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NBA star Kevin Durant has been the focus of the league’s free agency talks after he announced he would be leaving the Oklahoma City Thunder to sign with the Golden State Warriors on Monday. Under his new two-year deal with the Warriors, Durant will receive $54 million and have a player option for his second year. The contract will also give Durant the opportunity to take advantage of the NBA’s estimated $107 million salary cap next year. Durant, who is a former league MVP and has been named an NBA All-Star seven times throughout his career, spent his first nine seasons in the NBA with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Although he believes the move will be beneficial for his career, he is receiving a lot of criticism and backlash from his fans who think he’s hopping on the Golden State Warriors bandwagon since they made it to the finals this year. “The primary mandate I had for myself in making this decision was to have it based on the potential for my growth as a player — as that has always steered me in the right direction. But I am also at a point in my life where it is of equal importance to find an opportunity that encourages my evolution as a man: moving out of my comfort zone to a new city and community which offers the greatest potential for my contribution and personal growth. With this in mind, I have decided that I am going to join the Golden State Warriors,” said Durant. “It really pains me to know that I will disappoint so many people with this choice, but I believe I am doing what I feel is the right thing at this point in my life and my playing career.” Read more.


Serena Williams Advances To Wimbledon Quarterfinals

Tennis star Serena Williams defeated Svetlana Kuznetsova, advancing to the Wimbledon quarterfinals on Monday. Despite being behind and slipping and falling on the turf, Williams bounced back and came out victorious with a 7-5, 6-0 win. Following her fall during the match, which delayed the game for 30 minutes, many people wondered if Williams would take legal action against the tournament for the slippery conditions. “I was in the moment,” said Williams. “I was on the court. What I say on the court, whether it’s smashing my rackets or it’s in the heat of the moment … I have no plans, no future of suing Wimbledon. Let’s get serious. That’s not what I do. That’s not what I am.” Williams, who is looking to win her 22nd Grand Slam trophy and seventh Wimbledon title, will face Russian tennis player Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the quarter finals on July 5. Read more.


President Obama Serenades His Daughter For Her Birthday

Stars Janelle Monáe and Kendrick Lamar graced the stage at the White House in celebration of the Fourth of July; but one of the most memorable performances of the evening was delivered by President Obama himself. In honor of his oldest daughter, Malia, whose birthday is on Independence Day, the president serenaded her. “And just because it’s a job of a father to embarrass his daughters, I’ve got one last job,” said President Obama before singing. “It just so happens that we celebrate our country’s birthday on the same day that we celebrate my oldest daughter’s birthday.” Earlier in the evening, Monáe and Lamar performed for military veterans and their loved ones. “I have to tell you that these two I’ve gotten a chance to know, and they are both amazing artists and talented and popular and doing great things, but they’re also very conscious about their responsibilities and obligations. And they put in a lot of time and effort on behalf of a lot of causes that are important. We’re really proud of them for that,” said President Obama when asked why he chose the artists to headline the event. Read more.


700,000 Convicted Felons In Louisiana File Lawsuit Against The State

Almost 700,000 convicted felons who were banned from voting in Louisiana have come together to take legal action against the state. On Friday, the group filed a class action lawsuit claiming the state of Louisiana wrongfully barred them from registering to vote and voting. In 1974, there was a law put into place that banned those behind bars from voting. Two years after that law was put into effect, there was another law that was enacted which banned those who were on probation or parole from voting as well. The lawsuit comes after Louisiana’s state legislature failed to pass a bill that would place a limit on the amount of years that a felon is barred from voting based on the amount of time they have served in prison. Other states like Virginia have restored the voting rights of convicted felons. “Once you have served your time and you’ve finished up your supervised parole . . . I want you back as a full citizen of the commonwealth,” Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe. “I want you to have a job. I want you paying taxes, and you can’t be a second-class citizen.” Read more.