“Normally, things like this against state and local officials involving state and local government entities like school board are not federal,” Senator Mike Lee, a Utah Republican, told Garland during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on oversight of the Department of Justice on Wednesday. “Not every outburst or expression of concern by neighbors among neighbors at a local school board meeting warrants a federal investigation.” In the memo earlier this month, Garland directed the Federal Bureau of Investigations and U....

Rep. Darren Bailey filed the petition Wednesday, contending that three new orders issued late last month by Pritzker violated a July 2 ruling from Clay County Circuit Court Judge Michael McHaney, who ruled that the governor overstepped his authority by issuing similar orders beyond 30 days in April. The petition argues that Pritzker’s orders, which continue earlier measures and establish health guidelines for the transfer of prisoners and for school reopenings, are “contemptuous acts which are calculated to embarrass, hinder, or obstruct” the Clay county court....

In contrast, the Democrats will control redistricting in eight states, including New York and Illinois, with a total of 75 seats, where the loss of a seat in each gives them a chance to squeeze out Republicans. “Redistricting really is the ballgame this cycle in the House. Even tiny changes to district lines could have huge implications that tip the balance of power in the House,” said David Wasserman, an analyst for congressional races at The Cook Political Report....

But until yesterday, there was no tale to rival Jennifer Capriati’s comeback saga, the now-familiar yarn of a childhood prodigy with the “can’t miss” tag turned bloated, bleary-eyed, drug-troubled teen. The burnout figured to be the last word on her tennis career. But she returned to the court, her game a shell of its former self as she went five years without winning one Grand Slam match. But incremental gain upon incremental gain began to turn into giant steps....

RB Melvin Gordon, Wisconsin If someone has a better day than this, we’ll have to see it to believe it. Gordon carried 13 ties for 253 yards and five touchdowns. Before you get out your calculator, that’s 19.4 yards per carry and puts him on a record-setting pace. His scoring runs covered 2, 50, 3, 21 and 69 yards. The Badgers set a Big Ten record with 644 yards and Tanner McEvoy added 11 carries for 158 yards and Corey Clement had 16 for 111....

Serving the aromatic tuber at home has also become simpler, thanks to online distributors. Purveyors such as sabatinostore.com receive daily shipments from Italy and overnight them to you ($145 per ounce, or about two to three servings) along with instructions on how to store and prepare them. Always shave the raw tuber, using a carrot peeler or mandoline, directly onto dishes. (Never cook truffles, as they are volatile and their aromatics break down quickly under heat....

Hochul started fundraising in August, shortly after she was sworn into office following former Governor Andrew Cuomo’s resignation. She has brought in a reported $21.6 million in campaign donations, City & State New York reported. New York’s first female governor is “the clear favorite among New York Democrats, leading potential primary opponents by more than 30 points,” according to a new Siena College poll. Hochul’s campaign described the haul as “the largest contribution total for any single filing period in New York history,” they said in a press release, according to City & State New York....

Further evidence of that was produced Thursday, when the Judiciary Committee chairman, along with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), introduced a resolution accusing the lower chamber of forgoing Trump’s “due process” rights and “abandoning precedent” while condemning the lack of a floor vote authorizing the inquiry. But in their attempts to defend Trump, Republicans have steered away from pushing back against the damning allegations of a quid pro quo that have emerged from witness interviews, the president himself and acting Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney....

Chloe Rigby’s grandad initially believed he was attending a belated 18th birthday party, and even showed up with a card. Instead, he was greeted with a cheering crowd of familiar faces who were all there to see him. “Thought he was going to an 18th and walked into his surprise 80th,” Rigby captioned the now-viral TikTok post. “Melts my heart he does.” The clip, which can be seen here, has gained over 5 million views and 1 million likes, for clear reason—his reaction has warmed hearts across the world....

Some early reports suggested her grandfather, Salvatore Anello, was dangling the girl from the window when she fell. But lawyer Michael Winkleman disputed this account. He also emphasized Anello was not drunk at the time of this incident. Per Buzzfeed News, he told reporters: “There was absolutely no alcohol involved, Sam is not a drinker.” 18-month-old Chloe Weigand fell from a window on the 11th deck of Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas Sunday afternoon....

Clinton County Sheriff Rich Kelly said that 62-year-old Pamela Sledd and her 21-year-old granddaughter Promise Mays were shot in the NHK factory parking lot after arriving during a shift change at around 4:15 p.m. local time. There were no other injuries. The suspected killer, identified as 26-year-old Gary C. Ferrell II, was later arrested and taken into custody following a short high-speed car chase. Farrell also worked at the plant, but a motive for the fatal shooting remains unclear....

An Alien Body From various angles, the Gravastar Mars Pro reminds me of: A space crabThe Injustice League’s Hall of DoomThe Spider Baby from the first Toy Story Yet there’s something super cool and stylish about it. I like that it sports a truly unique look—even among the Mars Pro line, which features several even funkier special editions. But more than just a novelty, these offbeat looks are integral to the Gravastar brand....

In the new National Geographic Sharkfest documentary called Camo Sharks, Ryan Johnson, a shark biologist from South Africa, and Gibbs Kuguru, a shark geneticist from the Netherlands, work together to investigate whether great white sharks can change their color for camouflage and to blend into the environment, similar to other marine animals like octopuses or squid. According to Johnson, the idea that white sharks could be a species that can modify the color of their skin came from years of working with them, and recognizing individuals that looked a slightly different hue to usual....

Drew Rosenhaus, Hardy’s agent, said Friday at least six teams are after the Pro Bowl defensive end. MORE: Team-by-team free agency deals | Cowboys pull McFadden from bargain bin “It’s a very positive situation,” Rosenhaus said, via ESPN.com. “While we’re waiting to hear from the league, we’re working through it, and it has been very encouraging.” Hardy remains on the commissioner’s exempt list after the Panthers decided not to re-sign the 26-year-old....

The Australian golfer, known as The Shark, appeared on ESPN’s “Pardon The Interruption” Wednesday to discuss Woods, among other topics. Norman, who’s also serving as a color commentator for FOX this weekend, was very critical of Woods when talking about his recent performances. MORE: U.S. Open schedules, tee times for Thursday | U.S. Open odds | Tiger plans to win “I see a guy who is totally lost, he does not have a go-to shot," Norman said....

If the SEC scheduling isn’t broke, there’s no need to fix it. After all, the conference has put two teams in the championship game twice in the last seven seasons — Alabama vs. LSU in 2011 and Alabama vs. Georgia in 2017 — and has competed in 11 of the last 12 championship games, winning nine in that stretch. “Stated succinctly,” Sankey said, “What we do works at both the national championship level and at a level that provides our team’s meaningful access to post-season bowl opportunities....

But when nobody popped open on a critical third-and-11 from the 12-yard line after what seemed like forever, the Houston quarterback dashed for the right corner of the end zone. The touchdown gave No. 6 Houston an early fourth-quarter lead that it never relinquished in a 40-16 win against Cincinnati at Nippert Stadium on Thursday. MORE: Houston-Cincinnati GameCenter Patience paid off on a night when Ward had his tested. It became clear that Houston will need this kind of effort from him — and then some — to stay on a course to the College Football Playoff....

Prior to the Spurs’ Tuesday night game on TNT against the Thunder, he was asked whether he tries to lighten the mood or if he is staging a real protest. “I think it’s an unnecessary activity that we’re doing because it takes us away from our job,” he replied. “We talk to the media all the time and when it’s a TV game, the TV is in your huddles, they’re everywhere....

What a season it was. Despite the 34-48 record, San Antonio took big steps as a franchise ushering in a new era. Dejounte Murray made the All-Star leap with averages of 21.1 points, 9.2 assists, 8.3 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game, Keldon Johnson grew into his role as the team’s No. 2 and Jakob Poeltl cemented his status as one of the league’s most solid defensive bigs. With 30-year-old Doug McDermott as the team’s oldest player, the Spurs have an extremely young roster, many of whom were granted the invaluable opportunity to contribute to winning basketball and play on a postseason stage....

We are living in the Cristiano Era The France international has been heavily linked with a move to the Premier League with Manchester United, while he recently stated “I do not discard anything” when asked about the possibility of joining rivals Real Madrid. Griezmann scored his 100th La Liga goal as Atleti defeated Espanyol 1-0 on Saturday to stay third in the table, while they also have a Champions League semi-final against Madrid to look forward to....