A veteran like Vernon Davis has seen all sorts of things at the NFL level and knows how to analyze the outlook of a team. So when Davis says he's thinking big things for the Washington Redskins in 2019, it's probably best to take note. Davis caught up with Katelyn Davis of the Washington Times and offered the following about next season: "I expect us to be a really good team this year because of the guys that we have, we have a great nucleus of guys who are not just great football players, but great people. If you can come together in the locker room you can come together anywhere and that's what it takes." Chemistry is indeed a big part of a winning equation and the Redskins had some interesting hiccups in this regard with players like Zach Brown and D.J. Swearinger. But if Davis has tossed a stamp of approval on the current locker room, the vibes have to be good so far. Davis, 35, returns for another season in the same role as last year, where he'll flank Jordan Reed and help mentor along guys like Jeremy Sprinkle and Donald Parham. MORE: It's time for the Cowboys to consider trading Dak Prescott Pelicans trade fourth pick from Lakers to Atlanta Hawks in deal for picks No. 8, 17 and 35 2019 NBA draft prospect Dylan Windler: 'If not for one AAU tournament, I'd be playing pro golf' Danny Ainge's plan to restock the Celtics' cupboard of draft assets Rob Pelinka May Not Have Known the Cap Rules for Anthony Davis Trade


A local non-profit has $5,000 to burn before the end of summer   and it wants to give it to grandparents who are raising grandkids. The money is intended to give grandparents a break, perhaps by helping cover the cost of a summer camp, or a local parks and recreation program, said Patricia Dominguez, director of kinship-care services at Duet, an agency that focuses on services for older adults. That way, the kids get to take part in a fun activity while Grandma and Grandpa get some down time, Dominguez said. For more stories that matter, subscribe to azcentral.com . "Parenting a second time around is not easy," she said. Besides, she added, "It's summertime and we already know after three days, the kids are bored." Respite programs for grandfamilies is one of the services Duet has offered for years. Last year, it spent $7,400 on respite services for 83 grandparents. A $5,000 grant significantly expands the respite program's reach. But there's a catch: The money has to be used by Sept. 1, and grandparents must apply for the assistance. The money can be used for whatever programs or services a grandfamily needs, with a cap of $250 per child, Dominguez said. That's enough to cover day care for several days or subsidize the cost of a camp, she said. Grandparents must be the legal custodians of their grandchildren and have the "notice to provider" paperwork the Department of Child Safety issues to legal custodians. Dominguez said the applicants also should expect to sit down for a 30-minute intake interview. Funding takes about 10 business days to process, so it's important to plan ahead. Applicants should call 602-274-5022, ext. 120, for an interview or send an email to dominguez@duet.org. Reach the reporter at maryjo.pitzl@arizonarepublic.com and follow her on Twitter @maryjpitzl This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona grandparents can catch a break from $5,000 in respite aid


Check out how this parrot reacts to the spinning of the washing machine. How funny is that?!


You like meat and potatoes but your partner wants a fresher, more interesting take on dinner. We'll show you how to make one dinner and serve it up two ways to suit you both. Honey Chipotle Ribs Do ribs seem a little too heavy? For a lighter meal, shred the meat and toss it with a vinegary slaw. Get Recipe Hearty Italian Sandwiches For a more interesting take on this Italian sandwich, mix the meat with your favorite anitpasto ingredients like roasted red peppers, fresh mozzarella, marinated artichokes, olives and pepperoncini. Get Recipe White Cheddar Mac & Cheese Lighten up this homey dinner (and add a little color) by mixing in roasted asparagus, shredded chicken and pimientos. Get Recipe Grilled Ribeye with Garlic Blue Cheese Mustard Sauce Turn a steak dinner into beefy street tacos. Serve up slices of steak in mini tortillas with shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes and a drizzle of blue cheese sauce. Get Recipe Lemon-Dijon Pork Sheet-Pan Supper From sheet pan supper to quinoa pork bowl, this main dish will satisfy everyone. Just cube the pork and toss it with the sweet potatoes, Brussels spouts, feta cheese, cooked quinoa and pull it all together with your favorite lemon vinaigrette. Get Recipe Pressure-Cooker Apple Balsamic Chicken While the chicken is cooking, heat up a few pierogies in a skillet with sauteed onion and apple. Then, shred the chicken and add to the skillet for an apple balsamic pierogi chicken dinner. Get Recipe Pulled Brisket Sandwiches While one of you enjoys this hearty sandwich, serve the other portion of shredded meat over a baked sweet potato. Get Recipe Turkey Breast with Cranberry Brown Rice Swap a hearty turkey dinner for a gourmet sandwich. Serve turkey slices on rustic whole grain bread topped with lettuce, tomato and a spread made with mayo, horseradish and cranberry sauce. Get Recipe Southern Pork & Rice Transform a classic pork chop dinner into a restaurant-style burrito. Just chop the pork and combine it with the rice mixture. Serve it in a warmed tortilla with spicy queso and sour cream. Get Recipe Grilled Brats with Sriracha Mayo Serve sliced sausage on a bed of rice topped with sauteed peppers and onions. Don't forget to drizzle with that delicious sriracha sauce! Get Recipe Tangerine Chicken Tagine Shred this flavorful chicken and tuck it into warmed pita bread with the vegetable mixture. Add shredded Romaine for freshness and crunch. Get Recipe Texas Chili Fries Skip the fries and toss the chili with cooked noodles and Cotija cheese. Top with sour cream and green onions for an amazing chili-mac. Get Recipe Slow-Cooker Malaysian Chicken Turn chicken and potatoes into a noodle bowl: shred the chicken and toss with cooked rice noodles, the sauce and bean sprouts. Top with chopped fresh cilantro and peanuts and serve with a squeeze of lime. Get Recipe Sheet-Pan Lemon Garlic Chicken Swap chicken and potatoes for lemon chicken fettuccine. Just shred the chicken and toss with cooked fettuccine, your favorite Alfredo sauce and grated lemon zest for bright lemon flavor. Get Recipe Pressure Cooker Mushroom Pork Ragout Switch up a classic dinner option to a fun hand-held. Just slice the pork, toss it with the sauce and serve in hoagie buns. Add a slice of Provolone cheese and broil until it's melted. Get Recipe Chicken-Cranberry Hot Dish Swap meat and potatoes for cranberry chicken rice pilaf. Just shred the chicken and combine it with long grain and wild rice mix, dried cranberries and sauce from the recipe. Get Recipe Citrus-Herb Roast Chicken Go from Sunday dinner to a breakfast-for-dinner hash and eggs. Cook chopped bacon in a skillet. Chop the veggies from the recipe and saute in bacon drippings. Add the bacon back to the skillet along with shredded chicken. Serve the chicken hash topped with a fried egg. Get Recipe Slow Cooker Jerked Short Ribs Sandwich this flavorful beef between two tortillas along with chopped green onions and Monterey Jack cheese then grill until the cheese is melty. You'll love this creative quesadilla. Get Recipe Pineapple-Glazed Pork Tenderloin Create a Hawaiian pork individual pizza in a snap. Just chop the pork and toss with the pineapple sauce. Spread over an individual pre-baked pizza crust and top with shredded Swiss cheese. Add fresh cubed pineapple for extra sweetness. Get Recipe Caribbean Curried Chicken Shred the chicken and toss with the thickened cooking juices. Serve it wrapped in flatbread topped with mango chutney. Get Recipe Pressure-Cooker Beef Brisket in Beer Transform this meaty supper into a restaurant-style brisket grilled cheese sandwich. Try with sharp cheddar, muenster or smoked Gouda cheese. If you're feeling extra adventurous, add sliced pear. Get Recipe Shredded Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches Create a buffalo chicken salad by serving the chicken over crisp Romaine instead of on a bun. Top with sliced red onions, chopped celery, ranch dressing and crumbled blue cheese. Get Recipe


The Minneapolis developer proposing a large residential real estate development in St. Anthony Park neighborhood in St. Paul is expected to unveil fresh renderings to the public during a community meeting Thursday. Master Properties Minnesota plans to buy 15 acres of land from Luther Seminary on its lower campus and construct multiple eight-story buildings. The buildings   to be developed in coordination with two other developers   are expected to include roughly 450 market-rate and affordable apartments. The St. Anthony Park Community Council will host a public meeting with the developer at 7 p.m. Thursday at Luther Seminary's Northwestern Hall auditorium, north of West Hendon Avenue near Fulham Street. The auditorium is on the lower level, with entrances from Fulham and Hendon. The meeting also will be live-streamed online. More information is available on the St. Anthony Park Community Council website at sapcc.org . The seminary plans to consolidate its campus around Olson Hall, making room for fresh development. Related Articles In St. Paul, a look at rules and regulations that need to go away St. Paul public hearing on Ford Site development design standards Listening session set Thursday on simplifying business licenses in St. Paul St. Paul's 2040 Comprehensive Plan heads to Met Council. Here's what's in it. James J. Hill Center will continue as a nonprofit, even if building may not Master Properties plans to develop market-rate housing, United Properties plans new senior housing, and CommonBond Properties plans affordable housing. Some of the land extends into the city of Lauderdale. If the Master Properties development goes through, it won't be the first redevelopment of former Luther Seminary land, but it will be the largest. Ecumen, a Shoreview-based developer of senior housing, recently opened the 49-unit Zvago St. Anthony Park senior cooperative at 2265 Luther Place.


LYON, May 24 (Reuters) - French police were hunting a suspected suitcase bomber on Friday after an explosion in the central city of Lyon that injured 13 people, officials said. The suspect was captured on security video leaving a bag in front of a bakery shortly before an explosion occurred at around 5:30 pm, police sources and local mayor Denis Broliquier said. Most of those hurt were hospitalized for treatment to leg injuries that were described as light. President Emmanuel Macron characterized the incident as an "attack" when the news broke during a live YouTube interview ahead of Sunday's European elections. "My thoughts are with the injured," he said. Paris anti-terrorism prosecutors opened an investigation as police said they were treating the blast as an attempted homicide, and Interior Minister Christophe Castaner headed to the scene. The partially masked suspect appeared in security camera footage wheeling a bicycle to the scene, before leaving a bag outside a branch of Brioche Doree, a popular bakery chain. Police sources described the suspected attacker as a European or North African male, seen wearing beige Bermuda shorts, an army-green scarf or head wrap and dark glasses. Soon after he left, the blast rained metal bolts on passersby in front of the premises on rue Victor Hugo, several blocks from the city's main station, according to police. Police forces across France have been instructed to increase security in public places and event venues, Castaner said. (Reporting by Catherine Lagrange in Lyon, Emmanuel Jarry and Marine Pennetier in Paris; Writing by Laurence Frost Editing by Peter Graff)


WASHINGTON   After two nights of debates between 20 presidential hopefuls that exposed a wide rift between the Democratic Party's progressive and centrist wings, President Trump's allies and Republican strategists said Thursday that they had gotten largely what they wanted: Five hours of a nationally televised clash where Democrats themselves questioned the practicality of prominent liberal wish-list items. The second- and third-tier moderate Democrats on the stage, they argued, had done much of the work for Mr. Trump, raising tough questions about plans supported by some of the leading candidates to nationalize health care, decriminalize illegal border crossings and drastically cut the use of fossil fuels. [ Six things we learned from the July Democratic debates. ] These ideas are supported by progressive candidates like Senators Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Bernie Sanders of Vermont, whom Republicans hope to turn into the face of a Democratic Party they are portraying as disconnected from the concerns of most Americans. "What the moderates were doing was pointing out that a large group of the Democrats running are simply out of sync with mainstream swing voters," said Karl Rove, the former top political adviser to President George W. Bush's two winning presidential campaigns. "The idea they're going to provide illegal immigrants free health care, that's not going to go down in union households in Michigan." Sign Up For the Morning Briefing Newsletter Mr. Trump and his supporters likely would have declared victory regardless of what was said onstage. And he will face no shortage of impediments to re-election. Majorities of Americans, even those who say the like him, disapprove of his erratic behavior. Important voting blocs like college-educated women have turned against him. And the economy is slowing down . Former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr led Mr. Trump by 10 percentage points in a recent Fox News poll of registered voters nationwide, and Mr. Sanders led him by 6 points. But the fissures within the Democratic Party had senior Trump campaign officials predicting that after the debate they would see a bump in their poll numbers in critical Rust Belt states like Michigan and Pennsylvania. In a statement released Thursday, Brad Parscale, Mr. Trump's campaign manager, said the debates showed the Democrats' "vendetta against coal, oil, and natural gas." The campaign believes that will alienate voters in those key states, which Republicans had not won in decades until Mr. Trump carried them in 2016. A guide to the 24 Democratic contenders who want to face Trump Though they were realistic about their limitations   and the fact that the general election is more than a year away   Republicans said that the debates had given them fodder for what they say will be hundreds of millions of dollars of attack ads. "Thank you very much for what you are doing, because you are giving us unlimited amounts of video footage for us to use," said Ned Ryun, the chief executive of American Majority, a group that is training and recruiting conservatives to help turn out the vote for Republicans in battleground states. "Republicans have a very nasty habit of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory," Mr. Ryun added. "But sitting here a year out, I'm not sure you could ask for better dynamics." Republicans pointed to several moments during the two debates when they said Democrats had undercut themselves in surprising ways, particularly on issues that will be important to voters in competitive Midwestern states like Michigan, where the debates were held. Mr. Biden, for instance, declared that his energy plan would end fossil fuel use   a position that seems highly risky not only in Michigan, the cradle of the American automobile industry, but in coal-producing states like Pennsylvania and Ohio that Mr. Trump won in 2016. Republicans said that other leading Democratic candidates like Ms. Warren, whom Trump campaign officials now view as the strongest debater in the field, missed opportunities to speak broadly to the concerns of middle-class voters and instead focused on issues with narrow appeal to progressives in the Democratic base. Asked on Tuesday night whether her health care plan would be paid for by raising taxes on the middle class, Ms. Warren did not answer, saying only that "middle-class families are going to pay less out of pocket for their health care." "No one talked about the middle class or cutting taxes for the middle class," said Alex Conant, a Republican consultant who advised Senator Marco Rubio of Florida on his 2016 presidential campaign. "If anything, they talked about how much to raise taxes on the middle class. It's bizarre how little they talked about issues that matter to most people." Democratic strategists saw more strength than weakness. "It's normal and healthy this far out to be debating amongst ourselves and forging our identity as a party over the next couple of years," said Brian Fallon, a former spokesman for Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign. "There's going to be a rollicking discussion for months to come. The more attention we give to some of these issues that mobilize our people, the more excited people will be about the nominee." Mr. Fallon also said that moderates like former Representative John Delaney and Representative Tim Ryan, who challenged the progressives, are unlikely to be part of the next debate in September. "Some of the moments from these debates are going to fade," he said. "Are we really going to be watching John Delaney clips a year from now?" [ Only 7 Candidates Have Qualified for the Next Democratic Debate ] But there is considerable risk for the eventual Democratic nominee if the televised debates over the next six months devolve into a progressive-versus-centrist civil war. In that scenario, regardless of whether the nominee is far left or center left, Democrats could find themselves trying to rehabilitate a candidate who has been battered by continuous attacks for more than a year, much like Mitt Romney was in 2012 after he emerged from a long and bitter primary in a weakened position to take on President Barack Obama. Mr. Romney was also hurt by the perception that he had taken positions that were far to the right of where most voters were just to appeal to the conservatives he needed in the primary. That perception hardened over the course of 20 debates, where he made statements on issues like birth control that the Obama campaign seized on as extreme and anti-woman. "Over at the White House they must be high-fiving themselves," said Russ Schriefer, a Republican consultant who advised the Romney campaign in 2012. As he rattled off issues that have come up at the debates, like reparations for slavery, "Medicare for all" and the Green New Deal, Mr. Schriefer added, "All of these policies will become what the Democrats are. It will be how they are defined, certainly how the Trump campaign and the Trump super PACs will define them." During the debates this week, Democrats battled over many of the biggest issues Americans are facing as the 2020 election approaches. But those discussions were often limited to ideas and proposals that most Americans say they oppose. Much of the immigration discussion on both nights focused not on how to comprehensively address the issue but a much more narrow concern: whether the government should subsidize health insurance for people who are in the country illegally. Just 38 percent of Americans said that government health care should be available to undocumented immigrants, according to a CNN poll from June; 59 percent said it should not, including almost one-third of Democrats. As for the proposal to replace private insurance plans with a government-run system, the same poll found the public overwhelmingly disapproved. Fifty-seven percent of those who think the government should provide a national health plan said it should not completely replace private insurance, while 37 percent said it should. Many Democrats have also expressed concern with the party's leftward tack on border security as more presidential candidates have expressed support for abolishing the law that makes it a criminal offense to cross the border illegally   an idea that has only recently become a point of disagreement. Many of the more progressive candidates like Ms. Warren and Julián Castro, the former secretary of Housing and Urban Development, have supported decriminalization. A Marist poll last month of Americans nationwide found that just 27 percent said decriminalization was a good idea, while 66 percent said it was a bad idea. Among Democrats, slightly more disapproved than approved, 47 percent to 45 percent, the poll said. Prominent Democrats who are raising alarms about the party's move to the left include veterans of the Obama administration like Jeh Johnson, the former Homeland Security secretary, and Rahm Emanuel. Mr. Emanuel, the former White House chief of staff, wrote an open letter to the candidates this week imploring them to think beyond the party's base. "Too often, you succumbed to chasing plaudits on Twitter, which closed the door on swing voters in Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Ohio," he wrote. Republicans said the debates showed Democrats have a lot to worry about. "They're basically auditioning to see who's going to be the sacrificial lamb to Trump," Mr. Ryun said. Then he added a caveat: "If they keep going down this path, and the economy doesn't tank."


Royale Lexing was shot and killed earlier this month when someone opened fire on a group of people in Seattle's Central District. The 19-year-old was involved in the community and was working to turn his life around through an organization called Therapeutic Health Services (THS). The organization held a memorial in honor of Lexing on Wednesday. "He deserves more than this. He deserved the world and because he's not here I'm glad that we're honoring him, and all the great work that he's done up to that point," said Adrian Day, Lexing's mentor. "Royale was referred here by his uncle and his uncle told him, 'Okay, you're getting in a lot of trouble," said Tujuana Horton, youth engagement coordinator for THS. "So he says, 'Let's do something different.' So, he joined our Youth Violence Prevention Intervention Program." Day said the organization supported Lexing and shared great moments in the building. He was even honored at their annual fundraiser. "We highlighted him one year and we created this video and it wasn't just awesome. It blew people away," said Day. "He just brought life and air to everyone, he's infectious with his smile. It fed my soul." "It hurt to the core because he's one of our success stories," said Horton. "It didn't have to be that way. He didn't get to see as far as he could go. He really wanted to do something different with his life." Police are still searching for the shooter . Anyone with information is asked to call 206-233-5000.


First things first: Before your reach for a healthy dollop of sunscreen, you should know that whatever you might use, it won't make you invincible to the sun's rays. That is, sun protection shouldn't start with sunscreen, experts say. There are many ways to moderate your exposure to potentially harmful ultraviolet rays, and you should take advantage of various approaches to do just that. "You should try to do everything else first," explains Dr. Robert Dellavalle, a professor of dermatology and public health at the University of Colorado. "And what is everything else? Well, it's seeking shade, avoiding the midday sun, doing your activities early in the morning or late in the afternoon." Aim to wear sun-protective clothing, too, like a light, long-sleeved shirt that covers but keeps you cool, as well as sunglasses. Also of note, there are mineral-based sunscreens   like those made with zinc oxide or titanium oxide   and chemical sunscreens. "Chemicals can affect the environment, they can affect your skin   they can cause rashes," Dellavalle says. "So only when you're planning on being outdoors and cannot wear clothing or use one of these other options to protect your skin, then you should be using sunscreen." So if you're going swimming or otherwise baring skin outside , you'll want to be choosy about the sunscreen you use   and know how they differ. Particularly for those who have sensitive skin, a mineral-based or so-called physical sunscreen is a good choice. But with chemical sunscreens the formulation is more elegant and tends to be easier to rub in, says Dr. Arisa Ortiz, an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the University of California San Diego and director of laser and cosmetic dermatology at UC San Diego Health. "So if you're sensitive or have many allergies, then I would opt for the physical sunscreen," she says. "Otherwise if you don't like that white residue, the chemical sunscreen would be better." Whichever you choose, to protect your body's largest organ and help prevent skin cancer and other damage to your dermis, it's key to pick a sunscreen that has you safely and effectively covered. "The most important thing to look for is a sunscreen that says broad spectrum protection," Ortiz says. "What that means is it's going to protect against all UVA and UVB rays." Also, pay close attention to the SPF, or sun protection factor; experts generally recommend picking a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher. Ortiz adds that if you're going to be swimming or otherwise active and sweating , reach for a sunscreen that's labeled as water-resistant. There's no such thing as "waterproof"   the Food and Drug Administration banned that term and "sweatproof" as misleading in 2011; and you'll still lose some sunscreen over time. "If you're going to be active or sweating or swimming, then some of that sunscreen is going to wash off," Ortiz notes. But she adds that because it's formulated differently, water-resistant sunscreen will stay on the skin better. Whatever you're wearing, reapply every two hours if you're going to be outdoors to optimize sun protection. Video: Top over-the-counter pharmacy products of 2019 (TODAY) In the latest iteration of U.S. News' annual collaboration with Pharmacy Times, hundreds of pharmacists reported which sunscreen brands they recommend most often. Neutrogena currently ranks as the top brand, with Coppertone coming in second. Product Percent of Surveyed Pharmacists Who Recommend This Product Neutrogena 31% Coppertone 24% Banana Boat 12% Bullfrog 7% Aveeno 6% Blue Lizard 5% La Roche-Posay 4% CeraVe 3% Hawaiian Tropic 2% Australian Gold 2% Vanicream 1% "Neutrogena is a brand that patients and families are very familiar with," says Dr. Lauren Taglia, a dermatologist at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital in suburban Chicago. "I know [the company works] with skin care experts to research and develop new products." While Neutrogena came out on top in the Pharmacy Times survey, that doesn't necessarily mean it provides superior protection compared to other sunscreens on the market. The majority of sunscreens contain the same ingredients approved by the Food and Drug Administration, notes Dr. William Wooden, director of operative services for IU Health in Indianapolis. Many sunscreen products can provide good protection, says Wooden, who does a lot of surgeries on patients with melanoma . As for the chemicals in sunscreens   and any potential impact they may have not only on the environment but human health   stay tuned. Right now, clinicians aren't widely dissuading consumers from buying major brands on the market. But according to the Environmental Working Group's 2019 guide to sunscreens, lots of sunscreens don't provide adequate protection; and some chemicals used widely in sunscreens, like oxybenzone, need further study to determine to what extent they may be seeping into skin and what effects, if any, that might have. There's concern, for example, that this could possibly be an endocrine-disrupting chemical, and reason to follow-up previous research. As the FDA notes in proposing new rules to regulate sunscreen : "The available literature includes studies indicating that oxybenzone is absorbed through the skin to a greater extent than previously understood and can lead to significant systemic exposure, as well as data showing the presence of oxybenzone in human breast milk, amniotic fluid, urine and blood plasma." For its latest annual guide to sunscreen this year, EWG assessed more than 1,300 products with SPF, including 750 beach and sport sunscreens. It "found that about two-thirds still offer inferior sun protection or contain concerning ingredients, such as oxybenzone, a potentially hormone-disrupting chemical that is readily absorbed by the body," the research and advocacy nonprofit asserts. Further, more study is needed to better understand dangers associated with sunscreen spray inhalation. EWG has expressed concerned that sunscreen sprays pose an inhalation risk and may not provide an adequate coating on the skin to ensure proper protection, as the number of sunscreen sprays on the U.S. market has been increasing. EWG notes that the FDA proposes all spray and powdered sunscreens be tested to ensure they can't be inhaled deep into the lungs, where it's possible they may do irrevocable damage. "In pilot testing, the agency found that three of 14 sprays would not meet its proposed standard but did not say which products consumers should avoid," the nonprofit points out. "EWG recommends that consumers avoid all spray and powder sunscreen products." Other experts urge some caution but generally support the use of sunscreen sprays, which are especially popular among parents. "The safety of inhalation of sunscreen hasn't really fully been understood, so make sure to do it outside and don't spray the face," Ortiz says. Many see it as a convenient option for adults and children. "I do like sprays for the summertime, because their application is very good, and you don't miss any spots when you're spraying your arm," Dellavalle says. "It's much easier with kids. Kids don't really get into you putting a cream all over their body. They're very annoyed with it," he laughs. "They're much more tolerant of a cooling spray in the summertime heat, than they are a cream." For infants who are less than 6 months, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends typically turning to alternative means of sun protection like sun protective clothing and keeping children in the shade, rather than using sunscreen of any kind. Among the sunscreens EWG rated as best for kids were 27 products, including Adorable Baby Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30+; All Good Kid's Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30; and Aveeno Baby Continuous Protection Sensitive Skin Zinc Oxide Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 50. Among other lists the EWG compiled to help consumers pick sunscreens that are safer, its best-rated beach and sports sunscreens provided 264 choices. That included three from Neutrogena: Pure & Free Baby Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 50, as well as Sheer Zinc Dry-Touch Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30 and SPF 50. Other brands had even more products that made EWG's best-rated beach and sports sunscreens list, like Aveeno, BurnOut and MDSolarSciences   which each had five products on EWG's list; Blue Lizard, California Baby, CeraVe, Coppertone and Earth Mama, which each had six best-rated beach and sports sunscreens; Goddess Garden, which had seven on the list; Kabana Organic Skincare (eight), All Good (nine); Badger (13); and Bare Republic (20). Ultimately, whichever sunscreen you choose, it's important that you apply it correctly for maximum protection. For starters, you need plenty of the stuff: "The amount of sunscreen also matters," Ortiz says. "Most people don't put on enough." For adults, she says, "to cover your whole body you need about an ounce of sunscreen, which is enough to fill like a shot glass." Don't rush to jump in the pool , either. "To appropriately absorb the sunscreen, you should apply it 15 minutes before you go swimming or go outdoors, and you want to apply it to dry skin," Ortiz says. Make sure you remember the areas many people forget to cover, too   like the tops of your feet, your neck, the tops of your ears. "If your hair is thinning or balding, then definitely the top of your head," Ortiz reminds. "Those areas tend to be neglected." And break out the SPF 30 (or higher) lip balm as well. "Skin cancer can certainly form on the lips," Ortiz says. "So it's important to use an SPF on your lips as well." Gallery: 25 truths and myths you need to know about sunscreen (Good Housekeeping) Ruben Castenada contributed to this article. Copyright 2019 U.S. News & World Report


It's a troubling trend in Central Florida -- more and more workers are leaving Orlando over low wages. So, what's to blame for the smaller paychecks? MORE: Central Florida worst in the nation for affordable housing WESH 2 News looked into the issue. Wage woes -- some companies are struggling to beat the challenge. OrlandoJobs.com took a look into Central Florida's record job market with its annual Employment Outlook Survey. As in previous surveys, Orlando beat its record employment rate, with its largest-ever workforce and low unemployment rate. "Professional services jobs are at an all-time high in Orlando, and they're really starting to catch up with hospitality and leisure jobs," said OrlandoJobs.com CEO Roger Lear. But Lear explains this year's findings also show a less promising trend: low compensation. That's what the website's surveyors say is the biggest battle employers face to keep their employees, at their company, and in turn, in town. Numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show Orlando ranks last for wages among America's 50 biggest metro areas. About 80% of the 81 companies surveyed have open jobs and almost all of them planned to hire additional employees over the next year. READ MORE: More workers leaving Orlando over low wages, experts 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.


"'The Biggest Loser' Campus is a place of hope." The Biggest Loser was known for having some seriously impressive transformations . Contestants shed hundreds of pounds-and even half their body weight, in some cases-in an attempt to change their lifestyle and win the $250,000 grand prize. In honor of the series coming back in 2020, we're sharing the most jaw-dropping results in the show's history. BEFORE: Rachel Frederickson Rachel was 260 pounds when she joined the show. She made it clear from the start that she was there to work hard and change her life-and she did. AFTER: Rachel Frederickson Fans were shocked when Rachel revealed at the finale that she was just 105 pounds. She had lost 60 percent of her body weight, and people were concerned it was too much. Rachel later said she lost the weight by eating 1,600 calories a day and working out. "I'm extremely proud of the way I lost the weight," she said during a media conference call, per the Los Angeles Times . BEFORE: Allen Smith Allen, who started at 325 pounds, went on the show because his weight was impacting his career as a firefighter. He also said he was worried that he wouldn't pass his next physical at work. AFTER: Allen Smith Allen didn't win season 8, but he definitely accomplished what he set out to do. He lost 116 pounds, or 35 percent of his body weight, on the show. BEFORE: Rebecca Meyer Rebecca was 279 pounds when she started the show. She made it to the makeover portion of the show, but unfortunately didn't win the overall title. AFTER: Rebecca Meyer By the end, Rebecca lost 139 pounds and nearly 50 percent of her starting body weight, which earned her the $100,000 prize for most weight lost by an eliminated player. BEFORE: Bill Germanakos Bill started the show at 334 pounds and competed alongside his twin brother, Jim. At the start, he admitted that he had a "body built by baklava." Steady weight loss, combined with a serious dose of grit, eventually helped him win season four. AFTER: Bill Germanakos Bill didn't mess around: He lost 164 pounds-nearly 50 percent of his body weight. Bill later said that being around his family and kids helped keep him motivated. " The Biggest Loser Campus is a place of hope," he told People . BEFORE: Michelle Aguilar Michelle started season 6 at 242 pounds and said that she worried her weight was holding her back in life. Michelle competed in the season alongside her mom, Renee. AFTER: Michelle Aguilar Michelle ended up winning the title after losing 110 pounds. She later told Access Hollywood that she spent "hours, upon hours, upon hours" at the gym to lose the weight. BEFORE: Olivia Ward Olivia started the show at 261 pounds, and competed alongside her sister Hannah. The opera singer said she joined the show because her weight and polycystic ovary syndrome diagnosis meant she probably wouldn't be able to have children if she didn't lose a significant amount of weight. AFTER: Olivia Ward Olivia ended up losing 129 pounds and took the title for the season. She's now a senior instructor at SoulCycle. BEFORE: Hannah Curlee Olivia's younger sister, Hannah, also competed on the show. Hannah started out at 248 pounds, and made it to the final round. AFTER: Hannah Curlee Hannah lost 120 pounds, which was 48 percent of her body weight. She didn't win the title, though-she was edged out by her big sister. BEFORE: Danny Cahill Danny weighed 430 pounds when he started season 8. He said on the show that he wanted to lose the weight so he could be healthy for his wife and children. AFTER: Danny Cahill Danny lost 239 pounds by the end-nearly 56 percent of his body weight-to claim the title. He's kept the weight off and currently runs TheDannyCahill.com , a self-help, motivational company. BEFORE: Abby Rike Abby's reason for going on the show was truly heart-breaking: She gained weight after her husband and two children died in a car accident. She weighed in at 247 pounds when she started her journey. AFTER: Abby Rike Abby ended up losing 100 pounds, which was 40 percent of her body weight. She's now a motivational speaker. BEFORE: Shay Sorrells Shay started season 8 as the biggest contestant the show had ever seen. She was 476 pounds at the initial weigh-in. AFTER: Shay Sorrells Shay ended up losing 172 pounds by the show's finale, which was 36 percent of her body weight. She was later challenged to try to lose even more weight by the end of season 9-and she dropped an additional 52 pounds. BEFORE: Heba Salama When Heba joined the show, she was 294 pounds. She quickly won fans over with her outspoken nature. AFTER: Heba Salama Heba ended up losing a whopping 156 pounds. She didn't win the overall title, but she was named the Biggest Loser of the eliminated contestants and won $100,000. BEFORE: Ryan Benson Ryan was one of the original cast members of The Biggest Loser in season 1. He weighed 330 pounds at the beginning of the show. AFTER: Ryan Benson Ryan lost 122 pounds-about 37 percent of his body weight-to become the show's first winner ever. Unfortunately, he gained the weight back, but he told Yahoo Health that he's on a new weight loss journey. BEFORE: Matt Hoover Matt weighed 339 pounds when he first joined the show. He ended up meeting (and falling in love with) Suzy Preston during filming. AFTER: Matt Hoover Matt lost an amazing 157 pounds, which was 46 percent of his body weight, to become the season 2 champ-and he ended up marrying Suzy. They now have two children together. BEFORE: Suzy Hoover Speaking of Suzy, she weighed 227 pounds at the start of the show. Like her future husband, she also made it to the finale. AFTER: Suzy Hoover Suzy's transformation was jaw-dropping. She lost 95 pounds to end up at 132 pounds by the end of her run on the show. BEFORE: Erik Chopin The 35-year-old New Yorker was 407 pounds at the start of the show, making him the largest contestant the show had ever seen at that point. Given his size, many people didn't think he could win. AFTER: Erik Chopin Erik proved everyone wrong: He lost 214 pounds, which was nearly 53 percent of his body weight. Erik later went on to become a motivational speaker. BEFORE: Ali Vincent Ali, who competed alongside her mother in season 5, was 234 pounds at the start of the show. She worked hard and eventually made it to the finale. AFTER: Ali Vincent Ali became the first-ever female winner of The Biggest Loser in 2008, losing 112 pounds. She went on to write a book about her experience called Believe It, Be It: How The Biggest Loser Won Me Back My Life . BEFORE: Helen Phillips The Michigan native was 48 years old when the competition started. She weighed 258 pounds, with a BMI of 41.5. AFTER: Helen Phillips Helen ended up losing 140 pounds, dropping down to 117 pounds at her final weigh-in. She also lost an impressive 54 percent of her body weight. BEFORE: Michael Ventrella Michael appeared on season 9 of the show. At the start of the season he weighed 526 pounds, making him the heaviest person to compete on the show at that time. AFTER: Michael Ventrella Michael lost an amazing 264 pounds, or half of his body weight. He ended up breaking Danny Cahill's previous record of 239 pounds lost at the finale. BEFORE: Jeremy Britt Jeremy was just 22 when he joined the show. He weighed 389 pounds at the start and had a BMI of 59.1. AFTER: Jeremy Britt Jeremy became the youngest-ever winner of the show, losing 199 pounds-more than half of his body weight. BEFORE: Toma Dobrosavljevic The 36-year-old from Illinois was 336 pounds at the start of season 16. His BMI was 46.9. AFTER: Toma Dobrosavljevic Toma lost 171 pounds to become the winner of The Biggest Loser . He beat runner-up Sonya Jones by just one pound, making it the closest percentage between the winner and runner-up in any season.


SAN DIEGO   The first person from the "Remain in Mexico" program to win asylum has been released into the U.S. after the government considered sending him back to Tijuana. The man, a 30-year-old from Honduras known as Alec, spent nearly 24 hours in custody following his asylum win on Tuesday. His attorney, along with Alliance San Diego and local faith leaders, publicized the situation early Wednesday. The government had said in court that it might appeal the judge's decision in Alec's case. Though he's been released, it's not yet clear whether the government intends to appeal. Many were concerned that if the man were returned to Mexico after proving that he deserved asylum, it would create an inhumane precedent for the program and crush the hopes of those whose cases are still pending. The Department of Homeland Security did not respond to a request for comment. Alliance San Diego has already found a local community member willing to house Alec and help him transition to his new life in the United States. The program that kept Alec in Tijuana, known officially as Migrant Protection Protocols and widely as "Remain in Mexico," began sending certain asylum-seekers back to Mexico in January to wait for their claims to be processed in immigration court. Almost 20,000 people have been returned under the program as of July 11, according to Mexican immigration officials. According to recently released data from the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse of Syracuse University, most court cases flagged as MPP are still pending. As of the end of June, no one in the program had won asylum. Alec, the first from the program nationwide to win his case, was among the lucky few in the program who managed to find an attorney to help him. Just over 1% of those in "Remain in Mexico" have managed to get lawyers to represent them, according to a TRAC data analysis. Robyn Barnard of Human Rights First didn't hear from Alec for nearly 24 hours after he was taken away in custody late Tuesday afternoon from the immigration courtroom. Alec didn't have access to his phone while in custody. "I'm very scared for him, and I'm sure he's very confused," Barnard said at a noon press conference Wednesday. Andrea Guerrero, executive director of Alliance San Diego, a local nonprofit that had arranged for a sponsor for the man, said this is a test case that shows what the Trump administration will do when someone follows all of its rules and overcomes all of the challenges that it has put in place for asylum-seekers. "What they do here is what they'll do everywhere else, so it matters what they do here," Guerrero said. Alec was granted asylum based on religious grounds. He was an Evangelical Christian leader in his community and was targeted and persecuted by the MS-13 gang. Through his work, he converted several gang members who decided to follow their new faith and leave their violent lives behind. The gang killed them for leaving, Barnard said, and came after Alec. Judge Rico Bartolomei, who is an assistant chief immigration judge, found that the Honduran government is unable and unwilling to protect Alec from that persecution, Barnard said. For Central Americans fleeing gang violence, proving that element under asylum law is difficult but necessary to win protection. Bartolomei also ordered that Alec be admitted to the United States. Then, according to Barnard, the judge turned to the attorney representing DHS in the case and asked whether she wanted to consider appealing his decision. She said yes. Bartolomei asked what would happen to Alec in the meantime. The DHS attorney told Bartolomei that Alec would remain in DHS custody and "may be returned to Mexico," Barnard said. The government has 30 days from the judge's order to decide whether to appeal. If the government decides to send the case to the Board of Immigration Appeals, the final outcome could take years. Bartolomei reiterated his order that Alec be allowed into the United States. He asked Barnard for her response. Barnard said she gave a brief plea, emphasizing that Alec had followed U.S. law throughout the process, that he had already waited six months in Tijuana and that a local community member had already agreed to provide him housing. She promised to personally ensure that he follow any and all conditions put on him by DHS if he were released. The DHS attorney said it wasn't up to her, Barnard recalled. Alec would have to go back. "He was very emotional," Barnard said Wednesday morning. "We had just had this wonderful moment of winning his protection after months of uncertainty. To say, 'I don't know what's going to happen to you. They're putting you back in that freezing cell,'   he was very upset." "He's been found to be a credible refugee and not a danger to the community," Barnard added. "There's no reason for him to have to be in that cell right now." Barnard said the government's actions raise questions about the real reason for the Remain in Mexico program. "It just seems that the purpose isn't to ensure that only genuine refugees are coming in," Barnard said. "The purpose is to make people give up   give up their claims and leave rather than wait for their day in court. What other reason is there at this point to send him back to Mexico after a judge has found that he is not lying, that he is a credible witness?" Barnard, along with members of Alliance San Diego and faith leaders, held a press conference Wednesday afternoon to call for Alec's release. "This is a matter of justice," said Rev. J. Lee Hill Jr. of the United Church of Christ. Hill said that many of the people who were involved in the beginnings of the United States had themselves fled religious persecution, and he said that the country has an obligation to help those who are fleeing similar harm. A few hours later, Alec was released from the port of entry and on his way to rejoin his attorney in downtown San Diego.     ©2019 The San Diego Union-Tribune Visit The San Diego Union-Tribune at www.sandiegouniontribune.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.


Video by USA TODAY Sports The Toronto Raptors are NBA champions . It just took a while to get there after a bizarre sequence in the game's final seconds brought the proceedings to a screeching halt. [ Yahoo Store: Get your Toronto Raptors championship gear right here!] With 9.6 seconds remaining in Game 6 of the NBA Finals, the Golden State Warriors inbounded the ball down 111-110 and simply needing a field goal to take the lead. The ball naturally went to Stephen Curry, who missed a clean look at the basket. The ensuing rebound bounced off multiple hands and into halfcourt, where Draymond Green finally got a hold of the ball. Multiple Warriors called timeout and the clock stopped with 0.9 seconds remaining, just enough to get Curry another shot at a game-winner. Just one problem: the Warriors didn't have a timeout to use. So instead of attempting a game-winner, the Warriors were given a technical foul. The Raptors were given one free throw, made by Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard, and   more importantly   possession of the ball. The game was effectively over. Of course, the referees still found a way to extend the game. As the Raptors inbounded the ball and commenced celebrating the first NBA championship in franchise history, a foul was called on Andre Iguodala and Leonard was given two more free throws. Leonard again converted from the charity stripe and the Raptors were finally champions. Given that the team had waited 24 years for its first title, what's an extra few minutes here and there? More from Yahoo Sports: Attackers allegedly paid $8K in Ortiz shooting Durant confirms extent of brutal injury Former USWNT goalie Solo criticizes ex-teammates Goodwill: Injured Durant still holds league in his hands


Cal Crutchlow says he "begged" Honda to let LCR MotoGP teammate Takaaki Nakagami test the current RC213V in Barcelona to "confirm" its turning deficiency. Nakagami is racing last year's Honda in his sophomore premier class campaign, but spent 20 laps on the '19 factory bike at the post-Catalan Grand Prix test. Crutchlow has spent most of the year complaining about the '19 bike's difficulty in turning, and says he pushed HRC to let Nakagami try it for himself to confirm the Qatar podium finisher's criticisms. While Nakagami did back up his complaints, Crutchlow says his teammate purely wanted "to go fast" to prove to Honda he deserved a works bike for the 2020 season. "I begged HRC for the last six months; if there's a test, will he ride it to confirm the feelings? "The problem with the test is, Taka only wanted to go fast. He put in the new development soft rear tyre, he just wanted to go fast so he could say 'I need a factory bike next year'. "He confirmed my feelings on the bike. Sure there are positives. The engine is faster, we have less wheelspin off the corner, but the turning, the physicality is worse. "He was only interested with his crew chief to go as fast as possible for these reasons, in my eyes." Read Also: Crutchlow "not impressed" with Nakagami after Barcelona scrap than his best lap on the 2018 bike during the Barcelona test, which Crutchlow knew would happen due to the amount of grip on track. Speaking at Assen about his '19 bike test, Nakagami says he could understand Crutchlow's comments about the bike "a little bit", but found it difficult to make a definitive judgement due to a lack of laps and no changes in set-up. "At some points, especially into the first part of the turn it's a little bit of a different feeling, but I cannot say it's a negative. ust test and just the first impression, and we didn't change the [engine] mapping or a set-up on the bike. "So we cannot deeply feel the difference. I cannot say anything, because I just [got a] taste of the bike, but the first impression for me was good. So a difficult situation, so difficult to say if this bike is positive or negative."


When your shovel hits something hard, you wouldn't expect to find a Daimler lurking under your garden. Yet, that's exactly what's happened on the island of Guernsey... As Britain finally gets to enjoy some much-anticipated spring sunshine, many choose to make a start on gardening plans for the year ahead. What isn't generally anticipated is a classic car holding up proceedings… It seems things were very different in Rue du Felconte, on the island of Guernsey, where homeowner Tracy Ward and her father Brian Russell discovered the remains of a luxurious Daimler from the 1940s or 1950s. Having bought the new home in November of 2017, Tracy had decided that it was time to tackle the rather overgrown back garden. She enlisted the help of her parents   and a weed-covered rockery soon revealed an unexpected surprise. Upon hitting an unyielding object beneath the surface, the family thought they'd found the remains of a vintage tractor, owing to the fact that the end of the garden had previously been part of a field. However, as the family continued to dig, they uncovered a rusted chassis as well as twisted metal window frames, decaying leather upholstery and broken glass   all of which confirmed they had actually discovered the remnants of a car. Further excavation led to the discovery of an engine block, gearbox and front bumper, as well as a number plate with the registration GUK 880 . Tracy said she was 'very surprised' by the car's presence on her property, while her father Brian added: 'There's plenty more underneath.' Local motoring enthusiasts were keen in their efforts to further identify the car, which had been confirmed as a Daimler by automotive historians. This far, clues as to the vehicle's provenance had come only from the registration number and an information plate that would have been fitted to the gearbox. Additionally, the fact that the mystery motor possessed a chassis suggested that it was constructed prior to the 1960s. It was believed that the Daimler may have originally come from the Wolverhampton or Birmingham area, and that it had a black exterior and dark red upholstery. A tentative manufacture date of 1949 had been suggested, with guesses as to the exact model favouring the DB18 Consort, such as we see below: Speaking about the find to the BBC, Heather Fattorini of the Guernsey Old Car Club said the reasons for the car's burial were 'all a bit of an unknown', and suggested that a previous owner of the house may have started renovating the vehicle before giving up and putting a rockery over the car to hide it. Prior to the advent of modern recycling centres, it was fairly common for non-combustible rubbish to be hidden in the garden; numerous baths, sinks, engines and paving slabs have been found beneath similar rockeries in the past few decades. Not to mention the odd asbestos roof or two. Club president Michael Fattorini added: 'It's a Daimler, there's no question about that. The radiator is a Daimler radiator, the plate on the gearbox is a Daimler plate.' Since the unusual garden discovery, Tracy Ward posted about the car on social media, saying: 'Ideally, if it's of interest to anybody we'd like them to come and take it away. If not claimed, it's likely to be reburied, or taken to the scrap yard.' As far as we are aware, the remains were picked for parts before then being recycled. Pictures courtesy of Guernsey Press and the BBC


Gold smashed above $1,350 an ounce to a 14-month high as rising geopolitical tensions bolster haven demand ahead of next week's Federal Reserve meeting, when policy makers may move closer to cutting rates. Bullion for immediate delivery rose as much as 1.2% to $1,358.26 an ounce. Prices are set for a fourth weekly gain, the longest run since January. Investors are also pouring into gold-backed exchange-traded funds, with holdings rising to the highest since late February. Gold has surged in June, shaking off a lackluster few months, as investors brace for more uncertainty around global trade and on expectations the Federal Reserve is set to lay the groundwork for looser monetary policy at its meeting next week. Haven assets are getting a boost from jitters in the Middle East after the Trump administration blamed Iran for attacks on two oil tankers, and the warning by U.S. economic adviser Larry Kudlow that Beijing may face consequences it if refuses an invitation to restart trade talks. "The news this week has been overridingly gold friendly," said Ole Hansen, head of commodity strategy at Saxo Bank. "We have cleared the first of a few major hurdles on route to a potential $100 extension." Bullion may reach $1,400 this year as investors hedge risk, according to Rhona O'Connell, head of market analysis for EMEA and Asia regions at INTL FCStone Inc. Billionaire trader Paul Tudor Jones said earlier this week gold is his favorite pick in the next 24 months and, if prices hit $1,400, they will quickly move to $1,700. Other precious metals also rose. Silver has gained 0.1% this week, platinum is up 1.4% and palladium has rallied 7.3% to the highest since April 29. --With assistance from Elena Mazneva.


Jim Nantz won't hesitate to tell you who his favorite golfer on the PGA Tour is right now. But it's not the one that captivated the sports world last month with his incredible comeback at Augusta National. It's Brooks Koepka. Nantz, who leads CBS's golf coverage, was asked on Wednesday about his thoughts on the field heading into next week's PGA Championship   the second major tournament of the season at Bethpage Black in New York. Pretty quickly, Nantz started talking about Koepka, who he feels hasn't received the media coverage he deserves. "Poor Brooks Koepka. If I don't bring up his name right now, you guys are never gonna bring him up," Nantz said, via Golf.com. "It's borderline tragic in terms of how you cover a player or subject. He's having the best run in golf since Tiger in 2000 and 2001. We're gonna create the story there and it's just not interesting enough to us to be able to give the guy the time. Forget how much time he exerts and gives to those of us who cover him. I'm not concerned with that. I'm just talking about facts." Now, Nantz has a point. Koepka has been extremely impressive on the course as of late. The 29-year-old already has a win on Tour this year   picking up the season-opening win at The CJ Cup @ Nine Bridges   and has two second place finishes, one at The Honda Classic and the other at the Masters Tournament, just behind Tiger Woods. He's currently No. 8 in the FedExCup rankings, and No. 3 in the World Golf Rankings. When looking at his performances at majors, it's even more impressive. Koepka has won back-to-back U.S. Opens and has finished in the top-13 in seven of the last eight majors he's played in. The way he's playing, Nantz said, is reminiscent of the beginning of Wood's career. "In the last 13 major championships that he's played in, he's got 11 top-13 finishes," Nantz said, via Golf.com. "That means he's been in contention 11 out of 13 majors. That breaks down to eight top-10s, seven top-6s, six top-5s, four top-4s, and three wins and a second. We all know he's won three of the last seven he's played in. We haven't seen anybody that dominant in the game since Tiger in 2000 and 2001." The Koepka vs. Woods rivalry Koepka will attempt to defend his title next week at Bethpage Black, which is hosting the PGA Championship for the first time. Koepka would be the first to win back-to-back at the PGA Championship since Woods did so in 2006 and 2007. The pair have finished first and second in their past two majors, too. Koepka took the PGA Championship last August, with Woods finishing two strokes behind him, and Woods edged Koepka out for the green jacket by a single stroke at the Masters last month. While Woods and Koepka are undoubtedly at different points in their careers, Nantz still believes that their battle could be one of the best in the history of golf. "We might be on the brink of the next golf rivalry we've all wanted forever," Nantz said, via Golf.com. "They've gone one-two and one-two in the last two major championships. "In my mind [Koepka] is the favorite coming into Bethpage just based on what he's done in his last 13 majors. It's an awesome stretch for him, and I think it's a very good thing for the welfare of the game. I'm hoping that materializes into another little showdown between these two guys." More from Yahoo Sports: Maximum Security jockey compared to 'drunk driver' Random man convinces Nashville fans he's first-round NFL draft pick Rangers slugger is turning MLB record book upside down USWNT's Rapinoe is first openly gay woman in SI swimsuit issue


(AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo) With a two-day break on Wednesday and Thursday, the first half of training camp is in the books for the Los Angeles Rams. They've gone through four practices thus far at UC Irvine, with only three remaining. There's been plenty to take away from those practice sessions, from standout players to Todd Gurley's status, but the top position battles also continue to develop. There are several spots the Rams still need to sort out, whether it's with starters or backups. Here's an update on how those position battles are going so far and who appears to be leading each one. Inside linebacker Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports All offseason, it's seemed like Micah Kiser would get the nod at linebacker next to Cory Littleton. Bryce Hager, however, will not go down without a fight. Through four practices, Kiser and Hager have alternated days with the first-team defense. As of now, it seems like they're fairly close in the competition to replace Mark Barron. Given his potential, Kiser is still likely the front-runner to win the job, especially based on the way coaches have talked this summer. With an impressive preseason and camp, though, Hager can keep his hopes alive. At the very least, Hager should make the 53-man roster for his ability on special teams. That by itself gives him a chance to beat out Kiser at some point, even if it's not in training camp. As for Dakota Allen and Travin Howard, it's been a relatively quiet week for them thus far. Nose tackle Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports This is one of the most important battles of the offseason for Los Angeles. Rookie Greg Gaines and second-year player Sebastian Joseph-Day are fighting it out as viable replacements for Ndamukong Suh, with both providing good potential as run-stuffers in the middle of the line. Coaches talked highly of Gaines after he was drafted and suggested he would be the starter in base packages, but that was before practices began. Since then, Joseph-Day has garnered most of the attention as a standout player in OTAs and training camp. "He really had a good offseason," McVay said of Joseph-Day. "He was one of the guys that really stood out for us. I think he's really taken a big step from Year 1 to Year 2 with what we've seen so far. Certainly when you're playing in the trenches, putting the pads on is usually the best indicator. But, in terms of a guy who has done what he can control up to this point and putting himself in a position to compete to see a lot of playing time, he's done that." This competition isn't over yet, of course, as we're just four days into camp. But based on the way things have gone - Joseph-Day got first-team reps on defense - it looks like the second-year player has the edge over the rookie. Offensive line (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo) It looks like the Rams are settled on Joseph Noteboom at left guard and Brian Allen at center with Austin Blythe remaining at right guard. But the competition on the offensive line goes deeper than just the starters. The Rams have yet to sort out the backup rotation, which features young players such as Jamil Demby, Bobby Evans and David Edwards. At swing tackle, it appears Noteboom will be the guy. When Andrew Whitworth got the day off on Monday, it was Noteboom who stepped in at left tackle. In his place at guard, Demby got the nod with the first-team offensive line. On the second-team, it was Evans and Edwards lining up at each tackle spot, suggesting they're each No. 3 on the depth chart behind the starters and Noteboom. Backup running back (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo) Todd Gurley has gotten every other day off from practice, meaning he's only been on the field twice in four days. That's given his backups additional opportunities in practice, providing them extra reps that they would not have otherwise gotten. As for who's winning the competition, it's difficult to say. Darrell Henderson Jr. has had a fantastic first four days of practice, according to those in attendance, and has already received first-team reps on offense. Malcolm Brown and John Kelly have also gotten reps with the starters, too, so it's not just the rookie practicing with the first-team offense, while Justin Davis is still in the picture, too. "Malcolm Brown is a great player. We've always felt that Malcolm Brown is a starting-caliber back. When we lost him last year against Detroit, that was a huge loss for us because he does so many valuable things for us. … Darrell Henderson, John Kelly has done some good stuff, Justin Davis. It's a good chance for those guys, but it's just great having Malcolm back healthy. He had a good offseason and he's started off camp the right way." Henderson undoubtedly has the greatest potential and has lined up at wide receiver in practice, so it would be great to see him emerge as Gurley's primary backup. But the reliability of Brown and the comfort the coaches have with him could keep him as RB2. MORE: Michael Irvin begged Jerry Jones to draft Steelers WR JuJu Smith-Schuster Angler lands 946-pound marlin by himself for 'historic catch' Roundup: A$AP Rocky Pleads Not Guilty; Katy Perry Owes Damages for 'Dark Horse'; Pound Plummets as Boris Johnson Preps for Brexit Chiefs have CB Tremon Smith playing RB at training camp Jon Gruden says Raiders DE Maxx Crosby 'might lead the league in effort'


A hidden audio recorder built to fit inside a bedroom door. A tiny camera stashed in a garden birdhouse. Secret odour-samplers embedded into living rooms sofa to collect signature body scents, to be stored for future use so sniffer dogs can track surveillance targets. These are just some of the ingenious devices used by the East German State Security Police -- better known as the Stasi -- between 1950 and 1990 to spy on private citizens , many of which are now on display at the Stasi Museum in Berlin. Yet these devices pale in comparison to the smartphone in your pocket or the virtual assistant in your home that is collecting data on your daily habits. Collecting data to fight crime? Now, Germany's national police -- like many law enforcement services -- wants access, not only to phone data, but also information collected by digital assistants such as Google Home and Amazon Echo. Germany is planning to discuss this issue in a meeting of interior ministers next week. On Tuesday, a spokesperson for the Interior Ministry broached the subject in a press conference on Tuesday. "To fight crime effectively, it's very important that federal and state authorities should have access to data collected by these devices." That set off alarm bells for those monitoring digital privacy rights. "They are fully aware this is unconstitutional what they are planning to do. I expect data protection agencies will interfere," said Jeanette Hofmann, Professor of Internet Politics at Freie University in Berlin and an expert member of the German Parliament's inquiry into Internet and the Digital Society. "The home is still considered a holy place as compared to what happens in public. The possibility that everything you do at home will be tracked and the data given to law enforcement, just because of court order, is pretty scary." Germany is certainly not the only country grappling with where to draw the line on digital privacy. But because of its history, Germany has been especially sensitive to privacy rights, installing some of the strongest privacy laws in the world. Cybersecurity expert Sven Herpig said German policies have traditionally been supportive of encryption for this very reason. "The policy that we've had for the past 20 year says 'we don't touch encryption, we don't weaken it, we don't build backdoors, law enforcement has to find another way to access data,'" he said. "You have to look at the historical experience with surveillance from the Nazi regime and then by the (East German Communist secret police) Stasi ... we have a strong history of being against government surveillance." But in the case of digital assistants like Google Home or Amazon Echo, much of the data gathered is not held in Germany, but in outside countries, especially the United States. On Thursday, the European Commission Security Union met to evaluate proposals that would allow for any member, including Germany, to access digital evidence gathered in another country. "For far too long, criminals and terrorists have been abusing modern technology to commit their crimes," Commissioner for the Security Union, Julian King, said in a statement. "By setting international standards to obtain access to electronic evidence, we are taking yet another step to close the space in which they operate by ensuring law enforcement authorities can more effectively investigate and prosecute them, with full regard for fundamental rights." Digital evidence as criminal evidence According to the European Commission , digital evidence is needed in about 85% of criminal investigations and in 2/3 of these cases the evidence must be obtained from outside service providers, particularly in the US. But digital rights groups in Germany have criticized the EU proposals, pointing out that Germany's strict privacy laws can be subverted and arguing that current proposals don't take into account whether a crime committed in one country is necessarily considered a crime in another. "Such a regime would only make sense if there was consensus in the EU or internationally on what constitutes a crime and the same procedural safeguards apply," explained Elisabeth Niekrenz of Digital Society, a digital rights watchdog. "If abortion is a criminal offense in one state and not in another, then service providers in the latter should not be forced to give evidence of such events." Personal experiences of surveillance Germans know from personal experience how mass surveillance can be abused. Today, a German citizen can look up their personal files in the Stasi archives to see what information the police had collected on them and their family, using that intelligence to harass dissidents and control ordinary citizens. With digital devices, however, it is private companies that are mining the data gathered through this surveillance around the world. Now, warns Professor Hofmann, through the legal framework of criminal investigations governments also want access to that wealth of data, leaving it up to digital rights activists to defend their case to court. "This is an international issue. We are scandalized when Amazon hears our private conversations at home. But now the government is saying it is going to do the same thing," Hofman said. "You would think that if the government does something citizens don't like, we might turn to private markets to find alternatives. Or if the market fails us, then we can turn to government as powerful actor to restrict those unfair practices. Now, the court is the only viable alternative to defending those rights. And, I think, in the long run, this is a big issue for any democracy."


This story from ESPN summarizes the nation-wide heat nightmare that struck Major League Baseball on Saturday (and again on Sunday), and includes passages like this one: Hours before Baltimore played Boston at sweltering Camden Yards, Orioles manager Brandon Hyde pulled aside starting catcher Chance Sisco and issued a stiff directive. "I told Chance, 'Do not go outside until the game starts,' " Hyde said. Elsewhere, fans who were brave (stupid?) enough to attend these games were plied with hydration stations and mist machines, with endless warnings from the PA announcers. Almost nobody took batting practice at any of these stadiums. In Chicago, Cubs fans gave a standing ovation to a rogue breeze. Now, in my opinion? Summer was already pretty terrible when it was the 1990s and I lived in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York where it never got very hot because of the altitude. Today, in North Carolina, in the era of full-on global warming and a heat index that regularly tops triple digits, it is a full-on nightmare just to drive to the YMCA to get a workout that doesn't involve dying of heat exhaustion from attempting a single outdoor jumping jack. A few years ago, I went to two Washington Nationals games in 100-degree weather, and it was impossible, even sitting in the shade, to think of anything but the weather. I cannot imagine having to play in those conditions day in and day out. There's a weird irony in American sports, where two of the three most prominent summer outdoor sports golf and baseball require their players to wear pants, while sports like basketball that are played in cool arenas allow shorts. It probably has something to do with the slower nature of golf and baseball, but as anyone who has ever stood out in extreme heat for 10 minutes understands, you don't have to constantly run around like a tennis player to feel like your body is slowly being drained of its vital fluids. Time and the relentless sun are plenty potent, and that's not even considering poor souls like Chance Sisco, who have to wear full catcher's gear. Things are only going to get worse in the coming years, and if you wanted more bad news, the humidity is going to increase with the heat . (In fact, we've already seen that phenomenon at tennis' U.S. Open.) If we want to avoid drastic solutions every golf tournament is played in northern Europe, all our baseball franchises move to Alaska and the Yukon, or we simply stage every baseball game in depressing domes and cancel golf for the summer we need to let these athletes dress how they want. And if shorts keep them a few degrees cooler, so be it. We've already seen steps in this direction from the PGA Tour, and hey, it sure beats heat stroke and potential death! The Ugliest Bean Ball of the Year Award: Luke Voit, Yankees Luke Voit...congratulations? https://twitter.com/KyleNYY/status/1152650963573981184 Amazingly, Voit stayed in the game and even scored a run, and Aaron Boone took him out only because it was an insanely hot day and the Yankees were winning 9-0. Here's a close-up of the ball hitting his face: https://twitter.com/IamSportacus33/status/1152654284451958785 Luke Voit: A man who is as tough as his name sounds. Best Really Bizarre But Kinda Inspiring Manager Rant of the Week: Aaron Boone Sick of the Yankees yet? Well, I'd apologize, but this angry rant by Aaron Boone to a half-scared, half-puzzled umpire is just classic. And it is ABSOLUTELY NOT SAFE FOR WORK. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED. https://twitter.com/geoffschwartz/status/1151983545780527110 Boone later explained that this use of "f***ing savages" meant that his batters were very selective, and if they don't swing, it means the pitch was probably a ball. Which is probably the funniest use of the word "savage" ever ... if simply "not swinging" makes you a savage, then my Little League career just took on a whole new light. The "This Guy is Still Around...and Still Awesome?" Athlete of the Week: Manny Pacquiao I'll be honest ... I kinda forgot all about Manny Pacquiao after he lost to Floyd Mayweather in 2015, and that fight came about six years too late anyway. Sure, I vaguely knew he was active in Philippine politics, and I knew he sang ( badly, even with AutoTune ), but I really didn't know he was still fighting at age 40. And, amazingly, he's still very good! https://twitter.com/ComplexSports/status/1152794699951988736 That knockdown of Keith Thurman was just one highlight of a split-decision victory that ended Thurman's undefeated career and took his WBA Welterweight title. I know we live in the era of really older dudes excelling at every sport (Tiger, Tom Brady, every good tennis player), but even by those standards, this is ridiculous. Is it too crazy to ask Pretty Boy Floyd (now 42) to put his 50-0 record on the line for one last rematch with Pac-man? I bet if we start talking about it now, they can get it organized for 2035. The Sneaky Great NBA Offseason Move of the Week: Korver to the Bucks It was a tricky offseason for the Bucks, with no draft picks and very little room to maneuver financially after they signed Khris Middleton to a lucrative five-year deal. But just when it looked like the free-agency fireworks across the league had faded out, the Bucks sneaked in one last coup by signing Kyle Korver to a one-year contract worth just $2.6 million (though they'll get hit with $1.6 million in luxury tax). Korver is one of the best three-point shooters in NBA history (his career 42.9 percent mark puts him ninth on the all-time list), and a team with Middleton and Giannis is the perfect landing spot for the 38-year-old, because he is going to get a lot of open shots. I think this move alone solidifies the Bucks as Eastern Conference favorites, and to celebrate, let's throw it back to the time the Bucks learned exactly what Korver can do ... even in a mask : https://twitter.com/GrindfatherSZN/status/1152623957763416064


Newcastle United have released their new third kit ahead of the 2019/20 season which pays homage to their home stadium, St James Park. The club have adopted a bright orange colour throughout the entirety of the new kit, while the shirt's eye-catching pattern is inspired by the roof of St James' Park. In a press release, kit manufacturer PUMA said: "PUMA today (Tuesday) presented Newcastle United FC's brand new third kit. The kit features a vibrant graphic inspired by the steel girders that make up the roof of the stands at St James' Park stadium. "A towering presence in a football-obsessed city, St James' Park is woven into the fabric of the club and for the first time, its kit, empowering the team with a reminder of the club's iconic stadium and incredible atmosphere as they play away from home. "Both kits have been produced using PUMA's proven dryCELL technology. This material draws sweat away from the skin to the surface, ensuring a dry feeling for the body even during strenuous exercise." The kit will be made available on August 1 at a recommended retail price of £65.  On sale Thursday 1st August Full details: https://t.co/AeoJZZL6bB #NUFC pic.twitter.com/FvZCWYllYs   Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) July 30, 2019 Ahead of the new season, fans are already preparing for a major change on the pitch following the arrival of new manager Steve Bruce from Sheffield Wednesday . Although the 58-year-old's arrival hasn't filled the fans with confidence during their post-Rafa Benitez era, the club have splashed out on a new club-record striker to plug the gap left by last season's loanee forward Salomón Rondón. Former TSG Hoffenheim striker Joelinton arrived in a £39m deal earlier this summer, while they're also believed to be interested in signing Liverpool winger Harry Wilson with the new season now just around the corner.


TORONTO (AP) -- With a weary Kawhi Leonard fighting through fatigue, the Toronto Raptors found enough energy to pull away from the Milwaukee Bucks. Kyle Lowry led the way. Lowry scored 25 points, Leonard had 19 and the Raptors beat the Milwaukee Bucks 120-102 on Tuesday night to even the Eastern Conference finals at two games apiece. "This was one of the nights that we knew Kawhi was a little bit limited and we had to come out and be aggressive for him," Lowry said. BOX SCORE: RAPTORS 120, BUCKS 102 Leonard played 52 minutes in a double-overtime win in Game 3 on Sunday despite dealing with leg soreness. He limped away from the basket following a third-quarter dunk in Game 4, but still toughed it out for 34 minutes. "I feel good," Leonard insisted. "I'm going to keep going and keep fighting. We have a chance to make history." Raptors coach Nick Nurse said he's not worried about Leonard's health. "He's certainly tired, like a lot of guys in this series are," Nurse said. "He looks OK to me. There was one time I was trying to give him an extended rest and he didn't really want it so he must be OK." Serge Ibaka had 17 points and 13 rebounds for the Raptors, who improved to 7-2 at home this postseason. Reserve Norm Powell scored 18 points, and Marc Gasol had 17 points and a team-high seven assists. "The first two games, they really brought the intensity to us," Powell said. "They really came out and were more physical, more active. We wanted to change that narrative coming home." The home team has won all four games in the series so far. Game 5 is Thursday night in Milwaukee. "We need to take this challenge of playing in a hostile environment," Nurse said. "We're going into a tough, loud place to play. Let's see if those guys can bring that same pop and focus and determination on the road." Giannis Antetokounmpo had 25 points and 10 rebounds for the top-seeded Bucks. Khris Middleton scored 30 points, but no one else had more than 11. Milwaukee lost its second straight following a six-game winning streak. It dropped consecutive games just once during the regular season, at Utah on March 2 and at Phoenix on March 4. "This is probably the first night defensively where I don't feel like we were close to where you need to be," coach Mike Budenholzer said. "We got punched. They played really well." Toronto's Fred VanVleet, who missed 16 of 20 shot attempts through the first three games of the series, went 5 for 6 from the field in Game 4. He made each of his three 3-point tries and finished with 13 points. "He needed one of those games," Lowry said. "He played well and made some great plays tonight." Ahead 94-81 to start the fourth, the Raptors extended their lead with a 10-3 spurt, including seven points from VanVleet. Powell's fast-break layup with 8:35 left put Toronto up 104-84. "We've got to guard better," Middleton said. "Everybody on their team, I feel like they got pretty much whatever they wanted. Everything was easy." Antetokounmpo shot 5 for 8 in the opening frame, matching the number of made baskets he had during Game 3. However, the Bucks star went 4 for 9 the rest of the way. Leonard and Pascal Siakam, who both played more than 50 minutes Sunday, looked sluggish in the opening half. Leonard missed the only shot he took in the second, while Siakam played fewer than three minutes in the second after picking up his third foul. Siakam had two points at halftime. Leonard came up limping after dunking against Antetokounmpo early in the third, but remained in the game. Moments later, Siakam completed a three-point play that put Toronto up 73-60 with 8:43 left. "We just came out in the third quarter flat," Antetokounmpo said. Ilyasova missed a 3 with 3:50 remaining in the third that could have cut the deficit to four points. Powell replied with a 3 and, following miss by Malcolm Brogdon, Leonard drained a jumper to push Toronto's lead to 86-74. TIP-INS Bucks: Middleton missed his first attempt of the game, and then made the next eight in row. He finished 11 for 15. ... Antetokounmpo air-balled his first free-throw attempt in the first quarter. ... Brogdon shot 0 for 5 in the first half and missed seven straight before connecting late in the third. He finished 2 for 11. Raptors: Lowry scored 12 of Toronto's first 17 points. He finished 10 for 10 at the line. ... The Raptors are 4-0 on Tuesdays in these playoffs. ... Toronto outscored Milwaukee 28-6 on bench points in the first half. The Raptors finished with a 48-23 advantage in bench scoring. ... Siakam scored seven points, his lowest total in these playoffs. ... Leonard had four of Toronto's nine steals. PROUD PAPA VanVleet became a father for the second time Monday with the birth of his first son, Fred Jr. ATTENTION HOG Even when Leonard isn't scoring 35, Lowry said the three-time All-Star still helps with spacing. "The great thing about having him on your team is he still gets all the attention," Lowry said. "That's the benefit of having a superstar like him on the team." MANY TONGUES Ibaka answered post-game questions in English, French, and Spanish, and jokingly asked whether anyone wanted to talk to him in Italian or Portuguese. ------ More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP--Sports Related slideshow: 2019 NBA playoffs (Provided by imagn)


HAMPTON, Va.   Hampton University will endow a $25,000 scholarship for a dependent of one of the victims of the Virginia Beach mass shooting. According to the university, the Virginia Beach Endowed Scholarship: Educational Fund for Families of the Municipal Center Tragedy will go towards a dependent of a shooting victim who chooses to attend Hampton University. The initial scholarship will be $10,000 per year for four years, and the amount will be determined by the interest the endowment produces. The university is accepting donations to the scholarship either by mail or here under the Campaign/Effort option. Donations will ensure that the minimum amount of $10,000 a year will be awarded regularly. "Hampton University calls the entire Hampton Roads region our home," said Dr. William Harvey, president of the university. "Hampton University has maintained a strong tie to the City of Virginia Beach since opening the College of Virginia Beach September 2, 2003. Our hope is that others will join us in making a positive difference in the life of a child affected by this tragedy and invest in that child's future by donating to this scholarship." The address for donations is: Mrs. Evelyn Graham, Interim Vice President for Development 200 William R. Harvey Way Hampton University Hampton, VA 23668 Click here for our full coverage on the Virginia Beach mass shooting. Faces of the Virginia Beach mass shooting ___ (c)2019 WTKR-TV, Norfolk Visit WTKR-TV, Norfolk at www.wtkr.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.


The sorrow surges at unexpected moments. Evelyn Anderson recalls a visit to outdoor store REI a few months ago when she noticed a jacket for sale similar to one she used to own. The coat tripped a cascade of memories of everything else she and her family lost when a wildfire destroyed their home in 2017. The thoughts soon receded, a sign of progress from the first year after the fire, when the distress felt chronic, draining her spirit day after endless day. As more time passes, and Ms. Anderson mends from her emotional wounds, she finds herself aware of other subtle shifts in her mindset and approach to life. She makes an effort to slow down in the evenings after work to savor the quiet hours with her husband. The already close bond she shared with the couple's two college-age children has deepened. Her empathy has grown for those driven from their homes   by natural disasters or drought, by religious persecution or war   and she better understands the anxiety of uncertainty. "What's important has changed a lot," says Ms. Anderson, the interim co-principal of a French-American charter school in Santa Rosa. "And the sense that we've come such a long way since the fire   that feels good. There's a sense of moving forward." Her evolving perspective illustrates a behavioral health theory called post-traumatic growth. The concept focuses on the potential for survivors of natural disasters, mass shootings, and other life-threatening events to emerge over time with renewed purpose, gaining strength from overcoming the adversity imposed upon them. The process of healing from psychological trauma varies by individual, and the arc of recovery can prove long, uneven, and at times, profoundly discouraging. Yet if a natural disaster exposes the vulnerability of survivors, slogging through the aftermath can uncover hidden reserves of resolve, explains Dr. Carol North, a professor of psychiatry at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. "There are all number of positive things that can happen as people recover from disaster," says Dr. North, who has studied the effects of trauma on survivors of Hurricane Katrina and the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. "Those can be things like 'I realize how many people care about me' or 'I realize I'm a lot stronger than I knew.' For some people, their relationships or religious faith can get stronger." Next week will mark 18 months since the Tubbs fire tore through Northern California's wine country, claiming 22 lives and razing more than 5,300 homes in and around Sonoma County, including the Andersons' house in Santa Rosa. The fire was one of several in fall 2017 that forced mass evacuations in the region, and thousands of people still lack permanent housing. As they attempt to restore the order of life, their internal journey could hold lessons for the residents of Paradise, California, where a wildfire in November killed 85 people and incinerated some 14,000 homes. Ms. Anderson and her husband, Keith Anderson, an electrical engineer, moved into a rental house after the Tubbs fire. The couple has yet to decide whether to rebuild their home, but where they once felt unmoored, they have come to regard their loss as an opportunity. "There's almost a sense of freedom now," she says. "We've realized that we can do anything." Time and perspective The Tubbs fire ranks as the second-most destructive blaze in state history, behind the wildfire that wiped out much of Paradise. The sluggish pace of new housing construction in Santa Rosa has begun to pick up in the past six months. The emotional recovery of residents remains more difficult to gauge. The demand for mental health services offers one measure of the trauma caused by the fires two years ago. A disaster crisis counseling program in Sonoma County, funded by the Federal Emergency and Management Agency (FEMA), has provided free services to more than 85,000 residents since October 2017. Wendy Wheelwright, the program's project manager, supervises 36 counselors who traverse the county to aid fire survivors coping with what she calls "the disaster after the disaster." The phrase refers to the exhausting process residents face as they try to rebuild, including the almost inevitable battles with FEMA and insurance companies over disaster claims. Many displaced homeowners have learned that the San Francisco Bay Area's exploding housing costs will prevent them from building a similar home   or at all   on the same property. Those who opt to stay must weigh the risks of living in an area twice ravaged by fire since 1964 and in a state where the size, number, and intensity of wildfires appears on the rise. The choices can sharpen the despair of residents as they languish between an irretrievable past and an unsettled present. "It's not just a house and the stuff we lose," Ms. Wheelwright says. "It's also losing the feeling of security and the routines we have as part of our daily lives." The Tubbs fire reduced to ashes the Santa Rosa home where Georgina and John Logue had lived since 1984. One of their neighbors died in the blaze. The retired couple's insurance covered only 70 percent of their losses. They bought a smaller house soon after the fire. The space afforded them stability without alleviating their grief. "Losing our house was almost like a death," Ms. Logue says. "The first year was very hard and very long." Recent research into the resilience of crisis survivors has expanded to the realm of post-traumatic growth. The theory's broad principles range from greater self-confidence, appreciation for life, and compassion for others to closer personal relationships and deeper spiritual beliefs. A crucial aspect of that internal change involves the degree of hardship survivors confront as they seek to reclaim their lives. One study found that New York residents who reported severe symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder after Hurricane Sandy showed more capacity to grow from their experience. Several studies of Hurricane Katrina survivors yielded similar results. Behavioral health researchers emphasize that post-traumatic growth generally occurs only after people resurface from a wrenching crisis and make peace with their fate. "It's hard for good things to happen when we're still feeling damaged," Dr. North says. "The positive change comes with time and perspective." Ms. Logue sought solace from her faith and family, including five grandchildren. In recent months, with the couple's new home under construction, she has perceived a difference in her disposition from before the fire. "I take more things in stride now," she says. "It's just more of an awareness of what's important. I know people who are living in trailers or with family. We're fortunate to be where we are." Living with purpose Madonna Day had lived in her home for 49 years when she fled the Tubbs fire. She returned to piles of scorched rubble and the prospect of starting life over as an octogenarian. Her visceral connection to the pastoral, Edwardian-style retreat, built in 1908, spans memories of her two late husbands, the three children she raised, and the small dairy farm she ran to produce goat cheese. Ms. Day admits her anguish quickened her temper. She scoffed at the well-meaning sympathy of friends and groused about the first rental house her daughter, Mary-Louise Clark, found for her. She moved into another rental home more to her liking earlier this year, and with stubborn persistence and Ms. Clark's patient help, she has pursued plans to rebuild. Mother and daughter visited the property last week, and while the blackened landscape brought Ms. Day to tears, more light infuses her outlook compared with six months ago. "I lost everything," she says. "But I've realized I don't need all the things I had before." As much as the house project and family support, she ascribes the gradual lifting of her mood to a renewed devotion to visiting friends whose physical frailties leave them housebound. "I have a very upbeat feeling when I'm with them because I'm trying to raise their spirits. That feels good because it takes my mind off my situation. It's a way for me to feel like I can help," she says. Studies suggest that people who seek out contact with family, friends, and neighbors after a disaster show higher potential for post-traumatic growth. An analysis of survivors of a deadly tornado in Missouri in 2011 found that more than a third reported post-traumatic growth within 30 months of the storm. In evaluating the responses of residents, researchers concluded that "family and social networks may help individuals make sense of the traumatic experience by talking together." Samuel Bernier, a psychotherapist who provides individual and group counseling to fire survivors in Santa Rosa, describes creating and repairing social connections as essential to emotional recovery in a disaster's aftermath. "With a big wildfire, it's basically like a refugee crisis," he says. "People are dislocated from their homes, their neighborhoods, their communities. Coming together to talk can reduce their sense of isolation and build up their inner strength." Evelyn Anderson escaped her home with little more than her purse and a work laptop. She soon began attending block meetings with other displaced residents from her neighborhood. The sessions acted as a catharsis. Early on, they shared stories of evacuation chaos, swapped insurance tips, and vented about FEMA. At a meeting two weeks ago, they talked about progress and found reasons to laugh, even as many remain in limbo. "Being part of a group of fire survivors does provide strength," Ms. Anderson says. "There's a level of understanding that helps with healing." She never wanted to endure the trauma that the fire inflicted. She intends to always remember what she has gained from loss. "I have more of a sense of how adrift one can be without their home, and that's given me more of an appreciation of what it means to be living with purpose." This article was written by Martin Kuz from Christian Science Monitor and was legally licensed through the NewsCred publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@newscred.com.


Josh Allen supporters, look away. Bleacher Report recently ranked every quarterback room in the NFL. The Buffalo Bills only beat out the Arizona Cardinals' situation, as the Bills checked in at No. 31, second-worst in the NFL. Here's how B/R explained the Bills' placement: Starter: Josh Allen Backups: Matt Barkley, Tyree Jackson The Buffalo Bills would assuredly like to see Allen's ball placement improve in 2019. He threw 10 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions while completing only 52.8 percent of his attempts as a rookie last season. Although it's common for rookies to struggle in certain areas, Allen came into the league with questions about his accuracy. During his three years at Wyoming, he connected on 56.2 percent of his attempts. The 6'5″, 237-pound passer must work on fitting the ball through tight windows this upcoming season. On the bright side, Allen can stretch the field with his powerful arm. This offseason, the Bills added wideout John Brown, who averaged 17 yards per catch last year with the Baltimore Ravens, to enhance their vertical passing attack. Allen earns credit for using his legs and leading the Bills in rushing yards (631) and touchdowns (eight) in 2018. However, Barkley won't be able to replicate that style of play if Allen goes down. Jackson ran for 757 yards and 16 touchdowns in college, but as an undrafted rookie, he isn't a lock to make the 53-man roster. While it might a tough reality for Bills observers to stomach, Buffalo's quarterback room from top-to-bottom does, in fact, have a lot to prove. Allen's accuracy as a passer has leaps and bounds to go at the NFL level. Barkley saw limited time for the Bills in his one year with the team, making one start. That came against the Jets, and safety Jamal Adams later confirmed that New York game planned to face Allen, not Barkley, which doesn't help their case. And in Jackson, B/R hits it right on the head: He's an undrafted QB and project player. Certainly, there isn't anything wrong with Allen being a dual-threat quarterback. But if his passing abilities don't show improvement in 2019, the Bills could be in for a long season. A key to making sure Allen does do that could be Ken Dorsey, Buffalo's new quarterbacks coach this year. In regard to the rest of B/R's list, the Dolphins came in at No. 28 while the Jets slid in at No. 26. Those two are highlighted by second-year QBs Josh Rosen and Sam Darnold, respectively, who were drafted in the same year as Allen. In no surprise, Tom Brady and the Patriots finished near the top, only being edged out by the Saints and Drew Brees in the top spot. MORE: Alex Trebek had a classic response to James Holzhauer's 'two dimes' wager NBA Free Agency 2019: The top players 49ers LB roles change with new defensive front New Packers OLB coach raves about rookie Rashan Gary Roundup: Michael Avenatti Charged With Defrauding Stormy Daniels, George RR Martin on Game of Thrones Books, Ron Artest Doc Trailer