upi--2020-02-28--Appeals court rules House can't subpoena Don McGahn to testify

Feb. 28 ( UPI ) -- A federal appeals court in Washington , D.C. , ruled Friday that former White House counsel Don McGahn does n't have to comply with a House subpoena to testify .
The opinion curtails Congress ' ability to force members of the executive branch to appear before committees for questioning .
The U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia 's opinion overturned a lower court 's decision in November that McGahn must testify in the House 's impeachment investigation .
Judge Thomas Griffith , who wrote the 2-1 majority opinion , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ruling would open the courts up to lawsuits between the two branches of government .
`` The walk from the Capitol to our courthouse is a short one , and if we resolve this case today , we can expect Congress ' lawyers to make the trip often , '' he wrote .
The appeals court also said that ruling in favor of the House would eliminate a tradition of negotiation with the executive branch in which Congress would withhold funding or presidential nominees in order to press subpoenas .
Justice Department lawyers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ force by subpoena any member of the Trump administration .
House judiciary committee Chairman Rep. Jerrold Nadler subpoenaed McGahn in April before the impeachment proceedings were officially announced and filed a lawsuit in August seeking to compel his testimony after he defied the subpoena at Trump 's direction .
Trump announced McGahn 's departure from the White House in August 2018 , shortly after he shared details in the Muller report about the firing of former FBI director James Comey , Trump 's desire to have former Attorney General Jeff Sessions oversee the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fire Mueller .

The appeals court said that if it forced Don McGahn to testify, it would end the tradition of negotiation between the executive branch and Congress. File Photo by Saul Loeb/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 28 (UPI) -- A federal appeals court in Washington, D.C., ruled Friday that former White House counsel Don McGahn doesn't have to comply with a House subpoena to testify. The opinion curtails Congress' ability to force members of the executive branch to appear before committees for questioning. Advertisement
The U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia's opinion overturned a lower court's decision in November that McGahn must testify in the House's impeachment investigation.
Judge Thomas Griffith, who wrote the 2-1 majority opinion, said that upholding the lower judge's ruling would open the courts up to lawsuits between the two branches of government.
"The walk from the Capitol to our courthouse is a short one, and if we resolve this case today, we can expect Congress' lawyers to make the trip often," he wrote.
The appeals court also said that ruling in favor of the House would eliminate a tradition of negotiation with the executive branch in which Congress would withhold funding or presidential nominees in order to press subpoenas.
Justice Department lawyers made the case that lawmakers cannot force by subpoena any member of the Trump administration.
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House judiciary committee Chairman Rep. Jerrold Nadler subpoenaed McGahn in April before the impeachment proceedings were officially announced and filed a lawsuit in August seeking to compel his testimony after he defied the subpoena at Trump's direction.
Trump announced McGahn's departure from the White House in August 2018, shortly after he shared details in the Muller report about the firing of former FBI director James Comey, Trump's desire to have former Attorney General Jeff Sessions oversee the Russia probe and Trump's attempts to fire Mueller.


upi--2020-02-28--Watch: Ex-Louisville OT Mekhi Becton, largest prospect at combine, posts blazing 40 time

Feb. 28 ( UPI ) -- Former Louisville Cardinals offensive lineman Mekhi Becton , who is the largest player at this year 's NFL Scouting Combine , registered a mind-blowing time in the 40-yard dash Friday .
Becton , who was measured at 6-foot-7 and 364 pounds at the combine , put up an official time of 5.10 seconds in the 40-yard dash .
According to ESPN Stats & Information , Becton became the heaviest prospect to run a sub-5.2 40-yard dash at the combine since 2006 .
Former Memphis defensive tackle Dontari Poe has the fastest 40-yard dash time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the last 15 years .
He ran a 4.98 40-yard dash in 2012 after weighing in at 346 pounds at the combine .
Former Clemson defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence ( 342 pounds ) ranks second since 2006 after clocking in at 5.05 seconds at the 2019 combine .
Current Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Vita Vea ( 347 pounds ) also ran a 5.10 40-yard dash in 2018 .
Becton is widely considered one of the top offensive tackles in the 2020 NFL Draft .
He was named first-team All-ACC last season and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , an honor given to the best offensive lineman in the Atlantic Coast Conference as voted by coaches .

Feb. 28 (UPI) -- Former Louisville Cardinals offensive lineman Mekhi Becton, who is the largest player at this year's NFL Scouting Combine, registered a mind-blowing time in the 40-yard dash Friday.
Becton, who was measured at 6-foot-7 and 364 pounds at the combine, put up an official time of 5.10 seconds in the 40-yard dash. According to ESPN Stats & Information, Becton became the heaviest prospect to run a sub-5.2 40-yard dash at the combine since 2006.
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Former Memphis defensive tackle Dontari Poe has the fastest 40-yard dash time for a player over 340 pounds in the last 15 years. He ran a 4.98 40-yard dash in 2012 after weighing in at 346 pounds at the combine.
Former Clemson defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence (342 pounds) ranks second since 2006 after clocking in at 5.05 seconds at the 2019 combine. Current Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Vita Vea (347 pounds) also ran a 5.10 40-yard dash in 2018.
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Becton is widely considered one of the top offensive tackles in the 2020 NFL Draft. He was named first-team All-ACC last season and was awarded the 2019 Jacobs Blocking Trophy, an honor given to the best offensive lineman in the Atlantic Coast Conference as voted by coaches.


upi--2020-02-28--Lockheed Martin awarded $141.7M for repair for the F-35

Feb. 28 ( UPI ) -- Lockheed Martin received a $ 141.7 million contract modification for repair capabilities for the @ @ @ @ @ Pentagon announced .
This contract is funded with Fiscal 2019 funds from Air Force , @ @ @ @ @ .
Lockheed closed out 2019 with $ 2.35 billion in contracts to support the aircraft @ @ @ @ @ used by the U.S. Air Force , Navy , and Marine Corps .
The F-35 @ @ @ @ @ fighter aircraft in the sky , and this week Hill AFB , Utah , celebrated @ @ @ @ @ 419th Fighter Wings of F-35 fighter planes reaching `` Full Warfighting Capability . ''
It @ @ @ @ @ of the Pentagon 's budget : an August DoD report said the F-35 program grew @ @ @ @ @ 2018 and was the primary reason the Pentagon 's budget grew by 4 percent that @ @ @ @ @ fiscal year 2021 budget proposal requests $ 11.4 billion for 79 Joint Strike Fighters , @ @ @ @ @ has brought down to less than $ 80 million per plane .

An F-35A Lightning II with the F-35 Demonstration Team flies over Hill Air Force Base, Utah during a demonstration practice Jan. 10. The F-35 Demo Team is scheduled to perform at 22 airshows during the 2020 season and is now assigned to the 388th Fighter Wing under Air Combat Command. Photo by R. Nial Bradshaw/U.S. Air Force
Feb. 28 (UPI) -- Lockheed Martin received a $141.7 million contract modification for repair capabilities for the F-35 combat aircraft, the Pentagon announced. This contract is funded with Fiscal 2019 funds from Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps coffers. Advertisement
Lockheed closed out 2019 with $2.35 billion in contracts to support the aircraft, versions of which are used by the U.S. Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps.
The F-35 is considered the most advanced fighter aircraft in the sky, and this week Hill AFB, Utah, celebrated the recognition its 388th and 419th Fighter Wings of F-35 fighter planes reaching "Full Warfighting Capability."
It's also a significant driver of the Pentagon's budget: an August DoD report said the F-35 program grew by $25 billion in 2018 and was the primary reason the Pentagon's budget grew by 4 percent that year.
The DoD's fiscal year 2021 budget proposal requests $11.4 billion for 79 Joint Strike Fighters, whose cost Lockheed said it has brought down to less than $80 million per plane.


upi--2020-02-28--Winter whiteout in upstate N.Y. as lake-effect snow unleashes blizzard conditions

Feb. 28 ( UPI ) -- One of the biggest lake-effect events of the season continued on Friday as snow totals across the Great Lakes steadily rose .
The highest accumulations so far have occurred in western and upstate New York with several locations reporting more than a foot of snow .
Blizzard warnings remained in effect with AccuWeather forecasters predicting feet of lake-effect snow in parts of upstate New York , including areas north of Syracuse around the Tug Hill Plateau .
Cleveland , Erie , Pa. , and Jamestown , N.Y. , were several cities under a lake-effect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Lake Ontario have seen the worst of the lake-effect snow with over two feet piling up in some areas .
Watertown , N.Y. , reported nearly 7 inches of snow in just a 2 hour period on Friday morning .
In the village of Copenhagen , N.Y. , about 90 minutes north of Syracuse , 28.5 inches had fallen through early Friday morning .
By Saturday night , the areas hit hardest by the storm are projected to be near the AccuWeather Local StormMax of 45 inches .
The State University of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after 12 p.m. Thursday and on Friday due to the high winds and heavy snow .
The cancellations were in effect at the main campus in Oswego and the Syracuse campus .
The dicey conditions were documented by student Kaitlyn Jesmonth on her walk home from class on Thursday , where visibility is shown to be very low with snow blanketing the ground .
Powerful winds not only contributed to whiteouts , but also led to property damage .
The 50-mph winds in the area caused damage to a building under construction in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oswego State student , Jake Rumowicz , who captured a video of tarps on the construction site billowing in the harsh winds .
AccuWeather senior meteorologist Alan Reppert explained that lake-snow effect occurs when cold air travels over the comparatively warmer lakes and forms clouds that eventually produce snow .
The term is regional and used in reference to the Great Lakes .
A blizzard is more than just heavy snow .
`` A blizzard is defined as a storm that brings sustained winds or wind gusts of 35 mph or greater and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mile for three consecutive hours , '' AccuWeather senior meteorologist Alex Sosnowski explained .
By 10:45 a.m. , the National Weather Service office in Buffalo confirmed blizzard conditions had hit east of Lake Ontario .
The lake-effect snow was so intense on Thursday evening on the eastern shores of Lake Ontario that thundersnow was reported .
The blizzard conditions will continue east of Lake Ontario and Lake Erie through Friday , according to AccuWeather senior meteorologist Alan Reppert .
Winds will begin to shift by Saturday , causing the dangerous conditions to lighten @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said this will be one of the highest , if not the highest , amounts of snow for the region .
The New York State Thruway Authority has been consistently reminding motorists over social media to stay safe on the snowy roads and in `` treacherous '' conditions .
In the early hours of the morning on Thursday , the Thruway Authority placed a ban on empty tractor trailers on I-90 from the Lackawanna Toll Barrier to the Pennsylvania state line .
The ban was lifted on Thursday night .
By Thursday evening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wind gusts of up to 62 mph .
In Maine , where the remainder of the wintry storm was passing through , the highest recorded wind gust was 66 mph in Greenville .
Temperatures east of Lake Ontario have hovered around 20 degrees Fahrenheit , with the AccuWeather RealFeel Temperatures reaching as low as the single digits , according to Reppert .
In a moment of calm , the sky cleared just enough for a `` fiery '' sunset through the clouds above Lake Ontario while the blizzard carried on just north .

Watertown, N.Y., reported nearly 7 inches of snow in just a 2 hour period on Friday morning. Photo courtesy of the New York State Department of Transportation
Feb. 28 (UPI) -- One of the biggest lake-effect events of the season continued on Friday as snow totals across the Great Lakes steadily rose. The highest accumulations so far have occurred in western and upstate New York with several locations reporting more than a foot of snow. Blizzard warnings remained in effect with AccuWeather forecasters predicting feet of lake-effect snow in parts of upstate New York, including areas north of Syracuse around the Tug Hill Plateau. Advertisement
Cleveland, Erie, Pa., and Jamestown, N.Y., were several cities under a lake-effect snow warning Friday.
Areas just east of Lake Ontario have seen the worst of the lake-effect snow with over two feet piling up in some areas. Watertown, N.Y., reported nearly 7 inches of snow in just a 2 hour period on Friday morning.
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In the village of Copenhagen, N.Y., about 90 minutes north of Syracuse, 28.5 inches had fallen through early Friday morning.
By Saturday night, the areas hit hardest by the storm are projected to be near the AccuWeather Local StormMax of 45 inches.
The State University of New York at Oswego canceled all classes after 12 p.m. Thursday and on Friday due to the high winds and heavy snow. The cancellations were in effect at the main campus in Oswego and the Syracuse campus.
The dicey conditions were documented by student Kaitlyn Jesmonth on her walk home from class on Thursday, where visibility is shown to be very low with snow blanketing the ground.
Powerful winds not only contributed to whiteouts, but also led to property damage. The 50-mph winds in the area caused damage to a building under construction in Henderson, N.Y., according to another Oswego State student, Jake Rumowicz, who captured a video of tarps on the construction site billowing in the harsh winds.
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AccuWeather senior meteorologist Alan Reppert explained that lake-snow effect occurs when cold air travels over the comparatively warmer lakes and forms clouds that eventually produce snow. The term is regional and used in reference to the Great Lakes.
A blizzard is more than just heavy snow.
"A blizzard is defined as a storm that brings sustained winds or wind gusts of 35 mph or greater and a visibility less than one-quarter of a mile for three consecutive hours," AccuWeather senior meteorologist Alex Sosnowski explained.
By 10:45 a.m., the National Weather Service office in Buffalo confirmed blizzard conditions had hit east of Lake Ontario.
The lake-effect snow was so intense on Thursday evening on the eastern shores of Lake Ontario that thundersnow was reported.
The blizzard conditions will continue east of Lake Ontario and Lake Erie through Friday, according to AccuWeather senior meteorologist Alan Reppert.
Winds will begin to shift by Saturday, causing the dangerous conditions to lighten up. For the season, Reppert said this will be one of the highest, if not the highest, amounts of snow for the region.
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The New York State Thruway Authority has been consistently reminding motorists over social media to stay safe on the snowy roads and in "treacherous" conditions.
In the early hours of the morning on Thursday, the Thruway Authority placed a ban on empty tractor trailers on I-90 from the Lackawanna Toll Barrier to the Pennsylvania state line. The ban was lifted on Thursday night.
By Thursday evening, Fredonia, N.Y., had reported wind gusts of up to 62 mph. In Maine, where the remainder of the wintry storm was passing through, the highest recorded wind gust was 66 mph in Greenville.
Temperatures east of Lake Ontario have hovered around 20 degrees Fahrenheit, with the AccuWeather RealFeel Temperatures reaching as low as the single digits, according to Reppert.
In a moment of calm, the sky cleared just enough for a "fiery" sunset through the clouds above Lake Ontario while the blizzard carried on just north.


upi--2020-02-28--California reports 2nd case of community-spread coronavirus

Feb. 28 ( UPI ) -- Health officials in Santa Clara County , Calif. , announced Friday that a second person has tested positive for COVID-19 without having prior travel or contact with someone who has the disease .
The case , which involves an adult woman , is the third case of COVID-19 in the county .
Dr. Sara Cody , director of Santa Clara Public Health Department , said the woman had no contact with someone known to have the disease .
`` We 've been working to identify the woman 's contacts and to understand who she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' she said at a news conference .
Cody said the county has received assistance from the California Department of Health and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
She said the woman is n't linked to either of the other two cases of COVID-19 in Santa Clara County , nor had she traveled to Solano County , where the other case of community-spread coronavirus was reported .
About 40 miles separate the two counties .
It is the 16th confirmed case of COVID-19 in the United States , not including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cruise ship .
Meanwhile , CDC officials said all state and local public health laboratories across the country will have the capability to test for the virus by the end of next week .
The announcement comes as officials face criticism over shortages of working test kits in several states with hundreds of suspected cases of the virus , most notably California .
UPI reported Thursday that California currently has 8,400 state residents under self-quarantine but only 200 kits available to test for the virus .
According to Nancy Messonnier , director of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Respiratory Diseases , states that received kits as part of the initial batch distributed two weeks ago will be able to use them under a modified testing protocol .
Those kits yielded inconclusive results during quality assurance checks for one of their three testing components , while the other two were deemed effective .
However , the CDC now believes that the tests can accurately test for COVID-19 using just the two functioning components , Messonnier said .
Still , the agency plans to send out revised test kits in the coming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can start testing with their existing test kits ... using those two components , '' she explained .
`` All positive test results will continue to be confirmed by the CDC , '' she added .
Specifically , Messonnier noted that additional test kits are `` on the way '' to California , with additional public health labs in the state capable of testing for COVID-19 coming on line .
Several lawmakers and health leaders in California have made public requests for more tests to confirm cases more quickly .
On Thursday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sacramento alleged that the first case of `` community spread '' in the United States -- which was announced earlier this week -- went undiagnosed for days because a request for testing was n't initially granted .
According to NPR , the patient was transferred to the hospital on Feb. 19 .
However , Messonnier said Friday that CDC records indicate that the agency was n't informed of the case until Sunday .
They received samples for testing on Tuesday , and notified officials in California of the positive result on Wednesday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to any request for testing , '' she added .
Messonnier said Friday that two more former passengers on the Diamond Princess tested positive for the virus , bringing the total of infected U.S. citizens evacuated from the ship to 44 .
Three Americans evacuated from Wuhan by the State Department have also tested positive .
In all , the CDC reports that 451 people across the country have been tested for COVID-19 .
To date , all of the confirmed cases `` have generally been doing very well , '' Messonnier said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Drug Administration confirmed Friday that it has been alerted to the first manufacturing shortage of an unnamed drug due to the COVID-19 outbreak in China .
FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn told ABC News that the agency has been `` closely monitoring '' the medical product supply chain `` with the expectation '' that the outbreak would `` likely '' have an impact .
`` A manufacturer has alerted us to a shortage of a human drug that was recently added to the drug shortages list , '' Hahn said in a statement Thursday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us that this shortage is related to a site affected by coronavirus .
The shortage is due to an issue with manufacturing of an active pharmaceutical ingredient used in the drug . ''
`` It is important to note that there are other alternatives that can be used by patients , '' he added .
`` We are working with the manufacturer as well as other manufacturers to mitigate the shortage .
We will do everything possible to mitigate the shortage . ''
Mike Ryan , head of the World Health Organization 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was aware of reports of drug shortages , but they expect the issues to resolve now that the outbreak appears to be `` slowing down '' in China and industry there is going back online .

An Apple security guard checks the temperature of people visiting the Apple store due to the threat of the the deadly coronavirus spreading in Beijing on Monday, February 24. Photo by Stephen Shaver/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 28 (UPI) -- Health officials in Santa Clara County, Calif., announced Friday that a second person has tested positive for COVID-19 without having prior travel or contact with someone who has the disease. The case, which involves an adult woman, is the third case of COVID-19 in the county. Advertisement
Dr. Sara Cody, director of Santa Clara Public Health Department, said the woman had no contact with someone known to have the disease.
"We've been working to identify the woman's contacts and to understand who she might've exposed to the virus," she said at a news conference.
Cody said the county has received assistance from the California Department of Health and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
She said the woman isn't linked to either of the other two cases of COVID-19 in Santa Clara County, nor had she traveled to Solano County, where the other case of community-spread coronavirus was reported. About 40 miles separate the two counties.
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It is the 16th confirmed case of COVID-19 in the United States, not including evacuees from Wuhan and the Diamond Princess cruise ship.
Meanwhile, CDC officials said all state and local public health laboratories across the country will have the capability to test for the virus by the end of next week.
The announcement comes as officials face criticism over shortages of working test kits in several states with hundreds of suspected cases of the virus, most notably California. UPI reported Thursday that California currently has 8,400 state residents under self-quarantine but only 200 kits available to test for the virus.
According to Nancy Messonnier, director of the agency's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, states that received kits as part of the initial batch distributed two weeks ago will be able to use them under a modified testing protocol. Those kits yielded inconclusive results during quality assurance checks for one of their three testing components, while the other two were deemed effective.
However, the CDC now believes that the tests can accurately test for COVID-19 using just the two functioning components, Messonnier said. Still, the agency plans to send out revised test kits in the coming days.
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"Right now, labs can start testing with their existing test kits ... using those two components," she explained. "All positive test results will continue to be confirmed by the CDC," she added.
Specifically, Messonnier noted that additional test kits are "on the way" to California, with additional public health labs in the state capable of testing for COVID-19 coming on line. Several lawmakers and health leaders in California have made public requests for more tests to confirm cases more quickly.
On Thursday, officials at UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento alleged that the first case of "community spread" in the United States -- which was announced earlier this week -- went undiagnosed for days because a request for testing wasn't initially granted. According to NPR, the patient was transferred to the hospital on Feb. 19.
However, Messonnier said Friday that CDC records indicate that the agency wasn't informed of the case until Sunday. They received samples for testing on Tuesday, and notified officials in California of the positive result on Wednesday.
"CDC has not said 'no' to any request for testing," she added.
Messonnier said Friday that two more former passengers on the Diamond Princess tested positive for the virus, bringing the total of infected U.S. citizens evacuated from the ship to 44. Three Americans evacuated from Wuhan by the State Department have also tested positive.
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In all, the CDC reports that 451 people across the country have been tested for COVID-19. To date, all of the confirmed cases "have generally been doing very well," Messonnier said.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration confirmed Friday that it has been alerted to the first manufacturing shortage of an unnamed drug due to the COVID-19 outbreak in China. FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn told ABC News that the agency has been "closely monitoring" the medical product supply chain "with the expectation" that the outbreak would "likely" have an impact.
"A manufacturer has alerted us to a shortage of a human drug that was recently added to the drug shortages list," Hahn said in a statement Thursday night. "The manufacturer just notified us that this shortage is related to a site affected by coronavirus. The shortage is due to an issue with manufacturing of an active pharmaceutical ingredient used in the drug."
"It is important to note that there are other alternatives that can be used by patients," he added. "We are working with the manufacturer as well as other manufacturers to mitigate the shortage. We will do everything possible to mitigate the shortage."
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Mike Ryan, head of the World Health Organization's emergencies program, said that the agency was aware of reports of drug shortages, but they expect the issues to resolve now that the outbreak appears to be "slowing down" in China and industry there is going back online.


upi--2020-02-28--New England Patriots WR Mohamed Sanu requires ankle surgery

Feb. 28 ( UPI ) -- New England Patriots wide receiver Mohamed Sanu will require ankle surgery this off-season .
League sources told ESPN and WEEI Radio that Sanu will need to undergo surgery on a high ankle sprain after his injury failed to heal this off-season .
Sanu suffered the injury on a 14-yard punt return in a Nov. 17 game against the Philadelphia Eagles last season .
It was his third game with the Patriots after being acquired in a trade with the Atlanta Falcons .
The Patriots expected significant contributions from Sanu after surrendering a 2020 second-round @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Falcons in October .
The veteran wideout had a strong performance in his second game with the Patriots , recording 10 catches for 81 yards and a touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens in early November .
In the Patriots ' next game against Philadelphia , Sanu made three special teams defenders miss before being injured on a tackle by Eagles defensive back Rudy Ford .
Sanu missed New England 's next game , a victory over the Dallas Cowboys , before returning to the field Dec. 1 against the Houston Texans .
Sanu @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remainder of the season .
In eight regular-season contests with the Patriots , he finished with 26 receptions for 207 yards and one receiving score .
Sanu is scheduled to earn a base salary of $ 6.5 million in the final year of his contract in 2020 .

New England Patriots wide receiver Mohamed Sanu (14) suffered the ankle injury against the Philadelphia Eagles on Nov. 17. File Photo by Derik Hamilton/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 28 (UPI) -- New England Patriots wide receiver Mohamed Sanu will require ankle surgery this off-season. League sources told ESPN and WEEI Radio that Sanu will need to undergo surgery on a high ankle sprain after his injury failed to heal this off-season. Advertisement
Sanu suffered the injury on a 14-yard punt return in a Nov. 17 game against the Philadelphia Eagles last season. It was his third game with the Patriots after being acquired in a trade with the Atlanta Falcons.
The Patriots expected significant contributions from Sanu after surrendering a 2020 second-round draft pick to acquire him from the Falcons in October. The veteran wideout had a strong performance in his second game with the Patriots, recording 10 catches for 81 yards and a touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens in early November.
In the Patriots' next game against Philadelphia, Sanu made three special teams defenders miss before being injured on a tackle by Eagles defensive back Rudy Ford. Sanu missed New England's next game, a victory over the Dallas Cowboys, before returning to the field Dec. 1 against the Houston Texans.
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Sanu failed to return to form throughout the remainder of the season. In eight regular-season contests with the Patriots, he finished with 26 receptions for 207 yards and one receiving score.
Sanu is scheduled to earn a base salary of $6.5 million in the final year of his contract in 2020.


upi--2020-02-28--Southwest Valley Constructors receives $175.4M for border wall in Texas

Feb. 28 ( UPI ) -- Southwest Valley Constructors was awarded a $ 175.4 million contract for border wall construction in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas , the Pentagon announced Friday .
Work on this contract will be performed in Rio Grande City , with an estimated completion date of Oct. 4 , 2021 , according to the Department of Defense .
The project is funded with Fiscal 2018 and 2019 appropriation funds , with the full amount of the award being obligated immediately .
In May 2019 the Pentagon awarded Southwest Valley Constructors with a $ 646 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the border wall at Tucson , Ariz. , after being selected to compete for each order of a $ 5 billion bid earlier that month .
According to the Arizona Daily Star , Albuquerque , N.M.-based contractor was formed in Delaware in March 2017 , according to state records , with listed agents who are officers with Kiewit , an Omaha construction firm founded in the 1880s that had $ 9 billion in revenue in 2018 .
Kiewit has also received border construction contracts -- a total of $ 1.8 billion by December @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Committee hearing Wednesday lawmakers criticized the Pentagon for a reprogramming request that would divert $ 3.8 billion in defense funding to build sections of a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border .

Construction crews work to erect levee wall system in a remote area south of Weslaco, Texas in the U.S. Border Patrol’s Rio Grande Valley Sector. Jan. 13, 2019. This week Southwest Valley Constructors was awarded a a $175.4 million contract to construct sections of the border wall in the Rio Grande Valley. Photo by Glenn Fawcett/CBP
Feb. 28 (UPI) -- Southwest Valley Constructors was awarded a $175.4 million contract for border wall construction in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas, the Pentagon announced Friday. Work on this contract will be performed in Rio Grande City, with an estimated completion date of Oct. 4, 2021, according to the Department of Defense. Advertisement
The project is funded with Fiscal 2018 and 2019 appropriation funds, with the full amount of the award being obligated immediately.
In May 2019 the Pentagon awarded Southwest Valley Constructors with a $646 million million contract for design and build of the border wall at Tucson, Ariz., after being selected to compete for each order of a $5 billion bid earlier that month.
According to the Arizona Daily Star, Albuquerque, N.M.-based contractor was formed in Delaware in March 2017, according to state records, with listed agents who are officers with Kiewit, an Omaha construction firm founded in the 1880s that had $9 billion in revenue in 2018.
Kiewit has also received border construction contracts -- a total of $1.8 billion by December 2019.
At a House Armed Services Committee hearing Wednesday lawmakers criticized the Pentagon for a reprogramming request that would divert $3.8 billion in defense funding to build sections of a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.


upi--2020-02-28--President Donald Trump again nominates Rep. John Ratcliffe as director of national intelligence

Feb. 28 ( UPI ) -- President Donald Trump on Friday said he again nominated Rep. John Ratcliffe to be director of national intelligence , several months after the congressman withdrew his name from consideration for the job .
`` Would have completed process earlier , but John wanted to wait until after IG Report was finished .
John is an outstanding man of great talent ! ''
he tweeted .
Trump first nominated the Texas Republican to replace Dan Coats in July .
Coats chose to step down from the position after more than two years on the job @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week later , citing media scrutiny , which targeted his experience .
Critics accused the congressman of padding his resume .
`` Our great Republican Congressman John Ratcliffe is being treated very unfairly by the LameStream Media .
Rather than going through months of slander and libel , I explained to John how miserable it would be for him and his family to deal with these people , '' Trump tweeted at the time .
`` John has therefore decided to stay in Congress where he has done such an outstanding job representing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Country . ''
Ratcliffe , 53 , has served as the U.S. representative for Texas ' 4th District since 2015 and serves on the House Committee on Intelligence .
He previously worked as a U.S. attorney and federal terrorism prosecutor and as mayor of the city of Heath , Texas .
The position of director of national intelligence was created in the wake of the Sept. 11 , 2001 , terror attacks as a means of fostering inter-agency dialogue and cooperation among the 16 agencies that make up the U.S. intelligence-gathering network .

Rep. John Ratcliffe, R-Texas, withdrew his name for consideration as director of national intelligence citing media scrutiny. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 28 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump on Friday said he again nominated Rep. John Ratcliffe to be director of national intelligence, several months after the congressman withdrew his name from consideration for the job. Trump made the announcement on Twitter. Advertisement
"Would have completed process earlier, but John wanted to wait until after IG Report was finished. John is an outstanding man of great talent!" he tweeted.
Trump first nominated the Texas Republican to replace Dan Coats in July. Coats chose to step down from the position after more than two years on the job.
Ratcliffe stepped aside less than a week later, citing media scrutiny, which targeted his experience. Critics accused the congressman of padding his resume.
"Our great Republican Congressman John Ratcliffe is being treated very unfairly by the LameStream Media. Rather than going through months of slander and libel, I explained to John how miserable it would be for him and his family to deal with these people," Trump tweeted at the time.
"John has therefore decided to stay in Congress where he has done such an outstanding job representing the people of Texas, and our Country."
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Ratcliffe, 53, has served as the U.S. representative for Texas' 4th District since 2015 and serves on the House Committee on Intelligence.
He previously worked as a U.S. attorney and federal terrorism prosecutor and as mayor of the city of Heath, Texas.
The position of director of national intelligence was created in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks as a means of fostering inter-agency dialogue and cooperation among the 16 agencies that make up the U.S. intelligence-gathering network.


upi--2020-02-28--President Donald Trump to formally nominate Kenneth Braithwaite as Navy secretary

Feb. 28 ( UPI ) -- President Donald Trump plans to formally nominate U.S .
Ambassador to Norway Kenneth Braithwaite to be Navy secretary , the White House announced Friday .
If confirmed , the 27-year Navy and Navy Reserve veteran would replace Richard V. Spencer , who resigned in November over his handling of the case of a Navy SEAL found guilty of posing for photos with a dead prisoner of war .
Trump floated as his choice for the role after Defense Secretary Mark Esper asked for Spencer 's resignation .
`` A man of great achievement and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an outstanding job ! ''
Trump said at the time .
Undersecretary of the Navy Tom Modley has served as acting secretary since Spencer 's departure .
Esper said he lost `` trust and confidence '' in Spencer after he learned the Navy secretary had contradicted his public position by privately proposing to the White House that Trump allow the Navy to conduct an internal review of Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher and he would then restore his rank and allow him to retire with his Trident pin .
In July , Gallagher was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ murdering a teenage Islamic State captive , shooting civilians and threatening those who gave their superiors information on him during his time in Iraq .
He was convicted of posing for a photo with the IS fighter 's dead body and sentenced to four months confinement and loss of rank .
The Navy 's top officer upheld the punishment last month , but Trump restored Gallagher 's rank to E-7 and later tweeted that the Navy would not remove his Trident pin .
Trump said he thanked Spencer for his service and confirmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all of the honors that he has earned , including his Trident Pin . ''
He said Spencer was relieved of his position due to cost overruns and his dissatisfaction with how the Navy handled the Gallagher situation .
`` I was not pleased with the way that Navy Seal Eddie Gallagher 's trial was handled by the Navy , '' Trump said via Twitter .
`` He was treated very badly but , despite , this , was completely exonerated on all major charges . ''
In his resignation letter , Spencer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continue to serve under Trump due to their conflict of opinions on the issue .
Braithwaite completed his Navy service in 2011 as vice chief of information .
He was also deployed to Pakistan to support the U.S. Embassy as commanding officer of the Joint Public Affairs Expeditionary Support Element , Joint Forces Command .
Outside the military , he was group senior vice president for Vizient , executive director of Delaware Valley Healthcare Council , vice president of government affairs for Ascension Health and state director to former U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ degree from the U.S .
Naval Academy , earned pilot wings as a naval aviator and received a master 's degree in government administration from the University of Pennsylvania .
Daniel Uria and Darryl Coote contributed to this report .

President Donald Trump's nomination comes three months after the resignation of former Navy Secretary Richard V. Spencer. Photo by Tasos Katopodis/UP | License Photo
Feb. 28 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump plans to formally nominate U.S. Ambassador to Norway Kenneth Braithwaite to be Navy secretary, the White House announced Friday. If confirmed, the 27-year Navy and Navy Reserve veteran would replace Richard V. Spencer, who resigned in November over his handling of the case of a Navy SEAL found guilty of posing for photos with a dead prisoner of war. Advertisement
Trump floated as his choice for the role after Defense Secretary Mark Esper asked for Spencer's resignation.
"A man of great achievement and success, I know Ken will do an outstanding job!" Trump said at the time.
Undersecretary of the Navy Tom Modley has served as acting secretary since Spencer's departure.
Esper said he lost "trust and confidence" in Spencer after he learned the Navy secretary had contradicted his public position by privately proposing to the White House that Trump allow the Navy to conduct an internal review of Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher and he would then restore his rank and allow him to retire with his Trident pin.
In July, Gallagher was acquitted of war crimes charges that included murdering a teenage Islamic State captive, shooting civilians and threatening those who gave their superiors information on him during his time in Iraq. He was convicted of posing for a photo with the IS fighter's dead body and sentenced to four months confinement and loss of rank.
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The Navy's top officer upheld the punishment last month, but Trump restored Gallagher's rank to E-7 and later tweeted that the Navy would not remove his Trident pin.
Trump said he thanked Spencer for his service and confirmed that Gallagher will "retire peacefully with all of the honors that he has earned, including his Trident Pin."
He said Spencer was relieved of his position due to cost overruns and his dissatisfaction with how the Navy handled the Gallagher situation.
"I was not pleased with the way that Navy Seal Eddie Gallagher's trial was handled by the Navy," Trump said via Twitter. "He was treated very badly but, despite, this, was completely exonerated on all major charges."
In his resignation letter, Spencer said he couldn't in good conscience continue to serve under Trump due to their conflict of opinions on the issue.
Braithwaite completed his Navy service in 2011 as vice chief of information. He was also deployed to Pakistan to support the U.S. Embassy as commanding officer of the Joint Public Affairs Expeditionary Support Element, Joint Forces Command.
Outside the military, he was group senior vice president for Vizient, executive director of Delaware Valley Healthcare Council, vice president of government affairs for Ascension Health and state director to former U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa.
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Braithwaite received a bachelor's degree from the U.S. Naval Academy, earned pilot wings as a naval aviator and received a master's degree in government administration from the University of Pennsylvania.
Daniel Uria and Darryl Coote contributed to this report.


upi--2020-02-28--Gene explains why some low-lying plants are bald, others are hairy

Feb. 28 ( UPI ) -- Scientists have discovered the gene responsible for baldness in plants .
The gene explains why some alpine plants are hairy while their low-lying peers are hairless .
New genetic analysis suggests snapdragon plants living at high altitudes have evolved the ability to turn off the genes responsible for silencing hair .
The tiny hairs on their stalks and leaves help protect plants growing on sunny cliffs and hillsides from harmful ultraviolet rays .
Meanwhile , plants growing at lower elevations remain bald .
For snapdragon plants living in shady valleys , the tiny hairs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The hairs of some plants secrete useful chemicals , including the antimalarial drug artemisinin , as well as compounds that lend herbs and hops their unique flavor profiles .
The new research , published this week in the journal Current Biology , could help plant scientists engineer hair production in plant that produce valuable chemicals .
`` Because trichomes protect plants and their secretions are the source of economically important compounds , including pharmaceuticals and flavors , regulation of their development is a target for crop improvement and biotechnology , '' scientists at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paper .
By breeding alpine and lowland snapdragons with each other , scientists were able to isolate the gene responsible for limiting hair growth .
The gene is switched off in alpine snapdragons , but remains on in lowland plants .
Scientists determined the species was originally hairless and that gene mutations deactivating the hairless gene -- and thus , encouraging hair growth -- among alpine snapdragons proliferated as a result of their protective advantages .
`` This exciting discovery gives us a chance to find out the rest of the genetic toolkit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Edinburgh biologist Andrew Hudson said in a news release .
`` It could also help us work out why exactly being hairy is an advantage for alpine plants . ''

Alpine snapdragon plants have evolved gene mutations that silence the DNA responsible for stopping hair growth. The hairs on high elevation plants help protect them from UV rays. Photo by the University of Edinburgh
Feb. 28 (UPI) -- Scientists have discovered the gene responsible for baldness in plants. The gene explains why some alpine plants are hairy while their low-lying peers are hairless. New genetic analysis suggests snapdragon plants living at high altitudes have evolved the ability to turn off the genes responsible for silencing hair. The tiny hairs on their stalks and leaves help protect plants growing on sunny cliffs and hillsides from harmful ultraviolet rays. Advertisement
Meanwhile, plants growing at lower elevations remain bald. For snapdragon plants living in shady valleys, the tiny hairs, called trichomes, are unnecessary.
The hairs of some plants secrete useful chemicals, including the antimalarial drug artemisinin, as well as compounds that lend herbs and hops their unique flavor profiles. The new research, published this week in the journal Current Biology, could help plant scientists engineer hair production in plant that produce valuable chemicals.
"Because trichomes protect plants and their secretions are the source of economically important compounds, including pharmaceuticals and flavors, regulation of their development is a target for crop improvement and biotechnology," scientists at the University of Edinburgh wrote in their paper.
By breeding alpine and lowland snapdragons with each other, scientists were able to isolate the gene responsible for limiting hair growth. The gene is switched off in alpine snapdragons, but remains on in lowland plants.
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Scientists determined the species was originally hairless and that gene mutations deactivating the hairless gene -- and thus, encouraging hair growth -- among alpine snapdragons proliferated as a result of their protective advantages.
"This exciting discovery gives us a chance to find out the rest of the genetic toolkit that controls plant hair growth," Edinburgh biologist Andrew Hudson said in a news release. "It could also help us work out why exactly being hairy is an advantage for alpine plants."


upi--2020-02-28--Boeing says longer Starliner software tests could have prevented flight failure

ORLANDO , Fla. , Feb. 28 ( UPI ) -- Boeing 's decision to break up tests of its Starliner space capsule flight software into segments was a major reason the craft failed to reach the International Space Station in December , company Vice president John Mulholland said Friday .
Boeing made the ill-fated decision to skip end-to-end software tests for the entire length of its Starliner space capsule flight to the International Space , breaking the flight into segments for testing instead .
One of the tests ended at the point where the capsule separated from Atlas V rocket @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that caused the capsule to utilize erroneous data about the mission clock , he said .
`` From a hindsight standpoint , it 's very easy to see what we should have done because we uncovered an error , '' Mulholland said .
`` This is a tough business .
It 's a game of inches . ''
He said the decision to break up flight software testing was `` definitely not a matter of cost , '' but was done because engineers thought it was logical to avoid running the entire flight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about 25 continuous hours of testing .
In the future , the company will run the full launch-to-docking scenario , and then another complete test from undocking to landing , Mulholland said .
NASA is preparing to announce the results March 6 of a two-month investigation by a joint , independent team into the flight failure .
The investigation comes as NASA is feeling pressure to stop relying on Russian Soyuz capsules to carry astronauts to the station .
Boeing and competitor SpaceX , are years behind schedule developing a new spacecraft to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Crew Dragon capsule last year in a flight to the space station , and is expected to launch astronauts before mid-2020 .
Starliner was launched Dec. 20 without a crew , and the problem with its mission clock caused it to burn fuel needlessly .
That meant it was n't able to reach the orbit necessary to catch up with the space station .
Despite the problem , Boeing and NASA said the test mission accomplished most of its goals .
Initial data showed the capsule was a safe environment in which to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the mission also showed additional software problems that could have caused a more catastrophic failure .
Mulholland said the company still is working through the problems , but the longer tests would have detected them .
NASA said data from the uncrewed test flight is essential for certification , but other ways might exist to demonstrate the capsule 's full capabilities .
`` NASA is evaluating the data received during the mission to determine if another uncrewed demonstration is required , '' the agency said in January .
The probe also comes as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Advisory Panel , said NASA needs a new approach to investigating private contractors like Boeing and SpaceX .
That 's because NASA is relying more on those contractors than ever before .
The Starliner capsule that flew is being refurbished at the Commercial Crew and Cargo Processing Facility at Kennedy Space Center in Florida .

1/2
A Boeing Starliner spacecraft at Kennedy Space Center, Fla., following its launch and landing in December. Photo by Joe Marino/UPI | License Photo
ORLANDO, Fla., Feb. 28 (UPI) -- Boeing's decision to break up tests of its Starliner space capsule flight software into segments was a major reason the craft failed to reach the International Space Station in December, company Vice president John Mulholland said Friday. Boeing made the ill-fated decision to skip end-to-end software tests for the entire length of its Starliner space capsule flight to the International Space, breaking the flight into segments for testing instead. Advertisement
One of the tests ended at the point where the capsule separated from Atlas V rocket, which meant they missed a flaw that caused the capsule to utilize erroneous data about the mission clock, he said.
"From a hindsight standpoint, it's very easy to see what we should have done because we uncovered an error," Mulholland said. "This is a tough business. It's a game of inches."
He said the decision to break up flight software testing was "definitely not a matter of cost," but was done because engineers thought it was logical to avoid running the entire flight at once -- which would have taken about 25 continuous hours of testing.
In the future, the company will run the full launch-to-docking scenario, and then another complete test from undocking to landing, Mulholland said.
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NASA is preparing to announce the results March 6 of a two-month investigation by a joint, independent team into the flight failure.
The investigation comes as NASA is feeling pressure to stop relying on Russian Soyuz capsules to carry astronauts to the station.
Boeing and competitor SpaceX, are years behind schedule developing a new spacecraft to carry people. SpaceX successfully tested its Crew Dragon capsule last year in a flight to the space station, and is expected to launch astronauts before mid-2020.
Starliner was launched Dec. 20 without a crew, and the problem with its mission clock caused it to burn fuel needlessly. That meant it wasn't able to reach the orbit necessary to catch up with the space station.
Despite the problem, Boeing and NASA said the test mission accomplished most of its goals. Initial data showed the capsule was a safe environment in which to carry people.
However, investigations into the mission also showed additional software problems that could have caused a more catastrophic failure. Mulholland said the company still is working through the problems, but the longer tests would have detected them.
NASA said data from the uncrewed test flight is essential for certification, but other ways might exist to demonstrate the capsule's full capabilities.
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"NASA is evaluating the data received during the mission to determine if another uncrewed demonstration is required," the agency said in January.
The probe also comes as a federal watchdog, the Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel, said NASA needs a new approach to investigating private contractors like Boeing and SpaceX. That's because NASA is relying more on those contractors than ever before.
The Starliner capsule that flew is being refurbished at the Commercial Crew and Cargo Processing Facility at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.


upi--2020-02-28--Navy's 2nd Fleet escorts convoy across the Atlantic

Feb. 28 ( UPI ) -- The Navy 's 2nd Fleet is escorting a military convoy across the Atlantic , Navy officials confirmed Friday .
During the exercise , the guided-missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf is guiding the USNS Benavidez , MV Resolve and MV Patriot as they carry military equipment to Europe .
The exercise -- a collaborative effort between U.S. 2nd Fleet , Naval Forces Europe and Military Sealift Command -- will `` simulate an opposed transit '' to test the fleets ' abilities to cross the Atlantic safely , Navy officials said .
`` In a real @ @ @ @ @ @ @ equipment must still go by sealift , which makes convoy operations a critical skill set to maintain and practice , '' said Capt .
Hans E. Lynch , commodore Military Sealift Command Atlantic , in a statement sent to UPI .
`` In the last five years , there has been an increased emphasis on including Merchant Marine shipping in large scale exercises to enhance tactical proficiency .
Exercises that incorporate convoy operations are an extension of that ongoing tactical training . ''
According to the Navy , convoy operations were critical during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the primary method for moving troops and military equipment , supplies and material to Europe , but have become less prevalent in the Atlantic theater in recent decades .
Navy spokeswoman Mary Catherine Walsh told UPI that although convoy operations are routine in other parts of the world , this is the first such exercise to cross the Atlantic since 1986 .
According to the Navy , the Department of Defense 's sealift transportation fleet expects to move 90 percent of required assets to theater in the event of a conflict .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ are inherently linked with the broader maritime industry and this exercise provides a great opportunity to train like we fight , '' said Capt .
Andrew Fitzpatrick , commander of the USS Vella Gulf .
`` Practicing convoy operations flexes a blue-water , high-end skill for the first time in many years , enabling us all to operate on , above , and below the sea in a contested environment . ''
The Vella Gulf is part of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower carrier strike group , which deployed earlier in February and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that is , making sure there were no enemies on the surface or underwater -- before the convoy 's passage .

Sailors aboard the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf perform a hot fueling on an MH-60S helicopter on the flight deck on February 9, 2020. Photo by Mass Communications Specialist 3rd Class Andrew Waters/U.S. Navy
Feb. 28 (UPI) -- The Navy's 2nd Fleet is escorting a military convoy across the Atlantic, Navy officials confirmed Friday. During the exercise, the guided-missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf is guiding the USNS Benavidez, MV Resolve and MV Patriot as they carry military equipment to Europe. Advertisement
The exercise -- a collaborative effort between U.S. 2nd Fleet, Naval Forces Europe and Military Sealift Command -- will "simulate an opposed transit" to test the fleets' abilities to cross the Atlantic safely, Navy officials said.
"In a real world conflict, much of the military equipment must still go by sealift, which makes convoy operations a critical skill set to maintain and practice," said Capt. Hans E. Lynch, commodore Military Sealift Command Atlantic, in a statement sent to UPI. "In the last five years, there has been an increased emphasis on including Merchant Marine shipping in large scale exercises to enhance tactical proficiency. Exercises that incorporate convoy operations are an extension of that ongoing tactical training."
According to the Navy, convoy operations were critical during World War I and World War II as the primary method for moving troops and military equipment, supplies and material to Europe, but have become less prevalent in the Atlantic theater in recent decades.
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Navy spokeswoman Mary Catherine Walsh told UPI that although convoy operations are routine in other parts of the world, this is the first such exercise to cross the Atlantic since 1986.
According to the Navy, the Department of Defense's sealift transportation fleet expects to move 90 percent of required assets to theater in the event of a conflict.
"We, as a Navy, are inherently linked with the broader maritime industry and this exercise provides a great opportunity to train like we fight," said Capt. Andrew Fitzpatrick, commander of the USS Vella Gulf. "Practicing convoy operations flexes a blue-water, high-end skill for the first time in many years, enabling us all to operate on, above, and below the sea in a contested environment."
The Vella Gulf is part of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower carrier strike group, which deployed earlier in February and "cleared the maritime battlespace" -- that is, making sure there were no enemies on the surface or underwater -- before the convoy's passage.


upi--2020-02-28--Weight-loss surgery is effective despite length of obesity

Weight-loss surgery is as effective for people who became obese before age 20 as for older patients , new research shows .
For the study , researchers from the University of Gothenburg , in Sweden , analyzed data from just over 4,000 obese adults .
Half had undergone weight-loss surgery , half did not .
They were divided into three groups based on their body mass index ( BMI ) at age 20 : normal , overweight , and obese .
( BMI is an estimate of body fat based on height and weight . )
The results came as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They expected that weight-loss surgery would have fewer health benefits for patients who were already obese by age 20 .
`` But it was n't like that , '' said study co-author Johanna Andersson-Assarsson , a researcher in the department of molecular and clinical medicine .
`` On the contrary , the group with obesity at age 20 lost a little bit more weight after the operation , and there was no difference in effects on diabetes or its complications , cardiovascular disease or cancer , compared with individuals who developed obesity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a university news release .
Early treatment is often advantageous for many diseases .
But some have suspected that weight-loss surgery ( also called `` bariatric surgery '' ) would be less effective in individuals with early-onset obesity due to extended time with the condition .
`` Here , we show that 's not the case .
And we think it 's important that this information reaches people considering bariatric surgery for obesity , and also health professionals who treat patients with obesity , '' Andersson-Assarsson said .
The findings were recently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on obesity .

Weight-loss surgery was found to be as effective in individuals with early-onset obesity as those who became obese later in life, according to a new study. Photo by TeroVesalainen /Pixabay
Weight-loss surgery is as effective for people who became obese before age 20 as for older patients, new research shows. For the study, researchers from the University of Gothenburg, in Sweden, analyzed data from just over 4,000 obese adults. Half had undergone weight-loss surgery, half did not. They were divided into three groups based on their body mass index (BMI) at age 20: normal, overweight, and obese. (BMI is an estimate of body fat based on height and weight.) Advertisement
The results came as somewhat of a surprise to the researchers. They expected that weight-loss surgery would have fewer health benefits for patients who were already obese by age 20.
"But it wasn't like that," said study co-author Johanna Andersson-Assarsson, a researcher in the department of molecular and clinical medicine.
"On the contrary, the group with obesity at age 20 lost a little bit more weight after the operation, and there was no difference in effects on diabetes or its complications, cardiovascular disease or cancer, compared with individuals who developed obesity later in life," she said in a university news release.
Early treatment is often advantageous for many diseases. But some have suspected that weight-loss surgery (also called "bariatric surgery") would be less effective in individuals with early-onset obesity due to extended time with the condition.
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"Here, we show that's not the case. And we think it's important that this information reaches people considering bariatric surgery for obesity, and also health professionals who treat patients with obesity," Andersson-Assarsson said.
The findings were recently published in the journal Diabetes Care.
More information
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on obesity.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-02-28--House votes to ban all flavored vaping, tobacco products

Feb. 28 ( UPI ) -- The House on Friday passed a bill banning the sale of flavored cigarettes and e-cigarettes as part of an effort to curb youth use of tobacco products .
The legislation passed with a 213-195 vote , with a contingency of Democrats from the Congressional Black Caucus siding with Republicans in the vote .
Black lawmakers said the ban could bring disproportionate policing down on African-American communities , despite its good intentions .
`` While there are clear health benefits to H.R .
2339 , I have real concerns around this bill passing that would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of color at a higher ate , '' Rep. Yvette Clarke , D-N.Y. , said .
`` A ban that makes an exception for one flavor -- premium cigars , which is the preferred flavor of elite white tobacco users -- while banning the preferred 'flavor ' of black tobacco users , menthol , is unjust . ''
Other members of the CBC , though , said the ban would protect African-American lives .
`` I 'm not here to target people of color , '' Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee , D-Texas , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` I 'm here to save lives . ''
The legislation is more restrictive than the ban the Trump administration announced earlier this year .
The Food and Drug Administration in January ordered companies to cease the manufacture , distribution and sale of unauthorized flavored cartridge-based e-cigarettes -- with the exception of tobacco and menthol flavors by the end of the month .
The House bill bans all vaping and tobacco-related products -- not just vaping devices .
It also bans all menthol products .

The House ban includes flavored cigarettes, not just vaping products. File Photo by Alexis C. Glenn/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 28 (UPI) -- The House on Friday passed a bill banning the sale of flavored cigarettes and e-cigarettes as part of an effort to curb youth use of tobacco products. The legislation passed with a 213-195 vote, with a contingency of Democrats from the Congressional Black Caucus siding with Republicans in the vote. Black lawmakers said the ban could bring disproportionate policing down on African-American communities, despite its good intentions. Advertisement
"While there are clear health benefits to H.R. 2339, I have real concerns around this bill passing that would negatively impact the black community and communities of color at a higher ate," Rep. Yvette Clarke, D-N.Y., said. "A ban that makes an exception for one flavor -- premium cigars, which is the preferred flavor of elite white tobacco users -- while banning the preferred 'flavor' of black tobacco users, menthol, is unjust."
Other members of the CBC, though, said the ban would protect African-American lives.
"I'm not here to target people of color," Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, who voted in favor, said. "I'm here to save lives."
The legislation is more restrictive than the ban the Trump administration announced earlier this year. The Food and Drug Administration in January ordered companies to cease the manufacture, distribution and sale of unauthorized flavored cartridge-based e-cigarettes -- with the exception of tobacco and menthol flavors by the end of the month.
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The House bill bans all vaping and tobacco-related products -- not just vaping devices. It also bans all menthol products.


upi--2020-02-28--Minorities still mistreated in medical schools, study finds

Race , gender and sexual orientation are tied to mistreatment of medical school students by faculty , physicians and fellow students , according to a new report .
For the study , Yale University researchers analyzed more than 27,500 surveys of students at 140 accredited medical schools in the United States .
The researchers found that women , Asians , under-represented minorities , and students who are multiracial , as well as those who are gay , lesbian or bisexual were mistreated more often than classmates who are straight , white and male .
`` There is a lot of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slowly becoming more diverse , they are still not yet inclusive , '' said study co-author Dr. Dowin Boatright , an assistant professor of emergency medicine .
Public humiliation , denial of opportunities , offensive remarks or name-calling , and lower grades or evaluations were the most common forms of mistreatment , the findings showed .
Some of the study 's key findings include : • About 41 percent of female students and 25 percent of male students said they were mistreated at least once .
• 44 percent of students identifying as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least one episode of mistreatment compared to 24 percent of straight students .
Lead author Katherine Hill , a second-year student at Yale School of Medicine , pointed out that women and people of color are under-represented in academic medicine .
`` They , along with lesbian , gay and bisexual physicians , all face discrimination in the workplace , '' she said in a Yale news release .
`` When you are denied opportunities based on racism or sexism , these can accumulate over the years and hinder careers or cause burnout @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suggest the need for better support for medical school students .
Measures like anti-bias training for faculty , protections for students and policy transparency can safeguard vulnerable students , the study authors suggested .
`` There 's not enough focus on these issues , '' Hill noted .
`` Medical schools put almost all their attention on diversity of overall numbers ; it 's important to think about diversity in terms of the student experience . ''
The study was published online Feb. 24 in JAMA Internal Medicine .
The U.S. Office of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on discrimination .

Pixabay Women, Asians, under-represented minorities, and students who are multiracial, as well as those who are gay, lesbian or bisexual were mistreated more often than classmates who are straight, white and male, the study found. Photo by Anh Nguyễn Duy
Race, gender and sexual orientation are tied to mistreatment of medical school students by faculty, physicians and fellow students, according to a new report. For the study, Yale University researchers analyzed more than 27,500 surveys of students at 140 accredited medical schools in the United States. Advertisement
The researchers found that women, Asians, under-represented minorities, and students who are multiracial, as well as those who are gay, lesbian or bisexual were mistreated more often than classmates who are straight, white and male.
"There is a lot of data showing that although medical schools are slowly becoming more diverse, they are still not yet inclusive," said study co-author Dr. Dowin Boatright, an assistant professor of emergency medicine.
Public humiliation, denial of opportunities, offensive remarks or name-calling, and lower grades or evaluations were the most common forms of mistreatment, the findings showed.
Some of the study's key findings include:
About 41 percent of female students and 25 percent of male students said they were mistreated at least once.
Multiracial students reported higher rates of mistreatment than white students.
44 percent of students identifying as lesbian, gay or bisexual reported at least one episode of mistreatment compared to 24 percent of straight students.
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Lead author Katherine Hill, a second-year student at Yale School of Medicine, pointed out that women and people of color are under-represented in academic medicine.
"They, along with lesbian, gay and bisexual physicians, all face discrimination in the workplace," she said in a Yale news release. "When you are denied opportunities based on racism or sexism, these can accumulate over the years and hinder careers or cause burnout."
The researchers said their findings suggest the need for better support for medical school students. Measures like anti-bias training for faculty, protections for students and policy transparency can safeguard vulnerable students, the study authors suggested.
"There's not enough focus on these issues," Hill noted. "Medical schools put almost all their attention on diversity of overall numbers; it's important to think about diversity in terms of the student experience."
The study was published online Feb. 24 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
More information
The U.S. Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion has more on discrimination.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-02-28--'Friends' star Courteney Cox will shoot a horror comedy pilot for Starz

Feb. 28 ( UPI ) -- Courteney Cox will star in the horror comedy pilot `` Shining Vale '' on Starz , the cable network announced Friday .
Should Shining Vale go to series , it will be Cox 's first TV series since Cougar Town .
She guest starred on an episode of Modern Family , Shameless and Drunk History .
Catastrophe and Divorce creator Sharon Horgan and Trial & Error creator Jeff Astrof created the half-hour comedy .
Starz described Shining Vale as a half-hour comedy in which a family moves from the city to a small town @ @ @ @ @ @ @ site of `` terrible atrocities . ''
Pat Phelps ( Cox ) is the only one who notices strange occurrences and worries she may be possessed , or simply depressed .
Phelps was an author of a hit novel 17 years ago but still has n't written her second .
Her marriage is in trouble because she had an affair , so the move is an attempt to save her family .
Horror comedy is in Cox 's wheelhouse .
She starred in the four Scream movies , which were slasher movies in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slasher movies and joked about them .
HBO Max also confirmed that Cox would participate in a Friends reunion special for their streaming service .
Starz currently airs original series Outlander , American Gods , Power , Vida and is developing Power Book II : Ghost and The Continental , based on the John Wick films .

Courteney Cox will star in the "Shining Vale" pilot for Starz. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 28 (UPI) -- Courteney Cox will star in the horror comedy pilot "Shining Vale" on Starz, the cable network announced Friday. Should Shining Vale go to series, it will be Cox's first TV series since Cougar Town. She guest starred on an episode of Modern Family, Shameless and Drunk History. Advertisement
Catastrophe and Divorce creator Sharon Horgan and Trial & Error creator Jeff Astrof created the half-hour comedy. Starz described Shining Vale as a half-hour comedy in which a family moves from the city to a small town, not realizing their house was the site of "terrible atrocities."
Pat Phelps (Cox) is the only one who notices strange occurrences and worries she may be possessed, or simply depressed. Phelps was an author of a hit novel 17 years ago but still hasn't written her second. Her marriage is in trouble because she had an affair, so the move is an attempt to save her family.
Horror comedy is in Cox's wheelhouse. She starred in the four Scream movies, which were slasher movies in which the characters knew the rules of slasher movies and joked about them.
HBO Max also confirmed that Cox would participate in a Friends reunion special for their streaming service.
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Starz currently airs original series Outlander, American Gods, Power, Vida and is developing Power Book II: Ghost and The Continental, based on the John Wick films.


upi--2020-02-28--Look: Grocery bagger wins record jackpot from ticket bought at work

Feb. 28 ( UPI ) -- A Quebec grocery store worker became the largest lottery winner in the province 's @ @ @ @ @ $ 52 million jackpot with a ticket he bought at work .
Gregory Mathieu , @ @ @ @ @ the IGA Extra in the Saint-Romuald district of Levis , Quebec City , traveled to @ @ @ @ @ a jackpot totaling $ 52,146,850 from the Lotto Max drawing .
Mathieu told lottery officials @ @ @ @ @ work .
The winner brought his family with him to claim the prize Friday and @ @ @ @ @ his winnings with his seven closest relatives .
Lottery officials said Mathieu was the only @ @ @ @ @ Lotto Max drawing , but eight others won $ 750,000 second-prize jackpots .

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Feb. 28 (UPI) -- A Quebec grocery store worker became the largest lottery winner in the province's history when he scored a $52 million jackpot with a ticket he bought at work.
Gregory Mathieu, 22, a bagger at the IGA Extra in the Saint-Romuald district of Levis, Quebec City, traveled to Loto Quebec headquarters to claim a jackpot totaling $52,146,850 from the Lotto Max drawing.
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Mathieu told lottery officials he bought his ticket at work.
The winner brought his family with him to claim the prize Friday and said he plans to split his winnings with his seven closest relatives.
Lottery officials said Mathieu was the only grand prize winner from the Lotto Max drawing, but eight others won $750,000 second-prize jackpots.


upi--2020-02-28--80-year-old man dies in North Dakota grain bin accident

EVANSVILLE , Ind.
, Feb. 28 ( UPI ) -- Authorities have identified an 80-year-old man who died this week in a North Dakota grain bin .
Richard Volk was working atop a bin of wheat on his family farm near Devils Lake , N.D. , on Wednesday afternoon when officials believe he fell in .
It is unclear exactly what happened .
`` It 's the simple fact that nobody saw what happened , '' said deputy Ben Myrum of the Ramsey County Sheriff 's Office , which responded to the call .
When other farmworkers realized they could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help , Myrum said .
The Devil 's Lake Rural Fire Department eventually removed Volk 's body from the silo after cutting holes in the sides to remove the grain .
Volk is at least the sixth farmer to die in a grain bin accident in the United States this year .
Dozens of farmers die in grain bins every year .
The accidents happen most often at farms with few employees , which are not required to follow the same Occupational Safety and Health Administration safety regulations as larger commercial facilities .

An 80 year old North Dakota man died in what is at least the sixth fatal grain bin accident of the year. Photo courtesy of Pixabay
EVANSVILLE, Ind., Feb. 28 (UPI) -- Authorities have identified an 80-year-old man who died this week in a North Dakota grain bin. Richard Volk was working atop a bin of wheat on his family farm near Devils Lake, N.D., on Wednesday afternoon when officials believe he fell in. It is unclear exactly what happened. Advertisement
"It's the simple fact that nobody saw what happened," said deputy Ben Myrum of the Ramsey County Sheriff's Office, which responded to the call.
When other farmworkers realized they could not find Volk, the called for help, Myrum said.
The Devil's Lake Rural Fire Department eventually removed Volk's body from the silo after cutting holes in the sides to remove the grain.
Volk is at least the sixth farmer to die in a grain bin accident in the United States this year.
Dozens of farmers die in grain bins every year. The accidents happen most often at farms with few employees, which are not required to follow the same Occupational Safety and Health Administration safety regulations as larger commercial facilities.


upi--2020-02-28--Iron 'whiskers' found covering Itokawa asteroid samples

Feb. 28 ( UPI ) -- Scientists have found iron `` whiskers '' on particles from the asteroid samples returned by the Japanese space agency 's Hayabusa mission .
In 2005 , JAXA 's Hayabusa probe hunted down and landed on the near-Earth asteroid 25143 Itokawa .
Five years later , the spacecraft returned to Earth with soil samples collected from the asteroid 's surface -- something that had never been done before .
Over the last decade , the Itokawa samples have been analyzed by dozens of scientists , but until recently , the presence of these tiny crystalline @ @ @ @ @ @ @ iron whiskers were first spotted by Japanese researcher Toru Matsumoto , currently a visiting scientist with the Institute of Geosciences at the Friedrich-Schiller University of Jena in Germany .
Matsumoto identified the hair-like iron crystals after capturing high-resolution images of Itokawa dust particles using a transmission electron microscope .
Scientists have since located the same whiskers around particles from other Itokawa samples .
The whiskers have provided scientists with clues as to how Itokawa first formed .
`` These structures are the consequence of cosmic influences on the surface of the asteroid , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Institute of Geosciences , said in a news release .
Itokawa is rich in the mineral troilite , which contains both iron and sulphur .
The mineral is regularly bombarded with high-energy particles from solar wind .
`` As a result of space weathering , the iron is released from the troilite and deposited on the surface in the form of the needles that have now been discovered , '' said Langenhorst .
Scientists detailed their analysis of the newly discovered asteroid whiskers this week in the journal Nature Communications .
Their findings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can use evidence of space weathering to illuminate the history of celestial bodies .
In the years ahead , scientists will have a number of asteroid samples to test , including samples returned by NASA 's OSIRIS-REx probe , which is poised to scoop samples from the surface of the asteroid Bennu , as well as JAXA 's Hayabusa2 , which is already on its way back to Earth , with samples from the near-Earth asteroid 162173 Ryugu in tow .

Scientists discovered tiny hair-like iron crystals on dust particles from Itokawa asteroid samples. Photo by Friedrich-Schiller University of Jena
Feb. 28 (UPI) -- Scientists have found iron "whiskers" on particles from the asteroid samples returned by the Japanese space agency's Hayabusa mission. In 2005, JAXA's Hayabusa probe hunted down and landed on the near-Earth asteroid 25143 Itokawa. Five years later, the spacecraft returned to Earth with soil samples collected from the asteroid's surface -- something that had never been done before. Advertisement
Over the last decade, the Itokawa samples have been analyzed by dozens of scientists, but until recently, the presence of these tiny crystalline threads of iron went unnoticed.
The iron whiskers were first spotted by Japanese researcher Toru Matsumoto, currently a visiting scientist with the Institute of Geosciences at the Friedrich-Schiller University of Jena in Germany.
Matsumoto identified the hair-like iron crystals after capturing high-resolution images of Itokawa dust particles using a transmission electron microscope. Scientists have since located the same whiskers around particles from other Itokawa samples.
The whiskers have provided scientists with clues as to how Itokawa first formed.
"These structures are the consequence of cosmic influences on the surface of the asteroid," Falko Langenhorst, researcher with the Institute of Geosciences, said in a news release.
Itokawa is rich in the mineral troilite, which contains both iron and sulphur. The mineral is regularly bombarded with high-energy particles from solar wind.
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"As a result of space weathering, the iron is released from the troilite and deposited on the surface in the form of the needles that have now been discovered," said Langenhorst.
Scientists detailed their analysis of the newly discovered asteroid whiskers this week in the journal Nature Communications. Their findings have laid the groundwork for how scientists can use evidence of space weathering to illuminate the history of celestial bodies.
In the years ahead, scientists will have a number of asteroid samples to test, including samples returned by NASA's OSIRIS-REx probe, which is poised to scoop samples from the surface of the asteroid Bennu, as well as JAXA's Hayabusa2, which is already on its way back to Earth, with samples from the near-Earth asteroid 162173 Ryugu in tow.


upi--2020-02-28--Strict blood pressure control could reduce risk for heart disease

If you 're at high risk for heart disease , lowering your blood pressure below the standard target level may help extend your life , a new study suggests .
Specifically , a systolic blood pressure target of less than 120 mm Hg -- rather than the standard 140 mm Hg -- could give someone an extra six months to three years of life , depending on their age when they begin intensive blood pressure control .
Systolic blood pressure is the top number in a blood pressure reading .
`` Our hope is that these findings offer a more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ benefits and risks of sustained blood pressure control over time , '' said lead study author Dr. Muthiah Vaduganathan , a cardiologist at Brigham & Women 's Hospital in Boston .
`` These statistics about life expectancy may be more tangible and personalized for patients , and more relatable when making these decisions , '' Vaduganathan added in a hospital news release .
A landmark trial published in 2015 showed that intensive blood pressure control could reduce overall death rates by 27 percent for adults with high heart disease risk , but patients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them , the study authors noted .
So the researchers decided to reframe the findings to be more meaningful for patients .
The study team re-analyzed the data from more than 9,000 adults , aged 50 and older , who had high heart disease risk but did not have diabetes .
The patients all had systolic blood pressure between 130 and 180 mm Hg ( 130 mm Hg or higher is considered high blood pressure ) .
The patients were divided into either intensive ( 120 mm Hg or lower ) or standard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ systolic blood pressure target groups , and given free blood pressure drugs .
They were followed for an average of just over three years .
According to the report , if all of the patients continued taking their blood pressure drugs for the rest of their lives , those with the intensive blood pressure target could live six months to three years longer than those with the standard blood pressure target .
This length of extra time among those with the intensive target depended upon their age when they started taking blood pressure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 50 would gain 2.9 years ; someone who started at age 65 would gain 1.1 years ; and someone who started at 80 would gain nine months , the researchers explained .
The analysis did not account for potential risks associated with intensive blood pressure control , such as kidney injury and low blood pressure , the study authors noted .
The report was published online Feb. 26 in JAMA Cardiology .
The American Heart Association has more on high blood pressure .

A systolic blood pressure target of less than 120 mm Hg -- rather than the standard 140 mm Hg -- could give someone an extra six months to three years of life, a new study suggests. Photo by Администрация Волгоградской области /Wikimedia Commons
If you're at high risk for heart disease, lowering your blood pressure below the standard target level may help extend your life, a new study suggests. Specifically, a systolic blood pressure target of less than 120 mm Hg -- rather than the standard 140 mm Hg -- could give someone an extra six months to three years of life, depending on their age when they begin intensive blood pressure control. Advertisement
Systolic blood pressure is the top number in a blood pressure reading.
"Our hope is that these findings offer a more easily communicated message when discussing the potential benefits and risks of sustained blood pressure control over time," said lead study author Dr. Muthiah Vaduganathan, a cardiologist at Brigham & Women's Hospital in Boston.
"These statistics about life expectancy may be more tangible and personalized for patients, and more relatable when making these decisions," Vaduganathan added in a hospital news release.
A landmark trial published in 2015 showed that intensive blood pressure control could reduce overall death rates by 27 percent for adults with high heart disease risk, but patients might not fully understand how that affects them, the study authors noted.
So the researchers decided to reframe the findings to be more meaningful for patients.
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The study team re-analyzed the data from more than 9,000 adults, aged 50 and older, who had high heart disease risk but did not have diabetes. The patients all had systolic blood pressure between 130 and 180 mm Hg (130 mm Hg or higher is considered high blood pressure).
The patients were divided into either intensive (120 mm Hg or lower) or standard (140 mm Hg or lower) systolic blood pressure target groups, and given free blood pressure drugs. They were followed for an average of just over three years.
According to the report, if all of the patients continued taking their blood pressure drugs for the rest of their lives, those with the intensive blood pressure target could live six months to three years longer than those with the standard blood pressure target.
This length of extra time among those with the intensive target depended upon their age when they started taking blood pressure medications. Someone who started at age 50 would gain 2.9 years; someone who started at age 65 would gain 1.1 years; and someone who started at 80 would gain nine months, the researchers explained.
The analysis did not account for potential risks associated with intensive blood pressure control, such as kidney injury and low blood pressure, the study authors noted.
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The report was published online Feb. 26 in JAMA Cardiology.
More information
The American Heart Association has more on high blood pressure.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-02-28--FCC: Cellphone carriers could face $200M in fines for selling data

Feb. 28 ( UPI ) -- Fines against four major cellphone carriers could top $ 200 million , Federal Communication Commission Chairman Ajit Pai suggested Friday .
The FCC said a lengthy investigation concluded that T-Mobile , AT & T , Sprint and Verizon improperly sold access to their customers ' real-time location information .
It alleges that the companies violated the law by failing to protect the geolocation information of hundreds of millions of customers .
`` The FCC has long had clear rules on the books requiring all phone companies to protect their customers ' personal information , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these companies have been on notice that they must take reasonable precautions to safeguard this data and that the FCC will take strong enforcement action if they do n't .
Today , we do just that , '' Pai said .
The penalties will potentially be among the largest the agency has ever imposed , and the first time it has taken action on the matter .
Details of customers ' locations are a factor in an ongoing debate over privacy issues .
Information on personal relationships , and even doctor visits , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ While app makers routinely obtain and sell customer data , the telecommunications sector is confined by more stringent customer confidentiality laws .
`` It puts the safety and privacy of every American with a wireless phone at risk , '' FCC Commisioner Jessica Rosenworcel , said in a statement last month about the agency 's investigation .
In January , a letter from Pai to Rep. Frank Pallone , D-N.J. , confirmed that the investigation had concluded and that `` one or more wireless carriers apparently violated federal law . ''
The letter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be assessed .
The companies involved will be allowed to argue against the fines .

Four major cellphone carriers could face fines over $200 million for selling customer location data, FCC Chairman Ajit Rai said Friday. File Photo by Pixabay/niekverlaan
Feb. 28 (UPI) -- Fines against four major cellphone carriers could top $200 million, Federal Communication Commission Chairman Ajit Pai suggested Friday. The FCC said a lengthy investigation concluded that T-Mobile, AT&T, Sprint and Verizon improperly sold access to their customers' real-time location information. It alleges that the companies violated the law by failing to protect the geolocation information of hundreds of millions of customers. Advertisement
"The FCC has long had clear rules on the books requiring all phone companies to protect their customers' personal information," Pai said. "And since these companies have been on notice that they must take reasonable precautions to safeguard this data and that the FCC will take strong enforcement action if they don't. Today, we do just that," Pai said.
The penalties will potentially be among the largest the agency has ever imposed, and the first time it has taken action on the matter. Details of customers' locations are a factor in an ongoing debate over privacy issues. Information on personal relationships, and even doctor visits, can be revealed, for example. While app makers routinely obtain and sell customer data, the telecommunications sector is confined by more stringent customer confidentiality laws.
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"It puts the safety and privacy of every American with a wireless phone at risk," FCC Commisioner Jessica Rosenworcel, said in a statement last month about the agency's investigation.
In January, a letter from Pai to Rep. Frank Pallone, D-N.J., confirmed that the investigation had concluded and that "one or more wireless carriers apparently violated federal law."
The letter did not mention if a financial penalty would be assessed. The companies involved will be allowed to argue against the fines.


upi--2020-02-28--Male-killing bacteria explains color variability among monarch butterflies

Feb. 28 ( UPI ) -- African monarch butterflies are n't like other monarch species .
Though their coloration is intended to advertise toxicity and ward off would-be predators , their pattern is highly variable .
According to a new study , published this week in the journal PLOS Biology , a male-killing bacteria explains the African monarch 's diversity of patterns .
Usually , warning patterns like the kind displayed by toxic insects are consistent across individuals .
Consistency helps predators learn not to mess with toxic species .
The answer to why the African monarch , Danaus chrysippus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found in their genes .
Previous studies showed females from an eastern population of African monarch butterflies have a unique chromosomal arrangement , with the chromosome containing genes response for color patterning fused to one of their sex chromosomes , the W chromosome .
Scientists dubbed this fused chromosome the neo-W chromosome .
Earlier research also showed the same females were infected with a bacteria called Spiroplasma .
The infection kills all of a female butterfly 's sons .
Until now , scientists were n't sure if there was a connection between the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ makeup and the species ' highly variable color patterns .
When scientists took a closer look at the bacteria 's DNA and the female butterflies ' unusual chromosomes , they found the infection has enabled the rapid spread of the neo-W chromosome throughout the African monarch butterfly population .
They also found that because the bacteria only allows for female offspring , it encourages the inheritance of a specific color pattern gene .
The promotion of a particular color pattern gene should produce a consistent color pattern across the butterfly population , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fathers override the female color traits .
Fathers with different color patterns produce daughters with different color patterns .
Previous studies have demonstrated that pattern variability observed among African monarchs appears seasonal .
The latest research suggests seasonal wind patterns cause male migrants from different regions to end up in East Africa at certain times throughout the year .
Because the prominent bacteria limits the production of male offspring , the patterns passed on by visiting fathers never proliferate .
They hit a genetic dead end .
This dynamic ensures no dominant pattern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and spread of a new chromosome , combined with the short life cycle of the butterfly , allows us to study how the microbe is altering the evolution of the butterfly , almost in real-time , '' study author Simon Martin , an evolutionary biologist at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland , said in a news release .
`` We are continually discovering new ways in which microbes manipulate their hosts , and male-killing is just one example of this .
It makes you wonder to what extent the evolution of other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by such unseen forces . ''

Unlike many other insects, the color pattern of African monarch butterflies varies across individuals. Photo by Claude Martin/University of Edinburgh
Feb. 28 (UPI) -- African monarch butterflies aren't like other monarch species. Though their coloration is intended to advertise toxicity and ward off would-be predators, their pattern is highly variable. According to a new study, published this week in the journal PLOS Biology, a male-killing bacteria explains the African monarch's diversity of patterns. Advertisement
Usually, warning patterns like the kind displayed by toxic insects are consistent across individuals. Consistency helps predators learn not to mess with toxic species.
The answer to why the African monarch, Danaus chrysippus, breaks the rule of uniformity was found in their genes.
Previous studies showed females from an eastern population of African monarch butterflies have a unique chromosomal arrangement, with the chromosome containing genes response for color patterning fused to one of their sex chromosomes, the W chromosome. Scientists dubbed this fused chromosome the neo-W chromosome.
Earlier research also showed the same females were infected with a bacteria called Spiroplasma. The infection kills all of a female butterfly's sons.
Until now, scientists weren't sure if there was a connection between the bacteria, the female's novel chromosomal makeup and the species' highly variable color patterns.
When scientists took a closer look at the bacteria's DNA and the female butterflies' unusual chromosomes, they found the infection has enabled the rapid spread of the neo-W chromosome throughout the African monarch butterfly population. They also found that because the bacteria only allows for female offspring, it encourages the inheritance of a specific color pattern gene.
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The promotion of a particular color pattern gene should produce a consistent color pattern across the butterfly population, but tests showed the color pattern genes from fathers override the female color traits.
Fathers with different color patterns produce daughters with different color patterns.
Previous studies have demonstrated that pattern variability observed among African monarchs appears seasonal. The latest research suggests seasonal wind patterns cause male migrants from different regions to end up in East Africa at certain times throughout the year.
Because the prominent bacteria limits the production of male offspring, the patterns passed on by visiting fathers never proliferate. They hit a genetic dead end. This dynamic ensures no dominant pattern emerges.
"The relatively fast emergence and spread of a new chromosome, combined with the short life cycle of the butterfly, allows us to study how the microbe is altering the evolution of the butterfly, almost in real-time," study author Simon Martin, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, said in a news release. "We are continually discovering new ways in which microbes manipulate their hosts, and male-killing is just one example of this. It makes you wonder to what extent the evolution of other organisms -- even humans -- is affected by such unseen forces."


upi--2020-02-28--Firefighters rescue passengers from sinking Disney World boat

Feb. 28 ( UPI ) -- Firefighters were summoned to Walt Disney World in Florida when a boat on the @ @ @ @ @ water with passengers aboard .
Disney visitors posted photos and videos to social media Thursday @ @ @ @ @ Magic Kingdom attraction started taking on water and sinking during the Jungle Cruise ride .
@ @ @ @ @ responded to the park and was able to safely remove all of the passengers from @ @ @ @ @ injures were reported .
Disney officials said the ride reopened later Thursday .

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Feb. 28 (UPI) -- Firefighters were summoned to Walt Disney World in Florida when a boat on the Jungle Cruise ride took on water with passengers aboard.
Disney visitors posted photos and videos to social media Thursday when a boat at the Magic Kingdom attraction started taking on water and sinking during the Jungle Cruise ride.
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The Reedy Creek Fire Department responded to the park and was able to safely remove all of the passengers from the sinking boat. No injures were reported.
Disney officials said the ride reopened later Thursday.