upi--2020-10-19--Cowboys LB Leighton Vander Esch cleared to return vs. Cardinals on MNF

Oct. 19 ( UPI ) -- Dallas Cowboys linebacker Leighton Vander Esch was activated from injured reserve in time to play in Monday night 's game against the Arizona Cardinals .
Vander Esch suffered a broken collarbone in the Cowboys ' season opener against the Los Angeles Rams on Sept. 13 .
He underwent surgery to repair the injury and missed the team 's next four games .
The 24-year-old Vander Esch has practiced the past two weeks and went through three full workouts -- including a full-padded session -- entering the game against the Cardinals .
Vander Esch , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 2018 NFL Draft out of Boise State , recorded three total tackles before he was injured in the first quarter against the Rams .
In Vander Esch 's absence , Jaylon Smith took over as the Cowboys ' defensive signal-caller , and Joe Thomas moved into the vacant linebacker spot .
In 26 career games with the Cowboys , Vander Esch -- a Pro Bowl selection and second-team All-Pro in 2018 -- has notched 215 total tackles , two interceptions , a half-sack , one forced fumble and 10 passes defensed .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dak Prescott and defensive lineman Trysten Hill were officially placed on injured reserve .
Prescott sustained a compound fracture and dislocation of his right ankle and Hill tore his ACL in last week 's victory over the New York Giants .
In corresponding roster moves , Dallas signed defensive tackle Justin Hamilton from the practice squad to the active roster and elevated safety Steven Parker and center Marcus Henry from the practice squad .
Elevated players revert back to the practice squad immediately after the game .

Dallas Cowboys linebacker Leighton Vander Esch (55) suffered a broken collarbone in the Cowboys' Week 1 game against the Los Angeles Rams. File Photo by Ian Halperin/UPI | License Photo
Oct. 19 (UPI) -- Dallas Cowboys linebacker Leighton Vander Esch was activated from injured reserve in time to play in Monday night's game against the Arizona Cardinals. Vander Esch suffered a broken collarbone in the Cowboys' season opener against the Los Angeles Rams on Sept. 13. He underwent surgery to repair the injury and missed the team's next four games. Advertisement
The 24-year-old Vander Esch has practiced the past two weeks and went through three full workouts -- including a full-padded session -- entering the game against the Cardinals.
Vander Esch, the No. 19 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft out of Boise State, recorded three total tackles before he was injured in the first quarter against the Rams. In Vander Esch's absence, Jaylon Smith took over as the Cowboys' defensive signal-caller, and Joe Thomas moved into the vacant linebacker spot.
In 26 career games with the Cowboys, Vander Esch -- a Pro Bowl selection and second-team All-Pro in 2018 -- has notched 215 total tackles, two interceptions, a half-sack, one forced fumble and 10 passes defensed.
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The Cowboys also announced Monday that quarterback Dak Prescott and defensive lineman Trysten Hill were officially placed on injured reserve. Prescott sustained a compound fracture and dislocation of his right ankle and Hill tore his ACL in last week's victory over the New York Giants.
In corresponding roster moves, Dallas signed defensive tackle Justin Hamilton from the practice squad to the active roster and elevated safety Steven Parker and center Marcus Henry from the practice squad. Elevated players revert back to the practice squad immediately after the game.


upi--2020-10-19--Watchdog agrees to investigate alleged Trump interference at FDA, CDC

Oct. 19 ( UPI ) -- The Government Accountability Office on Monday agreed to investigate alleged political interference with the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention .
The independent government watchdog responded to a request by Democratic Sens .
Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts , Patty Murray of Washington and Gary Peters of Michigan to review whether the `` scientific integrity and communications policies '' of the FDA and CDC have been violated during COVID-19 pandemic .
`` The GAO 's decision to conduct an independent audit is a good first step towards making sure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ based on science and facts , not on the Trump administration 's political agenda or the president 's whims , '' the senators said .
Last month , the three senators sent the request to the watchdog amid reports of `` persistent and widespread political interference in both agencies ' COVID-19 response . ''
The senators on Monday cited an incident in September in which President Donald Trump said an FDA plan to tighten study requirements to better ensure a coronavirus vaccine is safe and effective `` sounds like a political move .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ White House pressured the CDC into `` downplaying risks '' associated with children returning to in-person learning at schools , and that Health and Human Services political appointees reviewed and potentially altered or delayed weekly scientific reports issued by the agency about the pandemic .
`` Health and science experts should be able to do their jobs to steer us through crises like this pandemic without political interference and we must ensure that the American people receive fact-based information so that they can make well-informed decisions for themselves and their families amidst this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ senators said .

The Government Accountability Office approved a request by several Democratic senators, led by Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, to investigate alleged interference by the Trump administration into health agencies' response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI | License Photo
Oct. 19 (UPI) -- The Government Accountability Office on Monday agreed to investigate alleged political interference with the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention. The independent government watchdog responded to a request by Democratic Sens. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Patty Murray of Washington and Gary Peters of Michigan to review whether the "scientific integrity and communications policies" of the FDA and CDC have been violated during COVID-19 pandemic. Advertisement
"The GAO's decision to conduct an independent audit is a good first step towards making sure that guidance coming from federal agencies is based on science and facts, not on the Trump administration's political agenda or the president's whims," the senators said.
Last month, the three senators sent the request to the watchdog amid reports of "persistent and widespread political interference in both agencies' COVID-19 response."
The senators on Monday cited an incident in September in which President Donald Trump said an FDA plan to tighten study requirements to better ensure a coronavirus vaccine is safe and effective "sounds like a political move."
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They also cited reports that the White House pressured the CDC into "downplaying risks" associated with children returning to in-person learning at schools, and that Health and Human Services political appointees reviewed and potentially altered or delayed weekly scientific reports issued by the agency about the pandemic.
"Health and science experts should be able to do their jobs to steer us through crises like this pandemic without political interference and we must ensure that the American people receive fact-based information so that they can make well-informed decisions for themselves and their families amidst this national public health emergency," the senators said.


upi--2020-10-19--Man credits mac 'n' cheese craving for $200,000 lottery win

Oct. 19 ( UPI ) -- A North Carolina man said a craving for a macaroni and cheese led to his winning a $ 200,000 lottery jackpot from a scratch-off ticket .
Marquetton Carraway , of Goldsboro , told North Carolina Education Lottery officials he went to the Madison Market Grill in town to buy supplies for his mac ' n ' cheese feast .
`` I was actually going to the store to buy macaroni and cheese to cook , '' Carraway said .
`` When I got to the counter , the man gave me my change , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the store until something told me to buy a ticket . ''
The man 's lucky feeling turned out to be correct when his $ 5 Mega Bucks ticket earned him a $ 200,000 jackpot .
Carraway said the first thing he did was call his mother .
`` At the time , she was on a business call , '' Carraway said .
`` And I told her that her business was now over . ''
He said he sent his mother a photo of the ticket to `` make sure I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said his plans for the money include buying a house and treating his family .

Marquetton Carraway, Goldsboro, N.C., said a desire for mac and cheese led to his visiting a store where he bought a scratch-off lottery ticket and won $200,000. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe Oct. 19 (UPI) -- A North Carolina man said a craving for a macaroni and cheese led to his winning a $200,000 lottery jackpot from a scratch-off ticket. Marquetton Carraway, of Goldsboro, told North Carolina Education Lottery officials he went to the Madison Market Grill in town to buy supplies for his mac 'n' cheese feast. Advertisement
"I was actually going to the store to buy macaroni and cheese to cook," Carraway said. "When I got to the counter, the man gave me my change, and I was about to walk out the store until something told me to buy a ticket."
The man's lucky feeling turned out to be correct when his $5 Mega Bucks ticket earned him a $200,000 jackpot.
Carraway said the first thing he did was call his mother.
"At the time, she was on a business call," Carraway said. "And I told her that her business was now over."
He said he sent his mother a photo of the ticket to "make sure I'm not seeing things."
Carraway said his plans for the money include buying a house and treating his family.


upi--2020-10-19--Dry weather, gusty winds keep Colorado wildfires blazing

Oct. 19 ( UPI ) -- Two wildfires in Colorado 's Boulder County that caused the evacuations of thousands and scorched 26 homes remained relatively stable Monday , officials said , but dry weather and gusty winds may pose problems .
The CalWood fire is about 15 % contained at 8,788 acres , or about 13 square miles , and the LeftHand fire is about 4 % contained and grew slightly to 320 acres , according to Troy Hagan , spokesman for Rocky Mountain Team Black , which is managing the fires .
`` Despite yesterday 's higher humidity , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is expected to increase midday as humidity decreases and heat will be stoked by the increasing winds , '' the agency said Monday .
About 250 firefighters are attempting to stop the CalWood blaze by building a fireline to the west to protect multimillion-dollar homes in the mountains west of Boulder .
More than 26 homes in foothill suburbs have been destroyed , the Boulder Office of Emergency Management said .
`` There were baby books that I did n't grab , and I 'm regretting it , '' Courtney Walsh told the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back tears thinking about her home 6 miles north of Boulder that was completely burned .
`` Those are the one thing I always thought , ' I have to grab those if anything happens , ' and I just did n't .
I froze , '' Walsh said .
The causes of the two fires are under investigation , Boulder County sheriff 's officials said .
The two Boulder area fires are about 50 miles southeast of the Cameron Peak Fire , the largest in Colorado 's history , which has burned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % contained .
More than 1,400 firefighters have been battling the blaze in Larimer County , which has raged since Aug. 13 .
The fire has burned homes and structures near Colorado State University 's mountain campus in Pingree Park .
Although an overcast day Sunday was helpful to firefighters , the Cameron Peak blaze is expected to be made worse by gusty winds and continued dry conditions expected to continue Monday , the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control said .
`` This fire is dynamic , and due to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ got to put the resources where the needs are , '' said Paul Delmerico , operations section chief for Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team 1 in a video update .
Drought conditions across the state and high mountain areas now burning have made the Cameron Peak fire more challenging to control .
Air quality on the Colorado Front Range has been poor for weeks , with particulate matter and smoke making it dangerous for people with health conditions , the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has reported .

Colorado wildfires continue to blaze, including the Cameron Peak fire which started in August and had scorched 203,000 acres as of Monday. Photo courtesy of Inciweb
Oct. 19 (UPI) -- Two wildfires in Colorado's Boulder County that caused the evacuations of thousands and scorched 26 homes remained relatively stable Monday, officials said, but dry weather and gusty winds may pose problems. The CalWood fire is about 15% contained at 8,788 acres, or about 13 square miles, and the LeftHand fire is about 4% contained and grew slightly to 320 acres, according to Troy Hagan, spokesman for Rocky Mountain Team Black, which is managing the fires. Advertisement
"Despite yesterday's higher humidity, fuels remain critically dry and fire activity is expected to increase midday as humidity decreases and heat will be stoked by the increasing winds," the agency said Monday.
About 250 firefighters are attempting to stop the CalWood blaze by building a fireline to the west to protect multimillion-dollar homes in the mountains west of Boulder. More than 26 homes in foothill suburbs have been destroyed, the Boulder Office of Emergency Management said.
"There were baby books that I didn't grab, and I'm regretting it," Courtney Walsh told the Denver Post on Sunday as she fought back tears thinking about her home 6 miles north of Boulder that was completely burned.
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"Those are the one thing I always thought, 'I have to grab those if anything happens,' and I just didn't. I froze," Walsh said.
The causes of the two fires are under investigation, Boulder County sheriff's officials said.
The two Boulder area fires are about 50 miles southeast of the Cameron Peak Fire, the largest in Colorado's history, which has burned more than 203,000 acres and is 62% contained.
More than 1,400 firefighters have been battling the blaze in Larimer County, which has raged since Aug. 13. The fire has burned homes and structures near Colorado State University's mountain campus in Pingree Park.
Although an overcast day Sunday was helpful to firefighters, the Cameron Peak blaze is expected to be made worse by gusty winds and continued dry conditions expected to continue Monday, the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control said.
"This fire is dynamic, and due to the complexities of the fire, we've got to put the resources where the needs are," said Paul Delmerico, operations section chief for Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team 1 in a video update.
Drought conditions across the state and high mountain areas now burning have made the Cameron Peak fire more challenging to control.
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Air quality on the Colorado Front Range has been poor for weeks, with particulate matter and smoke making it dangerous for people with health conditions, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has reported.


upi--2020-10-19--Fotis Dulos' former attorney leaves prison to visit ill father

Oct. 19 ( UPI ) -- A judge has granted Fotis Dulos ' former attorney 's bond , allowing him to leave prison Monday to visit his ill father .
Attorney Kent Mawhinney , who has been in jail since January , charged with conspiracy to commit the murder of Dulos ' estranged wife , Connecticut mom Jennifer Farber Dulos , posted bond and left state Superior Court in Stamford without comment .
He has pleaded not guilty .
His bond originally had been set at $ 2 million , but was reduced earlier this month to $ 246,000 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rest a real estate bond put up by his parents , after a judge granted his attorney 's request .
His attorney argued in the request that he `` is not a flight risk , '' and he needed to be released to spend time with his father in Florida before he dies .
`` Mr. Mawhinney 's father is currently battling lymphoma and prostate cancer , which has metastasized to his spine and his ribs , '' the filing read .
`` At age 86 , it is taking its toll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' His attorneys , Lee Gold and Jeremy Donnelly , surrendered their client 's passport and submitted an itinerary of his trip before his release .
Mawhinney also was fitted with a GPS monitoring device before his release .
Chief State Attorney Richard Colangelo did not object to the bond reduction or visit to Florida .
Mawhinney previously represented Dulos on several real estate deals and in a civil suit Jennifer Farbos Dulos ' mother , Gloria Farber , filed , alleging that Dulos owed her millions of dollars in loans that her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was charged with conspiracy to commit murder in January , on the same day Dulos was charged with murder , felony murder and kidnapping of his estranged wife after she was presumed dead after being missing for more than seven months .
Dulos died after an apparent suicide attempt weeks after his arrest .
His lawyer , Norm Pattis , said his death did not reflect a `` consciousness of guilt . ''
`` We say it was more a conscience overborne with the weight of a world that was too busy to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it wanted the truth , '' he said .
Following his death , a judge in Connecticut dropped the murder and kidnapping case against Dulos despite objections from his attorneys , who wanted to prove his innocence .
Mawhinney was present at Dulos ' office May 24 , the day Farber Dulos , the 51-year-old mother of Dulos ' five children , went missing , and his name appeared on detailed notes taken by Dulos and his then-girlfriend , Michelle Troconis , which investigators have dubbed the `` Alibi Scripts , '' an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ detectives said Dulos called Mawhinney while he and Troconis discarded garbage bags May 24 , later found to contain Farber Dulos ' blood , records show .
Investigators also linked Mawhinney to the discovery of what they believe was a human grave dug at a gun club in East Granby , court records show .
Troconis , who has been charged with conspiracy to commit murder , also has pleaded not guilty .
Troconis recently was allowed to visit her father in Florida after he had been infected with COVID-19 .

Oct. 19 (UPI) -- A judge has granted Fotis Dulos' former attorney's bond, allowing him to leave prison Monday to visit his ill father.
Attorney Kent Mawhinney, who has been in jail since January, charged with conspiracy to commit the murder of Dulos' estranged wife, Connecticut mom Jennifer Farber Dulos, posted bond and left state Superior Court in Stamford without comment. He has pleaded not guilty.
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His bond originally had been set at $2 million, but was reduced earlier this month to $246,000, of which $50,000 is cash and the rest a real estate bond put up by his parents, after a judge granted his attorney's request.
His attorney argued in the request that he "is not a flight risk," and he needed to be released to spend time with his father in Florida before he dies.
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"Mr. Mawhinney's father is currently battling lymphoma and prostate cancer, which has metastasized to his spine and his ribs," the filing read. "At age 86, it is taking its toll and limiting his daily activities substantially."
His attorneys, Lee Gold and Jeremy Donnelly, surrendered their client's passport and submitted an itinerary of his trip before his release.
Mawhinney also was fitted with a GPS monitoring device before his release.
Chief State Attorney Richard Colangelo did not object to the bond reduction or visit to Florida.
Mawhinney previously represented Dulos on several real estate deals and in a civil suit Jennifer Farbos Dulos' mother, Gloria Farber, filed, alleging that Dulos owed her millions of dollars in loans that her late husband had given him.
Mawhinney was charged with conspiracy to commit murder in January, on the same day Dulos was charged with murder, felony murder and kidnapping of his estranged wife after she was presumed dead after being missing for more than seven months.
Dulos died after an apparent suicide attempt weeks after his arrest. His lawyer, Norm Pattis, said his death did not reflect a "consciousness of guilt."
"We say it was more a conscience overborne with the weight of a world that was too busy to listen and wanted a story more than it wanted the truth," he said.
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Following his death, a judge in Connecticut dropped the murder and kidnapping case against Dulos despite objections from his attorneys, who wanted to prove his innocence.
Mawhinney was present at Dulos' office May 24, the day Farber Dulos, the 51-year-old mother of Dulos' five children, went missing, and his name appeared on detailed notes taken by Dulos and his then-girlfriend, Michelle Troconis, which investigators have dubbed the "Alibi Scripts," an arrest warrant affidavit shows.
State police detectives said Dulos called Mawhinney while he and Troconis discarded garbage bags May 24, later found to contain Farber Dulos' blood, records show.
Investigators also linked Mawhinney to the discovery of what they believe was a human grave dug at a gun club in East Granby, court records show. Troconis, who has been charged with conspiracy to commit murder, also has pleaded not guilty.
Troconis recently was allowed to visit her father in Florida after he had been infected with COVID-19.


upi--2020-10-19--Watch: Bear cubs peek into California home through back door

Oct. 19 ( UPI ) -- A California woman captured video when a pair of bear cubs wandered into her backyard pool area and walked up to her back door to peer into the house .
Tiffany Dukes said she has seen bears outside the fence that surrounds her Sierra Madre home before , but she had never seen the animals come into her pool area before .
Dukes shared video of the cubs peering in through her sliding glass door before wandering over to the pool , where one of the cubs leaned over to take a drink .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ when it happened , working , and I look up and I saw the teenage bear walking past the door , '' Dukes told KABC-TV .
`` It comes over to the other door , which was cracked open , so I just ran over -- and my adrenaline 's pumping -- I shut it , lock it really quick and scared that one away . ''
Dukes said that 's when she spotted the second cub .
`` That 's when the baby jumped up on the window .
Really obviously wanted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` She 's really cute .
Kind of scared it off a little bit , but then it went and took a drink in the pool and climbed the wall . ''

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Oct. 19 (UPI) -- A California woman captured video when a pair of bear cubs wandered into her backyard pool area and walked up to her back door to peer into the house.
Tiffany Dukes said she has seen bears outside the fence that surrounds her Sierra Madre home before, but she had never seen the animals come into her pool area before.
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Dukes shared video of the cubs peering in through her sliding glass door before wandering over to the pool, where one of the cubs leaned over to take a drink.
"I was sitting on the couch when it happened, working, and I look up and I saw the teenage bear walking past the door," Dukes told KABC-TV.
"It comes over to the other door, which was cracked open, so I just ran over -- and my adrenaline's pumping -- I shut it, lock it really quick and scared that one away."
Dukes said that's when she spotted the second cub.
"That's when the baby jumped up on the window. Really obviously wanted to come inside," she said. "She's really cute. Kind of scared it off a little bit, but then it went and took a drink in the pool and climbed the wall."


upi--2020-10-19--Researchers identify 'gene signatures' in metastatic prostate cancer

Oct. 19 ( UPI ) -- Scientists say they now may be able to identify men with prostate cancer at risk for it to spread , according to an article published Monday by the journal Nature Cancer .
In their analysis of prostate cancer cells from people and mice , researchers from Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey found that a `` collaboration among 16 genes '' leads to metastasis , meaning that the cancer has spread to one or more other parts of the body .
The genes , or proteins , they identified can predict if a prostate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ developing metastasis , including bone cancer , the researchers said .
`` People diagnosed with prostate cancer should now be screened for the protein markers [ we ] discovered to help determine their risk of developing metastatic prostate cancer , '' study co-author Antonina Mitrofanova , an assistant professor at the Rutgers School of Health Professions , said in a statement .
Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death among men in the United States .
While the disease has a five-year relative survival rate of nearly 100 % when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a five-year survival rate of 30 % , they said .
Once the disease metastasizes , treatments such as anti-androgens that target male sex hormones , as well as radiation , chemotherapy and others , not always are effective -- and it 's impossible to predict which patients are at risk of developing the advanced late stage of the disease .
For this study , Mitrofanova and her colleagues analyzed prostate cancer cells from mice with the disease and compared them to data on cell samples collected from human subjects .
Mice whose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' were more likely to see the disease metastasize to the bone , they said .
In human cells , these same gene signatures also appear to predict the time it takes to develop metastatic disease and whether the cancer will respond to treatment , the researchers said .
`` Our results show that molecular profiling at the time of diagnosis can help inform more personalized therapy leading to better outcomes for those with this advanced form of disease , '' Mitrofanova said .

Researchers may have found a gene "signature" that predicts whether prostate cancer will metastasize. Photo by qimono /Pixabay
Oct. 19 (UPI) -- Scientists say they now may be able to identify men with prostate cancer at risk for it to spread, according to an article published Monday by the journal Nature Cancer. In their analysis of prostate cancer cells from people and mice, researchers from Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey found that a "collaboration among 16 genes" leads to metastasis, meaning that the cancer has spread to one or more other parts of the body. Advertisement
The genes, or proteins, they identified can predict if a prostate cancer patient has a high probability of developing metastasis, including bone cancer, the researchers said.
"People diagnosed with prostate cancer should now be screened for the protein markers [we] discovered to help determine their risk of developing metastatic prostate cancer," study co-author Antonina Mitrofanova, an assistant professor at the Rutgers School of Health Professions, said in a statement.
Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death among men in the United States.
While the disease has a five-year relative survival rate of nearly 100% when diagnosed early, metastatic prostate cancer has a five-year survival rate of 30%, they said.
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Once the disease metastasizes, treatments such as anti-androgens that target male sex hormones, as well as radiation, chemotherapy and others, not always are effective -- and it's impossible to predict which patients are at risk of developing the advanced late stage of the disease.
For this study, Mitrofanova and her colleagues analyzed prostate cancer cells from mice with the disease and compared them to data on cell samples collected from human subjects.
Mice whose cancer cells contained certain "gene signatures" were more likely to see the disease metastasize to the bone, they said.
In human cells, these same gene signatures also appear to predict the time it takes to develop metastatic disease and whether the cancer will respond to treatment, the researchers said.
"Our results show that molecular profiling at the time of diagnosis can help inform more personalized therapy leading to better outcomes for those with this advanced form of disease," Mitrofanova said.


upi--2020-10-19--AMC Theaters offer private screenings starting at $99

Oct. 19 ( UPI ) -- Cinema chain AMC Theaters is offering film lovers the chance to get back into @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 by renting out an entire screen for rates starting at $ 99 .
AMC @ @ @ @ @ in every state except New York , Alaska and Hawaii , allow up to 20 @ @ @ @ @ screening in their own theater .
The rates vary depending on the movie being shown @ @ @ @ @ theater and add-ons such as concessions , a microphone for speaking to the crowd and @ @ @ @ @ .
The available movies for the rentals include recent releases like Tenet and older films @ @ @ @ @ have said the company has lost a lot of revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic @ @ @ @ @ by the end of the year without relief .
The chain has reopened about 500 @ @ @ @ @ , but many have a reduced capacity due to coronavirus guidelines .

AMC Theaters announced it is attempting to recoup some of its losses from the COVID-19 pandemic by offering customers the chance to rent out an entire theater for rates starting at $99. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe Oct. 19 (UPI) -- Cinema chain AMC Theaters is offering film lovers the chance to get back into the movies without fear of COVID-19 by renting out an entire screen for rates starting at $99. AMC announced the rentals, available in every state except New York, Alaska and Hawaii, allow up to 20 people to attend a private screening in their own theater. Advertisement
The rates vary depending on the movie being shown, the location of the theater and add-ons such as concessions, a microphone for speaking to the crowd and extra time in the theater.
The available movies for the rentals include recent releases like Tenet and older films like Shrek.
AMC officials have said the company has lost a lot of revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic and it could go bankrupt by the end of the year without relief.
The chain has reopened about 500 of its 600 U.S. locations, but many have a reduced capacity due to coronavirus guidelines.


upi--2020-10-19--U.S. indicts Russian intelligence officers in global malware attacks

Oct. 19 ( UPI ) -- The U.S Department of Justice on Monday announced grand jury indictments of six Russian intelligence officers for cybercrimes , including disrupting the power grid in Ukraine , interfering in the French election and crashing computer systems around the world .
Federal prosecutors in Pittsburgh accused the men , members of the Russian security agency GRU who were operating out of a Moscow military unit , of carrying out the malware attacks between 2015 and 2019 .
The group , nicknamed the `` Sandworm Team , '' `` Telebots , '' `` Voodoo Bear '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also accused of meddling in the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea and hijacking government websites in the country of Georgia .
Prosecutors in Pennsylvania said the GRU group developed malware that brought down the computers in two Pennsylvania hospitals and infected computers in 60 physician offices and 18 community satellite facilities belonging to the Heritage Valley Health System .
U.S. attorneys from the Western District of Pennsylvania and the Pittsburgh FBI field office joined federal agents at a press conference Monday to announce the indictments .
`` For more than two years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these Russian GRU officers , who engaged in a global campaign of hacking , disruption and destabilization , representing the most destructive and costly cyberattacks in history , '' Scott Brady , U.S. attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania , said in a statement .
`` The crimes committed by Russian government officials were against real victims who suffered real harm .
We have an obligation to hold accountable those who commit crimes -- no matter where they reside and no matter for whom they work -- in order to seek justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he added .
The accused men do not live in the United States and were listed as wanted by the FBI .
They were behind the creation and unleashing of the KillDisk and Industroyer cyber worms that crashed computers operating the Ukrainian power grid during the winter of 2017 , leaving hundreds of thousands of Eastern European residents without heat .
Another cyberattack by the NotPetya worm quickly spread around the world to businesses and government agencies , causing $ 1 billion worth of financial losses at the Pennsylvania hospitals , as well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a subsidiary of Federal Express , prosecutors said .
The group also attempted to interfere in the 2017 French presidential election by hacking emails of staffers of Emmanuel Macron .
GRU hackers were accused in the indictment of sabotaging computers with the Olympic Destroyer cyberattack during the opening ceremony of the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games , as well as attacking computers belonging to the International Olympic Committee , Olympic partners and athletes , making it look as though North Korea was responsible .
The group also tried to interfere in the British @ @ @ @ @ @ @ GRU officer Sergei Skripal and his daughter , according to the new charges .
The GRU was formerly accused in the 2018 probe by special counsel Robert Mueller of meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election , although the new charges do not mention those activities .
The defendants were charged with conspiracy , computer hacking , wire fraud and identity theft .
The indictment named them as Yuriy Sergeyevich Andrienko , 32 ; Sergey Vladimirovich Detistov , 35 ; Pavel Valeryevich Frolov , 28 ; Anatoliy Sergeyevich Kovalev , 29 ; Artem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nikolayevich Pliskin , 32 .
Kovalev was also charged in 2018 as part of the Mueller probe .
John Demers , assistant attorney general for national security , called the most recent computer attacks the `` most disruptive and destructive '' ever attributed to a single group .
`` No country has weaponized its cyber capabilities as maliciously and irresponsibly as Russia , wantonly causing unprecedented collateral damage to pursue small tactical advantages and to satisfy fits of spite , '' he said .

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Assistant Attorney General John Demers (C), accompanied by FBI Deputy Director David Bowdich (L) and FBI Special Agent in Charge of the Pittsburgh field office Michael Christman, speaks at a news conference Monday at the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., on the indictments of six Russian officers. Pool Photo by Andrew Harnik/UPI | License Photo
Oct. 19 (UPI) -- The U.S Department of Justice on Monday announced grand jury indictments of six Russian intelligence officers for cybercrimes, including disrupting the power grid in Ukraine, interfering in the French election and crashing computer systems around the world. Federal prosecutors in Pittsburgh accused the men, members of the Russian security agency GRU who were operating out of a Moscow military unit, of carrying out the malware attacks between 2015 and 2019. Advertisement
The group, nicknamed the "Sandworm Team," "Telebots," "Voodoo Bear" and "Iron Viking," is also accused of meddling in the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea and hijacking government websites in the country of Georgia.
Prosecutors in Pennsylvania said the GRU group developed malware that brought down the computers in two Pennsylvania hospitals and infected computers in 60 physician offices and 18 community satellite facilities belonging to the Heritage Valley Health System.
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U.S. attorneys from the Western District of Pennsylvania and the Pittsburgh FBI field office joined federal agents at a press conference Monday to announce the indictments.
"For more than two years, we have worked tirelessly to expose these Russian GRU officers, who engaged in a global campaign of hacking, disruption and destabilization, representing the most destructive and costly cyberattacks in history," Scott Brady, U.S. attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania, said in a statement.
"The crimes committed by Russian government officials were against real victims who suffered real harm. We have an obligation to hold accountable those who commit crimes -- no matter where they reside and no matter for whom they work -- in order to seek justice on behalf of these victims," he added.
The accused men do not live in the United States and were listed as wanted by the FBI.
They were behind the creation and unleashing of the KillDisk and Industroyer cyber worms that crashed computers operating the Ukrainian power grid during the winter of 2017, leaving hundreds of thousands of Eastern European residents without heat.
Another cyberattack by the NotPetya worm quickly spread around the world to businesses and government agencies, causing $1 billion worth of financial losses at the Pennsylvania hospitals, as well as a large American drug company and a subsidiary of Federal Express, prosecutors said.
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The group also attempted to interfere in the 2017 French presidential election by hacking emails of staffers of Emmanuel Macron.
GRU hackers were accused in the indictment of sabotaging computers with the Olympic Destroyer cyberattack during the opening ceremony of the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games, as well as attacking computers belonging to the International Olympic Committee, Olympic partners and athletes, making it look as though North Korea was responsible.
The group also tried to interfere in the British investigation of the 2018 poisoning of former GRU officer Sergei Skripal and his daughter, according to the new charges.
The GRU was formerly accused in the 2018 probe by special counsel Robert Mueller of meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, although the new charges do not mention those activities.
The defendants were charged with conspiracy, computer hacking, wire fraud and identity theft. The indictment named them as Yuriy Sergeyevich Andrienko, 32; Sergey Vladimirovich Detistov, 35; Pavel Valeryevich Frolov, 28; Anatoliy Sergeyevich Kovalev, 29; Artem Valeryevich Ochichenko, 27; and Petr Nikolayevich Pliskin, 32.
Kovalev was also charged in 2018 as part of the Mueller probe.
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John Demers, assistant attorney general for national security, called the most recent computer attacks the "most disruptive and destructive" ever attributed to a single group.
"No country has weaponized its cyber capabilities as maliciously and irresponsibly as Russia, wantonly causing unprecedented collateral damage to pursue small tactical advantages and to satisfy fits of spite," he said.


upi--2020-10-19--Plague transmission rates increased from the Black Death to the Great Plague

Oct. 19 ( UPI ) -- From the 14th to the 19th centuries , Europe and Asia were struck by successive waves of the plague .
New research -- published Monday in the journal PNAS -- suggests that over the course of the pandemic , from the Black Death of 1348 to the Great Plague of 1665 , transmission rates increased four-fold .
In recent years , genomic analysis has offered scientists a variety of insights into the nature of bubonic plagues that decimated much of Europe and Asia during the Late Middle Ages , but details related to disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to come by .
Plague is caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis , which can be transmitted via flea bites , the typical route for bubonic plague , or directly from human to human , called pneumonic plague .
`` Both types of transmission can occur during a given epidemic , but which type of transmission seems most likely in various times and places , and why , is often debated , '' lead study author David Earn , a researcher in mathematical epidemiology at McMaster University in Canada , told UPI in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of historical , demographic and epidemiological data , Earn and his colleagues were able to show that transmission steadily increased over the course of the epidemics that struck London between the 14th and 19th centuries .
The data also showed that pneumonic transmission could not have been the primary mode of transmission during the 14th century in London .
Scientists relied on three main sources of data : weekly all-cause mortality totals from parish registers , beginning in 1538 , when deaths were first registered ; weekly mortality from plague , recorded in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last wills and testaments , dated to the day , running from 1340 to 1680 .
Researchers used the mortality data to estimate transmission rates of each successive epidemic .
The research team also ran models to estimate mortality totals had the early waves been driven primarily by human-to-human transmission .
`` In this scenario of purely pneumonic transmission , we found that at most 15 recent of the population would have died from plague , '' Earn said .
`` But estimates of the mortality toll during the Black Death in 1348 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ population .
This inconsistency makes purely pneumonic transmission in the 14th century implausible . ''
Earn and his colleagues suspect both climate and shifting population densities played a role in accelerating transmission rates during the later waves of the plague .
`` Evidence has accumulated over the last 15 years or so that humidity affects influenza transmission , and it is reasonable to imagine that climate might affect plague transmission , '' Earn said .
In followup studies , researchers plan to investigate the effects of climate , population density , social structure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plague and the primary transmission mode during the 16th and 17th centuries .

The Black Death of 1348 killed roughly 30 percent of the population in London, new research suggests. Photo by Wikimedia Commons
Oct. 19 (UPI) -- From the 14th to the 19th centuries, Europe and Asia were struck by successive waves of the plague. New research -- published Monday in the journal PNAS -- suggests that over the course of the pandemic, from the Black Death of 1348 to the Great Plague of 1665, transmission rates increased four-fold. In recent years, genomic analysis has offered scientists a variety of insights into the nature of bubonic plagues that decimated much of Europe and Asia during the Late Middle Ages, but details related to disease transmission mode and dynamics have been hard to come by. Advertisement
Plague is caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, which can be transmitted via flea bites, the typical route for bubonic plague, or directly from human to human, called pneumonic plague.
"Both types of transmission can occur during a given epidemic, but which type of transmission seems most likely in various times and places, and why, is often debated," lead study author David Earn, a researcher in mathematical epidemiology at McMaster University in Canada, told UPI in an email.
By studying a variety of historical, demographic and epidemiological data, Earn and his colleagues were able to show that transmission steadily increased over the course of the epidemics that struck London between the 14th and 19th centuries.
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The data also showed that pneumonic transmission could not have been the primary mode of transmission during the 14th century in London.
Scientists relied on three main sources of data: weekly all-cause mortality totals from parish registers, beginning in 1538, when deaths were first registered; weekly mortality from plague, recorded in the London Bills of Mortality; and last wills and testaments, dated to the day, running from 1340 to 1680.
Researchers used the mortality data to estimate transmission rates of each successive epidemic. The research team also ran models to estimate mortality totals had the early waves been driven primarily by human-to-human transmission.
"In this scenario of purely pneumonic transmission, we found that at most 15 recent of the population would have died from plague," Earn said. "But estimates of the mortality toll during the Black Death in 1348 are at least 30 percent of the population. This inconsistency makes purely pneumonic transmission in the 14th century implausible."
Earn and his colleagues suspect both climate and shifting population densities played a role in accelerating transmission rates during the later waves of the plague.
"Evidence has accumulated over the last 15 years or so that humidity affects influenza transmission, and it is reasonable to imagine that climate might affect plague transmission," Earn said.
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In followup studies, researchers plan to investigate the effects of climate, population density, social structure and genetic changes on the transmissibility of plague and the primary transmission mode during the 16th and 17th centuries.


upi--2020-10-19--Iowa woman has deceased pet cat cloned

Iowa woman has deceased pet cat cloned

Oct. 19 ( UPI ) -- An Iowa woman said her kitten bears a strong resemblance to her old cat for a very good reason -- he 's a clone .
The Cedar Rapids woman , who wanted to remain anonymous , said she decided before the death of her cat , Mr. Tufts , that she wanted to have the feline cloned .
`` I had never had such a wonderful creature .
It was harder losing him than any other cat I 've ever had , '' the woman told The Courier newspaper .
Living tissue samples were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Valley Veterinary Center in Cedar Falls and sent along to ViaGen Pets in Cedar Park , Texas .
ViaGen Pets specializes in genetic preservation and cloning for household pets .
The firm has cloned dogs , cats and horses in the past and recently made headlines for cloning an endangered Przewalski 's horse for San Diego Zoo .
ViaGen preserved the samples until after Mr. Tufts ' death , when his owner requested the cloning go forward .
Melain Rodriguez , ViaGen client services manager , said specialists used one of the frozen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ female cat 's egg .
The embryo was then transferred to a surrogate mother cat in a method similar to in vitro fertilization .
Mr. Tufts ' genetic twin , Mr. Tufts Jr. , is now 9 months old .
He came to live with his owner , who also adopted the surrogate mother cat , when he was 2 months old .
`` The only physical difference , as far as I can see , is in health and body condition .
The original T had been found on a forest trail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' the owner said .
ViaGen said cloned pets maintain the same appearance , intelligence and temperament as the animals they are cloned from .
`` When we produce the clone it 's an identical twin .
There is zero genetic modification occurring , '' Blake Russell , president of ViaGen Pets , told KXAN-TV .
The feline 's owner said Mr. Tufts Jr. reminds her a lot of his namesake , although she has noticed some differences .
`` Our new Mr. Tufts Jr. is much more athletic than our original @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cat , too , had the best of care , '' she said .

A Cedar Rapids, Iowa, woman had her beloved pet cat cloned after his death. Photo by Kadres/Pixabay.com
Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe Oct. 19 (UPI) -- An Iowa woman said her kitten bears a strong resemblance to her old cat for a very good reason -- he's a clone. The Cedar Rapids woman, who wanted to remain anonymous, said she decided before the death of her cat, Mr. Tufts, that she wanted to have the feline cloned. Advertisement
"I had never had such a wonderful creature. It was harder losing him than any other cat I've ever had," the woman told The Courier newspaper.
Living tissue samples were collected by Dr. Kevin Christman of Cedar Valley Veterinary Center in Cedar Falls and sent along to ViaGen Pets in Cedar Park, Texas.
ViaGen Pets specializes in genetic preservation and cloning for household pets. The firm has cloned dogs, cats and horses in the past and recently made headlines for cloning an endangered Przewalski's horse for San Diego Zoo.
ViaGen preserved the samples until after Mr. Tufts' death, when his owner requested the cloning go forward.
Melain Rodriguez, ViaGen client services manager, said specialists used one of the frozen cells to replace the nucleus of a female cat's egg. The embryo was then transferred to a surrogate mother cat in a method similar to in vitro fertilization.
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Mr. Tufts' genetic twin, Mr. Tufts Jr., is now 9 months old. He came to live with his owner, who also adopted the surrogate mother cat, when he was 2 months old.
"The only physical difference, as far as I can see, is in health and body condition. The original T had been found on a forest trail and had a very bad respiratory illness," the owner said.
ViaGen said cloned pets maintain the same appearance, intelligence and temperament as the animals they are cloned from.
"When we produce the clone it's an identical twin. There is zero genetic modification occurring," Blake Russell, president of ViaGen Pets, told KXAN-TV.
The feline's owner said Mr. Tufts Jr. reminds her a lot of his namesake, although she has noticed some differences.
"Our new Mr. Tufts Jr. is much more athletic than our original, probably because he, and mom cat, too, had the best of care," she said.


upi--2020-10-19--Federal judge strikes down Trump rule cutting food stamps for 700,000

Oct. 19 ( UPI ) -- A federal judge has struck down a Trump administration rule that would have kicked 700,000 people off food stamps .
At issue , was the U.S. Department of Agriculture 's final rule that U.S. District Court Judge Beryl Howell previously issued a preliminary injunction against in March .
The final rule would impose eligibility time limits that the USDA estimates would affect over 1 million people and effectively remove nearly 700,000 able-bodied adults without dependents from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program .
Howell 's 67-page ruling Sunday granted summary judgment to a coalition including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ City , several other states , and private groups that sued to stop the rule finalized in December to limit states ability to extend SNAP benefits beyond three months for certain adults .
`` Eight months into the COVID-19 pandemic , which has rocked the economy , killed nearly 220,000 Americans , quadrupled the national unemployment rate , and dramatically increased the number of Americans forced to reckon with hunger this year , '' the USDA pursued imposing the rule , Howell said in the ruling .
The changes under the final rule @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of regulatory practice , leaving states scrambling and exponentially increasing food insecurity for tens of thousands of Americans , '' she wrote in her opinion , vacating the final rule .
Howell said in her ruling that the USDA 's final rule was `` arbitrary and capricious , '' stripping states of their current flexibility in providing food assistance benefits .
The judge added that the USDA `` has been icily silent , '' about how many people would have been denied food stamp benefits amid rising need for food stamps due to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic 's wake , as of May 2020 , SNAP rosters have grown by over 17 % with over 6 million new enrollees , '' Howell noted , referring to an estimate analyzed by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities .
New York Attorney General Letitia James called the decision `` a win for common sense and basic human decency , '' in a statement Monday .
`` This Trump administration rule was cruel to its core and ran counter to who we are and what we represent as a nation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ not only made it harder for thousands to feed their families and risk them going hungry , but would have exacerbated the public health crisis we face and the economic recession we are still in the midst of under President Trump 's lack of leadership . ''
James filed the lawsuit challenging final rule , originally set to take effect on April 1 , but for the preliminary injunction , along with District of Columbia Attorney General Karl Raccine , in January .
The Trump administration unveiled the plan in December of 2018 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to receive food stamps .
The program had already imposed a requirement that adults without dependents must work more than three months in a three-year period to collect food stamps .
The rule would have eliminated states ' ability to waive the work requirement in areas where the unemployment rate is at least 20 % greater than the national rate at the time of 3.7 % .
Instead , the rule proposed a higher benchmark of higher than 7 % unemployment to waive the work requirement .
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the dignity of work to a sizable segment of our population . ''
The rule touted taxpayer savings of about $ 1.1 billion a year .

People wear face masks as they wait in line to receive a bag of groceries when Food Bank For New York City opens a mobile food pantry. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Oct. 19 (UPI) -- A federal judge has struck down a Trump administration rule that would have kicked 700,000 people off food stamps. At issue, was the U.S. Department of Agriculture's final rule that U.S. District Court Judge Beryl Howell previously issued a preliminary injunction against in March. The final rule would impose eligibility time limits that the USDA estimates would affect over 1 million people and effectively remove nearly 700,000 able-bodied adults without dependents from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Advertisement
Howell's 67-page ruling Sunday granted summary judgment to a coalition including the District of Columbia, New York City, several other states, and private groups that sued to stop the rule finalized in December to limit states ability to extend SNAP benefits beyond three months for certain adults.
"Eight months into the COVID-19 pandemic, which has rocked the economy, killed nearly 220,000 Americans, quadrupled the national unemployment rate, and dramatically increased the number of Americans forced to reckon with hunger this year," the USDA pursued imposing the rule, Howell said in the ruling.
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The changes under the final rule would "radically and abruptly alter decades of regulatory practice, leaving states scrambling and exponentially increasing food insecurity for tens of thousands of Americans," she wrote in her opinion, vacating the final rule.
Howell said in her ruling that the USDA's final rule was "arbitrary and capricious," stripping states of their current flexibility in providing food assistance benefits.
The judge added that the USDA "has been icily silent," about how many people would have been denied food stamp benefits amid rising need for food stamps due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"In the pandemic's wake, as of May 2020, SNAP rosters have grown by over 17% with over 6 million new enrollees," Howell noted, referring to an estimate analyzed by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
New York Attorney General Letitia James called the decision "a win for common sense and basic human decency," in a statement Monday.
"This Trump administration rule was cruel to its core and ran counter to who we are and what we represent as a nation. If implemented, this rule would have not only made it harder for thousands to feed their families and risk them going hungry, but would have exacerbated the public health crisis we face and the economic recession we are still in the midst of under President Trump's lack of leadership."
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James filed the lawsuit challenging final rule, originally set to take effect on April 1, but for the preliminary injunction, along with District of Columbia Attorney General Karl Raccine, in January.
The Trump administration unveiled the plan in December of 2018 to impose more work requirements for Americans to receive food stamps. The program had already imposed a requirement that adults without dependents must work more than three months in a three-year period to collect food stamps. The rule would have eliminated states' ability to waive the work requirement in areas where the unemployment rate is at least 20% greater than the national rate at the time of 3.7%. Instead, the rule proposed a higher benchmark of higher than 7% unemployment to waive the work requirement.
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said at the time the proposed rule "restores the dignity of work to a sizable segment of our population." The rule touted taxpayer savings of about $1.1 billion a year.


upi--2020-10-19--Wake Island Airfield undergoes $87M upgrade

Oct. 19 ( UPI ) -- The Wake Island Airfield , regarded as among the most isolated installations in the U.S. military , is undergoing an $ 87 million upgrade , the Air Force said .
The infrastructure modernizations include improvements to the deteriorating runway , new lighting , and grounding and pavement markings to support mission readiness and global air mobility , the Air Force Civil Engineering Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland , Texas , announced .
California-based contractor AECOM won the contract for the improvements in 2019 , and is expected to complete the project in early @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Wake atoll required extensive logistics planning to ship construction equipment , material , parts and supplies which we successfully accomplished in November 2019 , '' Capt .
David Leonard , AFCEC project manager , said in a press release .
The three-island atoll in the Pacific Ocean , halfway between Hawaii and Japan , has been a U.S. possession since 1898 , and has been under control of the U.S. Air Force since 1973 .
It lies 1,501 miles east of Guam , 2,298 miles west of Honolulu and 1,991 miles southeast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feet long , it serves as a crucial refueling depot for trans-Pacific military missions , as well as a training and missile testing area .
The airfield serves between 500 and 600 aircraft annually , according to the Air Force .

A U.S. Air Force C-130 cargo plane lands at Wake Island Airfield. The isolated military installation in the Pacific Ocean is undergoing $87 million in improvements. Photo courtesy of 15th Wing, 11 AD Deatachment1, Wake Island/U.S. Air Force
Oct. 19 (UPI) -- The Wake Island Airfield, regarded as among the most isolated installations in the U.S. military, is undergoing an $87 million upgrade, the Air Force said. The infrastructure modernizations include improvements to the deteriorating runway, new lighting, and grounding and pavement markings to support mission readiness and global air mobility, the Air Force Civil Engineering Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, announced. Advertisement
California-based contractor AECOM won the contract for the improvements in 2019, and is expected to complete the project in early 2021.
"The remote location of the Wake atoll required extensive logistics planning to ship construction equipment, material, parts and supplies which we successfully accomplished in November 2019," Capt. David Leonard, AFCEC project manager, said in a press release.
The three-island atoll in the Pacific Ocean, halfway between Hawaii and Japan, has been a U.S. possession since 1898, and has been under control of the U.S. Air Force since 1973.
It lies 1,501 miles east of Guam, 2,298 miles west of Honolulu and 1,991 miles southeast of Tokyo. With a runway 9,800 feet long, it serves as a crucial refueling depot for trans-Pacific military missions, as well as a training and missile testing area.
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The airfield serves between 500 and 600 aircraft annually, according to the Air Force.


upi--2020-10-19--NATO space center to be built at Allied Air Command in Ramstein

Oct. 19 ( UPI ) -- NATO is expanding its defense alliance to space , and is expected to announce construction of a `` space center '' at Ramstein , Germany , this week .
The new facility will be affiliated with the NATO air command center at Ramstein , and will be used as a coordination point for surveillance in space , the German newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung said on Monday .
The space center would serve as a hub for information about possible threats to any NATO member .
`` This will be a focal point for ensuring space @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and coordinating our activities , '' a NATO official told Stars and Stripes .
About half of the 2,000 satellites currently in earth orbit are owned by NATO members .
The action follows a 2019 NATO decision declaring space as a separate area of operations while acknowledging that space is of crucial importance for early warning systems and communication and navigation information .
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said in 2019 that NATO `` has no intention of stationing weapons in space , but we have to ensure that our missions and operations have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announcement is expected after military chiefs from the 30 NATO member nations review the plan later this week during a virtual two-day meeting beginning on Thursday .

A planned NATO space center will be installed at Ramstein, Germany, home of the NATO's Allied Air Command. Photo courtesy of NATO
Oct. 19 (UPI) -- NATO is expanding its defense alliance to space, and is expected to announce construction of a "space center" at Ramstein, Germany, this week. The new facility will be affiliated with the NATO air command center at Ramstein, and will be used as a coordination point for surveillance in space, the German newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung said on Monday. Advertisement
The space center would serve as a hub for information about possible threats to any NATO member.
"This will be a focal point for ensuring space support to NATO operations, sharing information and coordinating our activities," a NATO official told Stars and Stripes.
About half of the 2,000 satellites currently in earth orbit are owned by NATO members. The action follows a 2019 NATO decision declaring space as a separate area of operations while acknowledging that space is of crucial importance for early warning systems and communication and navigation information.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said in 2019 that NATO "has no intention of stationing weapons in space, but we have to ensure that our missions and operations have the appropriate support."
An official announcement is expected after military chiefs from the 30 NATO member nations review the plan later this week during a virtual two-day meeting beginning on Thursday.
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upi--2020-10-20--Tiger Woods' Hero World Challenge canceled due to COVID-19

Oct. 20 ( UPI ) -- Tiger Woods ' annual golf tournament in the Bahamas -- the Hero World Challenge -- has been canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic .
The event had been scheduled for Dec. 3 to 6 at Albany Golf Club in Nassau .
Woods has organized the annual 18-man tournament there since 2015 .
It 's not an official tournament , but is featured on the PGA Tour schedule .
`` Given the current global restrictions and ongoing developments from COVID-19 , the 2020 Hero World Challenge will not be played this year , '' the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decision was made with the health and well-being of all tournament constituents and the Albany community in mind .
`` We look forward to hosting 18 of the top players in the world and welcoming tournament guests to Albany , Bahamas , next year . ''
The PGA Tour 's Mayakoba Classic remains on schedule -- for the same Dec. 3 to 6 timeframe -- at El Camaleon Golf Club in Playa del Carmen , Mexico .
Henrik Stenson won the 2019 Hero World Challenge .
Woods won the tournament five times when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former venues , the Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks , Calif. Woods also hosted the tournament at Isleworth Golf and Country Club in Windermere , Fla. , and at Greyhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale , Ariz. Golfers continue the 2020-2021 PGA Tour schedule with the CJ Cup from Thursday to Sunday at Shadow Creek Golf Course in Las Vegas .

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Tiger Woods has hosted the annual Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas since 2015, but this year's tournament has been canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Oct. 20 (UPI) -- Tiger Woods' annual golf tournament in the Bahamas -- the Hero World Challenge -- has been canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. The event had been scheduled for Dec. 3 to 6 at Albany Golf Club in Nassau. Woods has organized the annual 18-man tournament there since 2015. It's not an official tournament, but is featured on the PGA Tour schedule. Advertisement
"Given the current global restrictions and ongoing developments from COVID-19, the 2020 Hero World Challenge will not be played this year," the PGA Tour said Monday. "This decision was made with the health and well-being of all tournament constituents and the Albany community in mind.
"We look forward to hosting 18 of the top players in the world and welcoming tournament guests to Albany, Bahamas, next year."
The PGA Tour's Mayakoba Classic remains on schedule -- for the same Dec. 3 to 6 timeframe -- at El Camaleon Golf Club in Playa del Carmen, Mexico.
Henrik Stenson won the 2019 Hero World Challenge. Woods won the tournament five times when it was held at one of its former venues, the Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, Calif.
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Woods also hosted the tournament at Isleworth Golf and Country Club in Windermere, Fla., and at Greyhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Golfers continue the 2020-2021 PGA Tour schedule with the CJ Cup from Thursday to Sunday at Shadow Creek Golf Course in Las Vegas.
Tiger Woods turns 47: a look back


upi--2020-10-20--U.S. adds nearly 60K COVID-19 cases; expert warns of spike in coming days

Oct. 20 ( UPI ) -- A former top health official in the Trump administration has said the United States is about a week away from seeing a substantial rise in COVID-19 cases .
Amid a steady rise in U.S. cases over the past month , former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb said there are no more `` backstops '' to help control the outbreak .
`` The summer was a backstop , of sorts , to the spring surge , and we have no therapeutic backstop , '' Gottlieb told CNBC Monday night .
`` The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus is going to want to spread . ''
Gottlieb noted that the United States is about a week away from seeing a `` rapid acceleration '' in cases .
`` We can look to happier days , but these are going to be some tough months ahead . ''
Other health experts , including National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Dr. Anthony Fauci , have agreed that the coming months will be difficult .
Updated data Tuesday from Johns Hopkins University showed the United States added almost another 60,000 cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Over the past week , the national average has been more than 58,000 cases per day .
Since the start of the pandemic , there have been about 8.22 million cases and 220,200 deaths in the United States , according to Johns Hopkins .
In Kansas , 10 residents at a nursing home have died of COVID-19 and all the others have tested positive , officials said .
Residents have been quarantined in their rooms and outside visitors are not allowed .
County officials are working with the state health department to prevent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Norton , about 320 miles west of Kansas City .
Some nursing home staff have also tested positive .
In California , Gov .
Gavin Newsom vowed that the state will review any new COVID-19 vaccine before it 's distributed to residents .
Newsom named several doctors and scientists to the review panel and said science , not politics , will determine the strategy for distributing any vaccine .
`` California leads in science and by bringing together our state 's brightest scientific minds , we can ensure that any vaccine distributed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in a statement .
President Donald Trump has previously said a vaccine would be ready before the Nov. 3 election , raising alarm that politics are playing a role in the process .
Scientists and vaccine developers have said the earliest any vaccine could be ready is the end of the year , but more likely sometime in 2021 .
A poll by the Kaiser Family Foundation last month found that 62 % of U.S. adults are worried that White House pressure could lead the FDA to approve a vaccine before it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo last month announced he , too , would create a statewide task force of health experts to review the federal government 's COVID-19 vaccine approvals .

Masked pedestrians walk outside of Union Station in Washington, D.C., on October 6. The United States added another 58,400 COVID-19 cases on Monday. Photo by Sarah Silbiger/UPI | License Photo
Oct. 20 (UPI) -- A former top health official in the Trump administration has said the United States is about a week away from seeing a substantial rise in COVID-19 cases. Amid a steady rise in U.S. cases over the past month, former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb said there are no more "backstops" to help control the outbreak. Advertisement
"The summer was a backstop, of sorts, to the spring surge, and we have no therapeutic backstop," Gottlieb told CNBC Monday night.
"The fall and winter season is when this coronavirus is going to want to spread."
Gottlieb noted that the United States is about a week away from seeing a "rapid acceleration" in cases.
"We can look to happier days, but these are going to be some tough months ahead."
Other health experts, including National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Dr. Anthony Fauci, have agreed that the coming months will be difficult.
Updated data Tuesday from Johns Hopkins University showed the United States added almost another 60,000 cases and about 450 deaths on Monday. Over the past week, the national average has been more than 58,000 cases per day.
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Since the start of the pandemic, there have been about 8.22 million cases and 220,200 deaths in the United States, according to Johns Hopkins.
In Kansas, 10 residents at a nursing home have died of COVID-19 and all the others have tested positive, officials said. Residents have been quarantined in their rooms and outside visitors are not allowed.
County officials are working with the state health department to prevent further outbreaks at the privately-owned nursing home in Norton, about 320 miles west of Kansas City.
Some nursing home staff have also tested positive.
In California, Gov. Gavin Newsom vowed that the state will review any new COVID-19 vaccine before it's distributed to residents.
Newsom named several doctors and scientists to the review panel and said science, not politics, will determine the strategy for distributing any vaccine.
"California leads in science and by bringing together our state's brightest scientific minds, we can ensure that any vaccine distributed here meets safety requirements," he said in a statement.
President Donald Trump has previously said a vaccine would be ready before the Nov. 3 election, raising alarm that politics are playing a role in the process. Scientists and vaccine developers have said the earliest any vaccine could be ready is the end of the year, but more likely sometime in 2021.
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A poll by the Kaiser Family Foundation last month found that 62% of U.S. adults are worried that White House pressure could lead the FDA to approve a vaccine before it's determined to be safe and effective.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo last month announced he, too, would create a statewide task force of health experts to review the federal government's COVID-19 vaccine approvals.


upi--2020-10-20--Watch: 'The Mandalorian' reunites with friends in new Season 2 trailer

Oct. 20 ( UPI ) -- Pedro Pascal 's bounty hunter seeks out help from his former allies in the @ @ @ @ @ of Star Wars series The Mandalorian .
The Mandalorian ( Pascal ) reunites with Cara @ @ @ @ @ and Greef Karga ( Carl Weathers ) from Season 1 as he needs assistance in @ @ @ @ @ known as Baby Yoda , back to its kind .
Cara fights off Stormtroopers while @ @ @ @ @ canyon before the trio enter into a base with guns drawn .
The Mandalorian is @ @ @ @ @ as they can help guide him on his new journey .
The Mandalorian Season 2 @ @ @ @ @ Disney+ .
Jon Favreau , Dave Filoni , Bryce Dallas Howard , Rick Famuyiwa , @ @ @ @ @ Robert Rodriguez are serving as directors for the second season .

Oct. 20 (UPI) -- Pedro Pascal's bounty hunter seeks out help from his former allies in the latest trailer for Season 2 of Star Wars series The Mandalorian.
The Mandalorian (Pascal) reunites with Cara Dune (Gina Carano) and Greef Karga (Carl Weathers) from Season 1 as he needs assistance in bringing The Child, also known as Baby Yoda, back to its kind.
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Cara fights off Stormtroopers while being chased inside a desolate canyon before the trio enter into a base with guns drawn.
The Mandalorian is also searching for fellow Mandalorians as they can help guide him on his new journey.
The Mandalorian Season 2 will premiere Oct. 30 on Disney+.
Jon Favreau, Dave Filoni, Bryce Dallas Howard, Rick Famuyiwa, Weathers, Peyton Reed and Robert Rodriguez are serving as directors for the second season.


upi--2020-10-20--'Euphoria': HBO series to return with two special episodes

Oct. 20 ( UPI ) -- Teen drama Euphoria will return to HBO with two special episodes .
The network said in a press release Monday that it will air the first of two new episodes Dec. 6 at 9 p.m. EDT .
The first special episode , titled `` Trouble Do n't Last Always , '' follows Rue ( Zendaya ) as she celebrates Christmas .
The episode is set in the wake of the Season 1 finale , which saw Rue being left by Jules ( Hunter Schaefer ) at the train station and relapsing .
The new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ creator Sam Levinson and features Colman Domingo , who played Ali in Season 1 .
HBO has yet to share details about the second episode .
`` We really missed them .
Two special Euphoria episodes coming soon .
First one December 6th on HBO , '' the actress wrote .
Euphoria premiered in June 2019 and was renewed for a second season the next month .
On Jimmy Kimmel Live !
in August , Zendaya teased a `` bridge episode '' due to COVID-19 production delays on Season 2 .
`` I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it , but an episode that we can do with a limited amount of people in a safer environment ... so we have something to live on until we are able to go into Season 2 , '' she said .

.@EuphoriaHBO returns with two special episodes, with the first, "Trouble Don't Last Always," debuting Sunday, Dec. 6 at 9PM on @HBO and @HBOMax. The title and date of the second episode are forthcoming: https://t.co/2hOLsYXwVp pic.twitter.com/9iIqPhsHPW— HBO PR (@HBOPR) October 19, 2020
Oct. 20 (UPI) -- Teen drama Euphoria will return to HBO with two special episodes.
The network said in a press release Monday that it will air the first of two new episodes Dec. 6 at 9 p.m. EDT.
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The first special episode, titled "Trouble Don't Last Always," follows Rue (Zendaya) as she celebrates Christmas. The episode is set in the wake of the Season 1 finale, which saw Rue being left by Jules (Hunter Schaefer) at the train station and relapsing.
The new episode is written and directed by series creator Sam Levinson and features Colman Domingo, who played Ali in Season 1. HBO has yet to share details about the second episode.
Zendaya confirmed the news Monday on Instagram.
"We really missed them. Two special Euphoria episodes coming soon. First one December 6th on HBO," the actress wrote.
Euphoria premiered in June 2019 and was renewed for a second season the next month. On Jimmy Kimmel Live! in August, Zendaya teased a "bridge episode" due to COVID-19 production delays on Season 2.
"I don't really know how to describe it, but an episode that we can do with a limited amount of people in a safer environment ... so we have something to live on until we are able to go into Season 2," she said.


upi--2020-10-20--Analyst: North Korea making strides in solid propellant ballistic missiles

Oct. 20 ( UPI ) -- North Korea is closer to narrowing the technological gap with Seoul on weapons , a South Korean analyst says .
Nam Sae-kyu , head of South Korea 's Agency for Defense Development , said the North 's development of solid propellant ballistic missiles have halved the gap in 20 years , Yonhap news agency reported Tuesday .
Nam , who was testifying before Seoul 's parliamentary National Defense Committee , said the South is `` quite ahead '' of the North in the area of missile technology and guided weapons .
But the weapons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anniversary parade on Oct. 10 show the regime is quickly catching up , Nam said .
`` I came away thinking North Korea is developing [ weapons ] extremely pragmatically compared to five years ago , '' Nam said .
The predawn military parade showcased a new intercontinental ballistic missile on a transporter with 11 axles , the KN-23 , a North Korean short-range ballistic missile and three kinds of super-large multiple-rocket launchers .
The South Korean analyst said the pace of North Korean weapons development is similar to the South 's experience @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Seoul was able to test-launch the weapon within a year , Nam said .
The analyst also said North Korea in total exhibited 11 new weapons at the parade , and that a new submarine-launched ballistic missile , the Pukguksong-4ㅅ , is almost identical to the Pukguksong-3 missile .
South Korean assessments of the North 's weapons comes at a time when Seoul has been postponing the procurement of new defense technology , including an intelligence analysis system for the drone Global Hawk RQ-4 , JoongAng Ilbo reported Tuesday .
The system @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Seoul 's Defense Acquisition Program Administration said .
The delay was due to COVID-19 and extended negotiations with the United States and defense firms , according to the report .

Weapons North Korea displayed at its Oct. 10 parade shows Pyongyang advancing "pragmatically," a South Korean analyst said Tuesday. Photo by KCNA/UPI | License Photo
Oct. 20 (UPI) -- North Korea is closer to narrowing the technological gap with Seoul on weapons, a South Korean analyst says. Nam Sae-kyu, head of South Korea's Agency for Defense Development, said the North's development of solid propellant ballistic missiles have halved the gap in 20 years, Yonhap news agency reported Tuesday. Advertisement
Nam, who was testifying before Seoul's parliamentary National Defense Committee, said the South is "quite ahead" of the North in the area of missile technology and guided weapons.
But the weapons North Korea displayed at its 75th party anniversary parade on Oct. 10 show the regime is quickly catching up, Nam said.
"I came away thinking North Korea is developing [weapons] extremely pragmatically compared to five years ago," Nam said.
The predawn military parade showcased a new intercontinental ballistic missile on a transporter with 11 axles, the KN-23, a North Korean short-range ballistic missile and three kinds of super-large multiple-rocket launchers.
The South Korean analyst said the pace of North Korean weapons development is similar to the South's experience with developing the Korean Tactical Surface-to-Surface Missile. Seoul was able to test-launch the weapon within a year, Nam said.
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The analyst also said North Korea in total exhibited 11 new weapons at the parade, and that a new submarine-launched ballistic missile, the Pukguksong-4ㅅ, is almost identical to the Pukguksong-3 missile.
South Korean assessments of the North's weapons comes at a time when Seoul has been postponing the procurement of new defense technology, including an intelligence analysis system for the drone Global Hawk RQ-4, JoongAng Ilbo reported Tuesday.
The system will arrive in Korea in November, Seoul's Defense Acquisition Program Administration said. The delay was due to COVID-19 and extended negotiations with the United States and defense firms, according to the report.


upi--2020-10-20--Watch: Sacha Baron Cohen gives COVID-19 inspection as Borat on 'Kimmel'

Oct. 20 ( UPI ) -- Sacha Baron Cohen appeared as Borat on Jimmy Kimmel Live and tried his best to combat the COVID-19 virus while on the late night show .
Borat , on Monday , arrived onto the scene spraying an unknown liquid from a canister .
Borat sprayed down Kimmel 's partner Guillermo and used a magnifying glass to spot the virus in order to attack it with a frying pan .
The fictional journalist , who was on hand to promote the new Borat sequel coming to Amazon Prime Video , stated that Kimmel must undergo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ examination .
`` As a member of Hollywood 's elite , have you recently drunk any unpasteurized children 's blood ? ''
Borat asked with Kimmel responding no .
Borat attempted to take Kimmel 's temperate from a distance using a thermometer attached to a stick and was joined by his daughter Tutar , portrayed by actress Irina Novak .
Tutar , who stole a photo from the halls of Jimmy Kimmel Live , demanded to have Kimmel 's pants , which Borat helped her obtain .
Kimmel hid behind his chair in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a close before he could properly ask Borat a question .
Borat Subsequent Moviefilm : Deliver of Prodigious Bride to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan is coming to Amazon Prime Video on Friday .
The sequel to the 2006 Borat film will feature Cohen dressing up as President Donald Trump and interrupting a speech being made by Vice President Mike Pence .

Oct. 20 (UPI) -- Sacha Baron Cohen appeared as Borat on Jimmy Kimmel Live and tried his best to combat the COVID-19 virus while on the late night show.
Borat, on Monday, arrived onto the scene spraying an unknown liquid from a canister. Borat sprayed down Kimmel's partner Guillermo and used a magnifying glass to spot the virus in order to attack it with a frying pan.
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The fictional journalist, who was on hand to promote the new Borat sequel coming to Amazon Prime Video, stated that Kimmel must undergo a plague questionnaire followed by a physical examination.
"As a member of Hollywood's elite, have you recently drunk any unpasteurized children's blood?" Borat asked with Kimmel responding no.
Borat attempted to take Kimmel's temperate from a distance using a thermometer attached to a stick and was joined by his daughter Tutar, portrayed by actress Irina Novak.
Tutar, who stole a photo from the halls of Jimmy Kimmel Live, demanded to have Kimmel's pants, which Borat helped her obtain. Kimmel hid behind his chair in his underwear as the interview came to a close before he could properly ask Borat a question.
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Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Deliver of Prodigious Bride to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan is coming to Amazon Prime Video on Friday.
The sequel to the 2006 Borat film will feature Cohen dressing up as President Donald Trump and interrupting a speech being made by Vice President Mike Pence.


upi--2020-10-20--Intel sells flash memory business to SK hynix for $9 billion

Oct. 20 ( UPI ) -- South Korea-based SK hynix agreed Tuesday to purchase the Intel NAND memory and storage @ @ @ @ @ .
The deal includes Intel 's NAND SSD business , its NAND component and wafer @ @ @ @ @ memory manufacturing plant in China , the company said .
Intel will keep its Intel @ @ @ @ @ it will invest the proceeds `` in long-term growth priorities . ''
`` By taking @ @ @ @ @ technologies , SK hynix will proactively respond to various needs from customers and optimize our @ @ @ @ @ innovative portfolio in the NAND flash market segment , '' SK hynix CEO Seok-Hee Lee @ @ @ @ @ `` This transaction will allow us to further prioritize our investments in differentiated technology where @ @ @ @ @ role in the success of our customers , '' Intel CEO Bob Swan said in @ @ @ @ @ expect the deal to close late next year .

The companies said they expect government approval and the deal to close in late 2021. File Photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI | License Photo
Oct. 20 (UPI) -- South Korea-based SK hynix agreed Tuesday to purchase the Intel NAND memory and storage business for $9 billion. The deal includes Intel's NAND SSD business, its NAND component and wafer business and its Dalian NAND memory manufacturing plant in China, the company said. Intel will keep its Intel Optane business. Advertisement
Intel said it will invest the proceeds "in long-term growth priorities."
"By taking each other's strengths and technologies, SK hynix will proactively respond to various needs from customers and optimize our business structure, expanding our innovative portfolio in the NAND flash market segment," SK hynix CEO Seok-Hee Lee said in a statement.
"This transaction will allow us to further prioritize our investments in differentiated technology where we can play a bigger role in the success of our customers," Intel CEO Bob Swan said in a statement.
The companies expect the deal to close late next year.


upi--2020-10-20--'Away': Netflix cancels Hilary Swank series after one season

Oct. 20 ( UPI ) -- Hilary Swank 's series Away wo n't return for a second season .
Variety @ @ @ @ @ the space drama after one season .
Co-starring Josh Charles , Vivian Wu , Mark @ @ @ @ @ Ray Pathanki and Talitha Bateman , Away premiered Sept. 4 .
The series followed Emma @ @ @ @ @ an astronaut , and her crew on a years-long mission to Mars .
Andrew Hinderaker @ @ @ @ @ as an executive producer with Swank , showrunner Jessica Goldberg , Jason Katims , Matt @ @ @ @ @ Adam Kassan and Jeni Mulein .
Deadline said Netflix analyzes viewership versus cost when renewing @ @ @ @ @ spent several weeks in the Top 10 Nielsen streaming viewership rankings after its release .
@ @ @ @ @ series after one season this year , including The Dark Age : Crystal of Resistance @ @ @ @ @ It also rescinded Season 2 renewals for I Am Not Okay with This and The @ @ @ @ @ pandemic .

1/2
Hilary Swank played Emma Green on the Netflix series "Away." File Photo by Christine Chew/UPI | License Photo
Oct. 20 (UPI) -- Hilary Swank's series Away won't return for a second season. Variety reported Monday that Netflix canceled the space drama after one season. Advertisement
Co-starring Josh Charles, Vivian Wu, Mark Ivanir, Ato Essandoh, Ray Pathanki and Talitha Bateman, Away premiered Sept. 4. The series followed Emma Green (Swank), an astronaut, and her crew on a years-long mission to Mars.
Andrew Hinderaker created the series and served as an executive producer with Swank, showrunner Jessica Goldberg, Jason Katims, Matt Reeves, Edward Swick, Adam Kassan and Jeni Mulein.
Deadline said Netflix analyzes viewership versus cost when renewing or cancelling shows. Away spent several weeks in the Top 10 Nielsen streaming viewership rankings after its release.
Netflix has canceled several other series after one season this year, including The Dark Age: Crystal of Resistance, Soundtrack and Messiah. It also rescinded Season 2 renewals for I Am Not Okay with This and The Society due to the COVID-19 pandemic.


upi--2020-10-20--Tropical Storm Epsilon expected to be a hurricane late this week

Oct. 20 -- Forecasters said Tuesday Tropical Storm Epsilon , which formed Monday , is in the central Atlantic Ocean and `` drifting well to the southeast of Bermuda . ''
In its 5 a.m. EDT advisory , the National Hurricane Center said Epsilon was located 765 southeast of Bermuda and had maximum sustained winds of 45 mph .
It was moving northeast at 3 mph .
The NHC expects the storm to strengthen into a hurricane on Thursday .
`` On the forecast track , Epsilon is forecast to approach Bermuda on Thursday , '' the NHC said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ expected to affect Bermuda for the next several days . ''
Epsilon will make its closest approach to Bermuda later this week and could possibly make landfall there .
The NHC said the storm could produce life-threatening surf and rip current conditions for Bermuda .
`` The storm will be nearly stationary over the next day or so before heading slowly northwestward toward Bermuda , '' AccuWeather senior meteorologist Rob Miller said .
`` Whether that eventual northwestward track brings the storm west or east of Bermuda is yet to be known .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bermuda should pay close attention to the progress of this storm , '' Miller said .
With Epsilon developing and another system possibly in the offing later this week , this season is rapidly closing in on the record of 28 named storms set in 2005 -- the only other year to use the Greek alphabet to name storms .
The only other Epsilon in history was an unusually late storm , and it formed just before the official end of hurricane season on Nov. 30 in the open Atlantic Ocean on Nov. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to strengthen into Hurricane Epsilon on Dec. 2 .
By the time winds subsided back below hurricane strength on Dec. 7 , it had become the longest-lived December hurricane on record .
Epsilon formed in 2020 over a month earlier than the previous record holder .
Now , only one Greek letter , Zeta , that has been used before to name a tropical system will remain on the list for the next tropical storm that brews .
After that , should storms continue to form through the end of the year , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The system will likely be a hurricane by the time it reaches Bermuda , if it ends up taking a track close enough to the island nation to bring impacts , '' Miller said .
The current forecast would bring a glancing blow to the nation , with tropical storm-force ( 39-73 mph ) winds , gusts and occasional downpours from the outer bands of the system .
`` In this scenario , damage and adverse impacts would likely be isolated , but some downed tree limbs and power lines as well as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remain possible , '' Miller said .
However , AccuWeather meteorologists warn that residents should still prepare for the worst .
`` It 's still possible that the system tracks a little farther south and west and makes a direct hit on Bermuda as a hurricane , '' Miller warned .
This storm could pose many similarities to Hurricane Paulette , which ended up making a direct hit on the island as a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale on Sept. 14 .
Paulette became the first storm to make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oct.17 , 2014 .
Paulette ended up causing island-wide power outages and disruptions to commerce and government that lasted for days .
`` For a small island like Bermuda out in the middle of the ocean , small changes in the track , size and intensity of a storm can all have a big effect on the impacts , '' Miller said .
`` The time to make preparations is now , before you realize a dangerous storm is in fact bearing down on you and it 's too late . ''
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and only time that Bermuda endured two direct hits from hurricanes in the same season , when Hurricane Fay made landfall in Bermuda less than a week before Gonzalo .

Forecasters warned that large swells generated by Hurricane Epsilon will affect the eastern coast of the United States over the next few days. Photo courtesy of NOAA
Oct. 25 -- Hurricane Epsilon headed northeast away from the U.S. mainland and was projected to become a powerful post-tropical cyclone by Sunday night. In its 9 p.m. GMT update Sunday, the National Hurricane Center said Epsilon had 70 mph maximum sustained winds. The storm was 420 miles east of Cape Race, Newfoundland, and was moving east-northeast at 46 mph. Advertisement
No coastal watches or warnings are in effect.
A faster east-northeastward to northeastward motion is expected later Sunday through Monday.
The 26th storm of the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season strengthened into a hurricane on Tuesday night and continued to rapidly intensify throughout the remainder of the night and early on Wednesday.
On Wednesday afternoon, it became the fourth major hurricane of the season when its maximum sustained winds peaked at 115 mph. Hurricane-force winds extended outward from the storm's center by about 25 miles, but tropical-storm force winds extended even farther out from the center at about 310 miles.
For the second time in recorded history, the Atlantic Basin spawned a storm named Epsilon on Monday, within 3 hours after it developed into a tropical depression.
The only other Epsilon in history was an unusually late storm, and it formed just before the official end of hurricane season on Nov. 30 in the open Atlantic Ocean on Nov. 29, 2005. It went on to strengthen into Hurricane Epsilon on Dec. 2. By the time winds subsided back below hurricane strength on Dec. 7, it had become the longest-lived December hurricane on record.
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The formation of Epsilon brought this season even closer to the record of 28 named storms set in 2005 -- the only other year to use the Greek alphabet to name storms. Epsilon is the 10th hurricane to develop in the basin this season.
Epsilon formed in 2020 over a month earlier than the previous record holder. Now, only one Greek letter, Zeta, that has been used before to name a tropical system will remain on the list for the next tropical storm that brews. After that, should storms continue to form through the end of the year, it would be uncharted territory.
AccuWeather is rating Epsilon less than one on the AccuWeather RealImpact Scale for Hurricanes for Bermuda. The scale was created by the company in 2019 to offer a more comprehensive outlook for tropical storm and hurricane impacts than the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.
The fall of 2014 was also the last and only time that Bermuda endured two direct hits from hurricanes in the same season, when Hurricane Fay made landfall in Bermuda less than a week before Gonzalo.