For Jessica Rollins, one of the chief challenges as Farmamerica's executive director is making the center appealing to visitors.

"I think a lot of people see the words 'interpretive center' and wonder why they would want to come out here," she said.

She thinks the events she and the Farmamerica board have planned for this year, though, promise to provide a memorable experience for area residents and other visitors.

Rollins came on board as Farmamerica's executive director last fall, and since then has worked to find new ways to communicate the story of agriculture in southern Minnesota to visitors as part of the center's mission.

The board is in the final stages of developing its strategic plan, which it will unveil at its annual meeting April 17.

"That will give us some good direction," Rollins said. "It's been a couple years since we've looked at a strategic plan. Ive gotten five months under my belt to assess whats happened in the past and to make some decisions about where we think we want to go."

Farmamerica Board Chair Warren Formo says the main focus of this process has involved reviewing the center's plan, making sure it tracks with where the board wants to see Farmamerica go in the future.

"Our core mission of being a place where people can experience and learn about the evolution of Minnesota agriculture has not changed," he said. "We're still committed to telling the story of agriculture over the last 150 years."

The piece that's new, he said, is the board's effort to include more about ongoing issues within agriculture right now.

That includes adding fields and exhibits that demonstrate what's happening in agriculture. Among the additions visitors to the center will see this year are plantings of modern hybrids that have biotechnology traits, with signage that explains how they came to be, what their purpose is and how they fit into modern farming.

There will also be more focus on technology in farming, with events that will put some of those things on display.

As usual, the center will provide school tours in May, and has already had over 900 students signed up. In addition to the traditional tour, Farmamerica this year offers a revamped version that provides more hands-on experience to students.

These activities include washing clothes by hand, old-fashioned schoolyard games and the opportunity to shear a "sheep," or rather a fake sheep covered in shaving cream which students can scrub off. Students will also get to compare and contrast the ag equipment today with that of the past.

"Well have some modern equipment onsite for them to climb up in and see how it looks compared to stuff farmers were using 100 years ago," Rollins said.

Also new this year are Community Education classes Farmamerica will offer in June and July.

One class for kindergarteners through second-graders focuses on apples, making use of a small apple orchard that was donated to the center.

"The apples are planted in chronological order of how apple varieties developed in southern Minnesota," Rollins said. "It's a neat space and we want to utilize it and tell that story."

For second- through fourth-graders, there will be a class through which they can learn about soil, planting and seeds. Students will make a terrarium and a seed mosaic art piece.

Third- through fifth-graders will also learn about soil, learning about worms.

Sprinkled in between these activities will be regular summer tours, taking place on second Saturdays in June, July, August and September.

In partnership with the Waseca County Farm Bureau, Farmamerica hosts the Taste of the Farm June 13. This event, which the center previously hosted in 2015, will feature a free meal and events for all ages.

The center holds an ice cream social the second Saturday in July.

The big event Rollins is currently trying to get her head around is a "meatapalooza," a meat education event planned for Aug. 12.

This year will feature pork and beef, but could in the future expand to other meats like poultry.

"I come from a pork background. I know pork better," Rollins said. "Pulling off an event like this for the first time, it's good for me to stick with something I know."

Different from the center's other events, attendees will be asked to buy their tickets to this event ahead of time. There will be meat samples and demonstrations, and Rollins is hoping to partner with a brewery to provide a beer tasting.

"The Minnesota Beef Council did an event like this up in the Twin Cities in February," Rollins said. "I kind of had the idea before, then I went to the event and realized this is a fantastic opportunity for everybody to learn about meat."

On Sept. 9, Farmamerica hosts its Fall Fair, which will be largely the same as it has been in past years. October will features more school tours, its Haunted Corn Maze and could see the return of its All Hallow's Eve event, which features activities for kids.

"I think theres a lot of that's already going on in the community for them to choose from," Rollins said. "Our attendance has been down the last couple years so we didnt do it last fall. But we also heard people liked it, so we might try to bring it back."

Other plans include a hands-on exhibit about corn targeted for July, provided for by funding from the Minnesota Corn Growers Association.

We're working with them and designers to make sure the message is accurate and the hands-on experience is good for people 9 to 109," she said. "That's tricky the message you say to a third-grader is pretty basic compared to what you can start talking about with an adult consumer. At the end of the day I think the simpler, the better."

Farmamerica has received grant money to go into classrooms and talk with students about agriculture. However, Rollins is now thinking about bringing kids to the center for a full-day experience. The focus will be on career opportunities, both generally and in agriculture.

"We have so much space here," Rollins said. "If we can get the schools interested, itd be fun to bus them out for the full day, versus going out there for one class session where I come into the room and talk about some stuff, then Ill leave and theyll never see me again. I think this will have a more lasting impact for them."

She wants to pilot that in May, work out the kinks and kick it off next school year.

As she has been involved with this decision-making process, Rollins has adjusted to her new position with the center.

"Its different every day," she said. "There's a lot of moving pieces, and just when I think I have one piece figured out, five more fall out of place Everything will come together, I have no doubt. There's just a lot of unexpected things along the way."

All that aside, she says she has had a wonderful experience.

The board made the decision to change the executive director position from part-time to full-time when it brought Rollins on board. Formo says this has allowed Rollins to devote more time to developing some of the educational materials the board is talking about.

"In the past, we've done that in kind of a piecemeal fashion, but now, by having someone who has the skill set and understands some of the modern issues, she's able to do more of that sort of work," Formo said.

With spring approaching, Formo says, visitors will see gardens planted and animals on the farms.

"As people are thinking about their spring and summer plans, I hope they include Farmamerica," he said.

Everyone Rollins has spoken within the ag industry, she says, can see the potential Farmamerica has.

"Theyre excited to see how our strategic plan shakes out because they want to be part of it," she said.

That potential is something Rollins is excited to build on.

"Eventually, I want it to be an expert place to go if you need information about anything agriculture," she said. "That kind of sounds like what the University of Minnesota Extension is doing, but I'd like for us to be a place where you can maybe experience it hands-on. Were not quite there yet but the potential is there."

Reporter Jacob Stark can be reached at 837-5451 or follow him on Twitter @WCNjacob.

Continued here:
Mark your calendars: New activities planned this year at Farmamerica - Southernminn.com

City councilors also approved a few change orders to the permanent indirect potable reuse project.The first phase of the project is the installation of the pipeline which is 90 percent complete and is expected to be done by summer.

The change order for this phase is miscellaneous additions to the original contract which will cost around $141 thousand dollars with a 13 day extension.

And the money for these change orders are in the budget because through the course of the original design of the project they were able to eliminate some costs.

"Consequently, the project came in well under budget. We had actually borrowed, I think it was $33 million and both contracts together was only 25, so there is adequate funding available, which is nice because we know we always run across these change orders during construction projects," Russell Schreiber, Wichita Falls Public Works Director.

The second phase will include changes to the wastewater treatment plant which will cost around $255 thousand dollars with a 59 day extension.

It is 45 percent complete and will now be done in December, versus the fall.The change order includes different maintenance work.

Original post:
City's Pipeline Project Coming in Under Budget - KFDX

Holmes said when fire crews arrived there were flames coming out through a basement window and flames were beginning to go up the side of building to the first and second floors. Holmes said the fire damaged all three levels and was a total loss.

The homeowner is Paul Weimer and according to the Crow Wing County property tax records, the building value is estimated to be $55,000.

Holmes said it appears the fire started from an electrical problem in the basement, but it is under investigation. Holmes said firefighters were on scene longer as the home had several additions and roof lines and they had to make sure the fire was completely out.

The American Red Cross was not called to assist the occupantstwo adults and two juvenilesas they had family nearby to help.

In other fire calls:

Firefighters responded to a grass fire at 6:30 p.m. Monday off Crow Wing County Road 121, south of Brainerd. Upon arrival, firefighters determined it to be a permitted burn out of control. The fire burned about two to three acres.

The Pillager Fire Department responded to a fire Sunday late afternoon on the north west corner of Pillager Lake off Cass County Road 1. It turned out it was a controlled burn that got out of hand. About four acres burned.

Read the original post:
Fire destroys home on Oak Street - Brainerd Dispatch

Noah Feldman, Bloomberg View 5:03 a.m. CT March 22, 2017

Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch is telling senators that he keeps "an open mind for the entire process" when he issues rulings. (March 21) AP

Judge Neil Gorsuch pauses as he speaks in the East Room of the White House in Washington, on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017, after President Donald Trump announced Gorsuch as his nominee for the Supreme Court.(Photo: Carolyn Kaster/AP)

Confirmation hearings for U.S. Supreme Court justices are an occasion for a national conversation about constitutional law and interpretation. Because Judge Neil Gorsuch is being billed as an originalist, his hearings this week are a great opportunity to ask him five pressing questions about constitutional thought.

Start with the most basic: Why should judges use originalism in the first place? Originalism holds that judges should interpret the Constitution based on the original meaning of the text, but the Constitution itself is silent about how it should be interpreted.

And the framers themselves weren't originalist. In one instance, James Madison, the lead architect of the whole document, years later as president signed a bill that re-established the Bank of the United States which he himself had deemed unconstitutional when it was proposed by Alexander Hamilton some 20 years before.

Madison's initial objection to the bank was that he and the other framers hadn't given Congress the authority to charter a bank. He was in a position to know what the framers' intent was, because he was one of them indeed the most important.

But he explained in 1815 that the acceptance of the bank over decades by all three branches of government with the "concurrence of the general will of the nation" had made it constitutional.

If Madison wasn't an originalist, why should judges be so today?

The next big originalism question is, how do you generalize 18th century meanings to modern conditions? A case in point is the right to bear arms.

The Second Amendment explains its purpose by saying that the right to bear arms must be preserved because a "well-regulated militia" is "necessary" to the security of a free state. It's pretty rare for an amendment to contain its own purpose, so you'd think that would be relevant to its original meaning.

Yet in his 5-4 opinion for the Supreme Court interpreting the Second Amendment to cover handguns, Justice Antonin Scalia ran roughshod over the explanatory part of the amendment. Purporting to use originalism, he said that the right to bear arms was an individual right not limited to militia service.

This leap of generalization brought Scalia to the conclusion that a right expressly designed for militia extended to block the District of Columbia from regulating handguns. What principle of originalism led him to the rule he chose? And would Gorsuch explain and defend it?

A third crucial question for originalism is what it has to say about stare decisis, the principle that the Supreme Court should follow its precedents. Most, and in fact almost all, of the court's greatest rights decisions aren't grounded in original intent, from Brown v. Board of Education (desegregation) to Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey (abortion), Lawrence v. Texas (gay sex), and Obergefell v. Hodges (gay marriage.)

All these decisions are the law of the land. But a consistent originalist would have to overturn them all.

The fourth serious question about originalism relates to a topic on which Gorsuch has written as a judge, namely the administrative state. In his opinion attacking Chevron deference, the doctrine that holds courts should defer to agencies' interpretations of ambiguous laws, Gorsuch specifically pointed out that the mass of executive agencies created by presidents from Franklin Roosevelt to Richard Nixon sits uncomfortably in the three-branch constitutional structure laid out by the framers. He's right about this. The agencies form in effect a fourth branch of government.

How should an originalist relate to the administrative state? Gorsuch reasoned in his anti-Chevron opinion that the courts should be especially careful about deferring to agencies' statutory interpretation because the agencies are on such doubtful constitutional footing.

This leads to the final and in some sense most powerful question for the originalist: What's the alternative to a living constitution? Is it, as Justice Scalia would sometimes exasperatedly seem to acknowledge, a dead one?

When Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes introduced the metaphor of the living Constitution, he compared the document to an organism that had evolved over the generations.

The living, organic Constitution has changed drastically over the centuries. It has responded to wars, changed moral beliefs, new demographics (including immigration), new technologies, and American expansion, regionally and globally.

Originalism posits that the framer's vision, without evolutionary additions and subtractions, can fit these radically different circumstances. A

Noah Feldman is a Bloomberg View columnist. For more columns from Bloomberg View, visit http://www.bloomberg.com/view.

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What does originalism mean to Judge Gorsuch? - The Commercial Appeal

The Redskins need a nose tackle. It sounds like that might come via the NFL Draft. Ben Standig on why that's a risky plan.

TheWashington Redskinscertainly hope the additions of free agents Terrell McClain and Stacy McGee boost a defensive line which struggled last season. On the surface, a generous interpretation has the unit breaking even with the two new big guys replacingChris Bakerand Ricky Jean Francois. We'll see. All can agree more help is needed, particularly at nose tackle.

Right now weve got [A.J.] Francis, weve got Joey [Mbu], and weve got Phil Taylor, defensive coordinator Greg Manusky said recently during an interview on ESPN 980 about three players who could end up playing key roles in 2017 despite havig minimal name recognition among casual fans. Now were getting those three guys in the mix and well see how it pans out. The new coordinator also said, "Right now, we might be in a situation where were looking for a nose in the draft."

Now that last sentence is the likely and perhaps ideal scenario at this point. The frenzied aspect of free agency is no more nearly two weeks in. Some potentiallyhelpful options remain, but probably few long-term solutions. That's the hope with the draft.

Problem: By the numbers, this isn't a year to plan on landing a nose tackle early in the Draft.

Now, this doesn't mean the Redskins can't find a run-stuffer or an interior pass rusher or a prospect with those and other attributes. It's just that there aren't many of them deemed worthy of first or second selection.

When looking at four NFL Draft sites that rank at least the top 100 players -- CBS, ESPN, DraftTek, Sporting News -- only five defensive tackle types are among the top 100 prospects on each: Jonathan Allen (Alabama), Malik McDowell (Michigan State), Caleb Brantley (Florida),Montravius Adams (Auburn), Dalvin Tomlinson (Alabama).

The Redskins own the 17th and 49th selection along with eight selections between rounds 3-7.

Allen is a projected top-5 overall selection. Three of the four sites slot McDowell 20-21. However, the Michigan State product is a 3-4 end or 4-3 tackle, but isn't built to line up directly over the opposing center.

http://www.scout.com/nfl/redskins/story/1763626-redskins-depth-chart-now...

Brantley is. Problem: Despite some earlier first round buzz, none of the four sites rank him higher than 41 overall among all prospects. The collective projectionshave Adams (High 39, low 88) and Tomlinson (54, 79) on the 2-3 line. Other nose tackle prospects with Day 2 potential include Jaleel Johnson (Iowa), Carlos Watkins (Clemson) and Elijah Qualls (Washington). Michigan's Chris Wormley could hear his name called in the second round, but, like McDowell, isn't a true nose tackle.

Of course, the Redskins could find gold in the later rounds. Baker went undrafted in 2009 and became Washington's top lineman over the past two seasons. Nobody should count on immediate success with this scenario and, based on the current options, Washington needs just that. Drafting for need isn't always wise if it means reaching. The Redskins arguably need a boot at inside linebacker, guard, running back and safety. Yes, maybe quarterback.

With the No. 17 pick, it would appear any nose tackle type would be a stretch. Maybe that's not the case in the second round, but there justaren't that many big men projected in that range and other teams have comparable holesThat's why looking for a tackle is one thing, but planning on landing one is another.

Ben Standigis the Publisher of Breaking Burgundy and theHuddle Report's 2012 NFL Mock Draft champion. You can find him on Twitter@benstandig,Facebookand onGoogle+.

Follow Breaking Burgundyon Twitter@breakburgundy,Facebook,andbecome a subscriberto receive access to premium content and discounted Redskinstickets.

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The Flaw With Redskins Defensive Coordinator Greg Manusky's Plan - Scout

Over the course of 149 years, the YMCA constantly evolved to fit the needs of Kokomo. Now, one more time, the old Y building at the corner of Union and Walnut streets will play a role that, in a way, represents a return to its roots.

Just last month it was announced the historic YMCA, now empty after the completion of a new facility across the street, would be remodeled to serve a new purpose in the City of Firsts. A $6.5 million private investment would see the structure transformed into an apartment complex to fit the need for housing in downtown Kokomo. While the building will no longer be a YMCA, looking back at the Ys history in Kokomo its easy to see that for nearly 150 years the YMCA has evolved and morphed to serve the community.

But, the Ys beginnings in serving the community came before the organization even had a dedicated building in Kokomo. Thats because prior to being a focal point for fitness, as they are now in the United States, YMCAs primarily acted as evangelical organizations. In 1868, when the Young Mens Christian Association first came to Kokomo, it did just this.

According to Dave Dubois, who recently retired as the Kokomo Ys CEO, the YMCA is rooted overseas in London, where an individual by the name of George Williams saw a need for a Bible study targeting young men who moved to cities to work during the Industrial Revolution. This model became a reality in 1844.

What he witnessed was these guys getting paid a decent wage for the day, said Dubois. They lived at work basically. Sometimes they shared beds because there was one bed for two or three guys rotating work shifts. When they were off, these young men with money and time and freedom were making some poor choices. It was the proverbial wine, women, and song. He was a young devout Christian man, and he said he wanted to start a Bible study. In the first meeting there were 12 young guys he worked with.

From there, the organization spread overseas, and in 1868, a local judge by the name of Samuel Davis donated the use of rooms on the second floor of a building in downtown Kokomo just north of Mulberry Street and on the east side of Main. These rooms became the modest beginnings of the Y locally, and $600 was raised to furnish the first YMCA, according to a historic newspaper clipping provided by the Kokomo-Howard County Public Library.

What the YMCA was in those days was a strictly Evangelical Christian organization. From some of our original historical documents, this was true in the 1870s. It was meant to expand the kingdom of God, said Dubois. It was an organization for exactly what it said, young men who were Christians. What they did in the 1870s and 1880s in Howard County was essentially organize and execute revivals. So, they brought traveling evangelists to town and set up in all the hamlets and townships in Howard County. They brought evangelists to town and did tent revival meetings.

Then the local organization entered a dormant period in the late 1880s. Dubois said little record exists of the YMCAs evangelical activities during this period. However, in 1909 the organization was revived.

Similar to how local campaigns helped raised funding for the new Y downtown, Howard County citizens and businesses contributed to the original YMCA building on the corner of Union and Walnut streets.

The community raised $140,000 for the first structure, which had its first cornerstone laid on June 8, 1910, by then-Gov. Thomas R. Marshall. The YMCA building was completed in 1911, and it served a purpose that was also much different than its newer counterpart serves today.

The original four-story structure called for 57 rooms that could be rented out to young men. It contained the original gymnasium, a pool, dining facilities, and even a bowling alley was included in the basement as part of the original plans. According to Dubois, its not clear how long the bowling alley remained, but it eventually became a rifle, pistol, and archery range. Also, a smoking room, lounge areas, and even a library were included for residents.

Similar to how the YMCA got its start overseas, the idea of providing lodging was to have a facility for young men to stay at that offered a Christian focus within the community. Also, the YMCA at the time fostered a very different environment than it does now.

According to Dubois, women were excluded from becoming members at that time. Also, children only were allowed into the facility once a week, on Saturdays at 9 a.m. for one hour, to play basketball in the gym.

Of course, over the years the community center continued to evolve and underwent multiple additions and remodels.

In 1957, the Kokomo Ys first expansion took place. Again, the community raised funding to construct a second gymnasium, which was built on what was a courtyard at the time. This is also when what would become the racquetball court would be added, but at the time the space served as a handball court since racquetball wasnt invented until the 1960s.

The last major addition to the original YMCA occurred in 1965. With this, the natatorium was added to replace the original pool that was in the basement of the facility.

The final big change for the facility that didnt include an addition occurred in 1983.

The locker rooms were expanded in the basement. Also, the third floors housing was removed and replaced with what served as the facilitys fitness center until it closed. Upstairs, the Ys remaining 24 rooms became storage space.

The Ys rooms were going out of vogue, so to speak, said Dubois. It was not the main focus of what the Y was doing anymore. The Y was shifting as well, and it was becoming much more of what we know today If it was still there, the remnants of the old cafeteria were removed, and they made the addition of a towel service. Those are the main things that happened in 1983. They were modernizing a 70-year-old building to meet the needs of the community.

Of course, with each expansion, Dubois noted that every change came about as a result of changing times. This, he indicated, always played a role in decisions made in changing the facility. But regardless of the era, the former CEO said the YMCA has touched many lives in the Howard County, and even after its no longer a Y, the old building will continue to play a role in the growth of the community.

I think Ill always believe this, that the Y plays a critical role in the life of a community in many, many ways, said Dubois. I think Kokomo has been deeply enriched because weve had a strong Y for a very long time. Im excited about (the remodel). I think its extremely cool. Its sort of a circle thats closed when you think people will be living there again. Its like its served this full cycle of life, and its coming back to its origins.

Excerpt from:
YMCA comes full circle - Kokomo Perspective

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Were through the Senior Bowl, the Super Bowl, the Combine, the first two waves of free agency and, now, several Pro Days. To cite Bill Belichick: No Days Off.

With a few more to come between now and draft weekend, heres my second 2017 NFL mock draft. Dig in. Dont agree? Let me hear about it. Tweet me at @PSchrags or email me atPeterSchrager@gmail.com.

Garrett is the unanimous top prospect in this draft class. The Browns are wealthy with draft picks (six of the top 65), but they shouldnt get cute here. Take the best guy on the board. Garrett is the top prospect in this class and a franchise cornerstone.

I expect the 49ers, who signed many players tofiscally sound deals in free agency, to look at offers for the second overall pick. A talent-starved roster coming into this offseason, San Francisco could be willing to parlay the second pick into a bunch of others. But what if it keeps the choice?

I wouldnt be surprised if the Ninerswent defensive line for the third straight year with their first-round selection. Thomass stock skyrocketed at the Combine, and hes local with a loaded resume from Stanford. Tremendous kid, great family, and a heck of a franchise cornerstone up front for San Francisco. Thomas, DeForest Buckner, and Erik Armstead could make for a scary defensive line for years to come.

Its not often you see a safety taken in the top three, but I think the Bears pluck the tone-setter out of Baton Rouge if the first two picks fall this way. Adams, whose father, George, played for the Giants in the 1980s, is a punishing hitter who roams the middle.

Adams was the rare bright spot in a forgettable 2016 LSU season. He is adefensive leader, a vocal guy and someone who can play right away. A scud missile from the safety spot, he can bring a toughness to the Chicago defensive backfield thats been missing in recent years.

For the 11th straight year, the Jaguars won free agency with big-name signings in March. With all the additions, how they use the No. 4 pick will be awfully interesting. The Jaguars D was coming on toward the second half of last season, brings back just about everyone and added A.J. Bouye and Calais Campbell to the mix. But I dont think theyre done.

Allen is a man. And with Campbell at 31 years old, theres a good mentor-student element to this. In a division with Marcus Mariota, Andrew Luck and mabye Tony Romo, you can never have enough big bodies up front. There are some minor concerns about Allens shoulder. Minor.

The 6-6 dynamo is my favorite tight end to enter the NFL Draft in years. Big body, can block and can move. Is top five too high? Have you seen the way Rob Gronkowski and Travis Kelce are utilized in their teams game plans? Howards an absolute stud, and just because Tennessee has a few tight ends on the roster doesnt mean it wouldnt scoop him up this high.

The Jets take the first quarterback off the board. Trubisky had a solid Combine performance, silencing critics who thought he was sub-6-foot-2, and exhibited solid footwork and athleticism. The Jets arent rolling into the 2017 season with Christian Hackenberg, Josh McCown and Bryce Petty as their quarterbacks. If Trubisky is on the board, they grab him.

This is one of the most loaded defensive back drafts in years, and Los Angeles is a prime spot for one of the two highly rated Ohio State defensive backs. I like Hooker, the 6-foot-1, do-everything free safety with incredible ball skills.

There have been comparisons made to Ed Reed. In 2016, Hooker intercepted seven balls and broke up four others. The Chargers are quietly building one of the better young defenses in the league in terms of talent. I love their roster on that side of the ball. Hooker would be a fantastic addition.

Fournette weighed in at 240 pounds and ran a 4.5 40-yard-dash at the Combine. He could end up running an even faster one on his Pro Day. There seems to be no baggage, and he could go even higher than this. I love this fit for Carolina and for Fournette.

So, Foster wasnt so polite to a hospital employee and was sent home from the Combine. Outrage everywhere. I asked around, and to the great dismay of many on TV and on Twitter, not many in the NFL seemed to care much, one way or the other, about his outburst.

Foster can be the NFLs next great young linebacker. That matters more. Luke Kuechly's name has been brought up as a comparison. Not a bad one, there. The Bengals lost a lot on their offensive line this offseason, but I think they go with another stud defensive player for Paul Guenthers D.

Lattimore could go anywhere from No. 2 to 15 in this draft, and I think Buffalo is a sweet spot at 10. The loss of Stephon Gilmore opens a need at the cornerback spot, and Lattimore could be the perfect battery mate with Ronald Darby. A 6-foot uber-athlete who can do it all, Lattimore overcame hamstring issues to win the starting job in 2016 and excel, earning All-Big Ten honors.

Barnett broke Reggie Whites sacks record at Tennessee and had more than 10 sacks in three different seasons while playing in the SEC. Production, production, production. I still see him as a top-15 guy. Could the Saints go offense? Sure, but I think they beef up with a pass rusher instead.

With six picks in the top 65, the Browns can do a multitude of things (including packaging a bunch of them in an attempt to lure Kirk Cousins or Jimmy G from their respective teams), but if there are no trades (I honestly believe there will be), they have to go with a quarterback, here.

Everyone jumped off the Kizer bandwagon after the Combine. Not sure why. The analysts said he underwhelmed, but several of the sources I spoke with said he actually threw the ball pretty well. Having grown up just a few miles from Cleveland, theres a fun connection here too. A pro-style QB in college and a big 6-4 frame built for the AFC North, I like Kizer for the Browns more than Deshaun Watson if both are still on the board. I like Trubisky to Cleveland more than both of them, but I think hes off the board by 12.

I dont think the Cardinals are bluffing when they say theyre interested in a young quarterback. Carson Palmer and Drew Stanton are fine for 2017, but beyond? Its time to start considering a young gun. Watson saved his biggest games for the biggest stages. Thats the good. He tossed 32 interceptions in college. Thats the bad.

I dont envision Arizona being up this high in the draft too often. Getting a Heisman finalist on the depth chart behind the 2003 winner isnt a bad idea. The wrinkle, here? Carson Palmers little brother, Jordan Palmer, has been working out with Watson for years. He speaks the world of him. Good torch passing deal here.

I dont think Philadelphia is done adding playmakers for Carson Wentz just because itadded Alshon Jeffery and Torrey Smith. Im a big fan of Williams, the 6-foot-3 receiver who torched Pitt for more than 200 yards last season. He ran a 4.5 40-yard-dash at his Pro Day and looks the part of an NFL No. 1. Coming off a broken neck, hehad a breakout season and has been compared to everyone from Demaryius Thomas to Plaxico Burress. Alshon Jeffery or not, I like this fit.

McKinley is a rather polarizing prospect, as some evaluators I speak with say hes a first-round pick all day long, while others say hes more of a top-50 guy. I like him going to Indianapolis, a team thats been loading up on defensive pieces but can still use an edge rusher to replace Robert Mathis. McKinley had 10 sacks and 18 tackles for a loss during his senior season. He got better every year in Westwood. His stock is still on the rise.

I seem to be a lot higher on Humphrey than other mock draft pundits. Oh well. Ill ride with the star of the Alabama defensive backfield from last season. The son of NFL running back Bobby Humphrey, he was a stud at the well-known Hoover High and a prime recruit of Nick Sabans. An opportunistic player who started for two seasons in Tuscaloosa, Humphrey forced three fumbles and intercepted two passes in 2016. Baltimore already has added Brandon Carr and Tony Jefferson to itsdefensive backfield but might not be done.

Ive seen Peppers go as high as top five in some mock drafts. He may very well. Or he can go somewhere in the 20-32 range.The scintillating past of Peppers repertoire is his versatility. The confounding part may be just where he fits best. He had a great week in Indianapolis and is a competitor. Curious to see how the NFL views him; and in this case Greg Manusky.

Reddick was one of the biggest winners of the Combine and has enjoyed a meteoric rise since the start of the college football season. The Camden, N.J., native played for Matt Rhule in college and led the nation with 22.5 tackles for a loss in 2016. At 6-1, 240, he can fly off the edge. I love the idea of Reddick playing either the outside or the inside in Dick Lebeaus 3-4. The Titans have two of the top 18 picks. I think they go defense with at least one of them.

I won'tbe shocked if McCaffrey goes somewhere in the top 15. The hype is real, 10 bench press reps or not. I had an NFL offensive coach tell me he likes him for his offense even more than Fournette. The Bucs already added DeSean Jackson this offseason; I have them doubling down on offense. McCaffrey to the Bucs.

The first offensive lineman off the boards is Bolles, the big boy out of Utah. At 6-5, 300 pounds with tremendous feet, Bolles was a first-team All Pac-12 selection in 2016. Having overcome personal demons, he elevated from the junior college level and then exceeded expectations in the Pac-12 Bolles is a great story.

A home run hitter who can run inside and outside the tackles, Cook would be the perfect addition to a Lions offense that was in need of some pop out of the backfield a season ago. A 5-10, 210-pound speedster who can catch out of the backfield, he could be a steal at 21stoverall.

I had Conley going in the first round back in January and caught some heat for it online. After the Combine, hes getting that first-round love everywhere. The Ohio State defensive backfield was loaded, and though Lattimore and Hooker got all the attention, this man can play. A 6-0, 195-pound physical cornerback, he has NFL size and did the job when filling in for Eli Apple in 2015 and stepping up in 2016 as a starter.

Lamp was a star at tackle in the college ranks but will play guard in the NFL. The Giants scooped up free agent D.J. Fluker, but they wont be done addressing their offensive line. Lamp can play either side and is a mauler. A stud at the Senior Bowl and the Combine, hes a first-round pick all day long.

The Raiders made a lot of moves on the offensive side of the ball (and Marshawn Lynch could be coming), but the defense is still a unit that needs more tools to compete for an AFC championship. Jackson is a do-everything athlete who might be the most explosive player in this draft. Others have him going inthe second or third round. From the folks I talk to, he's a top-25 guy. Fight on.

Ramczyks a tough son of a gun, and he comes from a good lineage. Look at some of the NFL offensive linemen out of Wisconsin the past few years, and its home run after home run after home run. Ramczyk is the next in line. Im not sure whos playing quarterback for the Texans next season really, no one is but I dont think they swing for the fences and go quarterback here. They beef up that offensive line.

Much has been made of Seattles offensive line woes last season. The Seahawks got a whole lot out of a group that wasnt necessarily a bunchof high-priced players. Theyve added some pieces in free agency, but I believe theyll hit this spot in the draft, too. Robinson can play, move, and protect.

Alex Smith is the quarterback of the Chiefs, but for how much longer? Mahomes II is a project for sure but could someday be the quarterback from this draft whom everyone remembers. This is certainly not a glaring area of need, but with Nick Foles now in Philadelphia and Alex Smith not getting any younger its a pick worth considering.

Barry Church is gone. Mo Claiborne is gone. Brandon Carr is gone. The Cowboys' defensive backfield will need some young replacements in this draft. Sidney Jones got a lot of the love in the Pac-12, but Baker could be the more productive pro.

This one is fun. Packers fans will be quick to tell me that the Pack rarely pluck talent from Madison, but Watt makes a lot of sense. The younger brother of J.J. and Derek Watt, T.J. really starred only one year at Wisconsin. But he had a heck of a season when finally healthy and recorded 11.5 sacks. The local boy stays in Wisconsin.

A 6-1, 240-pound linebacker, Davis was both the leader in the locker room and on the field of that loaded Florida defense in 2016. He should be a great fit in Pittsburghs scheme and be able to work with James Harrison and Ryan Shazier in the linebacking unit.

The Falcons loaded up in a big way with young defenders in last years draft, and theyll keep loading up in this years. Cunningham is an absolute stud. Top 10 talent, but linebackers are tough to peg in the draft. Cunningham led the SEC in tackles and was just hitting his stride as a ballplayer.

The Saints lose one burner in Brandin Cooks and get another in Ross. He ran a 4.22 in Indianapolis; the Superdome carpet could be even more gracious. A deep threat who can also go underneath, Ross might be the perfect fit in Sean Paytons offense.

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ATLANTA - Warren Green the Fourth plans to earn a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Atlanta Metropolitan State College in December. The 25-year-old Decatur student said the tuition and smaller class sizes made all the difference on his path to academic success. Students can earn an associates degree for $8,000 a year or a bachelors degree for $16,000. Fewer than 3,000 students are enrolled in the Southwest Atlanta institution on Metropolitan Boulevard.

I love Atlanta Metro. Atlanta metro gave me a second chance at a higher education. Since there aren't a lot of students, everything is more hands on with your professors, so you get more one on one with your professors, Green told FOX 5s Portia Bruner

WATCH: What an audit on Atlanta Metropolitan State College means to its students

Atlanta Metro President Gary McGaha is proud of the school's 42-year record of offering more affordable college degrees to Atlanta residents. But hes no proud of audit recently released by the State Department of Audits and Accounting. In it, auditors concluded college officials should be doing a much better job accounting for millions of dollars -- including funds for the HOPE Scholarship, Food Services Department, building additions and the new Student Center. State auditors say there's even the potential for a misappropriation of assets and a misrepresentation of the institution's financial position. Dr. McGaha said its been a tough yearfiscally speaking. He said six out of the nine members of the Fiscal Affairs Department left over the last 15 months to accept higher paying jobs.

There were absolutely no dollars missing and no funds taken at all. But we did have some people who literally made some mistakes. Now that's not an excuse because we should have gotten this corrected. But we are now and we will in the future, said McGaha whos been president for 10 years.

McGaha said he's changed leadership and replaced the Vice President and Associate Vice President of Fiscal Affairs last week. He said the school is following several long-term recommendations auditors made at the end of February.

I just don't want this to be perceived as something that is consistent with the behavior of this institution, because it is not. We have a strong history of providing quality education and we are, in that tradition, going to aggressively attack this problem. Dr. McGaha said.

Green, who plans to graduate in December, is confident the school will turn things around for the students who want a shot at a more affordable college degree.

I believe they can get everything together to get everything back on track at Atlanta Metro and I hope one day they are able to expand. Theyre giving a lot of people a chance at a higher level of education, Green said.

NEXT ARTICLE:Gainesville man wanted in Jasper Waffle House robbery

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Audit raises questions about Atlanta Metro's finances - FOX 5 Atlanta

With 12 games left, the Bulls are in 10th place in the Eastern Conference, one game behind a Pistons team they face at home Wednesday.

Beyond the pressure, is a playoff chase fun?

"No," coach Fred Hoiberg said. "It's miserable."

The seriousness with which Hoiberg delivered his answer spoke to the difficult place in which the Bulls find themselves. They're striving for playoff relevancy while trying to develop six players in their first or second seasons.

Hoiberg's answer also underscored how much he would rather be higher in the standings. But internal belief remains that the Bulls can secure a postseason berth.

"We're definitely not in panic mode," Michael Carter-Williams said. "We're more hungry, if anything. (Making the playoffs) would mean a lot. It's one of our goals. We showed some resiliency through some ups and downs."

Hoiberg said the team's preparation and focus on getting back to basics have improved of late.

Raptors roll: The Bulls have won 11 straight over the Raptors, including the first two meetings in Chicago this season. Hoiberg pointed out this will be a different-looking team with Kyle Lowry sidelined by injury and the additions of Serge Ibaka and P.J. Tucker at the trade deadline.

"I've been really impressed with what Cory Joseph has brought to that team," Hoiberg said of Lowry's fill-in at point guard. "Defensively, they've been terrific. They really get up into you; they try to deny and pressure all over the floor."

Rotation roulette: Carter-Williams downplayed his return to the rotation, which featured his playing the entire fourth quarter of Saturday's victory over the Jazz.

"I've been in and out a lot. We've had a lot of different lineups," he said. "But right now, I don't think anybody's worried about it. It's all focused on winning basketball.

"Coaches have been great. Guys have been great who aren't playing. We all support each other, and we're just going out and looking to win."

Hoiberg has cited Carter-Williams' defensive intensity as the reason he re-inserted the guard into the rotation.

"I'm just trying to get guys shots and play solid on defense. Get to the hoop when I can," Carter-Williams said. "Just try to bring the team back if we're losing and keep it going if we're winning. I've been told since I was in the NBA to always be ready."

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Bulls take 11-game win streak vs. Raptors into big week for their playoff push - Chicago Tribune

2017 NFL Free Agency: Winners & Losers of Week 2

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While it's difficult to be competitive in today's NFL without a front office that knows how to draft and develop its own talent, there's no question that savvy free-agency signings can take a team over the edge into contender territory.

The deals that happen after the first few days of free agency usually look much different than the ones that go down when the new league year begins, largely because teams and players' reps have had two days to negotiate those ones during the "legal-tampering" period.

And while it's true that the most expensive contracts are often announced early, teams can still make an impact in Week 2. Similarly, teams can also make foolish decisions, or do nothing.

We'll take a look at some of those winners and losers from the second week of free agency.

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The New England Patriots are consistently competitive because Bill Belichick knows how to make savvy additions in free agency to supplement a roster built from smart drafting.

Belichicksent New England's No. 32 and No. 103 picks to the New Orleans Saints in exchange for wide receiver Brandin Cooks and the No. 118 pick,per ESPN's Dianna Russini.

That move addresses one of the most anemic positions on New England's roster and gives Tom Brady a dynamic new weapon in an already deadly offense.

But it wasn't all about new faces in New England. The Patriots also managed to retain key defensive piece Dont'a Hightower, re-signing the linebacker to a four-year contract with a maximum value of $43.5 million.

Belichick is one of the best wheelers and dealers out there, so it's no surprise that the defending Super Bowl champions only got better this offseason.

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The Green Bay Packers made an uncharacteristic splash early in free agency when general manager Ted Thompson signed not one, but two free-agent tight ends in Martellus Bennett and Lance Kendricks.

As usual for Thompson, the deals did little to hurt the Packers' cap health, and there's no question the Packers offense has gotten a new level of dangerous with the improvement in pass-catchers.

However, the significant upgrade at one position didn't do enough to counteract the losses the Packers suffered in Week 2.

On March 12, one of the league's best guards, T.J. Lang, departed Green Bay for NFC North rival Detroit. While opting not to re-sign Lang certainly saved the Packers a hefty cap hit, the gains made at tight end are threatened by a weakened offensive line. There's no feasible replacement for Lang on the roster currently.

It was also a bad look when Thompson let first-round draft selection Datone Jones walk. Jones signed with a division rival: the Minnesota Vikings. The Packers converted Jones from a defensive end to an outside linebacker, elected not to pick up his fifth-year option and then let him leave in free agency. Not a success story for the front office.

Losing running back Eddie Lacy isn't a huge hit for the Packers, who can certainly do better, but right now they only have a converted wide receiver in Ty Montgomery in the backfield.

Green Bay has a lot of pressure riding on a stellar draft class with so many new holes.

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The Minnesota Vikings' grade early in free agency would look quite different to their mark after Week 2, as the team was slow to make moves.

However, Minnesota picked things up in the second week of free agency and made some crucial additions.

The Green Bay Packers' loss was the Vikings' gain as Minnesota acquired pass-rusher Datone Jones, who will now make it his business to get after Aaron Rodgers twice a year.

Jones was converted from a defensive end to an outside linebacker in the Packers' 3-4 system, and now he'll likely see another position change in the Vikings' 4-3 front. But the move gives Minnesota some nice options in the defensive line rotation.

The Vikings also resolved the looming Adrian Peterson question once and for all by bringing in the free-agent running back with arguably the most potential in former Oakland Raider Latavius Murray.

Minnesota removed itself from what would have been an $18 million option on Peterson and picked up a younger replacement on a three-year deal worth up to $15 million.

That's a savvy move for a team hoping to get back into the conversation in the NFC North.

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The Cincinnati Bengals lost a lot of talent in free agency, and they didn't do enough in Week 2 to bolster the roster as a result.

Early in free agency, Cincinnati saw star left tackle Andrew Whitworth depart for the Los Angeles Rams, while guard Kevin Zeitler defected to the rival Cleveland Browns.

The Bengals also lost Domata Peko, Rex Burkhead, Margus Hunt and Karlos Dansby.

In Week 2 of free agency, Cincinnati added tackle Andre Smith and guard T.J. Johnson, so no one can accuse the team of not at least trying to improve its new holes.

However, Smith and Johnson are nowhere near Whitworth and Zeitler in terms of talent, and so Cincinnati remains one of the teams to regress the most so far between 2016 and 2017.

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No one could claim the Detroit Lions have been aggressive in free agency, but their measured approach to improving some of their most glaring weaknesses has paid off so far this offseason.

Detroit let Larry Warford walk in free agency, but it replaced him with the Green Bay Packers' Pro Bowl guard, T.J. Lang, who makes that situation a net gain.

The Lions also went after the best right tackle available in Rick Wagner, a sure upgrade from Riley Reiff. That move is sure to improve the Lions' middling run game.

If the Lions are able to find a way to bring back wide receiver Anquan Boldin, who had 584 yards and eight touchdowns for them in 2016, they'll really be able to chalk this free agency up as a smart and successful victory.

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The Arizona Cardinals lost a lot of talent early in free agency...and haven't signed any outside free agents in Week 2 save for linebacker Jarvis Jones on March 14.

Calais Campbell, Tony Jefferson, Marcus Cooper and D.J. Swearinger all signed with other teams. Those are not players who are easy to replace.

The Cardinals attempted to mollify losing Jefferson by signing 32-year-old veteran Antoine Bethea, but that's not a long-term investment. In fact, Arizona signed three players 30 years old or older, which won't keep this team competitive for long.

If Arizona can't hold onto quarterback Carson Palmer and wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, its window could close as early as next season. The team should be in win-now mode, especially with the NFC West relatively up for grabs, but it's not clear the front office has achieved that in free agency. The draft will be important for this team.

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The Rams made a big improvement to their already dangerous defense when they added pass-rusher Connor Barwin during the second week of free agency.

There's no question Los Angeles started free agency off on a high note, addressing one of their biggest needs at left tackle with the best player available in Andrew Whitworth.

However, the Rams have kept the momentum going into Week 2. Kickers never make for flashy free-agency signings, but Greg Zuerlein had a solid year in 2016 and can make kicks from distances that others can't.

Barwin is a particularly intriguing addition for this team. The Rams had a need to fill after trading defensive end William Hayes, and the team reunites Barwin with former Houston Texans defensive coordinator Wade Phillips. The pass-rusher is also a key addition at outside linebacker as the Rams convert to a 3-4 defense.

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Players come and go, but one of the worst things that could happen to a team during a tumultuous free-agency period is losing a member of its front office.

Washington parted ways with general manager Scot McCloughan in the middle of free agency. Somehow, the team still managed to convince coveted wide receiver Terrelle Pryor to sign, but it's a one-year "prove-it" deal, and it already seems obvious that the wideout will prove himself right onto another team come March 2018.

The Redskins also lost top receivers DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon, so even though the Pryor signing helps, the team still experienced a net loss at the position.

The team also didn't even offer defensive tackle Chris Baker a contract, as he explained on SiriusXM NFL Radio(h/t NFL Network), which further seems to hint at the mess that is the front office right now.

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2017 NFL Free Agency: Winners & Losers of Week 2 - Bleacher Report