Sacramento Bee | Second wildfire starts up near Jamestown as crews make progress on Jacksonville burn Sacramento Bee A second wildfire erupted south of Jamestown on Sunday afternoon, close to another blaze where crews were making progress. The new Twist Fire had reached about 150 acres as of 6:15 p.m., the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection ... |
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The Belgium international defender remains tied to Spurs until 2019, but no breakthrough has been made in discussions regarding an extension
Toby Alderweireld admits that zero progress has been made in discussions regarding a new deal at Tottenham.
The Belgium international has established a reputation as one of world footballs finest centre-halves during his time at England, on loan at Southampton and then with Spurs.
Spurs to finish above Arsenal in PL - 4/5
His current club are eager to reward that standing with fresh terms, while removing a 25 million release clause which is due to kick in if they take up a 12-month option through to 2019.
Alderweireld, though, says that no breakthrough has been made as he waits on updates from the club and his representatives.
Poch: Dier rumours are positive
The 28-year-old told Sky Sports when quizzed on the extension talks: No news that I know of so nothing zero.
Alderweireld has formed part of a settled defensive unit at Tottenham, with Mauricio Pochettino having pieced together a Premier League title-challenging squad.
There has been one departure from the ranks this summer, though, with Kyle Walker moved on to Manchester City for 50 million.
Spurs have a ready-made replacement in Kieran Trippier, but Alderweireld is disappointed to have seen another England international leave the club.
Levy: Prem spending unsustainable
He added on Walker, who he could face in an International Champions Cup clash in Nashville: Everybody is sad that he left.
He is one of the best full-backs in the world and unfortunately he goes to another [Premier League] team, but we have to focus ourselves to win the game.
Alderweireld joined Tottenham from Atletico Madrid in the summer of 2015 and has made 80 appearances for the club over the course of two seasons, netting five goals.
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Alderweireld admits to 'zero' progress in Tottenham contract talks - Goal.com
As of the time of this writing, one of my holdings happens to be Civeo Corp. (CVEO). As a niche accommodation business servicing the commodities industry (oil sands in Canada, coal and other products in Australia, and some oil and gas in the US), the company is well-diversified, flexible, and a nice fit, in my opinion, for my energy-centric portfolio. Given that it has been nearly three months since my last piece on the company and given that its share price has fallen a hefty 30.6% since the publication of said piece, I figured it would be interesting to look back at the business and give an update on my thoughts.
I approach investing from a long-term perspective. This means I look for a return thats in excess of the market over a period of 5 to 10 years (depending on the opportunity). As such, it doesnt matter too much to me if a holding is down for 4 of the 5-year minimum that I look at. Even so, seeing shares drop so much, such as Civeos 7.3% decline on July 28th, is never easy and makes me wonder if Im right in my evaluation of the firm. To see if this is the case, I dug into some of the data recently provided.
One thing I noticed about Civeo is that management has turned a bit more bullish as of late. Previously, the firm had expected revenue for this year to come out to between $337 million and $353 million. However, after landing four different accommodation contracts for Canadian pipelines, valued at 20 million Canadian dollars, this sales figure for 2017 was raised to be between $354 million and $363 million. Not only does this increase revenue as a whole, it also decreases the range from $16 million down to $9 million for the year. Thats quite a nice move.
Despite the increase in revenue expectations, EBITDA expectations havent moved that much. Truth be told, I really dislike EBITDA, but thats all management gives so thats what I need to deal with. If current forecasts are accurate, the business should generate EBITDA this year of between $61 million and $66 million, an increase for the floor and ceiling of just $1 million compared to prior forecasts.
Its hard to say precisely what cash flow will be based on this. During the first two quarters, the company reported total operating cash flow of just over $14 million. With sales more than halfway done for the year, you would expect operating cash flow for this year to be around $28 million, give or take a bit. However, if you annualize interest expense from the first half of this year and dont consider taxes since the company is likely to report a net loss because of its high depreciation and amortization expense for this year, youre looking at operating cash flow of around $43 million for the year at the mid-point. With capex of $12 million to $15 million thrown in, free cash flow would be $29.5 million. This means that either the rest of this year will be more cash accretive or investors should expect some downward revisions.
The last thing I noticed is a mix of good and bad relating to the company. Right now, its debt, according to management, stands at $320.2 million, which is a decrease of $3.7 million from the prior quarter. This is great to see and is great compared to the $353.3 million in debt seen at the end of last year. However, currency fluctuations have been moving against the business. During the last quarter, an uptick in the Canadian dollar relative to the US dollar hurt the firms debt repayment of $4 million. This is something that needs to be watched. On the other hand, due to a share issuance earlier this year, the company does have a nice $27.3 million in cash on hand and still has $117.5 million in borrowing capacity under its revolving credit facility. That provides it some nice flexibility so long as things dont materially worsen from where they are today.
Although many in the energy space are bearish about the future, it appears as though Civeos management team believes that better days are around the corner. For instance, if you look at the table below, you will see that, over the past three years, the company has continued to add available rooms to its physical footprint (this excludes other aspects of their business). Between 2014 and 2016, room count rose by 2,160 rooms, which is an increase of 9.9%. So far this year, the room count between Canada and Australia has grown by 118 rooms to 24,106 rooms. This is despite cash flow at the firm suffering during this energy downturn as demand for its services have plummeted.
*Created by Author
One thing I noticed is that, on the plus side, at least in Canada, the surge in the oil and gas rig count for the nation has been beneficial for Civeos occupancy rates there. Today, the rig count in Canada is estimated at 220 units, up from 118 the same time last year. As a result, the occupancy rate for Civeos Canadian operations during its latest quarter came in at 81% compared to last years 62%. While this is great news, there were some caveats here, such as the percent of available rooms that were rentable. Adjusting for this actually saw a small reduction in overall rooms occupied. Whats more, the companys average rate per room decreased from 108 Canadian dollars to 89 Canadian dollars. As you can see in the image below, occupancy rates for Australia remained flat, but it managed to see a very modest increase in how much it can charge.
*Taken from Civeo
This data appears to be rather mixed and highlights continued risk in its existing markets. While management has continued adding rooms to its set of operations, business remains weak. On the other hand, the companys strengthened balance sheet and revised estimates for this year is a positive that suggests the market may be getting better for the firm. The reason why I bought into Civeo is because I like its operations and cash flow potential, but it has always been among my smallest holdings (its my second smallest stock) because I know that while the firm does have impressive flexibility, it benefits, if my theory is correct, from more intensive commodity investments.
What do I mean by this? Well, the entire purpose of Civeo is to set up accommodation facilities in areas where alternatives are either too costly or simply dont exist. This means that many of its operations are set in regions that may not have the same kind of clustering ability that others might have for the businesss customers. As such, you would imagine that the real win for the business is when commodity prices are high enough that their customers can afford to spend more on projects that might otherwise be suboptimal. Because of this, my plan for Civeo has been to have a small stake to benefit from the run-up in energy and other commodity prices, but the real payday is like when oil prices hit around $70 per barrel.
Based on the data provided, I must say that recent developments involving Civeo are mostly encouraging. The firm does still have some trouble with its occupancy rates and the amount that it charges its customers, but the overall financial picture, because of the firms flexibility, appears fine for now. Eventually, to get a nice payday, we will need commodity prices to rise further, but I believe that in the next year or two, theres a pretty good chance of that taking place. Until then, I am likely to hold my stake, unless I find some other prospect that makes more sense for me.
Disclosure: I am/we are long CVEO.
I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.
Read more:
Civeo: Some Nice Progress But It's A Long Road - Seeking Alpha
COLUMBUS Area performers are tuning up for an annual showcase of musical talent.
Twenty-five acts will take the stage Aug. 4-6 during the Power and Progress Music Festival at Camp Pawnee.
For the sixth year, the event is presenting a lineup of bands covering a variety of genres.
We try to include more diverse acts every year. We reach out to musical acts all across the state, said Tom Adelman, one of the event organizers.
Adelman, a member of The Midland Band, said the event has grown over the years, in both attendance, which reached around 800 in 2016, and the number of musicians who want to participate.
We get a lot of submissions every year. Its hard to choose. We have to pick and choose who we want. I wish we could have everyone, Adelman said.
The festival focuses on displaying the talent of area musicians. The lineup typically includes acts from Columbus, Omaha, Lincoln and Norfolk. This year, there are also regional bands from Kansas and Minnesota.
We really try to have a broad spectrum, Adelman said of the type of music played, which ranges from bluegrass, 80s and tribute tunes to punk, funk, jazz and electronic music performed by bands and DJs.
A couple of bands Adelman expects to be big draws are tribute bands Rock and Roll Suicide from Omaha and Lincoln-based Jerry Pranksters. The Omaha group will perform songs by David Bowie and the Lincoln band will play music from the Grateful Dead.
The event is open to people of all ages and camping space is available, including a separate area for families. Music will be played on two stages with live performances taking place until the early morning hours.
The event starts at 5 p.m. Friday and runs until noon the following Sunday.
The lineup includes the following performers: The Midland Band, Kind Country, Funk Trek, Linear Symmetry, Rock and Roll Suicide, Jerry Pranksters, 3 Son Green, DJ Blac, Chemicals, Pure Brown, Slow Stoics, Floppydisco, JMNM, Dr. Webb, Zed Midland (Midland Band tribute to Zed Tempo), Dudes Gone Rude, The Grand Poobah, Soul Tree, Ruegazz, Levi and Hammersaw.
Along with the music, a number of art and food vendors will be on site. There will also be a costume contest Saturday night with prizes awarded.
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Power and Progress Music Festival back for sixth year - Columbus Telegram
Which new electric vehicle wowed a crowd that didn't expect it to be as cool as it turned out?
What environmental regulation is the NHTSA seemingly getting ready to roll back under Trump?
This is our look back at the Week In Reverseright here at Green Car Reportsfor the week ending on Friday, July 28, 2017.
Friday, we covered two separate EPA approvals for diesel vehicles: the agency approved modifications to 326,000 of the oldest, dirtiest VW diesels, and it finally certified 2017 Ram 1500 and Jeep Grand Cherokee EcoDiesel vehicles for sale.
In 2019, Formula E racing will gain two new, prestigious competitors, as both Mercedes-Benz and Porsche said they will enter the electric-car racing series for its sixth season, joining Audi, BMW, and Jaguar.
2016/2017 Team ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport Formula E race car
On Thursday evening, we attended the global debut of the Bollinger B1 all-electric utility truckwhich wowed more than a few people not expecting much from an electric truck designed by a tiny company in upstate New York.
(Our colleagues at the sports and luxury car site Motor Authority were far more effusive: they called the Bollinger B1 "the coolest electric car you've never heard of.")
If you're expecting regular, radical, revolutionary advances in batteries for electric cars, take a deep breath. Battery evolution will largely come via incremental improvements, rather than transformative leaps.
We also warned against the anti-electric-car propaganda in a new video, which was roundly debunked by pointing out numerous errors in actual facts. Facts are hard.
Wednesday, an EV driver explained why he added solar panels to the family house after one used electric car became five separate plug-in vehicles.
Photovoltaic solar panel installation on house, Fremont, California [image: Shiva Singh]
The NHTSA under Trump will review future fuel-economy standards, and could roll back increases to freeze the 2021 standards through 2025.
On Tuesday, a report indicated that Toyota will launch an electric car with a solid-state battery, though not until 2022. We updated that story later in the week as a handful of new details emerged.
And in a relatively rare editorial piece, we suggest that a few electric-car owners should get off their high horses and adopt a gentler tone toward new electric-car drivers.
We kicked off the week on Monday by updating our glossary of green-car terms from four years ago to include the latest terms to keep track of.
Staff at the powerful California Air Resources Board, meanwhile, recommended approval of VW's "Electrify America" plan for increasing zero-emission vehicle infrastructure in the state. (The approval came on Thursday.)
We also came across an oddball story that's one of our favorites: the oldest Toyota Prius hybrid in the world was made in 1946. Confused? We explained (with video).
Those were our main stories this week; we'll see you again next week. Until then, this has been the Green Car Reports Week in Reverse update.
________________________________________________
Follow GreenCarReports on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.
Continued here:
Barclays results, however, showed the costs of its restructuring efforts.
The bank reported a loss of 1.4 billion pounds, or about $1.8 billion. That compared with a profit of 677 million in the second quarter of 2016.
But Mr. Staley, who joined Barclays in December 2015 as its third chief executive since 2012, said the bank had reduced the size of its so-called noncore operations to the point that the division could be closed. The bank could then shift capital within some businesses, he said, in order to focus on increasing its profitability.
Shares of Barclays were down less than 1 percent in midmorning trading in London on Friday.
During the quarter, the bank took a loss of 1.4 billion on reducing its stake in Barclays Africa Group and an impairment of 1.1 billion related to the business.
The British bank has cut its stake in the business to 15 percent in order to free itself from regulatory and capital requirements that have dragged on its balance sheet. Barclays had owned as much as 62.3 percent of the African business.
Barclays, which has operated in Africa for more than a century, first announced plans to sell down its controlling stake in March. The African business had been a key pillar for the bank under former chief executive Antony Jenkins.
During the quarter, Barclays also took a 700 million charge related to payment protection insurance. The insurance product was widely sold for more than two decades in Britain, targeting consumers taking out mortgages, credit cards or other loans.
But British regulators determined that complex pricing and detailed conditions on eligibility to make claims made the product inappropriate for some consumers. Compensation for those who were sold it improperly has cost the industry tens of billions of pounds.
Lloyds Banking Group, one of the biggest providers of the loan insurance in Britain, took a similar charge of 700 million as part of its second quarter results on Thursday.
British banks expect to be able to draw a line on claims as regulators have set an August 2019 deadline for consumers to seek compensation.
But Barclays is still facing a series of other regulatory issues.
It was sued by the United States Justice Department in December over its sale of securities linked toxic mortgages.
British authorities filed criminal charges in June against the bank and several former executives, accusing them of conspiring to misrepresent arrangements made with the Persian Gulf nation of Qatar in 2008, as the bank raised capital to help it weather the financial crisis.
And, Mr. Staley himself is facing an inquiry by regulators over his handling of a whistle-blower complaint.
Revenue declined about 2 percent in the second quarter in its corporate and investment bank. The banks credit and equity trading businesses reported double-digit revenue gains, while its rates and currency trading business saw a 25 percent decline in revenue.
Follow Chad Bray on Twitter @Chadbray.
A version of this article appears in print on July 29, 2017, on Page B3 of the New York edition with the headline: Barclays Reports Pretty Good Progress, and a $1.8 Billion Loss.
Read more from the original source:
Barclays Reports 'Pretty Good Progress,' and a $1.8 Billion Loss - New York Times
Photo Jessica Williams in The Incredible Jessica James, streaming on Netflix. Credit Netflix
One of the best scenes in The Incredible Jessica James comes two-thirds of the way through the movie. Jessica, arguing with a guy shes sort of been seeing, delivers a kiss-off: Im freakin dope. That bold declaration not only represents a strong young woman but is also a gift for fans of the actress who plays her, Jessica Williams, the former Daily Show correspondent and current co-host of the 2 Dope Queens podcast.
And yet the struggle is real for her character. Jessica James is a Brooklyn playwright going through a weird transitional phase, not really coping well with a recent breakup (her ex-boyfriend keeps coming to an untimely end in her dreams) and trying to remain optimistic as rejection letters from theater companies pile up. Those notices share a wall in her Bushwick apartment with Playbill covers, posters for old school productions and inspirational quotes from Lillian Hellman.
Her love of theater is deep, as witnessed in scenes with young students in a playwriting class she teaches. She bonds with one, Shandra (a delightful Taliyah Whitaker), who shows promise but is also processing the recent divorce of her parents. The snappy dialogue makes Jessicas silly moments with the kids as well as heart-to-hearts with her friend Tasha (Nol Wells, just as charming as she was in Master of None) feel most lived-in and natural, even when she is asked to recommend a show for a friend of her mothers back home in Ohio whos heard good things about Jersey Boys. Jessica prefers dialogue-driven dramas that explore the human condition.
The director Jim Strouse wrote this movie, which began streaming Friday on Netflix, for Ms. Williams after she appeared in his 2015 film, People Places Things. The camera lovingly follows her on her adventures in the city, and its easy to see why he was inspired to give her this breakout role.
Her characters forthrightness draws in friends and intrigues potential suitors, including the recently divorced Boone (played by a scruffy and slightly goofy Chris ODowd). They are complete opposites but find themselves in bed after an awkward first date. Their courtship involves an elaborate plan to break free of the obsessive cycle of stalking their exes on social media. The solution: Each will follow the others ex.
But this is Ms. Williamss movie, and she owns it. (Though, with its strong ensemble Lakeith Stanfield plays her ex I kept thinking it could make for a smart series.) Shes a radiant, tall glass of dopeness and isnt afraid to tell you so. And in New York City, isnt that how the strong survive?
NYT Critics Pick
Director Jim Strouse
Writer Jim Strouse
Stars Lakeith Stanfield, Chris O'Dowd, Nol Wells, Jessica Williams, Zabryna Guevara
Running Time 1h 25m
Genre Comedy
The Incredible Jessica James Streaming on Netflix. Not rated. Running time: 1 hour 25 minutes.
A version of this review appears in print on July 29, 2017, on Page C2 of the New York edition with the headline: When Youre Dope And You Know It.
Originally posted here:
Review: 'The Incredible Jessica James' Is a Bold Woman in Progress - New York Times
LONDON (Reuters) - Brian Cookson, facing an election challenge for his presidency of cycling's governing body the UCI, launched a strong defence of his stewardship on Friday and said he expects to win another four-year period in office.
He believes he has greatly improved the disastrous and controversy-ridden organisation he took over in 2013 and will continue to do so, especially in the areas of anti-doping, women's cycling and inspiring participation in the sport.
The 66-year-old Briton beat Irishman Pat McQuaid in the last election and was hoping to be unopposed this time.
He is being challenged, however, by UCI vice-president and European Cycling Union president David Lappartient from France, who Cookson described as having been the leader of the opposition for some time.
The Frenchman announced his candidacy last month, 24 hours before the deadline.
The restoration of UCI's credibility was an absolutely essential step, given the disastrous state of our reputation at the time, and I think we've made great progress, Cookson told a news conference.
I worked very quickly to rebuild relations with the World Anti-Doping Agency at every level and we are now a highly trusted partner within the anti-doping community.
People have to believe and trust in our sport. I set about rebuilding the integrity of it because we suffered a lot of reputational damage. German television had actually stopped covering the Tour de France and four years ago we were threatened with being removed from the Olympics.
He pointed to a new ethics code, strengthening the UCI's financial position and growing cycling worldwide, with a record number of nations at the Rio Olympic Games and the development of the UCI Women's World Tour, with equal prize money.
His manifesto includes continuing the global development of cycling, keeping an eye on the ball with anti-doping and using the elite level of cycling to inspire people to get on a bike for health benefits."
Criticised publicly by his predecessor McQuaid, who called him a fraud, and by the disgraced former world champion and seven-times Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong, Cookson said: I don't want their support. (Their criticism) is the best possible endorsement of me.
The vote among 45 delegates will take place on Sept. 21 during the UCI road world championships in Norway.
I think I have substantial support from all (geographical) areas, Cookson said. Do I think I'll win? Yes.
The rest is here:
Cycling: "Great progress" made in restoring UCI's reputation - Cookson - Reuters
When God judges Israel, he throws the world clock into reverse and makes time run backwards. In one afternoon, Saul and his sons die, while the Philistines drive Israel from their cities and enslave some of the Israelites (1 Chron. 10). Conquest and exodus are reversed, as Israel loses land and freedom. David arrives on the scene as a new Moses, Solomon as a new Joshua.
A similar reversal happens at the end of the monarchy. Nebuchadnezzar invades, breaks the walls of Jerusalem, burns the temple, and takes the people of Judah into exile. Israel ends where she began, in exile, awaiting another Moses who eventually takes the surprising shape of Cyrus the Persian.
This literary-historical pattern takes a more complex shape in the Chroniclers account of Uzziah (2 Chron. 26). Uzziahs reign encompasses exodus and reverse-exodus, conquest and expulsion.
By comparison with previous generations, Uzziahwhose name means Yah is my strengthis a breath of fresh air. Crowned at sixteen, he does right and seeks the Lord. Led by the visionary Zechariah, he embarks on an ambitious plan of conquest, building, defense, and development. During his fathers reign, Joash of Israel burst through the walls of Jerusalem; under Uzziah, Judah bursts through the walls of the Philistine cities of Gath, Jabneh, and Ashdod. Uzziah doesnt even have to fight the Ammonites. They see what he does to the Philistines, and they pay tribute (26:8).
No army in Israels history is as well equipped as Uzziahs, each warrior being issued a sevenfold panoply of offensive and defensive arms (26:14). The battlements of Jerusalem are fitted with cunning engines of war (the Hebrew repeats the same root three timesdesigned-things designed by designers) that shoot arrows and huge stones from the walls (26:15). Uzziahs name spreads as far as the brook of Egypt (26:8). No king since Solomon has matched Uzziahs reputation.
Uzziah liberates Israel and reconquers land, but just at the climax of his strength (26:1516), things fall apart. Uzziahs success makes his heart strong, so that he commits a sacrilege, the same kind of sin that doomed Saul (1 Chron. 10:1314). The Chronicler reinforces the catastrophe with a pun: At his height, Uzziah is exalted (Hebrew maalah). He falls because he commits a maal.
Specifically, Uzziah tries to burn incense in the temple, an act of worship reserved for priests. Whatever his motives, Uzziah is strictly prohibited from entering the sanctuary, Gods space, which is open only to consecrated descendants of Aaron.
Eighty priests surround Uzziah, but they dont have to do anything. Just as the king is ready to offer incense, the Lord touches his forehead with the stroke of leprosy, a mark of impurity in the very place where the high priest wears his golden crown. Terrified, Uzziah hurries from the temple.
Uzziah experiences a personal de-exodus and un-conquest. Made permanently unclean by one of the Egyptian plagues, he cant worship in the temple courts. He cant return to his own palace, but lives in a separate house. His son Jotham takes over his royal responsibilities. Even in death, he is excluded: He is buried with his fathers, but not in the city of David. Seizing a privilege that is not his, Uzziah repeats the sin of Adam, and his life limps to its end in a series of Adamic exclusions. He rises only to fall. Because of a solitary act of pride, his life-clock ticks backwards.
Pride and humility are the hinges of Israels history and the personal histories of Israels kings. 2 Chronicles 7:14one of the few memory verses people take from this bookis key: If my people who are called by my name humble themselves and pray, I will heal their land. Rehoboam humbles himself, and the Lord preserves Jerusalem. Wicked Manasseh humbles himself, and the Lord gives him a reprieve. Uzziah becomes proud, and so the king who fights and rules like David ends his life as pathetically as Saul.
We may think progress requires resolute pride. We make progress by surging forward and seizing opportunities, damn the consequences. Humility, being timid, inhibits progress. The cautionary tale of Uzziah shows that this is an illusion. Pride turns the clock back, while humility opens a fresh future. Pride is regressive, and the humble are the true progressives.
Peter J. Leithart is President ofTheopolis Institute.
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Slideshow: Crews battle Sapphire Complex Fire on Rock Creek
MISSOULA, Mont. - The Sapphire Complex, southeast of Missoula, is burning over 9,000 acres, but officials say most of the growth is away from homes.
The complex is made up of three fires. Crews have zero containment on the Little Hogback Fire, 5 percent containment on the SliderockFire and have constructed more fire lines near the Goat Creek Fire, reaching 35 percent containment.
The fires are burning about 27 miles from Missoula in the Rock Creek area.
Residents previously evacuated have been allowed to return home but remain under pre-evacuation notice.
An enlarged forest and road closure includes all or parts of Rock Creek Road, Brewster Creek Road, Upper Brewster Creek Road,SliderockMountain Road, Upper Willow Creek Road and Road #8419. All or parts of the following trails are closed: Grizzly Creek, John Long, Butte Cabin Creek, Butte Cabin Ridge, Hogback Ridge and Ranch Creek.
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The following is a press release from the Northern Rockies Type II Incident Management Team:
Approximate Size: Little Hogback 4,018 acres Sliderock 513 acres Goat Creek 4,592 acres Containment: Little Hogback 0% Sliderock 5% Goat Creek 35% Total personnel: 434
The Little Hogback, Sliderock and Goat Creek fires are located approximately 25 miles south-southeast of Missoula. Incident Commander Irv Leachs Type 2 Incident Management team will continue working with Forest Service, Montana DNRC, and Granite County Sheriffs Office in suppressing all three fires with a comprehensive fire management strategy.
The Lolo National Forest has issued an enlarged forest and road closure (Order No. F17-053-LOLO-03). The closure is intended to ensure firefighter and public safety, and includes all or parts of Rock Creek Road, Brewster Creek Rd., Upper Brewster Creek Rd., Sliderock Mountain Rd., Upper Willow Creek Rd., and Rd. #8419. All or parts of the following trails are closed: Grizzly Creek, John Long, Butte Cabin Creek, Butte Cabin Ridge, Hogback Ridge, and Ranch Creek. Visit the official Sapphire Complex Fire incident information page at inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5346/ for details and map of the closures.
Fire Update: Fire growth on all three fires was primarily in an easterly direction with minimal behavior and some torching of single and group trees. These fires continue to be influenced by high temperatures, low relative humidity, very dry vegetation, wind conditions, and topography. Fuels are dry enough that the fire is now fuels-driven as much as wind-driven.
Goat Creek: (approx. 4,592 ac.) The fire progressed toward the east with little substantial growth. Line constructed near yesterdays burning operations from Babcock Mountain to Babcock and Spring Creeks was completed and cleaned up. The construction of indirect fireline by dozers and handcrews continues along ridgelines from Babcock Mountain beyond Burnt Mountain southeast toward Strawberry Mountain. The objective is to tie in with the east side of Sliderock Fire. Today, operations continued to clean line construction from Rock Creek Road to Babcock Mountain. This line continues east to the head of Babcock Creek. Crews continue to patrol for burning material that may break loose and roll downhill toward the structures along Rock Creek and Brewster Creek. Night shift continues to aid in this effort by checking and maintaining portable tanks and hose lays set at strategic locations.
Little Hogback: (approx. 4,018 ac.) Fire activity continues to be low. Growth occurred on the northeast flank of the fire as well as to the south towards Hogback Creek. Heavy equipment constructed and improved old fuelbreaks east of Sandstone Ridge moving north to south from Standish Creek towards Sawpit Gulch along FS Road 4325. Hose lays plumbed with portable tanks remain in place to protect structures around the Hogback and Morgan Case Homesteads along Rock Creek Road.
Sliderock: (approx. 513 ac.) The fire continues to slowly move east, but overall growth was not significant. Slop overs on this fire were quickly extinguished with aircraft. Hotshot crews monitored the line on the southeast side of Sliderock Fire for any hot spots.
Cinnabar 3: (approx. 15 ac.) This fire, not part of the Sapphire Complex, in the Welcome Creek Wilderness was located on Sunday evening by air resources. It was worked again Friday by smokejumpers and two hotshot crews as well as supported by helicopters. This fire is approximately 15 acres and, while not contained, it is well-secured.
Weather: A slight chance of thunderstorms exists for the evening and overnight on Friday. Outflow winds of 20-30 mph are possible during this time as well but chances diminish overnight. The coming days will be hot and dry with humidity remaining low overnight. Winds will be light out of the west/southwest at 5-10 mph and will be terrain driven.
Fuels: Large woody fuel is extremely dry and at near record low moisture content. Shrub and grass fuel moistures are reaching levels where this vegetation is starting to burn more aggressively.
Special Concerns: As fire operations are closer to residential areas, it is important for firefighters to be able to work around structures and on the fireline without interruption. This ensures the safety of firefighters as well as residents in the area. Especially in the evening and at night or when the fire is active, do not concentrate in areas with narrow roadways so that firefighters are able to move and maneuver equipment without issue. By providing firefighters space to work, they can more efficiently carry out their missions, protect homes in the fire area and keep residents safe.
An abundance of dead and dying trees pose an extreme hazard to firefighter safety. Other challenges to suppression efforts are the steep, rocky slopes, limited access, and radio communication issues associated with the rugged terrain.
Granite County has entered Stage II fire restrictions for all private land in the county except for reasonable agricultural purposes. For more information, see firerestrictions.us.
More Information: Fire behavior can change rapidly and visitors are encouraged to contact Fire Information at 406-540-3589 or email sliderockfire@gmail.com for current fire information. Current Fire and closure information is posted on InciWeb at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5346/ and on the Lolo National Forest Facebook site at https://www.facebook.com/lolonationalforest/
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Crews make progress on fire line construction at Sapphire Complex - NBC Montana
President Donald Trump visited Long Island, New York,on Friday, where local law enforcement, with the support of federal agencies, has begun to make progress in the fight against the violent street gang MS-13.
"It is the policy of this administration to dismantle ... and eradicate MS-13," Trump said Friday. "One by one we're liberating our American towns."
Still, some law enforcement specialists caution theprogress the president hailed could be temporary, andthat this will be a battle that is won over the long-term.
MS-13 is nowhere out in the force that they used to be, Michael Balboni, founder of securities firm Redland Strategies and former homeland security advisor for New York State, told FOX Business. [Law enforcement is] driving them underground, which is probably a good thing and a bad thing One day theyre going to come back.
Recent attention focused on MS-13, which has been reinforced by the president and his administration, has helped local communities obtain additional resources in their battle against the street gang, Balboni said. While MS-13 has been on one of its most deadly tears through Long Island since it took root there about 30 years ago, perception is that the tides are turning. Earlier this month, more than 15 suspected gang members were arrested, some of whom are believed to be connected to the violent deaths of four individuals in April.
Balboni said President Trumps visit to the region is an important step, but the complex underground world that MS-13 thrives in has an elaborate history that has proven difficult to stamp out.
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Its about sustainability for the safety of the people, you cant walk away from this, he said.
MS-13, a group that was started by Central American immigrants in Los Angeles in the 1980s, is known for its ruthless and violent tactics notably using machetes to hack victims. Most of the founding members were from El Salvador and fled to the U.S. during the countrys civil war that lasted 12 years, from 1980-92. Since then the gangs membership has ballooned to at least 10,000 members in the United States and more than 30,000 worldwide, according to the FBI and Treasury Department.
For years, MS-13 flourished by feeding off of immigrant communities that have suffered in silence, according to Balboni. The perpetuation of that process had made this a really challenging effort for law enforcement, he said.
Unlike other gangs, MS-13 is not particularly well-funded or organized. It traditionally resorts to theft, human trafficking, sex trafficking, selling drugs and extortion for financing, as previously reported by FOX Business. However, on Long Island the group has fostered an underground economy that law enforcement officials have largely been unable to reach over the past 20 to 30 years.
This is a really difficult thing to pry out into the open, Balboni said, adding that Trumps visit to Long Island shows real leadership on this issue.
On Thursday, Attorney General Jeff Sessions flew to El Salvador to tackle MS-13 at its source. Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.) told FOX Business the administration has been coordinating with officials in the Central American country in order to combat the threat across multiple fronts. The Department of Justice applauded the arrests of more than 100 MS-13 members in El SalvadorThursday.
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Trump's MS-13 crackdown: Why progress may be temporary - Fox Business
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As the Oakland Raiders prepare to conduct their first training-camp practice on Saturday, theres still a chance that their first-round pick will be present and accounted for.
Per a league source, the Raiders and cornerback Gareon Conley are making progress on a contract, but theyve not yet struck a deal.
Conley, one of only three unsigned draft picks, has had his status complicated by a lingering rape investigation in Ohio. The Raiders may be looking for protections in the event Conley is charged, and Conley may be (should be) saying, essentially, You should have thought of that before picking me.
As recently explained, if the Raiders made no verbal requests before making the selection for specific terms that would be inserted if Conley wasnt cleared before camp begins, hes entitled to the same contract he would have gotten without the pending legal entanglement. Of course, thats easier said than done in sensitive matters of this nature; its entirely possible the Raiders (potentially at the behest of the league office) are seeking advance permission to place Conley on paid leave if hes charged for something that he allegedly did before he was drafted.
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Raiders, Gareon Conley making progress | ProFootballTalk - NBCSports.com
President Donald Trump on Thursday cited big progress on ridding the U.S. of MS-13 gang members, a policy being worked on by Attorney General Jeff Sessions, whom Trump has criticized in recent days. Trump also warned Republicans not to let the country down by failing to pass a health-care bill, and awarded medals of valor to officers who responded to the shooting involving House Majority Whip Steve Scalise.
BIG PROGRESS ON GANGS AND A COMMENT FROM SESSIONS
Trump said on Twitter that progress was being made on getting gang members out of the U.S., as Sessions was in El Salvador holding meetings about quashing MS-13. Trumps tweet, which didnt explicitly praise Sessions but hailed an initiative he is working on, came after days of criticism of the attorney general over his recusal from the Russia investigation. In a pair of interviews on Thursday, Sessions said he would stay in his position even after Trumps criticism.
Read: Sessions says hell remain attorney general even after hurtful Trump comments.
DONT LET THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DOWN, TRUMP SAYS ON HEALTH CARE
Trump kept up his public pressure on Republican senators, tweeting you can do it on health care and warning them, Dont let the American people down! The Senate continued to debate plans to repeal Obamacare on Thursday after votes on two measures failed earlier in the week. Votes are expected Thursday night and perhaps into Friday morning, and may culminate in a vote on whats being called a skinny repeal of the Affordable Care Act. If the House doesnt pass the Senate bill, the two chambers would then work on a final product together.
ANOTHER HIT ON THE FAILING NEW YORK TIMES
Trump tweeted that the failing New York Times as he often calls it had dubbed Fox & Friends the most powerful T.V. show in America. That description of the program appeared in a July 19 article by the Times television critic titled Watching Fox & Friends, Trump sees a two-way mirror, in which the author wrote that the programs stars offer Trump flattery, encouragement and advice.
Trumps tweet came the same day that the New York Times Co. NYT, +8.72% said it beat profit expectations for the second quarter.
Read: New York Times shares hit nine-year high after earnings top target.
MEDALS OF VALOR AWARDED
Trump recognized officers who responded at the scene of the June 14 shooting involving House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, a Louisiana Republican. At a White House ceremony, Trump awarded medals of valor to two Capitol Police special agents and three police officers from Alexandria, Va., where the attack took place. Scalise and four other people were wounded in the attack. The congressman was discharged from a Washington hospital on Wednesday.
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Microsoft launched a set of skills for Cortana at its Build developers conference earlier this year, and today its adding Fitbit support. Cortana skills are similar to Amazons own Alexa skills, allowing Microsofts digital assistant to connect to third-party apps and services. The new Fitbit skill will allow Cortana users to monitor their health and fitness goals on Windows 10, Android, iOS, and any other devices that support Cortana.
The Skill works by saying Hey Cortana, ask Fitbit how I am doing today, and you can also ask how you slept or how much water youve consumed in a day. Where the Cortana and Fitbit integration gets interesting is the ability to log activities directly to Fitbit with your voice. You can say Hey Cortana, tell Fitbit to log I had an omelet for breakfast and Cortana will add this to your Fitbit account. Amazons Alexa skill for Fitbit doesnt currently support this two-way interaction, and its something that would be particularly useful on a Cortana-powered speaker or the Amazon Echo.
You can enable the new Cortana Fitbit skill over on Microsofts Cortana site, but its only available in the US for now. Microsoft says other markets will be added over time.
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Cortana's new Fitbit skill lets you log fitness progress with your voice - The Verge
The headquarters of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, under construction in 2015. Elizabeth Warren's brainchild was designed to circumvent the Constitution. (Chuck Myers via ZUMA Wire)
For a century now, American law has recognized the freedom of the parties to a contract to agree to submit disputes to arbitration. Arbitration allows experts chosen by the parties to consider and rule on the issues, much more quickly and at much lower costs.
The American Arbitration Association was established nearly a century ago in 1926 to provide such arbitration services, under well-established rules of due process.
Today, more disputes are settled through such private dispute resolution services than through all the federal and state courts combined.
But progressives are certain they know better. Earlier this month, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued a ruling barring contractual, mandatory arbitration clauses for class action lawsuits.
That means parties to a contract can no longer agree to arbitration for such suits.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., was the intellectual godmother of the CFPB, established in the Dodd-Frank legislation of 2010. She carefully designed it so that it constitutes a thorough violation of the Constitution's separation of powers doctrine, not answerable to the president, the Congress, or even another so-called independent agency.
The president cannot remove the director of the CFPB for policy disagreements, but only for "inefficiency, neglect of duty or malfeasance in office."
Congress does not appropriate funds for the CFPB, so it cannot exercise oversight through its usual power of the purse. The CFPB is funded by a stream of revenue from the Federal Reserve Board.
The Founding Fathers crafted the separation of powers doctrine to prevent abuses of liberty seen in England in the 17thand 18thcenturies. They saw tyranny whenever the powers of the executive, legislative and judicial branches were combined in the same government authority.
This is exactly what Sen. Warren designed in the CFPB, to exempt it from any political influence.
But political in this context means democratic. Progressivism was originally all about extending democratic power and control. An original progressive project was amending the Constitution to provide for the direct election of senators. So was extending the vote to women.
But Warren's CFPB restrains democratic power and control. It not only combines executive, legislative and judicial powers in one agency, but even in one person, the CFPB director, who is currently Warren's hand-picked Richard Cordray, former Ohio attorney general.
On Oct. 11, 2016, the DC Circuit Court ruled that this combination of powers in the same agency, and in the hands of one person, is exactly what the Constitution prohibits in its separation of powers doctrine.
In PHH Corporation v. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, PHH was a mortgage company that also sold mortgage reinsurance through a subsidiary providing protection to mortgage insurers who insured risky, low-down-payment mortgages.
This was a longstanding, common practice in the mortgage business, which had long been recognized as legal, as long as the rates charged for the mortgage reinsurance were reasonable, and not inflated in comparison with the risk insured.
But the literally out of control Cordray/Elizabeth Warren CFPB ruled suddenly that PHH's reinsurance rates, though not providing for excessive, unreasonable, market returns, nevertheless constituted an illegal kickback under the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act.
The rogue CFPB consequently imposed a $109 million fine on PHH. PHH sued, claiming that the CFPB constituted an unconstitutional violation of the Constitution's separation of powers doctrine.
The DC Circuit agreed, correcting the violation by ruling that the director of the CFPB could be fired by the president at will, just as for any other officer of the executive branch.
Defenders of the CFPB try to analogize it to the Federal Reserve. But the Fed is designed precisely to be independent of democratic rule, because of a long history of democratic abuse of the currency, which is supposed to be maintained at a stable value, without inflation or deflation favoring any political interest.
There is no such interest in insulating regulators from democratic control. Just as with any other government agency, democratic control over the CFPB is necessary to prevent regulatory abuse of the public.
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Elizabeth Warren's CFPB: This Is Progress? | Stock News & Stock ... - Investor's Business Daily
Sasha Buchert, Opinion contributor Published 12:52 p.m. ET July 27, 2017 | Updated 12:53 p.m. ET July 27, 2017
President Trump(Photo: Pablo Martinez Monsivais, AP)
Serving my country was always about something bigger than me. I put my life on the line to protect the rights and freedoms of every single American, because regardless of who we are individually, we are bound by our love for our country, and united by values that eclipse our differences: freedom and liberty.
Our Commander in Chief doesnt have the same understanding of service in this country.
As a former Marine Corps Scout-Sniper (STA platoon, Echo Co., 2nd battalion, 4th Marines, 2nd Marine Division), I lived every day driven by the sense of honor, dutyand courage that comes from putting on our nations uniform. I served alongside other brave Americans who wore that uniform with as much pride as I did, and despite representing different ethnic backgrounds, faiths, genders, and perspectives, when we put that uniform on, we were Americans.
As a transgender member of the military, giving myself to my country also meant suppressing who I was, and spending every minute terrified I would get caught or outed. Getting caught would mean that I would have been involuntarily discharged.
Despite living every day with this fear, I put myself in this position because serving my country, defending our freedoms, and wearing that uniform was something that I believed was more important than a short-sighted and discriminatory policy.
As we see today, when transgender people are able to serve in the military as themselves, our nation is stronger for it. It allows us to grow our military, bolstering its expertise, talent, knowledge, and empowering its members to focus on their work, committing the energy and focus required to succeed, without fear of persecution.
In short: transgender people have always served in our military.
We have always worn our nations uniform, just like we have always been teachers, doctors, and nurses. We have always been neighbors, friends, and coworkers. We have been here forever, and will continue to be here forever, despite the short-sighted, discriminatory and foolish decisions made by our nations elected leaders.
It appears as though one such decision was made yesterday.
Our Commander in Chief, Donald Trump, tweeted that the United States Government will not accept or allow.. Transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military.
Transgender military ban: Trump isolates America once again
Trump's military transgender ban is unfair but correct
His reason: he thinks we are a disruption.
It takes a lot of arrogance and audacity to minimize and downgrade the sacrifices made by the bravest Americans, who selflessly risked their lives in the name of all that is America. It takes a lot of malice and spite to reduce members of our military to a disruption, especially while perched atop a life of privilege and luxury.
Perhaps that is why the military services are pushing back and resisting changes to military policies based merely on Trump's tweets.
President Trump is the master of distraction,and lashing out against transgender Americans strikes me as a classic Trump attempt to distract from issues hed rather not talk about, at the detriment of our military.
Trumps tweet came on the exact anniversary that President Truman issued an executive order to integrate the military a decision that was put off for years because it was feared to be a distraction.
Today, under the leadership of a man who clearly does not get what makes our American military families tick, this sadly comes as no surprise.
POLICING THE USA: A look atrace, justice, media
Transgender ban: America and its military always learn to regret discrimination
I served in the military to help protect and defend America from threats coming from beyond. Today, I continue fighting for our country on a different battlefield, and this time because of threats coming from within.
As a staff attorney with Lambda Legal, Ive channeled my outrage into defending the rights of transgender Americans, outraged as this administration continues to vilify, marginalize, and degrade who we are. He has targeted the most vulnerable, including transgender high school students, to now the most courageous members of our military.
Trump will undoubtedly continue to try to stamp out the historic progress made in the last few years by the LGBTQ community, but his reckless assault on civil rights will continue to be met with opposition, resistance, and fight.
President Trumps actions have not deflated me -- theyve only reinforced my commitment to fighting for this country. He has reminded me of whats at stake, fueling me to fight even harder to defend our country, and reminding me what I learned during my time in the military: never let your guard down, an ambush can come at any moment and from anywhere.
So thank you, Mr. Trump. I have re-enlisted in the fight to save our country.
Sasha Buchert is a USMC veteran and a staff attorney for Lambda Legal. Follow her on Twitter:@sashabuchert
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Trump cannot hold back progress with a tweet: Transgender Veteran - USA TODAY
LONDON (Reuters) - Russia has made progress in its fight against drug cheats, but still needs to admit it had a problem before it can be declared completely compliant, the president of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Craig Reedie told Reuters on Thursday.
It is one month since WADA lifted its suspension of RUSADA, Russias anti-doping agency, which was banned from testing in November 2015 after an independent investigation accused it of systematically violating anti-doping regulations.
That was before the release of a more thorough and damning WADA commission report last year by Richard McLaren. This alleged a state-sponsored doping program in Russia, which the Kremlin has denied.
RUSADA is still deemed non-compliant by WADA but is now able to resume testing, under the supervision of international appointed experts and the UK anti-doping agency (UKAD), after meeting conditions set down by the global anti-doping body.
Reedie said that there were now crucial resources in place to root out drug cheats.
"There's progress from our point of view... So there'll be a much, much bigger and stronger testing exercise in Russia now that there are more people to do it. One of the problems we had, was there simply wasn't enough capacity in Russia to do all the checks that we wanted. There aren't enough independent testers in Russia," said Reedie.
The 76-year-old, who is also a member of the International Olympic Committee, said that there was still a crucial element that needed to be fulfilled before Russian teams could once again compete in athletics or the Paralympics.
Both the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) still regard Russia as non-compliant.
"One of the conditions for renewed compliance is actually an admission that there was a problem and hopefully some declaration of contrition," Reedie said. "And that's a condition thats applied by the IAAF and it's a condition applied by the International Paralympic Committee, as well as by WADA.
"So the Russian authorities are aware of that and we encourage them to do something about that and I hope they do it as soon as possible because that's another box ticked and we can move on."
Russian president Vladimir Putin denied in December last year the existence of a state-sponsored doping program, or that the government had ever supported the doping of its athletes.
He did, however, say that Russia, like every other country, has experienced problems with doping.
"If that's an admission, then it's an admission," Reedie said. "Other people wouldnt regard it as a sufficiently full admission. I don't think there's much doubt in our minds that they know what they have to do and we await their response with interest."
A total of 19 Russian athletes have been approved by the IAAF to compete under a neutral flag at next month's world athletics championships in London, after demonstrating they have been operating within an effective testing system.
Reporting by Christian Radnedge; Editing by Toby Davis
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Athletics: Russia making progress but still needs to admit doping past - WADA president - Reuters
Blaine and her family are in the process of adopting Coleman, so he'll become her baby brother. Families of other adopted children have been inspired to share their emotional journeys as well.
Posted on July 27, 2017, 19:23 GMT
Coleman is Blaine's first cousin on her mom's side. She told BuzzFeed News that while he has been living with the family for about 15 months, her parents have only recently gained guardianship of him.
Within 30 days, the adoption process will be finalized, and Coleman will officially be apart of the Hamilton family, she said.
Coleman had surgery for his diagnosis of pyloric stenosis, a condition that affects the gastrointestinal tract and can cause a baby to projectile vomit.
"He was...malnourished and exposed to harmful drugs," Blaine's mother, Kaysi, told BuzzFeed News. "He was taken by care flight to a children's hospital at 8 weeks old."
"He was my brother's son, so knowing that he is with his biological family and that he will grow up with his grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. is comforting and rewarding to us," Kaysi said.
The Hamiltons said they had about a week to prepare to bring a baby into their family.
Even though everyone was excited to welcome Coleman, Kaysi and her 19-year-old daughter Bailey both said it was also an "overwhelming" and challenging time.
"People we knew we live in a really small town actually showed up and brought us stuff," Blaine said. The extended Hamilton family has also assisted in helping to raise Coleman.
"Its been a big change, but we love him so much," Blaire said.
The toddler is no longer affected with pyloric stenosis, his family said, and has gained a healthy amount of weight.
"We nicknamed him 'our little trooper,'" Kaysi said.
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The Royals and Blue Jays are making progress on a trade that would send left-handed pitcher Francisco Liriano to Kansas City, according to Jon Morosi of Fox Sports. MLB.com reporter Jeffrey Flanagan reports the Royals have scouted his last two starts. The 34-year old Blue Jays starting pitcher has struggled mightily in the last year of his three-year, $39 million deal, with a 5.99 ERA and 4.90 FIP but was very good as recently as 2015 when he was a 3.6 WAR pitcher, according to Fangraphs, posting a 3.38 ERA and 3.19 FIP.
Liriano can miss bats and the Royals may see him as a sixth man in the rotation, ready to step in if there is an injury or anyone else is ineffective. The Royals dont need another lefty in the pen with Mike Minor and Scott Alexander already pitching well, and Brian Flynn and Richard Lovelady ready in the minors. But Liriano could serve as a long-man and work out any mechanical issues with Dave Eiland before stepping back into a starting role. The Royals could also see newly acquired Trevor Cahill as more of a bullpen option, preferring to add another lefty in the rotation. Lirianos numbers are poor, but they could see him as a good buy low option that could turn things around.
Because his numbers are so poor, it shouldnt take a lot to get Liriano. Morosi says other teams are interested, but it shouldnt take even good prospects to get Liriano, as long as the Royals are willing to pay most of the $4 million or so owed to him this year. SB Nation reporter Chris Cotillo opines that the Jays may be interested in bringing back pitcher Glenn Sparkman, who they selected from the Royals in the Rule 5 draft last winter, but returned to the Royals after just one start.
The Royals have also been linked to pitchers Marco Estrada, Lance Lynn, and Dan Straily in the last week. They were also linked to Jaime Garcia, who was dealt to the Twins, but may be on the move again now that the Twins have seemingly fallen out of contention.
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Royals making progress on trade for Francisco Liriano - Royals Review
(Reuters) - Manchester United ended their pre-season tour of the United States with a defeat to Barcelona but manager Jose Mourinho was satisfied with his team's overall performance and fitness level ahead of the new season.
Barcelona secured a 1-0 win with a first-half goal from Neymar, who capitalized on United full back Antonio Valencia's mistake in the 31st minute to score from close range.
The Spanish side were in control during the first half but failed to extend their lead with United goalkeeper David de Gea forced to make six saves to keep his side in the match.
Anthony Martial, Paul Pogba and Andreas Pereira had their chances on goal to equalize for United in the second half but failed to test Barcelona stopper Jasper Cillessen.
United's defeat at the FedexField was their first in their pre-season campaign.
"It's very important to lose a match in pre-season," Mourinho told reporters after the match.
"I think it would be very bad for us to leave the U.S. without a defeat, playing against teams like Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester City, it would be very bad to go home with just victories.
"I think in the game we did some very good things and we did bad things. The very good things are to keep and the bad things are to improve."
Mourinho was particularly impressed with another solid display from midfielder Paul Pogba, who the Portuguese manager believes is among the best players in the world.
"(Lionel) Messi and Neymar, there is only one; there is not two. (Luis) Suarez, (Andres) Iniesta, (Gerard) Pique, (Cristiano) Ronaldo, (Gareth) Bale, (Luka) Modric, Toni Kroos; there is only one so they can only play for one club, not for two clubs," said Mourinho.
"We can't have them, they belong to the clubs. But I have to say that Paul Pogba showed the level... he showed he belongs to that level."
The United manager also confirmed midfielders Juan Mata and Ander Herrera will resume training when they return to Manchester on Saturday.
Mourinho's side will next visit Norwegian side Valerenga on Sunday before facing Italian Serie A team Sampdoria in their final pre-season match in Dublin on Wednesday.
They kick off their competitive campaign with a UEFA Super Cup meeting with Real Madrid on Aug. 8 in Skopje.
Reporting by Hardik Vyas in Bengaluru; editing by Sudipto Ganguly
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Mourinho satisfied with United's progress despite Barca loss - Reuters