A federal agency has forced open a gate in the privately funded wall near the US-Mexico border, saying the group that built it didn't follow proper permitting procedures. The US section of the International Boundary and Water Commission says the gate was blocking a government-owned levee road, and that the group known as We Build the Wall constructed the gate on federal land without authority. "It's not the border wall that we have a problem with," spokeswoman Lori Kuczmanski said. "The problem is the gate is on federal property. You just can't come in and build a gate on somebody's property without asking -- especially not giving them the keys and walking away from it. It's not right." Representatives of the commission locked the gate open Monday afternoon, she said. "After repeated requests to unlock and open the private gate, the United States Section of the International Boundary and Water Commission (USIBWC), accompanied by two uniformed law enforcement officers from the Dona Ana County Sheriff's Office, removed the private lock, opened the gate, and locked the gate open pending further discussions with We Build the Wall," the commission's US section said in a statement. We Build the Wall founder Brian Kolfage slammed the commission in a series of social media posts Tuesday, accusing the federal agency of overreaching its authority and calling for its presidentially appointed commissioner to resign. In a statement to CNN, Kolfage said his group's attorneys are working on the matter -- comparing the situation to a permitting dispute with city officials in Sunland Park, New Mexico that was resolved after city officials issued a "cease and desist" notice temporarily blocking construction. "Just like we saw with the City of Sunland Park, we will prevail," Kolfage said. "Our lawyers have been working on this for weeks and we will regain control over the gate shortly." Related video: What's behind the spike in immigrants at the border The dispute pits We Build the Wall, an organization that raised more than $20 million for border wall construction in a GoFundMe campaign , against the US section of the International Boundary and Water Commission, a federal agency charged with applying boundary and water treaties between the US and Mexico. The commission -- which has US and Mexican counterparts -- operates flood control levees, wastewater treatment plants and boundary monuments at numerous locations along the US-Mexico border, including the American Dam located near We Build the Wall's barrier. Its US section is headquartered in El Paso, Texas. "The USIBWC is concerned about the safety and security of our employees and the infrastructure at the American Dam, which is next to the privately-constructed gate," the commission's US section said in a statement posted on its website. "Despite USIBWC requests to locate the gate further from American Dam, the private gate was constructed in a way that may channel undocumented immigrants into the American Dam area. When the proper documentation is received for the permit, USIBWC will continue to process the permit application." The American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico had called for the commission to intervene last week , criticizing the fence for blocking access to Monument One, a historical marker at the US-Mexico border. Kolfage told CNN a private property owner also owns part of the road leading to the monument and has the right to limit access. "Access to the monument can ultimately be restricted indefinitely by the private property landowner if he deems it's necessary since he owns the road further up the way," he said. Slideshow by USA TODAY But Kuczmanski, the commission spokeswoman, said concerns about access to the monument were also being considered as part of the permit application. Permits can take up to six months to process, she said. "They're lacking paperwork and information that we need to make a final determination," she said, including a hydrology study and a drainage report. It's not typical for a project to move forward without a permit, she said. "Usually everybody is very cooperative and they well in advance tell us their intent, and they give us all their plans, and all their specifications, and all their documents," she said. "And we say 'yea' or 'nay,' and we proceed from there."


Deputies in Brevard County have arrested a man who they said fatally stabbed his wife Tuesday at a home in Sharpes while their kids were at school. Investigators were on the scene for hours after being called to the home on Iris and Cherry streets. Officials with the Brevard County Sheriff's Office said Jesse Orr was arrested in connection with the death of his wife Samatha Orr and is being held on no bond in the Brevard County Jail. Investigators said they found Orr inside the house covered in blood. Jesse Orr is described by friends as someone who believes he's constantly being watched or spied on by the CIA and followed by drones. Deputies have not released the cause of death. Orr is charged with second-degree murder in the death of his wife. The couple's children are now in state-supervised care. READ MORE: Brevard County husband killed wife while kids were at school, deputies say CHECK OUT WESH: Stay in the know with the latest Orlando news, weather and sports. Get the top stories and all the scores from the team at WESH.


SPARTANBURG, S.C.   Jeremy Clements Racing will have the No. 51 machine primed, painted and weighed and ready for Darlington Raceway on Saturday, August 31st, with a livery that is a little something different than years past. JCR will be throwing back to the No. 51 EXXON paint scheme from the 1990 film "Days of Thunder" and will be sponsored by long-time partners RepairableVehicles.com. "I grew up watching 'Days of Thunder' all the time especially headed to Buck Creek Speedway in our cube van that my Grandpa Crawford built, and it would really get me pumped up to race." Clements said. "Man, thinking back brings a lot of great memories in my early years racing with my Grandpa. I love this movie so much so that's where I got the No. 51 from and have had it ever since." RELATED: Darlington throwback designs This is the fifth year that Darlington will hold NASCAR Throwback Weekend. Clements will make his ninth career start at 'The Lady In Black.' His current best finish at Darlington is eighth back in 2016. Fans are welcome to join JCR on the Fan Deck and Ride with Jeremy on Saturday, August 31st. ]]>


KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) When the Kansas City Royals gave starter Brad Keller the lead with a five-run third inning, Keller made sure to show his gratitude. The 23-year-old took care of the White Sox batters in the top of the fourth, striking out the side on 14 pitches to get his guys back to the plate. ''We take the lead and to go out there and get a shutdown inning, especially with three strikeouts is huge. Kind of get our offense confidence and we just went out there and kept it going,'' Keller said. It was just what the Royals needed to stay hot Thursday, completing a four-game sweep of the Chicago White Sox with a 6-5 win. Ian Kennedy gave up a run in the ninth, but struck out A.J. Reed looking with the tying run on second base to clinch the win and earn his 16th save in 19 opportunities. The four-game winning streak is Kansas City's longest of the season and just the Royals' second series sweep this year. Kansas City has won six of seven games since the All-Star Break. ''We're playing really good ball right now,'' Keller said. ''Our offense is alive and killing it right now, so it's a lot of fun to be around. The starting staff has been well and the bullpen has been lights-out. I think the break did us really well.'' The White Sox, on the other hand, have lost seven in a row since coming back from the All-Star break and dropped a season-worst nine games under .500. ''We've got to keep playing,'' White Sox manager Rick Renteria said. ''Hopefully we'll put something, a little streak on the opposite end of the spectrum as we move forward, but I'm not down on my guys. We're going to keep playing; we're going to do what we have to do to put ourselves back on track.'' Keller (6-9) got off to a rocky start, allowing the first four batters of the game to reach base on a pair of infield hits, an error and a walk, leading to a pair of unearned runs. But Keller settled down after that and battled through 6 1/3 innings, allowing just a couple of runs after the first inning. Keller gave up nine hits, struck out seven and walked two. ''You just kind of step back off the mound after the first three guys reach and you just kind of take a breath,'' Keller said. Yoan Moncada matched his career high, set last year, with his 17th home run in the top of the third to make it 3-0 before the Royals scored. Cuthbert led off the inning with a shot to left-center and Soler hit a two-run homer a couple of batters later to draw the Royals even. Billy Hamilton's two-run single later in the inning put the Royals ahead for good. Cuthbert finished with three hits. Bubba Starling had the best game of his young career. The 26-year-old had two hits, his first multi-hit day as a big leaguer, including his first extra-base hit when he doubled in the fifth inning and first career stolen base. Starling also scored twice, the second coming on Cam Gallagher's bunt single in the fifth inning, putting the Royals up 6-3. After going hitless in his debut, Starling has a hit in five straight games. ''He's going to have ups and downs, we all know it,'' Royals manager Ned Yost said. ''But just let him play. Let him get his feet wet. He's done great.'' White Sox starter Ross Detwiler (1-1) lasted just 2 1/3 innings, giving up five runs and eight hits, struggling with his command from the beginning. ''They just got comfortable; they saw what was going on and I didn't make the adjustment,'' Detwiler said. In the four games this series, Chicago starters gave up 20 runs, 18 earned, in 19 innings and had an 8.53 ERA. RENTERIA EJECTED Renteria was ejected in the top of the second inning by home plate umpire Adam Hamari for arguing balls and strikes after Yolmer Sanchez's single. It was his fifth ejection this season. ''So, I might have yelled out `both ways' previous to the hit,'' Renteria said. ''He didn't respond at that moment. But that was it. Then he looked in and said he wasn't going to have it. I said just please pay attention to the field. He said don't tell him what to do. And I just asked him to pay attention to the field and he said goodbye.'' STATS AND STREAKS Whit Merrifield had his 15-game hitting streak end, going 0-for-5 at the plate. He extended his on-base streak to 24 games when he reached on an error in the fifth inning. ... Brad Keller made his fifth start this season and ninth in his career (out of 41 starts) against the White Sox. ... Kansas City is hitting .330 and has scored 49 runs in seven games since the All-Star break. ... Cam Gallagher had his third RBI bunt single this season and the Royals' fifth as a team. No other team has more than two. The Royals swept the White Sox for the first time since July 21-23, 2017, and the first time in a four-game series since July 25-28, 1994. UP NEXT Kansas City: The Royals head to Cleveland for a three-game set with the Indians beginning Friday. Mike Montgomery (1-2) will make his Kansas City debut in his first start of the season. Montgomery made 20 relief appearances with the Chicago Cubs before being traded earlier this week. The plan is for Montgomery to throw around 45 pitches. Shane Bieber (8-3) will get the ball for Cleveland. Chicago: The White Sox open a three-game set with Tampa Bay on Friday. Reynaldo Lopez (4-8) will get the start for Chicago looking to build on one of his best outings of the season on Sunday, when he allowed just one unearned run and three hits over six innings. Tampa Bay has yet to announce a starter. --- More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports


A close look into the enticing machines that the Blue Oval keeps hidden away for special occasions At a location near Ford's giant engine factory in Dagenham in Essex lies some of the company's most treasured possessions. There, the British arm of the American giant stores a number of rare machines   either one-off prototypes, or survivors of long-superseded model lines that once ran to millions. Our colleague Claire Evans was recently invited for an exclusive look through it. Join us for a rummage through the enticing collection: Ford Cortina Crusader (1982) The Crusader was a final run-out model in 1982. It featured a 1.6-litre 72bhp Pinto engine, good enough for a top speed of 94mph. With 30,000 sold, it was almost embarrassingly successful. Indeed, to this day it s Ford's best-selling special edition model in the UK, and buyers opted it for it instead of the Cortina s replacement, the controversial Sierra, which was hardly the intention. Ford (Ferguson) Capri 4x4 (1971) Did you know that there was a four-wheel drive Capri? Well, we'd forgive you for not knowing, as it never got beyond the prototype stage. Just 17 were built to demonstrate the possibility, but just one it seems survives, and you're looking at it. Ford (Ferguson) Capri 4x4 (1971) Power was from the familiar 3.0-litre V6, usually producing 160bhp, and now tuned to 250bhp to support the extra weight of the Ferguson Formula 4WD system, and all had automatic transmission. Following the 'race on Sunday, win on Monday' formula, the idea was that the car would run in rally cross events, but it seems the whole idea was dropped. Boo. Ford Escort Mexico MK1 (1970) The Mexico was built to celebrate Ford s victory in the London-Mexico rally. Sweet to drive, it produced sprightly performance for its day, with 0-60mph completed in 10.7sec, off to a top speed of 100mph. Power came from a 1.6-litre engine, producing 86bhp @ 5500 rpm, with 92 lb ft of torque. Delightful nimbleness came due to kerb weight of just 850kg, and it proved a popular package; 10,352 were sold over four years. Its price in 1970 was £1,150, or £18,000 ($22,800 USD) in today s money   just a tad less than you ll pay now for a Fiesta ST, which in  popular performance  terms is probably the Mexico s spiritual successor. Ford Escort RS Cosworth Rally (1993-1996) The four-wheel drive Escort Cosworth is one of Ford s most famous cars, not least because it took a nameplate that in period was famously mediocre, and transformed it into something profoundly great. What helped was that despite appearances and name it was no Escort underneath; instead, lay the chassis and mechanicals of the Sierra Cosworth . Delivering 224bhp from a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine in standard form, this model here is the Group A rally car that competed in 1997 with driver Juha Kankkunen at the wheel. Rally spec delivered 310bhp, and a claimed 0-60mph time in just 3sec. Ford Fiesta ST Rally (2006) Here's another interesting rally car, this time one based on the Fiesta Mk5. Sponsored by the world's finest car magazine, it competed in the Junior World Rally Championship. Modest power of 150bhp may not sound much, but we're certain it was great fun driving this front-wheel drive car at heroic speeds. It competed in 2006-2010, and weighed 1137kg. Ford Focus Hatch (1998) The Focus Mk1 put Ford properly back on the family hatchback map with its strong handling, sharp looks and everyday pricing. Produced in 1998-2004, this particular example featured a 2.0-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine, producing 130bhp and had a starring role in Autocar. In November 1998, we borrowed it with the aim of completing 100-laps of London's M25 orbital motorway in 10 days or less. 25 journalists took the wheel over the period , driving at a steady 70mph where possible. We completed the 11,770 miles in 240 driving hours, at an average speed of 49mph. The challenge went without incident, and the car chalked up 36.3mpg in the process. This particular car was also used by Ford to advertise the merits of the 2009 scrappage scheme. Ford Focus RS Mk1 (2002) Great though the Focus was, it was the RS version that cemented the model s reputation, delivering 212bhp from a turbocharged 2.0-litre, a 0-60 time of 6.3sec, off to a top speed of 143mph. Its price in 2002 was £20,000, the equivalent of £32,000 ($40,500 USD) today. Weight was 1278kg. Handling was hairy in the hands of the undisciplined, but driven with ahem, focus, delight awaited. Ford Granada Mk2 2.8iS Ghia (1977) This rather special early Mk2 Granada was powered by a 2.8-litre  Cologne  V6, that delivered 160bhp. Its special  Metric TRX  alloy wheels are the key indication of an unseen element   this was one of the first Granadas to ever get fuel injection. And the wheel size meant that only special Michelin TRX tires designed for the higher powered engine could be fitted. Ford GT Mk1 (2005) The Ford GT performed a double-duty for Ford. It helped the company celebrate its 100 th birthday in 2003, and also paid homage design-wise to the GT40 model that famously beat Ferrari at LeMans in 1966. Power came from a 5.4-litre supercharged V8, delivering 550bhp, a 0-60mph time of 3.4sec, and a top speed of 205mph. Despite a relatively large production run of 4038 vehicles delivered worldwide, they're increasingly valuable. And doesn't it look splendid, even under a dust sheet? Ford Mondeo Mk1 (1993) After the Escort Mk5 disaster, Ford regrouped to reboot its medium car offering, coming up with the Mondeo to replace the Sierra. Its 'world car' status could have ensured another fiasco, a car designed for everyone and noone. Instead, it was a triumph, delivering composed, predictable but enticing handling poise even from a modestly powerful engine. Our verdict at the time? 'Mondeo is king! The best family car.' Ford Mustang Mk1 Hardtop (1967) Until 2016, Ford would never officially sell you a Mustang in the UK. So what on earth is this 1967 US import doing in the British collection? Well, this GT390 edition spent its life until 2014 in California's benign conditions. It was then brought to the UK and restored to its all-original glory, complete with a dark green colour to help it resemble the 'Stang piloted by Steve McQueen in the famous car chase in the 1968 film Bullitt. Ford acquired it at auction in 2017, and then quickly pressed it into service to help publicise the new Bullitt edition of the contemporary Mustang, first unveiled in early 2018. Ford Sierra Cosworth Sapphire 4x4 (1990) This handsome devil was one of the most desirable Fords you could buy anywhere in 1990. The original Sapphire RS Cosworth arrived in 1988, but the car was upgraded to a four-wheel drive version in 1990. Power came from a turbocharged 2.0-litre 4-cylinder, good for 220bhp, a 0-60mph time of 6.6sec and a top speed of 146mph. Refinement was high, and secure handling meant this was by far the most pliable fast Sierra, and the police were huge fans of the car as also, unfortunately, were criminals who liked to pinch them. Ford Transit Mk2 (1977) Ford's commercial vehicles arm is currently running a 'Backbone of Britain' advertising campaign for its various models, none of which are now built in the UK. That wasn't the case when this very late model Transit emerged from the now-closed Southampton factory in 1984, and it's certainly hard to imagine a certain aspect of British culture without the ubiquitous Transit van plying its various trades across the land. Power for this model came from a 1.6-litre 4-cylinder engine, delivering 65bhp. Lotus Cortina (1963) It's interesting that perhaps Ford's most famous fast model is also one of the oldest. Its 1.6-litre 4-cylinder engine produced 105bhp, which delivered 0.60mph in 10.1sec, and a top speed of 108mph. But it was the way it did it that really mattered. Deft handling for the time was in part aided by 905kg in kerb weight; it also brought Lotus glamour to this humdrum family saloon world, complete with white and green paint that separated it forever from lesser brethren. On track, it took Jim Clark to a race series win in 1964. Just 3301 examples were made, and survivors are getting very valuable.


DNC chairman Tom Perez announced the party will not host an official primary debate on the climate crisis, and will restrict candidates from participating in third-party climate debates. Activists gathered at the DNC headquarters in Washington, DC, to demand the party reverse its stance and provide a forum for debate. (Pictured) Suzannah Mullen shouts in front of the Democratic National Committee headquarters, during a Greenpeace rally to call for a presidential campaign climate debate on June 12, in Washington, DC. Jack Shapiro speaks in front of the Democratic National Committee headquarters, during a Greenpeace rally. Reverend Lennox Yearwood, of the Hip Hop Caucus, speaks in front of the Democratic National Committee headquarters. Police officers looks on as people hold signs in front of the Democratic National Committee headquarters. (L-R) Clayton Northcraft and Suzannah Mullen shout in front of the Democratic National Committee headquarters. An hourglass is seen in front of the Democratic National Committee headquarters. Jack Shapiro stands in front of the Democratic National Committee headquarters. People participate in a Greenpeace rally to call for a presidential campaign climate debate.


SEATTLE   Daniel Vogelbach hit a mammoth two-run homer in the seventh inning, Kyle Seager drove in his first run of the season and the Seattle Mariners snapped a six-game losing streak with a 6-2 win over the Texas Rangers on Monday night. Seattle was miserable on the road in getting swept by Texas and Oakland, but a strong pitching performance from Tommy Milone and a handful of key hits finally stopped the Mariners' skid. Vogelbach's towering homer off reliever Jose Leclerc found a rare landing spot in the upper deck of the right field seats at T-Mobile Park, one of the few home runs to reach that part of the stadium in its 20-year history. It was his 15th of the season and while it was close to being a foul ball, the home run call stood following a replay review. BOX SCORE: MARINERS 6, RANGERS 2 Seager, activated off the 60-day injured list last weekend, blooped a single to score Mallex Smith in the third when Seattle scored a pair. Smith came through an inning later with a sharp single to right to score J.P. Crawford. Smith also stole home in the eighth when Kyle Bird tried to pick off Mitch Haniger at first base. It was Seattle's first steal of home since Dustin Ackley did it in 2012. Milone (1-1) pitched into the sixth. Logan Forsythe missed a home run by inches and settled for an RBI double in the fourth, and Ronald Guzmán homered on a 1-2 pitch in the fifth. Those were the only costly mistakes by Milone, who allowed four hits and struck out seven. Texas starter Lance Lynn (6-4) struck out 10 and yielded three earned runs in six innings. ROSTER SHUFFLE Rangers: Texas recalled Bird from Triple-A Nashville and designated RHP Jeanmar Gómez for assignment. Gómez had an 8.22 ERA in 16 relief appearances for the Rangers. Mariners: Seattle claimed RHP Jimmy Cordero off waivers from Toronto and transferred RHP Gerson Bautista to the 60-day injured list to clear a spot on the 40-man roster. Cordero, 27, was designated for assignment by Toronto last week. INJURY REPORT Seattle manager Scott Servais had a long list of injury updates and most of them were positive. Second baseman Dee Gordon was diagnosed with a deep bone bruise in his right wrist and not a fracture after seeing a specialist in Florida. Servais said Gordon's return will likely be determined by how well the wrist can handle swinging and hitting. Gordon said he aggravated the wrist by returning too soon from the initial injury after being hit by a pitch earlier this month. "I thought I was invincible. I am not," Gordon joked. Mariners infielder Ryon Healy (lower back inflammation) should resume baseball activities in the next few days. Seattle pitchers Hunter Strickland (lat) and Felix Hernandez (shoulder) could be throwing off a mound by the end of the week, or early next week. Both have been tossing from beyond 100 feet in recent days, Servais said. Strickland has been out since March 30, and Hernandez has been sidelined since May 12. UP NEXT Rangers: RHP Adrian Sampson (2-3) is listed as the starter for Tuesday, although the Rangers have indicated they might use an opener. Sampson has followed an opener in each of his past two outings. Mariners: LHP Marco Gonzales (5-4) hasn't won since April 25 and is 0-4 with a 4.56 ERA in his last five starts. ___ More AP baseball coverage: www.apnews.com/MLB and www.twitter.com/AP_Sports


Japanese attacking midfielder Takefusa Kubo has already provided Real Madrid fans with glimpses of his unbelievable potential in pre-season. Having signed for Los Blancos this summer on a free transfer, the 18-year-old has been a shining light in what has been a pretty disastrous pre-season for the Spanish giants. Kubo made his debut against Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich in the International Champions Cup and it took him just 45 minutes to showcase his brilliant technical ability. It is, therefore, no doubt that the likes of Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona were interested in signing Kubo, yet managed to miss out in bizarre fashion after misjudging his contract situation. Both European giants thought Kubo's contract expired in June 2020, due to an error on Transfermarkt . However, Madrid enquired about his contract to J-League side FC Tokyo and it turned out the wonderkid's contract expired in June 2019, and Los Merengues pounced to secure a five-year deal for the starlet. Despite it being a free transfer, PSG and Barcelona made a costly mistake and it could turn out to be a bad miscalculation on the La Liga champions' part, as Kubo was actually a former Barca player. The diminutive midfielder joined La Masia in August 2011 after impressing in Barcelona's soccer camp and Barcelona school team a couple of years prior. He had always been a prodigious talent, managing to pick up the MVP award in both competitions and went on to score an insane tally of 74 goals in 30 games in his first full season at La Masia. However, he had to leave La Blaugrana due to the club being found to have violated FIFA's international transfer policy for Under-18 youths, making Kubo ineligible to play for the club. Kubo then returned back to his home nation and joined FC Tokyo and proceeded to make a name for himself with his astonishing close control and progressive play, earning him the 'Japanese Messi' moniker. The 18-year-old's style of play is very similar to that of the Barcelona legend, as they both carry the ball with great acceleration and have the ability to humiliate opposition players with their exceptional skill. The prodigy had a standout campaign in the Japanese top flight last campaign, contributing to a goal every 123 minutes - an astonishing rate considering his age. Yet it was his sheer dominance on the pitch that caught all the top clubs' attention. As mentioned earlier, his dribbling and directness are crucial parts of his game that he has already shown that he excels in. However, he is more than a dribbling machine as his game is very complete for a player of his youth. Incisive passing, an innate knowledge of spatial awareness and his proficiency in keeping possession of the ball in tight spaces are staples to the Japanese player's game and hence, makes him one of the best prospects in world football. Having also added creativity and scoring to his game last season, the sky's the limit for Kubo and it will be frightening to see Real Madrid's attack in a few years' time given they have already spent big on the likes of Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo. His season in Japan did not go unnoticed by his competitors, with Barcelona legend and now Vissel Kobe star Andres Iniesta touting the Japanese midfielder for huge success and stated as quoted by Marca : "He is an impressive talent and has a great future ahead of him. He is a young player who is gifted enough to earn a spot at one of the biggest clubs in the world." With praise coming from one of the greatest ever midfielders to an up-and-coming midfielder, it highlights that the lofty expectations set for this young kid are more than justified and he can perhaps live up to that hype. The youngster has also been inserted into the national set-up and was called up to play for Japan in the Copa America, where he displayed several glimpses of his ability. The teenager's blend of quick thinking and creativity caught the eye during the tournament, but based on his showings he will need to improve against opponents who use physical approaches. The gifted midfielder is unlikely going to play for Los Merengues a whole lot this upcoming campaign due to the sheer talent and depth that Madrid have but with the devastating injury suffered by Marco Asensio ruling the Spaniard out for most of the upcoming campaign, spots could open up for the Japanese wonderkid and he can definitely go on to prove why he is one of the best youngsters around.


Your grandpas survived the Great Depression, fought in world wars, and according to a recent study out of Copenhagen, produced 25% more sperm (and a much more potent sample, too) than you. Still feeling manly? The results of a 15-year study of almost 5,000 Danish men (the average age of participants was 19) conducted by the Department of Growth and Reproduction at Rigshospitalet found 15% of men had very low quality sperm, 27% could expect a long wait before fathering children, and only 25% of men had good quality sperm, reports The Telegraph . Dr. Niels Jorgensen, a consultant from the department that conducted the study, cited the innumerable amount of chemicals in kitchens and bathrooms as a potential cause. He also blamed cosmetics and sunscreen. "We are advised to protect ourselves with these sunblocks but it seems when you go to the laboratory and test some of these chemicals they can interfere with the sperm function," said Jorgensen. "If I was to advise my own family I would say don't use it." Other researchers aren't so sure about the claim, though. Professor Richard Sharpe of the University of Edinburgh, a group leader on Male Reproductive Health, had this to say in response to Jorgensen's statement. "In my opinion, the evidence that exposure to low levels of certain chemicals is causing sperm counts to drop is lacking, though I would not rule out the possibility," Sharpe said. "However, there is strong scientific evidence of the adverse effects of too much UV exposure, in contrast to hypothetical effects of sunscreen on sperm counts. I would hesitate to recommend men or pregnant women not to use sunscreens." Our advice? Moderation. Lathering yourself up in sunscreen everyday doesn't seem like the best idea but neither does going out for a beach day and letting the sun torch your unprotected body. More studies are sure to cover this topic and as results come, we'll report. In the meantime, don't stress over it too much because well, that hurts your sperm count too . • • •


A U.S. Navy destroyer sailed within 12 miles of the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea on Monday in a challenge to China's maritime territorial claims that will likely set off renewed Chinese complaints. "The guided-missile destroyer USS Preble conducted a Freedom of Navigation Operation (FONOP) in the South China Sea, May 20. USS Preble sailed within 12 nautical miles of Scarborough Reef in order to challenge excessive maritime claims and preserve access to the waterways as governed by international law," said Cmdr. Clayton Doss, a spokesman for the Navy's Seventh Fleet. Scarborough Reef, aka Scarborough Shoal, is an uninhabited reef in the South China Sea about 120 miles west of the Philippines surrounded by rich fishing grounds claimed by both China and the Philippines. China seized control of the reef from the Philippines in 2012 as part of an effort to claim control of South China Sea areas near the Spratly Islands and the Paracel Islands. (MORE: Why the US Navy sails past disputed artificial islands claimed by China) Under international law, a country's territorial water limits extend 12 nautical miles from its coastline. The U.S. Navy will sail what are known FONOPS within that limit to challenge a country's excessive maritime territorial claims. The U.S. Navy executes FONOPs worldwide to challenge excessive maritime claims, but the missions challenging China's claims in the South China Sea always draw the most attention. "U.S. Forces operate in the Indo-Pacific region on a daily basis, including in the South China Sea," Doss said. "All operations are designed in accordance with international law and demonstrate that the United States will fly, sail and operate wherever international law allows. That is true in the South China Sea as in other places around the globe." Monday's passage by the USS Preble is only the Navy's second Freedom of Navigation Operation off Scarborough Shoal -- the first one was in January 2018. (MORE: US Navy destroyers sail near disputed islands claimed by China in South China Sea) The passage past Scarborough Reef was the USS Preble's second FONOP this month. In early May, the destroyer was one of two warships to sail past the Spratly Islands. The Pentagon has criticized China's militarization of the Spratly and Parcel Island chains. China has placed significant military structures and equipment on seven artificial islands it's built on reefs in the Spratly Islands. There have been U.S. and Philippine concerns that in the future China might engage in similar dredging operations to create an artificial island around Scarborough Reef.


The weather report for Minneapolis has light rainfall ahead for the coming week, starting on Monday, according to drone-powered weather forecasting service Saildrone . The greatest chance of rain is expected on Monday at 70%, with the possibility of light rainfall of 0.59 inches. The next few days will also see warm temperatures, persisting through Friday as well. Temperatures will reach a high of 81 degrees on Friday, then turn milder on Saturday. Skies will be cloudy today and mostly cloudy Thursday through Friday. Winds are forecast to reach a modest high of 15 mph on Friday, while today will be quieter with a top speed of just 6 mph. 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.


Representatives of Sporting CP star Bruno Fernandes will travel to England in the coming days for talks over the future of their client with three Premier League clubs, according to a report in Portugal. 24-year-old Fernandes is one of the hottest properties on the summer transfer market, following a standout season in Portugal in which he scored 32 times and provided 18 assists in all competitions. On a team level, the midfielder won both the Taça de Portugal and Taça da Liga (Portugal's FA and League Cup equivalents) with Sporting CP and lifted the inaugural Nations League for his country on home soil. Inevitably, most of the Premier League 's have been linked with a summer move for the rising star, with Manchester United providing most of the fodder for transfer column inches. While a report from England claimed that United are now the outright favourites for Fernandes due to a lack of interest elsewhere, the latest from Portugal claims that the player's representatives are to travel to the UK for talks with three clubs. A Bola, via Sapo Desporto , say that 'top executives' of the company representing Fernandes will meet with Spurs , Liverpool and United to hear out their proposals. They add that the agents will not return to Sporting CP with 'concrete offers' but rather a dossier of information for the club bosses. A sticking point seems to be in Sporting's valuation of Fernandes. The Lisbon club want to hold out for at least €60m (£53m) - a figure the English suitors are reluctant to stump up. Meanwhile, Correio da Manhā (via SportWitness ) claim that Sporting, in fact, want €70m for their star man but the agents are coming back with offers around €50m, suggesting negotiations are still in a fairly primitive stage. That report adds that while Sporting CP do need the money, they are reluctant to sell on the cheap after rivals Benfica got €120m for Joao Felix. Even if Pogba stays, Solskjær wants another midfielder after Longstaff. Bruno Fernandes is thought to be his preference. #mufc have also looked at Saul Niguez #mulive [telegraph]   utdreport (@utdreport) July 1, 2019 As far as the credibility of the Premier League's trio's interest goes, United seem far and away the most likely option as they look to continue their rebuild with young, exciting players who will be allured by United's reputation but not deterred by a lack of Champions League football. Spurs capture of Tanguy Ndombele may negate the need for another big-money midfield addition unless Christian Eriksen leaves, while Liverpool's chances of splashing the cash this year are remote.


Southwest says it has solved a computer glitch that delayed hundreds of flights Sunday and threatened more headaches on Monday. The carrier tells Today in the Sky that it had fixed the glitch as of 8:10 a.m. ET and expects operations to return to normal Monday. A tweet from Baltimore/Washington International Airport -- one of Southwest's busiest airports -- appears to back that up. "All operations at BWI returning to normal with little to no delays and passenger lines are diminishing," the airport said in a tweet from 8:10 a.m. ET . Southwest acknowledge the issue in a Monday morning statement . "After a challenging Sunday for our Employees and Customers, we're expecting the technical systems that power our Customer Service to perform normally today," the airline said. "Teams worked throughout the night in advance of our first departures to ensure the smoothest operation today." "Out of the 3600 daily flights in our schedule, 75% of flights operated ontime with approximately 500 flights delayed Sunday," Southwest continued. "Our Employees worked around issues with primary systems and utilized back-up procedures to get our Customers and their checked luggage to their intended destinations. We have some additional work to do today to get bags delivered and some delayed or displaced Customers into open seats. We have teams working as quickly as possible to accomplish that." Prior to Monday morning's news that the glitch had been resolved, Southwest had said it was still working to fix the problem. The carrier had been advising customers with flights Monday to check-in online and print their boarding passes at home or to be able to display them on their mobile devices. Southwest also advised passengers to arrive at the airport at least two hours ahead of their scheduled flight. The carrier now expects operations to return to normal, though it said in its statement that "we continue to recommend that customers check-in online or on our app before reaching the airport, and that they present a printed or mobile boarding pass to check luggage, proceed through security screening, and reach the boarding door of our gates." On Sunday, the unspecified computer glitch forced Southwest to manually check-in many passengers, requiring agents to write out boarding passes by hand. Online and mobile check-in appeared to be mostly unaffected, and many customers were able to check in via Southwest's airport kiosks. The biggest hold-up came for fliers trying to check bags for their flights. The glitch began early Sunday, forcing the carrier to delay about 500 flights out of its daily schedule of about 3,600 flights. It was unclear how many flights might be impacted Monday. That led to long lines -- "miles long," according to some social media accounts -- as the carrier struggled to keep ahead of check-in queues. Images of long lines surfaced from busy Southwest airports like Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Denver and Baltimore. Passenger Ida Perez tweeted to NBC News that Sunday's check-in line at Las Vegas' McCarran International Airport wrapped around the building and down the street. Perez said she waited in line for over two hours before finally making her flight. Emily Mitnick told The Associated Press she missed her 10 a.m. Sunday flight from Detroit to Denver even after arriving to the airport around 8 a.m. She estimated to the news agency that about 1,000 people were in the check-in line awaiting boarding passes. At curbside check-in, she guessed there were a couple hundred people in line there as well. Mitnick says she did not clear security until about 10:15 a.m. "The clock was ticking and the flight took off," Mitnick tells AP. Elsewhere on Sunday, travelers took to Twitter to complain: But some travelers had compassion for the workers and understood the airline was doing the best it could. Southwest Airlines isn't the only airline to have technical issues in the past few months. On September 17, "connectivity issues" halted American Airlines flights for about two hours at three of its hubs. And in early July a computer glitch attributed to a faulty router grounded United Airlines flights nationwide. Contributing: Harriet Baskas from Seattle


Back in 2002, when Jeffrey Epstein was known only as a mysterious financial whiz with a private island and a roster of A-list friends, being friendly with him was something to boast about. And Donald Trump did. "I've known Jeff for fifteen years. Terrific guy," Trump told New York Magazine that year for a story headlined "Jeffrey Epstein: International Moneyman of Mystery." "He's a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side. No doubt about it   Jeffrey enjoys his social life." Now, Epstein is in jail, charged with sex trafficking by federal prosecutors who allege he abused dozens of underage women in New York and Palm Beach, Fla. He is no longer a friend anyone would want to claim. And now, Trump doesn't. Subscribe to the Post Most newsletter: Today's most popular stories on The Washington Post Alan Garten, an attorney for the Trump Organization, has said Trump had "no relationship" with Epstein. Outside of Trump's own words, there is clear evidence that the two men   both members of the same highflying societies in Manhattan and Palm Beach   socialized together in the past. Epstein visited Trump's Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach and posed for photos there with Trump in 1997 and 2000 . Epstein's voluminous personal address book   leaked by an Epstein employee in 2009   contained 14 phone numbers for Trump, his wife, Melania, and members of his staff, according to media reports. The relationship, whatever it was, appears to have cooled by 2007. Garten said in an interview Monday that although Epstein was never a member of Mar-a-Lago, Trump prohibited him from visiting the club around that time, as a reaction to criminal charges that had been filed against Epstein. "He banned him from stepping foot on the property," Garten said. He said Trump's private attorneys were not contacted during the more recent investigation of Epstein, which resulted in a 14-page federal indictment unsealed Monday. The White House did not respond to a request for comment. In the earlier case, Epstein pleaded guilty to Florida charges of soliciting prostitution to resolve allegations that he molested dozens of girls. That arrangement   overseen by then-U.S. Attorney Alex Acosta, who is now Trump's secretary of labor   has been widely criticized as too lenient. As part of the deal, Epstein had to spend just more than a year in jail. Epstein, 66, has owned a home since 1990 in Palm Beach, about two miles north of Mar-a-Lago. Even if he wasn't formally a member of Trump's club, he appears to have visited it for social events   not an unusual arrangement for some of Palm Beach's elite, according to Laurence Leamer, who recently wrote a history of Mar-a-Lago . "Lots of people were let in who weren't really members," Leamer said. Trump made money when these nonmembers paid for things, and he also reaped the social benefits if they were spotted at his club. Other evidence of Trump's acquaintance with Epstein has surfaced in court filings: One filing said Epstein's brother, Mark, recalled in 2009 that Trump had flown on Epstein's plane at least once. In addition, Vice News reported that a message pad, obtained by investigators from Epstein's home, showed Trump had left two phone messages for him in November 2004. The reason for Trump's calls was not given, according to the messages reproduced online by Vice. Epstein's address book, published by the website Gawker in 2015 , listed Trump's contact information alongside that of hundreds of other people, including former president Bill Clinton and Britain's Prince Andrew. Brad Edwards, an attorney who has represented some of Epstein's alleged victims, said he sought out Trump in 2009, seeking to interview Epstein's acquaintances. Trump was "the only person who picked up the phone and said, 'Let's just talk. I'll give you as much time as you want. I'll tell you what you need to know,' " Edwards said in a 2018 interview on YouTube . In that interview, Edwards said Trump "was very helpful in the information that he gave and gave no indication whatsoever that he was involved in anything untoward whatsoever." Edwards said he never took Trump's deposition. Edwards on Monday declined to elaborate on the assistance Trump gave. One of Epstein's alleged victims, Virginia Giuffre, was a towel girl in the Mar-a-Lago locker room when she was "recruited" at the club by Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell, according to Giuffre's attorney, David Boies. He said Maxwell asked Giuffre whether she would like to earn money and learn how to give massages, which led to Epstein sexually abusing her at his homes in Palm Beach and New York, according to Giuffre's lawsuit against Maxwell. That defamation suit was settled in 2017, but the case has been sealed. Last week, a New York federal appeals court ordered part of the case to be made public. Epstein and Maxwell have each denied taking part in an alleged sex trafficking ring. david.fahrenthold@washpost.com beth.reinhard@washpost.com kimberly.kindy@washpost.com Julie Tate and Alice Crites contributed to this report.


The F-117A Nighthawk stealth fighter, the world's first purpose-designed stealth aircraft, was recently sighted high in the skies over Death Valley, California. The fighter, part of a fleet of jets retired in 2008, was sporting a brand new camouflage paint job and accompanied by a NASA jet and aerial refueling tanker. What was it doing? That's anyone's guess. Aggressor F-117? Incredible new images revealed - https://t.co/2VHFyeEFAG pic.twitter.com/UFlfg48CPc   Combat Aircraft (@CombatAir_Mag) July 14, 2019 The F-117A was spotted on by plane spotter Steve Lewis on July 11. The fighter was refueling from a KC-135R Stratotanker and was accompanied by a NASA F-15D fighter. Intriguingly, the F-15D was "carrying an unidentified podded sensor under its starboard wing." The plane completed refueling and then headed east to Nevada. The F-117A Nighthawk was the world's first aircraft with stealth as a major if not the primary design factor. The alien-looking F-117 featured a diamond-like, faceted exterior designed to reduce radar returns and minimize its signature on enemy radars. This allowed it to sneak past enemy air defenses, attack targets on the ground with GBU-27 Paveway laser-guided bombs, and sneak back out again. Although commonly called a "stealth fighter," this was a misnomer. It did not have the ability to engage other aircraft and was strictly an attack plane or light bomber. The Air Force's inventory of 58 Nighthawks was retired in 2008, put away in "flyable storage" condition. A handful are permanently disposed of every year. An unknown number are still flying however, with sightings of the jets in 2016 and 2018 . The image above is from February 2019. In this latest sighting, the F-117A sported a blocky, white, gray, and black paint job similar to those used by the Air Force's aggressor squadrons, which train to replicate enemy weapons and tactics. Nobody knows what the Air Force is doing with the F-117A. The service literally has thousands of aircraft, so whatever it is doing requires the use of a low-observable, stealthy aircraft. The Air Force also has stealthy F-22 Raptor and F-35A Joint Strike Fighters but for some reason the service is using older Nighthawks for...whatever it is doing. The presence of an unidentified "podded sensor" on the F-15 might be a clue the service is testing a new sensor designed to pick up stealth aircraft. The "aggressor" paint job could also be a sign the Nighthawk is being used as a stand-in for Russian and Chinese fighter planes. Source: Combat Aircraft


Cameron Meredith 's tenure in New Orleans is over. Meredith, a wide receiver who signed with the Saints last year but managed just nine catches, has been released, according to Herbie Teope. The news comes shortly after Meredith hinted on social media that he was on the way out. After a big season in Chicago in 2016, catching 66 passes for 888 yards, Meredith missed all of 2017 with a torn ACL. The move will save $900,000 against the Saints' salary cap.


Boston will see a return of last week's warm temperatures this coming week, according to drone-powered weather forecasting service Saildrone . Temperatures will make way for warmer weather on Sunday and Monday, with a high of 82 degrees on Sunday. Light rainfall is also in store tomorrow. Tomorrow's forecast shows the highest likelihood of rain at 91 percent, with rain generally expected through Friday. Skies will be partly cloudy today. Winds should reach a modest high of 16 mph on Friday, and stay in the teens through Sunday. 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.


Food trends come and go. So how can you tell which tastes are trending at this very moment? We took a data-driven look at the question, using Yelp to deduce which restaurants have been in the limelight this month. To find out who made the list, we looked at Los Angeles businesses on Yelp by category and counted how many reviews each received. Rather than compare them based on number of reviews alone, we calculated a percentage increase in reviews over the past month, and tracked businesses that consistently increased their volume of reviews to identify statistically significant outliers compared to past performance. Read on to see which spots are on a hot streak, right now. Sugar Taco Open since May, this vegan Mexican eatery is trending compared to other businesses categorized as "Vegetarian" on Yelp. Citywide, vegetarian spots saw a median 1.5 percent increase in new reviews over the past month, but Sugar Taco saw a substantial 110.5 percent increase, with a slight upward trend from a four-star rating a month ago to 4.5 stars today. Located at 7257 Melrose Ave. in Melrose, Sugar Taco offers Mexican-inspired vegan eats like quesadillas, black bean burritos and plant-based carne asada tacos. (You can check out the full menu here .) L'Antica Pizzeria Da Michele Whether or not you've been hearing buzz about Hollywood's L'Antica Pizzeria Da Michele , the Italian spot, which offers pizza and more, is a hot topic according to Yelp review data. While businesses categorized as "Italian" on Yelp saw a median 1.7 percent increase in new reviews over the past month, L'Antica Pizzeria Da Michele bagged a 55.5 percent increase in new reviews within that timeframe, maintaining a superior 4.5-star rating. There's more that's trending on Los Angeles's Italian scene: Alameda Supper Club has seen a 32.4 percent increase in reviews. Open at 1534 N. McCadden Place since May, L'Antica Pizzeria Da Michele offers classic Italian eats such as margherita pizza and homemade pappardelle pasta with slow-cooked short rib. (You can view the full menu here .) Penny Oven Eagle Rock's Penny Oven is also making waves. Open since May at 2131 Colorado Blvd., the bakery and cafe has seen a 56.2 percent bump in new reviews over the last month, compared to a median review increase of 1.8 percent for all businesses tagged "Bakeries" on Yelp. Penny Oven offers fresh baked treats like croissants, German chocolate cake and vegan blueberry muffins. Over the past month, it's maintained a convincing 4.5-star rating among Yelpers. BrewZ Sports Cafe & Grill Canoga Park's BrewZ Sports Cafe & Grill is currently on the upswing in the sports bar category on Yelp. While businesses categorized as "Sports Bars" on Yelp saw a median 2 percent increase in new reviews over the past month, this sports bar, cafe and traditional American spot increased its new reviews by 44.1 percent and kept its rating consistent at 4.5 stars. Open for business at 7921 Canoga Ave., Suite C since April, the business offers an array of craft beers, as well as bar bites like wings, hot dogs, burgers and sandwiches. Song Hak LA Is Koreatown's Song Hak LA on your radar? According to Yelp review data, the Korean spot, which offers barbecue and more, is getting plenty of attention. While businesses categorized as "Korean" on Yelp increased their media new review count by 2 percent over the past month, Song Hak LA nabbed a 33.7 percent increase in reviews within that timeframe, maintaining a strong 4.5-star rating. Located at 356 S. Western Ave., Suite 201, Song Hak LA offers specialty Korean hot pot offerings such as grilled pork belly, corn cheese and kimchi stew. (See the full menu here .) This story was created automatically using local business data, then reviewed and augmented by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


Seattle will continue to experience unusual light rainfall today and tomorrow, according to drone-powered weather forecasting service Saildrone . Friday should see the most rain, with a projected accumulation of 0.37 inches. The immediate forecast also has mild temperatures in store for today. Temperatures will make way for warmer weather from Monday to Wednesday, with a high of 86 degrees on Wednesday. Skies will partly clear up on Saturday, remaining partly cloudy through Wednesday. Winds will stay fairly calm throughout the week, with just a light breeze of 7 mph today. 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.


After being hired as the defensive coordinator in Chicago in January, Chuck Pagano said that the Bears defense won't change much with Vic Fangio now running the show in Denver. That doesn't mean it won't be changing at all and head coach Matt Nagy indicated on Wednesday that they're seeing some new things during organized team activities. He did not indicate any worry that those changes would lead to a lesser performance once the team hits the field in September. "I have zero concerns ," Nagy said, via ESPN.com. "It's going to be exciting. We are seeing some different looks out there that we haven't seen with Vic. It's been neat." Nagy said he doesn't expect the defense to come together overnight, but praised Pagano's communication skills while maintaining his belief that all will work out well on defense in Chicago.


Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard gave an impromptu update with local media Wednesday in regards to the revelation that linebacker Bobby Okereke was the subject of a sexual assault investigation at Stanford in 2015. Ballard told reporters that the Colts knew about the university's investigation of Okereke and that the third-round pick informed them of it during the pre-draft process. The New York Times ran a report in 2016 of the investigation and how Stanford handled the accusation. Ballard also said the team did their own research into the investigation and because there was no disciplinary action taken by the school, in addition to no charges against Okereke, the Colts went ahead and made the pick on the second day of the draft. Colts GM Chris Ballard just completed a quick update with beat reporters re: the revelation that 3rd rd pick Bobby Okereke was the Stanford player accused of sexual assault in 2015. Okereke was not charged and he personally informed the Colts of the matter prior to the draft - Stephen Holder (@HolderStephen) June 5, 2019 Ballard says Colts investigated, including reviewing the documents from the Title IX case (which resulted in no action being taken against Okereke). Given the presence of no charges or disciplinary action, and Okereke's otherwise impeccable record, they made the pick. - Stephen Holder (@HolderStephen) June 5, 2019 The Colts also felt comfortable making the pick with Okereke given that his track record has been pristine since the investigation in 2015. Chris Ballard just held a conference call to address the Bobby Okereke situation. Basic #Colts position is LB was never charged with a crime, never disciplined by University and has a good track record since the incident in 2015. That made the team comfortable with the pick. - George Bremer (@gmbremer) June 5, 2019 Ballard said Wednesday that the Colts did not interview the woman that accused Okereke of the sexual assault. The Colts did not interview the accuser because they didn't think that was necessary given the other details. Whether she would have cooperated is anyone's guess. No idea. - Stephen Holder (@HolderStephen) June 5, 2019 It isn't clear what - if anything - will happen after this revelation surrounding Okereke, but it's clear Ballard and the Colts knew of the situation and investigation before making the pick in the third round of April's draft. MORE: Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant injuries are ruining the NBA Finals 49ers' biggest offseason whiff was intentional These five upcoming NBA free agents helped themselves in the playoffs Drake Trolled Klay Thompson On Instagram After Raptors Won Game 3 Former Steeler Le'Veon Bell robbed of over $500,000 in jewelry


As the calendar flips to August, it can only mean one thing: college football is here. Fall camps are opening or getting ready to open all across the country, and the first game of the season the big Florida vs. Miami showdown in Orlando is less than four weeks away. But there's plenty of work to be done before the first snaps that count are taken. This week, we'll be previewing August practice for each major conference, plus the Group of Five. Up next, it's the Big Ten (previously: SEC , ACC , Big 12 , Pac-12 ). Top August Story For the first time since 2011, Urban Meyer will not be manning the sidelines during Ohio State's fall camp or its upcoming season (even if he is still lurking in Columbus). His successor, Ryan Day, was the Buckeyes' offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2017 and '18, and he also served as interim coach during Meyer's three-game suspension last fall. Day has spent time in the NFL with the 49ers and in the ACC and AAC. Though he worked for a year as Meyer's GA at Florida, it's a stretch to say he's from the retired coach's tree, and it'll be interesting to see how his approach differs from his predecessor's, which elements of Meyer's operation he keeps and what new wrinkles he implements. Positional Battle to Watch Former Wisconsin quarterback Alex Hornibrook transferred to Florida State this winter, and the Badgers are in need of a new signal-caller in 2019. That need is made even more acute by their speed bump of a season last fall, when they finished with their worst record since 2012, when Bret Bielema was fired. In 2018, Wisconsin's defense regressed in a big way, and it's not absurd to think it won't immediately rebound to 2017 standards come fall which means the winner of the quarterback battle in Madison is paramount. It'll come down to Jack Coan, the junior who took over during Hornibrook's injuries last year for four up-and-down starts, and Graham Mertz, a four-star, pro-style quarterback out of Blue Valley North in suburban Kansas City. It's rare for a quarterback of Mertz's caliber to commit to the Badgers out of high school, and if he doesn't win the job in fall camp, he'll likely be hovering should Coan struggle. Positional Group Under Pressure Michigan's defense lost a ton of talent after last season, when it had the No. 2 unit in the FBS. Looming largest among those graduated and NFL-bound players is linebacker Devin Bush, and replacing him will be a tall task. Just consider what the Wolverines looked like without him last year: Bush injured his hip in the second half of a Nov. 24 game against Ohio State, which Michigan lost, 62 39, and when he missed the Peach Bowl, his team gave up 41 points in a loss to Florida. Josh Ross, Devin Gill and Jordan Anthony will compete to fill his spot in the middle of the field, and Michigan's ability to lock in on a replacement, be it one player or a platoon, will be crucial to its success in this season's make-or-break games. New Coach Spotlight Maryland hired Mike Locksley last winter to take over for interim coach Matt Canada, who was filling in for the fired DJ Durkin. It's been a tumultuous year in College Park, and Locksley, who was on Nick Saban's staff from 2016 18, will have plenty of work to do creating a new culture. Fortunately, he's familiar with the school, having served as the Terrapins' offensive coordinator under Randy Edsall from 2012 15. (He also spent 1997 2002 as Maryland's running backs coach and recruiting coordinator.) But Locksley's task goes beyond culture; he's inheriting a team that hasn't won 10 games since 2003, and he'll need to work quickly to get his new quarterback, Virginia Tech transfer Josh Jackson, up to speed. Coordinator Jon Hoke will also have plenty of work to get his defense, which returns only three starters and struggled a season ago, up to snuff. Maryland fans have to hope that their new coach's seasons with Saban rubbed off in a positive way; going into 2019, Locksley has a 3 31 record as a head coach at New Mexico and in an interim capacity at Maryland in 2015. Week 1 Game to Circle Northwestern, winner of the Big Ten West in 2018, opens at Stanford in what should be one of the more interesting Power 5 matchups of Week 1. The Wildcats will have a new quarterback, Clemson transfer Hunter Johnson, under center, and Stanford will play its first game since star running back Bryce Love graduated. Northwestern hopes to continue its upward trajectory in 2019, and Johnson will be an upgrade at quarterback for a team that's won despite a middling offense in recent years. The former five-star recruit is the most talented player to throw the football during Pat Fitzgerald's tenure, and with plenty of returning defensive depth, the Wildcats could start the year with a splash.


Cleveland Browns training camp rolls into day 12, just one more practice session before the preseason opener with the Washington Redskins. I've been at four of the practices and talked extensively with other daily observers. Here are the top five things I've learned over the training camp sessions thus far: Baker Mayfield drives the team hard It's obvious to anyone in Berea who watches even one segment of team drills: Baker Mayfield does not let mistakes go uncorrected. If Odell Beckham Jr. isn't where and when Mayfield expected him to be on a route, the second-year QB is going to let him know and hash it out. The same is true of a running back missing a pass protection assignment, as Dontrell Hilliard found out Monday. Often loudly and sometimes profanely, Mayfield's style is to attack the mistakes right away in an effort to fix them. That includes his own errors, by the way. It's a regular sight to see Mayfield mentally reliving the last rep when he makes a mistake, such as the pick-6 he threw to Jermaine Whitehead on Tuesday in the shadow of his own goalpost. There is nothing stoic about him. He wants to be great and he expects that of his teammates as well as himself. This is not a negative. Too many players and coaches in the Browns past have been too complacent, too tolerant of mediocrity (or worse). Mayfield will not let teammates off the hook. Accountability is evident in Berea, and it starts with No. 6. Kicking remains a big problem Greg Joseph has outplayed Austin Seibert in the placekicking battle, but it's an uninspiring win. And for a team that lost two games last year directly because of poor kicking, that's not good enough. Seibert has been a huge disappointment. The fifth-round pick missed more FG attempts than he made through the first five days of practice. Joseph continues to bang kicks through, but they seldom are of the no-doubt variety - just like last year's 17-for-20 showing in his rookie season. Tuesday saw Seibert catch up a little as Joseph struggled in the mid-practice competition. It's worth noting that Seibert's miss was wildly wide left, while Joseph's misses were both close shaves. #Browns kicking competition: Austin Seibert 4-for-5, WL from 45. Greg Joseph 3-for-5, WL from 33 and 50 - Scott Petrak ct (@ScottPetrak) August 6, 2019 Seibert is demonstrably better in kickoff drills, both on distance and directional "splash" kicks. That should be a tie-breaker and not a deal-maker. It's hard to feel confident in either option right now. The depth at wide receiver is truly impressive Adding Odell Beckham Jr. to a lineup that already featured Pro Bowler Jarvis Landry figured to raise the level of talent and depth in the Browns' WR room. What has been unexpected is the emergence of guys like Derrick Willies and Jaelen Strong. Both have taken first-team reps at times and not looked out of place. They're obviously not Beckham or Landry, but bring their own qualities which work for them. The battle for the final one or two roster spots at WR is intense. With Beckham, Landry and Rashard Higgins set as the top threesome, it leaves Strong, Willies, Antonio Callaway and perhaps Damion Ratley (currently sidelined with injury) jockeying for position and status. Here's the good part: Strong and Willies as a combination has been better in camp than the top twosome of two years ago, Corey Coleman and Kenny Britt. And they're likely No. 5 and 6 on this year's Browns, not starters. Having good QB play certainly helps, but there is legit depth of talent in Cleveland at WR. Less worry about offensive tackle Heading into training camp, my biggest worry on the entire team was offensive tackle. After watching starters Greg Robinson and Chris Hubbard, I feel a lot better about the starting group. Hubbard looks much more comfortable and capable in his second season as the team's right tackle. When he's faced off against Myles Garrett and newcomer Olivier Vernon, he's held his own and shown the ability to recover from an initial defeat. He's shown more power and grit in run blocking, too. Robinson continues to amaze with his technical progress on the left side. The guy who stepped up late last season with his career on the line has not rested on his laurels, thankfully. Robinson's footwork and balance have improved. He's still just an average run blocker on his best day, but the Browns are paying him to keep Mayfield comfortable. The depth behind them looks abysmal, so it's imperative Hubbard and Robinson stay healthy and on top of their games. Steve Wilks was a great choice as the defensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens as a rookie coach appears to be swimming through the rough currents of high expectations, loud external noise and the rigamarole of the daily tasks of his new gig. It sure feels like Steve Wilks is helping him. Wilks went through being a head coach for the first time a year ago. It did not go well for him in Arizona, for reasons both in and (mostly) out of his control. That experience serves him well as a consigliere to Kitchens. As far as his defense goes, Wilks has shown creativity and adaptability. The new scheme will look foreign to anyone expecting Gregg Williams redux. There are going to be a lot of wrinkles and formations that will keep the offenses guessing and off-balance. It's too early to know if it will work, of course, but I've been impressed with how Wilks has handled the defense thus far. MORE: ESPN's Molly Qerim walked off set after Max Kellerman said Kobe's on his 'all-NBA worst team' Roundup: SpaceX Launches Falcon 9; Toni Morrison Passes Away; Barneys Files for Bankruptcy Packers' decision to cut OT Jason Spriggs places spotlight on second-year UDFA Alex Light News: Robert Quinn surgery, most impressive Cowboys at camp Eagles' release unofficial depth chart for preseason opener vs. Titans


Manchester City's Pep Guardiola and Liverpool's Jurgen Klopp are on the four-man shortlist for the Premier League Manager of the Season award. Guardiola and Klopp are locked in a battle for the Premier League title that will be settled in the final matches of the season on Sunday. They will also slug it out for the Manager of the Season prize along with Tottenham's Mauricio Pochettino and Wolves' Nuno Espirito Santo. Guardiola is looking to become only the third manager to retain the title in the Premier League era, with City certain to claim the trophy if they win at Brighton on Sunday. But they have been pushed all the way by Liverpool, who have lost only once this season. Klopp's team have amassed 94 points, the fourth-highest tally of any team in a single Premier League season, leaving them only one point behind City before Sunday's game against Wolves. Pochettino has been recognised for keeping fourth-placed Tottenham in contention for a top-four finish despite not making a single signing for the last two transfer windows amid the disruption of a delayed move to their new stadium. Tottenham will be guaranteed to finish in the top four if they avoid defeat against Everton on Sunday. Nuno's Wolves, promoted last year, have collected 57 points -- the most for any promoted team for 18 years. Guaranteed seventh place, they remain in the running for a Europa League place depending on the outcome of the FA Cup final between Man City and Watford. The final winner will be determined by a combination of a fans' vote and the views of an experts' panel. The winner will be announced by the League Managers Association next Thursday. Meanwhile, City and Liverpool also dominate the shortlist for the Premier League's Player of the Season award. Chelsea's Eden Hazard is the only man on the seven-strong list not to play for either of the title challengers. City have Sergio Aguero, Bernardo Silva and Raheem Sterling all nominated, with Liverpool's Sadio Mane, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah also in contention. Egypt forward Salah, who won the award last year, faces stiff competition to retain his crown, with Van Dijk recently named the PFA Player of the Year and Sterling earning the Football Writers' Footballer of the Year prize.


The Patriots and Lions are trading again, with Detroit offering some tight end depth. According to Justin Rogers of the Detroit News , the Lions are trading tight end Michael Roberts to New England in exchange for a future late-round draft pick. Roberts might not have made the roster in Detroit, after the Lions used a first-round pick on T.J. Hockenson and signed Jesse James and Logan Thomas in free agency. He might not make the roster in New England either, but the path is clearer, after the retirement of Rob Gronkowski and the recent release of Austin Seferian-Jenkins , and the suspension which will take Benjamin Watson out of the first four games. Roberts was a fourth-round pick in 2017. He finished last year on injured reserve after a shoulder injury. The Patriots and Lions have sent a number of players back and forth, with Lions General Manager Bob Quinn tapping into his connections in New England to trade players and picks often.


Getting a good night's sleep can be difficult, but some things you do could be making it harder. Sleeping in on the weekend may throw your body off. Using your cellphone as an alarm is not recommended. We've all heard that getting a good night's sleep is important, but actually accomplishing this can be easier said than done. Unfortunately, there are plenty of ways you might be negatively impacting your ability to rest at night, and not all of them are obvious. INSIDER consulted with sleep experts to identify a few ways you might be sabotaging your sleep and how to get back on track. You obsess about getting eight hours of sleep According to the National Sleep Foundation, most adults over the age of 26 need about eight hours of sleep . However, some adults may feel fine after seven hours or might need up to nine hours to feel rested. If you're constantly worrying about missing that eight-hour mark, you may be doing yourself more harm than good by creating anxiety around sleep. And this makes sleep more difficult. Despite what you've heard, you can actually be perfectly healthy and get less than eight hours of sleep, especially if you're sleeping soundly and not getting up in the middle of the night, Morton H. Shaevitz, Ph.D., ABPP, wrote in Psychology Today . If you wake up feeling energetic and productive and can make it through the day without feeling like you're about to nod off, it's likely you are getting enough sleep. You wear a sleep-tracking device It may seem counterintuitive, but wearing a sleep-tracking device might actually be messing with your ability to get a good night's rest. Although sleep-tracking devices can provide insight into your sleep, you should be aware that the data might not always give an accurate picture of the quality of your sleep. Just as some people might not have any problem with sleep until they strive for eight hours, some people may not have any concerns about their sleep until they see data from a sleep-tracking device that suggests they didn't sleep well, even though they feel rested. This can create doubt and uncertainty around sleep that might make it harder to doze off. You sleep in on the weekends Ditching the alarm on Saturday mornings seems like the perfect way to catch up on sleep lost during week, right? Maybe not. According to the National Sleep Foundation, it's not really possible to "catch up" on lost sleep. Sleeping in can also disrupt your body's natural sleep rhythm, making it harder to fall asleep at night. Though you might feel less sleepy during the day after a late lie-in, lingering in bed on weekend mornings can actually reduce your ability to focus and lead to mental grogginess. You have a cup of coffee with lunch Plenty of people rely on an afternoon jolt of caffeine to power through the rest of their workday. Unfortunately, that lunchtime coffee might affect your sleep long after the buzz has passed. According to the National Sleep Foundation, caffeine has a half-life of six hours in your body. That means that about 50% of the caffeine in the cappuccino you enjoyed at 3 p.m. will still be in your system at 9 p.m. Can't tolerate the thought of ditching coffee with lunch? Try opting for decaf or a smaller size to reduce the impact of coffee on your sleep. You go to bed before you're actually sleepy A common piece of sleep-related advice is to follow a regular sleep schedule - to go to bed and get out of bed at the same time every day. However, you should never force yourself to hit the sheets before your body is actually ready. "By going to bed before sleepiness or drowsiness has developed, the ability to sleep is likewise lost. Similarly, lying awake for prolonged periods in the morning can be detrimental. Even short periods of sleep will diminish the sleep drive and could affect the circadian rhythm," Brandon Peters, a double board-certified neurologist and sleep medicine specialist, wrote in Well+ Good . "Therefore, train yourself to go to bed when you are feeling sleepy, not because the clock says it is time to sleep or because you are fatigued." Going to bed before you're actually tired enough to sleep can lead to tossing and turning or lying awake. The frustration of not being able to nod off may actually make it harder to fall asleep. You eat dinner right before bedtime Do you typically go straight from the dinner table to the bedroom? It turns out that eating too close to bedtime can actually interfere with your sleep. Dr. Chirag Shah told INSIDER that snacking or eating dinner before sleeping can make you more likely to experience sleep-disrupting acid reflux . The National Sleep Foundation also recommends avoiding late-night eating so your body has time to digest before lights out. You use your bed for things other than sleep or sex If you use your bed for things like surfing the internet, answering email, texting, or reading, you might be setting yourself up for restless nights. "Hanging out in bed but not sleeping can sabotage our sleep. It can lead to maladaptive conditioning where we associate our beds with being places of wakefulness," Susan Malone , PhD, sleep researcher and senior research scientist at NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing, told INSIDER. "It is important to make a strong connection between our bedrooms and sleep so that when we enter our bedrooms, our bodies anticipate and begin preparing for sleep." Watching TV in bed might be an especially pernicious habit. The National Sleep Foundation cautioned that the blue light emitted from television screens and mobile devices can actually block the production of melatonin , the hormone that makes you sleepy. A recent study from the University of Massachusetts Amherst also found that children under 5 who watch TV may sleep significantly less than those who don't. You always hit the snooze button Slamming the snooze button can become almost automatic, but temporarily silencing your alarm isn't doing you any favors. In fact, you might actually end up groggier than if you hadn't continued to doze. "Much of the latter part of our sleep cycle is comprised of REM sleep, or dream sleep, which is a restorative sleep state," Reena Mehra, M.D., M.S. , director of Sleep Disorders Research at Cleveland Clinic said in a blog post . "And so, if you're hitting the snooze button, then you're disrupting that REM sleep or dream sleep." When a sleep cycle is interrupted, you can wake up feeling un-refreshed and lethargic. Rather than reaching for the snooze button, it's best to set your alarm to the latest possible rise time so that those extra minutes in bed are more likely to be restful. You use your cellphone as an alarm clock Setting an alarm is sometimes a necessary evil. However, the type of alarm clock you use can have a significant impact on how easy - or painful - it is to start your day. The National Sleep Foundation suggests using an alarm clock that doesn't emit blue light from a display screen, as this kind of light (or any light) can make it more difficult to nod off. You might also want to opt for an alarm clock that vibrates rather than chimes, or even one that wakes you up using gradually brightening light rather than sound. And the one type of alarm clock you should try to avoid? Your cellphone. Though it may be convenient, using your cellphone as an alarm means that you may be exposed to extra blue light before bed. Plus, keeping your phone on your nightstand means you might be distracted or awakened by incoming texts or emails. You don't take time to unwind before bed Parents know that helping children wind down before bed with a bedtime story or bath makes them more likely to sleep. Taking time to unwind before bed can also help adults drift off more easily. "I suggest patients set aside at least 30 to 45 minutes - an hour is even better - to wind down before bed," Shelby Freedman Harris, PsyD, director of the Sleep-Wake Disorders Center at Montefiore Medical Center and an assistant professor at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York told Women's Health. "Keep a general schedule or ritual for that wind-down hour so your body and mind start to know that each step is one step closer to bed." This sleep buffer zone should be used only for pleasurable and relaxing activities (think reading, meditation, yoga, etc.) in order to set the stage for sleep. You consume alcohol before bed A glass of wine before bed or a beer with dinner might make you feel drowsy, but enjoying a nightcap is a double-edged sword when it comes to sleep. Although alcohol can help you fall asleep, it can actually disrupt sleep later in the night . If you want to drink, it's best to limit your consumption and be sure to follow it up with plenty of water. Related Video: How to Sleep Better (Provided by KHOU-TV Houston)


The NCAA Division I men's golf regionals concluded Wednesday at six sites across the country: Palouse Ridge (Pullman, Wash.), UT Golf Club (Austin, Texas), Stanford Golf Course (Stanford, Calif.), University of Louisville Golf Club (Louisville, Ky.), University of Georgia Golf Course (Athens, Ga.) and TPC Myrtle Beach (Myrtle Beach, S.C.). The top five teams and the top individual not on advancing teams in each regional moved on to the NCAA Championship, which begins May 24 at Blessings Golf Club in Fayetteville, Ark. Here is everything you need to know from the final day: Myrtle Beach Regional Moving on: 1. Illinois (-25), 2. Ohio State (-20), 3. Wake Forest (-15), 4. California (-14), 5. UNLV (-8) Just missed: 6. Florida State (-7), 7. Oregon (-1), 8. Northwestern (E), 9. Texas Tech (+1) Medalist: Michael Feagles, Illinois (-15) Advancing individual: Edwin Yi, Oregon (-14) Story of the day: California. A year ago, the Bears left the Raleigh (N.C.) Regional without a ticket to the NCAA Championship for the second straight year. On Tuesday night, Cal found itself in the fifth position in Myrtle Beach. Bears head coach Walter Chun didn't panic, though. "I told them last night, with the pressure that goes along with a regional and the depth of the field and the quality of teams, to be in the mix and not have your best stuff, I really sang their praises," Chun said. "I told them, at some point we're going to play well if you believe in yourselves and stay patient. At some point you're going to take off." The second-seeded Bears did just that on their first nine Wednesday, shooting 10 under on TPC Myrtle Beach's back nine. From there, Cal got some lucky breaks, finding a few balls in trees and hazards, and comfortably advanced by seven shots. "It was nice not holding my breath on every shot," Chun joked. After sitting 3 over through two rounds, senior Collin Morikawa came alive for Cal, shooting 5-under 67 to finish T-14 individually. Fellow seniors Sebastian Crampton and K.K. Limbhasut finished 11 th and ninth, respectively. "I'm really happy for the guys," Chun said. "They've gone through their downs, and just to have an opportunity for the seniors to play one more tournament together, I'm super proud." Notable nuggets: Illinois won its fifth regional title in seven years as Michael Feagles became the program's fifth regional medalist. "We have been trying to get them to grow and play with strength and purpose all year, and it all came together this week," Illinois head coach Mike Small said. … Eighth-seeded Ohio State is headed to its first NCAA finals since 2011, when the Buckeyes made match play. … Wake proved more than just a deep team as its top three players all finished T-14 or better, led by Eugenio Chacarra's T-6 finish. … UNLV earned the final NCAA Championship berth with a 4-under round and 4-under second-nine performance by Justin Kim. … Florida State shot 9 under but finished one shot short. Greyson Porter was subbed in Wednesday and delivered a 3-under 69 that included a quadruple bogey. … Oregon didn't advance, but senior Edwin Yi, who was part of the 2016 NCAA title team, finished second to advance individually. … Middle Tennessee State's storybook season ended with a 13 th -place finish. The Blue Raiders were without top player Marcus Byrd, who was ruled ineligible shortly before regionals. Athens Regional Moving on: 1. Georgia (-8), 2. Duke (-1), 3. Vanderbilt (+1), 4. SMU (+16), 5. Liberty (+18) Just missed: 6. Tennessee (+21), 7. Nevada (+23), 8. Memphis (+25) Medalist: Davis Thompson, Georgia (-8) Advancing individual: Billy Tom Sargent, Western Kentucky (-3) Story of the day: SMU. Earlier this spring, Mustangs freshman Ben Wong sat in an In-N-Out Burger in California in disbelief. He had signed for an incorrect score, causing his team to be disqualified from a 26-team tournament. SMU slipped in the rankings and ended up being the last team into regionals at No. 60 in Golfstat. Wednesday, though, was a different story for Wong. It was a story of redemption as he shot 3-under 68 to lead the 10 th -seeded Mustangs to a fourth-place finish and back to the NCAA Championship. "You gotta feel great for him," SMU head coach Jason Enloe said. "I know he felt bad about what happened, and we were all kind of a little bit down about it. You could tell we were stuck in neutral for a couple of tournaments. Just the redemption and the satisfaction that he feels, I'm super happy for him to come through like that. He was huge." The Mustangs entered the final round in a four-way tie for fifth before gutting out a 1-under performance to finish five shots clear of sixth-place Tennessee. "I told the guys last night to just go out and play for each other," Enloe said. "They are a tightknit group of guys. I told them that no matter what, if they did that, they would not fail. They fought like hell and they did what they always do, give me full effort, and it worked out." Notable nuggets: Paced by medalist Davis Thompson and third-place-finisher Spencer Ralston, Georgia defended its home turf and advanced to its first NCAA finals since 2016. … Duke, a year after making it to the semifinals of NCAA match play, placed four players in the top 10 and finished second. … Vanderbilt finished third behind the red-hot Will Gordon, who finished second. … Liberty placed fifth to qualify for its second NCAA Championship in program history and first since 2012. … Nevada placed seventh and almost sent Stephen Osborne, older brother of SMU's Ollie Osborne, to the finals as an individual. But Osborne fell to Western Kentucky's Billy Tom Sargent in a playoff.


There's just one round of fixtures left in the Premier League this season, and we already have a pretty good idea of how the final league table will look. This penultimate weekend of 2018/19 confirmed who will be relegated, who will be competing in the Champions League next season and who will have to settle for the Europa League (sorry, Manchester United fans). Here are six of the best moments from all the action. Best Save What a stunning save Liverpool goalkeeper Trent Alexander-Arnold made to deny Newcastle United 's Salomon Rondon in their 3-2 win, flinging his arm out to block the ball on the line. Wait, he's not a goalkeeper? Oh, well let's give the award to someone else then. Young Bournemouth shot stopper Mark Travers had a debut to remember against Tottenham Hotspur , but the award must go to Chelsea 's Kepa Arrizabalaga. The Spaniard pulled off a stunning diving save to deny Watford 's Troy Deeney , flinging himself to the top corner of his goal to help the Blues on their way to victory. Chelsea paid big money to sign him, and moments like that are why. What a stop. Best Assist Alexander-Arnold may have missed out on the previous award, but he certainly deserves this one for his exquisite cross for Mohamed Salah . As we have come to expect from the right-back, his first-time cross looked like something out of a video game as it landed perfectly at the feet of Salah, who did what he does best and steered the ball past Martin Dubravka and into the back of the Newcastle net. He may have been lucky to still be on the pitch at the time, but he certainly made the most of his good fortune. Between them, Liverpool's full backs Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson have 22 Premier League assists this season. Best Goodbye After Gary Cahill 's scathing review of Maurizio Sarri emerged on Sunday, it was somewhat of a surprise to see the centre-back included in Chelsea's matchday squad. Showing his soft side, Sarri handed Cahill a few minutes at the end of the game to say goodbye to the Chelsea fans, before his contract expires at the end of the season. Fans were on their feet for the 33-year-old and, after the game was over, the players threw Cahill in the air to celebrate his seven years with the club, in what truly was an emotional moment for all involved. Gary Cahill, he's won it all. Best Comedy of Errors Whilst Chelsea were strolling into Champions League qualification, Arsenal seemed to be doing their best to avoid the top four, and their 1-1 draw with Brighton and Hove Albion now leaves them settling for the Europa League. Their form has been woeful as of late, and that was summed up perfectly by one 30-second period in the game. There was Bernd Leno's sloppy clearance, defenders simply getting hit with the ball, misplaced header after misplaced header, and even two or three slips for good measure. Suddenly, the Europa League final just got a lot more important for Unai Emery. Best Stat Arsenal's inability to get past Brighton was poor, but Manchester United 's implosion against the already-relegated Huddersfield Town was something else. They threw away a 1-0 lead to finish the game level, and their Champions League dreams are over too. Huddersfield's point was the first that any of the relegated sides have managed against the top six this season, out of a possible 105 points. Played 35, won none, lost 34, but now one draw. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was fuming , and rightly so. His team have been far from good enough, and they now have to pay for their shortcomings. Best Goal There were a handful of great strikes this weekend, but Andros Townsend's effort in Crystal Palace 's 3-2 win over Cardiff City was the pick of the bunch. The winger showcased some of the agility which has made him such a threat throughout his career, before cutting inside and unleashing a powerful effort and crashed against the post on its way over the line. It was a goal worth celebrating for everyone except Cardiff, who will be playing Championship football next year as a result.


DEARBORN, MI   It's an annual tradition that Dearborn carries on, even in the digital age: Getting kids outside and on the water for a little fishing. The 23rd Annual Children's Fishing Derby will be Saturday, July 13 at Camp Dearborn, beginning at 8 a.m. The event will feature competition in five age groups: 3-5, 6-8, 9-11, 12-15 and 16-18. Prizes will be awarded for the biggest fish and the most fish in each age group. Participation in the event which will take place on Eppinger Lake is free with a paid gate admission to Camp Dearborn. The first 100 kids registering on site will receive a free t-shirt. Participants should bring their own rod, bucket and bait, organizers said. For more information, call Camp Dearborn at (313) 943-2027.


At his award-winning Marque in Sydney's Surry Hills neighborhood, chef Mark Best serves a $130 (U.S.) menu that might include such dishes as prawn custard with hinona turnip, fermented shiitakes, and iceplant; bass grouper with tamarillo, verjus, potato paper, fish milk, and roe; and Rangers Valley 10+ wagyu with beet and radicchio kimchee. In 2012, he opened a more casual place, Pei Modern , in Melbourne, where the menu tended more toward the likes of Sydney rock oysters, burrata with figs and mustard seed, and homemade pasta with chicken dumplings and Parmigiano-Reggiano. Hailed as a homegrown expression of the "bistronomy" movement (in which fine-dining chefs, originally the French, opened casual eateries), It was promptly named the city's Restaurant of the Year. Last year, Best launched a branch of Pei Modern back in Sydney. It rather awkwardly occupies a kind of lobby lounge space at the city's posh Four Seasons Hotel   it looks like the kind of place that should be serving chicken Caesar salads, burgers, and iced tea, and in fact, the hotel's catering wing sets up a breakfast buffet there each morning before moving out to make room for Best's team   but there's nothing awkward about the solid, bistro-ish, Mediterranean-inflected food. From simple but perfect oysters, Italian salumi, wood-fired Padrón peppers, and Australian cheeses to bright, hearty plates like roasted salmon tail on the bone with samphire and rouille, Holmbrae chicken (complete with head and feet) with squash and butter beans, and Kurobuta pork cutlet with fermented blueberries, Pei Modern hits all the right notes   and provided one of the best meals we enjoyed on our recent restaurant-hopping tour of this gastronomic capital in New South Wales.


NEW YORK - Lyoto Machida appears to have a knack for retiring opponents. Chael Sonnen 's announcement after Bellator 222 marked the third time someone has walked away from the sport after being knocked out by "The Dragon." Machida (26-8 MMA, 2-0 BMMA), the former UFC champion, earned a second-round TKO of Sonnen (30-16-1 MMA, 2-2 BMMA) in Friday's co-headliner. at Madison Square Garden. Following the fight, Sonnen left his gloves in the center of the cage and said his time participating in active competition was officially over . Sonnen joins Randy Couture and Vitor Belfort as fighters who have announced their retirement after losing to the Brazilian, but Machida said it's not something he relishes. He doesn't take pride in ending someone's career, but instead views it in a more positive light. "To be honest, I don't think anything about that," Machida told reporters, including MMA Junkie, post-fight at Bellator 222. "I feel it's an honor for me to be part of his history and to share the cage with Chael Sonnen, Randy Couture, Vitor Belfort, because I consider those guys are legends in the sport. To be part of their story, for me, I'm so grateful for that." When asked bluntly if he believes Sonnen made the right choice by announcing his retirement, Machida said it's not really his place to make such a judgement. "It's up to him," Machida said. "It's hard to say anything about that, because you've got to respect the time of everyone. If Chael thinks that he has to retire then we just have to respect his decision and appreciate what he has been doing for the sport. He's considered one of the best in the sport, so you have to respect that." Machida largely had his way with Sonnen at Bellator 222. He found himself with his back against the cage in the opening seconds of the fight, but shortly thereafter broke into free space and found his timing. The former UFC light heavyweight titleholder floored Sonnen with a brutal flying knee in the first but somehow didn't get the finish. He did the same thing in the opening moments of the second round and was ultimately able to force the referee to wave off the action. There have been criticisms of Sonnen in the past for giving up in times of adversity. Machida said Sonnen earned his full respect, though, and while he didn't retire on a win, Sonnen showed his durability and heart one last time. "Chael is a very tough opponent," Machida said. "It was definitely my game plan to wait for the right moment. I didn't know. I didn't expect that Chael would come too much. He comes so fast and too much up to me, so I couldn't control the distance right away. But I got my timing and threw the knee, and I could hit him strong." For complete coverage of Bellator 222 , check out the MMA Events section of the site. MORE: Kawhi Leonard joked about his looming free agency decision with Kyle Lowry This is how the Golden State Warriors head into the offseason Rapoport: Broncos have picked successor to become next owner 3 players Raiders could trade before start of 2019 season What Tim Duncan told LeBron James after Spurs beat Cavs in 2007 NBA Finals