LAKE BERRYESSA, Calif. In the sprawling destruction of Californias wildfires, one photo became an instant icon for 2020s miseries: On a hillside roaring with flames stood a sign that asked visitors to a senior center to wear masks, wash their hands and be safe. Come Join Us, it beckoned creepily.

The virus. Lost jobs. A world aflame.

Yep, said Judi Vollmer, whose trailer home down the road from the sign burned down last week, just days after she learned that her 92-year-old father had tested positive for the coronavirus that pretty much sums up life right now.

Ms. Vollmer, 65, was succinct: 2020 can go to hell. This has been the worst year of my life.

Somehow, that welcome sign outside the Lake Berryessa senior center was still standing on Tuesday as residents trickled back through police barricades and road closures to check out what little had survived.

Three people were killed one of them a 71-year-old man in a wheelchair when flames swarmed their mountainside property. Family members said they had tried to escape, but as a last resort took refuge in a homemade burn shelter. Relatives identified the victims as Mary Hintemeyer, 70, her boyfriend, Leo McDermott, 71, and Mr. McDermotts 41-year-old son, Tom.

Much of the lakefront community of retirees and young families who commute to landscaping, winery and service jobs in wealthier corners of Napa County had been reduced to a thicket of tangled steel and ash.

Now, as people in this community of 1,700 salvaged chipped tea saucers and wooden lanterns from the char of about 100 destroyed homes, their worries were a microcosm of the question haunting so many people during this season of pandemic and strife: Would they ever get their old lives back?

Weve lost so many people who wont be back, said Jerry Rehmke, 80, who runs the country store with his wife, Marcia Ritz, 77. Her trailer home, with all of the drawings and paintings she had made, burned in the Spanish Flat Villa mobile home park, along with Ms. Vollmers trailer and about 50 others.

Everything, Ms. Ritz said. Its down to the ground.

The constellation of wildfires staining Californias skies and stinging peoples lungs across the West have now killed seven and destroyed at least 1,690 homes and other buildings, officials said. It is still early in a wildfire season expected to rage through the fall. So as 15,000 firefighters pushed to gain control of the blazes around the state, thousands of families who evacuated are now streaming back and wondering whether they will have to flee again.

On Wednesday, Gov. Gavin Newsom said the accounting of death and damage could rise as people return home. Weve never seen fire of this scale in this part of the state, he said. It demonstrates the reality not just the point of view of climate change and its impact in this state.

Ms. Ritz moved to Lake Berryessa 13 years ago and took over running the country store (which survived, as did some marinas and campgrounds). Their store actually boomed during the pandemic as stir-crazy boaters and anglers flooded the area and snapped up orders of chicken sandwiches and meatloaf. That is over now, and faced with years of rebuilding and a bleak economic future, Ms. Ritz said she was ready to quit altogether.

Our customers have gone, Ms. Ritz said on Tuesday morning, a few minutes after she woke up from another night sleeping outside on an air mattress beside the country store. By the end of the year Ill be out. This is it.

Her husband piped up: We should take down the sign that says Only Five People in the Store. There may not be five people up here.

It was never simple living along Lake Berryessa, a reservoir stocked with trout and catfish that is also famous for a drain that creates a vortex-like hole during wet years. Work is scarce, and cities and groceries are a 40-minute drive along vertiginous mountain roads. The roads can glaze with ice in the winter, and on 90-degree summer days, pints of ice cream melt into soup before you can get them home.

People said they moved from bigger cities because they liked the rural quiet and seeing mountain lions out their windows. On Tuesday morning, a singed fox limped through the mobile home park, paying no heed to the residents and power crews in the street.

Some people had been drawn to the lake by Californias affordable-housing crisis, pushed out of the rest of Napa. They said this was one of the last corners of affordable housing for people earning minimum wage or living off Social Security in a county where the average home costs more than $700,000.

Fire had always been a threat, but evacuations and smoke have gotten even more common as climate change compounds the risk of fires in what is known as the wildland-urban interface. Hillsides overgrown with dry fuel are broiling, and the greenery that people say they cherish about life here has gone as brown as scorched crust.

For the past four years, people around the lake said they watched fires march toward their homes, only to be beaten back. The local Lions Club would donate money to fire victims. Local officials installed a cache of emergency beds and supplies and a big new generator at the senior center to be used as a fallback spot, residents said.

We know what devastation it does, Pam Stadnyk, whose trailer home burned, including the wood deck she had just put in, said as she walked through the area on Tuesday for the first time since the fires. Weve been living with it. You just get to a point where you and she trailed off.

Months of the pandemic already had worn on the mobile home parks working-class residents. Some lost work at Napas wineries and restaurants.

Edward Morrison, 57, had lost overtime work doing delivery runs to businesses that closed as the pandemic dragged on. One of his sons had been living near Paradise last year when a wildfire gutted the town and killed more than 50 people. Now, his trailer was rubble and his cat was missing. He called a dispatcher.

Your address? she asked Mr. Morrison.

Well my address burned down, he said.

Ms. Vollmer, who had lived at the lake for 18 years, kept working throughout the pandemic. Her $13-an-hour job at the country store was considered essential work, and though she had asthma and customers sometimes refused to wear masks, she kept going and did not get sick.

She had stayed away from her 92-year-old fathers nursing home since February until a couple of weeks ago, when Ms. Vollmer said she got a call telling her that he had tested positive for the coronavirus. Ms. Vollmer said that he had Alzheimers disease and sometimes did not know if she was his daughter or wife, but that he seemed fine when she visited him through his window recently.

I dont know if it could get any more stressful than this, she said.

The fire, like the pandemic, has hit Californias poorest residents hardest. Homeowners able to keep up with the complications and rising costs of insuring property in a fire zone had a safety net. But Ms. Vollmer said her carrier dropped her after a wildfire a few years ago. The trailer was her lifes investment and her retirement plan, and it burned alongside the $3,000 in cash she had tucked away inside.

The Red Cross is putting her up in a hotel near the airport in Napa along with three of her five cats the ones she was able to rescue. She received a paper bag stuffed with donated clothes, but said she did not know where to go at the end of the week when her hotel stay was up.

She said she loved the community. When her husband died eight years ago, people took up a collection to pay for his cremation. She said she did not know how to start over at 65.

Were survivors from up there, she said. We dodged the bullet so many times. We always were OK.

Jill Cowan contributed reporting from Los Angeles.

Read more from the original source:
2020 Can Go to Hell: The Story Behind the Viral Fire Photo That Said It All - The New York Times

WINNIE The only truck that could haul the RV had broken down two days before, so the two families on Big Hill Road were among the last left in Winnie before Hurricane Laura slammed down.

It had broken down two days before, leaking oil all over the freeway. Travis Fields managed to steer it back before it broke entirely. As the winds picked up, he leaned over the hood and called out to his wife for the wrench.

Ang Amber Angela whatever your name is

He couldnt see, he was too busy inspecting the car, but Angela Fields put her hands on her hips and raised her eyebrows. That your girlfriend? My name was Angela when I married you.

Angela and Travis Fields live with their two children on a property with a barn that still shows damage from Hurricane Ike on its tin doors. They just moved to Winnie in late June.

Were fully expecting to come home to nothing, Angela said. Nothing.

They live on the property with Taylor and Andrew Stewart. They got married in March. Andrew remembers all the way back to Ike. Taylors grandparents house was further up to the road before Hurricane Ike. When they came back, it was flattened. They dont have high hopes for their mobile homes. (Theyll shred like Swiss cheese.)

The Stewarts have an appliance shop set up at the front of the property: Washers, dryers, refrigerators all stacked near each other. They dont expect to see it again. Andrew just got his aquaponics garden plants grown from the waste of the fish tank underneath their soil set up. He figures the fish will go free.

Once they get the truck up and running, the two families are evacuating to a hotel near Houstons Hobby Airport, with two children, three dogs (Anna, Sophie and Coco), a guinea pig and a rat in tow. Theyre leaving the goat locked in the barn. Shes smart. Shell climb. If they could take her, they would have. Some horses were left behind in Winnie; even more cows. Angelas seen posts on Facebook from horse owners, begging to borrow a trailer.

Angela put the family pictures, the familys clothes and some toys for her children in the RV She chose what to take based on necessity: Items that will keep her kids happy, sentimental keepsakes. The mattresses can be replaced.

Her 6-year-old daughter, Blake, wandered around in sunglasses and a unicorn nightgown until Angela sent her to pack. (Its your responsibility, not mine, shed said. Blake walked away, muttering that shed ask her daddy for help).

As Andrew and Travis worked on the car Travis perched on the hood, Andrew lying underneath Taylor secured a small John Deere tractor near the bamboo. Angela turned to go pack up the last of the house.

Were in the final stages now, Andrew promised.

Angela huffed. Yeah, she said. I been hearing that for about four hours now.

They had an hour and a half until curfew.

Go here to read the rest:
With children and pets in tow, two families in Winnie flee Hurricane Laura, expecting the worst - Houston Chronicle

WINDOW ROCK

Oliver Whaley, director of the Navajo Environmental Protection Agency, believes Clean Water Act violations committed by Dineh Benally and his hemp greenhouse production are enough for his office to stop operations, but there needs to be coordination.

When NEPA received reports from residents that Benallys hemp workers were discharging sewage into the San Juan River, NEPA began looking into it. Although NEPAs Water Quality department did not find sewage in the river, they found a list of other concerning issues regarding the mobile homes workers have moved onto farms and other parts of the land, which goes against the home-site lease process. NEPA also found violations regarding the hemp greenhouses.

We found they installed septic tanks without any regard to our domestic wastewater regulations, said Whaley, a clear violation of the Clean Water Act. They didnt get any permits or anything like that. It didnt appear they were using them to hold sewage but for shower, hand-washing water. But it still has to be put in place properly and still has to be pumped out and disposed of properly.

Then there are the generators running fans in the greenhouses, which can be found in Shiprock, Gadiahi, Hogback, and other communities throughout the Navajo Nation.

Benally has planted up to 2.5 million hemp plants on 300 acres as of early August, according to Charlie Galbraith, special counsel for the Navajo Nation, during an Aug. 10 hearing. By now this may have increased. Theyve got a number of generators running the fans, air vent systems in the greenhouses, said Whaley. Thats a question of air quality. There are thresholds that you have to meet in terms of pollutants you release and whether you need a permit.

In this case, he said, the greenhouses are big enough, and theres enough of them it may need minor source point permit to operate those. There is also the matter of large gas storage tanks to feed the generators.

Whether the aboveground storage tanks adhere to regulation depends on their size and capacity. Last week, these issues and more were brought to the attention of President Jonathan Nez and Attorney General Doreen McPaul, as well as others in the executive branch, in hopes some sort of inter-agency coordination could take place to end the hemp production.

We have some administrative authority and can take some action, but any action we take still has to be coordinated in some strategic fashion, said Whaley. For the most part, any coordination Whaley was hoping for wasnt determined and not much came from this meeting.

But due to Benallys blatant violation of the Clean Water Act and not complying with other rules and regulations set forth by NEPA, Whaley said his office can demand compliance and if that doesnt happen they can terminate operations. I think we have enough information that they violated the act, and there is potential environmental impacts so that we can take action, said Whaley. On my end I can issue and serve an order requiring compliance and even emergency orders. We can do that now but when it comes to enforcing those order it needs to go through Navajo DOJ.

The Navajo Nation, its leaders, and its courts are not moving fast enough to put a stop to the crops, which has aggravated communities that are impacted directly and have had to deal with the plants strong smell as well as bright lights and heavy vehicle traffic for the entire spring and summer, when Benally ramped up production.

What faith the community had in leadership has dwindled to nearly nothing and on Monday, Shiprock residents held a second protest on the Mesa Road that leads to Benallys home and a few of his hemp operations. As non-Navajo workers drove by, the group screamed to them, Go home! while waving signs.

I dont know what the Navajo Nation is going to do, said protester and Shiprock resident Bea Redfeather-Benally. I feel like theyre useless. Im really disappointed with their justice system. Im angry because my familys safety is on the line, she said. Is it going to take someone to die or get injured for them to wake up and do something? If the tribe and DOJ cant handle this, maybe they should turn it over to the state. They cant handle their own laws.

Vernida Bissonette from Hogback said shes been harassed by Benallys non-Navajo hemp farm workers.

She also claimed the workers can be found at City Market in Shiprock looking at young women and taking pictures of them. Bissonette said she worries about the man camps that are being built by these workers. We got two man camps going on north of me, she said. Im concerned of our children and for our safety. We are tired of this. Our delegates, our President Nez, they need to hear us. We put them in those positions so they can stand for us, she said.

Theyre supposed to keep us safe. We want them to step down the councilmen, the farm board members all to step down. Its time Shiprock gets a new face.

Navajo Nation Police and their chief, Phillip Francisco, were also at the protest and at one point a vehicle of non-Navajo workers stopped in the middle of the road after protesters waved their signs at them. Francisco told the driver to pull to the side and after checking the workers the chief said they didnt have picture identification and did not understand much English. We are gathering up their names and sending it to the chief prosecutor to have them excluded, said Francisco. Theyre trespassing on the Navajo Nation.

Redawn George, another resident who has been vocal about the hemp production, said she texted Vice President Myron Lizer about the protest and said the community would begin to start taking matters into their own hands. When she saw Navajo Nation Police there, she said she wasnt too sure if they were there to keep the peace or to protect Benallys workers.

I let the VP know we were going to take things into our own hands based on no enforcement from local law enforcement, said George, who said reports given to police officers usually arent addressed. We are tired of waiting. All these officials, elected officials, law enforcement its money that is the bottom line. Francisco said calls made to dispatch have to be prioritized because of low manpower. Communities have been calling officers and reporting on speeding and curfew and lockdown violations.

Sometimes we can only respond to major calls like domestic violence, Francisco said. Violent crimes are a priority. So calls like speeding are put at the bottom, which isnt fair, but its the reality of us not having enough people. Whaley said Francisco informed him hed provide officers should any NEPA officials go to Benallys hemp farms for any inspections, which Whaley said may need to happen.

For now Whaley is waiting on feedback from U.S. EPA in terms of how they can assist NEPA, since a lot of what is happening falls under federal purview, and if thats the case this gives NEPA teeth to move forward, rather than waiting for Navajo Nation leadership to act.

To my understanding their final harvest is supposed to be the end of September or early October, said George, who is one of many disappointed in Shiprock District Court Judge Genevieve Woodys lack of action during an Aug. 10 hearing on a civil complaint filed by the Navajo Nation against Benally.

Woody had delayed her ruling pending additional briefs by both sides, which Benallys opponents argue will give him time to harvest his crop and pull up stakes. Theyll pull all of them (hemp plants) out and then theyll leave all these structures, and these people will get their permits and home-site leases taken away, she said. Those things are going to happen.

Benally did not return an email requesting comment.

Related

Continue reading here:
NEPA may be able to cite hemp production - Navajo Times

The shortage of affordable housing is one of the largest unresolved issues in commercial real estate today. Huge numbers of renters are struggling to find a place to live within their means, and the problem is only getting worse in the current economic environment. Since the growing demand for affordable housing presents an opportunity for unconventional solutions, the manufactured housing industry may be well-positioned to reap the benefits of that pent-up demand.

Manufactured homes have long been overlooked as a niche residential sector, yet they comprise a significant portion of the U.S. housing stock. According to the National Low-Income Housing Coalition, manufactured homes comprise 6 percent of the total housing stock nationwide and 9 percent of all new single-family construction starts. There are an estimated 6.7 million occupied manufactured homes in the United States. In 2019, 4,000 new manufactured homes shipped at an average sale price of $84,600 excluding land acquisition costs. This makes manufactured homes one of the fastest-growing housing segments.

READ ALSO: Manufactured Housing Powers Through

Todays manufactured home communities are quite different from the mobile home parks of the past. Manufactured homes are built with the same materials and techniques as in-place built homes. They include many of the same luxury amenities found in traditionally built new homes including high-end amenities, like granite countertops and artisanal fixtures. The construction cost for these homes is roughly half the price per square foot of in-place built homes, while still boasting the same luxury amenities of their traditional counterparts.

Approximately 40 percent of manufactured homes are built on land leased from land-leased communities. There are an estimated 50,000 of these communities nationwide. Roughly three-quarters of these homes are owner-occupied. The average length of tenancy for these properties is measured in decades. Nearly half of all manufactured home communities are located in rural areas away from the urban core; however, there is a growing interest in suburban areas.

There are challenges limiting where manufactured housing communities can be established. Many state, regional and local zoning ordinances and homeowners associations prohibit construction of manufactured homes. This is mostly due to outdated stereotypes about trailer parks and their perceived effects on property values and crime rates.

Modern manufactured homes do not bring these problems, but attitudes towards them have been slower to change. The rising demand for affordable housing may create an opportunity to rethink the policies that have kept manufactured homes away from the urban cores.

There are very few mobile home parks out there that were built later than the 1970s, said manufactured home park investor Frank Rolfe, co-owner of MHP Funds, the sixth-largest owner of mobile home parks nationwide.

While manufactured housing and mobile homes are sometimes used interchangeably, manufactured housing generally refers to home units built after 1976 and in adherence withthe U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards.

Thats because it has been difficult for park owners to find municipalities that will approve the construction of a new park, and even expansions of existing parks can prove challenging.

Out of 500 mobile home parks that we have collectively owned over the past 25 years we have not succeeded in building more than 10 to twenty expansions to existing parks, Rolfe added.

Christopher Ptomey, executive director for the Urban Land Institute Terwilliger Center for Housing, believes that perceptions are beginning to change. From the outside, a manufactured single-family home looks absolutely no different from a 100 percent stick-built building, he said. As the technologies have improved, we have seen them move into more urban and suburban settings.

So, according to Ptomey, There are important aspects to applying manufacturing processes to housing that offer real opportunities to address some of the affordability challenges.

According to the Manufactured Housing Institute, 22 million people in the U.S. live in manufactured housing. The median household income for manufactured housing residents is under $30,000 per year. In many markets, these are the most inexpensive housing units that do not rely on government subsidies.

MHI is working to overcome some of the public perception problems that the sector has. Primary among them is the belief that the product is of low quality and that park owners are predatory. MHI CEO Lesli Goochwho insists on the term manufactured housing as opposed to mobile homeshas been working hard to change those perceptions.

The vast majority of park owners and operators care about their residents, she stressed, and some of the newer manufactured homes are brand new homes that are a quality product that have the features that consumers are looking for today.

The manufactured housing industry is benefiting from urban sprawl. As the suburbs continue to expand farther from the city centers, places that were once exurbs are becoming part of widening metro areas. These areas have avoided the NIMBY problem by being in place in advance of development.

The traditional homeownership prices have steadily increased at a significantly faster rate than median household income. Homeownership is currently out of reach for many renters and growing more difficult every year. Manufactured housing has the potential to benefit from this widening gap.

Manufactured housing is the only form of detached affordable housing in America, said Rolfe, noting that in his parks the majority of homes are already paid off and residents have no greater hurdle than lot rent, which averages nationwide at $280 a month.

For manufactured housing investors, the barrier for entry is much lower than with other asset classes. A manufactured home community only needs shovel-ready land with access to water, sewer and electricity. As the structures themselves are owned by the residents, the maintenance costs are limited to landscaping, common area maintenance and utility repair. Longer rates of tenancy equate to lower rates of turnover. With low acquisition and operating costs, manufactured housing can be a very lucrative investment.

Go here to see the original:
Why Manufactured Housing Is the New Affordable Housing - Commercial Property Executive

By JOHN HOWELL

It couldnt be coincidental from the perspective of Ward 5 Councilman Ed Ladouceur: Riverview residents launch an online petition for the city administration to move ahead with Bayside sewers and in the same week the Warwick Sewer Authority brings up the matter at its monthly meeting.

For Ladouceur, WSA discussion of DAmbra Constructions $19.7 million bid submitted in February was a sign that his seven-year crusade for Bayside sewers is still on track and perhaps has a chance of starting this year.

But as of Wednesday it was not clear how the Bayside contract ended up on the WSA agenda or if, in fact, Mayor Joseph J. Solomon, who has questioned whether the project has the approval of the Narragansett Tribe and if less costly options are available to homeowners, has given it his blessing. In response to that question, the mayors office emailed the following response: The City has determined that the Bayside sewer bid is still valid.

Ladouceur said Wednesday he spoke this week with Tribe representatives Medicine Man John Brown and Nancy Brown Garcia and that there is a question over the memorandum of understanding (MOU) reached about two years ago between the Tribe and the city. He said he was told the MOU was changed by the city after being agreed to by the parties, including the federal government. Ladouceur said he plans to meet with Brown and Garcia to go over what exactly was changed.

In a telephone interview last week, Brown said the Tribe has not signed the MOU and emphasized that he and representatives of the Tribe are prepared to talk with the city although as of that time they had not been contacted.

We are available, he asserted. He questioned the citys commitment in respecting and preserving Indian burial sites that have been identified in the path of the sewer project.

Why do these people (two burials have been identified) have to be disturbed? he said.

Recognizing that the neighborhoods of Bayside are rich with Native American artifacts, the WSA abandoned plans for a conventional open trench installation of sewers preferring directional drilling. The DAmbra bid calls for directional drilling where pipes are installed without disturbing the upper several feet where there are artifacts.

According to Ladouceur, the WSA postponed a vote on the DAmbra bid to confirm the price and to ensure an extension of the bid that was good until last week. In an Aug. 13 Beacon story, Michael DAmbra, president of the company, said he would extend the bid.

Ladouceur compared the process of Bayside to a jigsaw puzzle and were down to a few last pieces. He said his attention is focused on gaining WSA approval of the DAmbra contract, which would then come before the council for approval.

Meanwhile, the petition initiated by Riverview resident George Shuster and backed by the Riverview Association had gained 85 signatures as of Wednesday, including that of independent candidate for mayor Frank Picozzi, who grew up in the neighborhood and remembers limiting the flushing of the toilet because the cesspool couldnt handle the flow.

The vast majority of the homes in this part of the city are older and many have antiquated septic and cesspool systems. The issue isnt just environmental but its also about the quality of life of the residents and this area has been disregarded long enough. I think the city should be actively informing the area residents and holding meetings to give the people a voice, Picozzi said.

Picozzi lives in the Hoxsie are now and has sewers.

Riverview Association president Kevin Eisemann knows all too well what life without sewers is like.

Because I dont have access to sewers I always have the fear of the possibility of a major failure. If a failure were to occur it would be very expensive and involve the excavation of my entire backyard. My septic system currently works fine but theres always the possibility of having to pump out at a significant cost to me, he said in an email exchange.

He said when he bought his home in 1997 they were told sewers were on the drawing boards and they would be able to connect by 1999.

On the issue of cost, he said if he were to sell his house he was told part of the sale would be held in escrow for either septic system repairs or sewer connections. He guesses the amount would be at least $28,000.

On the other hand, if the sewers were installed, the assessment, which is being projected at about $25,000, could be paid off over 20 years and possibly 30 years depending on the financing bond procured by the WSA.

Our thoughts are the added benefits of sewers is a cleaner bay and adjoining brook. Also a cleaner beach. No more smells coming from overflowing cesspools on rainy days in the neighborhood. Neighbors will be able to use their backyards and gardens during the wet springtime, Eisemann said.

The prospect of further delays on the project with no certainty of when sewers might be built are also the subject of a letter from Shuster appearing in todays Beacon. In it, he appeals to Mayor Solomon: In this election year, its terrific to see you focusing on the neglected Mickey Stevens complex and other high-profile issues. Yet if you really want to show voters that you can deliver on promises, please start with this one thats a quarter-century old tell the WSA that you fully support moving ahead with construction of the Bayside sewer project immediately. And fellow residents, please indicate your support by signing our on-line petition at: www.https://www.change.org/p/riverview-residents-start-construction-of-the-bayside-sewer-project-now.

The paper was unable to reach WSA chair Gary Jarvis for comment.

Excerpt from:
Petitioners call on city to proceed with Bayside sewers - Warwick Beacon

Best Buy boasted its strongest online sales ever as shoppers clicked and bought items such as computers and tablets as they were forced to work, learn and connect remotely from home due to the coronavirus.

Online comparable sales for Best Buys second fiscal quarter jumped 242% to $4.85 billion, beating the Richfield-based retailers previous record of $3.52 billion during last years holiday season.

Even with its stores open only to appointment shopping for nearly half the quarter, its second-quarter comparable sales increased 5%. Overall revenue for May, June and July grew 3.9% to $9.9 billion. Its net earnings increased 81.5% to $432 million.

Despite the positive quarterly news, Best Buys share price fell 4% Tuesday to $112.64.

Best Buys continued digital and changing shopping trends have led the retailer to re-evaluate its fulfillment model, including a new test of hub store locations.

Customer shopping behavior will be permanently changed in a way that is even more digital and puts customers entirely in control to shop how they want, said Corie Barry, Best Buys chief executive, during a call with analysts. Our strategy is to embrace that reality and lead not follow.

Best Buys top retail items were in computing, appliances and tablets.

When most schools shifted to remote learning late last school year, parents likely guided their children to use whichever computing supplies they already had at home, but for the current back-to-school season, parents and students are having to look at more permanent remote learning setups, Barry said.

Now families are trying to create sustainable work and learning spaces in their homes that could support an extended period of time, she said, on a media call.

As stores reopened, more large appliances and home theater products sold. There also was strong digital demand for some of Best Buys newer product additions such as camping equipment and at-home fitness machines.

However, low inventory in categories such as gaming consoles was worse than expected and limited the companys sales growth.

While we expected product constraints as we entered the quarter, the stronger-than-anticipated demand as we opened our stores for shopping resulted in more constrained product availability than we expected, Barry said.

Next month, Best Buy will start a ship-from-store pilot project where about 250 stores will be hubs, shipping out significantly more online orders than normal stores.

Locations were chosen for their space, proximity to carrier partners and ability to support same- and next-day delivery.

The company also is continuing to add more third-party pickup locations for online orders; there already are more than 16,000 locations.

Best Buy is also making changes in how customers can shop, for example adding augmented reality in its phone app and starting another pilot project with a self-service, in-aisle checkout.

Though it was deemed an essential retailer, Best Buy decided to close its stores to foot traffic in late March. In May, stores reopened for scheduled customer appointments and later in mid-June, to regular foot traffic.

Earlier this year, it also furloughed about 51,000 employees, the majority of whom were part-time workers. Best Buy has brought about two-thirds of associates back to work.

Sales have been up about 20% for the first three weeks of the third quarter though company executives are doubtful that those type of numbers will continue throughout the entire quarter. The company did not give guidance, saying the economy is still too uncertain.

Overall, as we plan for the back half of the year, we continue to weigh many factors including potential future government stimulus actions, the current shift in personal consumption expenditures from areas like travel and dining out, the possible depth and duration of the pandemic, the risk of higher unemployment over time, and the availability of inventory to match customer demand, said Best Buy Chief Financial Officer Matt Bilunas.

During the quarter, the company repaid the $1.25 billion loan it had drawn in March, Bilunas said.

Similarly to what executives at Target said last week as the company released its quarterly report, Barry said she believed the holiday shopping season would start earlier at stores, likely around October.

Moodys analyst Charlie OShea called Best Buys quarter impressive on all counts, though he noted that high supply-chain costs continue to be a drag on profits.

While gross profit was down slightly as a result of increased fulfillment and distribution costs due to the online surge and some product mix issues, which included soft mobile sales, operating margin improved dramatically year-over-year, resulting in an operating income increase of over $250 million, OShea said, in a statement.

See the rest here:
Best Buy's online sales more than triple to highest ever but stock still dips - Minneapolis Star Tribune

Autoplay

Show Thumbnails

Show Captions

With the new additions of Winton Woods, Little Miami and Lebanon, the Eastern Cincinnati Conference will continue to be one of the most competitive leagues in the city.

So, who comes out on top?

More: High school football: Will Wyoming once again roll to Cincinnati Hills League title?

More: 2020 SBAAC football preview: Can anyone stop Clinton-Massie and Blanchester?

More: High school football: All eyes and targets are on Corey Kiner, Roger Bacon in MVC

More: 2020 Cincinnati high school football preview: Badin looks for a 3-peat in the GCL-Coed

More: 2020 football preview: When will CMAC teams hit the field and can anyone threaten Taft?

More: High school football: New team could ram its way to the top of Southwest Ohio Conference

Turpin head coach Kent McCulloughcalled the ECC schedule "a meat grinder." What will make that meat grinder tougher is the target Turpin has on its back as the ECC's defending champion.

The Spartans won the conference outright in 2019, thanks to last-second heroics vs. Anderson and a gutsy road victory over Kings with several injured starters. Offensively for Turpin in 2020, it starts with replacing quarterback Justin Silverstein, the ECC's player of the year last season.The Spartans have an ongoing quarterback competition between three suitors: senior Jakob Williams, junior Will Schulok and sophomore Clark Helgason.

Turpin running back Kaidan Naughton is pictured in action during Friday night's matchup at Lakota East.(Photo: Nick Kneer for The Enquirer)

Running back Kaidan Naughton will be a QB's best friend this fall. He had more than 1,000 yards from scrimmage last season and 16 total touchdowns. Turpin returns a trio of senior receiversLogan Hurley, Max Gundrum and Garrett Manaster that combined for 100 receptions in 2019. It doesn't hurt that Turpin will have first-team ECC center Gabe Hickman anchoring the offensive line.

Anderson quarterback Jackson Kuhn attempts a pass.(Photo: JIM OWENS FOR THE ENQUIRER)

Anderson came up just short of a playoff spot last season as the ECC runner-up. Luckily for head coach Evan Dreyer, senior Jackson Kuhn is the top signal-caller in the conference. Kuhn missed the final two games of last season (both wins), or he would've been the ECC leader in passer. Anderson's offense has averaged 38.3 points per game in Evan Dreyer's four seasons and one should expect the same in 2020 with Kuhn and running back Andrew Williams leading the way.

Anderson also has key defensive members returningat linebacker with junior Casey O'Toole and senior Andrew Azeez, a duo that combined for nine sacks. Senior Billy Knott, the ECC leader in interceptions (6) last season, will be the team's top corner.

Winton Woods defensive end Andrew Booker competes in pass rush drills during the Under Armor All American Camp in Cincinnati, Sunday, April 14, 2019.(Photo: TONY TRIBBLE FOR THE ENQUIRER)

Winton Woods joins the ECC after plenty of success as an independent program. The Warriors made the state tournament in 2017 and 2018 before controversially missing the playoffs last year. Winton Woods will have to move on from All-Ohio running back Miyan Williams, who is now at Ohio State. The Warriors will return Michale Wingfield, a second-team all-district selection who enters his third season as the team's starting quarterback.

Winton Woods' defense is littered with Division I talent and should be a nightmare for ECC opponents this fall. In the secondary, Tamarion Crumpley, Daylan Long and Caleb Tubbs are all Division I recruits and the defensive line is highlighted by Andrew "Bam" Booker, who had 12.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 blocks and a pair of sacks in 2019.

Ty Stylski (26) of Kings rounds the corner and down the field for a long gainer for the Knights, Sept. 27, 2019.(Photo: GEOFF BLANKENSHIP FOR THE ENQUIRER)

Kings finished 6-4 last season as two one-possession defeats kept the Knights from the postseason. Senior Ty Stylski returns after leading the ECC in rushing yards and rushing touchdownslast season. QB Jackson Kwasniewski also returns after a 1,726-yard year. Senior receiver Gabe Hunt (36-438-2 in 2019) rounds out a talented group of skilled returners.

Reis Stocksdale comes off the ground to take in a La Salle kickoff for Little Miami in the OHSAA Division II, Region 8, first-round football playoff action, Nov. 8, 2019.(Photo: GEOFF BLANKENSHIP FOR THE ENQUIRER)

Little Miami turned a corner as a program the last three seasons, going 24-9 combined with a pair of playoff appearances. That was in the SWOC, though. The competition beefs up for the Panthers this fall. Little Miami's biggest obstacle will be replacing quarterback Brody Reder, a 2,000-yard passer and 1,000-yard rusher in 2019. Aidan Jones took snaps under center last year and could be in line to be the starter.

Senior running back Riley Pringle should be the lead man in the backfield and Reis Stocksdale, who averaged 20.5 yards per catch last season (36-737-11) will be the team's top receiver. On defense, the Panthers have defensive lineman Nathan Gordon back. He had 64 tackles and seven sacks last season.

Loveland quarterback Calvin Cloud attempts a pass in the game between the Loveland Tigers and the Milford Eagles at Milford High School September 13 2019.(Photo: JIM OWENS FOR THE ENQUIRER)

Loveland has gone just 6-34 over the last four seasons combined and went 0-10 in 2019. Second-year head coach Andy Cruse is looking to notch his first victory and he'll have to improve a defense that allowed 39-plus points in every game last fall. Offensively, quarterback Calvin Cloud returns and will have his top-four receivers back, too. Tyler Lake, Ethan Lund, Austin Lodor and Bailey Jackson combined for 119 receptions last season.

Milford wide receiver Vince Ringland runs for a first down after a catch in the game between the Loveland Tigers and the Milford Eagles at Milford High School September 13 2019.(Photo: JIM OWENS FOR THE ENQUIRER)

One year after winning its first-ever playoff game, Milford finished just 3-7. The Eagles will have to replace quarterback Hunter Johnson and could turn to Vince Ringland, who threw 65 passes a year ago. Ringland and Caleb Johns will be team's primary rushers and top receiver Noah Earley is back.

Turpin quarterback Justin Silverstein is chased out of bounds by West Clermonts Gage Bullock during their 2018 Skyline Chili Crosstown Showdown at West Clermont Friday, Sept. 14, 2018.(Photo: E.L. Hubbard for the Enquirer)

West Clermont's go-to is the ground game. Last season, the Wolves had five rushers with more than 50 attempts. They return two of them in Austin Fultz and Gage Bullock, a duo that combined for 633 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. Bullock, Tyler Taktak and Howard Bingham will lead the defense, a trio that combined for 14 sacks.

Defense will be vital for the Wolves in 2020. In its three years as a program, West Clermont is 15-3 when holding opponents to under 20 points and just 1-12 when an opponent scores more than 20 points.

Lebanonjoins the ECC and have returned to practiceafter a positive COVID-19 test. The Warriors open the season against West Clermont Friday night andwill have to replace last season's quarterback Ethan Marsh, but return 1,000-yard rusher Keith Farr.

CPS schools protest stoppage of sports at Cincinnati Board of Education Cincinnati Enquirer

What will Walnut Hills' season look like? Walnut Hills will not have football for the first five weeks of the season as Cincinnati Public Schools has suspended all extracurricular activities during its virtual start to the 2020-21 school year.

More: Petition, planned 'Let us play' rally urge Cincinnati Public Schools to resume fall sports

If the Eagles do take the field, they will return quarterback Jack Reuter, who started as a freshman last season. Walnut Hills will have to replace its top-two rushers but will have UC commit Mao Glynn up front leading the offensive line. Leading receiver Nick Presley, who also ran for more than 300 yards, also returns for head coach Gerry Beauchamp.

See the article here:
High school football: Who comes out on top of loaded Eastern Cincinnati Conference? - The Cincinnati Enquirer

After the most unusual of offseasons, we're a couple of weeks away from kicking off the 2020 NFL season. That means it's time to see how the league shapes up before games get going. But that's not all we're evaluating in this ranking.

This is also a good time to identify players, coaches and general managers who are on the hot seat. NFL Nation reporters have identified the individuals on the teams they cover who are most under the microscope in 2020 -- whether they are competing for their job, their starting position or a new contract.

How we rank in our Power Rankings: Our power panel -- a group of more than 80 writers, editors and TV personalities -- evaluates how teams stack up throughout the season.

Jump to:ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CINCLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | INDJAX | KC | LV | LAC | LAR | MIA | MINNE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SFSEA | TB | TEN | WSH

Who's on the hot seat? RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire

Why his seat is warm: The rookie running back isn't in danger of being cut or permanently falling out of favor with a slow start. But the pressure is on to produce immediately after Damien Williams' opt-out decision. The Chiefs have no other proven commodity they can plug into their featured back spot. More production from their running backs is a logical place for the Chiefs to grow their offense, and Edwards-Helaire is the logical player to provide it. -- Adam Teicher

2:19

Matthew Berry expects Clyde Edwards-Helaire to benefit the most from Chiefs RB Damien Williams' decision not to play in 2020.

Who's on the hot seat? RB Mark Ingram II

Why his seat is warm: Ingram watched the Ravens select his potential replacement in this year's draft (J.K. Dobbins in the second round) and knows Baltimore can create $5 million in salary-cap room by releasing him this offseason. This comes after Ingram established himself as a leader and playmaker in Baltimore's offense, scoring a franchise-record-tying 15 touchdowns. He remains the unquestioned starter right now, but the pressure is on for him to prove he's not going to decline like many other running backs who turn 30. Ingram said this offseason that he can play at a high level for another five years and wants to be a running back known for his long, prestigious career. -- Jamison Hensley

Who's on the hot seat? DE Dee Ford

Why his seat is warm: Knee issues limited Ford to 11 games and he averaged just 19.4 snaps per game in 2019. Ford had "extensive" cleanup surgery on his left knee in the offseason in hopes of playing a larger role in 2020. Considering that Ford is in the second year of a five-year, $85 million deal with a $17.6 million cap number in 2021, his future with the team will depend on whether he can produce at a level commensurate with his contract. With key players such as tackle Trent Williams and cornerback Richard Sherman set to be free agents and next year's cap expected to dip, the Niners could part with Ford's contract if he is unable to stay healthy and produce. -- Nick Wagoner

Who's on the hot seat? QB Drew Brees

Why his seat is warm: OK, I'm cheating a little bit here. But let's face it, the 41-year-old Brees is working against a tight deadline if he wants to ride off into the sunset with a second Super Bowl win. Although Brees has not officially announced plans to retire after his 20th NFL season, he has acknowledged that he thought long and hard about it this past offseason -- and already has his next career lined up as a TV analyst. Plus, it will be hard for the Saints to afford a roster this loaded if the salary cap drops next year. -- Mike Triplett

Who's on the hot seat? DC Ken Norton Jr.

2 Related

Why his seat is warm: The Seahawks had one of their worst defensive seasons of the Pete Carroll era in 2019, continuing their regression. They were 18th in Football Outsiders' defensive DVOA rankings last season and 14th in Norton's first season as coordinator after finishing fourth, fifth and 13th in three seasons under his predecessor, Kris Richard. The Seahawks beefed up their secondary with Jamal Adams and Quinton Dunbar and added to their loaded linebacker corps with first-round pick Jordyn Brooks. Even with a questionable pass rush, the Seahawks have enough talent to reverse their downward trend in 2020. Barring an injury catastrophe, Norton -- and Carroll -- won't have any excuses if they don't. -- Brady Henderson

Who's on the hot seat? K Matt Gay

Why his seat is warm: If there's one position where a true starter from last season could be unseated, it's at kicker with Gay. The team will give him every opportunity to succeed, but Elliott Fry's presence is more than just an extra leg in camp, as Gay missed multiple kicks in the Buccaneers' first week of pads. Coach Bruce Arians declared it a kicking competition, and while preseason games won't decide the winner since there are none, Arians will put Gay through a lot of pressure situations and have him kicking in the south end zone, where most of his misses have come. -- Jenna Laine

Who's on the hot seat? DC Mike Pettine

Why his seat is warm: The third-year defensive coordinator saw his unit allow 285 yards to the 49ers in the NFC Championship Game, and the Packers didn't exactly go out and bolster the middle of their defense in free agency or the draft. Their biggest move was essentially swapping Blake Martinez (who signed with the Giants in free agency) for Christian Kirksey (who played for Pettine in Cleveland) at inside linebacker. Otherwise, their lack of additions on that side of the ball indicates they believe they have the personnel to stop the run. Therefore, it's up to Pettine to scheme as such. -- Rob Demovsky

1:27

Keyshawn Johnson defends Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy's comment that winning a championship should always be a team's goal.

Who's on the hot seat? QB Dak Prescott

Why his seat is warm: Mike McCarthy gets a bit of a reprieve because he did not have a full offseason because of the pandemic, so Prescott gets the label. His seat is not so much hotter than it has been in the past, but since Prescott is playing on the one-year franchise tag at a cost of $31.4 million, he needs to put together another sensational season to get a big deal next year, from the Cowboys or on the open market. Prescott has helped the Cowboys reach the playoffs in two of his four seasons and has one postseason win. It's time for the team to go beyond the divisional round, and nobody would benefit more than Prescott. -- Todd Archer

Who's on the hot seat? WR Corey Davis

Why his seat is warm: Davis could end up elsewhere after this season since the Titans didn't pick up his fifth-year option. Davis showed flashes in 2018, when he had 891 receiving yards -- including a 125-yard performance vs. Stephon Gilmore and the Patriots. Davis needs to get back to that form in his fourth season. The Titans' offense surged when Ryan Tannehill took over at quarterback, but Davis was the exception. Tannehill has said multiple times that he wants to get Davis more involved this season. If Davis has a productive season, another team will likely try to sign him. But will the Titans match a contract offer? -- Turron Davenport

Who's on the hot seat? OG Pat Elflein

Why his seat is warm: Elflein is entering a contract year, so the way he performs in his move to right guard will be critical to his future in Minnesota. The fourth-year lineman struggled in his move from center to left guard in 2019, surrendering a team-high 32 pressures and six sacks while being flagged six times for holding. This offseason, it was decided that moving Elflein back to the position where he started 25 games at Ohio State would be better. Now it's up to him to perform at a level where he can hang on to his job and not be replaced by someone like rookie Ezra Cleveland or second-year guard Dru Samia. -- Courtney Cronin

Who's on the hot seat? DE Trent Murphy

Power Rankings: Who's on the hot seat Belichick's sons earn respect as coaches Texans' Watson 'playing at a really high level' More to Packers RB than just (massive) legs Can healthy McKinnon be 49ers' X-factor?

Why his seat is warm: Murphy represents the fourth-highest cap hit on the Bills' roster in 2020 but might lose reps after the team signed Mario Addison and drafted AJ Epenesa this offseason. Murphy has recorded nine sacks in 23 games with Buffalo -- which equates to his 16-game total with Washington in 2017. In the final year of his contract this season, Murphy seems unlikely to play for the Bills in 2021 and will have to prove that his familiarity with the team's defensive scheme is too valuable and keeps him on the roster in 2020. -- Marcel Louis-Jacques

Who's on the hot seat? CB Sidney Jones

Why his seat is warm: Jones was one of the top cornerback prospects in the 2017 draft class but tore his Achilles at his pro day and has had a tough time shaking the injury bug since. Suddenly it's Year 4, and he has just eight starts and two interceptions under his belt. With his rookie contract set to expire at the end of the season, it's now or never to make his mark in Philadelphia. -- Tim McManus

3:12

Matthew Berry explains why JuJu Smith-Schuster, Odell Beckham Jr. and Adam Thielen could be in line for big bounce-back seasons in 2020.

Who's on the hot seat? WR JuJu Smith-Schuster

Why his seat is warm: A handful of Steelers offensive players are on the hot seat, but the temperature is the highest on Smith-Schuster's. The second-round pick flourished as the No. 2 receiver behind Antonio Brown but faltered in his first chance to break out as the top weapon. Some of that was out of his control, due to injuries to both Ben Roethlisberger and himself, but it leaves Smith-Schuster playing the final year of his rookie deal without a long-term contract in place. The cap-strapped team faces tough financial decisions after the season, and another poor year from Smith-Schuster could make at least one of those decisions easy. -- Brooke Pryor

Who's on the hot seat? RB Marlon Mack

Why his seat is warm: On paper, Mack shouldn't be on the hot seat based on his production in 2019. He had a career high in carries (247) and yards (1,091) while appearing to be the running back of the future for the Colts. But warning flags went up in the offseason when the Colts didn't pick up his fifth-year option and selected Wisconsin's Jonathan Taylor -- who finished his college career with back-to-back 2,000-yard rushing seasons -- in the second round of the draft. Mack will begin the season as the starter, but Taylor will have an opportunity to get snaps in the backfield rotation. -- Mike Wells

Who's on the hot seat? RB Sony Michel

Why his seat is warm: The Patriots' No. 1 rusher the past two seasons faces increased competition from free-agent signing Lamar Miller and 2019 third-round pick Damien Harris, with Harris taking center stage early in training camp because Michel opened on the physically unable to perform list after undergoing offseason foot surgery. Michel, a first-round pick in 2018, isn't in danger of being cut. But his front-line role could potentially slip away. -- Mike Reiss

0:49

Matthew Berry doesn't foresee RB Damien Harris having much fantasy value because of how Bill Belichick uses his running backs.

Who's on the hot seat? WR Will Fuller V

Why his seat is warm: After DeAndre Hopkins was traded, it's critical that Fuller stays healthy to make up for the reigning three-time All-Pro wide receiver's missing production. Fuller is playing on his fifth-year option. If he stays healthy and productive, he'll likely price himself out of Houston in free agency. If he misses time due to injury -- he has missed 22 games in four NFL seasons -- the Texans probably won't want to give him a long-term deal due to that injury history. Either way, this is likely the last season for Fuller with the Texans. How bright his future is depends on his health, because his talent and production have never been up for debate. -- Sarah Barshop

Who's on the hot seat? OLB Leonard Floyd

Why his seat is warm: The Rams signed the free agent to a one-year, $10 million contract. Now, the fifth-year pro, whom the Chicago Bears selected with the ninth overall pick in 2016, must prove he is worthy to remain in L.A. -- or the NFL -- for the long term. The Bears released Floyd after he fell short of developing into a consistent playmaker. In four seasons, Floyd had 18.5 sacks. With the Rams, he reunites with former Bears outside linebackers coach Brandon Staley, now the Rams' defensive coordinator. Staley has expressed confidence about Floyd's potential, and Floyd is expected to earn a starting role. -- Lindsey Thiry

Who's on the hot seat? HC Dan Quinn/GM Thomas Dimitroff

Why his seat is warm: Falcons owner Arthur Blank retained Quinn and Dimitroff following another 7-9 season but made a significant change in having team president Rich McKay oversee Quinn and Dimitroff this year. Blank said his standard is the playoffs, but one has to wonder if Quinn and Dimitroff will get a little bit more leeway based on how the coronavirus pandemic has already altered 2020. But that can't be used as an excuse, so Quinn and Dimitroff have to show the Falcons can compete with the Saints and Bucs in the NFC South. -- Vaughn McClure

Who's on the hot seat? OLB Haason Reddick

Create or join a league today >>Cheat Sheet Central >>

Why his seat is warm: It was telling enough when the Cardinals didn't pick up the 2017 first-round pick's option year. It was even more telling when the Cardinals signed outside linebacker Devon Kennard during free agency, essentially adding a starter in a position that Reddick would've occupied. Now Reddick is fighting for a roster spot after a lackluster career in which he has recorded only 7.5 sacks and has constantly changed positions. He's back at outside pass-rusher, a position he has played off and on throughout his NFL career. But with the additions of Kennard and Isaiah Simmons, who can also rush the passer off the edge, Reddick's future with the Cardinals is unknown. -- Josh Weinfuss

Who's on the hot seat? QB Baker Mayfield

Why his seat is warm: The QB-starved Browns justifiably had high expectations for Mayfield after he broke the NFL rookie passing TD record in 2018. But last season did not go well for him or the Browns, who finished a disappointing 6-10. This offseason, Cleveland's new front office was aggressive in giving Mayfield even more support on the field. Now, with arguably the most potent offensive skill contingent in the NFL and potentially the league's most improved offensive line, the pressure will be on Mayfield to show that he is in fact Cleveland's long-lost franchise QB. -- Jake Trotter

Who's on the hot seat? DC Paul Guenther

Why his seat is warm: In Guenther's two seasons as Jon Gruden's defensive playcaller, the Raiders have the fewest sacks in the NFL (45), are tied for the fewest takeaways (32), have given up the most 90-plus-yard touchdown drives (11), allowed the most points per drive (2.46) and are tied for the second-most yards per play allowed (6.08). On paper, the roster has been upgraded significantly on defense and, oh yeah, Rod Marinelli has joined the staff as the defensive line coach, though many see him as the DC-in-waiting should the defense struggle. -- Paul Gutierrez

Who's on the hot seat? QB Mitchell Trubisky

Why his seat is warm: Trubisky's seat is red hot. The second overall pick of the 2017 NFL draft is fighting to keep his starting job against challenger Nick Foles. The two quarterbacks are splitting reps in training camp practice as the Bears contemplate pulling the plug on Trubisky, who struggled for much of 2019. To add further pressure, Chicago declined Trubisky's fifth-year option in May. This could be Trubisky's last year with the Bears. -- Jeff Dickerson

Who's on the hot seat? OC Pat Shurmur

Relive the NFL's greatest games, original series and more. Watch on ESPN+

Why his seat is warm: Shurmur is the Broncos' fifth different offensive coordinator in five seasons, and only one of the previous four -- Bill Musgrave -- served more than one full season. Bottom line is that the Broncos have been less than pedestrian on offense, having finished 19th, 22nd, tied for 26th, 24th and 28th in scoring over the past five seasons. They scored 16 or fewer points in nine games last season, going 2-7 in those contests. And this year, the Broncos will start one of the youngest offenses in the league with no offseason on-field work due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Broncos largely based their offseason on putting talent around Drew Lock, which puts Shurmur on the spot. -- Jeff Legwold

Who's on the hot seat? QB Tyrod Taylor

Why his seat is warm: After spending last season as Philip Rivers' backup, Taylor is in the driver's seat to earn the starting job, according to coach Anthony Lynn. However, rookie Justin Herbert will be on the heels of the 10th-year pro. Taylor, who has served mostly as a backup in the NFL with the exception of three seasons as a starter with the Buffalo Bills, must quickly produce to stave off Herbert, who was drafted with the sixth overall pick to eventually become the face of the franchise. -- Lindsey Thiry

Who's on the hot seat? GM Bob Quinn/HC Matt Patricia

Why his seat is warm: Who else would it be, right? Ownership called a special meeting with beat writers to explain the decision-making process behind keeping Patricia and Quinn last December with the understanding there had to be improvement after nine total wins in two seasons. Quinn and Patricia understand what's expected of them, even in this season hampered by COVID-19, and if they aren't better than in 2018 or 2019 it would be very tough for new owner Sheila Ford Hamp to decide to keep the duo for 2021. -- Michael Rothstein

Who's on the hot seat? RB Kalen Ballage

Why his seat is warm: Ballage emerged as the Dolphins' starting running back in 2019, but after averaging just 1.9 yards per carry he faces a battle to secure a roster spot on the 2020 Dolphins. Running backs coach Eric Studesville says he isn't giving up on Ballage, who still has the talent and speed to be a successful NFL back. The seat is heating up, though, with newcomers Jordan Howard and Matt Breida likely to fill the top two roles in the backfield. Ballage will compete with Patrick Laird and Myles Gaskin for depth roles as he tries to fight his way to a more significant position. -- Cameron Wolfe

Who's on the hot seat? DT Quinnen Williams

Why his seat is warm: After an underwhelming rookie season, Williams needs a big year to justify his draft status as the third overall pick in 2019. Maybe he should get a mulligan for last year, considering his lack of experience (one-year starter at Alabama) and a nagging ankle injury, but there are no excuses in 2020. Williams reported to camp in terrific shape and predicted he'd be a "dominant" defensive tackle this season. -- Rich Cimini

Who's on the hot seat? QB Teddy Bridgewater

Jeremy Fowler polled a panel of more than 50 coaches, execs, scouts and players to come up with top-10 rankings for 2020:

QB | RB | TE | WR | OT Interior OL | Edge DT | LB | CB | SafetyMore NFL coverage

Why his seat is warm: Bridgewater was given a three-year deal, but if he doesn't prove worthy of replacing Cam Newton as franchise quarterback, the Panthers will look to draft their quarterback of the future in 2021, which has a strong QB crop headed by Clemson's Trevor Lawrence. It's unlikely the Panthers would cut Bridgewater after one season because of how his contract is structured, but if he loses his job, it would be highly beneficial to release him before the 2022 season. There really are no reasons for Bridgewater not to succeed on a unit that includes running back Christian McCaffrey and wide receivers DJ Moore, Curtis Samuel and Robby Anderson. -- David Newton

Who's on the hot seat? GM Dave Gettleman

Why his seat is warm: The Giants are 9-23 in Gettleman's two years in charge. He can't afford another subpar season, especially considering he has been awkwardly paired with a new head coach. The Giants and Daniel Jones need to show progress in order for Gettleman to have any argument that he has the organization headed in the right direction. -- Jordan Raanan

Who's on the hot seat? WR John Ross III

Why his seat is warm: Ross will be looking for a big 2020 after the Bengals declined to pick up his fifth-year option this offseason. The speedy wideout has flashed glimpses of his potential. Ross was primed for a breakout season after a big Week 1 in 2019 before an injury put him on IR for eight weeks. Now it's up to him to stay healthy, reduce his drop rate and become a viable target for rookie quarterback Joe Burrow. Since the start of 2018, Ross leads Bengals receivers with the highest percentage of receptions for 20 or more yards, according to research by ESPN Stats & Information. -- Ben Baby

Who's on the hot seat? QB Dwayne Haskins Jr.

Are you ready for some football? Play for FREE and answer questions on the Monday night game every week. Make Your Picks

Why his seat is warm: It's a little early in his career for Haskins to be on a true hot seat, but this is a new staff with no ties to him. The second-year player must prove to his new coaches that he can be the long-term solution. They were pleased with how Haskins handled the offseason, but it has to translate on the field. It won't just be about statistics; Washington lacks the firepower to provide all the help he needs. Rather, it'll be about his leadership skills, decision-making and approach. If he handles those areas, his talent will emerge and he'll be good for a while. If not, and Washington has another high pick, it might look elsewhere. -- John Keim

Who's on the hot seat? GM Dave Caldwell/coach Doug Marrone

Why his seat is warm: Owner Shad Khan decided to keep both in place this season and give them a chance to fix the issues from the past two seasons without Tom Coughlin around. Caldwell cleaned up the salary cap and he and Marrone made it a priority to address some lingering locker room issues. That's great, but the team needs to start winning more games. The Jaguars have gone 11-21 since the surprising run to the AFC title game in 2017. In announcing his decision to retain Caldwell and Marrone for 2020, Khan stressed that "accountability will be paramount." In other words, the Jaguars better show marked improvement or there will be changes. -- Mike DiRocco

Here is the original post:
2020 NFL Power Rankings - 1-32 preseason poll, plus who's on the hot seat? - ESPN

They have done the math and they cannot win unless the base turns out in full force, said Carlos Curbelo, a former Republican congressman from Florida who clashed at times with Mr. Trump and did not support him in 2016. His path to victory is similar to his path to victory last time, which is to consolidate his base and demonize the opposition.

Some additions to the Republican lineup on Monday, which included several Black supporters, did appear geared toward projecting more inclusion, not only (or even primarily) to court Black voters but also to combat perceptions often damaging among white voters that Mr. Trump and his party have given safe harbor to racist views.

Mr. Scott who publicly condemned Mr. Trumps remarks after the 2017 neo-Nazi rally in Charlottesville, Va., but has generally been a reliable ally was among the most notable speakers. President Trump built the most inclusive economy ever, he said, hailing the nations financial position before the virus hit and criticizing Mr. Bidens record for Black Americans.

There was also Vernon Jones, a Georgia state legislator and a rare Democratic endorser of the president, one week after a Democratic convention that often showcased Republican backers of Mr. Biden.

With Mr. Trump in charge, of course, political discipline can always be fleeting.

In recent days, the president and his team had predicted that he would be presiding over a four-day testament to optimism and national sunniness.

Very uplifting and positive, he said of his desired convention tenor over the weekend.

We definitely want to improve on the dour and sour mood of the D.N.C., Kellyanne Conway, the presidents counselor, told reporters.

By Monday afternoon, appearing in Charlotte at the roll call vote for his nomination, Mr. Trump was lashing out at the editorial decisions of cable television networks and urging delegates to chant 12 more years instead of four to really drive them crazy on the other side.

Read this article:
The Republicans Promised Uplift and Then Tried to Rewrite History - The New York Times

Netflix is gearing up to close out the month of August by treating subscribers to more than a dozen new additions during the last week of the month. Beginning on Monday, Aug. 24 and continuing through Friday, Aug. 28, the streaming giant will drop a total of 13 new titles as it celebrates the final full week of the month.

These new additions, which will come at a bit of a loss in the form of a handful of titles departing the streamer this week, will lead into a final batch of additions set to be made this upcoming weekend and Monday, Aug. 31. In turn, those additions will give way to dozens of other set to be added in September. Netflix unveiled its full list of September 2020 titles, which you can view by clicking here, last week.

Keep scrolling to see everything set to be added to the streaming library this week, and don't forget to check out all of the titles that are set to leave before the end of the month!

The teen shoplifters are back for another, and final, season. On Tuesday, Aug. 25, Netflix will release the second and final season of Trinkets. Based on the book by Kirsten "Kiwi" Smith, the young adult comedy follows three teenage girls who find themselves in the same Shoplifters Anonymous meeting, where they form an unlikely friendship. The series stars Brianna Hildebrand, Kiana Madeira, and Quintessa Swindell.

Netflix is taking subscribers on a trip to the "swanky, exclusive" Hamptons in New York, where a group of driven real estate agents of Nest Seekers chase multimillion-dollar deals. Million Dollar Beach House, a new Netflix original, follows five broker as they hustle to buy and sell properties for their clients. The series documents their private lives and posh coastline listings. The series will be available for streaming beginning on Wednesday, Aug. 26.

Netflix is delving back into the world of anime with Season 3 of Aggretsuko. The anime series, whose main character has already been a success in Japan and has already been licensed for toys and other merchandise, follows the story of a 25-year-old unassuming red panda who deals with the mundanities of office life by belting out death metal karaoke after work. Season 3, set to debut on Thursday, Aug. 27, will see Retsuko encounter an indie girl group "OTM Girls" and the group's manager "Hyodo."

After exclusively streaming on YouTube for its first two season, Cobra Kai is making its Netflix debut on Friday, Aug. 28. Set 30 years after the events of The Karate Kid, the series is told from the perspective of Johnny Lawrence, who's been down-and-out since that fateful All Valley Karate Tournament in 1984. The rivalry between him and the now-successful Daniel LaRusso is reignited, with Daniel forced to handle it without the calm, guiding hand of Mr. Miyagi.

Come Friday, Netflix subscribers will have another true crime documentary to add to their must watch lists with the series debut of I AM KILLER: Released. A spinoff of the streamer's popular I AM A KILLER series, Released follows a convict who is paroled 30 years after being sentenced to death for murder. Following his release, however, he makes a stunning confession.

Avail. 8/25/20:Emily's Wonder Lab NETFLIX FAMILY

Avail. 8/26/20:Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol NETFLIX ORIGINALLa venganza de Anala NETFLIX ORIGINALRising Phoenix NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY

Avail. 8/27/20:The Bridge CurseThe Frozen Ground

Avail. 8/28/20:All Together Now NETFLIX FILMOrgenes secretos / Unknown Origins NETFLIX FILM

Leaving 8/25/20:Blue Is the Warmest Color

Leaving 8/28/20:Bring It On: Worldwide ShowdownThe Wicker Man

Read more:
Every TV Show, Movie and Original Coming to Netflix This Week (August 24) - PopCulture.com