San Antonio Spurs Defeat Miami Heat to Win 2014 NBA Championship

San Antonio Spurs players hold up the the Larry O’Brien NBA Championship Trophy after Game 5 of the NBA basketball finals against the Miami Heat, June 15, 2014, in San Antonio. Tony Gutierrez/AP Photo

The Spurs have secured yet another title, adding further lore to the dynasty led by Gregg Popovich, Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker.

Starbucks to Provide Free Online College Education to Thousands of Employees

Starbucks workers (Credit: Monica Almeida/The New York Times)

Starbucks will provide a free online college education to thousands of its workers, without requiring that they remain with the company, through an unusual arrangement with Arizona State University, the company and the university will announce on Monday.

Benghazi, Libya, Rocked by Fierce Fighting

At least four people have been killed in clashes in Benghazi between forces loyal to the former general Khalifa Haftar and fighters he has declared as “terrorists”.

Google Signs Deal with Portland Officials to Bring Fiber Internet Service to the City

Some Portland residents will have another alternative for Internet service soon, as this week the Portland City Council has approved a franchise agreement with Google to bring its fiber service into the Northwest locale. Google will apparently offer free Internet service to Portland residents for a one-time $300 fee, a trade-off for the city dropping a three-percent fee levied on rival provider Comcast.

FCC Gets Involved in Fight Between Netflix and ISPs

The FCC is continuing its aggressive course by wading into the fight between Netflix and internet service providers (ISPs) about what is causing slow internets. In recent weeks, Netflix has been (publicly) duking it out with Verizon through a campaign of direct shaming about the latter’s alleged poor streaming speeds. 

6 People Killed in House Fire in Newark, NJ

Firefighters work near the rubble of a burned out home as they look for clues to a fire that authorities say killed six people in Newark, N.J. (AP)

A fast-moving fire ripped through a single-family home early Sunday, killing six people, including a boy on a Father’s Day trip to Newark to honor his deceased dad, authorities and the boy’s grandmother said.

3 Children Injured by Cannon Explosion During Civil War Re-enactment in Utah

The incident occurred during the city’s Summerfest Parade

A cannon fired by a Civil War re-enactment group at a parade in Utah sparked an explosion that sent three children to the hospital.

Maya Angelou Had Three Things When She Wrote: the Bible, Roget’s Thesaurus, and a Bottle of Sherry

Jeff Daly/AP

She usually had a glass at eleven a.m., and—along with a Bible and Roget’s Thesaurus—sherry was a vital writing accessory of Maya Angelou’s. What makes it so good, and where should the sherry virgin begin?

There’s No Formula for Fatherhood – You Just Have to Be It

The author (center in back) with his father and brothers
COURTESY OF KEITH BENJAMIN

As Father’s Day approaches, I recall that my father, Randall Keith Benjamin Sr., never sat my brothers and me down when we were kids and told us his entire life story. The memories that he shared with us about his childhood were more general summaries than detailed accounts.