upi--2020-11-20--Seoul faces third COVID-19 wave; officials warn of stricter measures

SEOUL , Nov. 20 ( UPI ) -- South Korea is facing a third wave of coronavirus infections in the greater Seoul area , health authorities said Friday , as they asked people to refrain from social gatherings and warned of further social distancing restrictions .
South Korea recorded 363 new infections on Friday , marking the third straight day cases have exceeded 300 .
The daily figure is the highest since late August .
More than 200 of the new cases were located in the Seoul metropolitan area , where roughly half of South Korea 's 52 million people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ area , we are seeing a widespread infection , '' Yoon Tae-ho , a senior health ministry official , said at a press briefing .
`` This is the third major wave following earlier ones in February-March and August . ''
The Seoul area has averaged 153 cases per day over the past week , and Yoon said the government could further tighten social-distancing guidelines if the average climbs above 200 .
Health authorities raised distancing regulations one level on South Korea 's five-tier system this week , from Level 1 to Level @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Level 2 , would prohibit any gatherings of more than 100 people and force high-risk venues such as bars , nightclubs , karaoke rooms and concert halls to suspend operations .
Such a move would `` cause great difficulties and challenges for the public , '' Yoon said .
`` We hope we can contain the virus before that , '' he added .
Yoon also cautioned that a continued rise in cases could quickly put a strain on South Korea 's available intensive-care unit beds .
`` We could be facing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the near future , '' he said .
`` We are continuing to increase and secure a greater number of ICU hospital beds . ''
In a televised address on Friday , Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun called the latest wave of infections a `` crisis '' and urged South Koreans , especially those older than 60 , to `` minimize unnecessary outings and meetings '' as winter approaches .
`` Please refrain from holding year-end gatherings and , other than for essential activities , stay at home if possible , '' he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ latest outbreak is concentrated among younger people , with more than 50 % of patients confirmed in the last week under 40 , making it harder to trace infections .
`` Due to the nature of young people with asymptomatic infections , it is difficult to handle the extent and speed of the spread , '' Chung said .
Almost half a million South Korean high school seniors are gearing up to take the grueling , once-a-year College Scholastic Aptitude Test on Dec. 3 , and health officials are trying to contain the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to run smoothly .
`` Even with the COVID-19 situation , the government will do our best to allow the test to be taken fairly in a safe environment , '' he said .
Friday 's new infections saw South Korea 's total caseload reach 30,017 .
Three deaths were also reported , bringing the overall toll to 501 .

South Korea is seeing a third wave of coronavirus infections in Seoul, as officials caution that further social distancing guidelines may have to be enacted. Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI | License Photo
SEOUL, Nov. 20 (UPI) -- South Korea is facing a third wave of coronavirus infections in the greater Seoul area, health authorities said Friday, as they asked people to refrain from social gatherings and warned of further social distancing restrictions. South Korea recorded 363 new infections on Friday, marking the third straight day cases have exceeded 300. The daily figure is the highest since late August. Advertisement
More than 200 of the new cases were located in the Seoul metropolitan area, where roughly half of South Korea's 52 million people live.
"In the greater Seoul area, we are seeing a widespread infection," Yoon Tae-ho, a senior health ministry official, said at a press briefing. "This is the third major wave following earlier ones in February-March and August."
The Seoul area has averaged 153 cases per day over the past week, and Yoon said the government could further tighten social-distancing guidelines if the average climbs above 200.
Health authorities raised distancing regulations one level on South Korea's five-tier system this week, from Level 1 to Level 1.5.
Going to the next step, Level 2, would prohibit any gatherings of more than 100 people and force high-risk venues such as bars, nightclubs, karaoke rooms and concert halls to suspend operations.
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Such a move would "cause great difficulties and challenges for the public," Yoon said.
"We hope we can contain the virus before that," he added.
Yoon also cautioned that a continued rise in cases could quickly put a strain on South Korea's available intensive-care unit beds.
"We could be facing a shortage [of beds] in the near future," he said. "We are continuing to increase and secure a greater number of ICU hospital beds."
In a televised address on Friday, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun called the latest wave of infections a "crisis" and urged South Koreans, especially those older than 60, to "minimize unnecessary outings and meetings" as winter approaches.
"Please refrain from holding year-end gatherings and, other than for essential activities, stay at home if possible," he said.
The prime minister noted that the latest outbreak is concentrated among younger people, with more than 50% of patients confirmed in the last week under 40, making it harder to trace infections.
"Due to the nature of young people with asymptomatic infections, it is difficult to handle the extent and speed of the spread," Chung said.
Almost half a million South Korean high school seniors are gearing up to take the grueling, once-a-year College Scholastic Aptitude Test on Dec. 3, and health officials are trying to contain the outbreak in order to allow the exam to run smoothly.
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"Even with the COVID-19 situation, the government will do our best to allow the test to be taken fairly in a safe environment," he said.
Friday's new infections saw South Korea's total caseload reach 30,017. Three deaths were also reported, bringing the overall toll to 501.


upi--2020-11-20--Statin side effects may be 'all in your head,' study suggests

Most of the side effects commonly blamed on cholesterol-lowering statins may actually be the product of patients ' imaginations , new British research claims .
The finding follows a study of 60 patients who had been taking statins but stopped because of reported muscle aches , fatigue or joint pain .
But after giving the patients an unmarked eight-month supply of statins and dummy pills -- four bottles of each -- the investigators found that 90 % of the symptoms reported when taking the real drug endured , even when patients were taking a dummy , or placebo , pill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killer worldwide , and statins are one of the best drugs we have at reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke , '' explained study author James Howard .
`` One problem with statins , however , is that patients tolerate them very poorly .
Some studies have found up to 50 % of people stop statins within two years of starting them . ''
Howard said that the researchers `` noticed that in old trials of statins -- when half the patients took statins and half the patients took placebo -- @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both groups .
This made no sense if statin side effects were so common . ''
The new investigation revealed that `` statin tablets do cause side effects , but most of these symptoms seem to be caused by the act of taking tablets , not the actual statin within them , '' he said .
Howard is a clinical research fellow with the Imperial College London and a cardiologist at the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust in London .
He and his colleagues published their findings this week in the New England @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no drug industry funding .
Study participants were between the ages of 37 and 79 , and all had stopped taking statins at some point between June 2016 and March 2019 .
Each patient was given four bottles of statins and four bottles of placebos , each containing identical-looking tablets to be consumed in random order over eight months .
Patients then took nothing for another four months .
In all , 49 patients completed the year-long trial , making note of symptoms throughout the study period .
The result : 90 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when taking placebos .
Symptom intensity was also pegged almost as bad during placebo consumption as it was during statin consumption , though it dropped by half when taking no tablets at all .
`` We found that patients felt quite well not taking tablets , '' said Howard , `` but when they took statins they felt a lot worse .
However , they also felt worse taking placebo .
In fact , 90 % as bad as they did on the statins . ''
The team said the finding is an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' in which patients experience a negative side effect despite taking a sham treatment .
But as a measure of how disruptive the side effect experience can be -- whether real or perceived -- the team noted that 24 of the 49 patients temporarily stopped taking any tablet for at least a month , with 71 stoppages in total .
Of the 71 stoppages , 31 occurred while taking a placebo , and 40 were while taking a statin .
Still , Howard made clear that the study does not suggest that all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ All medications cause some side effects , even if just rarely , '' he said .
But for those whose symptoms are largely imagined , what can be done ?
Howard said simply acknowledging the problem can help a lot .
Research shows that `` if we sit down with our patients and explain the nocebo effect to them , we can get 50 % of them back on to these drugs , and they are able to keep taking them , '' he said .
The communication itself `` made the difference @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of statin tolerance is a real concern , said Dr. Gregg Fonarow .
He 's interim chief of the division of cardiology and director of the Ahmanson-UCLA Cardiomyopathy Center at the University of California , Los Angeles .
`` Millions of adult men and women who would benefit from statin therapy are not taking this very low-cost/high-value therapy out of concerns for potential side effects or intolerance , '' Fonarow said .
`` This is a very frequent concern that unfortunately contributes to cardiovascular events and strokes that could have been prevented .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ it 's possible to distinguish between those experiencing true side effects and those who are n't .
And it can help `` reassure patients regarding the safety and tolerability of statins , '' Fonarow added .
There 's more on statins at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .

Most of the side effects commonly blamed on cholesterol-lowering statins may actually be the product of patients' imaginations, new British research claims.
The finding follows a study of 60 patients who had been taking statins but stopped because of reported muscle aches, fatigue or joint pain.
Advertisement
But after giving the patients an unmarked eight-month supply of statins and dummy pills -- four bottles of each -- the investigators found that 90% of the symptoms reported when taking the real drug endured, even when patients were taking a dummy, or placebo, pill.
"Cardiovascular disease is the biggest killer worldwide, and statins are one of the best drugs we have at reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke," explained study author James Howard. "One problem with statins, however, is that patients tolerate them very poorly. Some studies have found up to 50% of people stop statins within two years of starting them."
Advertisement
Howard said that the researchers "noticed that in old trials of statins -- when half the patients took statins and half the patients took placebo -- the side effects were almost identical for both groups. This made no sense if statin side effects were so common."
The new investigation revealed that "statin tablets do cause side effects, but most of these symptoms seem to be caused by the act of taking tablets, not the actual statin within them," he said.
Howard is a clinical research fellow with the Imperial College London and a cardiologist at the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust in London. He and his colleagues published their findings this week in the New England Journal of Medicine. The study received no drug industry funding.
Study participants were between the ages of 37 and 79, and all had stopped taking statins at some point between June 2016 and March 2019.
Each patient was given four bottles of statins and four bottles of placebos, each containing identical-looking tablets to be consumed in random order over eight months. Patients then took nothing for another four months.
In all, 49 patients completed the year-long trial, making note of symptoms throughout the study period. The result: 90% of symptoms linked to actual statins continued when taking placebos. Symptom intensity was also pegged almost as bad during placebo consumption as it was during statin consumption, though it dropped by half when taking no tablets at all.
Advertisement
"We found that patients felt quite well not taking tablets," said Howard, "but when they took statins they felt a lot worse. However, they also felt worse taking placebo. In fact, 90% as bad as they did on the statins."
The team said the finding is an example of the "nocebo effect," in which patients experience a negative side effect despite taking a sham treatment. But as a measure of how disruptive the side effect experience can be -- whether real or perceived -- the team noted that 24 of the 49 patients temporarily stopped taking any tablet for at least a month, with 71 stoppages in total. Of the 71 stoppages, 31 occurred while taking a placebo, and 40 were while taking a statin.
Still, Howard made clear that the study does not suggest that all statin side effects are imagined. "All medications cause some side effects, even if just rarely," he said.
But for those whose symptoms are largely imagined, what can be done? Howard said simply acknowledging the problem can help a lot.
Research shows that "if we sit down with our patients and explain the nocebo effect to them, we can get 50% of them back on to these drugs, and they are able to keep taking them," he said. The communication itself "made the difference," Howard added.
Advertisement
The issue of statin tolerance is a real concern, said Dr. Gregg Fonarow. He's interim chief of the division of cardiology and director of the Ahmanson-UCLA Cardiomyopathy Center at the University of California, Los Angeles.
"Millions of adult men and women who would benefit from statin therapy are not taking this very low-cost/high-value therapy out of concerns for potential side effects or intolerance," Fonarow said. "This is a very frequent concern that unfortunately contributes to cardiovascular events and strokes that could have been prevented."
But the latest finding suggests that it's possible to distinguish between those experiencing true side effects and those who aren't. And it can help "reassure patients regarding the safety and tolerability of statins," Fonarow added.
There's more on statins at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-11-20--Famous birthdays for Nov. 20: Joe Biden, Joel McHale

Nov. 20 ( UPI ) -- Those born on this date are under the sign of Scorpio .
-- Judge @ @ @ @ @ commissioner of baseball , in 1866 -- Musician/comedian Dick Smothers of the Smothers Brothers in @ @ @ @ @ -- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member Duane Allman in 1946 -- Rock and @ @ @ @ @ Joe Walsh in 1947 ( age 73 ) -- Goodluck Jonathan , former president of @ @ @ @ @ age 63 )

1/2
President-elect Joe Biden speaks on November 7 at the Chase Center in Wilmington, Del. Biden turns 78 on November 20. Photo by Andrew Harnik/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 20 (UPI) -- Those born on this date are under the sign of Scorpio. They include: Advertisement
-- Pope Pius VIII in 1761
-- Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis, first commissioner of baseball, in 1866
-- Astronomer Edwin Hubble in 1889
-- Author Nadine Gordimer in 1923
-- U.S. Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, D-N.Y., in 1925
-- Actor Kaye Ballard in 1925
-- Actor Estelle Parsons in 1927 (age 93)
File Photo by Laura Cavanaugh/UPI
-- Author Don DeLillo in 1936 (age 84)
-- Musician/comedian Dick Smothers of the Smothers Brothers in 1939 (age 81)
-- President-elect Joe Biden in 1942 (age 78)
-- Actor Veronica Hamel in 1943 (age 77)
-- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member Duane Allman in 1946
-- Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill I in 1946 (age 74)
-- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member Joe Walsh in 1947 (age 73)
-- Former national security adviser John Bolton in 1948 (age 72)
-- Actor/model Bo Derek in 1956 (age 64)
-- Goodluck Jonathan, former president of Nigeria, in 1957 (age 63)
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-- Actor Sean Young in 1959 (age 61)
-- Actor Ming-Na Wen in 1963 (age 57)
-- Actor Joel McHale in 1971 (age 49)
File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI
-- Country singer Dierks Bentley in 1975 (age 45)
-- U.S. Olympic gold medal gymnast Dominique Dawes in 1976 (age 44)
-- Rapper Future in 1983 (age 37)
-- Actor Jeremy Jordan in 1984 (age 36)
-- Actor Demetrius Shipp Jr. in 1988 (age 32)


upi--2020-11-20--Football, men's tennis, MLS playoffs pack weekend sports schedule

Nov. 20 ( UPI ) -- More than 50 college football and NFL games , the ATP men 's tennis season finale and the MLS Cup Playoffs fill up the weekend sports schedule , plus UFC bouts , European soccer and a golf tournament .
The coronavirus pandemic has resulted in 30 canceled or postponed college football games over the last two weeks .
Forty-two games are on the schedule from Friday through Saturday , featuring several matchups between ranked teams .
The full NFL schedule continues with Week 11 , highlighted by divisional matchups .
A dozen games are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ top-ranked teams in the country start Saturday 's college football schedule .
Indiana takes on Ohio State in the Big Ten at noon EST on Fox .
Clemson battles Florida State in an ACC game at noon EST on ABC .
Florida faces Vanderbilt in an SEC matchup at noon EST on ESPN .
Later on Saturday , Wisconsin battles Northwestern at 3:30 p.m. EST on ABC .
Alabama hosts Kentucky at 4 p.m. EST on the SEC Network .
Oklahoma State battles Oklahoma at 7:30 p.m. EST on ABC .
In the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Atlanta Falcons in an NFC South matchup at 1 p.m. EST Sunday on Fox .
The Tennessee Titans ( 6-3 ) and Baltimore Ravens ( 6-3 ) have a matchup with potential AFC playoff implications at 1 p.m. EST on Sunday on CBS .
Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers take on Philip Rivers and the Indianapolis Colts at 4:25 p.m. EST Sunday on Fox .
The Kansas City Chiefs and Las Vegas Raiders face off in the Sunday Night Football matchup at 8:20 p.m. EST Sunday on NBC .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two play-in games .
The New England Revolution take on the Montreal Impact in the first matchup at 6:30 p.m. EST Friday on FS1 .
Two first-year MLS teams -- Nashville SC and Inter Miami CF -- battle in the second play-in game at 9 p.m. EST Friday on ESPN2 .
The MLS Cup Playoffs continue with two games Saturday before three more games on Sunday .
The first round ends Tuesday before the Nov. 29 to Dec. 2 conference semifinals .
Four teams will then move on to play the respective conference @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 12 championship game .
First-round games will air on TUDN , FS1 and ESPN .
The Seattle Sounders won last year 's title and are the No .
2 seed in 2020 .
Sporting Kansas City and the Philadelphia Union are the top seeds in this year 's tournament .
Many of the world 's elite men 's tennis players will be in London for the ATP Finals .
The season-ending championships of the ATP features the Top 8 singles players and doubles teams in the ATP rankings .
The group stage continues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up against No .
7 Alexander Zverev at 9 a.m. EST on ESPN3 .
No .
8 Diego Schwartzman also takes on No .
4 Daniil Medvedev at 3 p.m. EST on Friday on ESPN3 .
Two ATP Finals semifinal matchups air Saturday .
The first match is at 9 a.m. EST on ESPN News and the second match is set for 3 p.m. EST on ESPN3 .
The ATP Finals championship will be at 1 p.m. EST on Sunday on ESPN2 .
ATP Finals group stage : Novak Djokovic vs. Alexander Zverev @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Finals group stage : Diego Schwartzman vs. Daniil Medvedev at 3 p.m. EST on ESPN3 The RSM Classic : From 1 to 4 p.m. EST on Golf Channel MLS Cup Playoffs play-in game : New England Revolution vs. Montreal Impact at 6:30 p.m. EST on FS1 MLS Cup Playoffs play-in game : Nashville SC vs. Inter Miami at 9 p.m. EST on ESPN2 ATP Finals : Semifinals at 9 a.m. EST on ESPN News Premier League : Newcastle United vs. Chelsea at 7:30 a.m. EST on Peacock Premium La Liga : Villarreal vs. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beIN Sports USA MLS Cup Playoffs : Orlando City vs. New York City FC at noon EST on TUDN , UniMas Premier League : Tottenham Hotspur vs. Manchester City at 12:30 p.m. EST on NBC Serie A : Juventus vs. Cagliari at 2:35 p.m. EST on ESPN+ La Liga : Atletico Madrid vs. Barcelona at 3 p.m. EST on beIN Sports USA MLS Cup Playoffs : Columbus Crew vs. New York Red Bulls at 3 p.m. EST on TUDN , UniMas Indiana at Ohio State at noon EST on Fox Clemson at Florida @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Vanderbilt at noon EST on ESPN Appalachian State at Coastal Carolina at noon EST on ESPN2 UCLA at Oregon at 12:30 p.m. EST on ESPN2 North Alabama at BYU at 3 p.m. EST on ESPN3 Cincinnati at UCF at 3:30 p.m. EST on ESPN Wisconsin at Northwestern at 3:30 p.m. EST on ABC Kentucky at Alabama at 4 p.m. EST on SEC Network Kansas State at Iowa State at 4 p.m. EST on Fox Tennessee at Auburn at 7 p.m. EST on ESPN Mississippi State at Georgia at 7:30 p.m. EST on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 7:30 p.m. EST on ABC Liberty at NC State at 7:30 p.m. EST on ESPN3 USC at Utah at 10:30 p.m. EST on ESPN The RSM Classic : From 1 to 4 p.m. EST on Golf Channel UEFA Nations League : Portugal vs. France at 2:45 p.m. EST on ESPN+ Katlyn Chookagian vs. Cynthia Calvillo after first fight Mike Perry vs. Tim Means after second fight Valentina Shevchenko vs. Jennifer Maia after third fight The RSM Classic : From 1 to 4 p.m. EST on Golf Channel The ATP Finals : Championship at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Washington at 1 p.m. EST on CBS Falcons at Saints at 1 p.m. EST on Fox Steelers at Jaguars at 1 p.m. EST on CBS Patriots at Texans at 1 p.m. EST on CBS Eagles at Browns at 1 p.m. EST on Fox Lions at Panthers at 1 p.m. EST on Fox Titans at Ravens at 1 p.m. EST on CBS Jets at Chargers at 4:05 p.m. EST on CBS Dolphins at Broncos at 4:05 p.m. EST on CBS Cowboys at Vikings at 4:25 p.m. EST on Fox Packers at Colts at 4:25 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at 8:20 p.m. EST on NBC Premier League : Liverpool vs. Leicester City at 2:15 p.m. EST on NBCSN MLS Cup Playoffs : Sporting Kansas City vs. San Jose Earthquakes at 4 p.m. EST on FS1 MLS Cup Playoffs : Minnesota United vs. Colorado Rapids at 7:30 p.m. EST on ESPN MLS Cup Playoffs : Portland Timbers vs. FC Dallas at 10 p.m. EST on ESPN

1/3
The Kansas City Chiefs take on the Las Vegas Raiders in one of the most-important divisional NFL matchups of Week 11 on Sunday in Paradise, Nev. File Photo by Kyle Rivas/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 20 (UPI) -- More than 50 college football and NFL games, the ATP men's tennis season finale and the MLS Cup Playoffs fill up the weekend sports schedule, plus UFC bouts, European soccer and a golf tournament. The coronavirus pandemic has resulted in 30 canceled or postponed college football games over the last two weeks. Forty-two games are on the schedule from Friday through Saturday, featuring several matchups between ranked teams. Advertisement
The full NFL schedule continues with Week 11, highlighted by divisional matchups. A dozen games are scheduled for Sunday.
Football matchups
Some of the top-ranked teams in the country start Saturday's college football schedule. Indiana takes on Ohio State in the Big Ten at noon EST on Fox. Clemson battles Florida State in an ACC game at noon EST on ABC.
Florida faces Vanderbilt in an SEC matchup at noon EST on ESPN.
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Later on Saturday, Wisconsin battles Northwestern at 3:30 p.m. EST on ABC. Alabama hosts Kentucky at 4 p.m. EST on the SEC Network. Oklahoma State battles Oklahoma at 7:30 p.m. EST on ABC.
In the NFL, the New Orleans Saints host the Atlanta Falcons in an NFC South matchup at 1 p.m. EST Sunday on Fox. The Tennessee Titans (6-3) and Baltimore Ravens (6-3) have a matchup with potential AFC playoff implications at 1 p.m. EST on Sunday on CBS.
Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers take on Philip Rivers and the Indianapolis Colts at 4:25 p.m. EST Sunday on Fox. The Kansas City Chiefs and Las Vegas Raiders face off in the Sunday Night Football matchup at 8:20 p.m. EST Sunday on NBC.
MLS Cup Playoffs
The 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs begin Friday with two play-in games. The New England Revolution take on the Montreal Impact in the first matchup at 6:30 p.m. EST Friday on FS1.
Two first-year MLS teams -- Nashville SC and Inter Miami CF -- battle in the second play-in game at 9 p.m. EST Friday on ESPN2.
The MLS Cup Playoffs continue with two games Saturday before three more games on Sunday. The first round ends Tuesday before the Nov. 29 to Dec. 2 conference semifinals. Four teams will then move on to play the respective conference finals on Dec. 6 before the Dec. 12 championship game.
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First-round games will air on TUDN, FS1 and ESPN.
The Seattle Sounders won last year's title and are the No. 2 seed in 2020. Sporting Kansas City and the Philadelphia Union are the top seeds in this year's tournament.
ATP FINALS
Many of the world's elite men's tennis players will be in London for the ATP Finals. The season-ending championships of the ATP features the Top 8 singles players and doubles teams in the ATP rankings.
The group stage continues Friday with No. 1 Novak Djokovic up against No. 7 Alexander Zverev at 9 a.m. EST on ESPN3. No. 8 Diego Schwartzman also takes on No. 4 Daniil Medvedev at 3 p.m. EST on Friday on ESPN3.
Two ATP Finals semifinal matchups air Saturday. The first match is at 9 a.m. EST on ESPN News and the second match is set for 3 p.m. EST on ESPN3.
The ATP Finals championship will be at 1 p.m. EST on Sunday on ESPN2.
Friday
Tennis
ATP Finals group stage: Novak Djokovic vs. Alexander Zverev at 9 a.m. EST on ESPN3
ATP Finals group stage: Diego Schwartzman vs. Daniil Medvedev at 3 p.m. EST on ESPN3
Golf
The RSM Classic: From 1 to 4 p.m. EST on Golf Channel
Advertisement
Soccer
MLS Cup Playoffs play-in game: New England Revolution vs. Montreal Impact at 6:30 p.m. EST on FS1
MLS Cup Playoffs play-in game: Nashville SC vs. Inter Miami at 9 p.m. EST on ESPN2
Saturday
Tennis
ATP Finals: Semifinals at 9 a.m. EST on ESPN News
ATP Finals: Semifinals at 3 p.m. EST on ESPN3
Soccer
Premier League: Newcastle United vs. Chelsea at 7:30 a.m. EST on Peacock Premium
La Liga: Villarreal vs. Real Madrid at 10:15 a.m. EST on beIN Sports USA
MLS Cup Playoffs: Orlando City vs. New York City FC at noon EST on TUDN, UniMas
Premier League: Tottenham Hotspur vs. Manchester City at 12:30 p.m. EST on NBC
Serie A: Juventus vs. Cagliari at 2:35 p.m. EST on ESPN+
La Liga: Atletico Madrid vs. Barcelona at 3 p.m. EST on beIN Sports USA
MLS Cup Playoffs: Columbus Crew vs. New York Red Bulls at 3 p.m. EST on TUDN, UniMas
College football
Indiana at Ohio State at noon EST on Fox
Clemson at Florida State at noon EST on ABC
Florida at Vanderbilt at noon EST on ESPN
Appalachian State at Coastal Carolina at noon EST on ESPN2
UCLA at Oregon at 12:30 p.m. EST on ESPN2
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North Alabama at BYU at 3 p.m. EST on ESPN3
Cincinnati at UCF at 3:30 p.m. EST on ESPN
Wisconsin at Northwestern at 3:30 p.m. EST on ABC
Kentucky at Alabama at 4 p.m. EST on SEC Network
Kansas State at Iowa State at 4 p.m. EST on Fox
Tennessee at Auburn at 7 p.m. EST on ESPN
Mississippi State at Georgia at 7:30 p.m. EST on SEC Network
Oklahoma State at Oklahoma at 7:30 p.m. EST on ABC
Liberty at NC State at 7:30 p.m. EST on ESPN3
USC at Utah at 10:30 p.m. EST on ESPN
Golf
The RSM Classic: From 1 to 4 p.m. EST on Golf Channel
UEFA Nations League: Portugal vs. France at 2:45 p.m. EST on ESPN+
UFC 255 on ESPN+
Mauricio Rua vs. Paul Craig at 10 p.m. EST
Katlyn Chookagian vs. Cynthia Calvillo after first fight
Mike Perry vs. Tim Means after second fight
Valentina Shevchenko vs. Jennifer Maia after third fight
Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Alex Perez after fourth fight
Sunday
Golf
The RSM Classic: From 1 to 4 p.m. EST on Golf Channel
Tennis
The ATP Finals: Championship at 1 p.m. EST on ESPN2
NFL
Bengals at Washington at 1 p.m. EST on CBS
Advertisement
Falcons at Saints at 1 p.m. EST on Fox
Steelers at Jaguars at 1 p.m. EST on CBS
Patriots at Texans at 1 p.m. EST on CBS
Eagles at Browns at 1 p.m. EST on Fox
Lions at Panthers at 1 p.m. EST on Fox
Titans at Ravens at 1 p.m. EST on CBS
Jets at Chargers at 4:05 p.m. EST on CBS
Dolphins at Broncos at 4:05 p.m. EST on CBS
Cowboys at Vikings at 4:25 p.m. EST on Fox
Packers at Colts at 4:25 p.m. EST on Fox
Chiefs at Raiders at 8:20 p.m. EST on NBC
Soccer
Premier League: Liverpool vs. Leicester City at 2:15 p.m. EST on NBCSN
MLS Cup Playoffs: Sporting Kansas City vs. San Jose Earthquakes at 4 p.m. EST on FS1
MLS Cup Playoffs: Minnesota United vs. Colorado Rapids at 7:30 p.m. EST on ESPN
MLS Cup Playoffs: Portland Timbers vs. FC Dallas at 10 p.m. EST on ESPN
This week in the National Football League


upi--2020-11-20--UPI News Quiz: spaceflight, MLB's glass ceiling, Dolly Parton

U.S. News // 8 hours ago
Search for victims of Maui wildfire ongoing as death toll climbs to 101
Aug. 15 (UPI) -- The death toll from the Maui wildfires has risen to 101, Hawaii Gov. Josh Green said Tuesday night, as he announced plans to reopen the Lahaina Bypass for several hours a day to "reunite the pieces of Maui."


upi--2020-11-20--Sacramento Kings' De'Aaron Fox signing 5-year, $163M max extension

Nov. 20 ( UPI ) -- Star point guard De'Aaron Fox has agreed to a five-year maximum extension with the Sacramento Kings .
League sources told ESPN and The Athletic on Friday that Fox 's multiyear extension is worth at least $ 163 million .
According to the outlets , the deal contains escalators that would allow him to reach the $ 195.6 million super max if he makes an All-NBA team and the league 's salary cap climbs above $ 112 million .
The 22-year-old Fox will receive a total of $ 170 million in the deal for being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 183 million for a second-team selection and $ 196 million for a first-team selection .
Fox , the No .
5 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft out of Kentucky , averaged a career-best 21.1 points to go with 6.8 assists and 3.8 rebounds per game this past season .
Fox is entering his fourth season with the Kings , who are searching for their first playoff berth since 2006 .
Sacramento posted a 31-41 record in the pandemic-shortened season last year .
Fox 's maximum extension is the first of @ @ @ @

Sacramento Kings guard De'Aaron Fox (L) averaged a career-best 21.1 points per game this past season. File Photo by Aaron Josefczyk/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 20 (UPI) -- Star point guard De'Aaron Fox has agreed to a five-year maximum extension with the Sacramento Kings. League sources told ESPN and The Athletic on Friday that Fox's multiyear extension is worth at least $163 million. According to the outlets, the deal contains escalators that would allow him to reach the $195.6 million super max if he makes an All-NBA team and the league's salary cap climbs above $112 million. Advertisement
The 22-year-old Fox will receive a total of $170 million in the deal for being named to the All-NBA Third Team, $183 million for a second-team selection and $196 million for a first-team selection.
Fox, the No. 5 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft out of Kentucky, averaged a career-best 21.1 points to go with 6.8 assists and 3.8 rebounds per game this past season.
Fox is entering his fourth season with the Kings, who are searching for their first playoff berth since 2006. Sacramento posted a 31-41 record in the pandemic-shortened season last year.
Fox's maximum extension is the first of the 2020 off-season.


upi--2020-11-20--Goran Dragic, Meyers Leonard agree to return to Miami Heat

Nov. 20 ( UPI ) -- All-Star guard Goran Dragic and veteran big man Meyers Leonard have agreed to re-sign with the Miami Heat for the 2020-21 season .
League sources told ESPN and The Athletic on Friday that Dragic 's deal is worth $ 37.4 million over two years .
The second year of the contract is a team option .
Later Friday , Dragic confirmed the agreement with a post on social media .
`` I 'm glad that I can announce that I 'm staying with my # HeatNationFamily , '' Dragic wrote on Twitter .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ! ''
Meanwhile , Leonard 's deal also is for two years and worth about $ 20 million , according to ESPN and the South Florida Sun Sentinel .
The second year of his agreement is a team option .
The 34-year-old Dragic will be entering his seventh season with the Heat .
He averaged 16.2 points per game while coming off the bench in last year 's regular season .
He cracked the starting lineup in the playoffs , but he tore his plantar fascia in Game 1 of the NBA Finals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Miami 's title hopes .
Leonard , the No .
11 overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft , averaged 6.1 points and 5.1 rebounds per game for the Heat this past season .

Miami Heat guard Goran Dragic (L) averaged 16.2 points per game while coming off the bench in last year's regular season. File Photo by Erik S. Lesser/EPA-EFE
Nov. 20 (UPI) -- All-Star guard Goran Dragic and veteran big man Meyers Leonard have agreed to re-sign with the Miami Heat for the 2020-21 season. League sources told ESPN and The Athletic on Friday that Dragic's deal is worth $37.4 million over two years. The second year of the contract is a team option. Advertisement
Later Friday, Dragic confirmed the agreement with a post on social media.
"I'm glad that I can announce that I'm staying with my #HeatNationFamily," Dragic wrote on Twitter. "Let's finish the job we started!"
Meanwhile, Leonard's deal also is for two years and worth about $20 million, according to ESPN and the South Florida Sun Sentinel. The second year of his agreement is a team option.
The 34-year-old Dragic will be entering his seventh season with the Heat. He averaged 16.2 points per game while coming off the bench in last year's regular season. He cracked the starting lineup in the playoffs, but he tore his plantar fascia in Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers to dampen Miami's title hopes.
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Leonard, the No. 11 overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, averaged 6.1 points and 5.1 rebounds per game for the Heat this past season.


upi--2020-11-20--Appeals court overturns local Florida bans on conversion therapy

Nov. 20 ( UPI ) -- A federal appeals court on Friday ruled against local conversion therapy bans in Florida , saying they violated First Amendment protections .
The 11th U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a lower court 's decision not to place preliminary injunctions against the ordinances in Palm Beach County and the city of Boca Raton , which is in Broward County .
The panel said that if laws ban therapists from attempting to change LGBTQ youths ' sexual orientation or gender identity , then jurisdictions could also ban therapists from providing support for the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in these ordinances can stand , then so can their inverse , '' said the majority opinion written by Judge Barbara Lagoa .
`` Local communities could prevent therapists from validating a client 's same-sex attractions if the city council deemed that message harmful .
And the same goes for gender transition -- counseling support a client 's gender identification could be banned . ''
The Palm Beach County and Boca Raton ordinances were challenged by therapists Robert Otto and Julie Hamilton , who said they were unconstitutional .
They were represented by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ organization that provides legal services .
`` This is a huge victory for counselors and their clients to choose the counsel of their choice free of political censorship from government ideologues , '' said Liberty Counsel founder and Chairman Mat Staver .
`` This case is the beginning of the end of similar unconstitutional counseling bans around the country . ''
Critics of conversion therapy describe it as dangerous and it has been widely discredited by doctors and mental health experts .
Twenty states and Washington , D.C. , have fully banned conversion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ territory have partially banned the practice , according to Family Equality , an LGBTQ advocacy organization .
A report last year in the New England Journal of Medicine said conversion therapy can trigger depression , post-traumatic stress disorder , and suicidal thoughts and attempts .
Lambda Legal , which provides legal support in LGBTQ cases , condemned the appeals court ruling , calling the practice `` nothing less than child abuse '' '' Youth are often subjected to these practices at the insistence of parents who do n't know or do n't believe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to fail : When these efforts predictably fail to produce the expected result , many LGBTQ children are kicked out of their homes , '' said Lambda Legal CEO Kevin Jennings .
`` Both judges joining today 's decision were appointed by President [ Donald ] Trump .
We fear that today 's decision may be the tip of the iceberg in terms of the harm that may come from a federal judiciary that has been packed for the last four years with dangerous ideologues .
The damage done by this misguided opinion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ danger . ''

Demonstrators protest for LGBTQ rights outside the Supreme Court on October 8, 2019. On Friday, a federal appeals court blocked local Florida bans on conversion therapy. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 20 (UPI) -- A federal appeals court on Friday ruled against local conversion therapy bans in Florida, saying they violated First Amendment protections. The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a lower court's decision not to place preliminary injunctions against the ordinances in Palm Beach County and the city of Boca Raton, which is in Broward County. Advertisement
The panel said that if laws ban therapists from attempting to change LGBTQ youths' sexual orientation or gender identity, then jurisdictions could also ban therapists from providing support for the same clients.
"If the speech restrictions in these ordinances can stand, then so can their inverse," said the majority opinion written by Judge Barbara Lagoa.
"Local communities could prevent therapists from validating a client's same-sex attractions if the city council deemed that message harmful. And the same goes for gender transition -- counseling support a client's gender identification could be banned."
The Palm Beach County and Boca Raton ordinances were challenged by therapists Robert Otto and Julie Hamilton, who said they were unconstitutional. They were represented by the Liberty Counsel, a religious liberty organization that provides legal services.
"This is a huge victory for counselors and their clients to choose the counsel of their choice free of political censorship from government ideologues," said Liberty Counsel founder and Chairman Mat Staver. "This case is the beginning of the end of similar unconstitutional counseling bans around the country."
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Critics of conversion therapy describe it as dangerous and it has been widely discredited by doctors and mental health experts.
Twenty states and Washington, D.C., have fully banned conversion therapy, and one state and one territory have partially banned the practice, according to Family Equality, an LGBTQ advocacy organization.
A report last year in the New England Journal of Medicine said conversion therapy can trigger depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and suicidal thoughts and attempts.
Lambda Legal, which provides legal support in LGBTQ cases, condemned the appeals court ruling, calling the practice "nothing less than child abuse"
"Youth are often subjected to these practices at the insistence of parents who don't know or don't believe that the efforts are harmful and doomed to fail: When these efforts predictably fail to produce the expected result, many LGBTQ children are kicked out of their homes," said Lambda Legal CEO Kevin Jennings.
"Both judges joining today's decision were appointed by President [Donald] Trump. We fear that today's decision may be the tip of the iceberg in terms of the harm that may come from a federal judiciary that has been packed for the last four years with dangerous ideologues. The damage done by this misguided opinion is incalculable and puts young people in danger."


upi--2020-11-20--Toronto Raptors to play home games in Tampa to begin 2020-21 season

Nov. 20 ( UPI ) -- The Toronto Raptors will begin the NBA season next month in Tampa , Fla. , because of travel restrictions implemented by the Canadian government stemming from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic .
`` Ultimately , the current public health situation facing Canadians , combined with the urgent need to determine where we will play means that we will begin our 2020-21 season in Tampa , Florida , '' Raptors president Masai Ujiri said in a statement Friday .
Toronto had been eyeing other sites to hold home games for multiple weeks , including Sunrise , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's Florida Panthers .
But with the start of the upcoming NBA season quickly approaching , the Raptors were forced to make a decision .
The Raptors -- the NBA 's only Canadian team -- will now play their home games at Amalie Arena , which is home to the Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning .
The NBA will release the first half of its 2020-21 schedule around Dec. 1 .
The second half of the schedule is expected to be revealed in January or February , and there is a chance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that point if coronavirus-related restrictions are loosened .
`` We 'll be away from our home and our fans for now , '' Ujiri wrote in his statement .
`` They say absence makes the heart grow fonder .
I 'm not sure that 's possible for us -- we love Toronto and Canada , and we know we have the best fans in the NBA .
For now , I 'll ask you to cheer for us from afar , and we 'll look forward to the day we are all together @ @ @ @ @ @ @ showed interest in serving as the Raptors ' temporary home for this season were Nashville , Tenn. , Newark , N.J. and Kansas City , Mo .

To begin the 2020-21 season, the Toronto Raptors will play their home games at Amalie Arena, which is home to the Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning. File Photo by Warren Toda/EPA-EFE
Nov. 20 (UPI) -- The Toronto Raptors will begin the NBA season next month in Tampa, Fla., because of travel restrictions implemented by the Canadian government stemming from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. "Ultimately, the current public health situation facing Canadians, combined with the urgent need to determine where we will play means that we will begin our 2020-21 season in Tampa, Florida," Raptors president Masai Ujiri said in a statement Friday. Advertisement
Toronto had been eyeing other sites to hold home games for multiple weeks, including Sunrise, Fla., the home of the NHL's Florida Panthers. But with the start of the upcoming NBA season quickly approaching, the Raptors were forced to make a decision.
The Raptors -- the NBA's only Canadian team -- will now play their home games at Amalie Arena, which is home to the Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning.
The NBA will release the first half of its 2020-21 schedule around Dec. 1. The second half of the schedule is expected to be revealed in January or February, and there is a chance the Raptors could return to Toronto at that point if coronavirus-related restrictions are loosened.
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"We'll be away from our home and our fans for now," Ujiri wrote in his statement. "They say absence makes the heart grow fonder. I'm not sure that's possible for us -- we love Toronto and Canada, and we know we have the best fans in the NBA. For now, I'll ask you to cheer for us from afar, and we'll look forward to the day we are all together again."
Other U.S. cities that showed interest in serving as the Raptors' temporary home for this season were Nashville, Tenn., Newark, N.J. and Kansas City, Mo.


upi--2020-11-20--Kenosha, Wis., shooting: Kyle Rittenhouse posts $2M bail, is released

Nov. 20 ( UPI ) -- Kyle Rittenhouse , the 17-year-old accused of fatally shooting two people and injuring a third during anti-racism protests in Wisconsin , posted $ 2 million bail and was released from jail Friday , authorities announced .
`` Kyle Rittenhouse 's bond was posted this afternoon at about 2 p.m. , which was set up through his attorney , '' Kenosha County Sheriff 's Sgt .
David Wright said in a statement .
`` He is no longer in custody at the Kenosha County Jail . ''
Wisconsin Circuit Court Commissioner set Rittenhouse 's bail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he posed a flight risk .
Rittenhouse 's defense attorney , Mike Richards , had asked for bail to be set at $ 750,000 , arguing his client had no prior criminal record and had surrendered himself to the authorities .
Rittenhouse , of Antioch , Ill. , was arrested in September and indicted as an adult on charges of being a fugitive from justice , first-degree intentional homicide and first-degree reckless homicide .
He 's accused of killing Joseph Rosenbaum , 36 , and Anthony Huber , 26 , and injuring Gaige @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rifle near the Civic Center Park where demonstrators had congregated to protest the police shooting of Jacob Blake .
Graphic video of the shooting captured on a cellphone shows Rittenhouse running down the street after having allegedly shot Rosenbaum as people ran after him .
While fleeing , Rittenhouse falls , at which point Huber attempts to yank the rifle from the teenager who shoots him .
Huber takes a few steps before collapsing to the street .
Rittenhouse 's lawyer said his client shot the three protesters in self-defense .

Downtown Kenosha, Wis., has seen residents make art out of boarded up buildings on August 31. On Friday, Kyle Rittenhouse, accused of shooting Kenosha protesters in August, posted bail and was released from prison. File Photo by Alex Wroblewski/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 20 (UPI) -- Kyle Rittenhouse, the 17-year-old accused of fatally shooting two people and injuring a third during anti-racism protests in Wisconsin, posted $2 million bail and was released from jail Friday, authorities announced. "Kyle Rittenhouse's bond was posted this afternoon at about 2 p.m., which was set up through his attorney," Kenosha County Sheriff's Sgt. David Wright said in a statement. "He is no longer in custody at the Kenosha County Jail." Advertisement
Wisconsin Circuit Court Commissioner set Rittenhouse's bail in a Nov. 3 hearing, saying he posed a flight risk.
Rittenhouse's defense attorney, Mike Richards, had asked for bail to be set at $750,000, arguing his client had no prior criminal record and had surrendered himself to the authorities.
Rittenhouse, of Antioch, Ill., was arrested in September and indicted as an adult on charges of being a fugitive from justice, first-degree intentional homicide and first-degree reckless homicide. He's accused of killing Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, and Anthony Huber, 26, and injuring Gaige Grosskreutz, 26, with an AR-15-style rifle near the Civic Center Park where demonstrators had congregated to protest the police shooting of Jacob Blake.
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Graphic video of the shooting captured on a cellphone shows Rittenhouse running down the street after having allegedly shot Rosenbaum as people ran after him. While fleeing, Rittenhouse falls, at which point Huber attempts to yank the rifle from the teenager who shoots him. Huber takes a few steps before collapsing to the street.
Rittenhouse's lawyer said his client shot the three protesters in self-defense.


upi--2020-11-20--Sentinel-6 satellite to help NASA track climate change's effects on Earth's oceans

Nov. 20 ( UPI ) -- While NASA has been using satellites to measure the height of the ocean for the last 28 years , the Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich satellite is slated to offer greater precision than ever before .
Sentinel-6 , jointly developed by NASA , the European Space Agency , the European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites and NOAA , is set to launch Saturday at 12:17p.m .
EST from Space Launch Complex 4 East at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California .
The satellite will use a trio of instruments to calculate its position and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the satellite follows its polar orbit .
`` It 's going to be a new star in the sky , giving us the best possible measurements of sea level rise , ocean waves and wind , '' Craig Donlon , Sentinel-6 mission scientist with ESA , said during a press conference on Friday .
To measure the height of sea surface , Sentinel-6 will use its state-of-the-art Poseidon-4 radar altimeter to bounce a radar pulse off the top of the ocean and measure the time it takes for the pulse to return to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the atmosphere can influence the speed of the radar pulse , a second instrument , the Advanced Microwave Radiometer for Climate , will measure water vapor , allowing the altimeter to properly calibrate its measurements .
In addition to measuring the height of the ocean surface , Sentinel-6 's altimeter will be able to calculate the angle at which radar pulses bounce off the ocean surface , which will help scientists monitor the height of ocean waves .
The instrument will also be able to measure the roughness of the ocean surface , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tabs on ocean winds .
Sentinel-6 will follow the same orbit as its predecessor , as well its successor , Sentinel-6B , scheduled for launch in 2025 .
The sibling satellites will provide continuity to the effort to monitor changes to Earth 's sea surface topography .
`` Sea level rise is n't going to go away any time soon , so we have to keep measuring it , and the longer the record , the better , '' said Josh Willis , Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich project scientist and researcher at NASA 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and NOAA will use data from a variety of other satellites and surface-level instruments to provide context for the data collected by Sentinel-6 .
`` It 's when we combine altimetry observations with observations from our gravity-measuring missions and so forth that we can see , not only that sea levels are rising , but also how much of that change is coming from melting ice sheets and glaciers and how much is coming from thermal expansion of the oceans , '' said Karen St. Germain , director of the Earth Science Division @ @ @ @ @ @ @ often focus on changes in air temperature , the majority of the sun 's energy is absorbed by the ocean .
That energy is transferred into Earth 's atmosphere only later .
`` Global warming is really ocean warming , '' Willis said .
Warming is n't happening uniformly everywhere , and because the ocean expands as it warms , researchers will be able to use Sentinel-6 observations to more precisely monitor where the ocean is warming fastest .
`` Because 70 percent of earth 's surface is covered by the ocean , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the planet change before our very eyes , '' Willis said .
In addition to helping scientists keep long-term records of sea-level rise , Sentinel-6 data will also help scientists more accurately model and predict weather patterns .
Its ability to detect areas of taller , warmer water will be particular useful to scientists working to predict the paths and intensities of hurricanes , as well as to research studying the influence of El Nino on weather patterns around the world .
Another instrument , the Global Navigation Satellite System-Radio Occultation , or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meteorologists and climate scientists by intercepting the radio signals of communication satellites appearing and disappearing over Earth 's horizon .
By measuring slight changes in the radio signals as they bend around the curvature of the planet , GNSS-RO will be able to extract information about temperature and humidity at different altitudes .
Sentinel-6 will carry more than just instruments .
As it orbits the Earth more than 800 miles above its surface , the satellite will carry the name and legacy of Michael Freilich , the former director of NASA 's Earth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year .
Freilich was instrumental in advancing efforts to monitor Earth 's oceans from space .
`` Mike was a leader in the field and a friend and a mentor to many of us in the earth sciences division , '' St. Germain said .

Saturday morning NASA plans to launch the Sentinel-6 satellite, which is expected to help scientists better measure sea levels, among other weather and climate patterns. File Photo by NOAA/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 20 (UPI) -- While NASA has been using satellites to measure the height of the ocean for the last 28 years, the Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich satellite is slated to offer greater precision than ever before. Sentinel-6, jointly developed by NASA, the European Space Agency, the European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites and NOAA, is set to launch Saturday at 12:17p.m. EST from Space Launch Complex 4 East at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. Advertisement
The satellite will use a trio of instruments to calculate its position and distance above the ocean's surface as the satellite follows its polar orbit.
"It's going to be a new star in the sky, giving us the best possible measurements of sea level rise, ocean waves and wind," Craig Donlon, Sentinel-6 mission scientist with ESA, said during a press conference on Friday.
To measure the height of sea surface, Sentinel-6 will use its state-of-the-art Poseidon-4 radar altimeter to bounce a radar pulse off the top of the ocean and measure the time it takes for the pulse to return to the satellite.
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Because water vapor in the atmosphere can influence the speed of the radar pulse, a second instrument, the Advanced Microwave Radiometer for Climate, will measure water vapor, allowing the altimeter to properly calibrate its measurements.
In addition to measuring the height of the ocean surface, Sentinel-6's altimeter will be able to calculate the angle at which radar pulses bounce off the ocean surface, which will help scientists monitor the height of ocean waves.
The instrument will also be able to measure the roughness of the ocean surface, data that will allow researchers to keep tabs on ocean winds.
Sentinel-6 will follow the same orbit as its predecessor, as well its successor, Sentinel-6B, scheduled for launch in 2025. The sibling satellites will provide continuity to the effort to monitor changes to Earth's sea surface topography.
"Sea level rise isn't going to go away any time soon, so we have to keep measuring it, and the longer the record, the better," said Josh Willis, Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich project scientist and researcher at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Scientists at NASA and NOAA will use data from a variety of other satellites and surface-level instruments to provide context for the data collected by Sentinel-6.
Advertisement
"It's when we combine altimetry observations with observations from our gravity-measuring missions and so forth that we can see, not only that sea levels are rising, but also how much of that change is coming from melting ice sheets and glaciers and how much is coming from thermal expansion of the oceans," said Karen St. Germain, director of the Earth Science Division at NASA.
Though global warming reports often focus on changes in air temperature, the majority of the sun's energy is absorbed by the ocean. That energy is transferred into Earth's atmosphere only later.
"Global warming is really ocean warming," Willis said.
Warming isn't happening uniformly everywhere, and because the ocean expands as it warms, researchers will be able to use Sentinel-6 observations to more precisely monitor where the ocean is warming fastest.
"Because 70 percent of earth's surface is covered by the ocean, we're literally watching the shape of the planet change before our very eyes," Willis said.
In addition to helping scientists keep long-term records of sea-level rise, Sentinel-6 data will also help scientists more accurately model and predict weather patterns.
Its ability to detect areas of taller, warmer water will be particular useful to scientists working to predict the paths and intensities of hurricanes, as well as to research studying the influence of El Nino on weather patterns around the world.
Advertisement
Another instrument, the Global Navigation Satellite System-Radio Occultation, or GNSS-RO, will aid the work of meteorologists and climate scientists by intercepting the radio signals of communication satellites appearing and disappearing over Earth's horizon.
By measuring slight changes in the radio signals as they bend around the curvature of the planet, GNSS-RO will be able to extract information about temperature and humidity at different altitudes.
Sentinel-6 will carry more than just instruments.
As it orbits the Earth more than 800 miles above its surface, the satellite will carry the name and legacy of Michael Freilich, the former director of NASA's Earth Science Division who passed away earlier this year.
Freilich was instrumental in advancing efforts to monitor Earth's oceans from space.
"Mike was a leader in the field and a friend and a mentor to many of us in the earth sciences division," St. Germain said.


upi--2020-11-20--Georgia certifies election results, giving President-elect Joe Biden 16 electoral votes

A poll worker helps a resident with a ballot at the Mountain Park Activity Center in Stone Mountain, Ga., on October 23. Georgia's secretary of state certified the statewide results of the election Friday after a manual recount. Photo by Tami Chappell/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 20 (UPI) -- Georgia certified the statewide results of its election Friday, handing President-elect Joe Biden a win in the state where Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said the "numbers don't lie." The certification came after the state completed a manual recount of about 5 million votes. The audit showed Biden had close to 12,300 more votes than President Donald Trump, giving him the state's 16 key electoral votes. Advertisement
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp must now sign off on the election results by 5 p.m. Saturday.
During a news conference Friday, Raffensberger hit out at Trump's repeated accusations, without evidence, of fraud in the Georgia election. He said he supports the president politically, but it's not up to him to change the outcome of the race.
"Working as an engineer throughout my life, I live by that numbers don't lie," he said. "As secretary of state, I believe that the numbers that we have presented today are correct.
"The numbers reflect the verdict of the people, not a decision by the secretary of state's office or our courts, or of either campaigns."
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The Trump campaign sought to halt Georgia's certification process over what they said was improper procedures by elections officials, but never presented anything to support the claim.
District Judge Steven Grimberg on Thursday threw out the case, saying he found no evidence of irregularities.
"It harms the public interest in countless ways, particularly in the environment in which this election occurred. To halt the certification at literally the 11th hour would breed confusion and significant disenfranchisement," Grimberg said.
Biden's projected total is 306 electoral votes to Trump's 232, well beyond the 270 needed to win the presidency. The president has yet to concede defeat.
Biden is the first Democratic presidential candidate to carry the state of Georgia since Bill Clinton in 1992.
U.S. Election 2020


upi--2020-11-20--Washington State-Stanford football game called off due to COVID-19 issues

Nov. 20 ( UPI ) -- The Washington State-Stanford game scheduled for Saturday has been canceled because of COVID-19 issues @ @ @ @ @ program , the Pac-12 announced Friday .
`` This decision was made under the Pac-12 @ @ @ @ @ due to Washington State not having the minimum number of scholarship players available for the @ @ @ @ @ a number of positive football student-athlete COVID-19 cases and resulting isolation of additional football student-athletes @ @ @ @ @ '' the conference said in a statement .
The Cougars fell below the minimum threshold @ @ @ @ @ testing Friday morning , according to ESPN .
Among those who tested positive is quarterback @ @ @ @ @ State director of athletics Pat Chun said in a statement that everyone in the program @ @ @ @ @ only our student-athletes , coaches and staff , but those within the Stanford program who @ @ @ @ @ for this weekend . ''
The cancellation will result in a no contest .
It @ @ @ @ @ the Pac-12 this week , after the Arizona State-Colorado game was scrapped Sunday .

The cancellation of the Washington State-Stanford game is the second inside the Pac-12 this week, after the Arizona State-Colorado game was scrapped Sunday. File Photo by Jon SooHoo/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 20 (UPI) -- The Washington State-Stanford game scheduled for Saturday has been canceled because of COVID-19 issues within the Cougars' football program, the Pac-12 announced Friday. "This decision was made under the Pac-12's football game cancellation policy due to Washington State not having the minimum number of scholarship players available for the game as a result of a number of positive football student-athlete COVID-19 cases and resulting isolation of additional football student-athletes under contact tracing protocols," the conference said in a statement. Advertisement
The Cougars fell below the minimum threshold of 53 scholarship players after testing Friday morning, according to ESPN. Among those who tested positive is quarterback Jayden de Laura.
Washington State director of athletics Pat Chun said in a statement that everyone in the program is "saddened for not only our student-athletes, coaches and staff, but those within the Stanford program who have worked so hard preparing for this weekend."
The cancellation will result in a no contest. It is the second cancellation inside the Pac-12 this week, after the Arizona State-Colorado game was scrapped Sunday.


upi--2020-11-20--Shooting at Wisconsin mall injures 8; suspect 'at large'

Nov. 20 ( UPI ) -- At least eight people were injured Friday in a shooting at a mall in @ @ @ @ @ a perpetrator was `` at large . ''
Shooting broke out near the Macy 's @ @ @ @ @ in Wauwatosa around 2:50 p.m. , sending people fleeing and into hiding .
Wauwatosa police @ @ @ @ @ adults and one teenager were injured in the shooting .
He said all were alive @ @ @ @ @ , but that the extent of their injuries was unknown .
Mayor Dennis McBride told @ @ @ @ @ `` at large . ''
Weber described the suspect as a White male in his @ @ @ @ @ Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that the injured were transported to Froedtert Hospital , where police @ @ @ @ @ FBI was assisting local law enforcement with their investigation .
`` Police are actively investigating @ @ @ @ @ , '' the Wauwatosa Police Department said on Twitter .
`` The mall is currently @ @ @ @ @ routes to get through the area . ''

Nov. 20 (UPI) -- At least eight people were injured Friday in a shooting at a mall in Wisconsin, where police said a perpetrator was "at large."
Shooting broke out near the Macy's department store at Mayfair mall in Wauwatosa around 2:50 p.m., sending people fleeing and into hiding.
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Wauwatosa police Chief Barry Weber said seven adults and one teenager were injured in the shooting. He said all were alive when transported to the hospital, but that the extent of their injuries was unknown.
Mayor Dennis McBride told ABC News the suspect was "at large." Weber described the suspect as a White male in his 20s or 30s.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that the injured were transported to Froedtert Hospital, where police were stationed outside. The FBI was assisting local law enforcement with their investigation.
"Police are actively investigating an incident at Mayfair Mall," the Wauwatosa Police Department said on Twitter. "The mall is currently closed. Please use alternate routes to get through the area."


upi--2020-11-20--Donald Trump Jr. tests positive for COVID-19

Nov. 20 ( UPI ) -- Donald Trump Jr. , President Donald Trump 's oldest son , has tested positive for COVID-19 , his spokesman said Friday .
Bloomberg was the first to report the diagnosis .
The younger Trump is one of several people in Donald Trump 's inner circle -- including the president himself -- who has caught the novel coronavirus .
`` Don tested positive at the start of the week and has been quarantining out at his cabin since the result , '' Donald Trump Jr. 's spokesman said in a statement to CNN .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and is following all medically recommended COVID-19 guidelines . ''
Earlier Friday , Florida Sen. Rick Scott said he also tested positive for COVID-19 and is in quarantine at his home in the southwestern part of the state .
Scott said he 's been self-isolating since last weekend after learning he 'd come in contact with a person who tested positive .
Initial tests for Scott after the discovery were negative .
`` After several negative tests , I learned I was positive for COVID-19 , '' Scott tweeted .
`` I 'm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I 'll be working from home until it 's safe for me to return to [ Washington , D.C. ] '' I remind everyone to be careful and do the right things to protect yourselves and others . ''
Scott , who is quarantining at his Naples home , is the latest of many Republican politicians to test positive for the coronavirus disease since the summer .
Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley also tested positive this week .
Some of the other GOP leaders who have picked up the virus include President Donald @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their son Barron Trump , White House chief of staff Mark Meadows , party Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel , White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany , aide Hope Hicks , campaign manager Bill Stepien , former adviser Kellyanne Conway , and Sens .
Mike Lee , Ron Johnson and Thom Tillis .
After revealing his test , Scott asked Americans to take proper precautions to limit the spread .
`` Wear a mask .
Socially distance .
Quarantine if you come in contact with someone positive like I did , '' Scott tweeted .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ but we all must be responsible .
`` I want to thank all the incredible healthcare workers who are working around the clock to care for patients . ''
Scott was governor of Florida between 2011 and 2019 .
Andrew Giuliani , son of Trump 's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani , also said Friday he has tested positive .
The younger Giuliani has served as a special assistant to Trump .
`` I am experiencing mild symptoms , and am following all appropriate protocols , including being in quarantine and conducting contact tracing @ @ @ @ @

1/2
Donald Trump Jr. pre-records his address to the Republican National Convention at the Mellon Auditorium on August 24 in Washington, D.C. He tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this week and has been isolating at his cabin, his spokesman said. File Photo by Chip Somodevilla/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 20 (UPI) -- Donald Trump Jr., President Donald Trump's oldest son, has tested positive for COVID-19, his spokesman said Friday. Bloomberg was the first to report the diagnosis. Advertisement
The younger Trump is one of several people in Donald Trump's inner circle -- including the president himself -- who has caught the novel coronavirus.
"Don tested positive at the start of the week and has been quarantining out at his cabin since the result," Donald Trump Jr.'s spokesman said in a statement to CNN. "He's been completely asymptomatic so far and is following all medically recommended COVID-19 guidelines."
Earlier Friday, Florida Sen. Rick Scott said he also tested positive for COVID-19 and is in quarantine at his home in the southwestern part of the state.
Scott said he's been self-isolating since last weekend after learning he'd come in contact with a person who tested positive. Initial tests for Scott after the discovery were negative.
"After several negative tests, I learned I was positive for COVID-19," Scott tweeted. "I'm feeling good and experiencing very mild symptoms. I'll be working from home until it's safe for me to return to [Washington, D.C.]
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"I remind everyone to be careful and do the right things to protect yourselves and others."
Scott, who is quarantining at his Naples home, is the latest of many Republican politicians to test positive for the coronavirus disease since the summer. Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley also tested positive this week.
Some of the other GOP leaders who have picked up the virus include President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump, their son Barron Trump, White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, party Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany, aide Hope Hicks, campaign manager Bill Stepien, former adviser Kellyanne Conway, and Sens. Mike Lee, Ron Johnson and Thom Tillis.
After revealing his test, Scott asked Americans to take proper precautions to limit the spread.
"Wear a mask. Socially distance. Quarantine if you come in contact with someone positive like I did," Scott tweeted. "We will beat this together, but we all must be responsible.
"I want to thank all the incredible healthcare workers who are working around the clock to care for patients."
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Scott was governor of Florida between 2011 and 2019.
Andrew Giuliani, son of Trump's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani, also said Friday he has tested positive.
The younger Giuliani has served as a special assistant to Trump.
"I am experiencing mild symptoms, and am following all appropriate protocols, including being in quarantine and conducting contact tracing," he tweeted.


upi--2020-11-20--Joe Biden promises to fight for transgender rights on day of remembrance

Nov. 20 ( UPI ) -- President-elect Joe Biden promised to end violence and discrimination against transgender and gender-non-confirming people in a statement recognizing Transgender Day of Remembrance on Friday .
`` On Transgender Day of Remembrance , we honor their lives -- and recommit to the work that remains to ensure that every transgender and gender-non-conforming person in America has the opportunity to live authentically , earn a living wage , and be treated with dignity and respect in their communities and workplaces , '' a statement by Biden said .
`` As part of our remembrance , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violence and discrimination against transgender and gender-nonconforming Americans and never repeat it . ''
This year marks the 21st annual TDoR , founded by transgender activist Gwendolyn Smith to recognize the death of Rita Hester .
It honors the memory of those killed in anti-transgender violence .
At least 37 transgender and gender-non-conforming people have died by violence this year , most of whom were Black or Latinx , according to the Human Rights Campaign .
The organization said it 's the highest annual number at this point in the year since it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` These victims were killed by acquaintances , partners or strangers , some of whom have been arrested and charged , while others have yet to be identified , '' the HRC said .
`` Some of these cases involve clear anti-transgender bias .
In others , the victim 's transgender status may have put them at risk in other ways , such as forcing them into unemployment , poverty , homelessness and/or survival sex work . ''
Biden said that starting on Inauguration Day , he plans to fight for transgender rights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ promised to reverse President Donald Trump 's executive order banning transgender people from serving in the military .

At least 37 transgender and gender-non-conforming people have died this year. File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 20 (UPI) -- President-elect Joe Biden promised to end violence and discrimination against transgender and gender-non-confirming people in a statement recognizing Transgender Day of Remembrance on Friday. "On Transgender Day of Remembrance, we honor their lives -- and recommit to the work that remains to ensure that every transgender and gender-non-conforming person in America has the opportunity to live authentically, earn a living wage, and be treated with dignity and respect in their communities and workplaces," a statement by Biden said. Advertisement
"As part of our remembrance, we must work to end the epidemic of violence and discrimination against transgender and gender-nonconforming Americans and never repeat it."
This year marks the 21st annual TDoR, founded by transgender activist Gwendolyn Smith to recognize the death of Rita Hester. It honors the memory of those killed in anti-transgender violence.
At least 37 transgender and gender-non-conforming people have died by violence this year, most of whom were Black or Latinx, according to the Human Rights Campaign. The organization said it's the highest annual number at this point in the year since it began tracking the deaths in 2013.
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"These victims were killed by acquaintances, partners or strangers, some of whom have been arrested and charged, while others have yet to be identified," the HRC said. "Some of these cases involve clear anti-transgender bias. In others, the victim's transgender status may have put them at risk in other ways, such as forcing them into unemployment, poverty, homelessness and/or survival sex work."
Biden said that starting on Inauguration Day, he plans to fight for transgender rights. In an October town hall he promised to reverse President Donald Trump's executive order banning transgender people from serving in the military.
"Transgender rights are human rights," Biden said Friday.


upi--2020-11-20--MMR vaccine may protect against severe illness from COVID-19, study finds

Nov. 20 ( UPI ) -- The measles , mumps and rubella vaccine appears to offer at least some protection against COVID-19 , possibly preventing severe illness from the disease , a study published Friday by the online journal mBio found .
Among 41 people born in the United States who received the shot -- known as the MMR vaccine -- eight had immunity against the new coronavirus or had no symptoms after becoming infected , the researchers said .
This apparent immunity against severe COVID-19 may have been because of their high levels of antibodies -- or immune cells @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mumps , they said .
Seventeen people who received the MMR vaccine but had lower mumps antibody levels developed only mild COVID-19 symptoms , while those with the fewest mumps antibodies after vaccination suffered moderate illness or needed to be hospitalized for treatment .
`` This adds to other associations demonstrating that the MMR vaccine may be protective against COVID-19 , '' study co-author Dr. Jeffrey E. Gold said in a statement .
`` It also may explain why children have a much lower COVID-19 case rate than adults , as well as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Gold , who is president of Watkinsville , Georgia-based World Organization , which led the research .
More than 95 % of all children in the United States receive their first MMR vaccination at 12 to 15 months old and a second shot between the ages of 4 and 6 years , according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , which strongly recommends the shot .
Although more than 250,000 Americans have died from COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic , fewer than 100 of these deaths have involved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the agency estimates .
The mBio study published Friday is not the first to find potential benefits for the MMR vaccine against the new coronavirus .
A study published in September by the journal Allergy found that 36 of 255 people who received the MMR vaccine developed COVID-19 , and all had mild forms of the disease .
For this study , Gold and his colleagues monitored 50 people who have received the MMR vaccine and were tested for COVID-19 , and compared their rate of new coronavirus infection to 30 people who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ study participants who had the lowest mumps antibody levels after MMR vaccination required hospitalization and supplemental oxygen to treat their COVID-19 .
Twenty-eight study participants who had higher mumps antibody levels developed `` moderate '' or `` mild '' COVID-19 , and eight with the highest antibody levels were found to be `` functionally immune , '' or have completely asymptomatic COVID-19 .
`` The ... inverse correlation between mumps [ antibody levels ] and COVID-19 indicates that there is a relationship involved that warrants further investigation , '' study co-author David J.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ If [ the MMR vaccine ] has the ultimate benefit of preventing infection from COVID-19 , preventing the spread of COVID-19 , reducing the severity of it , or a combination of any or all of those , it is a very high reward low risk ratio , '' said Hurley , a professor and molecular microbiologist at the University of Georgia .

Nov. 20 (UPI) -- The measles, mumps and rubella vaccine appears to offer at least some protection against COVID-19, possibly preventing severe illness from the disease, a study published Friday by the online journal mBio found.
Among 41 people born in the United States who received the shot -- known as the MMR vaccine -- eight had immunity against the new coronavirus or had no symptoms after becoming infected, the researchers said.
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This apparent immunity against severe COVID-19 may have been because of their high levels of antibodies -- or immune cells that fight off infection -- against the mumps, they said.
Seventeen people who received the MMR vaccine but had lower mumps antibody levels developed only mild COVID-19 symptoms, while those with the fewest mumps antibodies after vaccination suffered moderate illness or needed to be hospitalized for treatment.
"This adds to other associations demonstrating that the MMR vaccine may be protective against COVID-19," study co-author Dr. Jeffrey E. Gold said in a statement.
"It also may explain why children have a much lower COVID-19 case rate than adults, as well as a much lower death rate," said Gold, who is president of Watkinsville, Georgia-based World Organization, which led the research.
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More than 95% of all children in the United States receive their first MMR vaccination at 12 to 15 months old and a second shot between the ages of 4 and 6 years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which strongly recommends the shot.
Although more than 250,000 Americans have died from COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic, fewer than 100 of these deaths have involved children aged 14 years and younger, the agency estimates.
The mBio study published Friday is not the first to find potential benefits for the MMR vaccine against the new coronavirus.
A study published in September by the journal Allergy found that 36 of 255 people who received the MMR vaccine developed COVID-19, and all had mild forms of the disease.
For this study, Gold and his colleagues monitored 50 people who have received the MMR vaccine and were tested for COVID-19, and compared their rate of new coronavirus infection to 30 people who had not had the shot.
Five study participants who had the lowest mumps antibody levels after MMR vaccination required hospitalization and supplemental oxygen to treat their COVID-19.
Twenty-eight study participants who had higher mumps antibody levels developed "moderate" or "mild" COVID-19, and eight with the highest antibody levels were found to be "functionally immune," or have completely asymptomatic COVID-19.
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"The ... inverse correlation between mumps [antibody levels] and COVID-19 indicates that there is a relationship involved that warrants further investigation," study co-author David J. Hurley said in a statement.
"If [the MMR vaccine] has the ultimate benefit of preventing infection from COVID-19, preventing the spread of COVID-19, reducing the severity of it, or a combination of any or all of those, it is a very high reward low risk ratio," said Hurley, a professor and molecular microbiologist at the University of Georgia.


upi--2020-11-20--Man wins $100,000 by buying 20 identical lottery tickets for one drawing

Nov. 20 ( UPI ) -- A man won a $ 100,000 prize from a Virginia Lottery drawing with $ @ @ @ @ @ 20 identical tickets bearing the numbers that previously won him a much-smaller jackpot .
James @ @ @ @ @ , N.C. , told Virginia Lottery officials he decided to buy 20 Pick 4 tickets @ @ @ @ @ when he visited Love 's Travel Stop in Skippers , Va. Swimpson said he knew @ @ @ @ @ a few years ago the same combination earned him a $ 5,000 jackpot .
His @ @ @ @ @ drawing earned him a grand total of $ 100,000 -- 20 $ 5,000 prizes .
@ @ @ @ @ use his winnings to pay off bills .

James Swimpson, of Elizabeth City, N.C., bought 20 tickets with the same number combination for the same Virginia Lottery Pick 4 drawing and won a total $100,000. Photo courtesy of the Virginia Lottery
Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe Nov. 20 (UPI) -- A man won a $100,000 prize from a Virginia Lottery drawing with $5,000 prize tickets by buying 20 identical tickets bearing the numbers that previously won him a much-smaller jackpot. James Swimpson, of Elizabeth City, N.C., told Virginia Lottery officials he decided to buy 20 Pick 4 tickets bearing the number combination 1-4-4-1 when he visited Love's Travel Stop in Skippers, Va. Advertisement
Swimpson said he knew the numbers were lucky because a few years ago the same combination earned him a $5,000 jackpot.
His purchase for the Nov. 2 drawing earned him a grand total of $100,000 -- 20 $5,000 prizes.
Swimpson said he plans to use his winnings to pay off bills.


upi--2020-11-20--8mm film returned to Minnesota library 40 years overdue

Nov. 20 ( UPI ) -- Employees at a Minnesota library found an unusual item in a return bin -- an 8mm film that was 40 years overdue .
Dan Buckanaga , an employee at the Duluth Public Library , said he was emptying a return bin when he spotted what he initially thought was a CD audiobook , but a closer examination revealed to be an 8mm movie on a reel .
`` I 'd never seen one before , '' Buckanaga told the Duluth News Tribune .
The film reel , a copy of classic silent film A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by a Post-it note reading : `` Sorry , checked this out when I was 14 and we moved .
It is 40 years overdue but better late than never . ''
Randall Brody , 54 , came forward as the man who returned the film .
He said he found it in a box in his garage earlier this year and remembered he and his brother had checked it out of the library Sept. 2 , 1980 , shortly before their family moved to North Dakota .
`` At first , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it , thinking they do n't even want it back .
...
It might have some value , maybe for a collector , '' Brody said .
Brody offered to pay a late fee to the library , but Byron Johnson said the facility did away with overdue fines about a year and a half ago .
Johnson said the library no longer as the means to test whether the film is still watchable , as the old projection room was long ago transformed into a set of bathrooms .
He said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in his personal `` museum '' on his desk .

Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe
Nov. 20 (UPI) -- Employees at a Minnesota library found an unusual item in a return bin -- an 8mm film that was 40 years overdue.
Dan Buckanaga, an employee at the Duluth Public Library, said he was emptying a return bin when he spotted what he initially thought was a CD audiobook, but a closer examination revealed to be an 8mm movie on a reel.
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"I'd never seen one before," Buckanaga told the Duluth News Tribune.
The film reel, a copy of classic silent film A Trip to the Moon, was accompanied by a Post-it note reading: "Sorry, checked this out when I was 14 and we moved. It is 40 years overdue but better late than never."
Randall Brody, 54, came forward as the man who returned the film. He said he found it in a box in his garage earlier this year and remembered he and his brother had checked it out of the library Sept. 2, 1980, shortly before their family moved to North Dakota.
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"At first, I didn't know what to do with it, thinking they don't even want it back. ... It might have some value, maybe for a collector," Brody said.
Brody offered to pay a late fee to the library, but Byron Johnson said the facility did away with overdue fines about a year and a half ago.
Johnson said the library no longer as the means to test whether the film is still watchable, as the old projection room was long ago transformed into a set of bathrooms. He said the film will likely find a new home in his personal "museum" on his desk.


upi--2020-11-20--Biden names 4 Obama-era aides to White House roles

Nov. 20 ( UPI ) -- President-elect Joe Biden announced the addition of four new members to his and Jill Biden 's senior staff Friday .
All four new appointees previously worked under the Obama administration , many directly with Joe Biden .
The transition team named Carlos Elizondo as White House social secretary ; Cathy Russell as director of the White House Office of Presidential Personnel ; Louisa Terrell as director of the White House Office of Legislative Affairs ; and Mala Adiga as Jill Biden 's policy director .
`` I 'm proud to name additional members of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ change America needs in these difficult times , '' Joe Biden said .
`` Their dedication to overcoming the challenges facing our country today are rooted in their diverse backgrounds and experiences .
They will serve the American people and help build back better , creating a more just , equitable , and united nation . ''
Elizondo previously served as a special assistant to former President Barack Obama , and social secretary to the Bidens .
As social secretary , he 'll be responsible for coordinating official social events at the White @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a member of the Biden-Harris transition team advisory board and was vice chairwoman of their campaign .
She was ambassador for global women 's issues during the Obama administration and served as Jill Biden 's chief of staff .
As director of presidential personnel , her office will be responsible for overseeing and vetting the selection of presidential appointments .
Terrell oversees legislative affairs for the transition team and previously was assistant for legislative affairs for Obama and deputy chief of staff for Joe Biden when he was senator .
As director @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with senators and representatives to advance Joe Biden 's agenda on Capitol Hill .
Adiga has served as a senior adviser to Jill Biden and senior policy adviser on the Biden campaign .
She also worked as director for high education and military families at the Biden Foundation and in the State Department during the Obama administration .
As Jill Biden 's policy director , she 'll work directly with the future first lady to push her initiatives .
`` To bring President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris ' agenda to life you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ready for day one , '' incoming White House chief of staff Ron Klein said .
`` Today 's appointees are respected leaders who will bring a commitment to serving the American people each and every day .
They will support our work to build an administration and White House that represents America and delivers results . ''

President-elect Joe Biden's new appointees all have ties to the Obama administration. Pool photo by Robert Deutsch/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 20 (UPI) -- President-elect Joe Biden announced the addition of four new members to his and Jill Biden's senior staff Friday. All four new appointees previously worked under the Obama administration, many directly with Joe Biden. Advertisement
The transition team named Carlos Elizondo as White House social secretary; Cathy Russell as director of the White House Office of Presidential Personnel; Louisa Terrell as director of the White House Office of Legislative Affairs; and Mala Adiga as Jill Biden's policy director.
"I'm proud to name additional members of our team who will help deliver the change America needs in these difficult times," Joe Biden said. "Their dedication to overcoming the challenges facing our country today are rooted in their diverse backgrounds and experiences. They will serve the American people and help build back better, creating a more just, equitable, and united nation."
Elizondo previously served as a special assistant to former President Barack Obama, and social secretary to the Bidens. As social secretary, he'll be responsible for coordinating official social events at the White House, including state dinners.
Russell is a member of the Biden-Harris transition team advisory board and was vice chairwoman of their campaign. She was ambassador for global women's issues during the Obama administration and served as Jill Biden's chief of staff.
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As director of presidential personnel, her office will be responsible for overseeing and vetting the selection of presidential appointments.
Terrell oversees legislative affairs for the transition team and previously was assistant for legislative affairs for Obama and deputy chief of staff for Joe Biden when he was senator.
As director of legislative affairs, she'll work with senators and representatives to advance Joe Biden's agenda on Capitol Hill.
Adiga has served as a senior adviser to Jill Biden and senior policy adviser on the Biden campaign. She also worked as director for high education and military families at the Biden Foundation and in the State Department during the Obama administration.
As Jill Biden's policy director, she'll work directly with the future first lady to push her initiatives.
"To bring President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris' agenda to life you must have a boundless team of experts ready for day one," incoming White House chief of staff Ron Klein said. "Today's appointees are respected leaders who will bring a commitment to serving the American people each and every day. They will support our work to build an administration and White House that represents America and delivers results."


upi--2020-11-20--In photos: Scenes from the holiday season

The world heads into a holiday season like no other , with the COVID-19 pandemic resurging in many areas .
@ @ @ @ @ withstanding the disruption .
Here 's look at people preparing for the holidays in the @ @ @ @ @ world .

Parishioners sit in folding chairs with candles, listening to prayers outside of the St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Ladue, Mo., on December 24. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI


upi--2020-11-20--11th National Guardsman dies of COVID-19

Nov. 20 ( UPI ) -- The death of a soldier in Hawaii this week is the U.S. National Guard 's 11th death from the COVID-19 pandemic , the Pentagon noted in its Friday update .
The Department of Defense also attributed 119 overall military deaths to the pandemic -- 72 Defense Department civilian workers , eight dependents and 28 contractors to the pandemic .
The Hawaii Air National Guardsman was not identified , but the Hawaiian Department of Defense Office of the Adjutant General said he was 52 , a part-time reservist assigned to Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He died on Sunday .
`` Sadly , the Hawaii National Guard lost a member of our 'ohana [ family ] and our heartfelt condolences and thoughts of Aloha are with the family and friends during this very difficult time , '' Maj. Gen. Kenneth S. Hara , Adjutant General said on Tuesday .
`` This personal loss reminds us that Hawaii needs everyone to comply with safe practices to prevent further spread of this deadly disease , '' Hara said .
The Pentagon update on Friday said the U.S. military has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including 8,572 within the various deployed units of the National Guard .
It was reported on Thursday that nearly one-quarter of about 300 sailors assigned to the USS Michael Murphy , a guided missile destroyer in the Navy 's Pacific Fleet , tested positive for COVID-19 .

A Hawaii National Guardsman is the 11th National Guard member to die in the COVID-19 pandemic, the Pentagon reported on Friday. Photo courtesy of U.S. Navy
Nov. 20 (UPI) -- The death of a soldier in Hawaii this week is the U.S. National Guard's 11th death from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Pentagon noted in its Friday update. The Department of Defense also attributed 119 overall military deaths to the pandemic -- 72 Defense Department civilian workers, eight dependents and 28 contractors to the pandemic. Advertisement
The Hawaii Air National Guardsman was not identified, but the Hawaiian Department of Defense Office of the Adjutant General said he was 52, a part-time reservist assigned to Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam and tested positive for COVID-19 last week. He died on Sunday.
"Sadly, the Hawaii National Guard lost a member of our 'ohana [family] and our heartfelt condolences and thoughts of Aloha are with the family and friends during this very difficult time," Maj. Gen. Kenneth S. Hara, Adjutant General said on Tuesday.
"This personal loss reminds us that Hawaii needs everyone to comply with safe practices to prevent further spread of this deadly disease," Hara said.
The Pentagon update on Friday said the U.S. military has seen 108,562 cases of the virus, including 8,572 within the various deployed units of the National Guard.
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It was reported on Thursday that nearly one-quarter of about 300 sailors assigned to the USS Michael Murphy, a guided missile destroyer in the Navy's Pacific Fleet, tested positive for COVID-19.


upi--2020-11-20--Russian defense minister says new cyberspace secure for data exchange

Nov. 20 ( UPI ) -- Russia 's intergovernmental cyberspace , used to exchange information between government agencies , is secure , Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Friday .
The Russian military created a closed-loop space for discussion between government authorities and the Defense Ministry within the country 's Portal system , a large collection of websites for dissemination of information .
Similar to the United States ' USA.gov , Russia 's Portal infrastructure now includes a means of securely transferring defense information .
Russia has a Ministry of Digital Development responsible for enlarging public and government access to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ postal system and broadcasting industry .
`` [ An ] information exchange has been established with the constituent entities of the Russian Federation through the Portal system , '' Shoigu said in a statement on Friday .
`` This allowed for the first time to create a confidential unified information space between different levels of government . ''
He added that the cyberspace interaction with the Defense Ministry had developed `` a more qualitative level of operational response and cohesion has been achieved . ''
He spoke at a scientific conference in Moscow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of interdepartmental interaction withstood the test of the events of 2020 , '' allowing for faster action by military hospitals deployed to COVID-19 hotspots .

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Friday that a secure Internet connection between government agencies and the Defense Ministry is now in place and working efficiently. Photo courtesy of Russian Defense Ministry
Nov. 20 (UPI) -- Russia's intergovernmental cyberspace, used to exchange information between government agencies, is secure, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Friday. The Russian military created a closed-loop space for discussion between government authorities and the Defense Ministry within the country's Portal system, a large collection of websites for dissemination of information. Advertisement
Similar to the United States' USA.gov, Russia's Portal infrastructure now includes a means of securely transferring defense information. Russia has a Ministry of Digital Development responsible for enlarging public and government access to the Internet, as well as its postal system and broadcasting industry.
"[An] information exchange has been established with the constituent entities of the Russian Federation through the Portal system," Shoigu said in a statement on Friday. "This allowed for the first time to create a confidential unified information space between different levels of government."
He added that the cyberspace interaction with the Defense Ministry had developed "a more qualitative level of operational response and cohesion has been achieved."
He spoke at a scientific conference in Moscow.
Shoigu noted that "the system of interdepartmental interaction withstood the test of the events of 2020," allowing for faster action by military hospitals deployed to COVID-19 hotspots.
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