What'll it cost to drive the full length of these toll roads? There's nothing like having a city in the rearview mirror and the open road ahead. Burdens lift from the mind, the speedometer needle climbs, and the soul lets out its yawp. Until-in the distance-a tollbooth lurks, a wretched reminder that we are all cogs in a machine that requires constant funding to keep the potholes from swallowing us whole. Here, from the Federal Highway Administration's most recent accounting of our nation's toll roads, is a survey of the most expensive ways to ply these United States. (Prices listed are for the road's full length, are from 2018, and are ordered from least to most expensive.) Avoid the tolls or tolerate them; the choice is yours. Just don't let the tax collector stifle your yawp. Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel (Whittier Tunnel) Maximum passenger-car fee: $13.00 Type: Non-interstate Toll Tunnel Between: One side of Maynard Mountain and the other, in Alaska Length: 2.5 miles Fun fact: The single-lane Whittier Tunnel, as it's best known, stretches for 2.5 miles through Maynard Mountain and has scheduled departures every 30 minutes; westbound cars leave on the hour, and the eastbound ones, on the half hour, except when a train needs to pass through. Between trips, the tunnel is aired out by jet fans to preserve air quality. Tappan Zee (Governor Mario M. Cuomo) Bridge Maximum passenger-car fee: $13.75 Type: Interstate Bridge Between: Nyack and Tarrytown, New York Length: 3.7 miles Fun fact: The original Tappan Zee span was closed in 2017 and has since been replaced by a parallel span dubbed the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge. Both are pictured here, with the new bridge (left) under construction alongside the old Tappan Zee (right). E-470 Maximum passenger-car fee: $14.50 Type: Non-interstate Toll Road Between: I-25/C-470 and I-25/Northwest Parkway, in Colorado Length: 47 miles Fun fact: We're not sure this is "fun," but the operators of E-470 say the roadway is "renowned" for "pioneering the use of license-plate photo images to generate toll bills mailed to the registered owner of the vehicle." Bayonne Bridge Maximum passenger-car fee: $15.00 Type: Non-interstate Toll Bridge Between: Staten Island, New York, and Bayonne, New Jersey Length: 1.55 miles Fun fact: That the Bayonne Bridge was the longest truss design in the world when completed pales in comparison to this tidbit: The project was completed months earlier than scheduled and well under budget. Imagine that. George Washington Bridge Maximum passenger-car fee: $15.00 Type: Interstate Bridge Between: Fort Lee, New Jersey, and Upper Manhattan, New York Length: 1.88 miles Fun fact: When it opened in 1931, the stately George Washington Bridge consisted solely of an upper road deck with six lanes dedicated to traffic. Increased traffic led to the paving of two additional lanes down the center of the bridge in 1946; yet more demand spurred the opening of a lower bridge deck with another six lanes in 1962. Goethals Bridge Maximum passenger-car fee: $15.00 Type: Interstate Bridge Between: Staten Island, New York, and Elizabeth, New Jersey Length: 2.2 miles Fun fact: One of three bridges between Staten Island, New York, and New Jersey, the Goethals Bridge is said to support the transport of "more than $33 billion of regional goods" annually. Holland Tunnel Maximum passenger-car fee: $15.00 Type: Interstate Tunnel Between: Jersey City, New Jersey, and Lower Manhattan, New York Length: 1.58 miles Fun fact: When completed in 1927, seven years after funds for the project were appropriated, the Holland Tunnel linking New Jersey and New York City was the world's first mechanically ventilated underwater tunnel intended for vehicle use. Engineer Ole Singstad, who took over the project after the first two lead engineers each died (separately), is credited with the idea for the ventilation system to clear exhaust fumes. However, the tunnel bears the name of its first chief engineer, Clifford M. Holland. Lincoln Tunnel Maximum passenger-car fee: $15.00 Type: Non-interstate Tunnel Between: Weehawken, New Jersey, and Midtown Manhattan, New York Length: 2.68 miles Fun fact: The toll portion of the Lincoln Tunnel runs 2.68 miles, but the tunnel itself is 1.50 miles long. It was opened to traffic in 1937. Outerbridge Crossing Maximum passenger-car fee: $15.00 Type: Non-interstate Toll Bridge Between: Perth Amboy, New Jersey, and Staten Island, New York Length: 1.77 miles Fun fact: The Outerbridge Crossing's road deck sits 143 feet over the surface of the Arthur Kill, which allows large oceangoing vessels to pass cleanly underneath. Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge Maximum passenger-car fee: $16.00 Type: Interstate Bridge Between: Staten Island and Brooklyn, New York (extends to New Jersey) Length: 2.4 miles Fun fact: According to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority in New York, the Verrazzano-Narrows bridge opened in 1964. At the time, it was the world's longest suspension bridge. Ohio Turnpike Maximum passenger-car fee: $16.50 Type: Interstate Toll Road Between: Indiana state line and Pennsylvania state line Length: 241.2 miles Fun fact: Nothing, and we repeat, absolutely nothing fun or interesting will happen while you're driving on this road. I-10 ExpressLanes Maximum passenger-car fee: $19.60 Type: Interstate Toll Road Between: Alameda Street/Union Station and I-605, in Southern California Length: 14 miles Fun fact: Those driving alone on the I-10 express lanes must always pay the toll; cars with two passengers pay only during weekday rush hours. Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel Maximum passenger-car fee: $26.00 Type: Non-interstate Toll Bridge and Tunnel Between: One side of Chesapeake Bay and the other, in Virginia Length: 20 miles Fun fact: The incredibly long Chesapeake Bay bridge and tunnel are named for, well, having plenty of roadway elevated over the meeting of the bay and the Atlantic Ocean-and a tunnel, which runs beneath the Thimble Shoal Channel. Really, that should be the only fun fact, that there's something called the "Thimble Shoal Channel." Florida Turnpike Maximum passenger-car fee: $26.90 Type: Non-interstate Toll Road Between: Miami and Wildwood, Florida Length: 266 miles Fun fact: According to the Florida Turnpike, the road system is used by more than 2 million people every day. Governor Thomas E. Dewey Thruway, Berkshire Connector Maximum passenger-car fee: $27.95 Type: Non-interstate Toll Road Between: I-87 and I-90, Upstate New York Length: 17.9 miles Fun fact: The Berkshire Connector's 17.9 miles of toll road (it's 24 miles overall) makes up a small part of the New York State Thruway's 570 miles of roadway. Mount Washington Auto Road Maximum passenger-car fee: $28.00 Type: Non-interstate Toll Road Between: Route 16 and Summit of Mount Washington, in New Hampshire Length: 7.6 miles Fun fact: The road is privately owned and has unusually specific vehicle restrictions. Most cars are subject to a 900-pound weight limit for passengers and cargo, but pre-1996 Dodge Caravans and Plymouth Voyagers are allowed only 600 pounds. And Hummer H1s are prohibited. I-70 Mountain Express Lane Maximum passenger-car fee: $30.00 Type: Interstate Toll Road Between: U.S. 40 and State Highway 6, in Colorado Length: 13 miles Fun fact: This express route was created to alleviate debilitating traffic coming out of the mountains and into Denver on weekends. Governor Thomas E. Dewey Thruway (New York State Thruway) Maximum passenger-car fee: $33.70 Type: Interstate Toll Road Between: Pennsylvania state line and Albany, New York Length: 236.9 miles Fun fact: The 570-mile New York State Thruway system contains 809 bridges. Pikes Peak Toll Road Maximum passenger-car fee: $40.00 Type: Non-interstate Toll Road Between: Cascade, Colorado, and Summit of Pikes Peak, Colorado Length: 19 miles Fun fact: Even though the City of Colorado Springs operates the road, the section is actually owned by the U.S. Forest Service. The maximum fee listed here is $40, but that's a per-car maximum; per person, the fee is $10 (adults) or $5 (children). Pennsylvania Turnpike Maximum passenger-car fee: $45.75 Type: Interstate Toll Road Between: Ohio state line and Valley Forge, Pennsylvania Length: 193.76 miles Fun fact: Operators of the Pennsylvania Turnpike had, by the 1960s, added curves to its previously long, straight sections as a safety measure. Apparently, the straight bits were dangerously boring. Take notes, Ohio Turnpike.


WASHINGTON   Early signs indicate that marijuana entrepreneurs may have little to worry about as the 2016 presidential campaign takes shape, with some top-rung hopefuls warming to the idea of letting states decide whether to legalize recreational pot. On the Republican side, those potential candidates include former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, both of whom have admitted to using the drug during their younger years, and Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, who has said he was no "choir boy" in college. On the Democratic side, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says she never experimented with marijuana but appears open to the idea of allowing states to legalize it. It's all good news for Tim Thompson, who commits a felony under federal law every time he sells marijuana to his customers at Altitude, the retail pot shop he opened last July in Prosser, Wash. With Thompson's store legal under Washington state law, he said it would be a mistake for anyone running for president in 2016 to try to shut down his operation. "They'd be alienating themselves from a large majority of people who are for legalization if they took a hard line against it," Thompson said. While the push for legalization has gained great momentum in the past two years, the next president will have to decide whether to enforce the federal law that bans marijuana or follow the Obama administration's lead in allowing states to tax and regulate it, as long as they do a good job policing themselves. Legalization emerged as a big winner at last week's Conservative Political Action Conference in Maryland, where nearly two-thirds of the 3,000 activists who voted in a straw poll said it should be legal for either recreational or medical purposes. Nationally, the most recent Gallup poll, conducted in October, found 51 percent of Americans backing legalization. But less than a third of conservatives said it should be legal. The growing popularity of legalization was not lost on the parade of politicians at CPAC. "Well, I was told Colorado provided the brownies here today," Cruz told his audience, a reference to the first state that allowed recreational pot sales in January of last year. At the gathering, Paul, Bush and Cruz all said that legalization should be left up to the states, responding to questions from talk-show host Sean Hannity of the Fox News Channel. Clinton disclosed her views in June on CNN. Tom Angell, chairman of the pro-legalization group Marijuana Majority, based in Washington, D.C., said it's obvious that presidential candidates are paying attention to polls. "Letting states set their own marijuana laws without federal interference is quickly becoming the default position among ambitious politicians in both parties. … When voters lead, politicians have to follow or get left behind," he said. To be sure, not all of the likely contenders in the top tier are jumping on the bandwagon. Wisconsin Republican Gov. Scott Walker, a crowd-pleaser at CPAC who's scoring high in early polls, is among those who have consistently opposed legalization. And others say it's far too early to draw any conclusions on how the issue would fare in 2016. Kevin Sabet, president of the anti-legalization group Smart Approaches to Marijuana, said that with the general election still 20 months away, it's hardly a surprise that candidates are using what he called "the states' rights card" as often as possible. But he noted that even George W. Bush, as a Republican presidential candidate in 1999, said states should have the right to decide whether to legalize medical marijuana. As president, Bush backed the federal law outlawing marijuana. "I doubt that any of these candidates will want to run as the pro-marijuana candidate," Sabet said. "Even Rand Paul stopped short of endorsing legalization, and he is the most libertarian of the bunch." Paul, who won the straw poll Saturday at CPAC for the third consecutive year, had plenty of backing from pro-marijuana activists at the conference. Many of his supporters said they believe Paul would move to legalize marijuana if he won the presidency. "He's more receptive to it than any other candidate," said Dave Hargitt of Fayetteville, N.C., president of the North Carolina chapter of Republicans Against Marijuana Prohibition, a group that had a booth at the exhibit hall at CPAC. "God gave us all free will, and that's free will to make good decisions or bad decisions   it's not the government's place to tell me what I can and cannot do." Paul, who backs reduced penalties for drug offenses, appears ready to make marijuana a campaign issue. Last week at the political conference, he accused Bush of hypocrisy for opposing medical marijuana as governor even though he had smoked pot as a prep student. John Baucum, president of the Houston Young Republicans, said that's a message that resonates with the large group of voters under 40. "First of all, I think he's somebody who can win," Baucum said of Paul. "We don't see a lot of the candidates reaching out for that demographic, except for Rand." Paul has skipped around the question of whether he has ever used marijuana. "Let's just say I wasn't a choir boy when I was in college and that I can recognize that kids make mistakes, and I can say that I made mistakes when I was a kid," he told Louisville, Ky., television station WHAS in December. Thompson, co-owner of the Washington state pot store, said it would be a relief to not have to worry about the federal law prohibiting marijuana after Obama leaves office in January 2017. "Having it controlled by the state is a good idea," he said. "In this area   and it's a conservative area   most people like it when the federal government has less control of what we do in our day-to-day lives, especially something like this. It's basically adults just trying to enjoy themselves."     POT SHOTS Here's what some of the prospective 2016 presidential hopefuls have to say about the legalization of marijuana: Former Gov. Jeb Bush and Sens. Ted Cruz and Rand Paul, all Republicans, made their comments at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Maryland last week, responding to questions from talk-show host Sean Hannity of the Fox News Channel. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, a Democrat, disclosed her views in June in an interview with Christiane Amanpour of CNN. Jeb Bush: Asked what he thought of Colorado's decision to legalize marijuana in 2012, Bush replied: "I thought it was a bad idea, but states ought to have the right to do it." Ted Cruz: Asked the same question, Cruz said: "If the citizens of Colorado decide they want to go down that road, that's their prerogative. I personally don't agree with it, but that's their right." Rand Paul: He said it's "yet to be determined" whether legalization is a good or bad idea in Colorado, but he added: "I think freedom for the most part is a good thing. States' rights is a good thing." Hillary Clinton: In the CNN interview, she said: "On recreational (marijuana), states are the laboratories of democracy. We have at least two states that are experimenting with that right now. I want to wait and see what the evidence is."


Take this classic camping or to the car show. Get ready to roll hard like it's the late '70s, thanks to this 1977 Ford Bronco . People absolutely love classic Broncos and for good reason. They have a completely unique look and an in-your-face personality which doesn't quit. Now is your chance to own this Rockstar SUV that made hitting the trail a cool activity, all thanks to Savannah Classic Cars . To say this Bronco has gone through a thorough restoration process is definitely an understatement. The beautiful blue paint job absolutely sparkles, as does the gold roof and fenders, plus all the brightwork. You'll notice tasteful pinstriping down both sides of this SUV. Even the frame has been restored, so you can rest assured this beast is ready to rumble down any street or trail. Read More When Ford Nearly Produced A Mid-Engined Mustang Blast Through Any Desert With This 1995 Ford F-150 Pre Runner Both the 302 V8 engine and automatic transmission have matching numbers and run strong. Of course, the four-wheel drive also operates, so this machine can roll over just about anything. The trailer hitch was custom made and there are adjustable rear shocks. You'll find the original dash and instruments in the refreshed interior. New upholstery and carpets make it a place you'll love to spend time inside. Numerous modifications have improved this classic, making it even more enjoyable. The custom front brush bar has two auxiliary lights mounted low, providing excellent illuminating on the trail when the sun goes down. You stay cool with modern air conditioning, while a heavy-duty radiator and electric fans keep the powertrain cool. Power steering and power front disc brakes make this bucking Bronco actually quite easy to wrangle. Cruise control, a modern sound system with Bluetooth, plus a fold and tumble rear seat make this the ultimate summer vacation vehicle. With an all-new generation of the Bronco about to be revealed by Ford, interest in the classic versions of this SUV is climbing fast. Now is the time to scoop this 1977 Ford Bronco before values go any higher.


A new hookah bar and lounge has opened up shop in the neighborhood. Located at 589 N.E. 65th St., New Yorker Patio Bar, the new arrival is called Puff Hookah @newyorkermiami . Located at the New Yorker hotel, Puff Hookah specializes in shish mixology using tobacco brands like Lavoo, Fumari and Tangiers in a chill atmosphere with a patio and garden. Enjoy cocktail or fruit head hookah, which is ready to smoke and delivered to your table. Expect a full bar, tacos and a DJ spinning house music or a live Brazilian band, notes the business's Facebook page . With a five-star rating out of one review on Yelp so far, Puff Hookah @newyorkermiami seems to be a welcome addition to the neighborhood. Gonzalo M., who was among the first Yelpers to review the new spot on July 13, wrote, "This place has the best flavors! It has great prices and the owner knows what exactly to give you. It definitely was a highlight of my night." Head on over to check it out: Puff Hookah @newyorkermiami is open from 6 p.m. 1 a.m. on Tuesday-Thursday, 6 p.m. 3 a.m. on Friday and Saturday and 6 p.m. 11 p.m. on Sunday. (It's closed on Monday.) Want to keep your finger on the pulse of new businesses in Miami? Here's what else opened recently near you . This story was created automatically using local business data, then reviewed and augmented by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


You're having a lovely day when you get a text from a friend: "Are you mad at me?" You're confused. You're absolutely not mad at her, and you tell her exactly that. "OK, cool." She responds. "Wasn't sure when you bailed on happy hour the other night." Ughhhhh . The complexities of introversion strike again. As an introvert, it can be tough to get your extroverted friends to understand that the reason you duck out of parties without saying goodbye and occasionally turn down invites isn't because you love them any less. Read on for three ways introverts can strengthen their friendships. 1. Be Open About Your Needs Put yourself in your friends' shoes: If you had a pal who turned down invites or wasn't always responsive over text, you might get annoyed or offended. With no context, some normal introverted behavior can come across as standoffish, disinterested or worse rude. That's why it's crucial to be honest with your friends about your introverted tendencies. Explain that introverts usually prefer to be alone or in small groups, they think (a lot) before they speak and just because they're being quiet doesn't mean something is wrong. When you decline an invite, let them know that it's not a personal thing. Promise. For introverts, social interaction can be draining, and once our social energy is depleted, it's not only hard to fake it, but it takes time to replenish. In this case, it really isn't them it's you. The more that your friends understand your social interaction-related quirks, the more understanding they'll be. 2. Make the First Move Initiating plans might not be your favorite thing to do, but it puts the ball in your court. When you're the person to reach out to a friend (or couple of friends), you can set the tone of the type of gathering you're comfortable with. If you wait for an invitation, there's no telling whether it's a small group hang or a big party. Reach out to your closest pals and invite them to do something together instead of being on the receiving end of every invite. You'll be way less likely to bail on dinner if you're the person who organized it. Plus, spending time with friends on your own terms means fewer introvert hangovers . 3. Find Other Ways to Show You Care You know how everyone has a different love language ? A similar principal applies to friendships. Some people show their love for their friends by being around them all the time. Others, like introverts, would sometimes rather admire their closest confidantes from afar. If you're drained by constant in-person interactions, find other ways to let your people know how much they mean to you. This could mean sending your best friend flowers just because, organizing an email book club or, every once in a while, saying yes to an invitation that your old college roommate knows you'd typically decline. The point is to make sure they know you love them without having to put yourself through a stressful situation.


Earlier this week, we broke down a handful of teams that have taken the necessary steps to overcome a losing record in 2018 so much so that they may actually make the playoffs. That also means some teams from last year's postseason must go. Here's our first pre-training camp crack at the five playoff teams from 2018 that are in danger of missing out in 2019. BALTIMORE RAVENS (2018 season: 10-6) This isn't a Lamar Jackson take; this is a thought about the kind of offense in which he'll be playing. The Ravens were insanely difficult to prepare for over the latter half of 2018 until the Chargers deployed a savvy safeties as linebackers look in the playoffs that took Baltimore's coaching staff by surprise and stifled the best of what Jackson had done to that point. After that game, it seemed head coach John Harbaugh was committed to digging deeper into their current offense, with more focus on ball security and offensive line play tailored to the athletic ability of Jackson. Enter: A new offensive coordinator and a new system completely foreign to Jackson . It doesn't feel productive, and even if Baltimore scored one of the most talented receivers in the 2019 draft in Marquise Brown, this offensive scuffling could ultimately be their undoing. CHICAGO BEARS (2018 season: 12-4) While Chicago has the feel of an ascending team, there are also some shaky components here. No picks until round three of the draft. A new defensive coordinator. A relatively quiet free agency. Matt Nagy is a phenomenal play caller with a deep rolodex of ideas and may be able to keep this offense afloat with creativity alone, but is there a chance that, after two or three years of the Andy Reid tree thwacking the NFL and gouging hapless defensive coordinators, the rest of the NFL might finally catch up? We've written about the counter-intelligence war happening on the defensive side of the ball , and while some aspects of the current game provide a built-in advantage, there are good ideas matriculating their way into the NFL. Grand ideas aside, the Packers are going to be tougher opponents this year, and the Vikings have shed most of their lingering issues from 2018. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (2018 season: 13-3) I think it's fair to closely reexamine the latter half of Drew Brees' 2018-19 season and not bundle it into some irresponsible narrative about his decline. I'm not suggesting that he's nearing the end or is beyond the stage where he can produce ridiculous, arena football numbers on a weekly basis. But it is fair to wonder whether the rest of the division has improved enough to accumulate pieces to stop what the Saints have done best. If anything, this is a complement to the personnel New Orleans accumulated over the last three seasons, and is the one downside to nailing a few drafts. You pick good players, they get expensive and they get studied relentlessly for weaknesses. A counter is inevitable. DALLAS COWBOYS (2018 season: 10-6) This is either going to be the beginning of Jason Garrett's new life as the CEO of Dallas' coaching staff, or a fizzling out amid a last-ditch effort to rescue the offense. The hasty promotion of Kellen Moore was smart in that it gives Dallas a chance to explore some new horizons offensively without straying from a staff that they are largely comfortable with. At the same time, without any major additions this offseason, there is a lot of pressure for a green coordinator to maximize Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott and Amari Cooper before they all become far too expensive to keep together. HOUSTON TEXANS (2018 season: 11-5) The Texans are a team that got way better this offseason. The problem? So did the rest of the AFC South. The buzz around Indianapolis at the combine was real this year, with a lot of talk about the depth beginning to accumulate there. The Titans are still going to be a very difficult team to beat and the Jaguars are not going to be in the same implosion mode that they were a year ago. Their division feels like it is headed toward an NFC East style logjam, which may better suit some of the other teams in the division. • Question or comment? Email us at talkback@themmqb.com . Related slideshow: 2019 NFL draft: The top picks (Provided by imagn)


Former world No. 1 Andy Murray was officially knighted by Prince Charles on Thursday at Buckingham Palace in London. The 32-year-old Scotsman, winner of three Grand Slam singles titles, has said he plans to retire after this year's Wimbledon due to a lingering hip injury. The knighthood was announced in December 2016. "I'm very proud to receive it. It's a nice day to spend with my family; my wife and parents are here," Murray said in a statement. "'I'd have liked to (have brought) my kids but I think they're a bit young. I'll show them the medal when I get home." Murray won the 2013 and 2016 Wimbledon titles as well as the 2012 U.S. Open. He also won Olympic gold medals in 2012 and 2016. He became the first British singles player to be world No. 1 on Nov. 7, 2016, and spent 41 weeks in the top spot. Overall, Murray has won 45 career singles titles, including nine in 2016, and made 11 Grand Slam finals appearances. Murray has not played since a first-round loss at the Australian Open in January. He subsequently underwent hip surgery. --Field Level Media


Your mouth can tell you a lot about your current health status. Discover all of the things that your tongue health says about your overall wellbeing. 17 Things Your Tongue Can Tell You About Your Health Though it often gets neglected and overlooked, your tongue is an important organ that has a lot to say about your health . In fact, your tongue might just be able to detect cancer in its early stages or even discover a food allergy you never knew you had. Curious what else your tongue is capable of? Keep reading to learn all of the things it can tell you about your well-being. And for more health advice, check out these 40 Things You Should Never Lie to Your Doctor About After 40 . 1. You have a vitamin deficiency. When looking for vitamin deficiencies, doctors are instructed to pay close attention to a patient's tongue. Why? According to Stanford Medicine , iron, folate, and vitamin B12 deficiencies are all known to cause the phenomenon known as smooth tongue, which is characterized by inflammation and a noticeable absence of bumps. 2. You have scarlet fever. Scarlet fever is an illness caused by the same strain of Streptococcus bacteria that makes people sick with strep throat. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one of the easiest ways to tell whether a person usually a child has scarlet fever is by looking at their tongue. Toward the beginning of the illness, patients often find that their tongue is swollen with a whitish coating. In some cases, it even has a red and bumpy appearance that is aptly referred to as  strawberry tongue.  3. You have oral cancer. If you ever notice a strange sore on your tongue that just won't heal, you should seek medical attention. As family physician Daniel Allan, MD, explained to the Cleveland Clinic , "a lump or sore on your tongue that doesn't go away within two weeks could be an indication of oral cancer ." Many instances of early-stage oral cancer are painless, so don't assume that the lump on your tongue is benign just because it isn't causing you pain. And for more things to look out for for the sake of your health, These Are All of the Cancer Warning Signs Hiding in Plain Sight . 4. You have diabetes. One of the many health conditions and risk factors associated with oral flush, a fungal infection characterized by painful white or red patches on the tongue, is diabetes. According to the Mayo Clinic , the excess sugar found in the bloodstreams of people with diabetes feed the bacteria that cause oral thrush and therefore make the infection more prevalent among those with the autoimmune disease. 5. You're hypoglycemic. Hypoglycemia is a fancy way to refer to low blood sugar. Most often experienced by diabetics, this condition is characterized by symptoms like shaking, sweating, and, when it comes to the mouth, numbness or tingling of the tongue, according to the Cleveland Clinic . 6. You have HIV/AIDS. "White hairs along the sides of the tongue are the classic appearance of oral hairy leukoplakia, the result of EBV infection in HIV-positive individuals," notes Stanford Medicine. Other tongue conditions related to HIV/AIDS include oral thrush and red sores that can also be present in other parts of the mouth. And even if your tongue isn't showing any signs of illness, make sure you aren't ignoring these 20 Skin Symptoms That Indicate More Serious Health Issues . 7. You're stressed. Are your mouth and tongue constantly covered in canker sores? That could be a sign that you're dealing with an excessive amount of anxiety . One 2009 study published in the journal Clinics analyzed 50 patients, 25 of whom had recurring canker sores, and found that those who constantly had them also had higher perceived levels of stress. And if you're having trouble keeping calm, then try these 12 Genius Tricks for Turning Anxiety into Excitement . 8. You're postmenopausal. Women both in the midst of and right after menopause tend to experience a condition known as burning mouth syndrome. According to the American Dental Association , having it can feel like "having burned [your] mouth with hot coffee," and people with the condition can experience other tongue and mouth symptoms like dryness and a tingling or numb sensation. 9. You have a food allergy. Oral allergy syndrome, more succinctly known as OAS, is a type of allergic reaction that occurs in people who cannot tolerate raw fruits or vegetables. According to the American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology , one of the telltale signs that someone with OAS is having a reaction is when their tongue along with their face, lips, mouth, and throat become swollen and itchy. 10. You're having a stroke. In addition to more obvious indications like slurred words and facial paralysis, a crooked tongue that tilts to one side is a sign that someone might be having a stroke . The Pituitary Network Association suggests asking a person to stick out their tongue if you're worried they might be having a stroke and if it does appear to be crooked, you should rush them to the hospital for treatment. And if you want to minimize your risk, eliminate these 20 Surprising Habits That Increase Your Risk of a Stroke . 11. You're anemic. Anemia, often caused by an iron deficiency, has been known to cause tongue-related issues. For instance, a 1999 study published in The American Journal of the Medical Sciences found that the more severe a person's anemia was, the more tongue pain they had. 12. You have multiple sclerosis. According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society , nearly 1 million American adults over the age of 18 live with multiple sclerosis, or MS. That means it's important to know the signs of MS, including the more uncommon ones. According to MS Focus magazine , these include muscle spasms, nerve pains, and glosso-pharyngeal neuralgia, which is "a severe pain in the tongue, throat, ear, and/or tonsils" that can be triggered by everything from chewing to talking. 13. You have celiac disease. Most individuals with celiac disease, or a gluten allergy, complain of common symptoms like stomach pain, cramping, and gastrointestinal issues. However, there is another symptom of celiac disease that most people aren't aware of that has nothing to do with the lower half of the body: a swollen tongue. Indeed, one 2012 study published in the Journal of Medical Case Reports outlines an instance in which a teenager's swollen and inflamed tongue alone led to her celiac disease diagnosis. And if you want to live to see 100, then check out these 101 Easy Ways to Be a (Much) Healthier Man . 14. You're dehydrated. If you're not sure you're drinking enough water every day, you should look at your tongue. According to the Mayo Clinic , dehydration can cause papillae hypertrophy, or an overgrowth of the papillae on your tongue. When swollen, these fingerlike structures trap debris and bacteria and appear as a white coating. 15. You have syphilis. Dehydration isn't the only condition associated with the phenomenon known as white tongue. The Mayo Clinic notes that syphilis, an STD that can turn into a serious health issue if left untreated, can also manifest as this same discoloration of the tongue. 16. You have pancreatic cancer. According to the American Cancer Society , approximately 56,770 people are expected to be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2019. Luckily, doctors can look to a patient's tongue health to detect this cancer in its early stages . One 2019 study published in the Journal of Oral Microbiology found that patients with early pancreatic cancer had higher levels of certain bacteria on their tongue including Haemophilius and Leptotrichia  that healthy individuals didn't. 17. You're drinking too much. You can try as hard as you want to hide your boozing habit, but your tongue doesn't lie. According to the Cleveland Clinic , excessive drinking often leads to leukoplakia, a condition caused by overproduction of cells in the lining of the mouth that results in white patches and white tongue. If you get to the point that your alcohol use is wreaking havoc on your tongue health, then it's time to seek professional help. And for more ways to drink responsibility, here are 25 Things You Shouldn't Mix With Alcohol . To discover more amazing secrets about living your best life, click here to follow us on Instagram!


Here are the lineups: Game time: 8:15 p.m. TV/radio: NESN/WEEI-FM 93.7 Red Sox vs. Junis: Martinez 2-7, Benintendi 1-3, Bogaerts 0-3, Bradley Jr. 1-3, Devers 2-3, Vazquez 0-3. Royals vs. Sale: Gordon 15-64, Merrifield 6-25, Cuthbert 4-20, Maldonado 2-9, Soler 1-8, Bonifacio 3-7, Dozier 0-5, Duda 2-4, Mondesi 0-4. Stat of the Day: Chris Sale's run-support average is a staff-low of 3.03. Notes: The Royals have lost four in a row ... Xander Bogaerts leads the Red Sox with 12 home runs and has 40 RBIs. J.D. Martinez is 11-for-40 with two doubles, a triple, three home runs and four RBIs over the last 10 games. ... Junis recorded a win over the Rangers his last time out, striking out seven and allowing two earned runs in seven innings. He was 2-3 with a 5.14 ERA in six May starts. Song of the Day: "Help!" by the Beatles Follow Andrew Mahoney on Twitter @GlobeMahoney .


Cell phone video captures the moment an amusement park ride malfunctions and crashes to the ground, killing at least two people.


The NCAA announced on Tuesday afternoon that they have handed down significant sanctions to UConn stemming from the tenure of former head coach Kevin Ollie. According to the NCAA, Ollie violated the head coach responsibility rules by failing to monitor his staff as well as failing to promote an atmosphere of compliance. He was also charged with lying to the NCAA during the investigation into these violations. The violations that UConn was charged with came as a result of "pickup games exceeding preseason countable athletically related activity limits, a video coordinator counting as a coach and resulting in more than the allowable number of coaches, and a booster providing extra benefits to student-athletes." Ollie himself absorbed the majority of the punishment. He was handed a three-year show-cause penalty, which essentially bans him from coaching in the collegiate ranks until 2022. That penalty is relatively meaningless, as Ollie is not believed to be interested in returning to coach in college. The school was also put on probation for two years, forced to vacate wins and hit with recruiting sanctions, some of which were self-imposed by the school. The Huskies will also be down a scholarship in 2019-20. It's all fairly standard and, given the circumstances, somewhat expected, but where this gets really interesting is with the lawsuit that Ollie has filed against the university . UConn fired Ollie in 2018 with cause due to this impending investigation, but Ollie has pending litigation against the school claiming that he is owed the more than $10 million that was remaining on his contract. Ollie did not have a buyout; his salary was fully guaranteed. UConn is not a rich athletic department, the state of Connecticut is operating at a deficit and the school is facing a $13.5 million bill for leaving the American and entering the Big East. Getting out from under the money that Ollie is suing for is significant. Related slideshow: Best photos of NCAA Championship (Provided by imagn)


A search of the home of Santino Williams Legan, the man law enforcement says shot and killed three people at the Gilroy Garlic Festival, has turned up materials on white supremacy and radical Islam, according to a report from the San Francisco Chronicle. Federal law enforcement sources told the Chronicle that the makings of " massive attack " were found in the Walker Lake, Nevada rental home where the shooter was staying. Among the items found were a gas mask, "numerous" hard drives, a bulletproof vest and "reading material on white supremacy and radical Islam." An Instagram account purportedly belonging to the shooter also referenced white supremacist ideology, recommending "Might is Right" by Ragnar Redbeard. Written under a pseudonym in the late 1800s, the book is a defense of Anglo-Saxon and male supremacy, and argues that weakness shows moral inferiority. It is also full of anti-Semitic rhetoric. "It's widely popular and present among ethnocentric white nationalists of all levels, from suit-and-tie white supremacists to neo-Nazis," Keegan Hankes, a senior analyst for the Southern Poverty Law Center's intelligence project, told Rolling Stone . MORE : Nevada store owner who sold Gilroy shooting suspect the gun: 'I hope you rot in hell' Federal and local law enforcement are still investigating Legan's motives. "I would say that we are not closer to understanding that motive, what happens within the psyche of a 19-year-old kid. I can't speak to that," Craig Fair of the San Francisco FBI office told the Associated Press. "Determining the motive is an exceptionally important thing for law enforcement to try to understand one, why they did it, and two, are they acting in collaboration with any other individuals. Are they inspired by some other organization? Were they radicalized online? What were the real factors that induced this person to take this kind of heinous action." Police say Legan circumvented festival security by using a tool to cut through a fence near the parking lot at Christmas Hill Park on Sunday. Once inside, he opened fire at 5:41 p.m., killing three. Police officers, already on the scene to provide support for the food festival, confronted the suspect in less than a minute. Smithee says three officers shot and killed Legan. The three victims were identified as Stephen Romero, 6, Keyla Salazar, 13, and Trevor Irby, 25. --- Katie Dowd is an SFGATE Senior Digital Editor. Contact: katie.dowd@sfgate.com | Twitter: @katiedowd


A woman of Korean descent is suing Bloomingdale's and L'Oreal USA, alleging discrimination and false imprisonment. Hye Sun Kang, who goes by Jennifer, was a sales associate at the L'Oreal counter at Bloomingdale's flagship store in New York City. Without any warning, her lawsuit said, she was detained by store security and accused of conspiring with and aiding a Chinese client in using fraudulent credit cards and forced to sign a written statement that she had violated company policy. Upon exiting the room, she was immediately confronted by NYPD who arrested, charged and processed her, and she spent the night in a prison holding cell, the lawsuit said. Bloomingdale's, in court papers, has denied the allegations. According to the lawsuit, Kang, who had no prior criminal history, spent 12 hours at Riker's Island before the DA ultimately dropped all charges. Kang was fired from her job and has what her attorneys called an unjustified arrest on her record. Kang said she feels that she was singled out and targeted because of her Asian descent. Her co-workers, who also sold products to the same Chinese client, were not questioned, arrested or fired, the lawsuit said. She is seeking damages against both L'Oreal and Bloomingdale's.


HARRISON, N.J. (AP) Daniel Royer, Michael Murillo and Omir Fernandez scored and the New York Red Bulls used a flurry of second-half goals to beat Real Salt Lake 4-0 on Saturday night. The Red Bulls (7-5-3) opened the scoring with the help of an own goal in the 58th minute. Murillo sent in a low hard cross that deflected off a pair of RSL defenders, with Marcelo Silva getting credited with the own goal. Real Salt Lake's Nick Rimando saved the Red Bulls' first five shots on target before conceding the first goal. Royer made it 2-0 a minute later, gathering Romero ''Kaku'' Gamarra's pass and beating Rimando into the right corner. Murillo scored the Red Bulls' third goal in seven minutes with a shot that benefited from a deflection off Real Salt Lake's Aaron Herrera. Fernandez smashed home Andreas Ivan's cross in the 83rd minute. Real Salt Lake dropped to 6-8-1.


The Phoenix Suns are constructing a 2019-20 roster that they hope can contend for a playoff spot now, not later. Projecting that the Suns re-sign restricted free agent Kelly Oubre Jr., here's what a 12-man roster could look like going into the season opener, including draft picks, trades and free-agency acquisitions. (Projected starters in bold .) PG: Ricky Rubio , Tyler Johnson, Ty Jerome SG: Devin Booker , Mikal Bridges SF: Kelly Oubre Jr. , Josh Jackson, Cameron Johnson PF: Dario Saric , Aron Baynes C: Deandre Ayton , Frank Kaminsky Not bad. Not bad at all, but is this roster good enough to make the playoffs? Who'd be the first player off the bench? What style will they be suited to play? Who most likely won't be on the roster to start the season? Most important rookie? Let's get to it. Playoffs? No, but Suns should win 30 games Rubio is an upgrade at point guard, Ayton is a year older, and Monty Williams will find ways to make Devin Booker a more complete player. While Rubio, Ayton and Booker form a nice trio, Oubre is the X-factor. If he remains in Phoenix, Oubre gives the Suns that edge and intensity they lost with unrestricted free agent Richaun Holmes going to Sacramento. He can drop 25 any night and defend, too. Saric could spread the floor and he's got some ruggedness to him. Bridges and Jackson off the bench could make for a dynamic defensive duo with a scoring punch. Baynes sticking around is uncertain, especially after Phoenix reportedly acquired Kaminsky on a two-year deal for $10 million. The Suns may ultimately buy Baynes out, but he'd give Phoenix toughness. But the West is still the West. The Suns need to do more work to seriously compete for postseason play, but could take a step forward toward that with this roster. First off bench? Bridges He's got starter ability and can play the two or the three. He has potential to be a very good, if not great, on-ball defender with his size and length. Bridges should be stronger and showed a little dribble drive last season. He is going to make a huge jump from Year 1 to Year 2. Style of play? Controlled tempo Rubio isn't a blur, but he pushes the ball and can set up shooters in multiple ways. This should really allow Booker to stay in scoring mode at all times and lessen his load in terms of having to create for others. Phoenix should get attempts early in the shot clock as Williams looks to play fast. Rubio running the pick-and-roll with Ayton should be deadly. Rudy Gobert is a very good player and a great defender, but he's not the athlete Ayton is. Rubio doesn't have to be perfect with the pass to find Ayton. Then when Ayton drives to the rim and the defense collapses? There's Booker, Bridges or even Cameron Johnson or Ty Jerome ready to catch and shoot. Don't forget about Tyler Johnson, either. He can play the one and two and lead the second unit. Who's gone by opener? That's tough, but Jackson or Baynes Jackson didn't make the expected strides in his second NBA season, but he's talented. If he's traded, it's easy to imagine there's a team that thinks it can bring out the best in a player like Jackson. As for Baynes, he reportedly thought Boston was going to move him to a contender, but he ended up in Phoenix. The Suns then added Kaminsky in free agency. Phoenix may feel it needs four bigs to battle on the glass because it took a beating in that area last season when Ayton went to the bench. If three are enough, Baynes could be the odd man out. Most important rookie? Jerome Johnson may play more minutes, but Jerome can play the one or two and will get his chance to do both at some point. The Suns gave up a future first-round pick for him. They are high on him. We'll find out how much so during the season. The Suns still look a ways away from really contending for a playoff spot, but they can't have another really bad season after all the moves they've made. Can they? Have opinion about current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on Twitter at @DuaneRankin . Support local journalism. Start your online subscription . This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: NBA free agency 2019: Are Phoenix Suns building a playoff roster?


The talented folks at M&M's have dazzled us with tasty, unique creations since the beginning, and the chocolate mogul isn't slowing down anytime soon. Recently, we got the privilege to try three all-new international flavors . We chose our favorite, and the rest of America did, too! Now, the winner has been crowned and will be showing up on shelves very soon. English Toffee Peanut M&M's claimed the throne, and they're the perfect way to cure that aching sweet tooth. Why It's Your New Favorite M&M Anyone who craves toffee on a regular basis (ahem, us) will go wild for this flavor. When we tested it, this was the first bag everyone was cracking into. Compared to its competitors Mexican Jalapeno and Thai Coconut English Toffee boasted the most taste in a single bite, and we seriously couldn't get enough. The English Toffee flavor comes to us from, you guessed it, Great Britain and combines crunchy peanuts with smooth toffee, all wrapped up in classic milk chocolate and a colorful candy coating. This competition, which you can probably expect to see again in 2020, has been an M&M's tradition for the past few years. In 2018, M&M's unveiled Crunchy Espresso, Crunchy Raspberry and Crunchy Mint . Crunchy Mint claimed 1st place and, because of overwhelming fan support, M&M's decided to revive flavor voting for this year. Last year was crunchy, this year was peanut, so what are the plans for the future?! We can't get enough of thisM&M's crunchy chocolate spread. Get to Your Local Grocery Store If all this talk of treats is making you hungry for M&M's, you're not alone. Luckily, English Toffee Peanut M&M's will hit shelves later this month, and they may even be available at your local grocery store right now. You'll have to get the jump on them, though, because this specialty flavor will only be around for 18 months before it's gone for good. Take it from us, this bag of M&M's is definitely worth the purchase. The post We Have a Winner English Toffee Peanut M&M's Are Coming to Stores! appeared first on Taste of Home .


Summer is here, and you have things to do. There are bonfires to attend, vacations to take and books to read. Who wants to waste valuable time thinking about money? Fortunately, you can have a lazy summer by the pool and still be financially responsible. You simply need to follow this handy guide to money management. It covers what you need to do if you want to spend less time balancing your budget and more time perfecting your golf swing. Let your bills pay themselves Virtually every bank and credit union has online bill-pay. If yours doesn't, it might be time to shop for a new financial institution. You can do so by stopping by our Solutions Center and finding the right bank for you. Bill-pay services link to online accounts, receive paperless statements and automatically pay bills on the due date. If your biller doesn't offer compatible paperless statements, simply set up an automatic payment to go out each month at a specific time. Paying bills doesn't get any easier. It's not the usual blah, blah, blah. Click here to sign up for our free newsletter. Bundle services whenever you can Bundle whatever services you can. Why send payments to separate companies for auto, home and life insurance when you could deal with one company for all three? Same goes for your phone, internet and cable television. Bundling services isn't just a lazy way to manage your money, it's a smart one too. Most companies give discounts if you purchase more than one service from them. Grow your savings effortlessly Set up a direct deposit from your paycheck into your savings account. Many employers allow workers to split their paycheck between multiple accounts. Send part of yours to savings. Trust us, you'll never miss it. If you don't have this option at work, don't fret: Banks often let you set up automatic transfers that are almost as good. Get lazy, and watch your savings account grow without any effort. Related: The Shortest Path to an Amazing Retirement Use automated budgeting tools Fortunately, you don't have to spend your days toiling over a spreadsheet. Thanks to online budgeting tools such as You Need a Budget and Mint, t here is no reason to bother with math when summer fun beckons. After a quick set-up, these programs automatically sync with your bank accounts, categorize your spending and create reports for you to review later. Related video: How to be a budgeting superstar Ditch the debt and consolidate your cards Debt isn't just expensive, it's time-consuming. If you have multiple credit cards that are charged to the max, you can cross a relaxing summer off your calendar. Instead, you'll be juggling multiple due dates, trying to remember which one won't be declined and hoping your interest charges don't send you to bankruptcy court. The lazy way to manage your money is to simply get rid of the debt. If that's not possible, consolidate to a single account. Fewer accounts require less time to manage and let you get on with the more important things in life. Check out our Solutions Center to find the best credit card for your needs. Forget clipping coupons OK, so some people loooove clipping coupons. They relish the idea of three hours on Sunday spent scanning ads and finding deals. For everyone else, it's time-sucking drudgery. Here's a pro tip: Forget coupons, and buy the store brand instead. The days of mega-deals found at the height of the couponing craze are largely gone. For those of you looking for a lazy way to save, going generic is practically as good. Pay less online without even trying Rather than searching for coupon codes before making a purchase online, install a browser add-on such as Honey or Gumdrop that will automatically search for savings and alert you to coupons. Make 'Subscribe & Save' your new best friend Have you heard of Subscribe & Save? If not, it's time to make its acquaintance. The service is offered through Amazon and lets you schedule regular shipments of your favorite products. As a bonus, items purchased through this method are discounted up to 15% and ship for free. Amazon's service isn't the only lazy way to save money and keep the household supplies stocked. A number of other companies from Grove Collaborative to Chewy offer similar services. Don't forget to ask if you can get your prescriptions via mail order as well. We're talking major savings there if your insurance company allows it. Skip the job search and ask for a raise instead You are worth so much more than your boss is paying you. The hard way to solve this problem is to find a new job. But since you're looking for the lazy way to improve your money situation, ask for a raise instead. Hitting up your boss for more money requires a little bit of effort on your part. Research what others are making and craft a pitch to explain why you deserve more. This is way less work than searching for new employment. Team up with neighbors Why spend time and money buying and maintaining items like lawn mowers, power tools and ladders if you don't have to? Borrow your neighbor's instead. If nobody has the item you need, ask a friend to go in on the purchase and share the item.


Former Indianapolis Colts defensive tackle Al Woods has agreed to contract terms with the Seattle Seahawks, per multiple reports. With the deadline having passed for free agent signings impacting the compensatory pick formula, several former Colts will likely begin finding new homes. Woods spent the last two seasons with the Colts working as the nose tackle on early downs. He was a starter in 2017 and for the first half of the 2018 regular season. However, his snaps decreased as the second half moved along as the Colts moved in favor of Grover Stewart and Margus Hunt. While Woods didn't provide Indy with much help as a pass rusher, he is a stout run defender working as the nose tackle or shade. In those two seasons, Woods appeared in 30 games (24 starts) recording 68 tackles (30 solo), six tackles for loss and one sack. The Colts decided against re-signing the 32-year-old likely hoping for some development from the aforementioned Stewart, who is currently the only nose tackle on the defensive line. MORE: Most bizarre and incredible catches by fishermen in past decade NBA Free Agency 2019: The top players Kyrie Irving 'has had discussions' about playing for the Lakers David West to Daryl Morey: Take That, Nerd Richard Sherman: 'The secondary wasn't the issue last year'


Listen, I like summer as much as the next girl, but there is such a thing as being too hot . Not only does it suck as a feeling, but your chances of winding up with heat exhaustion can rise as the temperature creeps higher, too. So, how can you tell the difference between simply craving the sweet, sweet embrace of an air-conditioned room and getting into potentially dangerous territory with heat exhaustion? Here's what to know to stay safe. What is heat exhaustion? Heat exhaustion is a temperature-related illness that happens when your body's usual cooling mechanisms just aren't cutting it, according to the Mayo Clinic . As a result, you become way too hot, which can eventually be harmful if you don't take steps to cool down quickly. In order to keep your core temperature around 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit, your body has a few different mechanisms to cool you down or heat you up when necessary, the Mayo Clinic explains. In extreme heat, especially for long periods of time or while exerting yourself, your body can wind up taking in more heat than it's able to expel through these mechanisms. The most noticeable way your body responds to heat and exertion is sweating , Lawrence Phillips , M.D., a cardiologist at NYU Langone Health, tells SELF. Sweat moistens the surface of your body and cools you down as it evaporates, which helps to regulate your temperature, according to the Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy . Pretty freaking handy. But if your body is churning out a ton of sweat in an attempt to cool you down, you can become dehydrated, meaning you lose so much fluid your body can't function normally. Another way your body dissipates excess heat is by sending blood out to your arms and legs where blood vessels are closer to the skin, which allows your blood to cool faster than it would in your body's core, Michael Millin , M.D., associate professor of Emergency Medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, tells SELF. The problem is that this means there's less blood returning to and pumping out of your heart, Dr. Millin explains. Between the dehydration and blood flow issues, you might start to experience symptoms of heat-related illnesses. You might brush off some of these reactions as normal responses to a hot day, but a lot of them definitely don't happen every time you're feeling a little warmer than usual. A few symptoms set heat exhaustion apart from just feeling really hot. The thing about heat exhaustion is that its symptoms don't just strike out of nowhere. Heat exhaustion actually exists on a spectrum of heat-related illnesses, with heat cramps preceding it. If you treat heat cramps in time, you can avoid getting heat exhaustion entirely, so it's worth going over those symptoms first: Heavy sweating Muscle cramps Fatigue Thirst If you get heat exhaustion, your body basically piles onto the symptoms of heat cramps. In addition to those, you might experience : Cool, moist skin with goosebumps even though it's hot out Feeling faint Dizziness Pale skin A fast, weak pulse Feeling lightheaded when you stand up Nausea and vomiting Headache If you don't treat heat exhaustion in time, you might wind up with these additional symptoms, which can signal heatstroke : Flushed skin that can either feel dry or moist Confusion, trouble speaking, or other signs of a scrambled mental state A temperature over 104 degrees Fahrenheit Heatstroke can be life-threatening, so, clearly, it's best to avoid even setting down a path of heat-related illnesses. Instead of splitting hairs over the question, "Am I just really hot or is something else going on?" focus on tending to your symptoms. That brings us to our next point. What to do if you think you have heat exhaustion (or are just way too hot) The good news is that you can often take care of heat cramps, heat exhaustion, or just being super hot by getting someplace cooler and rehydrating . You might be tempted to chug a ton of water as soon as you can, but remember that rehydrating also means replenishing the electrolytes you lose while sweating, says Dr. Millin. These minerals primarily sodium, potassium, calcium, chlorine, magnesium, and phosphates help to make sure your nerves, muscles, heart, and brain all work the way they should, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine . Because the primary electrolyte you lose through sweat is sodium, eating a salty snack as you drink water can help make up for what you've lost, as SELF previously reported . Of course, there's also the option of downing a sports drink. Drinking these on a regular basis might not be ideal for you because of how sugary they are (though that really depends on your nutritional habits at large ), but if it's what you have available when you feel like you're overheating, a sports drink is more than fine, says Dr. Phillips. You can also cool off by putting water on your skin. It's best to do this somewhere out of the sun, like by going inside and wetting your skin, then fanning it off. This mimics the cooling reaction of sweating, says Dr. Millin. If you're really hot and unable to go someplace cooler, try to shield yourself without adding to the heat, like by going under a beach umbrella and draping yourself with a wet towel. If you're not feeling better after an hour or your symptoms are getting worse, the Mayo Clinic recommends seeking immediate medical attention. You should do the same if you're unable to hydrate due to vomiting, really feel like you're going to pass out, or do actually lose consciousness, Dr. Millin says. How to avoid heat exhaustion You probably get by now that good hydration is a key preemptive strike against heat exhaustion (seriously, if you're going to be in the heat, drink plenty of water!), but there's other stuff you can do, too: Watch your alcohol intake. As someone who just spent a weekend drinking margaritas on the beach, I know this isn't the most enticing suggestion. But according to Dr. Phillips, alcohol and heat don't mix. Alcohol can be dehydrating, which we already know can contribute to heat-related illnesses. It might also make you less aware of the symptoms of something like heat exhaustion. Because you know what else makes you dizzy, nauseated, flushed, and tired? Oh, right. Drinking. I'm not saying you can't drink in the heat, but if you're going to, make sure you're taking the right precautions, like keeping your water-to-alcohol ratio even, eating enough, and maybe going for drinks that are lower in alcohol, like beer and spiked seltzer over mixed cocktails. Plan ahead. People who aren't used to extreme heat are a lot more likely to run into trouble with heat-related illness, says Dr. Millin. Like, if you're on vacation somewhere a lot hotter than home and jump right into an adventurous hike . Give yourself time to acclimate. Another instance where you can plan ahead: If you know you're going to spend a lot of time exerting yourself outside this summer. If so, you might want to consider getting some oral rehydration powder or tablets in case of emergency, says Dr. Millin. You can mix them into water to get the electrolytes you need, and some people might find them easier to keep handy or prefer them to a salty snack or sugary drink. Protect against sunburn. If you get a sunburn , you're more at risk of developing heat exhaustion. Sunburn itself is a form of heat illness and affects your body's ability to cool down. The Mayo Clinic suggests wearing a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses and using a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 when outdoors. Don't forget to reapply as directed. Make a plan for extra bad days. If a heat wave is on the horizon and you don't live somewhere with air conditioning, scout out where you might be able to spend free time. Libraries and malls are great. Talk to your doctor if you take certain medications. According to the Mayo Clinic , certain medications can screw with your body's ability to stay hydrated, like diuretics, antihistamines, and antidepressants. If you're on medication that you think might be affecting your odds of staying cool in the heat, talk to your doctor for some tips on how to deal.


John Beilein may be a good hire for the Cavaliers as head coach, but he comes with zero NBA experience. And there is a steep NBA learning curve. Enter former Memphis coach J.B. Bickerstaff. Maybe. The sides are talking, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. Cavs coach John Beilein and JB Bickerstaff expected to soon discuss possibility of an associate head coaching role, sources tell ESPN. Bickerstaff interviewed for Cavs and Lakers openings. He remains a sought-after top assistant on market. Beilein wants an experienced NBA staff.   Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 13, 2019 This is smart on a few levels. Beilein realizes what his weaknesses are and is looking for assistants to help fill in those gaps. Also, Beilein is seen as an offensive-minded coach, so bring in a smart defensive assistant in the form of Bickerstaff. Whether or not this specific deal comes together, it's a good sign for the kind of guys the Cavaliers are going to put on their staff.


Astronauts living at the International Space Station took their first bites of space-grown lettuce on Monday, in what scientists described as another step toward enabling human missions to Mars. "That's awesome," exclaimed NASA astronaut Kjell Lindgren, after he ate a piece of red romaine lettuce that was grown in a special box aboard the orbiting outpost. "Tastes good," agreed astronaut Scott Kelly, who is spending one year at the research outpost. " Kind of like arugula," Kelly added, then used a small bottle to spread olive oil and balsamic vinegar on his leaf, much as one might spread ketchup on a hot dog. If space explorers can grow their own food while they are away from the Earth, NASA says they are more likely to survive the rigors of deep space exploration lasting months or even years. With no way to resupply a spacecraft making a long journey to and from Mars, the ability to cultivate food during the trip will be key to survival, said Kelly. "Having the ability to grow our own food is a big step in that direction," he said. Ray Wheeler, NASA's lead scientist for advanced life support activities at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, also said fresh foods that contain antioxidants, such as tomatoes, blueberries and red lettuce, "could have a positive impact on people's moods and also could provide some protection against radiation in space." - Veggie experiment - The red romaine lettuce was grown in a special plant-growing box called Veg-01 that was built by Orbital Sciences and was flown to space aboard the SpaceX Dragon cargo ship. The seeds are contained in rooting pillows, complete with soil and fertilizer. Since water cannot be poured in space, a special irrigation system delivers moisture to the plant pillows from below. The seeds were "activated" by Kelly on July 8, and grew for 33 days. Wearing blue gloves, Lindgren harvested the lettuce with tongs and then placed the leaves on a tray. He cleaned them with citric acid-based, food safe sanitizing wipes before handing them, in a Ziploc bag, to Kelly and Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui. They saved a couple of leaves for Russian cosmonauts Mikhail Kornienko and Gennady Padalka, who were outside the station doing a spacewalk. "They will eat half of the space bounty, setting aside the other half to be packaged and frozen on the station until it can be returned to Earth for scientific analysis," NASA said on its website. A previous crop of lettuce was grown in space last year but was not eaten by astronauts. Instead, it underwent -- and passed -- food safety tests back on Earth.


HOUSTON   On a night when the Milwaukee Brewers struck out again and again, piling up a season-high 24 Ks against the Houston Astros, one big swing by Mike Moustakas made all those whiffs way easier to swallow. Moustakas hit a two-run homer during Milwaukee's three-run 14th inning, and the Brewers struck out 15 times against Houston ace Justin Verlander before rallying for a 6-3 victory over the Astros on Wednesday. Christian Yelich started the 14th with a single against rookie Cionel Perez (1-1) for Milwaukee's first hit since the ninth. After Ryan Braun lined out, Moustakas hit a drive to right for his 21st homer. BOX SCORE: BREWERS 6, ASTROS 3 "Obviously, 24 punchouts isn't what we were looking for, but ... we got a W so we turned a negative into a positive and found a way to win against a great ballclub over there," Moustakas said. Jesus Aguilar added a pinch-hit RBI single as Milwaukee won for the fifth time in six games. Ryan Braun, Yasmani Grandal and Eric Thames also went deep for the Brewers, and Adrian Houser (2-1) pitched two scoreless innings for the victory. "I bet you there's not too many times a team struck out 24 times and won the game," Yelich said. "All those weird baseball things happen and that's another example of it. Honestly, it's just a really good win and a hard-fought win." Verlander set a career high for Ks while allowing three runs in seven innings. The 2011 AL Cy Young Award winner led the way as Houston set a franchise record for strikeouts, surpassing its previous record of 23 during a 15-inning game on May 31, 2003, against the Chicago Cubs. "It would feel a lot better if we won," Verlander said. "Yeah, cool, great, but we didn't win the baseball game." Houston had a 3-2 lead before Thames connected in the seventh inning for Milwaukee's third homer off Verlander. It was Thames' ninth of the season. Each team had late chances to go in front. Jake Marisnick singled off Houser with one out in the 13th. Marisnick stole second base, but Houser retired Josh Reddick and Alex Bregman to end the threat. Pinch hitter Myles Straw walked leading off the Houston 10th, but was caught trying to steal second base. He was initially called safe, but the Brewers challenged the call and it was overturned. Josh Hader walked Tyler White, but Marisnick grounded into a double play to end the inning. "Hitting is hard. They threw some pretty good arms at us," Astros manager AJ Hinch said. "They're a good team, and yes, it doesn't feel good when you go quietly like that." Singles by Yelich and Moustakas left runners at first and third with one out in the ninth. But Roberto Osuna struck out Grandal and Thames to escape the jam. Verlander surrendered solo drives to Braun in the first and Grandal in the second before settling into a groove. He retired 17 of 18 after Grandal's 15th homer, with Milwaukee's only baserunner coming on a double by Thames to start the fifth. Verlander, who had fanned 14 four times in his career, struck out eight of his last 10 batters, including the side in the sixth. Milwaukee's Brandon Woodruff also yielded three runs and four hits in seven innings. The Brewers led 2-0 before the Astros scored three times in the fourth. Robinson Chirinos singled in Yuli Gurriel before Tony Kemp doubled in two runs. ANNIVERSARY Verlander got the start on the 12th anniversary of his first career no-hitter, a 4-0 victory over Milwaukee. Brewers manager Craig Counsell led off in that one and finished 0 for 4 with two strikeouts. TRAINER'S ROOM Brewers: RHP Jhoulys Chacin (lower back strain) will come off the injured list to start against San Diego on Monday. Astros: 2B Jose Altuve (leg fatigue) and OF George Springer (hamstring) are both improving, and Hinch said they could start rehabilitation assignments sometime this weekend. ... C Max Stassi (knee soreness) is scheduled to begin a rehabilitation assignment on Thursday. DYNAMIC DUO Yelich and Moustakas each had two hits. Yelich extended his hitting streak to 10 games, which is the longest streak for the Brewers this season, and Moustakas has hit safely in 10 of the last 11 games. UP NEXT Brewers: Milwaukee is off Thursday before Zach Davies (7-0, 2.41 ERA) starts in the opener of a three-game series at San Francisco on Friday night. Davies allowed three runs in five innings in a 5-3 win over Pittsburgh in his last start. Astros: Following an off day, Houston hosts Toronto in the first of three games on Friday night. Gerrit Cole (5-5, 3.72 ERA) is scheduled to start. Cole yielded three runs -- one earned -- and struck out a season-high 14 in seven innings but did not factor in the decision in a 4-3 win over the Orioles in his last start. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports Related slideshow: The 2019 MLB season (Provided by imagn)


Myths about the bisexual community are usually rooted in stereotypes, and can be inaccurate and harmful. Bisexual people aren't more likely to cheat, don't have to identify as "50/50," and aren't always looking to use this identity as a stepping stone to another identity. Myths about those within the bisexual community are often harmful , rooted in stereotypes, and terribly inaccurate. Bisexuality is often misunderstood, and because of that, those who identify as bisexual can face real-life consequences of others' ignorance. As an individual who claims this identity, I'm a huge fan of this definition provided by Robyn Ochs and the Bisexual Resource Center: "Here's my current definition of bisexuality : I call myself bisexual because I acknowledge in myself the potential to be attracted, romantically and/or sexually, to people of more than one sex, not necessarily at the same time, not necessarily in the same way, and not necessarily to the same degree." Here's a list of some of the most popular myths about bisexuality you need to stop believing. MYTH: If you identify as bi, you're a cheater. This is one of the most common myths about bisexuality. It's likely that this myth stems from the idea that bisexual individuals "can't make up their minds one way or the other," are attracted to anybody and everybody, or just the over-sexualization of this identity in general. Writer Maria Burnham put it best in HuffPost, saying, " There is no legitimate study proving [that bi people are cheaters], nor would it be easy to [obtain] accurate results if one was to perform a study, but it appears that this myth is touted in cities all over." Ultimately, cheaters of all identities cheat for various reasons. Period. Sexual identity has nothing to do with it. MYTH: People who identify as bi are always looking for a threesome . One of the main complaints you'll hear from bisexual people is that when it comes to relationships, especially on dating apps , people expect them to want a threesome . But bisexual people don't exist to offer other people "unique" sexual experiences - they've just been oversexualized in pop culture and, as a result, are always viewed in a sexual light. Some bisexual people are interested in threesomes, but not all of them are, just like not all straight people are interested in the same things. Even within a community, there is diversity. MYTH: You have to be attracted 50/50. If you're bisexual, you've probably had someone ask you what "percent straight," and what "percent gay" you are. There's this pervasive idea that bisexuals are half one thing, and half another, rather than 100% bisexual. But the latter is the truth. Sexuality exists on a spectrum , and one person who is bisexual may feel mostly attraction to men, while another bisexual person may primarily date women. Some bisexual people also feel attraction to people who aren't on the gender binary at all. All of them are equally bisexual. MYTH: Bisexual is a label en route to identifying as gay. Often people see bisexuality as a "path" to becoming "actually gay," but bisexuality is a legitimate identity. Many people identify as bisexual their entire lives. Even if some people do go from identifying as bisexual to identifying as gay, it's important to remember that sexuality is fluid , and that doesn't negate those who identify wholly as bisexual. It's not half an identity; it's complete as it is. MYTH: You're only bi if you're currently partnered with, or dating people who identify with the same gender as you do. Despite bisexuality literally meaning interest in people who have the same gender identity or a different gender identity, from you, the assumption is often that if you're a bisexual person who is in a relationship with someone who is a different gender from you, you're actually just straight. Identity isn't dependent upon who you're dating - it's who you are, and ultimately up to you to decide and share. No matter who you happen to be dating - or not dating - and any given time, your identity is valid. MYTH: Bisexuality is equivalent to pansexuality. Many people get confused about the difference between bisexuality and pansexuality. For the most part, there is a lot of overlap between what it means to be bisexual and what it means to be pansexual, with both identities essentially meaning you're open to dating people of the same, or different, genders than you. Pansexuality tends to have more of an emphasis on being open to dating someone regardless of gender, while bisexual people tend to say they're interested in dating people from two or more genders. But different people define the terms differently, as well. A lot of it comes down to which term you identify with the most. Sexuality is fluid, so it's ultimately up to each individual person to decide which label they feel represents them best. MYTH: Bisexuality isn't real. One of the biggest myths about bisexuality is that it isn't real. Many of these other myths listed feed into this stereotype. After all, if you think bisexuality is all about who a person is dating, what "percent" gay and straight they are, and that it's just a pit stop on the road to being "completely gay," it's not surprising that you'd also think bisexuality isn't real. But many people identify as bisexual, with just as many if not more members of the LGBTQ community identifying as bisexual than identify as gay, according to CNN. Regardless of statistics, though, bisexual people deserve to have their identities respected. Related video: Bisexuality is often overlooked in the LGBTQ+ community (provided by Refinery29)


The Cleveland and Tarkington communities are hosting events this month to support the victims of a violent shooting spree in the area last week. Church That Cares is hosting a "We Care Prayer Vigil" on June 3 after the four residents, including a deputy, were shot in the midst of a crime spree that occurred on May 29. The vigil will be held at 6:30-7:30 p.m. at Church That Cares, which is located at 21 County Road 2281, Cleveland TX (Tarkington Prairie). The crime spree may have started as early as May 28 when Pavol Vido shot and killed a woman who worked for B Dependable Plumbing as their secretary, Liberty County Sheriff's Office Capt. Ken DeFoor said at a news conference. Vido shot two more men who worked at the business the next morning. He eventually shot Deputy Richard Whitten in the neck during a shootout at a nearby business. The one-hour vigil is to pray for Whitten, the community and first responders, according to the church. First responders and the community are welcome to come for the prayer. There will be coffee and baked good in the CTC Family Life Center for all first responders following the vigil. On Thursday, authorities said Whitten was in stable condition and surrounded by family. He was upgraded to critical condition on Friday. Trinity Armory in Cleveland will also host a benefit for Whitten from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on June 22. This benefit is to help raise money for the loss of income, out of pocket medical expenses and for his family during his road to recovery. According to Trinity Armory, 100% of the money raised will be donated to Whitten and his family, per the benefit Facebook page . marcus.gutierrez@chron.com


ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) Two days after making the All-Star team, Charlie Morton looked the part for the Tampa Bay Rays. Morton struck out six straight batters and a season-high 12 overall, taking over the AL lead in ERA during a 6-3 win against the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday night. The right-hander wasn't thrilled with his fastball command, yet he still got his final 10 outs via strikeout. Morton (9-2) gave up four hits and a walk in seven innings. It was the 10th time in 18 starts that Morton has given up one run or fewer, and his 2.36 ERA is now the best in the AL among qualified starters. ''It wasn't until the sixth probably when I made a sizable adjustment and I kind of got in a groove,'' Morton said. ''I would say I got away with some stuff tonight. But results-wise, you can't look back at that and say it was a bad start.'' Chris Davis' sixth home run accounted for the only run off Morton. ''He knows how to pitch and he's got great command,'' Hyde said. ''You can't sit on one pitch and one spot. He knows how to set up guys and he throws strikes. That's why he's an All-Star-caliber pitcher and World Series champion.'' Brandon Lowe had three hits and drove in two for the Rays before leaving the game in the sixth with a leg contusion. Lowe's 16th home run brought in the game's first run, and his two-out single in the third regained a 2-1 lead for the Rays after Davis' homer. Before leading off the Tampa Bay sixth with another single, Lowe fouled a pitch off his right leg. He was lifted for a pinch-runner after limping to first base. ''It's not the first time I hit a foul ball of my shin,'' said Lowe, on crutches after the game although X-rays were negative. ''It happens. But I figured it had subsided, and I didn't expect it to hurt as much when I ran.'' Avisail Garcia's two-run single made it 4-1 in the sixth, and Tommy Pham made it 6-1 with a two-run double in the seventh. Asher Wojciechowski, making his first start for Baltimore, pitched into the sixth inning, giving up four runs and five hits while striking out six. It was the first major league start since Aug. 13, 2017 for the 30-year-old right-hander, and the second straight night in which the Orioles started a pitcher for the first time this season. Asked if Monday's starter Tom Eshelman and Wojciechowski were auditioning for full-time roles, Hyde replied: ''We've got 25 auditions. We've got 25 guys that are auditioning. Yeah, everybody's on the club is auditioning for their career.'' Davis' opposite-field home run in the third was the first hit off Morton. It was Davis' first homer since May 12. Chance Sisco hit a two-run homer, his fifth, off reliever Chaz Roe in the ninth for Baltimore's final two runs. The loss dropped the Orioles to 24-61, the same record they had after 85 games last year on their way to a 47-115 finish. YARBROUGH BACK DOWN The Rays optioned LHP Ryan Yarbrough and recalled RHP Austin Pruitt from Triple-A Durham. Despite Yarbrough's three trips to the minors this year, the left-handed reliever has 23 wins over the last season and a half. Only Max Scherzer (26), Justin Verlander (26), Blake Snell (26), Jon Lester (25), Zack Greinke (24), J.A. Happ (24) and Morton (24) have won more games in 2018-19. MORE MCKAY Rays two-way player Brendan McKay talked at length with pitching coach Kyle Snyder about arm mechanics during a bullpen session in preparation for the left-hander's second appearance as a pitcher Friday night against the AL East-leading New York Yankees. McKay allowed one hit over six scoreless innings in a win Saturday over Texas in his debut. TRAINER'S ROOM Orioles: RHP Josh Lucas (strained right shoulder) was reinstated from the 10-day IR. Eshelman was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. Rays: RHP Diego Castillo (right shoulder inflammation) had a short bullpen session and is expected back after the All-Star break. ... INF Matt Duffy, out all season with a strained left hamstring, had an intensive baserunning session. UP NEXT All-Star LHP John Means (7-4, 2.50 ERA) will get his final start before the All-Star break for the Orioles on Wednesday night against Rays opener Ryne Stanek (0-1). --- More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports


Rising home prices and higher mortgage rates are adding up to increasingly expensive housing, but fear is making matters even worse. A wide swath of borrowers today may be paying far too much on their home loans, simply because they are overly cautious. "It's personality. Some people are just risk averse, but how much is your risk aversion worth?" asked Craig Strent, CEO of Maryland-based Apex Home Loans, an independent mortgage lender. More than 93 percent of mortgage applications to both refinance and to purchase a home are for fixed-rate loans, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. Adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs), which may be fixed for up to 10 years before the interest rate changes, can offer rates at least a full percentage point lower, but they are less popular today than they've ever been. That is because ARMs are associated with the high-risk lending that resulted in the worst housing crash in U.S. history. In 2005, close to 40 percent of new loans were ARMs. "I think it's just fear and the nightmare, I mean, you remember the exploding subprime adjustable-rate mortgage," said Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Analytics. "That was at top of mind just a few years ago, and so it's going to take a while before people really get over their fear and buy into the idea that an ARM might be a good deal for them." Today's adjustable-rate loans are nothing like those of the past. They are largely underwritten to the full term of the loan and subject to new mortgage regulations from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and its "ability to repay" rule. Most ARMs now combine interest and principal payments, but some lenders do offer interest-only ARMs. These, however, are held on lenders' books and are most often used by high net worth customers, who are using mortgages for investment and cash management purposes, not to qualify for a more expensive house. ARMs have also been less popular simply because the average rate on the 30-year fixed has been so low for so long. The spread between a 30-year fixed and a five- or seven-year ARM is usually more than twice what it is now. That has made the risk of an ARM less worth it, so far, but that is about to change. "ARMs are more attractive when 30-year interest rates increase," said Matt Weaver, vice-president at Finance of America Mortgage, a Blackstone company. "Right now we're in a very funny time. Jumbo mortgage rates and 30-year fixed are the same." The Federal Reserve may raise long-term interest rates as soon as December, which will cause spreads between these types of loans to widen. Weaver warns, however, that education is paramount for borrowers considering an adjustable-rate loan. "Someone who is going to be purchasing that $250-$300,000 home is probably not in a cash reserve position to take that risk. They're more than likely squeezing themselves into that payment to begin with," he said. Some claim the best way to determine if an adjustable-rate loans will benefit you is to take real stock of how long you expect to be in your home. If it's more than 10 years, then a longer-term, fixed rate is still the best bet. If, however, you are considering a starter home, or you are not wed to your particular neighborhood, an ARM will save you money. While most buyers don't think of a home as a short-term purchase when they buy it, the average homeowner stays in their home only about six years. "It's not about the house at all. That's a fallacy. It's about how long you're going to keep this mortgage," said Apex's Strent. Interest rates are still near historic lows right now, and are only slowly rising, but borrowers will still refinance for several reasons: To take cash out for home improvements or to pay for college, to get rid of mortgage insurance, to consolidate debt, or in the event of a divorce buyout. Of the 30-year fixed loans made between 1980 and 1985, barely 2 percent made it to their eventual payout, according to Black Knight Financial Services. More made it past 19 years, but certainly not 93 percent of those loans   which is the share now applying for the 30-year fixed. ARMs are not for everyone, but in today's rising rate environment, given that the rate can be fixed for a decade, they are most definitely being underutilized. Borrowers are right to be cautious, but not so cautious that it costs them cash.


Fans at Oracle Arena erupted in a chant of "KD, KD, KD" during the Golden State Warriors' first timeout in Game 6 of the NBA Finals against the Toronto Raptors. The chant was in reaction to the Warriors playing a "Do It for Kevin" video, a montage of Warriors players speaking about dedicating their play to Kevin Durant, who ruptured his right Achilles tendon during Game 5 of the Finals. FOR OAKLAND: This final giveaway at Oracle is going to get Warriors fans a little choked up The star forward announced the diagnosis of his injury Wednesday in an Instagram post, saying that he'd already gotten through a successful surgery for the injury. Before his injury in Game 5, Durant scored 11 points and seemed to give the Warriors a boost. Durant's decision to try to play in Game 5 and his subsequent season ending injury have been a rallying point for the team and the Warriors fan base. The Warriors organization passed out towels that paid tribute to Oakland and KD as Game 6 attendees filed into Oracle Arena. In a post to Instagram on Thursday afternoon , Warriors guard Klay Thompson wrote that the Warriors "would not be in this position if it weren't for" Durant. DUBS VS. REFS: Warriors might have an officiating problem on their hands for Game 6 After the timeout, video and chant, the Warriors, who were down 17-12 when the timeout was taken, outscored the Raptors 20-16 to finish the first quarter down a point. One person watching the game noted on Twitter , "He definitely coming back to them now," after seeing the crowd at Oracle show love for Durant. Drew Costley is an SFGATE editorial assistant. Email: drew.costley@sfgate.com | Twitter: @drewcostley


Missed the the most recent top news in Denver? Read on for everything you need to know. Denver looks to clinch series against Portland in Game 6 The Denver Nuggets are hoping to advance to the conference finals on Thursday against the Portland Trail Blazers on the road. Read the full story on 9NEWS . Denver man charged after puppy suffers multiple broken bones The puppy had old and new rib fractures, a collapsed lung, a spinal vertebrae fracture and a broken femur, an arrest affidavit says. Read the full story on 9NEWS . FAA pushes back on claims of increased noise for south Denver metro communities Federal aviation authorities are on a traveling road show of sorts, trying to convince residents from Erie to Parker in a series of public workshops that proposed alterations to flight paths Read the full story on Denver Post . This story was created automatically using data about news stories on social media from CrowdTangle , then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


If the Pistons can protect its young players, picks from any Westbrook trade then it just might work The NBA offseason has been wild so far, and it figures to get wilder. Paul George demanded a trade to the Los Angeles Clippers just one year into a four-year extension. The Los Angeles Lakers and Toronto Raptors were outplayed by the quiet but cunning Kawhi Leonard , and everyone else is trying to pick up the pieces and figure out what's next in a suddenly competitive NBA landscape. Perhaps no team has more to figure out then the Oklahoma City Thunder , and its decision on what to do with Russell Westbrook . After trading Paul George for a historic haul, the most logical step is to trade its star player and start a hard reset . This news (along with non-Woj/Sham/Stein reports of the Pistons ' alleged potential interest) has Detroit Pistons fans split right down the middle on whether their beloved team should pursue a trade for the Oklahoma City star. While there is an evident dichotomy among fans, one thing is clear few deny the 2017 MVP's natural talent. The questions that produces a wide array of responses is 1. Whether Westbrook is worth is massive contract 2. If it's in the Pistons best interest to trade for Westbrook and his contract with Blake Griffin already on the books, likely for the next three seasons. There's no getting around it. Griffin is owed a ton of money over the next two seasons, $34,234,964 and $36,595,996. He also possesses a player option in 2021-22 worth $38,957,028. Russell Westbrook is owed even more   more money and more years. Over the next three seasons Westbrook will make $38,506,482, $41,358,814, and $44,211,146. He also has a fourth-year player option ($47,063,478) in 2022-23, and something tells me he's picking that option up. If the Pistons were to obtain Westbrook in a trade and pair him with Griffin , and if both players exercised their player options, the Pistons would be paying $86,020,506 to a 32- and 33-year-old whose game is predicated on athleticism   particularly in the case of Westbrook. In the even shorter term, the Pistons owe Andre Drummond $27,093,019 next season, and he, too, owns a player option the following year worth $28,751,775. The price might be right Before we move any further, let's pause and focus in on Westbrook's perceived market value. Here's what ESPN's Zach Lowe had to say about trading Westbrook: "Westbrook's supermax, which will pay him $47 million in 2022-23, is a straight-up albatross. They might mind-trick some dumb team into taking it at some point, but the Thunder have to assume Westbrook carries negative trade value." Yikes. Who wants to be THAT dumb team? Narratives aside, it appears simply taking Westbrook may be enough for the Thunder to trade their reigning three-time triple-double machine. That means the asking price likely doesn't include picks or young players on team-friendly contracts. If that's the parameters for a Westbrook trade, the Pistons should be interested. Constructing a deal that excludes draft picks and young players on team-friendly deals, such as Luke Kennard and Sekou Doumbouya , isn't hard. A few minutes on ESPN's trade machine identifies a clear path for the Thunder to unload Westbrook's contract without taking on long-term financial commitments. Pistons get: Russell Westbrook , Terence Ferguson, Darius Bazley , Abdel Nader Thunder get: Reggie Jackson , Tony Snell , Langston Galloway , Thon Maker , second round pick (via Detroit) If the Thunder are simply looking to get out of Westbrook's contract and some throw-in players to even out the bodies in the trade, this is an easy move. Jackson , Maker , and Galloway represent expiring contracts, and Snell has one year left on his deal, plus a player option for a second year. The second round pick the Thunder receive from Detroit allows the Thunder to flip a Jackson 's expiring contract to a third team with cap space to avoid paying the luxury tax this season. (This is an added bonus for the Thunder who are expected to pay more tax money than any other NBA team this season ). It's once more the Pistons side of things that we are concerned with, and even without attaching picks and/or young players, many are still divided on committing to Westbrook and Griffin, which in turn has the Pistons' financial flexibility all but gone for the foreseeable future. As a long-time Pistons fan, I understand better than most why this deal just doesn't sit right. The Pistons have avoided a hard reset for years and it has arguably locked them up in NBA purgatory otherwise known as a fringe playoff team. Put differently, the Pistons haven't been good enough to compete for a title, or bad enough to land high draft capital. We're not in purgatory, but it's dangerously close Trading for Westbrook, in many fan's eyes, extends their team's stay in purgatory. The risk just simply worth it for these fans, particularly with the Pistons' sentenced figured to end in just a couple of seasons. The counter argument, which is the one I am trying to make in this article, is that purgatory isn't exactly what the Pistons are experiencing   and trading for Westbrook doesn't necessarily have the downside some claim while the upside might be quite high. Purgatory, in my opinion, is the Phoenix Suns and New York Knicks of the world. The best players aren't guaranteed at the top of the draft, just like owning a franchise in New York isn't guaranteed to land you a star player. If you want to win in the NBA, having a top pick and being located on a beach helps, but ultimately a good front office, coaching staff, and a little bit of luck is often enough to help a team compete for a championship. I think the Pistons have that. It's the main reason why I think trading for Westbrook (under the parameters we've already established Pistons keep their picks and young players) still gives the Pistons enough long-term flexibility and development tools, in spite of being hard-capped financially. I also believe that Westbrook's presence on the Pistons in the new NBA landscape gives the team enough of a chance short-term to compete for a championship. As an aside, pairing a presumably motivated Westbrook with an undeniably motivated Blake Griffin  two stars that were rejected by their teammates and/or team for others together for a chance to prove their worth might be the edge both players need to expand their game further. The Pistons are not a free agent destination. That does not preclude them from landing a star player, just like owning a top draft pick does not guarantee a star player. While maintaining financial flexibility is always smart, it does not guarantee the Pistons a star player, but trading for Russell Westbrook does. Does trading for Russell Westbrook bring a championship back to the Motor City? I don't know, but it's a calculated risk that I don't mind taking with this front office and coaching staff, assuming the price is right.