upi--2020-07-01--Coco Austin's dad hospitalized in ICU with COVID-19

July 1 ( UPI ) -- Coco Austin says her dad is hospitalized with COVID-19 .
The 41-year-old television personality said Monday on Instagram that her father , Steve Austin , is being treated for coronavirus in the intensive care unit ( ICU ) at an Arizona hospital .
Austin said her dad , who shares a name with wrestler Steve Austin , `` never '' gets sick but is now having trouble breathing and is on oxygen due to COVID-19 .
`` My , tough as an ox dad , the one that never goes to a doctor , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tylonel for pain , the one that never EVER gets sick , where talking about the original Steve Austin ( cuz thats his real name ) is in the ICU requiring oxygen for # covid19 , '' Austin wrote .
`` He is having trouble breathing and feels like he is being stabbed with pins throughout his body , '' she said .
Austin said two of her aunts also tested positive for COVID-19 .
`` For all the people that say it cant happen to your family ... think again , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to my father and all the families that are dealing with it .
also sending prayers to 2 of my aunts who also have covid seems they all got it at the same time . ''
Austin 's husband , rapper and actor Ice-T , posted a photo of Steve Austin wearing an oxygen mask in the hospital .
`` Coco 's father checked into the Hospital yesterday .
Covid in AZ , '' he wrote .
Rappers LL Cool J and Big Daddy Kane , actor Michael Rapaport and model Tyson Beckford @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well in the comments .
`` Prayers Up for the Good Brother , '' Big Daddy Kane wrote .
Austin and Ice-T married in December 2005 and have a 4-year-old daughter , Chanel Nicole .

July 1 (UPI) -- Coco Austin says her dad is hospitalized with COVID-19.
The 41-year-old television personality said Monday on Instagram that her father, Steve Austin, is being treated for coronavirus in the intensive care unit (ICU) at an Arizona hospital.
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Austin said her dad, who shares a name with wrestler Steve Austin, "never" gets sick but is now having trouble breathing and is on oxygen due to COVID-19.
"My, tough as an ox dad, the one that never goes to a doctor, the one that doesn't even take tylonel for pain, the one that never EVER gets sick, where talking about the original Steve Austin (cuz thats his real name) is in the ICU requiring oxygen for #covid19," Austin wrote.
"He is having trouble breathing and feels like he is being stabbed with pins throughout his body," she said.
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Austin said two of her aunts also tested positive for COVID-19.
"For all the people that say it cant happen to your family... think again," she said. "Sending happy thoughts to my father and all the families that are dealing with it. also sending prayers to 2 of my aunts who also have covid seems they all got it at the same time."
Austin's husband, rapper and actor Ice-T, posted a photo of Steve Austin wearing an oxygen mask in the hospital.
"Coco's father checked into the Hospital yesterday. Covid in AZ," he wrote.
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Rappers LL Cool J and Big Daddy Kane, actor Michael Rapaport and model Tyson Beckford were among those to wish Steve Austin well in the comments.
"Prayers Up for the Good Brother," Big Daddy Kane wrote.
Austin and Ice-T married in December 2005 and have a 4-year-old daughter, Chanel Nicole.


upi--2020-07-01--Watch live: Senate panel explores compensation for NCAA athletes

July 1 ( UPI ) -- A Senate committee will stage a hearing Wednesday with collegiate athletics officials to discuss @ @ @ @ @ and `` modernizing '' rules .
The Senate commerce , science and transportation committee will @ @ @ @ @ -- including Keith Carter , vice chancellor for athletics at the University of Mississippi ; @ @ @ @ @ the NCAA 's board of governors ; former NFL and college athlete Eric Winston ; @ @ @ @ @ ; and University of Baltimore law professor Dionne Koller .
The hearing , titled `` @ @ @ @ @ Intercollegiate Athletes , '' was scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. EDT .
`` This @ @ @ @ @ Board of Governors ' recent report on student-athlete compensation and the modernization of rules related @ @ @ @ @ and likeness commercialization , '' the panel said .
`` Witnesses will have the opportunity @ @ @ @ @ use of student-athletes ' NIL while preserving the integrity of collegiate institutions and amateurism in @ @ @ @

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Michael Drake, chairman of the National Collegiate Athletic Association board of governors, testifies during a Senate commerce, science and transportation hearing Wednesday in Washington, D.C. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
July 1 (UPI) -- The chairman of the NCAA board of governors told Congress on Wednesday that he favors universal guidelines to limit the spread of the coronavirus at colleges, but doesn't support having students sign a liability waiver. Michael Drake, who's also Ohio State University's outgoing president, testified before the Senate commerce, science and transportation committee as part of a hearing on whether collegiate athletes should be allowed to receive compensation for the use of their names and likenesses. The questioning, though, repeatedly touched on how colleges will handle students returning to campuses amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Advertisement
Also appearing at the hearing were Keith Carter, vice chancellor for athletics at the University of Mississippi; former NFL and college athlete Eric Winston; Southeastern Conference Commissioner Greg Sankey; and University of Baltimore law professor Dionne Koller.
Currently, the NCAA has no universal guidelines in place and is allowing individual schools to implement their own policies. Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., questioned the wisdom of the approach.
"So a lack of a unified response from the NCAA may result in what we see playing out in the states: a patchwork of mandatory and voluntary guidelines, potentially resulting in spikes and transmission of the virus in some states and some schools and not in others," she said.
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Drake said he'd support universal guidelines, which the NCAA is currently discussing.
"This is under discussion actively on a daily basis and we'll be talking about it later on in this week," he told senators. "I certainly support that."
He doesn't support, however, a liability waiver. Ohio State students, he said, will be asked to sign a pledge before returning to class Aug. 25.
"What the pledge says is you'll wear masks in public, you'll wash hands, you'll keep 6 feet distance and if you get ill you will report that to the people who allow you to be protected," Drake said.
He said the school required student athletes to sign the so-called Buckeye Pledge before returning to voluntary workouts last month.
Koller said the pledge could have the same legal implications as a liability waiver.
"Even things like the Buckeye Pledge, which are important for public health, can cross over and be used down the line to be sort of an assumption risk," she told the panel.


upi--2020-07-01--Novartis agrees to pay $642M to settle False Claims Act charges

July 1 ( UPI ) -- Novartis Pharmaceuticals agreed to pay more than $ 642 million in a pair of settlements stemming from charges that it violated the False Claims Act , the Justice Department said Wednesday .
The New Jersey-based company paid $ 51.25 million in response to allegations that it illegally paid the copay obligations for patients taking its drugs and further agreed to pay $ 591,442,008 to settle charges that it paid kickbacks to doctors to prescribe its drugs .
Novartis will also forfeit $ 38.4 million under the Civil Asset Forfeiture Statute .
In the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three foundations as conduits to pay the copayments of Medicare patients taking its drugs Gilenya and Afinitor .
The second case accused the company of paying doctors for what they claimed was compensation for delivering lectures about its medications , but the government alleged that `` many of these programs were nothing more than social events held at expensive restaurants '' where the drugs were not discussed .
`` For more than a decade , Novartis spent hundreds of millions of dollars on so-called speaker programs , including speaking fees , exorbitant meals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than bribes to get doctors across the country to prescribe Novartis 's drugs , '' Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Audrey Strauss said .
As part of the settlement , Novartis entered into a corporate integrity agreement with the Departement of Health and Human Services to `` significantly reduce '' the number of paid speaker programs it implements .
`` Through this settlement and others , the government has demonstrated its commitment to ensuring that drug companies do not use kickbacks to influence the drugs prescribed by doctors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Attorney General Jody Hunt said .
`` We will continue to safeguard the Medicare program from kickbacks and their pernicious effects including the undermining of important cost-control mechanisms instituted by Congress . ''

July 1 (UPI) -- Novartis Pharmaceuticals agreed to pay more than $642 million in a pair of settlements stemming from charges that it violated the False Claims Act, the Justice Department said Wednesday.
The New Jersey-based company paid $51.25 million in response to allegations that it illegally paid the copay obligations for patients taking its drugs and further agreed to pay $591,442,008 to settle charges that it paid kickbacks to doctors to prescribe its drugs.
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Novartis will also forfeit $38.4 million under the Civil Asset Forfeiture Statute.
In the first case, Novartis was accused of using three foundations as conduits to pay the copayments of Medicare patients taking its drugs Gilenya and Afinitor.
The second case accused the company of paying doctors for what they claimed was compensation for delivering lectures about its medications, but the government alleged that "many of these programs were nothing more than social events held at expensive restaurants" where the drugs were not discussed.
"For more than a decade, Novartis spent hundreds of millions of dollars on so-called speaker programs, including speaking fees, exorbitant meals and top-shelf alcohol that were nothing more than bribes to get doctors across the country to prescribe Novartis's drugs," Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Audrey Strauss said.
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As part of the settlement, Novartis entered into a corporate integrity agreement with the Departement of Health and Human Services to "significantly reduce" the number of paid speaker programs it implements.
"Through this settlement and others, the government has demonstrated its commitment to ensuring that drug companies do not use kickbacks to influence the drugs prescribed by doctors or purchased by patients," Assistant Attorney General Jody Hunt said. "We will continue to safeguard the Medicare program from kickbacks and their pernicious effects including the undermining of important cost-control mechanisms instituted by Congress."


upi--2020-07-01--Pelicans' Zion Williamson to be cover athlete on next-gen version of 'NBA 2K21'

July 1 ( UPI ) -- New Orleans Pelicans rookie Zion Williamson was revealed as the second cover athlete for NBA 2K21 on Wednesday .
`` It 's one of those emotions I 'm still processing , '' Williamson told The Undefeated in a video interview .
`` It 's a dream come true .
At those AAU tournaments , you 're looking at the cover thinking , 'That 's going to be me . '
For it to happen that fast , it 's a huge honor . ''
Williamson will be the cover star for the next-generation edition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 .
He joins Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard , who will be displayed on the current-generation version of the game .
During the PlayStation 5 reveal event last month , Williamson was featured in a trailer showing off the game 's enhanced graphics .
`` My first thoughts on the commercial was this is super dope , '' Williamson said .
`` It 's crazy that it 's me .
Then the thoughts after when I let it process was , 'Man , that was really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be the guy to introduce 2K21 .
It 's just an honor .
It 's like a dream come true . ''
Williamson becomes the third player from the New Orleans franchise to grace the cover of the NBA 2K series .
Chris Paul appeared on the cover of NBA 2K8 , followed by Anthony Davis for 2K16 .
He also is the first rookie to ever appear on the cover of NBA 2K .
The final cover athlete for the `` Legends Edition '' will be announced Thursday .
Late Los Angeles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a helicopter crash in January , is widely anticipated to appear on the cover .
NBA 2K21 will be available for preorder July 2 and will be released in October .
At that time , the game will be playable on the PlayStation 4 , Xbox One and the Nintendo Switch .
It will later ship for Xbox Series X and the PS5 .

July 1 (UPI) -- New Orleans Pelicans rookie Zion Williamson was revealed as the second cover athlete for NBA 2K21 on Wednesday.
"It's one of those emotions I'm still processing," Williamson told The Undefeated in a video interview. "It's a dream come true. At those AAU tournaments, you're looking at the cover thinking, 'That's going to be me.' For it to happen that fast, it's a huge honor."
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Williamson will be the cover star for the next-generation edition of the popular basketball video game on Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5. He joins Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard, who will be displayed on the current-generation version of the game.
During the PlayStation 5 reveal event last month, Williamson was featured in a trailer showing off the game's enhanced graphics.
"My first thoughts on the commercial was this is super dope," Williamson said. "It's crazy that it's me. Then the thoughts after when I let it process was, 'Man, that was really me.' They chose me to be the guy to introduce 2K21. It's just an honor. It's like a dream come true."
Advertisement The Next Generation is here Hyped to be on the cover of #NBA2K21 Next Gen @NBA2K pic.twitter.com/zRg6XaY8wx— Zion Williamson (@Zionwilliamson) July 1, 2020
The future is here @ZionWilliamson is our Cover Athlete for Next Gen #NBA2K21 Pre-orders begin July 2nd pic.twitter.com/HCbHEOZUfL— NBA 2K21 (@NBA2K) July 1, 2020
Williamson becomes the third player from the New Orleans franchise to grace the cover of the NBA 2K series. Chris Paul appeared on the cover of NBA 2K8, followed by Anthony Davis for 2K16.
He also is the first rookie to ever appear on the cover of NBA 2K.
The final cover athlete for the "Legends Edition" will be announced Thursday. Late Los Angeles Lakers great Kobe Bryant, who died in a helicopter crash in January, is widely anticipated to appear on the cover.
NBA 2K21 will be available for preorder July 2 and will be released in October. At that time, the game will be playable on the PlayStation 4, Xbox One and the Nintendo Switch. It will later ship for Xbox Series X and the PS5.


upi--2020-07-01--United States-Mexico-Canada agreement takes effect amid lingering issues, pandemic

July 1 ( UPI ) -- The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement went into effect on Wednesday rewriting the terms of trade between the three countries .
President Donald Trump signed the agreement in January to replace the maligned North American Free Trade Agreement of 1994 with the White House declaring that the deal will result in `` stronger economic growth , more jobs for American workers and fairer trade for our country . ''
The USMCA mostly preserves duty-free trade and economic integration provided by NAFTA while adding new rules surrounding digital trade and altering what products can be traded across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'm sure glad it was renegotiated , '' Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley , R-Iowa , said .
`` I 'm not sure that I agree with the president that it was the worst agreement ever , but it needed to be renegotiated and part of it 's because things like digital economy was never an issue 30 years ago . ''
Even as the deal goes into effect , however , issues such as U.S. tariffs on metals and Mexican labor standards persist .
U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer expressed concern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about a surge of aluminum imports from Canada , leading to speculation that the United States may reinstitute 10 percent tariffs on aluminum it removed while negotiating the USMCA .
The Aluminum Association sent a letter signed by 15 CEOs and executives in the industry calling on Lighthizer and the administration not to reverse its decision on the tariffs .
`` After all of the hard work that has gone into making the USMCA a reality , it would be a shame to move backward by reapplying tariffs or quotas on aluminum , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Further , changes to Mexico 's labor rules to ensure workers were granted the freedom to form unions and negotiate better wages were included in the deal but have yet to clear their way through the Mexican legal system .
`` What people have to understand is the changes required by USMCA , if it 's to be real , are changing root and branch deeply entrenched systems of protection contracts ad phony unions , '' Rep. Andy Levin , D-Mich. , said .
The COVID-19 pandemic has also put a strain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as border closures to prevent the spread of the virus have slowed down trade .
Lighthizer pushed to have the deal take effect on Wednesday despite the pandemic to allow for the new rules to be enforced .

The United States-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement, signed into law by President Donald Trump went into effect on Wednesday, amid lingering issues and the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo by Oliver Contreras/UPI | License Photo
July 1 (UPI) -- The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement went into effect on Wednesday rewriting the terms of trade between the three countries. President Donald Trump signed the agreement in January to replace the maligned North American Free Trade Agreement of 1994 with the White House declaring that the deal will result in "stronger economic growth, more jobs for American workers and fairer trade for our country." Advertisement
The USMCA mostly preserves duty-free trade and economic integration provided by NAFTA while adding new rules surrounding digital trade and altering what products can be traded across borders without facing tariffs.
"I'm sure glad it was renegotiated," Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said. "I'm not sure that I agree with the president that it was the worst agreement ever, but it needed to be renegotiated and part of it's because things like digital economy was never an issue 30 years ago."
Even as the deal goes into effect, however, issues such as U.S. tariffs on metals and Mexican labor standards persist.
U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer expressed concern during a June 18 hearing before Congress about a surge of aluminum imports from Canada, leading to speculation that the United States may reinstitute 10 percent tariffs on aluminum it removed while negotiating the USMCA.
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The Aluminum Association sent a letter signed by 15 CEOs and executives in the industry calling on Lighthizer and the administration not to reverse its decision on the tariffs.
"After all of the hard work that has gone into making the USMCA a reality, it would be a shame to move backward by reapplying tariffs or quotas on aluminum," said Aluminum Association President Tom Dobbins.
Further, changes to Mexico's labor rules to ensure workers were granted the freedom to form unions and negotiate better wages were included in the deal but have yet to clear their way through the Mexican legal system.
"What people have to understand is the changes required by USMCA, if it's to be real, are changing root and branch deeply entrenched systems of protection contracts ad phony unions," Rep. Andy Levin, D-Mich., said.
The COVID-19 pandemic has also put a strain on the launch of the new deal as border closures to prevent the spread of the virus have slowed down trade.
Lighthizer pushed to have the deal take effect on Wednesday despite the pandemic to allow for the new rules to be enforced.


upi--2020-07-01--Green Bay Packers sign Jordan Love, A.J. Dillon to rookie contracts

July 1 ( UPI ) -- The Green Bay Packers announced Wednesday they have signed their top two picks from this year 's NFL Draft -- Utah State quarterback Jordan Love and Boston College running back A.J .
Dillon -- to rookie contracts .
The Packers signed Love to a fully guaranteed four-year , $ 12.4 million pact with a signing bonus of about $ 6.6 million , according to NFL Media .
It marks the first time the No .
26 overall pick in a draft class has received a fully guaranteed deal under the current rookie contract system @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Miami Dolphins to move up four spots in the first round to select Love at No .
26 in April 's draft .
The Packers added Dillon at No .
62 overall .
The selections of Love and Dillon were somewhat surprising given the Packers have two-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers at quarterback and Aaron Jones at running back .
Jones tied Tennessee Titans tailback Derrick Henry for the league lead in rushing touchdowns ( 16 ) and equaled Carolina Panthers star Christian McCaffrey for first in total scores ( 19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to eventually replace the 36-year-old Rodgers .
Dillon provides an option behind Jones , whose contract is set to expire in 2021 .
Love was the first offensive player the Packers have selected in the first round since the franchise took Mississippi State 's Derek Sherrod at No .
32 overall in 2011 .
Love tossed 32 touchdowns and only six interceptions for Utah State in 2018 , but he followed that season with 20 touchdown passes and 17 picks in 2019 .
Dillon recorded 4,382 yards and 38 touchdowns in his three-year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yards and 14 scores last season .

July 1 (UPI) -- The Green Bay Packers announced Wednesday they have signed their top two picks from this year's NFL Draft -- Utah State quarterback Jordan Love and Boston College running back A.J. Dillon -- to rookie contracts.
The Packers signed Love to a fully guaranteed four-year, $12.4 million pact with a signing bonus of about $6.6 million, according to NFL Media. It marks the first time the No. 26 overall pick in a draft class has received a fully guaranteed deal under the current rookie contract system.
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Green Bay traded a fourth-round pick to the Miami Dolphins to move up four spots in the first round to select Love at No. 26 in April's draft. The Packers added Dillon at No. 62 overall.
The selections of Love and Dillon were somewhat surprising given the Packers have two-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers at quarterback and Aaron Jones at running back. Jones tied Tennessee Titans tailback Derrick Henry for the league lead in rushing touchdowns (16) and equaled Carolina Panthers star Christian McCaffrey for first in total scores (19) last season.
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Love is expected to eventually replace the 36-year-old Rodgers. Dillon provides an option behind Jones, whose contract is set to expire in 2021.
It's official! Finally a part of the @packers! A dream come true, can't wait to get started. Shoutout to everyone who's helped me along the way! pic.twitter.com/u5vxIffznA— AJ "The Sauce" Dillon (@ajdillon7) July 1, 2020
Love was the first offensive player the Packers have selected in the first round since the franchise took Mississippi State's Derek Sherrod at No. 32 overall in 2011. Love tossed 32 touchdowns and only six interceptions for Utah State in 2018, but he followed that season with 20 touchdown passes and 17 picks in 2019.
Dillon recorded 4,382 yards and 38 touchdowns in his three-year career at Boston College, including 1,685 yards and 14 scores last season.


upi--2020-07-01--Cardinals replacing Yankees in 'Field of Dreams' game against White Sox

July 1 ( UPI ) -- The St. Louis Cardinals will replace the New York Yankees as the opponent for the Chicago White Sox in the inaugural `` Field of Dreams '' game Aug. 13 in Dyersville , Iowa .
League sources told NBC Sports Chicago and Newsday on Wednesday that St. Louis is taking the Yankees ' spot in the matchup due to MLB 's pandemic-delayed and shortened 60-game season .
The White Sox no longer play the Yankees this season because of the revised 2020 schedule .
Before Wednesday 's change , the Yankees and White Sox were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the original Academy-nominated `` Field of Dreams , '' which was released in 1989 .
The teams wo n't play on the iconic diamond shown in the film .
Instead , the league is building an 8,000-seat ballpark adjacent to the movie set .
The matchup between the Cardinals and White Sox will be the first MLB game ever played in Iowa .
It remains unclear whether fans will be allowed to attend the game , which will be televised nationally on FOX .
MLB is expected to announce its new schedule @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Each club will play 60 games -- 40 against division opponents and 20 against teams in the corresponding regional division in the opposite league -- as part of the revised schedule .
`` Field of Dreams '' features actor Kevin Costner portraying Ray Kinsella , who interacts with multiple players from the 1919 White Sox team .
Members of that club were banned from baseball for intentionally losing in the World Series .

July 1 (UPI) -- The St. Louis Cardinals will replace the New York Yankees as the opponent for the Chicago White Sox in the inaugural "Field of Dreams" game Aug. 13 in Dyersville, Iowa.
League sources told NBC Sports Chicago and Newsday on Wednesday that St. Louis is taking the Yankees' spot in the matchup due to MLB's pandemic-delayed and shortened 60-game season. The White Sox no longer play the Yankees this season because of the revised 2020 schedule.
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Before Wednesday's change, the Yankees and White Sox were set to play at the filming location of the original Academy-nominated "Field of Dreams," which was released in 1989. The teams won't play on the iconic diamond shown in the film. Instead, the league is building an 8,000-seat ballpark adjacent to the movie set.
The matchup between the Cardinals and White Sox will be the first MLB game ever played in Iowa. It remains unclear whether fans will be allowed to attend the game, which will be televised nationally on FOX.
Advertisement If you build it ... Work is already being done at the Field of Dreams site in Iowa. pic.twitter.com/HVzYQr35Xv— MLB (@MLB) August 23, 2019
MLB is expected to announce its new schedule for the 2020 season next week. Each club will play 60 games -- 40 against division opponents and 20 against teams in the corresponding regional division in the opposite league -- as part of the revised schedule.
"Field of Dreams" features actor Kevin Costner portraying Ray Kinsella, who interacts with multiple players from the 1919 White Sox team. Members of that club were banned from baseball for intentionally losing in the World Series.


upi--2020-07-01--Congress passes measure to extend Paycheck Protection Program through early August

July 1 ( UPI ) -- The House on Wednesday voted to extend the Paycheck Protection Program through Aug. 8 , sending the extension to President Donald Trump 's desk for a signature .
The unanimous vote came after the program -- established to provide funds for small businesses to respond to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic -- ended Tuesday with more than $ 130 billion unspent .
Nearly 5 million businesses have received $ 520 billion in loans under the program .
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer , D-N.Y. , praised the House for passing the extension after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before the program was set to expire .
`` It 's certainly something to celebrate , '' he said .
`` But I would have hoped that our two parties could have worked this out before last night , as a small part of a much broader legislation to address the many challenges posed by COVID-19 . ''
Lawmakers in the Senate are expected to begin negotiating the small business portion of the next coronavirus stimulus package after they return from July 4 recess .
Moving forward , Democrats have proposed extending the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some small businesses that are able to show they have used all or most of their initial loan to apply for a second loan .
House small business committee Chairwoman Nydia Velazquez , D-N.Y. , earlier Wednesday called for the Trump administration to provide greater details about how the loans have been distributed .
`` We need to make an assessment whether or not the program has been successful , '' Velazquez said .
`` We need the data to be able to conclude that this is the way to go . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Administration Administrator Jovita Carranza told lawmakers the data would be delivered to the House at the end of this week .
Mnuchin also discussed repurposing the remaining funds for businesses such as hotels and restaurants that have been most affected the pandemic .

Congress sent a measure to extend the Paycheck Protection Program through Aug. 8 to President Donald Trump for a signature after the House voted unanimously in favor of the extension. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
July 1 (UPI) -- The House on Wednesday voted to extend the Paycheck Protection Program through Aug. 8, sending the extension to President Donald Trump's desk for a signature. The unanimous vote came after the program -- established to provide funds for small businesses to respond to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic -- ended Tuesday with more than $130 billion unspent. Advertisement
Nearly 5 million businesses have received $520 billion in loans under the program.
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., praised the House for passing the extension after the Senate agreed on it just hours before the program was set to expire.
"It's certainly something to celebrate," he said. "But I would have hoped that our two parties could have worked this out before last night, as a small part of a much broader legislation to address the many challenges posed by COVID-19."
Lawmakers in the Senate are expected to begin negotiating the small business portion of the next coronavirus stimulus package after they return from July 4 recess.
Moving forward, Democrats have proposed extending the PPP application window through December and allowing some small businesses that are able to show they have used all or most of their initial loan to apply for a second loan.
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House small business committee Chairwoman Nydia Velazquez, D-N.Y., earlier Wednesday called for the Trump administration to provide greater details about how the loans have been distributed.
"We need to make an assessment whether or not the program has been successful," Velazquez said. "We need the data to be able to conclude that this is the way to go."
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Small Business Administration Administrator Jovita Carranza told lawmakers the data would be delivered to the House at the end of this week.
Mnuchin also discussed repurposing the remaining funds for businesses such as hotels and restaurants that have been most affected the pandemic.


upi--2020-07-01--Trio of areas warrant close watch for tropical development in Atlantic

After a quick start to the 2020 hurricane season , the Atlantic is void of organized tropical systems .
However , AccuWeather forecasters believe that could change with a few potential development zones to watch during the first week or two of July .
All three areas of concern are relatively close to North America and the United States , a type of system that meteorologists often refer to as `` homegrown '' due to its close proximity .
However , there are some hurdles that disturbances would need to overcome in order to strengthen into a named storm .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ continues to be a considerable amount of dust over the southern Atlantic , Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico as of Wednesday morning , '' AccuWeather 's top hurricane expert , Dan Kottlowski , said , adding that dust and associated dry air can inhibit development .
`` While this dust and dry air associated with it will work to suppress shower and thunderstorm activity over much of the Atlantic basin , there are some areas where there is little or no dust and dry air which we have to keep an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ An area located a few hundred miles east of Cape Hatteras , N.C. , or just north of Bermuda could evolve into a weak tropical system in the coming days .
`` Currently , this area is experiencing disruptive wind shear , but that could change a bit as a non-tropical storm system responsible for daily downpours and thunderstorms in the coastal Northeast moves offshore late this week , '' Kottlowski said .
Water temperatures are sufficiently high enough to support a developing tropical system should one take shape for a brief period @ @ @ @ @ @ @ northeast over progressively colder water .
The critical sea surface temperature that meteorologists watch for tropical activity is 80 degrees Fahrenheit .
`` It could end up being a Dolly-like feature with a short life span , '' Kottlowski said .
Tropical Storm Dolly formed over warm waters on June 23 offshore of the U.S. East Coast and dissipated on June 24 southeast of Canada .
Regardless , steering breezes should keep the feature away from the U.S. and southeastern Canada , but the system could be a concern for shipping if it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ areas meteorologists are keeping a close eye on will be hugging the southeastern U.S. coast during the first full week of July .
Both areas are part of the same non-tropical weather regime and could give birth to a low-grade tropical or sub-tropical system .
A sub-tropical depression or storm is one that has both tropical and non-tropical characteristics .
Both of these non-tropical features will contribute to persistent drenching showers and thunderstorms over the Southeastern states from late this week , through the Independence Day weekend and into next week .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ near-coast features is from late this weekend to next week , '' Kottlowski said .
Steering breezes would probably take any feature that forms from the northeast Gulf to far-western Atlantic waters toward the Northeast and eventually away from the U.S .
However , if a system were to take shape in the northeastern Gulf , it would have to drift across northern Florida and/or southeastern Georgia to reach the Atlantic .
`` At this time , the chance of a tropical or sub-tropical depression evolving from the feature north of Bermuda and/or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gulf coasts is rather low and about 20 in the coming days , '' Kottlowski stated .
AccuWeather meteorologists will continue to keep tabs on the tropical setup and continue to evaluate the development potential in the coming days .
If an organized tropical system that would generate gusty winds fails to develop , then , in turn , enhanced waves , strong rip currents and pounding surf would not be anticipated along the upper Gulf and southern Atlantic coasts .
On the other hand , if a storm were to form , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Maximum sustained winds must reach at least 39 mph and up to 73 mph to be classified as a tropical storm .
Sustained winds of 74 mph are the lower limit of Category 1 hurricanes .
But , even if an organized tropical system does not form , the pattern could still produce locally gusty winds and downpours as well as strong thunderstorms with the potential to spawn a couple of waterspouts .
Bathers and boaters in near-shore waters of the Southeastern states should stay aware for changing weather conditions as they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Should one of the three trouble spots strengthen into a named tropical storm , it would acquire the name Edouard .
The next names on the list for the 2020 Atlantic season are Fay , Gonzalo and Hanna .
The earliest fifth-named tropical storm on record since the satellite era of the 1960s and 1970s is Emily from the blockbuster 2005 hurricane season .
This year brought a record number of tropical cyclones , 31 , with 27 named storms and 15 hurricanes .
Seven of the storms strengthened into major hurricanes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Saffir-Simpson scale .
Emily became a named storm on July 12 and went on to become a powerful and deadly Category 5 hurricane that tracked through the Caribbean .
The earliest sixth-named tropical storm on record is Franklin , which also came to life during the 2005 season .
Franklin formed on July 21 , near the central Bahamas , and traveled northeastward , well off the U.S. coast .
Franklin did not reach hurricane strength .
Should none of the aforementioned features bud into a tropical system , it is not uncommon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tropical activity during July and early August after an active spring .
This is due to the usual presence of dry air , dust and wind shear over the equatorial part of the Atlantic basin and a lack of non-tropical systems dipping southward from North America which could evolve into a tropical system .
Conditions typically ramp up during late August and September as the strength of disturbances moving westward off Africa , called tropical waves , tends to peak , combined with water temperatures climbing to peak values for the year .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ with 14-20 named tropical storms with seven to 11 hurricanes and four to six major ( Category 3 or higher ) hurricanes .
Four tropical storms are already in the books for the season , with one U.S. landfall .
Cristobal became the earliest `` C '' named storm in recorded history for the Atlantic on June 2 , a feat that typically does not occur until around the middle of August .
The storm went on to crash ashore along the U.S. Gulf Coast , where it unleashed flooding .
Dolly was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ever in the basin , but it moved out to sea without impacting land .

After a quick start to the 2020 hurricane season, the Atlantic is void of organized tropical systems.
However, AccuWeather forecasters believe that could change with a few potential development zones to watch during the first week or two of July.
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All three areas of concern are relatively close to North America and the United States, a type of system that meteorologists often refer to as "homegrown" due to its close proximity.
However, there are some hurdles that disturbances would need to overcome in order to strengthen into a named storm.
"Based on satellite information, there continues to be a considerable amount of dust over the southern Atlantic, Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico as of Wednesday morning," AccuWeather's top hurricane expert, Dan Kottlowski, said, adding that dust and associated dry air can inhibit development.
Areas of dust and dry air are seen on a Wednesday image as shades of yellow, orange and red. Image courtesy of NOAA
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"While this dust and dry air associated with it will work to suppress shower and thunderstorm activity over much of the Atlantic basin, there are some areas where there is little or no dust and dry air which we have to keep an eye on," Kottlowski explained.
An area located a few hundred miles east of Cape Hatteras, N.C., or just north of Bermuda could evolve into a weak tropical system in the coming days.
Clouds over the western Atlantic Ocean are associated with non-tropical area of low pressure on Wednesday. Photo courtesy of NOAA
"Currently, this area is experiencing disruptive wind shear, but that could change a bit as a non-tropical storm system responsible for daily downpours and thunderstorms in the coastal Northeast moves offshore late this week," Kottlowski said.
Water temperatures are sufficiently high enough to support a developing tropical system should one take shape for a brief period, before being shunted off to the northeast over progressively colder water. The critical sea surface temperature that meteorologists watch for tropical activity is 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
"It could end up being a Dolly-like feature with a short life span," Kottlowski said.
Tropical Storm Dolly formed over warm waters on June 23 offshore of the U.S. East Coast and dissipated on June 24 southeast of Canada.
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Regardless, steering breezes should keep the feature away from the U.S. and southeastern Canada, but the system could be a concern for shipping if it were to spin up.
Two other areas meteorologists are keeping a close eye on will be hugging the southeastern U.S. coast during the first full week of July. Both areas are part of the same non-tropical weather regime and could give birth to a low-grade tropical or sub-tropical system. A sub-tropical depression or storm is one that has both tropical and non-tropical characteristics.
Both of these non-tropical features will contribute to persistent drenching showers and thunderstorms over the Southeastern states from late this week, through the Independence Day weekend and into next week.
"The timeline for tropical development of the near-coast features is from late this weekend to next week," Kottlowski said.
Steering breezes would probably take any feature that forms from the northeast Gulf to far-western Atlantic waters toward the Northeast and eventually away from the U.S. However, if a system were to take shape in the northeastern Gulf, it would have to drift across northern Florida and/or southeastern Georgia to reach the Atlantic.
"At this time, the chance of a tropical or sub-tropical depression evolving from the feature north of Bermuda and/or over the U.S. southern Atlantic and northeastern Gulf coasts is rather low and about 20 in the coming days," Kottlowski stated.
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AccuWeather meteorologists will continue to keep tabs on the tropical setup and continue to evaluate the development potential in the coming days.
If an organized tropical system that would generate gusty winds fails to develop, then, in turn, enhanced waves, strong rip currents and pounding surf would not be anticipated along the upper Gulf and southern Atlantic coasts. On the other hand, if a storm were to form, conditions could then deteriorate on the beaches.
Maximum sustained winds must reach at least 39 mph and up to 73 mph to be classified as a tropical storm. Sustained winds of 74 mph are the lower limit of Category 1 hurricanes.
But, even if an organized tropical system does not form, the pattern could still produce locally gusty winds and downpours as well as strong thunderstorms with the potential to spawn a couple of waterspouts. Bathers and boaters in near-shore waters of the Southeastern states should stay aware for changing weather conditions as they go on about their holiday weekend activities.
Should one of the three trouble spots strengthen into a named tropical storm, it would acquire the name Edouard. The next names on the list for the 2020 Atlantic season are Fay, Gonzalo and Hanna.
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The earliest fifth-named tropical storm on record since the satellite era of the 1960s and 1970s is Emily from the blockbuster 2005 hurricane season. This year brought a record number of tropical cyclones, 31, with 27 named storms and 15 hurricanes. Seven of the storms strengthened into major hurricanes of Category 3 or greater on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Emily became a named storm on July 12 and went on to become a powerful and deadly Category 5 hurricane that tracked through the Caribbean.
The earliest sixth-named tropical storm on record is Franklin, which also came to life during the 2005 season. Franklin formed on July 21, near the central Bahamas, and traveled northeastward, well off the U.S. coast. Franklin did not reach hurricane strength.
Should none of the aforementioned features bud into a tropical system, it is not uncommon for there to be a lull in tropical activity during July and early August after an active spring.
This is due to the usual presence of dry air, dust and wind shear over the equatorial part of the Atlantic basin and a lack of non-tropical systems dipping southward from North America which could evolve into a tropical system.
Conditions typically ramp up during late August and September as the strength of disturbances moving westward off Africa, called tropical waves, tends to peak, combined with water temperatures climbing to peak values for the year.
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AccuWeather is projecting a busy season ahead with 14-20 named tropical storms with seven to 11 hurricanes and four to six major (Category 3 or higher) hurricanes. Four tropical storms are already in the books for the season, with one U.S. landfall.
Cristobal became the earliest "C" named storm in recorded history for the Atlantic on June 2, a feat that typically does not occur until around the middle of August. The storm went on to crash ashore along the U.S. Gulf Coast, where it unleashed flooding. Dolly was the second-earliest "D" named storm ever in the basin, but it moved out to sea without impacting land.


upi--2020-07-01--NFL to shorten 2020 preseason from four games to two

July 1 ( UPI ) -- The NFL is shortening its 2020 preseason schedule from four games to two as the league continues to prepare its strategy for the upcoming season amid the coronavirus pandemic .
League sources told ESPN and ProFootballTalk on Wednesday that the league canceled Weeks 1 and 4 of its original preseason slate .
The NFL previously scrapped its Aug. 8 Hall of Fame game between the Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers .
Most NFL players will still report to training camp at the end of July , but the first preseason matchups wo n't take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ESPN .
The second and final week of preseason contests will be played Aug. 27-31 .
The NFL also will shuffle some of the remaining preseason schedule , giving each team one home game and one on the road .
Teams that will be required to travel will depart on the day before games .
The main reason for restructuring the preseason schedule was a consensus between the league and the NFL Players Association that players will need additional time to get in football shape , according to ESPN .
No NFL teams @ @ @ @ @ @ @ field during this off-season due to the COVID-19 outbreak .
The NFL 's standard preseason has been four games since it was shortened from six matchups in 1978 .
According to ESPN , it is expected to be trimmed further when league owners trigger a provision in the collective bargaining agreement to extend the regular season from 16 games to 17 , which can be done as early as 2021 .

Most NFL players will still report to training camp at the end of July, but the first preseason matchups won't take place until Aug. 20-24. The second and final week of preseason contests will be played Aug. 27-31. File Photo by Jon SooHoo/UPI | License Photo
July 1 (UPI) -- The NFL is shortening its 2020 preseason schedule from four games to two as the league continues to prepare its strategy for the upcoming season amid the coronavirus pandemic. League sources told ESPN and ProFootballTalk on Wednesday that the league canceled Weeks 1 and 4 of its original preseason slate. The NFL previously scrapped its Aug. 8 Hall of Fame game between the Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers. Advertisement
Most NFL players will still report to training camp at the end of July, but the first preseason matchups won't take place until Aug. 20-24, according to ESPN. The second and final week of preseason contests will be played Aug. 27-31.
The NFL also will shuffle some of the remaining preseason schedule, giving each team one home game and one on the road. Teams that will be required to travel will depart on the day before games.
The main reason for restructuring the preseason schedule was a consensus between the league and the NFL Players Association that players will need additional time to get in football shape, according to ESPN. No NFL teams were allowed to hold practices on the field during this off-season due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
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The NFL's standard preseason has been four games since it was shortened from six matchups in 1978. According to ESPN, it is expected to be trimmed further when league owners trigger a provision in the collective bargaining agreement to extend the regular season from 16 games to 17, which can be done as early as 2021.


upi--2020-07-01--Trump brings back fireworks to Mount Rushmore; faces criticism

July 1 ( UPI ) -- President Donald Trump is planning a triumphant return of Fourth of July fireworks at Mount Rushmore this weekend , but some activists and experts from South Dakota say they 're not welcoming his visit .
Friday 's event will mark the first time there 's been a fireworks event at the national memorial since 2009 .
It was called off after that because of a mountain pine beetle infestation in the area , which left dead ponderosa pine trees susceptible to fire .
Trump is scheduled to attend , arriving in the state around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ South Dakota Gov .
Kristi Noem and Interior Secretary David Bernhardt , plan to speak at the event , which will broadcast live on television and the Internet .
Fireworks are expected to begin around 9:30 p.m. Only those with tickets will be allowed to attend the event in person .
Some critics have expressed concern about the potential for coronavirus to spread among the attendees .
Oglala Sioux President Julian Bear Runner told The Guardian he 's worried about the influx of people to the area for the event .
`` Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just for my people inside and outside the reservation , but for people in the Great Plains .
We have such limited resources in Black Hills , and we 're already seeing infections rising , '' he said .
He said members of his and other Native American groups plan to protest Trump 's visit to the controversial monument , which features the carved heads of Presidents George Washington , Thomas Jefferson , Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln .
Tribal leaders say the creation of the monument was a violation of existing treaties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ live in the Black Hills .
`` The lands on which that mountain is carved and the lands he 's about to visit belong to the Great Sioux nation under a treaty signed in 1851 and the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868 and I have to tell him he does n't have permission from its original sovereign owners to enter the territory at this time , '' Bear Runner said .
`` It 's going to cause an uproar if he comes here .
People are going to want to exercise their First @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not want to see anyone get hurt or the lands be destroyed . ''
Noem said 7,500 people attending wo n't be required to wear face coverings to prevent the spread of COVID-19 .
`` We will have a large event on July 3 .
We told those folks that have concerns that they can stay home , but those who want to come and join us , we 'll be giving out free face masks , if they choose to wear one , '' she said during a Fox News appearance Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social distancing . ''
South Dakota has 6,826 confirmed cases of the virus with 93 deaths as of Wednesday afternoon .
The state reported 48 new cases Tuesday , with a new daily case trajectory trending downward after a 249-case high May 9 , according to The New York Times ' tracker .
Beyond the potential health risk , though , some are concerned the fireworks show could pose a threat to the surrounding natural environment .
Cheryl Schreier , who was superintendent of the national memorial from 2010 to 2019 , wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saying fireworks pose a danger to public safety , and natural and cultural resources .
She said that should there be a wildfire sparked by the fireworks or any other emergency during the event , it could be difficult to get adequate emergency services to the site in a timely manner .
`` Thanks to an extremely dry summer , South Dakota faces a higher than usual risk of wildfires , '' Schreier wrote .
`` While cities and communities across the United States are canceling their Fourth of July celebrations to adhere @ @ @ @ @ @ @ citizens , Trump and Noem are actively encouraging people to gather together , all in service of an event which poses clear risks to both visitors and the environment .
`` I urge them to reconsider this event for the health and safety of us all . ''
Meanwhile , back in Washington , D.C. , the National Park Service and Interior Department planned an Air Force Thunderbirds and Navy Blue Angels flyover at the National Mall on Saturday .
Trump plans to make a speech on the South Lawn of the White @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the Internet .
The capital 's fireworks display is expected to begin around 9 p.m. and will be visible from both Washington , D.C. , and northern Virginia .

Fireworks detonate above the Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota on July 3, 2008. For the first time since then, the national memorial will host a fireworks display to mark the Fourth of July. File Photo by Mark I. Lane/U.S. Air Force | License Photo
July 1 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump is planning a triumphant return of Fourth of July fireworks at Mount Rushmore this weekend, but some activists and experts from South Dakota say they're not welcoming his visit. Friday's event will mark the first time there's been a fireworks event at the national memorial since 2009. It was called off after that because of a mountain pine beetle infestation in the area, which left dead ponderosa pine trees susceptible to fire. Advertisement
Trump is scheduled to attend, arriving in the state around 6:45 p.m. He, along with South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem and Interior Secretary David Bernhardt, plan to speak at the event, which will broadcast live on television and the Internet.
Fireworks are expected to begin around 9:30 p.m. Only those with tickets will be allowed to attend the event in person.
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Some critics have expressed concern about the potential for coronavirus to spread among the attendees.
Oglala Sioux President Julian Bear Runner told The Guardian he's worried about the influx of people to the area for the event.
"Trump coming here is a safety concern not just for my people inside and outside the reservation, but for people in the Great Plains. We have such limited resources in Black Hills, and we're already seeing infections rising," he said.
He said members of his and other Native American groups plan to protest Trump's visit to the controversial monument, which features the carved heads of Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. Tribal leaders say the creation of the monument was a violation of existing treaties between the U.S. government and tribes that live in the Black Hills.
"The lands on which that mountain is carved and the lands he's about to visit belong to the Great Sioux nation under a treaty signed in 1851 and the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868 and I have to tell him he doesn't have permission from its original sovereign owners to enter the territory at this time," Bear Runner said.
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"It's going to cause an uproar if he comes here. People are going to want to exercise their First Amendment rights to protest and we do not want to see anyone get hurt or the lands be destroyed."
Noem said 7,500 people attending won't be required to wear face coverings to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
"We will have a large event on July 3. We told those folks that have concerns that they can stay home, but those who want to come and join us, we'll be giving out free face masks, if they choose to wear one," she said during a Fox News appearance Monday.
"But we will not be social distancing."
South Dakota has 6,826 confirmed cases of the virus with 93 deaths as of Wednesday afternoon. The state reported 48 new cases Tuesday, with a new daily case trajectory trending downward after a 249-case high May 9, according to The New York Times' tracker.
Beyond the potential health risk, though, some are concerned the fireworks show could pose a threat to the surrounding natural environment. Cheryl Schreier, who was superintendent of the national memorial from 2010 to 2019, wrote an op-ed for The Washington Post, saying fireworks pose a danger to public safety, and natural and cultural resources.
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She said that should there be a wildfire sparked by the fireworks or any other emergency during the event, it could be difficult to get adequate emergency services to the site in a timely manner.
"Thanks to an extremely dry summer, South Dakota faces a higher than usual risk of wildfires," Schreier wrote.
"While cities and communities across the United States are canceling their Fourth of July celebrations to adhere to social distancing guidelines and protect their citizens, Trump and Noem are actively encouraging people to gather together, all in service of an event which poses clear risks to both visitors and the environment.
"I urge them to reconsider this event for the health and safety of us all."
Meanwhile, back in Washington, D.C., the National Park Service and Interior Department planned an Air Force Thunderbirds and Navy Blue Angels flyover at the National Mall on Saturday.
Trump plans to make a speech on the South Lawn of the White House which will be aired on TV and the Internet. The capital's fireworks display is expected to begin around 9 p.m. and will be visible from both Washington, D.C., and northern Virginia.


upi--2020-07-01--63% of Americans locked down early in COVID-19 outbreak, reducing disease spread

July 1 ( UPI ) -- Americans staying home -- even before local officials imposed social distancing restrictions -- likely stemmed the spread of COVID-19 in many parts of the country , according to an analysis published Wednesday by the Lancet Infectious Diseases .
In the 25 counties most affected by the outbreak by mid-April , movement by individuals dropped by up to 63 percent following the first three months of the outbreak , based on mobile phone data , according to the researchers .
These counties began to see declines in cases of COVID-19 , the disease caused by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the declines in movement began .
This , researchers said , reflects the five- to 14-day period between infection and symptoms appearing .
`` Our results strongly support the conclusion that social distancing played a crucial role in the reduction of case growth rates in multiple U.S. counties during March and April , and is therefore an effective mitigation policy for COVID-19 , '' study co-author Lauren M. Gardner said in a press release .
`` Critically , we also found that behavioral changes were already underway in many U.S. counties days to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were implemented , '' said Gardner , an associate professor of engineering at Johns Hopkins University .
Within the first four months of COVID-19 being reported in the United States , the virus spread to every state and more than 90 percent of counties , according to Gardner and her colleagues .
In general , policy response was highly `` decentralized '' during this period , researchers said .
This means instructions on county and state-level stay-at-home policies were implemented in varying ways and levels , making the effectiveness of social distancing difficult @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the study , researchers used real-world mobile phone movement data as an indicator of social distancing .
This was used to compare local case growth with how individuals actually modified their movement patterns , rather than `` relying on assumed compliance with local stay-at-home policies , '' they said .
Daily mobility data from Jan. 1 through April 20 was taken from mobile network records to capture trends in movement patterns for each U.S. county , and compared to baseline patterns pre-COVID-19 to generate a social distancing baseline , the researchers said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 25 of the most-affected counties six to 29 days before state-level stay-at-home policies were implemented , the researchers said .
Between January 24 and April 17 , compared to normal levels , individual mobility dropped by a range of 35 percent in New York City -- the lowest figure in the study -- to 63 percent in Harris County , Texas , which includes Houston -- the highest figure in the study .
In general , individuals modifying their behavior helped slow the spread of the virus more quickly than if they had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the researchers said .
`` If individual-level actions were not taken and social distancing behavior was delayed until the state-level directives were implemented , COVID-19 would have been able to circulate unmitigated for additional weeks in some locations , inevitably resulting in more infections and deaths , '' Gardner said .
`` This demonstrates that it is within the power of each U.S. resident to help slow the spread of COVID-19 . ''

Americans reduced movement by up to 63 percent to prevent the spread of COVID-19, a new study has found. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
July 1 (UPI) -- Americans staying home -- even before local officials imposed social distancing restrictions -- likely stemmed the spread of COVID-19 in many parts of the country, according to an analysis published Wednesday by the Lancet Infectious Diseases. In the 25 counties most affected by the outbreak by mid-April, movement by individuals dropped by up to 63 percent following the first three months of the outbreak, based on mobile phone data, according to the researchers. Advertisement
These counties began to see declines in cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, nine to 12 days after the declines in movement began. This, researchers said, reflects the five- to 14-day period between infection and symptoms appearing.
"Our results strongly support the conclusion that social distancing played a crucial role in the reduction of case growth rates in multiple U.S. counties during March and April, and is therefore an effective mitigation policy for COVID-19," study co-author Lauren M. Gardner said in a press release.
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"Critically, we also found that behavioral changes were already underway in many U.S. counties days to weeks before state-level or local-level stay-at-home policies were implemented," said Gardner, an associate professor of engineering at Johns Hopkins University.
Within the first four months of COVID-19 being reported in the United States, the virus spread to every state and more than 90 percent of counties, according to Gardner and her colleagues.
In general, policy response was highly "decentralized" during this period, researchers said. This means instructions on county and state-level stay-at-home policies were implemented in varying ways and levels, making the effectiveness of social distancing difficult to assess, they said.
For the study, researchers used real-world mobile phone movement data as an indicator of social distancing. This was used to compare local case growth with how individuals actually modified their movement patterns, rather than "relying on assumed compliance with local stay-at-home policies," they said.
Daily mobility data from Jan. 1 through April 20 was taken from mobile network records to capture trends in movement patterns for each U.S. county, and compared to baseline patterns pre-COVID-19 to generate a social distancing baseline, the researchers said.
Individuals began reducing their movement in all 25 of the most-affected counties six to 29 days before state-level stay-at-home policies were implemented, the researchers said.
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Between January 24 and April 17, compared to normal levels, individual mobility dropped by a range of 35 percent in New York City -- the lowest figure in the study -- to 63 percent in Harris County, Texas, which includes Houston -- the highest figure in the study.
In general, individuals modifying their behavior helped slow the spread of the virus more quickly than if they had waited until the implementation of stay-at-home policies, the researchers said.
"If individual-level actions were not taken and social distancing behavior was delayed until the state-level directives were implemented, COVID-19 would have been able to circulate unmitigated for additional weeks in some locations, inevitably resulting in more infections and deaths," Gardner said. "This demonstrates that it is within the power of each U.S. resident to help slow the spread of COVID-19."


upi--2020-07-01--350 elephants found dead in Botswana within past two months

July 1 ( UPI ) -- More than 350 elephants have died in Botswana within the past two months in what experts have described as a `` conservation disaster . ''
Niall McCann of British charity National Park Rescue said his colleagues first discovered 169 dead elephants in early May during a 3-hour flight over the Okavango Delta in Botswana , the southern African country which is home to one-third of the continent 's elephant population .
`` To be able to see and count that many in a 3-hour flight was extraordinary .
A month later our , colleagues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new carcasses , bringing the total to over 350 , '' McCann said .
`` This is totally unprecedented in terms of numbers of elephants dying in a single event unrelated to drought . ''
Acting director of Botswana 's department of wildlife and national parks , Cyril Taolo , said the government has confirmed 280 deaths and has sent samples for testing but said COVID-19 restrictions have delayed the process , so causes for the deaths are not yet known .
Poisoning or an unknown pathogen are considered the most likely possibilities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and poaching , noting the tusks had not been removed .
Male and female elephants of all ages have died and witnesses have said some were seen walking in circles , indicating possible neurological impairment , while others have appeared weak and emaciated , suggesting more forthcoming deaths .
`` If you look at the carcasses , some of them have fallen straight on their face , indicating they died very quickly .
Others are obviously dying more slowly , like the ones that are wandering around .
So it 's very difficult @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' McCann said .

Scientists in Africa have reported more than 350 elephants have died within the last two months in what has been described as a "conservation" disaster in Botswana. File Photo by Gernot Hensel/EPA-EFE
July 1 (UPI) -- More than 350 elephants have died in Botswana within the past two months in what experts have described as a "conservation disaster." Niall McCann of British charity National Park Rescue said his colleagues first discovered 169 dead elephants in early May during a 3-hour flight over the Okavango Delta in Botswana, the southern African country which is home to one-third of the continent's elephant population. Advertisement
"To be able to see and count that many in a 3-hour flight was extraordinary. A month later our, colleagues did another flight over and spotted 187 new carcasses, bringing the total to over 350," McCann said. "This is totally unprecedented in terms of numbers of elephants dying in a single event unrelated to drought."
Acting director of Botswana's department of wildlife and national parks, Cyril Taolo, said the government has confirmed 280 deaths and has sent samples for testing but said COVID-19 restrictions have delayed the process, so causes for the deaths are not yet known.
Poisoning or an unknown pathogen are considered the most likely possibilities as the government has ruled out anthrax and poaching, noting the tusks had not been removed.
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Male and female elephants of all ages have died and witnesses have said some were seen walking in circles, indicating possible neurological impairment, while others have appeared weak and emaciated, suggesting more forthcoming deaths.
"If you look at the carcasses, some of them have fallen straight on their face, indicating they died very quickly. Others are obviously dying more slowly, like the ones that are wandering around. So it's very difficult to say what this toxin is," McCann said.


upi--2020-07-01--Store being sold out of lottery ticket leads woman to $250,000 jackpot

July 1 ( UPI ) -- A South Carolina woman said a store being sold out of her favorite lottery @ @ @ @ @ a lucky break when she picked a replacement and won $ 250,000 .
The Boiling @ @ @ @ @ Education Lottery officials she went to the S & J Mart in Boiling Springs to @ @ @ @ @ , but was disappointed to discover the store was sold out of the game .
@ @ @ @ @ scratch-off ticket as a replacement , and won a $ 250,000 jackpot .
`` I @ @ @ @ @ winner recalled of discovering her prize .
`` I sat staring at the ticket .
@ @ @ @ @ was especially shocked when she read the back of the ticket and discovered she had @ @ @ @ @ 810,000 .
`` I 'm that one , '' she said .

A South Carolina woman who won a $250,000 lottery jackpot credited her fortune to the store being sold out of her favorite scratch-off ticket. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe July 1 (UPI) -- A South Carolina woman said a store being sold out of her favorite lottery ticket turned out to be a lucky break when she picked a replacement and won $250,000. The Boiling Springs woman told South Carolina Education Lottery officials she went to the S & J Mart in Boiling Springs to buy a scratch-off lottery ticket, but was disappointed to discover the store was sold out of the game. Advertisement
The woman picked a 50X scratch-off ticket as a replacement, and won a $250,000 jackpot.
"I started sobbing," the winner recalled of discovering her prize. "I sat staring at the ticket."
The woman said she was especially shocked when she read the back of the ticket and discovered she had beaten odds of 1 in 810,000.
"I'm that one," she said.


upi--2020-07-01--Police clear Seattle's CHOP protest zone, at least 32 arrested

July 1 ( UPI ) -- Police in Seattle were deployed to clear the city 's protest zone early Wednesday , following an executive order from Mayor Jenny Durkan calling for protesters to vacate the area .
Durkan signed the executive order on Tuesday night and police began issuing dispersal orders for `` anyone who remains in the area or returns to the area , '' arresting 32 people , the Seattle Police Department wrote on Twitter .
At least 100 police officers equipped with body armor , batons , helmets and weapons entered the area known as the Capitol @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as protesters left the area .
Police said that anyone seeking to leave the area without being arrested could exit through the south end of the zone .
Protesters had barricaded several blocks near Capitol Hill and occupied the area previously known as the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone , or CHAZ , for weeks after police abandoned their nearby East Precinct amid global protests against police brutality and racial injustice sparked by the police-involved killing of George Floyd in Minnesota .
The demonstrations in the area had largely been peaceful but Durkan last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the area following at least two fatal shootings in the CHOP in recent weeks .
Police Chief Carmen Best said she supports peaceful protests but on Wednesday declared that `` enough is enough . ''
`` The CHOP has become lawless and brutal , '' she said .
President Donald Trump has condemned the protesters , referring to them as `` domestic terrorists , '' and Attorney General William Barr praised Best and the police department for clearing the area .
`` The message of today 's action is simple but significant : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and assemble freely , but it provides no right to commit violence or defy the law , '' Barr said .

July 1 (UPI) -- Police in Seattle were deployed to clear the city's protest zone early Wednesday, following an executive order from Mayor Jenny Durkan calling for protesters to vacate the area.
Durkan signed the executive order on Tuesday night and police began issuing dispersal orders for "anyone who remains in the area or returns to the area," arresting 32 people, the Seattle Police Department wrote on Twitter.
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At least 100 police officers equipped with body armor, batons, helmets and weapons entered the area known as the Capitol Hill Organized Protest, or CHOP, as protesters left the area.
Police said that anyone seeking to leave the area without being arrested could exit through the south end of the zone.
Protesters had barricaded several blocks near Capitol Hill and occupied the area previously known as the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone, or CHAZ, for weeks after police abandoned their nearby East Precinct amid global protests against police brutality and racial injustice sparked by the police-involved killing of George Floyd in Minnesota.
The demonstrations in the area had largely been peaceful but Durkan last week announced plans to clear protesters from the area following at least two fatal shootings in the CHOP in recent weeks.
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Police Chief Carmen Best said she supports peaceful protests but on Wednesday declared that "enough is enough."
"The CHOP has become lawless and brutal," she said.
President Donald Trump has condemned the protesters, referring to them as "domestic terrorists," and Attorney General William Barr praised Best and the police department for clearing the area.
"The message of today's action is simple but significant: The Constitution protects the right to speak and assemble freely, but it provides no right to commit violence or defy the law," Barr said.


upi--2020-07-01--Alligator with missing limbs shows up on Florida family's porch

July 1 ( UPI ) -- A large alligator with two missing limbs has a new home at a reptile @ @ @ @ @ on a Florida family 's front porch .
The 8-foot , 9-inch alligator was spotted @ @ @ @ @ of a home in Tampa , and the residents called for help removing the unwelcome @ @ @ @ @ and John Paner , who run the Croc Encounters wildlife sanctuary and operate as nuisance @ @ @ @ @ state , were summoned to the scene to capture the alligator .
`` He was @ @ @ @ @ evicted from his comfortable , shady spot as he smashed everything in sight upon exiting @ @ @ @ @ in a Facebook post .
The post said the alligator was missing two limbs , @ @ @ @ @ of a fight with another gator .
The alligator will have a new permanent home @ @ @ @ @ post said .

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July 1 (UPI) -- A large alligator with two missing limbs has a new home at a reptile rescue after it showed up on a Florida family's front porch.
The 8-foot, 9-inch alligator was spotted Tuesday at the front door of a home in Tampa, and the residents called for help removing the unwelcome reptile.
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Karina Sura Paner and John Paner, who run the Croc Encounters wildlife sanctuary and operate as nuisance alligator trappers contracted with the state, were summoned to the scene to capture the alligator.
"He was not too happy to be evicted from his comfortable, shady spot as he smashed everything in sight upon exiting," Croc Encounters said in a Facebook post.
The post said the alligator was missing two limbs, most likely as a result of a fight with another gator.
The alligator will have a new permanent home at Croc Encounters, the post said.


upi--2020-07-01--Moon's metal-rich craters challenge popular theories about its origin

July 1 ( UPI ) -- The most popular theory of the moon 's origins contends the satellite was formed when a Mars-sized object collided with Earth , vaporizing large portions of Earth 's upper crust .
While Earth 's upper crust is poor in metals , new research -- published Wednesday in the journal Earth and Planetary Science Letters -- suggests the moon 's subsurface is surprisingly metal-rich , undermining the satellite 's proposed origin story .
`` By improving our understanding of how much metal the moon 's subsurface actually has , scientists can constrain the ambiguities about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is evolving and how it is contributing to maintaining habitability on Earth , '' lead study author Essam Heggy said in a news release .
Using data collected by instruments onboard NASA 's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter , researchers were able to identify the chemical composition of the fine dust found at the bottom of lunar craters .
Scientists measured higher concentrations of metals , including iron and titanium oxides , than previously estimated .
The dust in the bottom of craters offers evidence of the materials found beneath the lunar crust .
Scientists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inside craters are what 's left of material that was ejected millions of years ago .
Scientists surveyed the contents of a variety of craters , and they found larger craters hosted greater concentrations of metal dust than smaller craters .
The discovery supports the theory that the moon 's subsurface material is especially metal-rich .
The difference in concentrations of iron oxides on the moon and Earth has always complicated the traditional theory for the moon 's formation , but the new research shows the moon is even more metal-rich than previously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suggest planetary scientists consider alternative theories for the moon 's formation .
It 's possible the collision that forged the moon was more violent than scientists thought , gouging out even deeper portions of Earth 's crust and mantle .
It 's also possible the moon experienced an unusual cool-down process , post-collision -- a process that left the moon with large concentrations of metal .
`` Our solar system alone has over 200 moons -- understanding the crucial role these moons play in the formation and evolution of the planets they orbit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and where life conditions outside Earth might form and what it might look like , '' said Heggy , a research scientist of electrical and computer engineering at the University of Southern California .

Scientists still need to work out the details of the moon's formation. Photo by NASA/Apollo 11 Mission Image
July 1 (UPI) -- The most popular theory of the moon's origins contends the satellite was formed when a Mars-sized object collided with Earth, vaporizing large portions of Earth's upper crust. While Earth's upper crust is poor in metals, new research -- published Wednesday in the journal Earth and Planetary Science Letters -- suggests the moon's subsurface is surprisingly metal-rich, undermining the satellite's proposed origin story. Advertisement
"By improving our understanding of how much metal the moon's subsurface actually has, scientists can constrain the ambiguities about how it has formed, how it is evolving and how it is contributing to maintaining habitability on Earth," lead study author Essam Heggy said in a news release.
Using data collected by instruments onboard NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, researchers were able to identify the chemical composition of the fine dust found at the bottom of lunar craters. Scientists measured higher concentrations of metals, including iron and titanium oxides, than previously estimated.
The dust in the bottom of craters offers evidence of the materials found beneath the lunar crust. Scientists suspect much of the fine dust found inside craters are what's left of material that was ejected millions of years ago.
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Scientists surveyed the contents of a variety of craters, and they found larger craters hosted greater concentrations of metal dust than smaller craters. The discovery supports the theory that the moon's subsurface material is especially metal-rich.
The difference in concentrations of iron oxides on the moon and Earth has always complicated the traditional theory for the moon's formation, but the new research shows the moon is even more metal-rich than previously thought.
Authors of the new study suggest planetary scientists consider alternative theories for the moon's formation.
It's possible the collision that forged the moon was more violent than scientists thought, gouging out even deeper portions of Earth's crust and mantle. It's also possible the moon experienced an unusual cool-down process, post-collision -- a process that left the moon with large concentrations of metal.
"Our solar system alone has over 200 moons -- understanding the crucial role these moons play in the formation and evolution of the planets they orbit can give us deeper insights into how and where life conditions outside Earth might form and what it might look like," said Heggy, a research scientist of electrical and computer engineering at the University of Southern California.


upi--2020-07-01--6-foot boa constrictor found wandering loose in British garden

July 1 ( UPI ) -- Animal rescuers in Britain said they are trying to find the owner of a @ @ @ @ @ a block of rental garden properties .
The RSPCA said the red-tailed boa constrictor was @ @ @ @ @ the public in a rental garden space in Newport , England .
The snake was @ @ @ @ @ station and turned over to the RSPCA .
`` This would have been a pretty @ @ @ @ @ -- with a 6-foot , red-tailed boa constrictor coming for a visit , '' RSPCA @ @ @ @ @ said .
`` However , it is another reminder of what remarkable escape artists these @ @ @ @ @ '' Davidson said the snake is being cared for at a specialist center in the @ @ @ @ @ to identify the apparent escaped pet 's owner .
`` Snakes can also be microchipped @ @ @ @ @ anyone owning one to explore whether this is a possibility , to ensure they can @ @ @ @ @ should they stray , '' she said .

The RSPCA said it is trying to find the owner of a 6-foot, red-tailed boa constrictor found slithering through a garden. Photo courtesy of the RSPCA
Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe July 1 (UPI) -- Animal rescuers in Britain said they are trying to find the owner of a 6-foot snake found slithering through a block of rental garden properties. The RSPCA said the red-tailed boa constrictor was spotted by a member of the public in a rental garden space in Newport, England. Advertisement
The snake was taken to a nearby police station and turned over to the RSPCA.
"This would have been a pretty unbelievable find at an allotment -- with a 6-foot, red-tailed boa constrictor coming for a visit," RSPCA animal collection officer Stephanie Davidson said. "However, it is another reminder of what remarkable escape artists these exotic animals can be."
Davidson said the snake is being cared for at a specialist center in the West Midlands while investigators attempt to identify the apparent escaped pet's owner.
"Snakes can also be microchipped -- and we'd urge anyone owning one to explore whether this is a possibility, to ensure they can be returned home more easily should they stray," she said.


upi--2020-07-01--Watch: Disoriented horse rescued more than a mile off shore

July 1 ( UPI ) -- A water rescue team in Ireland came to the assistance of a runaway horse @ @ @ @ @ at a beach and swam more than a mile out to sea .
The Royal @ @ @ @ @ non-profit rescue group , said a crew from Bundoran responded Monday afternoon when a horse @ @ @ @ @ Murvagh Beach , in County Donegal , and starting swimming out to sea .
The @ @ @ @ @ more than a mile off shore and guided the disoriented equine back to dry land @ @ @ @ @ injured and was reunited with its owner .

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July 1 (UPI) -- A water rescue team in Ireland came to the assistance of a runaway horse that ran into the water at a beach and swam more than a mile out to sea.
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution, a non-profit rescue group, said a crew from Bundoran responded Monday afternoon when a horse ran into the water on Murvagh Beach, in County Donegal, and starting swimming out to sea.
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The lifeboat crew located the horse more than a mile off shore and guided the disoriented equine back to dry land.
The horse was not injured and was reunited with its owner.


upi--2020-07-01--Potential new drug could be taken twice a year to treat HIV

Scientists are reporting an early step toward an HIV drug that could potentially be taken only a couple of times per year .
A single injection of the experimental drug , called lenacapavir , was able to lower blood levels of HIV in a small group of patients .
And it was capable of maintaining active levels in the blood for more than six months .
It all raises the possibility of one day having an HIV treatment that only needs to be taken twice a year .
The current treatment regimens for HIV -- combinations of oral drugs often @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quite well , said study co-author Dr. Martin Rhee .
`` But patients often say that over time , taking daily pills can be a burden , '' said Rhee , director of clinical research for Gilead Sciences , Inc. -- which is developing lenacapavir .
So the hope is that longer-acting HIV medications could `` free people from daily pills , '' Rhee said .
Beyond that , he noted , longer-acting drugs could potentially offer a simpler way to prevent HIV in high-risk people : Right now , that 's done @ @ @ @ @ @ @ PrEP ( pre-exposure prophylaxis ) .
However , much more work remains ahead .
The new study , published July 1 in the journal Nature , offers a `` proof of principle '' that a dosing interval of every six months is possible , Rhee said .
The researchers found that in 40 healthy people , lenacapavir appeared safe and could remain active in the body for more than six months .
And in 32 people with previously untreated HIV , a single injection reduced viral levels in the blood within nine days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is `` amenable to dosing every six months , '' said Dr. Rajesh Gandhi , an infectious disease physician at Massachusetts General Hospital , in Boston .
Gandhi , who is also chair-elect of the HIV Medicine Association , agreed there is a need for longer-acting HIV drugs .
The catch is that HIV is not treated with one drug alone -- to keep the virus suppressed and limit the chances of it becoming resistant to medication .
So , for any twice-a-year regimen to become a reality , Gandhi explained , two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` So the question is , what do you partner this drug with ? ''
he said .
Rhee said Gilead is working on such a partner .
More immediately , the researchers will study the effects of lenacapavir , taken every six months , in HIV patients who 've tried many standard drugs and are resistant to them .
Other longer-acting drugs for HIV are further along -- though the doses are more frequent than twice a year .
Researchers are studying a combination of two injection drugs -- cabotegravir and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The hope is to keep HIV suppressed in patients who 've gotten the virus down to very low levels with standard oral drugs .
Meanwhile , cabotegravir is also being tested for preventing HIV in high-risk people , according to the U.S. National Institutes of Health .
In those trials , injections are given every two months .
But while infrequent doses would be convenient and -- hopefully -- make adherence easier , there are safety questions .
If people have side effects from the drug , for example , does that mean @ @ @ @ @ @ @ months ?
To help avoid that , Gandhi said , studies have been using a `` lead-in '' phase : Patients first take oral versions of the long-acting drugs , to make sure they can tolerate them .
But another concern , Gandhi said , is what could happen if patients miss or delay an injection : As levels of the drug wane in the body , the virus could come roaring back , and possibly develop resistance to the medication .
Rhee agreed that is an issue that will face all long-acting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the progress toward new options is encouraging , according to Gandhi .
People with HIV should know that scientists are still working on new treatments , he said -- including ways to potentially cure it .
`` We 're still committed to finding a cure , '' Gandhi said .
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has more on HIV treatment .

A new study offers a "proof of principle" that a dosing interval of every six months is possible for HIV treatment. Photo by Arek Socha /Pixabay
Scientists are reporting an early step toward an HIV drug that could potentially be taken only a couple of times per year. A single injection of the experimental drug, called lenacapavir, was able to lower blood levels of HIV in a small group of patients. And it was capable of maintaining active levels in the blood for more than six months. Advertisement
It all raises the possibility of one day having an HIV treatment that only needs to be taken twice a year.
The current treatment regimens for HIV -- combinations of oral drugs often called "cocktails" -- generally work quite well, said study co-author Dr. Martin Rhee.
"But patients often say that over time, taking daily pills can be a burden," said Rhee, director of clinical research for Gilead Sciences, Inc. -- which is developing lenacapavir.
So the hope is that longer-acting HIV medications could "free people from daily pills," Rhee said.
Advertisement
Beyond that, he noted, longer-acting drugs could potentially offer a simpler way to prevent HIV in high-risk people: Right now, that's done with a daily pill regimen known as PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis).
However, much more work remains ahead. The new study, published July 1 in the journal Nature, offers a "proof of principle" that a dosing interval of every six months is possible, Rhee said.
The researchers found that in 40 healthy people, lenacapavir appeared safe and could remain active in the body for more than six months. And in 32 people with previously untreated HIV, a single injection reduced viral levels in the blood within nine days.
It's encouraging that the drug is "amenable to dosing every six months," said Dr. Rajesh Gandhi, an infectious disease physician at Massachusetts General Hospital, in Boston.
Gandhi, who is also chair-elect of the HIV Medicine Association, agreed there is a need for longer-acting HIV drugs.
The catch is that HIV is not treated with one drug alone -- to keep the virus suppressed and limit the chances of it becoming resistant to medication.
So, for any twice-a-year regimen to become a reality, Gandhi explained, two long-acting drugs would have to be paired.
Advertisement
"So the question is, what do you partner this drug with?" he said.
Rhee said Gilead is working on such a partner. More immediately, the researchers will study the effects of lenacapavir, taken every six months, in HIV patients who've tried many standard drugs and are resistant to them.
Other longer-acting drugs for HIV are further along -- though the doses are more frequent than twice a year.
Researchers are studying a combination of two injection drugs -- cabotegravir and rilpivirine -- that is given monthly. The hope is to keep HIV suppressed in patients who've gotten the virus down to very low levels with standard oral drugs.
Meanwhile, cabotegravir is also being tested for preventing HIV in high-risk people, according to the U.S. National Institutes of Health. In those trials, injections are given every two months.
But while infrequent doses would be convenient and -- hopefully -- make adherence easier, there are safety questions. If people have side effects from the drug, for example, does that mean they are stuck with them for six months?
To help avoid that, Gandhi said, studies have been using a "lead-in" phase: Patients first take oral versions of the long-acting drugs, to make sure they can tolerate them.
Advertisement
But another concern, Gandhi said, is what could happen if patients miss or delay an injection: As levels of the drug wane in the body, the virus could come roaring back, and possibly develop resistance to the medication.
Rhee agreed that is an issue that will face all long-acting HIV medications under development.
Still, the progress toward new options is encouraging, according to Gandhi. People with HIV should know that scientists are still working on new treatments, he said -- including ways to potentially cure it.
"We're still committed to finding a cure," Gandhi said.
More information
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has more on HIV treatment.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-07-01--CBS to salute Carl Reiner with two episodes of 'The Dick Van Dyke Show'

July 1 ( UPI ) -- CBS announced it will pay tribute to the late Carl Reiner by airing a pair of colorized episodes of The Dick Van Dyke Show .
The network said two episodes prominently featuring Reiner , who created and co-starred in The Dick Van Dyke Show , will air Friday at 8 p.m. on CBS and streaming service CBS All Access .
Reiner died Monday at the age of 98 .
The Dick Van Dyke Show -- Now In Living Color !
A Special Tribute to Carl Reiner will feature the episodes `` Coast to Coast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' which were colorized under Reiner 's supervision .
CBS said Reiner had cited `` October Eve '' as one of his favorite episodes of the series .
`` In 'October Eve , ' I got a chance to perform on the show as someone other than Alan Brady , and I loved the character of Carpetna the artist as soon as I read it , '' Reiner said in 2017 .
The episodes aired on CBS in two separate The Dick Van Dyke Show -- Now In Living Color !
specials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Dec. 11 , 2016 , and the second on Dec. 22 , 2017 .
Reiner , who served as executive producer of The Dick Van Dyke Show , earned five Emmy Awards for his work on the series , which also starred Dick Van Dyke , Mary Tyler Moore , Larry Matthews , Morey Amsterdam , Rose Marie , Richard Deacon , Jerry Paris and Ann Morgan Guilbert .

CBS announced it will pay tribute to late actor, comedian, writer and producer Carl Reiner by airing a pair of colorized episodes of "The Dick Van Dyke Show," which Reiner created. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
July 1 (UPI) -- CBS announced it will pay tribute to the late Carl Reiner by airing a pair of colorized episodes of The Dick Van Dyke Show. The network said two episodes prominently featuring Reiner, who created and co-starred in The Dick Van Dyke Show, will air Friday at 8 p.m. on CBS and streaming service CBS All Access. Advertisement
Reiner died Monday at the age of 98.
The Dick Van Dyke Show -- Now In Living Color! A Special Tribute to Carl Reiner will feature the episodes "Coast to Coast Big Mouth" and "October Eve," which were colorized under Reiner's supervision.
CBS said Reiner had cited "October Eve" as one of his favorite episodes of the series.
"In 'October Eve,' I got a chance to perform on the show as someone other than Alan Brady, and I loved the character of Carpetna the artist as soon as I read it," Reiner said in 2017.
The episodes aired on CBS in two separate The Dick Van Dyke Show -- Now In Living Color! specials executive produced by Reiner, the first on Dec. 11, 2016, and the second on Dec. 22, 2017.
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Reiner, who served as executive producer of The Dick Van Dyke Show, earned five Emmy Awards for his work on the series, which also starred Dick Van Dyke, Mary Tyler Moore, Larry Matthews, Morey Amsterdam, Rose Marie, Richard Deacon, Jerry Paris and Ann Morgan Guilbert.
The series originally ran from 1961-1966.
In Memoriam: Moments from Carl Reiner's career


upi--2020-07-01--U.S., UAE conclude exercises in Arabian Gulf

July 1 ( UPI ) -- The United Arab Emirates ' Joint Aviation Command concluded joint exercises in the Arabian Gulf with U.S. forces , the U.S. Marines said on Wednesday .
The naval and air training operations were conducted from June 21 to June 25 and centered on the U.S. Navy 's USS Lewis B. Pulller , an expeditionary mobile base vessel .
The operations included tracking and engagement of simulated fast-attack craft , and UAE pilots of CH-47F , Bell 407 , AH-64D and UH-60M helicopters completed deck landing qualifications aboard the ship , the U.S. 5th Fleet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ planes involved in the exercise included P-8 Poseidon reconnaissance aircraft , operating from the AFCENT Warfare Center at Al Dhafra , UAE .
The USS Puller is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations , supporting naval operations , naval maritime stability and security in a region connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Pacific Ocean through the Western Indian Ocean .
Its area of responsibility includes thre ecritical choke points in and around the Arabian Gulf .
`` These training opportunities reinforce partnership commitments in the region , enhance interoperability , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ respond to threats in the region , '' said Brigadier Gen. Matthew Trollinger , Commander of Task Force 51 of the 5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade .

1/2
A Chinook CH-47 helicopter of the United Arab Emirates lands on the deck of the USS Lewis B. Puller during naval and air exercises last week between the United States and the UAE. Photo by Chief Logistics Specialist Thomas Joyce/U.S. Navy
July 1 (UPI) -- The United Arab Emirates' Joint Aviation Command concluded joint exercises in the Arabian Gulf with U.S. forces, the U.S. Marines said on Wednesday. The naval and air training operations were conducted from June 21 to June 25 and centered on the U.S. Navy's USS Lewis B. Pulller, an expeditionary mobile base vessel. Advertisement
The operations included tracking and engagement of simulated fast-attack craft, and UAE pilots of CH-47F, Bell 407, AH-64D and UH-60M helicopters completed deck landing qualifications aboard the ship, the U.S. 5th Fleet said in a Twitter message.
U.S. planes involved in the exercise included P-8 Poseidon reconnaissance aircraft, operating from the AFCENT Warfare Center at Al Dhafra, UAE.
The USS Puller is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations, supporting naval operations, naval maritime stability and security in a region connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Pacific Ocean through the Western Indian Ocean. Its area of responsibility includes thre ecritical choke points in and around the Arabian Gulf.
"These training opportunities reinforce partnership commitments in the region, enhance interoperability, and demonstrate UAE and U.S. resolve to respond to threats in the region," said Brigadier Gen. Matthew Trollinger, Commander of Task Force 51 of the 5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade.