guantanamo-type cases, he was very strong in ruling against what he said were excessive uses of presidential power and in expanding judicial power in the national security area," said National Journal columnist Stuart Taylor. Stevens: A Judicial Conservative? In the few interviews the justice has granted over the years, he has steadfastly maintained that he is a judicial conservative, despite his liberal votes. He suggests that he hasn't changed, but the court became more conservative. "I see myself as a conservative, to tell you the truth," he told ABC in 2007, just after the death of Gerald R. Ford, the president who nominated him. In that interview, Stevens expressed his admiration for Ford, saying, "I have to tell you I was amazed to find how intelligent he was; right away, I realized I was talking to a very sound, good lawyer, which is kind of contrary to the image he portrayed to the press as sort of being a klutz or something. He was anything but. He was a charming, decent guy." As for Ford, until his death, he maintained how proud he was of his decision to name Stevens to the court. In 2005, Ford sent a letter to the Fordham Law School which said, in part, that Stevens, "served his nation well, at all times carrying out his judicial duties with dignity, intellect and without partisan political concerns. (MORE: Liberal Justice John Paul Stevens to Retire From Court) "Justice Stevens has made me, and our fellow citizens, proud of my three-decade-old decision to appoint him to the Supreme Court," Ford wrote. Stevens has the letter framed in his chambers. Stevens was born in Chicago in April 1920 to a wealthy South Side family. His father owned the famed Stevens Hotel, which is now the Chicago Hilton. He graduated from the University of Chicago in 1941 and then served as a Navy intelligence officer. He graduated from Northwestern University Law School in 1947. Stevens was just a few years away from breaking the record for the longest serving member of the court held by William O. Douglas who stepped down after 36 years on the bench. But former Stevens clerks say their boss had no interest in breaking records. Unlike most other justices, he wrote the first draft of his opinions himself, he continues to play tennis and commutes to his home in Florida. He told Joan Biskupic of USA Today that he was surprised at the frenzy of speculation over his retirement. "That can't be news," he said in October, declining to reveal his plans. "I'm not exactly a kid." Asked about his legacy in the 2007 interview with ABC, Stevens said he wanted to be remembered on the basis of the opinions he's written. "There's an awful lot of them. They'd have to pick and choose among them," he said. "But you leave -- you know, you leave your record on what you had to say over the years. ABC News' Devin Dwyer, Kate Shaw and Terry Moran contributed to this report.


Two key members of the Broncos offense spent the offseason working their way back from injuries and both of them are set to practice with the team at training camp on Thursday. Running back Phillip Lindsay said earlier this week that he felt ready to practice after a wrist injury that required surgery, but that the team's medical staff and coaches still needed to give him the green light. They apparently agreed with Lindsay because head coach Vic Fangio said on Wednesday that Lindsay is "ready to go" for the first practice of camp. The same is true of wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders . General Manager John Elway said at his press conference that Sanders, who tore his Achilles last year, would not be placed on the physically unable to perform list to open camp. Sanders said on Tuesday that he would not be " full go " at the start of camp and Fangio said they'll "obviously" ease Lindsay back to full speed as well. Fangio added that he expected things to move quickly with Lindsay once camp is fully up and running.


The Seattle Seahawks saw exactly what they needed to from their running backs during Saturday's mock game . The one-two punch of Chris Carson and Rashaad Penny looks to be as just as advertised. "I thought both the runners on the blue team did really well, coach Pete Carroll said after the scrimmage. "They got good space; they made some good things happen. Chris had a couple really nice runs as well. Rashaad is doing great." With Mike Davis now with the Bears, Penny - in his second year - will be tasked with more of the load. It seems all his offseason preparation has paid off. "Rashaad came back with his weight in a place where his body fat was way down from what it was before," Carroll explained. "He had a great offseason, he's stronger and faster than he's been. He looks really, really good right now. We are really excited about it." Carson and Penny will get their first true test this summer when the Seahawks square off against the Broncos Thursday night at CenturyLink Field. MORE: Cleveland Indians completely roasted Colin Cowherd after Baker Mayfield chugged a beer 40 Under 40: Sports Media Talents 2019 Dontrelle Inman doesn't care he's getting buried on Patriots depth chart How Andre Iguodala could still be attainable for Houston What G Alex Lewis' release means for Ravens


The Oklahoma City Thunder have been a solid defensive team in recent seasons led by Defensive Player of the Year candidate Paul George, but they have been missing that extra something. They were missing defensive standout Andre Roberson for their last two playoff runs and they missed him when they were trying to stop Damian Lillard in their latest playoff appearance. However, according to general manager Sam Presti, he may be back on track to return soon. Roberson suffered a torn patellar tendon after 39 games in the 2017-18 season which caused him to miss the rest of that season and he missed the entirety of the 2018-19 season. His last fully healthy season came in 2016-17 when he was named to the All-Defensive 2nd Team. Sam Presti says Andre Roberson should be on track to be ready for the start of next season. - Royce Young (@royceyoung) July 25, 2019 While the Thunder will look much different with the trades of George to the Los Angeles Clippers and Russell Westbrook to the Houston Rockets , having Roberson return will give the team a shot in the arm. He, Chris Paul, Steven Adams, Danilo Gallinari, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander should keep the Thunder at least competitive in the Western Conference. MORE: Mike Trout's perfect 98.6 MPH throw to home plate had everyone in awe Packers GM explains reasoning for releasing DL Mike Daniels Ranking the NBA's Top 10 Big Threes News: Elliott expected in Oxnard, Cowboys great bet to win it all Chiefs rookie RB Darwin Thompson calls Patrick Mahomes: 'A real-life jug machine'


Fort Worth will see a return of last week's hot temperatures over the next few days, according to drone-powered weather forecasting service Saildrone . Temperatures will reach 97 degrees on Wednesday. Light rainfall is also in store on Wednesday. Thursday's forecast shows the highest likelihood of rain at 87 percent, with predicted rainfall of 0.08 inches. Skies will be mostly cloudy today and partly cloudy Saturday through Monday. Winds are expected to reach a modest high of 14 mph on Friday, while today will be calmer. This story was created automatically using Saildrone's local weather forecast data, then reviewed by an editor. We also incorporate historic weather data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


PEBBLE BEACH, Calif.   The twisting and picturesque fairways of Pebble Beach weren't supposed to be Brooks Koepka's brand of vodka. This wasn't Bethpage Black, where Koepka powered his way to his fourth major in his last eight major starts, or Erin Hills, where he won his first major on wide, welcoming fairways. Yet after an eventful first round there he was perched just four strokes off the lead. Maybe this is the ultimate chip for a player who relishes the role of being the overlooked superstar. Although he'd mentioned a promotional spot for this week's championship that didn't include him as a perceived slight, perhaps the real fuel comes from the idea that this wasn't supposed to be his kind of course. It certainly didn't look that way early in his round when the two-time defending champion birdied four of his first six holes to move to within a stroke of the early lead. There were hiccups coming in   a missed green at No. 8 that bounced hard and into the hay, a wayward drive at No. 13 and a tee shot at the iconic 17 th hole that airmailed the green. They all led to bogeys and added up to a 2-under 69 that was four shots off the pace set by Justin Rose. U.S. Open: Full-field scores | Full coverage "It's a battle if you're not going to hit fairways. If you're not going to hit greens, it's going to be tough," said Koepka, who hit just seven of 14 greens in regulation. "I'm actually quite pleased." If that doesn't exactly sound like the guy who is on the verge of becoming the first player in over a century to win three consecutive U.S. Opens, it's yet another indication that Koepka is not a machine despite his often-stoic demeanor. The best evidence of this came at the par-5 closing hole when Koepka pushed his 3-wood off the tee well right of the fairway and opted to play his second shot off a cart path. As he made his way to the green a group of fans cheered from one of the palatial homes along the fairway. "I was trying to hit your house," he said with a smile. Koepka has learned in an amazingly short amount of time the ebb and flow of major championship golf and that if your worst day is under par, particularly at a U.S. Open, you're doing fine. "I would have liked to have shot a couple more. But considering how I hit it coming in, I'm pretty pleased," he said. "I didn't shoot myself out of it. I'm right there. I feel like if I get out tomorrow and get off to a good start, I'm right back into it." He's earned this calmness honestly. He was tied for 33 rd after Day 1 last year at the PGA Championship and tied for 46 th after his first 18 at the '18 U.S. Open on his way to victory at both. By comparison his tie for 16 th at Pebble Beach probably feels like a reason to sleep easy. He might not have started his week like some would have expected, but he's still on pace to finish exactly where one would imagine.


WASHINGTON   Attorneys for former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio said on Thursday in federal court that he had "become a whipping boy to get to the president" as part of the defamation lawsuit he filed against news outlets. In December, attorneys representing Arpaio filed a $300 million lawsuit against CNN, the Huffington Post and Rolling Stone, claiming the outlets had published false information about Arpaio. Arpaio's attorney Larry Klayman alleged "tremendous leftist hatred of Sheriff Arpaio and the president" as seen in the news outlets named in the lawsuit. The outlets filed motions to dismiss the lawsuit. Lawyers representing the news outlets argued their articles had been quickly corrected and did not amount to defamation. For more stories that matter, subscribe to azcentral.com . Stephen Fezesi, a lawyer from Williams and Connolly representing CNN, said that the articles were "substantially true" and did "not come close to proving actual malice," and thus did not amount to defamation. A ruling on the motions is not expected for several days. After the hearing, Arpaio told the USA TODAY NETWORK, "it's been an ordeal. I've been in law enforcement for 58 years around the world. Two parking tickets in my life   and I'm sitting at a defense table at a contempt of court," referring to a July 2017 federal court case that found Arpaio guilty of criminal contempt of court as part of a federal racial-profiling probe into his conduct as sheriff. President Donald Trump pardoned Arpaio a month after the ruling, in August 2017. "Now you have the media calling me a convicted felon, where I lose my right to carry a firearm, to vote," Arpaio continued. "After all this time, I'm being called a convicted felon. I'm not happy. I have a family, we have some businesses, and I may be running for Senate. It's a bigger picture." The news outlets had published articles or aired broadcasts with a single factual error about Arpaio. In January 2019, CNN's Chris Cuomo had referred to Arpaio as a "convicted felon" in a January broadcast. A Rolling Stone piece from November 2018 referred to Arpaio as an "ex-felon." Arpaio's conviction for contempt of court was a misdemeanor, not a felony. A Huffington Post piece from November 2018 referred to Arpaio as being "sent to prison for contempt of court," though Arpaio was never sent to prison. All three outlets rectified the errors shortly afterward and issued corrections. Arpaio's lawyers argued in their lawsuit that he news outlets' publication of stories harmed his chances of winning a U.S. Senate seat in 2020, as well as the chances of receiving funding from the "Republican establishment and donors." This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Joe Arpaio claims defamation in lawsuit against CNN and other outlets


Curious just how far your dollar goes in Detroit? We've rounded up the latest rental offerings via rental sites Zumper and Apartment Guide to get a sense of what to expect when it comes to locating a rental in Detroit if you've got a budget of $1,400/month. Read on for the listings. (Note: prices and availability are subject to change.) Hoodline offers data-driven analysis of local happenings and trends across cities. Links included in this article may earn Hoodline a commission on clicks and transactions. 500 River Place Drive (Gold Coast) Listed at $1,350/month, this 735-square-foot one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment is located at 500 River Place Drive. The residence boasts in-unit laundry. Building amenities include secured entry, a fitness center and garage parking. Pet owners, take heed: Cats and dogs are allowed. Expect a $250 pet fee. According to Walk Score, the surrounding area is somewhat walkable, has some bike infrastructure and has some transit options. (See the complete listing here .) 1 Lafayette Plaisance St. (Lafayette Park) Next, there's this two-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment located at 1 Lafayette Plaisance St. It's listed for $1,386/month for its 1,140 square feet. The listing promises a dishwasher in the unit. Building amenities include a fitness center, a swimming pool and on-site laundry. Hairball alert: Cats are welcome. According to Walk Score, the surrounding area is friendly for those on foot, is convenient for biking and offers many nearby public transportation options. (Take a gander at the complete listing here .) 1722 Parker St. (Indian Village) Here's a three-bedroom, two-bathroom residence at 1722 Parker St. that's going for $1,400/month. Expect to find hardwood floors in the residence. The building features outdoor space. Pet owners, inquire elsewhere: This spot doesn't allow cats or dogs. Future tenants needn't worry about a leasing fee. Per Walk Score ratings, the surrounding area is somewhat walkable, is relatively bikeable and has a few nearby public transportation options. (See the full listing here .) 139 Cadillac Square (Downtown) Finally, check out this 530-square-foot studio apartment that's located at 139 Cadillac Square. It's also listed for $1,400/month. The unit offers hardwood floors. Building amenities include an elevator, assigned parking and a fitness center. Good news for animal lovers: Both dogs and cats are allowed here. According to Walk Score, the surrounding area has excellent walkability, is quite bikeable and is a haven for transit riders. (See the complete listing here .) Working with a tight budget? Here are the cheapest rentals recently listed in Detroit . This story was created automatically using local real estate data from Zumper and Apartment Guide , then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


At least 10 people are dead and eight missing after a boat capsized on a river in southwestern China. The vessel capsized in the remote Banrao village of Guizhou province. (MORE: 6 confirmed dead after midair plane crash over Alaska) The boat's captain was among 11 saved by rescue personnel, including a dozen divers, The Associated Press reported, citing state broadcaster CCTV. Police arrested the captain, and the others who were rescued were rushed to a hospital. (MORE: 4 Americans die in small plane crash in Honduras) The self-built, motorized watercraft wasn't produced by an industrial manufacturer, according to a statement from China's Ministry of Emergency Management obtained by the AP. Accidents on Chinese waterways have declined in recent years because of an increased government emphasis on safety.


The zero-hour pre-draft smoke was exactly that...smoke. The Orioles were in position to take the best prospect available, and sure enough, they did. You know the term "rebuild" that's become synonymous with describing the Orioles? Yeah, I think we can now say that the rebuild has officially started. Last night, it turned out that varying reports regarding the Orioles' uncertainty surrounding the first overall selection held no water. But Beavers do swim. The Orioles did what they needed to do. They did what they should have done. In the end, they picked Oregon State catcher Adley Rutschman, who immediately becomes the literal and metaphorical light at the end of the long dark tunnel. To say that I was conducting the Rutschman hype-train would be more credit than I deserve. I'm not as good at Twitter as my very online friend RDT , who maestro-ed the Rutschman pick on behalf of #OriolesTwitter over the past couple of months. But I definitely bought a ticket a while ago. Whatever a VIP ticket on a train is, I ante'd up for that. Last month, I wrote why common sense would lead to the Orioles picking Rutschman, and it wasn't just because last year's College World Series Most Outstanding Player has the mug to star in a Jimmy's Seafood commercial or Christopher Nolan's next $400 million grosser. His baseball tools are too great to ignore. As a switch-hitter, Rutschman has equally-prolific swings from both sides of the plate. His power numbers surged year-to-year despite seeing fewer strikes, and there's little to doubt in terms of his bat-to-ball skills. Behind the plate, he's as polished in all facets of the necessary catching requisites as baseball has seen in recent memory. As a player, Rutschman has so few questions to answer, and because of his athleticism, his growth as a professional figures to be swift. Though baseball remains the most fickle game in professional sports, Rutschman's cemented work ethic, baseball resume, and   while it can't be quantified   the Captain America kind of aura he carries makes him almost a sure thing. It's easy to say the pick was "obvious" from a distance, but didn't it seem like it? Yeah, he was a kicker so excuse the football analogy, but if Rutschman were a quarterback with a football resume equivalent to his one on the diamond, what kind of debate would there be? Not much of one, right? So, when there were reports that the Orioles may possibly try to "underslot" the first-overall pick and overpay elsewhere in the draft, it never seemed to make sense. Not only did it not make sense in this draft when the Orioles were positioned to pick the clear-cut best player available, but in Mike Elias' first draft, when the emphasis on talent acquisition is as important, a more diverse money-spending strategy seemed unnecessary. Maybe in the summer of 2020 or 2021 will that kind of draft strategy have its benefits. That isn't to say that the Orioles wouldn't have liked the five-tool profile of Bobby Witt Jr. or Andrew Vaughn, who probably has the best pure swing among the available talent. With this draft being the ground floor for what hopefully becomes a more sturdy foundation, the best player available was in fact available, and there never seemed to be a doubt that he would become an Oriole. To Dan Duquette's credit, his recent first-round draft history looks to be taking a drastic turn. Right-handed pitcher Cody Sedlock quickly became an afterthought following ineffectiveness and injuries, but his current 1.44 ERA in over 43 innings has changed his reputation. Lefty DL Hall has only continued to mature at a level conducive to his talent, and is there a hotter pitcher on the planet right now than last year's first-round pick Grayson Rodriguez? Even so, this night had a different feel to it compared to when Duquette was in charge. There was anticipation and excitement. Unfortunately and familiarly, a sense of dread. But in the end, the pick felt collective. It was united. We're a ways away from the bad days slowly morphing into good. With the big club already pacing itself for this same polling position again next summer, good days will continue to be few and far between. But yesterday...yesterday was a good day.


Renault thinks that its best result of the season in the Canadian Grand Prix has put it "back in the game" to pull clear of the midfield battle in Formula 1. After a difficult start to the campaign that was blighted by reliability concerns, Renault proved strong in Montreal last weekend when Daniel Ricciardo and Nico Hulkenberg finished sixth and seventh. Read Also: Ricciardo enjoyed "making life difficult" for Bottas The double points haul moved Renault up fifth place in the constructors' championship and it is now just two points behind customer team McLaren in the fight for best of the rest behind the top three. It is a performance that Renault's F1 managing director Cyril Abiteboul thinks was the best his team could have done, and he hopes it will act as a springboard for more success in the coming races. "It's a good team result, it's the best that we could expect at this point, it puts us back in the game, very close from the McLarens," Abiteboul told Motorsport.com. "It's also good because it was simply a weekend that has happened without an issue, that developed itself without any particular problem. And therefore we see what's possible if we are capable of doing that." Abiteboul is well aware that Renault has had a quick car all season but various issues   including reliability, incidents and strategy errors   have hidden its potential. In Canada, the team finally showed what was possible when it gets everything right. "It's just another demonstration of all the issues and the way that all the issues that we've had early in the season have impacted us," he said. "It's a blueprint, a blueprint of what we need to do, of what we can do. "Frankly I can tell you that from Thursday, Friday onwards, it's been a perfect execution, absolutely no mistakes, absolutely no incidents. So, in all respects, it's a blueprint and an example of what needs to follow. "It was a bit frustrating when you know you have some pace but not exactly that pace to keep on fighting with bigger teams - but frankly we need to take that and be happy with the result." The Canada boost also comes at a great time for Renault, with a major car upgrade coming for the next race in France. "We need to take this result and already focus to the next one, but obviously lots is already in the pipeline for the French Grand Prix," added Abiteboul. "I said the first priority was to fix the problem with the engine, and that was done in Monaco. But Monaco is not very visible for reasons of track sensitivity but was much more visible here, and that's clear. "We said that the next step was improvement to the chassis, and there has been improvement, but indeed more substantial is coming for Ricard. "But we need to execute those improvements properly. There will have to be some tests and so on and so forth. "But that should give us what we want, which is a bit of breathing space against the midfield, so that we can focus also and think a bit more medium-to-long-term to continue our development and to continue our improvement to the top teams." Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes AMG W10, leads Daniel Ricciardo, Renault R.S.19 Photo by: Steve Etherington / LAT Images


NEW YORK (CBSNewYork)   A 74-year-old pharmacist was attacked while on the job early this month in Manhattan. Police said two men threw the man to the ground before raiding prescription cabinets. The suspects allegedly stole pills, including Percocet and oxycodone, along with an iPhone and $3,000 cash. A 74-year-old pharmacist was attacked while on the job early this month in Manhattan. Police are searching for the suspects. (Credit: NYPD) It happened around 12:45 p.m. on July 19 at MNS Pharmacy on Audubon Avenue in Washington Heights. Surveillance video shows one suspect brandish a gun and force the pharmacist to open the locked prescription cabinet. The 74-year-old is thrown to the floor and remains motionless as the robbers dump bottles of prescription drugs into a blue backpack. Police said they're searching for two black men   one last seen wearing a black baseball cap, white T-shirt, black sweatpants with a white stripe, black boots, blue backpack, white dust mask and blue latex gloves, and the other wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, black sweatpants with a yellow stripe and white sneakers. The pharmacist was not seriously hurt and refused medical attention. Anyone with information is asked to call NYPD's Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or 1-888-57-PISTA (74782) for Spanish. You can also submit a tip via the Crime Stoppers website , by Tweeting @NYPDTips or by texting a tip to 274637 (CRIMES) and then entering TIP577.


Jordan Bell had a solid rookie season and things looked promising moving forward. He was a key member of the Golden State Warriors getting past the Houston Rockets in the Western Conference Finals in 2018 due to his pick-and-roll defense. He was becoming a fan favorite at Oracle Arena. But the second-year player was inconsistent in his second season and failed to improve his game. Bell had his moments but struggled, especially on the defensive end. Coach Steve Kerr showed little confidence in him during the postseason and when he did play, it yielded poor results. On Monday, Bell's tenure with the Warriors ended. Mark Medina of The Mercury News has reported that Bell has agreed to a one-year deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Michael Scotto reports that it is a minimum contract of $1.6 million. Jordan Bell agreed to a one-year, $1.6 million deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves, a league source told @TheAthleticNBA . https://t.co/tDdEzpBZd3 - Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) July 1, 2019 The Warriors have the opportunity to match the Timberwolves' offer but it appears unlikely because of the recent sign-and-trade with Kevin Durant and D'Angelo Russell. Bell also had offers from the Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder and Utah Jazz but the Timberwolves seemed to be the best fit for his game. The Warriors will miss his athleticism and shot-blocking ability. But the organization will turn their attention towards Kevon Looney. Bell averaged four points, three rebounds and one block per game with the Warriors. MORE: MLB world pays respects to Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs, who died Monday at age 27 2019 NBA Summer League Rosters Stephen A. Smith: 'Andre Iguodala is planning on joining the Lakers' 10 Best NBA Free Agents Still Available Enes Kanter agrees to 2 year, $10 million deal with Boston Celtics


The Dallas Mavericks wanted guard depth, ideally a guy who can play off the ball some, defend multiple positions, and give coach Rick Carlisle options. They got that in Delon Wright . Wright was a restricted free agent with the Grizzlies, who are sending him to Dallas in a sign-and-trade, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN . The Dallas Mavericks are acquiring Memphis Grizzlies restricted free-agent point guard Delon Wright in a sign-and-trade agreement on a new three-year, $29 million contract, agent Greg Lawrence and team sources told ESPN. The Grizzlies will receive two future second-round picks in the deal and preserve financial flexibility to pursue other options at point guard. Memphis continues to just stockpile assets in the rebuild, and save a little money. Dallas lands a secondary shot creator who showed something after going to Memphis last season, averaging 12.2 points per game in the 26 games he played there. He knows how to attack and get to the rim. Before that he spent time in Toronto and played well next to Kyle Lowry because he has good size (6'5″) and can defend multiple positions. That will translate on a team where Luka Doncic has the ball in his hands much of the time. The problem is Wright is not much of a shooter   29.8 percent from three last season. Play him with Doncic and Wright is a guy teams will help off of, something that could become an issue. The Mavericks got a quality rotation guard at a fair price, that's never a bad move.


One of the Dolphins' free agent acquisitions this offseason is ready to start practicing with the team at training camp. Tight end Dwayne Allen opened camp on the physically unable to perform list with an undisclosed injury, but the stay ended on Wednesday with the team's announcement that Allen has been activated. Allen signed a two-year deal with the Dolphins after being released by the Patriots this offseason. He played in 29 games for New England over the last two years and saw most of his time as a blocker, although he did catch 13 passes for 113 yards and a touchdown. The Dolphins hope second-year tight end Mike Gesicki will make strides as a receiver this year while Allen brings balance to the offense with his blocking skills and experience.


Editor's note: The opinions in this article are the author's, as published by our content partner, and do not necessarily represent the views of MSN or Microsoft. It's no big secret that arts organizations in the United States skew incredibly leftist in comparison with the general citizenry's ideas and attitudes. It is almost axiomatic that our theater companies and museums are operated by and support the art of people with left-leaning politics and social views. It is something we just take for granted, as if artists by their very nature will always tend to be leftists. But leftist hegemony over the arts is not merely the product of some genetic feature of artistic types that makes them prefer Democrats to Republicans. Another significant reason for this is the not-for-profit funding model used by the majority of country's arts organizations. In most cases the successful arts organization is not the one that reaches out to audiences and generates the most earned income, but the ones that can keep the free donated money rolling in. There are a number of reasons why a not-for-profit model will tend to make organizations leftist. The first is that the very nature of asking for money, rather than simply selling tickets, suggests some higher purpose for the arts than mere entertainment. At one point in time, this higher purpose was viewed to be the edification of citizens, providing them with a well-rounded understanding of culture. But increasingly that higher purpose has come to be activism, especially leftist activism. That leads conservative donors to a question: Should they be funding the arts? Let's take the example of Jubilee 2020, a project originally organized within the theater commons Howlround. The original concept behind the Jubilee was that for one year all of the theater produced on American stages would be written by women, people of color, the disabled, LGBT   well, it's easier just to say anybody except straight, white, non-trans men. The current website is a bit more coy about what exactly is intended, likely a result of accurate complaints that the Jubilee is engaging in discrimination, but the original intent still shines through. The essay defining the Jubilee has this polite little section telling white dudes to shut up: "This is also a time for straight, white men to rejoice, to witness, to listen, and to be fed for one year by the stories they've also been denied." Thus far, about 80 theater companies nationwide as well as some universities and even secondary schools have signed the pledge to produce only works written by the supposedly marginalized. Among these theaters are some of the nation's best-known and most important, including HERE arts center in New York City, The Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble in Pennsylvania, Arena Stage in Washington DC, and the Marin Shakespeare Company in California. These are not outliers. In fact, they are a fairly representative cross-section of the not-for-profit arts world. That is to say, this level of political correctness is fairly uniform across the arts. In addition to direct government grants to these companies, which is a whole other story, as 501(c)3 corporations they receive millions of dollars in tax-deductible donations. Now if one is a conservative who believes that people should be treated as individuals, not representatives of their race, sex, or any other identity, if one believes in equal opportunity rather than redistributed opportunity, if one believes that human beings ought not be defined by their demographic proximity to historical oppression, but rather by their unique experiences and abilities, then how can one give money to organizations dedicated to the exact opposite? Now, I know the receptions are nice. And celebrities come out and you get to mingle with them. They tolerate you for a few minutes to help the theater company or arts space they are shilling for. That's fun, and nice. You get photos to put on Instagram. I get it. But maybe you should stop. Because every dollar you give them feeds a fecund and fierce hatred of basic American values. And it isn't just identity politics. Non-profit arts organizations often create content in support of gun control and abortion. They create versions of Julius Caesar in which Donald Trump is stabbed to death on stage. Theatre Communications Group, the leading industry organization of non-profit theater companies, has as part of its mission "activism," which it describes as a "fight for effective cultural and economic policies." Arts organizations do all of this based on the support of taxpayers and donors. When conservatives pull out their checkbooks, thinking, "My, how wonderful and important it is to support the arts," they should think twice. Not only are they very likely giving to organizations that actively promote a political and cultural agenda they oppose, they are also funding the development of artists who will go on to write our television shows and movies, who will help to enact progressive cultural change without any significant input from the American people. Some argue that without this funding the arts will simply disappear, that conservatives should hold their nose and give because no art is worse than art that supports a progressive agenda. But this is a stupid argument. Art is one of the oldest and most fundamentally human phenomenon that exists. There will never be a time when there is no art. Even when governments actively try to suppress art, people make art. Would moving the arts to a free-market model change them? Yes, absolutely. It would look and feel different, but art is a living thing. It is meant to change. Would moving the arts to a free model help break up the leftist hegemony? Here again the answer is likely yes. There is one art form we can look to that is relatively untouched by the non-profit movement. Stand-up comedy exists almost entirely in the free market, and it is more or less the only art form that dares to mock the leftist shibboleths of identity politics and political correctness. Comedians like Jerry Seinfeld and Dave Chappelle regularly challenge the taboos of the left. The universe of stand up has room for the "unfunny" woke comedy of a Hannah Gadsby, but it also has Bill Burr taking aim at progressives. The rest of our art, our plays, operas, ballets, and museum exhibits should reflect the wide range of American political and social views that stand-up does. Right now that is not the case. The best thing that conservatives can do to fix it is to stop giving. Stop feeding a system that we can blatantly see is a breeding ground for leftist ideologies. Let a new system emerge to create art that better reflects what America truly is.


Anna O'Brien , better known as Glitter + Lazers , uses social media to promote body positivity and size inclusiveness among her 361K followers. But her latest post tackles another topic: how sometimes her messages are taken the wrong way. On July 2, O'Brien posted a photo of herself posing in a bikini on Instagram. Shot from behind, it shows off the blogger's revealing two piece and backside but O'Brien explained that the bootylicious photo wasn't meant to be sexy. RELATED: This Plus-Sized Model's Bikini Pic Is Sparking Controversy on Twitter "I've always struggled showing the back of my body in photos," O'Brien wrote in her caption. "Even though these images are never intended to be sexual, because of the shape of my body they get perceived as such. It's especially difficult for me, because I would not consider myself an overtly sexual person (nothing wrong with being so, it's just not something I identify with)." O'Brien explained that while she often gets compliments on her empowering images, they aren't the kind of comments she is looking to receive. "When I get comments on these images complimenting my sexiness, it can feel a bit off- especially when it's not what I was hoping to portray," she continued. "Images like this, are literally just a different side of my body. Life is experienced in all angles." O'Brien has shared dozens of bikini photos to her Instagram account, proving that body shape and beauty aren't mutually exclusive. Last year, the blogger shared that she was asked to stop taking pictures in a bikini because of her size. After the incident, she opened up to People about plus size bodies and their representation in the media. "I think it just goes to show that a plus size woman wearing what every other woman wears is still foreign and scary to a lot of people," she told People . "It's a reminder that taking images like this is important to normalize them." Video: New Mom Shares Empowering Photo of Her Stretch Marks (Provided by Health.com) To get more body positivity delivered straight to your inbox, sign up for the Real Wellness WomenIRL newsletter


A bond measure on the Aug. 6 city ballot in Birmingham is generating feisty opposition from two citizens groups whose leaders were blocked from speaking at last week's City Commission meeting. At the end of the three-hour meeting, at the point when Birmingham City Commission meetings allow members of the audience to speak about topics not on the agenda, two long-time residents were blocked from discussing their opposition to the bond measure. A video of the meeting is available here . It shows one resident (at the 3:12 mark) being told he must stop speaking because he is expressing "political advocacy," which the city attorney then declares is banned by a contract with the cable-television system that broadcasts city meetings. Minutes later, when another resident insists on speaking about the bond, Mayor Patty Bordman abruptly gavels the meeting over, gets up and walks out. [Want more news from southeast Oakland County? Sign up for Woodward 248 , our weekly email newsletter!] This week, residents can attend a meeting that's entirely devoted to explaining the bond measure and its accompanying construction project, called Birmingham NOW, which stands for North Old Woodward. The meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Birmingham Art Center, 1516 S. Cranbrook Road. The meeting is described as an "informational session" on the city website , although it's unclear whether audience members will be allowed to speak. What generated outspoken opposition and last week's confrontations is a bond measure that would add not a penny to the property taxes of Birmingham residents. Instead, the bond   "not to exceed $57.4 million," according to ballot language   would be paid off over 30 years mainly with parking revenues, an arrangement similar to the way Birmingham's other parking decks were funded, according to a city fact sheet. Money from the bond sale would first eliminate a city-owned surface parking lot and also pay to demolish a 53-year-old, five-story parking deck that shows an unsightly face to North Old Woodward in the city's downtown   a deck that needs $6 million in repairs, according to the fact sheet at www.bhamgov.org/birminghamnowprojec t. Next, the bond revenue would combine those sites and pay to build a much larger, 7-story parking deck, with three levels tucked discreetly below ground, adding more than 400 parking spaces to the downtown. That's an increase that Birmingham city planners and the downtown merchant group say is badly needed. The project, which is to involve both public and private components, would also add a public plaza and a commercial building that would face North Old Woodward. That commercial structure, slated to contain retail space, would screen the new structure from view. Expected total development cost? A whopping $133 million, making this one of the biggest single developments ever in Birmingham. The commercial building would house Michigan's first retail location of RH , formerly called Restoration Hardware , an upscale source of classic home fixtures and furnishings that presumably would be welcomed by owners of Birmingham's numerous classic and historic homes. City Manager Joe Valentine said planning groups selected the site four years ago as "the best location for increasing our downtown parking capacity." The new parking deck would boast "modern amenities" such as bright LED lighting, improved entrance and exit designs, an "open-air appearance" and enhanced security. "Most important, it will hold more vehicles," Valentine said. The bond measure, the new parking deck and the overall Birmingham NOW project  including its retail space and outdoor plaza   gained site plan approval from the Planning Commission, and the City Commission has approved putting the bond measure on ballots. As well, former mayor Tom McDaniel penned a guest editorial in the community-oriented Hometown Life newspaper , urging residents to vote yes on the bond measure. But current members of the City Commission could not discuss their views of the project last week, City Commissioner Mark Nickita said in a text message to the Free Press. Their reluctance followed actions of outspoken Birmingham NOW opponent Clinton Baller, who has emailed the Free Press repeatedly in recent months. Baller, who formed the Balance 4 Birmingham citizens group, filed a complaint on July 8 with state election officials about how the city was communicating with residents about the project. Baller's letter requests an "expedited review" by the state and asks "that an order be issued to the city to cease and desist in its efforts to influence the election." State law requires city governments and other public bodies to "maintain strict neutrality" and "not attempt to influence the outcome of an election." Baller was the resident whose demand to be allowed to speak at the City Commission meeting, also on July 8, triggered the mayor's gaveling the meeting over. The other resident blocked from speaking at that meeting, David Bloom of the Birmingham Citizens for Responsible Government, is seen on the video politely telling elected city officials that he would seek legal advice about enforcing his right to speak. Both Baller and Bloom are known for opposing city spending measures. Although developers who are poised to construct the Birmingham NOW project would receive no tax benefits, critics of the project have said Birmingham's leaders are being too generous with the developers. That's the same complaint that opponents have cited in Royal Oak when criticizing that city's massive downtown development plan, now well under way, although in that case the developer did receive incentives. In response to that concern, Royal Oak City Manager Don Johnson told the Free Press last year that government incentives were virtually a necessity when redeveloping older downtowns. "You almost can't build anything in a downtown these days without offering fairly generous incentives. Every office building that's going up here, we have skin in the game," Johnson said.`` In Birmingham, resident Paul Reagan, who attended last week's City Commission meeting, said he and other critics of the city hope that a defeat of the bond measure on Aug. 6 will be their first step in shaking up local government. "We're planning on winning this in August and then winning in November" by electing new members to the City Commission," Reagan said. After that, "we'll be cleaning house," replacing the mayor and city manager, he said. Reagan said he and others believe there are corrupt ties between various parties involved in Birmingham NOW. Still, he added: "I can't see a money trail" and "I have seen no evidence of bribes." MORE: $1.1M Birmingham home is a 'secluded haven' on unusual lot Royal Oak pet stores banned from selling dogs, cats: Here's why Contact Bill Laitner: blaitner@freepress.com. Susan Bromley of Hometownlife.com contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Birmingham leaders muzzle opponents of downtown plan at city meeting


Eagles vice president of player personnel Joe Douglas will interview for the Jets open general manager job this weekend according to Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports. I've been told #Eagles executive Joe Douglas will be interviewing with the #Jets for their general manager position over this weekend.   Charles Robinson (@CharlesRobinson) May 29, 2019 He is currently one of five candidates the Jets have invited to interview. The buzz in the media has suggested that Douglas is the early favorite to get the job. Anybody who remembers past searches knows this could go in any number of directions. Sometimes the early favorite lands the job. Sometimes he doesn't. He might stumble in the interview process. Another candidate might have a great interview and end up impressing the decision makers enough to get the offer. Douglas will get his chance to show the decision-makers he has the correct vision to lead the Jets into the future. Whether that meshes with what Chris Johnson and Adam Gase are looking for is something we will find out in the days and weeks ahead.


The most affordable homes in San Jose will get you less than 1,000-square-feet. How much house you can get in 30 major US cities for $500K If you want to buy a home in a major U.S. city this year, expect to spend far more than the $257,700 the National Association of Realtors says is the median for existing homes. Home prices have risen year-over-year for nearly seven years, but the end result varies greatly by region. In fact, some of the largest cities in the country feature a median home price well beyond $1 million, so it's difficult to tell how much home buyers can get for their money. We took a look through home listings and found what we could get in each market for $500,000 or less. Unsurprisingly, that amount goes much farther in some cities than others. New York, New York The National Association of Realtors puts the average cost of a home in the New York metro area at $428,200, but that includes suburban New Jersey and even parts of Pennsylvania. Within that area are about 31 cities, towns, and neighborhoods where prices exceed $1 million. That said, it isn't impossible to get into New York itself for $500,000 or less. While you may not live in a "Friends"-sized apartment in the Village, you can get a two-bedroom, one-bathroom co-op in Queens just off the R train. Los Angeles, California The quintessential L.A. bungalow remains within reach for home buyers at $500,000, although you may have to compromise on neighborhood. A four-bedroom, two-bathroom Spanish-style bungalow and a two-bed, one-bath hillside fixer both currently fall beneath that price. Chicago, Illinois Half a million dollars goes a long way in Chicago where the median metro home price falls at $265,300. A three-bedroom, two-and-a half-bath family home, for example, is currently on sale for $439,000. Houston, Texas The fourth-largest city in the country and growing, the median home price in Houston is only $240,200. That means you can get yourself a three-bedroom home with two and a half baths and live oak trees outside for $278,000 and pocket the rest. Alternatively you could also pick up a 4,300-square-foot, four-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bath mansion with a two-car garage and clean yourself out. Phoenix, Arizona Another city where houses fall just beneath the national median, Phoenix goes big on houses $500,000 and under. One option currently on the market, for example, boasts three bedrooms and three bathrooms in addition to a heated pool and a three car garage. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania The median cost of a home in the Philadelphia metro area is $240,600, making Philly one of the rare Northeast cities with housing costs below the national median. As a result, $500,000 can get you a 2,100-square-foot condo on Pennsylvania Avenue in a building overlooking the Philadelphia museum of art. San Antonio, Texas It's about 200 miles from San Antonio to Houston, but the same Texas adage applies: Everything is bigger. With median home prices around $231,800, it's little surprise that $500,000 can buy sprawling McMansions of more than 3,700 square feet with four bedrooms and three-and-a half baths. San Diego, California With beaches, wineries, and temperatures consistently in the 70s and 80s, San Diego is popular enough with sun seekers to boast a $650,000 median price for a single-family home. That said, home buyers still have plenty of affordable options including a three-bedroom, two-bathroom '70s bungalow with a pool out back. Dallas, Texas While pricier than other Texas cities on this list, the $262,100 median price of the average Dallas home is still beneath the national average. That means homes of more than 3,000 square feet with three-car garages are readily available. San Jose, California San Jose is the most expensive city in the U.S. for homebuyers, with the median price of a home here reaching $1.3 million. The most affordable homes under $500,000 will get you less than 1,000-square-feet, like this two-bedroom, one-bath condo. Austin, Texas Austin has seen its population increase more than 20% since 2010, putting its median home price of $318,200 among the highest of Texas cities. That said, this price can get you a lovely 1,200-square-foot post-war cottage with three beds and two baths. Jacksonville, Florida Jacksonville's median home price of $247,500 is a steal nationally, but nearly 25% more than the median cost of most other houses in the South. That said, this price can still get you a nearly 3,000-square-foot, three-bedroom house on a lake or a four-bathroom turn-of-the-century fixer with a guest house. San Francisco, California With median home prices upwards of $900,000, it's actually slightly less expensive to live in San Francisco, California than San Jose -- though not by much. A $500,000 budget will get most buyers a quaint one to two-bedroom condo or townhouse. Columbus, Ohio The median $207,600 price of a single-family home here is on the high side of the Midwest median, but still a bargain for buyers nationally. Ohio's capital and most bustling college town is teeming with large, early 20 th Century homes with dark woodwork, wainscotting, built-ins and upwards of 3,000 square feet of space. You can get fireplaces, french doors, and three to four-bedrooms and still have enough money left over for renovations. Fort Worth, Texas The National Association of Realtors lumps Dallas and Fort Worth into the same region, but smaller Fort Worth can offer what Dallas can't: Lots of space for the price. Homes with five bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths and 5,500-square feet aren't out of the question, nor is a 3,700-square-foot four-bedroom home with a three-car garage, pool, and a nearby golf course. Indianapolis, Indiana With a median home price of just $188,900, buyers in Indianapolis have plenty of options. A few include a 1,700-square-foot, two-bedroom home in a renovated building in the old Northside and a 4,000-square-foot, four-bedroom renovated Craftsman with its own driveway and garage. Charlotte, North Carolina Charlotte has seen more than a 17% population growth over the last decade, which accounts for its $245,000 median home price. While that influx has meant a lot of new construction, Charlotte's vastness means you can find yourself in a 5,000-square-foot, six-bedroom country home on three acres at this price, or in a 2,000-square-foot, three-bedroom condo with a roof deck closer to downtown. Seattle, Washington Seattle's $502,800 median cost for a single-family home is high even by West Coast standards. If you want to live in Seattle proper, your best bet might be a fixer-upper or condo. Although small homes in West Seattle are also a good option for this price range. Denver, Colorado Denver's median home price of $450,100 falls well above the West Coast median. However, the city's sprawl means this price won't necessarily limit your buying ability. Denverites can still invest in properties with over 1,100 square feet. Washington, D.C. Unsurprisingly, the center of U.S. government isn't an inexpensive place to live. Yet it has a surprising number of single-family homes available for just above its $426,000 median price. That includes some of the 1,200-square-foot, two-bedroom row homes in Hill East, a 2,500-square-foot midcentury modern in Fort Dunpont Park and a 1,000-square-foot row home in Mount Vernon. Boston, Massachusetts At $491,000, Boston's median housing price is just $9,000 less than our limit. However, if you're willing to live a bit off of the T (Boston's subway system), you can still find some great space at this price. Not far from the Commuter Rail's Needham line in West Roxbury, for example, a 1,100-square-foot, three-bedroom home sells for this price, as does a 1,900-square-foot four-bedroom with a garage. El Paso, Texas $500,000 can get you quit a bit in El Paso where the median home price falls at approximately $158,000 for a single-family home. One spacious home currently on the market, for example, has five-beds and costs just $405,000. Detroit, Michigan Detroit has a plethora of McMansions within city limits for $500,000 or less. This 3,500-square-foot colonial, for example, goes for just $409,000 and has 6-bedrooms, and a third floor that can be used as a master suite. Nashville, Tennessee Not only is Nashville the music capital of the world, it's real estate market is also red hot. Despite a recent increase in housing prices, buyers can still get over 2,000-square-feet and three plus bedrooms for $500,000. Memphis, Tennessee The median home price of $180,600 in Memphis goes a long way. Home buyers in the city can get charming restored craftsmen or five-bedroom tudors on over 6,000-square-feet for $500,000 or less. Portland, Oregon Although Portland's median home price of $399,300 is above the West Coast average, buyers in the area can still grab a classic Portland bungalow for $500,000 or less. One single-family home currently on the market, for instance, boasts two bedrooms and one bathroom on a 4,792-square-foot lot. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Your money can go a long way in Oklahoma City where the median price for a single-family home is just $164,700. Many homes within the budget boast several acres of land, multiple garages, pools and four plus bedrooms. Las Vegas, Nevada Massive 4,500-square-foot, five-bedroom homes in gated communities go for less than $500,000 in Las Vegas. Some homes with pools may run up the price-tag a little bit, but high Nevada temperatures make them well worth the additional cost. Louisville, Kentucky McMansions are readily available in Louisville where the median housing cost is just $184,800. Many homes on the market for $500,000 or less boast six bedrooms, four full baths and over 4,000-square-feet. Baltimore, Maryland Home buyers in Baltimore can get anything from 3,000 to 5,000 square feet of property for $500,000 or less. Learn more: Sears catalog 'kit homes' from the early 1900s still exist today and are selling for millions of dollars 18 tiny homes with expensive price tags The most expensive home ever just sold for $238M. Here's how many median-priced homes that could buy across the country


Dozens of firefighters are enduring oppressive heat and humidity as they battle a business fire in Milwaukee. The fire started at Aguilar's Welding on W. National Avenue about 1:30 p.m. Friday. The blaze grew to three alarms about about an hour. It's not clear how the fire started. Temperatures right now Friday are in the mid-90s with heat indices reaching into the low 100s. A police officer at the scene said there have been several explosions. News Chopper 12 flew over the scene for a time before becoming too hot to continue. Aerial video showed video shooting from the top of the business. Four ladder trucks were spraying water on the flames. The Milwaukee fire chief said it was really a worst-case scenario. "The biggest issue right now is the heat and that's why right now it's a third-alarm fire and we've been bringing companies in the whole time to give them rest," Chief Mark Rohlfing said. "It's hot. You're hot in 75 pounds of gear and it's not letting any of your perspiration get out or anyway to cool down, so we're rotating companies every few minutes." Firefighters said all employee got out of the business safely and there have not been any injuries. A nearby business offered up its place for firefighters to get into the AC and hydrate. A few hundred others at nearby businesses also had to evacuate. WISN 12 News has a crew at the scene gathering more information on this developing story. Get breaking news alerts with the WISN 12 app or our email newsletters . Follow us: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube READ MORE: Firefighters endure oppressive heat, humidity to battle business fire CHECK OUT WISN: Get the top Milwaukee news weather and sports. With the day's biggest stories and ones you may have missed, our Wisconsin news team has you covered.


The White Sox have signed left-hander Hector Santiago to a minor league contract, according to Roster Roundup . Santiago was most recently with the Mets, who designated him for assignment last Friday. This will be the third White Sox tour for Santiago, whom the team selected in the 30th round of the 2006 draft. Santiago wound up pitching with the White Sox from 2011-13, during which he notched a 3.41 ERA/4.49 FIP in 224 2/3 innings. Chicago dealt Santiago to the Angels in a noteworthy three-team trade heading into the 2014 campaign. After stints with the Halos and Twins, Santiago returned to the Sox on a minors deal in February 2018. He went on to throw 102 innings (49 appearances, seven starts) of 4.41 ERA/5.09 FIP ball with 9.09 K/9 and 5.29 BB/9 at the big league level last season. Now, Santiago will once again try to turn a minors pact with the White Sox into a major league opportunity. He'll have to perform better than he did as a Met, though. While Santiago did log a 3.35 ERA over 43 innings with the Mets' Triple-A affiliate this year, his run prevention success came with far less encouraging peripherals. The 31-year-old then fell flat over eight innings with New York, where he gave up six earned runs on 10 hits and five walks (with six strikeouts).


Looking to get in shape? From watching a Mother's Day yoga session in the park to doing a TruFusion workout, there's plenty to do when it comes to athletic-related activities coming up in Dallas this weekend. Read on for a rundown. Hoodline offers data-driven analysis of local happenings and trends across cities. Links included in this article may earn Hoodline a commission on clicks and transactions. Lululemon and ivivva NorthPark's "MamaStay" Mother's Day Event From the event description: Calling all mothers, daughters and any woman who is special and dear to you. Lulumeon and ivivva NorthPark are hosting a Mother's Day yoga, bites and private shop event to celebrate that special momma in your life. When: Saturday, May 11, 8:30-11 a.m. Where: NorthPark Center, 8687 N. Central Expressway Admission: Free Click here for more details, and to get your tickets F45 Track Dallas From the event description: F45 Track is a free outdoor training event led by Athletic Director and face of F45, Cory George. Music to be provided by live DJs. The event is open to the public, with all fitness levels and all age groups (over 16) welcome. Bring your friends, family, coworkers and neighbors and join F45 Bishop Arts and the surrounding F45 studios for a morning of sweaty, functional fun! When: Saturday, May 11, 9-10:30 a.m. Where: Cotton Bowl Stadium, 3750 The Midway Admission: Free Click here for more details, and to get your tickets TruFusion in Klyde Warren Park: TruBarre - Series 4 From the event description: Kick off your weekend with some positive vibes! Come meet the TruFusion Dallas Team and get a free workout, sweat included. TruFusion is a one-of-a-kind group fitness studio that offers over 65 different class styles and 240 unique workout classes per week. When: Saturday, May 11, 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Where: Klyde Warren Park, 2012 Woodall Rodgers Freeway Admission: Free Click here for more details, and to get your tickets This story was created automatically using local event data, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


Deandre Isom Jr. MILWAUKEE   A Milwaukee teen is going home from the hospital thanks in large part to community donations. Deandre Isom Jr. was hit by a car on his way to school in March, and has been in the hospital ever since. The donations will help make his home handicap accessible. "I feel like a miracle," said Isom Jr. If you've ever wondered what resilience looks like, meet Deandre Isom Jr. "Your boy's back and I'm better and I'm going to come back stronger for you all," Isom Jr. said. Isom Jr. spent the last few months getting treatment at Ascension's Sacred Heart Rehab Hospital at Columbia St. Mary's. It's where he celebrated his 17th birthday missing out on time with friends and family. In March, Isom Jr. was hit by a car while walking his younger siblings to their bus stop at 27th and Vine. They made it across the street, but Isom Jr. did not. "We didn't know what his future was going to be and we still kind of don't know but he knows," said Latasha James, Isom Jr.'s aunt. The last few months Isom Jr. has gotten stronger but the uncertainty of getting him home has become a new challenge. His aunt helped set up a GoFundME page to help make his home handicap accessible. After sharing the story on FOX6 News, donations poured in including a very generous $3,000 from a stranger. "We're still lost for words. We're still lost for words," said James. "I want to thank them a lot. Like I really do," Isom Jr. said. The money will make things easier for Isom Jr. and pay for a wheelchair ramp, allowing him to get back to focusing on his dreams. "To get stronger and go back to school so I can graduate no matter if I'm walking or wheeling across the stage," said Isom Jr. A family overwhelmed by the kindness of strangers and feeling thankful during a time of turmoil. "Thank you very much and may God bless you," said Isom Jr. Isom Jr. will finally be going home from the hospital next week. Isom Jr. and his family want to thank the woman who donated $3,000 in person if at all possible. They also want to let the driver of the car that hit him that they have no ill will toward her.     ©2019 WITI-TV, Milwaukee Visit WITI-TV, Milwaukee at www.fox6now.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.


DENVER (AP)   Wade Miley tossed six strong innings and Yuli Gurriel and Alex Bregman homered to lead the Houston Astros to a 4-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday night. Miley (7-4) struck out six and retired 11 of the last 12 batters he faced. He walked the first two Rockies he faced but settled down to get out of the inning after Ian Desmond's RBI single. Roberto Osuna pitched the ninth for his 19th save. BOX SCORE: ASTROS 4, ROCKIES 2 Bregman hit his team-leading 23rd homer, a solo shot in the first. Gurriel led off the second with his 11th of the season and third of the series. The Astros added two more in the fourth on Josh Reddick's bases-loaded double, but Gurriel was thrown out at home to end the inning. Charlie Blackmon had two hits, including an RBI single in the seventh, for Colorado. Rookie right-hander Peter Lambert (2-1) went five innings in his first major league loss. HAPPY 4TH Neither the Rockies nor the Astros play on Thursday, marking a rare day off on Independence Day. "It's going to be the first 4th of July where I don't have a reason to go to the ballpark," Houston manager A.J. Hinch said. "It will be weird. Having a number of teams having the off day, I don't think many of us know what to do. We're just so used to coming here and letting the game be our celebration." The two-game series at Coors Field included postgame fireworks each night, which helped remind Colorado manager Bud Black about the holiday. "The actual July 4th is the day we always play," he said. "But with fireworks on July 2nd and fireworks (Wednesday) night it feels like July 3rd is July 4th." DOUBLE HONOR Blackmon was named the NL Player of the Month for June after hitting .412 with 10 homers in 22 games and his former teammate, New York Yankees infielder DJ LeMahieu, won the award in the AL after hitting .395 with six homers, 29 RBIs and 26 runs scored. Black, who managed LeMahieu in 2017 and '18, spoke highly of him. "Wherever DJ landed he was going to be the same steady, dependable player he was with us," Black said. "It's good to see guys you feel close to do good things. I'm always pulling for the good guys." UP NEXT Astros: RHP Justin Verlander (10-3, 2.86) will open a three-game home series against the Los Angeles Angels on Friday. Rockies: RHP Antonio Senzatela (7-5, 4.83) will make his third start of the season against Arizona in Phoenix on Friday. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports Related slideshow: The 2019 MLB season (Provided by imagn)


Carolina Hurricanes general manager Don Waddell said Saturday he was confident the Canes would find a goalie. On Sunday, the Canes made a trade for one: James Reimer, from the Florida Panthers. Waddell indicated Sunday that the deal for Reimer did not mean the Canes had given up on re-signing goalie Petr Mrazek - "Not at all," he said. Nor does it preclude the Canes having interest in other goalies who may be available in NHL free agency, which begins Monday. The Canes, in making the trade, did answer the question of what they would do with goalie Scott Darling. He was sent to the Panthers along with a sixth-round pick in the 2020 NHL draft. Darling was then placed on unconditional waivers by the Panthers, who plan to buy out his contract. The Canes had hoped to re-sign Mrazek and Curtis McElhinney after reaching the playoffs last season. Waddell ruled out McElhinney on Saturday_"He'll definitely be somewhere else," he said_but said talks continued with Mrazek. Both will become unrestricted free agents on Monday. Reimer, 31, is coming off a season with the Panthers that had him post a 13-12-5 record with a 3.09 goals-against average and .900 save percentage. He has two years left on a contract that pays him $3.4 million a year, according to CapFriendly.com , which tracks player contracts. Reimer, who has dealt with some injury issues in his career, has played 338 NHL games with Toronto, San Jose and Florida, with an overall record of 144-120-39, career 2.81 goals-against average and .913 save percentage. The Canes believed they had brought in a No. 1 goalie in Darling, trading for him in 2017 under former general manager Ron Francis and signing him to a four-year contract. That move failed as Darling had a 15-29-9 record, 3.20 GAA and .887 save percentage in two seasons with the Hurricanes. Darling's hamstring injury in the final preseason game last fall resulted in the Canes picking up McElhinney off waivers from the Toronto Maple Leafs. Darling later returned and started eight games but was not effective as Mrazek and McElhinney split the workload during the season and playoffs. Waddell said Saturday the Canes were speaking to Mrazek "daily, hourly," which probably wasn't much of a stretch. Canes coach Rod Brind'Amour said he also had been in touch with the Czech goalie. "In my opinion as long as the organization is trying to get these guys signed and offering them fair deals then I feel good about it," Brind'Amour said. "Then it's up to them. They have to make the decisions they have to make for them and their families." The Canes have other UFAs and none more important than captain Justin Williams. At 37, Williams must decide if the time has come to retire or if he wants to return to the Canes and make another run at the playoffs and the Cup. "It's really his decision and it's a unique kind of position to be in," Brind'Amour said. "That's going to be an interesting one and I hope he comes back." The Canes plan to have Alex Nedeljkovic, the AHL goaltender of the year with the Charlotte Checkers in 2018-19, and Anton Forsberg, recently acquired in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks, compete to be the backup goalie. Looking to Monday and free agency, other than the goalie situation Waddell said it's a matter of "tweaking" and adding some depth players. "I don't see anything major at this point," Waddell said. "There are some high-profile (UFA) guys out there but after that there just aren't that many guys we feel are going to push our guys out." Brind'Amour said he has been a part of the free-agent and trade discussions with management. "They know where I stand on our guys," Brind'Amour said. "My priority is our guys (coming) back. If that can't happen then what's the next step. I appreciate the fact I'm involved with that. "At the end of the day we're going to have a real good team when September rolls around and we get all the pieces put together." Visit The News & Observer (Raleigh, N.C.) at www.newsobserver.com Related slideshow: 2019 Stanley Cup Final (provided by imagn)


Here's a look at the New England Patriots' three positions of need as they get through OTAs and minicamp and look toward training camp. 3. Tight end The Patriots will be without Ben Watson for the first four games of the season while he serves a four-game suspension for violating the league's banned-substance policy. That has created more uncertainty at tight end after Rob Gronkowski's retirement earlier this offseason. Gronkowski is irreplaceable, but the Patriots may still want to piece together a threatening group at the position. Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports They have tight ends Watson, Matt LaCosse, Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Stephen Anderson, Ryan Izzo and Andrew Beck. Essentially, they've got a hodgepodge of unproven players, who - with a little luck - could prove productive in 2019. That said, it's entirely possible that none of those players eclipse 400 yards. Trade targets like the Vikings' Kyle Rudolph or the Buccaneers' Cameron Brate would shore up a position with question marks. What's most likely, however, is that the Patriots keep the position as is - for the most part - and try to compensate with their deeper positions in running back and receiver. 2. Defensive end For the Patriots, this position is tricky to qualify, because technically, veteran John Simon and rookie Chase Winovich are considered defensive ends. But Simon spent a great deal of time playing linebacker and Winovich figures to play a similar position as Simon. It's hybrid role on the edge, one that requires the player to do a little of both defensive end and linebacker. That means they have to defend the run, rush the passer and cover. Ufomba Komalu also qualifies in this category. Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images When it comes to true defensive ends, however, they have just Michael Bennett, who joined the team in a trade this offseason. Behind him, the Patriots have Deatrich Wise, Keionta Davis and Derek Rivers. Bennett is a one-for-one swap with Trey Flowers, who departed in the offseason. The Patriots don't have someone that will take Adrian Clayborn's snaps. Even if he was a disappointment (and ultimately got cut this offseason), he still played 318 defensive snaps (30 percent). 1. Tackle With Jared Veldheer retiring, the Patriots may find themselves lacking tackle depth and experience. As it stands, they have Marcus Cannon at right and Isaiah Wynn at left. Their depth options appear to be third-round rookie Yodny Cajuste and a handful of unproven players with little experience. For now, Joe Thuney is taking snaps as the starting left tackle during organized team activities. In a perfect world, his spring snaps at left tackle are the only ones he'll take in 2019. Stew Milne-USA TODAY Sports The Patriots could get Wynn back from his Achilles injury during training camp. Cajuste should be back from his shoulder injury at the same time. But if they're both limited, we could see more of Thuney at left tackle. And Thuney, a guard, probably shouldn't be the team's Day 1 starter. They need Wynn to get healthy. And they need Cajuste to quickly prove he's capable of serving as the team's backup tackle and swingman, a position which has been of major importance over the last few years (see: LaAdrian Waddle, Cameron Flemming, Nate Solder.) MORE: Boxing fans, including Conor McGregor, react to Anthony Joshua's stunning loss to Andy Ruiz Jr. Report: Suns, Bulls offering lottery picks for Lonzo Ball How the Lions can mend their relationship with Calvin Johnson Kyle Shanahan on the cutting edge with 'positionless' offense Uncertainty with Ben Watson should push Patriots to trade for Kyle Rudolph


After back-to-back losing seasons for the first time since the early 1970s, the Denver Broncos are hungry to bring winning football back to the Mile High City. The team has a new head coach and a new quarterback, leading many fans to believe that the team will be back into contention this season. But of course, what the team looks like on paper doesn't matter. Football games take place on the field and the Broncos will need to be better on both sides of the ball. For that to happen, the team will need to have some breakout stars. Here are four guys who could be in line for big seasons. 1. Bradley Chubb (Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports) Many would argue that Chubb already had a breakout season as a rookie last season in which he racked up 12 sacks. But in a defense led by Vic Fangio, he could become a household name. Fangio recently declared Chubb "tailor-made" for his defense and that could lead to even bigger numbers for Chubb this season. Don't be surprised if he makes the Pro Bowl and even has more sacks than Von Miller this season. 2. Courtland Sutton (AP Photo/Frank Victores) With Demaryius Thomas no longer around, Sutton (last year's second-round pick) will be a much bigger focal point in year two. However, he is coming off of a relatively quiet rookie season in which he caught 42 passes for 704 yards and four touchdowns. Those numbers should go way up this year with Joe Flacco in town throwing the ball to him. 3. Josey Jewell (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports) I'm going on a bit of a limb with this one, but Jewell could also benefit from a new-look defense. Jewell draws a lot of criticism from fans who don't feel he can stand up in pass coverage and don't feel he's a good fit for Fangio's defense, but if Fangio has a specialty, it's coaching up linebackers. That goes back to his days in New Orleans where he was the coach behind the famed " Dome Patrol ," perhaps the greatest linebacking corps in NFL history. Jewell is an intelligent, instinctual linebacker and learning a few things from Fangio to make him even better and help him be in the right spot at the right time could make him a valuable piece of the defense. 4. DaeSean Hamilton (Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) Another wide receiver makes the list and that is because there is so much room for wide receivers to make plays for the Broncos this season, particularly with an experienced, strong-armed passer at quarterback. Hamilton really began to turn it up toward the end of the 2019 season. He had 30 receptions during his rookie season and 25 of those came in the month of December. Riding that wave of momentum and moving up the depth chart as the team's No. 3 wide receiver should give him a chance to make a big impact in 2019. 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 WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling impressing staff going into Packers minicamp Bears believe Clinton-Dix is an upgrade over Amos Brian Gaine's failure in Houston has a lesson for the Lions and Bob Quinn