“We are deeply troubled by Tesla’s design choices that seemingly encourage unsafe driving habits,” the Senators wrote about the automaker’s “Full Self-Driving” system that was the subject of a recall of over 50,000 vehicles last week. The Senators, who also released a statement last week expressing concern over reported braking issues, wrote that they are worried by the company’s history of “flouting basic safety standards.” A key concern raised in the letter was the function to allow Tesla drivers to enable their cars to perform “rolling stops” and not fully stop at stop signs under certain conditions, the aspect of the “Full Self-Driving” system that initiated the recall....

In the last 50 years, human population growth, urbanisation, a huge increase in global trade and consumption have led to wildlife loss. The loss of natural habitats as a result of expanding cities, overfishing and climate change are key issues among many. However, wildlife conservation charities are doing their best to curb wildlife loss and protect remaining species. By adopting an animal online, you can do your bit too....

If you like to watch movies every night, try a themed movie night. You might play a horror film and serve gruesome snacks and treats like blood-red punch. If you can’t have friends over, play a solo game or play an online game with your besties. For the complete spa experience, dim the lights, run a diffuser with a pleasing scent, and play soft music. Experiment with new outfits, too. Hit your wardrobe and try pairing different pieces to see what new looks you can come up with....

Franco, 43, detailed his experience during an interview on SiriusXM’s The Jess Cagle Show, portions of which were released on Wednesday. The conversation in full is scheduled to be released Thursday. During the interview, Franco described in-depth his battle with his addiction to sex over two decades, and how his sexual relations, in a cruel twist, helped him stay sober from alcohol. He also spoke of how one of his alcoholism rehab sponsors helped justify his sex addiction by stating that “whatever happens between two consenting adults is fine....

Complex geometric carvings on a rock found this year in a South African cave suggest that complex and abstract thinking began in Africa, not in Cambridge, Mass., and began twice as long ago–77,000 years–as had been believed. When did it stop? Trent Lott regretted that Harry Truman rather than Strom Thurmond won the 1948 presidential election. The perpetrators of this year’s most lurid skullduggery and corruption? No, not Wall Street stock analysts–Olympic figure-skating judges....

So it should come as no surprise that Derrick Rose and Kobe Bryant have been linked to a Christmas Day matchup between the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers. The two teams would be part of a five-game slate, according to ESPNLA.com. MORE: LeBron in Miami on X-Mas Day? | Pros, Cons of Wiggins to Wolves | LeBron offseason Yet another wrinkle in this matchup would be Pau Gasol playing against his former team, after he decided to spurn the Lakers in favor of the Bulls as a free agent....

MORE: Complete story | Mock draft | Draft sleepers | Top 100 | Worst drafts of 2000s Round 1 1. Houston (2-14) 2. St. Louis (from Washington) (3-13) 3. Jacksonville (4-12) 4. Cleveland (4-12) 5. Oakland (4-12) 6. Atlanta (4-12) 7. Tampa Bay (4-12) 8. Minnesota (5-10-1) 9. Buffalo (6-10) 10. Detroit (7-9) 11. Tennessee (7-9) 12. New York Giants (7-9) 13. St. Louis (7-9) 14. Chicago (8-8) 15. Pittsburgh (8-8) 16....

Ovechkin, like the rest of the NHL Olympians, arrived on Monday, then practiced immediately. Here are some other highlights of his afternoon: — “The situation is simple: You have to enjoy your moment and enjoy your time." — A win for Russian would "mean gold only cost $50 billion." — On whether he's in the best shape of his life: "No. But will be in three days.” — On jet lag: “The pressure is going to come 100% but right now we just have jet lag....

There's no end to stories about problems ahead of the 2014 Sochi Olympics, not the least of which is the threat of terrorism. It's hard to wipe away domestic and international threats with a torch run. The stink behind the scenes makes one wonder if they are the Sochi Games or sushi games. MORE: Sochi TV schedule | Five things you need to know about Putin Among the media sources pounding away at Putin's showpiece is Vanity Fair, a fashion and entertainment outlet best known for things other than sporting events....

While he's not likely to win a medal when the games begin in Sochi next week, he is sure to garner some attention, and not just because he is a 55-year-old pop-singing, picture-taking downhill-skiing prince. Just check out the uniform he will be wearing on the slopes. MORE: Event schedule | TV schedule | Cool Runnings | Lolo controversy The Olympics truly are about uniting the world under the banner of sports and competition, and there may not be a sports figure more worldly than von Hohenlohe, who has ties to Austria, Germany, Italy, Spain, Liechtenstein and Mexico....

Adelina Sotnikova and Julia Lipnitskaia were the top two after the women's short program at Budapest, Hungary, on Wedneday. They were trailed by Carolina Kostner of Italy and the third Russian competitor, Alena Leonova. Russia will send two skaters to the women's competition. MORE: Games begin Feb. 6; full competition schedule Friday's free skate could determine which of the three Russians gets the call. Also headed for Sochi: — Pairs winners Simon Shnapir and Marissa Castelli and runners-up Felicia Zhang and Nathan Bartholomay....

MORE: SN Preseason Top 25 | Top 15 programs since 2000 | 10 bowl matchups we crave Bowl Projections Cure Bowl: Arkansas State vs. East Carolina R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl: Appalachian State vs. Louisiana Tech Gildan New Mexico Bowl: Middle Tennessee State vs. Colorado State Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl: Arizona State vs. San Diego State Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: Bowling Green vs. Utah State Raycom Media Camellia Bowl: Georgia Southern vs....

The deadline for prospects to declare is Jan. 15. Last year, a record 98 underclassmen officially declared, of which 62 were drafted: Quarterbacks Brett Hundley, QB, UCLA Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State Dak Prescott, QB, Mississippi State Running backs Jay Ajayi, RB, Boise State Tevin Coleman, RB, Indiana Mike Davis, RB, South Carolina Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia Dee Hart, RB, Colorado State Duke Johnson, RB, Miami (Fla....

It will take an act of God or inept team scouting to keep that from happening. The real mystery is who follows. Here are some pertinent details: — The NHL Draft Lottery will be conducted April 18. At stake are the first 14 picks, which will go to teams that didn’t make the Stanley Cup playoffs (or those which hold picks via trade). — The 2015 NHL Entry Draft will be conducted June 26 and 27 at the Florida Panthers’ home, BB&T Center in Sunrise, Fla....

Catcher-eligible players who can find their way into the lineup even when they’re not squatting behind the plate – say, at first base, in the outfield or as the designated hitter – come with extra fantasy appeal because they’ll get more at-bats than full-time catchers and could move around your own lineup. Let’s take a look at how that should affect your 2016 fantasy baseball draft strategy. 2016 FANTASY BASEBALL RANKINGS:Catcher | First | Second | Short | Third | Outfield | Starters | Relievers | Prospects...

Let’s take a look at the top five fantasy second basemen to see whom you should draft early, if that’s your strategy. You can see the full 2B fantasy rankings here. 2016 FANTASY BASEBALL RANKINGS:First | Second | Short | Third | Outfield | Catchers | Starters | Relievers | Prospects 2016 Fantasy Baseball Rankings, 2B Jose Altuve, Astros. After leading the AL in hits and steals for the second straight year, Altuve is the no-doubt No....

Whether you’ve already drafted or you’re still working on your draft strategy, here are a few more receivers to consider picking up off the waiver wire or in the late stages of your draft/auction. After all, the word is pretty well out on Sterling Shepard, Kevin White, Tyler Boyd, Michael Thomas and some of the other receivers we highlighted before they were household (fantasy) names. MORE: Ultimate fantasy football cheat sheet...

The franchise and transition tag numbers for each position appear below, via ESPN. The first number is the franchise tag, followed by the transition tag. MORE: Top free agents | Combine a cattle call Quarterback: $19.953 million/$17.696 million. Running back: $11.789 million/$9.647 million. Receiver: $14.599 million/$12.268 million. Tight end: $9.118 million/$7.713 million. Offensive line: $13.706 million/$11.902 million. Defensive end: $15.701 million/$12.734 million. Defensive tackle: $13.615 million/$10.875 million. Linebacker: $14.129 million/$11....

Can’t quite say that this new system will change all that much when it comes to All-Star snubs and outrages, but it’s an effort at least. And it was fun to go through and pick starters for a change. With voting for starters having wrapped up Monday night, here’s how my ballot went. TRADE RUMORS: Will these big men move before the deadline? 2017 NBA All-Stars: East backcourt Kyle Lowry, Raptors...