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WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Fort Price, and three different congressional Democrats known as on President Joe Biden to “move the torch” and step apart as his social gathering’s nominee.

Fellow Democratic Reps. Jared Huffman of California, Chuy Garcia of Illinois and Mark Pocan joined Veasey in a joint assertion Friday morning. Veasey is now the second Democrat from Texas to name on Biden to withdraw, after Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Austin.

“We should face the fact that widespread public issues about your age and health are jeopardizing what ought to be a profitable marketing campaign,” the assertion reads. “We imagine essentially the most accountable and patriotic factor you are able to do at this second is to step apart as our nominee whereas persevering with to guide our social gathering from the White Home.”

Of their assertion, the members point out a “deep and proficient bench of youthful leaders, led by Vice President Kamala Harris,” however cease wanting explicitly endorsing Harris as Biden’s substitute.

Veasey is notably the primary member of the Congressional Black Caucus to make this name publicly. Different members of the caucus, together with Reps. Jasmine Crockett of Dallas and Al Inexperienced of Houston, have been amongst Biden’s most steadfast supporters.

Doggett was the primary member of Congress to return out publicly in opposition to Biden. Roughly two dozen different Home Democrats and three U.S. Senators have issued related public statements within the two weeks for the reason that president’s disastrous debate in June.

Veasey’s assertion got here amid a very turbulent interval of the race, only a day after the Republican Nationwide Conference adjourned and every week out from an tried assassination of former President Donald Trump, who accepted the nomination on Friday. Democrats have grown more and more anxious as Biden continues to slide in polls, whereas the try on Trump’s life has locked in additional help for the Republican this November.

Mia Ehrenberg, a spokesperson for the Biden marketing campaign, offered an announcement that mentioned all Democrats “share the identical objective.”

“Whereas nearly all of the caucus and the varied base of the social gathering continues to face with the President and his historic report of delivering for his or her communities, we’re clear-eyed that the urgency and stakes of beating Donald Trump means others really feel otherwise,” the assertion learn.

Veasey, a average who has served greater than a decade in Congress, had beforehand been one of many few Texas Democrats to not take an open place on Biden’s candidacy, as an alternative warning different members to “chill just a little bit” instantly after the talk. He later informed reporters that representatives from battleground districts ought to be happy to return out in opposition to Biden if it will assist them get reelected.

“What I mentioned this morning and expressed to my colleagues, notably from members on the entrance line, is that I believe they should do no matter it’s they should do with a view to come again and be reelected and so if they should, , distance themselves, then that’s what they should do,” Veasey mentioned every week after the talk.

All 4 Democrats in Friday’s assertion, nevertheless, come from secure Democratic seats. Veasey received reelection in 2022 with 72% of the vote.

Veasey’s feedback imply simply three Democrats from Texas have but to take a public place: Reps. Henry Cuellar of Laredo, Joaquin Castro of San Antonio and Colin Allred of Dallas punted on the query as he focuses on a troublesome race in opposition to Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas. Eight different Democrats from Texas have made public feedback supportive of Biden.

Massive information: director and screenwriter Richard Linklater; NPR President and CEO Katherine Maher; U.S. Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-California; and Luci Baines Johnson will take the stage at The Texas Tribune Competition, Sept. 5–7 in downtown Austin. Purchase tickets at this time!

PHOENIX — Arike Ogunbowale set the WNBA All-Star scoring document with 34 factors and Caitlin Clark made probably the most of her All-Star debut because the WNBA crew beat the U.S. Olympic crew 117-109 on Saturday evening.

It was the second consecutive win for the WNBA All-Star crew over the Olympians. The All-Stars additionally received in 2021 led by Ogunbowale, who was MVP of each that recreation and this one.

That loss was the one one which the People had in 2021 en path to profitable their seventh consecutive Olympic gold medal. The U.S. hopes for a similar leads to Paris later this month. No crew on the planet may match the depth or expertise that the WNBA All-Stars had.

Saturday’s loss got here hours after the U.S. males’s Olympic crew rallied to beat South Sudan by one level in an exhibition recreation in London.

The U.S. will subsequent play Germany in London for an exhibition recreation Tuesday earlier than going to France for the Olympics. The People are in a pool with Belgium, Japan and Germany.

Stream each second and each medal of the 2024 Paris Olympics on Peacock, beginning with the Opening Ceremony July 26 at 12 p.m. ET.

Ogunbowale as soon as once more was a thorn within the facet of the U.S. crew, scoring all of her factors within the second half. The 2021 All-Star MVP took over the sport within the third quarter scoring 21 factors, hitting six of her 10 photographs, together with 5 3-pointers. The U.S. crew threw all the things on the Dallas Wings star however they simply couldn’t cease her.

Ogunbowale has been within the U.S. nationwide crew pool for the previous two Olympics, however didn’t make the roster both time. She pulled her identify out of the pool of gamers early this time round saying the complete course of was political.

By the point Ogunbowale was executed within the third quarter, the WNBA All-Stars had turned a two-point halftime deficit into an 88-79 lead. She broke Jewell Loyd’s total All-Star scoring document of 31 set final 12 months with a 3-pointer late within the fourth quarter.

The Olympians, who’ve solely practiced collectively for 2 days, by no means actually threatened. Breanna Stewart scored 31 factors and A’ja Wilson added 22.

There was a lot hype and vitality round this All-Star Sport with the debuts of phenomenal rookies Clark and Angel Reese. The pair have helped carry the WNBA to new heights this season with document attendance and viewership.

It was their first time the younger stars had ever performed collectively. One in all Clark’s 10 assists got here to Reese, who completed with 12 factors and 11 rebounds.

The sport was put in Phoenix to rejoice the 20-year profession of Mercury star Diana Taurasi and the return of Brittney Griner from her wrongful detainment in Russia in 2022.

“This might be one of many single hardest issues to focus on. Is definitely teaching the crew due to what’s taking place,” U.S. coach Cheryl Reeve mentioned. “It is among the biggest spectacles, I believe, within the historical past of our league.”

Whereas Clark and Reese got loud ovations from the group in pregame introductions, nothing matched the applause for Taurasi, who was enjoying in her eleventh All-Star Sport.

She acquired the scoring began with a 3-pointer from the wing within the back-and-forth first half which noticed the U.S. maintain a slim 54-52 lead. It didn’t final lengthy because the WNBA crew scored 9 of the primary 11 factors within the third quarter to take management.

Linebacker Shaquil Barrett, a two-time Tremendous Bowl champion with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Denver Broncos, introduced his retirement Saturday.

“I am able to shift my full focus to my spouse and children and serving to them notice there goals,” Barrett wrote as a part of an Instagram publish. “I have been enthusiastic about this for some time and the choice has by no means been extra clear then it’s proper now.”

Barrett had signed a one-year cope with the Miami Dolphins in March after being launched by the Buccaneers in a cost-cutting transfer.

The 31-year previous Barrett spent 5 seasons in Tampa, together with the 2020 marketing campaign that resulted in a Tremendous Bowl title with quarterback Tom Brady on the helm.

Barrett and his household suffered a tragedy in April 2023 when his 2-year-old daughter, Arrayah, drowned within the household’s pool. He returned for the beginning of the 2023 season and registered 4.5 sacks and 52 mixed tackles, together with 33 solo tackles.

An undrafted free agent out of Colorado State in 2015, Barrett has 59 profession sacks in 9 seasons for the Bucs and the Broncos, with whom he captured his first Tremendous Bowl title in 2015.

He led the NFL with a franchise-record 19.5 sacks in 2019, his first season with Tampa Bay. Barrett reached double-digit sacks in only one different season: 2021, with 10.

After releasing Emmanuel Ogbah and dropping Andrew Van Ginkel to free company, the Dolphins signed Barrett to offer veteran depth to their outdoors linebackers room. The workforce positioned linebackers Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb on the energetic/bodily unable to carry out record previous to the beginning of coaching camp on July 23, which paved a path for Barrett to play important snaps till their returns.

With Barrett’s retirement, rookies Chop Robinson and Mo Kamara are at present the workforce’s prime two wholesome edge rushers; veteran Cameron Goode was additionally positioned on the PUP record alongside Phillips and Chubb.

ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques contributed to this report.

An Jap Convention showdown within the MLS occurs when Inter Miami CF (15-5-4) and Chicago Hearth FC (6-7-11) collide on Saturday. Inter Miami are at present No. 1 within the convention with 50 complete factors. In the meantime, Chicago are within the thirteenth spot with 25 factors however have a -11 objective differential. Lionel Messi will miss this sport for Miami with an ankle damage suffered throughout Copa America.

Kickoff is about for 7:30 p.m. ET. Inter Miami are -120 favorites (danger $120 to win $100) within the newest Inter Miami vs. Chicago odds, whereas Chicago Hearth FC are +280 underdogs. A 90-minute draw is priced at +300 and the over/underneath for complete targets scored is 3.5. Earlier than locking in any Inter Miami vs. Chicago Hearth picks, you could take a look at what SportsLine soccer professional Jon Eimer has to say.

Eimer is a high-volume bettor who has huge data of leagues and gamers throughout the globe. Since becoming a member of SportsLine, he has coated the English Premier League, Serie A, the FA Cup and far more. In 2023 he was red-hot, going 248-234-12 for a revenue of $2,593 for $100 bettors.

Now, Eimer has taken an in depth have a look at the Inter Miami vs. Chicago Hearth match and locked in his Main League Soccer picks. You possibly can go to SportsLine now to see his picks. Listed here are the betting strains and developments for Inter Miami vs. Chicago Hearth:

• Inter Miami vs. Chicago cash line: Inter Miami -120, Chicago Hearth +280, Draw +300
• Inter Miami vs. Chicago over/underneath: 3.5 targets
• MIA: Inter Miami are 3-2 of their final 5 video games
• CHI: Chicago Hearth are 7-4 of their street video games towards the unfold
• Inter Miami vs. Chicago picks: See picks right here

Why it’s best to again Inter Miami

This group has offensive playmakers and scorers everywhere in the area, consistently placing stress on defenses. They’re at present first within the league in assists (65) and targets (54). Midfielder Julian Gressel has excellent area imaginative and prescient to string the needle as a passer. He is tied for fourth within the MLS in complete assists (12) and completes 83.7% of his passes.

Defender Jordi Alba, 35, is a veteran presence on the sector. Alba has nice instincts on the sector to search out the ball but in addition has a knack for organising his teammates. He is notched three targets and 7 complete assists. Midfielder Robert Taylor performs with spectacular timing and tempo. Taylor will intercept passes and assist create counterattacks. This season, he has 4 targets and three assists. See which staff to choose right here.

Why it’s best to again Chicago Hearth 

Ahead Hugo Cuypers supplies Chicago with an athletic and decisive presence on the frontline. Cuypers has a knack for locating his manner into the penalty field however strikes nice with out the ball. The 27-year-old at present leads the staff in targets (9) together with two assists. Midfielder Brian Gutierrez is one other offensive menace.

Gutierrez, 21, is usually a dependable playmaker off crossers whereas being a stable passer. Over the previous two years with Chicago, he is recorded seven targets and 13 assists. Maren Haile-Selassie is one other contributor within the midfield. Haile-Selassie owns clean footwork to dribble previous defenders as a scorer or facilitator. So far this season, the 25-year-old logged 5 targets and 5 assists on 38 complete pictures. See which staff to choose right here.

How one can make Inter Miami vs. Chicago Hearth picks

Eimer is leaning Over on the objective complete and has additionally locked in a pair of assured finest bets, together with a plus-money goal-scorer wager. He is solely sharing his picks and evaluation at SportsLine.

So who wins Inter Miami vs. Chicago Hearth, and the place does all of the betting worth lie? Go to SportsLine now to see which wagers have all the worth, all from the soccer professional who returned virtually $2,600 on soccer picks final 12 months, and discover out.

PHOENIX — Arike Ogunbowale sat within the locker room at halftime of Saturday’s WNBA All-Star Sport with zero factors and Crew WNBA trailing by two. Coach Cheryl Miller pointed to Ogunbowale and known as her out in a shock transfer.

“I wasn’t anticipating her to say my identify,” Ogunbowale stated. “She simply instructed me to take a deep breath and play my sport.”

That she did.

Ogunbowale set a WNBA All-Star Sport document with 34 factors to earn her second All-Star Sport MVP and lead Crew WNBA to a 117-109 win over Crew USA in entrance of 16,407 followers at Footprint Middle.

“I suppose you guys noticed what occurred,” Ogunbowale stated.

Miller’s problem labored instantly. Ogunbowale scored 21 factors within the third quarter — essentially the most in a single quarter in WNBA All-Star Sport historical past — setting in movement a repeat of what she and Crew WNBA completed three years in the past when it knocked off Crew USA within the first All-Star Weekend with the WNBA-USA Basketball format. Ogunbowale additionally was named MVP of the 2021 sport after scoring 26 factors.

The nationwide staff rebounded from that loss to win a gold medal in Tokyo.

“It was like just a little little bit of a déjà vu feeling, truthfully,” stated Crew USA ahead Breanna Stewart, who registered a double-double with 31 factors and 10 rebounds.

In response to a postgame query that inadvertently talked about the NBA as an alternative of the WNBA, Crew USA coach Cheryl Reeve shortly quipped about Ogunbowale: “It felt like we had been guarding anyone from the NBA?”

Ogunbowale took her identify out of the pool of candidates for the U.S. ladies’s nationwide staff earlier this yr.

At one level throughout Reeve’s postgame information convention, the coach dropped one other one-liner. “Is Arike taking part in for any of those groups that we will play?” she stated to laughs.

Ogunbowale’s 34 factors had been the second most scored in any half in WNBA historical past, together with the common season, playoffs, All-Star Video games and the Commissioner’s Cup, in line with ESPN Stats & Data analysis. Solely Riquna Williams, who scored 35 factors within the second half for the Tulsa Shock in a 2013 regular-season sport, had extra.

That helped Ogunbowale turn into the fourth participant to earn a number of WNBA All-Star Sport MVPs, becoming a member of Lisa Leslie and Maya Moore, who every had three, and Swin Money, who had two.

“These are three greats, individuals who paved the best way for gamers like us,” Ogunbowale stated. “That is positively dope to be in that dialog.”

Ogunbowale’s efficiency was the icing on the cake of a historic WNBA All-Star Sport. Stewart turned the primary participant with 30 factors and 10 rebounds in a WNBA All-Star Sport, and Chicago Sky rookie Angel Reese turned the primary rookie to document a double-double, with 12 factors and 11 rebounds.

Crew USA’s A’ja Wilson scored 22 factors, Diana Taurasi added 14 and Brittney Griner put up 10.

Ogunbowale was complemented on Crew WNBA by Allisha Grey’s 16 factors, Nneka Ogwumike’s 14 and Kelsey Mitchell’s 13. Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark, who acquired the beginning with essentially the most votes amongst all gamers, completed with 10 assists, one shy of Sue Fowl’s All-Star Sport document simply three days after setting a WNBA single-game document with 19 assists.

“That is Sue’s document,” Clark stated. “I am unable to take that from her. That is my homey.”

Clark was requested if Saturday evening’s win was vindication for being left off the Olympic staff, and she or he bluntly stated, “No.”

“I imply, they’re actually good,” Clark stated. “That they had loads of expertise on that staff and, I imply, it’s the similar, I feel [three] years prior. I am fairly positive Crew WNBA beat Crew USA.

“They had been completely high quality within the Olympics. Like, I feel, if something, it reveals how good this league is.”

Clark and Reese linked within the fourth quarter when Clark drove left and dropped a bounce cross to Reese after Crew USA middle Griner picked up Clark. Reese made a layup then she and Clark high-fived on the best way again down courtroom.

“I assumed that they had been skilled, like, as anybody at this degree could be,” Crew WNBA ahead Ogwumike stated of Reese and Clark. “I am at all times impressed by the 2 of them. I feel it was additionally actually enjoyable to see them taking part in collectively tonight. That they had some synergy and the maturity that they’ve getting into, not even simply being right here at All-Star however managing all the inflow that they get as the 2 rookies which can be actually getting quite a bit, loads of consideration.

“After which, after all, being celebrated too. I feel I want to suppose that they’d enjoyable as we speak, and I feel that is the primary purpose, particularly for first-time All-Stars, is to benefit from the expertise. They usually helped us win too.”

Rory Feek mentioned “I do” once more — eight years after the loss of life of his earlier spouse Joey.

The nation singer revealed on his weblog he married his 10-year-old daughter Indiana’s faculty instructor, Rebecca, on July 14.

The couple tied the knot “underneath a gorgeous timber-frame pavilion” in Greycliff, Montana, in entrance of household and mates the place he stunned her with a particular marriage ceremony tune written by him.

The 59-year-old wrote that he and Rebecca’s love story started along with his daughter saying it was really her thought.

“Rebecca and I had dedicated to be collectively. To decide on one another and see the place it would lead. And though we knew marriage was a risk, it wasn’t one thing that both of us felt like we may significantly speak about,” he defined.

“Principally as a result of up till that point Indiana solely noticed Rebecca as ‘Miss Rebecca’ her schoolteacher and our good friend. And though she had change into rather more than that to me, I used to be very cautious to let Indy ‘determine it out’ on her personal. And truthfully, I wasn’t actually certain if she ever may, or would, in any respect.”

“Her love for her Mama is so nice and so huge in her life. Neither Rebecca or I needed to harm that in any approach,” Rory wrote.

“And so we simply waited and watched to see if it would ever happen to Indiana that Rebecca might be greater than only a good friend to her Papa, and to her.”

It wasn’t till late March when Rebecca visited the father-daughter duo at their farmhouse for his or her traditional morning routine that she revealed Indiana requested her to marry her father.

“I requested Indy, and he or she instructed me that she mentioned, ‘Ms. Rebecca, I feel you need to marry Papa…’” he wrote.

“After which Indy checked out me and mentioned ‘and I instructed Miss Rebecca that my Mama’s been gone a very long time. And if she marries you, possibly she might be my new mom…’”

Joey Feek died in March 2016 after a two-year battle with cervical and colorectal most cancers.

Rory additionally has two daughters, Heidi and Hopie, whom he welcomed in a earlier relationship.