Author: Shekari Philemon

Atlanta is acquiring Dorian Finney Smith from Charlotte in exchange for Buddy Hield, Ryan Nembhard and cash, a deal both teams announced Tuesday. What exactly is moving? Finney Smith goes to Atlanta. Hield, Nembhard and cash go to Charlotte, which is expected to waive Nembhard. The Hawks Hornets trade creates a $2.1 million trade exception for Atlanta and a likely $4.5 million exception for Charlotte, mechanisms that let each team absorb salary in a future deal without sending matching money back. What does Atlanta get? A defensive wing with playoff experience. Finney Smith has three years and $53 million remaining…

Kawhi Leonard has agreed to a two year extension with the Toronto Raptors worth $115 million, with a player option for the 2028 to 29 season, committing the franchise’s 2019 championship centerpiece to the team that traded for him this summer. What are the terms? The extension brings his total Raptors commitment to three years and $165 million. He accepted $11 million less than the maximum available to him and waived a $7.45 million trade kicker, concessions made in discussions about the team’s rising payroll. At 35, Kawhi Leonard has structured a deal that keeps Toronto’s books workable rather than…

Red Bull has confirmed Isack Hadjar as its second driver for 2027, settling the more scrutinized half of a lineup that has been unstable for years. Why does this seat matter so much? Because of what happened to everyone else in it. A succession of drivers has struggled alongside Max Verstappen at Red Bull, with several removed or reassigned within a season. Isack Hadjar has produced eight points finishes and a podium at Monaco in his first year at the senior team, which by the standard of recent occupants is a clear success rather than a modest one. What is…

Esteban Ocon has described himself as a free agent for next season, an unusually direct acknowledgment from a driver whose seat has looked uncertain for most of the year. What did he actually say? Speaking to media in Baku ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Esteban Ocon said he is currently a free agent for next year and that discussions involving his future include factors outside his control. Asked whether remaining at Haas is still possible, he offered only that it remains to be seen. Haas is not expected to announce its 2027 lineup this week. Why is his seat…

Czechia reached the semifinals of the Billie Jean King Cup Finals on Tuesday, beating Britain 2 to 0 in Shenzhen without needing to play the deciding doubles rubber. How did the tie unfold? Marie Bouzkova opened with a three set win over Sonay Kartal, taking it 7 to 6 in a first set tiebreak, dropping the second 4 to 6 and closing 6 to 4. Linda Noskova then sealed it against Katie Boulter 6 to 2, 7 to 6, finishing with an ace on her first match point. She hit 15 aces across the match to her opponent’s four. Who…

California declared a state of emergency on Sept. 21 in advance of the coming winter storm season, a preemptive measure intended to position resources before the first significant rainfall rather than after it. What does the declaration do? It changes what state agencies can do and how fast. The proclamation directs agencies to reduce flood risk and pre position flood fighting supplies including sandbags and pumps. It prepares the California National Guard to support flood response, search and rescue, engineering and logistics when called. It also instructs environmental and natural resources agencies to expedite permitting for projects addressing flooding, landslides…

A man died and two others were injured when a fishing boat struck rocks beneath the north tower of the Golden Gate Bridge early on Sept. 17, according to authorities in Marin County. What happened? The 25 foot vessel hit rocks near Lime Point shortly after 6 a.m. and capsized. All three people aboard were badly hurt. Rescuers recovered them from the water, treated them at the scene and transported them to a hospital. One man, a 35 year old from San Jose, died despite extended resuscitation efforts. The conditions of the other two were not released. Where is Lime…

Pennsylvania health officials reported Tuesday that the state’s measles outbreak has reached 792 cases, an increase of 25 since Sept. 18, with infections now recorded across 39 counties. How serious is the outbreak? There have been 155 hospitalizations, meaning roughly one in five reported cases has required hospital care. Four deaths have been designated as measles associated. Measles is one of the most contagious diseases known, capable of spreading to most susceptible people in a shared space and remaining infectious in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves. What about the four deaths? County coroners…

A group of activists aligned with the Make America Healthy Again movement published an open letter on Sept. 21 warning President Donald Trump and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. that their continued support is conditional. What does the letter demand? Removal of mRNA vaccines from the market. The signers describe that as the central objective of their coalition and argue the administration has failed to act decisively on it. They characterize current policy as ineffective and self defeating, and claim it places pregnant women and children at risk while failing those they say have been harmed. What is the…

Buyers wiring a down payment now face a version of an old scam that has been rebuilt with artificial intelligence, and the safeguards most people were taught to rely on no longer hold. How large is the problem? Losses from real estate fraud exceeded $275 million last year, up from roughly $173 million the year before, according to federal cybercrime reporting. That sits inside more than $20.8 billion in total cybercrime losses. The same report logged more than 22,000 complaints involving artificial intelligence with losses above $893 million. One consulting firm has projected that AI enabled fraud losses in the…