Shares of Oracle Corp. (orcl) were up 8.8% in Thursday morning trading and on track to close at a new all-time high after the software company beat earnings expectations and delivered an upbeat outlook. The stock hit a new intraday record of $57.31 at its high point in Thursday's session. Shares are on pace for their largest single-day percentage gain since Dec. 18, 2014. Oracle spent $36 billion in its latest fiscal year on stock purchases, helping drive the share price higher, as Oracle's share count decreased by about 12% from a year earlier. Despite the record price high, the market capitalization remains below levels seen late last year. "We believe that there are clear areas of strength in Oracle's apps business - NetSuite in particular - but until this uptick in growth starts to translate into more consistent operating income (i.e. not just buyback driven EPS growth) and apps growth (only +4% in [constant currency]), we expect the stock is likely to remain relatively range bound," wrote Evercore ISI's Kirk Materne, who has an in-line rating on the stock. Shares are up 27% so far this year, as the S&P 500 (spx) has gained 17%.


Editor's note: The opinions in this article are the author's, as published by our content partner, and do not necessarily represent the views of MSN or Microsoft. Michael G. Vickers, a former special forces officer and CIA operations officer, served as assistant secretary of defense for special operations, low-intensity conflict and interdependent capabilities (2007-2011) and undersecretary of defense for intelligence (2011-2015). President Trump warned Iranian President Hassan Rouhani last July in an all-caps tweet that if Iran ever threatened the United States again, it would "suffer severe consequences the likes of which few throughout history have ever suffered before." Iran's attack Thursday on a U.S. surveillance drone that was flying in international airspace, according to U.S. Central Command , should make it abundantly clear that the Iranians didn't take him seriously. Subscribe to the Post Most newsletter: Today's most popular stories on The Washington Post Iran's shoot-down of the RQ-4 Global Hawk   which has a wingspan of 131 feet and costs more than $100 million   is the third act of aggression against U.S. military aircraft in two weeks, according to the Pentagon. It followed the downing of another U.S. surveillance drone by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels on June 6 in Yemen and a failed attack by Iran's military on a U.S. drone flying over the Gulf of Oman on June 13. These direct attacks on U.S. military aircraft have been accompanied by rocket attacks on an ExxonMobil installation in southern Iraq, rocket and mortar attacks on U.S. military bases in Iraq, missile strikes into Saudi Arabia and mine warfare attacks on oil tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz. All are suspected to be the work of Iran or Iranian-backed militants. For deterrence to work, a would-be adversary must believe that his attack plans will fail, or that he will incur unacceptable punishment after an attack. And yet, thus far, these attacks have gone unanswered by the Trump administration. According to the New York Times, Trump had approved a limited retaliatory strike on Thursday against Iranian radar installations and missile batteries, only to call it off after planes were in the air. That will further embolden the Iranians. Consider President Ronald Reagan's very different response to Iranian attacks on Kuwaiti tankers and international shipping during the so-called Tanker War of 1987-1988. After a series of attacks on U.S. and international shipping, the Reagan administration reflagged Kuwaiti tankers as U.S. vessels, provided them with Navy escorts and conducted multiple strike operations against Iranian naval vessels, military bases and offshore oil platforms. The United States suffered considerable losses during the limited conflict. During the first escort mission in July 1987, the reflagged U.S. tanker MV Bridgeton struck a mine and had to return to port. Iran's prime minister, Mir Hossein Mousavi, called the attack an "irreparable blow to America's political and military prestige." Two months earlier, an Iraqi F-1 Mirage fighter had mistakenly fired on the guided-missile frigate USS Stark , killing 37 sailors and wounding 21. In October 1987, the reflagged U.S. tanker Sea Isle City was struck by an Iranian Silkworm missile while at anchor at the oil terminal outside Kuwait City, wounding the ship's captain and 17 crew members. And in April 1988, a frigate, USS Samuel B. Roberts , hit a mine that blew a large hole in the ship and wounded 10 sailors. But Iran's losses were far greater, and in the end, the Islamic republic agreed to terminate its attacks on international shipping. U.S. Special Operations forces sunk or scuttled four Iranian mine-laying vessels, captured its crews, provided documentary evidence of Iranian complicity in the attacks on international shipping and destroyed several Iranian offshore oil platforms. U.S. Navy forces struck several Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps bases and sunk two Iranian navy frigates. The Tanker War was also not without tragedy. The guided-missile cruiser USS Vincennes, engaged in a gun battle with Iranian boats, shot down Iran Air Flight 655 , mistaking it for an Iranian F-14, killing all 290 passengers, including 66 children, and air crew members aboard. Just as in 1987 and 1988, Iran's most recent attacks on U.S. military aircraft and international shipping cannot go unanswered. The United States must ensure its ability to operate over Yemen (where al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula still plots against the United States and American interests around the world) and in international airspace and sea lanes. The United States must also ensure the free flow of goods in the Strait of Hormuz, through which one-third of the world's seaborne oil transits. Iran's drone shoot-down on Thursday wasn't accidental or the result of a rogue operator, as Trump has suggested. The Iranians fired a missile at another U.S. drone a week ago but missed. Senior Iranian officials have not only acknowledged their successful attack on our Global Hawk but have also celebrated it. Shooting down unmanned aircraft, moreover, is every bit as much an act of aggression as firing on manned aircraft. As automation advances, military force structures are increasingly unmanned, and unmanned systems   whether in space, in the air, on land, or on or under the sea   must be protected and defended. The Trump administration should respond to these recent attacks with strikes of its own on Iranian and Houthi air-defense assets, offensive missile systems and Revolutionary Guard Corps bases. A measured but firm response is what is required. It needn't rise even to the level of the Reagan administration's successful counter to Iran's Tanker War, but it must impose sufficient costs to make Iran think twice about doing this again. Off-ramps need to built into the campaign plan so that limited military strike operations do not lead to a wider war. Indeed, by reinforcing deterrence, a short-duration U.S. military operation may well help to prevent a wider conflict with Iran. Per its long history dating to the 1983 Beirut bombings, the Khobar Towers bombing in 1996 and its attacks on U.S. troops in Iraq, Iran may well respond with additional acts of state-sponsored terrorism against U.S. forces in the region. The lesson of history, however, is that the Iranians strike us even when we don't strike them. Failure to hit back will only embolden them further. Some measure of deterrence must be restored. Read more : David Ignatius: Iran must escape the American chokehold before it becomes fatal Jason Rezaian: Iran is outmatched in its latest game of rhetorical chicken. But it might be too late. Ardeshir Zahedi and Ali Vaez: The U.S. should strive for a stable Iran. Instead, it is suffocating it. Dennis Ross: Trump is a belligerent isolationist. But on Iran, he needs allies. David Ignatius: Trump has a credibility problem with Iran. Shanahan's departure makes it worse. Jennifer Rubin: What should presidential candidates say about Iran?


This team could play unlike any we've seen in recent years Youth, youth, youth. That's all anyone seems able to notice when looking at how this season's Villanova team differs from its most immediate handful of predecessors. And you know what, they're not wrong! Most signs are pointing to two freshmen (Robinson-Earl, Moore/Antoine) and three players with only one season starting under their belts( Gillespie , Samuels, Bey ) making up the starting lineup for this team. And it's true that the absence of battle-hardened vets like Phil Booth and Eric Paschall - not to mention the four guys who left the program a year earlier - is going to present an immediate and persistent challenge Jay Wright and his staff will need to navigate throughout the 2019-20 season. The flaw in this tunnel-visioned focus on age is the misconception that it will manifest itself as the most noticeable new feature of this roster. After all, not all freshmen are created equal. Antoine, Moore, Robinson-Earl, and Dixon all at this point have years under their belts of playing against the best competition available in pressure-packed atmospheres, which should help them somewhat in the adjustment to the collegiate game. I'm not arguing this team won't provide its share of groan-inducing youthful mistakes as they become more comfortable in Villanova's nuanced offensive and defensive systems, just that these mistakes will remind us more of Saddiq Bey 's freshman year than Jermaine Samuels '. What change will we notice the most then, you ask? Each of the past three seasons, the 'Cats offense has been driven by a dynamic perimeter offensive force everyone knew was in charge - fans, teammates, opponents - everyone. in 2017, 2018, and 2019, respectively, Josh Hart , Jalen Brunson , and Phil Booth each produced usage rates of at least 26% percent, and were the only members of their teams rated as "major contributors" (players with a usage rate of >24% by KenPom.com ). In all three cases, this player was capable of thriving within Jay Wright's offensive system that demanded extensive ball-movement, but could and were often required to produce moments of individual brilliance when called upon. Saying this could look foolish a year from now(I hope it does!), but this year's roster likely doesn't have that guy. Collin Gillespie - who will get most of the opportunities in this role, at least early on - just doesn't possess the athleticism necessary to create his own shot on demand. Saddiq Bey should get chances in this role throughout the season as he did late on as a freshman, but barring an extraordinary jump, his on-ball skills likely need another year to catch up to the athleticism he definitely does possess. Jermaine Samuels has cemented himself as a key player within the program, but despite the highlight plays he produces on both ends of the floor Big Game Jermaine is obviously better-suited to life as far from complex decision making as possible. As a freshman, Bryan Antoine has the pedigree to at least take on the challenge of the role, but he's currently recovering from rotator cuff surgery and is not expected to return until the beginning of conference play at the earliest. On top of the late start his rehab will force upon him, even the most perfect recoveries from rotator cuff surgery are tough to come back from on the fly. From whatever point in the season the coaching staff realizes they don't have this guy at their disposal, the look of the offense could go in either of two directions. Firstly and in my opinion the more likely of the two options, Wright has his team share the ball more than we have seen in any season since 2016. That year, no player averaged more than 15.5 points or 4.2 assists, and six players had usage rates between 20-24%. Just to make it clear, this is in no way me claiming that the players on this roster are as good right now as the players on the Championship team in 2016. However, it is extremely possible that after a few weeks of non-conference games where Gillespie is given the chance to make this offense his own, we see a system emerge where a combination of him, Bey, Antoine, Samuels, and others share ownership of a system that emphasizes playing within the flow of the system and when necessary deferring to whoever has the hot hand, while Robinson-Earl and Cosby-Roundtree get reasonable touches serving as roll-men. A second option - which I find more interesting with the group of players Wright has available to him - is to maximize the elite young talent at the program's disposal as was done four years ago when Jalen Brunson arrived on the Main Line and jumped right into the starting lineup. And as our own Chris Lane pointed out, another five-star prospect with a similar pedigree to Brunson set to enter the program this Fall is generating a lot of buzz. You know who else tore up an international tournament before starting as a freshmen for Nova? https://t.co/87moK6EfGE   Chris Lane (@chrisjjlane) July 6, 2019 The big difference, however, is that the hype this year is rightfully surrounding a post player in Jeremiah Robinson-Earl. But like Omari Spellman a couple years ago, JRE is not a limited rim-runner/shot-blocker in the mold of a Yarou, Ochefu or Cosby-Roundtree. And not only is the recent high school national champion at least in the same neighborhood skill-wise as Spellman, he's gifted with a much more natural athleticism with which to make plays happen on or off the ball. Even against elite competition in the McDonald's All-American game, these skills were readily apparent. Feel free to watch this whole video, but the various facets of his game are handily apparent between 0:56 and 1:30 in the video. If Wright and his coaching staff decide to go in this direction, we could see an offensive gameplan built around playing out of the post through Robinson-Earl. If you want a handy modern-day visualization, think of how the Denver Nuggets play through Nikola Jokic, feeding their big touches all over the half-court and asking him to play essentially as a point-center. This sort of system would not only rely on Robinson-Earl to demonstrate elite scoring, passing and decision-making skills on offense on a regular basis that he's already flashed at lower levels, it would also require enough of an ability as a rim-protector on defense to allow Wright to surround him with four perimeter shooters the majority of the time instead of playing him with another big like Cosby-Roundtree. Take all performance at lower levels with a grain of salt, but all signs available indicate he is up to the task. And if there is a learning curve to scale, well... that's what the non-conference cupcakes are for. Plus, he'll have help from shot-blocker extraordinaire Jermaine Samuels while he grows into his role. Jermaine Samuels as the steady guiding hand... ah, the passage of time. That's not to say this approach is foolproof - Robinson-Earl will have to put the work in on whatever ShackFit regime he's put on until and throughout the season to get ready for the grind that is facing up against the big-men of the Big East. In the case that JRE cannot anchor a defense on his own, this approach would likely prove unsustainable on the defensive end, and the coaching staff would have to implement it situationally throughout games, if at all. But look, sometimes the best decisions come out of taking risks - just look at Jay Wright's choice to start a four-guard lineup in the 2005 Sweet Sixteen against UNC after Curtis Sumpter went down with a torn ACL. The idea of an egalitarian offense is great as long as the guys sharing the ball include Arcidiacono, Brunson, and Booth and Hart, who that year accumulated a unanimous Big East All-Freshman selection, a unanimous All-Big East selection, a second team All-Big East selection, and a 20-point performance in the national championship game against UNC that we would all remember for how insane it was if not for the clutchest ever moment in a tournament final flying from the fingers of a fifth guy! But with a roster made up of guys who will likely grade out between "good" and "very good" - but not "great" - as this season progresses, a team needs to know who's turn it is to take over when the big moments come calling. That's why it's the Myles Powell show at Seton Hall and the Markus Howard show at Marquette, even before the Hauser brothers realized they were in for another year of it and jumped ship. But the 'Cats don't have a dynamic guard in the mold of those two to look to, so it's time to turn to a solution inside, at least for enough time to see if it could work. And to those of who who says there is no way Villanova ever goes away from the perimeter-based identity born out of that decision Wright made up against the odds versus UNC that has earned Villanova its title as "Guard-U," remember that while there's no doubt Wright has a tendency to put an emphasis on backcourt play, he is more than willing to mix it up when the roster demands it, and you don't need to go any further back than the 2012-13 season to see it. Wright's program was still reeling from post-Final Four recruiting decisions(sound familiar, JellyFam?), and young guards freshman Ryan Arcidiacono and sophomore Darren Hilliard were not quite ready to run the show(hmm...). Faced with this problem, Wright turned to sophomore post-player JayVaughn Pinkston as his man instead. Although he played exclusively next to another big in Mouphtaou Yarou or Daniel Ochefu , Pinkston played a big-man's offensive game, and put up a usage rate of 28.6% while doing it. He also showed an intent as a playmaker, although with more turnovers than assists perhaps he shouldn't have tried so hard. But with all due respect, Robinson-Earl is leagues more talented on the offensive end than Pinkston ever was, and the guys around him would likely edge out Pinkston's supporting cast as well. If Wright gives JRE the freedom to explore the limits of his game as a scorer and a distributer, this could turn out one of the most uniquely fun seasons of Villanova Basketball we've seen in a while. Related slideshow: Best photos of NCAA Championship (Provided by imagn)


Video by AFP WASHINGTON/MEXICO CITY, June 7 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday Mexico's government had reached a deal with the United States to avert a tariff war by pledging to take "strong measures" to contain the migration of mostly Central Americans crossing the southern U.S. border. Trump had threatened to impose 5% import tariffs on all Mexican goods from Monday if Mexico did not agree to his demands to tighten its borders. His announcement of a deal came after three days of Mexico-U.S. negotiations in Washington. "The Tariffs scheduled to be implemented by the U.S. on Monday, against Mexico, are hereby indefinitely suspended," Trump said on Twitter on Friday evening. "Mexico, in turn, has agreed to take strong measures to stem the tide of Migration through Mexico, and to our Southern Border. This is being done to greatly reduce, or eliminate, Illegal Immigration coming from Mexico and into the United States," Trump added. Details of the agreement would be released shortly by the U.S. State Department, Trump said. U.S. border officers apprehended more than 132,000 people crossing from Mexico in May, the highest monthly level since 2006. Trump, who has railed against what he described as an "invasion," had threatened to impose levies rising to 25% unless Mexico addressed the problem. Mexico made concessions during the talks, offering to send 6,000 troops to its southern border with Guatemala, but has said it wants to see a long-term solution that would involve economic development aid. Mexico had prepared a list of possible retaliatory tariffs targeting products from agricultural and industrial states regarded as Trump's electoral base, a tactic China has also used with an eye toward the Republican president's 2020 re-election bid. Imposing tariffs on Mexico would have left the United States fighting trade wars with two of its three largest trading partners and would further unnerve financial markets already on edge about a global economic slowdown. The United States slapped tariffs of up to 25% on $200 billion in Chinese imports last month, prompting Beijing to levy its own tariffs on $60 billion in American goods. Trump said on Thursday he would decide later this month whether to hit Beijing with tariffs on an additional list of $300 billion in Chinese goods. Economists say two trade disputes could damage supply lines and pinch consumers at a time when the global economic expansion that followed the 2008 financial crisis has started to sour and the risk of recession has risen. Even the United States, one of the more solid performers on the economic stage, would not be immune to the downdraft. The U.S. Labor Department reported on Friday that job growth slowed sharply in May and wages rose less than expected, raising fears that a loss of momentum in economic activity could be spreading to the labor market. U.S. business groups were generally opposed to the tariffs, warning they would raise costs for companies and lead to higher prices for American consumers. Trump's fellow Republicans were also not keen on the prospect of a two-front trade war. (Reporting by Susan Heavey, Makini Brice and Doina Chiacu in Washington, Lisa Baertlein in Los Angeles, Diego Ore and Anthony Esposito in Mexico City, and Caroline Stauffer in Chicago Writing by Paul Simao and Rosalba O'Brien Editing by Susan Thomas, Grant McCool, Sonya Hepinstall and Leslie Adler)


Chicago Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman was up to his favorite offseason activity on Sunday afternoon by acquiring another player he previously traded away. The Blackhawks announced they have acquired forward Andrew Shaw from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for second-and seventh-round picks in 2020, and a third-round pick in 2021. The Canadiens are retaining zero salary in the trade, meaning all of Shaw's $3.9 million salary cap hit over the next three seasons comes off of their books. That is significant for them as they attempt to be players in free agency (perhaps going after Matt Duchene ?) when the signing period begins on Monday. Montreal now has more than $12 million in salary cap space and makes them a contender for any of the top free agents on the market. The Blackhawks originally traded Shaw to the Canadiens three years ago for two second-round draft picks, one of which was used to select Alex DeBrincat . In Shaw's three years with the Canadiens he scored 41 goals and 96 total points in 182 games. That includes a career year this past season when he finished with 19 goals and 47 points in 63 games. The Canadiens definitely sold high on Shaw this offseason and were able to pick up three more draft picks, giving them 11 selections in the 2020 class. Ignoring the Blackhawks trend of trying to put the old band back together (in recent years they have re-acquired the likes of Brandon Saad and Patrick Sharp, just to name a few, after previously trading them away in salary cap clearing deals) it is a curious move for them. For one, it eats up a significant portion of their remaining salary cap space and still leaves them with five roster spots to fill and only around $8 million in cap space to do it. It also is a pretty good sign that they intend to compete this season, not only because they are re-acquiring a veteran player but because that is a lot of draft pick assets to give up for a third-line player that may not really move them that much closer to a championship. The Blackhawks have been extremely active this offseason as they attempt to return to the playoffs after missing in each of the past two years. Along with the addition of Shaw, they have also traded for defenders Olli Maatta and Calvin de Haan in an effort to improve what was one of the league's worst defensive teams a year ago. More Blackhawks Offseason: Blackhawks defense suddenly looks respectable Penguins trade Maatta to Blackhawks for Kahun, pick Blackhawks get de Haan from Hurricanes   Adam Gretz is a writer for Pro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports . Drop him a line at phtblog@nbcsports.com or follow him on Twitter @AGretz .


Ready to get to know the freshest new spots downtown? From a dinner theater venue to a breakfast cafe, read on for a list of the newest spots to make their debut in this area of Downtown Miami. Amparo 221 N.E. 17th St. Amparo is a performing arts spot. This new business puts on an immersive dinner theater show about the family behind the Havana Club in 1950s Cuba. Throughout the show, guests are able to mingle on the "set" and sample cocktails with the characters. Get tickets here . With a five-star Yelp rating out five reviews, Amparo has been garnering positive attention. Chris H. noted , "An incredible show that tells a real, visceral story that so many Cuban Americans can relate to. A must see!" Yelper Valeria B. wrote , "I...was not prepared for how impressed I was with the experience and its actors... they will take you through an impeccably choreographed journey that will leave you talking about it for days on end." Amparo is open from 6 p.m. midnight on Thursday through Saturday and 2:30 p.m. 8:30 p.m. on Sunday. (It's closed on Monday through Wednesday.) Toscanino 163 S.E. First St. Toscanino is a cafe. This new business serves up Italian favorites, with menu items ranging from lasagna to paninis to coffee and ice cream. According to the business' Facebook page , Toscanino prides itself on providing "homemade, authentic Italian food." Find the full menu here . Toscanino's current Yelp rating of five stars out of four reviews indicates positive attention from users. Yelper Martin F., who reviewed Toscanino on May 6, wrote , "This is a great new addition to Downtown...Enjoyed a delicious prosciutto panini with pesto, dried tomatoes, romaine lettuce and some cheese. It was $6.50 for a 'small' which was generous enough to be a full dinner." Yelper Matthew J. added , "What a great find this was. It's a cute little restaurant with sandwiches, salads and pizza. Everything is made fresh and healthy. The establishment is very clean and the employees were very friendly and helpful." Toscanino is open from 8 a.m. 8 p.m. on Monday through Saturday. (It's closed on Sunday.) The Egg Spot 228 S.E. First St. The Egg Spot is a breakfast and brunch spot. The Egg Spot provides American staples and breakfast items all day, from egg sandwiches to sweet potato fries to burgers. The spot also serves power bowls, coffee, tea and fresh juices. Check out the entire menu here . Yelp users are excited about The Egg Spot, which currently holds 4.5 stars out of 14 reviews on the site. Yelper Lazaro V., who reviewed The Egg Spot on May 1, wrote , "The coffee and breakfast sandwich were great. The staff is very friendly and upbeat. I have zero complaints about the food or service." Yelper Allie W. noted , "I ordered the Matador breakfast sandwich which featured hand-made chorizo and the fluffiest scrambled eggs I've ever seen. The sandwich was paired with a brioche bun and a chipotle aioli, and oh-my-nom was it delicious." The Egg Spot is open from 7 a.m. 7 p.m. daily. 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.


CLEVELAND (AP) Mike Clevinger wanted to make the most of his strict pitch count as the strikeouts piled up. Clevinger matched his career high with 12 strikeouts and 100 pitches over six innings, as the Cleveland Indians continued their dominance of the Detroit Tigers with a 7-2 win on Wednesday night. The right-hander struck out the side in the first two innings and had nine strikeouts through four -- one against each batter in Detroit's lineup -- in his fourth start since returning from a sprained left ankle suffered on June 17 at Texas. ''I know we had to see how I bounce back and how the ankle recovers, but hopefully tonight was the last time they cut me off at 100,'' Clevinger said, smiling. ''When I looked up and saw I was at 60 pitches through three, I'm like, `OK, I need to get more efficient.' But I think the reins will be loose from here on out.'' The Indians moved within four games of AL Central-leading Minnesota, the closest they have been to first place since May 14. Cleveland has won 10 straight over the Tigers and leads the season series 11-1. Clevinger (3-2) allowed one run on six hits in his third double-digit strikeout game of 2019, coaxing the Tigers into a career-high 23 swings-and-misses. He has been spectacular over the last three outings, going 2-0 with a 1.06 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 17 innings. ''A lot of deep counts are going to come with as many strikeouts as he had, but I thought his stuff was tremendous,'' Indians manager Terry Francona said. ''I think he's getting to the point where the game is going to dictate when he comes out.'' Oscar Mercado, who leads AL rookies with a .286 batting average, had a two-run double and Jose Ramirez went 3 for 4 and scored twice for Cleveland. Mike Freeman added two hits, including a two-out bunt single in the seventh that scored Ramirez and extended the lead to 3-1. After Nicholas Castellanos hit a solo homer in the top of the eighth, the Indians broke the game open with four runs in the bottom-half off reliever Joe Jimenez. Pinch-hitter Greg Allen doubled home a pair, All-Star Francisco Lindor homered and Jason Kipnis had an RBI single. Nick Wittgren worked the final 1 2/3 innings to pick up his second save, putting Cleveland on the verge of sweeping the four-game series. The Tigers have lost eight of their last nine games and are 4-23 since June 13. Detroit starter Spencer Turnbull (3-9) fell to the Indians for the fourth time in four starts this season. The right-hander pitched six-plus innings, giving up three runs with three strikeouts. ''Spencer did great and gave us a great opportunity to win,'' Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire said. ''His stuff was good against a good hitting team over there. All you ask of a starting pitcher is to give you a chance, and he did a nice job.'' PROGRESS Indians RHP Corey Kluber successfully threw a 20-pitch bullpen session - all fastballs - before the game. It was the first time the two-time AL Cy Young Award winner has thrown from a mound since fracturing his right ulna on May 1 at Miami. Kluber remains several weeks away from potentially beginning a minor league rehabilitation assignment. FANCY FOOTWORK Indians rookie RHP Zach Plesac leads the majors with five pickoffs in 48 innings, the most recent Tuesday on Tigers OF Victor Reyes. ''Zach has got the quickest feet I've ever seen,'' manager Terry Francona said. ''You're sitting in the dugout thinking, `This guy is in trouble, only he doesn't know it yet,' because he's going to be picked off.'' TRAINER'S ROOM Tigers: SS Niko Goodrum (right pinky finger) was a late scratch after being struck by a grounder during batting practice. X-rays on his bruised finger were negative. Gardenhire said Goodrum was sore, but available to pinch-hit or play the field. Indians: RHP Danny Salazar (right shoulder) reported no physical issues after working three innings Tuesday on a rehab assignment with Double-A Akron. The former AL All-Star could return to the majors next month for the first time since 2017. UP NEXT Tigers: LHP Matthew Boyd (6-7, 3.95 ERA) has three straight double-digit strikeout performances and ranks third in the AL with 12.0 strikeouts per nine innings. Indians: RHP Trevor Bauer (8-7, 3.65 ERA) posted his only career shutout against Detroit on June 16, throwing a four-hitter with eight strikeouts at Comerica Park. --- More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports


Martin Truex Jr. has won two of the past three Cup races. His toughest competition might be from his Joe Gibbs Racing teammates. Kyle Busch has three wins this year, and Denny Hamlin has two victories. Stewart-Haas Racing still looks for its first win after 12 victories last season. Will any of its cars get to victory lane? Or will Team Penske or Hendrick Motorsports win again this weekend? Here's all the info you need for today's event: (All times are Eastern) START: Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Famers Christian Okoye and Neil Smith will give the command to start engines at 7:38 p.m. The green flag is scheduled for 7:46 p.m. PRERACE: Garage opens at 2:30 p.m. Cars will go through inspection. Any car that fails once will lose its starting spot. The drivers meeting is at 5:30 p.m . Driver introductions will begin at 7 p.m. The invocation will be given by Father Brian Schieber at 7:30 p.m . Retired Navy Veteran Steven Powell will perform the National Anthem at 7:31 p.m. DISTANCE: The race is 267 laps (400.5 miles) around the 1.5 -mile track. COMPETITION CAUTION: Lap 30 STAGES: Stage 1 ends on Lap 80 . Stage 2 ends on Lap 160 . TV/RADIO: Fox Sports 1 will broadcast the race at 7:30 p.m. Coverage begins at 7 p.m. with NASCAR RaceDay. Motor Racing Network will broadcast the race. MRN's coverage begins at 6:30 p.m. SiriusXM NASCAR Radio will carry MRN's broadcast, which is also available at mrn.com. FORECAST : wunderground.com calls for mostly cloudy skies with a high of 58 degrees and a 5% chance of rain for the start of the race. LAST TIME: Chase Elliott won the October playoff race, finishing ahead of Kyle Busch and Kyle Larson . Kevin Harvick won the race there last May, finishing ahead of Martin Truex Jr. and Joey Logano . TO THE REAR: Aric Almirola , Daniel Suarez , Chase Elliott, Martin Truex Jr., Kyle Larson, Ty Dillon , Joey Logano, Michael McDowell , Landon Cassill , Joey Gase and Timmy Hill . All to the rear for failing inspection once. STARTING LINEUP: Click here for updated starting lineup I am excitied for this race tonight. I think it will be the best race we have seen with this new package. My car was really good in traffic which will be helpful starting from the tail of field. @Team_FRM #GoTime   Michael McDowell (@Mc_Driver) May 11, 2019 I honestly feel like tonight @kansasspeedway might be one of the best 1.5 mile track races we've seen in a long time. Should be fun. https://t.co/X9I6YoG6jW   Brad Keselowski (@keselowski) May 11, 2019


Kevin Harvick was fastest in Saturday's first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice at Michigan International Speedway. Harvick's average lap speed of 190.501 mph topped the first 50-minute session at Michigan. Kyle Busch (190.019 mph) was second and William Byron (189.999 mph) third. Erik Jones and Joey Logano completed the top-five. Rounding out the top-10 average lap speeds were Clint Bowyer, Jimmie Johnson, Kurt Busch, Paul Menard and Denny Hamlin. Harvick also had the fastest average lap speed (189.414 mph) among all the drivers who ran at least 10 consecutive laps. Jones, Busch, Daniel Suarez and Alex Bowman rounded out the top-five in that category. There were no incidents in the session. -fastest and ran a session-high 51 laps. Cla#Driver ManufacturerLapsTimeGapIntervalMph 1 4 Kevin Harvick Ford 38 37.795 190.501 2 18 Kyle Busch Toyota 36 37.891 0.096 0.096 190.019 3 24 William Byron Chevrolet 29 37.895 0.100 0.004 189.999 4 20 Erik Jones Toyota 41 37.918 0.123 0.023 189.883 5 22 Joey Logano Ford 34 37.922 0.127 0.004 189.863 6 14 Clint Bowyer Ford 24 37.930 0.135 0.008 189.823 7 48 Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet 30 37.980 0.185 0.050 189.573 8 1 Kurt Busch Chevrolet 36 38.018 0.223 0.038 189.384 9 21 Paul Menard Ford 26 38.028 0.233 0.010 189.334 10 11 Denny Hamlin Toyota 44 38.048 0.253 0.020 189.235 11 41 Daniel Suarez Ford 43 38.059 0.264 0.011 189.180 12 19 Martin Truex Jr. Toyota 23 38.071 0.276 0.012 189.120 13 37 Chris Buescher Chevrolet 34 38.081 0.286 0.010 189.071 14 3 Austin Dillon Chevrolet 32 38.087 0.292 0.006 189.041 15 47 Ryan Preece Chevrolet 32 38.090 0.295 0.003 189.026 16 42 Kyle Larson Chevrolet 44 38.091 0.296 0.001 189.021 17 88 Alex Bowman Chevrolet 35 38.108 0.313 0.017 188.937 18 2 Brad Keselowski Ford 51 38.127 0.332 0.019 188.843 19 13 Ty Dillon Chevrolet 44 38.168 0.373 0.041 188.640 20 12 Ryan Blaney Ford 30 38.188 0.393 0.020 188.541 21 6 Ryan Newman Ford 21 38.205 0.410 0.017 188.457 22 9 Chase Elliott Chevrolet 33 38.208 0.413 0.003 188.442 23 8 Daniel Hemric Chevrolet 37 38.208 0.413 0.000 188.442 24 10 Aric Almirola Ford 36 38.215 0.420 0.007 188.408 25 43 Darrell Wallace Jr. Chevrolet 38 38.235 0.440 0.020 188.309 26 36 Matt Tifft Ford 24 38.288 0.493 0.053 188.048 27 95 Matt DiBenedetto Toyota 43 38.338 0.543 0.050 187.803 28 38 David Ragan Ford 34 38.340 0.545 0.002 187.793 29 34 Michael McDowell Ford 28 38.342 0.547 0.002 187.784 30 17 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Ford 23 38.344 0.549 0.002 187.774 31 15 Ross Chastain Chevrolet 5 38.494 0.699 0.150 187.042 32 32 Corey Lajoie Ford 31 38.726 0.931 0.232 185.922 33 00 Landon Cassill Chevrolet 33 38.765 0.970 0.039 185.735 34 52 Austin Theriault Ford 19 39.256 1.461 0.491 183.411 35 27 Quin Houff Chevrolet 12 39.602 1.807 0.346 181.809 36 77 Garrett Smithley Chevrolet 8 39.781 1.986 0.179 180.991 37 51 Cody Ware Ford 11 40.154 2.359 0.373 179.310 38 53 Spencer Boyd Ford 15 40.423 2.628 0.269 178.116


Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports The Los Angeles Rams got their rookies on the field for the first time last week for Phase II of their offseason workouts, but things will ramp up in the near future. They'll begin organized team activities (OTAs) on Monday, May 20, as they continue offseason workouts. They'll hold several different sessions between Monday and the end of OTAs on June 6, getting a look at both veterans and rookies on the field together. As always, there's no shortage of storylines surrounding the Rams, from the top of the roster to the bottom. Here are five to watch as OTAs get underway this week. What will the offensive line look like? Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports Everyone knows Andrew Whitworth and Rob Havenstein will start at left and right tackle, respectively, but the other three spots have yet to be determined. Austin Blythe is likely to remain at right guard, but if Brian Allen really struggles at center, will the Rams consider sliding Blythe back to his original position? At left guard, it might be Joseph Noteboom's job to lose, but Bobby Evans can compete at that spot, as can David Edwards. The Rams have already said both rookies will work out at guard and tackle, so there will be a lot of experimenting this summer, beginning with OTAs. How much will Todd Gurley participate, if at all? Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports OTAs are voluntary, so Gurley isn't required to attend or participate. He's been enjoying the offseason to the fullest with trips to the Bahamas and attending a Carolina Hurricanes playoff game, but he could return to L.A. for OTAs. If he does, how much will he participate? With all the rumors swirling about his knee, there's a good chance the Rams will want to work him in slowly. But if he comes out and is practicing at full speed, it'll quiet a lot of the speculation. Will Greg Gaines get the first crack at NT? Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports Les Snead and Sean McVay hinted at Gaines being the starting nose tackle in the team's base 3-4 package, but he won't just be handed the job. He'll have to earn it, beating out Sebastian Joseph-Day and others. It'll be telling to see how the rotation works early on in OTAs with Gaines potentially getting the first crack at replacing Ndamukong Suh. It wouldn't be at all surprising to see him between Aaron Donald and Michael Brockers in Week 1. The Rams appear to have found their future nose tackle with Gaines, it's just a matter of how quickly he can get up to speed and transition to the NFL game. Who will replace Mark Barron? Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports The Rams decided to part ways with Barron to save cap space, but they were interested in bringing him back. That suggests they're not entirely satisfied with their current linebacker unit. Micah Kiser will probably be the next man up, while Clay Matthews will also get some time inside. The dynamic at that position will be something to watch as the Rams decide how much to play Matthews at inside and outside linebacker, as well as Kiser's chances of being a full-time starter. Dakota Allen and Bryce Hager might get reps at linebacker, too, but their primary roles will be on special teams. What's the status at TE? (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) The Rams have two starting-caliber tight ends in Gerald Everett and Tyler Higbee, but they're rarely used in tandem. They were hardly ever on the field together last season, but with McVay indicating he wants to use different personnel packages more in 2019, that could change. The biggest question heading into next season is which tight end will get the majority of the starting reps. Higbee was on the field more than Everett through most of the regular season, but in the playoffs, it was just the opposite. This could be a breakout season for Everett if he can improve as a blocker and become a more well-rounded tight end. MORE: Clint Bowyer furiously punched Ryan Newman after NASCAR's All-Star Race Tracy Walker is set up to be the next Lions' breakout star Did the Raiders steal the best fullback in the 2019 NFL draft? NBA Free Agency 2019: The top players Video: Deontay Wilder Knocked Out Dominic Breazeale in First Round


An 8-year-old boy was killed in a vehicle collision Wednesday in Turlock, police said. Officers went to the intersection of West Christoffersen Parkway and Panorama Avenue around 7:30 p.m. after police received several 911 calls about the collision, according to the Turlock Police Department. First responders rushed the boy to an area hospital, where he later died. According to police, an 18-year-old woman was driving a Toyota sedan west on Christoffersen Parkway when the boy crossed the road on a scooter and was hit. Speed does not appear to be a factor, and the driver was not impaired, police said. No other information was provided. Stay with KCRA 3 for the latest. READ MORE: 8-year-old struck, killed in Turlock collision, police say CHECK OUT KCRA: Stay informed. Get the latest Modesto, Stockton and Sacramento news and weather from the KCRA news team.


Prosecutors have turned over a vast trove of evidence to lawyers representing six police officers charged in the death of Freddie Gray, including about 8,000 pages of the officers' emails, 44 surveillance videos and more than a dozen statements by civilians. The officers' attorneys now have the job of wading through the evidence, which prosecutors estimated amounts to 52 gigabytes of digital files. An itemized evidence list was included in documents prosecutors filed Friday. Gray, 25, suffered a fatal neck injury while being transported in a police van after his arrest on April 12. A medical examiner ruled his death a week later a homicide, and Officer Caesar R. Goodson Jr., the driver of the van, is charged with second-degree murder. Sgt. Alicia D. White, Lt. Brian W. Rice and Officer William G. Porter are charged with manslaughter. Officers Edward M. Nero and Garrett E. Miller, who were involved in the initial stop of Gray, are accused of lesser offenses. All of the officers have pleaded not guilty, and a trial is scheduled for October. The early stages of the case have been marked by prosecutors and defense attorneys sparring in court filings over issues such as whether to hold the trial in Baltimore and whether the charges should be thrown out because of alleged misconduct by prosecutors. Turning over the initial batch of evidence moves the case into a new phase. The evidence list includes:   Statements made by 15 civilian witnesses.   44 closed-circuit television videos and four cellphone videos.   Photographs of a knife.   Images of suspected blood found in the back of a police van.   More than 8,000 pages of the accused officers' emails.   Two binders detailing the Baltimore Police Department's investigation.   Gray's autopsy report and photographs.   Cellphone data connected to four of the officers. The defense also received a list of 32 state's witnesses, including detectives, doctors and civilians. Among them is Kevin Moore, a West Baltimore resident who recorded part of Gray's arrest, helping to draw national media attention to the case. The evidence is not included in public court files, and prosecutors have asked Baltimore Circuit Judge Barry Williams, who is presiding over the case, to impose a protective order that would prevent defense lawyers from sharing the evidence publicly. Williams has yet to rule. Attorneys for the six officers either could not be immediately reached or declined to comment. The evidence list also indicates that statements by all six officers have been turned over, but the extent of any interviews they gave is unclear. Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake has publicly expressed frustration with one officer who did not initially talk, and police previously said that Goodson had not given an initial statement. The evidence list indicates he gave two statements, though not what he said. The autopsy report, obtained by The Baltimore Sun, shows Gray suffered a "high-energy injury" while in the van. It is likely to be key evidence in the case, and the conclusions of the examiner could be challenged by the defense lawyers. A medical examiner ruled the death a homicide and said it could not be considered an accident because of officers' failure to act. The evidence list includes "knife photos" but is not specific. Some of the defense attorneys mounted an early battle over a knife Gray was alleged to have been carrying when he was stopped, arguing that prosecutors were wrong to declare it legal. The pictures could help put an end to that dispute.


Video by KVVU For two years, tourists here have dealt with a cannabis conundrum: All over this glittering town, there are shops selling weed   and nowhere to smoke it. That soon will change. The Las Vegas City Council this month voted to allow existing dispensaries to apply for permits to open consumption lounges where tourists can use marijuana products in a cozy setting, perhaps with a meal and some live entertainment. While the whiff of legal marijuana smoke floating around Las Vegas has entrepreneurs hopeful about the industry's future, it has the gaming industry wondering and worrying about this question: Will Las Vegas become the next Amsterdam? A legal path to pot lounges in Las Vegas marks a victory for cannabis investors now poised to capitalize on a unique brand of pot tourism with a Sin City twist. But this new genre also represents a potential threat to gaming companies worried the recreational weed trade could siphon tourists   and their cash   from a casino corridor struggling to increase profits. Considered Nevada's pot ambassador, Clark County Commissioner and former state senator Tick Segerblom is putting his money on Las Vegas becoming the next holy land of weed tourism. "We're the new Amsterdam," he said. That should be a concern to gaming companies, Segerblom told the USA Today Network. "They're concerned about (lounges) making money outside the hotels," Segerblom said. "They're worried the longer this goes outside hotels, the more established they'll get. As a business person, I would be concerned too." A nervous gaming industry   and a cannabis industry waiting to pounce As president of the National Resort Association, Virginia Valentine's job is to protect the interests of the lobbying group's central clientele: gaming companies. Lately, she's been the the shield between casinos and cannabis. "As long as it's federally illegal, we can't have it on the property," Valentine told the USA TODAY Network. "We're trying to create that separation." Because the federal government recognizes cannabis as an illicit substance, gaming giants remain reluctant to join hands with the weed industry. On May 1, less than a month after a bill to legalize weed lounges in Nevada died in the state Legislature, Valentine urged the Las Vegas City Council to halt the push for pot lounges to allow state legislators to plot a forward path. "We can't wait for the state to act," said Councilman Bob Coffin, the city bill's sponsor. Valentine asked for a 1,500-foot buffer between gaming establishments and cannabis lounges, and the city compromised at 1,000 feet. The city passed the ordinance, 4-1, making Las Vegas the first city in the state to legalize "social use venues." After the city builds an application, 20 dispensaries   already open or forthcoming in Las Vegas this year   can apply for licenses to open lounges prohibited from selling alcohol. The ordinance excludes dispensaries on The Strip, which is controlled by Clark County, not the city of Las Vegas, as well as Henderson and North Las Vegas. The single dissenting vote came from Councilman Stavros Anthony, a retired Las Vegas Metropolitan Police captain and gaming industry ally. The cannabis industry, he said, is after the most important ingredient in the Las Vegas profit recipe. "What they're really trying to target are the tourists coming into Las Vegas," Anthony told the USA TODAY Network. "That's really where the money is. That's always where it's been. These consumption lounges are really the first attempt to gather in the tourists that want to smoke marijuana here in Nevada." Las Vegas is like an amusement park   where will cannabis fit in? If Las Vegas is an amusement park, cannabis is the newest ride, but gaming operators aren't ready to buy a ticket and buckle up. "Las Vegas, in many ways, is like a Six Flags that has to add a new roller coaster every summer   or people stop coming," said Bo Bernhard, executive director of the UNLV International Gaming Institute. "It's a fascinating chapter that will be interesting to see whether (marijuana lounges are) something that draws folks   and, of course, there are concerns it will draw folks away from the resorts." The gaming community's conservative stance on cannabis and unwavering commitment to regulators is in line with the story of Las Vegas, where the Nevada Gaming Control Board has long served as the law-and-order arm in a land often perceived as the vice capital of the wild west. The gaming board, Bernhard said, has always been the governor on the golf cart to make sure it doesn't go careening off the cliff and into the pond. "The conservatism isn't ungrounded," Bernhard said. "It's not without merit. The gaming regulatory system has been wary given the federal government's reticence here as it pertains to cannabis policy." Nevertheless, cannabis is something Vegas vacationers want to engage. And they'll be able to do so   outside the confines of the traditional casino-resort. That could pose a problem for resorts turning profits out of the soon-to-be competitors of marijuana lounges: Nightclubs. "The nightclub is a profit center," Bernhard said. "The nightclub is a place where margins based on massive mark-ups of things like bottles of alcohol are generating huge amounts of money to the bottom line. Something that obviously threatens that revenue stream is something that is going to be a concern." 'It's time to move on' Ask John Mueller, CEO of Las Vegas-based Acres Cannabis, whether the city will become the new Amsterdam, and it becomes apparent he has a different goal in mind: Helping Sin City overshadow the charming European city of vice and weed-friendly coffeehouses. "We are better at entertainment, and we are better at controlling vices," Mueller said. "You put those two together, and you've got a one-two punch of creating another tourist destination. You pull back the veil on cannabis and all of a sudden it's not as scary as [Ronald] Reagan told us." In March, Mueller sold Acres, a 19,000 square-foot dispensary, for $70 million. He stayed on board to usher the company into the pot lounge era. Mueller aims to roll out a brand of lounge that rivals what a tourist might find in U.S. cities like San Francisco and Denver. The consumption lounge at Acres will include a concert hall and full-service kitchen launched with the Morton family   founders of famed Morton's The Steakhouse in Chicago. "You're going to see an elevated experience over something you've seen in Amsterdam or these little boutique places," Mueller said. As for the menu? "I think you can basically   tongue-in-cheek   make fun of yourself with Dorito sandwiches and pizza the size of your head," Mueller said. "Tongue-in-cheek but delicious." For decades, Segerblom said, policymakers have been beholden to the gaming industry. Marijuana lounges advancing in Las Vegas represents the start of a new chapter that departs from the old Nevada narrative, Segerblom said: "We're not going to let you dictate what our policy is. We have millions of dollars and millions of tourists coming here with no place to use (cannabis). We can't sit around and wait for the federal government to change its mind. It's time to move on." This article originally appeared on Reno Gazette Journal: Cannabis lounges are coming to Las Vegas. Is Sin City the next Amsterdam of weed tourism?


The young fans who lifted Austin Jones to internet stardom were devout in their affection, the way only teenage girls can be. Crowds would swarm the singer after his shows, and his admirers - many connecting to songs that hinted at Jones' own traumatic history - flooded him with messages confiding in him about their own abuse and depression. It was among those devoted fans that Jones found his victims, coercing underage girls to perform sexually explicit dances during live online chats by promising modeling opportunities, Instagram stardom and his valuable attention. "ohmygoodness that's amazing!!" one victim responded when Jones told her she had "a lot of modeling potential," according to prosecutors. On Friday, the U.S. attorney's office will seek an 11-year prison sentence for Jones, 26, in Chicago's federal court following his guilty plea in February to child pornography charges . The resident of west suburban Bloomingdale admitted he persuaded six underage girls - 14 to 15 at the time - to make sexually explicit videos for him while attempting to coerce as many as 30 others as well. "He preyed on their youth, their vulnerabilities and most glaringly, their adoration of him, and he did it over and over again," prosecutors said in a court filing last week. "He coached the girls on what to wear, what to say, how to dance and what to do in the videos." YouTube star Austin Jones pleads guilty to coercing underage girls to send him sexually explicit videos » In asking for leniency, Jones' attorneys emphasized his own history as a victim, arguing his actions cannot be fully understood outside the context of a childhood "marred with abuse, pain, loss and death." The defense seeks the minimum possible sentence of five years in prison in a court filing that lays out in graphic terms Jones' complicated past, including allegations of years of childhood sexual abuse at the hands of his alcoholic, cocaine-abusing father, now deceased, as well as the death of his sister at a young age. "There can be no question that the systematic devastation of Mr. Jones' psyche at the hands of his father at such an impressionable age helped create the conditions in which Mr. Jones acted in the manner that he did," wrote attorneys Terrence LeFevour and David Gaeger. Manipulated vulnerable fans Jones rose to fame in a particularly 21st-century fashion, attracting online fans - many on YouTube - with music he mostly recorded in his living room and promoted on social media. At the height of his popularity, he had hundred of thousands of followers and toured around the world. But his superstar status crumbled after authorities unearthed dozens of sexually explicit online chats with underage girls, some lasting hours. He would often coax them to take off their clothes and dance suggestively on video, sometimes instructing them to talk about their young age as they performed. "Here's your line - hey Austin, I'm only 14 - Say that 4 times during the video got it?!" Jones told one girl, according to the recent prosecution filing. "Kk!!" she responded. "While each video sends, I just sit here listening to you on my Spotify." 'Wait . . . you're 14?': Austin Jones had YouTube fame, 40 million page views, adoring fans and a shocking secret. » Jones was arrested at O'Hare International Airport in June 2017 as he returned on a flight from performing in Poland. In a recorded confession, he admitted soliciting explicit videos from his underage fans. If the girls were reticent to do what he wanted, Jones told authorities, he would try to make them feel guilty and "manipulate a way so that they don't feel the need to stop," according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Neff Welsh. In one example in prosecutors' filing, Jones was quoted as asking one victim if she felt "special" because "out of all my fans, I picked you for this opportunity?" The victim responded by saying she felt as if she was "dreaming," prosecutors said. Another victim who was dancing for Jones said she might have to finish the next day "because I have school in the morning," according to prosecutors. Jones responded that they would do five more videos, prompting the girl to ask, "tomorrow, right?" "No, right now. Then we do the rest tomorrow," prosecutors quoted Jones as saying. "I'm taking a huge chance on you. And you don't even seem like you want it." Lyrics expose depth of pain Jones' attorneys said he has taken responsibility for his actions, expressed profound remorse, undertaken therapy to try to deal with his demons and diligently obeyed the strict rules of his release on house arrest. The defense centers much of its argument for mercy on Jones' own history as an alleged victim of abuse, saying it provides the proper context for his later misconduct. In the months after his arrest, Jones alleged that his father repeatedly molested him between the ages of 6 and 10, according to the defense filing. The ensuing "emotional trauma and chaos has consumed his life," they wrote, leading to severe depression, low self-esteem, sexual dysfunction and difficulty sleeping since the age of 11. "Overwhelmed socially, emotionally and academically, it was often a struggle just to get out of bed" during his final two years of high school, his attorneys wrote in their sentencing memo. His music provided an outlet for his anxiety and depression, Jones said, and his fan base responded in kind, telling him about their own experiences with self-harm and abuse. "His lyrics expose the depth of his pain and extent of his struggles," his attorneys wrote. "Listening to his music you can hear his cries for help and his desperate self-yearning to understand what was wrong with him. His song titled, 'Damaged Goods,' says it all." Prosecutors acknowledged that Jones' experiences affected his mental health but noted that works both ways: having been abused, he still "inflicted the same harms upon a new generation of victims" despite having "a unique appreciation" for the damage he would cause, they said. And Jones knew just how to manipulate his vulnerable fans into performing the lewd acts for him, preying on their naivete and their own mental health issues or insecurities, prosecutors said. "You're so lucky I keep giving you so many chances," he told one girl via Facebook chat. "I know," the girl responded. "I'm just going through so much right now. I had to fight the urge to cut last night because I promised you I wouldn't do it anymore, and I always keep my promises." "Good girl," replied Jones, who then promptly instructed her to send him an explicit video. 'A parent's worst nightmare' In their court filing, prosecutors argued that research has not established a cause-and-effect link between suffering sexual abuse as a child and then perpetrating it as an adult. Mark Heyrman, a clinical professor at the University of Chicago Law School who teaches mental health law, said it's more an issue of propensity than a "causal link." Not every victim of sexual abuse goes on to victimize others, but that experience could make someone more inclined to abuse, said Heyrman, who spoke with the Tribune in general terms since he was not familiar with the specifics of Jones' case. "(It) is common to find that people who are charged with (or) convicted of sex offenses as adults were, in fact, themselves abused as children and got no help for that," he said. While that is not a defense against criminal charges, it can be used - as in Jones' case - to ask for leniency at sentencing. "Basically they're saying, it's not that he isn't responsible for the crime, but in the range of sentences, ... the judge could impose a lesser sentence because this person is less responsible" for the abuse, Heyrman said. Prosecutors also noted that Jones was already called to account for similar behavior. In May 2015, during his second tour, a viral Twitter post accused him of asking "under-aged girls for dancing and twerking videos." Jones posted a video apologizing, and his career continued to flourish, according to his attorneys' filing. But prosecutors said he lied in his "heartfelt video" apology by denying he solicited videos depicting nudity. After his arrest in 2017, he admitted he had carried on similar conduct at that time. The intense backlash should have been a wake-up call, prosecutors argued, but Jones continued to solicit graphic videos from underage girls. "When Jones was publicly outed for the same behavior that he would later be criminally charged with, he still did not stop," prosecutors wrote. "Jones was unable to quit. The defendant is already, by his own admission, a recidivist." He is also "a parent's worst nightmare," one victim's mother wrote in a victim-impact statement. "What happens when your child thinks she can trust someone that, to her, isn't a stranger? She knows almost everything there is to know about him, watches his videos, comments and follows him on social media," the mother wrote. "Then one day she gets a message from him asking her to prove she is his biggest fan by doing inappropriate things. He knew these young girls would do anything for him and sought them out of everyone specifically for this reason." mcrepeau@chicagotribune.com Twitter @crepeau


CARSON, Calif. (AP) Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored twice, Efrain Alvarez had an assist in his first MLS start and the LA Galaxy beat Toronto FC 2-0 on Thursday night. The 17-year-old Alvarez curled in a wide cross that looped over the Toronto FC defense. Ibrahimovic headed it while jumping backward, finishing into the right side of the goal in the 75th minute. Ibrahimovic made it 2-0 for the Galaxy (11-7-1) with his 13th goal of the season in the 89th minute. He settled Emil Cuello's cross and tapped it past Toronto FC goalkeeper Quentin Westberg. It was Cuello's first professional assist. Toronto FC (6-8-5) had its best chance in the 52nd minute when Alejandro Pozuelo's shot was tipped over the bar by Galaxy goalkeeper David Bingham. Bingham had five saves for his seventh clean sheet of the season.


MADRID   Usually this time of the year Rafael Nadal is talking about how his game is peaking ahead of the French Open. The discussion is typically about how many title-winning streaks he has extended and which records he has broken as the clay season moves toward its climax at Roland Garros. Not this time, though. Things are different for Nadal in 2019, and he is in an unfamiliar position after a series of disappointing results on his favorite surface. Instead of celebrating titles and records, Nadal is having to explain why he has struggled to win matches. "Tennis is about winning or losing. I've won a lot over the years on this surface, but this year it hasn't been the case. I've been really close, but I haven't been able to win," Nadal said Saturday after losing to Stefanos Tsitsipas at the Madrid Open for his third straight semifinal elimination on clay this season. He had already failed to reach the final in Monte Carlo and Barcelona, tournaments he had won the last three consecutive seasons. It was an uncharacteristic streak of poor results for the Spaniard, who hadn't arrived in Madrid without a title since 2004. Still, Nadal wasn't dwelling on it too much. "You just have to accept it and I have to accept it naturally. But to accept things does not mean to try to change things," he said. "During all my life, I think I have taken the victories very naturally and with a lot of normality. With the losses I'll do the same. It will be normal and I'm going to accept it naturally." Nadal lost to Fabio Fognini in Monte Carlo and Dominic Thiem in Barcelona, and the defeat to the up-and-coming Tsitsipas in Madrid came after a quarterfinal win over Stan Wawrinka that Nadal called his best match on clay this season. He couldn't keep up with the aggressive game of the ninth-ranked Greek on Saturday, though, losing the decisive points to again fail to advance past the last four. Nadal said not making it to tournament finals as often as he did in the past shouldn't have come as a huge surprise. "It's more normal what is happening right now than what happened in the last 14 years," he said. "I think I have tennis ahead of me. I have time ahead of me. I'll be able to try to win these tournaments that I was not able to win this year. And what I have to do is to stay fit and to keep playing at a high level." Nadal has won a clay-court title in each of the last 15 seasons and remains the tour's most successful player on the surface. He next plays in Rome, where he is the defending champion, then will try to win a record-extending 12th French Open title in June. Nadal said it was impossible to know what the current setbacks could mean for his future. "We'll see," he said. "Hopefully, I will accept this defeat properly and we will see what happens week after week, day after day. I'll try to work in a proper way, in a proper manner, with a proper attitude and then just believe in my possibilities and believe that things will work out and they will click. "I'll keep trying until I can to keep playing at a high level," Nadal said. "And If I can keep doing that, I will continue to have chances. If not, then that's it. There's no need to make any drama or overthink when things are going bad. It is a sport and in a sport it's a matter of winning and sometimes losing and accepting both as naturally as possible." ___ More AP tennis coverage: https://apnews.com/apf-Tennis and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports ___ Tales Azzoni on Twitter: http://twitter.com/tazzoni


The year is 2019. Write that down. Because for the first time in the history of recent NBA free agency, NFL players, fans and Twitter as a whole didn't freak out about all the money being thrown around at NBA free agents. There was some one-offs, but over $2 billion dollars in money was signed and agreed to yesterday and it's all guaranteed. Look, it is a lot of money. Tom Brady has made $212 mil for his career. His whole career. https://t.co/qNY7cfdKe7 - Goalie Mick (USWNT) (@ColeyMick) July 1, 2019 The normal reaction is something like this: NFL player sees how much NBA rookie, non-all star or bench player gets guaranteed. NFL player gets angry. Talks about how the NFL should have similar contracts without context. Fin. How do I know this is the normal reaction? This is the third time I addressed this situation. You can check out the first time here , and the second time here. To my surprise, it didn't happen this year. Maybe that's because NFL players are used to it. This has been happening for years and there are reasons. There are almost 5 times more players on an NFL roster and the Salary Cap is not five-times larger. Guaranteed contracts happen in the NBA because there is less of a fear of injury and that's how it was negotiated into the CBA. There are a ton of more players in the NFL. There are obvious reasons why this happens. Now it's time to speculate whether players are simply more focused on their upcoming CBA and their demands. That could be it. The other option is that they were all on vacation before training camp starts. MORE: MLB world pays respects to Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs, who died Monday at age 27 Troy Daniels is going to hit a lot of open three-pointers for Lakers Stephen A. Smith: 'Andre Iguodala is planning on joining the Lakers' What the Heck is Going On With the Jimmy Butler Sign-and-Trade? [UPDATED] Enes Kanter agrees to 2 year, $10 million deal with Boston Celtics


Missed the the most recent top news in Houston? Read on for everything you need to know. HPD: No one involved in Maleah's disappearance is cooperating Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo made another plea for anyone who has information on the whereabouts of 4-year-old Maleah Davis to come forward. Read the full story on FOX 26 Houston . VIDEO: 88-year-old woman punched in face outside southwest Houston grocery store Surveillance video shows a man punch an 88-year-old woman in the face outside of a grocery store in southwest Houston. Read the full story on ABC7 . 5-year-old girl hit by woman driving toward school bus loading students in SW Houston The woman says she was driving toward a school bus, which didn't have its stop sign arm out, when the girl crossed the street and she hit her. Read the full story on ABC13 Houston . Gas station clerk shot in abdomen during robbery in southeast Houston A gas station clerk is recovering after a robbery turned into a shooting in southeast Houston. Read the full story on KPRC2 / Click2Houston . 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.


Here is a breakdown of prize money and FedExCup points for winner J.T. Poston and the rest of the players who made the cut at the Wyndham Championship: Finish Player FedEx Earnings ($) 1 J.T. Poston 500 1,116,000 2 Webb Simpson 300 669,600 3 Byeong Hun An 190 421,600 4 Viktor Hovland 0 297,600 5 Si Woo Kim 110 248,000 6 Josh Teater 81 181,129 6 Brice Garnett 81 181,129 6 Brian Harman 81 181,129 6 Billy Horschel 81 181,129 6 Sungjae Im 81 181,129 6 Jason Kokrak 81 181,129 6 Rory Sabbatini 81 181,129 13 Joaquin Niemann 54 109,533 13 Kyle Stanley 54 109,533 13 Paul Casey 54 109,533 13 Fabián Gómez 54 109,533 13 Patton Kizzire 54 109,533 13 Johnson Wagner 54 109,533 19 Roberto Díaz 45 80,600 19 Andrew Landry 45 80,600 19 Matthew Wolff 45 80,600 22 Bud Cauley 34 53,044 22 Cameron Davis 34 53,044 22 Denny McCarthy 34 53,044 22 Patrick Reed 34 53,044 22 Ryan Armour 34 53,044 22 Corey Conners 34 53,044 22 Charles Howell III 34 53,044 22 Mackenzie Hughes 34 53,044 22 Shawn Stefani 34 53,044 31 Russell Henley 24 36,766 31 Collin Morikawa 24 36,766 31 Scott Stallings 24 36,766 31 Brian Stuard 24 36,766 31 Adam Svensson 24 36,766 36 Paul Peterson 0 30,483 36 Brandon Harkins 19 30,483 36 Scott Piercy 19 30,483 39 Daniel Berger 13 22,940 39 Tyler Duncan 13 22,940 39 Harris English 13 22,940 39 Carlos Ortiz 13 22,940 39 Roger Sloan 13 22,940 39 Brandt Snedeker 13 22,940 39 Sepp Straka 13 22,940 39 Vaughn Taylor 13 22,940 39 Richy Werenski 13 22,940 48 Branden Grace 9 15,773 48 Russell Knox 9 15,773 48 Sebastián Muñoz 9 15,773 48 Chez Reavie 9 15,773 48 Aaron Wise 9 15,773 53 Roberto Castro 6 14,154 53 Joel Dahmen 6 14,154 53 Zach Johnson 6 14,154 53 Bill Haas 6 14,154 53 Chesson Hadley 6 14,154 53 Anirban Lahiri 6 14,154 53 Wes Roach 6 14,154 60 Kiradech Aphibarnrat 4 13,144 60 Scott Brown 4 13,144 60 Alex Cejka 4 13,144 60 Alex Noren 4 13,144 60 Ted Potter, Jr. 4 13,144 60 Seamus Power 4 13,144 60 José de Jesús Rodríguez 4 13,144 60 Sam Ryder 4 13,144 60 Harold Varner III 4 13,144 69 John Chin 3 12,400 69 J.J. Spaun 3 12,400 69 Boo Weekley 3 12,400 72 Austin Cook 3 12,028 72 Lucas Glover 3 12,028 72 Peter Uihlein 3 12,028 75 Michael Thompson 3 11,780 76 Mike Weir 2 11,656 77 Tom Hoge 2 11,532 78 Kyle Jones 2 11,284 78 Hank Lebioda 2 11,284 78 Jordan Spieth 2 11,284 81 Wyndham Clark 2 10,912 81 Alex Prugh 2 10,912 81 Patrick Rodgers 2 10,912


WASHINGTON   Illinois Rep. Aaron Schock repaid $40,000 from his personal checking account for redecorations to his congressional office in the style of the TV show "Downton Abbey," according to financial records reviewed by The Associated Press. Schock paid $35,000 earlier this month to the owner of the Illinois decorating firm Euro Trash, and $5,000 more on Thursday, the records showed. His official House expense account had previously paid the group for its services. Schock, a rising star in the Republican Party, has been under scrutiny for using taxpayer money to pay for the redecorating, as well as using his official and campaign funds for flights on donor-owned planes and concert tickets. The Washington Post was first to describe the office decorations in early February. A watchdog group has since requested a House ethics review of the congressman's spending. Schock's office said Friday his payments made good on an earlier promise to personally shoulder the costs of the office renovation. Schock wrote two checks   for $25,000 on Feb. 4 and $10,000 on Feb. 6   to Tracy "Annie" Brahler, owner of Euro Trash. He wrote a third check for $5,000 on Thursday. "Congressman Schock has fulfilled his commitment to pay for all the renovation costs," his office said Friday in a prepared statement. It said that while congressional office costs are usually paid from office expense accounts, "the congressman believed it appropriate to pay these costs himself." Schock, 33, is in his fourth term representing the Peoria and Springfield areas. This week, Schock brought on board a team of campaign finance lawyers and public relations experts to address the controversy about his expenses. His financial charges   including the use of his donors' private aircraft and concert tickets   were detailed by the AP and other news organizations since news of the decoration work became public. An AP review this week identified at least a dozen flights worth more than $40,000 on contributors' planes since mid-2011, tracking Schock's reliance on the aircraft partly through the congressman's pictures uploaded to his Instagram account. The AP extracted hidden location data associated with each image; it then correlated it with flight records showing airport stopovers and expenses later billed for air travel against Schock's office and campaign records. Lawmakers can use office funds for private flights as long as payments cover their share of the costs. But most of the flights Schock covered with office funds occurred before the House changed its rules in January 2013. Those earlier rules prohibited lawmakers from using those accounts to pay for flights on private aircraft, allowing payments only for federally licensed charter and commercial flights. Schock previously told the AP he travels frequently throughout his Peoria-area district "to stay connected with my constituents," and that he takes compliance with congressional funding rules seriously. Schock also spent thousands more on tickets for concerts, car mileage reimbursements   among the highest in Congress   and took his interns to a sold-out Katy Perry concert last June. His office is still reviewing those transportation and entertainment charges. The Post first reported that Brahler donated her services as she decorated Schock's Washington office with red carpet and red walls accented with antique-looking frames and sconces reminiscent of "Downton Abbey." The popular PBS show depicts the lives of aristocratic families and their servants in 1920s England. Brahler refunded to the U.S. government $35,000 paid to her from Schock's congressional office expense account, records show, within days of the Post's report. A liberal-leaning group, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, had requested an investigation by the Office of Congressional Ethics, an outside panel that reviews ethics complaints against House members. ___ Follow Jack Gillum on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jackgillum


The viral internet sensation known as Batting Stance Guy may be tough to beat when it comes to impersonating the batting stances of most MLB players, but there's no way he can top Aaron Boone's impression of Alex Rodriguez. In addition to being a former All-Star and the manager of the New York Yankees, Boone apparently has a knack for batting stance impressions. During Sunday night's game between the Yankees and Boston Red Sox, a clip of Boone taking his best shot at A-Rod's a couple years back was shown. It was literally perfect. . @AaronBoone 's @AROD impression is spot on. pic.twitter.com/YIS4srrWvE   MLB (@MLB) August 5, 2019 How many hours of studying did that take? If Boone gives the same attention to detail as manager of the Yankees, they should be in very good hands. We haven't seen anything that accurate since Tim Lincecum hilariously mocked Hunter Pence . Related slideshow: Best images of the MLB season (Provided by imagn)


Detectives on Tuesday were still trying to identify the gunman who opened fire and wounded a person inside Del Amo Fashion Center in Torrance a day earlier. Despite a massive manhunt that lasted well into the night, the shooter has eluded authorities. Investigators are examining surveillance video at the mall and interviewing witnesses in an effort to identify a suspect, Torrance police Sgt. Ronald Harris said. The Torrance Police Department responded at 2:56 p.m. Monday to reports of shots fired at the large mall at 3525 Carson St. When initial reports came in, many feared it would be another mass shooting . About an hour after heavily armed officers swarmed the mall, authorities said they were not dealing with an active shooter. Law enforcement sources said shots were fired near the mall's food court and one person was injured. "The events leading up to the [shooting] are still under investigation," Harris said, "but it appears to be an isolated incident." A video posted to social media showed a person bleeding on the floor of the shopping center as other mall visitors appeared to be trying to stop the blood flow. The person was taken to a hospital for treatment and was expected to survive, authorities said. Law enforcement agencies from across the South Bay spent hours Monday clearing the mall, going store to store to check possible hiding places and escorting out shoppers and employees who had taken shelter inside during the evacuation. A source told The Times on Monday that police believed the gunman fled or was hiding in the mall, but after an exhaustive search, authorities were unable to find him. The suspect is described by police as a 20- to 25-year-old man with a shaved head. He was wearing a black shirt and checkered shorts at the time of the shooting. The area outside the mall had quieted by Tuesday morning as shops inside prepared to open as usual. The scene stood in stark contrast to the heavy police presence and confusion that surrounded the mall hours earlier. Claudia Barrera, an employee at a skincare boutique, told reporters Monday she heard a loud bang before two people ran into her store to tell her there had been a shooting. She and other employees locked the doors. About 15 minutes later, officials in SWAT gear evacuated everyone in the boutique. "People stormed out," she said. "Less than five minutes later, the Torrance Police Department was [at] the doors." Shana Alexander, who works at the Body Shop, said she heard one loud shot. An alarm came over the speaker system telling people to leave the mall, she said. "Everyone started running out," Alexander said. Times staff writers James Queally and Richard Winton contributed to this report. hannah.fry@latimes.com Twitter: @Hannahnfry


The last several months have been a roller coaster with Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson. He requested a trade last season and then reconciled things with the team. He apologized to the fans. Then he got suspended for six games and got upset with the team, leading to his being absent for almost all of the team's voluntary activities. Now, however, it appears all is well with Peterson and the team. He expressed his desire to finish his career with the Cardinals in an interview on SiriusXM NFL Radio. . @AZCardinals CB Patrick Peterson addressed his future in Arizona, dealing with a 6-game suspension, and how he wants to bring the organization a championship… "I would love to be a Cardinal for life." AUDIO pic.twitter.com/MR0cRzldEk - SiriusXM NFL Radio (@SiriusXMNFL) July 12, 2019 "I would love to be a Cardinal for life," he said. "I would love to be one of those guys to bring the organization its first championship." He recognized that "things happen" but wants to remain with the Cardinals. Peterson has two years remaining on his contract. The team is expected to try and extend his deal but that likely will not happen until next offseason. He was "frustrated" at the events of last season, calling it a "whirlwind." That said, he reiterated his happiness with the team. "I love Arizona. I definitely want to be here," he said. "Right now, I'm in a very, very happy place with the team. All of this is behind us right now." He has moved on with the contention with the team. He has accepted his suspension and will work to come back and dominate for the final 10 games of the season. Hopefully, this is the last we hear of any issues with Peterson moving forward. Listen to the latest from Cards Wire's Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio . View embedded content MORE: Poker player loses brutal 31 million chip hand with pocket aces at 2019 WSOP Main Event Three Potential Landing Spots for Chris Paul News: Major trade target at safety, levels to Cowboys WRs, NFL's best RB NBA Depth Charts Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes snubbed of 99 overall rating in 'Madden NFL 20'


Matthew Wolff won the 3M Open on Sunday for his first PGA Tour victory in just his fourth start. Here's a look inside of his bag: DRIVER: TaylorMade M5 (8 degrees), with Graphite Design AD-TP 7 TX shaft FAIRWAY WOOD: TaylorMade M5 (15 degrees), with Graphite Design BB 8X shaft IRONS: TaylorMade P760 (2), P750 (4-PW), with Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 130X shafts WEDGES: TaylorMade Milled Grind Raw (52, 56 and 62 degrees), with True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 shafts PUTTER: TaylorMade Spider X Copper BALL: Titleist Pro V1


It seems the common "8x8 rule" for hydration is in for some rethinking. The long-accepted conventional wisdom is to prevent dehydration, a person needs to drink adequate amounts of water in temperate climates. Health authorities in the West commonly recommend drinking eight 8-ounce (237 ml) glasses a day. That's some 2 liters or half a gallon. This is the so-called 8×8 rule and it's tantamount to the gold standard in hydration. Now, there is an increasing clamor for doubling that amount to 16 8-ounce glasses a day for a total of one gallon (3.8l), on the argument this increased intake is healthier. Will people have the stomach for this much water every day? Two studies show that drinking 17 ounces (500 ml) of water can temporarily boost metabolism by 24 percent to 30 percent. But this doesn't seem to be enough for some health fanatics who believe a person needs to drink water constantly throughout the day, even when they're not thirsty. This argument, facetious as it may seem, is about the right amount of hydration (if there is such a thing) people need daily. It all boils down to water balance. Yes, water is essential for vital functions like transporting oxygen to your cells and regulating body temperature. And, yes, staying hydrated is critical. But it's plainly obvious hydration needs are highly individual, so the same recommendations can't be applied to everyone.This means the 8x8 rule will be good for some people, while the more challenging 16x8 might be good for others. Just remember the golden rule of hydration: Drink when you feel thirsty and stop when your thirst is quenched. Since people are physically different and have different states of health, metabolism and mental outlook, the "When to Start" and "When to Stop" drinking arguments become a matter of personal choice. The proponents of the 8x8 rule can take heart from research, however limited, showing that drinking more than your hydration requirements benefits your health. Doctors say most adults not engaged in exercise sufficiently meet their fluid needs by letting thirst be their guide. There are as yet no specific recommendations on how many glasses of water most adults should drink per day. But, for those who really need some authoritative source, let the recommendations for total water intake of the Institute of Medicine (IOM) be their guide. IOM suggests most women meet their hydration needs when consuming 78 ounces (2.3 liters) of total water per day from both beverages and food. Most men can meet their hydration needs when consuming 112 ounces (3.3 liters) total water per day, which is close to one gallon. Related Video: Water: The Original Sports Drink (Provided by KARE-TV Minneapolis-St. Paul)


Jaguars quarterback Nick Foles and his wife, Tori, recently suffered through a miscarriage. Nick Foles returned to OTAs on Thursday. On Friday, he made it clear that he came back to work at the behest of his wife. "If my wife needed me at home right now, I'd be at home ," Foles said, via ESPN.com. "That's just me being honest. She's the one who said, 'Go, the team needs you right now.' She knows I'm coming home right away [after practice]. So that's her. It really is as simple as that. "If she says, 'I need you to stay home,' I'm going to call the team right now and just say I need to be home. The great thing is the team said as long as I need, whatever I need, they understand. They've been wonderful. But at the same time, my wife also knows; she wants me to be here because we're building something right here." It's a gesture that surely won't be lost on Foles' new teammates, the kind of thing that will command their respect and inspire them to find a way to fight through far lesser forms of adversity and inconvenience. Related slideshow: Top picks of 2019 NFL Draft (provided by imagn)


Trash is piling up in on east KC neighborhood.


The global natural gas derivative markets continue to grow as the world turns to gas to bridge the transition to a low-carbon economy. Power stations that use natural gas to generate electricity produce significantly fewer pollutants than generators that use coal. Supply is growing to match the increased demand, with natural gas output surging around the world and particularly in the United States . The U.S. shale revolution has unlocked gas deposits that were previously considered uneconomic to develop. At the same time, the development of liquefied natural gas (LNG) technology and infrastructure has allowed gas to be produced and consumed in countries without the need for massive investment in cross-border pipelines. The growth in international trade in natural gas has led to growth in related derivatives as producers and power companies use futures markets to hedge their price risk. Natural gas derivatives totalled around 510,000 terawatt hours (TWh) in 2018, up almost 5 percent on the previous year. Henry Hub Dominates There are currently four key benchmarks for natural gas futures trade: Henry Hub in the United States and its associated regional basis markets, the Dutch TTF benchmark, the UK NBP benchmark and Platts JKM, which represents the import price for LNG in north Asia. Within natural gas derivatives, Henry Hub remains dominant, both in terms of trading volumes and influence. Henry Hub accounts for 86 percent of total natural gas derivatives traded globally, with the U.S. basis markets, whose price is linked to Henry Hub, accounting for an additional 6 percent. The international markets are still a fraction of the size of the U.S. markets, totalling around 8 percent of global trade. This split between U.S. and international trade has remained stable in recent years, with growth in the TTF coming largely at the expense of the NBP -- the only natural gas benchmark that is in decline. The Dutch TTF is currently the largest international benchmark, with over 5 percent of the total global market. The fastest rate of growth is in the Platts JKM benchmark, from 37 TWh in 2016 to 536 TWh in 2018. The potential of this benchmark is obvious, given the growth in demand for LNG from north Asia, but it still a minnow relative to the more established benchmarks, accounting for just 0.1 percent of global natural gas derivatives trade. Trading Hub U.S. dominance of global natural gas derivatives looks set to persist in the long term due to the huge volumes of gas being produced from onshore shale deposits. This gas is increasingly finding its way into the global market in the form of LNG. International traders are already increasing their participation in Henry Hub as they look to hedge U.S. LNG price risk. And with U.S. Gulf Coast LNG set to reach more destinations in Europe and Asia, Henry Hub's leading position is likely to be further enhanced. Learn more about trader tools and resources for natural gas futures. (This article is sponsored and produced by CME Group, which is solely responsible for its content.) This article was originally published by TheStreet .


If you started saving as soon as you got out of college, had a stable job throughout your career and lived below your means all your life, you have likely amassed more than enough to live comfortably for the rest of your life. However, many people who did everything right still feel nervous about leaving their steady paychecks to retire because they are still wondering whether they will outlive their assets. Here are some tips to overcome your retirement worries : Understand that it's normal to feel the jitters . Fearing the unknown is perfectly normal. A nine-to-five job has been your identity for much of your life, and it's OK to feel awkward when you are giving that up. In fact, it may take some people a bit of time to adjust to the post-work routine, even if retirement is awesome. The good news is that retirement surprises can be positive as well as negative. Perhaps retirement will be even better than you think it could be. Re-run the numbers . Knowing the numbers make sense on paper doesn't squash all worries, but seeing how your careful planning will help you for the rest of your life does help. You can do the financial calculation several different ways and plug in a few worst-case scenarios to reassure yourself that your finances will weather sudden shocks. It could also be worth it to have an expert review your financial projections if it helps you to sleep better at night. You can always become more conservative if you need to. Diligent financial planners have probably already shifted some of their nest egg into more conservative investments in the years leading up to retirement. If you plan to withdraw 4 percent of your initial retirement balance annually, your portfolio has an extremely good chance of lasting the rest of your life. However, if you shift to a 3 percent withdrawal rate, it will give you even more security. You can also withdraw less in years when your investments perform poorly to help them recover faster. Try to diversify your income streams . Your finances will be more secure if you don't have to rely solely on your stock and bond portfolio. You could get a part-time job, make money from your hobbies, annuitize part of your wealth or sign up for Social Security payments . Making even a little bit of money from another source can help ease your worries about running out of money. Find something else to occupy your time . Our mind works in mysterious ways sometimes. You'd think that the more we think about a problem, the better our solution will be. But sometimes the more we think about our assets, the more we are tempted to tinker, which often triggers unnecessary taxes and fees. In retirement, try to spend less time worrying about your finances and start enjoying the fruits of your labor. Get to know more people who are retired . Most people who are retired are doing OK. Not everybody can afford to spend a lot of money, but they have time to spend how they like to. Whether or not you are happy has little to do with how much you are able to accumulate beyond a basic standard of living. Don't let your emotions overrule your logical calculations that you are likely to have enough money for your retirement expenses or dampen the potential to have fun in retirement. Eliminate as many recurring payments as you can . With interest rates so low, many people are taking out large mortgages in hopes of earning a higher return elsewhere. But for retirees, theoretical outcomes are pointless if it means losing sleep over the possibility of failure. In fact, it's probably not worth the anxiety even if investing the money you borrow is guaranteed to win out financially. By reducing your cash flow needs, you will need to take less from your portfolio and it will help ease the worry of withdrawing money from your savings too quickly.


Authorities in western North Carolina say a mother tossed her baby down a 75-foot ravine and then concocted a story about a kidnapping. The baby was later found alive, and her claims unraveled. Krista Noelle Madden, 35, is now jailed on a count of attempted first-degree murder -- after residents heard a faint cry Thursday night and found 7-week-old Shaylie at the bottom of the ravine, said Henderson County Sheriff Lowell Griffin. Investigators believe Shaylie was in her car seat when she was tossed over the steep embankment, and then rolled out of it after hitting the ground. Griffin said the baby survived "simply, in my opinion, by the grace of a merciful God." She was admitted to the hospital but is believed to be in good condition, Griffin said. Police in Asheville said they received a 911 call on Thursday afternoon reporting a mother and her child had been kidnapped from Biltmore Park, a mixed-use area in Asheville. They wouldn't say who placed the call, but confirmed it wasn't Madden. Police pinged Madden's phone and traced it back to neighboring Henderson County. As Henderson County sheriff's deputies were called in around 5:30 p.m, investigators there received a call from a resident who had encountered Madden near a church on a rural road. Deputies responded and found Madden, and later her car abandoned a short distance away, Griffin said. Deputies transported Madden to the sheriff's station in an attempt to develop a suspect description, Griffin said. The woman told them she had escaped her alleged kidnappers, which Asheville police had initially described as a man and a woman with thin builds wearing ski masks. Authorities launched a search for the child, using canines to search the area near the abandoned car, but didn't find the girl, Griffin said. Then, just before 8 p.m., Henderson County investigators received another 911 call. A woman had gone out to check the mail when she heard what she thought was an infant's cry and called her husband over to assist. He climbed down the steep ravine near their home and found Shaylie, her car seat nearby. According to the 911 call obtained by TV station WYFF , the woman told a dispatcher the couple found a baby "down in the woods." "There's no people down here," the woman said. "We're in a remote area. Somebody must have pulled up beside and tossed her like a piece of trash." The woman said the girl's head was "banged up" and her leg injured. "It's a little baby girl," she said. "She's so scared. She's so scared." When asked about Madden's kidnapping claim, Griffin said, "at this point we don't believe that to be factual-- none of that." Griffin said he believes Madden tossed the girl over the ravine, and she was charged with attempted murder based on interviews and evidence at the scene. He said it's likely Madden acted alone. Madden appeared in court for a short bond hearing Friday and waived her right to a court-appointed attorney, according to WYFF. She was due back in court May 28.