upi--2020-03-07--Coronavirus: Concerts, Julie Andrews tribute postponed

March 7 ( UPI ) -- The 48th annual AFI Life Achievement Award Gala Tribute in celebration of Julie Andrews in Los Angeles was postponed Saturday as a precaution in the wake of a coronavirus outbreak .
The event was scheduled for April 25 , but will now take place in early summer .
The specific date of the tribute and its air date on TNT will be announced soon , the American Film Institute said .
`` AFI 's decision to postpone the event is simply in response to the rapidly evolving nature of current events and our promise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and audience that gather each year to celebrate America 's art form , '' AFI CEO and President Bob Gazzale said in a statement Saturday .
Pregnant singer-songwriter Ciara also canceled her plans to perform at the grand opening of the new Fort Hood USO in Texas on March 19 , The Hollywood Reporter said .
`` With the continued spread of the coronavirus throughout the U.S. , as a pregnant woman , my doctors have advised me to limit travel and large group gatherings , '' Ciara said in a statement Saturday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't be able to return this month to the place where I was born , Ft .
Hood Texas , and put on the amazing show we had planned .
...
I urge everyone to be diligent in taking steps to stay healthy and safe . ''
The event is expected to be rescheduled for later this year .
The Yukon government in Canada announced Saturday that it is canceling the 2020 Arctic Winter Games , a sporting competition that attracts 2,000 athletes from around the world .
This year 's event was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
One Direction alum Louis Tomlinson canceled his concert next week in Milan , Italy .
`` I was really excited to bring the Walls Tour to Italy but the health and safety of my fans is more important than anything else , '' he tweeted Thursday .
Mariah Carey said she is postponing her Tuesday show in Hawaii until the end of the year .
`` Aloha Hawaii !
!
I 'm so so sad to have to announce that I 'm postponing my show to November .
I was so excited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'anniversary month ' but evolving international travel restrictions force us to consider everyone 's safety and well being , '' she posted on Tuesday .
`` With that said , I am SUPER excited to be coming to Honolulu in November and perform my special All I Want for Christmas Is You & Hits extravaganza for the first time ever in Hawaii !
I ca n't wait to see you !
Stay safe !
! ''
On Friday , organizers canceled the South By Southwest film , music and tech festival in Austin @ @ @

1/3
Coronavirus fears led to the postponement of next month's AFI tribute to Julie Andrews. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
March 7 (UPI) -- The 48th annual AFI Life Achievement Award Gala Tribute in celebration of Julie Andrews in Los Angeles was postponed Saturday as a precaution in the wake of a coronavirus outbreak. The event was scheduled for April 25, but will now take place in early summer. Advertisement
The specific date of the tribute and its air date on TNT will be announced soon, the American Film Institute said.
"AFI's decision to postpone the event is simply in response to the rapidly evolving nature of current events and our promise to ensure the well-being of the artists and audience that gather each year to celebrate America's art form," AFI CEO and President Bob Gazzale said in a statement Saturday.
Pregnant singer-songwriter Ciara also canceled her plans to perform at the grand opening of the new Fort Hood USO in Texas on March 19, The Hollywood Reporter said.
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"With the continued spread of the coronavirus throughout the U.S., as a pregnant woman, my doctors have advised me to limit travel and large group gatherings," Ciara said in a statement Saturday. "I am disappointed I won't be able to return this month to the place where I was born, Ft. Hood Texas, and put on the amazing show we had planned. ... I urge everyone to be diligent in taking steps to stay healthy and safe."
The event is expected to be rescheduled for later this year.
The Yukon government in Canada announced Saturday that it is canceling the 2020 Arctic Winter Games, a sporting competition that attracts 2,000 athletes from around the world. This year's event was scheduled for March 15 through March 21.
One Direction alum Louis Tomlinson canceled his concert next week in Milan, Italy.
"I was really excited to bring the Walls Tour to Italy but the health and safety of my fans is more important than anything else," he tweeted Thursday.
Mariah Carey said she is postponing her Tuesday show in Hawaii until the end of the year.
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"Aloha Hawaii!! I'm so so sad to have to announce that I'm postponing my show to November. I was so excited to come back to Hawaii on my 'anniversary month' but evolving international travel restrictions force us to consider everyone's safety and well being," she posted on Tuesday.
"With that said, I am SUPER excited to be coming to Honolulu in November and perform my special All I Want for Christmas Is You & Hits extravaganza for the first time ever in Hawaii! I can't wait to see you! Stay safe!!"
Aloha Hawaii!! I'm so so sad to have to announce that I'm postponing my show to November. I was so excited to come back to Hawaii on my "anniversary month" but evolving international travel restrictions force us to consider everyone's safety and well being. (Cont.) pic.twitter.com/HVbPX6PSxm— Mariah Carey (@MariahCarey) March 3, 2020
On Friday, organizers canceled the South By Southwest film, music and tech festival in Austin, Texas.


upi--2020-03-07--2 rowhouses burn in D.C. blaze, displacing 5

March 7 ( UPI ) -- Officials in Washington , D.C. , reported that the use of a torch during @ @ @ @ @ that displaced at least seven people .
D.C. Fire and Emergency Services personnel responded to @ @ @ @ @ block of New Hampshire Avenue NW at 11:30 a.m. , where they found two adjacent @ @ @ @ @ Eighty DCEMS staff worked for an hour before announcing the fire under control .
No @ @ @ @ @ residents received medical treatment , including rehydration , according to the fire depaertment .
Among @ @ @ @ @ woman who had lived on the street since 1969 , the Washington Post reported .
@ @ @ @ @ the scene in an ambulance .
A city council member who spoke with her described @ @ @ @ @ spirits .

March 7 (UPI) -- Officials in Washington, D.C., reported that the use of a torch during weatherproofing caused a two-alarm fire that displaced at least seven people.
D.C. Fire and Emergency Services personnel responded to a fire at the 4400 block of New Hampshire Avenue NW at 11:30 a.m., where they found two adjacent rowhouses engulfed in flames.
Advertisement Update 2 Alarm Fire 4400 block N. Hampshire Ave NW. A vigorous inside attack by #DCsBravest has extinguished bulk of the heavy fire. Still active fire in attic area. Firefight continues. Aprox. 20 units & 80 personnel on scene. No injuries reported. pic.twitter.com/KokppMf2zJ— DC Fire and EMS (@dcfireems) March 7, 2020
Eighty DCEMS staff worked for an hour before announcing the fire under control.
#DCsBravest fire investigators have determined the cause of the 2 Alarm Fire on New Hampshire Ave NW was accidental, the result of a torch being used during weatherproofing. pic.twitter.com/yu5uCGFoSX— DC Fire and EMS (@dcfireems) March 7, 2020
No injuries were reported but some residents received medical treatment, including rehydration, according to the fire depaertment.
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Among those displaced was an 81-year-old woman who had lived on the street since 1969, the Washington Post reported.
She was transported away from the scene in an ambulance. A city council member who spoke with her described her as being in good spirits.


upi--2020-03-07--Coronavirus: Egypt quarantines passengers from Nile cruise boat

March 7 ( UPI ) -- Officials in Egypt quarantined passengers from a cruise boat on the Nile river Saturday after 12 crew members tested positive for coronavirus Egyptian authorities were tipped off to the presence of the virus on the vessel after the World Health Organization said a dual Taiwanese-U.S. national tested positive after returning home from the cruise .
The 12 crew members were asymptomatic .
Cruise officials docked the ship near Luxor to disinfect it .
COVID-19 has killed more than 3,400 people and infected over 100,000 , mainly in China , as of Saturday morning , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hopkins University .
Mainland China alone has 80,651 cases and 2,959 deaths , the global tracker shows .
The Chinese government this week placed a ban on the consumption of wild animals .
The coronavirus outbreak has been linked to a wildlife market in Wuhan , China .
It 's unclear which animal may have transferred the virus to humans .
South Korea , Iran , Italy and Japan also have thousands of cases .
Outside of China , South Korea has the most cases with 7,041 , according to the global tracker @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 4,747 cases and 124 deaths .
Italy has 4,636 cases and the most deaths outside China at 197 deaths .
Japan has 1,045 cases , including 706 cases linked to the Diamond Princess cruise ship , and 12 deaths .
Italian officials , who earlier this week closed all schools and universities in reaction the outbreak , announced Saturday they will quarantine at least 10 million people in Lombardy and 11 provinces to the north and east of the country until at least April .
Italy 's co-ruling Democratic Party leader Nicola Zingaretti @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and confirmed Saturday in a statement on Facebook that he is in self-isolation .
U.S .
Naval Forces Europe-Africa reported Saturday a U.S. Navy sailor in Naples has tested positive for the virus , and has restricted to their residence there .
EUCOM said military health officials were investigating who the sailor might have been in contact with to determine whether any other service members were exposed .
Those who have had close contact with the sailor have been in self-isolation .
A former professional Denmark soccer player , Thomas Kahlenberg , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , has been quarantined after recently traveling to Amsterdam where he contracted the virus .
In Hong Kong , 17 people tried to escape quarantine and leave the city , but Immigration Department staff stopped them at the borders , Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan said Friday .
Pope Francis said he would make Sunday blessings through a streaming service inside the Vatican , instead of appearing in person at St. Peter 's Square because of the outbreak .

Egypt's Health Ministry didn't reveal how many passengers from the affected cruise boat have been quarantined. Photo by STR/EPA-EFE
March 7 (UPI) -- Officials in Egypt quarantined passengers from a cruise boat on the Nile river Saturday after 12 crew members tested positive for coronavirus Egyptian authorities were tipped off to the presence of the virus on the vessel after the World Health Organization said a dual Taiwanese-U.S. national tested positive after returning home from the cruise. The 12 crew members were asymptomatic. Advertisement
Cruise officials docked the ship near Luxor to disinfect it.
COVID-19 has killed more than 3,400 people and infected over 100,000, mainly in China, as of Saturday morning, according to global data compiled by John Hopkins University.
Mainland China alone has 80,651 cases and 2,959 deaths, the global tracker shows.
The Chinese government this week placed a ban on the consumption of wild animals. The coronavirus outbreak has been linked to a wildlife market in Wuhan, China. It's unclear which animal may have transferred the virus to humans.
South Korea, Iran, Italy and Japan also have thousands of cases.
Outside of China, South Korea has the most cases with 7,041, according to the global tracker, and 44 deaths. Iran has 4,747 cases and 124 deaths. Italy has 4,636 cases and the most deaths outside China at 197 deaths. Japan has 1,045 cases, including 706 cases linked to the Diamond Princess cruise ship, and 12 deaths.
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Italian officials, who earlier this week closed all schools and universities in reaction the outbreak, announced Saturday they will quarantine at least 10 million people in Lombardy and 11 provinces to the north and east of the country until at least April.
Italy's co-ruling Democratic Party leader Nicola Zingaretti has tested positive for the coronavirus, and confirmed Saturday in a statement on Facebook that he is in self-isolation.
U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa reported Saturday a U.S. Navy sailor in Naples has tested positive for the virus, and has restricted to their residence there.
EUCOM said military health officials were investigating who the sailor might have been in contact with to determine whether any other service members were exposed. Those who have had close contact with the sailor have been in self-isolation.
A former professional Denmark soccer player, Thomas Kahlenberg, who represented Denmark at the 2010 World Cup, has been quarantined after recently traveling to Amsterdam where he contracted the virus.
In Hong Kong, 17 people tried to escape quarantine and leave the city, but Immigration Department staff stopped them at the borders, Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan said Friday.
Pope Francis said he would make Sunday blessings through a streaming service inside the Vatican, instead of appearing in person at St. Peter's Square because of the outbreak.


upi--2020-03-07--Lebanon to default on $1.2 billion debt, prime minister says

March 7 ( UPI ) -- Lebanon 's prime minister announced on Saturday that the country will seek to restructure its massive debt rather than pay a $ 1.2 billion Eurobond due Monday .
Hassan Diab made a televised address to the nation , which is gripped by a financial crisis and dwindling cash reserves , that it was necessary to default on the debt in order to secure the basic needs of its population .
This is the first time Beirut has defaulted on its nearly $ 90 billion debt .
According to Financial Times , the country was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interest alone .
The Lebanese pound has devalued sharply relative to the U.S. dollar in recent months , and banks in the country have limited the amount of money bank members can withdraw , as well as transfers abroad .
`` How can we pay foreign creditors when the Lebanese ca n't access their deposits ?
How can we pay creditors and leave hospitals with a shortage of medical supplies ?
How can we pay the creditors while there are people on the streets who ca n't afford to buy bread ? ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ months the country 's financial crisis has spurred sometimes-violent protests as demonstrators have told media they do n't trust the government , just elected in January , to manage the situation .

Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab speaks during a news conference at the government palace in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, Saturday. Diab said,Lebanon will negotiate with creditors to reach a fair debt restructuring and the government will work to protect depositors' money, rather than pay $1.2 billion in outstanding Eurobonds. Photo courtesy of Dalati and Nohra via EPA-EFE
March 7 (UPI) -- Lebanon's prime minister announced on Saturday that the country will seek to restructure its massive debt rather than pay a $1.2 billion Eurobond due Monday. Hassan Diab made a televised address to the nation, which is gripped by a financial crisis and dwindling cash reserves, that it was necessary to default on the debt in order to secure the basic needs of its population. Advertisement
This is the first time Beirut has defaulted on its nearly $90 billion debt.
According to Financial Times, the country was spending about half its government revenues on interest alone.
The Lebanese pound has devalued sharply relative to the U.S. dollar in recent months, and banks in the country have limited the amount of money bank members can withdraw, as well as transfers abroad.
"How can we pay foreign creditors when the Lebanese can't access their deposits? How can we pay creditors and leave hospitals with a shortage of medical supplies? How can we pay the creditors while there are people on the streets who can't afford to buy bread?" Diab said.
Over the last several months the country's financial crisis has spurred sometimes-violent protests as demonstrators have told media they don't trust the government, just elected in January, to manage the situation.


upi--2020-03-07--Saudi Prince detains 3 senior royals

Saudi Prince detains 3 senior royals

March 7 ( UPI ) -- Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has the ordered arrest of three members of the royal family .
Two of the kingdom 's most prominent figures were among the three detainees arrested Friday for an alleged coup attempt , the Wall Street Journal first reported .
The arrests included the king 's younger and only surviving full brother , Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz , 78 , former crown prince Mohammed bin Nayef , and royal cousin , Prince Nawaf bin Nayef .
The detentions have been seen as an attempt to quash potential rivals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have come up short and the price of oil , the kingdom 's main revenue source , has slipped amid coronavirus concern .
Bin Salman , 34 , has acted as the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia on behalf of his aging father King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud , 84 , since his father appointed him as crown prince in 2017 .
Early on , the crown prince received global praise as he promised economic and social reforms , which led to lifting some restrictions on women 's rights , such as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has also been subject to controversy , including harsh treatment of women 's rights activists .
Back in 2017 , bin Salman also ordered the arrests of hundreds of other prominent figures , including royal figures and business people who were locked up in an anti-corruption purge at the Ritz-Carlton hotel .
The five-star open hotel re-opened last year after authorities reached agreements with most of the detainees to recover $ 107 billion in assets over a three-month investigation , according to Attorney General Sheikh Saud al-Mojeb .
Authorities refused to settle with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moved to prison , the prosecutor general 's office said .
The following year he presided over the killing of The Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi embassy in Istanbul , Turkey , according to U.S. intelligence agencies .
Critics also say his refusal to back down from military intervention in Yemen has led to humanitarian disaster .
Bin Salman 's critics also praised Prince Ahmed for appearing to criticize the Saudi-led war in Yemen during an encounter with protesters in London in 2018 , but he has since said that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crown prince , Mohammed bin Nayef , was first in line to the throne , until he was replaced as crown prince three years ago by the king 's son and also ousted as interior minister .
In the minister role , he was credited with defeating al-Qaeda insurgency 's grip on Saudi Arabia in the 2000s and developing close ties with U.S. intelligence agencies .

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has ordered three members of the royal family be arrested over an alleged coup attempt. They were taken into custody Friday. File Photo by Fares Ghaith/EPA-EFE
March 7 (UPI) -- Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has the ordered arrest of three members of the royal family. Two of the kingdom's most prominent figures were among the three detainees arrested Friday for an alleged coup attempt, the Wall Street Journal first reported. Advertisement
The arrests included the king's younger and only surviving full brother, Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz, 78, former crown prince Mohammed bin Nayef, and royal cousin, Prince Nawaf bin Nayef.
The detentions have been seen as an attempt to quash potential rivals as his plans to diversify the economy have come up short and the price of oil, the kingdom's main revenue source, has slipped amid coronavirus concern.
Bin Salman, 34, has acted as the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia on behalf of his aging father King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, 84, since his father appointed him as crown prince in 2017.
Early on, the crown prince received global praise as he promised economic and social reforms, which led to lifting some restrictions on women's rights, such as the right to drive, but he has also been subject to controversy, including harsh treatment of women's rights activists.
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Back in 2017, bin Salman also ordered the arrests of hundreds of other prominent figures, including royal figures and business people who were locked up in an anti-corruption purge at the Ritz-Carlton hotel. The five-star open hotel re-opened last year after authorities reached agreements with most of the detainees to recover $107 billion in assets over a three-month investigation, according to Attorney General Sheikh Saud al-Mojeb. Authorities refused to settle with 56 of the suspects who have been moved to prison, the prosecutor general's office said.
The following year he presided over the killing of The Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi embassy in Istanbul, Turkey, according to U.S. intelligence agencies.
Critics also say his refusal to back down from military intervention in Yemen has led to humanitarian disaster.
Bin Salman's critics also praised Prince Ahmed for appearing to criticize the Saudi-led war in Yemen during an encounter with protesters in London in 2018, but he has since said that his comments were misinterpreted.
The former crown prince, Mohammed bin Nayef, was first in line to the throne, until he was replaced as crown prince three years ago by the king's son and also ousted as interior minister. In the minister role, he was credited with defeating al-Qaeda insurgency's grip on Saudi Arabia in the 2000s and developing close ties with U.S. intelligence agencies.


upi--2020-03-07--Coronavirus: First U.S. East Coast deaths reported in Florida

March 7 ( UPI ) -- Florida health officials have announced the first two U.S. East Coast deaths from coronavirus as the governor there seeks $ 25 million in emergency funding to respond to the disease .
The Florida Department of Health announced late Friday that two people in their 70s who had traveled overseas died from COVID-19 .
One was from Santa Rosa County in the panhandle and the other from Lee County , on Florida 's west coast .
That brings the U.S. death toll from the disease to 16 , according to figures from Johns Hopkins .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Prevention , which last updated its figures Friday afternoon , reports 11 deaths .
Johns Hopkins reported 340 confirmed cases of the virus in the United States as of Saturday morning , citing local and state health departments .
On Saturday the American Conservative Union announced that someone who attended last week 's Conservative Political Action Conference in National Harbor , Md.
, has tested positive for the virus .
President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence also attended the conference , where Trump touted his coronavirus response and accused Democrats of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement from the White House said the administration was aware of the positive test , and that there was `` no indication '' that Trump or Pence came into contact with the individual .
US Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn told reporters Saturday that the United States has the capacity to perform 75,000 tests for the virus , but expected that number to jump to 2.1 million early next week and to 4 million by the end of next week with increased production of test kits .
So far the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , but because the test typically involves two swabs and the number excludes tests taken at private labs , that number does not mean 5,861 people have been tested .
Cases have been reported in more than two dozen states in every region of the United States , but prior to Florida 's announcement , all U.S. deaths from the novel coronavirus had been contained to the West Coast , with 13 in Washington and one in California .
New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo declared a state of emergency Saturday after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state rose to 76 , joining Maryland Gov .
Larry Hogan and Gov .
Gary Herbert of Utah , which had its first confirmed case of the virus Friday .
Also declaring a state of emergency relating to the virus are Gov .
Gavin Newsom of California and Gov .
Jay Inslee of Washington , as well as Florida Gov .
Ron DeSantis , who requested $ 25 million in emergency funding from the state 's legislature to combat COVID-19 after declaring a public health emergency earlier this month .
Amtrak has also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Acela non-stop train from Washington , D.C. , to New York City starting Tuesday through May 26 .
Meanwhile , a passenger on board the Grand Princess cruise ship off California told CNN that another passenger was airlifted off the quarantined vessel .
Vice President Mike Pence announced Friday that 21 people on board the ship tested positive for the virus .
`` The captain came on a few minutes ago with another announcement that a helicopter was just dispatched to the ship to drop off some supplies and to pick up a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flew that person back to San Francisco , '' passenger Steven Smith told CNN .
`` They do not know what they 're going to do , where they 're going to have us berth .
Right now we do n't know what 's going to happen tomorrow , '' he added .
Pence said the plan was to dock the cruise ship at a non-commercial port , where some 3,500 passengers can be removed .
On Friday , Trump signed an $ 8.3 billion funding bill to tackle the coronavirus .
Some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials on the front lines fighting the disease , while about $ 3 billion will go toward vaccine research .

Florida is one of several states that have declared an emergency in response to the coronavirus. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
March 7 (UPI) -- Florida health officials have announced the first two U.S. East Coast deaths from coronavirus as the governor there seeks $25 million in emergency funding to respond to the disease. The Florida Department of Health announced late Friday that two people in their 70s who had traveled overseas died from COVID-19. One was from Santa Rosa County in the panhandle and the other from Lee County, on Florida's west coast. Advertisement
That brings the U.S. death toll from the disease to 16, according to figures from Johns Hopkins. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which last updated its figures Friday afternoon, reports 11 deaths.
Johns Hopkins reported 340 confirmed cases of the virus in the United States as of Saturday morning, citing local and state health departments.
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On Saturday the American Conservative Union announced that someone who attended last week's Conservative Political Action Conference in National Harbor, Md., has tested positive for the virus.
President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence also attended the conference, where Trump touted his coronavirus response and accused Democrats of exploiting it for political gain.
A statement from the White House said the administration was aware of the positive test, and that there was "no indication" that Trump or Pence came into contact with the individual.
US Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn told reporters Saturday that the United States has the capacity to perform 75,000 tests for the virus, but expected that number to jump to 2.1 million early next week and to 4 million by the end of next week with increased production of test kits.
So far the CDC has completed 5,861 tests, Hahn said, but because the test typically involves two swabs and the number excludes tests taken at private labs, that number does not mean 5,861 people have been tested.
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Cases have been reported in more than two dozen states in every region of the United States, but prior to Florida's announcement, all U.S. deaths from the novel coronavirus had been contained to the West Coast, with 13 in Washington and one in California.
Washington, D.C., mayor Muriel Bowser reported the city's first positive coronavirus test Saturday afternoon.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo declared a state of emergency Saturday after the number of confirmed cases in the state rose to 76, joining Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan and Gov. Gary Herbert of Utah, which had its first confirmed case of the virus Friday.
Also declaring a state of emergency relating to the virus are Gov. Gavin Newsom of California and Gov. Jay Inslee of Washington, as well as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who requested $25 million in emergency funding from the state's legislature to combat COVID-19 after declaring a public health emergency earlier this month.
Amtrak has also announced it will suspend service on the Acela non-stop train from Washington, D.C., to New York City starting Tuesday through May 26.
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Meanwhile, a passenger on board the Grand Princess cruise ship off California told CNN that another passenger was airlifted off the quarantined vessel. Vice President Mike Pence announced Friday that 21 people on board the ship tested positive for the virus.
"The captain came on a few minutes ago with another announcement that a helicopter was just dispatched to the ship to drop off some supplies and to pick up a passenger who needed medical attention and they flew that person back to San Francisco," passenger Steven Smith told CNN.
"They do not know what they're going to do, where they're going to have us berth. Right now we don't know what's going to happen tomorrow," he added.
Pence said the plan was to dock the cruise ship at a non-commercial port, where some 3,500 passengers can be removed.
On Friday, Trump signed an $8.3 billion funding bill to tackle the coronavirus. Some of the money is earmarked for local officials on the front lines fighting the disease, while about $3 billion will go toward vaccine research.


upi--2020-03-07--U.N. seeks $621M to help Democratic Republic of Congo asylum seekers

March 7 ( UPI ) -- The United Nations ' refugee agency has launched an appeal for $ 621 million to assist nearly 1 million people from the Democratic Republic of Congo seeking asylum in neighboring countries .
The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees announced the plan Friday to seek funding for 66 organizations that provide protection and humanitarian assistance to the migrants and their host nations .
`` The situation in DRC remains one of the most complex and long-standing humanitarian crises in Africa , '' the UNHCR said in a statement .
`` DRC refugees are seeking safety @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under pressure with meagre resources . ''
The United Nations said there 's been a deterioration in humanitarian conditions and security in the DRC despite a peaceful transition of power in 2018 .
There 's been ongoing armed conflict and inter-communal violence leading to an exodus of Congolese .
`` Recurrent violent attacks have resulted in tragic loss of human lives and destruction of communities , '' the agency said .
`` Eastern parts of the country are witnessing worsening security situations with rampant targeting of civilians while frequent violations of human rights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actors . ''
In addition to nearly 1 million Congolese people seeking refuge outside the country , there are more than 5 million internally displaced people .
Two million have been displaced in North and South Kivu within the past 18 months .
The UNHRC said Uganda has the highest number of Congolese migrants at 400,000 , while Burundi hosts 84,000 , Rwanda and Tanzania each have 75,000 , and Zambia , Angola and the Republic of Congo have smaller numbers .

Refugee women from the Democratic Republic of the Congo walk towards the market in Mantapala Settlement, Zambia. Photo courtesy of Will Swanson/UNHCR
March 7 (UPI) -- The United Nations' refugee agency has launched an appeal for $621 million to assist nearly 1 million people from the Democratic Republic of Congo seeking asylum in neighboring countries. The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees announced the plan Friday to seek funding for 66 organizations that provide protection and humanitarian assistance to the migrants and their host nations. Advertisement
"The situation in DRC remains one of the most complex and long-standing humanitarian crises in Africa," the UNHCR said in a statement. "DRC refugees are seeking safety in locations where hosting communities are already under pressure with meagre resources."
The United Nations said there's been a deterioration in humanitarian conditions and security in the DRC despite a peaceful transition of power in 2018. There's been ongoing armed conflict and inter-communal violence leading to an exodus of Congolese.
"Recurrent violent attacks have resulted in tragic loss of human lives and destruction of communities," the agency said. "Eastern parts of the country are witnessing worsening security situations with rampant targeting of civilians while frequent violations of human rights continue to be perpetrated by various armed actors."
In addition to nearly 1 million Congolese people seeking refuge outside the country, there are more than 5 million internally displaced people. Two million have been displaced in North and South Kivu within the past 18 months.
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The UNHRC said Uganda has the highest number of Congolese migrants at 400,000, while Burundi hosts 84,000, Rwanda and Tanzania each have 75,000, and Zambia, Angola and the Republic of Congo have smaller numbers.


upi--2020-03-07--Thousands of Tennesseans still in the dark after tornadoes

March 7 ( UPI ) -- More than 9,000 Tennessee residents were without power Saturday after a series of seven tornadoes killed at least 24 people and caused damage across more than 74 miles this week .
Those numbers are down from earlier this week , when an estimated 101,000 households across the state were without electricity .
According to the National Weather Service , on Monday and Tuesday seven tornadoes tore through the central part of the state at speeds ranging from 75 to 175 mph , hitting Nashville -- the state 's capital and largest city -- along @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said it was working to restore power to 8,600 customers in Nashville on Saturday .
Another 1,000 residents of nearby Putnam and Jackson counties were also without electricity .
Nashville officials urged residents not to block streets or walk in the road in East Nashville , where public works and utility company vehicles have reported they were unable to access streets to do needed repair work .
President Donald Trump toured parts of the state on Friday and promised to `` take care '' of those affected by the storm , which has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2 billion in damage .
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has announced that disaster assistance is available to Tennessee residents affected by this week 's storms .

Will Green (L) sits amid the debris of a house where he lives with his father Tuesday. His friends, Matthew and Stephanie Lowe and their 6-month-old daughter Daylee were there to help with the cleanup. Photo by Rick Musacchio/EPA-EFE
March 7 (UPI) -- More than 9,000 Tennessee residents were without power Saturday after a series of seven tornadoes killed at least 24 people and caused damage across more than 74 miles this week. Those numbers are down from earlier this week, when an estimated 101,000 households across the state were without electricity. Advertisement
According to the National Weather Service, on Monday and Tuesday seven tornadoes tore through the central part of the state at speeds ranging from 75 to 175 mph, hitting Nashville -- the state's capital and largest city -- along with several rural areas.
Nashville Electric said it was working to restore power to 8,600 customers in Nashville on Saturday. Another 1,000 residents of nearby Putnam and Jackson counties were also without electricity.
Nashville officials urged residents not to block streets or walk in the road in East Nashville, where public works and utility company vehicles have reported they were unable to access streets to do needed repair work.
President Donald Trump toured parts of the state on Friday and promised to "take care" of those affected by the storm, which has caused an estimated $1.5 and $2 billion in damage.
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The Federal Emergency Management Agency has announced that disaster assistance is available to Tennessee residents affected by this week's storms.


upi--2020-03-07--EU foreign affairs chief says Greece-Turkey border is a 'closed door'

March 7 ( UPI ) -- A fire engulfed the One Happy Family refugee centre on the Greek island of Lesbos Saturday amid tensions over migration from Turkey .
Authorities did not immediately announce the potential cause of the fire or any casualties .
Also Saturday , Greek police fired tear gas at crowds at the border crossing at Kastanies .
The crowds responded by throwing rocks and shouting `` open the gates . ''
On Friday European Union 's foreign affairs chief , Josep Borrell , told migrants from Turkey not to go to Greece after clashes with police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after a Foreign Affairs Council meeting on Syria in Zagreb , Croatia , said he wanted to `` send a clear message '' that the border was not open to avoid any escalation in violence .
`` The border is not open , '' he said .
`` If someone tells you that you can go because the border is open , that you can go freely to Europe through Greece or through Cyprus , that is not true .
Avoid a situation in which you could be in danger .
Avoid the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ towards a closed door . ''
Migrants traveled toward the border this week after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared the borders open on Feb. 28 .
He did so in response to a Syrian government airstrike that killed dozens of Turkish soldiers .
The Turkish coast guard said Saturday it will no longer allow migrants to enter Greece from the Aegean Sea because it 's unsafe .
The agency said it would n't intervene with migrants otherwise .
Greek coast guard boats have recently been seen forcing migrant vessels back .
Turkey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ migrants Thursday , accusing Greek authorities of having `` flattened three boats and left them in a half-sinking state . ''
Turkey , which has nearly 4 million migrants , mostly fleeing the conflict in Syria , has hosted the largest number of asylum-seekers of any country in the world , according to the World Economic Forum .
In a 2016 deal , Turkey said it would stop allowing migrants to reach the European Union in return for EU funds to help it manage the refugees its hosts .
But Ankara was not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aid and decided to open its borders with Greece .
Erdogan said Europe has violated its moral values to alleviate human suffering .
He said the European Union would join Ankara in thwarting Russian-backed forces in Syria 's Idlib if it was serious about resolving the migration problem .
Turkish Interior Minister Soleyman Soylu encouraged migrants to cross anywhere they could along the border this week and said Ankara would deploy 1,000 special forces to prevent push back amid clashes where tear gas was used .
However , Borrell said the `` alleged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` false . ''
`` If we want to avoid critical situations , people have to know the truth , '' Borrell added .
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen accused Turkey of using migrants for political purposes , but Borrell said Friday that this would not work .
`` Encouraging refugees and migrants to attempt illegal crossing into the EU is not an acceptable way for Turkey to push for further support from the European Union , '' Borrell said .

Migrants clash with Greek security forces near the closed-off Greek-Turkish border in Kastanies while tear gas are thrown from both sides, Orestiada, Greece, on Saturday. Photo by Dimitris Tosidis/EPA-EFE
March 7 (UPI) -- A fire engulfed the One Happy Family refugee centre on the Greek island of Lesbos Saturday amid tensions over migration from Turkey. Authorities did not immediately announce the potential cause of the fire or any casualties. Advertisement
Also Saturday, Greek police fired tear gas at crowds at the border crossing at Kastanies. The crowds responded by throwing rocks and shouting "open the gates."
On Friday European Union's foreign affairs chief, Josep Borrell, told migrants from Turkey not to go to Greece after clashes with police along the border.
Borell, speaking after a Foreign Affairs Council meeting on Syria in Zagreb, Croatia, said he wanted to "send a clear message" that the border was not open to avoid any escalation in violence.
"The border is not open," he said. "If someone tells you that you can go because the border is open, that you can go freely to Europe through Greece or through Cyprus, that is not true. Avoid a situation in which you could be in danger. Avoid the escalation of the crisis. Avoid moving towards a closed door."
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Migrants traveled toward the border this week after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared the borders open on Feb. 28. He did so in response to a Syrian government airstrike that killed dozens of Turkish soldiers.
The Turkish coast guard said Saturday it will no longer allow migrants to enter Greece from the Aegean Sea because it's unsafe. The agency said it wouldn't intervene with migrants otherwise. Greek coast guard boats have recently been seen forcing migrant vessels back. Turkey's coast guard said it rescued 97 migrants Thursday, accusing Greek authorities of having "flattened three boats and left them in a half-sinking state."
Turkey, which has nearly 4 million migrants, mostly fleeing the conflict in Syria, has hosted the largest number of asylum-seekers of any country in the world, according to the World Economic Forum.
In a 2016 deal, Turkey said it would stop allowing migrants to reach the European Union in return for EU funds to help it manage the refugees its hosts. But Ankara was not impressed last week with the EU's aid and decided to open its borders with Greece.
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Erdogan said Europe has violated its moral values to alleviate human suffering. He said the European Union would join Ankara in thwarting Russian-backed forces in Syria's Idlib if it was serious about resolving the migration problem.
Turkish Interior Minister Soleyman Soylu encouraged migrants to cross anywhere they could along the border this week and said Ankara would deploy 1,000 special forces to prevent push back amid clashes where tear gas was used.
However, Borrell said the "alleged openness" of the Greek-Turkish border was "false."
"If we want to avoid critical situations, people have to know the truth," Borrell added.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen accused Turkey of using migrants for political purposes, but Borrell said Friday that this would not work.
"Encouraging refugees and migrants to attempt illegal crossing into the EU is not an acceptable way for Turkey to push for further support from the European Union," Borrell said.


upi--2020-03-07--Illinois Supreme Court declines to dismiss Jussie Smollett charges

March 7 ( UPI ) -- The Illinois Supreme Court has rejected actor Jussie Smollett 's request to dismiss a case in which he 's accused of falsely reporting that he was a victim of a racist and homophobic attack near his Chicago home .
The court on Friday also refused to remove a special prosecutor who filed the charges .
Smollett , 37 , pleaded not guilty last month to a six-count grand jury indictment in the case .
After entering the not guilty pleas , Judge James Linn set bond at $ 20,000 and released the Empire actor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to return to court March 18 .
Smollett -- who is black and openly gay -- was indicted in February by a special grand jury that accused him of filing false police reports in connection with a January 2019 incident in which he said he was attacked by two white men who looped a noose around his neck and poured bleach on him after taunting him with racial and homophobic remarks .
In a case that divided the nation along lines of race and sexual orientation , police ultimately said the incident was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assault to bolster his career , and charged him with 16 counts of disorderly conduct .
Those charges were dropped a month later in a controversial move by Cook County State 's Attorney Kim Foxx .
A Chicago judge subsequently accepted a petition to reopen the case and appointed former U.S. Attorney Dan Webb to lead a new inquiry .
Following a six-month investigation , Webb announced the new charges .
Smollett has maintained his innocence and said police have overlooked witnesses who corroborate his story .

Actor/singer Jussie Smollett sought to have the charges dismissed as well as the special prosecutor in the case. File Photo by Christine Chew/UPI | License Photo
March 7 (UPI) -- The Illinois Supreme Court has rejected actor Jussie Smollett's request to dismiss a case in which he's accused of falsely reporting that he was a victim of a racist and homophobic attack near his Chicago home. The court on Friday also refused to remove a special prosecutor who filed the charges. Advertisement
Smollett, 37, pleaded not guilty last month to a six-count grand jury indictment in the case. After entering the not guilty pleas, Judge James Linn set bond at $20,000 and released the Empire actor on his own recognizance, ordering him to return to court March 18.
Smollett -- who is black and openly gay -- was indicted in February by a special grand jury that accused him of filing false police reports in connection with a January 2019 incident in which he said he was attacked by two white men who looped a noose around his neck and poured bleach on him after taunting him with racial and homophobic remarks.
In a case that divided the nation along lines of race and sexual orientation, police ultimately said the incident was a hoax and that Smollett staged the assault to bolster his career, and charged him with 16 counts of disorderly conduct. Those charges were dropped a month later in a controversial move by Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx.
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A Chicago judge subsequently accepted a petition to reopen the case and appointed former U.S. Attorney Dan Webb to lead a new inquiry. Following a six-month investigation, Webb announced the new charges.
Smollett has maintained his innocence and said police have overlooked witnesses who corroborate his story.
Don Jacobson contributed to this report.


upi--2020-03-07--Hotel with quarantined patients collapses in China, trapping dozens

March 7 ( UPI ) -- A hotel in China being used as a coronavirus quarantine center collapsed Saturday , trapping dozens of people , officials said .
About 70 people were trapped in the five-story Xinjia Express Hotel in Quanzhou , a port city in the Fujian province , after it collapsed just after 7 p.m. , the Fujian Daily reported citing Licheng district officials .
Since then , 38 people have been rescued , the Ministry of Emergency Management said .
The Quanzhou Fire Rescue Division Command Center and the Fujian Fire Rescue Corps responded to the scene @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the scene on Twitter and said the collapsed hotel was a designated quarantine place for people suspected of having the coronavirus or having close contact with COVID-19 patients .
The exact number of people in the building at the time was unknown and it 's not clear what caused the collapse .
The hotel had 80 guest rooms and opened in June 2018 .
The Fujian province had 296 cases of coronavirus as of Friday and 10,819 people had been placed under observation because they were in close contact with someone infected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are in the Hubei province , including 49,871 in Wuhan , the epicenter of the outbreak , as of Friday , according to the National Health Commission of the People 's Republic of China .

Rescuers work at the site of a collapsed five-story hotel building in Quanzhou city in southeast China's Fujian province on Saturday. Photo by Xiao Fan/EPA-EFE
March 7 (UPI) -- A hotel in China being used as a coronavirus quarantine center collapsed Saturday, trapping dozens of people, officials said. About 70 people were trapped in the five-story Xinjia Express Hotel in Quanzhou, a port city in the Fujian province, after it collapsed just after 7 p.m., the Fujian Daily reported citing Licheng district officials. Since then, 38 people have been rescued, the Ministry of Emergency Management said. Advertisement
The Quanzhou Fire Rescue Division Command Center and the Fujian Fire Rescue Corps responded to the scene.
The People's Daily posted video from the scene on Twitter and said the collapsed hotel was a designated quarantine place for people suspected of having the coronavirus or having close contact with COVID-19 patients.
The exact number of people in the building at the time was unknown and it's not clear what caused the collapse.
The hotel had 80 guest rooms and opened in June 2018.
The Fujian province had 296 cases of coronavirus as of Friday and 10,819 people had been placed under observation because they were in close contact with someone infected.
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Most cases, over 67,000, are in the Hubei province, including 49,871 in Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak, as of Friday, according to the National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China.


upi--2020-03-07--'Beauty and the Beast' prequel series a go at Disney+

March 7 ( UPI ) -- Luke Evans and Josh Gad have signed on to reprise their Beauty and the @ @ @ @ @ LeFou in a prequel series for Disney+ .
The Hollywood Reporter said the six-episode musical @ @ @ @ @ story for the characters the actors played in the 2017 live-action blockbuster .
Deadline said @ @ @ @ @ Gad and Once Upon a Time creators Eddy Kitsis and Adam Horowitz .
Composer Alan @ @ @ @ @ music for Beauty and the Beast , as well as the 1991 animated movie musical @ @ @ @ @ -- is in talks to return for the limited series .
Kitsis and Horowitz are @ @ @ @ @ and the Beast universe .
The fairy tale was woven into Once Upon a Time @ @ @ @ @ Rumpelstiltskin playing the Beast and Emilie de Ravin as Belle .

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Josh Gad is set to star in a "Beauty and the Beast" prequel series for Disney+. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
March 7 (UPI) -- Luke Evans and Josh Gad have signed on to reprise their Beauty and the Beast roles of Gaston and LeFou in a prequel series for Disney+. The Hollywood Reporter said the six-episode musical event will be an origins story for the characters the actors played in the 2017 live-action blockbuster. Advertisement
Deadline said the project was written by Gad and Once Upon a Time creators Eddy Kitsis and Adam Horowitz.
Composer Alan Menken -- who created the music for Beauty and the Beast, as well as the 1991 animated movie musical on which it was based -- is in talks to return for the limited series.
Kitsis and Horowitz are no strangers to the Beauty and the Beast universe.
The fairy tale was woven into Once Upon a Time, with Robert Carlyle's Rumpelstiltskin playing the Beast and Emilie de Ravin as Belle.


upi--2020-03-07--Spring fever alert issued for big part of U.S.

March 7 ( UPI ) -- Following a burst of chilly air that raced from the Midwest on Friday into the Northeast on Saturday with snow showers adding to the wintry feel for some areas , weather whiplash will allow springlike warmth to build from the Great Plains to the Eastern Seaboard .
Some people may be able to leave the jacket at home and a few may even be able to break out the short sleeves for a day or two in the upcoming pattern .
For those communities devastated by tornadoes in Tennessee from early this week , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dealt with recent flooding , the break of dry , tranquil weather will be more than welcomed .
A quick southward dip in the jet stream will be followed by a rapid northward bulge , just like a giant atmospheric whip .
In most cases , the warmup will be accompanied by at least partial sunshine .
Temperatures will respond in a rapid , positive way .
Even though most record highs this time of the year are likely to be out of reach during the warmup , temperatures will still surge to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forecast to trend upward by 15 degrees to 30 degrees Fahrenheit in 24 hours , with the Heartland first in line to experience the warmup .
In Minneapolis , highs near 40 on Friday will be swapped with a high in the middle 50s on Saturday and then the middle 60s on Sunday .
Temperatures could make a run into the lower 70s over part of the Ohio Valley by Sunday .
Even Chicago and Detroit can expect temperatures to reach the 60s on Sunday .
Farther east , a cold start to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mild finish .
Spring fever alerts may have to be issued for Monday and Tuesday , when the bulk of the warmth is in store .
Boston and New York City can expect highs in the 60s on Monday , and temperatures have a chance of reaching 70 in Philadelphia and may reach the middle 70s in Richmond , Va .
Given that such a vast stretch of the area from the Plains to the mid-Atlantic and southern New England has no snow on the ground , there is the potential for this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ temperatures by several degrees , according to AccuWeather meteorologists .
March has already started on a warm note across the Midwest and Northeast .
The average temperature for the first four days of March is 9 degrees above normal in Chicago and nearly 9 degrees above normal in New York City .
Detroit 's temperature so far this month is more than 7 degrees above average , and Philadelphia 's is more than 6 degrees above normal .
Indications are that a stiff breeze will accompany the peak of the upcoming warmth .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ atmosphere warm up over the eastern two-thirds of the nation , the breeze may add some coolness to the air at the local level , especially in the shade and where the breeze blows off a chilly lake , river or bay .
`` A breeze off the chilly Hudson River may prevent midtown Manhattan from hitting 70 on Monday , '' AccuWeather senior meteorologist Dave Dombek said .
That breeze will be amplified as air must rush in between the tall buildings of New York City and the other major urban centers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The wind direction may keep the eastern shores of the Chesapeake and Delaware bays rather cool .
`` A breeze from the Potomac River may keep the tidal basin cool as well around Washington , D.C. , '' Dombek said .
Since official weather measurements for the nation 's capital are kept at Reagan National Airport , which sits west of the Potomac , a high in the 70s is likely to be recorded .
`` However , with winds forecast to blow from the west and southwest , the warmup should be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beaches , instead of a chilly sea breeze kicking in , '' Dombek added .
Officials expect the peak of the cherry blossoms at the National Mall in Washington , D.C. , to be in late March this year .
The average peak of the blossoms in the nation 's capital is April 4 .
The warmth early next week may cause the peak bloom to occur a couple of days earlier than current estimates .
A weak storm with rain showers will mark the end of the warmth as it progresses eastward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Plains on Monday to much of the Midwest on Tuesday and the Northeast on Wednesday .
More ups and downs in temperature are in store for the rest of the month .
And , for portions of the Midwest and Northeast , it could get cold enough for snow again at some point over the next few weeks .

Officials expect the peak of the cherry blossoms at the National Mall in Washington, D.C., to be in late March this year. File Photo by Leigh Vogel/UPI | License Photo
March 7 (UPI) -- Following a burst of chilly air that raced from the Midwest on Friday into the Northeast on Saturday with snow showers adding to the wintry feel for some areas, weather whiplash will allow springlike warmth to build from the Great Plains to the Eastern Seaboard. Some people may be able to leave the jacket at home and a few may even be able to break out the short sleeves for a day or two in the upcoming pattern. Advertisement
For those communities devastated by tornadoes in Tennessee from early this week, or others in the South who have dealt with recent flooding, the break of dry, tranquil weather will be more than welcomed.
Folks...you may want to be sitting down for this as we don't want anyone to faint. Ok, here it goes... Advertisement Believe it or not, we have 3 days of sunny & dry weather coming up Fr-Sun...3 WHOLE DAYS!!! Yes, it's true! We've triple and quadruple checked. #alwx— NWS Birmingham (@NWSBirmingham) March 5, 2020
A quick southward dip in the jet stream will be followed by a rapid northward bulge, just like a giant atmospheric whip. In most cases, the warmup will be accompanied by at least partial sunshine.
Temperatures will respond in a rapid, positive way. Even though most record highs this time of the year are likely to be out of reach during the warmup, temperatures will still surge to well-above-average levels.
Highs and lows are forecast to trend upward by 15 degrees to 30 degrees Fahrenheit in 24 hours, with the Heartland first in line to experience the warmup.
In Minneapolis, highs near 40 on Friday will be swapped with a high in the middle 50s on Saturday and then the middle 60s on Sunday.
Temperatures could make a run into the lower 70s over part of the Ohio Valley by Sunday. Even Chicago and Detroit can expect temperatures to reach the 60s on Sunday.
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Farther east, a cold start to the weekend will be followed by a mild finish. Spring fever alerts may have to be issued for Monday and Tuesday, when the bulk of the warmth is in store.
Boston and New York City can expect highs in the 60s on Monday, and temperatures have a chance of reaching 70 in Philadelphia and may reach the middle 70s in Richmond, Va.
Given that such a vast stretch of the area from the Plains to the mid-Atlantic and southern New England has no snow on the ground, there is the potential for this warmup to overachieve and exceed forecast high temperatures by several degrees, according to AccuWeather meteorologists.
March has already started on a warm note across the Midwest and Northeast. The average temperature for the first four days of March is 9 degrees above normal in Chicago and nearly 9 degrees above normal in New York City. Detroit's temperature so far this month is more than 7 degrees above average, and Philadelphia's is more than 6 degrees above normal.
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Indications are that a stiff breeze will accompany the peak of the upcoming warmth. Even though the breeze will help the atmosphere warm up over the eastern two-thirds of the nation, the breeze may add some coolness to the air at the local level, especially in the shade and where the breeze blows off a chilly lake, river or bay.
"A breeze off the chilly Hudson River may prevent midtown Manhattan from hitting 70 on Monday," AccuWeather senior meteorologist Dave Dombek said.
That breeze will be amplified as air must rush in between the tall buildings of New York City and the other major urban centers in the Midwest and the Northeast.
The wind direction may keep the eastern shores of the Chesapeake and Delaware bays rather cool.
"A breeze from the Potomac River may keep the tidal basin cool as well around Washington, D.C.," Dombek said.
Since official weather measurements for the nation's capital are kept at Reagan National Airport, which sits west of the Potomac, a high in the 70s is likely to be recorded.
"However, with winds forecast to blow from the west and southwest, the warmup should be felt all the way to most Atlantic beaches, instead of a chilly sea breeze kicking in," Dombek added.
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Officials expect the peak of the cherry blossoms at the National Mall in Washington, D.C., to be in late March this year.
The average peak of the blossoms in the nation's capital is April 4. The warmth early next week may cause the peak bloom to occur a couple of days earlier than current estimates.
A weak storm with rain showers will mark the end of the warmth as it progresses eastward.
The cooldown will progress from the Plains on Monday to much of the Midwest on Tuesday and the Northeast on Wednesday.
More ups and downs in temperature are in store for the rest of the month. And, for portions of the Midwest and Northeast, it could get cold enough for snow again at some point over the next few weeks.


upi--2020-03-07--Pentagon sends over 150 service members to southern border

March 7 ( UPI ) -- The Pentagon said it will send more than 150 service members to be stationed Saturday at border crossings in California and Texas .
Approximately 160 military police officers , engineers and aviation support personnel are expected to be repositioned at both borders with half in El Paso , Texas , and the other half in San Diego at the San Ysidro Border Crossing .
They will be assigned to support Customs and Border Protection , the Department of Defense said Friday .
Service members were being sent to place `` temporary barriers to restrict @ @ @ @ @ @ @ force protection for CBP personnel as they perform their federal functions , '' Pentagon spokesman Army Lt. Col. Chris Mitchell said in a statement .
A CBP statement said additional troops were requested as a `` crisis response force '' to also help with coronavirus screenings if needed at the borders .
In Texas , Gov .
Greg Abbott also ordered the state 's National Guard to deploy troops to the Brownsville area , which is adjacent to the border with Mexico , Mitchell added .
The deployment comes after a court ruling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration 's policy for asylum seekers to wait in Mexico from being enforced unless the Supreme Court intervenes before March 12 .
Under the so-called remain in Mexico policy , the Trump administration has deported 60,000 asylum seekers .
If the courts overturn the policy and rule asylum seekers can remain in the United States while their cases are being heard , more asylum seekers are expected to come to California and Texas border crossings .

Approximately 160 military police officers, engineers and aviation support personnel are expected to be repositioned at both borders with half in El Paso, Texas, and the other half in San Diego at the San Ysidro Border Crossing. File Photo by Natalie Krebs/UPI | License Photo
March 7 (UPI) -- The Pentagon said it will send more than 150 service members to be stationed Saturday at border crossings in California and Texas. Approximately 160 military police officers, engineers and aviation support personnel are expected to be repositioned at both borders with half in El Paso, Texas, and the other half in San Diego at the San Ysidro Border Crossing. Advertisement
They will be assigned to support Customs and Border Protection, the Department of Defense said Friday.
Service members were being sent to place "temporary barriers to restrict access through ports of entry and provide force protection for CBP personnel as they perform their federal functions," Pentagon spokesman Army Lt. Col. Chris Mitchell said in a statement.
A CBP statement said additional troops were requested as a "crisis response force" to also help with coronavirus screenings if needed at the borders.
In Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott also ordered the state's National Guard to deploy troops to the Brownsville area, which is adjacent to the border with Mexico, Mitchell added.
The deployment comes after a court ruling Wednesday temporarily blocked President Donald Trump's administration's policy for asylum seekers to wait in Mexico from being enforced unless the Supreme Court intervenes before March 12.
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Under the so-called remain in Mexico policy, the Trump administration has deported 60,000 asylum seekers. If the courts overturn the policy and rule asylum seekers can remain in the United States while their cases are being heard, more asylum seekers are expected to come to California and Texas border crossings.


upi--2020-03-07--Publisher cancels Woody Allen memoir amid backlash

March 7 ( UPI ) -- Hachette Book Group announced it has canceled the planned publication of Oscar-winning filmmaker Woody Allen 's memoir A Propos of Nothing .
`` Hachette Book Group has decided that it will not publish Woody Allen 's memoir A Propos of Nothing , originally scheduled for sale in April 2020 , and will return all rights to the author , '' the publishing company said in a statement Friday .
`` The decision to cancel Mr. Allen 's book was a difficult one .
At HBG we take our relationships with authors very seriously , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Over the past few days , HBG leadership had extensive conversations with our staff and others .
After listening , we came to the conclusion that moving forward with publication would not be feasible for HBG . ''
People.com said the company made the decision after about 75 staffers walked out to protest the publication of Allen 's book .
Earlier in the week , Allen 's estranged son -- Puitzer Prize-winning journalist and # MeToo advocate -- Ronan Farrow cut his ties with Hachette , which had also published his book @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for years publicly supported his sister Dylan Farrow , who said Allen sexually abused her as a child .
Allen has denied any wrongdoing and has not been convicted of any crimes .
The Farrows expressed on social media their gratitude to those who objected to the book 's publication .
`` I 'm grateful to all the Hachette employees and authors who spoke up and to the company for listening , '' Ronan Farrow tweeted .
But horror novelist Stephen King said in his own Twitter post that he is not sure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Hachette decision to drop the Woody Allen book makes me very uneasy .
It 's not him ; I do n't give a damn about Mr. Allen .
It 's who gets muzzled next that worries me , '' King tweeted .
`` If you think he 's a pedophile , do n't buy the book .
Do n't go to his movies .
Do n't go listen to him play jazz at the Carlyle .
Vote with your wallet ... by withholding it .
In America , that 's how we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Let me add that it was [ expletive ] tone-deaf of Hachette to want to publish Woody Allen 's book after publishing Ronan Farrow 's , '' King concluded .

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Publication of Woody Allen's memoir has been canceled. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
March 7 (UPI) -- Hachette Book Group announced it has canceled the planned publication of Oscar-winning filmmaker Woody Allen's memoir A Propos of Nothing. "Hachette Book Group has decided that it will not publish Woody Allen's memoir A Propos of Nothing, originally scheduled for sale in April 2020, and will return all rights to the author," the publishing company said in a statement Friday. Advertisement
"The decision to cancel Mr. Allen's book was a difficult one. At HBG we take our relationships with authors very seriously, and do not cancel books lightly.
"Over the past few days, HBG leadership had extensive conversations with our staff and others. After listening, we came to the conclusion that moving forward with publication would not be feasible for HBG."
People.com said the company made the decision after about 75 staffers walked out to protest the publication of Allen's book.
Earlier in the week, Allen's estranged son -- Puitzer Prize-winning journalist and #MeToo advocate -- Ronan Farrow cut his ties with Hachette, which had also published his book Catch and Kill.
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Ronan Farrow has for years publicly supported his sister Dylan Farrow, who said Allen sexually abused her as a child.
Allen has denied any wrongdoing and has not been convicted of any crimes.
The Farrows expressed on social media their gratitude to those who objected to the book's publication.
"I'm grateful to all the Hachette employees and authors who spoke up and to the company for listening," Ronan Farrow tweeted.
To all the employees of @HachetteUS, @littlebrown, and @GrandCentralPub who took a stand, I'm in awe and so very grateful. pic.twitter.com/Si4oXpudde— Dylan Farrow (@RealDylanFarrow) March 6, 2020
But horror novelist Stephen King said in his own Twitter post that he is not sure this was the right move.
"The Hachette decision to drop the Woody Allen book makes me very uneasy. It's not him; I don't give a damn about Mr. Allen. It's who gets muzzled next that worries me," King tweeted.
"If you think he's a pedophile, don't buy the book. Don't go to his movies. Don't go listen to him play jazz at the Carlyle. Vote with your wallet...by withholding it. In America, that's how we do," he wrote.
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"Let me add that it was [expletive] tone-deaf of Hachette to want to publish Woody Allen's book after publishing Ronan Farrow's," King concluded.


upi--2020-03-07--BTS' 'Map of the Soul: 7' tops U.S. album chart

March 7 ( UPI ) -- K-pop group BTS ' Map of the Soul : 7 is the No .
@ @ @ @ @ States this week .
Coming in at No .
2 on the Billboard 200 chart @ @ @ @ @ Broke Again 's Still Flexin , Still Steppin , followed by Ozzy Osbourne 's Ordinary @ @ @ @ @ , Justin Bieber 's Changes at No .
4 and Roddy Ricch 's Please Excuse @ @ @ @ @ No .
5 .
Rounding out the top tier are A Boogie wit da Hoodie @ @ @ @ @ .
6 , Post Malone 's Hollywood 's Bleeding at No .
7 , the @ @ @ @ @ the Woo , V.2 at No .
8 , Trippie Redd 's A Love Letter @ @ @ @ @ .
9 and Billie Eilish 's When We All Fall Asleep , Where Do We @ @ @ @ @ 10 .

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BTS' "Map of the Soul: 7" is No. 1 on the Billboard 200 album chart this week. File Photo by Corey Sipkin/UPI | License Photo
March 7 (UPI) -- K-pop group BTS' Map of the Soul: 7 is the No. 1 album in the United States this week. Coming in at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart dated Saturday is YoungBoy Never Broke Again's Still Flexin, Still Steppin, followed by Ozzy Osbourne's Ordinary Man at No. 3, Justin Bieber's Changes at No. 4 and Roddy Ricch's Please Excuse Me for Being Antisocial at No. 5. Advertisement
Rounding out the top tier are A Boogie wit da Hoodie's Artist 2.0 at No. 6, Post Malone's Hollywood's Bleeding at No. 7, the late Pop Smoke's Meet the Woo, V.2 at No. 8, Trippie Redd's A Love Letter to You 4 at No. 9 and Billie Eilish's When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? at No. 10.


upi--2020-03-08--Quick-hitting disturbance to bring wet start to week to Plains, Midwest

March 8 ( UPI ) -- After a warm , sunny and windy weekend across much of the nation 's heartland , a quick-hitting round of rain will streak across the center of the country early next week .
The storm system , originating over the Pacific Ocean , will begin to spread rain and a few embedded thunderstorms to the Four Corners region and the southern Plains by Sunday .
Albuquerque , N.M. ; Lubbock and Amarillo , Texas , will likely experience on-and-off rain throughout the day on Sunday as the disturbance races northeastward .
Rainfall totals will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through Texas and New Mexico on Sunday , with the majority of locales likely picking up between a tenth and a half inch .
Showery weather will then transition into a steadier rain on Sunday night into Monday morning as the disturbance taps into additional moisture from the Gulf of Mexico .
Both Oklahoma City and Kansas City can expect between a quarter to half inch of rain on Sunday night .
Those traveling along interstates 44 and 70 through Missouri on Monday morning will likely need to keep the windshield wipers on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The wet weather will continue to expand northeastward into places like St. Louis , Chicago and Indianapolis during the daytime hours on Monday .
Similarly to the Midwest , rainfall totals of a quarter to a half inch are likely before activity begins to wind down after dusk .
This will be a rather warm rain as it streaks from the Plains into the Midwest early this week .
With above-average temperatures continuing into midweek , this rain will likely help to bring some of the first signs of life to area foliage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warm transition into meteorological spring across the nation 's midsection , flowers will likely bloom ahead of schedule this year .
With the exception of a bit of lingering rain on Tuesday morning in places like Detroit and Cleveland , drier conditions are expected across the Midwest and southern Plains before another quick-hitting round of wet weather at midweek .

March 8 (UPI) -- After a warm, sunny and windy weekend across much of the nation's heartland, a quick-hitting round of rain will streak across the center of the country early next week. The storm system, originating over the Pacific Ocean, will begin to spread rain and a few embedded thunderstorms to the Four Corners region and the southern Plains by Sunday. Advertisement
Places like Nogales in southern Arizona to El Paso and Childress, Texas, all reported rain, although most places reported less than a quarter of an inch.
Steadier rain is expected on Sunday night into Monday morning as the storm taps into additional moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and shifts east.
Oklahoma City and Kansas City can expect between a quarter to half inch of rain on Sunday night.
This wet weather will also help to douse the fires burning across western Oklahoma.
Those traveling along interstates 44 and 70 through Missouri on Monday morning will likely need to keep the windshield wipers on high as rain continues to fall.
The wet weather will continue to expand northeastward into places like St. Louis, Chicago and Indianapolis during the daytime hours on Monday.
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Similarly to the Midwest, rainfall totals of a quarter to a half inch are likely before activity begins to wind down after dusk. Rainfall amounts of this amount are unlikely to bring widespread flooding.
The wet weather will reach the majority of the Northeast by Tuesday.
Behind the wet weather, rather warm air will follow.
Oklahoma City can expect high temperatures rebounding into the lower 70s by Tuesday afternoon, about 10 degrees above normal for mid-March. Temperatures in the lower 70s are more characteristic of mid-April in the capital city.
St. Louis can expect high temperatures to swell back into the middle 60s by Wednesday afternoon, which is also about 10 degrees warmer than normal.
The above-average temperatures continuing into midweek, combined with the rain, will likely help to bring some of the first signs of life to area foliage.
Given the relatively easy winter and warm transition into meteorological spring across the nation's midsection, flowers will likely bloom ahead of schedule this year.
More rounds of wet weather are expected across Texas and the center of the country mid-to-late week.


upi--2020-03-08--ACL surgery can do real damage to brain: Study

Your knee might never be the same after undergoing surgery for a torn anterior cruciate ligament , and the reason is in your head , a small , new study suggests .
It turns out ACL reconstruction causes changes in the structure of your brain , a University of Michigan team found .
That 's why even after ACL reconstruction and physical therapy , your joint function might never get back to normal .
U-M School of Kinesiology colleagues Lindsey and Adam Lepley , and their team , took MRI brain scans of 10 patients who had ACL reconstruction surgery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the corticospinal tract , which is the pathway that relays messages from the brain to muscles .
The changes may slow recovery and may be responsible for performance deficits and re-injury , the researchers said in a university news release .
The scans showed that the side of the corticospinal tract responsible for the ACL-reconstructed knee was 15 % smaller than the other side .
With a smaller pathway , less information can travel from brain to muscle .
`` In essence , the brain not only alters the way it communicates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ joints , muscles , etc.
, but the structural makeup of the basic building blocks of the brain are also changed after ACL injury , '' Adam Lepley said .
`` We think that this is a protective mechanism , in which our body is trying to limit unwanted movement around a joint injury ... and can be applied to not just ACL injuries , but other musculoskeletal injuries as well . ''
The team said the takeaway is that injuries are n't always isolated .
Lindsey Lepley said the findings suggest that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of motion or swelling at the injured joint .
`` There is evidence of using visual retraining , different motor learning modalities like external focus of attention and biofeedback , which can help 'rewire ' the brain to help the body adapt to a new normal , '' she noted .
Lindsey Lepley is director of the Orthopaedic Rehabilitation and Biomechanics Laboratory , and Adam Lepley is a clinical assistant professor of athletic training at the school .
The study was published online recently in the journal NeuroImage : Clinical .
The American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ACL injuries .

A study suggests ACL reconstruction causes changes in the structure of the brain. Photo by TaniaVdb/pixabay
Your knee might never be the same after undergoing surgery for a torn anterior cruciate ligament, and the reason is in your head, a small, new study suggests. It turns out ACL reconstruction causes changes in the structure of your brain, a University of Michigan team found. That's why even after ACL reconstruction and physical therapy, your joint function might never get back to normal. Advertisement
U-M School of Kinesiology colleagues Lindsey and Adam Lepley, and their team, took MRI brain scans of 10 patients who had ACL reconstruction surgery. The scans showed deterioration in part of the corticospinal tract, which is the pathway that relays messages from the brain to muscles.
The changes may slow recovery and may be responsible for performance deficits and re-injury, the researchers said in a university news release.
The scans showed that the side of the corticospinal tract responsible for the ACL-reconstructed knee was 15% smaller than the other side. With a smaller pathway, less information can travel from brain to muscle.
"In essence, the brain not only alters the way it communicates with the rest of the body, joints, muscles, etc., but the structural makeup of the basic building blocks of the brain are also changed after ACL injury," Adam Lepley said. "We think that this is a protective mechanism, in which our body is trying to limit unwanted movement around a joint injury ... and can be applied to not just ACL injuries, but other musculoskeletal injuries as well."
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The team said the takeaway is that injuries aren't always isolated.
Lindsey Lepley said the findings suggest that treatment needs to look beyond improving range of motion or swelling at the injured joint.
"There is evidence of using visual retraining, different motor learning modalities like external focus of attention and biofeedback, which can help 'rewire' the brain to help the body adapt to a new normal," she noted.
Lindsey Lepley is director of the Orthopaedic Rehabilitation and Biomechanics Laboratory, and Adam Lepley is a clinical assistant professor of athletic training at the school.
The study was published online recently in the journal NeuroImage: Clinical.
More information
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons has more on ACL injuries.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-03-08--Famous birthdays for March 8: Aidan Quinn, Micky Dolenz

March 8 ( UPI ) -- Those born on this date are under the sign of Pisces .

James Van Der Beek arrives for the iHeartRadio Music Festival at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on September 22, 2017. The actor turns 43 on March 8. File Photo by James Atoa/UPI | License Photo
March 8 (UPI) -- Those born on this date are under the sign of Pisces. They include: Advertisement
-- U.S. Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. in 1841
-- Scottish writer Kenneth Grahame in 1859
-- German nuclear chemist Otto Hahn, discoverer of nuclear fission, in 1879
-- Actor Louise Beavers in 1902
-- Actor Claire Trevor in 1910
-- Dancer/actor Cyd Charisse in 1922
-- Actor Susan Clark in 1943 (age 77)
-- Actor Lynn Redgrave in 1943
-- Musician Micky Dolenz in 1945 (age 75)
File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
-- Musician Randy Meisner in 1946 (age 74)
-- Songwriter Carole Bayer Sager in 1947 (age 73)
-- Baseball Hall of Fame member Jim Rice in 1953 (age 67)
-- Actor Aidan Quinn in 1959 (age 61)
-- Television journalist Lester Holt in 1959 (age 61)
File Photo by Pat Benic/UPI
-- Actor Camryn Manheim in 1961 (age 59)
-- Actor Boris Kodjoe in 1973 (age 47)
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-- Actor Freddie Prinze Jr. in 1976 (age 44)
-- Actor James Van Der Beek in 1977 (age 43)
-- Tattooist/TV personality Kat Von D, born Katherine von Drachenberg, in 1982 (age 38)


upi--2020-03-08--On This Day, March 8: Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 disappears

March 8 ( UPI ) -- On this date in history : In 1817 , the New York Stock Exchange was established .
In 1913 , the Internal Revenue Service began to levy and collect income taxes in the United States .
In 1917 , strikes and riots in St. Petersburg marked the start of the Russian Bolshevik revolution .
In 1921 , after Germany failed to make its first war reparation payment , French troops occupied Dusseldorf and other towns on the Ruhr River in Germany 's industrial heartland .
In 1943 , Allied planes led by the Royal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nuremberg , an important military manufacturing site .
By the end of World War II , the vast majority of the city was destroyed by Allied bombings .
In 1957 , Egypt reopened the Suez Canal to international traffic after Israel withdrew from occupied Egyptian territory .
In 1965 , nearly 4,000 U.S. Marines landed in South Vietnam .
In 1974 , the streaking epidemic that had been gripped parts of the United States appeared to run its logical course .
In 1983 , U.S. President Ronald Reagan referred to the Soviet Union @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a speech before the British House of Commons .
In 1990 , Colombia 's M-19 leftist guerrilla group surrendered its arms , ending 16 years of insurrection .
In 2008 , U.S. President George W. Bush vetoed legislation that would have outlawed severe interrogation methods such as waterboarding used by the CIA .
Bush said the proposal would eliminate `` one of the most valuable tools in the war on terror . ''
In 2010 , up to 500 people were killed in a nighttime `` ethnic cleansing '' raid on a village @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In 2013 , former Argentine President Carlos Saul Menem and ex-Defense Minister Oscar Camilion were convicted of smuggling weapons to Croatia and Ecuador .
In 2014 , Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 carrying 239 people vanished over the Indian Ocean en route to Beijing from Kuala Lumpur .
A massive search found no sign of the plane and a government statement months later said all aboard -- 227 passengers and 12 crew members -- `` are presumed to have lost their lives . ''
In 2018 , President Donald Trump imposed his promised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ steel and 10 percent on foreign-made aluminum .

1/6
Crew members aboard the Australian navy ship HMAS Success watch as a helicopter participates in a replenishment at sea with the Malaysian navy ship KD LEKIU in the southern Indian Ocean during the continuing search for a Malaysia Airlines jetliner missing in the Indian Ocean, about 1,000 miles off the coast of Perth, Australia. File Photo by David Connolly/Australian Defense Force | License Photo
March 8 (UPI) -- On this date in history: In 1817, the New York Stock Exchange was established. Advertisement
In 1913, the Internal Revenue Service began to levy and collect income taxes in the United States.
In 1917, strikes and riots in St. Petersburg marked the start of the Russian Bolshevik revolution.
In 1921, after Germany failed to make its first war reparation payment, French troops occupied Dusseldorf and other towns on the Ruhr River in Germany's industrial heartland.
In 1943, Allied planes led by the Royal Air Force bombed the German city of Nuremberg, an important military manufacturing site. By the end of World War II, the vast majority of the city was destroyed by Allied bombings.
In 1957, Egypt reopened the Suez Canal to international traffic after Israel withdrew from occupied Egyptian territory.
File Photo courtesy Imperial War Museum
In 1965, nearly 4,000 U.S. Marines landed in South Vietnam.
In 1974, the streaking epidemic that had been gripped parts of the United States appeared to run its logical course.
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In 1983, U.S. President Ronald Reagan referred to the Soviet Union as an "evil empire" in a speech before the British House of Commons.
In 1990, Colombia's M-19 leftist guerrilla group surrendered its arms, ending 16 years of insurrection.
In 1999, baseball great Joe DiMaggio died at age 84.
File Photo by Ezio Petersen/UPI
In 2008, U.S. President George W. Bush vetoed legislation that would have outlawed severe interrogation methods such as waterboarding used by the CIA. Bush said the proposal would eliminate "one of the most valuable tools in the war on terror."
In 2010, up to 500 people were killed in a nighttime "ethnic cleansing" raid on a village near Nigeria's turbulent city of Jos.
In 2013, former Argentine President Carlos Saul Menem and ex-Defense Minister Oscar Camilion were convicted of smuggling weapons to Croatia and Ecuador.
In 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 carrying 239 people vanished over the Indian Ocean en route to Beijing from Kuala Lumpur. A massive search found no sign of the plane and a government statement months later said all aboard -- 227 passengers and 12 crew members -- "are presumed to have lost their lives."
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In 2018, President Donald Trump imposed his promised industrial tariffs -- 25 percent on imported steel and 10 percent on foreign-made aluminum.


upi--2020-03-08--Memphis Grizzlies sign rookie Jontay Porter to multiyear contract

March 8 ( UPI ) -- The Memphis Grizzlies signed rookie Jontay Porter , a forward/center out of Missouri , to a multiyear contract , the team announced Sunday .
The deal runs through the 2020-21 season and includes a team option , according to Porter 's agent , Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports .
Per team policy , financial terms of the agreement were n't disclosed .
`` [ Memphis general manager ] Zach [ Kleiman ] and the Grizzlies were one of the teams that monitored Jontay closely , and we believe they are getting a terrific young @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told ESPN .
Porter , the younger brother of Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. , was a five-star recruit out of high school and a projected lottery pick in the NBA Draft before suffering multiple injuries .
He has rehabbed two separate ACL injuries in the last two years but is expected to return for training camp next season .
Jontay Porter went undrafted in 2019 after re-tearing the ACL in his right knee that March .
He averaged 9.9 points and 6.8 rebounds in his freshman season at Missouri .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign only to tear his ACL and MCL before the season started .

Former Missouri big man Jontay Porter (11) has rehabbed two separate ACL injuries in the last two years. File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo
March 8 (UPI) -- The Memphis Grizzlies signed rookie Jontay Porter, a forward/center out of Missouri, to a multiyear contract, the team announced Sunday. The deal runs through the 2020-21 season and includes a team option, according to Porter's agent, Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports. Per team policy, financial terms of the agreement weren't disclosed. Advertisement
"[Memphis general manager] Zach [Kleiman] and the Grizzlies were one of the teams that monitored Jontay closely, and we believe they are getting a terrific young player with incredible potential," Bartelstein told ESPN.
Porter, the younger brother of Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr., was a five-star recruit out of high school and a projected lottery pick in the NBA Draft before suffering multiple injuries. He has rehabbed two separate ACL injuries in the last two years but is expected to return for training camp next season.
The @memgrizz announced today that the team has signed @JontayPorter. Press release below. pic.twitter.com/hz1m2lCseF— Grizzlies PR (@GrizzliesPR) March 8, 2020
Jontay Porter went undrafted in 2019 after re-tearing the ACL in his right knee that March. He averaged 9.9 points and 6.8 rebounds in his freshman season at Missouri. He returned to the school for his sophomore campaign only to tear his ACL and MCL before the season started.


upi--2020-03-08--St. Louis Cardinals renew contract of ace Jack Flaherty for 2020 season

March 8 ( UPI ) -- The St. Louis Cardinals renewed the contract of starting pitcher Jack Flaherty for the @ @ @ @ @ announced Sunday .
League sources told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that Flaherty will earn $ @ @ @ @ @ renewed deal .
The Cardinals did n't disclose financial terms of the agreement .
Per @ @ @ @ @ 's salary is reduced by $ 10,000 if the club has to renew a contract @ @ @ @ @ a $ 10,000 bonus for finishing fourth in last year 's National League Cy Young @ @ @ @ @ penalty , according to the newspaper .
It marks the second consecutive season the Cardinals @ @ @ @ @ .
The 24-year-old ace earned $ 562,100 last season .
Flaherty , who was selected @ @ @ @ @ first round of the 2014 MLB Draft , posted an 11-8 record and 2.75 ERA @ @ @ @ @ .
The Cardinals also announced Sunday that the team signed 24 players not yet eligible @ @ @ @ @ contracts .

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Jack Flaherty posted an 11-8 record and 2.75 ERA in 33 starts last season. File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo
March 8 (UPI) -- The St. Louis Cardinals renewed the contract of starting pitcher Jack Flaherty for the 2020 season, the team announced Sunday. League sources told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that Flaherty will earn $604,500 this season on the renewed deal. The Cardinals didn't disclose financial terms of the agreement. Advertisement
Per team policy, a player's salary is reduced by $10,000 if the club has to renew a contract. The Cardinals gave Flaherty a $10,000 bonus for finishing fourth in last year's National League Cy Young Award voting to offset the penalty, according to the newspaper.
It marks the second consecutive season the Cardinals have renewed Flaherty's contract. The 24-year-old ace earned $562,100 last season.
More news from Jupiter: pic.twitter.com/49S0W9XP2s— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) March 8, 2020
Flaherty, who was selected by the Cardinals in the first round of the 2014 MLB Draft, posted an 11-8 record and 2.75 ERA in 33 starts last season.
The Cardinals also announced Sunday that the team signed 24 players not yet eligible for salary arbitration to one-year contracts.


upi--2020-03-08--Watch: Rangers' Willie Calhoun hospitalized after taking 95-mph fastball to face

March 8 ( UPI ) -- Texas Rangers outfielder Willie Calhoun was taken to a local hospital after being hit in the mouth by a fastball thrown by Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Julio Urias .
In the bottom of the first inning of a spring training game Sunday in Surprise , Ariz. , Calhoun was facing a 1-1 count with two outs .
Urias delivered a 95-mph fastball that struck Calhoun directly on the right side of his mouth .
Calhoun went down immediately and was attended to by Rangers trainer Matt Lucero .
The 25-year-old outfielder appeared to suffer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but did n't lose consciousness .
After about 10 minutes , Calhoun was able to get on his feet .
League sources told ESPN and MLB Media that Calhoun was transported to St. Joseph 's Hospital in Phoenix for further examination .
The Dodgers selected Calhoun in the fourth round of the 2015 MLB Draft .
The Rangers acquired him in the 2017 trade that sent pitcher Yu Darvish to Los Angeles .
Calhoun set career highs in home runs ( 21 ) , RBIs ( 48 ) and batting average ( .269 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last season .

March 8 (UPI) -- Texas Rangers outfielder Willie Calhoun was taken to a local hospital after being hit in the mouth by a fastball thrown by Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Julio Urias.
In the bottom of the first inning of a spring training game Sunday in Surprise, Ariz., Calhoun was facing a 1-1 count with two outs. Urias delivered a 95-mph fastball that struck Calhoun directly on the right side of his mouth.
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Calhoun went down immediately and was attended to by Rangers trainer Matt Lucero. The 25-year-old outfielder appeared to suffer bleeding on the inside of his mouth but didn't lose consciousness.
After about 10 minutes, Calhoun was able to get on his feet. League sources told ESPN and MLB Media that Calhoun was transported to St. Joseph's Hospital in Phoenix for further examination.
Scary moment here as Willie Calhoun takes a pitch right off the jaw pic.twitter.com/C1Ep4nhg0v— Blake Harris (@BlakeHarrisTBLA) March 8, 2020
The Dodgers selected Calhoun in the fourth round of the 2015 MLB Draft. The Rangers acquired him in the 2017 trade that sent pitcher Yu Darvish to Los Angeles.
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Calhoun set career highs in home runs (21), RBIs (48) and batting average (.269) in 83 games for the Rangers last season.


upi--2020-03-08--Brooklyn Nets part ways with head coach Kenny Atkinson

March 8 ( UPI ) -- The Brooklyn Nets and head coach Kenny Atkinson mutually agreed to part ways , the team announced .
Nets general manager Sean Marks told reporters at the team 's Brooklyn practice facility that the decision to part ways with Atkinson came after multiple discussions between them about the direction of the team .
`` I would have loved Kenny to be here long term , '' Marks said Saturday .
`` I think we all have ideas that this is going to last forever , and we 'll keep building this together .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We enjoyed each other , I think we grew immensely .
He grew as a coach , hopefully I 've grown as a GM and so forth .
We made plenty of mistakes , and we had fun along the way .
`` These are the circumstances .
The position we find ourselves in now is , 'What helps us get it to the next level ? '
And I think what we debated and what we deliberated on was this was a time where the team needs another voice , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' The Nets announced that assistant Jacque Vaughn will serve as interim head coach for the remainder of the season .
Marks did n't provide a timetable for when the franchise would hire a replacement for Atkinson .
`` We 're going to let the season unfold as it does , '' Marks said .
`` Jacque is the head coach right now .
Let 's let these 20 games play out , and let the momentum hopefully build , and we 'll go into the playoffs and go from there . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ record in three-plus seasons with the Nets .
His last game was a 139-120 win over the San Antonio Spurs on Friday night .
The Nets ( 28-34 ) are in seventh place in the Eastern Conference standings .
On Sunday , Brooklyn picked up a 110-107 victory over the Chicago Bulls in the team 's first game without Atkinson .

Brooklyn Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson (L) posted a 118-190 record with the Nets. File Photo by Peter Foley/UPI | License Photo
March 8 (UPI) -- The Brooklyn Nets and head coach Kenny Atkinson mutually agreed to part ways, the team announced. Nets general manager Sean Marks told reporters at the team's Brooklyn practice facility that the decision to part ways with Atkinson came after multiple discussions between them about the direction of the team. Advertisement
"I would have loved Kenny to be here long term," Marks said Saturday. "I think we all have ideas that this is going to last forever, and we'll keep building this together. We had a great run for four years. We enjoyed each other, I think we grew immensely. He grew as a coach, hopefully I've grown as a GM and so forth. We made plenty of mistakes, and we had fun along the way.
"These are the circumstances. The position we find ourselves in now is, 'What helps us get it to the next level?' And I think what we debated and what we deliberated on was this was a time where the team needs another voice, and that's where we are at."
The Nets announced that assistant Jacque Vaughn will serve as interim head coach for the remainder of the season. Marks didn't provide a timetable for when the franchise would hire a replacement for Atkinson.
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"We're going to let the season unfold as it does," Marks said. "Jacque is the head coach right now. Let's let these 20 games play out, and let the momentum hopefully build, and we'll go into the playoffs and go from there."
Atkinson, 52, posted a 118-190 record in three-plus seasons with the Nets. His last game was a 139-120 win over the San Antonio Spurs on Friday night.
The Nets (28-34) are in seventh place in the Eastern Conference standings. On Sunday, Brooklyn picked up a 110-107 victory over the Chicago Bulls in the team's first game without Atkinson.