A New Orleans man who lost his left leg to a bacterial infection three years ago has been hoisting himself up the front stairs of his home or hopping down them on one leg since, because he didn't have a proper wheelchair ramp. But on Wednesday, his family got a visit from some power-tool wielding football players and other helpers. 'To see so many people that care about you, it's great' Jerry Hills, who lives in the St. Roch neighborhood of the city, called Rebuilding Together New Orleans a few months ago seeking help. The organization's focus is on improving the lives of residents through volunteer and professional labor. This week, about a dozen Saints players, including receiver Michael Thomas and pass-rusher Cameron Jordan, as well as employees from law firm Dudley DeBosier, gathered at Hills's house to build a long ramp along the shotgun-style home. The also did other exterior renovations including painting and siding repair. " Having this ramp is a great feeling," Hills said, via nola.com. "To see so many people that care about you, it's great. It's really great." Video by NFL.com Defensive tackle Taylor Stallworth learned a new skill in helping the Hillses. "I never touched a power drill in my life, but I'm out here today doing it. Just doing it for somebody else that's in need, it just brings a whole different special feeling to it," Stallworth said. Players were happy to help The players who took part were happy to help and make life a little better for Jerry Hills and his wife, Doreen. Jordan said it was another chance for Saints players to show how much they care about the community they're part of, while receiver Keith Kirkwood felt he got something out of it too. "It's a beautiful feeling inside to know you can help somebody any moment, given that we're always busy, we're professional athletes so there's always something that's on our agenda, but to stop here come in the community to help somebody is huge," Kirkwood said . "I couldn't believe when they said the Saints were coming to help. I said, 'Oh my God'. I told my husband last night, 'you know what, we are special,'" Doreen Hills said. More from Yahoo Sports: USWNT's Rapinoe is first openly gay woman in SI swimsuit issue ESPN host has terrible take on WR Fitzgerald's HOF chances Las Vegas has new favorite to land Kyrie MLB execs are open to hiring 'Jeopardy!' champ Related slideshow: 2019 NFL draft: The top picks (Provided by imagn)


A 2-year-old Indiana boy died Thursday after his mother drove her car into floodwaters following a storm that battered the area with heavy rains. Indiana State Police said in a press release that there was a sign warning motorists of possible flooding when Anthonitte Carter, 22, from Indianapolis, was driving on a road in Wabash County around 1:40 p.m. After entering the floodwater, police said, Carter's Chevrolet Impala was carried to the north side of the road by a current before becoming completely submerged. Carter was able to escape, but she was not able to free her son, Eric Long . Police said the car was found in about eight feet of water and had to be pulled out by a local towing company. Long's body was found inside, the department said. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources and the Wabash County Sheriff's Department assisted with rescuing Carter, who did not know how to swim and was struggling in the water. Carter told authorities she did not see the warning sign on the road. The Indiana State Police said the incident is under investigation. According to NBC-affiliate WTHR , the area got more than two inches of rain this week on top of a couple of inches of rain last week. In a tweet Thursday, the Indiana Department of Homeland Security told drivers to avoid areas where they see standing or running water. "We can't emphasize enough the dangers of driving through flooded roads," the agency posted.


Warriors owner Joe Lacob seems prepared to do whatever it takes to re-sign shooting guard and impending free agent Klay Thompson . Following the Warriors' Game 6 victory over Houston in the Western Conference semifinals, Lacob told ESPN's Nick Friedell he wants Thompson and point guard Stephen Curry "as part of our organization forever." A report surfaced this week indicating that there's mutual interest in getting a deal done. Lacob will have to pay a giant price to retain Thompson, who has stated that he expects a max contract. He could make $189M with Golden State over the next five years if he's not named to an All-NBA team or sign elsewhere for four years and $140.6M. If he does gain that honor, Thompson would be eligible for a $221M supermax contract. Curry's contract is guaranteed for three more seasons, and he will get paid $40.2M, $43M and $45.8M during that span. Lacob would have to pay major luxury-tax penalties if the Warriors re-sign both Thompson and Kevin Durant or in the unlikely scenario that Durant opts in for $31.5M next season. Lacob said his desire to retain Thompson goes well beyond the court: "I have a special bond with him. I always have. He's the first player, since I bought the team, that we drafted. The very first one. And I just have always felt an incredible attachment. People make fun of me a little bit   I always say I love Klay. … There's something about him, I have a very special relationship with him." Thompson scored 27 points in the Game 6 clinching win over the Rockets.


Ford will not use its GT as the basis for an entry into the World Endurance Championship's hypercar concept class, according to the chief technical officer of Multimatic. The GT made its WEC debut in 2016 as part of a four-year deal between Ford Performance and Multimatic to run the factory-backed programme. That deal expired after last month's Le Mans 24 Hours, although Multimatic   which developed and builds the road and race GT   is seeking to continue with the car in a privateer capacity. Read Also: Multimatic still pushing for privateer Ford WEC entry On the first day of the Goodwood Festival of Speed, the two companies unveiled a GT MkII track-only variant, but ruled out using it as the foundation for a planned entry into the hypercar class. Larry Holt, the CTO of Multimatic, told Motorsport.com: "No, the new car has not been done with [the hypercar class] in mind at all. Ford did their deal for four years, they've done what they said they would do. Are they looking at what they want to do next? Yeah, they are. "The GT would be the closest thing to a GTE-plus car, but that's not the way [the ACO] have gone. They've gone to hypercar rules. That's not a hypercar." Check out our photo gallery of the Ford GT MkII Ford GT Mk II Ford Performance Ford GT Mk II Ford Performance Ford GT Mk II Ford Performance Ford GT Mk II Ford Performance Ford GT Mk II Ford Performance Ford GT Mk II Ford Performance Ford GT Mk II Ford Performance Ford GT Mk II Ford Performance Ford GT Mk II Ford Performance Ford GT Mk II Ford Performance Ford GT Mk II Ford Performance Ford GT Mk II Ford Performance Ford GT Mk II Ford Performance Ford GT Mk II Ford Performance Ford GT Mk II Ford Performance Ford GT Mk II Ford Performance Ford GT Mk II Ford Performance Ford GT Mk II Ford Performance Ford GT Mk II Ford Performance Ford GT Mk II Ford Performance Ford GT Mk II Ford Performance Ford GT Mk II Ford Performance Ford GT Mk II Ford Performance Ford GT Mk II steering wheel detail Ford Performance Ford GT Mk II detail Ford Performance Although Holt ruled out the use of the GT, he said that Ford were still actively looking to join Aston Martin and Toyota in 2020/2021 for the opening season of the hypercar regulations. "There's nothing in the MKII [that points to a hypercar future], but Ford are looking at everything. They're in a mode now where they're investigating." But Holt was confident that if Ford did enter the class it would return to Multimatic with whom it won the GTE Pro class of Le Mans in 2016, saying "we're joined at the hip". With over 700bhp and additional downforce, Holt said the reveal of the MkII GT was instead the "ultimate expression" of the GT due to the constraints of Balance of Performance. "The GT is a lot less compromised than most supercars, but it is still somewhat compromised," he told Motorsport.com. "Then we go racing with it and a punter would say it's the ultimate version. But you know it's not, because you've got BoP. It isn't the ultimate way of showing the performance of the GT, it's the opposite."


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. (Bloomberg Opinion) -- What can policy makers do to increase U.S. economic growth and what role should government play? Bloomberg Opinion columnists Noah Smith and Michael R. Strain recently met online to debate. Noah Smith : I think we both agree that Americans are upset because they aren't better off than their parents. Growth is the lubricant that makes an economy function. But how do we produce faster growth? For years, the conversation was captured by the idea that cutting taxes and slashing regulations was the key to making the economy grow faster. But the repeated failure of tax cuts to deliver capital investment booms or rapid wage growth shows that a growth agenda can't rely on small-government methods anymore. Progressives need their own growth agenda, focused on government activities that complement private business -- better infrastructure, more scientific research, more immigration, denser and more affordable housing, fewer powerful monopolies, and a government health-insurance system that relieves employers of the burden of providing health insurance for their employees. It's this agenda, and not a Reaganite program of smaller government, that can deliver the growth Americans crave. Michael Strain : More immigration and more housing seem like supply-side solutions that we can agree on -- so there's no need to cast doubt on President Reagan's wisdom. Better infrastructure we can agree on, as well, though that would surely require some of the deregulation you seem to think is ineffective. Employers don't seem to mind providing health insurance for their workers, and workers seem to like the arrangement as well -- I'm not sure how this would increase growth. And we are in complete agreement on funding for scientific research, which could fuel basic innovation. Let's step back. We can increase growth by expanding the workforce and by making the workers more productive. Conservatives are right that big government gets in the way. The current structure of our disability insurance program, for example, keeps people out of the workforce. A $15 an hour federal minimum wage would significantly shrink the workforce, as well. Productivity is more mysterious, but a high-regulation, high-tax government regime surely isn't helping technology, innovation and efficiency to advance. NS : Well, let's examine some of these ideas. Because of the employer-sponsored health system, people can't change jobs because they'd lose their health care for however long it takes to find a new job. This freezes workers in place, prevents talent from being reallocated between companies, and prevents ideas and expertise from flowing between companies. But if the government took over health insurance, people could change jobs freely, leading to greater dynamism. It would also make hiring workers a simpler task for small businesses. Better infrastructure isn't going to magically appear if we deregulate. It's something government has to build and maintain. Deregulation would produce more housing for the middle class, but wouldn't do much to help poor people, since it's not economical to build low-income housing -- it has to at least be government-subsidized. So big government is needed. And in addition to improving health insurance, housing and infrastructure, big government might be able to push companies to increase exports. A more vigorous program of assistance and encouragement for small and medium-sized businesses could push them to raise their productivity and discover untapped international markets. MS : Yes, I understand the theory for your health policy reform. But many were surprised by how few companies stopped offering their employees health insurance after the enhancement of similar incentives under Obamacare. Though if you are saying that we should outlaw the private provision of health insurance   well, that would be big government. In that case, reducing job lock could make the economy bigger under the theory you outline, but it's not clear why it would have more than a negligible effect on the economy's longer-term rate of growth. And I would be quite surprised if the net effect of your plan would be pro-growth over the long run. Excluding the private sector would make it harder for the hospitals and physicians to find innovative ways to deliver higher quality health care, and would likely be a drag on productivity. And an exclusively government run system would require trillions of dollars in additional tax revenue, which would dampen economic growth. Government nudges for the development of low-income housing and infrastructure may or may not be good ideas, but I don't think they qualify as big government. So is that where we land on your agenda? A vast expansion of government's role in health care, huge tax increases to finance it, some marginal changes to incentives in other areas -- and the claim that, on balance, this agenda is pro-growth? If enacted, we would need a much stronger small-government push than we do today. NS : The small-government agenda has little to offer except wringing a few more hours of low-wage labor from the country's struggling working class. Cutting disability insurance to force disabled people into the workforce, or eliminating minimum wage laws to allow people to work for pittances, don't seem like the kind of policies that will either supercharge the economy or make Americans feel that they're doing better than their parents. As for the idea that an ambitious small-government agenda would super-charge growth, I demand to see some evidence. The U.S. repeatedly cut taxes in recent decades, and deregulated the financial industry. But the results -- in terms of investment growth, wage growth and overall economic growth -- have been decidedly less than impressive. They say that insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Where's the evidence that trying to drown government in a bathtub will work better next time? In general it's very hard to do anything that increases an economy's trend rate of economic growth for years and years. The best a country can hope for is to open up new frontiers -- technological revolutions, geographic expansions, demographic booms or foreign trade. By advancing scientific research, building more housing, drawing in more immigrants, and promoting exports, the U.S. government has the chance to pry open new frontiers for private business. MS : It seems we are ending on a place of agreement: we should open up new frontiers, advance scientific research, build more housing, and draw in more immigrants. Much of our conversation has hinged on framing. I thought it would be cheating to do this earlier, but since you've given me the last word, I will do it now: I would reject the dichotomy you present between big and small government. Instead, I would argue for a government committed to individual liberty and personal responsibility, and that advances economic opportunity and free enterprise. In some cases, that government would spend more money than the U.S. currently does. For example, on earnings subsidies. In some cases, that government would be less heavy-handed -- it would never allow a $15 minimum wage. It would end up being smaller and less intrusive than a government with Medicare for All. It would spend less than ours does today. But more importantly, it would spend with more wisdom. To contact the authors of this story: Noah Smith at nsmith150@bloomberg.netMichael R. Strain at mstrain4@bloomberg.net To contact the editor responsible for this story: James Greiff at jgreiff@bloomberg.net This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Noah Smith is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. He was an assistant professor of finance at Stony Brook University, and he blogs at Noahpinion. Michael R. Strain is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. He is director of economic policy studies and resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute. He is the editor of "The U.S. Labor Market: Questions and Challenges for Public Policy." For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com/opinion ©2019 Bloomberg L.P.


The Archdiocese of Indianapolis has officially cut ties with Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School after the school refused to fire a gay teacher. The decree from Archbishop Charles Thompson went into effect Friday, adding a new wrinkle to a growing debate over LGBTQ staff and their role in local Catholic education. It's an unprecedented step for the archdiocese to take and is reverberating around the Catholic community today. Here's what it means for the school. What's the immediate impact on Brebeuf Jesuit? Not a lot, actually, in day-to-day operations. Brebeuf doesn't receive any financial support from the archdiocese and isn't using any of its ministers in the school right now. Principal Greg VanSlambrook said it's a sad decision, but students and their families won't see much of a difference. Brebeuf will no longer be listed in the official Catholic directory, and school officials won't be invited to meetings of other Catholic school administrators. Is it still a Catholic school? Yes, kind of. The archbishop's decree says that Brebeuf can't call itself Catholic and it won't be recognized as a Catholic institution. But Brebeuf is an independent Catholic school, sponsored by the USA Midwest Province of the Society of Jesus, or the Midwest Jesuits. An order of Catholic priests, the Jesuits will continue to sponsor the school and send their members to minister at Brebeuf. Brian G. Paulson, provincial for the Midwest Jesuits, said that a representative of the archdiocese has verbally assured Brebeuf that it will continue to allow Jesuit priests to serve in leadership at the school and they can still hold Mass on campus. VanSlambrook said the archdiocese's decision will not change the mission or teachings at the school. Will Brebeuf still be financially solvent? Yes. Brebeuf is an independent Catholic school, sponsored by the Midwest Jesuits. It doesn't rely on the archdiocese or its parishes for financial support or ministers. This is different than most other Catholic schools in the city, which are diocesan and governed by the archdiocese. What does this mean for Brebeuf sports and other campus activities? Unclear. Brebeuf is part of the four-team Circle City Conference, which is all-Catholic (Roncalli, Guerin Catholic and Bishop Chatard are the others participating schools), and it's unclear whether the school would be able to remain in the conference. Beyond that, VanSlambrook said the school will continue to operate as it has for the last 57 years and students shouldn't notice a difference. Its teaching and mission remain unchanged, as does its staff. Will Brebeuf still be financially solvent? Brebeuf is an independent Catholic school, sponsored by the Midwest Jesuits. It doesn't rely on the archdiocese or its parishes for financial support or ministers. This is different than most other Catholic schools in the city, which are diocesan and governed by the archdiocese. Can Brebeuf appeal? According to Paulson, the Midwest Jesuits will appeal the decision through the formal appeal process established in church law: first, pursuing local recourse to the archbishop and, if necessary, hierarchical recourse to the Vatican. Why is the Archdiocese of Indianapolis doing this? The archbishop has been very aggressive on the issue of LGBTQ employees in Catholic schools. In his decree, Thompson said it is his "canonical responsibility to oversee faith and morals as related to Catholic identity within the Archdiocese of Indianapolis." It is his opinion that allowing LGBTQ employees to work in the school is operating outside of the doctrine and pastoral practice of the Catholic Church. The archdiocese is requiring all Catholic schools to implement contracts and ministerial job descriptions that state all ministers must convey and be supportive of all teachings of the Catholic Church. The archdiocese considers all teachers, guidance counselors and administrators as ministers. Suzette Hackney writes: Archdiocese spreads homophobic hate   again How is this different than the situation at Roncalli? Roncalli High School is a diocesan school, governed by the archdiocese. So, its enforcing that employment contract that says all ministers must convey and be supportive of all teachings of the Catholic Church. When it was brought to the attention of the archdiocese that one of Roncalli's counselors was in a same-sex marriage, she was suspended and banned from the campus. IndyStar staff writer Matt Glenesk contributed to this report. Call IndyStar education reporter Arika Herron at (317) 201-5620 or email her at Arika.Herron@indystar.com. Follow her on Twitter: @ArikaHerron . This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Archdiocese of Indianapolis cut ties with Brebeuf Jesuit: What it means


A jury is now weighing the fate of a Lawrence teenager charged with killing and beheading a high school classmate. Mathew Borges, 18, is charged with first-degree murder in the 2016 death of Lee Manuel Viloria-Paulino, 16. The prosecution presented eight days of testimony, including several witnesses and more than 100 pieces of evidence. When it came time for Borges' attorneys to present his defense, they asked the judge to dismiss the case for lack of evidence. The judge said no. Borges, who is being tried as an adult, did not take the witness stand in his own defense. Prosecutors say the then-15-year-old Borges killed Paulino in November 2016 because he was jealous the victim had spent time with his girlfriend. Prosecutors also say Borges distracted Paulino to get him out of his house while others robbed it. They were both sophomores at Lawrence High School at the time. Paulino's body was found along the banks of the Merrimack River by a dog-walker, and his head was found nearby. His hands were never recovered. The medical examiner who performed the autopsy on the remains said there were 76 wounds. With so much trauma to the body, the medical examiner could not determine if certain wounds -- including when his head was removed -- occurred before or after Paulino died. READ MORE: Jury weighs fate of teen charged in beheading of classmate CHECK OUT WCVB: Get the latest Boston news, weather and sports online, anytime. Stay in the know with Boston's news leader   WCVB.


Bayern Munich will go toe-to-toe with Fenerbahce on Tuesday at the Allianz Arena in the semi-finals of the Audi Cup to close out their pre-season preparations. With the start of the new season drawing closer, Bayern will be hoping to reach a high level of fitness and intensity, and a dominant performance against the Süper Lig side will stand them in good stead ahead of their season opener against Borussia Dortmund in the DFL-Supercup. Fenerbahce, of course, will be hoping for the same and only have an additional friendly to play - against Serie A side Cagliari, if they fail to beat Bayern. Where to Watch When Is Kick Off? Tuesday 30 July What Time Is Kick Off? 19:30 (BST) Where Is it Played? Allianz Arena TV Channel/Live Stream? ITV 4 Team News The German giants have pretty much a full-strength squad to choose from, with only a couple of absentees. €80m summer signing Lucas Hernandez is still recovering from a ligament injury that he suffered in February whilst at Atlético . The French centre back has started training with the ball and is rehabbing, but will definitely not be healthy to feature against Fenerbahce. Fellow centre-back Jerome Boateng is a doubt due to personal reasons, with rumours of an exit still circling around the German. For Fener, two players will not be available with goalkeeper Erten Ersu out with a knee injury and Turkish Under-17 star Okan Turp also out with an injury. They will, however, have new signing Max Kruse available after his move from Werder Bremen, and he'll know all about Bayern as they were linked with his signature. Predicted Lineups  Bayern Munich Neuer; Kimmich, Pavard, Süle, Alaba; Thiago, Tolisso; Gnabry, Müller, Coman; Lewandowski Fenerbahce Tekin; Saglam, Aziz, Jailson, Kaldirim; Moses, Cigerci, Emre, Rodrigues; Kruse, Murigi. Head-to-Head Record This will be the first time Bayern and Fenerbahce have faced off against each other, as they have yet to meet in a competitive fixture. H owever, the omens look good for Bayern as they are unbeaten in their six matches against Turkish opposition, winning five of them. For the record Turkish champions, history is not on their side as they have only managed one victory in nine competitive encounters with German opposition. Recent Form Die Roten come to this fixture with good form as they bounced back from their loss against Arsenal in pre-season with victories against Real Madrid and AC Milan . Robert Lewandowski has once again been the stand-out as he has scored in two of those matches but good performances from Leon Goretzka and Manuel Neuer have not gone unnoticed. Fener have also had decent form in pre-season, with two wins out of four - but the last two matches have ended in a draw and a loss- both against Bundesliga opposition. Here's a look at how both sides have performed in their last five matches. Bayern Munich Fenerbahce Bayern 1-0 Milan (24/7) Hertha Berlin 2-1 Fenerbahce (25/7) Bayern 3-1 Real Madrid (21/7) Fenerbahce 1-1 Wolfsburg (22/7) Arsenal 2-1 Bayern (18/7) Fenerbahce 2-0 Buraspor (19/7) SpVgg Lindau 2-4 Bayern (29/5) Boluspor 0-2 Fenerbahce (13/7) Kaiserslautern 1-1 Bayern (27/5) Fenerbahce 4-0 Eskişehirspor (28/3) Prediction The Bundesliga champions will be hoping to put on a show in their first performance back in Munich following their USA tour, and it will probably be too much to handle for a struggling Fener side. The Süper Lig side do not have the same wealth of talent but will be hoping to make a point. However, Bayern look focused with the new season on the horizon and will look to dispatch Fenerbahce in style. Predicition: Bayern Munich 3-0 Fenerbahce


While he might have missed out on a trip to the All-Star Game this year, it seems Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Bryce Harper isn't as overrated as fans shouting it at him might believe. According to FanGraphs' Devan Fink, Harper's +3.75 win probability added is the fourth-highest mark in baseball and just behind MVP candidates Christian Yelich, Cody Bellinger and Mike Trout. Including today's performance, Bryce Harper is up to a +3.75 WPA this season. That's the fourth-highest in baseball, behind only Christian Yelich, Cody Bellinger, and Mike Trout.   Devan Fink (@DevanFink) July 18, 2019 It might come as a surprise to many fans given Harper entered Thursday with a .258 batting average and the third-most strikeouts (112) in the league. However, a closer look at the 26-year-old's numbers reveals someone more deserving of the 13-year, $330 million contract he signed this offseason . Harper ranks among the best at his position defensively this season with good health on his side. It's been a significant boost for a team that dealt with significant defensive troubles during the 2018 season. He also continues to produce at the plate, and while his batting average might not fully capture it, Harper is amid a turnaround. He owns a .280/.417/..495 slash line in his last 115 plate appearances and carries a .966 OPS over the last 15 days. Fans will keep chanting that he's overrated, and Harper will just keep responding with clutch hits to silence those same fans . He might not be playing at Trout's or Yelich's level, but the Phillies are more than happy with his production this year. Related slideshow: 2019 MLB All-Star Game (provided by imagn)


Looking to visit the best meat shops in town? Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top meat shops in Worcester, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of the best spots to venture next time you're in the market. 1. Emerald Meats Topping the list is Emerald Meats . Located at 347 Chandler St., the meat shop is the highest-rated meat shop in Worcester, boasting five stars out of 24 reviews on Yelp. 2. Golemo's Market Golemo's Market , located at 43 Millbury St., is another top choice, with Yelpers giving the meat shop 4.5 stars out of 20 reviews. 3. D'errico's Market D'errico's Market , a grocery store, butcher and meat shop, is another go-to, with four stars out of 13 Yelp reviews. Head over to 141 E. Central St. to see for yourself. 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.


WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - Playing partners Jennifer Song and Jacqui Concolino stuck together in the Pure Silk Championship. Bronte Law kept up, too. Rebounding from a bogey on the par-4 14th with three straight birdies, Law shot a 3-under 68 on Friday afternoon at Kingsmill Resort to match early starters Song and Concolino at 9-under 133. "It was a battle," Law said. "Seemed to feel like every time I would make a birdie and try and build on it I would have an unforced error couple holes later and make bogey and be back to where I started." The Englishwoman had six birdies and three bogeys. "Mistakes happen," Law said. "I'm just going to try to minimize that for the rest of the tournament. I'm creating enough chances to where I can keep shooting some low scores." Song, tied for the first-round lead with Law and Anna Nordqvist, also had a 68. "Overall, very happy with my round," Song said. "I managed to make great scrambles here and there and just made a couple birdies coming in. Very happy about my round." Concolino had five birdies and a bogey in a 67 alongside Song in the first group of the day off the 10th tee. "Jennifer and I are good friends," Concolino said. "We were just talking about it in the tent. We fed off each other. She made a birdie, I made a birdie. She was making birdies on top of me." Song had five birdies and two bogeys. "I had a rocky start. I started with a bogey on the first hole and managed to come back with a birdie on my third," Song said. "Just while I was just struggling, Jacqui was having a birdiefest so I was just like, 'Wow, I need to keep up with her.'" The three leaders are winless on the LPGA Tour. Carlota Ciganda and Madelene Sagstrom were a stroke back in the final event before the U.S. Women's Open next week at the Country Club of Charleston in South Carolina. Ciganda had a 65, and Sagstrom shot 66. The tour was off the previous two weeks. "I think it's been good these two weeks," Ciganda said. "I feel rested. I feel ready to go again. I was quite tired after San Francisco. I went back to Spain for two weeks and just rested, stayed with my family, friends, ate some good food." Nelly Korda, Nasa Hataoka and Ashleigh Buhai were 7 under. Returning from a three-week break, Korda had a bogey-free 66. "Felt a lot better," Korda said. "I was a little fidgety on the front because I hadn't played for three weeks. I came off a missed cut, so got the bad round kind of out of the way yesterday and was really aggressive today. Made some solid putts and took every opportunity I could. "I didn't play golf for a week. I just worked out, hung out, went to the beach. Kind of gave my mind a rest. I was on the road for six weeks and that takes a toll on you. Just made sure I relaxed." Hataoka and Buhai shot 67. Brittany Lincicome had a 69 to get to 5 under in her final event of the season as she prepares for the birth of a daughter in early September. Nordqvist (72), third-ranked Sung Hyun Park (66), Brooke Henderson (71) and Jessica Korda (68) also were 5 under. Defending champion Ariya Jutanugarn and top-ranked Jin Young Ko were 3 under after 68s. No. 2 Minjee Lee was 1 under after a 73. Lexi Thompson missed the cut by a stroke with rounds of 71 and 72. https://compass.pressekompass.net/compasses/golfweek/if-you-could-legally-bet-on-golf-would-y MORE: James Holzhauer rebounds from Jeopardy! close call by crushing his foes Former NFL great Mark Gastineau has a GoFundMe for the fight of his life Spurs' DeMar DeRozan 'possibly could be on the trade block' to Lakers Should the Pats strongly pursue Gerald McCoy? How the Bulls can help the Lakers facilitate an Anthony Davis trade


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. Commentators have been sounding the alarm almost on a daily basis, warning that President Donald Trump's words harm national security and weaken our standing in the world. They are largely wrong. In many cases, foreign leaders and citizens of the world alike have likely "priced in" Trump's erratic behavior and sidelined his pronouncements. If so, the result is a neutered presidency and an America that is safer because Trump is often not taken seriously. For decades, Presidents have played critical roles in international affairs   from Richard Nixon's détente with China to Ronald Reagan's force of will that toppled communism to Jimmy Carter's brokered peace between Anwar Sadat and Menachem Begin. In these and countless other examples, past Presidents advanced American interests and inspired the world by wielding both formal constitutional powers, as well as the authority granted by foreign leaders who accepted their statements as US policy. This isn't the case with Trump, whose words foreign leaders can no longer take at face value. Fortunately, President Trump's incompetence in foreign relations, while not a cure-all, can moderate the damage that he might otherwise cause. The more exposure the world has to this President, the less he matters. After all, communication is a two-way street, and the audience plays a significant role in determining whether someone's words are accurate, meaningful, and safe to rely on. Take, for example, Trump's rhetoric on North Korea. While the President recently said he is not bothered by new North Korean missile tests   conflicting with the view of intelligence agencies   he previously threatened nuclear attack (in his own way of course, by claiming that his button is bigger than Kim's ). In any prior administration, words such as these from the American President would place us at the precipice of war. But as norm-busting as they may be, we have become conditioned to view them as just the latest in an unbroken string of overheated comments. His words aren't newsworthy because they will all have real world consequences but because in many instances they won't   despite being uttered by the leader of the free world, they are heavily discounted by the world just the same. So, how should foreign nations react if Trump renews his threats to pull out of NATO, makes further statements that praise leaders of corrupt regimes , such as Russia's Vladimir Putin, or makes some other jaw-dropping pronouncement? Unless these leaders haven't been paying attention, they should temper any initial alarm by weighing these statements against often-contradictory commentary from other senior American officials, the State Department and the CIA. His track record shows that impulsive words may not result in action. Ultimately, despite Trump's rhetoric, the US has not pulled out of NATO, and it has levied sanctions on Russia. Moreover, routine rebukes of Trump's comments from foreign leaders reveal an international band of adults who are ready to sideline the US President. Of course, as oddly comforting as Trump's lack of global credibility may be, it reflects a sorry state of affairs. This administration has luckily not faced an acute national security crisis, such as a 9/11-style terrorist attack or an imminent threat of war. As has been the case throughout our history, when such circumstances arise, America needs a reliable and respected leader to guide the nation. And the way in which the President acts in moments such as these could determine the course of human history. President John F. Kennedy's approach to the Cuban missile crisis likely averted war. Conversely, President George W. Bush's fixation on weapons of mass destruction (which were never found) led to war with Iraq, resulting in the deaths of thousands of US service members and a power vacuum filled by al Qaeda, the group from which ISIS was later formed. If faced with a national security crisis, Trump's incompetence could pose serious problems. The void of US leadership could also damage the US' global standing and push fledgling nations, such as Libya, to take their cues from Russia and China rather than from the United States. And then there's Trump's command over the nuclear arsenal, which is scary, given his penchant for tantrums. In a crisis, it's hard to know where Trump's impulses would lead the nation. What's more, there have been instances when President Trump's words have foretold real policy movements with real-world consequences, such as his use of tariffs as an international trade tool with China and his threats of tariffs on Mexican goods in an effort to advance immigration-related ends. But recognizing that he can cause damage does not mean that every oddball comment he makes will have a lasting impact. We are, for the time being, stuck with Trump and, fortunately, his incompetence has helped moderate what could otherwise be calamitous by spurring foreign leaders to ignore him. What if foreign leaders are inclined to take him seriously and react as if his words had meaning? It is both my belief and continued hope that President Trump's journey to irrelevancy on the world stage advances by the tweet, continuing to take further root so that we will soon see the day when it will not only be reasonable for world leaders to ignore Trump but it will be the only rational thing for them to do. On the international stage, the one constant in modern history is that the American President is taken seriously. This is one norm that we should all be thankful Trump has broken. And hopefully, it is a norm that can be quickly restored once he is out of office.


President Trump has granted Attorney General William P. Barr "full and complete authority" to declassify government secrets, issuing a memorandum late Thursday that orders U.S. intelligence agencies to cooperate promptly with Barr's audit of the investigation into Russia's election interference in 2016. The president's move gives Barr broad powers to unveil carefully guarded intelligence secrets about the Russia investigation, which the attorney general requested to allow him to quickly carry out his review, according to the memo. "Today's action will ensure that all Americans learn the truth about the events that occurred, and the actions that were taken, during the last Presidential election and will restore confidence in our public institutions," the White House said in an accompanying statement, which Trump then tweeted. Subscribe to the Post Most newsletter: Today's most popular stories on The Washington Post The president has labeled the investigation of his campaign a "political witch hunt." His Republican allies in Congress who have reviewed some of the related files argue that the FBI investigation was opened based on flimsy and questionable evidence of wrongdoing, and that surveillance of campaign advisers to Trump was improper. "This is candidly part of the president wanting to make sure the American people have the entire story of what went on and what will be construed by most people as improper activity within the FBI. It's also the very first step in rectifying and repairing the damage done by certain people at the FBI," said Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.), one of the president's biggest defenders on Capitol Hill. Meadows said he discussed with the president how granting Barr this authority would provide answers about whether the investigation was biased. Conservative lawmakers, such as Meadows, have insisted to friends in the administration that declassifying these documents will help Trump protect his presidency and further distance himself from any political fallout from the Russia investigation, according to multiple people involved in those discussions. The move is likely to further anger Democrats who have said that Barr is using his position as the nation's top law enforcement official to aggressively protect the president and attack his critics. Rep. Adam B. Schiff (D-Calif.), who as chairman of the House Intelligence Committee leads one of the ongoing congressional investigations of Trump, called the action "un-American." Trump and Barr, Schiff said in a statement Thursday night, are conspiring to "weaponize law enforcement and classified information against their political enemies."  The president is the government's highest authority over whether national secrets remain classified. His order gives Barr significant authority over agencies that typically hold their secrets close and don't declassify them easily. While the memo states Barr should consult with the head of an agency before declassifying its secrets, it also demands that Barr get prompt responses and documents from the intelligence community. Jeremy Bash, a former chief of staff at the CIA during the Obama administration, warned that, with his directive, Trump was entering "dangerous territory." "Stripping the intelligence leaders of their ability to control information about sources and methods, and handing that power to political actors, could cause human agents to question whether their identity will be protected," Bash said. Barr has tapped John H. Durham , the U.S. attorney for the District of Connecticut, to investigate the origins of the Russia probe. Separately, the Justice Department inspector general is examining the handling of various aspects of the case. Barr has said the inspector general's work is expected to be completed in May or June. Trump's memo highlights how much he has grown to trust Barr. Barr has said "spying" was conducted by the government against the Trump campaign   an accusation Trump has leveled repeatedly but that current and former FBI officials have denied. Barr has been criticized by former FBI director James B. Comey and other former law enforcement officials for using the phrase "spying" to discuss how investigators monitored some Trump campaign advisers who had extensive contacts with Russians. His critics argue that Barr is parroting the president's loaded wording, when surveillance was a proper part of a counterintelligence investigation looking at whether Russians were trying to influence Trump's campaign aides. devlin.barrett@washpost.com carol.leonnig@washpost.com robert.costa@washpost.com colby.itkowitz@washpost.com


We put the popular theory to the test using 30 years of real-world stock market returns. Here's what we found. The general guideline of withdrawing no more than 4% of your portfolio each year during retirement has come under fire as of late. This guideline was the result of a study conducted almost 30-years ago by William Bengen, at a time when it was believed that 5% was a safe withdrawal rate. In the study William determined that 5% was too risky, and proposed the change to 4%. But is 4% still a good rule of thumb, as Bengen concluded? I believe the answer is "probably." The reality in retirement is a little more complex, however, so it takes a little more planning than just using a rule of thumb to help ensure your peace of mind during retirement. Not getting the withdrawal rate correct means running out of money, and we can't afford that. SEE ALSO: Is the Stock Market More Volatile Now Than Ever Before? The Basics of the 4% Rule Here's how the 4% rule works. If you take your investment portfolio at retirement and multiply it by 4%, that is how much you can safely withdraw each year without running out of money. The rule also assumes that you'll give yourself a 3% raise each year by slowly increasing your withdrawals to cover inflation. Let's test the rule by assuming you retired 30 years ago, on Jan. 1, 1989: You may remember 1989. Michael Jordan scored his 10,000th point; the San Francisco 49ers won their third Super Bowl; Dustin Hoffman won the Oscar for his role in the movie Rainman ; George H.W. Bush became the president; there were pro-democracy protests in China's Tiananmen Square; and Exxon's Valdez tanker spilled over 11 million gallons of oil off of Alaska's shoreline. Let's say that you followed the 4% rule and happened to be fortunate enough to have a million-dollar investment portfolio in 1989 (which would be equivalent to $2.4 million today). While $1 million would have been a lot in 1989, we are not testing the dollar amount but rather the percentage. $1 million is just an easy round number to work with. We can apply the percentage to any dollar amount. Related video: The 2 big problems with the '4% rule' (provided by The Fool) Analyzing the 4% Rule with Real-World Numbers So here is our investment plan. We are going to take the $1 million and invest half into stocks and half into bonds using the Vanguard 500 Index Fund (VFINX) and the Dodge and Cox Income Fund (DODIX). We are going to rebalance the portfolio every six months. During year one we'll assume that you withdraw and spend $40,000. In year two we'll assume that due to rising prices you'll need to withdraw 3% more, or $41,200. We'll assume you'll continue to withdraw 3% more each year. See Also: What's Your Investment Return? Setting Expectations for Your Stock and Bond Portfolio So how did you do? Did you get good advice? The first chart shows that your $1 million ended up at $5.9 million even after spending $1.9 million over the 30 years from 1989-2018. During that period the portfolio would have averaged 8.95%. So, if we had a repeat of the past 30 years we'd conclude that you could actually spend much more (as much as $60,000, adjusted for 3% inflation). In the chart below I carved up the past 30 years into three decades so we can test our portfolio using the results of starting with a good or a bad decade. For example, in the first test your portfolio takes advantage of the technology run-up in the first 10 years from 1989-1998, which really helps over the long-term. Note, however, that things change a little if we flip the order of each of the three decades and re-test. Here are the annualized returns of each decade: 1989-1998: 14.09% per year 1999-2008: 2.59% per year 2009-2018: 9.45% per year In each test the portfolio ends up with a large balance. You didn't run out of money. Click here to view chart full size Now let's see what would have happened had you followed the conventional wisdom of 1989 and withdrew 5% each year, adjusted for the same 3% inflation? You'll see in the next chart that you still would have been able to withdraw even more investing from 1989-2018. If we flip the decades, however, and your performance during the first decade looked like that of 1999-2008, you would have run out of money. Click here to view chart full size Based on the past 30 years we could conclude that 4% was a safe withdrawal rate, and good advice at the time -- and even 5% was mostly safe. Of course, "mostly safe" isn't a good way to plan. The author of the original study has modified his conclusion now, and has increased his safe withdrawal rate to 4.5% when holding a more diversified portfolio. Note, however, that you may be comfortable with a withdrawal rate closer to 5% of your investment portfolio if you have a lot of equity in your home that you aren't opposed to tapping into if your investments run out (by downsizing, taking a reverse mortgage, etc.). The problem with this type of testing is that retirement spending doesn't go exactly as outlined, spending exactly 3% more each and every year. Oftentimes there is a need for higher withdrawals in some years and lower ones in others for things like replacing a car or handling unexpected health care expenses. The 4% rule is a good place to start, but I believe that further planning is needed. To Ease Your Mind, Test Your Plan in Many Ways With so many variables, I suggest updating your financial plan every six months and exploring lots of "what if" scenarios. For example, what if you live longer, spend more or less for different periods of time, have higher or lower returns, spend time in a nursing home, buy a car, experience higher or lower inflation, etc.? By throwing lots of curve balls at your portfolio you can see what your range of withdrawals can be as you compare scenarios, as opposed to a fixed withdrawal percentage. In addition, using a Monte Carlo analysis with each curve ball you throw at your portfolio will give you more precise results. As you review your numbers you may decide to cut withdrawals in some years and increase them in others. In the end, after reviewing many scenarios and comparing the results, you'll be able to pinpoint a comfortable withdrawal amount for each year. Doing this will provide you with peace of mind, knowing that you won't run out of money before you run out of life -- the ultimate goal of retirement planning. See Also: Will You Spend Less in Retirement Than You Think? Click here to learn more and read more articles from the author. This article was written by and presents the views of our contributing adviser, not the Kiplinger editorial staff. You can check adviser records with the SEC or with FINRA . Copyright 2019 The Kiplinger Washington Editors


Rob Gronkowski may have retired from football, but he's definitely not out of the limelight. The former New England Patriots tight end was spotted at MGM Springfield Saturday night, causing fans to go wild on social media, posting pictures of Gronkowski making his way through the Massachusetts venue. The tight end was reportedly celebrating his 30th birthday (May 14) at Commonwealth Bar and Lounge. Check out some of the fan reactions: Gronkowski seems to be enjoying his retirement. Between dancing on stage with Terry Crews and using the Lombardi Trophy to lay down a bunt at Fenway Park, the 30-year-old is living the life. As always, it's Gronk's world, we're just living in it. Related slideshow: Top picks of 2019 NFL Draft (provided by imagn)


Encourage beautiful blooms all summer long with this simple, essential pruning technique. Understand the importance of deadheading. If you've taken the time and effort to plant flowers, there's no question you'll want them to thrive as long as possible. Make that happen with the basic gardening practice of deadheading, the key to a long season of fabulous, colorful flowers . Deadheading refers to removing spent or faded flowers from both annual and perennial plants. Typically, once a plant has finished flowering, it suspends the flowering process in order to form seeds. When you deadhead, the energy, strength, and nutrients that would have gone into producing new seed generates more flowers instead. This means you can get a second show, or maybe several more, over the course of the growing season. Deadheading doesn't cost a dime or require any special equipment, but it does require the right technique. Read on to learn the secrets to success and enjoy your gorgeous garden for months to come. RELATED: 19 "Zero Dollar" Garden Hacks DON'T deadhead without researching your specific plants first. Not all plants need to be deadheaded and in fact, the process could be detrimental to some. Repeat bloomers like cosmos and geraniums will continue to flower all summer if deadheaded regularly, but others, particularly perennials like hollyhock and foxglove, must reseed in order to bloom the following year. A little homework first could save your garden the next growing season. RELATED: 10 Gardening Mistakes That Are Killing Your Plants DO pinch in the right place. When deadheading, remove the flower stem right below the spent flower and above the next set of healthy leaves. Perform deadheading as soon as a flower's appearance begins to fade. You can use garden shears , or simply pinch off the dead flower with your fingers just make sure to remove any seed pods that may have started to form behind the flower. These may be hard to detect nestled among foliage; they look different from flower to flower, but will typically start out as a capsule the same color as the stem that splits apart to reveal seeds. DON'T feel compelled to save the stem. Depending on your aesthetic preferences in the garden, you may not like the look of a long stem sticking out sans a pretty flower attached. If so, feel free to cut the stem off all the way at the bottom. The stem will need to grow back before you'll see another bloom, but it should flower again. DO inspect flowers regularly. Depending on how long a plant blooms this can be days or weeks, depending on the plant and other factors, such as weather you may need to deadhead frequently. Get in the habit of checking your flowers each time you're in the garden. Some flowers, like roses, marigolds, zinnias, and geraniums, could bloom all summer with regular deadheading. DON'T deadhead if plants produce pretty seed pods. Some plants, like Gladwin iris, produce seed pods in the fall that are as attractive as their flowers. If that's the case with any of the plants in your garden and you like the look, feel free to forgo deadheading. DO be aware of "volunteers." Sometimes when deadheading flowers, seeds can get inadvertently scattered and settle in the ground. The next season, you may be surprised to find new offspring growing from those seeds that you didn't purposely plant. Many gardeners find these "volunteers" to be a fun surprise, but if you're not up for newcomers, make sure to collect and dispose of all the seedpods you find as you work. RELATED: Do These 8 Things and Never Pay for Plants Again DON'T feel compelled to deadhead. If you get super busy over the summer or go out of town for a few weeks' vacation, don't worry if you fail to deadhead your garden. The practice is more for the appearance of an extended flower show and less about the plants' health. DO suspend the practice in the winter. Deadheading can be performed any time during the growing season, but once the weather turns chilly, stop for the sake of birds and other wildlife. Animals will eat from the seedpods during the cold months, and for some, seeds are a crucial food source. Allowing the seedpods to form is giving back to nature. RELATED: Winterize Your Lawn and Garden in 7 Steps


PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland -- Rory McIlroy's opening hole in the 148th Open Championship wasn't an inconsequential fender bender. Nor was it a routine car crash. No, this was more akin to a multi-car pileup involving head-on collisions. A quadruple-bogey? On a downwind, 421-yard par-4 where most members of the 156-man field -- McIlroy included -- teed off with an iron? By a man who once shot 61 on this Royal Portrush links? Impossible, right? Unlikely maybe. But not beyond the proverbial bounds. Because it happened. Like this: A tee shot out of bounds. Another into heavy rough left of the fairway. A heave into an unplayable lie left of the green. A drop. A pitch to five feet. Two putts from there. Eight. RELATED: There's an explanation for why there's out-of-bounds on the first hole at Portrush (but don't expect to like it) And there's more. Sixteen holes later, the world number-three arrived on the 18th tee five-over par for the day. Not too bad considering the start he made. But the finish to what eventually added up to an eight-over par 79 was to prove just about as awful as the beginning. The details: Drive way right into more heavy rough on the 474-yard par-4. Hack (1). Hack (2). A pushed approach from the center of the fairway. Three to get down. Seven. Needless to say, McIlroy had a slightly bewildered look about him after signing his card, one that showed a score exactly one stroke per hole more than the record-breaking round he had shot here as a 16-year old. But none of the above was what was bothering him most. Really irritating the Northern Irishman was the tap-in putt for bogey he carelessly missed on the par-3 16th, the aptly-named "Calamity." "The one that I'm disappointed about most is the little short putt on 16," he said. "That was inexcusable. Tee shots like the first happen, you can get one riding on the wind a little too much, that's fine. But lapses of concentration like that…I feel like I've done a really good job over the last few years of being more with it and realizing, okay, just keep a cool head. But there I didn't. I sort of hit it on the run and missed it." Asked to elaborate, McIlroy gave an explanation that will resonate with just about anyone who has ever picked up a golf club. Every one has done what he did. Every one has let his or her mind wander at just the wrong moment. Every one has missed a putt from less than a foot. We've all been there. "So my putt for par there was a six-footer," he continued. "And in normal conditions with not a lot of wind the break was probably like a ball on the left. But the wind was hard off the right. I'm thinking, 'is the wind going to affect this or not?' I still played it a ball on the left and I missed it left. So as I'm walking up to hit the next one, I'm thinking, 'I should have trusted the wind.' I'm sort of talking to myself about the last putt. It's not like my head is going to Kelly's (a local bar) tonight or something. But I'm berating myself about the putt I just hit and went to tap in and didn't." As for his future prospects in what is only his home nation's second Open, McIlroy was realistic enough to acknowledge that victory is now unlikely. Identifying more accuracy off the tee as the route to the score in the mid-60s he will require to make further progress in his eleventh Open appearance, he was predictably defiant. "I definitely think if I can put the ball in the fairway tomorrow I can shoot a good enough score to be around for the weekend," he said. "Obviously, I'm pretty sure anyone starting with a 79 doesn't think about winning at this point. But although I didn't get a very good account of myself out there, I can definitely play better. It's simple stuff -- getting the ball in the fairway, missing it in the right spots if you do miss it. But I didn't do that. And I didn't take advantage of the par 5s. I only birdied one of those today. The things I usually do pretty well I didn't do today." Still, it must be said that this sort of thing is becoming something of a habit for the 30-year old, four-time major champion. A brief glance at his playing record this year is revealing. While no one in the game -- not even world No. 1 Brooks Koepka -- has been more consistent during the first half of 2019, McIlroy has, with the exception of a missed cut at the Memorial, reserved his least accomplished performances for the four most important weeks on his competitive calendar. Which is not to say they have all been bad. A T-8 at the PGA and a T-9 at the U.S. Open are respectable enough. But T-21 at the Masters represents McIlroy's worst stroke-play finish other than the aforementioned Memorial. They, in fact, are the only times he has been outside the top 10 in a year when he has recorded two victories, at the Players and the Canadian Open. Speaking in his role as a commentator on Sky Sports, former PGA champion Paul Azinger was quick to identify McIlroy's recent failings in golf's biggest events. "Rory comes into every major wanting to pretend that every week is the same," said Azinger. "But they're not. I wish he would take it all head-on. He wants it so badly. And sometimes you can want something too much. Koepka is the best at redirecting himself out of these sorts of pressure situations. The lead is only four-under. If Rory could have clawed and scraped his way to one-over or level par he would have been fine." But he is not. Making the halfway cut is now his only realistic target. WATCH MORE VIDEOS FROM THE LOOP


Stations is Spotify's answer to Pandora, letting you tune in and listen to curated music without having to lift a finger. That convenience made it an immediate hit when it launched last month , but one important feature was missing for iOS users: CarPlay support. Spotify has quietly fixed that issue by (as spotted by a Reddit user ),and now lets you control your music directly from your in-dash entertainment system. Spotify Stations breaks Spotify's radio feature out into a separate app. It surfaces music based on your own playlists and listening habits, and lets you add or subtract artists and like or dislike songs. Since you can listen to tunes without thinking too much or digging in to your collection, it's especially convenient on CarPlay. As on the mobile app, selecting Stations in CarPlay allows you to flip between your favorite stations and skip from song to song using your vehicle's built-in controls. The app is only available in the US and Australia (I can't get it here in France), but you should be able to install it on your CarPlay system now if you're in one of those two countries. Reddit


Now that you've got your degree, it's time to decide where you want to put down roots and start a career. Transitioning into the "real world" can be difficult, especially when you start to consider long-term goals, like buying a house and starting a family. Home ownership remains firmly a part of the traditional American dream, after graduating college and landing a job. However, for soon-to-be or recent college graduates, not all housing markets are created equal. The best locations should provide the ability to purchase a house and live comfortably after making mortgage payments. To help grads find the right place to settle down, we investigated the economic prospects and cost of living in all 50 states to determine if, in fact, the American dream is still attainable and how much it actually costs. The states that top the list share two common traits: First, they have excellent projected employment growth rates; and second, they offer earning potential that is relative to the housing prices in the state. Methodology For each of the top 25 degrees featured in OnlineDegrees.com's Most Employable Degrees 2015 , we ranked every state on the four data points listed below: Average salary -- The median annual salary for graduates holding this specific degree in this state (based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and National Center for Education Statistics). Leftover salary -- How much money a degree holder can expect to have left over after mortgage payments on a median-priced home (based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Center for Education Statistics, and the American Community Survey, 2013). Job potential -- How many new jobs are projected for careers associated with this degree in the state between 2012 and 2022 (based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Projections Central, the Michigan Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives, and Workforce West Virginia). Cost of living -- How affordable the state is to live in overall (based on data from the Council for Community and Economic Research, 2014). Each category was scored out of a possible 10 points, then added together for a total score of up to 40. Once we had a total score for each of the top 25 degrees, we averaged the state's scores together to see which scored highest overall across all degrees. The states were ranked based on which had the highest average out of 40 points. Note: The median annual salaries listed for each state are only for careers related to the 25 degrees included in our study. 1. Texas In Texas, a college graduate's dollar goes further in the housing market than any other state in the country. The state is home to three of the five fastest growing cities in the U.S. -- Houston, Austin, and San Antonio -- as well as a booming economy. Between 2012 and 2022, there are projected to be 7,000 job openings in the technology sector alone. Average score: 31.68/40 Median house value: $149,600 Median annual salary: $64,795 Cost of living: 15th 2. Virginia Chasing Texas for the top spot is Virginia, a state that offers college graduates a growing economy and an affordable housing market. Employment projections are strong in the technology sector, with more than 7,400 job openings expected for individuals with degrees in subjects like computer programming and software development between 2012 and 2022. Average score: 31.30/40 Median house value: $262,000 Median annual salary: $70,305 Cost of living: 25th 3. Georgia The blend of career opportunity and low cost of living earns Georgia a top three ranking on this year's list. As the state's economy grows, job prospects are expected to be particularly strong in tech and business. The largest employment gains between 2012 and 2022 are expected in accounting, entrepreneurship, and retail management occupations. Average score: 30.24/40 Median house value: $152,400 Median annual salary: $62,155 Cost of living: 16th 4. North Carolina North Carolina lands in the top five thanks to a job market and economy that together represent a great opportunity for degree holders both to bring home a decent paycheck and purchase a house. Two rapidly growing markets include business and health care, with job prospects especially strong for dental hygienists. Average score: 29.26/40 Median house value: $165,500 Median annual salary: $65,980 Cost of living: 23rd 5. Washington Rounding out the top five is Washington, a state that has a growing and diverse economy which offers graduates the fourth-highest median salary nationally based on our study. A technology hub, the state is fostering growth in its technology sector, with the software development and computer programming industries projected to add at least 6,660 new jobs between 2012 and 2022. Average score: 29.06/40 Median house value: $259,700 Median annual salary: $72,443 Cost of living: 36th 6. Colorado Colorado joins the top 10 powered by strong employment growth in multiple industries and median house values under $250,000. Multiple cities -- Fort Collins, Boulder, and Denver -- are high-growth startup centers in the tech sector, and the state is also experiencing rapid growth in multiple business fields, including accounting and entrepreneurship. Average score: 28.40/40 Median house value: $246,500 Median annual salary: $69,530 Cost of living: 31st 7. Alabama Two of the biggest advantages in Alabama are its low cost of living and sub-$150,000 median housing market. The business sector is projected to have the biggest employment gains between 2012 and 2022, while health care offers a diverse mix of occupations with upward movement, including dental hygienist -- the third-fastest-growing career in the state. Average score: 26.90/40 Median house value: $141,400 Median annual salary: $61,583 Cost of living: 10th 8. Michigan Michigan grabs a spot in the top 10 with an excellent mixture of low housing prices and a high ranking for affordability. Although the state is experiencing employment gains in several industries, the strongest job growth is expected to be in technology, particularly networking, software development and programming, and computer systems analysis. Average score: 26.34/40 Median house value: $130,200 Median annual salary: $60,720 Cost of living: 7th 9. Minnesota Although Minnesota is not as affordable as some of its Midwest counterparts, solid economic growth and earning potential offset a slightly more expensive housing market. The degree areas expected to see the biggest employment gains are all in business (ex. entrepreneurship and management) and technology (ex. information technology and computer systems analysis). Average score: 26.28/40 Median house value: $188,700 Median annual salary: $65,413 Cost of living: 32nd 10. Ohio Rounding out the top 10 is Ohio, a state with median house values under $140,000, good earning potential for college graduates, and a mixture of diverse occupational opportunities in multiple industries. The largest job gains through 2022 are expected to be concentrated in information technology, entrepreneurship, and retail management. Average score: 25.58/40 Median house value: $135,900 Median annual salary: $59,56 0Cost of living: 19th 11. Arizona Arizona offers balanced economic opportunity and cost of living for college graduates -- both are right in the middle nationally. The state offers good potential in the technology sector, but the biggest growth is expected to be in business, specifically business administration and accounting. Average score: 25.54/40 Median house value: $178,200 Median annual salary: $61,940 Cost of living: 28th 12. Maryland (tie) Although Maryland is home to one of the country's more expensive housing markets, the median salary for the most employable degrees (third nationally) might help offset that cost. There are strong employment opportunities in both business and technology between 2012 and 2022. Entrepreneurship is projected to experience the most growth, outpacing the second-fastest-growing career field (retail management) by a whopping 60.8% percent. Average score: 25.00/40 Median house value: $287,600 Median annual salary: $72,446 Cost of living: 40th 12. New Jersey (tie) Although New Jersey has a higher-than-average cost of living, its median salary ranks first nationally. Job growth is expected to be diverse, with an economic climate projected to see significant gains in technology, marketing, and business administration. Software development, computer programming, and information technology are three fields anticipated to experience some of the largest job growth numerically between 2012 and 2022. Average score: 25.00/40 Median house value: $287,600 Median annual salary: $76,442 Cost of living: 45th 14. Illinois Illinois makes the top 15 as a state that offers good salaries and a relatively affordable housing market. The industries with the largest employment growth, like many other states, are expected to be in business (ex. retail management), but tech fields such as information technology, software development, and computer programming show promise as well. Average score: 24.56/40 Median house value: $179,700 Median annual salary: $62,893 Cost of living: 22nd 15. Utah Utah is one of the country's more affordable states, where housing values are just slightly north of $200,000. Relative to the state's population, employment growth is expected to be strong in health care -- especially dental hygiene -- as well as a mix of technology and business-related occupations, including entrepreneurship. Average score: 24.32/40 Median house value: $214,300 Median annual salary: $58,485 Cost of living: 11th 16. Indiana Indiana joins the top 25 as another Midwest state that offers college graduates an opportunity for post-graduation success. One of the most affordable regions in the country, Indiana is also home to a surging job market, particularly in health care, ranking in the top 11 nationally for all the health-related fields in our study. Average score: 24.26/40 Median house value: $129,900 Median annual salary: $54,423 Cost of living: 4th 17. Massachusetts Excellent earning potential offsets the relatively high cost of living in Massachusetts, coupled with strong job growth in business and technology. Computer programming, software development, and entrepreneurship are just a few examples of occupational areas expected to see continual gains between 2012 and 2022. Average score: 24.18/40 Median house value: $330,600 Median annual salary: $69,902 Cost of living: 43rd 18. Delaware At No. 18, Delaware is another East Coast state that offers good opportunity for college graduates to put their post-graduation earnings to work. Although the state has an above-average cost of living, it boasts the second-highest median salary in the degree areas surveyed. For job growth, accounting is the fastest-growing occupational field in Delaware, followed by the technology sector. Average score: 24.10/40 Median house value: $233,900 Median annual salary: $74,213 Cost of living: 37th 19. Missouri The sixth Midwestern state in the top 25, Missouri is expected to have strong professional opportunities in the business sector, particularly entrepreneurship and accounting. With median housing values below $150,000, the state offers college degree holders both affordability and career mobility. Average score: 23.82/40 Median house value: $144,200 Median annual salary: $58,760 Cost of living: 17th 20. Pennsylvania Pennsylvania offers college graduates a combination of affordable housing, solid earning potential, and job growth across a variety of industries. Marketing represents the strongest academic area for future career success in the state, and for job growth, business and technology professions are both projected to experience strong gains between 2012 and 2022. Average score: 23.68/40 Median house value: $178,000 Median annual salary: $65,050 Cost of living: 34th 21. Connecticut Although Connecticut is one of the most expensive areas to live in the country -- second only to Hawaii -- those high costs are offset by a strong job outlook and higher-than-average salaries. The strongest employment opportunities are expected to be in technology and business, especially in accounting and marketing. Average score: 23.60/40 Median house value: $272,800 Median annual salary: $70,767 Cost of living: 49th 22. Kansas Kansas ranks in the top 10 nationally for affordability and has a sub-$150,000 median home value. The low cost of living represents real opportunity for degree holders, especially those pursuing careers in business, technology, and health care. Those three industries are expected to experience the largest employment gains numerically in the state between 2012 and 2022. Average score: 23.52/40 Median house value: $147,400 Median annual salary: $56,790 Cost of living: 9th 23. California California is the second West Coast state to make the top 25. Although cost of living is significantly higher than the national average, a positive job outlook and solid professional opportunities in the technology sector place the state on this year's list. Nine of the 10 top-scoring degrees for California are in tech, with information science topping our list. Average score: 23.28/40 Median house value: $383,200 Median annual salary: $71,943 Cost of living: 46th 24. Florida Florida is projected to see strong employment growth in health care, with two occupations -- osteopathy and occupational therapy -- ranking in the top 10 nationally for overall job openings in the field. Salaries and cost of living are both middle-of-the-road, placing the state near the bottom of the best states for housing affordability after graduation, but still in the top 25. Average score: 23.20/40 Median house value: $163,600 Median annual salary: $61,070 Cost of living: 27th 25. Tennessee The low cost of living in Tennessee is a strong enough factor to earn it a place in the top 25. On the other hand, job growth is primarily strong for lower-paying occupations, particularly in health care. Occupational therapy and surgical technology are two of the best occupations for Tennessee degree holders, based on growth projections. Average score: 23.16/40 Median house value: $147,400 Median annual salary: $54,342 Cost of living: 2nd Download resume and cover letter templates


For nearly 80 years, two Dutch submarines have been occupying the ocean floor off the coast of Malaysia, with the remains of their crews still inside. They were among dozens of shipwrecks in the same area, all of them casualties of underwater World War II battles. Now, the ships  known as HNLMS O 16 and HNLMS K VII are gone. There's nothing paranormal at work, though. Instead, the ships have vanished as a result of greed. Scavengers in the area have made a profitable pursuit of placing explosives within the wrecks, blowing them into manageable pieces and taking off with the scrap metal using a crane. Copper and bronze materials can also be resold. It's estimated that about 40 ships in Indonesia, Singapore, and Malaysia have been demolished as a result of such efforts in recent years. Because the ships are typically considered unmarked graves, the thieves may be committing the crime of desecrating corpses. After several British ships were found ransacked, the UK's Ministry of Defense urged Indonesia to increase their efforts to protect the ships. The United States has dispatched representatives in Indonesia to guard ships they believe have been targeted by the scavengers. Marine archaeologists have expressed some puzzlement at the phenomenon, as the scrap can often take weeks to retrieve, is frequently corroded, and would seemingly be cost-prohibitive to steal considering the labor involved. It's possible that the ships may be targeted for having low-background metals, which are free from radiation because they pre-date atomic bomb testing and can be used in delicate scientific instruments like Geiger counters. In China, scrap metal could bring in about $1.3 million per ship. [h/t Live Science ]


The diplomas at Snowflake High School are usually awarded in alphabetical order, but on Friday, Charlie Hall will go first. He's been waiting a long time. Hall is 96, a veteran of World War II. He will walk across the stage, in his royal blue cap and gown, accompanied by three great-grandchildren, who also are graduating. "I'm still a little bit in shock," Hall said Thursday. "I didn't think it was ever really going to happen." Hall left high school in 1943 to enlist in the Marine Corps. After the war, he ran a business, raised a family and was elected to the Town Council and the school board. But he never finished high school. Now, after 76 years, with the help of family and a state lawmaker, Hall will finally receive his diploma. Hall had finished his junior year at Snowflake High, where he was class president and a star football player. His coach thought Hall's senior year would be their chance at a championship. But many of Hall's friends were fighting in the war or preparing to go. He enlisted, too, on July 27, 1943, choosing the Marine Corps because he liked the dress blue uniform. "Everybody who was over 100 pounds went into service," he said. For more stories that matter, subscribe to azcentral.com . Hall didn't have to go. He could have gotten a deferment because he was still in high school and worked as a logger, considered vital for the war effort. But Hall wanted to do his part. "I'd worked around grown men my whole life. I knew I could hold my own," he said. Hall already was married, to his sweetheart Katie Willis, and had a daughter just a few months old. She would be almost 3 before he saw her again. He was assigned to the 9th Amphibious Tractor Battalion, which landed the 6th Marine Division on the island in the Battle of Okinawa. "We went with whoever needed us," Hall said. He was 22 and a decorated veteran when he was discharged Dec. 27, 1945, and hitchhiked back to Snowflake. He wanted to finish high school, but he had a family to provide for. There was no trace of kid left in him. Hall went to back to work and built a house for his wife and   eventually   eight children and one foster son in neighboring Taylor. He was a scoutmaster and served on the Taylor Town Council and the Snowflake school board. His wife died of cancer in 1997 after 54 years of marriage. Later that year, he married Donna Hall, who had four children. Hall has 13 children in all, 52 grandchildren, 155 great-grandchildren and 16 great-great-grandchildren. "I've been blessed," Hall said. But something nagged at him. Hall never mentioned not having a high school diploma. He didn't want anyone to know. He preached to his children about the importance of education. "I would have had more opportunities in life if I had got my diploma, but the importance of serving my country outweighed that," Hall said. Still, it felt like something left undone. Hall talked to his son-in-law, Jim Gill, a retired Army lieutenant colonel Hall could confide in, about things from the war he'd never told anyone else. He admitted to Gill he regretted not getting his diploma. "The book of his life is missing a chapter," said Gill's wife, Lori, Hall's stepdaughter. They were determined to make it happen. Lori's brother, Scott Gibson, called an old Army buddy from Snowflake, Walt Blackman, who is also a state representative. Blackman put the family in touch with school officials who agreed to give Hall a diploma. "I think it's the right thing to do," said Blackman, an Army veteran who served for 22 years. He plans to introduce legislation next session like Operation Recognition in Washington and Kansas, among other states, which awards diplomas to veterans who left high school or college to serve during wartime. "It doesn't cost anything but the printing on the paper," Blackman said. "We're honoring our veterans because of the great sacrifices they made." On Wednesday, Hall received his cap and gown. He tried on the hat, tilting it at a jaunty angle. "It is still hard to believe," Hall said. "I'm so proud." Reach Bland at karina.bland@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-8614. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter @KarinaBland . Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: 96-year-old World War II veteran receives high school diploma


Here's the most recent top news you may have missed in Detroit. Gleaners Community Food Bank to provide 4.5 million meals to children across metro Detroit Gleaners Community Food Bank expects to provide at least 4.5 million meals this summer for children across southeastern Michigan. Read the full story on Graham Media: WDIV Detroit . Gunman leaves man critically injured after argument in Detroit Police are looking for the gunman who shot a man after an argument Sunday in the 11300 block of Coyle Street. Read the full story on Graham Media: WDIV Detroit . Detroit Pistons meeting with free agent center JaVale McGee, a Flint native The Detroit Pistons are schedule to meet Monday with Javale McGee, a Flint native who spent last season with Los Angeles Lakers. Read the full story on Detroit Free Press . DART payment system offers metro Detroit bus riders smoother, cheaper service A DDOT bus rider used to face about 30 payment options. But with the May 1 creation of the DART payment system, that's been cut down to eight. Read the full story on The Detroit News . 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.


Video by ABC News Congressman Adam Schiff, chair of the House Intelligence Committee, said Sunday that while he believes that President Donald Trump has acted in ways that may merit impeachment, the process of removing the president from office is likely to be unsuccessful because of what Schiff dubbed a "cult" surrounding Trump's personality. While a number of rank-and-file Democratic House members have openly called for the lower chamber of Congress to begin impeachment proceedings against Trump, party leaders have been reluctant. Appearing on ABC's This Week Sunday morning, Schiff tried to explain to host George Stephanopolous why he was among those high-ranking Democrats who were not stoking the impeachment flames. "In terms of the impeachment process, it's not mandated by the Constitution," said Schiff. "We can avail ourselves of this when the president demonstrates acts that are high crimes or misdemeanors. It is certainly true, I think, that much of his conduct qualifies for that, but at the same time we have to recognize that one party   the Republican Party   has turned itself into a cult of the President's personality and is not likely to act consistent with its Constitutional obligations." He continued: "We have to figure out in that context: Is this the right thing for the country, and I'm just not convinced   not yet   that's the case." Schiff's remarks came a day after Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi addressed California Democratic Party members in San Francisco. While people in the crowd Saturday chanted for Pelosi to impeach Trump, the Speaker responded by pushing for further investigations into the president and his administration. "We will build an ironclad case to act," Pelosi said on Saturday. "President Trump will be held accountable for his actions. In the Congress, in the courts and in the court of public opinion, we will defend our democracy." While the House can impeach a president with a simple majority of votes, the determination on whether or not to remove a sitting president occurs after a trial before the Senate, where a two-thirds majority is needed. Democrats currently have a solid majority in the House, but Republicans hold 53 of the 100 Senate seats. Removing Trump from office would require a large number of GOP senators to break from party ranks and vote in favor of ousting the president from the Oval Office. A new CNN poll released Sunday morning found that nationwide support for impeachment had risen to 41 percent, up from 37 percent in April, but down from the poll's high figure of 47 percent from September 2018. Related Articles Republican Rep. Justin Amash Defends Calling For Trump's Impeachment: I Swore an Oath to 'Defend the Constitution' Nancy Pelosi Pledges 'Ironclad' Case Against Trump As Crowd Chants 'Impeach' Sign up to our newsletter and get Newsweek stories delivered to your e-mail


The lawyer who successfully sued Rockland County on behalf of parents of unvaccinated children said Saturday that attorneys "hope and expect to mount legal challenges" to the just-enacted state law that ends the religious exemption from vaccines. "Along with other attorneys, we are exploring a number of different challenges to the law," lawyer Michael Sussman said in a statement this morning. New York legislators voted Thursday to end the exemption that had permitted parents to send unvaccinated children to daycare or school. Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed it into law that evening. The issue has come to the fore in Rockland County due to a measles outbreak, with a total of 259 confirmed cases over the past eight months, as well as cases in Brooklyn. REPEALED: New York ends religious exemption for school vaccinations VACCINATIONS: 'You don't change people's religious beliefs by passing a law' MEASLES: Rockland County announces Spring Valley exposure site Cuomo called vaccines "safe and effective" and said the science is "crystal clear." "This administration has taken aggressive action to contain the measles outbreak, but given its scale, additional steps are needed to end this public health crisis," the governor said in a statement. Statewide, about 26,000 students were exempt from vaccinations based on religious beliefs, according to the state Department of Health, or about 1% of school children. Sussman's statement said that "many people from around the state have contacted our respective law offices expressing outrage, concern and confusion about our State's direction and seeking legal representation." He said that "we view our task as insuring that the most important legal challenges to the new law are brought and adjudicated by our courts." The new law includes a grace period until June 30, 2020, for children to attend school if they can show they have "received at least the first dose in each immunization series" before that time. An exemption from vaccines for medical issues continues to be in effect. This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Legal challenges expected after NY repeals religious exemption for school vaccinations


Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill has released a statement in which he says he was falsely accused of abusing his son and expresses appreciation to the NFL for announcing today that he will not be suspended. "The last few months have been very difficult for me, especially as a father," Hill wrote. "The false allegations originally reported in March were highly publicized and involved the care of my son. I am grateful for so many things and grateful for so many people who have supported me during this challenging time. I full respect and accept the NFL's decision. "To the fans, friends, and family that I have made in Kansas City: I love you and thank you for your continued support. To the NFLPA, Mr. Ned Ehrlich: thank you for your dedication, understanding and guidance throughout this process. To the NFL, Commissioner Goodell and everyone who assisted in this investigation: thank you for your time and for conducting a thorough investigation. I will not let you down. "To the Kansas City Chiefs, Clark Hunt, Brett Veach, Coach Reid, the entire organization and Chiefs Kingdom: you gave me a home when everyone doubted me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I love you all. I can assure you that I will continue to work to be the person, player, and teammate that you envisioned me to be. "To my children, my beautiful children: I love you all dearly and I promise you all that I will continue to strive to be the best father, the best friend, the best role model, and the best mentor that I can be. "I love you all." Hill did not mention the mother of his son, Crystal Espinal, whom Hill was previously convicted of abusing while she was pregnant with their son, and whom Hill was caught on tape saying ought to be "terrified" of him.


Real Madrid are prepared to offer Gareth Bale to Manchester United in an attempt to sweeten a deal for France international midfielder Paul Pogba. The Wales international has fallen well down the pecking order at the Santiago Bernabéu and it looks all but certain that Real Madrid will look to move Bale out of the club before the start of next season. One way that The Mirror believes Real Madrid will do that is by using Bale as part of a deal which will bring down the asking price of Manchester United's Pogba , who is now a top priority after securing Eden Hazard's signature. It's suggested that United will currently be looking for a £130m cheque this summer before they agree to offload Pogba, but the club's stance over the future of their record signing really hasn't been made crystal clear. Perhaps the biggest chink in the report's armour, however, is that there have been no signs to suggest Bale would actually be of interest for United. Although the club have been heavily linked with a move for Bale in the past - most notably during his Tottenham days - the forward's age, injury record and wages wouldn't make him a widely popular addition in United's current climate. One option for Real Madrid this summer could just be to sell Bale to recoup some transfer funds after their acquisition of Chelsea star Hazard for a reported £88.5m, as well as splashing out a further £139m to bring in Rodrygo, Éder Militão and Luka Jović. But the player's wages will once again prove to be the deciding factor over his future this summer, as Bale is claimed to be pocketing £600,000-a-week on his current deal in the Spanish capital.


The F1 2019 schedule reaches its eighth race of the season Sunday, the French Grand Prix in Le Castellet, France. After a one-week detour to ABC for the last F1 event, ESPN will be the TV channel that will broadcast this weekend's Formula 1 race, with a start time of 9:05 a.m. ET on Sunday. The French Grand Prix also can be live streamed via the ESPN app. The French Grand Prix in 2019 returns to the Circuit Paul Ricard , a 15-turn, 5.842-kilometer course located near the city of Marseille, France, that's ripe for overtaking with its variation of corners. Sunday's race is scheduled for 53 laps and a total distance of 309.69 kilometers. In France, Ferrari is looking to avenge its loss in the last Grand Prix a couple weeks ago, when a questionable ruling allowed Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton to win. Sebastian Vettel took the checkered flag in Canada, but he was not awarded the win, as FIA stewards handed him a five-second penalty for what they deemed to be rejoining the track in an unsafe fashion earlier in the race. Vettel has now gone 15 finished Grand Prix races in a row without winning, his worst run excluding retirements in his F1 career. Ferrari is still asking FIA to review that decision, but in the meantime, a win in the French Grand Prix on Sunday would alleviate the angst. After all, Ferrari has won 17 races and taken 17 pole positions at the French Grand Prix, more than any other team in either category. Mercedes, though, remains the team to beat with Hamilton, the F1 standings points leader, and Valtteri Bottas having dominated the 2019 F1 season thus far. Hamilton took the pole position at the French Grand Prix last year, but only two drivers (Jackie Stewart, 1971 and '73; Alain Prost, 1988 and '89) have ever managed consecutive pole positions at Le Castellet. Below is all you need to know about the 2019 French Grand Prix, including how to watch and live stream the race. F1 2019 French Grand Prix start time, how to watch Date : Sunday, June 23 Time : 9:05 a.m. ET TV channel : ESPN Live stream : ESPN app F1 TV schedule, live stream for French Grand Prix As it has in years past, in the United States, ESPN will broadcast Sky Sports' presentation of all 2019 F1 races. Below is the TV and live streaming schedule for French Grand Prix qualifying and race presentations on ESPN platforms Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Friday, June 21 Event Start time TV channel Live stream Practice 1 4:55 a.m. ET ESPN2 ESPN app Practice 2 8:55 a.m. ET ESPNU ESPN app Saturday, June 22 Event Start time TV channel Live stream Practice 3 5:55 a.m. ET ESPN2 ESPN app Qualifying 8:55 a.m. ET ESPN2 ESPN app Sunday, June 23 Event Start time TV channel Live stream Pre-race show 8:30 a.m. ET ESPN ESPN app Race 9:05 a.m. ET ESPN ESPN app Race (re-air) 7 p.m. ET ESPNEWS N/A Race (re-air) 10 p.m. ET ESPN2 N/A French Grand Prix qualifying results, starting lineup F1 qualifying for the 2019 French Grand Prix took place Saturday, June 22 at 8:55 a.m. ET and was shown live on ESPN2 with a live stream available on the ESPN app. Fun fact: Nine of the previous 15 races at this circuit have seen the winner start from pole position. However, in the six other races at Paul Richard, no winner has come from a starting spot better than fifth on the grid. The F1 qualifying results and starting grid for the 2019 French Grand Prix are below. Pos. Driver Car/team 1. Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 2. Valtteri Bottas Mercedes 3. Charles LeClerc Ferrari 4. Max Verstappen Red Bull 5. Lando Norris McLaren 6. Carlos Sainz McLaren 7. Sebastian Vettel Ferrari 8. Daniel Ricciardo Renault 9. Pierre Gasly Red Bull 10. Antonio Giovinazzi Alfa Romeo 11. Alexander Albon Toro Rosso 12. Kimi Raikkonen Alfa Romeo 13. Nico Hulkenberg Renault 14. Sergio Perez Racing Point 15. Kevin Magnussen Haas 16. Daniil Kvyat Toro Rosso 17. Romain Grosjean Haas 18. Lance Stroll Racing Point 19. George Russell Williams 20. Robert Kubica Williams French Grand Prix facts, notes F1 Opta facts: No driver has won the French Grand Prix more than Michael Schumacher (8). However, no German driver has ever won in Le Castellet; Alain Prost has the most wins at this track (4). Hamilton took the pole position at Paul Ricard last year; only two drivers have managed consecutive pole positions at Le Castellet before (Jackie Stewart, 1971 and 1973; Alain Prost, 1988 and 1989). Nine of the previous 15 races at this circuit have seen the victor start from pole position. However, in the six other races here, no driver has won after starting above fifth place on the grid. Ferrari has won 17 races and taken 17 pole positions at the French Grand Prix, more than any other team in either category. Renault has won the French Grand Prix more often (five times) than any other race, with two of those victories coming at Paul Ricard (1982 and 1983). The next driver to secure a maiden career pole position will be the 100th different driver to do so in F1 history. Only Jim Clark (eight) has notched more Grand Chelems than Hamilton in F1 (five, alongside Alberto Alberti and Schumacher). Bottas is one win away from securing as many wins in 2019 as in the rest of his F1 career combined (three, all in 2017). Vettel has gone 15 finished Grand Prix races in a row without winning, his worst run excluding retirements in his F1 career. Vettel has reached the podium at 25 of the 26 different Grands Prix races in which he has run, only failing to do so in France. If he reaches the podium at Paul Ricard, the German will be the driver with the most podiums in different Grand Prix races in F1 alongside Kimi Raikkonen (26). If Ferrari's Charles Leclerc wins in Le Castellet, he will become the third youngest driver to win a F1 race (21 years, eight months and seven days) after Max Verstappen and Vettel. Verstappen has finished 16 Grand Prix races in a row, the best run in his F1 career, being placed in the first five positions in all of them. Red Bull's Pierre Gasly retired in his only previous French Grand Prix (2018 for Toro Rosso); being one of only two F1 races in which he has abandoned on the first lap (also 2018 Spanish Grand Prix). Raikkonen will race his 300th Grand Prix, becoming the fifth driver to reach this milestone after Rubens Barrichello (323), Fernando Alonso (312), Schumacher (307) and Jenson Button (306). Racing Point's Sergio Pérez and Williams' George Russell are the only drivers to beat their respective teammate in every qualifying session this season. Williams' Robert Kubica has made 14 pit stops this season, more than any other F1 driver in 2019.